Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for implementing a software architecture design for a software application implementing selling standardized services. The application is structured as multiple process components interacting with each other through service interfaces, and multiple service operations, each being implemented for a respective process component. The process components include a Customer Quote Processing process component; a Sales Order Processing process component; a Service Confirmation Processing process component; a Financial Accounting Master Data Management processing component; a Customer Invoice Processing process component; an Accounting process component; a Balance of Foreign Payment Management process component; a Due Item Processing process component; and a Payment Processing process component.

Abstract: A system is provided comprising a computer, project forecast, workflow allocations, and incurred expense databases, and an application on the computer extracting from the project forecast database a list of costs and revenues associated with a first and second project, costs comprising approved expenses described in the workflow allocations database and incurred expenses in the incurred expense database. The system determines the first project is operational and for a first subscriber base and the second project is incomplete and is to be for a second subscriber base, completion of the second project pending release of a remaining cost item. The system analyzes an alternate allocation of the cost item to improve the profitability of the first subscriber base, delaying the second project. The system determines the proposed alternate allocation increases the first subscriber base profitability more than a reduction of second subscriber base profitability resulting from the proposed alternate allocation.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system and program product for creating a physical information environment for a specific industry type are presented. A candidate industry type is selected to describe a customer's operations. A set of information environment components, which is modeled and simulated in software and is specific for the candidate industry type, is selected. Inherent constraints, from the candidate industry type and the set of information environment components, are identified. The set of information environment components are then recursively optimized in order to comply with the inherent constraints and to meet the specific information environment requirements. Based on optimized information environment components, construction of a information environment is simulated in order to define an architecture of a simulated information environment for the candidate industry type.

Abstract: The embodiments of the invention provide methods, computer program products, etc. for complaint-based service level objectives. More specifically, a method of deducing undefined service level objectives receives complaints regarding behavior of a system. The complaints could include a severity parameter, an entity parameter, a nature-of-complaint parameter, a timestamp parameter, and/or an identification parameter. Next, system details representing a current state of the system are recorded for each of the complaints. The method then automatically analyzes a history of the system details and the complaints to produce a historical compilation of the system details. The analyzing can include weighing each of the system details by a severity parameter value.

Abstract: A system to detect outlying behavior in a network-based marketplace automatically collects attribute information for a first plurality of sellers that includes a first seller, and stores the attribute information in a storage device. The system computes peer information associated with a second plurality of sellers using a computer system, wherein the first plurality of sellers includes the second plurality of sellers, and wherein the peer information is automatically computed from the attribute information for the second plurality of sellers. The system compares the peer information associated with the second plurality of sellers with attribute information for the first seller for the purpose of automatically detecting outlying behavior by the first seller.

Abstract: A method for socially derived, graduated access control to a collaboration environment includes calculating a variable reputation score for a user based on a user's actions within a collaboration environment; and dynamically enabling graduated access control to the collaboration environment based on the reputation score.

Abstract: A web-based system and method allows customers to remotely check-in to a wait list for a service from a business. A website is provided through which an address submitted by the customer can be received. Multiple locations of the business in the vicinity of the address and wait times for the service at each location can then be geographically displayed. A selection of a location at which to receive the service can be received and the customer can then be placed on a waiting list for the selected location. The multiple locations can be displayed on a map showing the relative proximity of the address and the locations. The wait times can be calculated using historical data related to the performance of the service at each location, such as the amount of time that employees at the location have taken to perform the service in the past.

Abstract: A method for performing automatic account adjustment including performing automatic account adjustment processing on an account associated with a source of a unique postal indicium, if scanned information about the unique postal indicium indicates an incorrect tariff associated with a mail piece to which the unique postal indicium is affixed. The method may also include outputting information to report results of the automatic account adjustment processing, if scanned information about the unique postal indicium indicates an incorrect tariff associated with a mail piece to which the unique postal indicium is affixed.

Abstract: Under the present invention, a set (e.g., one or more) of requests (e.g., from a single bidder or multiple bidders) for an elemental bidding resource (EBR) is received. Market conditions for the EBR are evaluated from historical data. It is then determined whether a demand for the desired EBR exceeds a supply of the EBR. Based on the market conditions, the supply, and the demand, a brokering strategy (e.g., auction versus non-auction) and associated method are selected to allocate the EBR. A resource unit broker (RUB) will then determine an outcome of the brokering method to fulfill at least one of the set of requests. The outcome and associated metrics can then be logged, it can be determined whether a sales contract was created, the EBR can be allocated, and reports/data can be updated accordingly.

Abstract: This application describes an application of resource unit brokering algorithms, chip management methods for automated brokering, chip management methods for live brokering, and chip allocation methods to the brokering of performance characteristics of service level management within an enterprise. Typically, the performance characteristics are derived from known capacity values that are provided by configuration managers. Calculations are made on the capacity values and maximum quantities of the availability resource units are provided to resource brokers for spot or periodic sale and auction to one or more buyer's agents.

Abstract: This application describes an application of resource unit brokering algorithms, chip management methods for automated brokering, chip management methods for live brokering, and chip allocation methods to the brokering of scalability characteristics of service level management within an enterprise. Typically, the scalability characteristics are derived from known capacity values that are provided by configuration managers. Calculations are made on the capacity values and maximum quantities of the availability resource units are provided to resource brokers for spot or periodic sale and auction to one or more buyer's agents.

Abstract: A system and methods for management and delivery of content and rules is disclosed. An exemplary method may comprise managing, for an organization, a plurality of data and a plurality of content in separate database entities, wherein the plurality of content is associated with the plurality of data based on a plurality of rules; packaging the plurality of rules with the plurality of content in a carrier that is independent from one or more presentation channels, wherein at least part of the plurality of content is integrated with at least part of the plurality of data; delivering the plurality of data and the carrier to the one or more presentation channels; integrating, at the one or more presentation channels, the plurality of data with the plurality of content based on the plurality of rules; and distributing the integrated data and content through the one or more presentation channels.

Abstract: A method and system for discovering dependencies in project plans of a distributed system. Project plans are located by a project plan path. A project plan contains dependency information of a task to be performed, a resource necessary to perform the task, and a prerequisite task to perform the task. The method generates a master project plan containing all dependency information in all project plans in the distributed system, which dictates an order of tasks or task-resource maps in all project plans pursuant to the dependency information in project plans. The method utilizes project plan files in diverse formats in generating the master project plan for the distributed system.

Abstract: This application describes an application of resource unit brokering algorithms, chip management methods for automated brokering, chip management methods for live brokering, and chip allocation methods to the brokering of security characteristics of service level management within an enterprise. Typically, the security characteristics are derived from known capacity values that are provided by configuration managers. Calculations are made on the capacity values and maximum quantities of the availability resource units are provided to resource brokers for spot or periodic sale and auction to one or more buyer's agents.

Abstract: This application describes an application of resource unit brokering algorithms, chip management methods for automated brokering, chip management methods for live brokering, and chip allocation methods to the brokering of recoverability characteristics of service level management within an enterprise. Typically, the recoverability characteristics are derived from known capacity values that are provided by configuration managers. Calculations are made on the capacity values and maximum quantities of the availability resource units are provided to resource brokers for spot or periodic sale and auction to one or more buyer's agents.

Abstract: A method for exchanging information within a partnership is provided. The method uses a web-based system that includes a server coupled to a centralized database of business data relating to the partnership and at least one client system. The server has a plurality of analytical tools.

Abstract: The present invention provides fluid, depleting chips for allocating computational resources for obtaining desired service level characteristics, wherein fluid chips deplete from a maximum allocated amount but may, in an optional implementation, be allowed to be replenished through the purchase of additional chips. A number of chips are assigned to the requestor/party, known as the business unit (BU), which could be a department, or group providing like-functionality services. In one implementation, the chips themselves could represent base monetary units integrated over time.

Abstract: A computer-based method and computer program product for determining customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Abstract: An index for an item in a computer implemented merchandising system is computed as a function of objective data, e.g., transaction data, and subjective data, e.g., customer satisfaction ratings or reviews. The index may be extended with other data, including revenue, returns, refunds, discontinuations, and interactive shopping data. The index may further be weighted using a variety of weight factors for different components of the subjective and objective data. A display of the index places customer satisfaction data in the context of transaction data. The index may be used to provide prospective customers with a more balanced picture of consumer satisfaction than can be provided from customer satisfaction data alone, including prospective purchase comparisons and desirability.

Abstract: A system to detect outlying behavior in a network-based marketplace automatically collects attribute information for a first plurality of sellers that includes a first seller, and stores the attribute information in a storage device. The system computes peer information associated with a second plurality of sellers using a computer system, wherein the first plurality of sellers includes the second plurality of sellers, and wherein the peer information is automatically computed from the attribute information for the second plurality of sellers. The system compares the peer information associated with the second plurality of sellers with attribute information for the first seller for the purpose of automatically detecting outlying behavior by the first seller.