Abstract: A device receives instructions for extracting, transforming, and loading data; identifies a plurality of data processing activities based on the instructions; and determines a processing sequence for performing the plurality of data processing activities. The device further creates a plurality of processing objects corresponding to the plurality of data processing activities. Each one of the plurality of processing objects including a discrete data structure that is produced by performing a corresponding one of the plurality of data processing activities. The device performs the plurality of data processing activities in accordance with the processing sequence and by using the plurality of processing objects.

Abstract: A method and system for determining stress associated with a communication device, e.g., an optical fiber, and associated structures are disclosed. An exemplary method includes transmitting an initiated signal through a communication device, and comparing a reflected signal reflected by the communication device with the initiated signal. The method may further include determining a stress associated with the device from at least the comparison of the initiated signal and the reflected signal.

Abstract: A method including providing a user profile-based assistance service; receiving an assistance request from a subscriber, wherein the assistance request includes geographic information pertaining to a destination of the subscriber; searching a user profiles repository storing user profiles of other subscribers, wherein each user profile includes information indicating a geographic location in which the other subscriber has at least one of lived or worked; selecting candidate user profiles to offer assistance to the subscriber seeking assistance based on a matching between the geographic information pertaining to the destination and a geographic location in which each of the one or more other subscribers at least one of currently lives or works; sending the one or more candidate user profiles to the subscriber; receiving a selection of one of the one or more candidate user profiles; and establishing a communication session between the subscribe and the other selected subscriber.

Abstract: A mobile device may determine applications that are executed by the mobile device. The mobile device may further determine handoff parameters, relating to performance of a handoff operation in a cellular network. The handoff parameters may be determined based on the applications being executed by the mobile device. A handoff operation may be performed based on the determined handoff parameters.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes a content delivery subsystem configured to receive media content from a content provider and transmit the media content over a network to a content processing subsystem configured to process and provide the media content for presentation to an end user. The content delivery subsystem is further configured to maintain resource data associated with at least one of the media content and the content provider, make at least a subset of the resource data available to the content processing subsystem for inclusion in an end user interface, provide a content customization portal for access by the content provider, authenticate the content provider accessing the content customization portal, receive custom content from the authenticated content provider via the content customization portal, validate the custom content, and provide the custom content to the content processing subsystem for inclusion in the end user interface.

Abstract: An approach is provided for managing digital video recorders. One or more parameters related to a digital video recorder are retrieved. A configuration message is generated, at a set-top box, for transmission over a data network to a data repository. The set-top box is coupled to the digital video recorder. The configuration message specifies the one or more parameters.

Abstract: A user device may display, via a graphical user interface, questions associated with a voice menu that is used by an interactive voice response (IVR) system to forward calls. The user device may obtain, via the graphical user interface, user responses to the questions. In addition, the user device may send information corresponding to the user responses to the questions to a remote device. The remote device may query the IVR system to identify a call agent, in a call center, whose profile matches the information, obtain contact information of the call agent from the IVR system, and send the contact information to the user device. Furthermore, the user device may receive the contact information from the remote device and display the contact information via the graphical user interface.

Abstract: Methods and systems for advertisement insertion into streaming media content are described. In one method, an advertisement insertion tool receives an advertisement insertion input. The advertisement insertion input identifies a presentation time in media content to insert an advertisement. In response to receiving the advertisement insertion input, the advertisement insertion tool inspects an original slice of the media content that contains the media content at the presentation time to locate a key frame at or prior to the presentation time. The advertisement insertion tool creates a first new slice comprising the media content of the original slice up to the presentation time and creates a second new slice comprising the media content of the original slice after the presentation time. The advertisement insertion tool updates a descriptor file to include the first new slice, the advertisement, and the second new slice for streaming.

Abstract: An approach for a way to exchange gift cards (as well as other incentives, such as coupons) in a fair, efficient and secure environment. A first gift card information associated with a first merchant is received. The gift card information and user request information are evaluated to determine an exchange value. A second gift card information associated with a second merchant is determined based upon the exchange value.

Abstract: A first device may establish a connection with a user device via a particular bearer associated with multiple policies for corresponding data flows. The first device may also receive a first data packet associated with a first data flow; apply, to the first data flow, a first policy of the multiple policies; transmit the first data packet to the user device via the particular bearer; receive a second data packet associated with a second data flow; apply, to the second data flow, a second policy of the one or more policies; and transmit the second data packet to the user device via the particular bearer.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes a virtual health care solutions provider system 1) detecting an initiation of a virtual health care session by a user by way of a user portal, 2) presenting, in response to the initiation of the virtual health care session, an interactive health care questionnaire by way of the user portal, 3) detecting a completion by the user of the health care questionnaire by way of the user portal, 4) identifying, based on the completed health care questionnaire, a pool of one or more health care practitioners qualified to treat the user and open for virtual consultations, and 5) placing the user in a virtual queue associated with the pool of one or more health care practitioners for a virtual consultation with any one of the identified one or more health care practitioners by way of the user portal. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes a chronic care solutions provider system 1) maintaining data representative of a chronic care plan for a patient with a chronic medical condition, 2) receiving data representative of a biometric reading acquired by a biometric device associated with the patient, 3) generating a plurality of actionable tasks based on the biometric reading and in accordance with the chronic care plan, and 4) concurrently presenting, within a patient portal accessible by the patient, a plurality of graphical task cards each representative of a distinct actionable task included in the plurality of actionable tasks. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: Media units are stored in a buffer, wherein an importance rating is assigned to each of the media units. At least some of the media units are selectively flushed from the buffer based on the importance rating.

Abstract: A network device receives, from a user device, an inquiry for a selected very-far field communication (VFC) tag and selects, from a group of available base stations, one or more particular base stations of a wireless access network from which to broadcast a tag query for the selected VFC tag. The network device inserts the tag query into a broadcast signal of each of the one or more particular base stations. The VFC tag receives the tag query and transmits a local response signal over a local wireless network. A mobile device within range of the local response signal processes the local response signal and forwards the local response signal to the network device as a tag response. The network device receives the tag response and sends an indication of the tag response to the user device.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes a conflict resolution system 1) detecting a request for a DVR system having a plurality of tuners to tune to a media content program at a time during which all of the tuners are tuned to other media content programs, 2) identifying one or more media content programs that are being presented by the DVR system at the time of the request and one or more media content programs that are only being recorded by the DVR system at the time of the request, 3) presenting a conflict resolution interface that includes one or more selectable entries representative of the identified one or more media content programs that are only being recorded by the DVR system, and 4) excluding the identified one or more media content programs that are being presented by the DVR system from being represented in the conflict resolution interface.

Abstract: A first server may: receive, from a user device, an indication of a selection of a particular content file; provide a first query to request a script list having a list of one or more scripts associated with the particular content file, each one of the one or more scripts including an instruction to direct the user device to modify playback of the particular content file; receive, a response to the first query including the script list; and provide one of the one or more scripts to the user device, the user device being capable of executing the instruction of the one of the one or more scripts to modify playback of the particular content file when the user device plays the particular content file.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes a virtual health care solutions provider system 1) presenting, within a user portal, an interactive health care questionnaire to a user, 2) detecting a completion by the user of the health care questionnaire by way of the user portal, 3) placing, in response to the completion of the health care questionnaire, the user in a virtual queue for a virtual consultation with a health care practitioner, 4) presenting, within the user portal, a virtual lobby interface for experiencing by the user while the user is in the virtual queue, and 5) personalizing the virtual lobby interface to the user in accordance with the completed health care questionnaire. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A first server may: store a first start time and a first end time; receive a data record having a second start time and a second end time; determine a first number of time units corresponding to a total number of time units between the first start time and the first end time; determine a second number of time units corresponding to a difference between the first start time and the second start time; apply a first rounding rule to the second number of time units to form a first rounded number; determine a second rounded number by subtracting the first rounded number from the first number of time units; apply a second rounding rule to the second rounded number to form a third rounded number; and provide the third rounded number to a second server to determine a payment based on a rate and the third rounded number.

Abstract: A cloud-based telecommunications infrastructure may include one or more cloud-based network instances that each provide telecommunications services to mobile devices. A proxy may be used to select, based on initial communications from the mobile devices, one of the cloud-based network instances to service the mobile devices. Communications to the mobile devices may then be routed to the selected cloud-based network instances.

Abstract: A method may include receiving a call from a caller and determining whether the call has been queued for at least a predetermined period of time. The method may also include interacting with the customer via an interactive voice response unit, in response to determining that the call has been queued for at least the predetermined period of time, to offer a call back service to the customer. The call back service may include a scheduled call back or an immediate type call back when an agent is available. The method may further include receiving, from the customer and via the interactive voice response unit, an indication that the customer would like a call back and queuing the call back.