Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a system and method for pricing resources. One embodiment of the present invention includes a historical usage database adapted to store historical customer usage and pricing data, and a pricing algorithm module adapted to perform a simulation using the historical customer usage and pricing data to establish resource usage prices and swing option prices that will maintain a profit margin near or equal to a profit margin setting.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method that allow sellers to offer goods and services at prices that vary depending on what transpires during the event or service. The final price is determined after the event or service based on the occurrence of certain pre-selected attributes. Candidate attributes are potentially associated with the event or service but the outcome or occurrence of the attribute is not knowable by the buyer and seller with certainty at the time of the original purchase. Using the outcome-based pricing (OBP) and settlement system the seller can set prices to minimize significant deviation from a pre-determined revenue plan, or alternatively build-in an increase or even decrease in gross revenues. The present invention allows for the order, payment and final settlement of the purchase transaction, automatically. The preferred embodiment for the OBP pricing and settlement system is via a computer network that includes the Internet.

Abstract: The principles of the present invention provide the ability to flexibly change the delivery point and time for a mail item, while the item is en route. The recipient, sender, or mailer may flexibly change the delivery point of the item alone or in combination with each other. While an item is en route between the sending point and the delivery point, a notification is sent to indicate that the item is in transit. In response, the delivery of the item may be changed. For example, the destination specified by the sender (e.g., the delivery address written on the item) may be changed or a delivery time may be specified. The item is then delivered to the new delivery point and/or at the specified delivery time.

Abstract: Value based licensing/billing methods and system for security software is provided, which use an effective vulnerability protection measure provided by a new or updated IPS filter deployed on host computer to determine the licensing/billing fee of the new or updated IPS filter over a billing period. The effective vulnerability protection measure is determined based on vulnerability and host attributes, and, in the embodiment of the invention, is based on a vulnerability time gap or time protected of the host computer.

Abstract: A computer system that is configured to: (A) define a geofence surrounding a geographic area; (B) gather information associated with the geofenced area; and (C) assign one or more parameters to the geofenced area based on the information gathered, wherein at least one of the assigned parameters is used to monitor the performance of a delivery vehicle driver while the delivery vehicle driver is operating a delivery vehicle within the geofenced area. In particular embodiments, the parameters include a backup limit defining a number of times a delivery vehicle operating within the geofenced area is permitted to back up while operating the delivery vehicle within the geofenced area (e.g., during a particular delivery cycle). In other embodiments, the parameters include a maximum speed limit for the geofenced area. The system may be adapted to automatically generate an alert in response to the delivery vehicle operating outside of the defined parameters.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention is a method for effectively managing aspects of hospitality for an event. Event's may include Olympic (or other) event. An inventory of event hospitality items is acquired for the creation of hospitality program for client groups. Information from client's guest which make up the client group may be collected in order to identify which hospitality inventory items could best fulfill the client's needs and requests during the days of the event. Hospitality inventory items may include tickets, transportation, hotel, food/beverages, and event staff. Hospitality parameters may be established for each client group, wherein the parameters determine how hospitality inventory items should be allocated for the client group.

Abstract: Disclosed is a resource management method by which one or more lender center apparatuses each lend one or more computer's resources to a borrower center apparatus, and which is executed by the borrower center apparatus. The method includes the step of receiving, from each of the lender center apparatuses, resource information on one or more resources, and registering the resource information to a management table, the step of detecting a shortage of one or more computer's resources in the borrower center apparatus, and pinpointing a bottleneck causing the shortage, the step of searching through the management table for one or some of the resources which can resolve the bottleneck, and creating a center list of one or some of the lender center apparatuses which possess the searched resources, and the step of requesting the lender center apparatuses on the center list to lend the searched resources.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coordinating and managing renting of items among multiple parties. Participants of the system interact with others at a central server connected via a communications network. According to an embodiment, each participant plays a role of a potential lender, a potential renter, or both. As the items of a participant get rented more, the system rewards him so that he is able to rent more himself. In a certain embodiment, a point value system is used. The server computer maintains all required information as to which items are currently for rent (e.g., offers) and which items are currently being requested (e.g., bids), as well as all data pertinent to rentable items and participants. A rental transaction occurs when a certain preset criterion is met, and point values are adjusted at the beginning, at the end and/or in the middle of the rental period.

Abstract: Techniques for automated pricing of an item are provided. The techniques include obtaining historical data of one or more previous purchases for the item, performing a regression on the historical data, and using the regression to obtain a buying price and a selling price for the item.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for collecting and providing information on loaded/empty status of vehicles, which gathers loaded and empty vehicle information via the Internet and then provides shipping arrangement agencies in various regions information on freight for which a vehicle has not been dispatched and information on empty vehicles, from information collected on loaded and empty vehicles. Accordingly, multilevel procurement for freight is avoided, and freight can be delivered to a destination in a timely manner as requested by a merchant, which reduces freight transport charges and procurement fees.

Abstract: A method of estimating the cost of a target print job may include identifying a target print job having a document type and one or more attributes, for each attribute of the target print job, determining a correlation between the attribute and a cost of the target print job using a plurality of historical print jobs associated with the document type, and identifying one or more of the attributes as cost drivers based on the correlation of the attribute to the cost of the target print job. The method may include identifying one or more relevant historical print jobs from the plurality of historical print jobs based on values for the identified cost drivers, estimating a cost of the target print job using the one or more relevant historical print jobs, and displaying the estimated cost associated with the target print job.

Abstract: A method of determining services pricing, the method comprising: a server receiving vehicle identification information from a user via a network connection, wherein the vehicle identification information indicates a vehicle type; the server receiving service type information from the user via the network connection, wherein the service type information indicates a service type; the server determining an estimate range based on the vehicle identification information and the service type information, wherein the estimate range comprises a minimum value and maximum value for the indicated vehicle type and service type, and wherein determining the estimate range comprises determining a labor estimate and a parts estimate; and the server providing the estimate range to the user via the network connection.

Abstract: A computer-implemented hierarchical revenue model to manage revenue allocations among derived product developers in a networked system is disclosed. The model includes providing a first revenue value associated with a first digital component, providing a second revenue value associated with a second digital component, and combining the first revenue value with a second revenue value to produce a third revenue value associated with the second digital component, the second digital component including at least a portion of the first digital component.

Abstract: A computer based system for maximizing revenue by determining an optimal quantity of a product to be sold is disclosed. The system determines the optimal number of seats to be sold for a flight based upon the flight's capacity and forecasted costs associated with the flight. The forecasting is based upon probabilistic distribution models takes into account passenger itinerary data, passenger and market historical data, whether a passenger has flown on a previous leg of an itinerary, the ripple denied boarding effect of reaccommodating a denied passenger. The system evaluates the potential effect of double selling a unit of inventory (e.g., seats). Downstream inventory control, revenue management and reservations systems may use the optimization data to affect the operation of the airline.

Abstract: A method includes identifying a plurality of facilities in a complex. Each facility is associated with a construction project. The method also includes determining a potential revenue associated with at least one of the facilities. The method further includes determining a cost associated with at least one of the facilities. In addition, the method includes generating a schedule of the construction projects using the identified potential revenue and the identified cost.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method, a system and a physical computer readable medium for distributing payment to a host of an event and a second entity by receiving payment confirmations indicating payment amounts from guests for the event. The payment amounts for all received confirmations are aggregated. Using the aggregated payment amounts, a first payment total and a second payment total are calculated and distributed to the host of the event and a second entity, respectively. The present invention further relates to a method for managing an event. The method involves registering a host, registering an event, and registering guests for the event. In response to receiving notification from at least one guest, status information for the event is provided to the host. The status information includes: the event, the guests, and at least some information based on the received notification.

Abstract: A method and system for reserving a time slot to gain access to a resource, such as an attraction, ride, show or event, as may be found in an amusement park. A portable module is used to determine a time when the user is able to access the resource based on reservation requests and throughput, without need for a docking station or continuous communication with a central database of all reservations and queue times.

Abstract: A computer based system for maximizing revenue by determining an optimal quantity of a product to be sold is disclosed. The system determines the optimal number of seats to be sold for a flight based upon the flight's capacity and forecasted costs associated with the flight. The forecasting is based upon probabilistic distribution models and takes into account passenger itinerary data, passenger and market historical data, whether a passenger has flown on a previous leg of an itinerary, and the ripple denied boarding effect of reaccommodating a denied passenger. The system evaluates the potential effect of double selling a unit of inventory (e.g., seats). Downstream inventory control, revenue management and reservations systems may use the optimization data to affect the operation of the airline.

Abstract: A carrier selection method for the logistics network is disclosed to evaluate the network reliability of each carrier set for choosing an optimal carrier set. The logistics network includes a start, a terminal and a plurality of routes between the start and the terminal, and a plurality of minimal paths are composed of the routes. The carrier set is composed of carriers chosen in every route of the logistics network. The carrier selection method includes the steps of choosing one carrier for transporting; distributing a demand in the minimal paths, and each carrier having a plurality of capacities and a maximal capacity; calculating a network reliability for the carrier set transporting the demand in the minimal paths according to the demand, the capacities and the maximal capacity; and executing genetic algorithm for searching an optimal carrier set.

Abstract: Techniques for processing a multiple passenger, multiple route query are disclosed. The techniques include a travel planning system that searches for airline tickets in response to queries and a server that sends multiple, individual queries to the travel planning system and combines solutions received from execution of the multiple individual queries by the travel planning system, producing answers for the multiple passenger, multiple route query.