Abstract: In a system and method of patient flow and treatment management, information regarding a patient admitted to a first unit of a patient treatment facility that is received into a first one of a number of user devices is dispatched to a server computer. Upon receipt of this patient information the server computer runs (desirably in real-time) a prediction application/algorithm that predicts an estimate of (1) the patient needing a resource in the first unit or a second unit of the facility, (2) a length of time before the patient needs the resource, and/or (3) an identity of the unit that has the needed resource. The server computer then dispatches (again, desirably in real-time) one or more of the predictions to one or more of the user devices, each of which receives and displays the prediction on a display thereof.

Abstract: Predicting future sales of a product includes determining a first, historical sales rate curve of historical sales of the product and determining a second sales rate curve for a time t from sales of the product occurring up to a time t?1. The second sales rate curve is determined for a window of time W that includes time t, the window of time W has a shorter duration than the first sales rate curve, and the first and second sales rate curves are for different periods of time. The second sales rate curve is compared to the first sales rate curve and a section of the first sales rate curve is identified based on predetermined criteria for the comparison. Future sales of the product are predicted as a function of a portion of the first sales rate curve in time after the identified section of the first sales rate curve.

Abstract: In a method and system of service management, a radiative sensor is positioned to observe an area of interest. At least one frame of data of the area of interest is electronically acquired from the radiative sensor. The acquired frame of data is electronically processing to determine the presence or absence of at least one object in the area of interest. Based on the presence or absence of the object in the area of interest, (1) an alert is electronically caused to be generated in response to also electronically detecting another object in another area of interest, and/or (2) a timer is electronically caused to initiate or terminate counting a period of time.

Abstract: In a method and system of service management, a radiative sensor is positioned to observe an area of interest. At least one frame of data of the area of interest is electronically acquired from the radiative sensor. The acquired frame of data is electronically processing to determine the presence or absence of at least one object in the area of interest. Based on the presence or absence of the object in the area of interest, (1) an alert is electronically caused to be generated in response to also electronically detecting another object in another area of interest, and/or (2) a timer is electronically caused to initiate or terminate counting a period of time.

Abstract: In a system and method of patient flow and treatment management, information regarding a patient admitted to a first unit of a patient treatment facility that is received into a first one of a number of user devices is dispatched to a server computer. Upon receipt of this patient information the server computer runs (desirably in real-time) a prediction application/algorithm that predicts an estimate of (1) the patient needing a resource in the first unit or a second unit of the facility, (2) a length of time before the patient needs the resource, and/or (3) an identity of the unit that has the needed resource. The server computer then dispatches (again, desirably in real-time) one or more of the predictions to one or more of the user devices, each of which receives and displays the prediction on a display thereof.

Abstract: In a method and system of controlling patient care logistics, a computer determines for each of a number of user devices a unique priority sorted list of queue tasks on the basis of global criterion. Each user device is dispatched the unique priority sorted list of queue tasks determined for the user device. In response to receiving a change in at least one global criterion, the computer determines for each user device either an amendment to the unique priority sorted list of queue tasks for the user of the user device or a new unique priority sorted list of queue tasks for the user of the user device, and then dispatches the unique priority sorted list of queue to the user device.

Abstract: Predicting future sales of a product includes determining a first, historical sales rate curve of historical sales of the product and determining a second sales rate curve for a time t from sales of the product occurring up to a time t?1. The second sales rate curve is determined for a window of time W that includes time t, the window of time W has a shorter duration than the first sales rate curve, and the first and second sales rate curves are for different periods of time. The second sales rate curve is compared to the first sales rate curve and a section of the first sales rate curve is identified based on predetermined criteria for the comparison. Future sales of the product are predicted as a function of a portion of the first sales rate curve in time after the identified section of the first sales rate curve.

Abstract: A computer-assisted method for determining a position and orientation a sensor relative to a scene. The sensor has a plurality of degrees of freedom in position and orientation relative to the scene. The method includes sensing an image of the scene, the sensed image having a plurality of regions such that a sum of degrees of independent constraint of the plurality of regions equals or exceeds the degrees of freedom in position and orientation of the sensor relative to the scene, comparing the plurality of regions of the sensed image to a plurality of regions of a first image of the scene stored in a map, the first stored image representative of a position and orientation of the sensor relative to the scene, and determining sensor position and orientation based on the comparing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining position is comprised of the steps of capturing an image related to the present position and comparing the captured image with one or more images from an iconic map. The iconic map is a map which stores images of a substantially flat surface over which a robot or vehicle is to operate. The stored images contain randomly occurring characteristics such as the fibers in a carpet, brush marks appearing in brushed concrete, and the like. Although such naturally occurring features are essentially random, when analyzed in small enough images, each image becomes unique. The position is determined based upon the image from the map which provides the highest correlation. Speed, wheel slippage, and other parameters can be calculated using the disclosed method.