Abstract: A system and method implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code, includes receiving one or more bids for at least one of an enhanced rendering quality and an enhanced rendering order of an object in a virtual universe (VU) and performing a bid resolution for the received one or more bids. Additionally, the method includes rendering one or more objects in the VU with the at least one of the enhanced rendering quality and the enhanced rendering order based on the bid resolution.

Abstract: Systems and methods for advertising, and, more particularly, systems and methods for managing ephemeral locations in a virtual universe. A method for managing ephemeral locations in a virtual universe (VU) includes causing a computer infrastructure to: render an ephemeral location upon a triggering in the VU; teleport a VU user avatar to the ephemeral location; permit the user avatar to interact in the ephemeral location; teleport the user avatar out of the ephemeral location; and un-render the ephemeral location.

Abstract: A computer creates a prioritization list of a set of project functions, wherein each project function is associated with a priority level and an amount of resources. The computer detects a request, wherein the request includes a request to do one or more of alter one or more project functions of the set of project functions, add one or more project functions to the set of project functions, and remove one or more project functions from the set of project functions. The computer determines whether to allow the request based on at least on a comparison to the prioritization list.

Abstract: Security system devices are configured to retrieve historic first sensor data acquired from a protected area in response to receiving a threat alarm notification from a peer security system that is related to an area monitored by the peer security system, wherein the protected area is different from and geographically separate from the area monitored by the peer security system. The system devise determines that a security threat is indicated for the protected area by assessing the retrieved selection of historic first sensor data as a function of a relation of the threat alarm notification from the peer security system to the protected area, wherein assessing the historic first sensor data without the function of the relation of the threat alarm notification from the peer security system to the protected area results in determining that the security threat is not indicated for the protected area.

Abstract: A system and method for disabling a function of a feature of a vehicle based on a validation request to a centralized validation authority, prior to a use of the feature includes determining that a condition is met as part of a startup sequence of the vehicle, transmitting the validation request to the centralized validation authority, in response to determining the condition is met, wherein the validation request is part of the startup sequence of the vehicle, receiving a validation decision from the centralized validation authority, and disabling the feature of the vehicle as a function of the receiving the validation decision.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include method, systems and computer program products for obtaining a scene from a database. Aspects of the invention include receiving a search request for a scene stored in a database including annotated video content. One or more keywords are extracted from the search request. Extended keywords are generated for each keyword. The extended keywords and keywords are compared to the annotated video content to identify target scenes including target scene annotations. A confidence rating is assigned to each of the target scenes based at least in part on a correlation between the target scene annotations for each of the target scenes and the extended keywords and keywords. And at least one of the target scenes are displayed to the user, wherein the at least one of the target scenes is determined based on the confidence ratings.

Abstract: Approaches that manage energy in a data center are provided. In one embodiment, there is an energy management tool, including an analysis component configured to determine a current energy profile of each of a plurality of systems within the data center, the current energy profile comprising an overall rating expressed as an integer value, the overall rating calculated based on a current workload usage and environmental conditions surrounding each of the plurality of systems; and a priority component configured to prioritize a routing of a workload to a set of systems from the plurality of systems within the data center having the least amount of energy present based on a comparison of the overall ratings for each of the plurality of systems within the data center.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides for multiple service classes within a controllable transit system (e.g., a PRT system), by route allocation according to service class priority. Routes are optimized for vehicles needing or entitled to the highest service level, then remaining capacity is used to optimize routes for the next lower service class. Such optimization can be extended indefinitely, through “N” service classes of service. In addition, an embodiment of the invention allows the cataloging of PRT capacity and vehicle types/roles/emissions, as well as related business models. The system provided hereunder provides a means of ensuring that various service classes of system users can be given treatment according to the service class in which they reside. Such prioritization leads to a more flexible system, with higher user satisfaction and a greater number of available business models (e.g., “pay for service class”) permissible within the transit system.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for analyzing cognitive status. The method includes capturing a set of observables for a subject based on their interaction with smart objects, such as smart blocks or smart items. The method further includes accessing data sets, such as medical data about cognitive function, scientific data about cognitive function, and historical data for the subject, analyzing the set of observables, and generating a report about the cognitive abilities of the subject based on the analysis.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a circuit board enclosed in an encasing with processors and memory, configured to receive and analyze data, and containing computer logic capable of receiving and analyzing data.

Abstract: A technical solution for providing data associated with a predetermined, finite lifetime for access via a distributed ledger is provided. A member computing entity receives a submission provided by a supplying member computing entity associated with a supplying member of a distributed ledger; generates a token and attributing the token to a member account corresponding to the supplying member; attributes a value to the token; and makes the submitted instance of data available for access via the distributed ledger. The submission comprises a submitted instance of data. The submitted instance of data (a) is configured to be provided to a consuming member computing entity via the distributed ledger and (b) is associated with a predetermined lifetime. The value of the token changes with time based on (a) a remaining lifetime of the submitted instance of data, (b) a depreciation policy/protocol corresponding to the distributed ledger, or (c) both.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for item inquiry and information presentation via standard communication paths. More particularly, the method and system detects an item associated with an avatar of a virtual universe (VU) user in a VU and determine information associated with the item. Additionally, the method and system are operable to display the information in the VU in a high-resolution component of the VU.

Abstract: A system and method of discovery, validation and delivery of power to an electronic device through a universal power center is provided. The method comprises providing a power tip for an electronic device with a unique identification and broadcasting the unique identification to a power center. The method further includes verifying the unique identification and connection location of the electronic device, determining power requirements for the connected electronic device based on the unique identification and connection location, and delivering power to the electronic device based on the determined power requirements.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, apparatus and computer program product of question generation in a cognitive system, comprising: receiving a training question; applying rules of grammar and common usage to generate variants of the training question; identifying any generalized versions of specific words, such as verbs or nouns in the training question; identifying any questions related to the training question; filtering out, utilizing a classifier, generated variants which do not make sense; and providing one or more output questions, synonymous to the training question.

Abstract: A method and system for representing data includes providing a data representation according to defined variables and a functional relationship between the defined variables and receiving an assigned weight assigned to a defined variable. The method includes receiving a modification of a selected defined variable, and providing a further data representation according to a recalculation of an unselected defined variable, based upon the functional relationship, the assigned weight and the modified variable. Assigned weights and a plurality of modifications of the weighted variable are received. A further data representation is provided according to a further recalculation of the weighted variable based upon a weight selected from the assigned weights according to a previous modification of the weighted variable.

Abstract: A virtual universe system has a system and method for identifying spam avatars based upon the avatar's behavior characteristics through the use of Turing tests. The system may provide a Turing test unit for performing Turing tests and an analysis unit that compares the behavior characteristics of new or newly changed avatars against the behavior characteristics of known spam avatars to determine if the avatar has known spam avatar characteristics. It may further have a scoring system to calculate a spam score based upon similarities of the comparison and identifying the avatar as a spam avatar based upon the calculated spam score. It may further compare the calculated spam score with a spam score threshold wherein the avatar is identified as a spam avatar if the calculated spam score is equal to or greater than the calculated spam score.

Abstract: A system and method in a virtual universe (VU) system for identifying spam avatars based upon the avatars' multimedia characteristics may have a table that stores multimedia characteristics of known spam avatars. It further may have an analysis unit that compares the multimedia characteristics of avatars against the multimedia characteristics of known spam avatars to determine if the avatar has known spam avatar characteristics. It may further have a scoring system to calculate a spam score based upon the similarities of the comparison and identifying the avatar as a spam avatar based upon the calculated spam score. It may further compare the calculated spam score with a spam score threshold wherein the avatar is identified as a spam avatar if the calculated spam score is equal to or greater than the calculated spam score. Multimedia characteristics include graphics, audio, movement, interactivity, voice, etc.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for providing information during content breakpoints in a virtual universe. The system comprises a placement engine configured to detect a content breakpoint within a virtual universe, which is defined as at least one of a login process, a logoff process, a teleportation, a wait state, and during any point where a user changes information streams in the virtual universe. The system also comprises an insertion resolution engine configured to create a list of prioritized information to present to a user within the virtual universe and an information definition engine configured to present the prioritized information to the user of the virtual universe during the content breakpoint.

Abstract: An approach that provides interactive product evaluation and service within a virtual universe is described. In one embodiment, there is an evaluation indicating component that is configured to permit an owner of a virtual universe product to indicate a desire to have at least one avatar in the virtual universe evaluate the virtual universe product. An evaluation generating component is configured to generate an invitation that requests an evaluation of the virtual universe product. An evaluation collecting component is configured to collect the evaluation of the virtual universe product.

Abstract: Systems and methods for cognitive emergency task coordination are disclosed. In embodiments, computer-implemented method comprises: receiving, by a computing device, participant data from one or more participant devices; inferring, by the computing device, skills or expertise of one or more available participants based on the participant data; generating, by the computing device, a task list including tasks associated with an emergency; assigning, by the computing device, select participants of the one or more available participants to one or more of the tasks in the task list based on the inferred skills or expertise; and sending, by the computing device, coordination data to the select participants, the coordination data including information regarding the one or more of the tasks assigned to the respective select participants.