Abstract: A method of managing inventory may include using a handheld scanning device to locate one or more inventory items on a retail display. The method may further include scanning the identification symbols of inventory items on a retail display to determine the type of the scanned item. An associated apparatus may include a communication interface to receive information from a remote database and to send information to a remote server. The received information may include predetermined information about proper locations for individual inventory items on the retail display, thereby reducing the need to manually determine the proper locations of multiple inventory items, which may be, for example, greeting cards on a retail store display.

Abstract: Approximating cycle times within a material flow network is disclosed. One embodiment includes assigning an approximate cycle time for completion of a part number PN within the material flow network by using a model that rounds the approximate cycle time to a nearest aggregate time period and adjusting the assigned approximate cycle time based on a mathematical function representing an aggregate accuracy of an aggregation of cycle times throughout the material flow network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for servicing a customer of a builder by a third-party website provider. The method includes the steps of providing a first website by the third-party website provider for use by the customer in viewing and selecting product options for product offerings provided by the builder, receiving from the customer through the first website views and selections of an option of the options provided by the builder and collecting a fee or commission based upon the received selection made by the customer.

Abstract: Providing repair information for a part. A first website may be provided which includes part information. The part information may include at least one of a plurality of possible vehicles and/or a plurality of possible parts. First user input may be received to the first website specifying a vehicle from the plurality of possible vehicles. Second user input may be received specifying a part of the plurality of possible parts, and third user input may be received to view labor cost information associated with the part. Correspondingly, labor cost information may be automatically provided which is associated with the part in response to the third user input to the first website to view the labor cost information. Automatically providing the labor cost information may be performed without further user input specifying the part or another website.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating online comparison shopping, including a similarity engine, a navigational system, and a step skipping system. The systems and methods according to the invention include a method for determining similarity between two preferably disparate products. The systems and methods also preferably include a method of increasing efficiency of navigation in a comparison shopping site based on product coverage and product entropy. The systems and methods further include a method of step-skipping to quicken user navigation through a comparison shopping site.

Abstract: A method for supporting anonymous transactions includes storing a first profile comprising first information associated with a first client. The first information includes identifying data and non-identifying data associated with the first client. The method also includes storing a second profile including second information associated with the first client. The second information includes at least a portion of the non-identifying data from the first profile. The method further includes receiving a request from the first client to engage in an anonymous transaction. The anonymous transaction is associated with a product. In addition, the method includes communicating an order for the product to one of the clients and facilitating completion of the order using the first profile. The second client can gain at least partial access to the second profile but not to the first profile associated with the first client.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide for routing goods from a source location to a final destination through an intermediate location. An intermediate warehouse task or transfer order is generated with reference to the movement of the goods to the intermediate location rather than movement to the final destination. A routing table can provide information for generating the intermediate warehouse task. A routing path that indicates the intermediate location can correspond to a location determined by a layout-oriented routing path or a process-oriented routing path.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for computerized processing of invoices which a company has presented to, for example, two or more customers. The systems and methods may be configured to select, from a plurality of invoices, invoices which are due within a preselectable time or on a preselectable date and the balance of which is larger than a preselectable first value, and to assign a first state to the selected invoices.

Abstract: A facility for automatically initiating product replenishment is described. The facility receives an indication of an order by a consumer for a first item having a first date, such as the date on which the first item was placed or fulfilled. The facility then determines a target date for replenishment based upon the identity of the first item. On the target date, the facility provides to the consumer an indication that the first item should be replenished. The indication includes a control useable by the customer to request replenishment of the first item. When this control is operated by the consumer, the facility receives an indication that the control is used by the consumer to request replenishment of the first item. In response to receiving indication the facility orders a second item to replenish the first item.

Abstract: A fixed amount sales system adopted in a gasoline stand or the like for preventing operation efficiency reduction which is the case due to independent payments of fuel supply charge and option item amount is disclosed. In the fixed amount sales system, in which the amount of gasoline corresponding to balance amount as a difference of the money amounts of items desired to be bought by a customer among option items (or TBA items) from a preliminarily selected fixed amount is sold by weighing, thus making the giving and taking of small amounts of money and changes between the customer and the shop unnecessary. The fixed amount of money and option items as selected by the customer, are displayed on a menu 22 in the POS terminal 20 for selection by a touch operation of electronic buttons or the like.

Abstract: A private equity accounting and reporting system and method are provided herein.

Abstract: A system for providing secure access for a user to network accessible services. The system comprises a client software agent to generate a services request that is determined by a user. A services software agent is included and the service software agent is in electronic communication with the client software agent, to receive and fulfill the services request. A permissions software agent has a listing of user permissions for the network accessible services. The permission software agent is in communication with the services software agent and the services software agent requests user permissions from the permissions services agent so as to enable activation of the network accessible services selected by the user.

Abstract: A method is provided, which optimizes a represented route of a traveling object. The method herein provides route representation compatible with various sampling protocols and accounts for high velocity states and near stand still states. In addition, route representation can be optimized for a given number of waypoints, accommodating a maximum waypoint storage file size. Waypoints are captured and significance scores are calculated and compared. The least significant waypoint is discarded in favor of a subsequently captured waypoint and the significance of waypoints surrounding the discarded waypoint are recalculated. By quantified waypoint selection the user can obtain an optimized route representation with quantified errors from a manageable number of waypoints.

Abstract: A market-demand-forecasting-value calculation section acquires order entry actual achievement data from an order-entry-actual-achievement-data storing unit of an order receiving system, and calculates a market demand forecasting value using the order entry actual achievement data. A correction safety inventory quantity calculation section calculates an error rate, which becomes negative when an ordering required-quantity becomes large, based on a number of ordered parts and a past ordering required-quantity. Subsequently, the correction safety inventory quantity calculation section calculates a correction safety inventory quantity using the error rate and the market demand forecasting value and a money-amount-zone index value.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention provide a more secure financial transaction system for e-commerce sectors that (1) more securely processes payment transactions, (2) helps to protect merchants and banks against fraudulent transactions, money laundering, and underage gambling, and (3) helps to limit other abuses in areas of e-commerce that are perceived to pose special risks, such as Internet gaming, travel, and consumer purchasing of electronic goods. To accomplish the above goals, various embodiments of the financial transaction system (1) establish operating and transaction processing protocols for merchants, Internet payment service providers, acquiring banks, and card schemes and (2) provide automated systems for monitoring and securely processing payment and financial transactions.

Abstract: The method and system for a material cabinet for use in cooperation with a plurality of articles stored in the material cabinet is disclosed. Each of the plurality of articles having a radio frequency identification tag attached thereto is connected through at least an antenna or a plurality of antennas installed in the material cabinet to a radio frequency identification reader, which is interpreted through a software in a computer system. This method and system has capability to effectuate point of use control of the stored articles through a database in the computer system. This method and system also implements a security mechanism through a lock system to secure the store articles from unauthorized user/stock clerks.

Abstract: New functions for a contact center system include: testing user's comprehension of informational messages with a quiz; capturing insight of superior users having a KPI score above a threshold by having those users submit information on why they perform so well; dynamically ordering solutions to issues by re-ranking the solutions periodically based on recency and frequency; integrating information for use by a contact center representative while online with a customer and information for use when not online; storing content items in a telecommunications industry taxonomy; directing user feedback on a content item to the proper owner/manager of that content; communicating solution information using a solutions taxonomy; displaying a dual information system having a CRM application as well as reference material that is context-appropriate; enforcing completion of a group of templates when creating a content item to be published; ensuring a group of templates for a content item are complete before publishing them

Abstract: An input device for allowing interface to a web site in association with a unique input code. A method for interconnecting a first location on a global communication network with a second location thereon is disclosed. An input device is provided at the first location on the global communication network having associated therewith a unique input device ID. A product code disposed on a product is scanned with the input device, which product code is representative of the product in commercial transactions, the operation of scanning operable to extract the information contained in the product code to provide a unique value as an output. The unique value is then associated with the unique input device ID. In response to the operation of scanning and associating, the first location is connected to the second location.

Abstract: A digital footprint driven multi-channel integrated support system assists a user in managing electronic components based on his or her digital footprint. The digital footprint driven multi-channel integrated support system delivers a dramatically improved ‘digital home support’ experience across multiple support channels (e.g., ‘on-the-box’, web, IVR, agent voice, agent chat, agent email, and more). The digital footprint driven multi-channel integrated support system generates, displays, and uses a ‘digital footprint’ of the components within the home, such as computer hardware/software, computer peripherals, audio/visual equipment, gaming hardware/software, home security hardware/software, or other electronic components.

Abstract: An accounting method can insert changes that affect average cost calculations after the initial average cost calculations. The method can go back in time and add in transactions that affect average cost and re-calculate average cost based on the added entry to all entries after the added entry.