Abstract: The present invention provides and system and related method for automatically examining a company's financial data and evaluating factors affecting the company's stock value. Specifically, the present invention evaluates a company's spread through that company's debt and equity costs. The present invention further measures returns to investors from company growth, either organic growth or growth through Mergers and acquisitions. The present invention may further evaluate the financial data of other publicly traded companies, such as those in the same industry, and compares the various factors affecting stock value. The present invention also includes a system for determining the return to investors. The system may be a software-based application that collects receives financial data and uses this information to calculate the return to inventor through the company's spreads and growth. The system is connected to a distributed network such as the Internet.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are provided for e-commerce. In use, a plurality of suppliers are registered. In addition, goods-related information from customers is received, where the goods-related information is associated with goods. Access to the goods-related information by the suppliers is allowed utilizing a network. Further, offers relating to the goods from the suppliers are received utilizing the network, and the customers are informed of the offers. Still yet, a guarantee is provided to the customers regarding a qualification of at least one supplier with respect to a provision or fulfillment of the offer received therefrom. Such guarantee is provided as a function the at least one supplier or at least one action thereof.

Abstract: While a user is viewing content on a computer display, the universal data relationship inference engine presents related information from disparate data sources. A normalized index is maintained that indexes content to a set of standard taxonomy terms. The inference engine parses content being viewed by the user. If the content includes tags for some of the standard taxonomy terms, then the system may provide the user with the ability to view the related content that is indexed by the normalized index. If there are not taxonomy tags then the system may attempt to recognize non-standard taxonomy terms in the content in order to provide the user with related content. The inference engine may also identify related content by identifying synonyms to the taxonomy terms.

Abstract: The compositional event based modeling of integrated applications (CINEMA) tool provides a way to extend a modeling environment using legacy event based applications, such as Graphical User Interface (GUI) APplications (GAPs). CINEMA allows modelers to extend the toolbox of the modeling environment by creating modeling elements that represent GUI objects of GAPs. CINEMA generates source code that allows an integrated system to control and manipulate the GUI objects of GAPs represented by the modeling elements used to create a model of the integrated system.

Abstract: A computer based technique for providing a list of selectable computer solutions in a self-support environment. The technique includes sending a computer solution to the client computer in response to a request from the client computer for the computer solution from the list. The computer solution includes at least an automated solution.

Abstract: A system image customization tool provides an efficient and cost effective way to implement a highly customizable system image for a digital device. The system image customization tool controls application installation, device settings, and selection, delivery methods and licensing options for products, applications and services with minimal or no customer interaction from the customer's first out of box experience with the device and through the lifecycle use of the device. The system image customization tool provides retailers, original equipment manufacturers and products, applications and services providers a way to create new distribution channels and partnerships.

Abstract: A method for social network collaboration addresses the need for efficient and effective way of obtaining information. The method obtains aggregated information from members of a social network collaborating in response to a source collaboration message. The method provides for a demand-driven collaborated information production such that the information is significantly more relevant and accurate.

Abstract: A system and a method for developing Internet-hosted business applications composed of web services and software for use in such environments where applications and application components interoperate to perform requested business functions. The system and method of the present invention utilize a software development application services provider module (DASP), an Instantiatior module, a Builder module, an Applications Service Provider (ASP) Infrastructure Platform (AIP) module, and a hosted production environment module. The system and method of the present invention seeks to maximize the use of prior work to eliminate repetition and reduce development cost and development time. With each new project the library and experience increases.

Abstract: An outsourcing command center collects and processes outsourcing data for multiple engagements and multiple outsourcing offerings. The command center may apply a metric set to the outsourcing data that is broadly applicable across multiple outsourcing offerings, but also tailored to specific outsourcing offerings, and extended by engagements to meet their particular metric reporting criteria. The command center provides a portal through which an engagement may access processed metric information for outsourced functions, including metric reporting screens with convenient drill-down link sets to display progressively more detailed views of metrics processed for the engagement.

Abstract: A combination of several analytical computer-assisted modeling techniques may be used to evaluate the value of a brand, the relative value of competitive brands and may identify the opportunities to increase brand value and the priority of those opportunities. Image/Attitudinal driver analysis, pyramid analysis, probability analysis, trade-off analysis, and other regression techniques may be used in novel combinations to quantify brand development, impacts and the overall estimate of brand value. For example: (1) image driver analysis may be applied to each level of a brand pyramid to understand how to most effectively move customers through to the next level in the pyramid; (2) probability analysis may be used to estimate the impact of each movement through the pyramid; and (3) tradeoff analysis may be used to improve the value customers perceive at any particular level of the pyramid.

Abstract: A network intelligence system may include a plurality of sensors located throughout and industry system. The sensors may obtain data related to various aspects of the industry network. The network intelligence system may include system endpoint intelligence and system infrastructure intelligence. The system endpoint and system infrastructure intelligence may provide distributed intelligence allowing localized decision-making to be made within the industry system based in response to system operation and occurrences. The network intelligence may include a centralized intelligence portion to communicate with endpoint and infrastructure intelligence. The centralized intelligence portion may provide responses on a localized level of the system or on a system-wide level.

Abstract: Compliance Control Framework of the present invention is designed to capture the context and actionables of the agreement at the time of inking of the agreement. Respective stakeholders are mapped in the Compliance Control framework using a tool and weighting capture in the agreement context. Stakeholders and independent parties evaluate the control environment at the point of delivery and update the tool on the compliance. The tool helps the stakeholder to identify options that would be available to comply with agreed requirements. Control framework provides opportunity to redefine or seek addendum or identify cost effective options through various means. The compliance framework monitors and tracks the progress through action taken report and update the tools to provide enterprise wide compliance perspective. The tool aids in traffic light decision points for management to anticipate compliance problem areas and close them through enterprise-wide initiatives.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for analyzing corporate investments to measure the performance of a company is provided. The method may include: receiving financial data, the financial data including a plurality of operating investments of the company and a Future Value (FV) of the company; determining with a data processor a plurality of data points from the financial data, each of the plurality of data points indicative of a ratio between one of the plurality of operating investments and the Future Value (FV) of the company; determining a first benchmark and a second benchmark, the first benchmark indicative of a threshold ratio between the FV and the operating investment, the second benchmark indicative of a threshold operating investment; and displaying the data points, the first benchmark, and the second benchmark to advise a user of an effectiveness of the operating investments.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are learning solutions that utilize a content development module that is nested inside a total learning solution and identifies, develops, and manages required course content. A content development module is particularly adapted to assemble and compile custom learning content materials for use in the learning solution by appropriately taking business strategy alignment and other information into consideration. The learning content may be developed as a third party service in accordance with a service level agreement. A service level agreement is a contract between the learning solution services provider and the learner (i.e., outsourcing) organization that establishes the requisite quality and effectiveness levels of the learning solution services as measured by one or more performance metrics.

Abstract: Methods, computer-readable media, and apparatuses process data for an employee requisition, in which a contracted company may assume responsibility for supporting portions of the requisition process by filtering candidates. Consequently, only qualified candidates for a specified job assignment are interviewed by the contracting company (client). By looking at requisitions that are in process and focusing on whether or not they have achieved an expected threshold of activity, a requisition system can predict bottlenecks in the process before the requisition is filled. An interprocess report organizes and acts on data to provide a management team a prediction of how a recruitment team will perform by individual recruiter and requisition level. In addition, actions are identified that the manager can initiate to correct issues early in the requisition process in order to reduce an impact on the client as per a service level agreement.

Abstract: Methods, computer-readable media, and apparatuses evaluate the productivity of a work effort and determine the potential productivity improvement for completing the work effort. The work effort is baselined, and the potential productivity improvement may be assessed by presenting evaluation questions organized by categories. The potential productivity improvement is then applied to an estimating model to obtain an estimated effort for completing the work effort. The actual effort measure is then obtained from a time capture system and compared to the estimated effort in order to generate an indicator that is indicative of the comparison. The baselining of the work effort may be repeated at a subsequent time by obtaining an updated estimated effort from the estimating model and an updated actual effort measure form the time capture system and then comparing them to determine whether the productivity objective has been achieved at the subsequent time.

Abstract: Product-related information provided by brand owners is made available for inclusion in user-generated content. Users may include the product-related information in user-generated content, and receive payment for including the product-related information in their user-generated content based on metrics and rules for publishing the product-related information.

Abstract: A system uses elasticity modeling to enable cross category optimization of store display space for merchandise for any group of stores and items using point-of-sale data. A space elasticity curve is periodically created for each combination of performance metric, store cluster, planogram, and item segment, and is then scaled by individual store. A user can select any combination of stores and planograms, and the system then reconstructs the elasticity curves as individual “synthetic items,” which are averaged across the selected stores by creating average synthetic SKU records that reflect the estimated average store performance in each performance metric. The synthetic items are then used to either evaluate macro space performance across or within store areas, or to determine the best use of overall store display space available to permit management to optimally allocate display space for merchandise.

Abstract: The present invention provides the delivery of mobile-capable audio entertainment content. More particularly, the present invention relates to the electronic and mobile delivery of various media content, such as print periodicals and print news articles, by converting them into audio format and enabling such content along with other audio content to be delivered to consumers over wireless telephone networks. Particular embodiments of the invention provide interactive classified advertisement features.

Abstract: A data processing system generates a scorecard analysis that displays multiple scorecard windows, each directed to a specific different perspective on a particular business function. Each perspective may have at least one corresponding objective, and each objective may have at least one corresponding key performance indicator. Each scorecard may include drill down capability from a top level analysis to more detailed information on a perspective, objective, or key performance indicator.