Abstract: In a method for monitoring a tracked parameter for a set of targets, a first methodology is applied during a current time interval to acquire observations of the tracked parameter for a selected sub-set of the set of targets. A second methodology is applied during the current time interval to acquire observations of the tracked parameter for at least those targets that are not in the selected sub-set of the set of targets. A variance forecast is generated for an upcoming time interval for each target based on a current variance for the target and on either observations acquired using the first methodology or using the second methodology. The selected sub-set of the set of targets is updated for the upcoming time interval to maximize an aggregation of variance forecasts over the updated selected sub-set of the set of targets.

Abstract: Data characterizing a system is received at an electronic processor. For example, parking event data from parking sensors of a parking facility is received. The electronic processor constructs a current state for the system (e.g. parking occupancy state of the parking facility) at a current time from the received data. State probabilities at a future time are computed (e.g. occupancy state probabilities are computed for the parking facility) using a continuous-time Markov chain model modified by multiplying the time input to the model by a random variable and scaling the state probabilities by an expectation of the random variable. In parking occupancy forecasting, parking guidance information is generated based at least on the computed occupancy state probabilities, and is transmitted to an electronic device other than the electronic processor (e.g. a parking recommendation transmitted to a vehicle navigation device, or a control signal transmitted to a “lot full” sign).

Abstract: Methods and systems for characterizing mobile parking sensor data. With a generative model, a targeted random variable can be identified from parking data collected from one or more mobile sensors. The parking data includes data indicative of time instants and geographical locations. In some cases, a proportion of parking stalls associated with payment data can be derived from the targeted random variable at each time instant and for each street block face among the geographical locations. Parameters of the generative model can be determined base on observed data that is at least partial in time. The generative model is then applied in order to infer quantities of interest for use in characterizing the parking data including a price and a rate with respect to the quantities of interest.

Abstract: A system and method for recommending pricing using blocking rates and traffic flux. For a given block face, occupancy and traffic flow information are collected and analyzed to determine a blocking rate. The traffic flux for the block face is determined using the collected traffic flow information. External costs, including cost to drivers slowed and cost to drivers blocked from parking are estimated and a cost rate is determined as a function of the blocking rate, the traffic flux, and the external costs. A utility rate is calculated and a price change is recommended based upon a maximization of the utility rate.

Abstract: In a method for monitoring a tracked parameter for a set of targets, a first methodology is applied during a current time interval to acquire observations of the tracked parameter for a selected sub-set of the set of targets. A second methodology is applied during the current time interval to acquire observations of the tracked parameter for at least those targets that are not in the selected sub-set of the set of targets. A variance forecast is generated for an upcoming time interval for each target based on a current variance for the target and on either observations acquired using the first methodology or using the second methodology. The selected sub-set of the set of targets is updated for the upcoming time interval to maximize an aggregation of variance forecasts over the updated selected sub-set of the set of targets.

Abstract: A system and method for generating an occupancy model are disclosed. The model is learned using occupancy data for zones, each zone including cells, which are occupied or not at a given time, each with a sensor, which may be reporting or not. The data provides an observed occupancy corresponding to a number of cells in the respective zone which have reporting sensors, and the number of those sensors which are reporting that the respective cell is occupied. The occupancy model is based on a demand model and a sensor noise model which accounts for behavior of the non-reporting sensors. The noise model assumes that the probability of a sensor being in the reporting state is dependent on whether the respective cell is occupied or not. The model can fit the occupancy data better than one which assumes that non-reporting cells are occupied with the same frequency as reporting ones.

Abstract: A method for estimating average occupancy of a set of stalls based on incomplete occupancy data includes acquiring payment data for the set of stalls for each of a set of times and acquiring occupancy data for the set of stalls for each of the set of times, the occupancy data being acquired from a reporting subset consisting of fewer than all of the stalls. An estimate of a time integral of a function of occupancy is computed, based on the payment data and occupancy data and information is output based on the estimate.

Abstract: An alignment method includes, for a source sentence in a source language, identifying whether the sentence includes at least one candidate term comprising a contiguous subsequence of words of the source sentence. A target sentence in a target language is aligned with the source sentence. This includes developing a probabilistic model which models conditional probability distributions for alignments between words of the source sentence and words of the target sentence and generating an optimal alignment based on the probabilistic model, including, where the source sentence includes the at least one candidate term, enforcing a contiguity constraint which requires that all the words of the target sentence which are aligned with an identified candidate term form a contiguous subsequence of the target sentence.

Abstract: A method and system for determining an optimized price schedule that controls the simplicity of a price schedule while maintaining efficiency in terms of welfare. A welfare function and a simplicity metric representing a simplicity of price schedules are determined. A full objective, corresponding to a comparison of the welfare with respect to the simplicity of each price schedule is determined and an optimized price schedule, representing the schedule having the highest computed full objective, is output.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for managing interchangeable parking spaces is provided. A parking pool that includes a plurality of parking spaces, which are each interchangeably reservable by motorists, is formed. The parking spaces in the parking pool that are currently-occupied by other vehicles and any reservations by motorists to park their vehicles in the parking pool are identified. The number of the parking spaces in the parking pool free of the currently-occupied parking spaces and the parking spaces in the parking pool that will be used to fulfill the reservations, plus the time available for parking in the parking pool, are displayed.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for managing interchangeable parking spaces is provided. A parking pool that includes a plurality of parking spaces, which are each interchangeably reservable by motorists, is formed. The parking spaces in the parking pool that are currently-occupied by other vehicles and any reservations by motorists to park their vehicles in the parking pool are identified. The number of the parking spaces in the parking pool free of the currently-occupied parking spaces and the parking spaces in the parking pool that will be used to fulfill the reservations, plus the time available for parking in the parking pool, are displayed.

Abstract: A system and method for generating an occupancy model are disclosed. The model is learned using occupancy data for zones, each zone including cells, which are occupied or not at a given time, each with a sensor, which may be reporting or not. The data provides an observed occupancy corresponding to a number of cells in the respective zone which have reporting sensors, and the number of those sensors which are reporting that the respective cell is occupied. The occupancy model is based on a demand model and a sensor noise model which accounts for behavior of the non-reporting sensors. The noise model assumes that the probability of a sensor being in the reporting state is dependent on whether the respective cell is occupied or not. The model can fit the occupancy data better than one which assumes that non-reporting cells are occupied with the same frequency as reporting ones.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for paying for an existing report are provided. In the method, an existing report for which a first structure of entities is identified is received. Thereafter, a set of other reports for which respective second structures of entities are identified is received. A weighting for other reports in the set of other reports is assigned, based on the respective structures. A payment for the existing report is extracted based on the weighting, a selected scoring rule, and the set of other reports.

Abstract: A system and method are provided. The method includes establishing a current belief about the multidimensional distribution of buyers' valuations for at least one item, and, based on the current belief, proposing at least one pricing mechanism, each pricing mechanism establishing a price for the at least one item. Observed buyers' responses to at least one of the set of proposed pricing mechanisms are stored. Region censored updates to the belief about the multidimensional distribution of buyers' valuations are conducted, based on the observed responses, to generate a new belief about the multidimensional distribution of buyers' valuations. Based on the new belief, a pricing mechanism establishing a price for the at least one item is proposed, that is expected to improve a seller's welfare under the new belief, relative to the originally proposed mechanism or mechanisms.

Abstract: A system and method for conducting a lottery for at least one item are provided. The method includes, for each of a plurality of buyers, receiving a buyer's declared valuation for each of at least one item being offered in a lottery by a seller, the item having an assigned non-deterministic probability of being allocated to the buyer, providing insured prices for outcomes of the lottery which are a function of the buyer's declared valuation of the at least one item, randomly drawing an allocation of each of the at least one item to a respective one of the buyers, based on its assigned non-deterministic probability, and allocating the insured prices to the buyers based on respective outcomes of the random drawing.

Abstract: According to various embodiments, the present teachings include inventory control policies that are defined in terms of functions of aggregate cost rates, involving thresholds ? and an order-up-to point S. An embodiment of the present teachings includes a method. The method includes tracking an inventory position of each of the plurality of items by a logistics network and determining an item cost rate for each of the plurality of items based on the tracked inventory position. The method also includes determining an aggregate cost rate for the plurality of items based on the determined item cost rates, comparing the aggregate cost rate with a cost rate threshold ?, and ordering the plurality of items to an order-up-to point S if the compared aggregate cost rate is greater than or equal to the cost rate threshold ?.

Abstract: In a scheduling or planning process, a hybrid process is determined representing operation of a system. The hybrid process includes stochastic jumps. An approximate linear program is constructed respective to the hybrid process and a set of control actions for controlling the system. The approximate linear program includes a stochastic jump constraint term representative of stochastic jumps of the hybrid process. The approximate linear program is solved. The system is controlled based on the solved approximate linear program.

Abstract: A valuation optimization method includes generating offeree decision information (buyer decision information, by way of illustrative example) by presenting a sequence of mechanisms to a sequence of offerees wherein the mechanisms comprise menus of transaction offers (sale offer menus, by way of illustrative example). Actual transactions (sale transactions, by way of illustrative example) are conducted responsive to acceptances of transaction offers by buyers. At a selected time in the generating, an offeree valuation distribution belief and the current mechanism are updated optimize an offeree's utility. The offeree's utility comprises an offeree's utility function constrained by a robust learning constraint computed based on a local differential of an earlier offeree's utility function with respect to the earlier offeree's valuation.

Abstract: A system and a method of providing a time-out for a device, such as a printer are provided. The time-out determines when the device is shifted from a higher energy to a lower energy mode, absent the arrival of another job to be processed by the device. The method includes acquiring data comprising a set of inter-arrival times for at least one device over a period of time, such as a week and, for each of a set of candidate time-outs, deriving a probability from the data that an inter-arrival time from the set of inter-arrival times is greater than the candidate time-out. A cost function is computed, based on the derived probability and a robustness term which allows adversarial action not predicted by the histogram to be taken into account. A time-out for the at least one device can then be identified for which the cost function is a minimum.

Abstract: A system and method are provided. The method includes establishing a current belief about the multidimensional distribution of buyers' valuations for at least one item, and, based on the current belief, proposing at least one pricing mechanism, each pricing mechanism establishing a price for the at least one item. Observed buyers' responses to at least one of the set of proposed pricing mechanisms are stored. Region censored updates to the belief about the multidimensional distribution of buyers' valuations are conducted, based on the observed responses, to generate a new belief about the multidimensional distribution of buyers' valuations. Based on the new belief, a pricing mechanism establishing a price for the at least one item is proposed, that is expected to improve a seller's welfare under the new belief, relative to the originally proposed mechanism or mechanisms.