Abstract: Methods and systems for automatic detection of landmarks in digital images and annotation of those images are disclosed. A method for detecting and annotating landmarks in digital images includes the steps of automatically assigning a tag descriptive of a landmark to one or more images in a plurality of text-associated digital images to generate a set of landmark-tagged images, learning an appearance model for the landmark from the set of landmark-tagged images, and detecting the landmark in a new digital image using the appearance model. The method can also include a step of annotating the new image with the tag descriptive of the landmark.

Abstract: In the image processing apparatus, the theme determiner determines a theme of the image group based on the image analysis information, and the preference analyzer analyzes a preference of the user based on the theme of the image group. The composite image generator uses a certain number of images corresponding to the preference of the user selected, respectively, from among the plurality of images to generate composite images of a plurality of patterns. The display controller performs control such that one composite image is displayed on the image monitor and, the one composite image displayed on the image monitor is replaced with one composite image designated by the instruction from among the composite images of the plurality of patterns to display the one composite image designated on the image monitor.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for classification using a neural network. One of the methods for processing an input through each of multiple layers of a neural network to generate an output, wherein each of the multiple layers of the neural network includes a respective multiple nodes includes for a particular layer of the multiple layers: receiving, by a classification system, an activation vector as input for the particular layer, selecting one or more nodes in the particular layer using the activation vector and a hash table that maps numeric values to nodes in the particular layer, and processing the activation vector using the selected nodes to generate an output for the particular layer.

Abstract: A method for image recognition of an instrument includes: obtaining an input image containing a to-be-recognized instrument; selecting from the input image a region-of-interest containing the to-be-recognized instrument; determining in a high-to-low order of priority values of instrument categories, whether the to-be-recognized instrument contained in the region-of-interest belongs to one of the instrument categories according to the region-of-interest and a respective one of plural groups of sample images; and increasing the priority value of the one of the instrument categories when it is determined that the to-be-recognized instrument belongs to the one of the instrument categories.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to facilitate finding complementary recommendations are disclosed herein. One or more fashion trend or pleasing color combination rules are determined based on data obtained from one or more sources. One or more template images and rule triggers corresponding to the fashion trend or pleasing color combination rules are generated, each of the rule triggers associated with at least one of the template images. A processor compares a first image attribute of a particular one of the template images to a second image attribute of each of a plurality of inventory images corresponding to the plurality of inventory items to identify the inventory items complementary to the query image. The particular one of the template images is selected based on the rule trigger corresponding to the particular one of the template images being applicable for a query image.

Abstract: Character recognition is described. In one embodiment, it may use matched sequences rather than character shape to determine a computer-legible result.

Abstract: There is provided an input device which accepts input with a simple operation. A printing device 100 is an input device which accepts the input of input data, including a motion detection section 100a, a determination section, and an acquisition section 100d. The motion detection section 100a detects the motion of the input device. The determination section determines whether an input condition is met. When the determination section determines that the input condition is met, the acquisition section 100d acquires a trajectory of the input device based on the motion of the input device detected by the motion detection section 100a to acquire, as input data, the layout of a pattern corresponding to the trajectory.

Abstract: A printer includes a spectroscope that has a variable wavelength interference filter which incidents light from a measurement region, and a light receiving section which receives light from the variable wavelength interference filter and which outputs a detection signal according to an amount of received light, a carriage moving unit which relatively moves the spectroscope along one direction with respect to a measurement target of spectrometry and moves the measurement region with respect to the measurement target, and a timing detection circuit which has a differential circuit that differentiates the detection signal and outputs a differentiation signal, wherein in a case where the measurement target is a color patch, spectrometry in which the amount of received light is detected starts based on the differential signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing print job cancellation in an ESU model printer are provided. An embodiment can involve receiving, at an ESU of a printing device, a print job, wherein the print job includes a first portion. The first portion can be transmitted from the ESU to a main unit. The main unit can receive a print job cancel command corresponding to the received print job, wherein the cancel command is received after the first portion is transmitted to the main unit, but before the full print job has been transmitted. The main unit can then transmit a notification of the received cancel command to the ESU. The ESU can receive the notification of the received cancel command, and responsive to receiving the notification, terminate the transmission of the print job from the ESU to the main unit.

Abstract: A control device comprises: a movement control unit configured to control movement of an object; a detecting unit configured to optically detect, at a specific position, the object moving through control by the movement control unit, to thereby output a detection voltage; and a movement amount determining unit configured to determine a movement amount of the object to be moved through the control by the movement control unit, based on a tendency of a change in the detection voltage when the object is moved.

Abstract: An external security paper detection unit, an image-forming apparatus having the external security paper detection unit, and an image-forming method related to the apparatus. The external security paper detection unit includes a paper stack unit in which sheets of paper are stacked in order to feed the paper, a paper feed unit for feeding the paper stacked in the paper snick unit, a security paper detection unit for detecting whether moving paper is security paper or not, and a unit controller for normally supplying the moving security paper to a manual feed tray if the paper feed unit operates and a security paper detection signal is input from the security paper detection unit, whereby an image is formed only on the security paper, thus preventing the illegal leakage of documents.

Abstract: An electronic device is protected from unauthorized access by use of a security wrap having a security screen connected to an alarm circuit of the electronic device. The security screen has a pair of screen terminals interconnected by a conductor. The conductor is formed on a substrate. The substrate is arranged such that attempts to remove the security wrap will result in the substrate being torn and the conductor being damaged or broken whereby the resistance of the conductive path formed by the conductor changes to indicate an alarm condition.

Abstract: In a smart card having an antenna structure and a metal layer, an insulator layer is formed between the antenna structure and the metal layer to compensate for the attenuation due to the metal layer. The thickness of the insulator layer affects the capacitive coupling between the antenna structure and the metal layer and is selected to have a value which optimizes the transmission/reception of signals between the card and a card reader.

Abstract: A card, such as a payment card, or other device may include an electronics package. The electronics package may include electronic components mounted on a flexible, printed circuit board. The electronics package may be laminated (e.g., via a hot, cold, or molding lamination process) between layers of transparent polymer. A hologram may be fixed to one side of the electronics package such that the hologram may be viewed from the exterior of the laminated card having transparent polymer layers. As such, the hologram may not be removed without breaching the integrity of a transparent polymer layer.

Abstract: Sound processing techniques using recurrent neural networks are described. In one or more implementations, temporal dependencies are captured in sound data that are modeled through use of a recurrent neural network (RNN). The captured temporal dependencies are employed as part of feature extraction performed using nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF). One or more sound processing techniques are performed on the sound data based at least in part on the feature extraction.

Abstract: Methods for receiving a request to process, on a hardware circuit, a neural network comprising a first convolutional neural network layer having a stride greater than one, and in response, generating instructions that cause the hardware circuit to, during processing of an input tensor, generate a layer output tensor equivalent to an output of the first convolutional neural network layer by processing the input tensor using a second convolutional neural network layer having a stride equal to one but that is otherwise equivalent to the first convolutional neural network layer to generate a first tensor, zeroing out elements of the first tensor that would not have been generated if the second convolutional neural network layer had the stride of the first convolutional neural network layer to generate a second tensor, and performing max pooling on the second tensor to generate the layer output tensor.

Abstract: An artificial neural network may be configured to test the impact of certain input parameters. To improve testing efficiency and to avoid test runs that may not alter system performance, the effect of input parameters on neurons or groups of neurons may be determined to classify the neurons into groups based on the impact of certain parameters on those groups. Groups may be ordered serially and/or in parallel based on the interconnected nature of the groups and whether the output of neurons in one group may affect the operation of another. Parameters not affecting group performance may be pruned as inputs to that particular group prior to running system tests, thereby conserving processing resources during testing.

Abstract: Mechanisms for clarifying an input question are provided. A question is received for generation of an answer. A set of candidate answers is generated based on an analysis of a corpus of information. Each candidate answer has an evidence passage supporting the candidate answer. Based on the set of candidate answers, a determination is made as to whether clarification of the question is required. In response to a determination that clarification of the question is required, a request is sent for user input to clarify the question. User input is received from the computing device in response to the request and at least one candidate answer in the set of candidate answers is selected as an answer for the question based on the user input.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to written content generation. A method for generating written content in an application in accordance with an embodiment includes: receiving a query from a user; importing data from at least one data source in response to the query; ranking the imported data based on a plurality of ranking factors to determine a relevance of the imported data; automatically generating written content using at least a portion of the imported data based on the determined relevance of the imported data; and automatically customizing the written content based on a file format of the application.

Abstract: The living activity inference device according to the present invention includes: an obtainer configured to obtain an energy consumption of an electric appliance; an appliance operation detector configured to identify an operational state of the electric appliance based on the energy consumption obtained by the obtainer; and an activity inferrer configured to perform an inference process of determining which one of a plurality of living activities predetermined a current living activity corresponds to, based on existing information including the operational state of the electric appliance identified by the appliance operation detector and a past living activity.

Abstract: Methods for compiling single-qubit quantum gates into braid representations for non-Abelian quasiparticles described by the Fibonacci anyon model are based on a probabilistically polynomial algorithm that, given a single-qubit unitary gate and a desired target precision, outputs a braid pattern that approximates the unitary to desired precision and has a length that is asymptotically optimal (for a circuit with such property). Single-qubit unitaries that can be implemented exactly by a Fibonacci anyon braid pattern are classified, and associated braid patterns are obtained using an iterative procedure. Target unitary gates that are not exactly representable as braid patterns are first approximated to a desired precision by a unitary that is exactly representable, then a braid pattern associated with the latter is obtained.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a power source, one or more sensors, a transceiver, and a memory. The power source may be configured to store energy to power the apparatus. The one or more sensors may be configured to receive captured data from one of a plurality of sources. The transceiver may be configured to send and receive data to and from a wireless network. The processor may be configured to execute computer readable instructions. The memory may be configured to store a set of instructions executable by the processor. The instructions may be configured to (A) evaluate an expected power usage budget calculated using a predictive model of future energy consumption and (B) (i) store the captured data in the memory in a first mode and (ii) transmit the captured data to a remote storage device in a second mode. The first mode or the second mode is selected based on characteristics of the captured data received from the sensors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing data, the data including a set of one or more system inputs; and a set of one or more system outputs; wherein each system output corresponds to a respective system input. Each system input can include a plurality of data points, such that at least one of these data points is from a different data source to at least one other of those data points. The method includes performing a kernel function on a given system input from the data and a further system input to provide kernelized data; and inferring a value indicative of a significance of data from a particular data source; wherein the inferring includes applying a regression technique to the kernelized data.

Abstract: Various aspects provide methods implemented by at least one processor executing on a mobile communication device to efficiently identify, classify, model, prevent, and/or correct the non-benign (e.g., performance degrading) conditions and/or behaviors that are related to an application operating on the device. Specifically, in various aspects, the mobile computing device may derive or extract application-specific features by performing a binary analysis of an application and may determine the application's category (e.g., a “games,” “entertainment,” or “news” category) based on the application-specific features. The mobile computing device may also obtain a classifier model associated with the application's category that includes various conditions, features, behaviors and corrective actions that may be used to quickly identify and correct non-benign behaviors (e.g., undesirable, malicious, and/or performance-degrading behaviors) occurring on the mobile computing device that are related to the application.

Abstract: The information matching apparatus includes: a training data setting unit that sets supervised data in a machine learning device of supervised learning that learns judgment criteria used for a judgment of identicalness, similarity, and relevance between a plurality of records by matching the records configured by sets of values corresponding to items; a check point setting unit that sets a check point configured by one set of two records used for evaluating the set supervised data; and a learning result evaluation unit, for the set check point, acquires a change between a judgment result using judgment criteria derived as a result of learning based on set first supervised data and a judgment result using judgment criteria derived as a result of learning based on set second supervised data set and evaluates the supervised data based on the acquired change.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for training a model using parameter server shards. One of the methods includes receiving, at a parameter server shard configured to maintain values of a disjoint partition of the parameters of the model, a succession of respective requests for parameter values from each of a plurality of replicas of the model; in response to each request, downloading a current value of each requested parameter to the replica from which the request was received; receiving a succession of uploads, each upload including respective delta values for each of the parameters in the partition maintained by the shard; and updating values of the parameters in the partition maintained by the parameter server shard repeatedly based on the uploads of delta values to generate current parameter values.

Abstract: A method for enhanced management of a web conference server includes evaluation a web conference server to ascertain resources of the web conference server. The resources of the web conferencing server are partitioned into rooms, each room having an allocated portion of the resources of the web conferencing server and at least one room providing different capabilities from other rooms hosted on the web conferencing server. Access to the rooms is provided based on at least one user criterion.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a system that provides automated guidance for making architectural decisions when designing information services in a service-oriented architecture (SOA). Such a system can include a requirements manager, a reusable asset repository, and an asset advisory tool. The requirements manager can be configured to capture non-functional requirements for information services. The reusable asset repository can be configured to store design assets. The design assets can be stored according to a unique data model that associates each design asset with a non-functional requirement. The asset advisory tool can be configured to determine a list of recommended design assets for a user-selected non-functional requirement and document the architectural decision made from the list of recommended design assets.

Abstract: Systems and method for making intelligent business development and licensing decisions are disclosed. The present invention generally relates to an analytical tool that combines multiple data and content sets based on user selected factors and presents the data in the form of manipulatable visualizations to facilitate decision making to address a specific business problem. More specifically, this invention relates to providing a single portal for access to a decision support system that enables the visualization of data from multiple content and data sets to facilitate decision making related to opportunities analysis, asset acquisition, and intellectual property licensing.

Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein provides methods for determining the user-specific relevance of various applications and displaying a graphical representation of these relevance values. The method may receive information from one or more applications installed on a device. This information may include importance parameters, importance parameter values, urgency parameters, and urgency parameter values associated with each application. A composite importance value and a composite urgency value may be determined for each application. A relevance value may be determined for each application based on the composite importance value and composite urgency value. A graphical representation of the relevance of each application may be displayed on the device. Related apparatus, systems, techniques, and articles are also described.

Abstract: The present disclosure involves systems, software, and computer implemented methods for providing high-load business process scalability in cloud-based infrastructures. One process includes operations for receiving a message at a first computer node executing a first business process instance. A second business process instance associated with the message is identified. The message is sent to a messaging queue for retrieval by the second business process instance if the second business process instance is not located at the first computer node.

Abstract: A method of assessing environmental performance includes: receiving, by a processing device, input data related to aspects of an energy industry operation; estimating a first environmental impact of the operation based on the input data; selecting an alternative implementation of the operation; estimating a second environmental impact of the alternative implementation; comparing the first environmental impact and the second environmental impact; and generating an output based on the comparison, the output indicating a change in environmental impact associated with replacing the operation with the alternative implementation.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method for estimating an ability of a worker in a process for integrating work results of multiple workers for the same task includes acquiring, for each of one or more tasks, a work result of a preceding-stage worker and a work result of a succeeding-stage worker that works based on the work result of the preceding-stage worker. The method also includes estimating multiple parameters of a probability model in which an ability of the succeeding-stage worker conditioned by a quality of the work result of the preceding-stage worker is introduced as a conditioned ability parameter, based on the multiple work results obtained for each of the one or more tasks.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for parallelizing order-by-order planning in a supply chain network. The system includes a database configured to store data describing a demand priority sequence, each demand priority sequence comprising at least one demand of an end-item and data describing the supply chain network comprising a plurality of network components, each network component configured to supply one or more items to satisfy demand. The system further includes a server coupled with the database, the server accesses the data describing the demand priority sequence and accesses the data describing the supply chain network. The server further creates mapping tables for each end-item, generates a dependency map for each end-item, generates a list of demand levels, and generates an order plan of end-items for planning in parallel comprising the orders planned for the demands at each demand level.

Abstract: A system associates different data types with a specific product using a unique identification tag that can be used in a product identification process. The system associates a unique identifier with a unique record related to an individual product, generates a unique identifier associated with an individual product, attaches a machine readable unique identification tag to the individual product, the unique identification tag being associated with the unique identifier and containing information associated with the individual product, associates the unique identifier with a unique record, stores the association and the unique record, receives a signal comprising the unique identifier and having been generated remotely by a device reading the unique identification tag, and generates, responsive to the signal, a user interface.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for managing transportation and storage of goods, including a personal computer device; and a package control device associated with a package. The personal computer device is configured to store transport and storage operations information regarding the package in the package control device. The package control device is configured for identifying an operator responsible for at least one of transport and storage of the package based on the transport and storage operations information. The package control device is configured to allow the operator to have access to the package for at least one of transport and storage of the package based on the transport and storage operations information.

Abstract: Systems and methods which provide a shipping service resale platform enabling single shipper account access to multiple shipping service rate schedules are disclosed. Shipping service rate optimization is facilitated for a shipper using a single shipper account of embodiments of the invention, whereby the shipper is enabled to utilize rates available from various rate schedules, such as may include reseller negotiated rates, shipping service provider published rates, etc., according to embodiments. The shipper is enabled to establish, manage, and maintain a single shipper account for use in purchase and payment of shipping services which implicate different shipping service provider payment mechanisms, different shipping service resellers, and/or different shipping service providers.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing information relating to the specialized handling of a package, and articles contained within the package. Data relating to a package containing an article that requires specialized handling is associated with a unique identifier and stored in a database. The unique identifier is also included in a machine readable code affixed to the package. A recipient of the package scans the machine readable code using an application downloaded into a mobile device, which extracts the unique identifier from the machine readable code and transmits a request to the database. The database may then identify data stored in the database that relates to the article based on the unique identifier, and transmit the data to the mobile device for display to the recipient. The data may include instructions on how to unpack the package, and how to store or use articles contained within the package.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to systems, methods, and computer program products for the management of custodians within an electronic discovery system. Embodiments of the invention herein disclosed provide for methods of creating, maintaining, and utilizing a unified custodian directory for the purposes of carrying out electronic discovery within an enterprise environment. By employing a unified custodian directory to manage custodians apart from the electronic discovery cases to which they relate, the custodian management system of the present invention promotes efficiencies in the field of electronic discovery.

Abstract: Systems and methods to host a social network locally on a user's computing device using social data at the user device. In one embodiment, a method includes maintaining, on a local computing device of a user, social data regarding social relationships of the user in order to support a social network of the user; and hosting, via the local computing device, the social network.

Abstract: Systems and methods to provide for social media monitoring and employee social media monitoring are described herein. In one example, a system includes a database access engine configured to store a plurality of filtered social media postings; a scoring engine configured to analyze the filtered social media postings to determine a likelihood of a trigger event being associated with the filtered social media postings; a directory service engine, communicatively coupled to a directory service, configured to authenticate an employee and to determine the employee is authorized to respond to social media postings associated with the trigger event; and a social network access engine configured to post a response message from the employee to a social network in response to a first social media posting of the filtered social media postings.

Abstract: In a first method, a developer mode is determined when a workflow template patch is received, and execution of new workflow instances is either blocked or permitted, or continued execution of workflow instances is forbidden. In a second method, parallelization of workflow execution is provided in an in-memory database management system. In a third method, after received user privilege information, database records associated with a workflow are determined and stored for use at workflow instance runtime. In a fourth method, artifacts used by a workflow are identified using a workflow template. When a command to execute a workflow instance is received, information is stored for generating instances of artifacts for use during execution of the workflow instance. In a fifth method, for a workflow template to be inactivated, the associated workflow template is suspended after currently executing workflow instances have completed and job executors have acknowledged a suspending state.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, workers' compensation claims are received at a payor processing system from a plurality of remote bill input devices. The workers' compensation claims may be transformed in accordance with a jurisdiction-based claims processing rule. The transformed workers' compensation claims may then be transmitted to a workers' compensation adjudication engine.

Abstract: A communication apparatus obtains image data, generates electronic mail data, and transmits the generated electronic mail data. A size upper limit of the electronic mail data is obtained, the size upper limit being designated by a user, and it is determined whether or not a data size of the generated electronic mail data exceeds a value obtained by subtracting a predetermined value from the size upper limit. If it is determined that the data size of the generated electronic mail data exceeds the value obtained by subtracting the predetermined value from the size upper limit, a plurality of electronic mail data is generated by dividing the image data such that a data size of each of the plurality of electronic mail data does not exceed the value obtained by subtracting the predetermined value from the size upper limit, and the generated plurality of electronic mail data is transmitted.

Abstract: Systems and methods for just-in-time scheduling of conference rooms based on a plurality of conference room scheduling requests are provided. In some embodiments a plurality of conference room scheduling requests are obtained. A conference room scheduling request in the plurality of conference room scheduling requests includes at least one meeting constraint. The plurality of conference room scheduling requests is serviceable by a plurality of conference rooms. At least one conference room in the plurality of conference rooms is available for assignment. Prior to assigning the plurality of conference rooms in accordance with the plurality of conference scheduling requests, polling is conducted for a predefined trigger event corresponding to the at least one meeting constraint. In response to detecting the predefined trigger event, the plurality of conference rooms is assigned in accordance with the plurality of conference scheduling requests.

Abstract: An event providing apparatus includes a storage device in communicating with a date/time detector module. The detector module detects a condition that at least a portion of information stored on the storage device could be mapped to an event, identifies date and time entries in the information, and generates a hyperlink to open an application for creating an event for each entry, the date and time being provided to the application to generate the event directly from the information. The apparatus also includes a display for displaying the time and date in the form of the hyperlink; and a prompter module communicating with the detector module for automatically providing a prompt related to the event in response to selection of the hyperlink. In response to user interaction with the user prompt, the application is started and the event based on the hyperlinked date and time is created.

Abstract: Persistent, electronically anchored currency notes (PEAC notes) may be generated by a transaction provider and maintained in a datastore. Each PEAC note may be associated with a respective unique identifier and asset held by a custodian. The transaction provider may provide for assigning ownership of the PEAC notes to various entities and/or transferring ownership therebetween. Ownership transfers may be performed by the transaction provider while maintaining the PEAC notes in the datastore and/or maintaining the asset(s) associated therewith with their respective custodian(s). The transaction provider may keep records of ownership transfers and/or may provide datastructures for tracking payments (e.g., invoice datastructures). Information about each PEAC note be publically available through the transaction provider.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for distributed processing of a check image are provided. A payee may submit a request to deposit a negotiable instrument. The request may be received at a first financial institution. The negotiable instrument may be a check. A transaction record may be generated at the time of the request. The transaction record may be based on information handwritten or printed on the negotiable instrument. The transaction record may be transmitted to a second financial institution. The second financial institution may conduct a fraud analysis based on the transaction record. The second financial institution may transmit a fraud indicator to the first financial institution. Based on the fraud indicator, the first institution may accept or deny the request of the payee. Apparatus and methods may distribute computing resources associated with detection of fraudulent negotiable instrument. The resources may be distributed among the first and second financial institutions.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to provide an animated 2D barcode check that is used to securely and efficiently transmit financial information between mobile devices. The financial information includes a check written by a payer and transmitted to a merchant. The check includes account information of the payer and of the merchant with a payment service provider, a payment amount, and a cryptographic signature that has been certified by the payment service provider. The payer's mobile device encodes the check into a sequence of 2D barcodes and displays the sequence of 2D barcodes in a loop that is scanned by a camera on the merchant's mobile device. The merchant uses the cryptographic signature to verify the validity of the signature on the check without having Internet connectivity to the payment service provider. The merchant may later present the check to the payment service provider to receive payment.

Abstract: Multiple different non-financial loyalty currencies held by different issuers are used by a consumer as financial tender for a transaction with a merchant. Each issuer pays to a primary issuer the financial currency value of the non-financial loyalty currencies being held in return for a corresponding reduction of the balance of non-financial loyalty currency. For each reduced balance, the primary issuer adds an equivalent primary loyalty currency to a primary loyalty account for the consumer. The primary issuer pays the merchant for the transaction in financial currency and makes an equivalent reduction in the balance of the primary loyalty currency. The financial value of each loyalty currency may be dependent upon its use in a transaction with a competitor of a merchant supplying loyalty currency to the consumer.