Abstract: A system and method for implementing/influencing a recommender system which provides recommendations to users based on characteristics of certain trendsetters within a member population. The trendsetters are determined by studying historical adoption behavior of a group within the member population, or by reference to known indicia.

Abstract: A method of predicting expected performance of a processing center system is provided. The method includes receiving performance information from a performance monitoring system associated with the processing center system. A computer model of the processing center system is developed based on the performance information. The method further includes generating predictions based on the computer model, and analyzing the predictions to generate performance scenarios for the processing center system.

Abstract: Methods for identifying industries for potential transfer of a job function capability involve the use of a database that correlates, for a job function in a first industry, the first industry with a set of second industries with respect to which a job function capability of the job function is potentially transferable. The database can be accessed to identify the second set of industries. A symbolic representation of a job transfer between the first industry and a second industry or a symbolic representation that categorizes a subject of a user's job transferability query may be used to access the database.

Abstract: Revision of a part specification document, such as a drawing, a part specification, or a bill of materials, prompts execution of an automated notification process. A unique part number associated with the revised part specification document is employed in searching open purchasing documents for purchase orders or request for quotes containing the part number. Electronic mail addresses for outside supplier contacts are kept in the database and linked to the supplier master of the open purchasing documents containing the part number. An electronic mail notification of the part specification document revision is generated and transmitted to each electronic mail address identified as being associated with an open purchasing document containing the subject part number.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for balancing attainment of goals. First, a plurality of goals are presented to a user. The goals may be previously selected by the user or may include a default set of goals, for example. The user is permitted to adjust preferences related to a selected one or more of the goals. An impact on attaining some or all of the goals is determined based on the adjusted preferences. The impact on attaining the goals is then displayed to the user.

Abstract: A system and method of managing purchasing contracts between supplier entities and customer entities for the purchase of products includes the step of generating at least one purchasing contract between at least one supplier entity (e.g., a product originator such as an airline company or a distributor such as travel agency) and at least one customer entity. The purchasing contract generated is one that is applicable to one or more contracted purchasing transactions effected, at least partially, through a computerized system. The generating step includes identifying one or more contract terms, wherein each contract term has one or more term attributes, and storing a term data set of the term attributes associated with each contract term in one or more computer databases. The method also involves collecting transaction data relating to one or more purchasing transactions and storing the transaction data in one or more computer databases.

Abstract: Instant messaging (IM) entities may be invited to an electronic calendar event using an instant message. Selecting the IM entities as invitees to the event may include dragging and dropping names of the IM entities from a buddy list of an IM application to an event from an electronic calendar application, or vice versa. A method of inviting an entity to a calendar event includes providing a calendar event from a calendar application and recognizing, by the calendar application, an IM entity as an invitee to the event.

Abstract: A method of sharing a calendar between a plurality of users is described where the calendar is capable of holding one or more events. The method includes providing the calendar to each of said plurality of users. The method further includes allowing any of the plurality of users to add to the calendar a new event, a change to an event and a message relating to an event. The method further includes providing a new event, change to an event and/or message added by a user to the other users including automatically displaying at least one updated calendar to its respective other user without said other user having to cause said updated calendar to be fetched through a network.

Abstract: A method of providing a healthcare provider the ability to schedule an appointment including receiving a patient's requested appointment from an appointment scheduler; receiving an initial visit type from the appointment scheduler corresponding to the requested appointment; scheduling the requested appointment when it is determined that the requested appointment corresponds to a basic appointment; and providing the appointment scheduler with a set of decision support tools and responding to the requested appointment, when it is determined that the requested appointment corresponds to a complex appointment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enhancing a virally marketed facility is described and illustrated. In one embodiment, the invention is a method of operating a virally marketed facility. The method includes measuring virality of the facility based on a conversion rate and a propagation rate. The method also includes determining potential options for increasing virality. The method further includes executing potential options for increasing virality. In an alternate embodiment, the invention is a method of operating a virally marketed facility. The method includes measuring virality of the facility. Also, the method includes determining potential options for increasing virality. Further, the method includes concurrently executing potential options for increasing virality.

Abstract: A company's ability to expand its market presence by delivering value to emerging and immature markets is influenced by its ability to develop a rich and differentiated value net within these emerging markets. Techniques are disclosed for making resource placement decisions in an objective manner, using results from a value chain analysis. Geographies or locations that are candidates for the resource placement are analyzed in terms of a set of criteria which, in preferred embodiments, are directed toward identifying strengths and weaknesses of each location as part of an overall value chain.

Abstract: A method and structure for coordinating materials ordering requirements for multiple divisions of an organization, comprises a merging unit in communication with the divisions of the organization, wherein the divisions supply the merging unit with parts demand data and wherein the divisions produce the parts demand data utilizing independent demand calculation systems. An information warehouse is connected to the merging unit. The merging unit combines the parts demand data from the divisions to produce an overall demand data for parts needed by the organization.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for the automated routing and processing of telecommunication service orders. A system and method in accordance with the present invention may further prioritize the analysis and processing of telecommunication service orders, identify and classify past due telecommunication service orders for analysis and processing, and manage the order of completion of components of a telecommunication service order. A system and process in accordance with the present invention receives a service order and parses it to find messages on the service order that are included on a message table. Analysis rules provide actions to be taken with a service order based on the messages found in the service order.

Abstract: The invention provides an overall architecture for optimal strategy design using both historical data and human expertise. The presently preferred architecture supports the tasks of strategy design and strategy analysis, and provides extensions to influence diagrams, translation of an influence diagram as a nonlinear optimization problem, and use of induction after optimization to derive decision rules.

Abstract: Projection factors are used to project product sales data from sample retail outlets to the universe of outlets. Weekly forecasts of market conditions and product demand are generated based on the projected product sales data. The projection factors and the weekly forecasts are updated during the course of the forecasted week, for example, daily, as data on actual product sales during the forecasted week is received.

Abstract: A modeling tool for determining the impact that a data warehouse solution will have upon a business organization considering implementing a data warehouse solution. The modeling tool is implemented on a server computer with restricted access through a client computer. A server computer includes: a business impact model comprising a mathematical representation of a data warehouse solution, and an assessment questionnaire; and a modeling application for calculating a value of a data warehouse solution to a business organization from the business impact model and assessment questionnaire answers. A client computer is connectable to the server computer for receiving a copy of the business impact model, and providing offline collection of answers to the assessment questions, and offline calculation of a value of the data warehouse solution to the business organization. An application residing on the server computer keeps a record of the business impact model received by the client computer.

Abstract: A computer system models customer response using observable data. The observable data includes transaction, product, price, and promotion. The computer system receives data observable from customer responses. A set of factors including customer traffic within a store, selecting a product, and quantity of selected product is defined as expected values, each in terms of a set of parameters related to customer buying decision. A likelihood function is defined for each of the set of factors. The parameters are solved using the observable data and associated likelihood function. The customer response model is time series of unit sales defined by a product combination of the expected value of customer traffic and the expected value of selecting a product and the expected value of quantity of selected product. A linear relationship is given between different products which includes a constant of proportionality that determines affinity and cannibalization relationships between the products.

Abstract: Systems and methods for product level projections of pharmacy prescriptions within product therapy classes are provided. Average wholesale dollar sales amounts are obtained or estimated at channel/outlet/product-therapy levels. All of the average wholesale dollar sales amounts are converted to prescription data at channel/outlet/product-therapy levels using a correlation function. The correlation function is derived by correlating samples of total prescription data where available with corresponding average wholesale dollar sales amounts.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for integrated decision support is disclosed. The method includes receiving decision inputs. The method also includes converting the received decision inputs to graph representations and mathematical representations. The method further includes decomposing the converted decision inputs to sub-problems. The method further includes detecting strongly-connected components associated with the sub-problems. The strongly-connected components represent the sub-problems that are coupled. The method further includes solving the sub-problems.

Abstract: A system is described for managing business processes through a plurality of distinct input channels, wherein the processes have a number of consecutive process phases. The system comprises a process management module which is configured to receive requests from a customer through any one of the input channels and to execute on the basis of these requests a business process. The system uses a process definition database for storing process definitions of each of the business processes and the process phases used therein. An interface module handles the communication between the input channels and the process management module, wherein a session service in the interface module stores session information about a particular one of the plurality of input channels through which a given request for executing a process phase was received.