Abstract: A method for representing and managing an inventory of overlapping multi-dimensional items such as advertising or ad impressions. The method uses an inventory management module to generate unique segment identifiers for sets of inventory items by processing descriptions of the sets of impressions including defining criteria. The method includes processing the unique segment identifiers to create a representation of the inventory as a plurality of inventory regions, which may include non-overlapping regions that correspond to inventory items in a single set of the inventory and also include overlapping regions that correspond to inventory items in two or more of the sets (e.g., items that match two or more sets of defining criteria or attributes). Availability and selection of inventory is determined using the information on inventory regions to control effects of cannibalization, such as by implementing logically necessary allocation to only cannibalize a region on a limited or forced basis.

Abstract: A print control system 1 includes a barcode reader BR; a printer 12 that receives read result data transmitted from the barcode reader BR and transmits the read result data by a WebSocket connection CT; a control server 10 that receives and transmits the read result data from the printing device; a management device 14 that receives and transmits the read result data from the control server 10; and a tablet terminal 9 that receives the read result data from the management device 14 and generates print command data based on the read result data.

Abstract: A method for representing and managing an inventory of overlapping multi-dimensional items such as advertising or ad impressions. The method uses an inventory management module to generate unique segment identifiers for sets of inventory items by processing descriptions of the sets of impressions including defining criteria. The method includes processing the unique segment identifiers to create a representation of the inventory as a plurality of inventory regions, which may include non-overlapping regions that correspond to inventory items in a single set of the inventory and also include overlapping regions that correspond to inventory items in two or more of the sets (e.g., items that match two or more sets of defining criteria or attributes). Availability and selection of inventory is determined using the information on inventory regions to control effects of cannibalization, such as by implementing logically necessary allocation to only cannibalize a region on a limited or forced basis.

Abstract: A method of determining a payment tier for a portable electronic device comprising determining by an application executing on a computer a device plan for the portable electronic device, tenure with the device plan, and payment history. The method also comprises determining by the application the payment tier based on the determination of the device plan for the portable electronic device, tenure with the device plan, and payment history. The method also comprises billing an account associated with the portable electronic device based on the determination of the payment tier.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a user interface to facilitate the purchase of unique items by presenting past purchase information of unique items to consumers. The user interface is a two-dimensional chart, with each axis of the chart representing a variation of values of an attribute that characterize an item that was previously sold. The system populates the chart with sales data that reflects the past sales of items having attribute values that fall within the chart. By visually presenting to consumers the distribution of past purchases, the consumer is better able to assess whether an item that they are purchasing falls within “typical” purchase behavior of other consumers. In some embodiments, the system allows a user to select a region of the chart and initiate a search for items that are available for purchase that satisfy the attribute values that are associated with the selected region.

Abstract: A system including the use of beacon technology to track and better serve users/customers through the use of a mobile application. This allows a venue location the ability to balance user/customer wait times at their location and provide marketing, processing, and information to the user/customer. The system is used to locate users/customers and process user payments thereby reducing wait lines at venues to a fraction of the time compared to normal processes, which may allow venues to drive more sales during peak times. As the user/customer walks about a venue location, information such as where the user/customer is located and what products and services are available at that venue location is displayed on the user's client device.

Abstract: Techniques and arrangements for managing risk of fraudulent transactions made by a point-of-sale (POS) device operating in an online and an offline mode. In some instances, a payment service may maintain a merchant profile with a list of merchant specific criteria. The payment service may encrypt and send the merchant specific criteria to the POS device associated with the merchant. The encrypted data may include a list of payment instruments used in previous successful transactions, customer transaction histories, and other customer information. The POS device may determine, upon receiving a payment instrument identifier in a transaction, whether the payment instrument has been used in a previous successful transaction. If the POS device determines the payment instrument has been used, it may process the transaction. If not, the POS device may warn the merchant that the transaction is a high-risk transaction.

Abstract: By using, as decision variables, an initial transfer time (k_it_[i]) ? a final transfer time (k_ft[i]) of each of transfer target steel materials (lots) i including materials to arrive and already arriving materials, a transfer constraint expression regarding the transfer order of the transfer target steel materials (lots) i and a transfer objective function for minimizing the time during which the transfer target steel material (lot) i stays in a course of being transferred to a main pile are expressed, and optimum values (k_itopt[i], k_ftopt[i]) of the initial transfer time ? the final transfer time of the transfer target steel material (lot) i are derived so that the transfer objective function JA is minimized within a range satisfying the transfer constraint expression.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for notification-based pricing of excess cloud capacity are disclosed. A system includes a resource manager and a plurality of resource instances, each of which has an interruptibility setting. In response to a first acquisition request, the resource manager allocates a first instance with a first interruptibility setting to a first client, allowing the resource manager to revoke the first client's access to the first instance without a notification. In response to an approval of a second acquisition request, the resource manager allocates a second instance with a second interruptibility setting to a second client, allowing the client to retain access to the instance for a delay interval after the second client receives an access revocation notification. Respective billing amounts for the clients' use of the instances are determined based on the interruptibility settings used.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system for adaptively, dynamically managing a budget adjusts budget categories in response to a potential purchase exceeding the target amount of one budget category and creating an overage. Certain budget categories may have an adjustable target amount while other budget categories may have fixed target amounts and, thus, the budget categories with adjustable target amounts may be adjusted or modified in order to accommodate an overage in another budget category. The budget categories to be modified may be selected based on various priorities and may be suggested to the user for modification upon selection.

Abstract: Multiplexing techniques are addressed to allow multiple in store devices to share point of sale instances thereby reducing the overall number of point of sale instances employed. Customer scanning applications, such as price checking and phone based in aisle scanning are addressed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automating a take-out ordering process. In an embodiment, menu data is imported from a restaurant Point-of-Sale (POS) system over at least one network. The menu data may comprise a plurality of menu items. A menu user interface is generated. The menu user interface may comprise one or more menu screens, which comprise a subset of one or more of the plurality of menu items. A selection of at least one menu item from the subset may be received from a user. Up-sell options can be determined and provided to the user. Once completed, an order is sent to the restaurant POS system over the at least one network. The order can comprise the selected menu item(s) and any of the up-sell options selected by the user.

Abstract: A method and system for processing a financial transaction initiated by a cardholder with a merchant. The cardholder initiates the transaction using a cardholder input device and transmits an authorization request message including transaction data received by the cardholder input device from a point of sale (POS) device associated with the merchant. The authorization request message is received by a computer system. The transaction data is validated, and an authorization response message is transmitted after validation. The cardholder input device may forward the authorization response message to the POS device for completing the transaction.

Abstract: A system and method for virtual markets with product pickup generally comprised of a three-dimensional user supermarket interface, where a user places an order, and a retail/warehouse hybrid procurement center, comprised of a fulfillment warehouse and a pickup bay, where the order is generally fulfilled, packaged and picked-up by a user.

Abstract: There is discloses an on-line method of analysing financial accounting data, a server and a computer program. Certain embodiments of the method comprise receiving at a server uploaded financial accounting data from a client computer which includes a set of accounts A organized into account groups G. The financial accounting data is mapped to an accounting ontology stored at the server comprising at least a pre-defined set of primary category tags C and a pre-defined set of base level tags B each associated with a primary category tag C. The accounts are mapped according to mapping account groups G to primary category tags C and mapping accounts A to base level tags B, wherein each base level tag B has an associated set of criteria K. The mapped data is then analysed at the server. The results may be authorized to be shared with interested third parties.

Abstract: Centralized charging systems and methods are disclosed for providing offline charging and online charging for a plurality of network elements. The centralized charging system is implemented in a communication network between the network elements and offline/online charging systems. A network element interface of the centralized charging system receives charging request messages from CTFs in the network elements. An accounting data forwarding function processes charging data in the charging request messages to determine if offline or online charging is invoked for the services. For offline charging, the accounting data forwarding function generates offline accounting request messages that include the charging data. For online charging, the accounting data forwarding function generates online accounting request messages that include the charging data.

Abstract: A piloting assistance device for a hybrid helicopter is provided with a rotary wing, two half-wings (8?, 8?) provided respectively with first and second propellers (6?, 6?), and an engine installation continuously driving the rotary wing (100) and the propellers by meshing with a mechanical interconnection system. Furthermore, the device is provided with computer element (40) for determining maximum mean pitch (max) applicable to the first and second propellers without exceeding the power available for the propellers, the computer element determining the maximum mean pitch (max) as a function of the current mean pitch of the blades of the first and second propellers as measured in real time, of a maximum power that can be delivered by the engine installation, of a current power being delivered by the engine installation, and of a relationship determining a power gradient (GRD) as a function of pitch for the first and second propellers.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing inventory fulfillment services to customers who have small quantities of heterogeneous items to sell. A self-service registration interface for generating lists of items to sell via the inventory fulfillment service is provided. The inventory fulfillment service may provide pricing suggestions to the customer. The inventory fulfillment service may determine whether a listed item satisfies one or more listing rules. Shipping information for a list of items may be automatically generated and provided to the customer. The customer may ship the items in one shipment to a specified facility. The customer is the seller of record for all items listed. The customer may not be charged for services until an item is sold. A listing period may be specified for which listed items will be carried. If an item does not sell within the period, option(s) for disposal of the item may be provided.

Abstract: A method and system for billing for time spent in an instant message session by a service person for a project for a customer. A name of a sender of an instant message is retrieved from the instant message. The sender is the customer. The service person is a recipient of the instant message from the sender. The name of the sender is correlated to the project based on the name of the sender being listed in project settings previously defined by the service person. Responsive in part to an inability to identify the project based on one or more key words in the instant message, a second project on which the service person has most often worked is determined and a charge to the second project is determined for labor of the service person based on time spent by the service person in the instant message session.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to inventory governance in a virtual universe. A method of inventory governance in a virtual universe (VU) includes: providing an inventory for a virtual universe (VU) resident; and providing means for governing at least one aspect of the inventory, the governing means comprising at least one of: an administrative interface for establishing an authorizing relationship between the VU resident and an authorizing entity; a filtering interface for administering at least one filter to the inventory; or a monitoring interface for providing capability to monitor at least one of: the VU resident or the inventory.