Abstract: Computer-based systems and methods for creating and distributing food and/or drink promotions to consumers based on bids from suppliers of food and/or drink products and based on data about the targeted consumers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a visual representation of a flavor or texture profile based on flavor or texture preferences of a user with respect to each of a plurality of flavor or texture categories or based on flavor or texture characteristic information representing flavor or texture characteristics of a product or recipe for each of a plurality of flavor or texture categories. The flavor or texture preferences of a user and the flavor or texture characteristics of a product or recipe with respect to each of a plurality of flavor or texture categories is determined by way of a method and apparatus for determining a flavor or texture profile for a user and a method and apparatus for determining a flavor or texture profile for a food element, respectively. Also described is a method and apparatus for providing food element recommendations based on flavor or texture.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a flavor preference profile for a user including the steps of obtaining user food preference information for a user regarding a plurality of food elements, the user food preference information being provided by the user, obtaining correlation information regarding the plurality of food elements and a plurality of flavor categories, the correlation information providing a correlation between user preference for each food element and user preference for each of the plurality of flavor categories, determining, by a microprocessor and based on the user food preference information and the correlation information, the relative user preference for each of the plurality of flavor categories, and generating preference output data for the user based on the result of the determining.

Abstract: Computer-based systems and methods for determining an aggregate sensory profile for a plurality of individuals. The system may comprise a plurality of remote computer systems, each comprising: a local database for storing user data about the plurality of individuals; and a local sensory profile determination engine for generating sensory profile data for each of the plurality of individuals based on user data stored in the local database. The system may also comprise a central computer system that receives the sensory profile data from the plurality of remote computer systems. The central computer system comprises: a central database for storing the sensory profile data received from the remote computer systems; and a sensory profile aggregation engine for generating aggregate sensory profiles for each of the plurality of individuals based on the sensory profile data received from the remote computer systems and stored in the central database.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a flavor preference profile for a user including the steps of obtaining user food preference information for a user regarding a plurality of food elements, the user food preference information being provided by the user, obtaining correlation information regarding the plurality of food elements and a plurality of flavor categories, the correlation information providing a correlation between user preference for each food element and user preference for each of the plurality of flavor categories, determining, by a microprocessor and based on the user food preference information and the correlation information, the relative user preference for each of the plurality of flavor categories, and generating preference output data for the user based on the result of the determining.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a visual representation of a flavor or texture profile based on flavor or texture preferences of a user with respect to each of a plurality of flavor or texture categories or based on flavor or texture characteristic information representing flavor or texture characteristics of a product or recipe for each of a plurality of flavor or texture categories. The flavor or texture preferences of a user and the flavor or texture characteristics of a product or recipe with respect to each of a plurality of flavor or texture categories is determined by way of a method and apparatus for determining a flavor or texture profile for a user and a method and apparatus for determining a flavor or texture profile for a food element, respectively. Also described is a method and apparatus for providing food element recommendations based on flavor or texture.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically creating deployable software code for implementing a business process that leverages rules stored in a rule repository, which define a core rule set for the process. The method comprises selecting the rules required to implement the business process. Some of the selected rules are stored in the rule repository, and others may be added by a designer of the process to fit the policies and systems for whom the process is being designed. Next, steps of the business process that require external interfaces (e.g., function calls) are determined. Then, based on, among other things, (i) the selected rules, (ii) the required external interfaces, and (iii) desired outputs of the process, the deployable process code is automatically generated, taking into consideration the interdependencies and implied sequencing of the selected rules. In addition, the inputs to the process can be computed.