Abstract: Methods, articles of manufacture, and systems for providing access to a grid computing environment. In one environment, requests include resource specific criteria used to identify a particular grid resource to perform the request. In another embodiment, a request includes a queue criterion used to identify one of a plurality of queues on which the request is placed.

Abstract: Methods, articles of manufacture, and systems for providing access to a grid computing environment. In one environment, requests include resource specific criteria used to identify a particular grid resource to perform the request. In another embodiment, a request includes a queue criterion used to identify one of a plurality of queues on which the request is placed.

Abstract: A industry wide computerized business to business exchange permits participants in the industry to satisfy their procurement needs and manage their supply chains from a single log on to the exchange. An exchange architecture provides a particularly convenient platform for implementation of the exchange. Users connect to a portal services subsystem. User systems connect to an integration services platform. A platform services subsystem provides services to the portal services and to the integration services subsystems and to application programs that can be accessed through those subsystems. The application programs may include, for example, electronic procurement, collaborative product development applications and supply chain management. XML serves as the information currency for the exchange.

Abstract: Method to visualize the information related to a catalog on an processing device (2) that includes a user's interface comprising a display (3). The method includes a looking through step of a database (11) that stores an E-catalog of items that can be purchased by use of said device (2). At logic-content level the database is organized according to the hierarchical tree-type structure (15) wherein the items that can be purchased are the leaf nodes (T1, . . . T5) of the tree and the groups of items are the intermediate nodes of the tree placed at different hierarchical levels that are higher than the hierarchical level of the leaf nodes.

Abstract: Displaying information about a physical object. Input is received at an interactive surface. The input includes a first physical object being placed on the interactive surface. The first physical object is detected. This includes detecting identifying information about the first physical object. Information is displayed about the first physical object on the interactive surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a software facility for identifying the items most relevant to a current query based on items selected in connection with similar queries. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the facility receives a query specifying one or more query terms. In response, the facility generates a query result identifying a plurality of items that satisfy the query. The facility then produces a ranking value for at least a portion of the items identified in the query result by combining the relative frequencies with which users selected that item from the query results generated from queries specifying each of the terms specified by the query. The facility identifies as most relevant those items having the highest ranking values.

Abstract: A computer-implemented service analyzes collected data reflective of actions of users of an interactive system to identify items that are significantly more popular in specific user communities than in a general user population. The communities may, for example, include email-based communities (e.g., all users with email addresses associated with a particular company or other organization), shipping address based communities (e.g., all users with shipping addresses in Seattle), and/or communities based on other types of user attributes. The results of the analysis may be exposed to users to assist users in making item selection decisions, and/or may be used to provide item recommendations to users.

Abstract: Individual employees are permitted to be individuals and plan their work as individuals. Individuals are only asked to plan their work within a limited tasking horizon. Employees track their progress using verbs that are designed to capture the reasons behind positive and negative predictive ability. Verbs are analyzed and expected predictive error, also know as risk, is calculated. Once verbs are captured they can be analyzed for ways to improve predictive ability. In addition, the risk can be factored into the initial planning stage so as to include an expected predictive error in the initial planning. The cost, effort, churn and risk values of projects are then illustrated in a comparison form with historical limitations from past similar projects.

Abstract: A method for distributing a digital image of a customer includes receiving a request from a customer to a human representative (i.e., a “roving” photographer) for an image to be taken of the customer at a site. An image of the customer is captured by the “roving” photographer at the site in response to the received request. The image is transmitted to a remote processor. An electronic request is received from the customer to view the transmitted image, and the image is transmitted from the remote processor to the customer's communication device. If the customer decides to purchase the image, a transaction is finalized by receiving payment data from the customer, and the final image is provided to the customer. A commission is then paid to the photographer for the transaction. In another embodiment, the cost is at least partially subsidized by advertisement pushed to the customer's communication device.

Abstract: The invention provides a purchase sequence browser (PuSB), i.e. a graphical user interface (GUI) that facilitates insight discovery and exploration of product affinities across time, generated by a purchase sequence analysis of a retailer's transaction data. A purchase sequence browser allows the user to browse the most significant product phrases discovered by an exhaustive search of the product affinities across time; explore the retail grammar to create both forward and backward phrase trees or alternate purchase paths starting from, or ending in, a product; generate consistent purchase sequences given some constraints on the products and their order; and profile the value of a product across time with regard to other products fixed in time.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling online research, publication, promotion, and management of user goods is presented. An embodiment guiding the process of online selling across multiple platforms is presented. Information is gathered from various sources across the Internet to determine pricing and publication options. Data and user input are aggregated to create a listing. Listings are published and promoted across platforms and channels and feedback is presented to the user through an online interface.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for graphically displaying media buying options (4) is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a cost attribute and an exposure attribute for each media buying option and displaying a plot (1) of available media buying options (4), wherein the media buying options (4) are plotted against a first axis (1B) corresponding to said cost attribute and a second axis (1A) corresponding to said exposure attribute. In another embodiment the method includes calculating or retrieving from memory two or three attributes of each media buying option (4) to be displayed and graphically plotting in a plot (1) each media buying option (4) against said two or three attributes, wherein at least one of said attributes is an exposure attribute and updating the plot when a variable affecting the value of the exposure attribute of one or more media buying options (4) is changed.

Abstract: A method is described that comprises providing a cultural specific on-line commerce experience for an end user by translating an action of the end user into a standard format used by an on-line auctioneer and by causing the translated action to be sent over a network. The action is taken through a cultural specific end user interface. The standard format is used by an on-line commerce service's back end application software to recognize end user actions originating from experiences that include the cultural specific on-line experience as well as experiences other than the cultural specific on-line experience. The action that is translated into the standard format is to be sent into a network so that it can be received by the on-line commerce service's back-end resources and recognized by the back-end application software.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for configuring a customized extension for an electronic product transaction database object class includes receiving user-initiated input that selects a set type predefined for at least one electronic product database object class that defines a product type for which instances of the electronic product database object class may be created. The method also includes associating the selected set type with a selected electronic product transaction database object class used in a computer-executed product transaction process and for which instances of the electronic product transaction database object may be created. The selected set type is to serve as a customized extension for the selected electronic product transaction database object class when a product that is defined by a product database object class that uses the selected set type is identified in the computer-executed product transaction process.

Abstract: Information, such as information relating to the configuration and capabilities of mobile devices, can be stored in, and accessed from, a distributed, hierarchical repository system. The repository can be based on a tree structure including a plurality of levels of nodes, wherein each level corresponds to a type or source of information. The nodes also can be distributed among various entities providing the information for that node, whereby entities can retain some level of access control over the information in that node. A party requesting information then can receive information from the distributed repository based on the access conditions for that user or party, which may grant them access to information in various nodes or levels, and/or information provided by certain entities.

Abstract: A system and appertaining methods are provided that makes it possible to order pizza and other products using an instant messaging or other signaling mechanisms such as cell-phones and two-way pagers, using a tokenized representation of the order elements. Signaling mechanisms provide context sensitive help to facilitate the use of the tokens, and a system then processes the order to the end point system for immediate preparation and/or delivery of the products. Communications may be implemented by a system in which a non-secure channel is used to poll a central server to determine if there is any data available, and the actual data transmission, if available, is provided over a secure channel.

Abstract: According to the invention, transferring money using a computer network is disclosed. In one step, information is saved on credit received for a first user (110) in a stored value account on a server computer system (170). At the server computer system (170), a request from the first user (110) to send money to a second user (130) based on the stored value account is received. An electronic notification is sent from the server computer (170) to the second user (130) to notify the second user (130) of the request. A debit in the stored value account of the first user (110) is created. The requested money is sent to the second user (130) upon a receipt of a request at the server computer (170) from the second user (130).

Abstract: According to the invention, transferring money using a computer network is disclosed. In one step, information is saved on credit received for a first user (110) in a stored value account on a server computer system (170). At the server computer system (170), a request from the first user (110) to send money to a second user (130) based on the stored value account is received. An electronic notification is sent from the server computer (170) to the second user (130) to notify the second user (130) of the request. A debit in the stored value account of the first user (110) is created. The requested money is sent to the second user (130) upon a receipt of a request at the server computer (170) from the second user (130).

Abstract: According to the invention, transferring money using a computer network is disclosed. In one step, information is saved on credit received for a first user (110) in a stored value account on a server computer system (170). At the server computer system (170), a request from the first user (110) to send money to a second user (130) based on the stored value account is received. An electronic notification is sent from the server computer (170) to the second user (130) to notify the second user (130) of the request. A debit in the stored value account of the first user (110) is created. The requested money is sent to the second user (130) upon a receipt of a request at the server computer (170) from the second user (130).

Abstract: An exchange system for facilitating the purchase of new cars is described. The system is coupled, in one embodiment, to a communications link. Potential car purchasers and sellers may access the exchange system via the network, and submit offers and/or pricing requests to such system. In response to the requests, the system processor retrieves the stored data from the respective databases, and causes such data to be transmitted to the local site for display. The exchange systems also executes certain functions in response to commands and data transmitted from buyer sites, dealer sites and institution sites.