Abstract: A method and system learns functions to be associated with data fields of forms to be incorporated into an electronic document preparation system. The functions are essentially sets of operations required to calculate the data field. The method and system receive form data related to a data field that expects data values resulting from performing specific operations. The method and system utilize machine learning and training set data to generate, test, and evaluate candidate functions to determine acceptable functions.

Abstract: A method and system to learn new forms to be incorporated into an electronic document preparation system, or to learn the behavior of existing systems, receive form data related to a new form having a plurality of data fields that expect data values based on specific functions. The method and system gather training set data including previously filled forms having completed data fields corresponding to the data fields of the new form. The method and system include multiple analysis modules that each generate candidate functions for providing data values for the data fields of the new form. The method and system evaluate the candidate functions from each analysis technique and select the candidate functions that are most accurate based on comparisons with the training set data.

Abstract: A system generates structured compliance form data based on a compliance form having a plurality of data fields. The system includes multiple parsing modules each configured to generate respective parsed form data by analyzing compliance form data related to the compliance form with respective parsing processes. The system includes a combiner module configured to combine the various parsed formed data into combined parsed form data.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a system and method for calibrating optical character recognition (OCR) processes for an image captured through a mobile computing device. During operation, the system adjusts the OCR process through pre-recognition functions, OCR functions and/or post-recognition functions with multiple sets of parameter settings. With each of these sets, the system scores the OCR process output against an image with known text. Once the sets are scored, the system sorts the sets of parameters, removes some sets, then mixes and mutates the remaining sets in a process akin to evolutionary biology. By repeating this procedure, the system produces a set of parameter settings that can be used to calibrate OCR processing.

Abstract: Adapting a tax preparation program to a user of the tax preparation program. Data related to a user of the tax preparation program is received at a computer, and a processing element compares received data to profile criteria to select a profile, which may be a pre-defined profile or a dynamically generated profile. A first template corresponding to the selected profile is selected and includes a first collection of forms or screens selected from available forms or screens of the tax preparation program. The first template screens or forms are displayed to the user who prepares an electronic tax return using the first template. The manner in which the user interacts with or changes the first template may be used to generate a modified or second template, which may be used to prepare a current or future electronic tax return and may be provided to other users having similar profiles.

Abstract: A method and system transfers the hosting of online services to a virtual asset computing environment from a hardware asset computing environment, according to one embodiment. The method and system transfers a secondary copy of application data to a storage device, and delivers the storage device to a second computing system from the first computing system using a parcel courier, according to one embodiment. The method and system receives, with the second computing system, the secondary copy of the application data from the storage device, and configures virtual assets to execute a second instance of the online services application to enable the second computing system to provide the online services to the multiple users, according to one embodiment. The method and system configures the second computing system as a primary service provider, according to one embodiment.

Abstract: A method and system for protecting and repairing a current virtual asset from damage by potential security threats, according to one embodiment. The method and system include monitoring a current a current virtual asset for potential security threats, with a virtual asset agent, according to one embodiment. The method and system include determining a severity of the potential security threats that are identified by the virtual asset agent, according to one embodiment. The method and system include creating a new virtual asset with the virtual asset agent and decommissioning the current virtual asset, according to one embodiment. The system and method receiving, with the new virtual asset, secrets that are associated with the current virtual asset to enable the new virtual asset to continue operations of the current virtual asset, according to one embodiment.

Abstract: Secret application and maintenance policy data is generated for different classes of data. The class of data to be protected is determined and the secret application and maintenance policy data for the determined class of the data to be protected is identified and obtained. Required secrets data representing one or more secrets to be applied to the data to be protected is obtained and then automatically scheduled for application to the data to be protected in accordance with the secret application and maintenance policy data for the determined class of the data to be protected. Maintenance of the one or more secrets is also automatically scheduled in accordance with the secret application and maintenance policy data for the determined class of the data to be protected.

Abstract: Various aspects described herein are directed to a system that develops and manages releases of software applications. The system includes a server-side branch management module to automatically create one or more branches for deployment of a software application release, a deployment repository to store one or more box sets for a plurality of artifacts for the software release, and a code repository to store the plurality of artifacts. The system may further include a release management module configured to manage continuing releases of the software application, a continuous deployment dashboard module configured to receive the plurality of box sets from the deployment repository, and one or more development modules configured to create or modify at least some artifacts of the plurality of artifacts. The plurality of artifacts are automatically tagged with respective packaging types for automatic generation of the plurality of box sets.

Abstract: A method for comparing purchase patterns includes matching multiple products purchased by a base company to multiple leaf nodes in a taxonomy tree to obtain multiple matching leaf nodes. The taxonomy tree is a hierarchical classification of products. The method further includes assigning, to each of the matching leaf nodes and to each parent node of the matching leaf nodes, a point value to obtain multiple point values, creating, for the base company and by a computer processor, a base feature vector including the point values, and calculating, by the computer processor, a similarity score between the base feature vector of the base company to a test feature vector of a test company. The method further includes providing, in response to the similarity score satisfying a similarity threshold, a recommendation.

Abstract: A system and method manages communications between applications and multiple user computing systems, according to one embodiment. The method and system includes establishing one or more virtual assets in an asset computing environment and installing an application onto the one or more virtual assets in the asset computing environment, according to one embodiment. The system and method receives a first request from a first user computing system and a second request from a second user computing system and delivers the first request and the second request to the application, according to one embodiment. The system and method receives a first result from the application for the first request and a second result from the application for the second request and distributes the first result to the first user computing system and the second result to the second computing system, according to one embodiment.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for creating a savings plan for a user. During operation, the system receives demographic data associated with the user. Next, the system determines average spending for pre-selected spending categories for a set of users with similar demographic data to the user. The system then receives financial data associated with the user. After that, the system analyzes the financial data to create a comparison of how spending by the user in the pre-selected categories compares to average spending for the set of users with similar demographic data. Finally, the system uses the comparison to facilitate a savings plan for the user.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates execution of an application that is updated after undergoing an approval process with a digital application distribution platform on an electronic device. During operation, the system obtains content for display within the application from a server. Next, the system identifies, within the content, an update to the application. The system then modifies execution of the application during runtime of the application by applying the update without reloading the application on the electronic device and without downloading the update from the digital application distribution platform.

Abstract: A method and system identifies and addresses imaging artifacts in an image of a financial document to enable a software system to provide financial services based on the image of the financial document. The method and system receive document image data, extract image features from the document image data, and apply the image features to an analytics model to generate an image classification, according to one embodiment. The method and system use the image classification to determine whether the document image data contains one or more particular image artifacts (e.g., Moiré patterns), according to one embodiment. If the software system determines that it is likely that the document image data contains one or more particular image artifacts, then the software system applies a filter (e.g., a median filter) to the document image data to reduce and/or remove the one or more particular image artifacts, according to one embodiment.

Abstract: One or more financial accounts associated with a user are designated for balance monitoring and balance display. Balance increments are then defined and a unique balance indicator image, symbol, or display, is associated with each defined balance increment. One or more websites, and/or applications, are then designated to display the balance indicator images, symbols, or displays, and whenever one of the designated websites or applications is accessed, data indicating a current balance in the designated one or more financial accounts is obtained. The current balance amount is then encoded using the appropriate balance indicator image, symbol, or display, and the appropriate balance indicator image, symbol, or display, is displayed on a display device associated with the user computing system as part of, on, in, or through, the accessed designated website or application.

Abstract: A method for transmitting messages based on the occurrence of workflow events and the output of propensity models identifying a future financial requirement. The method includes generating, based on a propensity model score of a business entity, a classification of a future financial requirement of the business entity. Also, the method includes determining that the classification of the future financial requirement of the business entity meets a financial requirement threshold. Further, the method includes determining, using data of the business entity, that an aspect of the business entity meets a business activity threshold. Moreover, the method includes detecting that a workflow event has occurred on a platform utilized by the business entity. Still yet, the method includes, in response to the determination that the workflow event has occurred, transmitting a message to a user of the business entity.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that determines a likelihood that a first entity and a second entity are the same entity. During operation, the system obtains financial data related to the first entity and obtains financial data related to the second entity. Next, the system determines the likelihood that the first entity and the second entity are the same entity based on the relationship between the financial data for the first entity and the financial data for the second entity. Then, the system alters a record related to the first entity or the second entity based on the likelihood.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates user interaction. During operation, the system obtains user data for a first user and a second user connected to the first user in a social network. Next, the system uses the user data to calculate one or more influence scores between the first and second users. The system then constructs an influence graph of a set of users comprising the first and second users by creating a first node representing the first user, creating a second node representing the second user, and using the one or more influence scores as edge weights of directed edges between the first and second nodes. Finally, the system uses the influence graph to facilitate interaction among the users.

Abstract: A method for providing messages to a user during a call includes receiving a call from a user. The method may further include retrieving, based on the call, a unique identifier of the user, and placing the user in a call queue in an order defined by when the call is received. While the user is in the call queue, user data matching the unique identifier of the user is retrieved, the user data is analyzed to identify, based on the prior interaction, a problem of the user with the software application. The method may further include generating, in response to identifying the problem of the user, user data messages, and initiating presentation of the user data messages to the user while the user is in the call queue.

Abstract: A method for receipt processing using optical character recognition (OCR). The method includes detecting, within a receipt image, a pre-determined characteristic of the receipt, obtaining an OCR receipt template based on the pre-determined characteristic of the receipt, extracting, based on at least the OCR receipt template, a vendor attribute from the receipt image corresponding to a pre-defined field of the receipt, verifying, based on matching the vendor attribute to a vendor associated with the OCR receipt template, that the receipt is generated by the vendor and that the OCR receipt template is applicable to perform the OCR of the receipt image, and generating, in response to the verifying, a textual content of the receipt by processing the receipt image based at least on the OCR receipt template.