Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for predicting the likelihood of materialization of pending wait-listed reservations for the purchase of perishable commodities. Details pertaining to perishable commodities for which reservations for purchase have been made in the past, are gathered and analyzed as are details pertaining to reservation requests stored in a wait list. Based upon the analysis, the likelihood that a particular pending reservation will actually be purchased or “materialize” if it is taken off the wait-list and actually reserved is determined and this information is utilized for yield management.

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: Electrical components and vacuums. In some aspects, the invention provides an electrical component including a housing defining a passageway, a motor supported by the housing, the motor being selectively electrically connectable with a power source, a fan connected to the motor and operable to generate an airflow through the passageway, an electrical circuit supported by the housing, the electrical circuit being selectively electrically connectable with the power source, and a power-tool battery electrically connectable with the electrical circuit such that power is selectively transferred between the battery and the electrical circuit, the battery being connectable to the housing. In some aspects, the invention provides a vacuum.

Abstract: Combo kits and methods for providing a combo kit. In some aspects, the method of providing the power tool combo kit provides the economic benefit of purchasing power tools in a combo kit while providing the flexibility of purchasing power tools individually. The method may include the acts of the provider providing an available group including multiple power tools of various tool models. The customer may review the available group and provide a desired group or customer selection indicating the requested power tools to be included in the combo kit. The method may further include the provider receiving the desired request from the customer including multiple power tools from the available group. The provider selects a selected group including multiple power tools from the available group. The selected group matches the desired request. The provider provides the combo kit including the selected group having multiple power tools.

Abstract: “Microbins” are established to be used for automatic data-point-by-data-point sorting of outcomes of a model. These microbins have much finer “resolution” than standard decile bins. The predicted values are mapped to their respective microbins. As an actual outcome is obtained, it is automatically inserted into the microbin associated with its predicted value. By limiting the predicted score values to three decimal places (or rounding them to three decimal places), each predicted value will have a single microbin in which to be placed, rather than bunching a range of predicted values into a decile bin. To establish the decile bins needed to prepare a standard 10-bin lift chart, the first {fraction (1/10)}th of the actual outcomes are grouped in a first bin, the second {fraction (1/10)}th of the actual outcomes are grouped in a second bin, etc. In this manner, the actual outcomes are “sorted” on the fly rather than after the fact.

Abstract: Business intelligence techniques and well-understood sales processes and techniques are utilized to allow the operator of an interactive sales medium, e.g., a web seller, call center operator, intelligent vending machine operator, etc., to gather information pertaining to a user of the web site from as many sources as possible, including from the user's input at the “touch-point” (the PC, kiosk, PDF connected to the Web; an ATM; an intelligent vending machine). Content is selected and displayed that, in a less-than-apparent manner, elicits information from the user regarding his/her proclivities, purchasing habits, demographics, etc., and this information is combined with other data from other sources (call-center records, survey information, store purchases, etc.).

Abstract: A random sampling of a subset of a data population is taken and the sampled data is used to build a predictive model using a cubic or multiquadric radial basis function, and then “scores” (i.e., predictions) are generated for each data point in the entire data population. This process is repeated on additional random sample subsets of the same data population. After a predetermined number of random sample subsets have been modeled and scores for all data points in the population are generated for each of the models, the average score and variation for each predicted data point is calculated. The data points are subjected to rank ordering by their variance, thereby allowing those data points having a high variance to be identified as outliers.

Abstract: A dynamic content management method, system, and computer program product by which interactive content is analyzed and scrutinized on a “real time” basis as users interact with the content presentation is disclosed. This is accomplished by, among other things, utilizing a rules engine or other known selection processor to facilitate dynamic decision making, whereby the selection processor “qualifies” the user for membership in a particular content-testing campaign; content (e.g., an offer or particular web design elements) to be presented to the user is selected and delivered; and the selection of the content, the failure to select the content, and the possible outcome of selecting the content is recorded in an operational database for that user so that it may be used to modify the content presented to that user in the future.

Abstract: A floor system for residential and light commercial construction utilizing the composite action of a thin concrete slab and cold formed steel sections. A comparatively high load capacity is achieved with minimum floor thickness for short and medium spans. The composite action is achieved by a bond bar affixed to a cold formed section and embedded in the slab. A shear transfer device is attached to the bond bar and the cold formed steel section. The system may be used in buildings framed with masonry or concrete bearing walls, structural steel beams and girders, and precast, or cast in place, concrete beams and girders.

Abstract: The stator is made of laminated stampings having congruent outlines defining the central opening for a rotor and also defining pole pieces which include horn-like portions spaced from the main body of the stamping to define winding slots for the coil. Each end of the assembly has a terminal board which has an outline generally congruent with the laminations. Two terminals are mounted in the supports carried by the terminal board adjacent each pole piece. The ends of the wire of each coil are led across the adjacent terminal, then back between the terminal and a tang formed from the terminal. Then the tang is pressed against the terminal and wire, and fused to complete the connection.