Abstract: Methods and systems for estimating airport usage demand. Airport parking traffic usage data and flight-time table data can be compiled with respect to an airport (or more than one airport). The airport parking traffic usage data and flight-time table data can be analyzed using an efficient time matching approach (e.g., a time segment matching algorithm). An efficient method to match passengers and flights is introduced. Passenger behavior can be estimated with respect to the airport based on the airport parking traffic usage data and flight-time table data.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for wireless payment and information collection. A central system generates a personalized application including unique application and transaction identifiers, security keys, and signatures for a user device. The user device implements the personalized application in order to access the services of the associated network. Tags, capable of short-range communication with the user devices, are deployed to service access points of the associated network. The tags and user device mutually authenticate and share identifiers. Validation of the user device results in the tag updating an irreversible counter, generating transaction certificate, and logging this transaction information. The transaction certificate and a portion of the log are communicated to the user device, and service is granted. The user device transmits the transaction information and log to the central system for billing when a network connection is available.

Abstract: Methods and systems for modeling user arrival and choice in the context of off-street parking solutions. A first component models the arrival and duration of stay of users as a function of time, taking into account different user profiles (or “clusters”), captured by a latent variable. A second component provides a ranking function (for each user cluster), wherein the input features describing the “choice” constitute status variables associated different car park(s), and the output constitutes a preferred car park and a pricing scheme. The system simulates different user behaviors by assuming some standard groups of users will behave similarly. Groups of users or user profiles are learned automatically. The profiles are then employed as a key element for automatically learning a decision function of parking users, and automatically learning one decision function per profile.

Abstract: An alert processing system and method are adapted for processing device alerts. The system includes a routing device in communication with a printer. The routing device receives at least one alert description in a source language transmitted from the printer. The routing device identifies a set of words derived from the alert description related to a condition of the associated device. The routing device compares the set of words, in a target language, to a categorization model and, based on the comparison, categorizes the set of words into to one of a predetermined set of alert categories.

Abstract: Methods and systems for estimating airport usage demand. Airport parking traffic usage data and flight-time table data can be compiled with respect to an airport (or more than one airport). The airport parking traffic usage data and flight-time table data can be analyzed using an efficient time matching approach (e.g., a time segment matching algorithm). An efficient method to match passengers and flights is introduced. Passenger behavior can be estimated with respect to the airport based on the airport parking traffic usage data and flight-time table data.

Abstract: Methods and systems for modeling user arrival and choice in the context of off-street parking solutions. A first component models the arrival and duration of stay of users as a function of time, taking into account different user profiles (or “clusters”), captured by a latent variable. A second component provides a ranking function (for each user cluster), wherein the input features describing the “choice” constitute status variables associated different car park(s), and the output constitutes a preferred car park and a pricing scheme. The system simulates different user behaviors by assuming some standard groups of users will behave similarly. Groups of users or user profiles are learned automatically. The profiles are then employed as a key element for automatically learning a decision function of parking users, and automatically learning one decision function per profile.

Abstract: A method for recognition of an identifier such as a license plate includes storing first visual signatures, each extracted from a first image of a respective object, such as a vehicle, captured at a first location, and first information associated with the first captured image, such as a time stamp. A second visual signature is extracted from a second image of a second object captured at a second location and second information associated with the second captured image is acquired. A measure of similarity is computed between the second visual signature and at least some of the first visual signatures to identify a matching one. A test is performed, which is a function of the first and the second information associated with the matching signatures. Only when it is confirmed that the test has been met, identifier recognition is performed to identify the identifier of the second object.

Abstract: A computer implemented tactile user interface (TUI) and a method of manipulating objects with a virtual magnet are provided. The TUI includes a display comprising a touch-screen. The display is configured for displaying a set of graphic objects, each graphic object representing a respective one of a set of items, such as documents, e.g., text documents or images. A virtual magnet is caused to move on the display, in response to touching on the touch-screen, e.g., by dragging a finger or other implement across. The magnet is associated with a particular function command such that a subset of the graphic objects exhibits a response to the virtual magnet (e.g., is caused to move, relative to the virtual magnet or exhibits another visible response), each graphic object in the subset moving or otherwise responding as a function of an attribute of the underlying item represented by the graphic object.

Abstract: Methods and systems are presented for performing one or more printer device management functions in a network, in which affinities between printers are determined from job tracking data to indicate associations between printer devices and user devices, and the affinity data is used to perform one or more printer management functions such as determining printer connections for new or roaming user devices, print job redirection, and identification of underutilized printer device assets.

Abstract: The present disclosure teaches a device and method for simulating energy consumption by a multi-functional printing device. The device includes a processor and a computer readable memory, the memory including instructions for causing the processor to perform the method. The method includes loading an activity log comprising a plurality of jobs, loading a first strategy from a plurality of strategies, simulating each of the plurality of jobs at the printing device according to the first strategy, determining a first amount of power required by the printing device to perform the plurality of jobs, determining a second amount of power consumed by the printing device between performing the plurality jobs, creating a report including estimated power consumption by the multi-functional printing device to complete the plurality of jobs according to the first strategy, and causing the report to be displayed.

Abstract: A method for recognition of an identifier such as a license plate includes storing first visual signatures, each extracted from a first image of a respective object, such as a vehicle, captured at a first location, and first information associated with the first captured image, such as a time stamp. A second visual signature is extracted from a second image of a second object captured at a second location and second information associated with the second captured image is acquired. A measure of similarity is computed between the second visual signature and at least some of the first visual signatures to identify a matching one. A test is performed, which is a function of the first and the second information associated with the matching signatures. Only when it is confirmed that the test has been met, identifier recognition is performed to identify the identifier of the second object.

Abstract: Methods and systems are presented for identifying potential printer failures in a networked printing enterprise, in which job tracking data is gathered for print jobs in the network, affinity data is derived from the job tracking data indicating associations between printer devices and user devices, and potential printer failures are identified based on changes in the affinity data.

Abstract: The present disclosure teaches a device and method for simulating energy consumption by a multi-functional printing device. The device includes a processor and a computer readable memory, the memory including instructions for causing the processor to perform the method. The method includes loading an activity log comprising a plurality of jobs, loading a first strategy from a plurality of strategies, simulating each of the plurality of jobs at the printing device according to the first strategy, determining a first amount of power required by the printing device to perform the plurality of jobs, determining a second amount of power consumed by the printing device between performing the plurality jobs, creating a report including estimated power consumption by the multi-functional printing device to complete the plurality of jobs according to the first strategy, and causing the report to be displayed.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for wireless payment and information collection. A central system generates a personalized application including unique application and transaction identifiers, security keys, and signatures for a user device. The user device implements the personalized application in order to access the services of the associated network. Tags, capable of short-range communication with the user devices, are deployed to service access points of the associated network. The tags and user device mutually authenticate and share identifiers. Validation of the user device results in the tag updating an irreversible counter, generating transaction certificate, and logging this transaction information. The transaction certificate and a portion of the log are communicated to the user device, and service is granted. The user device transmits the transaction information and log to the central system for billing when a network connection is available.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for automatically tagging locations using collected traveler information. Traveler information, including a time/date stamp and a unique identification associated with the traveler are collected and stored in a database with locations corresponding to transportation stops. A location query, which includes a location type, an analysis period, optionally, an analysis approach, and a user selected threshold are received and a number of time/location stamps for each location is determined based upon an interval associated with the selected type. The maximum number of time/location stamps for that location is determined, and using the selected threshold, a minimum number of stamps required to designate a location as the selected type is determined. When the number of time/location stamps within the time interval for the selected type is greater than or equal to the minimum number calculated, the location is tagged as the selected location type.

Abstract: A system and method for document image acquisition and retrieval find application in litigation for responding to discovery requests. The method includes receiving automatically acquired electronic image logs comprising image data and associated records for documents processed by a plurality of image output devices within an organization. When a request for document production is received, the image logs (and/or information extracted therefrom) are automatically filtered through at least one classifier trained to return documents responsive to the document request, and documents corresponding to the filtered out image logs are output. One of the filters may be configured for filtering out documents that include attorney-client exchanges.

Abstract: An alert processing system and method are adapted for processing device alerts. The system includes a routing device in communication with a printer. The routing device receives at least one alert description in a source language transmitted from the printer. The routing device identifies a set of words derived from the alert description related to a condition of the associated device. The routing device compares the set of words, in a target language, to a categorization model and, based on the comparison, categorizes the set of words into to one of a predetermined set of alert categories.

Abstract: A system and method of localizing elements (shared devices and/or their users) in a device infrastructure, such as a printing network, are provided. The method includes mapping a structure in which the elements of a device infrastructure are located, the elements comprising shared devices and users of the shared devices. Probable locations of fewer than all of the elements in the structure are mapped, with at least some of the elements being initially assigned to an unknown location. Usage logs for a plurality of the shared devices are acquired. The acquired usage log for each device includes a user identifier for each of a set of uses of the device, each of the uses being initiated from a respective location within the mapped structure by one of the users. Based on the acquired usage logs and the input probable locations of some of the elements, locations of at least some of the elements initially assigned to an unknown location are predicted.

Abstract: A display system suitable for controlling operations of a multifunction device, such as a printer, and a method which makes use of the display system are disclosed. The display system includes a front panel configured for selectively displaying a local user interface and being touch sensitive for controlling an associated device based on touch selectable graphic objects displayed on the local user interface. A rear panel is configured for selectively displaying the local user interface, which is viewable through the front panel. A switching component is configured for switching the display of the local user interface between the front panel and the rear panel.

Abstract: A method and system for managing distribution lists rely on the collection of job log data from shared devices, such as networked printers. For each printer, a usage community comprising users of the shared device, can be determined, based at least in part on the job log data. At least one distribution list of users is generated, based on the usage community. The distribution list can be linked with a mailer program, whereby users in the usage community are grouped together under a common contact address. Updating the distribution list at intervals to reflect changes in the usage community allows a static email address to be used for a varying group of users.