Abstract: A method includes obtaining, by a management module, an inventory unpacking sequence for a remote facility. The inventory unpacking sequence indicates a sequence for unpacking a shipment at the remote facility. An order associated with the remote facility is received that includes inventory items. The management module determines an order packing arrangement for the inventory items based on the inventory unpacking sequence. Mobile drive units are instructed to transport one or more inventory holders storing the inventory items to an inventory station, where the inventory items are packed into a shipment according to the order packing arrangement. The shipment is arranged to be unpacked at the remote facility according to the inventory unpacking sequence.

Abstract: Virtual resources may be provisioned in a manner that is aware of, and respects, underlying implementation resource boundaries. A customer of the virtual resource provider may specify that particular virtual resources are to be implemented with implementation resources that are dedicated to the customer. Dedicating an implementation resource to a particular customer of a virtual resource provider may establish one or more information barriers between the particular customer and other customers of the virtual resource provider. Implementation resources may require transition procedures, including custom transition procedures, to enter and exit dedicated implementation resource pools. Costs corresponding to active and inactive implementation resources in a dedicated pools associated with a particular customer may be accounted for, and presented to, the customer in a variety of ways including explicit, adjusted per customer and adjusted per type of virtual resource and/or implementation resource.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for automatically determining and implementing fare validation rules based on analysis of rejected transactions from one or more fare validators. In some embodiments, a server or other monitoring system can monitor rejected transactions, determine a common characteristic among all the rejected transactions, and create a validation rule change that would permit the use of fare media having the common characteristic. In some embodiments, the validation rule change may be reviewed and/or modified by a transit agent or other human supervisor. Accordingly, among other benefits, validation rule changes can be automatically created and quickly implemented where a number of rejected transactions indicate previous validation rules may be incorrect.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method of dynamically sorting items for delivery to diverse destinations in which at least one target location changes during the sorting process using an electronic array that correlates diverse destinations to target locations for sorting, wherein the electronic array changes based upon criteria relating to the results of the sort resulting in the removal of a first set of items from one target location while leaving a second set in the target location and placing the first set in another target location to adapt to the changed array and thereafter continuing to sort further items according to the changed array while some items remain in their initial target locations.

Abstract: In one aspect thereof the exemplary embodiments provide a data processing system that includes at least one data processor; at least one memory connected with the data processor and that stores computer software that is executable by the at least one data processor; at least one database storing a plurality of fares and rules establishing conditions under which at least one of the fares can be applied; and an interface to at least one user and configured to receive from the user a fare inquiry. The data processor is configured with the computer software to cause the data processing system to receive a fare inquiry that contains at least one rule attribute, to perform a first search to determine rule data applicable to the at least one rule attribute, and to perform a second search using the rule data to retrieve a list of fares that are applicable to the rule data.

Abstract: A system is configured to receive a task. The task is received over a first network, includes authentication credentials, and is processed using an application. The system is further configured to send the authentication credentials to a licensing server. The authentication credentials are sent over a second network, and are sent prior to processing the task using the application. The system is also configured to receive an authorization. The authorization is received over the second network, and authorizes the application to process the task.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer-readable medium are disclosed for automating the procurement of a physical server when the remaining number of available servers in a server pool reaches a predetermined threshold value. A target server pool is monitored for commitment of its associated physical servers. If the number of available servers falls below a predetermined threshold, then an automated procurement template associated with the target server pool is retrieved. The automated procurement template is then provided to the physical server manufacturer, which converts the information it contains into manufacturing and delivery data. In turn, the manufacturing data is used to manufacture the physical server, which is then delivered to the customer for implementation.

Abstract: A system includes a physical machine that controls a virtual machine to execute a processing by using hardware resources of the physical machine, and a management apparatus includes a processor configured to execute: detect a first quantity of the hardware resources used by the virtual machine larger than a specific quantity set based on a second quantity of the hardware resources assigned to the virtual machine in accordance with a first usage fee corresponding to the virtual machine, calculate a second usage fee of the virtual machine based on a third quantity larger than the second quantity, and modify the second quantity to meet with the third quantity when the second usage fee is lower than the first usage fee.

Abstract: A queue management scheme whereby a system-wide status is considered together with a status of each and every specific or particular queue and associated device within the system, in order to efficiently and effectively balance the needs and desires of customers with the needs and desires of an entity that provides services to the customers.

Abstract: A queue management scheme whereby a system-wide status is considered together with a status of each and every specific or particular queue and associated device within the system, in order to efficiently and effectively balance the needs and desires of customers with the needs and desires of an entity that provides services to the customers.

Abstract: A method includes generating a delta price and generating a final price using the delta price. A process and system provide an ability to determine a product's final price with a selected set of features in which multiple configurations are to be generated. The ability to determine such final prices can be based on the ability to determine the change in price between one configuration of a product and that of another product configuration (e.g. the product configured with the desired feature(s)). A customer is able to select one or more features, and so view the effect on the product's final price, as well as compare the prices (and incremental price differences) between various configurations of a given product. This increases the likelihood of the purchase being made, because it provides the potential purchaser with the final price earlier in the sales cycle.

Abstract: A method implemented on a computer having a processor and a memory coupled to the processor for determining an estimated number of stitches for an embroidered design. The method includes uploading a file containing a design comprised of at least one of art and text; flattening the design into a flat file; determining a number of pixels that are non-transparent in the flat file; determining a percentage of non-transparent pixels in a total pixel area available for decorating; estimating a measurement of an area to be decorated using the percentage of non-transparent pixels; and determining the estimated the number of stitches in the design using the measurement of the area to be decorated.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to generate and exchange pricing information by a pricing engine. According to one embodiment, a pricing graph having a plurality of inter-dependent nodes is constructed. The pricing graph includes at least one input pricing information node and output pricing information node. In addition, at least one node provides information that effects information received by that node. A frame is established with at least one input pricing information slot and output pricing information slot. The pricing graph is then executed via a pricing engine in substantially real time. As a result, a value in the input pricing information slot is provided to the input pricing information node and a value for the output pricing information slot is received from the output pricing information node.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a user of communications services with free market based pricing may include providing for communications over one of multiple network paths serviced by multiple respective communications service providers via at least one communications network. One of the network paths over which to communicate based on current pricing from the multiple communications service providers may be selected and communications may be performed over the selected network path.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for optimizing different amounts of output products derived from an initial biomass material. The method includes obtaining economic data of costs and availability of raw materials and resources, and prices that would be paid for output products derived, performing calculations to determine an optimum amount of each of the output products; and controlling processes that generate the output products. In some embodiments, the processes convert initial biomass materials into intermediate and output products, an economic engine that obtains economic data relating to costs of initial materials and prices that would be paid for output products derived from the raw materials, and performs calculations to determine an optimum amount of each of the output products, and valves that are controlled by the economic engine to route variable amounts of the initial biomass materials to the processes to obtain a mix of output products that provides an optimum profit.

Abstract: Provided are a system and method for calculating and selecting a convergence path based on cost. In one example, the method includes identifying multiple geometric convergence paths that each provides a convergence solution from a defined bottom hole assembly (BHA) location to a target path. A total monetary cost is calculated for each of the geometric convergence paths using an offset cost based on a distance of the geometric convergence path from the target path, a curvature cost based on an amount of curvature of the geometric convergence path, and a time cost based on an estimated amount of time needed to drill the geometric convergence path. The total monetary costs of the geometric convergence paths are compared and one of the geometric convergence paths is selected based on the total monetary cost of that geometric convergence path relative to the total monetary costs of the other geometric convergence paths.

Abstract: An Expense Verification System (EVS) checks for fraud/errors in reimbursement requests. The EVS stores rules for reimbursement in accordance with company policies. The EVS receives travel reservation records for auditing, parses the records to identify a reference number, and then obtains from a trusted source travel record data for a corresponding reference number. Trusted data is compared to company policy-specific rules to determine compliance. In one embodiment, an extracted fare basis identifier is compared to lists of permitted and/or prohibited fare basis codes in the rules to determine compliance. In another embodiment, data is extracted from acknowledgment receipt records from a trusted data source and extracted booking and travel dates are compared to the rules to determine compliance. The EVS issues an alert in the event of non-compliance.

Abstract: A method and system for communicating over a telecommunications network between a service provider and one or more users, wherein the service provider can have access to multiple distinct addresses in the telecommunications network and each user is identified by an address, more specifically, where a first message can be sent over at least a portion of the telecommunications network to a user's address and based on a response from the user determining the message to which the response is a reply.

Abstract: A method of displaying a selected spatial allocation is provided. The method includes but is not limited to associating spatial allocation characteristic data stored in a database with corresponding spatial location data representing a location of a spatial allocation on the map. The method also includes but is not limited to, upon selection of the spatial allocation from the map, displaying the corresponding spatial allocation characteristic data from the database, along with the selected spatial allocation on the map, on a display. Additionally, the method includes but is not limited to, upon selection of the corresponding spatial allocation from the database, displaying the map, along with the selected spatial allocation in the map, on the display.

Abstract: This invention relates to an electronic means by which people can select the exact seat or seats they want for any type of event or reserve an appointment for any activity. More specifically, a customer or a ticket re-seller or a venue operator can go, for example, to the internet and select the event or activity for which he wants a ticket or tickets or reserve a time and reserve and order the exact seat or seats or the time of his choosing directly online. The seat or seats or reserved time he selects is then removed from the inventory for that activity or event and made not available for any other buyer and such is so indicated by a graphical representation or other such indicator on the online map or picture representing availability of seating or time for that event.