Patents Issued in January 28, 2014
  • Patent number: 8639508
    Abstract: A method of automatic speech recognition includes receiving an utterance from a user via a microphone that converts the utterance into a speech signal, pre-processing the speech signal using a processor to extract acoustic data from the received speech signal, and identifying at least one user-specific characteristic in response to the extracted acoustic data. The method also includes determining a user-specific confidence threshold responsive to the at least one user-specific characteristic, and using the user-specific confidence threshold to recognize the utterance received from the user and/or to assess confusability of the utterance with stored vocabulary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: General Motors LLC
    Inventors: Xufang Zhao, Gaurav Talwar
  • Patent number: 8639509
    Abstract: In a confidence computing method and system, a processor may interpret speech signals as a text string or directly receive a text string as input, generate a syntactical parse tree representing the interpreted string and including a plurality of sub-trees which each represents a corresponding section of the interpreted text string, determine for each sub-tree whether the sub-tree is accurate, obtain replacement speech signals for each sub-tree determined to be inaccurate, and provide output based on corresponding text string sections of at least one sub-tree determined to be accurate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Fuliang Weng, Feng Lin, Zhe Feng
  • Patent number: 8639510
    Abstract: A hardware acoustic scoring unit for a speech recognition system and a method of operation thereof are provided. Rather than scoring all senones in an acoustic model used for the speech recognition system, acoustic scoring logic first scores a set of ciphones based on acoustic features for one frame of sampled speech. The acoustic scoring logic then scores senones associated with the N highest scored ciphones. In one embodiment, the number (N) is three. While the acoustic scoring logic scores the senones associated with the N highest scored ciphones, high score ciphone identification logic operates in parallel with the acoustic scoring unit to identify one or more additional ciphones that have scores greater than a threshold. Once the acoustic scoring unit finishes scoring the senones for the N highest scored ciphones, the acoustic scoring unit then scores senones associated with the one or more additional ciphones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Inventors: Kai Yu, Rob A. Rutenbar
  • Patent number: 8639511
    Abstract: A robot may include a driving control unit configured to control a driving of a movable unit that is connected movably to a body unit, a voice generating unit configured to generate a voice, and a voice output unit configured to output the voice, which has been generated by the voice generating unit. The voice generating unit may correct the voice, which is generated, based on a bearing of the movable unit, which is controlled by the driving control unit, to the body unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Nakadai, Takuma Otsuka, Hiroshi Okuno
  • Patent number: 8639512
    Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for evaluating the performance of a user using a dictation system is provided. The system and method include receiving a text or transcription file generated from user audio. A performance metric, such as, for example, words/minute or errors is generated based on the transcription file. The performance metric is provided to an administrator so the administrator can evaluate the performance of the user using the dictation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: nVoq Incorporated
    Inventors: Brian Marquette, Charles Corfield, Todd Espy
  • Patent number: 8639513
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of applications and an integrator having a voice recognition module configured to identify at least one voice command from a user. The integrator is configured to integrate information from a remote source into at least one of the plurality of applications based on the identified voice command. A method includes analyzing speech from a first user of a first mobile device having a plurality of applications, identifying a voice command based on the analyzed speech using a voice recognition module, and incorporating information from the remote source into at least one of a plurality of applications based on the identified voice command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Edward Opaluch
  • Patent number: 8639514
    Abstract: A method and device for accessing information identified from a broadcast audio signal receives a broadcast audio signal from a receiver such as a radio or television. Identifiers such as telephone numbers, URLs, e-mail addresses, and keywords are recognized and stored for immediate or later use by a user. An external network device identified by a recognized identifier is accessed based on user selection of a recognized identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Richard Urso
  • Patent number: 8639515
    Abstract: A method for extending supported voice markup. The method can include a step of identifying a reference implementation (RI) for a software component that interprets voice-based markup. The RI can define a manner that the software component interprets voice-based markup. At least one plug-in can be identified that contains an extension to the RI. At runtime, the RI can be dynamically modified in accordance with the at least one plug-in. The software component can interpret voice-based markup documents based upon the modified reference implementation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brien H. Muschett, Wendi L. Nusbickel
  • Patent number: 8639516
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for user-specific noise suppression are provided. For example, when a voice-related feature of an electronic device is in use, the electronic device may receive an audio signal that includes a user voice. Since noise, such as ambient sounds, also may be received by the electronic device at this time, the electronic device may suppress such noise in the audio signal. In particular, the electronic device may suppress the noise in the audio signal while substantially preserving the user voice via user-specific noise suppression parameters. These user-specific noise suppression parameters may be based at least in part on a user noise suppression preference or a user voice profile, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Aram Lindahl, Baptiste Pierre Paquier
  • Patent number: 8639517
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems, methods and computer-readable media for controlling a computing device to provide contextual responses to user inputs. The method comprises receiving a user input, generating a set of features characterizing an association between the user input and a conversation context based on at least a semantic and syntactic analysis of user inputs and system responses, determining with a data-driven machine learning approach whether the user input begins a new topic or is associated with a previous conversation context and if the received question is associated with the existing topic, then generating a response to the user input using information associated with the user input and any previous user input associated with the existing topic, based on a normalization of the length of the user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Giuseppe Di Fabbrizio, Junlan Feng
  • Patent number: 8639518
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, an information retrieving apparatus includes a housing; an input-output unit to perform dialogue processing with a user; a first detecting unit to detect means of transfer which indicates present means of transfer for the user; a second detecting unit to detect a holding status which indicates whether the user is holding the housing; a third detecting unit to detect a talking posture which indicates whether the housing is held near the face of the user; a selecting unit to select, from among a plurality of interaction modes that establish the dialogue processing, an interaction mode according to a combination of the means of transfer, the holding status, and the talking posture; an dialogue manager to control the dialogue processing according to the selected interaction mode; and a information retrieval unit to retrieve information using a keyword that is input during the dialogue processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiromi Wakaki, Kazuo Sumita, Hiroko Fujii, Masaru Suzuki, Michiaki Ariga
  • Patent number: 8639519
    Abstract: In a selective signal encoder, an input signal is first encoded using a core layer encoder to produce a core layer encoded signal. The core layer encoded signal is decoded to produce a reconstructed signal and an error signal is generated as the difference between the reconstructed signal and the input signal. The reconstructed signal is compared to the input signal. One of two or more enhancement layer encoders selected dependent upon the comparison and used to encode the error signal. The core layer encoded signal, the enhancement layer encoded signal and the selection indicator are output to the channel (for transmission or storage, for example).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: James P. Ashley, Jonathan A. Gibbs, Udar Mittal
  • Patent number: 8639520
    Abstract: A system and method for generating interactive visualizations of clinical relationships is provided. The method includes determining what entities have had some clinical contact with an entity of interest and collecting data regarding each entity and each entity's contacts with the entity of interest. The collected data can be filtered to remove unwanted entities and properties. Algorithms are applied to generate clinical relevance scores, which represent the relationship between the entities and the entity of interest. In addition, each entity is assigned components that allow for some executable behavior when an entity is selected in a display. Finally, the appropriate visualization is selected and a display of the relationships is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Cerner Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher S. Finn, Steven S. Crooks, David P. McCallie, Jr., David J. O'Larte
  • Patent number: 8639521
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for providing care to a patient, comprising a patient care device having a number of configuration databases stored in a memory in the device. Each configuration database preferably includes protocols, operating limits, rule sets and/or operating features that collectively define an operating environment, or personality, of the device. Selection of a specific configuration database preferably is based at least in part upon patient-specific information obtained from any location in a distributed hospital network. Examples of such patient-specific information include patient age or size, patient medical characteristics, a location of the patient or a location of the care device. In a preferred embodiment, programming a patient care device to deliver a drug to a patient entails activating a configuration database and scanning a machine-readable drug label identifying a particular protocol stored in the activated database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: CareFusion 303, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip N. Eggers, David L. Schlotterbeck, Timothy W. Vanderveen, Damon J. Coffman
  • Patent number: 8639522
    Abstract: Transaction-based behavioral profiling, whereby the entity to be profiled is represented by a stream of transactions, is required in a variety of data mining and predictive modeling applications. An approach is described for assessing inconsistency in the activity of an entity, as a way of detecting fraud and abuse, using service-code information available on each transaction. Inconsistency is based on the concept that certain service-codes naturally co-occur more than do others. An assessment is made of activity consistency looking at the overall activity of an individual entity, as well as looking at the interaction of entities. Several approaches for measuring consistency are provided, including one inspired by latent semantic analysis as used in text analysis. While the description is in the context of fraud detection in healthcare, the techniques are relevant to application in other industries and for purposes other than fraud detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Fair Isaac Corporation
    Inventors: Anu Kumar Pathria, Andrea L. Allmon, Jean de Traversay, Krassimir G. Ianakiev, Nallan Suresh, Michael K. Tyler
  • Patent number: 8639523
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing a prescription rewards program include receiving, at a switch, an adjudicated prescription claim transaction, where the adjudicated prescription claim transaction includes an indication that the prescription claim transaction has been approved by a claim processor. The systems and methods further include identifying, from the adjudicated prescription claim transaction, a patient associated with the adjudicated prescription claim transaction, retrieving, from a database associated with the switch, a reward accumulator value associated with the patient, and updating the reward accumulator value associated with the patient based at least in part on the adjudicated prescription claim transaction. The systems and methods may further include determining that a threshold value has been satisfied by the reward accumulator value, and issuing a reward message based at least in part on the reward accumulator satisfying the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: McKesson Financial Holdings
    Inventor: Roger Pinsonneault
  • Patent number: 8639524
    Abstract: The system organizes a network of intelligent medical devices (iMDs) for diagnostic and therapeutic functions. The iMD network uses distributed computing functionality to share logic and memory operations. The system uses wires and tubes to connect (a) iMDs between each other, (b) iMDs and sensor probes and (c) internal iMDs and external devices, including computers. The ability to network the iMDs expands the functionality between the iMDs. The iMDs share specialized functions, and multitask, to solve complex medical problems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Inventor: Neal Solomon
  • Patent number: 8639525
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for enabling transfer of a drug from a first drug container to a second drug container including a drug identification component that recognizes a first drug container to retrieve drug identifying data for the drug, a storage medium that stores a site-specific database comprising attributes and associated values for a set of drugs including the drug in the first drug container, a processor that obtains the drug identifying data and the attributes and associated values for the drug and produces information about the drug using the drug identifying data and the attributes and associated values, a rules engine that applies one or more rules to the information about the drug to generate drug handling information, and an output unit that outputs markings comprising the drug handling information in human-readable or machine-readable form, or both, to be associated with the second container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Codonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Wilton C. Levine, James Kenneth Davison, Michael Dempsey, Kimberly Donovan, William D. Driscoll, III, Gayle A. Fishman, Nathaniel M. Sims
  • Patent number: 8639526
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for diagnosis of and early treatment adoption for asymptomatic diseases. In one embodiment, an examination system is provided including an input device for entering patient data, a computer including a medium for storing entered data, and a feedback module for providing feedback to an examined patient based on the data entered. A method of using the examination system is also provided in which feedback is provided directly to the patient concurrently with the measurement or other acquisition of a significant data point. Feedback is also provided at the conclusion of the examination in the form of a report, treatment plan, or customized educational materials. In a further embodiment, the patient is an active participant in the examination, recording data points themselves via the input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Inventor: Chris Gibbs
  • Patent number: 8639527
    Abstract: A validated healthcare facility cleaning and sanitizing system provides a comprehensive and systematic approach to cleaning and sanitizing practices at a hospital or other healthcare facility. The validated hospital cleaning system identifies hospital vectors of contamination; that is, sources through which hospital acquired infections (HAIs) may be spread. The validated system defines a plurality of modules within a healthcare facility, each having an associated cleaning process map designed to meet the particular cleaning and/or sanitizing needs and challenges faced by that module. Various stages of the cleaning process map include validation points, at which certain parameters designed to ensure proper cleaning and/or sanitizing of the module are verified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan A. Rensvold, Ryan D. Meek, Ravindra Raghavapudi
  • Patent number: 8639528
    Abstract: A method for measuring physician efficiency and patient health risk stratification is disclosed. Episodes of care are formed from medical claims data and an output process is performed. Physicians are assigned to report groups, and eligible physicians and episode assignments are determined. Condition-specific episode statistics and weighted episode statistics are calculated, from which physician efficiency scores are determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Cave Consulting Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas G. Cave
  • Patent number: 8639529
    Abstract: In a method for accessing, recording and maintaining the clinical records of medical patients, a database is established for receiving and maintaining comprehensive clinical records of medical patients. The database is remotely accessible by one or more care givers and has software-based programming associated therewith. The database us populated with patients' clinical records and is remotely accessible to electronically retrieve at least a portion of the patient's clinical records. The clinical records are downloaded and displayed for viewing by the caregiver. Advertisements can also be displayed for viewing by the caregiver upon accessing the database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: E-Web, LLC
    Inventor: Keat Jin Lee
  • Patent number: 8639530
    Abstract: A medication information repository and analysis system receives prescription information indicating medication prescriptions filled for the patient, analyzes the prescription information to determine an estimate of recent medication consumption by the patient, and stores a medication advisory message indicating prescription and recent medication consumption information for the patient in association with a personal identifier assigned to the patient. A medication advisory delivery system automatically delivers the medication advisory message in response to a medication advisory request that is received in accordance with medication advisory contact information and indicates the personal identification number assigned to the patient. An emergency medical technician may issue the medication advisory request after reading a medication advisory tag carried by a patient identifying the medication advisory contact information and the personal identifier assigned to the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: GT Angel, LLC
    Inventor: Arthur Koblasz
  • Patent number: 8639531
    Abstract: A system for transmitting healthcare data from a provider to one of a plurality of healthcare payers is provided. The system includes a routing system, and routing engine. The routing engine is in communication with at least one provider computer system and a plurality of healthcare payer computer systems. The routing engine is configured to receive uploaded healthcare data from the provider computer system send the data to one of the plurality of healthcare payer computers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: HealthTrio LLC
    Inventors: Malik M. Hasan, J Dominic Wallen
  • Patent number: 8639532
    Abstract: A consumer is provided with continuity of medical care by being prompted to transfer data to a recipient, upon completion of the consumer's interaction with a brokerage system. The data obtained during the interactions is transferred to one or more recipients selected by the consumer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: American Well Corporation
    Inventor: Roy Schoenberg
  • Patent number: 8639533
    Abstract: The present invention enables the collection by credit/debit card payment of customer co-pay and self-pay charges via an integrated point-of-service transaction management system and method. The system and method of the present invention may assist health care facilities in the collection of co-pay and self-pay charges at the time service is rendered. The present invention can be implemented anywhere cash, checks, credit cards or debit cards are accepted for payment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: ImageVision.net
    Inventors: David Millary, Ken Blessing, Brian Clementoni
  • Patent number: 8639534
    Abstract: A computerized method for facilitating viewing of health records over a communications network. A database is provided on at least one computer having stored electronic health records of a plurality of patients. A request is received via a communications network from a user for access to a selected patient's health record. The user is validated, with the aid of a computer, as to whether the user is authorized to access the selected patient's record. If the user is validated as a health care provider, a first set of available actions are provided. A user that is validated as a patient is provided a second set of available actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: HealthTrio LLC
    Inventors: Malik M. Hasan, J. Dominic Wallen, John C. Peterson, Cindy A. Post, Ralph A. Korpman
  • Patent number: 8639535
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing supplemental insurance to insure the deductible amount of a primary insurance policy are described. In an example, data is received about a first insurance policy of an insured party; a deductible amount of the first insurance policy is determined; a premium to insure the deductible amount is determined using a computing device and a second insurance policy for the deductible amount is offered to the insured party. In an example, the first insurance policy may be provided by a third party provider. In an example, all of the deductible amounts of the insured party's insurance policies may be added and supplemental insurance for the total deductible amount offered. In an example, the deductible amounts of a group of insured members may be added and supplemental insurance for the total deductible amount offered. In an example, the deductible amount of an insurance policy may be added to a loan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventor: Joseph Alfred Kazenas
  • Patent number: 8639536
    Abstract: A computer system for administering applications for life insurance has a processor and a memory storage device in communication with the processor. The processor is configured to receive data indicative of application data and data indicative of a health of a proposed insured; based on the received data, determine whether the proposed insured is eligible, and generate an output signal to cause a policy to be generated and comprehensive underwriting to commence. Upon completion of comprehensive underwriting, additional policy documents may be determined. Calculations of commissions and reinsurance premiums may be made upon issue of a policy and recalculated upon completion of comprehensive underwriting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: The Prudential Insurance Company of America
    Inventors: Leslie Ann Reynolds, Michael J. Roscoe, Greg D. Lindquist, Kimberly Ann Rasmussen, Steven J. Williams
  • Patent number: 8639537
    Abstract: Method and system to track, reconcile and administer the values of life insurance policies in separate accounts, including Stable Value Protected funds. Accordingly, targeted returns are translated into unit values on a daily basis for each fund. Additionally the system tracks restrictions (e.g., timing, amount of withdrawal and amount of reallocations) on a premium-by-premium basis, and tracks the book value, market value, duration and targeted return on a client-by-client basis. The system calculates and tracks the payments and credits applicable to a withdrawal or reallocation request, in addition to the liquidation schedules for each fund based on the payment amounts and credits of specific funds. Additionally, daily unit values are calculated given a periodic targeted return (i.e., a quarterly targeted return).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Bancorp Services LLC
    Inventors: Seth C. Koppes, Edward J. Lanigan, William A. Meier, Richard M. Hurwitz, Chris J. Garlich, Mark A. Gilje, Scott L. Fargo
  • Patent number: 8639538
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a non-transitory processor-readable medium stores code representing instructions to cause a processor to receive, from a user, an input of at least one value associated with financial information of a married couple, and calculate, using the at least one value, an average indexed monthly earnings (AIME) value and a primary insurance amount (PIA) value for each individual from the married couple. The code represents instructions to cause the processor to calculate, using the AIME value or the PIA value for each individual from the married couple, a set of Social Security election outcomes using each election strategy from a set of election strategies for each age combination from a set of age combinations for the married couple. The code further represents instructions to cause the processor to present the set of Social Security election outcomes to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Senior Market Sales, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Elsasser
  • Patent number: 8639539
    Abstract: A computer system accesses payroll-related insurance premium data at an individual employee level and provides the data at the individual employee level, including cost of insurance at the individual employee level, on a client device. A computer system compares stored data with payroll data and identifies employees lacking occupation classification information for payroll-based premium determination. The computer system provides a fillable form on a user device for the user to provide occupation classification data, and receives the occupation classification data. The computer system provides fillable forms on a user device for a user to provide payroll data for receipt by the system, runs business rules on the received payroll data, determines premiums for payroll-based insurance coverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Hartford Fire Insurance Company
    Inventors: Jesse L. Pendergrass, Brian M. Farrell, Donato L. Monaco
  • Patent number: 8639540
    Abstract: A method of and system for directing individualized information to end users, using wireless or mobile media is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method and system interconnects (a) advertisers or sponsors, (b) wireless device users (“system users”), and (c) wireless telecommunications companies, via (d) an intermediary or “hub entity.” The hub entity maintains and controls computer operated software and data bases to direct specific advertising or information to targeted system users; collects subscription fees and distributes advertising fees; and determines the effectiveness of various advertising or information transmitted to specific system users. The method can further be customized for application as an information provider, alert notice or security warning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Inventors: Peter G. Baur, Andrew P. Baur
  • Patent number: 8639541
    Abstract: A system and method for displaying seat inventory at a venue and facilitating planning of ticket prices for events at the venue is presented. Methods to predict total revenue for an event are described. Also presented are systems and methods for determining at what price and when to release so-called ‘flex’ price tickets during an on-sale using the sales velocity and sales/inquiry ratios. Determining demand of seats from secondary markets is also described with methods to use the demand for either repricing the seats in the primary market or presenting ‘best value’ seats to a prospective purchaser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: TixTrack, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven A. Sunshine, Rod Goodman, Michael Arya, Larry Chu, Michael Ripberger
  • Patent number: 8639542
    Abstract: A business process model pertaining to an application product is associated with a set of views that illustrate the realization of the business process in the application product. Further, the business process model is displayed to the user together with the set of views to enhance the user's understanding of the business process provided by the application product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Siebel Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Berg, Krishna Kilambi
  • Patent number: 8639543
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and media to improve employee productivity using radio frequency identification (RFID) are disclosed. Embodiments comprise a method of transmitting information from RFID tags, receiving the information in an RFID tag reader, analyzing the information to select a number of employees to work in a work area, and dispatching one or more employees to or from the work area according to the selected number of employees. Some embodiments select employees with certain skills, based on the RFID tag information. In other embodiments, an RFID tag reader monitors the movement of employees to ensure that they are moving according to the dispatch and potentially dispatching alternate employees. Some embodiments involve reading information from RFID tags attached to goods, whereas other embodiments involve reading information from RFID tags in cards carried by employees and customers, and RFID tags fastened to shopping carts and shopping baskets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory J. Boss, Rick A. Hamilton, II, Richard H. Le Sesne, Timothy M. Waters
  • Patent number: 8639544
    Abstract: Identifying potentially unfair practices in content and serving relevant advertisements is described. In one embodiment, identifying potentially unfair practices includes determining whether content includes at least one advertisement, determining a product or service associated with the advertisement, assigning a product risk score, analyzing the advertisement for at least one issue item, and assigning an issue risk score. Identifying potentially unfair practices may further include producing an overall risk analysis and transmitting an instruction to display an indicator of the overall risk analysis. Identifying potentially unfair practices may also include identifying one or more relevant advertisements for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Alberobello Capital Corporation
    Inventor: Robert J. Flemma, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8639545
    Abstract: Techniques for optimizing a Business Process Model (BPM) having at least one work process are presented. At a simulation client, a determination is made whether a simulated business outcome associated with a test BPM satisfies a business value deficiency associated with a current BPM. In response to a determination that the simulated business outcome does not satisfy the business value deficiency, the test BPM is optimized. Once the simulation client determines that the simulated business outcome satisfies the business value deficiency, the test BPM is implemented as an actual BPM. Moreover, an actual business outcome associated with the actual BPM is generated. A determination is made whether the actual business outcome satisfies the simulated business outcome. In response to a determination that the actual business outcome does not satisfy the simulated business outcome, the actual BPM is optimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Moises Cases, Bhyrav M. Mutnury
  • Patent number: 8639546
    Abstract: Provided are techniques for defining a fulfillment path solution (FPS) comprising items undergoing an operational fulfillment process (OFP); wherein the FPS is associated with milestones to be fulfilled by the items as the items travel the OFP. Each milestone exerts a resistive force on each item. Calculating a plurality of sums, each sum corresponding to a particular item and each sum a total of all resistive forces exerted on the corresponding item by each of the milestones, wherein an item with a deadline closer to the current time is set to a higher resistive force than an item with a deadline farther from the current time; and increasing each resistive force on each item as a corresponding deadline approaches each item; wherein a higher sum indicates a need for more immediate attention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Akram Bou-Ghannam, Michael J. Dockter
  • Patent number: 8639547
    Abstract: A method and system for measuring transferability of workers between and among occupations by means of the mathematical relationships between those occupations' key attributes, as defined by publicly available data on the competencies required as specified by a complete catalog of U.S. occupations known as O*NET. This method provides a concise, informative measurement for comparing the relative requirements of Abilities, Skills, Knowledge, and other relevant attributes of occupations, enabling users to gauge the feasibility of transferring workers from one occupation to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Workforce Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard W. Judy
  • Patent number: 8639548
    Abstract: A system, method and program product are provided for performing assortment planning. The comprises receiving data representing a plurality of articles, an assortment, and a display area. The method further comprises assigning a first subset of the plurality of articles to the assortment for a first validity period to define a first assortment version. The method also comprises linking the display area to the assortment, wherein a first display area version is automatically created corresponding to the first assortment version.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: SAP Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christine Fotteler, Klaus Kopecz, Thomas Collet
  • Patent number: 8639549
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for designing a supply chain distribution network. A network design tool may be configured to facilitates strategic decision making for a producer/distributor of a commodity products (e.g., molecular gas mixtures stored in cylinders) by incorporating transportation costs (i.e., operational decisions) into the strategic decision making process. Further, the network design tool may also integrate investment decision costs, which are usually considered ‘tactical decisions’, into the strategic decision process (e.g., which filling tools are assigned to which plant/hub location). The network design tool implements different algorithm approaches allowing a user to obtain optimal, near-optimal, and approximate solutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Société Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Sujata S. Pathak, Philippe Briet, Franck Mornet, Nicoleta Neagu, Tejinder Pal Singh
  • Patent number: 8639550
    Abstract: A contact routing and scheduling system is provided allowing users to define various contact routing and scheduling contexts to direct a contact to a calendar of appointment availability representing the availability of a set of representatives pre-qualified to have times available for an appropriate appointment and to book an appointment as an integral part of the contact routing function. The system utilizes multiple visual user interfaces to allow users, contacts, and administrators to interact with the contact routing and appointment scheduling system. The system allows for user selection of contact routing and scheduling rules, association of scheduling activities to the contact routing process, and association of representatives who will ultimately accept appointments with contacts. The system also utilizes various techniques to associate contacts with particular contact routing and scheduling contexts received by the contact through email and/or other correspondence means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: TimeTrade Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John Loring, Rupert Schmidtberg, Carl Lambert
  • Patent number: 8639551
    Abstract: A method and system of workforce related resource planning is disclosed. The method includes receiving workforce related resource data wherein the workforce related resource data includes demand data and supply data, disaggregating the demand data and the supply data and creating a probability distribution of a workforce gap between the demand data and supply data to quantify risk associated with workforce related resource planning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Qi Feng, Cipriano Santos, Dirk Beyer
  • Patent number: 8639552
    Abstract: Systems and methods for creating and sharing tasks over one or more networks are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system comprises a message retrieval module configured to retrieve electronic messages and parse them into a plurality of tasks. The system can also include a task creation module configured to process the message to identify task information and one or more task recipients. The task creation module can also be configured to create a task based on the identified task information. A task notification module can be configured to notify the one or more task recipients about the created task. The system may also include a multi-layer network management module configured to organize the tasks and task participants into multiple networks and clouds and into a federation of clouds. The system can also include a task analytics module programmed to analyze the tasks performed by users of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: BroadVision, Inc.
    Inventors: Pehong Chen, James Wu, Dongfeng Lu, Peter Chu
  • Patent number: 8639553
    Abstract: A method is provided for predictive growth and burn rate analysis in software pipeline management. The method comprises providing, for each of multiple projects in a software project pipeline, a set of inputs that includes labor demand, labor supply, and one or more historical data points. The method also includes aggregating the inputs, and calculating an overall labor supply/demand balance. The method then compares the difference between the balance and the historical data points to a reasonable threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Margaret J. Knauth, Debra L. Roberts
  • Patent number: 8639554
    Abstract: An imaging and workflow method, system, computer readable medium and user interface for processing information efficiently for the processing of medical prescription orders. The system includes support for document scanning, automated rules-based order processing, statistical reporting, document generation and document storage and retrieval. The present invention takes advantage of imaging technology to assist the user in scanning information into the system and software modules to improve the processing of orders. The present invention also includes database tables that identify to application processing logic the types and sequences of actions to be implemented for orders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Medco Health Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott M. Helmus, Donna L. Rosen, Leo H. Bressman
  • Patent number: 8639555
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for discovering workflows through analysis of user actions. Workflow descriptions are entered by multiple users over a period of time as the users perform user actions. Each workflow description includes a sequence of user action descriptions. One or more candidate workflows are determined by identifying repeated patterns among the workflow descriptions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Simon K. Johnston
  • Patent number: 8639556
    Abstract: A system and method for determining an optimal action in consideration of risk. The method includes the steps of: (a) selecting a state from possible states in a current term; (b) selecting an action from action candidates that can be executed in a selected state; (c) calculating a probability distribution of an evaluation value for a selected action; (d) calculating a risk measure using the probability distribution of the evaluation value; (e) determining a weighting function conforming to at least one preference by taking the risk measure into consideration; (f) calculating a value measure of the selected action; (g) repeating steps (b) through (f) for all other the action candidates that can be executed in the selected state; and (h) comparing the value measures of the selected actions in order to determine an optimal action for the selected state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuro Morimura, Takayuki Osogami
  • Patent number: 8639557
    Abstract: A method and a system for measuring market data in a mobile communications system. The method and system may be used to obtain data such as growth, churn rate, and other measurable metrics of mobile communications device subscribers. The method includes selecting a sample of contact numbers, using one or more contacting or querying methodologies to assess the state of the contact numbers, and analyzing the results to determine the market data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Tom Frangione, Liam Mahoney, Andreas Vogel, Christopher Chin, James Baer