Abstract: An electronic price label (EPL) which includes a plurality of separately-addressable displays. The EPL includes a housing, a first display identified by a first unique identification number, a second display within the housing identified by a second unique identification number, and circuitry within the housing for controlling each of the first and second displays in response to messages received by the circuitry which are addressed to the first and second displays using the first and second unique identification numbers.

Abstract: A method for accommodating electronic commerce in a semiconductor manufacturing capacity market. The method comprises the steps of identifying a plurality of players in the semiconductor manufacturing capacity market, each of which players can solicit capacity in semiconductor manufacturing capacity market; providing a neutral third-party, the neutral third party and the plurality of players configured in a hub arrangement for communicating with each of the plurality of players in semiconductor manufacturing capacity trades; and realizing an open market conditionality between each of the plurality of players and the neutral third party so that the semiconductor manufacturing capacity supplied by one or more of the players can be bought and sold among the players; and, the neutral third party can preserve anonymity of each of the plurality of players soliciting semiconductor manufacturing capacity.

Abstract: A web-based online store includes a configurator, a cart, a checkout, and a database, further in which a user interface of the online store enables a custom configuration of a computer system according to an identification of a user belonging to a prescribed customer set. The configurator is provided for configuring a computer system with options selected according to a prescribed user input, the options and a respective pricing for each option being presented on a configurator web page in accordance with the identification of the user belonging to a prescribed customer set. The cart is provided for temporarily storing the customer configured computer system, the cart including a cart web page. The checkout is provided for presenting payment options and for obtaining payment and delivery information, the checkout including a checkout web page.

Abstract: Resource usage data is used to infer degrees of influence between users. Once such inferences are made, a directed graph representation of the users and the inferred "influence" between the users can be generated. "Influential rumormongers" can then be determined from the directed graph, for example, by using a greedy graph covering algorithm. In this way, marketing information can be targeted to "influential rumormongers" to optimize its dissemination and impact. If actual (explicit) data regarding the influence between users is known, such data may be used to refine or replace at least some edge values.

Abstract: A method for performing continuous auctions over a computer network system consisting of a server/seller and multiple clients/buyers. The seller makes information about the type of sale items, the number of sale items, minimum bid price, time limits for bids to be submitted, and estimated time interval to the next auction decision available to the buyer by displaying it on buyers' computer terminals. Each buyer responds by entering a bid and such bid's duration, within the time limits set by the seller, in to the auction system through buyers' computer terminals. Additionally, a buyer's bid entry time is saved by the system. Determining the response time for present buyers to schedule the next auction. At least one auction winner, whose bid is within bid duration, is selected through a dynamically adjusted customer selection method.

Abstract: An automatic process for use in point-of-sale credit card or debit card systems for taking corrective action based on information returned from the banking system and/or the point-of-sale system. The automatic process replaces the human clerk as the interface in control of action by the point-of-sale device enabling unattended operation. The automatic process includes the maintenance of a hot list for denying use of repeatedly rejected cards, stopping the automatic operation if the banking system denies point-of-sale device access, and allows for local proprietary cards to be used independent of the banking system.

Abstract: A method for retrieving information from a database includes pre-scoring each of a plurality of records in the database to determine their relevance to a particular item of interest, specifying at least one trait corresponding to a type of information sought to be retrieved, searching the database to derive a collection of records which satisfy the trait, and ordering the records in the first collection to identify the records most relevant to the item of interest. In order to further derive the most relevant records, a plurality of traits may be specified to effect multiple levels of searching. A predetermined number of the records may then be output without superfluous information, to increase the density, clarity, and coherency of the output. Records may then be selected for pursuit. A system and computer process implement one or more steps of the method.

Abstract: A parametric software estimating system provides a class of user selectable size metrics. At least one of the metrics is adapted specifically for use with proposed object oriented software systems. An estimate of labor hours for various development categories can be provided along with estimated costs. The effects of imposing selected constraints on the development process can be dynamically studied enabling a user to evaluate alternatives.

Abstract: A method and system for generating advisory messages to pharmacy patients includes appending patient-specific information to a data record containing normally transmitted information. The data record is transmitted between a third party computer and a pharmacy computer during a pharmacy transaction. The data record transmitted to the pharmacy computer is captured by an advisory computer as the data record is received by the pharmacy computer or after the data record is transmitted to the pharmacy computer, and the patient-specific information is extracted from the captured data record. The advisory computer generates an advisory message based on the extracted patient-specific information, and it transmits the generated advisory message to a pharmacy printer. The advisory computer includes a memory containing a data structure for storing the patient-specific information, the normally transmitted information, and the generated advisory message.

Abstract: An intra-organization cooperation system is a system for making departments/sections smoothly perform a transaction support to mutually provide information, services, equipment etc., within an organization. It comprises a personal information database registering a balance of commodities of each of the members belonging to the organization, and a commodity information database storing commodity information of each commodity. Additionally, the present system determines the degree of association between a commodity provider and a commodity receiver and the scale of the deal of a commodity when the deal of the commodity is made, and decides the contents of the deal of the commodity according to the results of determination of either or both of the results of determination. Then, it makes the deal according to the decided contents of the deal of the commodity, and updates the personal information database.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for double auction trade-building by matching, based on feasibility and price/cost heuristics, a plurality of electronically posted bid with a plurality of electronically posted ask records. A one-pass sequential trade building method selects ask records one at a time and sequentially inserts, in one pass, as many of the bid records as possible while maintaining feasibility criteria. A two pass sequential trade building method inserts the bid records in two stages, the first terminating when the trade becomes feasible and the second when no further bids can be inserted.

Abstract: A workflow system comprising a plurality of workflow subsystems connected to a LAN (Local Area Network), these workflow subsystems being composed of servers and clients, and provides a workflow system which permits an integrated management of the definitions of the business processes placed under decentralized management, through the server managing shipping documents, BPs (Business Processes) describing shipping routes of shipping documents in the subsystem, and business process connection data to connect the BPs.

Abstract: A photocopy count system and method which records usage information for accounting and billing purposes. The photocopy tracking system comprises a plurality of remote mini-terminals, a multiport serial board, and a central control computer. Billing identifier information entered at a remote mini-terminal is received at the central control computer where it is processed for verification of validity. If the billing information is valid, the central control computer generates a copier enable signal which is received at the remote mini-terminal to enable the associated photocopier. As each photocopy event occurs, the copy signal is detected by the central control computer. When copying is completed, the copy count and associated billing information is stored at the control computer for later accounting and billing use. The control and processing functions are centralized so as to reduce the cost to install and maintain the system.

Abstract: An interactive computer assisted method reviews, and analyzes, a patient who needs one or more medications using a computer and a user associated therewith. The method includes the steps of pre-selecting patients to obtain a preliminary set of patients eligible for the interactive computer assisted method responsive to first predetermined criteria, and filtering the preliminary set of patients to identify and form a secondary set of patients from the preliminary set of patients having a greater likelihood of benefiting from the interactive computer assisted method responsive to second predetermined criteria. The method also includes the steps of enrolling a patient from the secondary set of patients, and communicating with the patient to obtain information to assist the user in determining whether therapy and/or medication issues are relevant.

Abstract: Transactions are conducted on the Internet, by telephone or directly with anonymity and privacy. A customer's shipping address is encoded by a multi-digit identifier which is stored in the database of a trusted third party, preferably the shipping company. A user of the system need only identify themselves to a vendor by this multi-digit identifier which prints the identifier in machine readable form on a package delivered to the shipper.

Abstract: According to the method and system of the present invention, digital image data is input in a personal computer, through an image input device. The order sender processes the image data with reference to a display on the screen of the personal computer, and then inputs print order data. The print order data includes print option data designating size and number of prints, expected delivery date data, delivery option data designating the way of delivery, and user ID data for identifying the order sender. Then an order receiver or a particular photofinisher is designated. The processed digital image data and the print order data are sent to the designated photofinisher. The reception processing device of the order receiver stores the digital image data and relating print order data, and commands a digital printer to make prints from the digital image data in accordance with the print order data.

Abstract: An airline ticket issuing apparatus connected via a communications line to a seat reservation system is installed in a travel agency and so on. This airline ticket issuing apparatus records, on an airline ticket, boarding information and entry card information that are inputted by a person in charge. The airline ticket is divided into a coupon to be collected by the person in charge of an airline at a boarding gate in an airport, and a passenger ticket to be returned to a passenger thereat. A magnetic stripe is formed extending over the coupon and the passenger ticket orthogonally to a perforated line on the underside of the air ticket. The airline ticket issuing apparatus records dummy data on an area, peripheral to the perforated line, of the magnetic stripe, records the boarding information on an area, on the side of the coupon, of the magnetic stripe, and records entry card information on an area, on the side of the passenger ticket, of the magnetic stripe.

Abstract: An electronic price label (EPL) price synchronization system and method which increase price reliability while conserving system bandwidth. A storage medium contains an audit file containing scheduled price change messages. The storage medium may additionally contain an EPL data file containing correct price information or a price file containing correct price information.