Abstract: One aspect of the invention is a method for scheduling a meeting. An interface is provided to allow a user to input information regarding a meeting into a computer. The interface may include an alternative attendee data field to allow a user to provide alternative attendee information. The alternative attendee information may indicate whether an invitee to a meeting may send an alternate person to the meeting in place of the invitee. The alternative attendee information may be received using the interface, and then stored and associated with other data concerning the meeting being scheduled.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for planning demand of a product, such as a configurable product. In one embodiment, a method is provided for planning demand for a configurable product in a managed supply chain. In another embodiment, a demand planner is provided for planning demand for a configurable product in a managed supply chain.

Abstract: Multimedia contacts are forecasted, propagated, and managed for each period in a range. The number of contacts received in a period is forecasted using historical methods and is propagated to succeeding periods based on the business goals, such as how quickly a certain contact type is to be handled. After the contacts have been propagated, a total contacts to handle is determined for each period, and the staffing requirements are calculated therefrom.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for planning demand of products, such as configurable products. In one embodiment, a method is provided for planning demand for a configurable product in a managed supply chain. In another embodiment, a demand planner is provided for planning demand for a configurable product in a managed supply chain. The method may comprise the steps of: storing master data defining a set of characteristic value combinations relating to the product dependent characteristics of each product; inputting transactional data defining a demand plan with respect to a product or component; specifying at least one product dependent characteristic of one or more products for which an additional characteristic value is to be assigned; automatically generating the additional characteristic value identifying the specified characteristics; and storing the additional characteristic value to the characteristic value combinations in the master data.

Abstract: An automated employee selection system can use a variety of techniques to provide information for assisting in selection of employees. For example, pre-hire and post-hire information can be collected electronically and used to build an artificial-intelligence based model. The model can then be used to predict a desired job performance criterion (e.g., tenure, number of accidents, sales level, or the like) for new applicants. A wide variety of features can be supported, such as electronic reporting. Pre-hire information identified as ineffective can be removed from a collected pre-hire information. For example, ineffective questions can be identified and removed from a job application. New items can be added and their effectiveness tested. As a result, a system can exhibit adaptive learning and maintain or increase effectiveness even under changing conditions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of generating a demand plan for a configurable product in a managed supply chain using a computer, wherein the product comprises an assembled component. The method comprising: providing a processor device; accessing master data in a primary profile planning table for the configurable product, wherein the table includes data relating to the product, accessing master data in a secondary profile planning table for an assembled component of the configurable product including a header characteristic identifying the configurable product of which the assembled component is a component and data relating to the assembled component, processing the data in the primary profile planning table and the secondary profile planning table to generate transactional data as the demand plan taking into account the assembled component and controlling the supply of the product in accordance with the demand plan.

Abstract: A system for matching entities having needs to entities having capability to meet the needs. A plurality of needs profiles are created, where each need profile comprises a data record specifying attributes about a need. A plurality of capability profiles are also created, where each capability profile comprises a data record specifying set of attributes of an entity having a capability of meeting a need. A matching engine is coupled to repetitively and automatically examine the needs profiles and capability profiles to identify matched profiles, wherein a match comprises a set of profiles judged to be substantially compatible based upon correspondence of the attributes specified therein.

Abstract: A method and system for generating recommendations are described. The method of generating a recommendation list of products to a customer comprises using OLAP (On-Line Analytical Processing) to analyze raw data in a multilevel and multidimensional manner. Furthermore, the method includes applying a plurality of filtering processes to the raw data to generate a plurality of preliminary recommendation lists. Moreover, the method further comprises generating the recommendation list based on the plurality of preliminary recommendation lists.

Abstract: A system for monitoring a business process including a business process, an indicator for determining a value representing the performance of the business process, and a performance monitor adapted to evaluate the indicator to determine the performance of the business process. The indicator can be associated with workflow-enabled business process or with a control associated with the business process. The performance monitor compares the value of the indicator with a target value. The target value can be inherited from an organizational unit associated with the business process, a control, or set by a user. The performance monitor creates a report summarizing a change in the value of the indicator over a period of time. The performance monitor also initiates an audit process of the business process when the difference between the value of the indicator and the target value exceeds a tolerance range associated with the target value.

Abstract: A method provides for an efficient unconstrained and nonlinear constrained optimization solution to a multivariate allocation of resources to meet manufacturing needs for uncertain multiproduct demand, where uncertainty is captured through a multivariate normal distribution over product demand (or more generally, through a member of the elliptical family of distributions).

Abstract: A risk evaluation support device is used for a safety network which serves to cause an output device to make a controlled device operable based on a detection signal outputted from an input device when the input device detects a safety condition. The support device creates a parameter setting table for correlating a danger source with the input and output devices and a PLC for risk evaluation based on configuration data of the safety network obtained through a communication part and device data on devices obtained from a component database. Operating data for the safety network are obtained according to conditions provided by the parameter setting table and a current risk evaluation value for the danger source is calculated based on the obtained operating data. The calculated risk evaluation value is outputted to a display part.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method provides location-sensitive and time-sensitive calendaring to a wireless device, such as a cell phone, pager, PDA, etc. A user's calendar is maintained with a number of appointments, start times and end times for the appointments, meeting place and a list of attendees for the appointments. When the present time reading is within a predetermined minimum of a meeting start time of an appointment of a calendar of a user, the location of the user is determined based on the location of the wireless device. The location of the meeting place is also determined. Using historical data (of the user or others), the estimated time of arrival of the user at the meeting place is determined. If the estimated time of arrival is after the meeting start time, then a late message may be sent to the user and/or to the other meeting attendees.

Abstract: Methods and systems for optimizing business processes, complying with governmental regulations, and identifying threat and vulnerability risks for an enterprise are disclosed. According to various embodiments, the method includes identifying at least one critical asset of an enterprise and identifying at least one business process of the enterprise associated with the identified critical asset. The method further includes performing at least one of a risk analysis, a regulatory compliance analysis and a business process optimization analysis for the business process based on at least one of an evaluation of a technological component associated with the business process, a threat profile for an area of concern associated with the business process and the critical asset, and/or an interdependency matrix of business processes of the enterprise.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and a method for the dynamic representation of the actual state of a task. The aim of the invention is to provide a clear and explicit representation of a task. To this end, the processing state is represented as the actual state of a task in such a way that the representation is carried out as a dynamic representation of the actual state in relation to a target state. The user is thus provided with a visual reference relating to, for example, a processing, producing and/or logistics target. The clarity can be further increased by associating additional information characterizing the state of the tasks to the actual states of the tasks.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of compiling a customer information set that complies with regulatory criteria is provided. The method comprises providing an overall question set having a plurality of questions and determining from the overall question set a basic question set, the basic question set including at least one basic question. The method further comprises associating an expected answer with at least one question of the basic question set and providing criteria for modifying the basic question set based on receiving an answer that differs from the expected answer. The method still further comprises optimizing an interactive customer survey with a customer using the overall question set, the basic question set, the expected answer and the criteria for modifying the basic question set.

Abstract: A system for enabling real-time collaboration and workflow management of a marketing campaign within a marketing organization is disclosed. In one aspect, user displays for the marketing organization's computer system are provided. A role portal component provides at least two respective role portals that correspond to at least two marketing roles within the marketing organization (for example, marketing executive, marketing manager, data analyst, etc.). A workbench component generates, on a user display, a workbench that corresponds to each of the role portals. Each workbench permits a user to access metric and workflow information associated with the corresponding marketing role. The workbench for each role may comprise several displayable web-pages, such as a home page, an activities page workflow, a marketing campaigns with information and metrics about various marketing campaigns, and a customer analysis page.

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: According to the invention, a process for automating management of a service contract for a business machine associated with a user is disclosed. In one step, A data capture device is provided proximate to a business machine. A threshold event associated with the service contract is determined and programmed into the data capture device. In another step, notification of triggering of the threshold event is received. Information related to the service contract is reported electronically and automatically to the user based, at least in part, upon the receiving of the trigger notification.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for scheduling meetings by exploiting information of the type used with electronic calendars. By leveraging advanced calendaring system information and using location, other context information such as corporate policy, legal constraints, and technology constraints, and/or user-specific preferences to provide a complete picture of a person's availability, the functionality (and therefore the value) of scheduling systems in increased, resulting in an ability to schedule meetings with more accuracy and less rework. Various allowable participation types for meeting invitees may be specified, and each invitee's availability is determined accordingly. Location-sensitive travel times (including optional user-specific travel time adjustments) are used in preferred embodiments when in-person participation is required.

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, such context involving a member of a first class of parties in a first role and a member of a second class of counterparties in a second role, are disclosed. The techniques involve supplying to at least one of the parties a series of forced choice questions so as to elicit party responses; supplying to at least one of the counterparties a series of forced choice questions so as to elicit counterparty responses; and delivering a list matching the at least one party and the at least one counterparty according to analysis of preference profiles determined using conjoint analysis of the party responses and the counterparty responses.