Abstract: Auctions with socially-connected private advance offerings are provided by by a social auction integration server by receiving at least one parameter regarding an item to be offered in an online auction by an offeror user; using the parameter and an identifier of the offeror user, searching at least one social network server for identifies of friends and associates that have a recorded affinity for the item or for similar items; preparing a list of the friend users and associate users; configuring a restricted auction wherein only the friend users and associate users are allowed to review and bid on the offered item; and providing the friend users and associate users a digital means for accessing the restricted auction.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention control a device based on physiological measurements associated with a user. A determination is made that a user has manually adjusted a controlled device. A context associated with the user is identified in response to determining that the user has manually adjusted the controlled device. A change is detected in at least one physiological measurement associated with the user in response to the controlled device being manually adjusted. A target physiological measurement associated with at least one physiological measurement is modified based on the change that has been detected. The context that has been identified is associated with the target physiological measurement that has been modified.

Abstract: A level of certainty associated with a hypothetical price of an item to be listed in an online or electronic auction is provided to a user of the auction by receiving at least one descriptive parameter corresponding to an item for potential offering in an auction; using the descriptive parameter to query historical auction results for items relevant to the item for potential offering; analyzing the historical auction results retrieved by the query to determine a likely first price of sale of the item for potential offering, and determining a confidence value for the first price; and conveying the first price and the confidence value to an offeror console.

Abstract: Frenzied bidding in an electronic auction is avoided or prevented by receiving by a proxy bidding agent computer one or more counter-bidding control parameters from a bidder console, wherein the counter-bidding control parameters identify an item to watch, counter-bid conditions, and counter-bid patience parameters; during an electronic auction, monitoring one or more conditions of an item in the auction while automatic counter-bidding is performed by the proxy bidding agent; during the monitoring detecting counter-bid conditions being unmet or violated; and responsive to the detecting, preventing counter-bidding by the proxy bidding agent.

Abstract: Vigilance monitoring and a navigation aid are provided to a user in an electronic auction by receiving by a computer a command to watch similar items to a first item in an online or electronic auction; extracting by a computer from the command, from the auction, or from both the command and the auction one or more item descriptive parameters; using by a computer the extracted parameters to query one or more online or electronic sales sources for similar items matching the extracted parameters, the sales sources being electronic sources other than the auction; receiving by a computer at least one price for an available similar item from at least one sales source; and causing prompting by a computer a user of the auction with the similar item price and sales source.

Abstract: Software reuse utilizing naive group annotation of incomplete software descriptions. A software code is decimated whereby the software code's attributes, such as variable, class and method names are obfuscated into non-informative forms. The decimated software code is then presented to two or more participants that include at least one naive and one informed participant. The naive participant(s) poses a predetermined number of question(s) to and receive answer(s) from the informed participant(s). After receiving the answer(s) posed to the informed participant(s), the naive participant(s) proceeds to guess the function of the presented decimated software code. The annotations, i.e., questions and answers, to the decimated software code under review are collected and stored in a database.

Abstract: A method and system for managing route resources. After receiving a request for a route from a user, user-specified constraints, route supplier-specified constraints, and weights assigned to the constraints, a dynamic model of available routes is queried to generate proposed routes based on the constraints and weights. The model is updated according to the proposed routes. Current bids on related routes are retrieved. Prices of the proposed routes are determined and presented to the user. The prices are based on the updated model and the current bids on related routes. If no price is acceptable, the user modifies the constraints and a new set of proposed routes is generated. A bid from the user to purchase a selected proposed route is received.

Abstract: A monitoring method and system. The method includes monitoring by a monitoring apparatus, a power configuration for electrical devices and a status for power supplier entities. The monitoring apparatus re-balances a power usage for the electrical devices. The monitoring apparatus generates a first report indicating current loads associated with the electrical devices. The monitoring apparatus transmits the first report to the power supplier entities. The monitoring apparatus generates a group of reports indicating power consumption associated with the power supplier entities. The monitoring apparatus transmits each report of the group of reports to an associated power supplier entity of the power supplier entities. The monitoring apparatus generates a second report indicating updated power consumption associated with the power supplier entities. The monitoring apparatus stores the second report.

Abstract: A monitoring method and system. The method includes monitoring by a monitoring apparatus, a power configuration for electrical devices and a status for power supplier entities. The monitoring apparatus re-balances a power usage for the electrical devices. The monitoring apparatus generates a first report indicating current loads associated with the electrical devices. The monitoring apparatus transmits the first report to the power supplier entities. The monitoring apparatus generates a group of reports indicating power consumption associated with the power supplier entities. The monitoring apparatus transmits each report of the group of reports to an associated power supplier entity of the power supplier entities. The monitoring apparatus generates a second report indicating updated power consumption associated with the power supplier entities. The monitoring apparatus stores the second report.

Abstract: The present invention provides techniques for transmitting at least one signal through an element of a classification system. One or more input signals are received at the element. One or more functional components are extracted from the one or more input signals, and one or more membership components are extracted from the one or more input signals. An output signal is generated from the element comprising a functional component and a membership component that correspond to one or more functional components and membership components from one or more input signals.