Abstract: A method of systematically applying parameter evaluation techniques to large numbers of complex segmented models used for managing and analyzing a segmented manufacturing or supply chain process. These models include a plurality of segment models, each segment model representing a process segment within the segmented manufacturing or supply chain process and comprising a mathematical expression including at least one parameter. The method compares predicted values generated by a segment model with actual observed values to determining a score representative of the performance of the segment model. New parameters for the mathematical equation associated with the segment model are determined through statistical techniques when the model score indicates an unacceptable performance of the segment model. The segment models may be evaluated and updated in parallel and without manual intervention.

Abstract: A system coupled to one or more vending machines, such as soft drink vending machines, via a wireless data link can acquire operational vending data, for example sales data, hardware status, and product temperature. The system can compile data from multiple vending machines dispersed across a geographic area such as a city or state. The system can include software that refines the vending operations of one or more such vending machines based on analysis of acquired data, taking into consideration other information such as market, business, seasonal, or environmental factors. Refining vending operations can include adjusting product offerings, relocating vending machines, replicating favorable conditions, and addressing unexpected sales variations.

Abstract: A dual-warehouse management system for a supply chain and a method for calculating a minimum of a joint cost thereof are provided. A manufacturer function module and a distributor function module are used to estimate a manufacturer's total cost and a distributor's total cost respectively. Afterwards, a joint cost optimization module is used to calculate a minimum joint cost. Accordingly, a product lot and a delivery time of a deteriorating item delivered from the manufacturer to the distributor are obtained in a planning horizon.

Abstract: A method for utilizing date sets in a manufacturing system includes receiving an order associated with a manufacturing activity, identifying steps involved in the manufacturing activity, and formulating multiple schedules, where each schedule associates the steps with dates. The method also includes selecting one of the schedules for the manufacturing activity.

Abstract: Insight-driven interactions with customers may be enhanced in a holistic approach. A customer relationship management (“CRM”) methodology may include: (1) evaluating a customer strategy; (2) identifying customer segments from a customer base; (3) forming an interaction strategy; (4) defining a series of experiences based on the strategy; (5) applying those interactions with customers during interactions; and (6) monitoring the results of the customer interactions. A computer aid may preferably guide a user through some of these steps. A modular, vendor-independent, centralized, rules-based engine may perform processing to deliver tailored customer experiences, relying on values for prioritized experiences identified through use of the computer aid.

Abstract: Insight-driven interactions with customers may be enhanced in a holistic approach. A customer relationship management (“CRM”) methodology may include: (1) evaluating a customer strategy; (2) identifying customer segments from a customer base; (3) forming an interaction strategy; (4) defining a series of experiences based on the strategy; (5) applying those interactions with customers during interactions; and (6) monitoring the results of the customer interactions. A computer aid may preferably guide a user through some of these steps. A modular, vendor-independent, centralized, rules-based engine may perform processing to deliver tailored customer experiences, relying on values for prioritized experiences identified through use of the computer aid.

Abstract: A mobile marketing campaign platform and method including: a planning module including: a definition module for setting budget and objectives; and a design module for designing the campaign utilizing a plurality of templates; an execution module including: design tools for designing an executable campaign from the campaign design made from the templates; and operating tools for causing the executable campaign to execute over multiple mobile services; and a reporting module including: tracking means for tracking at least one of a campaign activity, the campaign performance objectives; and the brand performance objectives.

Abstract: A mobile marketing campaign platform and method including: a planning module including: a definition module for setting budget and objectives; and a design module for designing the campaign utilizing a plurality of templates; an execution module including: design tools for designing an executable campaign from the campaign design made from the templates; and operating tools for causing the executable campaign to execute over multiple mobile services; and a reporting module including: tracking means for tracking at least one of a campaign activity, the campaign performance objectives; and the brand performance objectives.

Abstract: A method of representing user tasks to be performed by one or more of a plurality of electronic devices in a task orchestration system. Each device includes therein a function description specifying a function that the device can perform. The function descriptions are obtained from one or more of the devices, task descriptions that describe device functionalities required for certain tasks are obtained, and task suggestion are generated based on the obtained device function descriptions and task descriptions. Each task suggestion represents a user task as an abstraction of on or more of the obtained device descriptions and task descriptions. The tasks suggestion are displayed on a display for the user to select from, wherein the user selected task suggestion is to be performed by orchestration (automation) of one or more of the devices based on task descriptions that use device functionalities described in the device function descriptions.

Abstract: A mobile marketing campaign platform and method including: a planning module including: a definition module for setting budget and objectives; and a design module for designing the campaign utilizing a plurality of templates; an execution module including: design tools for designing an executable campaign from the campaign design made from the templates; and operating tools for causing the executable campaign to execute over multiple mobile services; and a reporting module including: tracking means for tracking at least one of a campaign activity, the campaign performance objectives; and the brand performance objectives.

Abstract: Systems and techniques relating to associating a procedure with actions and resources are described. In general, in one implementation, the technique includes: specifying a list of one or more actions corresponding to a specified procedure and, for each action, one or more resources associated with the action; indicating an action order, including indicating whether two or more actions in the action list are to be performed in an order-dependent manner or in an order-independent manner; formatting the list of actions into a presentation format; and enabling a user to access the resources associated with the specified procedure. The actions can be grouped into one or more phases and a navigation model may include a phase indicator to navigate by phases of the procedure and display of actions and deliverables associated with a phase. The techniques can include associating deliverables, contributors and resources with an action.

Abstract: Method and systems of improving the response of public safety personnel to or evacuation from a desired location are provided. In addition to path information obtained through traditional sources, information is used to determine the optimal route for emergency personnel to an emergency situation and for aiding emergency personnel to route people from the situation. The information may also be used to automatically prioritize vehicles and personnel to optimize response time. Further, the information may also be used to in situations in which it is advantageous for the vehicle or personnel to be tactically positioned in nearby locations rather than at the incident scene. Although the descriptions below will primarily focus on routes to a particular location, similar methods can be used for evacuations from the location. The optimal route may use historical information stored in a database local or remote to the dispatcher and/or real-time information updated during the emergency situation.

Abstract: The scheduling of extraction of a resource within a mine is disclosed which comprises obtaining drill hole grade data relating to the resource and creating a plurality of different block models, with each block in each model having a resource grade and each of the block models honoring the drill hole grade data. An extraction schedule is determined based on a cut-off grade policy to increase expected net present value of the mine. The cut-off grade policy can be a variable cut-off grade and the scheduling using the variable cut-off grade is converted from a non-linear representation to a linear representation and a mixed integer programming formulation is used for simultaneous optimization of the extraction schedule and the cut-off grade.

Abstract: A computerized system and related methods of identifying an optimum set of product configurations from a plurality of possible product configurations, wherein each product configuration has a plurality of features and each feature has a plurality of options, includes the steps of representing each of the possible product configurations as an ordered set or array of at least n-dimensions, each dimension of the array representing a predetermined one of the features, identifying a subset of valid product configurations, identifying which valid configurations are captured by other configurations through upgrades, conversions, or acceptance of different options, defining and solving an optimization model to identify the optimum set of valid product configurations based on a desired objective, such as to maximize profit, minimize cost, or maximizing coverage of customer demand, and then presenting the optimum set of valid product configurations that satisfy the desired objective.

Abstract: Techniques for facilitating evaluation, in connection with the procurement or delivery of products or services, in a context of at least one of (i) a financial transaction and (ii) operation of an enterprise, are disclosed. The techniques involve retrieving party and counterparty preference data from digital storage media; performing multilateral analyses of the combined preference data by computing a closeness-of-fit value; and delivering a list matching the at least one party and the at least one counterparty using the computed closeness-of-fit values.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to generating audience analytics that includes providing a database containing a plurality of user input pattern profiles representing the group of users of terminal device, in which each user of the group is associated with one of the plurality of user input pattern profiles. A clickstream algorithm, tracking algorithm, neural network, Bayes classifier algorithm, or affinity-day part algorithm can be used to generate the user input pattern profiles. A user input pattern is detected based upon use of the terminal device by the current user and the user input pattern of the current user is dynamically matched with one of the user input pattern profiles contained in the database. The current user is identified based upon dynamic matching of the user input pattern generated by the current user with one of the user input pattern profiles. The present invention processes each user input pattern profile to identify a demographic type.

Abstract: A method and system for defining and generating forecasts. The forecast system receives a forecast definition from a user, generates a forecast in accordance with the forecast definition, stores a forecast snapshot of the generated forecast, and presents to users forecast information derived from the forecast snapshots. A forecast definition specifies the participants to be included in a forecast and when to generate the forecast. At the scheduled time, the forecast system automatically generates the forecast and stores the forecast snapshot.

Abstract: The method, system and a computer program and a computer product for managing workers and documents is provided. The method includes storing industry representations and a list of workers with data related to the workers, linking the industry representations to the workers and selecting at least one worker from based on the industry representations for that worker. The method also includes scheduling workers to a job based on whether they have all of the required industry representations. In addition, the method includes uploading industry representations and bar code scanning industry representations into the database. The method further includes dispatching said industry representations to other users and automatically mapping fields of the dispatched data in the destination database. In addition, the method includes selectively encrypting only sensitive fields in data transmission between two entities.

Abstract: A method for assessing a process of an organization is provided. First, information concerning the organization and the process is acquired, such as from a set of questionnaires, interviews and/or document reviews. Then, a plurality of preliminary findings are developed based upon the information. Each of the developed preliminary findings has an associated characterization of either a strength or a weakness. Next, a conclusion associated with each preliminary finding is voted for electronically, where the conclusion is either an agreement with the preliminary finding or a disagreement with the preliminary finding. A plurality of final findings are then developed based upon the vote for each conclusion. Each final finding also has a characterization of either a strength or a weakness.

Abstract: A method of documenting occurrence of an event in a computer system includes receiving first event information forwarded upon a first event occurring in execution of a first step in a transaction process. The first event information includes a first step key, a first step type, and first time-of-occurrence information. The method includes identifying, upon receiving the first event information, an anchor step type that previously has been assigned for use in documenting the first event. The anchor step type is associated with an anchor step in the transaction process. The method includes reading, using the anchor step type, an anchor key of the anchor step in an execution log for the transaction process. The execution log is identified using the first step key. The method includes associating the anchor key with the first time-of-occurrence information. A performance measure having start and end events may be evaluated.