Abstract: In part, the invention relates to computing systems and methods for electronically indicating the acceptability of a product. An image capture and communication device may analyze a product label that includes one or more monitors, authentication elements, and identification elements. The image capture and communication device may determine the type and features of the monitors, authentication elements, and identification elements. The image capture and communication device may transmit data based on the type and features to a host server, which may transmit data associated with the host product to the image capture and communication device in, inter alia, the form of an acceptability report.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing customer support in response to support communication are disclosed. Such communications may be structured or unstructured, and unstructured communications may be subject to further processing. A determination is made at least as to one or more relevant support classes, as well as to whether further support action(s) should be initiated. When determined that at least a further support action should be initiated, aspects of the support action may be determined and initiated.

Abstract: There is disclosed a device-based eCare solution that facilitates computerized consumer service on consumer devices. The system may include an end device, a back-end server eCare system, and a communications technology. One or more consumer eCare applications, such as balance and pricing applications, consumer assistance applications, diagnostic applications, and anticipatory applications, may be resident on the device. The end device may be configured to monitor the consumer's activity and collect and store a set of data regarding the consumer's activity. The end device may be further programmed to proactively offer the consumer a consumer eCare application based on the set of data and execute the consumer eCare application in accordance with the consumer's instructions. The system may create a collaborative environment between the device, other devices, and the back-end server eCare system.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for managing a merger or an acquisition. A plurality of statistics are tracked relating to a merger or an acquisition for reporting purposes. Further, a plurality of decisions are stored relating to the merger or acquisition. Such decisions may be accessed by a plurality of users involved in the merger or acquisition. In addition, a plurality of items associated with the merger or acquisition are inputted into a database. Each item is associated with at least one of the users. The users may be search for the items in the database.

Abstract: An appliance is configured to establish a communications link through the appliance between a user and a service representative as part of installing, diagnosing and servicing the appliance.

Abstract: Computing systems and methods for electronically indicating the acceptability of a product. An image capture and communication device may analyze a product label that includes one or more monitors, authentication elements, and identification elements. The image capture and communication device may determine the type and features of the monitors, authentication elements, and identification elements and, based on the type of the monitors, authentication elements, and identification elements. The image capture and communication device may transmit data based on the type and features to a host server, which may transmit data associated with the host product to the image capture and communication device in, inter alia, the form of an acceptability report.

Abstract: The described system and method provides for the auctioning of radio presets in a vehicle and loading radio preset information into radio preset slots of the vehicle including different types of presets and different sets of preset information corresponding to different preset zones. Multiple auctions may be conducted for each vehicle or group of vehicles, and the auctions may be based on a variety of factors such as different types of presets, different preset zones, number of vehicles, type of vehicles, etc. Once the auction or auctions are won, radio preset slots corresponding to the results of the auctions may be loaded into vehicles at the manufacturer, dealership, or upon the occurrence of a geobox trigger when a vehicle is determined to be inside a particular preset zone.

Abstract: A digital system or device includes a battery pack as an exemplary functional subunit. In a warranty case determined by an electrical load test for determining its actual charge capacity, a battery check program initializes, via the operating system and an underlying printer, a printout of a warranty certificate. This certificate form, in particular, contains a UID of the underlying battery pack gathered from a ROM implemented in the battery pack. Before generating the printout of the certificate, the UID gathered from the ROM is coded e.g. by the battery check program and only the coded UID is printed. The printout of the warranty certificate thereafter will be delivered to the warranty service provider by the user. After having received the delivered warranty certificate and having checked validity of the user's warranty claim by means of the coded UID the warranty service provider sends a replacement battery pack back to the user.

Abstract: A present novel and non-trivial system, apparatus, and method is disclosed for presenting a flight director-dependent highway in the sky (“HITS”) pathway on an aircraft display unit. A processor receives flight plan data and flight director data, generates HITS data set representative of a flight director-dependent HITS pathway using flight plan data and flight director data, and provides the HITS data set to a display system for presentation of the flight director-dependent HITS pathway on a tactical display unit. Flight plan data provided to the processor may comprise of data sourced by a navigation system or HITS pathway data generated independently of flight director data. When presented on a tactical display unit, the flight director-dependent HITS pathway may be depicted with the flight director, where the proximal end of the HITS pathway aligns with the flight director.

Abstract: A method of making a printed article of clothing of fabric, characterized by the following steps: (a) a computer (4) of a customer (2) is connected for data exchange with a computer (12) of a producer; (b) the customer (2) sets the design of a desired article of clothing via the customer computer (4)/producer computer (12) connection by setting for a plurality of design parameters (e.g. basic design, color, size) a respective selection target from several selection targets possible; (c) based on data from said design setting, several print parts are printed on a printing medium by means of a printer (12), said printing medium being either directly a fabric panel or an intermediate medium the print of which is transferred to fabric later on; (d) fabric pieces (24a; 24b) (e.g.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method of managing information objects on a resource that substantially eliminate or reduce disadvantages associated with previously developed systems and methods of resource management. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for of resource management that reduces dependence on local agents to perform management tasks. One embodiment of the present invention can include a method for resource management comprising (i) communicating with a resource program over a network according to said resource program's software interface; (ii) generating a resource management command remote from said resource to perform a management task; and (iii) communicating said resource management command over said network to said resource in accordance with said resource program's software interface to manage an information object at said resource.

Abstract: Toll transaction payment processing includes accessing image data for a vehicle, the image data corresponding to at least one image of the vehicle engaging in a transaction with a toll facility. The image data is processed to determine one or more vehicle identifiers for the vehicle. A fleet vehicle company associated with the vehicle is electronically identified based on the one or more vehicle identifiers. Billing information for the transaction between the vehicle and the toll facility is electronically communicated to the fleet vehicle company.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing excess above-ground corn residue are disclosed. Systems and methods for combusting corn residue to produce heat for generating steam are also disclosed. Additionally, methods and systems for harvesting and pre-processing corn residue prior to combustion of the corn residue are disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for computer appraisal of jewelry and other valuable items, such as antiques, for use in assessing sales, underwriting assessments, and claims adjustments. A user provides a description of an item (102) to be valued; elements of the provided description (102) are used in conjunction with previously-collected data (126) to classify (125) and assess the value of the item. The user may select an analysis/appraisal type and method. Gaps in required information are optionally filled using already-known data (110) by table look-upo methods or by interpolation from known ranges, and the selected analysis method is used to compete valuation and description of the item (130). Assessment options include for example valuations, appraisals, technical or aesthetic descriptions, title chains, and underwriting and insurance schedules. Optionally data supplied by the user is retained for use in future evaluations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for expediting how rental vehicle reservations can be booked by employing deep-link uniform resource locators (URLs) that encode aspects of a rental vehicle reservation transaction to relieve users of a need to enter reservation data themselves when booking a rental vehicle reservation.

Abstract: Electronic toll management includes capturing an image of a vehicle triggered by a transaction event representing an interaction between the vehicle and a facility, determining a vehicle identifier based on the captured image, checking whether the vehicle identifier matches a vehicle identifier provided by a party, and notifying the party of an occurrence of a match.

Abstract: A charity badge may be set up for a web site of a publisher. The publisher may indicate a charity organization that the publisher wants to support. The charity badge may not be visible until an event occurs. The event may be a disaster event.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for managing a merger or an acquisition. A plurality of statistics are tracked relating to a merger or an acquisition for reporting purposes. Further, a plurality of decisions are stored relating to the merger or acquisition. Such decisions may be accessed by a plurality of users involved in the merger or acquisition. In addition, a plurality of items associated with the merger or acquisition are inputted into a database. Each item is associated with at least one of the users. The users may be search for the items in the database.

Abstract: History information for the history of vehicle travel on a road is obtained. Traffic-volume information indicating a traffic volume on the road is obtained based on the history information that has been stored in at least a predetermined amount. When the traffic volume on the road during a predetermined period is smaller than a predetermined reference value indicating a difficulty of passage, road-selection information for avoiding that road is generated.

Abstract: Toll transaction payment processing includes accessing image data for a vehicle, the image data corresponding to at least one image of the vehicle engaging in a transaction with a toll facility. The image data is processed to determine one or more vehicle identifiers for the vehicle. A fleet vehicle company associated with the vehicle is electronically identified based on the one or more vehicle identifiers. Billing information for the transaction between the vehicle and the toll facility is electronically communicated to the fleet vehicle company.