Abstract: A method for performing an invitation triggered search by a query engine, involving receiving an invitation message associated with a project, wherein the query engine is a recipient of the invitation message, extracting at least one attribute from the invitation message, searching a plurality of sources to identify a plurality of resources associated with the at least one attribute, and sending a reply message including a display of the plurality of resources associated with the at least one attribute to a sender of the invitation message.

Abstract: An electronic device that determines a geometric scale of an object using two or more images of the object is described. During operation, the electronic device calculates the size of the object along a direction using multiple images of the object that were taken from different perspectives (such as different locations and/or orientations in an environment) along with associated imaging-device characteristics. For example, the size of the object may be calculated using the images, the associated focal lengths of a digital camera that acquired the images, and the law of cosines. Using the scale of the object, an image of the object may be appropriately scaled so that it can be combined with another image.

Abstract: A technique for providing feedback about an image of a financial document to a user is described. During this feedback technique, the user provides the image of a financial document, such as W-2 form. For example, the user may take a picture of or may scan the financial document. This image may be analyzed using predefined information in a set of financial documents (such as different types of income-tax documents), and a quality metric for the image may be determined using the analysis. Moreover, the feedback, which is based on the determined quality metric, may be provided to the user. For example, the user may be instructed to retake the image, and the instructions may include an image of the desired orientation and content. In this way, the user may be advised as to how to improve the quality metric in the revised image.

Abstract: A method for training a ranking application. The method includes ranking the help postings to create an initial ranking using initial parameter values, and storing user interactions with the help postings to obtain stored interactions. Simulations are performed using the stored interactions to generate revised parameter values for the ranking application. Performing the simulations includes calculating relevance values from the stored interactions, creating a test posting, assigning, to the test posting, an initial score and a relevance value randomly selected from the relevance values to generate a test ranking, and simulating user interactions with the test ranking to generate simulated rankings. The simulated rankings are analyzed to obtain revised parameter values. The method further includes ranking, using the revised parameter values, the help postings to generate a revised ranking, and displaying the help postings in the forum according to the revised ranking.

Abstract: A method for personal identification number (PIN) fraud prevention, comprising: receiving, a request for a card-based financial transaction; prompting a customer for a PIN; receiving, from a scroll wheel corresponding to a plurality of digits, a first digit of the PIN, wherein the customer selects the first digit of the PIN by touching a touch sensitive region associated with the scroll wheel; receiving from the scroll wheel, a second digit of the PIN, wherein the customer selects the second digit of the PIN by touching the touch sensitive region, wherein the second digit is different than the first digit, and wherein touching the touch sensitive region to select the first digit and the second digit prevents fraud based on tracking PIN entry; and completing the card-based financial transaction.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for an inventory story monitor are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the disclosed method involves predicting a number of inventory items on a future date based at least in part upon a number of the inventory items on the current date and a rate of consumption of the inventory items, which is determined based on prior sales of the inventory items. The method also involves determining a price trend of the inventory items. In addition, the method involves determining whether to purchase the inventory items on the current date based at least in part upon the predicted number of inventory items, a rate of consumption of the inventory items, and a price trend of the inventory items. Further, the method involves displaying to the user an indicator of whether to purchase the inventory items on the current date or on a later date.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates the deployment and execution of a software offering. During operation, the system obtains a service definition of the software offering and a resource definition of resources available for use by the software offering. Next, the system creates a multidimensional model of the software offering by mapping a first set of elements from the service definition to a second set of elements from the resource definition. Finally, the system uses the multidimensional model to manage the deployment and execution of the software offering without requiring manual configuration of the resources by a user.

Abstract: A system and method provide an enablement scheme that accommodates small bandwidth channels and does not rely on shared secrets between parties. This is accomplished by storing a table of messages on a vendor server and a table of hashes of the message on client machines. A process is used by the vendor to select a message from the table to use for a validation code for enablement, and an identical process is used by the client to find a corresponding hash in the hash table. By comparing the hash in the hash table to a hash of the validation code received, the client can verify the validation code. The system includes software portions for enabling the method.

Abstract: An optical image of a check is obtained at the approximate time of a check-based financial transaction and the approximate time of the check-based financial transaction is recorded. Geographical position/location data and/or voice memo data is then obtained at, or about, the time the optical image of the check is obtained. Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology is then used to extract image-based financial transaction data from the optical image of the check and the geographical position/location data, and/or voice memo data, is also transformed into financial transaction data associated with the check and the check-based financial transaction. The extracted and/or transformed financial transaction data is then used, at least in part, to automatically assign a financial category to the check-based financial transaction and/or transform the category status of the check-based financial transaction.

Abstract: A method and system for automated insertion of relevant hyperlinks into social media-based communications whereby a business owner defines one or more trigger terms associated with the business. For each defined trigger term, one or more hyperlinks to one or more webpages associated with the business are assigned to the trigger term. Social media communications associated with one or more social media systems are then monitored, and/or scanned, for the defined one or more trigger terms and, if a trigger term is detected in the text of a social media communication, the hyperlink assigned to the detected trigger term is inserted in the text of social media communication and/or a response to the social media communication. The modified social media communication and/or response to the social media communication, including the modified text, is then sent, and/or posted, through, and/or on, the social media system.

Abstract: A method and system for identifying small businesses and/or small business operators includes a process for identifying small businesses and/or small business operators whereby financial transaction data for one or more consumers is obtained from one or more sources. The one or more consumers' financial transaction data is then analyzed to identify financial transactions typically associated with ownership and/or management of a business, i.e., business management related transactions. If more than a threshold number of business management related transactions associated with a given consumer are identified, that consumer is identified as a potential small business owner and/or manager.

Abstract: A user registers with an automated transportation use and billing system. The user's geographical location/position is monitored and periodically compared with the geographical location/position of one or more public transportation systems. When a determination is made that the user's geographical location/position is the same as the geographical location/position of a public transportation system, an assumption is made that the user is making use of the public transportation system and once the user's geographical location/position data differs from the public transportation system's geographical location/position data, it is further assumed that the user is no longer making use of the public transportation system. Data indicating the users assumed use of the public transportation system, calculated as described above, is then recorded and credited to the user's account.

Abstract: A method for transmitting an order from a mobile device to a physical location of a merchant involves receiving, by the mobile device, the order while the mobile device is outside a predetermined distance from the physical location, storing the order to a storage device, and determining, by the mobile device and after storing the order, that the mobile device is within the predetermined distance from the physical location. The method further involves receiving, by the mobile device, a request from the user to submit the order after determining the mobile device is within the predetermined distance from the physical location, retrieving the order from the storage device in response to the request, and transmitting the order to the merchant after retrieving the order when the mobile device is within the predetermined distance of the physical location.

Abstract: A system and method for utilizing location data for automatic categorization of financial transactions utilizes data indicating a user's location at various times, and mapping databases, including mapping and/or merchant websites, to determine a likely merchant payee associated with a financial transaction and the products sold by that merchant payee. This data is then used to determine, at least in part, a financial category to be assigned to the financial transaction.

Abstract: Embodiments of a computer system, a method and a computer-program product (e.g., software) for use with the computer system are described. These embodiments may be used to assist users while they are filling in forms. In particular, based at least in part on a current location of a user (such as a location of a portable electronic device associated with the user), an association with location and non-location information for an entity may be identified. For example, a predetermined relationship between the user's current location and the location of the entity may be accessed. Alternatively, a relationship between the user's current location and the location of the entity may be determined, for example, based at least in part on proximity. This identified location and/or non-location information for the entity may be used to fill in one or more fields in a form associated with an application.

Abstract: A method and system for deriving a consumer's shopping habits includes a process for deriving a consumer's shopping habits whereby data representing financial transactions conducted by a given consumer using one of more payment methods is obtained. Payee identification data for the payees associated with the financial transactions is then obtained/derived from the financial transactions data. The payees' identification data is then analyzed to determine each payee's geographic location. The data representing the geographic location of the various payees is then aggregated, mapped, and analyzed to derive a geographical shopping area for the consumer, i.e., to determine where the consumer does a significant amount of his or her shopping.

Abstract: A method for populating forms based on a user interview. The method includes generating, using a computer processor, binary questions according to a first rule, receiving answers to the binary questions from the user, adjusting, using the computer processor, a binary question based on answers according to a second rule during the user interview, and identifying, using the computer processor, forms from a forms library based on the answers according to a third rule. The method also includes presenting based on the answers, data entry fields of forms to the user in a unified format, where related data entry fields are grouped together to form data entry menus in the unified format, receiving data from the user for the data entry fields, populating a portion of the forms to generate populated forms based on the data, and storing the populated forms in a repository on behalf of the user.

Abstract: A method for applying pagination includes receiving a request to print a report spanning multiple files, gathering, in response to the request, multiple attributes for the report, and selecting, according to the attributes, multiple pagination rules. Each pagination rule includes a pagination requirement. The method further includes after receiving the request, processing each file by obtaining a document from the file, selecting a pagination rule, corresponding to the document, generating a modified version of the document by applying the pagination requirement in the pagination rule to the document, and appending the modified version of the document to the report. The method further includes dispatching the report to a printer.

Abstract: A method for processing financial requests, including: identifying an approval criterion and a predefined proximity for approving financial requests; receiving, from a mobile device of a merchant, a financial request including merchant-provided data, where the merchant-provided data includes an address of the merchant; receiving a location coordinate from the mobile device; determining, by a computer processor, that the location coordinate is within the predefined proximity of the address of the merchant; identifying, by the computer processor, at least a portion of the merchant-provided data required to evaluate the approval criterion; evaluating, by the computer processor, the approval criterion using the portion of the merchant-provided data; determining, based on evaluating the approval criterion, that the approval criterion is satisfied; and approving the financial request in response to determining that the location coordinate is within the predefined proximity and determining that the approval criterio

Abstract: During a compatibility testing technique, a portable electronic device launches a test version of a module in the application prior to executing the application in an environment on the portable electronic device. This module may be associated with the external electronic device (such as an audio jack swiper), and launching the test version of the module may involve providing configuration information associated with operation of the module to the environment. If, in response to the configuration information, the test version is initialized correctly by the environment, the portable electronic device subsequently executes the application with the module. Alternatively, if, in response to the configuration information, the test version is not initialized correctly by the environment, the portable electronic device subsequently executes the application without the module.