Abstract: A client-oriented, on-demand automated trading system that facilitates client-oriented automated trading with suppliers. A client transaction agent is adapted to provide trading requirements for notification to one or more supplier transaction agents, and to discover automated services provided by or on behalf of one or more suppliers that conform to the trading requirements. A broker is adapted to notify the one or more supplier transaction agents of trading requirements specified by the client transaction agent, and to advise the client transaction agent of automated services that conform to the trading requirements. The supplier transaction agents are adapted to process the trading requirements and register automated services that conform to the trading requirements with the broker.

Abstract: Systems and methods of integrating workforce management and contacts analysis are disclosed. An exemplary method comprises receiving content data derived from classification of a plurality of recorded agent contacts. The contact content data is correlated with past time period. The method also comprises identifying at least one pattern in the contact content data. The pattern is based on the contact classifications. The method also comprises receiving historical workload data from a contact router, and generating a workload forecast based on the historical workload data and the identified pattern.

Abstract: Securities are traded at a primary site according to information received from market makers and traders. The information, including quotes and orders for one or more instruments, is received and stored at the primary site and used to create deals in the securities. The deals are also stored at the primary site. A secondary site stores replicas of the orders and deals, but not quote information. The deals stored at the secondary site may be used to update the orders stored at the secondary site.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to manage resources in a cloud-based computing system by generating a model of a relationship between cloud database resources and an expected profit based on cloud-server system parameters and service level agreements (SLAs) that indicates profits for different system performances, wherein the model comprises a two level optimization/control problem, wherein model receives system metrics, number of replicas, and arrival rate as the multiple input; and dynamically adjusting resource allocation among different customers based on current customer workload and the expected profit to maximize the expected profit for a cloud computing service provider.

Abstract: Share of Wallet (“SOW”) is a modeling approach that utilizes various data sources to provide outputs that describe a consumers spending capability, tradeline history including balance transfers, and balance information. These outputs can be appended to data profiles of customers and prospects and can be utilized to support decisions involving prospecting, new applicant evaluation, and customer management across the lifecycle. A SOW score focusing on a consumer's spending capability can be used in the same manner as a credit bureau score.

Abstract: Harmonizing business process tasks comprehends comparing descriptors associated with each of a plurality of business process tasks in response to a process variation input and identifying tasks as a candidate task pair for consolidation. Input and output attributes of the candidate pair tasks are compared and consolidation confirmed if the compared input and output attributes are similar. Consolidating the confirmed candidate pair tasks includes merging the confirmed candidate pair into a new merged task or replacing one with the other, and an output from the consolidated candidate pair is generated as a common harmonized output for the first and second tasks. Identifying the candidate task pairs for consolidation may be a function of similarity of task descriptors, of input/output business process relationships to other candidate task pairs, and also of both.

Abstract: A system and method for modeling demand for a configurable product or service and then forecasting demand for said product or service based on the statistical associations of options across features within said product or service. By use of this method a manufacturer, for example, would be able to produce product combinations in advance with an increased probability that they would meet customer demand or project parts inventory needs and build fewer unwanted combinations.

Abstract: A system (10) for carrying out transactions between a customer at a customer station (14, 21, 202, 204) and a service provider at a service provider station (12, 194), includes transferring items through transaction devices such as pneumatic carrier delivery and receiving device (21, 200) and a deal drawer (20, 208). The customer at the customer station provides inputs corresponding to a financial account through input devices on the body which is stored in the memory (82, 158) on the body. After transfer to the service provider station, data in the memory is output to a charge device (56) which is operative to assess a charge to the customer's account responsive to data output from the memory. Vehicle sensors (230, 234) sense a vehicle adjacent the respective transaction device. At least one computer calculates at least one time value corresponding to each vehicle and stores the at least one time value and other data values concerning the respective transaction.

Abstract: A method of processing delinquency items associated with taxes on properties may include receiving preferences from two or more lenders. Delinquency items may be automatically processed according to the preferences of each lender for their respective loans. The preferences may include business rules for whether to process a delinquency item. A lender preference may include specific criteria for a determination process (e.g., criteria for when to act on delinquencies with respect to particular states).

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention are directed to methods and systems for assigning credit to the external and intermediate inputs of an enterprise-level system or other aggregate process with one or more global outputs that is composed of a number of interconnected local processes. Assigning credit is a mechanism for evaluating the impact of a particular variable, e.g., an input to one of the local processes, on the final output of the aggregate process. In certain embodiments of the invention, credit is assigned to the local inputs of each local process in two steps. First, for each local input, a local credit assignment is obtained. For chained outputs, credit assignment data is provided as calculated for the later stage processes to which the outputs are chained. Second, a global credit assignment is derived for the local inputs from the local credit assignment and the credit assignment information from later stage processes.

Abstract: A method of selecting potential hires for progression through a hiring process is provided. The method comprises selecting at least one performance indicator for a position, obtaining the at least one performance indicator for a plurality of incumbents in the position, and placing each incumbent in the plurality of incumbents along a performance continuum according to their performance indicator. The method also comprises surveying incumbents from at least both halves of the performance continuum, generating an ideal profile for the position based upon the incumbent survey and the at least one performance indicator of the incumbents, using a survey to generate a candidate profile of a potential hire, comparing the candidate profile of the potential hire with the ideal profile for the position to determine a result for the potential hire, and determining whether to progress the potential hire to a next stage in the hiring process based upon the result.

Abstract: Method and system are disclosed for conducting a commercial transaction requiring a monetary loan online. The method/system allows a consumer or borrower to access a lending institution over a network connection and apply for a monetary loan online. The loan application is processed in real time and the borrower is notified of the type of loan, loan amount, interest rate, etc., that he/she is qualified for. Upon acceptance of the loan terms, the borrower is provided with a personal identification number (PIN) and a unique lender transaction ID that serves as confirmation of the loan. The lender transaction ID may then be taken to a suitable seller and used to conduct the transaction. The seller simply accesses the lending institution over a network connection, enters the lender transaction ID, the borrower's PIN, and other transaction-related information, and the lending institution automatically sends the appropriate payment to the seller.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for dynamically producing and managing events are disclosed. In various embodiments, an event sequence generator is used to generate a production schedule or script that includes content elements and event milestones. Methods of generating a production schedule and a promotion schedule are also disclosed. The production schedule and reports based on the event can be produced and accessed remotely.

Abstract: The invention relates to a resource allocation method. According to the invention, databases of computer objects are produced solely with properties intrinsic to the physical objects. Data filters are defined in order to sort the different intrinsic properties and to divide same into object classes. Allocation matrices are then used to match the resources with the object classes. During the handling of a process, the allocation method is implemented in order to determine a resource. A database is queried in order to obtain intrinsic information. Subsequently, the intrinsic information passes through a data filter in order to determine a membership class. One or more resources are then determined from the membership class with an allocation matrix. The inventive method is performed with the aid of a computer program. The invention also relates to a processing system which is designed to implement said method.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a business critical impact analysis report includes steps of: inserting a rank value field in each configuration item relationship type definition; inserting a rank value field in each single relationship between configuration items; determining default rank values for the rank value fields; assigning the default rank values to the single relationships and the relationship type definitions; receiving a user request to generate the business critical impact analysis report at a selected rank level of configuration items; and presenting the business critical impact analysis report to the user, displaying the configuration items and their relationships corresponding to the selected level.

Abstract: An automated billing workflow system receives credit valuation adjustment (CVA) amounts associated with derivatives trades. The automated billing workflow system interacts with an Accounting System in order to make appropriate Profit and Loss (P&L) entries for the CVA amounts. The CVA amounts are billed to the business units which actually created the risk. The invention employs a plurality of Workflow Queues. As an item makes it way through the billing workflow, it may be slotted in one or more of these queues where further action will take place.

Abstract: A method and system for making a donation to a third party, wherein a user executes a purchase transaction using a card linked to a reward point account If a user donation is desired, then the user's reward point account is decreased and corresponding value is transferred to a designated third party as a donation. In another aspect referred to as “topping off”, the donation amount is the difference between the tender amount and the purchase amount, and is transferred to a designated third party as a donation to the third party in lieu of providing change for the transaction back to the user.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for staging transactions and facilitating payments by consumers to a lender or merchant to consummate a financial transaction and/or to maintain a financial relationship. In one embodiment, a method for accepting payments from a consumer includes receiving a promise-to-pay record from a lender (210), receiving a payment from the consumer (220), associating the payment with the promise-to-pay record (230), and sending a notice to the lender (240), with the notice having an indicator that the payment has been received.

Abstract: In a disclosed embodiment of the invention, a customer of a vending machine is provided with an offer to establish a membership at a vending machine. After receiving an acceptance of the offer, a membership identifier is determined. The membership identifier is stored in association with the term of the membership. After the step of storing, the membership identifier is received. The term of the membership is determined. A selection of a product that the customer intends to purchase is received from the customer, and a transaction is processed at the vending machine in accordance with the term and the selection.

Abstract: A straight debt security may include a maturity component, a reset component, and a remarketing component. In general, the maturity component provides a maturity term of the straight debt security. The reset component specifies the terms and conditions for resetting a yield on the straight debt security. The remarketing component provides terms and conditions for remarketing the straight debt security to new investors. After remarketing, the straight debt security remains outstanding and potential recapture of excess tax benefits is postponed until the straight debt security ceases to be outstanding.