Abstract: A system is described for optimizing lead close rates. The system may create a seller scoring model that may be “trained” by a sales lead data over a period of time. The scoring model may be used to measure the performance of sellers in terms of handling and closing sales leads. The scoring model may be used to predict the sellers' close rates for future leads. The system may normalize the sellers based on lead volume to increase the confidence level in the scoring model. The system may utilize the scoring model to determine lead specific handling instructions for future leads to optimize sellers' close rates.

Abstract: Money transfer system authorizing an escrow agent computer electronically by touch-tone telephone, computer modem, P.O.S. (point of sale) terminal, live operators, to send cash transfers from a sender's account such as their credit, debit, bank, or ATM card, or a bank account, to a recipient who accesses the money at any remote ATM type location or P.O.S. (point of sale) terminal by using cards such as a specialized magnetic cards, credit cards, debit cards, and automated teller machine (ATM) card, at anytime and anywhere. Senders can authorize the transfer by touch-tone and PIN (personal identification number) secure codes. The system can operate without pre-existing relationships, and monitor transactions and take surcharges based on transfer amounts, and use a cards tethered to ATM machines and be used with double magnetic sided cards.

Abstract: Using a portable device, a method of conducting commerce can include executing within the portable device an application configured to communicate with an automated teller machine by displaying graphic symbols. A user input specifying transaction information which can include at least a personal identification code for a transaction can be received. The method further can include generating a graphic symbol specifying the transaction information and displaying the graphic symbol upon a display screen of the portable device. Accordingly, a graphic symbol reader of an automated teller machine can read the graphic symbol and process the transaction.

Abstract: A method for implementing a closed-loop business process management lifecycle. The method comprising producing at least one to-be process model during a process analysis phase. Storing a copy of the at least one to-be process model. Automating the at least one to-be process model during a process automation phase. Producing data logs by applications implementing the automated to-be process models. Data mining the produced data logs during a process monitoring phase, to produce emerging to-be process models and updated to-be process models of automated to-be process models. Storing the emerging to-be process models and the updated to-be process models; and selecting ones of the stored emerging and updated to-be process models to provide to a new process analysis phase.

Abstract: A credit card transaction authorization method includes receiving information concerning a prospective remote credit card transaction with a credit card, obtaining location information from a wireless network provider for a wireless terminal that is associated with a cardholder of the credit card for the prospective credit card transaction, and correlating a location of the wireless terminal with a registered purchasing location associated with the user. Authorization information for the prospective credit card transaction may be generated in response to a result of the correlation of the location of the wireless terminal and the registered purchasing location.

Abstract: A method of estimating synergy in a development process is provided. Project hours spent during a baseline time period by an adopted application in support of a phased-out application are estimated. Project hours spent during a subsequent time period by the adopted application in support of the phased-out application are estimated. Estimated project hours spent in the subsequent time period are subtracted from estimated project hours spent in the baseline time period to determine an indirect synergy result. Hours spent in the subsequent time period by the phased-out application are subtracted from hours spent in the baseline time period by the phased-out application to determine a direct synergy result. The direct synergy result is added to the indirect synergy result to create a combined synergy result to display to a development process user.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an energy and entropy analysis of a business entity. Embodiments of the present invention provide a computer-implemented method for calculating a metric indicative of a business entity's strategic health at a specific point in time, comprising obtaining a measurement of energy, obtaining a measurement of entropy, identifying at least one linkage between the energy measurement and the entropy measurement, and calculating a metric indicative of the business entity's current strategic health at the specific point in time.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and computer system for management of materials on a construction site. In one embodiment, at least one cost scenario is defined for moving at least one material with a vehicle pool. A status of a project which uses the material is then determined. A report is generated which identifies a vehicle of the vehicle pool and defines a load of the material which is to be moved by the vehicle from a first location to a second location.

Abstract: A contact center has an interface with a virtual environment implemented in a computer system. The operation of the contact center includes receiving, from the virtual environment, spatial information relating to the spatial position within the virtual environment of an inhabitant of the virtual environment, and queuing a contact relating to that inhabitant in a queuing system of the contact center. Queuing decisions are based, at least in part, on the spatial information of the inhabitant in the virtual environment.

Abstract: A control center receives, from the first bank, a first request with a first set of requirements for placement of reciprocal deposits. A second request with a second set of requirements is received from a second bank. The control center determines whether the first set of requirements matches the second set of requirements, which include maturity and interest rate. In response to a match, the control center performs an exchange of on-balance sheet deposits meeting the first set of requirements from the first bank to off-balance sheet deposits to the second bank. The first bank receives reciprocal deposits meeting the second set of requirements as new on-balance sheet deposits.

Abstract: Methods for obtaining credit life insurance for an individual via a service organization are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of: 1) registering the individual with the service organization via a computer system in a computer network; 2) accessing credit information on the individual via the computer system in the computer network and determining the total debt of the individual; 3) determining the amount of debt to be covered by credit life insurance benefits; 4) creating a data base including insurance companies that provide credit life insurance benefits, the data base further including the premiums that the insurance companies charge for issuing their credit life insurance; 5) selecting specific coverage with required specific premiums; 6) obtaining the individual's approval of the required specific premiums via the computer system in the computer network; and 7) obtaining credit life insurance benefits for the individual.

Abstract: A micro-payment system has buyers, sellers, and a broker. The buyers establish accounts with the broker and provide payment information allowing the broker to invoice the buyers. The sellers establish accounts with the brokers and specify terms for accessing items, including electronic content, available from the sellers. The sellers also provide payment information that allows the broker to credit the sellers for sales of the items. The broker aggregates the buyers' micro-payment purchases and invoices the buyers. The broker also aggregates the sellers' micro-payment sales and credits the sellers.

Abstract: A system is disclosed that is designed to enable users to obtain a customized specification for a particular project, and to develop a final specification for the associated building project along with a variety of up to date supportive technical documentation relating to the selected building products and systems. The system may include a computer implemented work flow that presents the user with a plurality of screens to elicit user responses to various building product selection criteria. Based on the user responses, a list of qualifying building products/systems is presented to the user for final selection. The system is PC based for ease of use at a work site, and may periodically be connected to one or more manufacturers' web sites via the Internet to download the most recent information available about the manufacturer's products. The system contains a green feature that enables users to minimize the environmental impact of the building project.

Abstract: The invention is a method of obtaining credit life insurance for an individual by means of a service organization. In detail, the steps include: 1) registering the individual with the service organization via a computer system in a computer network; 2) accessing credit information on the individual by means of the computer system in the computer network and determining the total debt of the individual; 3) determining the amount of debt to be covered by credit life insurance benefits; 4) creating a data base including insurance companies that provide credit life insurance benefits, the data base further including the premiums that the insurance companies charge for issuing their credit life insurance; 5) selecting specific coverage with required specific premiums; 6) obtaining the individual's approval of the required specific premiums via the computer system in the computer network; and 7) obtaining credit life insurance benefits for the individual.

Abstract: Implementation of resource management services is provided. A method includes setting a price, per unit of a resource, for a defined time period and based upon a collective projected resource demand corresponding to resource consumption entities (RCEs). For the duration of the time period, the method includes iteratively performing: monitoring actual usage of the resource for each of the RCEs. If, in response to the monitoring, it is determined that a projected shortage exists for an RCE and a projected surplus exists for another RCE, the method includes re-allocating a number of projected surplus units of the resource from the RCE having the projected surplus to the other RCE having the projected shortage. If, in response to the monitoring, it is determined that a projected shortage exists for an RCE and no projected surplus exists for any of the other RCEs, the method includes acquiring additional units of the resource.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for data processing. In one implementation, a data processing system includes storage means for storing sets of account identifiers, each of the sets of account identifiers being assigned a set of control parameters. The data processing system may also include an account management system that stores account data of accounts that are identified by the account identifiers, interface means coupled to the account management system, and one or more sets of application programs that are adapted to process account data of accounts identified by at least one of the one or more sets of account identifiers using the set of control parameters assigned to the at least one of the one or more sets of account identifiers. The interface means may obtain the account data from the account management system on request of one of the application programs.

Abstract: The claimed subject matter relates to an architecture that can characterize an item involved in a consumer transaction and/or a behavior of a consumer as a virtual financial instrument. The architecture can monitor the future performance of the virtual instrument in order to identify trendspotters as well as trend followers in a particular market domain.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a solution for service-supporting resources (e.g., IT resources such as processor, storage, network, etc.). Specifically, the present invention will first create a resource configuration data repository that includes resource scaling capabilities of a set of IT resources. A unit of work data repository that includes details of jobs handled by the IT resources will also be included. Then, a profile will be created for the set of IT resources, the profile typically including information related to a service demand, a capacity, a utilization, and a performance of the set of IT resources. Resource utilization and performance data (e.g., historical and/or real-time data) will then be collected. Using the resource configuration data repository, the unit of work data repository, the profile, and the resource utilization and performance data, a scaling strategy will be generated/developed and implemented for the IT resources.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide a scheduling system structured for generating at least one posting to fill a vacant post on a schedule. In an embodiment, the scheduling system includes a scheduling database and an automated rotation tool. The scheduling database includes a personnel roster and a schedule. The schedule includes a vacant post. The scheduling database transmits the schedule and the personnel roster to the automated rotation tool. The automated rotation tool includes a computer system, and receives the personnel roster and the vacant post beginning within the vacancy window from the scheduling database, and also receives a rule, a parameter, and a vacancy window. The automated rotation tool generates a posting assigning a person from the personnel roster to the vacant post according to the rule and the parameter, and transmits the posting to the scheduling database.

Abstract: A method of identifying target businesses with above-average potential to achieve a selected financial performance target, in accordance with the principles of one embodiment of this invention comprises identifying a plurality of model businesses which have already achieved the selected financial performance target; identifying financial statistics common to the identified model businesses; and screening target businesses for the financial statistics common to the identified businesses. The financial statistics preferably include: at least one of historic annual sales, annual sales growth rates, and time since found to exceed selected annual sales thresholds, gross margins, SG&D, R & D expense, EBIDTA, cash flow from operations, market capitalization.