Abstract: A method and a system for determining a charge for a communication in a communications network is provided. A message is received from a user equipment. The message comprises a payload and is addressed to a plurality of destinations. A first message is sent towards a destination of the plurality of destinations. The first message comprises the payload, a first charging identifier, and a second charging identifier. The first charging identifier is associated with the message and the second charging identifier is generated for the destination. A charging message is sent to a network node to charge an account of the user equipment. The charging message comprises the first charging identifier and the second charging identifier.

Abstract: A reservation acceptance system is provided that accepts requests of reservations from customers so that the resources can be used efficiently.

Abstract: A postage evidencing meter system is disclosed. The system comprises an authorization database for storing parameters for at least one user, wherein the parameters limit the at least one user's ability to evidence postage using the meter. The parameters include a maximum postage amount that the at least one user is allowed to use on the meter to evidence postage. The parameters may alternatively or also include a period of time during which the user is allowed to use the meter to evidence postage or a maximum amount of postage that can be used during a period of time. The postage evidencing meter further comprises a user interface, a printer, and a security module. In alternative embodiments, the authorization database is stored on a removable storage device and/or is coupled to the meter via a communication link to a remote postage information system.

Abstract: A high performance capability assessment model helps a postal industry business meet the challenges of the global marketplace. As a result, the postal industry business can achieve the clarity, consistency, and well-defined execution of core processes that reduce inefficiencies and waste that result from unnecessary process complexity and exceptions. In addition, the high performance capability assessment model helps the postal industry business to identify specific areas in which improvements may be made and understand how to make the improvements, and establishes levels of capability along the way to reaching an ultimate capability goal.

Abstract: A method for determining parking assignments for material handling vehicles in a manufacturing system is provided. The manufacturing system is operable to perform fabrication processes on a plurality of loads. The method includes identifying at least one idle material handling vehicle. A first cost factor associated with expected transit times for the at least one idle material handling vehicle to available parking locations in the manufacturing system is determined. A second cost factor based on a number of loads available to be serviced by the at least one idle material handling vehicle in the parking locations and relative priorities assigned to the loads is determined. A parking location for the at least one idle material handling vehicles is determined based on the first and second cost factors. A parking request is issued to the at least one idle material handling vehicle based on the determined parking locations.

Abstract: A method for assessing fees for parking is disclosed. The method includes determining the length of a vehicle and assessing a parking fee based upon that vehicle length. The disclosed method may also include marking at least a portion of the selected parking area in increments of length or marking the length of a vehicle on that vehicle. Embodiments of the method are also disclosed that include calculating the parking fee so that a longer vehicle is charged more than a shorter vehicle for parking in the selected parking area. Other embodiments of the disclosed method include calculating the parking fee based on different length ranges that include at least a first length range and a second length range. The first length range has lengths that are shorter than lengths in the second length range. The parking fee is based on which length range the length of the vehicle falls within.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to a system and method for the assembly of a program having one or more methods. In an embodiment, one or more sequences for the methods of the program are determined based, at least in part, on data format information provided by the methods. In one embodiment, one of the sequences is selected based, at least in part, on a data format efficiency computation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for training a neural network to compute hazard functions for customers and analyzing hazard functions, both for an individual customer, and for set of customers to focus marketing techniques. The hazard function represents the likelihood of churn for a particular customer. The gain in lifetime value is also calculated for each customer which incorporates the present value of the customer with the future value of the customer if a new contract is entered. The overall shape of the hazard function, combined with the gain in lifetime value, specifies what marketing techniques are to be applied together with what additional incentives are to be offered to the customer in order prevent churn.

Abstract: A computer implemented system and method for payment remittance receives a payor's payment information, processes this payment information, other than a received zip code, to identify an eleven digit zip code for a payee. The system and method then accesses a database of payee records to locate a payee record corresponding to the eleven digit zip code.

Abstract: A method of validating an e-ticket includes the step of sending the e-ticket from an initial receiving server Si to a plurality of servers including Si. Each server returns an answer indicative of whether that server previously answered an inquiry for the e-ticket. A conflict mode of validation is selected if at least one selected server of a majority of servers answered a previous inquiry for the e-ticket. A conflict-free mode of validation is selected if none of the majority of servers has answered any previous inquiry for the e-ticket.

Abstract: A system for combined mailing of a plurality of diverse publications to a plurality of recipients at an optimized mail rate. The system includes a bindery for binding a plurality of the signatures where the bindery binding the plurality of signatures creates a plurality of first publications and a plurality of second publications. Each of the plurality of first and second publications are in a unique order, where the unique order identifies each of the plurality of first publications and each of the plurality of second publications with each of the plurality of recipients. A co-mailer is part of the system for combining the plurality of first publications with the plurality of second publications to form a plurality of diverse publications. The co-mailer merges the plurality of first and second publications in the unique order to send the plurality of diverse publications to the plurality of recipients at the optimized mail rate.

Abstract: An improved transportation scheduling method for scheduling a plurality of trips T1–Tn using a plurality of vehicles V1–Vn, each of said plurality of vehicles having a trip manifest. The method comprises the steps of: (a) generating a useability matrix that determines which of said plurality of vehicles V1–Vn is useable with each of said plurality of trips T1–Tn; (b) determining a best trip of said plurality of trips T1–Tn to be scheduled next; (c) determining a best vehicle from said plurality of vehicles V1–Vn for accommodating said best trip; (d) determining a best insertion pair into said trip manifest of said best vehicle for said best trip and updating said trip manifest to include said best insertion pair; (e) updating said useability matrix to reflect the scheduling of said best trip on said best vehicle; and (f) repeating steps (a)–(e) until all of the trips in said plurality of trips T1–Tn have been scheduled.

Abstract: An interactive remote auction bidding system for conducting an auction utilizes a data input device for communication over a network to the auction site. The system includes a data processor located at the auction site for generating bid information for communication over the network to the remote locations. A processor located at the auction side monitors the participants' data input devices for sensing participant bids generated by the participants' data input devices. The system further displays visual bid information at the auction site for transmission over the network to the participants and generates audible bid information in support of that visual bid information.

Abstract: An interactive remote auction bidding system for conducting an auction utilizes a data input device for communication over a network to the auction site. The system includes a data processor located at the auction site for generating bid information for communication over the network to the remote locations. A processor located at the auction side monitors the participants' data input devices for sensing participant bids generated by the participants' data input devices. The system further displays visual bid information at the auction site for transmission over the network to the participants and generates audible bid information in support of that visual bid information.

Abstract: A method to allow a mailer to receive postal discounts for mailing at an eligible postal facility a plurality of mail pieces to a plurality of mailing addresses. The method comprises the steps of creating an entry code lookup file containing a plurality of identification codes for each eligible postal facility according to the Destination Delivery Unit (DDU) rate or discounting and a drop ship file containing a plurality of local ZIP codes and carrier routes associated with each eligible postal facility. When a mailer enters the identification code for the eligible postal facility where the mailer drops the mail for mailing, the drop ship file is used to determine whether the mail piece is available for DDU discounts based on the local ZIP code and the carrier route.

Abstract: An information delivery system includes a web server in operative communication with a plurality of recipients and a plurality of senders, the plurality of senders desirous of generating messages intended for the plurality of recipients, respectively. The web server includes a plurality of recipient preference profiles corresponding to the plurality of recipients, respectively, and a plurality of sender profiles corresponding to the plurality of senders, respectively. Each of the recipient preference profiles includes respective information directed to the recipient's preferences for receiving messages and the web server provides the plurality of senders with access to the plurality of recipient preference profiles. The web server maintains a relationship between a log of recipient preference profiles out of the plurality of recipient preference profiles that have been accessed by a particular sender.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing an information-based indicia program (IBIP) postage in a computer printing subsystem is disclosed wherein a third-party word processing software with mail merge capabilities generates text and a matching address as the input for a client application in high-volume document processing and mail systems without programmatically altering the word processing program to accommodate the printing subsystem. Addresses are validated and corrected in the printing subsystems prior to creation of the indicia image and address image to be printed on the mailpiece.

Abstract: A market analysis system uses travel time to define a relevant market area. A map is generated using stored geographical map information around a selected geographical point or area, and a travel time around the geographical point or area is selected. A trace is formed on the map around the geographical point within the travel time using travel time data, and market information is gathered from a database for the defined geographical area.

Abstract: A method and system for fairly distributing servicing of I/O requests by a storage device among remote computers that contract for a specified maximum rate of I/O request servicing by the storage device. The remote computers also specify whether the storage device should employ a simple throttling technique or a sliding window throttling technique to limit the rate of I/O request servicing to the contracted-for rate of I/O request servicing. In the simple throttling technique, the storage device services up to some maximum number of I/O requests per unit time for the remote computer, regardless of the overall time-averaged rate of I/O request servicing provided to the remote computer. In the sliding window throttling technique, the storage device maintains an approximate, periodically re-calculated instantaneous rate of I/O request servicing calculated based on recent I/O request servicing by the storage device on behalf of the remote computer.

Abstract: The present invention discloses method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for a computer-implemented financial management system that permits the trading of securities via a network. A server computer receives buy and sell orders for derivative financial instruments from a plurality of client computers. The server computer matches the buy orders to the sell orders and then generates a market price through the use of a virtual specialist program executed by the server computer. The virtual specialist program responds to an imbalance in the matching of the buy and sell orders.