Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for managing electronic messages of an electronic trading system in which orders are extracted from the electronic messages involve executing actions associated with respect to the orders and matching orders to counter orders. Matching orders may be based on a priority determined using a market quality index of the order and an associated market participant.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for coordination of a population of Thermostatically Controlled Loads (TCLs) with unknown parameters to achieve group objectives including bidding and market clearing strategies designed to motivate self-interested users to realize efficient energy allocation subject to a peak power constraint. In one examples of the disclosed technology, a method of operating a load includes estimating a set of values for unmeasured parameters of the load's thermal environment based on output measurements of the thermal environment, determining an energy response based on the estimated set of values for the unmeasured parameters, and transmitting a bid for power for a finite time period based on the determined energy response to the coordinator. A clearing price is received from the coordinator responsive to the transmitted bid and power is sent to the load responsive to the received clearing price.

Abstract: A funding platform permits investors to review a company for investment and provide funding for the company by executing an investment transaction online. The funding platform determines whether the investor is an accredited or qualified investor and provides diligence information to the investor for evaluating whether to invest in the company. The investor provides a request to invest in the company, and the funding platform determines whether the investor has an account with a broker-dealer. The funding platform receives a commitment from the investor to fund the company, and when a funding threshold amount is reached from one or more investors, the funding platform initiates funding of the company and receives a financial instrument for the investors issued by the company.

Abstract: Systems and methods for transferring digital assets amongst a network of distributed users without the need to transfer the assets to an external party, such as an escrow agent, are provided. The transferring of assets may be in the form of electronic transactions between pluralities of currencies or assets. Temporary and localized escrow services may be created on a user terminal for safely overseeing the process of transferring digital assets. The trade instructions and execution orders for the transfer of assets may be validated over a de-centralized network of user terminals, such as the user terminals of traders. This type of network allows secure peer-to-peer electronic transactions to occur between distributed and anonymous users or participants, which are assumed to be trustless. In such networks, the transactions may be handled by cryptographic mathematical algorithms and which are known to be identical across all users or participants of the same network.

Abstract: Systems and methods for volumetric forecasting based on prediction market probability estimates. Alternative simulated starting values for prediction markets are used in order to determine the preferred starting values for prediction markets to use in volumetric forecasting. A user interface that facilitates using prediction market probability estimates to determine volumetric forecasts is described herein.

Abstract: Methods and system for generating an employee benefit user interface (UI) are provided. A method includes generating a first level user interface (UI) based on a user input, wherein the first level UI simultaneously displays information of plural different insurance plans in respective areas associated with the plural different insurance plans; receiving a user input of a selected topic at an area of the first level UI outside the respective areas; and reconfiguring the first level UI to display, in the respective areas, information regarding the selected topic for each of the plural different insurance plans.

Abstract: A system and method for the capture, storage and usage of specific insurance underwriting and/or loss validation data includes a handheld mobile computer device containing one or more master forms in which insurance data is entered into the handheld device, normally at the location of the insured home along with an electronic signature of the insured and a geocode and time/date stamp. The data is uploaded to a secure, structured database. Insurance data can also be entered, in a secure manner, via a customer portal by the insured or from third party data sources. The system includes software with the ability to pre-populate standardized underwriting forms based on the collected data. The system also manages electronic insurance quotes and bind orders as well.

Abstract: As part of an accounting function calculation, work is distributed among a plurality of tasks for execution in parallel. Pinpoint queries run within the tasks return pinpoint accounting cost senders associated with a given accounting cost receiver. The database can be organized to handle repeated multiple pinpoint queries. Superior performance can result compared to an approach that attempts to match senders with receivers in a common task.

Abstract: A computer program, a system, and a method facilitate transactions of taxpayer-specific items of information between taxpayers and third parties in a virtual venue. A set of taxpayer information related, at least in part, to a filed tax return of the taxpayer is received. The set of taxpayer information is filtered to obtain a marketable information set, which in turn includes taxpayer-specific items. A third-party value is obtained for each taxpayer-specific item, and the taxpayer is presented a sale value for each taxpayer-specific item. The taxpayer is presented an option to select at least one taxpayer-specific item to be sold in the virtual venue and an option for the taxpayer to select at least one third party to which to sell said at least one taxpayer-specific item. Upon the selection of the options by the taxpayer, the transaction is then processed and completed.

Abstract: A computer program, a method, and a system for determining an effect a tax event has on a taxpayer's tax refund amount or tax owed amount (refund/owe amount). During a tax interview for preparation of a tax return using tax preparation software, tax event information related to the taxpayer's liability is inputted. The refund/owe amount is displayed via a refund/owe meter (ROM) on a graphical user interface. After each tax event is inputted or after a ROM generating event, the ROM displays an updated refund/owe amount. Additionally, the effect of the tax event on the displayed amount is presented, including a monetary amount by which a last received tax event affects the displayed amount. The effect is calculated and displayed in real time so as to dynamically change the displayed refund/owe amount in response to the last received tax event information or in response to the ROM generating event.

Abstract: Example embodiments include systems using computer hardware processors receiving user input and a master database storing transaction information. The processor receives transaction information from a buyer or seller and treats the transaction information based on desired formats and/or information in the master database. For example, the processor may transmit the transaction information to a buyer or a seller matching information in the transaction information or add additional information to the transaction information based on matched in the master database.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for providing an attestation of skills and achievements by academic courses in a social network. In some embodiments, a method is presented. The method may include accessing, in a device, a user-enabled feature to accept academic performance measurements in a user profile of a user in a social network. The method may also include accessing a measurement of academic performance provided by an academic institution, accessing a threshold criterion of academic performance, determining if the measurement of academic performance satisfies the threshold criterion of academic performance, and displaying the measurement of academic performance in the user profile if the measurement of academic performance satisfies the threshold criterion.

Abstract: The present disclosure extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for identity mapping between commerce customers and social media users. Aspects of the invention use inferred attributes and activity correlations from both commerce data and social media data to map identities. In one aspect, activity correlations are calculated between a commerce customer account and each of the one or more candidate social media user accounts. For each of the one or more candidate social media user accounts, a probability that the commerce customer account and the social media user account map to the same identity is calculated. In another aspect, the accuracy of a mapping between a commerce customer account and a social media user is evaluated using additional social media data.

Abstract: Disclosed in some examples are methods, machine readable mediums, and systems for providing a list of skills a member should learn in order to achieve a particular goal. The system may provide a user interface to the member of the social networking service. Through the user interface, the member may select one or more goals that they wish to achieve. Based upon these goals, the list of skills associated with that goal may be determined—this list is a goal set of skills. The goal set of skills may be compared to the member's current skills. Skills in the list of goal skills that the member does not already possess may be recommended to the member.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for providing information exchange between a social network and partners of the social network. In some example embodiments, a method is presented. The method may include accessing, at a device associated with a social network, information from a social network partner, with the information being offered as an exchange for information found in the social network. The method may also include determining a measurement of value to the social network of the information from the social network partner; accessing a confirmation to submit the information from the social network partner to the social network, based on the determined measurement of value; and exchanging the information from the social network partner for a measurement of credit based on the determined measurement of value and the submission confirmation.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a novel mobile-enabled secure, interactive, scalable, multi-platform cloud-based system for monitoring, managing, organizing, sharing, evaluating and/or promoting unique art objects, and the like, and interconnecting members of the art world, such as artists, galleries, museums, collectors, auction houses, art fairs, institutions, and art organizations. The cloud-based portfolio management tool provides unique capabilities for collectors to be able to engage interactively with their art, in a manner that permits the fusing of such management with market history and insurance data.

Abstract: A device for communication between at least one item of equipment of an installation and a fluid meter for metering a quantity of fluid consumed by said at least one item of equipment, said meter and said at least one item of equipment being linked to the fluid network of the installation, said device comprising: a first communication interface configured so as to communicate by power-line carrier with the meter and possibly with a concentrator and, through the intermediary thereof, with a metering information system, and a second communication interface configured so as to communicate wirelessly with said at least one item of equipment, each of the first and second interfaces being configured for a bidirectional communication.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for managing local energy resources of an energy system. The method includes determining, offline by a processor, an offline optimal resource allocation of the local energy resources using a Pontryagin Maximum Principle that involves a continuous, unbounded state. The method further includes determining, in real-time by the processor, a real-time optimal resource allocation of the local energy resources using offline-determined energy storage shadow pricing. The method also includes managing, by the processor, an allocation of the local energy resources in accordance with the offline optimal resource allocation and the real-time optimal resource allocation.

Abstract: Described herein are systems, methods, and apparatus for managing operations, for instance making orders and fulfilling orders, using one or more computing devices. In accordance with an example embodiment, an operations management system can include a self-order system, a self-payment system, and an order-fulfillment system. The self-order system, the self-payment system, and the order-fulfillment system can communicate with each other via a communication system that connects the systems, such as a wireless network for example. Using the operation management system, orders can be placed and fulfilled efficiently and with minimal personal interaction.

Abstract: A method, terminal and server for providing personalized food information for food safety are disclosed herein. The server includes a communication unit, and a processing unit. The communication unit receives a request for knowledge information related to the intake of a food of a user from a terminal and to send notification data to the terminal. The request includes the food identifier of the food and the personal information of the user. The processing unit generates the notification data, including the knowledge information, using food information, indicated by the food identifier, and the personal information.

Abstract: Ordering system and method comprising a server connectable to a wireless access point and configured to transmit from the wireless access point a menu of products to a mobile device, process a communication from the mobile device received by the wireless access point, the communication including one or more products selected by a user, and generate an order instruction comprising the selected one or more products.

Abstract: In some embodiments, systems and methods for presenting a traveler interface using a mobile computing device are provided. In some embodiments, aspects of the traveler interface are hidden to allow the traveler interface to be presented on the display of the mobile computing device. In some embodiments, a calendar interface is presented to a traveler. In some embodiments, trip items may be added by the traveler to the calendar interface via import, entry, or selection from a trip item tray. In some embodiments, trip items may be presented in a trip item tray based on a match rank value representing a correspondence between preferences associated with the trip and attributes of the trip items. In some embodiments, interfaces may be presented to a supplier of trip items that allow the supplier to push relevant trip items to selected travelers during their travel upon detection of a push event.

Abstract: The disclosure a computer implemented method for transaction of a real estate property. The method may include receiving information from a first user device. The information may include data that corresponds to an offer to sell a real estate property. A set of terms may be extracted from the received data. The set of terms may include an offer price, a payment method for the offer price, and a series of milestones each comprising an associated closing time. A packaged offer may be created based on the extracted set of terms. The packaged offer may include attributes of the product stored on a memory device accessible to the processing device and the extracted set of terms. The packaged offer may be transmitted to a second user device.

Abstract: A new generation of secure title to electronic device comprising a card (1) of title, on which information about at least one owner and at least one property and or personal property are engraved, the professional card (3), on which the information about a professional engraved, the device is characterized in that said card (1) comprises an electronic chip (2) secured to contain confidential information of said owner and said personal property and/or real property and access rights to such information. Said professional card (3) includes an electronic chip (4) secure for containing information of said professional and professional access the said rights to the information of the card (1) of title, in the presence of the owner of the property and said card (1). The device also includes a dedicated card reader (5) for accessing information in the card (1) and in the professional card.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a presentation offering one or more items is provided on a computing device and an offer for purchase of an item of the one or more items is received. In some instances, the offer for purchase identifies an offer amount. Payment method information related to a payment method is received and a request to authorize the payment method in a reserve amount can be transmitted. A confirmation that the payment method is authorized in the reserve amount can be received and a notification identifying the item and the first offer can be generated. The notification can include an option to respond to the first offer, in some instances, the option to respond can include an option to accept the first offer and an option to provide a counteroffer.

Abstract: A multi-payer clinical documentation e-learning platform and methods for educating at least one health professional about medical necessity criteria associated with a plurality of health plans are described herein. An example method can commence with dynamically compiling health plan data associated with the plurality of health plans. The method may include analyzing the health plan data to extract the medical necessity criteria for at least one medical procedure. The method may further include selectively integrating a health record workflow with one or more e-learning sessions to educate the at least one health professional about the medical necessity criteria in the context of the at least one medical procedure.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to signal detection adaptable to accommodate various lighting conditions, and to embedding signals according to anticipated lighting conditions likely to be present during image capture. One claim recites a portable apparatus comprising: a camera for capturing data representing imagery or video; a touchscreen display; and one or more processors. The one or more processors are configured for: obtaining data representing imagery or video, the imagery or video having been captured with said camera; obtaining lighting information associated with image capture of the imagery or video, in which the lighting information is associated with a light level or color temperature; adapting an auxiliary data detector based on the lighting information; and controlling the adapted auxiliary data detector to process the data representing imagery or video to determine whether auxiliary data is encoded therein. Of course, additional disclosure, combinations and claims are also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for executing workloads without host intervention. For example, one embodiment of an apparatus comprises: a host processor; and a graphics processor unit (GPU) to execute a hierarchical workload responsive to one or more commands issued by the host processor, the hierarchical workload comprising a parent workload and a plurality of child workloads interconnected in a logical graph structure; and a scheduler kernel implemented by the GPU to schedule execution of the plurality of child workloads without host intervention, the scheduler kernel to evaluate conditions required for execution of the child workloads and determine an order in which to execute the child workloads on the GPU based on the evaluated conditions; the GPU to execute the child workloads in the order determined by the scheduler kernel and to provide results of parent and child workloads to the host processor following execution of all of the child workloads.

Abstract: Power gating a portion of a graphics processor may be used to improve performance or to achieve a power budget. A processor granularity, such as a slice or subslice, may be gated.

Abstract: A data queuing and format apparatus is disclosed. A first selection circuit may be configured to selectively couple a first subset of data to a first plurality of data lines dependent upon control information, and a second selection circuit may be configured to selectively couple a second subset of data to a second plurality of data lines dependent upon the control information. A storage array may include multiple storage units, and each storage unit may be configured to receive data from one or more data lines of either the first or second plurality of data lines dependent upon the control information.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and a terminal device for controlling a display of a video image. The method includes: obtaining the video image captured by a smart camera device; obtaining orientation variation data of a terminal device when the video image is displayed on a screen of the terminal device; and controlling the video image to slide on the screen according to the orientation variation data of the terminal device.

Abstract: A system and method for scaling an image includes receiving raw image data comprising input pixel values which correspond to pixels of an image sensor; and filtering pixels according to a Bayer-consistent ruleset. The system and method may also include outputting scaled image data as output pixel values, which correspond to subgroups of the input pixel values. The Bayer-consistent ruleset includes a set of filter weights and a series of scaling rules. The Bayer-consistent ruleset results in a scaled image having a high degree of Bayer-consistency.

Abstract: A system and method of processing raw image pixel information includes an integrated decimation filter and raw image scaling filter. The decimation filter operates in the time domain; for example, to calculate a weighted average of time samples. The raw image scaling filter operates in the spatial domain; for example, to calculate a weighted average of spatial samples. The raw image pixel information is modulated by a sigma-delta analog-to-digital modulator.

Abstract: A system and method for scaling an image includes receiving raw image data comprising input pixel values which correspond to pixels of an image sensor; and filtering pixels according to a Bayer-consistent ruleset by a first scaling factor in a first direction and a second scaling factor in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the first scaling factor is different from the second scaling factor. The system and method may also include outputting scaled image data as output pixel values, which correspond to subgroups of the input pixel values. The Bayer-consistent ruleset includes a set of filter weights and a series of scaling rules. The Bayer-consistent ruleset results in a scaled image having a high degree of Bayer-consistency.

Abstract: A system and method of processing raw image pixel information includes an integrated decimation filter and raw image scaling filter for a set of M columns of raw image pixel information. The decimation filter operates in the time domain; for example, to calculate a weighted average of time samples. The raw image scaling filter operates in the spatial domain; for example, to calculate a weighted average of spatial samples. The raw image pixel information is modulated by a sigma-delta analog-to-digital modulator. The system and method scale the raw image pixel information by a factor of 1/N. M and N are positive integers.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for combining contributed images from a plurality of imaging devices on a network to create a combined image, such as a group selfie. A group-selfie request is initiated inviting selected network users to contribute images. After receiving the contributed images, sub-images are selected from the contributed images and arranged within a combined image. The border around each sub-image is then blended into the combined image. The sub-images can also be filtered and modified to harmonize with the combined image. Further, each sub-image from the respective contributed image can be assigned to a predefined partition of the combined image, and the sub-images can be continuously updated from the respective contributing network users to provide a real-time combined image.

Abstract: A camera system for producing super resolution images is disclosed. The camera system may include a lens, a detector array configured to capture an image focused through the lens onto a focal plane, and a transducer coupled to one of the lens and the detector array. The transducer may be configured to impart motion to the one of the lens and the detector array over a predetermined time period, and the detector array may capture a plurality of images over the predetermined time period.

Abstract: A method of processing a super resolution image using adaptive preprocessing filtering and/or postprocessing filtering is provided. A provided image processing apparatus may determine a preprocessing filter and a postprocessing filter based on frames included in a reference interval among a plurality of intervals in an input video, may perform filtering on the frames in the reference interval based on the preprocessing filter, may reconstruct a high frequency signal of each of the frames on which the filtering is performed, and may perform filtering on the frames, each having the reconstructed high frequency signal, based on the postprocessing filter.

Abstract: An image processing method, including preparing a first image; designating at least one region of interest (ROI) in the first image, generating restoration data; and generating a second image using the restoration data, the second image corresponding to the ROI, wherein a resolution of the second image is higher than a resolution of a region corresponding to the ROI in the first image.

Abstract: A portable electronic device comprises a double-sided display including a first display side and a second display side formed on a side opposite the first display side; a direct memory access (DMA) controller configured to read first image data from a memory; at least one sensor configured to detect at least one of a position change of the double-sided display and a movement of a user's pupil and to output a detection signal; a status signal generator configured to interpret the detection signal output and to output a status signal; a transmission order determiner configured to receive the first image data from the DMA controller, to determine a transmission order of the first image data based on the status signal, and to output second image data corresponding to the determined transmission order; and a display driver integrated circuit (IC) configured to transmit the second image data to the display.

Abstract: Information indicating the correspondence relationship of imaging conditions, the thickness of an object, and the thickness of a specific composition included in the object, and a contrast correction amount is stored. The thickness of the object and the thickness of a specific composition included in the object of each unit region having one or two or more pixels of the radiation image are acquired. For each unit region of the radiation image, a contrast correction amount corresponding to a combination of the imaging conditions, the thickness of the object acquired for the unit region, and the thickness of the specific composition is acquired with reference to the stored information indicating the correspondence relationship, and contrast correction is performed using the acquired contrast correction amount.

Abstract: A system for determining a high resolution output image that includes receiving a low resolution image and determining an intermediate high resolution image. The system detects semantic features based upon the input image and selects corresponding semantic components from a database based upon the detected semantic features. The first intermediate high resolution image is modified based upon information from the corresponding semantic components to determine the high resolution output image.

Abstract: A first edge strength calculation circuit calculates an edge strength of each pixel in the image on the basis of results of detection by the first edge detection circuit. A filter strength setting unit sets a filter strength of a two-dimensional lowpass filter for each pixel, on the basis of the edge strength calculated by the edge strength calculation circuit. A second edge strength calculation circuit calculates an edge strength of each pixel in the image, on the basis of results of detection by the second edge detection circuit. An enhancement strength setting circuit sets an edge enhancement strength of the edge enhancement filter for each pixel, on the basis of the edge strength calculate by the second edge strength calculation circuit.

Abstract: It is provided according to the present application an image processing method applied to an electronic device equipped with a binocular camera. The image processing method includes: calculating a motion direction of a first image and a motion direction of a second image, wherein the first image and second image are captured by two cameras of the binocular camera respectively; performing deblurring on the first image and the second image; and combining the images which are already deblurred to obtain a definite three-dimensional perspective image. According to the image processing method, a blurry image generated during imaging is deblurred, the blurring caused by movement or the like may be weakened, the definition of the deblurred image is better than the definition of the blurred image, thereby leading to a better imaging result.

Abstract: High dynamic range image composition is described using multiple images. Some embodiments relate to a system with a buffer to receive each of three different images of a scene, each image having a different amount of light exposure to the scene, as general purpose processor to estimate the alignment between the three images, and an imaging processor to warp the images based on the estimated alignment and to combine the three images to produce a single high dynamic range image.

Abstract: A radiographic image processing device includes: an image acquisition section that acquires a subject image detected by a shielded detection portion and a non-shielded detection portion; an area information acquisition section that acquires area information which is information for specifying a non-shielded image area and a shielded image area; and a scattered ray suppression section that estimates spreading of scattered rays generated in a non-shielded subject portion, estimates that scattered rays that spread to the non-shielded image area from a shielded subject portion are not present, calculates a scattered ray component in each position in the non-shielded image area as the estimated scattered rays reach each position in the non-shielded image area, and suppresses the scattered ray component in each position in the non-shielded image area according to the calculated scattered ray component.

Abstract: To process image data, a distribution of gray levels of frame image data is detected. A remapping function for providing remapped gray levels is determined based on the distribution of the gray levels such that a number of the remapped gray levels is less than a number of the gray levels. Low-power frame image data are provided based on the frame image data and the remapping function such that displaying the low-power frame image data uses less power than the frame image data.

Abstract: An image capturing device and a method for generating a bokeh effect are provided. The method includes the following steps. An image including a current input pixel is captured. Next, blurring processes are performed on the image by using a first image blur filter and a second image blur filter so as to generate a plurality of first blur images and second blur images corresponding to different blur levels. A distance between the current input pixel and a focal plane is calculated to obtain a current distance. A first current blur image and a second current blur image are respectively selected from the first blur images and the second blur images according to the current distance. Next, a first current blur pixel of the first current blur image and a second current blur pixel of the second current blur image are combined to generate a current output pixel.

Abstract: A method for correcting one or more images of an object (107) from a plurality of images of the object (107), for providing one or more corrected images of the object (107) for further use in a process for generating a representation of the surface of the object, each image of the plurality of images comprising one or more pixels and each pixel comprising a pixel value, wherein one or more illumination sources (104, 105, 106) illuminate the object with different directions of illumination, and each image is associated with a determined direction of illumination, the method comprising the steps of: for each pixel of the plurality of a first image of said plurality of images: a) selecting a pixel in the first image for obtaining the pixel value of the selected pixel; b) selecting at least one corresponding pixel in at least one image of the remaining images of the plurality of images for obtaining the pixel value of the at least one selected corresponding pixel; c) calculating at least one ratio of the pixel va

Abstract: A system for two color image fusion blending co-registered low light level images in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum with thermal infrared images maximizes the information content of the scene by detecting in which of the two image types, IR and visible, there is more structural information and increasing the weight of the pixels in the image type having the most structural information. Additionally, situational awareness is increased by categorizing image information as “scene” or “target” and colorizing the target images to highlight target features when raw IR values are above a predetermined threshold. The system utilizes Red, Green and Blue (RGB) planes to convey different information such that for targets the Red plane is used to colorize regions when raw IR exceeds the predetermined threshold. For scene images, the Green plane provides improved situational awareness due to the above weighted blend of the two image types.