Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for authenticating electronic messages. A data structure is generated by a computer server which allows for the authentication of the contents and computer server identity of a received electronic message and provides a trusted stamp to authenticate when the message was sent. Data which can authenticate the message, the computer server identity, and the time the message was sent is included into a data structure which is called an Electronic PostMark (EPM).

Abstract: In one aspect, a computing apparatus is configured to allow merchants to initiate offers in an offer campaign based on a spending pattern specified by the merchant, such as the lack of transactions in a predetermined period of time of the day, in a recent time period, and/or in a particular merchant category. The offer campaign can be adjusted between offer delivery/announcement and fulfillment for a limited time period. The benefit of a further purchase may be announced via a message scheduled to be transmitted in response to an event identifying the arrival of a particular time instance, in response to a qualification notification of a transaction satisfying the requirements of a purchase event required in the offer campaign, or in response to the detection of a required spending pattern.

Abstract: A scaleable network monitoring system is discussed. The network monitoring system identifies network monitoring information for the network elements being monitored. By storing only a non-redundant subset of the identified network information in memory, the network monitoring system is able to monitor a much larger group of network elements than is possible with conventional monitoring systems which are burdened by memory constraints. The scaleable network monitoring system also employs a multi-threaded architecture that dynamically spawns an array of multi-technology monitoring sub-systems.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for automated detection of plagiarized spoken responses. A spoken response is processed to generate a text that is representative of the spoken response. The text is processed to remove disfluencies in the text and to identify a plurality of sentences in the text. A first numerical measure indicative of a number of words and phrases of the text that are included verbatim in a source text is determined. The source text has been designated as a source of plagiarized content. A second numerical measure indicative of an amount of the text that paraphrases portions of the source text is determined. A third numerical measure indicative of a similarity between sentences of the text and sentences of the source text is determined. A model is applied to the first, second, and third numerical measures to classify the spoken response as being plagiarized or non-plagiarized.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, a document holding cassettes that can be used in an automated banking machine that includes circuitry that is wirelessly powered through inductive coupling. The cassette can wirelessly communicate with the automated banking machine through induction.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for generating a scoring model for responses. A computer-implemented method of calibrating a scoring model using a processing system for scoring examinee responses includes accessing a plurality of training responses for training the scoring model. The plurality of training responses are analyzed to derive values of multiple features (variables) of the training responses. The scoring model is trained based on the values of the multiple features of the training responses and one or more external measures of proficiency for each individual associated with a training response utilized in the training. The one or more external measures are not derived from the training responses. Based on the training, a weight for each of the multiple features is determined. The scoring model is calibrated to include the weights for at least some of the features for scoring examinee responses.

Abstract: Providing an information system in an item delivery system comprises reading a tracking indicia on a unit load, updating a database with first data from the tracking indicia, and updating the database with information that the unit load has been terminated. In addition, receiving second data to be included in a label, and printing the label may be included.

Abstract: Selection of offers, locations or merchants based on their distances from a portion of a user's route and their affinity for the user is disclosed. A route employed by a user for travelling to a destination is obtained and segmented at identified vertices. Locations that are proximate to the route segments are determined. The proximate locations are further analyzed to obtain their specific distances from a selected portion such as the user's origin or destination or any route segment. Location based services are associated with those proximate locations that are closest to the selected portion on the user's route or those with the better utility.

Abstract: A method for codec-based recovery of a video, which includes recovering an image by combining image decoding information and non-overwritten image frames, is provided. The method includes: a cluster extraction step of extracting a pre-cluster region; a region extraction step of extracting, from the pre-cluster region extracted in the cluster extraction step, an M frame region encoded using an MPEG-4 visual codec and an M decoding region; a combining step of combining the M frame region and the M decoding region extracted in the region extraction step and listing the combination; and a recovering step of decoding the M frame region and the M decoding region, listed in the combining step, to be recovered as an image.

Abstract: A method for reducing drift of sprayed droplets includes storing a fluid to be sprayed in a reservoir carried by a vehicle, and providing a metered flow of the first fluid to a spray nozzle, from where the fluid is injected into an atmosphere as sprayed droplets. A drift of the sprayed droplets is reduced by causing the sprayed droplets to absorb moisture from the atmosphere after they are sprayed from the spray nozzle, such that a mass of each of the sprayed droplets increases sufficiently to reduce a drift of the respective sprayed droplet in the wind.

Abstract: A system for facilitating data access and management on a smart card is provided. According to one exemplary aspect of the system, a storage architecture is provided in the smart card which allows data stored thereon to be shared by multiple parties. Access to data stored on the smart card is controlled by various access methods depending on the actions to be taken with respect to the data to be accessed.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically comparing obtained wireless device location information from a wireless network and comparing that location with another independent source geographic location is provided. Location information is derived from two or more sources in a multiplicity of ways and a comparison is made within a Location Comparison Engine. The Location Comparison Engine makes use of databases that assist in resolving obtained raw positioning information and converting that positioning information into one or more formats for adequate location comparison.

Abstract: An apparatus and system for providing a secure user interface restricting the access of users to selected functions, files, and communications by implementing a customizable secure graphical user interface. The degree to which the user's access is restricted may depended on levels of authorization granted to the user. The secure user interface may be implemented on a device and employed to aid a user in executing diagnostic, service, maintenance, and data gathering tasks. The secure computing device may be connectable to other computing devices of like of different kind. The secure computing device may provide security against non-authorized users by requiring user identification and disabling the device when proper identification is not given or the device is deemed missing.

Abstract: According to various embodiments, package evaluation systems and methods are provided for evaluating the sustainability of packaging used in the shipment of goods. In particular, the package evaluation systems and methods are configured for performing package evaluations and managing and providing access to data resulting from package evaluations. The package evaluations are designed to assess, among other things, the ability of sample packages to prevent damage to their contents, the volumetric efficiency of sample packages, and the sustainability of the materials used to construct sample packages. In addition, the systems and methods are further configured for assigning a certification to an entity associated with the evaluated packages based on the results of the evaluation.

Abstract: A coating reducers containing low volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to improve adverse environmental impacts, where the reducers may be water or solvent based and include mixtures of VOC exempt solvents and/or low vapor pressure (LVP) solvents and paints, lacquers, and varnishes diluted with the reducers.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, apparatuses, and methods for determining the location of a mobile merchant, and performing further processing based on the determined location. Transaction data for a transaction conducted by a mobile merchant is electronically received at a server computer. The server computer determines a location of the mobile merchant based on the transaction data, and performs further processing based on the location of the mobile merchant.

Abstract: An automatic or semiautomatic device for the controlled metering and mixing of a plurality of active liquid substances for plants, includes elements for selectively sampling the substances in corresponding containers and moreover includes a fluid transfer element and, elements for metering, mixing, and diluting the sampled or transferred amounts of the liquid substance(s). The device also includes a controlling and managing unit that controls the sampling and transferring element and is associated with measurement elements and an element for controlling the flow of fluids within the valve-type device. The measurement elements include an element, advantageous for sequential use, for measuring a basic volume of a sampled concentrated liquid substance, the volume needing to be mixed and/or diluted.

Abstract: A diagnostic tool and method are provided wherein the diagnostic tool can be configured to communicate a message including indicators to indicate the condition of the vehicle using a database and the DTCs present in the vehicle. The message can indicate for each DTC retrieved from the vehicle, the level of repair urgency and whether the vehicle can be driven without damaging the vehicle through one or both of a display and a speaker.