Abstract: Arrangement and method for providing content to multimedia devices, in particular mobile multimedia devices, wherein a content portal provides content to the devices in a form requiring a rights object to enable use thereof, a rights object portal provides rights objects to the devices and advertisements which are associated with the rights objects are also provided. Upon receipt of the rights object with an associated advertisement, the user is exposed to the advertisement in conjunction with use of the content.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes periodically receiving from multiple mobile client systems multiple event attendee list updates, updating an event attendee list database based on the event attendee list updates, and periodically generating an attendance report based the event attendee list and the event attendee list updates.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for offering merchant and shopper-friendly parking reservations through validated parking is provided. Motor vehicle parking spaces are managed through a server. Smart parking devices and vehicle occupancy sensors are interfaced to the server. Use of the parking space is managed. Occupancy of one of the parking spaces by a motor vehicle is sensed through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor and the location of the parking space is provided to the server. An identity of the driver of the motor vehicle is determined through the nearest smart parking device and the identity of the driver is provided to the server. Use of the parking space is validated. The parking space's location and the driver's identity are retrieved at the location of a merchant. Payment for at least part of the use of the parking space from the merchant is provided through the server.

Abstract: System and method for predicting the rate of deterioration in one or more items of process equipment which are subject to deterioration by one or more deterioration mechanisms. The system includes a first item of process equipment which receives an inlet stream including a feedstock or derivative thereof, and discharges one or more outlet streams which can be fed to the item of process equipment. A data processor which is a programmed computer including at least one rate model for the first item of process equipment receives values of one or more properties of the feedstock and calculates predicted rates of deterioration by the one or more deterioration mechanisms for the first item of process equipment from the values of one or more of the feedstock properties. The data processor additionally provides an output containing information relating to the predicted rates of deterioration by the one or more deterioration mechanisms for the first item of process equipment.

Abstract: A system for providing spending information in a locality by foreign visitors using transaction records of financial presentation devices such as credit and debit cards that are presentable to merchants is disclosed. A storage device stores transaction data generated from card transactions. A transaction analysis module executable by a processor generates a filtered set of transaction records that exclude, from the stored data, a set of transactions which are indicative of having been made by long term residents of the locality, rather than by residents of foreign regions, in order to improve the accuracy of true foreign visitors to the locality. For example, the system filters out from the database all transactions of accounts that have made a bill-pay transaction. As another example, the system filters out non face-to-face transactions and all transactions with mail order and catalog merchants, and schools.

Abstract: The claimed method and system provides a user interface that displays a plurality of product order bars (icons) along with a set of dependencies between product orders in a single graphical view. A plurality of iconic bars are used to represent a demand or product order for a segment of a production process. Each bar may indicate a total quantity of raw material ordered at the segment or quantity of raw material incorporated in work-in-progress products ordered at the segment. Each bar may also indicate raw material that will be available to the segment and allocated to the segment. At the same time, each bar may indicate an unavailable portion or deficient quantity of the raw material required at the segment. A time axis may be used to indicate the expected availability (or delivery) times of the bars (orders). Additional stock material that is readily available may also be displayed to indicate that stockpiled material may be used to remedy some of the deficiencies in product orders.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of managing fertilizer and irrigation inputs for a crop, the method comprising obtaining management data for the crop, the management data including a planting date for the crop; obtaining weather data representative of the geographic area of the crop; obtaining soil description data representative of the geographic area of the crop; calculating an emergence date at least partly from the planting date; calculating a plurality of nitrogen deficit values at least partly from the emergence date and the soil description data, the nitrogen deficit values associated with respective dates each later than the emergence date; calculating a plurality of water deficit values at least partly from the emergence date and the weather data, the water deficit values associated with respective dates each later than the emergence date; and presenting on a display a schedule of recommended nitrogen application values, irrigation values and application dates, the schedule calculated at least partly

Abstract: A method for managing projects in a software factory is presented. A project management tool includes an end-to-end project plan for a project to create a software product by using a software factory in a global delivery network. A status block is appended to a work packet that is utilized when executing the project. After initiating the project, an alert is automatically triggered whenever the execution status of the work packet changes. The alert is transmitted to the project management tool to update a project schedule for the project, such that a completion status of the end-to-end project plan reflects a status of a project schedule for the project described by the end-to-end project plan.

Abstract: A method and system for correlating a work request to a provider based on content of the work request and delegating the work request to the provider using an instant message (IM) service. An instant message service including those offered by existing IM service providers is used to notify a provider that a request has been received requesting work to be performed. The instant message may include a link to details of the work being requested, establish an electronic mail communication, point to a web site or initiate an application that communicates with web-enabled services on a server connected to the Internet.

Abstract: Computer-based apparatuses and computer-implemented methods for providing an automated computer network-based, or online, appointment scheduling service through which registered customers are individually capable of scheduling an appointment with a plurality of businesses that are also registered with the online appointment scheduling service. The application describes a reliability rating for each registered customer that is based on the reliability of the customer showing for scheduled appointments for all (or several) of the businesses registered with the online appointment scheduling service, not just one business.

Abstract: A method for ascertaining creation processes for products in the graphics industry, the product being described by one or more product properties. Starting out from the properties of a product, a network of creation processes (P1, P2, P4) is created, which describes the creation of the product as a function of the resources (1, 1?, 2, 2?, 3, 3?, 4, 5, 6) involved in the creation process, in that the creation processes (P1, P2, P4) upstream of a resource (1, 1?, 2, 2?, 3, 3?, 4, 5, 6) are ascertained.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to generating an online marketing campaign that comprises a list of keywords to be purchased from a search engine. Keywords for a business' marketing campaign may be selected from a pre-defined template of keywords for the business service category into which the business falls. In addition, the business may add keywords not found in the template into its marketing campaign. The performance of the non-template keywords added by the business may be evaluated and, if they are determined to have been performed well, may be added into the template so that they may be used in the marketing campaigns of other businesses in the business service category.

Abstract: Items—including gourmet products—are evaluated and rated by participants in a controlled event, which can be coordinated by software locally or at a dedicated website. Event data, including item scores and participant scores can be shared with vendors, merchants and other commercial entities associated with the products. Promotional incentives from such entities for the products (and related products) can then be directly targeted and provided to participants and other members of the public. The participant's activities can also be collected and disseminated to affiliates/friends of the participants through social networking sites, personalized web pages, etc.

Abstract: A system and method for managing internal controls within a heterogeneous enterprise environment is provided. The invention may include an open and extensible standards-based architecture that may be used to create, monitor, test, or otherwise manage internal controls by capturing, organizing, translating, and exchanging controls data, tests, and test results across organizational boundaries and between an enterprise and its external auditors. By providing an automated software solution for managing internal controls, business, finance, information technology, audit, or other professionals may automate on-demand testing, or perform closed-loop remediation and continuous exception-based monitoring of controls within and across enterprise systems.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for providing recurring residential parking reservations is provided. Motor vehicle parking spaces located in a residential area are managed through a server. Smart parking devices, vehicle occupancy sensors, and parking availability indicators are interfaced to the server. Use of the parking spaces by a resident is reserved on a recurring basis throughout a subscription period. A parking reservation, including recurring times and dates, is requested. The request is granted provided the parking space is available over any other reservations stored in the server. Use of the reserved parking space is managed throughout the subscription period. Occupancy of the requested parking space is sensed through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor. A motorist's identity is verified through the nearest smart parking device. The use of the reserved parking space is denied if not by the resident and parking non-availability is indicated during each recurring time and date.

Abstract: A method and system for augmenting keywords, submitted to advertisement placement services, that are not performing as expected is provided. An advertisement system analyzes the performance of keywords of advertisement sets submitted with advertisement placement services, such as search engine services. Based on the analysis, the advertisement system identifies keywords that are candidate keywords for augmentation. The advertisement system then identifies augmentation terms for the candidate keywords. The advertisement system then augments the candidate keyword of an advertisement set with the augmentation term and submits that augmented advertisement set with the augmented keyword to an advertisement placement service.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for advertising according to various aspects of the present invention operate in conjunction with a retargeting system, multiple publisher systems, at least one advertiser, and a user's computer. The retargeting system provides retargeting information to the advertiser for storage on the user computer. The retargeting information may comprise identifiers for publisher systems authorized for retargeting and an advertiser identifier. The retargeting information may also receive user behavior information from publisher system visited by the user after visiting the advertiser's web site. The retargeting system may then transmit an advertisement corresponding to the advertiser identifier to the visited publisher system for presentation via the user computer if the visited publisher system is an authorized publisher system.

Abstract: A centralized information center is disclosed. The centralized information center includes a plurality of source information inputs. The centralized information center disclosed also includes a central processor configured to receive information from the source information inputs and a memory coupled to the processor. A program runs on the central processor. The program organizes information, prioritizes information and generates information flows. Selective information flows are provided to a central office for a transportation system and to a transportation vehicle. The plurality of source information inputs includes vehicle-related information, operations-related information, and external service provider information.

Abstract: An individualized discount and reward server includes one or more linked databases to store customer data associated with a loyalty program of a retailer. The server includes a processor configured to select a retail product from a plurality of retail products associated with the retailer. The processor determines a first percentage indicating a percentage of time the loyalty customer purchases the selected retail product on promotion, and determines a second percentage indicating an average percentage of time a plurality of customers forming a peer group purchases the selected retail product on promotion. Further, the processor determines a comparison result by comparing the first and second percentages. Additionally, the processor allocates at least one customized offer to the retailer account associated with the loyalty customer according to at least the comparison result.

Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described. In some embodiments, the operations include receiving a message that was published from a social-communication application of a social network website, selecting a first phrase (e.g., promotional expression, by a user, regarding the wagering game venue) from the message, and comparing the first phrase to a plurality of second phrases (e.g., characteristics associated with a wagering game venue) accessible via a wagering game server. The operations can further include detecting that the first phrase is substantially similar to at least one of the plurality of the second phrases, and providing an award (e.g., loyalty points) in response. In some embodiments, the value of the award is based on a condition associated with the message, publication of the message, etc.

Abstract: A call tracking system and method that uses a pooling algorithm to manage a pool of telephone numbers that are utilized in advertisements. The pooling algorithm allows adjustments to be made to the pool in order to achieve a desired degree of call tracking accuracy performed by the system. The pooling algorithm may adjust the pool in terms of size, quality, or other metric, and assign phone numbers so as to meet the desired accuracy requirements. While additional numbers in a pool may increase accuracy, fewer numbers result in lower cost, and a balance may be struck based on the requirements of an advertiser. When a phone number is to be provided for an advertising campaign, the phone number may be selected from the pool randomly, in round-robin fashion, or according to criteria related to expected accuracy.

Abstract: In embodiments, the present invention provides a method and system for delivery of content on a mobile media platform, providing a consumption profile, and delivering content to a mobile device, wherein content delivery is based at least in part on the consumption profile. Further, in embodiments, the present invention provides a consumption profile for a mobile media platform comprising a device profile, a user profile, a network profile, an encoding profile, and a content profile.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product for displaying to a user an aggregated contextual targeting advertisement using an instant messaging client having an ad line area within an instant messaging graphical user interface, and an ad pop-up area on the same display surface as the instant messaging graphical user interface. The method commences by receiving a user context profile and then selecting at least one advertisement based on characteristics of the user. The method continues by separating the advertisement into a first portion and a second portion for the purpose of displaying the first portion in an ad line area within an instant messaging graphical user interface, and for displaying the second portion in an ad pop-up area on the same display surface as the instant messaging graphical user interface. Some embodiments separate the first portion and the second portion by automatically selecting strings, and/or by automatically selecting images.

Abstract: A novel and simple interactive web advertising method. A Click to Call feature is placed together with a web advertising message. A viewer may input a phone number and submit it by clicking a submitting button, and the input phone number is then submitted to the hosting server for subsequent actions either by the advertising agency or the advertiser. The web advertising message may be in any form, for example, in banner display, in web link description or boxed text advertising.

Abstract: A method, system, apparatus, and computer program product for processing e-commerce information are presented. A business entity may transfer e-commerce agreements through an electronic marketplace. The business entity retrieves dependency information about a commercial transaction from an e-commerce agreement. The business entity incorporates the dependency information, e.g., dates, costs, deliveries, etc., as dependency relationships within a project model that represents a project for a product or service for sale by the first business entity. User input is received for manipulating a cost dependency relationship within the project model while constraining the user input to ensure that another type of dependency relationship is not incompatible with modifications to the cost dependency relationship.

Abstract: Method and system for discovering artistic preferences by using a graphical user interface (GUI) tool to navigate through a collection of art images based on one or more dimensions within an art image. The GUI tool allows a user to display one or more selectable dimensions of a first image that, when selected, are used as a query to locate and display other images that have a dimension that is equal or similar to the one or more selected dimensions.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system of facilitating value-based bartering over the internet are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system of e-commerce includes a computer network, a server to host a market place website, a listing module to enable an entity to assign a specified value to a good and to list the good for trade on the market place website such that the listing of the good will expire after being posted for a specified period of time, a trade module to enable an entity to trade the good for an other good of an other entity on the market place website, a search module to enable the entity to search a list of goods on the market place website.

Abstract: In one embodiment, one or more search criteria are received from a mobile device. In response, one or more products corresponding to the search criteria are extracted. Further, a plurality of factors associated with the one or more products are retrieved and weightages are assigned to the plurality of factors. Furthermore, product scores of the one or more products are determined based on the plurality of factors and the weightages. Based on the product scores, the one or more products are presented to assist product searching in retail environment.

Abstract: Computer-related methods, apparatus, and/or articles of manufacture to permit/facilitate the creation, marketing, and/or distribution of options to purchase tickets or obtain refunds to a particular future event, particularly an elimination format competition, when the chosen competitor's qualification for such a game is currently uncertain, but where the uncertainty will be resolved prior to the commencement of the particular future event.

Abstract: A method and a system to manage recommendations in an online marketplace are presented. A social shopping interface is provided at a publisher site accessed by a first user identified by a first user identifier. A recommendation of a listing describing an item for sale and including a second user identifier corresponding to a second user is accessed from a recommendation database. The recommendation, including at least a portion of the listing and the second user identifier are displayed to the first user at the publisher site via the social shopping interface.

Abstract: A system and method for issuing electronic vouchers representing value. An issuing server generates an eVoucher that a recipient may use to purchase goods and services from a merchant's e-commerce Web site. The eVoucher includes an image, such as a corporate logo, that identifies the issuing merchant. Nonimage data, such as a unique identifier for the eVoucher and encrypted arbitrary text, is embedded in the eVoucher image and is used to track the use of the eVoucher and to verify its authenticity.

Abstract: A statistical inventory management system may optimize inventory investment using historical usage and/or consumption of an inventory component by determining one or more target inventory levels (e.g., replenishment levels). Historical usage data may be summed for a plurality of at least partially non-overlapping time periods that may be each equal in duration to a supplier lead-time period for the component to create lead-time usage data. The lead-time usage data may be utilized to more accurately determine future inventory levels (e.g., target inventory levels) because the lead-time usage data may have a reduced variance compared to, for example, day-to-day usage. The inventory management system may be employable by a computing system having a display module (e.g., GUI) that allows a user to receive at least one graphical representation indicative of at least one target inventory level of at least one inventory component (e.g., by selectively interacting with the display module).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including systems and computer program products, for a service architecture design that provides enterprise services having payment functionality at the level of an enterprise application. The design includes a set of service operations, process components, and optionally deployment units. Suitable business objects are also described.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer program products, for implementing a software architecture design for a software application implementing personnel events functionality. The application is structured as multiple process components interacting with each other through service interfaces, and multiple service operations, each being implemented for a respective process component. The process components include a personnel administration process component, a payroll processing process component, an expense and reimbursement management process component, a time and labor process component, a compensation management process component, an employee payroll administration process component, and numerous country-specific employer regulatory compliance process components.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including systems and computer program products, for a service architecture design that provides enterprise services having human capital management functionality at the level of an enterprise application. The design includes a set of service operations, process components, and optionally deployment units. Suitable business objects are also described.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including systems and computer program products, for a service architecture design that provides enterprise services having payroll functionality at the level of an enterprise application. The design includes a set of service operations, process components, and optionally deployment units. Suitable business objects are also described.

Abstract: A user interface is provided enabling users to build and modify account structures with various account-dimension combinations and rules for those combinations. The user interface provides context for the account structure and controls for creation and modification of the account configurations.

Abstract: A system comprises a memory storing a plurality of usage values. A usage value may be based at least on usage of a utility resource measured by a utility meter having a meter identifier. The memory may store a plurality of service point identifiers and a plurality of account identifiers associated with one or more utility accounts. A service point identifier represents a physical location of at least one utility meter. Each service point identifier may be stored in association with one or more usage values. The system may comprise a processor communicatively coupled to the memory. In response to a request comprising a particular service point identifier, the processor may retrieve one or more usage values from the memory based at least on the particular service point identifier in the request. The processor may generate a graphical user interface that displays the one or more retrieved usage values.

Abstract: A system and method for associating payments with spending vehicles so that an individual who is entitled to receive periodic or special payments such as social security checks receives in place of the payment a spending vehicle such as a discount card, rebate, or coupon for use with purchases of the sponsor's products or services. Sponsors include companies and organizations interested in offering purchase incentives to their customers. An individual who wishes to receive a spending vehicle rather than the regular payment selects the spending vehicle he or she would like to receive. The individual then assigns his or her right to receive the payment to a third party. The third party then arranges to give a spending vehicle to the individual and to transfer the individual's payment to the sponsor of the spending vehicle. The third party may take a portion of the payment as compensation for the service.

Abstract: An information processing system includes a receiving unit, a risk control matrix storage unit and a dummy control setting unit. The receiving unit receives assumed risks and controls corresponding to the assumed risks. The risk control matrix storage unit stores a risk control matrix in which a correspondence relation between the risks and the controls is described. If evaluation of design effectiveness is performed to check a document regarding an operation to be controlled in an internal control of operations and if the dummy control setting unit determines that there is a risk having no control corresponding thereto in the risk control matrix stored in the risk control matrix storage unit, the dummy control setting unit sets a dummy control for the risk having no corresponding control in the risk control matrix and stores the risk control matrix.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for developing and implementing a credit risk model using various sources of data, including price data, financial accounting ratios, ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) data, and textual data are disclosed. Each source of data provides unique and distinct information about the health of an entity, such as a firm or company. The systems and techniques combine information from disparate sources to create a uniquely powerful signal. The systems and techniques can be used to predict a number of events including, but not limited to, probability of default or bankruptcy, loss given default, probability of rating agency rating change, and probability of equity price moves.

Abstract: A business object model, which reflects data that is used during a given business transaction, is utilized to generate interfaces. This business object model facilitates commercial transactions by providing consistent interfaces that are suitable for use across industries, across businesses, and across different departments within a business during a business transaction. In some operations, software creates, updates, or otherwise processes information related to a credit portfolio model, a credit portfolio analytical result, a credit portfolio management process control, a financial instrument exposure profile analytical result, and/or a material supply and demand allocation business object.

Abstract: A method for developing and applying market data scenarios in which market data is received from a market data distribution platform, stored, changed with respect to a specific asset included in the market data, and the altered market data transmitted to a client application that processes the altered market data as if it were transmitted directly from the platform. The system may include a recording module for receiving a stream of market data from the platform, an interface module for specifying changes to the replayed stream to form a stream of altered market data and a client application interface for transmitting a stream of altered market data to a client application. The stream of altered market data mimics the market data stream such that the stream of altered market data can be processed as if it were market data from the market data distribution platform.

Abstract: The present invention is a server for supporting an exchange transaction, in which users can complete exchange transactions between and/or among themselves.

Abstract: The invention relates to systems and methods that provide a user interface for use with an electronic trading system. The interface displays a bid price axis and an ask price axis, as well as corresponding sizes, and an indication of the inside market. When the inside market changes in response to changing market conditions, the indication of the inside market changes locations before being restored to its original location by shifting the bid and ask prices in a direction parallel to the bid or ask price axis. The user may enter trade commands at different price levels using an input device. In order to help prevent such trade commands from being entered at erroneous price levels, the system locks a pointer associated with the input device to a price the user points to during the shifting process, unless the pointer is moved away from that price.

Abstract: Method and system for implementing an adaptive investing methodology. An asset allocation is determined for each of a plurality of periods of a model duration that optimize an objective function. The asset allocations identify for each of the periods how much of the investment account to invest in one or more asset classes. The objective function subtracts a value of a shortfall risk function from an expected value of an amount of income to be generated by an annuity purchased at the end of the model duration with funds in the investment account at the end of the model duration. The asset allocations are associated with values of a plurality of investor variables. The values of the plurality of investor variables and their associated asset allocations may be stored in one or more wealth tables and used to look up asset allocations for one or more investors.

Abstract: A system for buying and selling click-through traffic from a seller's web site employs an intermediary web site for conducting a multi-buyer pre-bidding trial of click through traffic so that a plurality of interested buyers can see for themselves what level and quality of traffic is generated to their webs sites. The trial is conducted with each buyer in turn during a trial period prior to opening bidding by the interested buyers for click through traffic from the seller's web site. The trial is conducted by placing a trial link on the seller's web site to the intermediary web site which links to each buyer's web site in turn during the trial period. The intermediary web site measures the click-through traffic during the trial process, so that the participating buyers are informed in real time of the actual performance of click-through traffic.

Abstract: A computerized method of implementing position-keeping in a multi-market environment is described herein. The method comprises identifying a plurality of instrument transaction parameters based on a universal instrument ID of at least one instrument. The instrument transaction parameters comprise a market level identifier and a register level identifier. Further, at least one consolidation line is generated for the instrument based on at least the plurality of instrument transaction parameters, wherein the position-keeping is achieved based on the consolidation line.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide pre-hedge rules and tools for creating pre-hedge rules. An example method includes receiving an indication that a first leg of a spread trade is at least partially filled; and in response to the indication and before an order associated with a second leg of the spread trade is placed, determining whether a condition defined in a rule is satisfied and, when the condition is satisfied, performing an action defined in the rule.

Abstract: A financial instrument exchange, system and method based upon the intensity of an underlying index. The instrument having a predetermined formula for a settlement price based at least in part on the formula: AR = [ 1 N ? ? j = 1 N ? r j ] × C where: N=a number of total observation periods; C=a constant multiplier; and rj=a capped absolute period return calculated using the formula: rj=min(d,|xj|); where: d=a contract period observation cap; and xj=a period return based on a formula of the group consisting of: x j = ln ? ( I j I j - 1 ) ; and x j = ( I j I j - 1 ) - 1 ; where: Ij=a reference index reported price/level j observation periods after an initial observation date/time. The periods can variable and measured in days, weeks, months, quarters and years. The instrument is traded at a market-determined price from creation through the date of expiration.