Abstract: A method and system are described for creating and maintaining a firewall subscription service. A firewall is established within the firewall service. Customers are permitted to subscribe to the firewall subscription service. Each subscriber is an independent, paying party. A subscriber may subscribe to protect one or more computer systems. The firewall offers a particular level of security to a subscriber's computer systems when the subscriber's computer systems are communicating with an external network. All communications transmitted to any of the subscriber's computer systems utilizing the external network are received first by the firewall. The firewall is utilized to protect the subscriber's computer systems when the subscriber's computer systems receive communications transmitted utilizing the external network.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for a datamining service vendor to provide subscribing power customers with electrical consumption data services. The system and method provide a mechanism by which electrical consumption is measured at the point of consumption over incremental periods of time. Customers can subscribe to a datamining service vendor which monitors and collects customer electrical consumption data at each addressed location within the customer's electrical network and provides the customer with a detailed report of power consumption statistics and trends. This allows the customer to make informed consumption choices resulting in cost savings to the customer and conservation of power generation resources.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, method and computer program product for determining optimum routing of vehicles based on historical information as well as user preferences and current travel conditions. Historical data is compiled and statistically analyzed to determiner characteristics of each possible route between two points. The characteristic information is then used along with user preference information and current travel condition information to determine an optimum route between the two points.

Abstract: A system for buying and selling merchandise includes a network having a plurality of user terminals, a memory device for storing a predetermined event for the merchandise, and at least one processor, accessible by the plurality of user terminals, for automatically adjusting a price of the merchandise based on the predetermined event, and matching buyers with the merchandise to facilitate a transaction.

Abstract: A method, system, and product are described for locating items which satisfy a general requirement and then ranking those items according to the utility of each type of item. A general requirement is first received. A utility is specified for each of multiple types of items which would satisfy the general requirement. Available items are then located which match one of the specified types of items. The located available items are then ranked utilizing the utility specified for the types of items.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and computer program product are provided for automatically determining the limitations of an individual for receiving and interpreting information and then providing information content to the individual in a format that is understandable to the individual. The apparatus, method and computer program product make use of a mechanism for identifying the limitations of the individual. The mechanism may itself inform an information source of the limitations of the individual or the mechanism may be used in conjunction with a user profile to identify the limitations of the individual and the preferred information content format to use with the individual. Based on this determination, a format for the information content from the information source may be selected and used to output the information content to the individual. The selection of the format may include enhancing one or more aspects of a standard format and decreasing one or more other aspects of the standard format.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating an itinerary. User values assigned to a set of factors relating to travel from a first location to a second location are identified. These user values are compared to travel data for a route of travel from the first location to the second location to form a score.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for a remotely monitored and operated avatar is provided. The avatar is provided with one or more sensors for sensing environmental conditions of the environment in which the avatar is located. The one or more sensors send sensor data to a data processing system in the avatar which may perform processing and analysis on the sensor data to determine instructions for controlling the operation of the avatar such that the avatar interacts with an entity under observation. In addition, the avatar may transmit the sensor data to a remote assisted living server and/or remote observation center. The remote assisted living server and/or remote observation center may then perform processing and analysis of the sensor data to generate instructions which are transmitted to the avatar. In this way, the processing and analysis of the sensor data may be distributed amongst the avatar, the remote assisted living server, and the remote observation center, or any portion thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, method and computer program product for determining optimum routing of vehicles based on historical information as well as user preferences and current travel conditions. Historical data is compiled and statistically analyzed to determiner characteristics of each possible route between two points. The characteristic information is then used along with user preference information and current travel condition information to determine an optimum route between the two points. These characteristics provide an indicator to a traveler of the most probable experience they will encounter when traveling along a route under various conditions. Thus, a more complete determination of an optimum route may be determined in view of preferences of a user and experiences of other travelers, than the mere determination of shortest route or shortest travel time as in the prior art.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for a datamining service vendor to provide subscribing power customers with electrical consumption data services. The system and method provide a mechanism by which electrical consumption is measured at the point of consumption over incremental periods of time. Customers can subscribe to a datamining service vendor which monitors and collects customer electrical consumption data at each addressed location within the customer's electrical network and provides the customer with a detailed report of power consumption statistics and trends. This allows the customer to make informed consumption choices resulting in cost savings to the customer and conservation of power generation resources.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, method and computer program product for aggregating multiple marketplaces is provided. The apparatus, system, method and computer program product provide a mechanism by which users may obtain information regarding various goods and services suppliers registered with various marketplaces from a central location. The apparatus, system, method and computer program product further provide a uniform interface through which users may place orders for goods and/or services, obtain information from goods and services suppliers, and otherwise interface with goods and service suppliers. In so doing, the search time for searching for desired goods and services, transaction costs, and time and money spent on activities such as monitoring, maintaining, and coordinating bids and offers is reduced.

Abstract: A method and system are described for creating and maintaining a firewall subscription service. A firewall is established within the firewall service. Customers are permitted to subscribe to the firewall subscription service. Each subscriber is an independent, paying party. A subscriber may subscribe to protect one or more computer systems. The firewall offers a particular level of security to a subscriber's computer systems when the subscriber's computer systems are communicating with an external network. All communications transmitted to any of the subscriber's computer systems utilizing the external network are received first by the firewall. The firewall is utilized to protect the subscriber's computer systems when the subscriber's computer systems receive communications transmitted utilizing the external network.

Abstract: A method and system are described for decentralized order matching among multiple different, individual marketplaces. An order is first received within one of the individual marketplaces, an originating marketplace. Information about the order is then transmitted to other individual marketplaces. Each of the individual marketplaces which received the information about the order, the receiving marketplaces, then determines whether that individual marketplace can match the order with at least one matching order posted in the receiving marketplace's order book. In response to a determination that one of the receiving marketplaces can match the received order, the received order is cleared from the originating marketplace and the matching order is cleared from the receiving marketplace's order book.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for a utility or a service vendor to provide electricity via a class of service. The system and method provide a mechanism by which power is supplied to customers via prioritized classes of importance wherein the point of utilization communicates with the electrical power supply network and provides information for the utility to determine whether or not power needs to be supplied to a specific outlet or appliance during various electrical demand or rate periods.

Abstract: A method and system are described for creating and maintaining a centralized order book. The centralized order book is used to clear orders. Multiple orders are aggregated from a plurality of different individual marketplaces by posting the orders in the centralized order book. The centralized order book then attempts to clear at least one of the orders utilizing other ones of the orders posted in the centralized order book. The central order book and individual marketplaces are maintained within computer systems which are coupled together utilizing a network.