Abstract: A flexible metadata driven and workflow based report generation system is disclosed. According to various embodiments, the system comprises at least one client application on a client terminal and a report manager system. The client application allows a user to run a report from a user interface having the flexibility to choose various parameters that affect the content of the generated report. The report manager system comprises a metadata service and a workflow controller service. The metadata service is for retrieving report metadata (report name, parameter(s) and their parameter values) to be displayed on the user interface to allow the user to choose parameter values and run a report job. The controller is for receiving messages from the client terminal upon submission of a report job and, based on the received messages, sending messages to one or more service components for executing the report job in a sequence of determined discrete steps.

Abstract: A flexible metadata driven and workflow based report generation system is disclosed. The system comprises a Flexible Reporting GUI with four components that allow the user direct control in the creation of a report within a single application: a Data Generator for retrieving data, a Report Designer with a built-in report designer application, a Report Deployment element for deploying the report and an Report Run element for interactively running the report. The Flexible Reporting GUI allows a user to run a report with updated data stores, and to define the various parameters that affect the content of the generated report with great flexibility. Through the system of the invention, the user can be directly involved in all the report generation steps, through a user friendly interface, and a simplified environment. Moreover, the system in the invention provides improved solutions for updated data retrieval from protected data sources.

Abstract: A system for initiating a contact, comprising a broker 236 operable (a) to receive a first type of information selected by a user, the first type of information being accessed through a first application; (b) locate a second type of information associated with the first type of information, the second type of information being stored by a second application different from the first application; and (c) initiate a communication to a communication device identified by the second type of information.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and system is disclosed herein for constructing reports, comprising the steps of providing the information of interest of a user and generating the writing style of a user. The step of generating the writing style further comprises the steps of generating a prose style and report pattern style, generating the rendering style of a user, and applying the writing style to the information of interest to provide the constructed report. The method of deriving the prose style comprises the steps of deriving preferred equivalent name set entry sets, preferred equivalent pattern specification sets; and embellishment patterns.

Abstract: A computer system and computer program product are provided that enable a supervisor to input performance evaluations for members of the supervisor's group. The supervisor is presented with an electronic evaluation form that includes evaluation items that are answered by the supervisor selecting one of a plurality of options. The evaluation form evaluates parameter, sub-parameters, skill types and skill levels as established during maintenance. Each evaluation item is categorized by at least a parameter, sub-parameter, skill type, or skill level. Answers to the evaluation items inputted by the supervisor for each of the members of the group are used to produce a graphical evaluation result based on the answers inputted by the supervisor. Consolidation of several evaluations, from the same supervisor or from several, can also be done.

Abstract: Packaging for electrical equipment is disclosed in which metal electrically conductive staples are stapled—in contrast to tacked—through the packaging to provide an electrical path between the inside and the outside of the packaging. On the inside of the packaging, each staple clutches and is electrically connected to a wire that is connected to a jack on the electrical equipment. This provides an electrical path between the outside of the packaging and the electrical equipment. When the electrical equipment is to be tested or configured, the testing tool is connected to the staples on the outside of the packaging with spring-load clips. This provides as many electrical paths between the testing tool and the electrical equipment as necessary or desirable and for very little cost.

Abstract: Some embodiments may provide a method and a system for receiving a first limit price, associated with a bidder, on a first auction-format listing, receiving a second limit price, associated with the bidder, on a second auction-format listing, making a first determination as to whether a first condition exists that prevents a first winning bid from being placed on behalf of the bidder on the first auction-format listing, the first winning bid being at least as favorable to the bidder as the first limit price, and based on the first determination being in the affirmative, selectively making a second determination as to whether a second condition exists that prevents a second winning bid from being placed on behalf of the bidder on the second auction-format listing, the second winning bid being at least as favorable to the bidder as the second limit price.

Abstract: A flexible metadata driven and workflow based report generation system is disclosed. The system comprises a Flexible Reporting GUI with four components that allow the user direct control in the creation of a report within a single application: a Data Generator for retrieving data, a Report Designer with a built-in report designer application, a Report Deployment element for deploying the report and an Report Run element for interactively running the report. The Flexible Reporting GUI allows a user to run a report with updated data stores, and to define the various parameters that affect the content of the generated report with great flexibility. Through the system of the invention, the user can be directly involved in all the report generation steps, through a user friendly interface, and a simplified environment. Moreover, the system in the invention provides improved solutions for updated data retrieval from protected data sources.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for managing a plurality of home pages for a user. One or more web pages are presented to a user by identifying a plurality of home pages associated with the user; and selecting one or more of the home pages to present to the user based on one or more predefined rules. The home pages associated with the user can be selected by the user. A number of different predefined rules can be applied for selecting the home pages to be presented to the user.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for automatically launching an application from a browser. According to one aspect of the invention, content in a browser having one or more tabbed viewing panes is processed by determining if a user indicates that contents of a selected viewing pane should be duplicated in a second application; storing an object associated with the selected viewing pane in a memory for inter-process communication of data; and sending an inter-process communication to facilitate the second application to duplicate the contents of the selected viewing pane, wherein the second application operates independently of the browser.

Abstract: A flexible metadata driven and workflow based report generation system is disclosed. According to various embodiments, the system comprises at least one client application on a client terminal and a report manager system. The client application allows a user to run a report from a user interface having the flexibility to choose various parameters that affect the content of the generated report. The report manager system comprises a metadata service and a workflow controller service. The metadata service is for retrieving report metadata (report name, parameter(s) and their parameter values) to be displayed on the user interface to allow the user to choose parameter values and run a report job. The controller is for receiving messages from the client terminal upon submission of a report job and, based on the received messages, sending messages to one or more service components for executing the report job in a sequence of determined discrete steps.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for controlling a computing device. The behavior of a user of a computing device is observed when the computing device is connected to each of a plurality of networks. A profile is automatically maintained for each of the networks. Each profile contains one or more predefined actions to be performed when the computing device is connected to the corresponding network. The predefined actions are based on the observed behavior. The predefined actions that are recorded in the automatically generated profile and based on the observed behavior can be automatically triggered when the computing device is connected to the network associated with the profile.

Abstract: Described herein are a method and a system to transition unsold items offered for sale via a first process to a second process; and to aggregate the items for sale in the second process in lots.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed herein for generating a plurality of equivalent sentence patterns from a declared sentence pattern for a specific language. The declared pattern is fed into a pattern generator. The pattern generator reads a predetermined library of equivalent pattern specification sets and selects an equivalent pattern specification set for the declared pattern. The equivalent patterns and declared pattern are fed to a rules generator. The rules generator outputs executable semantic pattern recognition rules. The reader module, using the generated executable semantic pattern recognition rules, reads the given information source to determine the information of interest.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and system is disclosed herein for constructing reports, comprising the steps of providing the information of interest of a user and generating the writing style of a user. The step of generating the writing style further comprises the steps of generating a prose style and report pattern style, generating the rendering style of a user, and applying the writing style to the information of interest to provide the constructed report.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of capturing the reading style, reading plan and private ontology of a user, collectively referred to as the worldview. The process of capturing and applying the reading style includes the following activities: determining the reading style of the user, creating a worldview of the user using the reading style, applying the worldview to a document corpus, determining the information of interest, and reporting the desired information to the user in a report format. The worldview of the user is constructed out of the reading style and the reading plan of the user and. Optionally, the user can choose to use a predetermined external ontology to create his/her worldview.

Abstract: A method and system includes listing an item for sale in a first section of an electronic system and listing the item in a second section of the electronic system. In an example, the first section may offer the item for sale from a time A to a time B, and the second section may offer the item for sale from the time B to a time C. In an additional example, the first section may offer the item for sale via an auction process and a first fixed-price process, and the second section may offer the item for sale via a second fixed-price process.