Abstract: A search service includes a network-connected server, a data repository coupled to the first server, and software resident in the data repository and executing on the first server. The service, through the software, presents an interactive interface to a user, determines, through iterative interaction with the user a purpose for a search, develops search criteria for the search, enters the criteria to one or more standard search engines accessible through the network, and collects results of the search on behalf of the user.

Abstract: A dynamic pricing system for complex energy securities, comprising a communications interface executing on a network-connected server and adapted to receive information from a plurality of iNodes, an event database coupled to the communications interface and adapted to receive events from a plurality of iNodes via the communications interface, a pricing server coupled to the communications interface, and a statistics server coupled to the event database and the pricing server, is disclosed. According to the invention, the pricing server, on receiving a request to establish a price for an energy security, requests at least one statistical indicia of risk from the statistics server, the statistical indicia of risk being computed by the statistics server based on a plurality of historical data obtained from the event database, and the pricing server computes a price for the security based at least in part on the statistical indicia of risk.

Abstract: A multidimensional energy decision system, comprising a plurality of server systems, including at least a statistics server and an interface adapted to receive and send digital information from at least a client system, and further adapted to optionally communicate with the digital exchange via a packet-based data network, wherein the multidimensional energy decision system periodically optimizes operational parameters of client system for a specific time period and a specific energy asset from client system based on forecasted conditions, and directly, or upon decision confirmation from a client system, procures or makes dispatchable energy resources, related externalities, or related derivative financial products, available to a digital exchange or other parties, wherein upon the purchase of a listed asset by another party or across digital exchange, implements dispatch procedures to satisfy the issued contract and, optionally, provides monitoring and verification of performance, is disclosed.

Abstract: A method for managing energy resources, comprising the steps of collecting energy-related data in an event database from a plurality of network-connected iNodes, using a network-connected statistics server to compute a reliability rating for a plurality of users based at least in part on the data collected from iNodes associated with the users, using the reliability ratings at least to select a subset of users for inclusion in a derivative energy security, computing an expected performance profile and reliability rating for the derivative energy security, and making the derivative security available on a digital exchange, is disclosed.

Abstract: A system for electric grid utilization and optimization, comprising a communications interface executing on a network-connected server and adapted to receive information from a plurality of iNodes, the plurality of iNodes comprising a source iNode, a sink iNode, and a plurality of transmission or distribution iNodes, an event database coupled to the communications interface and adapted to receive events from a plurality of iNodes via the communications interface, a modeling server coupled to the communications interface, and a statistics server coupled to the event database and the modeling server, wherein the modeling server, on receiving a request to establish an allocation of at least one of transmission losses, distribution losses, and ancillary services to a specific sink iNode, computes at least one virtual path for flow of electricity between a source iNode and the specific sink iNode and wherein the modeling server further computes, for each transmission or distribution iNode included in the computed

Abstract: A system for single-action energy resource scheduling and participation in energy-related securities, comprising a communications interface executing on a network-connected server and adapted to receive information from a plurality of client user interfaces and a secure action server coupled to the communications interface, wherein the secure action server, on receiving a connection from a client user interface, assigns a unique client identifier to the client user interface and associates the unique identifier with a client account, and wherein the secure action server, on receiving a request from a client user interface, determines whether the client user interface is mapped to an authorized market participant who has enabled single-action scheduling, execution order, or participation confirmation functionality for the client user interface, and passes information to the client user interface pertaining at least to a single action needed to confirm scheduling, execution order, or participation and wherein t

Abstract: A system for presentation and management of energy-related information and securities, comprising a digital exchange, a client system comprising a plurality of display and input modalities, a communications interface software adapted to allow communications between the client system and the digital exchange, and a control interface within the client system adapted to drive the display and input modalities, wherein the control interface, on receiving input from a user, causes data from the digital exchange to be retrieved and displayed in one or more of the display modalities to the user, and upon receipt of a request from the user via an input modality of the client system after the user has retrieved and reviewed data from the digital exchange, an order to execute a transaction is transmitted to the digital exchange by the client system, and on receipt of an order to execute a transaction from a client system, the digital exchange combines the ordered transaction with other similar transactions from a plural

Abstract: A system for managing energy, comprising a processor coupled to a packet data network and a serves software module executing on the processor is disclosed, wherein the server software module is adapted to send and receive information over a packet data network from a plurality of client software modules associated with energy load devices or energy generating devices associated with one or more end users of energy provided by an energy distribution network, and to send and receive information from a plurality of software modules associated with energy distribution networks over the packet data network.

Abstract: A system for scheduling resources and rules for routing includes a server connected to a network, a scheduling application executable from the server, and at least one programmable software agent for scheduling routing rules. The scheduling application receives statistics about forecast arrival rates for incoming interactions and current resource availability data and schedules resources and routing rules according to the forecast requirements the software agent propagating the portion of scheduling relative to the routing rules.

Abstract: A search service includes a network-connected server, a data repository coupled to the first server, and software resident in the data repository and executing on the first server. The service, through the software, presents an interactive interface to a user, determines, through iterative interaction with the user a purpose for a search, develops search criteria for the search, enters the criteria to one or more standard search engines accessible through the network, and collects results of the search on behalf of the user.

Abstract: A service includes a server executing software from a digital memory media, information stored in a data repository and accessible to the server regarding products offered for sale at least one physical retail establishment, and a mobile communication appliance carried and utilized by a customer within the premises of the physical retail establishment and coupled to the server for communication. Information services regarding products displayed for sale are provided to the customer through the appliance within the physical retail establishment.

Abstract: A method for determining distance between two nodes in a network has steps for (a) creating a map of nodes in the network, the map having points representing pairs of nodes; (b) determining a probability at individual points that an entity connected to one of the nodes of the pair associated with the point will next connect to the other node associated with the point; (c) selecting a first and second node in the network for determining a distance; and (d) beginning with one of the two nodes selected, using the map with probabilities, determining the path of highest probability from the first node to the second node, regardless of the number of jumps required in the path, as the distance between the first and the second node.