Abstract: A method, system, and computer-readable memory containing instructions include receiving a DNS request containing information related to user-specific information, device-specific information, and/or authentication information, analyzing the information, determining an appropriate action to take based on analyzing the status, and taking the appropriate action. Actions may include responding with an individualized network layer address or service location address, delaying sending a response message, sending a network layer address or service location address corresponding to a site containing authentication information, and sending a response with a network layer address or service location address with a web address configured to mimic the website related to the requested resource.

Abstract: An interface module is provided for a sales processing system that facilitates the integration of a payment system and external systems with the sales processing system. In one implementation, the interface module includes a first interface configured to support a first protocol for communication with a sales processing module of the sales processing system, a second interface configured to support a second protocol for communication with a payment system, and a third interface configured to support a third protocol for communication with a transaction system for external services. The interface module further includes a controller operable to control routing of messages between the first, second and third interfaces, and reformatting of the messages in accordance with the first, second and third protocols, respectively.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and products are disclosed for initiating a service call for a hardware malfunction in a POS system, the POS system having a POS controller domains, the POS controller domain composed of a POS controller and one or more POS terminals, the POS controller operatively coupled to a service dispatcher for a hardware service provider, that include: detecting, by a POS operating system installed on the POS controller, a hardware error within the POS controller domain, the hardware error described by hardware error data; notifying, by the POS operating system, a system administrator of the detected hardware error in dependence upon the hardware error data; generating, by the POS operating system, a service request message in dependence upon the hardware error data; and transferring, by the POS operating system, the service request message to the service dispatcher, the service dispatcher initiating a service call by the hardware service provider.

Abstract: A system, computer-implemented method, and software for automatically planning and scheduling ocean-going vessels for oil distribution is provided. The scheduling of the vessels is based on a filtered beam search and greedy heuristic. A server can be used for receiving a schedule request and one or more constraints for scheduling one or more vessels from one or more users. An optimization engine can be used for generating a schedule based at least in part on the one or more constraints using a beam search algorithm.

Abstract: Tracking and management data for distribution of informational, legal, or contractual notices and tracking associated response, or non-response, is disclosed. The system generates and links tracking data for both the distribution and the response, generates indicators that include the tracking data, and encodes the indicators so that the indicators are detectable as they traverse various events and locations throughout the lifecycle. A detailed audit trail of each event in the distribution and response lifecycle is constructed using data matching methods and various statistics regarding the lifecycle, such that the response habits of notice recipients are formulated.

Abstract: Managing rental items using hierarchical storage locations without putting away returned items. One method comprises receiving units of a rental item at a processing facility. Each of two or more local storage locations is associated with a different successively longer time period of subsequent processing for that storage location. The rental item is associated with a net average shipping quantity and a buffer inventory quantity for each time period. An excess number of the units is determined as the rental item units that are not needed for current orders. A first quantity of the excess units is placed in a first local storage location. The first quantity is based on the net average shipping quantity for the first location; in a second location, a second quantity of the excess units is placed. The second quantity is based on the buffer inventory quantity for the second location and a growth factor.

Abstract: A financial reporting system for reading, organizing and manipulating any accounting data and producing financial reports that may be customized to the preferences of the user. In one embodiment there is an organizational data structure for accounting data, including a trial balance data structure having a plurality of trial balance data structure elements containing accounts of the accounting data, wherein the trial balance data structure elements are linked by a distinct doubly linked list of trial balance data structure elements pointers, further comprising sub-lists of trial balance data structure elements pointers to group the accounts of the accounting data into financial statement items.

Abstract: In a parallel explosion unit of a parallel explosion apparatus, a processing unit extracts an end product, extracts an assembly directly constituting the end product, and an determines whether or not a BOM tree having the assembly as a vertex is already broken down. When the BOM tree of the assembly is not yet broken down, the processing unit registers the number of units of each component constituting the assembly in an explosion result list and generates a tree-specific list in which the number of units of each component and a registration position of the component in the explosion result list are recorded. When the BOM tree of the assembly is already broken down, the processing unit adds the number of units of each component recorded in the tree-specific list to the number of units at the registration position of the component likewise recorded in the explosion result list.

Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to systems and methods for generating and delivering a reimbursement request from a customer of a financial institution. According to various embodiments a transaction list may be displayed to a customer. The transaction list may comprise transactions on the customer's account at the financial institution. An indication of a transaction to be reimbursed selected from the list, an indication of a recipient of the reimbursement request, an indication of the reimbursement request amount, and a text message may be received from the customer. The reimbursement request may be generated by packaging an indication of the customer, a description of the transaction to be reimbursed, the indication of the recipient, the indication of the reimbursement request amount and the text message into a message format. The reimbursement request may be transmitted to the recipient.

Abstract: Advertisement quality measures (e.g., predicted click through rates) are modified in accordance with a user's preferences with respect to domains to which the advertisements relate.

Abstract: An order supporting apparatus connected to a monitoring apparatus over a network, the monitoring apparatus determining a supply status of devices in the network and sends supply shortage information regarding at least one of the devices determined to have a supply shortage to the order supporting apparatus. In particular, the order supporting apparatus includes a device information storage part that stores device information describing whether each device is monitored as a monitoring target, and maintenance contract information of each device, and a determination part that determines, based on the device information, whether each device is subject to the maintenance contract when the order supporting apparatus receives the supply shortage information. Further, the determination part deselects, in the device information, a device as the monitoring target when the device is determined to have a supply shortage by the monitoring apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for servicing a self-service device (“SSD”) such as an ATM. The SSD may include a customer service module that may perform part of a transaction or provide a service in support of the transaction. For example, the customer service module may be a currency acceptor, a printer, EPROM or any other device or circuit that is present in the SSD. The SSD may include a component map that may be stored in machine readable memory. An element of the map may correspond to the component. The SSD may include a central processing unit that may revise the map based on input from a service technician or machine-generated information. The map may be used to track the presence of the component in the SSD.

Abstract: Methods and devices allow a handheld order unit to be used with a cash handling device. A handheld order unit may be used by a staff person to enter order information, to display an amount due for the meal or other transaction, to facilitate payment, to print receipts, and to communicate information about the transaction to a cash handling device. The cash handling device may identify the handheld order unit and the assigned user for the unit and determine what financial documents need to be inserted by the user for reconciliation purposes.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media processor having a controller to solicit an appraisal for each of a plurality of media programs presented by the media processor for composing a proposal to update one or more operational features of the media processor according to one or more consumer preferences determined from one or more supplied appraisals. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for configuration of web services. In general, data is received characterizing web service calls for an application, a placeholder destination for the web service calls, and an identification of a system to be mapped to the placeholder; and a configuration is generated for the web service calls, where the configuration maps the placeholder destination to the system. The configuration may be a configuration of proxy objects to make the web service calls. Mapping the placeholder destination to the system may include generating a configuration including the system in lieu of the placeholder destination. Systems may be included in domains, where a security policy may be applied to systems in a domain.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for detecting products, comprising a plurality of portable reading devices, wherein each customer can be assigned at least one portable reading device by means of which identification data about the products to be purchased by the respective customer in a sales room can be detected irrespective of location, and wherein the portable reading device has a control unit and a memory for buffering the identification data.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for estimating the risk of criminal activity in a retail setting. Using video data, biometric data for an individual may be obtained. A baseline biometric measurement is taken upon enqueuing of an individual, which may include entry of the individual into the field of view of a camera having a point of sale (POS) in its field of view. A biometric measurement is also taken when the individual is adjacent the POS. According to an analysis of these measurements, an estimate of risk is calculated, such as by comparing the baseline measurement to a POS measurement. Based on this risk assessment, an alert may be generated. The alert may be a graphical indicator displayed on the POS or transmitted to a device operated by a store representative. The risk assessment may also be used to select transactions for auditing in a self-checkout system.

Abstract: Computer-implemented systems and methods for use in processing a paint batch. As an example, a system and method can include an input software mechanism for receiving input data related to the paint batch. Volatile organic compound software instructions are configured to determine an addition amount of solvent to add to the paint batch. The addition amount of solvent is determined based upon the input related to the paint batch and upon pre-specified criteria.

Abstract: A system and a method for aggregating and transmitting process metadata of a heterogeneous production system, the production system including a plurality of process devices to manufacture a product, the method comprising the steps of sending a user request from a communication device to a central unit, generating a metadata profile based on the user request at the central unit, accessing at least one of the plurality of the process devices of the process via an aggregation module of the central unit by using standardized control signals that were generated upon a user request, the aggregation module having access to the process devices, locating and authenticating the manufactured product in the process by the aggregation module based on authentication data; capturing process-specific data specific to the manufactured and authenticated product from the process at the aggregation module based on standardized control signals; transmitting the process-specific data from the aggregation module to the central unit

Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for transferring digital receipt data to mobile devices. A point-of-sale (“POS”) system generates digital receipt data as part of a sales transaction. The point-of-sale (“POS”) system and a mobile device, possibly also along with a receipt data server, interoperate with one another to transfer digital receipt data generated to the mobile device. In some embodiments, the point-of-sale (“POS”) system transfers digital receipt data for a sales transaction to the receipt data server. An identifier, such as, for example, an application identifier or transaction identifier, is stored along with the digital receipt data to match the digital receipt data with the mobile device. The mobile device subsequently uses the identifier to access the digital receipt data from the receipt data server. In other embodiments, the point-of-sale (“POS”) system transfers digital receipt data directly to the mobile device.