Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to managing user interactions and, more particularly, to performing analysis on data generated by user interactions. Embodiments of the invention use text mining to extract personal information of users from user interactions automatically. A topic model is used to reduce the number of dimensions required to represent the text, yet all the information of interest is highly pronounced. This enables a lower dimensional representation of the data leading to significantly faster computations.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining prices of customized virtual machines required to process customer-specified workloads are disclosed. A count of instances of the customized virtual machines, required to process the customer-specified workloads is determined, based on a configuration of the customized virtual machines. The instances of the customized virtual machines are consolidated on virtual machine servers. Further, the prices of the customized virtual machines are determined based on a count of the virtual machine servers, unused resources in the virtual machine servers, and unused resources in the customized virtual machines. The determined prices are recommended to the customer. Further, at least one of the prices of the customized virtual machines or the configuration of at least one or more customized virtual machines is modified, based on a response to the recommendation received from the customer.

Abstract: A method includes: a computer receiving historical data from at least one service vehicle; the computer receiving network definitions for the least one service vehicle; the computer receiving dynamic data from the at least one service vehicle; and the computer developing predictions and corrective actions to prevent service bunching, based upon the historical data, the network definitions, and the dynamic data.

Abstract: A method and system is provided to manage and track changes in enterprise architectures. The invention provides a hierarchical visual management tool to manage and update relational information within an enterprise in a controlled fashion. The relationship may be maintained in a database and displayed via graphical user interface. Enterprise assets are categorized into such categories as goals, customer values or requirements, capabilities, resources, and the like. A hierarchy is constructed so that relationships between these various categories are identified and captured using the invention. Weights may be assigned to each element of the categories so that any proposed change to an enterprise architecture may be viewed so that a value can be ascertained and compared between other values of other proposed changes. In this manner, tracking and management of evolutionary changes to an architecture may be accomplished using relational information.

Abstract: The difference between estimated costs predicted for performing a first workscope and actual costs for performing the first workscope is determined. The model used to generate the estimated costs is adjusted to compensate for the difference, resulting in an improved model. Before beginning a second scope of work that is comparable to the first workscope, the improved model is used to predict estimated costs and a price for the second workscope. The estimated costs for the second workscope include predicted productivity gains. The price for the second workscope can be reduced relative to the price for the first workscope as a result of the improved model and the predicted productivity gains.

Abstract: A payment system can determine when a business need for a merchant is expected to occur for a particular time period. The payment system can also determine whether a merchant is eligible for a cash advance for a particular amount, along with a fee for the cash advance. Once a determination is made that the merchant is eligible for the cash advance, the payment system can send the merchant a notification describing the expected business need for the particular time period along with an offer for the cash advance. The merchant can accept the offer for the cash advance by sending an acceptance to the payment system. Upon accepting the offer, the merchant is provided the cash advance for the particular amount, for example, in the form of an electronic deposit in a financial account of the merchant.

Abstract: A method includes: a computer receiving historical data from at least one service vehicle; the computer receiving network definitions for the least one service vehicle; the computer receiving dynamic data from the at least one service vehicle; and the computer developing predictions and corrective actions to prevent service bunching, based upon the historical data, the network definitions, and the dynamic data.

Abstract: A system and method for automating the performance of substitute fulfillment. The system includes a server which receives absentee information representing an absent worker via a telephone communication link or an Internet communication link. In response to receiving the absentee information, the system generates a list of potential substitute workers. The system then contacts potential substitute workers until one is found or until the list is exhausted. The system can also post a list of positions that are available on a website allowing potential substitute workers to search for a position.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for selecting a synchronous or asynchronous process to determine a forecast. These mechanisms and methods for such synchronous/asynchronous process selection can enable embodiments to determine forecasts for multiple users (e.g. with hierarchical relationships, etc.) over an arbitrary time interval. The ability of embodiments to provide forecasts that involve such a large amount of data in an effective way can enable forecasting that was otherwise infeasible due to resource limitations.

Abstract: Systems and methods to automatically activate distribution channels to be provided by potential business partners are disclosed. An example method to enable activation of a distribution channel provided by a client company for a host company disclosed herein comprises obtaining information concerning the client company, automatically triggering at least some of a plurality of host company departments to process the information to evaluate at least one of the client company or the distribution channel, and automatically processing machine readable evaluation indicators provided by the at least some of the plurality of host company departments and representative of respective evaluation decisions associated with the at least some of the plurality of host company departments to determine an overall evaluation result.

Abstract: A situational and global context aware calendar, communications, and/or relationship management method and system is disclosed. The system is configured to receive non-calendaring related context information, and, based on that context information, to automatically determine one or more parameters of a meeting request.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for scheduling the operation of building resources. In overview, some embodiments provide a central interface for allowing the scheduling of a large number of devices within a building, irrespective of the manufacturer or scheduling requirements of the individual devices. For example, one embodiment provides, a software product that executes on a processor for allowing a user to submit scheduling preference in relation to one or more building resources. The software package analyses and applies these preferences across the devices described by the building resource or resources.

Abstract: A method of detecting anomalies in the service repairs data of equipment. A failure mode-symptom correlation matrix correlates failure modes to symptoms. Diagnostic trouble codes are collected for an actual repair for the equipment. The diagnostic trouble codes are provided to a diagnostic reasoner for identifying failure modes. Diagnostic assessment is applied by the diagnostic reasoner for determining the recommended repairs to perform on the equipment in response to identifying the failure modes. Each of the recommended repairs is compared with the actual repair used to repair the equipment. A mismatch is identified in response to any recommended repair not matching the actual repair. Reports are generated for displaying all of the identified mismatches. The reports are analyzed for determining repair codes having an increase in a number of anomalies. Service centers are alerted of a correct repair for the identified failure mode.

Abstract: Systems and techniques are described for generating cost values for a plurality of braking events of an aircraft, where each cost value is based on an expected wear of the wheel-and-brake assembly of the aircraft during the respective braking event. The systems and techniques may take into account data representative of conditions during the respective braking event of the aircraft to generate the cost values.

Abstract: Resource usage calculation for process simulation (such as business process simulation). For each resource used by a simulated process, a usage counter object (or similar data structure) is used. In one embodiment, the usage counter object for each resource includes a list of time slots sorted by start times, and another list of time slots sorted by end times, to keep track of currently-scheduled time slots for this particular resource. In another embodiment, the usage counter object for each resource includes a list of time slots, sorted by start times and having associated end times, to keep track of the currently-scheduled time slots for this particular resource. The usage counter objects also store a count of how many units of this resource are currently in use, and a count of how many users are currently using the resource. These counters are updated using the sorted time slot lists.

Abstract: A method and a system are disclosed for predicting sales of item listings on a network-based system. For example, historical transaction data generated by the network-based system is accessed to create a prediction model. A feature predictive of an item being sold through the network-based system is selected. A training set is created by extracting the predictive feature from the historical transaction data. The prediction model is trained based on the training data set to predict the probability of an item listing being sold through the network-based system. The prediction model is used to rank search results, and the search results can be presented through the network-based system.

Abstract: Techniques that may be used by a consumer analytics system to track consumers' knowledge of brands and interactions with brands based in part on location data for consumers and responses to surveys that are distributed to consumers based at least in part on location data for the consumers. Such location data may be received, for example, from mobile devices operated by the consumers. A brand strength may represent any suitable measurement of a fraction or share of a market category. In some embodiments, a consumer analytics system may determine brand strength for a business using factors that each represent a “share” of a market category held by a business. The system may additionally track changes in these factors over time. Examples of factors that may be tracked include brand awareness for a business, brand accessibility for the business, brand consideration, brand usage, and brand favorites.

Abstract: A real-time crop processing management system is disclosed. In one embodiment, a yield description of a load of harvested crop and a location of the load of harvested crop is received at a computer system. An indication of the capacity to process the load of harvested crop by a receiving facility is also received by the computer system. A message conveying a delivery assignment for the load of harvested crop is then generated by the computer system.

Abstract: A method for trouble managing in equipment is provided, with which optimal timing of repairing the equipment and occurrence of malfunction probable to occur concurrently with present malfunction or later stage can be inferred with sufficient accuracy, and which can be adopted for large-scale equipment used in a plant.

Abstract: A method and system is provided to manage and track changes in enterprise architectures. The invention provides a hierarchical visual management tool to manage and update relational information within an enterprise in a controlled fashion. The relationship may be maintained in a database and displayed via graphical user interface. Enterprise assets are categorized into such categories as goals, customer values or requirements, capabilities, resources, and the like. A hierarchy is constructed so that relationships between these various categories are identified and captured using the invention. Weights may be assigned to each element of the categories so that any proposed change to an enterprise architecture may be viewed so that a value can be ascertained and compared between other values of other proposed changes. In this manner, tracking and management of evolutionary changes to an architecture may be accomplished using relational information.