Abstract: Methods, computer readable media, and apparatuses for evaluating models using forecast error attribution are presented. According to one or more aspects, one or more input values corresponding to one or more input variables may be forecast. One or more results of a modeling function may be calculated using the one or more forecasted input values. Thereafter, actual performance data corresponding to the modeling function may be received. One or more holdout values for the modeling function may be calculated using the actual performance data. Subsequently, a graph that includes the one or more results of the modeling function, the actual performance data, and the one or more holdout values for the modeling function may be plotted. In some arrangements, the one or more holdout values for the modeling function may be indicative of one or more assumption errors made with respect to the one or more forecasted input values.

Abstract: The pricing of a product is programmatically defined as a solution to a price optimization equation that includes an in-date constraint and an out-date constraint. The in-date constraint may require that the price established by the price optimization equation be predicted not to exhaust an inventory of the product during a first time interval. The out-date constraint may require that the same price established by the price optimization equation be predicted to exhaust an inventory of the product by the end of a second time interval.

Abstract: Methods that facilitate automatic selection of service bearers in a mobile based on user-initiated policies and service-provider-initiated policies set forth in a policy document are described herein. The mobile device initially receives a policy document from either the mobile device manufacturer or the service provider before the mobile device is provisioned on a communications network. The mobile device user and the service provider may make subsequent changes to the policy document. When a user-initiated policy change conflicts with a service-provider-initiated policy, the user-initiated policy change is disregarded in favor of the service-provider-initiated policy. The mobile device automatically selects an appropriate bearer based at least on the availability of service bearers in the current environment and the policies set forth in the policy document.

Abstract: A transaction system and method is provided for enabling potential buyers to purchase goods through reverse on-line auction process. The transaction system is configured to automatically receive periodic uploads of information regarding goods for sale by suppliers and to store this information in a database. A potential buyer can login to the transaction system and submit searches for goods based on a variety of parameters which may include condition, warranty, and revision. The potential buyer also submits an offer price for each requested item. The transaction system queries the database to determine if the requested goods are available. The transaction system selects the vendor so as to maximize the sales margin and then determines whether the buyer's offer can be accepted based on predetermined margin requirements. If the buyer's offer can be accepted, the system generates an acceptance to the offer from the buyer and generates a purchase order to the selected supplier.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dynamic load balancing system. The dynamic load balancing system includes a resource management master managing bare servers that do not execute services and having a hierarchical structure and a service master dynamically allocating the bare servers to a load balancing server or a service execution server or dynamically releasing the pre-allocated load balancing server or service execution server by the bare servers, in consideration of monitoring information on a state or performance of a server and service requirements to be provided.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for providing recurring residential parking reservations is provided. Motor vehicle parking spaces located in a residential area are managed through a server. Smart parking devices, vehicle occupancy sensors, and parking availability indicators are interfaced to the server. Use of the parking spaces by a resident is reserved on a recurring basis throughout a subscription period. A parking reservation, including recurring times and dates, is requested. The request is granted provided the parking space is available over any other reservations stored in the server. Use of the reserved parking space is managed throughout the subscription period. Occupancy of the requested parking space is sensed through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor. A motorist's identity is verified through the nearest smart parking device. The use of the reserved parking space is denied if not by the resident and parking non-availability is indicated during each recurring time and date.

Abstract: A method includes, in a network of interconnected computers, each of the computers including at least a processor and a memory, receiving in a server linked to the network a set of specifications to meet a requester's language translation needs, the set generated in a client system linked to the network or directly in the server via an appropriate User Interface, in the server, receiving one or more documents from the client system, in the server, analyzing the received set of specifications and the received one or more documents, in the server, generating a tentative optimum translation service solution for the requester according to the analyzed set of specifications, in the server, organizing the most effective translation process suitable to the requester's specifications, and in the server, returning one or more translated documents to the requester in an acceptable format.

Abstract: A preferred method for acquiring information during an underground drilling operation includes providing a sensing device capable of acquiring information concerning the underground drilling operation from a down-hole location on a selective basis in response to an input from the surface, and drilling for a first period of time. The preferred method also includes sending the input to the sensing device after drilling for the first period of time, and drilling during a second period of time while acquiring the information using the sensing device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide techniques for distributing the timing of reauthorization requests. In one embodiment, a request to authorize a subscriber of a service to consume a quantity of the service is received and a delay time period is calculated. The delay time period is based on the resources available to the subscriber (e.g., remaining balance in a subscriber account, credit limit, etc.), and/or other configurable thresholds. The subscriber is then authorized to consume the quantity of service over a period of time extending to the time of a service pricing change, plus the delay time period. In this manner, network spikes resulting from the receipt of multiple, simultaneous reauthorization requests at the times of service pricing changes are avoided, without increasing the credit risk to the service operator/provider.

Abstract: A method of estimating the cost of a target print job may include identifying a target print job having a document type and one or more attributes, for each attribute of the target print job, determining a correlation between the attribute and a cost of the target print job using a plurality of historical print jobs associated with the document type, and identifying one or more of the attributes as cost drivers based on the correlation of the attribute to the cost of the target print job. The method may include identifying one or more relevant historical print jobs from the plurality of historical print jobs based on values for the identified cost drivers, estimating a cost of the target print job using the one or more relevant historical print jobs, and displaying the estimated cost associated with the target print job.

Abstract: Computer-implemented systems and methods for computing a transaction cost metric for a transaction (or trade order) involving a tradable financial product, such as a FX currency pair. The transaction cost metric can be computed pre-trade and compared to a quoted price for the trade from a dealer to evaluate the quoted price. The computed transaction cost metric, which is based on a slippage premium for the trade order, is based on at least a notional size for the trade order. The slippage premium represents a difference between an effective price at which the trade order is filled and a price for the financial product at inception of the trade order. The transaction cost metric may be computed as an average of a strip of options, where the values of the options are computed using an option pricing formula. The strip of options may comprise one or more options, each with different tenors, where the tenors correspond to the expected time periods for orders to arrive to fill the trade order.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, supplemental information about a consumer is determined, the consumer being associated with a first level of credit availability. One of a plurality of potential credit migration paths may then be selected for the consumer based on the supplemental information. Each potential credit migration path may, for example, begin at the first level of credit availability, include a plurality of intermediate credit products, and end at a level of credit availability higher than the first level. An offer for an intermediate credit product may then be transmitted to the consumer based on the selected credit migration path.

Abstract: Methods and systems are presented for managing prepaid usage of document processing devices, in which an account manager system (104) automatically purchases prepaid account credits for customer accounts and applies print units to document processing devices registered to customer accounts periodically and according to preset top off thresholds (123, 128) subject to predefined limits (124, 129), and in which customer computer agents (360) allow just in time printing using devices with job-based application of print units to selected devices.

Abstract: The loyalty system allows a consumer to accumulate general loyalty points from one or more merchants, and convert any desired subset of general points to loyalty dollars associated with a specific merchant. The system stores, for each consumer, the merchant loyalty dollars (or monetary equivalent) by merchant within a remotely-accessible host database or within a smart card database. Upon conducting a purchase at a particular merchant, the consumer may utilize a code key to facilitate access to the consumer's own loyalty dollars for the particular merchant. The loyalty dollars are then applied to the purchase transaction as a discount or rebate. The consumer may also re-load the merchant loyalty dollar accounts.

Abstract: A computer-implemented hierarchical revenue model to manage revenue allocations among derived product developers in a networked system is disclosed. The model includes providing a first revenue value associated with a first digital component, providing a second revenue value associated with a second digital component, and combining the first revenue value with a second revenue value to produce a third revenue value associated with the second digital component, the second digital component including at least a portion of the first digital component.

Abstract: A method of determining services pricing, the method comprising: a server receiving vehicle identification information from a user via a network connection, wherein the vehicle identification information indicates a vehicle type; the server receiving service type information from the user via the network connection, wherein the service type information indicates a service type; the server determining an estimate range based on the vehicle identification information and the service type information, wherein the estimate range comprises a minimum value and maximum value for the indicated vehicle type and service type, and wherein determining the estimate range comprises determining a labor estimate and a parts estimate; and the server providing the estimate range to the user via the network connection.

Abstract: A method and a system to assist wireless telecom service providers to make strategic investment decisions in their wireless networks is provided. Geographical profitability information in a wireless network is determined to decide where to invest capital funds in order to increase the revenue and profit for wireless service providers. The profitability of a geographical area or a sector is calculated based on network Operation Measurements and subscriber CDR (Call Detail Record) data. The system prioritizes the geographical areas and sectors for capital investments based on the profitability of the areas and sites. Similar information may be determined to assist wireless service providers in developing a decommissioning strategy. Embodiments of the present invention may also be used to reduce network churn by understanding where dissatisfied subscribers experience poor service and where network investments need to be made to improve the services and reduce churn.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the aggregation, analysis, and display of data for used vehicles are disclosed. Historical transaction data for used vehicles may be obtained and processed to determine pricing data, where this determined pricing data may be associated with a particular configuration of a vehicle. The user can then be presented with an interface pertinent to the vehicle configuration utilizing the aggregated data set or the associated determined data where the user can make a variety of determinations. This interface may, for example, be configured to present the historical transaction data visually, with the pricing data such as a trade-in price, a list price, an expected sale price or range of sale prices, market low sale price, market average sale price, market high sale price, etc. presented relative to the historical transaction data.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for providing guidance to price content items in publications. Features of a particular content item to be published in a particular publication are received from a requestor and compared with features of content items previously published in publications. Based on the comparing, a predicted price to publish the particular content item in the particular publication is determined based on actual prices of content items previously published in corresponding publications. Then, the predicted price is provided to the requestor.

Abstract: A product pricing system determines a product price. The system receives product pricing constraints and multinomial logit (“MNL”) calibration parameters. The system then generates a calibrated MNL model using the calibration parameters and encodes the MNL model and the product pricing constraints into a mixed-integer program (“MIP”). The system then solves the MIP to generate the product price.

Abstract: System, apparatus and method for printing color image print data selectably as a color image or as a black-and-white image are described.

Abstract: Embodiments include a computer system, method and program product for managing a software program installed on a computer hardware system, the software program subject to a software license. A retrieval of data is performed in which the data indicates actual usage of the software program and the computer hardware system, and processor power of the computer hardware system. In addition, a retrieval of licensing data from the software license is performed in which the licensing data indicates a permitted number of or fee for installations of the software program and a permitted amount of or fee for processor power of the computer hardware system in which the software program is installed. Whether to decommission a copy of the software program based on the data indicating actual usage, the licensing data, a projected amount of future usage of the software program, and criticality of the software program is determined and reported.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for forecasting the transaction cost of a portfolio trade execution that may be applied to any given trading strategy or an optimal trading strategy that minimizes transaction costs. The system accepts user-defined input variables from customers and generates a transaction cost estimation report based on those variables. Two models are utilized: discretionary and non-discretionary. A specific transaction cost estimation and optimization is performed that model the transaction costs of a specific trade execution based on the user's trading profile and market variables.

Abstract: A computer-readable storage medium contains instructions that cause one or more computing devices to receive a product specification data set identifying one or more items, and price data sets that include one or more items and corresponding price data. For each price data set, metric data is obtained which includes one or more market reference prices for the items in the price data set. A market value of the items is calculated for comparison to the price data in the price data set. The instructions may also cause the one or more computing devices to compare the price data in the price data set to the calculated market value to generate a comparison value. In another embodiment, metric data is obtained for each item in a product specification data set, and a market value of each item is calculated for comparison to the price data in the price data sets.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a computer-implemented method includes accessing information related to a first file determined to satisfy at least one of a plurality of suspected malware conditions. A first of a number of manager consoles may access the information, each manager console being communicatively coupled to a respective network of a number of networks. A request may be generated for a determination of whether the first file comprises malware. The determination may be conducted at a master manager console. Data may be accessed indicating a result, outputted by the master manager console, of the determination of whether the first file comprises malware. A sharing policy may be accessed and used to determine whether the result is sharable with a second one of the manager consoles. If the result is sharable, a message comprising the result may be generated to be sent to the second manager console.

Abstract: A method includes identifying a plurality of facilities in a complex. Each facility is associated with a construction project. The method also includes determining a potential revenue associated with at least one of the facilities. The method further includes determining a cost associated with at least one of the facilities. In addition, the method includes generating a schedule of the construction projects using the identified potential revenue and the identified cost.

Abstract: A product retail sales management server for managing the retail sales of a product across a communication network comprises: a retail sales management module for managing the retail sales of the product; a price update 13 for dynamically setting the price of the product in accordance with rules and the retail sales state of the product and in accordance with the actual retail sales state of the product when managed by the retail sales management module; and an acceptance module 11 for, upon the receipt of an information request via the communication network, furnishing a request transmission source with the information concerning the product and the price of the product, set by the price update module at the time the information request is received.

Abstract: A vehicle route guidance system is provided that may dynamically determine one or more possible destinations within a predetermined distance of a current location of a vehicle having the vehicle route guidance system. The vehicle route guidance system may determine respective routes to the one or more possible destinations and may access price information with respect to the one or more possible destinations. For each of the one or more possible destinations, the vehicle route guidance system may estimate a cost of fuel to be consumed by the vehicle to reach respective ones of the one or more possible destination based on received traffic information, a respective route, and vehicle fuel consumption information. The vehicle route guidance system may provide information for guiding the vehicle to one of the one or more possible destinations having a lowest total overall cost.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises: an image data obtainer that obtains image data by a Web browser from a Website via a network; a printer that prints out the obtained image data and other image data; and a billing portion that bills a usage fee if the Web browser is used, meanwhile discounts the usage fee to be billed if the Web browser is used and also the image data obtained by the Web browser is printed out by the printer.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for modeling costs when editing a workflow process model. A request may be received to assign a cost factor to a workflow process step of the workflow process model. Responsive to the request, the cost factor may be assigned to the workflow process step, such that a traversal of the workflow process step by a transaction invoking the workflow process model results in the cost factor being included in a total cost to be charged for executing the transaction.

Abstract: A method and system for accommodating a plurality of printing systems arranged as an enterprise printing system including a memory for storing printer usage information related to a plurality of tasks performed with respect to the enterprise printing system and a processing module including a tangible processor. The tangible processor is manipulate to (1) analyzing the printer usage information and (2) responsive to said analyzing, automatically generating, at selected time intervals, at least one print governance rule, said at least one print governance rule being used to reduce printing costs for at least one of the plurality of printing systems in the enterprise printing system.

Abstract: A disclosed image processing apparatus includes an adjusting unit configured to convert input image data into image formation data, an arithmetic unit configured to calculate an image formation ink cost based on the converted image formation data, and a determining unit configured to compare the calculated image formation ink cost with a black-and-white image formation ink cost, wherein the calculated image formation ink cost is fixed based on a determination result of the first determining unit.

Abstract: Methods and devices for charging a user for access to a service accessible via a communication network are disclosed. At least two charging-related states are defined for the communication network. A tariff proposal entity associated with the user determines one or more tariff proposals for charging the user for accessing the service and sends the one or more tariff proposals to a rating entity. The rating entity analyzes the one or more tariff proposals in relation to a current charging-related state of the at least two charging-related states, wherein it is determined if at least one of the one or more tariff proposals complies with at least one tariff setting associated with the current charging-related state. The rating entity further selects a tariff of the at least one complying tariff proposals for charging the user for access to the service and initiates a charging of the user for access to the service according to the selected tariff.

Abstract: A system, method and product for distribution-based incentives relating to resource consumption. The system comprising: a receiver configured to obtain from one or more monitoring devices monitoring information relating to resource consumption by a consumer over a space, wherein the space is partitioned into slots, wherein based on the monitoring information a consumption tuple of a consumer can be determined; a distribution obtaining module for obtaining a predetermined distribution of consumption of the resource, which is associated with the consumer; and a price computation module configured to compute a price of consumption by the consumer based on the consumption tuple, wherein the price is computed using a pricing function which is based on the predetermined distribution, whereby a price associated with resource consumption in a slot depends upon resource consumption in other slots.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, navigation software is integrated with other kinds of software running on the same device so that capabilities of the navigation software can be made available from within the other applications. In one example embodiment, those applications can export street, city or postcode format address data to the navigation software. The address data can then be converted to a co-ordinate system based address by the navigation software, which can then automatically be set as the destination address used by the navigation software in calculating the route and/or automatically marked on a map generated and displayed by the navigation software.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the formation and rearrangement of ad hoc networks and more particularly to systems and methods for sharing bandwidth in ad hoc networks. The method comprises broadcasting a table to at least one potential lender requesting pertinent lender information and receiving the table from the at least one potential lender with the pertinent lender information. The method further includes selecting one or more lenders of the at least one potential lender which meet preset criteria and establishing an ad hoc network with the one or more lenders based on the selecting.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for billing data services. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a system having a controller that manages a communications interface coupled to a communication system. The controller can be programmed to calculate a charge for service according to a degree of asymmetric bandwidth usage of upstream and downstream data traffic consumed by customer premise equipment. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Described are performance-based pricing models for pricing execution of a client job in a cloud service. Client-provided performance-related parameters are used to determine a price. The price may be a minimum bid price that is evaluated against a bid received from client bidder to accept or reject the bid. Alternatively, the price may be returned as a quote. For batch application-type jobs, performance parameters include a work volume parameter and a deadline or the like. For an interactive-type application job, example performance-related parameters may include an average load parameter, a peak load parameter, an acceptance rate parameter, a minimum capacity parameter, a maximum capacity parameter, and/or a time window parameter over which load is specified.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronic toll settlement device of a vehicle, more particularly, to a technology which settles an insufficient amount from a mobile communications server and delivers to a toll settlement server through a mobile communications terminal when the balance of a high-pass terminal is worth less than a toll.

Abstract: A network content message placement management process is directed to the processing and management of messages in content displayed at a client computing device. A client computing device provides message placement configuration information to a network computing and storage provider. The network computing and storage transmits message placement requests to a content provider based on the message placement configuration information. The client computing device may subsequently directly or indirectly request content from the content provider. The content provided from the content provider may include one or more of the alternative messages provided in the message placement configuration information. Illustratively, the alternative messages may be included in place of other messages, such as advertisements, from third party message providers.

Abstract: A rule-based method and apparatus for evaluating the cost of operating a network infrastructure are disclosed. For example, the method receives a request to evaluate the cost of operating a network infrastructure in a form of one or more rules, e.g., in a natural language format. The one or more rules are translated into at least one cost model. The method then applies the at least one cost model to determine the cost of operating the network infrastructure.

Abstract: Methods and systems for facilitating efficient travel management are disclosed. Exemplary embodiments comprise a processor configured to make selections from among a plurality of vehicle travel modes based on a vehicle travel mode selection rule using, at least in part, received travel plan information. In a preferred embodiment, this selection can be based on any of a number of factors, including monetary costs and carbon emissions associated with different vehicle travel mode options.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for managing the quality of service differentiated cloud storage. The cloud storage (and its services) is highly distributed. An overall speed of the storage is calculated based on storage speed and a traffic speed of the connection to the particular cloud storage. Data access expenses are calculated. Then, for each of the portions of the cloud storage the associated speed and traffic costs are calculated, so the user can select a level of data access guarantee (DAG) for his particular needs. In order to maintain the desired overall speed of the data access, geo-targeting with the cloud storage system is implemented, where the same data is retrieved from different locations based on optimal data movement costs.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are provided including a catalog database with a plurality of product definitions. The product definitions includes a plurality of rules and attributes associated with a plurality of products. Further included is a pricing engine in communication with the catalog database. The pricing engine is adapted for charging for the products based on the rules and the attributes.

Abstract: A method, computer readable, and apparatus for read-ahead prediction of subsequent requests to send data between a client coupled to a server via a network includes receiving at a traffic management device a request for a part of at least one of a data file and metadata. The traffic management device selects from two or more of a sequential prediction engine, an expert prediction engine and a learning prediction engine to predict a read-ahead of the at least one of the data file and metadata. One or more additional read-ahead parts of the at least one of the data file and metadata are determined with the traffic management device based on the selecting.

Abstract: A pricing component generates a user interface that allows a user to select dimensions that are to be considered in generating pricing information. The dimensions can be set in a precedence hierarchy so the user can identify which dimensions are used, and the order of evaluation of a price according to those dimensions. Once the user wishes to begin setting the pricing according to the selected dimensions, the pricing component generates another user interface display in order to allow the user to begin setting the prices for combinations of specified dimension values.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for providing cost effective leak detection in a fluid network. Step testing procedures are represented by decision trees and associated expected costs are calculated. Selection of step testing procedures is optimized for low expected cost. The total expected cost rate for a network configuration may be calculated from the rate of leak occurrence and the optimal expected costs associated therewith. Network configuration changes may be recommended by optimizing for total expected cost rate for a fluid network.

Abstract: A contents price managing method includes providing contents information including a contents price to a first device; if contents corresponding to the provided contents information is output using the first device, calculating a contents usage fee for the first device based on the contents price and an output length of the contents that is output through the first device. The method may further include updating the contents price based on the output length of the contents; and providing contents information including the updated contents price to a second device.

Abstract: Communication networks and associated methods and systems are disclosed that provide per-session dynamic charging caps. For a session, the communication network includes a network element adapted to serve the session, a charging system, and a subscriber server adapted to store charging criteria defined for a party to the session. In operation, the charging system receives one or more charging request messages from the network element. Responsive to a charging request message, the charging system identifies the charging criteria defined for the party as stored in the subscriber server, and determines a dynamic charging cap for the session based on the charging criteria. A charging cap is a limited or maximum amount of time and/or money that is charged for an individual session. The charging system then limits the charging for the session based on the dynamic charging cap.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method, system and computer program product for carbon management for sourcing and logistics. In one embodiment, the method comprises using a computer for quantifying both a cost and a carbon impact of one or more logistics policies relating to a manufacturing process; and minimizing the cost and carbon impact using a defined equation including a first component representing a transportation cost, and a second component representing a carbon cost. In an embodiment of the invention, the quantifying includes using an analytics engine to quantify the cost and carbon impact. The analytics engine may include a shipment analysis module to calculate an optimal transportation policy, a sourcing analysis module for testing alternate sourcing options, a scenario analysis module to find an optimal order frequency, and a sensitivity analysis module to test the impact of various changes.