Abstract: A system, method, apparatus, and computer program code for conducting a buy-side auction includes defining a plurality of transformation functions available for use in the auction. An offer to sell the item requested in the auction is received from a seller, and at least one transformation function is identified, based at least in part on the offer or the seller. The selected transformation function is applied to the offer to produce a transformed offer, and a state of the auction is updated based on the transformed offer.

Abstract: An auction is conducted by receiving, from a participant, a request for an item. An auction for the item is identified and a bid for the item is received from the participant. The received bid is forwarded to an auction for the item. In some embodiments, a transformation function associated with the participant is identified and applied to the bid to produce a transformed bid. The transformation function reflects different information about participants, the items, or the auctions (e.g, participants from different industries or from different countries).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for providing contact management to participants engaged in a communication session. The invention permits chat session participants to a communication session to determine common contacts that exists between the chat session participants. Dependent on the accessibility of the particular chat session participants' contact list, other chat session participants to the communication session can view the information located in the contact list. Moreover, a particular chat session participant to the communication session can give either a particular chat session participant or all the chat session participants to the communication session permission to modify their contact list. Permission to access or modify contact lists for chat session participants can be defined prior to establishment of the communication session and/or changed during the communication session.

Abstract: A method for common contact identification can include receiving in a first portable computing device corresponding to a first user a local communication from a second portable computing device corresponding to a second user. The local communication can identify the second user. A non-local wireless communication from the first portable computing device identifying at least the first and the second user can be received at a central receiving station. A data store including contact information corresponding to the first user and the second user can be accessed to determine whether the first user and the second user have at least one common contact. If at least one common contact is determined, at least one subsequent non-local wireless communication can be sent to the first and second portable computing devices. The subsequent non-local wireless communication can include an identifier common to the first and second users and can correspond to the at least one common contact.

Abstract: Prediction methods that anticipate the outcome of a detailed optimization step are used in lieu of or in conjunction with actual optimization to improve response time and reduce required computational resources for optimization problems having a hierarchical structure. Decomposition of the optimization problem into sub-problems and sub-sub-problems is, itself, an optimization process which is iteratively performed while preferably guided by prediction of the quality of solutions to the problems into which the “master” optimization problem may be decomposed. Prediction also reduces the requirements for computational resources and allows more decompositions to be examined within the available time in order to arrive at a more nearly optimal decomposition as well as a more nearly optimal solution. Prediction is selectively used when it is determined that such a benefit is probable.

Abstract: Prediction methods that anticipate the outcome of a detailed optimization step are used in lieu of or in conjunction with actual optimization to improve response time and reduce required computational resources for optimization problems having a hierarchical structure. Decomposition of the optimization problem into sub-problems and sub-sub-problems is, itself, an optimization process which is iteratively performed while preferably guided by prediction of the quality of solutions to the problems into which the “master” optimization problem may be decomposed. Prediction also reduces the requirements for computational resources and allows more decompositions to be examined within the available time in order to arrive at a more nearly optimal decomposition as well as a more nearly optimal solution. Prediction is selectively used when it is determined that such a benefit is probable.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for imaging the mouth area laterally to produce reliable measurements of mouth and lip shapes for use in assisting the speech recognition task. A video camera is arranged with a headset and a microphone to capture a lateral profile image of a speaker. The lateral profile image is then used to compute features such as lip separation, lip shape and intrusion depth parameters. The parameters are used in real time, during speech recognition process to characterize and discriminate spoken phonemes to produce a high degree of accuracy in automatic speech recognition processing, especially in a noisy environment.

Abstract: A plurality of near-optimum solutions to allocations of resources to demand information are provided by consideration of different combinations of sources of resource information such as inventory and performance/production capacity of a provider and/or other providers by the use of one or more algorithm/agents and a problem formulator which selects algorithms to be applied and provides selected information from selected sources of resource information thereto. The effects of actions or allocations specified in the solutions are presented to a user for comparison, modification and selection for implementation. Effects of modified solutions are also projected for comparison with other solutions or modified solutions.

Abstract: A method for effecting computer implemented decision support. The method can improve on a candidate solution by allowing problem solving methods to cooperate towards the creation of a more desirable solution. The method can realize an enhanced understanding of tradeoffs inherent in competing objectives, and can incorporate factors or special considerations not easily specified, by enabling the decision maker to actively participate in the creation of a more desirable solution.

Abstract: A hand-held pointing device for positioning a cursor on a display having a plurality of illuminating devices at a periphery thereof, includes a housing, an interference filter coupled to the housing, a device for detecting light having been emitted from the plurality of illuminating devices and filtered by the interference filter, a device, coupled to the detecting device, for distinguishing a region of the periphery of the display from which the light having been detected originates, and a device for translating the detected light into values for positioning the cursor on the display.