Abstract: The present disclosure provides for analyzing expenditures by category. A file including expenditure data relating to spent monies is identified. The expenditure data from the file is extracted. An independent and a dependent variable relating to the expenditure data are determined. The expenditure data is graphed based on the determined variables. Conclusions are displayed based on the expenditure data.

Abstract: An agent based system utilizes a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)-based, Global Positioning System (GPS)-enabled information gathering agent that relies on knowledge of a shopper's physical location to support a shopping task while shopping at a mall. Shoppers indicate their shopping goals to the system. Then, as shoppers stroll through a mall, the system informs them of the availability of items of interest to them available in the immediately surrounding stores, as well as any cheaper local alternatives.

Abstract: Methods and systems consistent with the present invention provide for evaluating optimal claim handling. The process includes receiving information associated with claims. Based on the information associated with the claims, responses are provided to a set of queries contained in one or more questionnaires. Based on the responses to the queries, a loss economic opportunity is calculated which is associated with processing the plurality of claims based on the responses. Further, a best practice is determined based on the loss economic opportunity.

Abstract: Methods and systems consistent with the present invention provide a survey tool for allocating costs of a company. A survey is presented to an employee of the company via a network, for example, the Internet. The survey includes a list of activities and asks the employee to rank the activities based on the amount of time spent working on the activities. The survey also prompts the employee to provide information including average hours worked per week, job position, etc. A server receives the employee's responses and, using company information stored by the server, allocates costs of the company.

Abstract: A method and apparatus allow a customer service representative (CSR) to conduct personalized interaction based on the value of the customer to the organization. A customer seeking to interact with a CSR is first presented with a list of available interaction options. The list of available interaction options is based on the customer's value to the organization such that the more valuable a customer is, the more options that will be made available to him or her for the interaction. The present invention determines a customer's value to an organization by monitoring a customer's purchase history with respect to the organization over a period of time and computing a customer value based on the frequency and amount of the customer's purchases. A customer service representative is further able to personalize the interaction based on previous interactions between the customer and the customer interaction center by accessing a contact history database.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for affording supply chain/workflow services in a contract manufacturing framework. First, a database including a plurality of service provider data structures is provided, wherein each service provider data structure includes a description of a particular service provider, and wherein the database further includes a request for proposal mechanism. Next, a particular service provider data structure is identified based on a request for proposal from a user utilizing the request for proposal mechanism. Finally, project management services are afforded to the user based on the request for proposal and the identified service provider data structure.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for developing a dossier. First, a name of one or more clients which may be relevant to the proposal is received. A list of industries associated with the client(s) is presented to the user. The user is allowed to select an industry from the list of industries. A search for information relating to the client and the selected industry is performed. The dossier is prepared utilizing the information found during the searching.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a financial analysis for enhanced wireless communication services provides a financial analysis for a service provider or another user interested in the provision of enhanced wireless communications services. The method includes accepting user input related to an existing wireless communications service and a proposed enhanced wireless communications service. A reference database is accessed for reference to general market data related to the proposed enhanced wireless communication service and a standard adoption curve for adoption of the enhanced wireless communication service. The standard adoption curve is adjusted to obtain an adjusted adoption curve based on the accepted user-specific input. A graphical depiction of a financial analysis is presented to the user based on an evaluation of the adjusted adoption curve and the general market data.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for managing data across an enterprise. A request for information is received from a user. Data relating to the user request is searched for in at least two geographically separated information repositories. The results of the search are presented to the user. The user is allowed to browse through additional data of the information repositories. Links between data items and other data entries in the information repositories are created according to relationships the data items have to the other data entries.

Abstract: A system is provided for linking together a system of trading financial instruments to a system of clearing transactions in financial instruments. In a first aspect of the present invention, the linking system includes a network linking a plurality of trading systems and a clearing system. An external interface couples the trading systems to the network while a clearing interface couples the clearing system to the network. A transmitter module transmits trading information in a plurality of kinds of securities along the network from the trading system to the clearing system. That transmitting selectively occurs approximately simultaneously with the arrival of the trading information at the external interface. The transmitting also occurs independently of the selection of trading algorithm or clearing algorithm. A second aspect of the present invention involves a computerized method for coupling a plurality of trading systems and a clearing system with a network.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a computer system for providing a communication medium over a network for financial modeling and counseling. The system includes financial modeling using a profile of a user and provides automated customized financial coaching directly to the user in a web-based environment. The financial coaching is based on the financial modeling and the profile and includes suggestions for changes to the user's current financial portfolio. The suggestions are presented in a natural language format and include financial products and recommended securities for the user to purchase. The financial advisor may provide live financial coaching such that the user is assisted in achieving financial goals and optimizing long-term goals.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for performing a comparative analysis of vendors of network-related products or services. The present invention includes first determining a current network framework. Thereafter, a graphical depiction of the current network framework is displayed along with a plurality of components thereof. Next, a comparative analysis of at least two vendors of network-related products or services is presented. This is accomplished with indicia coding that highlights various aspects of the vendors.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for implementing transaction services patterns. Logical requests are batched for reducing network traffic. A batched request is allowed to indicate that it depends on the response to another request. A single message is sent to all objects in a logical unit of work. Requests that are being unbatched from a batched message are sorted. Independent copies of business data are assigned to concurrent logical units of work for helping prevent the logical units of work from interfering with each other.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for affording an information portal in a contract manufacturing framework. First, a database including a plurality of service provider data structures is provided, wherein each service provider data structure includes a description of a particular service provider, and wherein the database further includes a plurality of links to information. Then, a particular service provider data structure is identified based on request data from a user. A particular link is identified based on the request data. The user is then sent the identified service provider data structure and the identified link. Finally, the user is allowed to obtain additional information utilizing the identified link.

Abstract: An electronic security scheme and security system for a communications network facilitates the preventing of unauthorized access to an internal resource of an entity's internal computer system. A server includes a first set of ports for communication between an external communications network and the server. The server has a second set of ports for communications between an internal communications network and the server. A first firewall is interposed between the server and the external communications network. The first firewall is coupled to the first set of ports to provide at least one interconnection between the first set of ports and the external communications network. A second firewall is interposed between the server and the internal communications network. In one embodiment, the second firewall is coupled to the second set of ports to provide in a nonnegative integer number of interconnections between the second of set ports and the internal communications network.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for affording a network-based tax service database interface. First, tax-related forms are first retrieved in a database. Next, the retrieved tax-related forms are formatted, and the formatted tax-related forms are sent to a governmental entity. Such formatting is based on rules associated with the governmental entity.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a user interface of changeable images of selected goals from a plurality of goals, each image changing in appearance based upon preferences selected for each selected goal. First, a plurality of images are displayed in a frame. Each of the images represent a goal of a user. In operation, the user is permitted to select from the images in the frame. Further, a user is permitted to adjust preferences related to the goal represented by the selected image in the frame. The appearance of one or more of images in the frame is then altered based on the adjusted preferences of the goal represented by the selected image.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for detecting emotional states using statistics. First, a speech signal is received. At least one acoustic parameter is extracted from the speech signal. Then statistics or features from samples of the voice are calculated from extracted speech parameters. The features serve as inputs to a classifier, which can be a computer program, a device or both. The classifier assigns at least one emotional state from a finite number of possible emotional states to the speech signal. The classifier also estimates the confidence of its decision. Features that are calculated may include a maximum value of a fundamental frequency, a standard deviation of the fundamental frequency, a range of the fundamental frequency, a mean of the fundamental frequency, and a variety of other statistics.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for customizing a graphical user interface to a government system. A classification is determined of a user accessing a graphical user interface to a government system utilizing a network. Based on the classification, content available for display to the user is limited. Regional content is selected for display on the graphical user interface based on the classification of the user. The user is then allowed to customize a portion of the content available for display.

Abstract: Systems and methods for assisting a user with a variety of tasks are provided. A virtual assistant has access to a user's contacts, calendar, and location. The virtual assistant also is able to access information about weather, traffic, and mass transit, and is able to adjust the time of for alerting a user about an upcoming appointment. The virtual assistant also has a rules engine enabling a user to create rules for handling incoming calls and instant messages, rerouting calls based on their caller identification. The virtual assistant also has a query engine enabling a user to find a document and to work with it, including sending it to a contact in the user's address book. Interfaces to virtual assistant may include installed software client, web browser, SMS/instant message, as well as an interactive voice response system.