Abstract: An introduction system is capable of identifying, with a high degree of precision, applicants who fulfill recruiter's requirements. An applicant identification unit 81 identifies applicants who satisfy minimum criteria on the basis of images input by applicants and a threshold image set for use in discriminating the minimum criteria for determining whether a recruiter is satisfied. A notification unit 82 notifies the recruiter of the applicants identified by the applicant identification unit 81. The introduction system may further include a threshold image set determination unit that determines the threshold image set on the basis of a result of a determination made by the recruiter on whether a sample image set prepared as samples fulfill the recruiter's requirements.

Abstract: Techniques for assessing a resiliency level in an information technology system and architecting the information technology system in accordance with the resiliency level are disclosed. An estimated resiliency level may be estimated from different system characteristics to obtain an estimated resiliency level for the information technology system. The cost and the degree of effort to design for the information technology system may be estimated from the estimated resiliency level. The resiliency level may be further determined from different system factors. Consequently, a specification for a resiliency feature is obtained by accessing a set of resiliency guidelines based on the resiliency level and a technology theme. The resiliency feature may then be applied to the information technology system.

Abstract: Methods for generating a list of similar organization members are described. In one embodiment, organization information associated with a plurality of members of an organization may be received. The organization information for each one of the plurality of members may include a first element and a second element. A first weight may be assigned to the first element and a second weight may be assigned to the second element. Finally, a plurality of proximity values may be generated based at least in part on the first weight and the second weight. Each one of the plurality of proximity values may be associated with a different one of the plurality of members.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, system, and/or computer program product assigns work to a software factory for implementing a project. A project model of a project is generated. Project model subcomponents are mapped to work packets that are available to a software factory, thus leading to the generation of a work plan for performing the project via an execution of the available work packets.

Abstract: Technician control, in which a control system is configured to control scheduling and dispatch operations for work orders being handled by technicians. Multiple technician devices are each associated with one or more technicians, are configured to communicate, over a network, with the control system, and also are configured to provide output in response to communications that are received from the control system and that are related to the scheduling and dispatch operations performed by the control system. A set of scheduling configuration options may be pre-defined and user input weighting at least one of the scheduling configuration options relative to other of the scheduling configuration options may be received. A scheduling application used by the control system to perform scheduling operations may be configured based on configuration data that reflects the weighting and scheduling operations may be performed using the configured scheduling application.

Abstract: An information capture, processing and retrieval (“ICPR”) system shared by multiple buyers, suppliers and workers concurrently and a method of operating the same. In one embodiment, the ICPR system includes an order documentation subsystem configured to document orders for the suppliers and the buyers with respect to the workers. Each of the orders specifies a different method of time capture for the workers assigned thereto. The ICPR system also includes a time capture subsystem configured to receive the different methods of time capture from the workers positioned in one of anchored and untethered locations assigned to the orders. In a related embodiment, the ICPR system further includes a time approval and buyer tagging subsystem configured to allow the buyers to label time worked by the workers corresponding to the buyers with one or more tags, thereby translating approved time of the workers into custom, internal terminology of the buyers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for developing a product. A product development environment comprises a system. The system further comprises a virtual product online world manager and a transformer. The virtual product online world manager is configured to manage elements for a product under development in a virtual product online world. The transformer is configured to exchange the elements with a number of product development systems developing the elements over a network.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods are disclosed to enhance implementation of a project where materials and services need to be provided at multiple locations and/or at multiple times. Using computer systems and communication networks, similar tasks to be iteratively performed are concentrated or collected in a task group. Electronic request transmissions are sent to providers identified to provide the materials and services, electronic responses to the requests are elicited from the providers, and the responses are automatically reviewed to determine that providers will provide the materials as needed. Criteria may be specified and used to automatically rank suitability of the one or more providers that may be used, and one or more objectives may be specified to automatically generate a schedule including the providers to be used.

Abstract: Each of a plurality of team members may define a task by providing data concerning a task to a centralized controller, wherein each task may be assigned any other team member of the plurality of team members. The controller may receive task event information from a first team member of the plurality of team members regarding a task, which task is associated within the controller with the first team member and a second team member. The controller subsequently sends updated task information, based on the task event information, to both the first team member and the second team member. Relevant to any given task, the task event information may comprise a task delegation indication, which may further comprise a non-delegation indication such that further delegation of the task in not permitted.

Abstract: A method and system of workforce related resource planning is disclosed. The method includes receiving workforce related resource data wherein the workforce related resource data includes demand data and supply data, disaggregating the demand data and the supply data and creating a probability distribution of a workforce gap between the demand data and supply data to quantify risk associated with workforce related resource planning.

Abstract: A system and method for providing temporary and limited grants of calendar access is provided. An invitee or its proxy may provide an event planner or time broker with a particular grant of calendar access comprising a date range, particular days of the week, and a particular time interval. The grant of calendar access allows the event planner to more easily identify a block of time for scheduling the particular event, the invitee calendar being updated in real-time. In some embodiments, the event planner may schedule the event and place the event directly on the invitee's calendar.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for calendar-based coverage monitoring are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method includes receiving a coverage rule defining at least one covering entity for performing an activity for a covered entity and at least one period of time during which the multiple covering entities is to perform the activity. Individual calendars for the at least one covering entity are monitored and a change in one of the calendars is detected. It is determined whether the change causes at least one of the coverage rule to be violated and a threshold criteria to be met, and in response to determining that the change causes at least one of the coverage rule to be violated and the threshold criteria to be me, automatically performing an action.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for scheduling subsidiary meeting locations can include sending an invitation to a selection of invitees to a meeting in a collaborative environment for at least one primary location. The method further can include processing both complete acceptances and declinations to the meeting from individual ones of the invitees for the primary location, and also partial acceptances to the meeting from a set of the invitees in the selection. In respect to the partial acceptances, an alternative location to the primary location can be determined which has not already been designated as an acceptable subsidiary location to the meeting. In response, when a number of invitees in the set of invitees exceed a threshold value, the alternative location can be designated as an acceptable subsidiary location to the meeting. Consequently, acceptances can be processed for the set of invitees.

Abstract: A work support method is adapted to a work support apparatus having a skill information storage section to store skill information of workers, a work item information storage section to store work item information with respect to a work, and a work information storage section to store worker information of each work item with respect to the work. The work support method extracts a worker corresponding to each work item by referring to the skill information storage section and storing the extracted worker in the work information storage section, with respect to each work item stored in the work item information storage section, in response to a work order.

Abstract: A method of scheduling at least one meeting for a consumer involves matching the consumer to a first professional of a plurality of professionals based on information associated with the consumer and the plurality of professionals, where the first professional is qualified to provide service to the consumer, scheduling a first meeting between the consumer and the first professional, and notifying the consumer and the first professional about the first meeting using information associated with the first meeting.

Abstract: A computerized visitation registration and scheduling system provides the department of corrections the ability to have inmates and visitors schedule visits through an automated interface, such as a telephone interface, or the internet. The system allows, for example, the ability for potential visitors to perform a registration process with little to no manual overhead requirements of department of corrections employees. Secondly, potential visitors, once approved, are able to schedule inmate visits without necessarily having to burden department of corrections employees.

Abstract: A computer guided geocoded route service sales and deliveries method and apparatus optimizing geomarketing, financial and sales, and improved logistics along delivery routes using operator transmitters/receivers inputs of route information in one mode, which receive and display to the operator in another mode computer generated pricing, sales, financial and marketing information, optimal routes, and other related information concerning each customer and distribution point of interest along a route, which are displayed or not, to the operator as he/she reaches the particular latitude and longitude of a point of interest enforcing the operator to act as it is indicated.

Abstract: A system and method for assembling a virtual agency. In one embodiment, the agency is an advertising agency. Based on a client's needs and requirements, a virtual team is assembled to meet the project needs.

Abstract: As provided, a method of integration of hardware, software and vendor labor in software development pipeline management that comprises providing, for each of multiple projects in a software project pipeline, a set of inputs that includes 1) timing, 2) demand inputs, 3) supply inputs. The method further comprises aggregating the inputs. The method further comprises identifying one or more constraints in the software development pipeline when the demand inputs and the supply inputs are not in balance with the input timing.

Abstract: A forecasting system is disclosed that allows a user to create a project or body of work, define attributes for that project, select relevant historical data from a repository of historical data, and create a project forecast by scaling the historical data appropriately. The project forecast may include costs and workforce utilization forecasts. The workforce utilization and supply-demand forecast data may be broken down by trade, and the system may provide demographic and geographic information relevant to the workforce. In order to provide a rich corpus of historical data, certified payroll reports, or other sources that provide data down to the level of the individual worker, may be used to generate the cost and workforce forecasts.

Abstract: Disclosed are new approaches for scheduling workers at remote locations. Work assignments may be organized into shifts associated with one or more workers and one or more recipients. Tasks are associated with the shift and have an updatable status. Shifts may be replicated by cutting and pasting or by specifying a recurrence definition. The tasks associated with a shift may then be replicated. The status of tasks may be updated using a voice telephony system. The status of tasks may also be reported from a computer located on the recipient premise. Text and/or voice comments and the task status may be accessible by managers, clients, and concerned parties from a web portal accessible using a computing device, such as a tablet computer. Methods for automatically associating providers with shifts and verifying eligibility of providers and recipients are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method, system, computer program product, or a combination of the foregoing and apparatus for developing and maintaining a resource plan and allocating resources to the projects within the resource plan. A user interface allows adding, editing, or deleting of resources and a drag and drop feature for allocating a resource to a project, thus making resource planning and management easy, intuitive, and cost-effective for resource managers or other users. Resource plans or groups of resources may be checked out when edited, thus preventing other users from allocating the same resources to different projects. The resources plans are displayed in a plurality of dashboards that summarize the resource plan in a number of ways, including by resource plan, project, group, resource, cost, demand, capacity, and in graphical form. Users have the ability to narrow the display of the dashboards by resource plan, project, group, resource, or timeframe.

Abstract: In a remote technical support system, a technical support controller receives an indication of a maximum number of support sessions to be serviced by a remote technician. Thereafter, the technical support controller receives a service request for a user device, which service request is classified into a category and added to a preliminary queue corresponding to the category. The technical support controller determines if handling of the service request by the remote technician would cause the number of support sessions currently being handled by the remote technician to exceed the previously-indicated maximum number of support sessions. If not, the service request is added to a work queue for the remote technician and removed from the preliminary queue.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that create a secure electronically recorded log utilizable in the field of emergency response material spill remediation. The system can receive information regarding a spill incident, wherein the information includes an approximate location of the spill incident or a description of a material spilt, populate the secure electronically recorded log with a geolocation code associated with the spill incident, wherein the geolocation code is ascertained as a function of the approximate location of the spill incident, and communicate a notification to a Project Manager assigned to oversee remediation of the spill incident or a representative of a client that supplied the information regarding the spill incident.

Abstract: A topic map based indexing apparatus analyzes community Q/A lists to acquire Q/A analysis information, removes redundant answers depending on the Q/A analysis information, removes insignificant answers based on the degree of reliability, ranks answer lists, and extracts the highest ranking answer as a best answer, to thereby store, in a community Q/A topic map, index information containing the community Q/A lists and the Q/A analysis information. A topic map based searching apparatus analyzes a user question to acquire question analysis information, searches similar questions from community Q/A lists belonging to a specific topic node of a pre-stored community Q/A topic map, ranks the searched similar questions depending on the question analysis information, removes redundant answers among answers to the ranked similar questions, ranks the answers, and extracts the highest ranking answer as a best answer.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods and systems for connecting and facilitating communication among healthcare volunteers, organizations, patients and donors are disclosed. A matching system to match volunteers, donors, organizations and patients to coordinate and manage providing low cost or free health care services is disclosed. An donation inventory management system is also disclosed. Dynamic volunteer coordination methods for responding to public health events are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that assesses the importance of projects in a portfolio of projects and allocates labor resources to multiple concurrent projects is provided. The method includes specifying clear project schedules that are readily testable for various projects and using labor categories for project schedule tasks requiring labor resources. The present design determines each project team member's productivity for each supported labor category and allocates project team members to the project tasks on a periodic basis such that the most important project tasks receive the most productive available project team members for each project's specified labor categories.

Abstract: A system for directing behavior of a first patient of a plurality of patients towards a behavioral objective includes a patient behavioral path calculator, a patient goal calculator, and a patient monitoring processor. The system also includes an information communication processor and a statistical processor. The patient behavioral path calculator calculates a patient behavioral path based on a statistical profile. The patient goal calculator calculates patient goals along the patient behavioral path toward a behavioral objective. The statistical processor can modify the statistical profile based on a response to a targeted message sent by the information communication processor.

Abstract: A system for directing behavior of a first patient of a plurality of patients towards a behavioral objective includes a patient behavioral path calculator, a patient goal calculator, and a patient monitoring processor. The system also includes an information communication processor and a statistical processor. The patient behavioral path calculator calculates a patient behavioral path based on a statistical profile. The patient goal calculator calculates patient goals along the patient behavioral path toward a behavioral objective. The statistical processor can modify the statistical profile based on a response to a targeted message sent by the information communication processor.

Abstract: A system for directing behavior of a first patient of a plurality of patients towards a behavioral objective includes a patient behavioral path calculator, a patient goal calculator, and a patient monitoring processor. The system also includes an information communication processor and a statistical processor. The patient behavioral path calculator calculates a patient behavioral path based on a statistical profile. The patient goal calculator calculates patient goals along the patient behavioral path toward a behavioral objective. The statistical processor can modify the statistical profile based on a response to a targeted message sent by the information communication processor.

Abstract: The present embodiments relate to starting a role-specific workflow in a medical-technical system. A user of the medical-technical system may be authenticated. A role may be assigned to the user. A replacement of a component of the medical-technical system may be identified using an electronic serial number stored in the component. The role-specific workflow may be started when the replacement of the component is identified. A service delivery may be more heavily standardized and optimized by automatically assigning the workflow. As a result, service results may improve and customer satisfaction may increase.

Abstract: A system and method for managing requests for services, in particular via the use of the Internet, where requests for service may be refined before they are accepted. In response to the receipt of a service request from a service requester, a work order is created and routed to one or more of the service providers for the purpose of having one or more of the selected service providers indicate an acceptance of the work order. This work order can be later refined, for example if changes need to be made, especially in response to queries from the service providers.

Abstract: A method for scheduling security of real property via an interactive system for reporting, tracking, and rectifying security items and incidences in a real property site.

Abstract: A method and system for calculating pipeline integrity business risk score for a pipeline network is provided. The method includes a step of first calculating a structural risk score, an operational risk score and a commercial risk score for each pipeline segment in a pipeline network. The method further includes calculating pipeline integrity business risk score for each pipeline segment. The structural risk score, operational risk score, commercial risk score and pipeline integrity business risk score for each pipeline segment is rolled-up to calculate the respective risk scores of a pipeline network. The rolled-up risk scores are calculated by computing weight factors for each pipeline segment, relative risk scores weight of each pipeline segment and relative risk scores contribution of each pipeline segment. The system of the invention comprises executable files, dynamic linked libraries and risk score computing modules configured to display the risk scores using a dashboard.

Abstract: A labor resource decision support system, in which labor resource data is maintained across multiple units within an organization using a standardized data record format. A demand measurement for a first type of labor resource having a unique combination of values for fields of the standardized data record format is determined based on input describing forecasted demand for the first type of labor resource within the organization and a supply measurement for the first type of labor resource is determined based on input describing forecasted supply for the first type of labor resource within the organization and the labor resource data. A gap measurement is calculated based on the determined demand measurement and the determined supply measurement and an output is provided based on the calculated gap measurement.

Abstract: A critical date management system includes a critical date management module (CDM), project management system, and flow management system in which the CDM dynamically and automatically links activities and tasks in an overall project. Once a project plan is submitted to the CDM, the individual tasks are dynamically assembled together along with all dependencies and temporal data to create a complete end-to-end process flow containing all of the interdependent tasks. The assembled flow is then submitted to the flow management system for execution. The modular approach allows for the dynamic creation of a complete end-to-end delivery flow for different projects and project changes without the need for complex contingency logic. The result is a service delivery process that is customized for each new project. Additionally, when changes are made to an active project plan, manual recalculating of coordinated activities will be performed by the critical date management system.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are computer-implemented methods, computing systems, and related technologies that may be used for determining the optimal number of Full Time Equivalents (FTEs) that should be engaged by a service provider in order to provide a service to an insurance company. Multiple service level agreements (SLAs) exists between the service provider and the insurance company, each of which indicates that the service provider must complete a given percentage of assigned tasks for the service within a given time period. A resource optimization application (ROA) determines how many FTEs the service provider should employ, in order to complete assigned tasks as required by the SLAs. The ROA determines the number of FTEs based on factors such as an average handling time (AHT) for the tasks, the capacity of the service provider, historical data that describes tasks previously assigned to the service provider, and other factors.

Abstract: A method of selecting potential hires for progression through a hiring process is provided. The method comprises selecting at least one performance indicator for a position, obtaining the at least one performance indicator for a plurality of incumbents in the position, and placing each incumbent in the plurality of incumbents along a performance continuum according to their performance indicator. The method also comprises surveying incumbents from at least both halves of the performance continuum, generating an ideal profile for the position based upon the incumbent survey and the at least one performance indicator of the incumbents, using a survey to generate a candidate profile of a potential hire, comparing the candidate profile of the potential hire with the ideal profile to determine a result for the potential hire, and determining whether to progress the potential hire to a next stage in the hiring process based upon the result.

Abstract: A teaching apparatus for enterprise input-output includes a base, said base defining a market system; a first block body defining a management module; a plurality of bands defining a production system and a product development system module, and a business system module, each band being sandwiched between two adjacent cuboids of the first block body; a vertical column defining a planning system module; a second block body defining a strategy module; a reverse quadrangle cone defining an information processing module; a cuboid vertical column disposed at a top of the reverse quadrangle cone; and a core solid column defining an internal information system, the core solid column penetrating through a center of the first block body, the bands, the vertical column, the second block body, the reverse quadrangle cone, and the cuboid vertical column.

Abstract: A method and system for measuring transferability of workers between and among occupations by means of the mathematical relationships between those occupations' key attributes, as defined by publicly available data on the competencies required as specified by a complete catalog of U.S. occupations known as O*NET. This method provides a concise, informative measurement for comparing the relative requirements of Abilities, Skills, Knowledge, and other relevant attributes of occupations, enabling users to gauge the feasibility of transferring workers from one occupation to another.

Abstract: A technique for associating privileges to people within an organization involves: maintaining for each of a plurality of objects an identification of an owner; maintaining for each of the objects an identification of at least one privilege associated therewith; and defining a role associated with a selected owner, the role identifying a privilege set containing at least one of the privileges, and the role having a criteria that defines which of a plurality of subjects are eligible to enjoy the privilege set, each privilege in the privilege set being associated with one of the objects associated with the selected owner.

Abstract: A method for conveying application information for power tools is disclosed. In one embodiment, information describing a task which is to be performed by a handheld tool is accessed. In one embodiment, the handheld tool is a power tool. Based upon the information describing the task, at least one operating parameter for performing the task is conveyed to the handheld tool. The handheld tool is then configured with the at least one operating parameter prior to initiating the task.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods, systems, and computer program products for managing an information technology (IT) solution center. One method includes determining a list of priorities about activities based on a set of properties related to the activities, optimizing the activities based on the list of priorities, and assigning the optimized activities with correlated actions. The correlated actions can include at least one of (i) appointing one or more entries of the activities to customer relationship management and (ii) transferring one or more entries of the activities to a notification user interface. The method may further include maintaining a database associated with an industry IT solution center, wherein the database includes the activities and the set of properties related to the activities, and displaying issues, technical incidents, and alerts grouped according to a set of definitions.

Abstract: A system for providing feedback to a chairperson in an electronic meeting scheduling system to enable improved meeting resource management, in which a chairperson can indicate the attendance modes that are permitted for specific invitees to a meeting. The meeting invitations indicate to the invitees the attendance modes they are permitted to use. Meeting invitees are presented with user interface options allowing them to select from potentially multiple attendance modes, determined in response to inputs from the chairperson, and/or in response to information describing resources. As meeting resources are allocated to accepting invitees, those resources become unavailable for selection by subsequently accepting invitees. Meeting acceptances are collected such that indications of how accepting attendees will attend the meeting are made available in a chairperson interface so that the chairperson can adjust resources allocated for the meeting to reflect how accepting attendees are planning to attend.

Abstract: Mining human capital information includes defining one or more attributes of a communication group, extracting a target group by searching one or more of explicit and implicit data sources according to the defined attributes, communicating with the extracted target group, logging at least some of the communications, and analyzing the logged communications.

Abstract: A fair incentive calculating method with a reasonable amount of computation is performed by inputting a set of x jobs X={1, 2, . . . , x} and processing times of each worker {t(i)} (1?i?n) and providing a set of jobs W(A, X, t(i), t(?i)) assigned to each worker i, where A is a given scheduling algorithm; determining MaxInc(X, t(i)) by recursively solving MaxInc(X, t(i))=?_{w?X} t(i, Kind(w))+max_{s(i) ?Slower(t(i))} MaxInc(X, s(i)); and using the step of determining MaxInc(X, t(i)) to calculate an incentive NewInc(A, X, t(i), t(?i)) for each worker i based on NewInc(A, X, t(i), t(?i))=?_{w?W(A, X, t(i), t(?i))} t(i, Kind(w))+max_{s(i) ?Slower(t(i))} MaxInc(X, s(i)).

Abstract: In one aspect, a method to estimate training development hours includes receiving data on factors selected by a user using a user interface and using a computer processor to estimate training development hours based on the data on the factors. The method may further include determining the training development hours based on the data on the factors an assigned base development hours, estimated contact hours and an analysis percentage.

Abstract: A workflow system which restricts improper operations on an object circulated in a workflow by dynamically modifying access rights for the object according to the working status of the workflow. For example, the workflow system is a system which processes an object according to a workflow having a plurality of working statuses. When the working status for the object is changed, a modifying unit modifies access rights applied to the object. A control unit then controls operations on the object based on the modified access rights.

Abstract: A trust look-up protocol is described that allows a meta-trusted third party, or trust directory, to mediate between parties of potential business collaborations and trusted third parties that are counted on to authorize or otherwise validate the business collaborations. The trust directory receives a trust request for a collaboration from one or more parties, and, based on the request, determines a specialty of a trusted third party that is suited to the request and the collaboration. The trust directory then obtains interface information for the trusted third party for forwarding to the requesting party. In this way, the trusted third party may make a determination as to whether the requesting party should proceed in the business collaboration. Afterwards, the trust directory may monitor communications that take place as part of the collaboration, for use in evaluating future requests and collaborations.

Abstract: Project management is made easier and more effective by enabling a planner to define project roles for tasks of a project and then, separately search for actual resources that match the project roles.