Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for generating alerts in association with a request to open an account for an individual. For example, information identifying an individual may be received from a financial entity in association with the financial entity receiving a request to open an account for the individual from a requesting entity. The requesting entity may be a vendor or service provider associated with the financial entity. An electronic notification may then be sent to the individual, which may include a selectable option to indicate that the individual does not authorize opening of the account. In response to receiving an indication that the individual does not authorize opening of the account, notifications may be sent to both the financial entity and the requesting entity indicating that the individual has not authorized opening of the account.

Abstract: A method performs directional signal processing for a hearing instrument. First and second input signals are generated by first and second input transducers, respectively, from a sound signal. The first front intermediate signal and a first rear intermediate signal are each formed from the first and second input signals. A first superposition of the first front intermediate signal and the first rear intermediate signal is formed by a complex-value first superposition parameter and is adapted based on the first superposition parameter. A complex value of the first superposition parameter resulting from the adaptation of the first superposition is converted into a first alternative parameter and a second alternative parameter. An output signal is generated based on the first alternative parameter, the limited second alternative parameter and a superposition of the first and second input signals.

Abstract: A computing device is configured to acquire or access credit or reporting data associated with a consumer. The computing device then is configured to analyze the credit or reporting data to determine reporting cycles for accounts associated with the consumer. For example, the computing device may determine that credit information for a particular account may be updated at a regular interval (e.g., once a month on the 3rd) or some other more complex cycle. The computing device can subsequently used the determined reporting cycles to predict the next reporting dates for respective accounts and provide the information, for instance, to the consumer.

Abstract: A method to implement traceability and provability on a particular project in software development based on blockchain-recorded transactions of assigned developer time, the method comprising of the following steps: setting up a blockchain network comprised of a distributed, redundant, and tamper-resistant ledger; issuing each user an attestable pre-fabricated and signed virtualized environment on approved hardware that comes with functionality required for the user's role implemented as one of a set of virtual machine templates fashioned from a signed and approved pre-fabricated image; and verifying that assigned developer time is valid, and if so, record each development action on the ledger to enable extensive tracking and auditing of end-to-end software development process.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a computing system, such as a monitoring computer, receives a request from a user to monitor an account of the user with an online service provider. The request may include personal information and user preferences for one or more protective actions. The system periodically monitors external data sources for indications of changes to personal information associated with the account, and detects changes or attempted changes to personal information associated with the account. The system may determine risk levels associated with detected changes or attempted changes, and transmit a notification to the user via a communication channel selected based on the determined risk level and/or the user preferences. The system may also initiate protective actions, so that further unauthorized access to the account may be prevented.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for adjustment of difficulty level, quantity, and/or other parameters of knowledge-based authentication. The questions may be asked of a consumer based on one or more generated risk scores associated with the consumer's behavior, which may be derived from information received from the consumer, a representative responsible for entering information regarding the consumer, and/or from the consumer's computing device.

Abstract: A sensor apparatus for detecting a target object influenced by a process or formed in the process includes a sensor unit and an evaluation device. The sensor unit detects the target object in a detection zone of the sensor unit and generates a sensor signal that can be influenced by the target object. The evaluation device processes the sensor signal as a first input variable and generates an output signal, which indicates the detection of the target object, in dependence on the sensor signal. The evaluation device further processes a process parameter of the process, which acts on the target object, or a target object parameter, which characterizes the target object and is influenced by the process, as a respective further input variable and to generate the output signal in dependence on the process parameter and/or the target object parameter.

Abstract: A hearing aid has at least two input transducers and at least one output transducer. The input transducers generate an input signal from a sound signal from the surroundings. At least two directional signals with different directional characteristics are formed from the input signals and the directional signals are examined for the presence of a useful signal. A first weighting factor is assigned to the directional signal with the largest signal component of the useful signal and a second weighting factor is assigned to the other directional signals. The directional signals are multiplied by the respectively assigned weighting factor, and an output signal is then formed from the multiplication result. The output signal is converted into a sound signal by the output transducer.

Abstract: A method to implement traceability and provability on a particular project in software development based on blockchain-recorded transactions of assigned developer time, the method comprising of the following steps: setting up a blockchain network comprised of a distributed, redundant, and tamper-resistant ledger; issuing each user an attestable pre-fabricated and signed virtualized environment on approved hardware that comes with functionality required for the user's role implemented as one of a set of virtual machine templates fashioned from a signed and approved pre-fabricated image; and verifying that assigned developer time is valid, and if so, record each development action on the ledger to enable extensive tracking and auditing of end- to-end software development process.

Abstract: An electrical contact element for a connector has a metallic base body and a wear layer applied to the base body. The wear layer consists of an alloy having the components 82-91% by weight nickel, 9-18% by weight phosphorous, and 0-1% by weight further alloy elements.

Abstract: An electrical contact element for a plug-in connector has a metallic base body and a wear layer applied to the base body. The wear layer consists of pure ruthenium or of an alloy with the components 50-100% w/w ruthenium, 0-30% w/w nickel, 0-20% w/w chromium, 0-20% w/w cobalt, 0-20% w/w platinum and 0-1% w/w further alloy elements. A metallic intermediary layer is arranged between the base body and the wear layer, which has a thickness ranging from 1.5 ?m to 4.0 ?m.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for adjustment of difficulty level, quantity, and/or other parameters of knowledge-based authentication. The questions may be asked of a consumer based on one or more generated risk scores associated with the consumer's behavior, which may be derived from information received from the consumer, a representative responsible for entering information regarding the consumer, and/or from the consumer's computing device.

Abstract: A sensor apparatus for detecting a target object influenced by a process or formed in the process includes a sensor unit and an evaluation device. The sensor unit detects the target object in a detection zone of the sensor unit and generates a sensor signal that can be influenced by the target object. The evaluation device processes the sensor signal as a first input variable and generates an output signal, which indicates the detection of the target object, in dependence on the sensor signal. The evaluation device further processes a process parameter of the process, which acts on the target object, or a target object parameter, which characterizes the target object and is influenced by the process, as a respective further input variable and to generate the output signal in dependence on the process parameter and/or the target object parameter.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for generating alerts in association with a request to open an account for an individual. For example, information identifying an individual may be received from a financial entity in association with the financial entity receiving a request to open an account for the individual from a requesting entity. The requesting entity may be a vendor or service provider associated with the financial entity. An electronic notification may then be sent to the individual, which may include a selectable option to indicate that the individual does not authorize opening of the account. In response to receiving an indication that the individual does not authorize opening of the account, notifications may be sent to both the financial entity and the requesting entity indicating that the individual has not authorized opening of the account.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a computing system, such as a monitoring computer, receives a request from a user to monitor an account of the user with an online service provider. The request may include personal information and user preferences for one or more protective actions. The system periodically monitors external data sources for indications of changes to personal information associated with the account, and detects changes or attempted changes to personal information associated with the account. The system may determine risk levels associated with detected changes or attempted changes, and transmit a notification to the user via a communication channel selected based on the determined risk level and/or the user preferences. The system may also initiate protective actions, so that further unauthorized access to the account may be prevented.

Abstract: Certain consumers may not have a credit report and, thus, may not be able to enroll in a credit monitoring service. A credit report monitoring system requests a credit report of consumers that are attempting to enroll in a credit monitoring service. If no credit report is located for the consumer, a credit report of the consumer is automatically periodically requested by the system. When a credit report is later located, the consumer may continue with enrollment in a credit report monitoring service. In this way, the consumer is alerted of the (possibly fraudulent) creation of a credit report and is quickly able to enroll in a credit monitoring service.

Abstract: A thermostat method includes receiving temperature readings from a remote temperature sensor; operating a processor in a first mode and a second mode, where the processor uses more average power when operating in the second mode than when operating in the first mode; and repeatedly transitioning the processor between operating in the first mode and operating in the second mode. Transitions from operating in the first mode to operating the second mode are caused at least in part by an expiration of a first time interval. The thermostat receives one or more of the temperature readings from the remote temperature sensor while the processor is operating in the second mode. The method also includes adjusting a length of the first time interval based at least in part on an estimate of how fast the temperature readings from the remote temperature sensor are approaching a threshold.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a computing system, such as a monitoring computer, receives a request from a user to monitor an account of the user with an online service provider. The request may include personal information and user preferences for one or more protective actions. The system periodically monitors external data sources for indications of changes to personal information associated with the account, and detects changes or attempted changes to personal information associated with the account. The system may determine risk levels associated with detected changes or attempted changes, and transmit a notification to the user via a communication channel selected based on the determined risk level and/or the user preferences. The system may also initiate protective actions, so that further unauthorized access to the account may be prevented.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a computer system receives credit information relating to a consumer, and calculates a credit score associated with the consumer. The system constructs a credit score scenario user interface. The system maintains a plurality of credit score simulation scenarios, and calculates a plurality of simulated credit scores associated with respective credit score simulation scenarios. The system also constructs a credit score simulation control interface. The system maintains a plurality of credit score simulation parameters, and generates a user interface with a graphical indication of the calculated credit score and a plurality of sliders, each slider being divided into segments that are colored to graphically indicate the likely effect of repositioning the slider within the respective segment. When the user repositions the sliders, the graphical indication of the calculated credit score is adjusted, based on a recalculation of the credit score.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for adjustment of difficulty level, quantity, and/or other parameters of knowledge-based authentication. The questions may be asked of a consumer based on one or more generated risk scores associated with the consumer's behavior, which may be derived from information received from the consumer, a representative responsible for entering information regarding the consumer, and/or from the consumer's computing device.