Abstract: Systems and methods for increasing productivity in a production activity are provided. A machine for accomplishing the production activity generates units of output, which are monitored by a data acquiring device. An expected earnings rate is generated by a processor based on expected production parameters and earnings data. An evaluated earnings rate is generated by the processor based upon the actual output and the earnings data. The evaluated earnings rate and expected earnings rate is displayed on a display.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide for a method for updating business information. A business at a business location and a reference image for the business at the business location may be selected for an update. From a number of more recent images, a comparison image may be selected based on a likelihood that the comparison image captures the business location. Text and visual features reference image may be compared with text and visual features of the comparison image to determine a text similarity score and a features similarity score. A confidence level indicating whether the business in the reference image is in the comparison image may then be determined using the text similarity score and the feature similarity score. According to the confidence level, the business information of the business may be updated.

Abstract: A system and method of generating an transparent optimized shift schedule for a plurality of crew members that includes receiving a plurality of shift bids from the plurality of crew members, with each of the shift bids to be either classified as awarded or rejected, optimizing the transparent optimized shift schedule; and presenting, to each crewmember from the plurality of crewmembers who submitted a shift bid classified as a rejected shift bid, the reason code associated with his or her rejected shift bid; wherein presenting, to each crewmember from the plurality of crewmembers who submitted a shift bid classified as a rejected shift bid, his or her shift assignment from the optimized shift schedule and a reason code associated with his or her rejected shift bid provides transparency as to why each rejected shift bid was rejected.

Abstract: Techniques for retail location-aware services are provided. A consumer defines parameters in which it is acceptable to the consumer to receive an offer for a good or service. When the parameters are achievable for an enterprise and when the consumer is in a configured proximity to the desired good or service, the mobile device of the consumer is notified of the offer.

Abstract: A method for computing system learning of a merchant category code includes accessing a social media platform using administrative information of a merchant to obtain social media information of the merchant, and performing natural language processing on the social media information to add key terms to a merchant terminology corpus defined for the merchant. The key terms in the first merchant terminology corpus are normalized. For each key term in the first merchant terminology corpus and for each merchant category code, a frequency value for the merchant category code is calculated to obtain multiple frequency values. The method further includes aggregating frequency values across the first key terms in the first merchant terminology corpus to select the matching merchant category code of the merchant, and applying the matching merchant category code to the merchant.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for increasing employee productivity in a production process. One or more machines for accomplishing a production activity and in communication with a database which includes pay rates and predetermined thresholds for the production activity. Data acquiring devices associated with each machine measure production rates in substantially real time. A processor retrieves the pay rate and the production rate to determine a real-time-pay rate. A display provides a ranking and visualization reflecting each employee's real-time-pay and a graphic indicating whether each employee's real-time-pay rate exceeds one or more of the predetermined thresholds.

Abstract: A work instruction system for a facility including processing machines is configured to provide work instructions on the processing machines to workers. The work instruction system includes a process plan storage section configured to store a process plan that defines a performing sequence regarding processing performed by the processing machines and work on the processing machines performed by the workers; a next work candidate extraction section configured to extract next work candidates for the workers based on current states of the processing machines and the process plan; a capacity database configured to store work capacity of each worker with regard to each work type; and a next work determination section configured to determine next work for a specified worker from among the next work candidates, based on the work capacity stored in the capacity database.

Abstract: Embodiments for optimizing seating space in a group seating arrangement by a processor. One or more seating preferences and constraints from a user may be received. An optimized seating arrangement in the group seating arrangement, having one or more adjustable seats, may be determined according to the one or more seating preferences and constraints. A user is enabled to select the optimized seating arrangement via a graphical user interface (GUI) such that the one or more adjustable seats in the group seating arrangement are dynamically adjusted according to the optimized seating arrangement and user selection.

Abstract: The present invention is a web-based software application designed to monitor implementation of an issue. The invention includes receiving information from a user on the issue to be monitored; receiving information from a user on an assignment on the issue; and sending the assignment to a recipient. An acknowledgement is received from the recipient on the assignment. Reminders are forwarded to the recipient when the acknowledgement is not received within a predetermined time period, and the reminders can be automatically forwarded at predetermined time periods. Information is received on the issues from a user or an external source, and listed in a form which can be filtered and sorted according to predetermined criteria. A completion status of the regulatory issue can be displayed.

Abstract: The field of the invention relates to methods, servers and computer program products for providing a set of prices. A computer server receives a request for a price for goods or services, such as airfares, together with parameters defining those goods or services, for example: activity type, such as airfare, hotel booking, train fare; date range; destination; origin; desired weather conditions; star ratings; keywords; any other user defined preference. One or more processors programmed with software then infer, estimate or predict estimated prices from an incomplete historical price dataset by analysing patterns in that dataset and provide the price estimates to an end-user computing device, such as a personal computer, smartphone or tablet.

Abstract: A user is provided with insights into their upcoming day. One or more calendars for the user are identified. The identified calendars are then heuristically analyzed to calculate one or more insights into an upcoming day for the user, and these calculated insights are provided to the user. One or more electronic messages each of which was received by or sent by the user are also identified. The identified electronic messages are then heuristically analyzed to calculate one or more insights into an upcoming day for the user, and these calculated insights are provided to the user. The identified calendars and the identified electronic messages are also heuristically analyzed together to calculate one or more insights into an upcoming day for the user, and these calculated insights are provided to the user.

Abstract: A research, analysis, regulatory compliance and media platform that connects customers to finished research and analysis produced by subject matter experts is described. The platform facilitates research, investigations, and analysis by creating a single environment in which a group of distributed analysts conduct research and investigations, store and retrieve documents and other sources, collaborate, and publish findings. Consumers are able to query a published knowledge graph, surface high value relationships, and access insights captured by analyst through a customer web portal or external production environment. The platform allows analysts and customers to research and map the commercial, financial, and facilitation networks of sanctioned or other actors that may be associated with illicit activity. Customers can access visual graphs depicting relationships between sanctioned and non-sanctioned actors in order to evaluate their possible exposure to financial crime or sanctions-related risks.

Abstract: Presented is a method and system for automatically selecting agent-based or agentless monitoring using a configuration management database (CMDB). The method includes determining whether a system is business critical or business non-critical, selecting agent-based monitoring if the system is business critical and selecting agentless monitoring if the system is business non-critical.

Abstract: A method, system, apparatus, and computer program product for efficiently outsourcing projects, such as software development projects, are presented. A business entity may precisely and succinctly define one or more requests for proposals (RFPs) using predefined service identifiers which specify discrete, short-term projects (e.g., 4 weeks or less) with fixed inputs and outputs and objective evaluation metrics which allow for each project to be evaluated using, for example, automated evaluation software tools. By posting RFPs on a web site, the business entity solicits bids from third party vendors to perform the project identified in the RFP. Since individual projects are identified with objective inputs, outputs, and evaluation metrics, vendors can bid on the project with minimal evaluation and speculation regarding the appropriate bidding price for the project.

Abstract: A method of determining the resource efficiency of a plant for the production of drinks containers, wherein the plant has at least one resource-consuming part, wherein the part of the plant is operated at least for a time in a first operative state (B1) in which a product is produced and the part of the plant has a first resource consumption (V1) in this operative state (B1), and wherein the part of the plant is operated at least for a time in a second operative state (B2) and has a second resource consumption (V1) in this second operative state (B2), wherein at least one first resource consumption (V1) capable of being allocated to the first operative state (B1) and at least one second resource consumption (V2) capable of being allocated to the second operative state (B2) determined and the resource consumption (V1, V2) is allocated to the operative states (B1, B2).

Abstract: Systems and methods are described which utilize improved scheduling techniques. An electronic scheduling platform enables customers to view and select pick-up options for scheduling orders to be retrieved at a location. Each pick-up option is associated with a price and a queue time. An average service time and an average inter-arrival time is determined for the location. A queuing procedure is executed which calculates queue times and prices for the pick-up options based, at least in part, on the average service time and the average inter-arrival time. The queuing procedure dynamically updates in real-time the calculated queue times and prices for the pick-up options. Instructions are generated for providing an interface that displays at least a portion of the pick-up options with the updated queue times and prices.

Abstract: Technologies are described for an insight framework for suggesting shared calendar events based on detected usage patterns and behaviors. An insight service or module acting in conjunction with calendar applications (or calendar services) of different users may collect calendar information, usage pattern, behavior, and other relevant information such as exchanged communication, shared documents, etc. The insight service or module may make an inference to determine a need to schedule a meeting for a user with another user. A deadline for the meeting and user availability may be determined, and a shared calendar with available meeting times may be suggested to the other user. Upon selection of one of the available meeting times, the selected meeting time may be incorporated to the user's calendar.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the computerized system and method for increasing employee productivity provides a database for storing data, a data inputting device for inputting expected output parameters into the database and a data acquiring device for acquiring actual output data during performance of any workplace duties, preferably in real-time. The data acquiring device may be linked by an interface that transfers the acquired data to the database, where a processor may evaluate the inputted data versus the acquired data. The processor is connected to a data displaying device that may display the inputted, acquired and evaluated data, preferably in real-time.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for determining API pricing. Consumption parameters are identified using a supervised learning model. The API consumption parameters refer to any parameters that can be used to describe an API (functionality or otherwise) and can be used to compare other comparable APIs in similar domains provided by other providers. Furthermore, reference pricing is determined using machine learning using the identified API consumption parameters. Additionally, the API price is determined dynamically using the identified API consumption parameters and the determined reference pricing. An API pricing score is then derived for the API price using the supervised learning model. The API price is selected as the suggested price for the API in response to the API pricing score exceeding a threshold value. In this manner, an API price is established that reflects the true value of the API assessed by the API consumer.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for determining API pricing. Consumption parameters are identified using a supervised learning model. The API consumption parameters refer to any parameters that can be used to describe an API (functionality or otherwise) and can be used to compare other comparable APIs in similar domains provided by other providers. Furthermore, reference pricing is determined using machine learning using the identified API consumption parameters. Additionally, the API price is determined dynamically using the identified API consumption parameters and the determined reference pricing. An API pricing score is then derived for the API price using the supervised learning model. The API price is selected as the suggested price for the API in response to the API pricing score exceeding a threshold value. In this manner, an API price is established that reflects the true value of the API assessed by the API consumer.