Abstract: One or more users of a present state are notified of at least one property of an entity. A request message is received from a user over a first communications channel, the message containing information indicative of at least one property of an entity in which the user is interested. The present state of the at least one property is determined, as is an identifier of a second communications channel onto which future messages containing information relating to future changes of state of the at least one property of the entity will be transmitted. A reply message is transmitted to the user, the reply message containing information indicative of the present state of the at least one property and of the identifier of the second communications channel.

Abstract: A forecasting engine arranged to generate a forecast for a set of historic time-series data. The engine includes one or more one or more generically structured core algorithmic components providing a core function in a forecasting heuristic algorithm, and one or more generically structured optional algorithmic components providing an optional function in the forecasting heuristic algorithm. Each algorithmic component is individually tuned in a predetermined sequence, and the first algorithmic component in the sequence performs a tuning process on the set of historic time-series data. Subsequently, algorithmic components are tuned using time-series data conditioned by ail of the tuning processes previously performed in the predetermined sequence. The entire sequence of algorithmic components is arranged to collectively provide conditioned data which is used to generate a forecast.

Abstract: A forecasting system is regulated with time-series data. The context of the time-series data is determined by one or more parameters encapsulated within a forecast data type, the forecast data type being arranged to present the time-series data in a generic form (independent of any context information) to a forecasting algorithm of the forecasting system. The time-series data is encapsulated to enable the forecasting algorithm to generate a forecast for the time-series dependent on such context. The time-series data is retrieved using a generic forecast data type object arranged to provide the time-series in the predetermined context. The context presented by the fore-cast data type is capable of changing by the fore-cast data type representing a variable number and type of parameters to the forecasting system without requiring the forecasting system to be re-configured to provide the forecast over the time-series data.

Abstract: A forecasting engine arranged to generate a forecast for a set of historic time-series data, the engine comprising: one or more generically structured core algorithmic components providing a core function in a forecasting heuristic algorithm; and one or more generically structured optional algorithmic components providing an optional function in the forecasting heuristic algorithm, wherein each algorithmic component is individually tuned in a predetermined sequence, the first algorithmic component in said sequence performing a tuning process on said set of historic time-series data and subsequent algorithmic components are tuned using time-series data conditioned by ail of the tuning processes previously performed in said predetermined sequence, wherein the entire sequence of algorithmic components is arranged to collectively provide conditioned data which is used to generate a forecast.

Abstract: A method for notifying one or more users of a present state of at least one property of an entity, the method comprising the steps of: a) receiving a request message from a user over a first communications channel, the message containing information indicative of at least one property of an entity in which the user is interested; b) determining the present state of said at least one property; c) determining an identifier of a second communications channel onto which future messages containing information relating to future changes of state of the at least one property of the entity will be transmit; and d) transmitting a reply message to the user, the reply message containing information indicative of the present state of the at least one property and of the identifier of the second communications channel.