Abstract: A machine learning system and method are disclosed in which a plurality of synthetic features are created from input data, and a gradient boosted decision tree algorithm is then executed by the computer to process both the synthetic features and at least some of the input data to produce an output that is a probability.

Abstract: A method to assist in raising capital for an issuer of equity securities as well as generating interest payments for holders of equity securities issued by said issuer. The method includes use of a computerized HUB system including a computerized database and computer-readable code encoded on a computer readable non-transitory medium and which, when executed by a computer processor in the computerized HUB system, performs instructions to i) identify one or more shares of the equity securities previously issued by the issuer that may be available for the issuer to borrow, and ii) create a computerized database with data estimating and or documenting the number of equity shares that one or more potential lenders is willing to lend to the issuer at an interest rate or range of interest rates. The interest rate reflects collateral, the use of the proceeds to provide financing for the issuer, and/or the ability of the issuer borrower to repay the loan by issuing fungible shares to use as repayment.

Abstract: An online marketplace system generates an online marketplace for seller-financed transactions. The system includes a plurality of listings of transaction offerings that are available. The transaction offerings are listed by a plurality of users and are from a plurality of different categories of products and services. The transaction offerings include a plurality of transaction terms, including payment and seller-financing terms. A transaction engine facilitates the negotiation of transaction terms between users and the formation of agreement between users. Transaction coins are awarded during the successful performance of a transaction according to the agreed upon transaction terms. A reputation engine generates trust profiles and trust scores for users. The trust profiles and trust scores are used by parties to evaluate the trustworthiness of the other party. A user interface engine generates a user interface that includes listings from users and trust scores of those users.

Abstract: A communication device for determining, prior to provisioning a service to a user of a computing device, whether to provide that user with a requested service. The communication device comprises: a network interface configured to communicate with the computing device and with at least one data source; and a processor adapted to communicate with the network interface, and configured to: receive request for a service from a user; forward to the at least one data source information regarding this request and user's identifying details; retrieve data that relates to the request; determine, based on the retrieved data, a set of queries; forward the set of queries to the computing device; receive from the computing device responses to the set of queries; determine an adequacy score based on the retrieved data and the responses; and when the adequacy score is above a predefined threshold, enable provisioning the requested service.

Abstract: Exemplary methods and systems for creating uncorrelated trading strategies and deriving associated implied probability distributions of the price of an underlying financial instrument at future times are disclosed, applicable to stock market prices, interest rates, currency exchange rates, commodity prices and credit spreads.

Abstract: A method and system converts OTC positions into contracts clearable at a futures clearing house. Each OTC position has a maturity date. The method comprises: a) defining a plurality of tenors. The plurality of tenors is fewer in number than the OTC maturity dates of the OTC positions. The method also comprises: b) defining a contract, which is clearable at the clearing house, corresponding to each tenor defined in step a); c) mapping each OTC position, as it is executed, into one or more of the contracts, based on the maturity date of the OTC position; and d) between business days, re-mapping each contract mapped at step c) to account for the move of calendar day. The invention finds particular application as a method and system to convert OTC Foreign Exchange (FX) positions into futures contracts clearable at a futures clearing house. The OTC FX positions may include OTC FX spot positions and OTC FX forwards positions.

Abstract: A method can include obtaining a physical commodity that is divided into one or more physical units. The method can further include storing the physical commodity in a secure vault. Additionally, a map can be utilized to subdivide each of the one or more physical units into a plurality of segments. Each of the plurality of segments can be tangible portions of the physical unit that are distinct and identifiable. Subdividing each of the one or more physical units can render the physical units unaltered. Further, the map can be utilized to assign ownership of the plurality of segments to one or more owner users. The method can additionally include receiving an instruction to transfer ownership of a particular segment of the plurality of segments from a particular owner user to a buying user, and assigning in the map ownership of the particular segment to the buying user.

Abstract: A system for providing debt securities and other securities and commodity trading instruments. In particular, the system may allow for the decentralized issue and purchase of debt securities, reducing or eliminating many of the problems inherent in the centralized issue and purchase of debt securities. Such a system may include one or more decentralized data stores and a business web server operatively coupled to the one or more data stores, the business web server being configured to receive an investor request regarding a debt security instrument, match the investor to a debt security instrument using one or more identifiers, generate a transaction involving a change in the debt security instrument from the request information, recording the change in the decentralized data store, and transmitting a confirmation to the investor. A debt security instrument may be configured to mature automatically and provide an appropriate sum of virtual currency on maturity.

Abstract: Generally disclosed here are a method, an information handling device, and a program product for managing a personalized investment system, including: obtaining investor information. The investor information may including demographic information, industry information, and historical financial information. Once the investor information is obtained, an embodiment may then analyze the demographic information, industry information, and historical financial information with respect to each other. A further embodiment may then create, based on the analysis, a personalized risk model. Using the personalized risk model, the method, information handling device, and/or program product may perform an action. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Abstract: An apparatus, computer-readable medium, and computer-implemented method for creating collateralized portfolios. A portfolio is a collection of income-producing assets. These income-producing assets are a derivative of primary sources such as real property. A portfolio is generated through transactions that exchange estimated asset value for liquid instruments in the portfolio. Asset valuation is determined through known pricing functions. Transaction elasticity is provided by liquid instruments (reserve funds and portfolio-owned shares) held in reserve in the portfolio's reservoir which provides a market smoothing function to gracefully adapt to changes in asset demand and risk. Each portfolio's reservoir is collectively owned by the shareholders; continuously replenishing itself with income generated by assets in the portfolio.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system, apparatus and method through which novice or new investors can begin to invest by using the knowledge shared by seasoned investors, who are incentivized to do so by commissions based on their success. The system follows users through each point in a social investment process, and directs users in novel ways to execute a purchase faster. A user discovers other user portfolios through recommendations made using multi-stage collaborative portfolio filtering. From there, processes are defined for following and “mimicking” a portfolio to display the contents thereof, create personal copies of the portfolio or its strategies, and subscribe to periodic or timely updates on the portfolio. Through this system and processes, investment portfolios are curated, and metrics are created to rank user success and further refine recommendations.

Abstract: A system and methods for extracting value from a portfolio of assets, for example a patent portfolio, are described. By granting floating privileges described herein, a portfolio owner can extend an opportunity for obtaining an interest in selected assets from the portfolio to a client who lacks the resources to accumulate and maintain such a portfolio, in return for an annuity stream to the portfolio owner. The floating privilege can take many forms, depending on the needs of the client and the nature of the assets in the portfolio.

Abstract: The technology disclosed provides systems and methods that display database objects representing entities, placement channels and workflow status in an insurance or other risk transfer program. Specially coded distribution trees and graphs of nodes represent the overall flow and, optionally, status of placement workflows. Node and edge data generated for display depicts multiple risk placements on behalf of at least one requesting party through intermediaries to responding parties. Line width of edges represents calculated relative size of placements, and pattern, style, and color of edges can depict statuses of the risk placements. Another geo-coded map display also depicts as nodes a requesting party, intermediaries and responding parties, connected by edges that represent communication channels.

Abstract: The present invention provides for reconciling an electronic statement of events. In this regard, the present provides for presenting, within a GUI, display of events that a user has designated as reconciled in a condensed view, such that the typical single line of text or multi-line text that represents an event is either diminished or removed from the GUI. In additional embodiments of the invention, in response to presenting the condensed view, a second listing, a chart and/or a table may be presented in the GUI alongside the events yet to be reconciled, which lists or indicates the events that have been reconciled. As a result the user is provided with an “at a glance” view of reconciled events/transactions and can readily ascertain the progress that is being made toward completion of the reconciliation process.

Abstract: A system for calculating an estimated result during preparation of an electronic tax return includes a server computer having a predictive model, and a tax return preparation computer having an electronic tax return preparation program. The server computer is configured to obtain a first taxpayer datum and execute the predictive model, which analyzes the first taxpayer datum to identify a most relevant taxpayer data category. The server computer is configured to communicate the taxpayer data category to the tax return preparation computer. The tax return preparation computer is configured to obtain a second taxpayer datum corresponding to the taxpayer data category, calculate the estimated result for the taxpayer based on the second taxpayer datum, and display the estimated result to a user during preparation of the electronic tax return.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a social networking server that includes different engines and databases to support the generation of visually meaningful electronic presentations that present member-provided data in one or more graphical and understandable charts and graphs. An electronic presentation includes one or more electronic documents where various ones of the electronic documents are generated from templates that specify the “look-and-feel” for a given type of electronic document. Rather than having to manually enter and design graphs and charts to present member-provided data in a meaningful way, the social networking server leverages the stored electronic document templates to create these charts and graphs. However, as there may be multiple systems involved in creating a given type of chart or graph, the social networking server is tasked with coordinating the efforts of these different systems.

Abstract: A social networking system generates and displays page promotion units to viewing users of the social networking system. The page promotion unit provides content to the viewing user to promote advertisement of a page that the viewing user administers or advertises for. The page promotion unit may be dynamically generated based on content of the page that the viewing user administers. The page promotion unit is added to a feed of stories for the user, and may compete against other recommended actions for the user or advertisements in an auction for placement in the feed. The page promotion unit also provides an interface for the viewing user to promote the page and direct the viewing user to an interface for initiating an advertising campaign for the page, which may be prepopulated with content from the page promotion unit.

Abstract: An online system enables users to post media content items, comprising images or videos, for display to other users of the system. The online system receives media content from a posting user that is associated with a caption including text content. If the online system detects the text content of the caption includes a string of link text identifying an address, the online system prompts the posting user to pay a fee in exchange for generating a link based on the link text. Responsive to receiving payment of the fee from the posting user, the online system generates the link within the caption. The generated link comprises a selectable object displayed within the caption that when activated by a client device causes the client device to access a digital location specified by the address. The media content item and caption are sent for display to one or more other users of the online system.

Abstract: In an approach for providing a response in a web based system, a computer receives a web based form. The computer identifies a user that is accessing the received web based form. The computer identifies an input field within the received web based form. The computer identifies a peer group associated with the identified user. The computer identifies one or more responses previously submitted to the received web based form within a database based on the identified peer group. The computer determines one or more responses within the identified one or more responses previously submitted that correspond to the identified input field. The computer ranks the determined one or more responses. The computer provides the ranked one or more responses to the identified user.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus and software have been discovered for use by individual users to monitor the geographic location of other people or assets with some relationship to the user. Once some manner of location information is determined, users have the ability to describe that location in various ways and control how that information is shared with other users.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a circle layer system construction method and apparatus.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method for tracking influence of a user on content shared via encoded uniform resource locator (URL) links. Measuring influence of a user may identify what level of engagement the user drives to content when the user shares content with other users, such as via encoded links. A high influencer may be a user who drives a high level of engagement with content when the user shares content. A low influencer may be a user who does not drive a high level of engagement, or otherwise drives a low level of engagement with content when the user shares content. The method may include receiving, by a server, identification of a user for each of a plurality of encoded uniform resource locator (URL) links. The server may identify a plurality of keywords from content identified by each encoded URL link. The server may determine a number of actions via a plurality of users that decoded each encoded URL link of the plurality of encoded URL links of the user.

Abstract: An energy supply and demand planning device includes a database in which are stored data necessary for a power supply and demand plan and a fuel supply and demand plan, a power supply and demand planning unit that formulates a transaction plan for a power transaction market and a power generation plan, a fuel supply and demand planning unit that formulates a transaction plan for a fuel transaction market, a power generation revision plan, and a fuel tank operation plan, a data coordination unit that carries out an exchange of data between the power supply and demand planning unit and fuel supply and demand planning unit, and an operation control unit that carries out a determination of a start and convergence of operations in the power supply and demand planning unit and fuel supply and demand planning unit.

Abstract: A fault resolution system includes a fault triage system, a fault resolutions database, and a user device. The fault triage system generates rankings for a plurality of faults detected in a building system and prioritizes the detected faults according to the rankings. The fault resolutions database stores one or more potential resolutions for each of the detected faults and a success rate for each of the potential resolutions. The user device receives the prioritized faults, the potential resolutions, and the success rates from the fault triage system and provides resolution feedback to the fault triage system indicating whether the potential resolutions were successful in resolving the detected faults. The fault triage system uses the resolution feedback to update the success rates stored in the fault resolutions database.

Abstract: A method of providing firm cash offers for uninspected assets is provided. The method comprises a computer generating and transmitting an offer to purchase an uninspected asset, the offer comprising a range of contingent purchase prices based on results of a future inspection of the asset, the computer determining the contingent purchase prices using at least one algorithm, and one of the contingent purchase prices becoming a firm cash purchase price upon completion of the inspection. The method also comprises the computer receiving acceptance of the offer, the acceptance agreeing to sell the asset for the firm purchase price determined based on results of the inspection. The method also comprises the computer closing, upon completion of the inspection, purchase of the asset at the firm purchase price determined based on the inspection and further, based on proceeds realized during subsequent liquidation of the asset, refining the at least one algorithm.

Abstract: A first-party vendor provides a licensed first-party service on one or more electronic devices, the first-party service associated with a licensed third-party service provided by a third-party vendor on the electronic devices. A cloud service of the first-party vendor may host one or more third-party license keys that are securely accessible to the first-party service, each third-party license key pointing to a corresponding global third-party license issued by the third-party vendor for access to the third-party service on the electronic devices. In some examples, distribution of a third-party license key to a particular device may be based on a current affinity of that device to a particular third-party license type, as determined from a mapping agreed upon by the first-party and third-party vendors between one or more types of first-party licenses and one or more types of third-party license, and from the first-party license type currently associated with the device.

Abstract: System and method for customizing multifocal ophthalmic lenses, such as an intraocular lens (IOL) or the like, that may be tailored for an individual patient or group of patients beyond the selection of a particular IOL power. One or more eye factors of the patient are determined, a set of different multifocal intraocular lenses having a similar base power are determined based on the eye factors, and a multifocal intraocular lens is selected for the patient from the set based on the eye factors.

Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing a biomedical innovations datametrics dashboard are presented. The dashboard can utilize data from real-world data sources to inform a simulation model which performs simulations of the biomedical innovation pipeline and related entities and processes. The dashboard can utilize the simulation model as well as feedback solicited from a user to assist in performing multi-objective optimization according to the user's preferences. The dashboard can help policy decision-makers and other stakeholders decide on a combination of policies that best incentivizes private sector biomedical innovation in order to achieve a satisfactory set of outcomes, which may include, but is not limited to, reductions in DALYs, healthcare costs, increases in industry NPV, and improved clinical trial quality.

Abstract: Enhanced features of a vehicle based transportation system are presented here. In accordance with one methodology, the transportation system processes ride requests for multiple passengers of an autonomous vehicle based transportation system. Each ride request is associated with a respective pickup location and a respective destination location. The system calculates a respective passenger transportation route for each actively operating autonomous vehicle, wherein each passenger transportation route is based at least in part on the pickup locations and destination locations associated with the ride requests, and wherein each passenger transportation route is calculated in accordance with predetermined prioritization criteria. The actively operating autonomous vehicles are controlled in a desired manner to satisfy at least some of the ride requests.

Abstract: An automated system and method for addressing a piece of mail. The system and method places mailing addresses from a scrubbed list of address onto advertisements.

Abstract: Disclosed is a 3D mesh model watermarking method using a divisional scheme. The method of inserting a watermark into a three-dimensional (3D) mesh model includes: calculating a geometric primitive of the 3D mesh model; dividing the 3D mesh model into a plurality of mesh segments by using the geometric primitive; converting the mesh segments into mesh segments of a vertex distance-based coordinate system; inserting a predetermined watermark into each of the mesh segments of the vertex distance-based coordinate system; and restoring the mesh segments into which the watermark is inserted to a Cartesian coordinate system.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, image content is rendered to include a digital watermark pattern at an essentially fixed scale, regardless of the size of screen on which the content is displayed. In one particular embodiment, CSS and JavaScript are responsive to the rendering context (which can include screen size, and/or viewer position) to define the geometry of a watermarked texture block, which is tiled to serve as a background of an HTML-defined page. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Abstract: A computing system includes a memory device comprising a memory array and an internal processor configured to perform a first sub pipeline of a graphics pipeline for tile-based rendering by using graphics data stored in the memory array, for offload processing of the first sub pipeline from a host processor; and the host processor configured to perform a second sub pipeline of the graphics pipeline by using a result of the first sub pipeline stored in the memory array.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a graphics processing system configured to track event counts in a tile-based architecture. The graphics processing system includes a screen-space pipeline and a tiling unit. The screen-space pipeline includes a first unit, a count memory associated with the first unit, and an accumulating memory associated with the first unit. The first unit is configured to detect an event type and increment the count memory. The tiling unit is configured to cause the screen-space pipeline to update an external memory address to reflect a first value stored in the count memory when the first unit completes processing of a first set of primitives. The tiling unit is also configured to cause the screen-space pipeline to update the accumulating memory to reflect a second value stored in the count memory when the first unit completes processing of a second set of primitives.

Abstract: A mechanism is described for facilitating smart optimization of unused graphics buffer memory in computing environments. A method of embodiments, as described herein, includes detecting a software application at a computing device, where the software application to place a request for a task capable of being executed by a processor of the computing device. The method may further include allocating a composition of buffers and facilitate allocation of physical memory to the buffers to be used to perform the task, where a first portion of the physical memory and a second portion of the physical memory are allocated to first one or more of the buffers and second one or more of the buffers, respectively.

Abstract: A graphics processing unit (GPU) renders graphical objects into a group of pixels and stores the pixels in an on-chip buffer on the same chip as the GPU. Each pixel has an alpha value that indicates transparency of the pixel. The GPU reads the alpha value of each pixel from the on-chip buffer. According to alpha values of the group of pixels, the GPU generates an alpha hint in the system memory for the group of pixels. The alpha hint represents an aggregate of the alpha values of the group of pixels. The GPU then stores the group of pixels into a frame buffer in the system memory.

Abstract: A method for managing a content overlay. The method included a processor identifying a first image and a second image from an augmented reality (AR) device. The method further includes identifying a first element of interest within the first image. The method further includes associating a corresponding first AR content overlay for the first element of interest. The method further includes determining one or more differences between the first image and the second image, wherein the second image includes at least the first element of interest. The method further includes modifying a position of at least the first AR content overlay based, at least in part, on the one or more differences between the first image and the second image.

Abstract: An image processing method is provided. Calculating sums of differences identified between a pixel value of a pixel of interest in an input image and pixel values of three pixels surrounding the pixel of interest. Calculating an average value of four pixel difference sums calculated by the pixel difference sum calculators. Calculating deviations between the average value and the four pixel difference sums calculated by the pixel difference sum calculators. Deriving a minimum coefficient from the candidates of coefficient calculated by a candidate coefficient calculator by using adjusted deviations derived from multiplying the deviations by a constant. Subtracting values derived from multiplying the adjusted deviations by the minimum coefficient from the pixel value of the pixel of interest in the input image and outputting values of four pixels in an enlarged image twice an original size of the input image in horizontal and vertical directions.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus, method, and program are provided that control display of an image. The information processing apparatus, method, and program designate a first point and a second point on an image, determine a zoom direction based on a position of the first point relative to a position of the second point, and zoom the image in the zoom direction.

Abstract: An initial high-resolution image (D2) is generated by projection of low-resolution images (DIN) onto a high-resolution image space, an intermediate-resolution image (D31) is generated by projection of the low-resolution images (DIN) onto an intermediate-resolution image space, the intermediate-resolution image (D31) is interpolated and enlarged to generate an intermediate-resolution enlarged image (D3), and the pixel values of the undefined pixels in the initial high-resolution image (D2) are estimated using the pixel values of the corresponding pixels in the intermediate-resolution enlarged image (D3). It is possible to generate a high-resolution image of a high picture quality with higher accuracy even when less low-resolution images are used.

Abstract: Systems and method for the reconstruction of an articulated object are disclosed herein, The articulated object can be reconstructed from image data collected by a moving camera over a period of time. A plurality of 2D feature points can be identified within the image data. These 2D feature points can be converted into three-dimensional space, which converted points are identified as 3D feature points. These 3D feature points can be used to identify one or several rigidity constrains and/or kinematic constraints. These rigidity and/or kinematic constraints can be applied to a model of the reconstructed articulated object.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for denoising image data includes a computer system receiving an input image comprising noisy image data and denoising the input image using a deep multi-scale network comprising a plurality of multi-scale networks sequentially connected. Each respective multi-scale network performs a denoising process which includes dividing the input image into a plurality of image patches and denoising those image patches over multiple levels of decomposition using a threshold-based denoising process. The threshold-based denoising process denoises each respective image patch using a threshold which is scaled according to an estimation of noise present in the respective image patch. The noising process further comprises the assembly of a denoised image by averaging over the image patches.

Abstract: An illuminance calculation unit detects an illuminance of an image when the image is captured. Based on the detected illuminance, a gamma correction amount calculation unit corrects at least one of a minimum output luminance value and a maximum output luminance value in a gamma characteristic for correcting a gradation characteristic of a luminance of the image. A gamma setting unit corrects the gradation characteristic of the luminance of the image with the gamma characteristic corrected based on the illuminance.

Abstract: A method of validating a design for a graphical user interface of a motor vehicle includes creating a tentative design, and/or a few drafts or prototype for the graphical user interface. A blurred version of the tentative graphical user interface design is produced. The blurred version of the tentative graphical user interface design is tested for readability and whether the overall GUI design is suited to be perceived at a glance. If it is determined that the blurred version of the tentative graphical user interface design is not readable or understandable, then the graphical user interface is redesigned and the producing and testing steps are repeated for the redesigned graphical user interface. After the blurred graphical user interface design has been determined to be readable, then a higher fidelity graphical user interface is made.

Abstract: An image deblurring method and an image deblurring apparatus are provided. The image deblurring method includes acquiring a blurred image and a dynamic vision sensor (DVS) event set that is recorded by a DVS while the blurred image is exposed, and deblurring the blurred image, based on the DVS event set.

Abstract: The invention provides an image shooting apparatus and an image shooting method that obtain a recovered image with high precision by using an optimal point spread function (PSF) without deriving an image shooting distance of a photographed object, an image shooting program, and a recording medium that records the image shooting program.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and system for processing an image extracted from a document. The image processing system detects one or more edges of the image and determines a missing edge in the image by comparing color gradients of the edges. The missing edges are recreated by cloning image pixels based on data pixels of an edge, opposite to the missing edge, amongst the one or more edges to obtain a reconstructed image. Outer corner points in the reconstructed image are identified based on quadratic corner points, wherein the quadratic corner points are determined based on the one or more edges and the reconstructed edge. Further, the image processing system performs an image perspective correction on the reconstructed image, based on the outer corner points, to obtain a processed image.

Abstract: Implementations disclosed herein (e.g., systems, methods, and computer-readable program products) provide a high definition range “UHD” compatible version of classic image content (e.g., as-released motion pictures) that was created in an era of limited dynamic range and that maintains aesthetic characterization defined by “Director's Intent” of the classic image content. Such implementations advantageously use clues to the Director's Intent found in the classic image content to make intelligent estimations as to what a Director (or other image content editing professional) was attempting to achieve in the classic image content relative to a corresponding original image content (e.g., as-shot image content). The original image content holds original imagery details that have been altered or omitted during creation of corresponding classic image content. The classic image content exhibits attributes that reflect the Director's Intent such as, for example color, contrast, vignetting, saturation, and the like.

Abstract: Implementations disclosed herein (e.g., systems, methods, and computer-readable program products) provide a high definition range “UHD” compatible version of classic image content (e.g., as-released motion pictures) that was created in an era of limited dynamic range and that maintains aesthetic characterization defined by “Director's Intent” of the classic image content. Such implementations advantageously use clues to the Director's Intent found in the classic image content to make intelligent estimations as to what a Director (or other image content editing professional) was attempting to achieve in the classic image content relative to a corresponding original image content (e.g., as-shot image content). The original image content holds original imagery details that have been altered or omitted during creation of corresponding classic image content. The classic image content exhibits attributes that reflect the Director's Intent such as, for example color, contrast, vignetting, saturation, and the like.

Abstract: An example method of recovering a planar projection in a captured image. The example method includes selecting displaced points in the captured image. The example method also includes recovering an affine transform of a quasi-periodic object for each of the displaced points based on peak locations of Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) of the captured image. The example method also includes combining each of the affine transforms for the displaced points to recover the planar projection and correct for perspective distortion in the captured image.