Abstract: A user input pertaining to a question is received. Based on the question a new message is generated and posted in at least one web based forum. Responses to the new message are monitored and analyzed to determine whether, for each response, the response pertains to a subject of the question. Responsive to determining that at least one response pertains to the subject of the question, information contained in the response is presented to the user.

Abstract: One or more processors receive data from one or more devices including an image of an individual and information that indicates the identity of the individual. One or both of the image and the information include data that indicates a location. One or more processors analyze the image of an individual and the information to generate a set of identifying characteristics for the individual. Based on a result of the analysis, one or more processors determine whether the set of identifying characteristics of the individual matches a recorded set of identifying characteristics of that individual within a threshold. In response to a determination that there is a match within the threshold, one or more processors associate the location with the individual.

Abstract: A user input pertaining to a question of whether a first electronic product is interoperable with a second electronic product is received. Based on the question a new message is generated and posted in at least one web based forum. The new message asks whether the first electronic product is interoperable with the second electronic product. Responses to the new message are monitored and analyzed to determine whether, for each response, the response pertains to the interoperability of the first electronic product with the second electronic product. Responsive to determining that at least one response pertains to the interoperability of the first electronic product with the second electronic product, information indicating whether the first electronic product is interoperable with a second electronic product, based on the response to the new message posted in the web based forum, is presented to the user.

Abstract: A system for performs video analytics by receiving a video stream from a video capture device over a network to a server remotely located from a video capture device. The server extracts the one or more metrics by analyzing the video stream. The server compares the extracted one or more metrics from the video stream from the video stream against at least one previously established value defined at the server as part of assessing a previously established condition, defined at the server, to generate either a TRUE or a FALSE result. Responsive to a TRUE result, the server automatically performs a notification action that conveys a notification to a remotely located device of a previously designated user when the previously established condition is automatically detected by the analytics engine. Responsive to a FALSE comparison result, the server does not performing the notification action to the remotely located device.

Abstract: A video surveillance system ingests a video stream from a remotely located video capture device. An application programming interface (API) provides an interface for functions to interface between the video surveillance system and the remotely located video capture device. An analytics engine of the video surveillance system receives video sent through the API. The analytics engine compares an extracted metric from the video stream against at least one previously established value as part of assessing a previously established condition to generate either a TRUE or a FALSE result. When and only when a TRUE result is generated, is a notification action performed that conveys a notification over a network using internet protocol communications to a previously designated user.

Abstract: One or more processors receive data from one or more devices including an image of an individual and information that indicates the identity of the individual. One or both of the image and the information include data that indicates a location. One or more processors analyze the image of an individual and the information to generate a set of identifying characteristics for the individual. Based on a result of the analysis, one or more processors determine whether the set of identifying characteristics of the individual matches a recorded set of identifying characteristics of that individual within a threshold. In response to a determination that there is a match within the threshold, one or more processors associate the location with the individual.

Abstract: A parking lot information system comprising a digital camera for obtaining an image of parking spaces in the parking lot where each parking space is marked with a visual identifier, a computer coupled to the digital camera for identifying available parking spaces by recognizing the identifiers marking the available parking spaces, and a display coupled to the computer for displaying information on the available parking spaces.

Abstract: A floor operations automation system can include an intelligent video module, profiles, decision rules, and a decision module. The intelligent video module can be configured to generate video analytics data from video captured by video cameras within a retail location. The profiles can contain data that represents a business practice or policy of the retail location and/or user-specified preferences for decision-related variables. The decision rules can express actions to be performed in response to predefined conditions within the retail location. The decision module can be configured to decide upon action to be performed, based upon the video analytics data, the profiles, and the decision rules. The decision can be made without direct input from a human agent of the retail location. The actions can affect a business system and/or a human agent associated with the retail location.

Abstract: A video surveillance system ingests a video stream from a remotely located video capture device. An application programming interface (API) provides an interface for functions to interface between the video surveillance system and the remotely located video capture device. An analytics engine of the video surveillance system receives video sent through the API. The analytics engine compares an extracted metric from the video stream against at least one previously established value as part of assessing a previously established condition to generate either a TRUE or a FALSE result. When and only when a TRUE result is generated, is a notification action performed that conveys a notification over a network using internet protocol communications to a previously designated user.

Abstract: A method for improving the usability of product feedback data can begin with the receipt of product feedback search parameters by an intelligent product feedback analytics tool. The product feedback search parameters can represent a product or a group of products. Product feedback search results having a rating value and/or textual feedback content can be obtained for the product feedback search parameters. For each product in the search results, a composite rating value can be synthesized from the rating values contained in the search results. For each product in the search results, the product feedback search results can be analyzed for analytic parameters using natural language processing techniques. An analytic parameter can represent a commonality within a subset of the search results. The product feedback search results, composite rating values, and analytic parameters can be presented within a user interface, providing context for the composite rating value.

Abstract: A video stream is received over a network from a remotely located video capture device. The video stream is processed in real-time or near real time. The processing of the video stream extracts at least one metric from content of the video stream. The extracted metric is compared against at least one previously established value to generate either a TRUE or a FALSE result. Responsive to a TRUE result, at least one programmatic action is automatically initiated. The previously established value, the programmatic action, or both are user configurable. The programmatic action is a real time or a near real time action resulting from analyzing content of the video stream. Responsive to a FALSE comparison result, the at least one programmatic action is not automatically initiated.

Abstract: A good selected by a shopper within a commerce session can be identified. The commerce session can be associated with a provider. The provider can be associated with a product and/or a service. The commerce session can be associated with an e-commerce Web site and a physical retail site. Historic purchase data associated with the good can be determined. The historic purchase data can be associated with the shopper. A purchase pattern for the good can be established based on at least one of the historic purchase data and a personalization profile. The personalization profile can include a user preference and/or an event data associated with an event. The event can affect the future purchasing behavior of the shopper. A recommendation based on the purchase pattern can be provided. The recommendation can benefit the purchasing behavior of the shopper.

Abstract: A ratings device in a purchase environment receives a rating of goods, and writes the rating of goods to a physical medium. A point of sale device in the purchase environment reads the rating of goods from the physical medium and transmits the rating of goods to a ratings server. The ratings server can integrate and distribute the rating. The ratings device can include a scale configured to weigh a portion of the goods, logic configured to price the portion of goods based at least in part on the weight of the portion of goods, a user interface configured to receive a rating of goods of the type of the portion of goods, and a writer configured to write the rating to the physical medium.

Abstract: A method for providing location-relevant goal fulfillment messages to a mobile device can begin with a location-based goal coaching system receiving location data for a mobile device. When inside a non-residential location, a proximate area map for the mobile device can be dynamically generated using the received location data. The proximate area map can express a position of the mobile device within the non-residential location and points of interest or items within a predefined radius of the mobile device. Elements of the proximate area map that are relevant to a goal expressed in a previously defined user-specific goal profile can be identified. For each goal having a relevant identified element, a goal fulfillment recommendation can be created. The goal fulfillment recommendation can then be conveyed to the mobile device, making the user aware of the nearby presence of the item or point of interest and its relationship to the goal.

Abstract: A method for electronically providing targeted messages can begin when a source-concealing targeted messaging system receives data items provided by a source user that define a targeted message that is to be presented within a social media context. The data items can include a set of recipients, a message body, and a set of trigger conditions indicating when the targeted message is to be presented to the recipients. The recipients can be members of a contact list of the source user within the social media system providing the social media context. Satisfaction of the trigger conditions can be monitored and the social media system can be monitored recipients. When the trigger conditions are satisfied and a recipient is currently using the social media system, the targeted message can be presented within a user interface of the social media system, such that the source user appears unaffiliated with the targeted message.

Abstract: An event within a surveilled area, a physically bounded region, can be detected in real-time. The event can be outside the field of view of a camera associated with the surveilled area. The event can be detected by a fiber optic sensor within the surveilled area which can measure an event metrics. Event information associated with the event can be received which can include a timing information, a sensor measurement, and a location information. An adjustment operation associated with the camera can be determined utilizing a mapping and the event location. The adjustment operation can be associated with a camera functionality and an adjustment value. The mapping can include a camera identification value, a camera location, and a field of view dimension. The field of view of the camera can be adjusted dynamically which can result in the location of the event being within the field of view.

Abstract: A parking lot information system comprising a digital camera for obtaining an image of parking spaces in the parking lot where each parking space is marked with a visual identifier, a computer coupled to the digital camera for identifying available parking spaces by recognizing the identifiers marking the available parking spaces, and a display coupled to the computer for displaying information on the available parking spaces.

Abstract: A parking lot information system comprising a digital camera for obtaining an image of parking spaces in the parking lot where each parking space is marked with a visual identifier, a computer coupled to the digital camera for identifying available parking spaces by recognizing the identifiers marking the available parking spaces, and a display coupled to the computer for displaying information on the available parking spaces.

Abstract: A video stream is received over a network from a remotely located video capture device. The video stream is processed in real-time or near real time. The processing of the video stream extracts at least one metric from content of the video stream. The extracted metric is compared against at least one previously established value to generate either a TRUE or a FALSE result. Responsive to a TRUE result, at least one programmatic action is automatically initiated. The previously established value, the programmatic action, or both are user configurable. The programmatic action is a real time or a near real time action resulting from analyzing content of the video stream. Responsive to a FALSE comparison result, the at least one programmatic action is not automatically initiated.

Abstract: A method for improving the usability of product feedback data can begin with the receipt of product feedback search parameters by an intelligent product feedback analytics tool. The product feedback search parameters can represent a product or a group of products. Product feedback search results having a rating value and/or textual feedback content can be obtained for the product feedback search parameters. For each product in the search results, a composite rating value can be synthesized from the rating values contained in the search results. For each product in the search results, the product feedback search results can be analyzed for analytic parameters using natural language processing techniques. An analytic parameter can represent a commonality within a subset of the search results. The product feedback search results, composite rating values, and analytic parameters can be presented within a user interface, providing context for the composite rating value.