Abstract: One or more classification algorithms are applied to at least one natural language document in order to extract both attributes and values of a given product. Supervised classification algorithms, semi-supervised classification algorithms, unsupervised classification algorithms or combinations of such classification algorithms may be employed for this purpose. The at least one natural language document may be obtained via a public communication network. Two or more attributes (or two or more values) thus identified may be merged to form one or more attribute phrases or value phrases. Once attributes and values have been extracted in this manner, association or linking operations may be performed to establish attribute-value pairs that are descriptive of the product. In a presently preferred embodiment, an (unsupervised) algorithm is used to generate seed attributes and values which can then support a supervised or semi-supervised classification algorithm.

Abstract: Deployment of a workstation includes receiving data related to the computing environment of workstations, organizing the workstations into groups based on at least one selectable common attribute among the data, and producing a deployment schedule based on the groups.

Abstract: Methods, computer-readable media, and apparatuses process data for delegating the approval and initiation of different types of transactions to delegates by a manager. The manager provides delegate configuration information so that a delegate is able to approve or initiate a transaction request during a specified time period. The transaction request may be escalated to a next level of approval when an escalation limit has not been reached. More than one delegate may be configured, where delegate configuration information is indicative that a first delegate is associated with a first transaction type and a second delegate is associated with a second transaction type. When a transaction request does not require approval by the manager during a designated time period, the transaction request may be automatically approved to initiate the transaction request. The manager may be notified when the initiator of the transaction request is a delegate of the manager.

Abstract: The invention relates to communications, particularly but not exclusively broadband communications. One facet of the present invention relates to provisioning of services in a communications network and finds particular, but not exclusive, application in a broadband network environment or other environment where services are provisioned. The provisioning of services will now be discussed in more detail.

Abstract: A method and system for maintaining an item of equipment supports the provision of predictive maintenance in a manner which eliminates or reduces downtime of the equipment. The method includes tracking performance data on the equipment or a particular component of the equipment. At least one required maintenance activity is predicted based upon the performance data with respect to a defined performance standard. Performance of the required maintenance activity is scheduled at a defined respective time based upon the prediction.

Abstract: A system is described for providing a cloud computing assessment tool. The system may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The processor may receive a data center configuration from the user. The data center configuration may include a compute and storage capacity. The processor may determine a cloud computing configuration equivalent to the data center configuration. The processor may identify a time period for transitioning from the data center to cloud computing. The processor may identify a plurality of trend values representing changes in the compute capacity and storage capacity over the period of time. The processor may generate a strategy to transition from the data center to cloud computing over the period of time. The strategy may account for the changes in the compute capacity and the storage capacity. The processor may provide a graphical output and a numerical output of the strategy to the user.

Abstract: An insurance claim processing system may include an insurance claim database, an event processor component, a task engine component and a collaborative intelligent task processor. The insurance claim database may be configured to store and provide access to data in a data record that is related to an insurance claim. The event processor component may be executable with a computer to iteratively monitor the data in the data record and identify events. The task engine component may be executable with a computer in response to one of the identified events to generate tasks indicative of information that needs to be acquired based on the contents of the data record. The collaborative intelligent task processor may be executable with a computer to analyze a task generated by the task engine component and select an action plan that is responsive to the task.

Abstract: A method for assessing the performance of a company is provided. The method may include receiving financial data about the company and determining a future value of the company. Next, the future value is decomposed into a plurality of future value components, where the plurality of future value components includes an economy component that defines an implied amount of growth of the company attributable to the growth of the economy in general. Finally, the method may include displaying at least one of the future value components to advise a user of the performance of the company relative to the economy in general.

Abstract: A control management system for managing voice-over-IP parameters includes a network traffic shaping control state model for a network traffic shaping control. The network traffic shaping control state model defines state sets that contain states. The state sets may include a pending state set, a running state set, a terminated state set, a finished state set, and a stopped state set. The network traffic shaping control state model also defines intra-state transitions, which are transitions within a state set, and inter-state transitions, which are transitions between state sets. The intra-state and inter-state transitions may be associated with a condition, and the network traffic shaping control changes state according to the intra-state or inter-state transition when the associated condition is satisfied. The associated condition may be satisfied when one or more network event identifiers are generated by the control management system.

Abstract: A holistic method of developing a strategic planning solution for a business organization by taking into account a broad array of components within the enterprise planning process includes affirming strategic objectives and the nature of corporate relationship, developing valuation and analyzing driver sensitivities, developing a business model for the organization based upon strategic objectives and sensitivities, developing performance measures and performance indicators, defining desired changes to implement in the corporate planning and reporting processes based upon the desired changes, and reviewing management skills and reward structures and modifying the reward structures in order to implement the identified desired changes.

Abstract: The present description refers to a computer-implemented method, a computer program product and a computer system for monitoring and tracking application usage, the method comprising: determining, during a first interval, a first indication of whether a first user has provided a first input. The method further comprising obtaining, during the first interval, a first identifier of an active window in a first graphical user interface (GUI), and selectively storing the first identifier and the first indication. For this purpose a specific tracking tool may be implemented on the computer on which the first graphical user interface is executed.

Abstract: A payment integrity system that processes data, including data associated with a biometric technology. The system includes a discovery module to receive insurance records from a source of data, which includes the data associated with the biometric technology, the records providing information that pertain to at least one transaction. The discovery module includes a query component and an artificial intelligence engine to process the records to identify a second subset of the records having anomalous information, and provide a second analysis output indicative of the second subset. The system also includes an audit module to determine whether to instruct the artificial intelligence engine to analyze the records according to the outputs. The system facilitates resolution of a claim payment based on the first analysis output and the second analysis output.

Abstract: A system for application reference testing (SMART) solves the technical problem of generating test data and test cases from graphical user interface applications (GAPs) to test web services, effectively and non-invasively. SMART allows organizations to easily and promptly identify and resolve software bugs, ensure higher quality software and development productivity, complete software projects faster, deliver software products to market quicker, and improve the return on investment for software development projects. SMART provides a user friendly visualization mechanism that interacts with an accessibility layer to enable organizations to economically and easily define user interactions with GAPs, by performing point-and-click, drag-and-drop operations on the GAPs, and generate reusable test data and test cases for web services.

Abstract: A computer program is provided for developing component based software capable of linking insurance-related information. The program includes a data component that stores, retrieves and manipulates data utilizing a plurality of functions. Also provided is a client component that includes an adapter component that transmits and receives data to/from the data component. The client component also includes a business component that serves as a data cache and includes logic for manipulating the data. A controller component is also included which is adapted to handle events generated by a user utilizing the business component to cache data and the adapter component to ultimately persist data to a data repository. In use, the client component is provided with insurance-related information concerning an individual and an event. The user is then able to input information concerning the involvement of the individual in the event. In addition, the user is able to link the individual to the event.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to systems and methods for improving a sort plan. According to one embodiment, several groups are formed where each group contains articles having an identifier of a hierarchical structure. In certain embodiments, the identifier may include a geographical indication, such as a postal or ZIP code. Further aspects relate to systems and methods for conducting sort plan optimization where at least some prior data is known or otherwise obtainable. In one embodiment, data relating to the quantity of groups within the sort plan, the quantity of articles associated with each identifier, and/or the quantity of articles within each group may be estimated or known. In certain embodiments, such data may be utilized to assign articles to specific bins, including any available bin, and then optimize the sort plan by selecting at least one bin for improvement.

Abstract: The result of a first calculation may be determined by one of two alternative calculations. Each of the alternative calculations has an error associated therewith (due to factors such as measurement imprecision, rounding, etc.), and these errors propagate to the first calculation. However, there may also be error in the first calculation due to uncertainty about which of the alternative calculations applies. Such error can be taken into account based on the respective probabilities that the first and second calculations will apply, as well as the difference in the results produced by the two calculations.

Abstract: A content bank for objects hosts all information regarding an object and serves as a proxy for that object. The content bank comprises at least one instance of a digital identity corresponding the object. Object identity modules or services are available through the digital identity instance. Via the content bank system, the digital identity instance receives object-related information from a source and targeted to a specific service. Conversely, the digital identity instance also serves to determine when object-related information should be provided to a third party by a given service, or when object-related information needs to be manipulated by one or more services. A multi-mode interface is available for third parties to communicate with the digital identity instance. In this manner, third parties are not only able to access data regarding an object, but are actually able to communicate with an object via the digital identity instance.

Abstract: Disclosed is a business driven learning solution and related methods for managing the learning and training needs of a sales-oriented organization in a manner that is responsive to dynamic business needs. The invention employs modules of interrelated and interdependent business processes for the identification and prioritization of learning needs, the selection of learning approaches, the development of learning content, the coordination and delivery of learning instruction, and the overall management and administration learning efforts. Embodiments of the inventions disclosed include sales training objects to provide a template for sales training that is focused on a solution, and how to position and sell the solution, rather than on the products that make up the solution. As a result, the sales force is educated, understands the customers' business requirements, and is able to craft specific value propositions to a given customer with respect to that solution.

Abstract: A system and method for handling unemployment insurance includes a unified database containing unemployment insurance benefit data and unemployment insurance tax data. The unemployment insurance benefit data and the unemployment insurance tax data are unified into unified data. In another aspect, the system and method include a unified desktop configured to allow a worker to manage the unemployment insurance benefit data and the unemployment insurance tax data. The unified desktop enables a worker to manage both claims for unemployment insurance benefits and unemployment insurance tax payments.

Abstract: A content bank for objects hosts all information regarding an object and serves as a proxy for that object. The content bank comprises at least one instance of a digital identity corresponding the object. Object identity modules or services are available through the digital identity instance. Via the content bank system, the digital identity instance receives object-related information from a source and targeted to a specific service. Conversely, the digital identity instance also serves to determine when object-related information should be provided to a third party by a given service, or when object-related information needs to be manipulated by one or more services. A multi-mode interface is available for third parties to communicate with the digital identity instance. In this manner, third parties are not only able to access data regarding an object, but are actually able to communicate with an object via the digital identity instance.