Abstract: A system for generating a work unit test ahead candidate list. A list is generated of all potential candidate systems for test ahead operations. A system in the potential candidate list is selected. It is determined whether any work unit in the selected system is waiting for short parts. Determining that no work unit in the selected system is waiting for short parts, a complexity score is calculated for each work unit in the selected system. The calculated complexity scores are added to a total system complexity score. It is then determined whether an override exists for a work unit in the selected system. Determining that an override does exist, the selected system is removed from the potential candidate list. A candidate list is generated from remaining systems in the potential candidate list. Then, the candidate list is outputted to provide recommendations for optimizing work unit test ahead operations.

Abstract: A method is provided of anonymizing an interaction between a user entity and a service provider node wishing to provide a service to the user entity in dependence upon characteristics of the user entity determined or revealed as a result of the interaction, the method comprising: assigning the user entity to at least one set, each set comprising as members a plurality of user entities sharing a characteristic associated with that set; ensuring that the intersection of the at least one set comprises at least a predetermined minimum number of user entities; and providing to the service provider node information relating to the or each characteristic associated with the at least one set, the information being for use at the service provider node in providing a service to the user entity that is appropriate in view of the characteristics of the user entity but insufficient to identify the user entity.

Abstract: A self-service tanning system and method allows salon owners to offer tanning customization in order to meet the personal needs of various customers and to meet the various FDA regulations associated with each state. The present invention allows salon owners to customize each tanning customer session to prevent over exposure for new patrons, while allowing patrons who are already tanning to tan at a more progressive rate. In addition to tanning customization, the present invention offers built-in safety features, payment options, and networkability.

Abstract: The present invention is a system, method, and apparatus for determining the impact of crowding on retail performance based on a measurement for behavior patterns of people in a store area. The present invention captures a plurality of input images of the people by at least a means for capturing images, such as cameras, in the store area. In the captured plurality of input images, each person's shopping path is detected by a video analytics-based tracking algorithm. A subset of the people is identified as a crowd in the store area. In relation to the crowd, the behavior patterns of the target person are measured. After aggregating the measurements for the behavior patterns over a predefined window of time, the present invention can calculate a crowd index and a crowd impact index for the store area based on the measurements. A crowd index shows the level of crowd density in the store area caused by a crowd, including traffic count of the crowd in the store area.

Abstract: A system for managing distribution of a cooling medium includes a sensor configured to detect a condition, a first agent configured to receive the detected condition and to determine whether a characteristic of the cooling medium controlled via a first actuator is to be manipulated based upon the detected condition. The system also includes a second agent configured to receive at least one of the detected condition and the flow manipulation determination of the first actuator and to determine whether a characteristic of the cooling medium controlled by a second actuator is to be manipulated based upon the at least one of the detected condition and the characteristic manipulation determination of the first actuator.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for trading a tradable object. One example apparatus includes a microprocessor, a graphical user comprising a first screen region having a plurality of locations in the first screen region, each location corresponding to a price level along a first axis and a time along a second axis. The apparatus also comprises a user input device for sending a command to initiate placement of a timed trade order, and an indicator being dynamically displayed in one of the plurality locations of the first screen region and corresponding to the timed order. In one example embodiment, the indicator dynamically moves over time relative to the second axis indicating a time until the order will be automatically sent to a computerized matching process.

Abstract: Solutions are provided for assessing and consolidating contractor data in an organization from a plurality of data sources. Contractor data from a plurality of data sources is collected, wherein the data sources comprise existing information systems, surveys and interviews. The collected contractor data is segmented using a decision matrix, wherein the decision matrix comprises a plurality of predefined functional units and a plurality of vendors, roles and experience bands. The segmented contractor data is evaluated for its impact on ongoing business activities in the organization, wherein the evaluation of the segmented contractor data comprises performing at least contractor assessment and application assessment. Further, the evaluated contractor data is consolidated to form at least one logical cluster within a plurality of predefined categories, wherein the predefined categories comprise functional unit, application platform, and technology platform and service type and presented to a user.

Abstract: A cost metric is associated with each of a plurality of calendar event parameters of a proposed calendar event. A calendar event cost projection is determined based upon, at least in part, the cost metric associated with each of the plurality of the calendar event parameters. The calendar event cost projection is compared to a calendar event budget. At least one of the plurality of calendar event parameters is selected based upon, at least in part, the comparison of the calendar event cost projection to the calendar event budget.

Abstract: An improved method for providing a consumer matching service, of the type having the steps of establishing a database of participating businesses which includes information on the experiences available from these businesses and also collecting consumer contact and experience sought information, includes the steps of: (a) establishing a consumer personality trait profile in which one's personality traits are predictive of how one is most likely to make a purchase or selection decision as it relates to choosing between an array of experiences available to a consumer, (b) ascribing to each of the available experiences similar personality traits, and (c) matching the consumer personality trait profile to the personality traits ascribed to the available items so as to compile for the consumer a list of ranked businesses which offer the experiences being sought by the consumer and most optimally match to the consumer's personality trait profile.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for establishing, maintaining, distributing, and modifying an employee schedule. In one embodiment, the present invention comprises a scheduling system programmed in software and configured to run on a scheduling computer. One or more remotely located overhead displays and one or more remotely located employee interfaces or kiosks communicate with the scheduling computer to disseminate schedule data to employees. The kiosks are additionally configured to provide an interactive interface for employees to utilize system features. One exemplary system feature comprises computerized posting of sheets requesting worker sign-up for additional or reduced work hours based on projected workload. Another exemplary system feature comprises a shift pool wherein employees may post one or more of their work shifts to an employee accessible pool. Other employees may then accept the posted shift via an employee interface thereby facilitating automated work shift changes.

Abstract: It is possible to provide a specification modification estimation method and a specification modification estimation system which can build-in a specification modification in a development plan in advance when performing software development. The system includes: I/O unit (1) which inputs development information associated with specification modification and outputs a calculation result of a development scale obtained by the specification modification; a database (3) which accumulates a digitalized environment affect in the software development; and specification modification estimation calculation unit (2) which calculates a product amount of the entire development scale in the specification modification according to the aforementioned development information and the information accumulated in the database. Thus, it is possible to estimate a final entire development scale which fluctuates according to the specification modification at a pre-stage of a software development or during the development.

Abstract: Process studies are performed to determine improvements to processes, such as manufacturing or service related processes. One or more instances of a process may be captured (e.g., recorded) and annotated. A user is enabled to interact with a recording included in the process instance of a process being performed. The user is enabled to apply a process step tag selected from a plurality of process steps to a section of the recording. The user may be enabled to interact with the recording to apply an attribute value selected from a list of attribute values to the process instance. The user may be enabled to interact with the recording to apply discovery information to the process instance. Annotation information associated with the process instance is generated that includes the process step tag, any applied attribute values, and any applied discovery information.

Abstract: The disclosed subject matter is a method and system for marketing a client's product for an alternative purpose. The information about the alternative purpose of the product is collected and input into an automated system. The method and system then informs third parties about the client's product along with suggested alternative uses.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide a system for generating a sales prospect recommendation that uses demographic data to make a sales prospect recommendation that includes a product recommendation with a probability that the sale will close, and may include an estimated time to close the sale and projected revenue. The system imports customer data including past purchasing data and demographic data for a plurality of customers. The system can then generate a predictive model by training the model using the past purchasing data and the demographic data. When queried for a sales prospect recommendation, the system responds to the query with at least one sales prospect recommended by the predictive model.

Abstract: A telecommunications environment management operating system and method is provided. The system and method helps organizations achieve and sustain optimal financial, operational and technical performance in the field of telecommunications.

Abstract: A method and system for helping a client check in for a scheduled activity wherein at least first and second subsets of activities occur proximate first and second locations, respectively, the method comprising the steps of providing a check in resource at the second location for checking clients in for the second subset of activities, associating at least a first electronic kiosk with the first subset activities, positioning the first kiosk at the first location for use by clients to check in for first subset activities, via the first kiosk, receiving identifying information from a first client, identifying at least a first currently scheduled activity for the first client, determining that the first currently scheduled activity is one of the second subset activities and via the first kiosk, indicating that the first client cannot check in for the first currently scheduled activity via the first kiosk.

Abstract: Systems and methods for energy management includes receiving parameters from commercial building management system components; generating a stochastic programming model of electric vehicles (EVs) as mobile energy storage (MES) for optimal planning, operation, and control purposes; and controlling operation of EVs according to the stochastic programming model to lower operating cost and carbon emission.

Abstract: A method for facilitating greenhouse gas emission control in an enterprise is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, such a method may include taking an inventory of GHG-producing assets of an enterprise and monitoring the GHG emission rate for each of the GHG-producing assets. If the GHG emission rate for a specific GHG-producing asset exceeds a specified rate limit, or if the growth rate of the GHG emission rate for the specific GHG-producing asset exceeds a specified growth rate limit, maintenance may be automatically scheduled for that GHG-producing asset.

Abstract: A system and method provides electronic management and processing of bankruptcy-related claims and payments. The method includes receiving loan servicer data from a loan servicer portfolio. The method also includes receiving trustee data from a repository of trustee information. The method includes comparing one or more data fields related to the claims from the service provider data to corresponding one or more data fields related to the claims from the trustee data and assigning a score to the comparison results for the data fields related to the claims based on one or more business rules. The method includes calculating the total score for the comparison results for the claims, designating the claim as being valid if the total score for the claim is greater or equal to a predetermined value, and designating the claim as being invalid if the total score for the claim is less than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A method for making an electronic payment system available to a plurality of users includes storing payment account information for a first user and biometric information of the first user. Before allowing the first user to make a payment with the first user's payment account, biometric information identifying the first user is received and compared to the stored biometric information of the first user. Biometric information of a second user, who is a family member of the first user, is stored to enable confirmation of the identity of the family member as a security measure in said electronic payment system.