Abstract: A method of managing access to a physical mailing address using a virtual mailing address is presented. The method includes: setting up a proxy system as a server, assigning, by a server, a virtual mailing address identifier to natural or juristic person that registers with the server; linking, by the server, a physical mailing address entered by the user to the virtual mailing address identifier to generate the virtual mailing address; and enabling, by the server, a second natural person to manually access the physical mailing address when the server determines that the second user has permission to access the virtual mailing address; enabling, by the server, an institute or business (juristic person) to access the physical mailing address automatically using an Application programming interface (API) through a computer system when the server determines that the second user has permission to access the virtual mailing address.

Abstract: A method of managing access to a physical mailing address using a virtual mailing address is presented. The method includes: setting up a proxy system as a server, assigning, by a server, a virtual mailing address identifier to natural or juristic person that registers with the server; linking, by the server, a physical mailing address entered by the user to the virtual mailing address identifier to generate the virtual mailing address; and enabling, by the server, a second natural person to manually access the physical mailing address when the server determines that the second user has permission to access the virtual mailing address; enabling, by the server, an institute or business (juristic person) to access the physical mailing address automatically using an Application programming interface (API) through a computer system when the server determines that the second user has permission to access the virtual mailing address.

Abstract: Mechanisms are provided, in a hierarchical feedback aggregation (HFA) system implemented in one or more data processing systems, for collecting and presenting user feedback information for a composite offering. A backend engine of the HFA system, implemented in a first data processing system, registers a hierarchical feedback model for the composite offering. A frontend engine of the HFA system, implemented in a second data processing system, receives user feedback for an identified component of the composite offering. The backend engine of the HFA system generates an aggregate user feedback score for the identified component based on a combination of the user feedback for the identified component and aggregate user feedback scores for child components of the identified component in the hierarchical feedback model. The backend engine outputs a representation of the generated aggregate user feedback score for the component to a user.

Abstract: Mechanisms are provided, in a hierarchical feedback aggregation (HFA) system implemented in one or more data processing systems, for collecting and presenting user feedback information for a composite offering. A backend engine of the HFA system, implemented in a first data processing system, registers a hierarchical feedback model for the composite offering. A frontend engine of the HFA system, implemented in a second data processing system, receives user feedback for an identified component of the composite offering. The backend engine of the HFA system generates an aggregate user feedback score for the identified component based on a combination of the user feedback for the identified component and aggregate user feedback scores for child components of the identified component in the hierarchical feedback model. The backend engine outputs a representation of the generated aggregate user feedback score for the component to a user.

Abstract: Traceability management to align IT solution artifacts with business goals in a service oriented architecture environment is provided. A pattern matching framework is provided for generating patterns and transformation enablers for architectural artifacts based on specific business requirements. Patterns that are applicable to a selected set of artifacts or model are provided to an architect, who may then select a particular subset of the patterns to apply to the set of artifacts or model in the SOA solution design to speed up and simplify the design process. Providing applicable or candidate patterns for selection to the architect in the views reduces the possible ambiguity in architectural artifact-pattern matching and selection. These solution patterns may be used as a guide when configuring and linking architectural artifacts and models.

Abstract: Techniques for quantifying the quality of trend lines. A method includes defining a collection of reference data sets derived from multiple historical projects in a similar subject area as the target project, defining one or more indicators of data set applicability to a target project estimation, said defining based on multiple characteristics of the target project, evaluating applicability of each of the reference data sets based on the one or more indicators, and identifying one or more of the reference data sets as applicable for use in the target project estimation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel system and method to select software components. A set of available software components are accessed. Next, one or more dimensions are defined. Each dimension is an attribute to the set of available software components. A set of coherence distances between each pair of the available software components in the set of available software components is calculated for each of the dimensions that have been defined. Each of the coherence distances are combined between each pair of the available software components that has been calculated in the set of the coherence distances into an overall coherence degree for each of the available software components. Using the overall coherence degree, one or more software components are selected to be included in a software bundle.

Abstract: Automated topology formation in a dynamic distributed environment. The automatic topology formation includes receiving by an application of a first entity having an initial topology role, topology information from a master node. The first entity has an initial topology role and the received topology information varies based the initial topology role. A local topology representation information is derived from the received topology information wherein the local topology representation information comprises any one of: a first entity topology role as any one of a not-a-node, root node, a prime node or a leaf node for the topology; a list of entities that are parents of the first entity in the topology, or a list of entities that are subordinates to the first entity in the topology; and setting the local topology representation information at the first entity.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for distributing task assignments on a computer network comprising a client grid having at least one server coupled to at least one client node and a plurality of client computers coupled to the client node through a plurality of monitoring agents. Each monitoring agent collects data regarding the resources a particular client computer makes available to the grid and transmits the data to the grid server when the client computer requests a grid task. The system generates a resource probability distribution based on the historical computing resource data and employs a scheduling algorithm to distribute grid tasks to the client computers using at least the probability distribution.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel system and method to select software components. A set of available software components are accessed. Next, one or more dimensions are defined. Each dimension is an attribute to the set of available software components. A set of coherence distances between each pair of the available software components in the set of available software components is calculated for each of the dimensions that have been defined. Each of the coherence distances are combined between each pair of the available software components that has been calculated in the set of the coherence distances into an overall coherence degree for each of the available software components. Using the overall coherence degree, one or more software components are selected to be included in a software bundle.

Abstract: Apparatus and articles of manufacture for quantifying the quality of trend lines include defining a collection of reference data sets derived from multiple historical projects in a similar subject area as the target project, defining one or more indicators of data set applicability to a target project estimation, said defining based on multiple characteristics of the target project, evaluating applicability of each of the reference data sets based on the one or more indicators, and identifying one or more of the reference data sets as applicable for use in the target project estimation.

Abstract: Techniques, apparatus and articles of manufacture for quantifying the quality of trend lines. A method includes defining a collection of reference data sets derived from multiple historical projects in a similar subject area as the target project, defining one or more indicators of data set applicability to a target project estimation, said defining based on multiple characteristics of the target project, evaluating applicability of each of the reference data sets based on the one or more indicators, and identifying one or more of the reference data sets as applicable for use in the target project estimation.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus and an article of manufacture for modeling a task-site allocation. The method includes generating a task-site allocation network based on at least one site-task pair and at least one site-centric constraint of at least two sites, wherein generating a task-site allocation network comprises generating a task-specific constraints model based on task context information and generating a task-site pair that satisfies at least one constraint based on the task-specific constraints model, and determining a preferred allocation of task to site by comparing estimated task-site allocation cost between a single site allocation and a distributed site allocation among the at least two sites.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, system and/or computer program product automatically allocates resources to functional areas of an enterprise activity environment. A skill level of a resource is determined for multiple functional areas. An affinity index is created and associated with each of the multiple functional areas, wherein the affinity index is based on a level of productivity drop of other resources in a specific functional area if the resource is assigned to another functional area. Expected resource and skill level requirements of a project are identified. The resource is automatically allocated to one or more functional areas based on the affinity index associated with a particular functional area in view of the expected resource and skill level requirements.

Abstract: Techniques for implementing a location-based service include obtaining meta-information from a service provider comprising location-based service information, service provider contact information, and service provider authentication information, combining the meta-information into a message and encoding the message into a series of signals to be broadcast for implementing the service over an ad hoc environment, wherein in the environment there exists no pre-existing communication infrastructure and no pre-defined relationship between the service provider and one or more service receivers, broadcasting the series of signals as a message to service receivers in the ad hoc environment, enabling the service receiver to identify potential services using filters based on signal strength, computed distance, and/or service category, and facilitating a communication between the service provider and a service receiver via enabling the receiver to use the contact information to identify the service provider and the auth

Abstract: A computer implemented method, system and/or computer program product automatically allocate resources to functional areas of an enterprise activity environment. A skill level of a resource is determined for multiple functional areas. A unique ramp-up index is associated with each of the multiple functional areas. An affinity index is associated with each of the multiple functional areas, wherein the affinity index is based on a level of productivity drop of other resources in a specific functional area if the resource is assigned to another functional area. Expected resource and skill level requirements of a project are identified, and a cohesion index is defined. The cohesion index measures the disruption that may result from adding the resource to or removing the resource from a functional area.

Abstract: A system includes at least one wireless client device, a service manager, and a plurality of voice transcription servers. The service manager includes a resource management service and a profile management service. The client device communicates the presence of a voice transcription task to the resource management service. The resource management service surveys the plurality of voice transcription servers and selects one voice transcription server based on a set of predefined criteria. The resource management service then communicated an address of the selected server to the profile management service, which then transmits a trained voice profile or default profile to the selected server. The address of the selected server is then sent to the client device, which then transmits an audio stream to the server. Finally, the selected server transcribes the audio stream to a textual format.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, system, and/or computer program product collaboratively reallocate resources across business modules. A collaboration vector, which describes primary and second abilities for each of multiple resources, is defined. A decision matrix is created from multiple collaboration vectors, and a pipeline for transferring the multiple resources among multiple business modules is defined based on the decision matrix. A recurring time interval to measure an effectiveness of the multiple business modules is defined, and the multiple resources are reallocated according to a measured effectiveness of the multiple business modules. The collaborative matrix is optimized to reflect reallocation of the multiple resources.

Abstract: Each work item from a group of work items is categorized as either complex or intense, and a unique work requirement statement is derived for each work item based on whether it is complex or intense. A unique resource value statement is assigned to different human resources. Past performances of the human resources are analyzed against completed work items in order to adjust the unique resource value statement, thus creating updated human resource value statements. An optimized work requirement statement is created by recalculating the unique work requirement statement for each work item based on the updated human resource value statements. A schedule for automated allocation of human resources to functional areas of an enterprise activity environment and scheduling of work items to the functional areas is formulated based on the optimized requirement statement for each work item in the group of work items.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus and an article of manufacture for modeling a task-site allocation. The method includes generating a task-site allocation network based on at least one site-task pair and at least one site-centric constraint of at least two sites, wherein generating a task-site allocation network comprises generating a task-specific constraints model based on task context information and generating a task-site pair that satisfies at least one constraint based on the task-specific constraints model, and determining a preferred allocation of task to site by comparing estimated task-site allocation cost between a single site allocation and a distributed site allocation among the at least two sites.