Abstract: A number of techniques for improving electronic trading are disclosed. According to some embodiments, an electronic trading system may selectively disclose to, or withhold from, trade participants order book data depending on whether each participant's trade order meets a predetermined threshold price and/or threshold size or other criteria.

Abstract: An image processing system includes a first image processing device including a first processor. The first processor executes a process including: detecting a change in a load status at the first image processing device; sending a request for information relating to a load status at the second image processing device to the second image processing device when the change in the load status at the first image processing device is detected; analyzing the information relating to the load status at the second image processing device, and determining whether or not the first image processing device establishes wireless communication with a portable terminal; and adjusting to relatively lower a radio field strength from the first image processing device below the radio field strength from the second image processing device when the first image processing device determines not to establish wireless communication with the portable terminal.

Abstract: The disclosed systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer programs embodied on computer-readable media may enable a shipping carrier to determine the utilization of a trailer in a delivery network by receiving and aggregating disparate types and sources of shipping information, including, for example, package billing data from a customer order, scan data from the loading and unloading of packages transported by the trailer, dimensional data received from dimensional scans of packages at carrier shipping hubs, and/or trailer data including the volume of the trailer. Utilization may be determined for each trailer in a carrier delivery network or for a subset of trailers in the network. The determined utilizations may be used to determine the parameters for an optimized delivery network, which may include the addition, elimination, and/or modification of the delivery schedule.

Abstract: An approach for generating programming for a system is disclosed where a user answers initial hardware and configuration questions and an application controlled by a processor generates a program using multi-associational data model for execution by a system controller, points list, point cross reference list, sequence of operation, commissioning checklist, functional tests, and flowchart.

Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure relates to providing players pricing of in-game virtual items associated with their experience and their progress in the game. For example, the first player and the second player may have similar triggers, similar in-game events, and actually have different prices and currencies inside each story depending on each player's progress in the game, thus creating an individualized experience that may alter from player to player.

Abstract: Price for one or more products is optimized by considering competitor and/or consumer behavior relating to the products. A control set is generated to include one or more products. Also, a test set is generated to include one or more products of the same type as products in the control set. A feature of the products in the test set is changed while the feature of the products in the control set is maintained. Competitor and/or consumer response to the change is measured. Based on the response, a recommendation is generated with respect to the feature of the products in the test set. According to one implementation the recommendation may be a recommendation to lower the price of the products in the test set.

Abstract: Techniques are described for estimating and managing an amount of data change for query processing. Embodiments of the present disclosure may generally receive a query to be executed and calculate an estimated amount of data change for the received query. If the initial estimated amount of data change for the received query does not exceed a threshold amount of data change, embodiments of the present disclosure may submit the query for execution. If the initial estimated amount of data change for the received query does exceed a threshold amount of data change, embodiments of the present disclosure may halt the execution of the query.

Abstract: An indicator can be received from a client device. The indicator can indicate an agreement by a user of the client device to share device resources of the client device with an entity distinct from the client device and distinct from the user of the client device. Responsive to receiving from the mobile device the indicator indicating the agreement of the user of the of the mobile device to share the device resources of the mobile device with the entity, a level of a quality of service provided by a communication network to the mobile device can be increased. The mobile device can be allowed to enter sleep mode only after a particular duration of time in which use of the device resources has been shared or when a charge level of a battery providing power to the mobile device falls below a threshold level.

Abstract: An indicator can be received from a client device. The indicator can indicate an agreement by a user of the client device to share device resources of the client device with an entity distinct from the client device and distinct from the user of the client device. Responsive to receiving from the mobile device the indicator indicating the agreement of the user of the of the mobile device to share the device resources of the mobile device with the entity, a level of a quality of service provided by a communication network to the mobile device can be increased. The mobile device can be allowed to enter sleep mode only after a particular duration of time in which use of the device resources has been shared or when a charge level of a battery providing power to the mobile device falls below a threshold level.

Abstract: A system and method for modeling a lighting control system for an enterprise is provided comprising an application (App) on a mobile device, or laptop, or personal computer, or other like device, that can communicate electronically with a webpage accessible by the internet or local area network or wide area network, wherein the webpage represents a program, and the program provides for the receiving, storing, and processing of lighting control system specified information on a space-by-space basis, and further wherein a unique part number for the space-based lighting control system can be generated for the particular space, such that delivery of individual, but substantially integrated space-based lighting control systems, can be delivered to the spaces for installation in the enterprise location.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer readable medium for usage billing of one or more hosted applications serving one or more clients. The hosted applications are contained within one or more isolated environments or run without isolated environments. The system may include usage billing based on one or more of resources open, amount of data flowing through resources, number of open files, number of transactions, number of concurrent users, number of processes, CPU utilization and memory usage, The system may further include a management interface where administrators may add, remove and configure isolated environments, configure client policies and credentials, and force upgrades. If using isolated environments, the isolated environments may be isolated from other applications and the host operating system on the clients and applications within the isolated environments may run without performing an application-installation on the client.

Abstract: Systems and methods are directed to a computing device for selecting a set of representative items from a set of items using a maximum-set-coverage selection strategy. The computing device may derive an associated collection of elements from the set of items. The computing device may determine a marginal utility value for the item based on elements related to the review. The computing device may similarly determine the marginal utility value for each item in the set and may select the item in the set having the highest marginal utility value. The computing device may remove elements related to the selected item from the associated collection of elements, determine updated marginal utility values for the items based on the remaining elements, and select another item having the highest updated marginal utility value. The computing device may repeat the above process until a number of items that is desired has been selected.

Abstract: A price calculator may receive a pricing request for at least one item, the at least one item priced in accordance with a pricing schema including a plurality of price components. The price calculator may include a parallel price calculator configured to retrieve a parallel calculation flow handling procedure corresponding to the at least one item and designating at least two price subcomponents common to the price components. The price calculator may then calculate the at least two price subcomponents for the price components in parallel, using the parallel calculation flow handling procedure.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for dynamic modification of interruptibility settings of network-accessible resources are disclosed. A system includes a resource manager and a plurality of resource instances, each of which has an interruptibility setting. In response to an instance acquisition request, the resource manager allocates an instance with a first interruptibility setting, allowing the resource manager to revoke the client's access to the instance without a notification. In response to an approval of an interruptibility upgrade request, the resource manager modifies the interruptibility setting to a second setting that allows the client to retain access to the instance for at least a specified time. Respective billing amounts for the client's use of the instance are determined for each of the interruptibility settings used.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for managing waste. The system may have a first portal configured to receive input indicative of a customer service opportunity, a second portal configured to receive input indicative of a vendor's acceptance of the customer service opportunity, and a central processing unit in electronic communication with the first and second portals. The central processing unit may be configured to determine, from a list of registered vendors stored in memory, a shorter list of vendors capable of accommodating the customer service opportunity. The central processing unit may also be configured to offer the customer service opportunity to at least one vendor on the shorter list of vendors via the second portal, to receive an acceptance from the at least one vendor via the second portal to accommodate the customer service opportunity, and to automatically generate at least one contract based on the acceptance.

Abstract: An approach is provided for processing status information for one or more points of interest to determine the changes for generation of various representations for presenting in a user interface. The approach involves processing and/or facilitating a processing of status information associated with one or more points of interest to determine one or more point-of-interest changes. The approach also involves causing, at least in part, a generation of one or more representations of the one or more point-of-interest changes, one or more transitions between the one or more point-of-interest changes, or a combination thereof. The approach further involves causing, at least in part, a presentation of the one or more representations in at least one point-of-interest user interface.

Abstract: Decision systems and processes implementing digital personas are presented. A digital persona is a digital representation of an entity in accordance with a specific set of rules, preferences, or priorities with respect to a defined situation or opportunity. A digital persona may interact with a universe, which can be a set of conditions and information that an artificial intelligence engine implementing the digital personas can perceive. The digital personas can learn, via the artificial intelligence engine, from actions of a user, events in the universe, other personas, or a multitude of other factors. In some examples discussed, the artificial intelligence engine may include a persona artificial intelligence engine and an evolutionary artificial intelligence engine.

Abstract: The concepts described herein include a storage access system including two access paths using different path configurations resulting in the ability to do a two part boot from the same boot memory. The two storage access paths address the boot memory using a globally unique identifier. The first storage path is a slower path that transfers instructions from the boot memory to configure the second storage path used to transfer the operating system from the boot memory.

Abstract: This invention discloses how Virtual Database Technology can be used to make disparate data appear to be (or act as) the sort of uniform data one expects to find within a single relational database. In particular, we show how to process queries similar to those one might use in a database, even though the underlying data may be missing some of the capabilities that are required by normal databases. Whereas traditional databases require that all the tuples in a table be stored, our approach allows queries over tables where the tuples are generated as required from the data sources, and may not be stored anywhere. We show how such facilities can be used as a new foundation for Internet search.

Abstract: Certain embodiments involve enhancing personalization of a virtual-commerce environment by identifying an augmented-reality visual of the virtual-commerce environment. For example, a system obtains a data set that indicates a plurality of augmented-reality visuals generated in a virtual-commerce environment and provided for view by a user. The system obtains data indicating a triggering user input that corresponds to a predetermined user input provideable by the user as the user views an augmented-reality visual of the plurality of augmented-reality visuals. The system obtains data indicating a user input provided by the user. The system compares the user input to the triggering user input to determine a correspondence (e.g., a similarity) between the user input and the triggering user input. The system identifies a particular augmented-reality visual of the plurality of augmented-reality visuals that is viewed by the user based on the correspondence and stores the identified augmented-reality visual.

Abstract: An automotive near field communication (NFC) application that includes a process which is implemented as a mobile software application and uses near field communication tags to store and retrieve automotive vehicle information is disclosed. The process does not need a user to access the VIN and then manually enter or scan the VIN. In this process the VIN is written to an NFC tag using an NFC enabled mobile device and placed on the vehicle. A user can bump, touch, or place the NFC enabled mobile device on the NFC tag to retrieve the VIN. The application is configured to generate a vehicle value or vehicle report based, in part, on vehicle information received from the NFC tag.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for a feature clustering of users, user correlation database access, and user interface generation system. The system can obtain information stored in different databases located across geographic regions, and determine unique users from the different information. The information can be included in unique records in the databases, with each record describing a particular user, and with each user described with imperfect identifying information. The system can analyze the different information utilizing machine learning models, and can associate each record with a particular unique user. The system can obtain identifications of items associated with each user, and determine the propensity of the user to disassociate with one or more items, or determine likelihoods of future association with different items not presently associated with the user.

Abstract: The invention relates to the supplying power by means of a switching device (COM) connected to a plurality of facilities (A, B, C) by means of cables capable of transporting power (IeA, IeB, IeC). Said method comprises in particular the connection (120) of one of the cables (IeA), connected to one of said facilities (A), referred to as the requesting facility, to at least another one of the cables (IeB, IeC), connected to at least another one of said facilities (B, C), referred to as supply facilities, by means of the switching device, in accordance with at least one negotiation message consistent with a telecommunications signalling protocol, exchanged between energy-management device (EGEA, EGEB) installed in said demand and supply facilities. Following said connection, an amount of power is transported (130) from the at least one supply facility to the requesting facility, via the cables connected by means of the switching device.

Abstract: A billing charge calculation method for use in a sheet manufacturing apparatus that manufactures a sheet using a material including a fiber, includes: acquiring a quantity of output of the manufactured sheets; and calculating a billing charge according to the quantity of the output of the sheets, in which, in the calculating of the billing charge, a charge that includes a quantity-based charge which is obtained by multiplying the quantity of the output of the sheets by a charge per unit quantity is calculated as the billing charge.

Abstract: A method for execution by a dispersed storage and task (DST) processing unit includes obtaining audit records for an audit object and determining when the audit object is complete. When the audit object is complete, aggregating the audit records of the audit object within the audit object by generating the audit object to include the audit records; generating identifier (ID) information and generating integrity information. Fields of the audit object are populated with the audit records, the ID information, and the integrity information and a name of the audit object is determined for storage of the audit object and the name of the audit object in a dispersed storage network (DSN).

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, facilitate determining information about an object included in an image. In one aspect, a method includes: identifying an image; identifying a specific object included in the image; identifying data associated with the image; determining both a dimension of the specific object and a construction material of the specific object using the identified data; and outputting the dimension and the construction material of the specific object.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for a retail energy marketing system including a server interacting with a remote display device, a sponsor, an energy market organization, and a set of financial services companies. The server executes an application for servicing customers while interacting with the remote display device and a sponsor application for sponsors to set up advertising and incentives for the retail energy marketing system. The server also executes a database, an ESI ID lookup application for validating customer eligibility for services and an accounting application for EMO energy usage transactions, EMO invoice transactions, customer bills, customer payments, treatment operations, customer incentives and sponsor commissions. A remote display device is placed at a retail location where customers can sign-up for energy services, view and print their billing and payment histories, and pay their bills. In return for using the remote display device, customers may receive incentives from the sponsor.

Abstract: A system and method of tracking the position and status of plants or plant parts in a greenhouse or other growing area using identification tags such as RFID tags is disclosed.

Abstract: A method and a related electronic device for selecting, from a plurality of candidate video frame sets, a candidate video frame set to be inserted in a video frame slot of a given video content. It comprises obtaining the plurality of candidate video frame sets according to ranking values of a sorting parameter associated with each of the candidate video frame sets, thereby obtaining a list of candidate video frame sets and for each candidate video frame set of the list, determining a processing cost for inserting the candidate video frame set and applying the processing cost for obtaining an updated candidate video frame set ranking value according to the sorting parameter. The list is then sorted according to the updated ranking values of the sorting parameter and a selection of a candidate video frame set of the sorted list according to the updated ranking value.

Abstract: A technology is described for a load time updatable driver. An example method may include presenting a driver interface to a computing instance launched in a computing service environment that enables the computing instance to interact with a virtualized resource, where the driver interface is an interface to driver functionality that enables the computing instance to interact with the virtualized resource via a hypervisor. Context information for the computing instance may be obtained and the context information may be used to identify a driver image for the virtualized resource that enables the computing instance to interact with the virtualized resource. The driver image for the virtualized resource may be obtained and the driver image may be loaded into computer memory and registered with the driver interface.

Abstract: A system for determining product pricing for a product category receives a non-linear problem for the product category, in which the non-linear problem includes a demand model. For a plurality of pair of products in the product category, the system determines coefficients for a change in demand of a first product when a price of a second product is changed. The system then generates an approximate Mixed Integer Linear Programming (“MILP”) problem that includes a change of demand based on a sum of the determined coefficients. The system then solves the MILP problem to obtain a MILP solution, which provides the product pricing.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing automated data processing as a function of database entries that correspond to one or more products, such as experiences and including those performed via video and/or social media electronic communication(s), are disclosed. According to exemplary innovations, computer implemented methods of performing automated data processing herein may involve a platform that provides and processes experiences and products via GUIs, graphical indicia, and access rights as a function of product type identifiers and/or Boolean flags. Additional processing performed via the platform may include, e.g., as also performed as a function of the product type identifiers and the Boolean flags, automatically generating differing GUIs as well as scheduling and managing fulfillment of the experiences, wherein processing regarding the various information being generated for, displayed to, and transacted between the customer and the individual (i.e.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems, methods and computer program products for an a la carte amenity, special service, food/beverage and accommodation feature search and booking engines. Aspects of the present invention allow customers to identify, via arbitrary search, amenities and/or special services (including food/beverage) available at lodging facilities, restaurants clubs/lounges/bars, dwellings and travel accommodation venues. Customers are thereby presented with goods and services matching or related to their query items and are permitted to select and common desired feature options and book, reserve or purchase their selection; optionally including the booking of an accommodation such as a room or table at a restaurant as well.

Abstract: It is provided a method, an apparatus, and a system for processing a numerical value in sending information using sound waves. The method mainly includes: generating intermediate values from the numerical value which is to be converted into a short link, wherein a number of the intermediate values is equal to a number of characters included in the short link, the numerical value and the short link have a relationship as 10.^(M?1)<X.^N; obtaining characters each corresponding to a respective one of the intermediate values from a preset mapping table between the intermediate values and the characters; joining together the characters to obtain the short link; and transmitting the obtained short link using sound waves. Therefore, the application range of sending information using sound waves can be extended, and the usage of sending information using sound waves can be enhanced.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a system and a method for managing supply of service. The system may include at least one processor that performs the operations including receiving a plurality of orders for a service; marking a locus based on the plurality of orders, the marked locus relating to a first number of orders of the plurality of orders, the first number of orders sharing a first characteristic, and the marked locus relating to a first location; and identifying at least one provider of the service to whom information relating to the marked locus is to be delivered.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for auditing of transactions involving the sale of travel services by an indirect seller. An auditing module receives data defining a transaction proposed by the indirect seller. The module compares a quoted price for the transaction to a correct price for the transaction to determine if there is a pricing discrepancy. If a discrepancy exists, the module classifies the transaction and searches a business rules database maintained by a travel service provider for business rules relevant to the classification. The audit module further queries a historical sales deviation database to retrieve seller history data, and selects the relevant business rule having the best match to the seller history data. The audit module then determines whether to allow or block the transaction, issue a warning, or suggest an Agency Debit Memo based on an action defined by the business rule having the best match.

Abstract: Techniques for optimizing power and computational density of data centers are described. According to various embodiments, a benchmark test is performed by a computer data center system. Thereafter, transaction information and power consumption information associated with the performance of the benchmark test are accessed. A service efficiency metric value is then generated based on the transaction information and the power consumption information, the service efficiency metric value indicating a number of transactions executed via the computer data center system during a specific time period per unit of power consumed in executing the transactions during the specific time period. The generated service efficiency metric value is then compared to a target threshold value. Thereafter, a performance summary report indicating the generated service efficiency metric value, and indicating a result of the comparison of the generated service efficiency metric value to the target value, is generated.

Abstract: Cloud computing has emerged as an extremely popular implementation option for a wide range of computing services. However, provisioning services into the cloud is an extremely difficult technical challenge. This is due in part to the regular emergence of new cloud service providers, as well as the routine changing and reconfiguration of the disparate computing platforms, services, assets, supported technical components, and other features offered by the service providers. An analysis architecture determines how to map a particular technical component into the execution environment of any particular service provider, including translation through a reference type.

Abstract: Cloud computing has emerged as an extremely popular implementation option for a wide range of computing services. However, provisioning services into the cloud is an extremely difficult technical challenge. This is due in part to the regular emergence of new cloud service providers, as well as the routine changing and reconfiguration of the disparate computing platforms, services, assets, supported technical components, and other features offered by the service providers. An analysis architecture determines how to map a particular technical component into the execution environment of any particular service provider with the aid of translation scripts.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for routing a service request to an appropriate web service. A first service request is routed from a first web service to a second web service. Routing factors associated with the second web service are monitored. A determination is made as to whether the routing factors indicate that the second web service is no longer appropriate for handling service requests. If the routing factors indicate that the first web service is no longer appropriate for handling service requests, then a second service request is routed from the first web service to a third web service. The first web service, the second web service, and the third web service are included in a composite service.

Abstract: Methods and systems enable optimized placement of wavelength shifters in optical networks. The wavelength shifters may include O-E-O regenerators for a single wavelength and all optical wavelength shifters for one or more wavelengths. An auxiliary graph is used to represent various links in a provisioned optical path. By applying cost values to each of the links, different types of optimizations for network resource utilization may be realized.

Abstract: There is a provided manufacturing process management support device that has an input means for inputting information indicative of the fact that work related to a manufacturing process is performed, and is capable of increasing the reliability of result information. A handy terminal 10 is used to input relevant information at the start of work for adjusting a machine that processes a processing target, at the completion of such adjustment work, and at the completion of processing work. The results of these inputs are supplied to a support tool execution server 50 through a factory result collection PC 20 and a progress server 30. The support tool execution server 50 calculates the percentage of inputs actually made and causes a display 52 to display the calculated percentage, thereby making it viewable by factory workers.

Abstract: A mobile terminal device is connected to a network using a packet routing function of another mobile terminal device. Communication between respective mobile terminal devices can be performed in each of a plurality of tethering connection systems. When performing tethering communication, a mobile terminal device having tethering function becomes a master device and a mobile terminal device having no tethering function becomes a slave device. When both mobile terminal devices have tethering function, one mobile terminal devices becomes the master device and the other becomes the slave device. Before starting the tethering communication, state information for calculating an expected battery operating time of each mobile terminal device is acquired. A tethering connection system and a master-slave relationship are selected to maximize the expected operating time based on the remaining battery level and the expected power consumption of each mobile terminal device when starting the tethering communication.

Abstract: A power generation system includes a first on-off valve that, with respect to a maintenance target device including at least one of a circulation pump, an evaporator, an expander, and a condenser in a medium circuit through which a medium with a boiling point lower than that of water circulates, is on an upstream side in a flow direction of the medium in the medium circuit, and is capable of shutting off the flow of the medium; a second on-off valve that is on a downstream side in the flow direction of the medium in the medium circuit, and is capable of shutting off the flow of the medium; a port that is communicable with the medium circuit between the first on-off valve and the second on-off valve; and a third on-off valve that is in the port.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for optimization of mixed-criticality systems. A plurality of strategies is received that are in a fixed order of criticality. For each strategy in the plurality of strategies, a multivariate objective function and a multivariate constraint in a multivariate decision variable is obtained. A number of strategies of the plurality of strategies that are feasible in combination are maximized. A solution that is feasible for the number of strategies that are feasible in combination is generated such that the objective of a least-critical strategy that is feasible in combination with the other strategies in the number of strategies is optimized.

Abstract: An online content management system determines a new account configuration to offer to a user, including the price and/or size of a user's quota of storage space in an account on the online content management system, based on usage characteristics of the account. An account management module tracks account usage. The account management module analyzes the account usage and applies a model to predict the willingness of the user to pay for a new account configuration. Responsive to the results of the prediction, the new account configuration is offered to the user. The user's feedback on the offered new account configuration is tracked. If the user accepts the offer, the user's account details are updated accordingly. If the user rejects the offer, this feedback may be added as input into future predictions of that user's willingness to pay for a new account configuration.

Abstract: Various embodiments may be generally directed to techniques and an apparatus to generate a plurality of rate indices from the historical rate information for one or more products, each of the rate indices associated with a different lead time, and determine a rate index from the plurality of rate indices associated with an optimal lead time based on a maximum correlation between the rate index and a reputation index, the reputation index based on the historical reputation information for the one or more products. In addition, a multiple linear regression model comprising one or more parameters may be generated using the rate index, the reputation index, and one or more indicator values, the multiple linear regression model may be used to determine a reputation impacted rate for a product.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining the cost of operating a vehicle over a defined period of time. The method proceeds by establishing, on a database, a schedule of anticipated future repairs for a plurality of vehicle types, the repair schedule including the cost of the repairs and the approximate mileage at which the anticipated future repair(s) are expected to become necessary. A processor, in communication with the database, receives information identifying a particular of vehicle, and the present mileage associated with that particular vehicle. Using the vehicle type information, the vehicle's present mileage information and the repair schedule, the processor then computes the approximate total future repair costs for maintaining the vehicle over a defined period of time.

Abstract: Techniques for optimizing power and computational density of data centers are described. According to various embodiments, a benchmark test is performed by a computer data center system. Thereafter, transaction information and power consumption information associated with the performance of the benchmark test are accessed. A service efficiency metric value is then generated based on the transaction information and the power consumption information, the service efficiency metric value indicating a number of transactions executed via the computer data center system during a specific time period per unit of power consumed in executing the transactions during the specific time period. The generated service efficiency metric value is then compared to a target threshold value. Thereafter, a performance summary report indicating the generated service efficiency metric value, and indicating a result of the comparison of the generated service efficiency metric value to the target value, is generated.

Abstract: A programmatic interface is implemented, enabling a client of a stream management service to select a data ingestion policy for a data stream. A client request selecting an at-least-once ingestion policy is received. In accordance with the at-least-once policy, a client may transmit an indication of a data record one or more times to the service until a positive acknowledgement is received. In response to receiving a plurality of transmissions indicating a particular data record, respective positive acknowledgements are sent to the client. Based on a persistence policy selected for the stream, copies of the data record are stored at one or more storage locations in response to one particular transmission of the plurality of transmissions.