Abstract: An optimizer is used to help manage a process that has multiple consumption inputs with differing costs, multiple production outputs with differing sale prices and intermediates. The process may have storage capabilities for some consumption inputs, production outputs and intermediates. Further, there may be multiple production and consumption targets for the total amount of consumption inputs/production outputs, consumed/produced over a fixed period of time. The optimizer finds the most economical solution while staying in a region from which the contract target is reachable for any combination of uncertain fixed trajectories from pre-selected intervals.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a mapping management computer system. According to various embodiments, the mapping management computer system may be configured for updating geographical maps by assessing map data and operational data including vehicle telematics data to identify portions of a vehicle path that do not correspond to known travel paths. In various embodiments, the system is configured to define these identified portions as new known travel paths corresponding to a public road, private road, parking lot lane, or the like, and update the map data to reflect the new known travel paths.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems including a computer comprising at least one hardware processor, at least one tangible storage medium (memory), and at least one input/output (I/O) interface for evaluating a quality of a locate and/or marking operation. First information relating to the locate and/or marking operation is compared to second information obtained from at least one facilities map. One or more indications of a quality assessment of the locate and/or marking operation is automatically generated based on such a comparison, and the one or more indications of the quality assessment are electronically stored on the at least one tangible storage medium, and/or electronically transmitted via the at least one I/O interface, so as to provide an electronic record of the quality assessment.

Abstract: An exemplary method for reducing complexity of at least one user task includes steps of calculating a complexity metric for the at least one user task; identifying one or more usability issues having a measurable impact on the complexity metric for the at least one user task; determining one or more recommendations for addressing at least one of the one or more usability issues; and displaying a representation of at least one of the one or more usability issues and of at least one of the one or more recommendations. In an illustrative embodiment, implementing any one of the one or more recommendations reduces the impact of the usability issue on the complexity metric of the at least one user task and thereby reduces a complexity of the at least one user task.

Abstract: The inventive subject matter herein is directed toward an improved scheduling and planning system in which a workflow scheduling system automatically detects a problematic workflow event. The system then selects a primary human contact and a secondary human contact from a hierarchical selection list and automatically attempts to notify the primary human contact by escalating through the primary human contact's contact methods. When the primary human contact fails to respond within a threshold of time, the system automatically attempts to notify the secondary human contact by escalating through the secondary human contact's contact methods.

Abstract: An exemplary method for reducing complexity of at least one user task includes steps of calculating a complexity metric for the at least one user task; identifying one or more usability issues having a measurable impact on the complexity metric for the at least one user task; determining one or more recommendations for addressing at least one of the one or more usability issues; and displaying a representation of at least one of the one or more usability issues and of at least one of the one or more recommendations. In an illustrative embodiment, implementing any one of the one or more recommendations reduces the impact of the usability issue on the complexity metric of the at least one user task and thereby reduces a complexity of the at least one user task.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer-usable medium for creating a Global Process Template (GPT) that describes standardized aspects of a business process used by clients of multiple Shared Service Centers (SSCs), wherein the GPT defines uniform business processes, core business processes, and local business processes.

Abstract: A template and/or knowledge associated with a synchronous meeting are obtained by a computing device. The computing device then adaptively manages the synchronous meeting based at least in part on the template and/or knowledge.

Abstract: An asset management system is provided which comprises one or more controllers, which operate as main servers and can be located at the headquarters of an electronic device manufacturer to remotely control their operations at any global location. The controller can communicate remotely over the Internet or other network to control one or more secondary or remote servers, herein referred to as appliances. The appliances can be situated at different manufacturing, testing or distribution sites. The controller and appliances comprise hardware security modules (HSMs) to perform sensitive and high trust computations, store sensitive information such as private keys, perform other cryptographic operations, and establish secure connections between components. The HSMs are used to create secure end-points between the controller and the appliance and between the appliance and the secure point of trust in an asset control core embedded in a device.

Abstract: Current monitoring systems often provide the operating condition of a specific component and do not consider the impact of a specific failure upon an entire system or a business. Nor do the current systems provide an avenue for the business to predict the loss, as well as its impact, and make an educated decision of mitigating the loss based upon economic, environmental, and health and safety considerations. Methods and systems are provided for predicting loss events, impacts of loss events, and providing potential corrective measures to reduce or eliminate the occurrence or impact of the loss events. One aspect relates to the use of system-wide information to predict variables that are directly linked to business impact, such as production loss. Extraneous and transactional data are also utilized according to other aspects of the invention.

Abstract: Apparatus and method use a Markov decision process (MDP) to reduce the cost of variations in electric power usage. The user notifies a power company of a predicted value for a period. The period is divided into subsections. For each subsection, on the basis of a MDP including a state that depends on an electric power usage amount error, charge amount, and set target, the amount of charging and discharging of a storage battery as an action at any given time is optimally decided depending on the electric power usage amount error, charge amount, time, and set target at that time. A predetermined time in a subsection is a target setting time, at which a future target is further set as the action. The action includes deciding the charging and discharging amount in that subsection and deciding a future target in a subsection whose target should be set.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide a packet assembler for a network processor. The network processor includes a plurality of processing modules for processing received packets into one or more processed-packet portions. A shared system memory of the network processor receives processed-packet portions corresponding to packet assemblies. Each of the packet assemblies has associated tasks. A packet assembly processor constructs an output packet for each packet assembly from the processed-packet portions in accordance with instructions from the tasks associated with the packet assembly. The packet assembly processor coordinates storage of the processed-packet portions for each output packet that is read from the system memory based on the instructions from the tasks associated with the corresponding packet assembly.

Abstract: A system and method for calculating task times for a project. A project estimating system is disclosed that allocates time to a list of tasks, comprising: a system for determining a total project time to complete a project; and a time allocation system that generates a task time for each task based on the total project time and an estimating factor associated with each task, wherein the time allocation system includes an iterative algorithm that iteratively calculates an adjustment factor to be applied to each task. Finally, the calculated adjustment factor can be compared against preset levels and provide an indication of project risk and the likelihood that the project will complete on time.

Abstract: A technique for associating privileges to people within an organization involves: maintaining for each of a plurality of objects an identification of an owner; maintaining for each of the objects an identification of at least one privilege associated therewith; and defining a role associated with a selected owner, the role identifying a privilege set containing at least one of the privileges, and the role having a criteria that defines which of a plurality of subjects are eligible to enjoy the privilege set, each privilege in the privilege set being associated with one of the objects associated with the selected owner.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for deciding and justifying make or buy decisions in which it is determined whether to make an item in-house or to buy the item from outside suppliers. Also disclosed are computer implemented methods of determining and justifying an optimal timing to implement an engineering change order in which a more expensive item is replaced with a less expensive item.

Abstract: A method of scheduling events includes receiving event data specifying one or more sessions for an event, an event duration that encompasses a plurality of time slots, a respective duration for each session, a respective start time for the event and zero or more of the sessions, and information describing a plurality of attendees; generating a first list of each possible set of time slots within which each session can be scheduled based upon the respective start times; generating a second list by removing each possible set of time slots for each session that is less than the duration specified for the session; individually performing a scheduling process for each session that comprises allocating a respective set of time slots for the session in a schedule, removing each possible set of time slots for the session that is not equivalent to the set of time slots allocated, and removing each possible set of time slots for each other session that includes at least one time slot allocated for the session; and send

Abstract: A system and method of data mining for republishing is described. In some embodiments products having a high potential for increased sales through republishing are identified based on relationships with products having consistent sales. In some embodiments products having a high potential for increased sales through republishing are identified based on sales in one language and availability of rights in another language. In one aspect, translations are facilitated via a translations marketplace.

Abstract: A system of hardware and software provides a systematic and systemic method for performing assessment of the effectiveness of different levels within an institution. The system includes template driven definitions that span multiple tiers of hierarchically arranged operating units within the institution thereby providing flexibility and customization to handle a user-definable model of the institution's organization. In particular, modeling of different nodes of the institution is performed in a flexible manner that may apply to various institutions regardless of their particular organizational structure.

Abstract: A system of hardware and software provides a systematic and systemic method for performing assessment of the effectiveness of different levels within an institution. The system includes template driven definitions that span multiple tiers of hierarchically arranged operating units within the institution thereby providing flexibility and customization to handle a user-definable model of the institution's organization. In particular, the assessment management system may share data in a format that is importable by other management systems. Sharing of data does not necessarily mean the concurrent sharing of data but rather that the data is exported in a format that is transportable to another system. Portions of an assessment project may be shared in this way with other institutions even if the organization levels and other operating units are not the same between the two institutions.

Abstract: A system of hardware and software provides a systematic and systemic method for performing assessment of the effectiveness of different levels within an institution. The system includes template driven definitions that span multiple tiers of hierarchically arranged operating units within the institution thereby providing flexibility and customization to handle a user-definable model of the institution's organization. In particular, one or more concurrently active assessment projects may be associated with an assessment initiative. In this way, portions of data collection and reporting may be shared within the program initiative and its various, associated assessment projects.