Abstract: A system and method is disclosed that uses moisture content readings in order to determine how to maximize the price value of lumber. Feedback can then be provided to a kiln controller on how to adjust kiln settings in order to increase the value of the lumber produced. In one embodiment, moisture content is determined on a plurality of boards. Using the moisture content readings, an actual value of the plurality of boards is determined. Then a calculation is made to determine how to modify moisture content in order to maximize the value of the lumber. In yet another embodiment, geographic positions of individual packages are tracked in the kiln. The efficiency of the kiln is determined based on drying uniformity of the packages. Then the moisture content can be modified to determine how it impacts value of a charge of lumber.

Abstract: Flour may be treated to denature the proteins and modify starches. The invention includes methods and systems for determining whether to use treated flour or untreated flour. The invention also includes methods and systems for determining whether to treat flour or not.

Abstract: A method, device and system for responsive load management using frequency regulation credits. The method includes using an AC frequency measuring device, measuring a current AC frequency on an AC power line; using a power consumption measuring device, measuring a current power consumption on the AC power line over a period of time equal to a sampling interval; calculating a power consumption moving average of a last N power current power consumptions measured, where N is a positive integer greater than 1; generating credits or debits based on the current power consumption, the current AC frequency and the power consumption moving average; adding the credits or debits to a frequency regulation credit; and for each next sampling interval repeating measuring the current AC frequency, measuring current power consumption, calculating the power consumption moving average, generating the credits or debits, and adding the credits or debits to the frequency regulation credit.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer readable storage medium for open access transmission tariff management for a utility. The system includes a database for storing a plurality of data pertaining to providing transmission service to wholesale customers, and a computer processor coupled to the database and cooperative with a plurality of subsystems. A first subsystem determines a budget transmission billing rate. A second subsystem estimates revenue from wholesale customers. A third subsystem determines an updated budget transmission billing rate and an updated revenue projection. A fourth subsystem determines an actual transmission billing rate. A fifth subsystem analyzes a billed transmission rate on a periodic basis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided in a computer network to present marketing and other pertinent information to clients from a host. The client environment is interrogated locally using a profiling engine. A customer class generated by a profiling engine on the customer server controls a URL behind an inquiry tab presented in a client user interface. When the user clicks on the tab they are taken to a portal designed by a host marketing team specifically designed for customers belonging to the customer class designated by the profiling engine. Using the method and apparatus of the present application, direct, cost effective marketing materials are delivered to customers without sending any customer information through the customer firewall back to the host.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are disclosed for determining a standard market pricing index for pricing user-defined business services and for comparing unique configurations of business services to the determined market pricing index and/or to other unique configurations of business services. Portions of the disclosed system, method, and/or computer program product describe a model and user interface for performing standard, objective, repeatable, and directly comparable benchmarking of business services. In general, the computerized model compiles a set of market price data and interprets specific configurations and characteristics from the market data set. The model performs a periodic analysis to determine which configurations and/or characteristics are the most common within the data set, yielding a common market configuration.

Abstract: A method and system provides for the charging of electric vehicles according to user defined parameters. The method and system can include an enhanced thermostat, personal computer, and/or an electric vehicle charger which can receive various user defined vehicle charging parameters such as an initial price set point at which to start the charging of an electric vehicle. Another charging parameter can include one or more price offsets relative to the initial set point that can be provided by a user or generated by a computer program. The price offsets allow charging of an electric vehicle at prices above the desired initial price set point when the time remaining to charge an electric vehicle has diminished and the desired initial price set point has not been reached by the energy market. The price offsets can be assigned according to predetermined increments of time, such as an on an hourly basis.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that allow an equipment vendor to monitor and detect overloads of IMS charging element equipment (e.g., the CCF or CDF) relative to certain vendor-specified thresholds and, responsive to detecting overloads, vendors may take action to exercise capacity control and/or collect revenue for the overload conditions.

Abstract: A cross-world framework for providing integrated scheduling and reservation of virtual resources. Users are allowed to access the scheduling application from a website or an in-world interface. According to one embodiment, the framework uses the iCal industry standard calendaring format, and includes user configurable cross-channel notifications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a management platform for monitoring and managing one or more smart meters. The management platform comprises means for communicating with smart meters and a workflow handler for executing a workflow. A workflow specifies a process for management of the smart meters.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a system and method for providing agent referrals for real estate transactions. The system and method provides buyers and/or sellers with a real estate agent referral based on the type of real estate involved in the transaction and/or preferences of the buyer/seller. The real estate agent provided through the referral will be the highest performing real estate available with the performance of the real estate agent based on criteria received from the seller/buyer and transaction history of the real estate agent.

Abstract: For providing a service-centric approach to allocating computing service power to users in a heterogeneous distributed computing environment such as a grid, a grid service broker comprises a central service broker and distributed service brokers. Service power is measured in resource-independent service units defined and used by the service broker. The central service broker uses meta-scheduling for distributing service requests to the distributed service brokers, based on projected service units needed to process the service requests.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for calculating warranty cost includes determining values for a plurality of parameters that characterize a corresponding plurality of physical conditions of a product that is returned under warranty, determining values for a plurality of variables that characterize a customer profile for the product and evaluating an expression that calculates warranty cost based on said determined parameter and variable values. The plurality of physical conditions of the product includes the conditions of no-trouble-found (NTF), repaired, junked, and subject to further failure mode analysis (FMA). The plurality of parameters further comprises probabilities and costs that correspond to each of the physical conditions. Evaluating the above expression includes evaluating a first expression that calculates repair, product conformance and Dead-On-Arrival cost and evaluating a second expression that calculates Change Notice cost. Subsequently, the two costs are summed to arrive at the total warranty cost.

Abstract: A business method for using computer image processing for selectable task-based digital video compression is described. The method is intended to reduce travel of experts and let these experts direct field agents in performing tasks remotely. The tasks to be performed in the remote field can be monitoring, manipulating, and navigating. A field agent performs the manipulation and navigation operations, this agent can be a human being or a robot. The task-based compression algorithms use computer vision techniques to extract the bare minimum amount of information from the remote field scenery to allow the task to be performed. High frame rate photo-realistic reconstruction of the remote scene is not generally necessary.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, an approach is provided for determining alternative printing device arrangements. In general, the geographic locations, usage and costs of an existing set of printing devices are analyzed. A determination is made, based upon this analysis, whether one or more of the existing printing devices can be replaced by one or more replacement printing devices to provide an alternative printing device arrangement that has lower costs. The lower costs may reflect lower operational costs, lower energy costs, lower acquisition costs, or any combination of lower operational costs, lower energy costs and lower acquisition costs.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for generating cost estimates. In one implementation, a computer-implemented method for producing a cost estimate, comprising selecting at least one cost object included in the cost estimate. The cost object requires evaluation of a first function stored in a cost estimation system. The selected cost object is described by a mapping between the first function and a second function in a costing platform. The mapping indicates a matching of local and remote fieldnames that describe a logical storage location of the cost object within the cost estimation system and the costing platform, respectively. The method further comprises determining whether the selected cost object requires evaluation of the second function, receiving cost data for the cost object from the costing platform, calculating the cost estimate using the cost data and the first function and producing the cost estimate via a user interface.

Abstract: The instant invention pertains to an apparatus and method to offset greenhouse gas emissions by offering to sell and/or selling emission reduction credits. The apparatus and method may be employed during a consumer transaction for the transfer of fuel. The apparatus and method may be used at the point of sale of a fuel transaction at a fuel dispenser, such as at a fuel pump. An offer to purchase credits is made to a customer at the fuel dispenser. A response is received from the customer, which is followed by the prompting for more information from the customer along with assistance given to the customer to determine the amount of credits to purchase. The purchase is made at the completion of the transaction. If the offer is rejected, credits are not purchased.

Abstract: A customer whose conditional purchase offer (CPO) has been accepted may receive a bounce back offer from a vendor (supplier-partner) of other services or products. The bounce back process determines whether a supplier-partner can participate in a bounce back transaction. If a bounce back transaction is effectuated between the customer and supplier-partner, the partner notifies the principal of the transaction. In the case of automobile rentals, the bounce back process permits a traveler to recognize reduced automobile rental rates while enabling a rental agency to more effectively manage its excess capacity. The CPO management system employing bounce back capability can be utilized to acquire any underlying product and/or service and bounce back product and/or service.

Abstract: The selection of an optimal data center location for running a computational workload is based on multiple energy criteria. The location is chosen based on multivariate and predictive analysis of total direct and indirect energy costs, and other user-defined factors. Among the direct and indirect costs are power costs and cooling costs as well as structural and other details of a given data center. Among the other factors to be considered that can have an impact on present and future costs are weather patterns, data and forecasts, availability of energy providers, and energy attributes. A forecaster factors these direct and indirect costs along with extrinsic information such as historical trends and predictive sources into a forecast which is then input to a decision engine along with user defined criteria and with anticipated compute tasks and requirements to select a final location or locations for handling the workload.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-program products for routing items to resources are disclosed. Potential matches between items and resources are generated and scored according to one or more match-factor criterion. An initial assignment of potential matches is made to a Match Tracker Set, and a Set of Global conflicts is created representing resources that are not matched by the members of the initial Match Tracker set. One or more augmented versions of the Match Tracker Set are created to resolve conflicts between the Match Tracker Set and the Global Conflicts Set. Items are routed to the resources based on the matches listed in an augmented version of the Match Tracker Set.