Abstract: A method and system for using individualized customer models when operating a retail establishment is provided. The individualized customer models may be generated using statistical analysis of transaction data for the customer, thereby generating sub-models and attributes tailored to customer. The individualized customer models may be used in any aspect of a retail establishment's operations, ranging from supply chain management issues, inventory control, promotion planning (such as selecting parameters for a promotion or simulating results of a promotion), to customer interaction (such as providing a shopping list or providing individualized promotions).

Abstract: An agent based system utilizes a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)-based, Global Positioning System (GPS)-enabled information gathering agent that relies on knowledge of a shopper's physical location to support a shopping task while shopping at a mall. Shoppers indicate their shopping goals to the system.

Abstract: A method for determining the legitimacy of an insurance claim includes the steps of receiving codes that identify a service for which payment is requested from an insurance provider. Services that might have been upcoded or miscoded to the claimed service are also identified. An insured, a patient or a family member or care giver can be queried about the occurrence of observable aspects of the service that is billed as well as a service that might have been upcoded to what is billed. Responses to the queries suggest the legitimacy or illegitimacy of the claim.