Abstract: A modular therapy system for treatment of at least a portion of an animate body is disclosed. The apparatus includes a first modular member and a second modular member. The first modular member comprises a heat transfer device adapted to transfer heat between the device and the portion of the animate body. The second modular member includes a pouch adapted to receive the first modular member. The second modular member can be wrapped around the animate body portion with the first modular member positioned therein. In various embodiments, the apparatus includes a third modular member having a pouch adapted to receive the first modular member. The third modular member is configured for wrapping to a different sized animate body or different portion of the body than the second modular member. The third modular member may have a different shape or size than the second modular member.

Abstract: The present invention applies gaming theory and well-understood sales processes and techniques to allow the operator of an interactive sales medium to control what is displayed to a user of the medium in a manner that signals their intentions (e.g., looking for a lower price, looking for a particular incentive, etc.) so that the “strategies” being used by the consumer can be identified and exploited to lead the consumer to a desired end choice. In particular, upon identification of the strategies being used by the consumer, incentives (e.g., gradually increasing rewards and/or decreasing “punishments”) are presented to the consumer in such a way that the margins achieved by an eventual sale are slowly decreased with each presentation of the incentives to the consumer. Since the presentation of each incentive increases the likelihood the consumer will make a purchase, margins are maximized for the seller.

Abstract: Traditional methods of prediction of the likelihood of churning in a given market such as wireless telecommunications are improved by inclusion of social network analysis to predict churning by members of a population in response to churning by any given individual member of that population. A sphere of influence of individual members of the population on other members of the population are modeled and analyzed through a plurality of degrees of separation and quantitatively evaluated by a number of relational algebraic joins in which at least one such join includes weights to assert a diminishing influence with number of degrees of separation.

Abstract: The invention provides a method, system, and program product for increasing the effectiveness of a customer contact strategy. In one embodiment, the method includes assigning a value to each of a plurality of customer events; assigning each of the plurality of promotion events to a “bucket” having a predefined range of values, based on a value of each promotion event; and selecting a customer event from the bucket having the highest range of values.

Abstract: A reciprocating power tool has a shoe that can be adjusted while the reciprocating power tool is in use. The reciprocating power tool has a main body, a first grip, a second grip moveable with respect to the main body, and a shoe for engaging a workpiece. The shoe is coupled to the second grip such that the shoe moves with the second grip for adjustment of a position of the shoe when the second grip is moved with respect to the main body.

Abstract: The present invention applies gaming theory and well-understood sales processes and techniques to allow the operator of an interactive sales medium to control what is displayed to a user of the medium in a manner that signals their intentions (e.g., looking for a lower price, looking for a particular incentive, etc.) so that the “strategies” being used by the consumer can be identified and exploited to lead the consumer to a desired end choice. In particular, upon identification of the strategies being used by the consumer, incentives (e.g., gradually increasing rewards and/or decreasing “punishments”) are presented to the consumer in such a way that the margins achieved by an eventual sale are slowly decreased with each presentation of the incentives to the consumer. Since the presentation of each incentive increases the likelihood the consumer will make a purchase, margins are maximized for the seller.

Abstract: The present invention applies gaming theory and well-understood sales processes and techniques to allow the operator of an interactive sales medium to control what is displayed to a user of the medium in a manner that signals their intentions (e.g., looking for a lower price, looking for a particular incentive, etc.) so that the “strategies” being used by the consumer can be identified and exploited to lead the consumer to a desired end choice. In particular, upon identification of the strategies being used by the consumer, incentives (e.g., gradually increasing rewards and/or decreasing “punishments”) are presented to the consumer in such a way that the margins achieved by an eventual sale are slowly decreased with each presentation of the incentives to the consumer. Since the presentation of each incentive increases the likelihood the consumer will make a purchase, margins are maximized for the seller.

Abstract: A historical analysis is performed within peer groups within a population such as associates of business or organization in regard to a plurality of factors having a possible bearing on satisfaction of individual members of the population in regard to the environment of the population to determine members of the population that may be likely candidates to be responsive to encouragement and/or incentives toward improved performance. The historical analysis is preferably supplemented by repeating of the scoring aspect of the historical analysis and comparison of current scores with previous scores to provide substantially real-time information and to allow detection of trends. The results of the historical analysis and/or the prospective analysis are overlaid with results of social network analysis within the population to project a spread of influences within the population.

Abstract: Traditional methods of prediction of the likelihood of churning in a given market such as wireless telecommunications are improved by inclusion of social network analysis to predict churning by members of a population in response to churning by any given individual member of that population. A sphere of influence of individual members of the population on other members of the population are modeled and analyzed through a plurality of degrees of separation and quantitatively evaluated by a number of relational algebraic joins in which at least one such join includes weights to assert a diminishing influence with number of degrees of separation.

Abstract: A processor-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product detects illicit activities in micro-commerce transactions. An historic transaction pattern of known legitimate past micro-commerce transactions by a cohort is identified. A current transaction pattern for a current set of multiple micro-commerce transactions is also identified. The current transaction pattern and the historic transaction pattern are compared. In response to determining that the current transaction pattern deviates from the historic transaction pattern beyond a predetermined level, a determination is made that the current set of multiple micro-commerce transactions are being used for money laundering.

Abstract: The invention is a medical platform system that overcomes many of the shortcomings of current systems. The novel platform provides simultaneous image display and capture, network based wireless control, preferably by way of a web browser, and the capacity to acquire surgeon specific setting by way of removable storage devices.

Abstract: A visual inspection device includes a housing with a support portion and a grip portion extending from the support portion, a flexible cable having a first end coupled to the housing and a second end, a camera assembly coupled to the second end of the flexible cable and operable to transmit image data through the flexible cable, and a display movably coupled to the support portion of the housing and operable to present an image derived from the image data.

Abstract: A database table of predefined data transformations is provided. Each predefined data transformation is associated in the table with a unique identifier, a corresponding description and a validity period. When a data modeler wishes to develop a data model for a desired prediction, he/she will first determine a set of variables that will be used therefor. The set of variables can include any of the predefined data transformations from the database table. The data model will then be developed by applying raw data to the set of variables and determining a mathematical relationship there between. Once the data model has been developed, the data modeler will write a reusable specification for applying the data model operationally. Thereafter, IT personnel or the like can code and deploy the data model using the specification.

Abstract: A system, method and program product for processing irregularly occurring data events in real time. A system is provided for processing a stream of data events occurring over irregular time periods, including: a system for updating a running estimate each time a new data event is detected, wherein the running estimate is calculated based on a value associated with the new data event, an amount of time that elapsed since a previous data event was detected, and a previously calculated running estimate; and an analysis system that analyzes the running estimate after it is updated to identify a suspect data event value.

Abstract: A modular therapy system for treatment of at least a portion of an animate body is disclosed. The apparatus includes a first modular member and a second modular member. The first modular member comprises a heat transfer device adapted to transfer heat between the device and the portion of the animate body. The second modular member includes a pouch adapted to receive the first modular member. The second modular member can be wrapped around the animate body portion with the first modular member positioned therein. In various embodiments, the apparatus includes a third modular member having a pouch adapted to receive the first modular member. The third modular member is configured for wrapping to a different sized animate body or different portion of the body than the second modular member. The third modular member may have a different shape or size than the second modular member.

Abstract: A technique for the deployment of data mining algorithms on a web service, such as IBM's WebSphere Application Server, is disclosed. Rather than having to deploy the data mining models with the data, the data can be transported to the web server as part of a message. Models can be cached on the web server and easily changed by operations executed by the client. This allows for efficient administration of the operational environment. Because a web services environment is inherently scalable, servers can be transparently enabled based on demand. Further, with web services communication is via data objects in memory which allows for ease of implementation and operational efficiency.

Abstract: Modular therapy apparatus for treatment of at least a portion of an animate body comprises a first modular member and a second modular member. The first modular member comprises a heat transfer device adapted to transfer heat between the device and the at least a portion of an animate body. The second modular member forms a pouch having a perimeter and is adapted to receive the first modular member. The second modular member comprises a front side and a back side. The front side has a hook portion, which forms the hook portion of a hook and loop fastener. The back side has a loop portion, which forms the loop portion of the hook and loop fastener. The second modular member can be wrapped around the at least a portion of an animate body and the hook and loop portions fastened to one another to secure the second modular member with the first modular member positioned therein to the at least a portion of the animate body.

Abstract: A database system and method for ordering on demand a plurality of marketing offers for offering to a candidate in response to an inbound communication from the candidate. The database system comprises a first database structure storing a first list identifying marketing offers, a second database structure storing a second list of candidates, and a database manager software application stored on a computer readable medium. The database manager software application comprises an on demand optimization tool. The on demand optimization tool is for optimizing and sorting, the marketing offers from the first list with for a first candidate from the second list in response to an inbound communication from the first candidate.

Abstract: A system, method and program product for processing a stream of data events using scaled exponential smoothing for maintaining a histogram. A system is provided having: a set of histogram data that maintains a running value for each of a plurality of buckets; a bucket identification system for identifying a bucket b into which a new data event value belongs; an exponential smoothing system that applies a decay factor to the set of histogram data utilizing a first algorithm for the running value associated with bucket b, and a second algorithm for each remaining running value; and an analysis system for analyzing data event values in view of the histogram data.

Abstract: A data warehouse having an operational layer is provided. The data warehouse stores historical data in an historical format that is based on operational data for an organization. The operational layer enables access to the historical data in an operational format that is used to store the operational data on which the historical data is based. The invention further provides a solution for managing the data warehouse with the operational layer. The operational layer can be incorporated in various solutions. To this extent, the invention further provides a solution for developing an application using the operational layer of the data warehouse.