Abstract: A method of verifying the authenticity of a product includes reading data from a data storage device which forms part of the packaging of the product, determining from the data an identity code for the data storage device, a random first identifier allocated to the data storage device by the product manufacturer and a digital signature of a parameter which is based on at least a second identifier not derivable from the data, communicating with the product manufacturer or an entity associated therewith using the random first identifier as a reference, receiving from the product manufacturer or the entity associated therewith the second identifier, and verifying the digital signature using the second identifier.

Abstract: Even in the case of a material producing company that uses common main starting materials and has in-house organizations corresponding to manufacturing processes, appropriate profit-and-loss management by each commercial product type can be realized.

Abstract: A method of providing to a customer customized media at a physical point of sale (PPOS) of a good/service includes the steps of (a) receiving an identifier from the customer at the PPOS, (b) retrieving a media profile that is maintained in a database in association with the identifier, the media profile identifying at least one media content type, (c) generating a deliverable in accordance with the retrieved media profile by obtaining an item of the media content type identified in the retrieved media profile, and (d) communicating the generated deliverable to the customer at the PPOS.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing preauthorization of check transactions are disclosed. In some check transactions such as ACH card transactions, the actual purchase amount is not known when the card is first presented to a merchant. Dispensing of gasoline for a fill-up is an example of such a transaction. Various embodiments of the systems and methods disclose preauthorizing such transaction before the actual purchase amount is known, and without placing a hold of the checking account corresponding to the card. In one embodiment, such preauthorization can be based on, for example, a likely purchase amount associated with the merchant. The actual amount, once determined, can be matched with the information used for preauthorization in various manners.

Abstract: A user-driven document data collection system may allow the user to enter document data in no particular order. The data collection system may help the user identify documents and determine whether those documents are relevant. The document data collection system may also allow the user to input a description of a document, identify the document based on the description, and determine whether or not the document is appropriate for data collection. The data collection system may be configured to display example documents for the user to verify the identification of a document. A user may enter data for a document via a data entry screen based in part on a scanned image of the document. The document data collection system may analyze the data from documents to determine whether or not any additional information, such as from additional documents, is required to perform a particular task using the document data.

Abstract: Non video data regarding a point of sale (POS) transaction is received. POS primitives are generated based on the received non video POS data. Video data regarding a corresponding POS transaction is received. Video primitives are generated based on the received video data. An exceptional transaction is inferred based on a corresponding exceptional transaction rule and at least one of the generated POS primitives or video primitives.

Abstract: Systems and methods consistent with embodiments of the present invention provide for a method for remote data validation of shipment information. In some embodiments consistent with the present invention shipment information including at least one item identifier of an item in the shipment and at least one entity identifier of an entity associated with the item is captured by a remote unit and sent to a dispatcher with a request for validation. Entity identifiers in the received validation request are used to identify validators that are targets of dispatcher generated validation requests. Validators retrieve additional shipment information using item identifiers in the validation request received from the dispatcher and return a response based on degree to which information in the received request corresponds to stored information. In some embodiments consistent with the present invention, the dispatcher assimilates the received responses and relays the assimilated response to the remote unit.

Abstract: In a process control system according to the present invention, a history record table, a history record relationship table, a process table, and a process relationship table are provided. The history record table stores information on a history record. The history record relationship table stores information on a history record relationship. The process table stores information on a process. The process relationship table stores information on a process relationship. When a history record is received, history records of the previous process and the next process are searched. Then, both of the history record relationship between a history record of the present process and a history record of the previous process and the history record relationship between the history record of the present process and a history record of the next process are created.

Abstract: A system and method for coordinating delivery of components to manage solution delivery and installation to customers. When a customer order for components is received, a component tracking device is configured to be placed within one or more pre-designated areas of a customer site. Each component to be shipped to the customer site is tagged with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag that is associated with the order. The tracking device is used to detect the presence of each component at the pre-designated areas within the customer site. An RFID reader in the tracking device detects the presence of a component by reading the RFID tag on the component. Data about the presence of each component is recorded. An installation team may be notified when the recorded data indicates that a number of components in the order have been detected within the pre-designated areas of the customer site.

Abstract: A method of matching customer demand with production capacity of a plurality of factory facilities. The inventive method includes inputting demand data and supply data, performing a first matching operation, collecting rematched demand data and rematched supply data, classifying the rematched demand data, and performing a second matching operation.

Abstract: A service plan system includes a computer program with a plurality of modules operable to generate service plans for refrigeration systems customers. The service plans offer multiple coverage levels, as well as various co-pay options (e.g., lower monthly fixed payment with higher event co-pay or higher monthly fixed payment with lower event co-pay) with increased controllable variable cost (e.g., high event co-pay). The different coverage levels provide options to the customer to select the program that provides the greatest opportunity for overall savings, while requiring active program participation by the service provider and the customer to maximize potential savings.

Abstract: An extraction, transformation and loading (ETL) designer module of a computerized financial system that is used to configure an ETL package for loading data elements from a financial table of a financial database into a reporter table in accordance with a predefined format. The ETL designer module includes a transformation class that defines transformation objects. Each transformation object is responsible for a transformation of the source data elements of a source column of the financial table into a reporter format of an associated destination column of the reporter table.

Abstract: A data processing system provides a tax scorecard that displays one or more scorecard windows dedicated to a specific tax perspective. Each tax perspective may have at least one corresponding tax objective, and each tax objective may have at least one corresponding tax key performance indicator. The tax perspectives may be directed toward gathering, monitoring, and analyzing tax data, financial data, and employee opinion data and monitoring business processes. Each scorecard may include drill down capability from a top level analysis to more detailed information related to a tax perspective, objective, or key performance indicator. The key performance indicators may be directed toward monitoring effective tax rates, tax budgets, income before taxes, rating agency liquidity ratios, active or completed business processes, documents contributed or accessed, cross-functional collaboration, allocation of time, communication, performance feedback, professional growth, or other data.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for planning a supply network for a product between a source location and a destination location in a managed supply chain. In one embodiment, a method is provided that comprises the steps of: creating a planned stock transfer order to cover demand from the destination location, deploying available products from the source location to the destination location in response to the planned stock transfer, the deploying step including the step of calculating a quantity of products available to deploy, wherein the calculating step takes into account a rounding value and a maximum lot size, and confirming the planned stock transfer order with the calculated available quantity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for displaying current status during order processing in a production plant, with an inter-face (1) to a data processing system (5), from which up-to-date in-formation is obtained about order processing in the production plant, a processing unit (2) for processing the up-to-date information from the data processing system (5) relating to at least one process selected by an operator in graphic form, whereby processing in graphic form includes the graphic display of the allocation of material supply areas for the source process, the allocation of production areas for the make process and essential information for packaging and delivery for the deliver process, and an output unit (3) to output up-to-date information relating to the selected process in the graphic display on one or a plurality of monitors (4). The present device allows employees to have a fast and clear overview of the current status of order processing without additional training.

Abstract: An inventory management system preferably including a supply crib configured to store a plurality of supply items. The supply crib has a controlled entryway to selectively permit access to the supply crib. A database contains inventory information relating to a quantity of each of the plurality of supply items allocated to the supply crib. A user terminal is capable of communicating with the database and is accessible from external the supply crib. The user terminal is configured to permit a user of the system to select a quantity of a desired item from the plurality of supply items within the crib. The system is configured to update the inventory information to reflect the addition or removal of the quantity of the desired item in response to the user initiating a door transaction, which preferably is either or both of an access request to the supply crib or entry into the supply crib by the user.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that automatically inserts account-data into a tax-form. During operation, the system receives account-data at a server from a data-provider. The system also receives a tax-form at the server from an application. Next, the system automatically analyzes the account-data to determine a data-map which maps the account-data to the tax-form without assistance from a user. Finally, the system inserts the account-data into the tax-form by applying the data-map to the account-data.

Abstract: A method and system for ensuring property tax compliance are disclosed, in order to assist municipalities in achieving high accuracy compliance in the Personal Property Declaration (PPD) filings that they receive from taxpayers. The invention achieves greater total assessments of taxable property, in an equitable manner. This municipal personal property tax compliance program (MPPTCP) would change the way a state's municipalities enforce personal property tax assessment statutes. The invention includes a method for auditing a PPD, the PPD being a report of taxable property of a filer who is an individual or a business. According to this method a PPD is automatically analyzed to detect possible inaccuracies, by comparing the PPD with data provided by other PPDs. If the possible inaccuracies are detected, then a report is generated that identifies at least some of those possible inaccuracies.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for automated accounting of document reading device usage. The system and method include a configurable accounting agent adapted to automatically generate usage reports of the document generating device and transmit the reports to one or more destinations.

Abstract: Facilitating customs planning and clearance including creating in an international customs server, in response to a signal communicated through a client device coupled for data communications through at least one internet connection to the international customs server, a master customs planning record; creating a related customs planning record wherein the related customs planning record is related to the master customs planning record; calculating duty on the goods described in the related customs planning record; storing the amount of the calculated duty in the related customs planning record; incrementing the total amount of duty stored in the duty total field in the master customs planning record; submitting, to the destination country, payment of the duty; creating, in dependence upon the related customs planning record, a customs declaration form for a destination country; and submitting the customs declaration form to a customs declaration forms database for the destination country.