Abstract: A method and system for determining one or more shortfalls of one or more business components by multiple dimensions for business transformation, in one aspect define a plurality of shortfall types associated with a plurality of business components, define a plurality of dimensions of the plurality of business components, construct a shortfall assessment model for the plurality of dimensions, load a business model associated with the plurality of business components, compute shortfall assessment by performing a daisy chain analysis using the shortfall assessment model and the business model for said plurality of shortfalls and associated shortfall types, and presenting the shortfall assessment using visualization.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide computer systems and methods for providing an anonymous request for quotation environment that enables sharing of confidential trading interest information without sacrificing anonymity or enabling information leakage.

Abstract: A method of identifying potential targets (i.e., buyers, investors, sellers, or acquisition targets) for a financial transaction. The method enables a user to specify at least one investment criteria based on which to run a search to identify the prospective targets, and to select a universe within which to search for the prospective targets. The method also enables the user to specify a type of financial transaction. A scoring algorithm that is used to score the results of the search is selected based on the user's specification of the type of financial transaction.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable storage mediums for presenting project information are disclosed. Project information may be presented by receiving electronic planning information associated with a project, where the received electronic planning information includes at least one milestone associated with two or more phases of the project and occurring during the two or more phases. The received electronic planning information is then transformed into a graphical representation of the received electronic planning information for visual presentation to a user and presented for perception by the user. The presented graphical representation includes two or more bars corresponding to the two or more phases and a connection between the two or more bars corresponding to a time at which the milestone occurs.

Abstract: Recovery Segments are defined and employed to facilitate management of a customer's environment. A Recovery Segment is a runtime usable representation of resources and relationships between those resources associated with a business application. That representation is usable in managing the business application. Associated with the representation is one or more goals to be met by resources of the representation.

Abstract: A system and method is provided to allow a consumer to interactively explore his credit score by submitting hypothetical values based on his actual credit data. The system uses the consumer's real credit data and the submitted hypothetical values to calculate a simulated credit score based on a simulator scorecard. The consumer may then observe the changes in the resultant scores. The system and the scorecard may utilize fewer data elements than a complete credit-worthiness scorecard and may instead focus on the key elements affecting a consumer's credit score. The system may be implemented in part on a web server or as a stand-alone application. The system may also update the score dynamically as the consumer adjusts the hypothetical values or may require the consumer to affirmatively submit the new hypothetical data.

Abstract: A method, executed in a computer system, for opening an electronic market for trading of a security is described. The method includes receiving by the computer system eligible orders and quotes for the security traded in the electronic market and disseminating an order imbalance indicator indicative of predicted trading characteristics of the security at the open of trading. The method also includes determining by the computer system a price or prices at which the maximum shares would be executed and determining which price would minimize any imbalance of eligible orders and executing at least some of the eligible orders at the determined opening price.

Abstract: The described embodiments of the invention include a method for maintaining accounting records for a portfolio of investments, comprising accounting records stored on a computer readable medium and providing a table for each event type affecting an investment for generating an account entry, each line of the table designating which accounting record receives the account entry and at least one key designating a data source for the account entry and an operation on the data source to determine the amount of the account entry.

Abstract: Measurements for comparing one financial asset to another are provided. For example, in one aspect a comparison measurement is generated between a model estimate and an observed market value for an asset and then such comparison measurements are compared for two different assets. In another aspect, tracking error and performance differences between two assets are measured simultaneously, thereby providing better isolation of important information.

Abstract: A system is provided comprising a computer and application, that when executed, observes login and logout events at a client workstation enabling and disabling access to an operating system executing on the workstation. The system observes a first login and logout event and a second login and logout event occur in order. The system determines first and second exceptions when the time of the first login and second logout events vary from scheduled first login and second logout times by greater than first and second predetermined time intervals, respectively. The system determines a third exception when the time between the first logout and second login event exceeds a third predetermined interval. The system determines a fourth exception when either the first logout or second logout event does not occur before the end of the period. The system also reports the first, second, third, fourth exceptions to a workforce management function.

Abstract: A method and system of managing communication of information to a destination utilizes computer hardware and software and a client-server architecture. The system receives information in file form, such as ASCII file form, via a file transfer service and/or in message-based form, such as SWIFT and/or ISITC messages, via a message network. The information that is received in message-based form is converted to file form by a message to file converter and translated by a message format library to an intermediary file format, and the information that is received in file form is also translated to the intermediary format by a message format library. The intermediary file format information can be aggregated and sorted, and is then translated to a preferred file format of the destination and sent to the destination.

Abstract: A system and method for verifying a financial instrument or a user's authorization to use a financial instrument. The system initiates one or more verifying transactions involving the instrument, with details that may vary from one transaction to another, such as the type of transaction (e.g., deposit, credit, debit), amount of the transaction, number of transactions, the merchant or vendor name or account for the transaction, and so on. Selected details, particularly variable ones are saved in the system. The user accesses information regarding the transaction, by accessing it on-line, via telephone, in a monthly statement, etc. The user then submits the requested details to the system, which compares them to the stored details. If they correspond, then the user may be allowed to use the instrument (e.g., for a purchase, a fund transfer).

Abstract: A system and associated method for building a knowledgebase for a software system. The knowledgebase has multiple problem-solution records for problems that may occur in the software system. A user of the knowledgebase requests a solution to a problem by submitting a problem description and payment information. The payment information is separately verified and the knowledgebase is searched for a problem-solution record that has the same problem description provided by the user. A solution of the matched problem-solution record is presented to the user and the user provides a feedback rating how effective the solution is in solving the problem. The feedback may be another solution for the problem or evidences supporting the feedback. If the feedback is evaluated to be valuable, the knowledgebase may be updated with the feedback. An author of an existing valuable solution and/or the user who provided another solution is rewarded.

Abstract: A method and computing system that receives a payment for each participant in a group of participants, and associates the payments with a time period to create a fund for the time period. The method identifies deceased participants in the group of participants who died during the time period, calculates a portion of the fund to disburse to each deceased participant; and disburses the portion of the fund to each deceased participant. When the participant is one of the deceased participants, the portion of the fund to disburse to the participant is a death benefit for the participant.

Abstract: Automated teller machine systems and methods for reducing system development efforts by financial institutions and for providing a financial transaction system that is adapted for using one or more common ATMs. In addition, systems and methods to simplify settlement processing of transactions based on ATMs of each financial institution. ATMs and center systems of financial institutions are dissociated from each other, and a relay center intervenes between them.

Abstract: Dependents of benefit plan participants can be given access to personal information of a plan participant. The dependents, who are not existing users or members of the plan, can be allowed access to some or all of the personal information associated with the plan participant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing an irregularly shaped Radio Frequency operable transaction device using conventional International Standards Organization dimensions for conventional transaction cards. The invention provides for normal manufacture of a plurality of transaction cards joined together in a single sheet. The outline of a RFID transaction device is impressed in a center portion of one of the transaction cards. A RFID transaction device may then be removed, or punched out of the transaction card in accordance with the transaction device outline.

Abstract: A system provides workload management for printing and inserting mail. A management component receives data that identifies available machines at multiple sites, identifies a work capacity for each machine, identifies available staff to operate the machines, and identifies an amount of pieces of mail for each cycle in a month. The management component estimates a work completion time for printing and inserting the pieces of mail into enclosures for each cycle based on the data, and compares the work completion time for each cycle to a service level agreement. The management component allocates the pieces of mail for each cycle to the machines and the staff based on the comparison, schedules downtime for the machines and the staff based on the allocation, and outputs the allocation and the downtime to a user interface to enable a management team to take a management action based on the allocation and/or the scheduled downtime.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for computing a variance between two business metrics is described. In one embodiment, the method computes a variance for each of a first set of activities based on the corresponding reference state of that activity, wherein the variance for an activity is the change in contribution for that activity between the first and second business metrics and with each of the first set of activities having a reference value. Furthermore, the method computes a variance for each of a second set of activities based on the corresponding start and end values of that activity with each of the second set of activities having a start and end value.

Abstract: Among other disclosed subject matter, a computer-implemented method for determining a value for an indicator includes identifying an indicator for which a value is to be determined. The method includes identifying parameters to be used in determining a specific time interval for determining the value, the identified parameters including at least: (i) a first offset parameter; (ii) a second offset parameter; and (iii) a third offset parameter. The method includes determining the specific time interval using at least the identified parameters and the reference time point. The method includes determining the value for the indicator using at least the determined specific time interval. The method includes recording the determined value.