Abstract: A method and system for distributing a service center call. The method and system include hosting an electronic database of information regarding service agent availability, providing a user interface for allowing a service agent to update the database regarding the availability of the service agent to receive service calls, and receiving a customer service call request. To route the customer service call request, the method and system determines the location of a customer originating the customer service call request, determines availability of at least one service agent within a predetermined location threshold of the location of the customer, and routing the customer service call request to the local service agent or to a service agent outside of the predetermined location threshold of the location of the customer if there are no available service agents within the predetermined location threshold of the location of the customer.

Abstract: A payment card transaction clearing system includes a payment card network. A file distribution system coupled to the payment card network includes a split processor configured to receive a batch of payment card transaction records from the payment card network, and split the batch of payment card transactions into one or more split files according to one or more processing agreements. A split monitor processor is configured to send the one or more split files to the payment card network.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and a computer program product allow a retailer to provide a discounted price for a product by electronically offering a product for sale to a buyer; using a computer to display the product to the buyer on a user interface, the display comprising a product detail page; displaying on the product detail page the original full price of the product, the discounted outlet price of the product and the percentage off amount for that product; displaying a screen indicia to the buyer; inviting the buyer to use the screen indicia to open a virtual negotiation panel on the display; inviting the buyer to enter a quantity of products that the buyer wants to buy and the per product price that the buyer is willing to pay; and using the computer to calculate the lowest price per product that the retailer will accept for the product.

Abstract: Methods, system, and media for scaling a panel of users with known attributes to determine an unknown attribute of a user are disclosed. An unclassified attribute vector of the user may be received. The unclassified attribute vector may comprise first attributes and first attribute values. A reduced attribute vector may be produced using the unclassified attribute vector and a projection matrix. The reduced attribute vector may have fewer attributes than the unclassified attribute vector. A plurality of reduced panel attribute vectors may be produced using a plurality of classified panel attribute vectors of users from the panel and the projection matrix. The reduced panel attribute vectors may have fewer attributes than the classified panel attribute vectors. The unknown attribute of the user may be determined based on the reduced attribute vector, the plurality of reduced panel attribute vectors, and the known attributes.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed provide various enhancements and/or improvements to the conventional shopping process used by brick-and-mortar stores. In some embodiments, a customer may use a mobile computing device, such as a smart phone, to select and pay for items in a brick-and-mortar store. Such shopping process may permit the customer to purchase numerous items without the using of shopping basket or a wheeled shopping cart. The shopping process may further permit the customer to pay for items and leave the store with such items without waiting in a checkout line.

Abstract: A targeting rule set of association rules may be created. A plurality of association rules may be selected. A plurality of candidate rule sets may be constructed based on the plurality of association rules. The plurality of candidate rule sets may be evaluated to produce metrics. One of the plurality of candidate rule sets may be assigned as the targeting rule set based on the metrics. A custom list of user may be formed using association rules. A user may be determined to belong to a segment by applying one or more rules of a targeting rule set to user attribute data. A custom list of cookies to show advertising may be formed using combinations of association rules.

Abstract: A method, system, and medium for managing modeled audience extension information that includes receiving tag information, the tag information comprising a user identifier corresponding to a user, a tag identifier, and one or more data values; adding the tag identifier and the one or more data values to a user object, wherein the user object is identified by the user identifier; assigning the user object to a segment based on the user object and a model, wherein the segment is identified by a segment identifier; and distributing the segment identifier and the user identifier to a market information buyer.

Abstract: Systems and techniques relating to interactive gaming are described. A described system includes one or more site servers providing game instances to one or more devices in communication with the one or more site servers via a wired network, a wireless network, or both. The system includes a server system in communication with the one or more site servers; and one or more wireless mobile devices in communication with the server system. The server system can be configured to provide information about one or more of the gaming instances at one or more sites to the one or more mobile devices; receive, from the one or more mobile devices, an indication of a selected gaming instance of the gaming instances; relay gaming information between the one or more site servers and the one or more mobile devices; and provide gaming content and one or more gaming functions to the site servers.

Abstract: A method and system for distributing a service center call. The method and system include hosting an electronic database of information regarding service agent availability, providing a user interface for allowing a service agent to update the database regarding the availability of the service agent to receive service calls, and receiving a customer service call request. To route the customer service call request, the method and system determines the location of a customer originating the customer service call request, determines availability of at least one service agent within a predetermined location threshold of the location of the customer, and routing the customer service call request to the local service agent or to a service agent outside of the predetermined location threshold of the location of the customer if there are no available service agents within the predetermined location threshold of the location of the customer.

Abstract: Systems and techniques relating to interactive gaming are described. A described system includes one or more site servers providing game instances to one or more devices in communication with the one or more site servers via a wired network, a wireless network, or both. The system includes a server system in communication with the one or more site servers; and one or more wireless mobile devices in communication with the server system. The server system can be configured to provide information about one or more of the gaming instances at one or more sites to the one or more mobile devices; receive, from the one or more mobile devices, an indication of a selected gaming instance of the gaming instances; relay gaming information between the one or more site servers and the one or more mobile devices; and provide gaming content and one or more gaming functions to the site servers.

Abstract: A method, system and software product allows the seller of products or services to offer variable pricing while still basing that pricing on the quantity selected by a buyer. It also provides the seller with the ability to adjust the per unit price of any given product or service along a calculated adjustment curve that would exist between price breaks. Two values need to be stored for each plot point on the adjustment curve, the “quantity percentile” and the “price percentile.” To calculate the quantity percentile, the seller determines the difference in quantities between the start price break and the end price break for the specific adjustment curve that is being plotted. The “price percentile” represents the amount of the difference between the start and end price break that will be used to discount the start price breaks price at the quantity level that was calculated in the quantity percentile.

Abstract: A virtual assembly design environment that simulates axial and planar constrained motion for multiple parts in any combination and application order. Dynamic simulation methods are used to simulate object behavior in the design environment using physical laws and collision detection algorithms. The physical properties, e.g., mass properties, of parts in an assembly are created in a separate CAD system. In one embodiment, physical property information is transferred from the CAD system to the virtual reality environment where it is used in dynamic simulations. The parts behave realistically in a user's hand, constrained on the base part, or moving freely in space. A swept volume can be generated directly in the CAD system. Real-time bi-directional data transfer between a VR environment and the CAD system is also provided. As a result, the user can perform parametric design modifications in the virtual environment by the use of a CAD system.

Abstract: A method performed by a computer-implemented purchasing system includes receiving a first user input from a seller indicating a product identification for each of a plurality of goods, and one or more pickup locations, receiving a second user input from a buyer selecting at least one of the goods and one of the pickup locations, automatically delivering the order from the purchasing system to a fulfiller having a storage area, receiving confirmation in the purchasing system that the at least one of the goods is physically present in the storage area and is available for sale, and automatically notifying the buyer that the at least one of the goods is available at a pickup location.

Abstract: An optical temperature compensated material level-interface sensing and control system which comprises an insertion probe (10), control circuitry and a housing enclosure (72). The probe (10) makes use of a pair of emitters and detectors, in which one pair is positioned across a channel (26) through which material passes and the other pair are mounted in a sealed tubular bracket. The first emitter and detector pair are optically active with respect to sensed material, and the other pair is optically isolated, but thermally active. The resulting signal is a function of the material's linear coefficient of absorption with the thermal influence being effectively canceled out. The outputs of the control circuit are user selectable and changeable. The device is able to detect material presence and identity for use in interface-level control applications through a wide range of pressures and temperatures in industrial applications.

Abstract: The present invention is an automatic filter cleaning system which includes a solvent dewaxing filter which removes wax from a wax mix slurry and provides a filtrate. Status control apparatus is connected to the filter for affecting the operational status of the filter. Drain apparatus responsive to a control signal controls draining of the filter. Cleaning apparatus is also connected to the filter. A control network connected to the status apparatus, the draining apparatus and the cleaning apparatus controls those apparatus in a manner so as to allow selective changing of the status of the filter from an operational state to a down state to automatically drain the filter and clean the filter while the filter is in the down state.