Abstract: Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention use a data processing system to aggregate information reflecting demand for an item based on input requests associated with the item, each request having been received from a remote user and including remote user identification information, provide the aggregated information to a plurality of suppliers, each capable of supplying the item, receives at least one proposed response from at least one of the suppliers, including a proposal for providing the item to the remote users, and provides the proposed response to the remote users based on the remote user identification information. Aggregated information is provided without the remote user identification information associated the requests.

Abstract: Real-time pricing allows users to purchase products that are available at advertised prices via an advertisement on electronic commerce. If the price or availability of a product changes, the advertisement is updated to reflect this change. This allows the user to quickly and efficiently make purchases, without risk that the product will no long be available as advertised when he or she tries to make the purchase.

Abstract: Methods and systems consistent with the present invention allow access to inventory data stored in communication devices at remote locations on a network. The communication devices monitor the network for a real-time notification of a change in inventory data associated with another communication device. When the monitoring communication device detects a change in the inventory status from another communication device on the network, the monitoring communication device performs an inventory analysis. After completing the inventory analysis, a user operating the monitoring communication device decides whether an update in marketing strategy for an item should be implemented to maintain profitability.

Abstract: A method for providing information on packages of items comprising: receiving a consumer request for a set of items of interest; identifying potential providers capable of providing items that may satisfy the identified items of interest; dynamically packaging multiple items, each from a different provider selected from a database of potential providers, into a package of items; and providing information reflecting the package of items that satisfies the consumer request. The consumer is then able to accept the information provided, book the package of items with the potential providers, and purchase the packaged items. The method also provides a means for compensating the potential providers and the selling agents involved in the transaction.

Abstract: A method and system for providing price information, comprising receiving a request for price information associated with at least one item; obtaining from a database results responsive to the request; modifying at least one entry in the database results to reflect a more competitive price, when compared to another entry in the database results; and providing the database results to a consumer after completing the modifying step.

Abstract: An intermediate server for sharing data between a sender computer and receiver computer(s)is disclosed. A sender initiates a browsing session by (1) requesting a session setup form from the intermediate server that is returned with a beginning URL or (2) being redirected to the intermediate server. A intermediate server control program retrieves content from a server, modifies the hyperlinks within the content by appending the original URL to the URL of the intermediate server, stores the modified content data for later use, and forwards the modified content data to the sender. In asynchronous playback mode, a receiver connects to the intermediate server using a session identifier associated with sender's browsing session. An intermediate server playback program retrieves and pushes the stored content to the receiver. Storing the modified content guarantees that sender and receiver view the same content sequence as opposed to the same URL sequence.

Abstract: Conversion of a data in a variable field message to a fixed format message. The variable field message has a varying length and fields of varying types of data. The corresponding fixed format message has fields of a fixed data type and length, which facilitates parsing and processing data from the variable field message. Customers for the data conversion or other processing are load balanced among multiple servers sharing load level information.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention a process is provided for interfacing a legacy application and internet-based application and for displaying information from each application in a frame of a multi-frame browser on a client workstation. Further, the interface system enables users to transact business with the legacy application based on information retrieved from the internet-based application, and to retrieve information from the internet-based application based on information retrieved from the legacy application.

Abstract: An intermediate server, or kiosk controller, serves as an agent between content servers and kiosk computers. A control program loaded on the intermediate server directs the intermediate server to retrieve content data from various content servers on a network. The particular content to be retrieved is specified in a run list composed of location codes. The intermediate server then automatically transmits the content to the kiosks in the sequential order specified by the run list. The kiosks' screen displays are consistently refreshed based on the transmitted content. In a specific embodiment, a kiosk controller is connected via the Internet to various web servers. The kiosk controller retrieves web pages from the various web servers. The kiosk controller modifies all links contained within the web pages to point to the kiosk computer. The kiosk controller then sends the modified web pages to kiosks running browser programs.

Abstract: A process to access an IMS transaction based computer system from a structured query language (SQL) application program without revising or migrating the transaction based system. Binary virtual table mappings are built. An SQL statement from the SQL application program is parsed. Virtual column to transaction utilization mappings are extracted from the SQL statement. A possible solution set or solution sets are generated which may be capable of satisfying the SQL statement. Thereafter, transaction costs for each potential solution set are determined. Finally, a solution set with the lowest cost to satisfy the SQL statement is executed.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention a process is provided for interfacing a legacy application and internet-based application and for displaying information from each application in a frame of a multi-frame browser on a client workstation. Further, the interface system enables users to transact business with the legacy application based on information retrieved from the internet-based application, and to retrieve information from the internet-based application based on information retrieved from the legacy application.

Abstract: An information aggregation and synthesization system and process. The present invention provides aggregation and packaging of structured or unstructured information from disparate sources such as those available on a network such as the Internet. A network compatible/addressable interface device is operated by a user. The network interface device communicates with local datastores or network accessible datastores via an addressing scheme such as Uniform Resource Locator addresses (URLs) utilized by the Internet. Data passing between the network interface device and the datastores is accessed, polled, and retrieved through an intermediary gateway system. Such aggregated information is then synthesized, customized, personalized and localized to meet the information resource requests specified by the user via the network interface device.

Abstract: A server-based host monitor is provided that allows a host computer to send host data to an intermediate server interfaced with a network. The intermediate server includes a conversion program that translates the host data into a format common with the network. The translated host data is made accessible to a computer interfaced with the network. The receiver computer may receive and view the translated host data in either a synchronous or asynchronous mode.

Abstract: A system and method for propagating airline computerized reservation system TPF data to a relational database platform comprising a computerized reservation system transaction processing source computer in communication with an output data file, an input data structure, a functional server computer and a relational database management system target computer. The relational database management system target computer is in communication with the functional server computer and an output database. A data propagation selection means is resident within the transaction source computer and is in communication with the functional server computer and target relational database management system target computer. A function management means is resident within the functional server computer and is in communication with the transaction source computer and the relational database management system computer.

Abstract: A flight delivery system that utilizes an architectural structure and network that allows real-time digital signals to be stored, retrieved and converted to an audio signal for radio transmission to achieve nearly instantaneous transmission of real-time data. The system, utilizes a computerized reservation system as a source of information and stores it on a database. The information is called up by a computer that converts the data to a digital audio signal. The digital audio signal is then broadcast over airport antennae. The system features programs that allow for a conversion from airport city codes to the common identification for local cities.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an inventory control method and architecture that maximizes revenues derived from the sale of a given inventory resource to a customer. More particularly, the present invention uses a continuous nested execution environment that allows a determination of a minimum acceptable price by continuously computing an optimal sale price based on current demand and supply and expected cancellations. The method described accesses a centrally located information repository and retrieves an inventory resource type and value allowing requests below the minimum acceptable price to be rejected, while requests above the minimum acceptable price can be accepted thus allowing the resource provider to maximize incoming revenues from the sale of its inventory of reservations.

Abstract: A comprehensive system and methodology for incorporating origination and destination network effects into a transportation industry's vehicle assignment process. The invention utilizes a decomposition strategy to combine a simplified version of network segment-FAM with the network flow aspects of origination and destination yield management. The invention's decomposition of the problem allows for the nonlinear aspects of the targeted origination and destination market effects to be isolated in origination and destination yield management, and subsequently incorporated in the vehicle assignment model using linear approximations to the total revenue function. The system operates either in "standalone" mode, or communicably attached to remote and local databases attendant to equipment and scheduling.

Abstract: An information aggregation and synthesization system and process. The present invention provides aggregation and packaging of structured or unstructured information from disparate sources such as those available on a network such as the Internet. A network compatible/addressable interface device is operated by a user. The network interface device communicates with local datastores or network accessible datastores via an addressing scheme such as Uniform Resource Locator addresses (URLs) utilized by the Internet. Data passing between the network interface device and the datastores is accessed, polled, and retrieved through an intermediary gateway system. Such aggregated information is then synthesized, customized, personalized and localized to meet the information resource requests specified by the user via the network interface device.