Abstract: The present invention generally relates to cashless transactions. In particular, the present invention relates to methods (100) for conducting cashless transactions and systems (400, 500) for implementing said methods. In a first aspect there is provided a method (100) of processing a cashless transaction. The method includes, determining (102) a first identification from a first identification device (426); pre-authorising (104) the cashless transaction on the basis of first identification; determining (106) a second identification from a second identification device (420A); and in the event that the first identification and the second identification are associated, authorising (110) the cashless transaction.

Abstract: Example systems, methods, processes, and apparatus for determining expected base sales for a product include obtaining sales data for a product sold at a point of sale location. The sales data can be organized in a time series according to a predetermined time period. The method further includes identifying a promotional event for at least one of the product and the point of sale location and excluding sales data corresponding to the promotional event. The remaining sales data is processed using a smoothed moving average model involving a plurality of passes through the remaining sales data. Expected base data for the product is generated based on the smoothed moving average model and output to a user.

Abstract: A method of optimizing the retrieval of object-associated information may include identifying data associated with an object identification. At least one optimization parameter for the retrieval of data associated with an object identification is also identified. An amount of the associated data for transmission is determined using the at least one optimization parameter.

Abstract: Parties involved in a transaction in an E-marketplace identify characteristics of a transaction that they are willing to accept and/or that they can provide. To do this, an attribute certificate is created for each party that contains the attributes of a buyer, seller, or third-party participant who will be transacting business in the particular E-marketplace. The attributes pertain to specifics of the transaction. The party submitting the attribute also identifies alternative conditions which, if they exist would be acceptable for conducting the transaction. Once these criteria, in the form of the attribute certificates, are received by the E-marketplace, the E-marketplace verifies the attributes. A server in the E-marketplace is configured to determine various combinations of participants that can match the deal criteria. In this manner, the E-marketplace “choreographs” the transaction to meet the needs of all.

Abstract: Third party certification using enhanced claim validation, in which identification information uniquely identifying an item that has moved through a node in a supply chain is received and event data associated with the uniquely identified item is received from the node based on receiving the identification information. The process also includes performing a third party validation of an associated characteristic of the uniquely identified item based on the received event data, and providing a third party certification of the associated characteristic based on performing the third party validation.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus for providing a variety of end product build plans based on multiple business scenarios for exhausting excess inventory. Raw financial data and variable scaling factors are input into a scenario engine component along with a business objective that contains logic. The scaling factor may be embedded within the logic of the business objective, or it may be selected by a user to indicate the user's preferences. The scenario engine then applies the financial data and variable scaling factor inputs to the business objective logic to generate modified financial data. The logic of the business objective may also be manipulated to provide modified logic. The modified financial data, and optionally the modified logic, are then input into an optimizer component for determining multiple portfolios for end products that, if built, would consume excess inventory.

Abstract: Device, system, and method of project planning and management. For example, a method of project planning and management includes: publishing a representation of a project specification comprising one or more discrete objects; publishing a collaborative comment to one or more of the discrete objects; and receiving a supplier proposal to fulfill one or more of the discrete objects.

Abstract: Provided is a statistical inventory management system that optimizes inventory investment using historical usage and/or consumption of an inventory component. Generally, the system determines an target inventory level. Once actual inventory is below the replenishment level, an additional supply of an inventory component is ordered. The target inventory level is determined based at least in part on the usage variability of the component. In one arrangement, the usage of the component over periods of time that correspond to a supplier lead-time of that component are utilized. The usage groups generally include several days (or other time periods) of usage data and typically haw a reduced variance compared to, for example, day-to-day usage. These reduced variance usage groups may be utilized to more accurately calculate future inventory levels for an inventory component. Further, all information is based on actual historical usage data as opposed to unsupported forecasts (e.g., sales growth forecasts).

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of a self healing andon system. One embodiment of the present disclosure includes a system comprising at least one server. The system further includes logic executed on the at least one server that retrieves a defect history associated with a vendor and at least one product from an inbound shipment from a memory. The at least one product is stocked in a materials handling facility, and the defect history is associated with a specified time period. The at least one server extracts at least one inventory defect from the defect history in a computer system and calculates an inventory defect rate. The at least one server imposes remedial measures if the inventory defect rate exceeds a specified threshold of the inventory defect rate.

Abstract: A method of performing oilfield operations for an oilfield having a subterranean formation with a reservoir therein is provided. The method involves generating a business analysis of the oilfield based on business inputs, generating an operational analysis of the oilfield based on operational inputs, and selectively integrating the business analysis with the operational analysis by using the operational outputs as at least a portion of the business inputs and by using the business outputs as at least a portion of the operational inputs to form an integrated oilfield analysis. The business analysis includes business outputs for characterizing the business impact of projects performed on the oilfield. The operational analysis includes operational outputs for characterizing the operational impact of projects performed on the oilfield. The integrated oilfield analysis includes integrated oilfield outputs for characterizing the business and operational impact of projects performed on the oilfield.

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: 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 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 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.