Abstract: A method for financing a purchase order includes receiving a purchase order from a customer node communicatively connected to a server, wherein the purchase order includes information regarding a customer associated with the customer node, a supplier of goods, at least one item to be purchased, a cost of the purchase order and a preferable loan term; collecting metadata related to the customer associated with the customer node; analyzing the purchase order and the collected metadata to compute a credit standing for the customer; determining whether the credit standing crosses a predetermined threshold, wherein the predetermined threshold is set respective of the purchase order; requesting from a supplier node communicatively connected to the server an electronic authentication respective of the purchase order, when the credit standing crosses the predetermined threshold; and sending an electronic guarantee to finance the purchase order to the supplier node, upon reception of the electronic authentication.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes generating on a user terminal a merchant web site associated with a merchant with code for a merchant web page, transmitting a product selection request for the user to a remote open payment system that is separate from the merchant, and displaying purchase information responsive to the product selection request using the code for the merchant web page.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for identifying a best or most effective image associated with an item. A user interface is generated that includes the item as well as one of a plurality of images associated with the item. Interactions associated with the item are monitored and an image score is adjusted based upon whether these interactions are positive are negative. The process can be repeated over a large sample size. A highest scored image is designated as the most effective image at achieving a particular result.

Abstract: A system receives images of objects. The system identifies a category for each of the objects, and extracts features from the images. The features relate to a quality of the image. The features of the images are stored in a database according to the category of each object, such that each set of features is associated with its corresponding image. The system displays the images on a network-based publication system, and receives data relating to the displayed images. The data is analyzed, and the images are ranked as a function of the analysis. The system redisplays the images on the network-based publication system as a function of the ranking of the images.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for facilitating media playback in online auctions. A method may include detecting an indication of an auction event associated with an online vehicle auction for a first vehicle. The method may also include determining current auction information associated with the online vehicle auction. The method may further include determining auction event information associated with the auction event. Additionally, the method may include identifying, based at least in part on the current auction information and the auction event information, one or more media files for playback on a bidder device. The method may also include transmitting, to the bidder device in response to the indication of the auction event, the one or more media files for playback on the bidder device according to a determined sequence, which may result in acoustic output of one or more auctioneer phrases.

Abstract: The present application is directed to, among other things, a computer-automated method of presenting data relating to a supply chain. The method may include using stored parts data of the enterprise, including content of a bill of materials for at least one of a product or a group of products, and, for each part in the bill of materials and a list of approved sources for such part, risk data associated therewith. The method may include using stored supplier data. The method may include computing supply chain data, including at least one of revenue impact and risk score, corresponding to the at least one of the product and the group of products, of the enterprise, wherein the data is aggregated according to geographic region. The method may include serving graphical information wherein the computed supply chain data is represented on a map on the basis of geographic region.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for generating an interface for communication of at least one supply chain associated with an order that comprises forecast completion times for components of the at least one supply chain. The interface includes nodes that are associated with components of the at least one supply chain. The nodes within the interface are linked, wherein each link connects two of the nodes and indicates a relationship between the corresponding components of the at least one supply chain. The nodes and the links are arranged into a rooted tree within the interface, wherein the rooted tree represents the organization of the components of the at least one supply chain.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for learning an entity's trust model and risk tolerance. An entity's trust score may be calculated based on data from a variety of data sources, and this data may be combined according to a set of weights which reflect an entity's trust model and risk tolerance. For example, an entity may weight data of a certain type more heavily for certain types of transactions and another type of data more heavily for other transactions. By gathering data about the entity, a system may predict the entity's trust model and risk tolerance and adjust the set of weights accordingly for calculating trust scores. Furthermore, by monitoring how entities adjust weights for different transaction types, default weighting profiles may be created that are customized for specific transaction types. As another example, an entity's trust score, as reported to a requesting entity, may be adjusted based on that requesting entity's own trust model, or how “trusting” the requesting entity is.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a trading interface with advanced features are provided. Using these systems and methods, a user may create orders, manipulate orders, cancel orders, configure alternative keyboard settings, and/or obtain additional information on transactions. When a user clicks on a bid and/or offer, a dialog box may pop-up, thereby providing the user with multiple options. To enable customization of the keyboard settings to a user's preference, a keyboard settings feature is provided. Users may also be provided with additional information relating to the user's wish to transact.

Abstract: An apparatus configured with software that enables participants to exchange trade-credit comprising one or more databases and processing components and which utilizes automated value matching algorithms and trade search engine algorithms to discover and process exchange paths.

Abstract: Certain embodiments provide systems, apparatus, and methods to analyze incoming data messages and create market information constructs. An example method includes receiving a data message including an instruction to initiate a market event. The example method includes evaluating the instruction to determine whether it is associated with two or more causally linked market events. The example method also includes classifying the instruction based on the evaluating as part of a sequence of causally linked market events or as a single market event. The example method includes queuing the sequence of causally linked market events. The example method further includes detecting an end of the sequence of causally linked market events. The example method includes constructing a logically reduced market data message construct descriptive of the one or more market events represented by the queued sequence of causally linked events.

Abstract: Investment portfolios undergo a calibration procedure to improve their efficiency and stability. Any set of portfolios could be selected for calibration. If said portfolios represent a result of a portfolio optimization or asset allocation, then using original model inputs, an optimization procedure is performed to compute an original efficient frontier and a set of frontier portfolios is selected for calibration. A plurality of random samples of modified optimization inputs based on the original inputs is generated. For each random sample of inputs a modified efficient frontier is computed using the portfolio optimization model with modified inputs. Each portfolio selected for calibration is projected on the modified efficient frontier to create a corresponding modified calibration portfolio. Calibrated portfolio is created by averaging its calibrations. Calibrated efficient frontier is created by averaging all calibration portfolios for each selected portfolio on the original frontier.

Abstract: A computer-based method for obtaining repair estimates for a vehicle, and a related network server, are provided. The method comprises receiving a vehicle identification number (VIN) over a network from a customer computer, retrieving vehicle information, associated with the VIN, from a database, sending the vehicle information and a graphical representation of the vehicle, including a plurality of selectable vehicle damage locations, over the network to the customer computer, receiving a selection of at least one vehicle damage location over the network from the customer computer, receiving at least one image of the vehicle over the network from the customer computer, storing the vehicle information, the selected damage location and the vehicle image as a repair job in a non-volatile memory or the database, and sending a notification, indicating that the new repair job is available for review, over the network to at least one repair provider computer.

Abstract: An server that facilitates efficient and convenient processing of an insurance claim. The claim processing application can receive text, image, and audio data associated with the insurance claim. Using the received data, a model of the user's vehicle and the scene of the accident are generated and displayed on the user's mobile device. Damaged portions of the user's vehicle can be identified automatically or by the user. Damage can be tagged using the mobile device and additional data can be provided by the user and associated with each tag. The server's claim processing application can be used to provide a preliminary claim assessment, submit a completed insurance claim application to an insurance provider, and/or process the insurance claim.

Abstract: Audit performance systems and methods can be used to provide objective assessment of the performance of claim administrators. Data from audits performed by one or more insurance broker consultants can be input into the audit performance system, and analyzed, to generate reports that compare the performance of a selected claim administrator to an industry standard level of performance or to one or more other claim administrators.

Abstract: Automated claims adjustment is engineered to receive submission of two-dimensional data or three-dimensional data from a structured-light scan and other pieces of information directly via a mobile device. Upon receiving sufficient information to open a claim, automated claims adjustment and settlement processes are executed aiding and guiding a claimant. This reduces the time involved by the claimant in waiting for a claims adjuster to manually review a specific case file.

Abstract: In an example, the present invention provides a method for capturing vehicle mileage information. The method includes initiating an application program configured on the mobile wireless device without any user input required to start tracking a drive. The method includes initiating movement of the mobile wireless device. The method includes using a mapping module to track a start point of a route for the mobile wireless device. The method includes moving the mobile wireless device from the start point through one or more legs. The method includes using algorithms or traffic data to identify one or more of the legs as a route or drive.

Abstract: A data linkage support system is disclosed that includes a storage device storing a process object table and a specification table, and an arithmetic device that displays a screen including display of a data item prescribed by specification information of the specification table and an item selection interface accepting selection of a corresponding data item in the process object table to be correlated with the data item and that correlates the corresponding data item selected in the item selection interface with the data item prescribed by the specification information to generate and store a conversion parameter of accounting data between the consolidated subsidiary company and the parent company into the storage device.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a system for identifying entities (such as companies) that are associated with members of an online social network. During operation, the system obtains text strings from member records in the online social network, wherein each text string is an identifier for an entity that is associated with a member. The system also obtains connection information specifying connections among members of the online social network, and possibly location information for the members. Finally, the system uses the text strings, the connection information and the location information to identify entities that are associated with members of the online social network.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for using social networking resources to evaluate the influence of offline marketing assets. In certain embodiments data posted to a social network is analyzed to identify references to a particular marketer and/or a particular brand. Where such reference is identified, geographic location data associated with the posted data is stored in a database. As this location data is aggregated over a period of time, it can be cross-referenced with location data corresponding to offline marketing assets that belong to the particular marketer and/or that are otherwise associated with the particular brand. Offline marketing assets that geographically correspond to a cluster of social networking activity can be understood as wielding influence within social networks and being capable of generating valuable word-of-mouth.

Abstract: A system for scoring a discussion thread having posts in a question-and-answer form is provided. The system receives a query and then identifies features of the discussion thread that may include one or more term features and one or more non-term features. A term feature may be a combined post feature that combines the terms of multiple posts to treat them as a single document. A term feature may be a question feature that contains the question of the discussion thread. A term feature may also be a question post feature that contains the terms of the post that relate to the question of the post. The system then generates a feature score for each feature and combines the feature scores into a relevance score indicating the relevance of the discussion thread to the query. The system may also use the relevance score when ranking discussion threads.

Abstract: A network update interface is presented to a user on a network to display network updates from other users of a mutual social-networking site. The network updates shared by the other users are gathered in a stream and supplied to a facet-filtering system including a network update interface. The user controls the display of certain network update items according to facet-filter characteristics enabled in facet-filter selection panels in the network update interface. The facet-filter characteristics are used by a facet filter to select certain network updates for display to the user in the network update interface. Trending links to further articles with content corresponding to the facet-filter characteristics are displayed to the user according to greatest popularity among the other users. Links to the profiles of the users sharing the articles are also provided in the network update interface.

Abstract: Approaches are provided for assessing and displaying data. An approach includes determining one or more aggregate measures of data quality for data. The approach further includes assessing an overall data quality for the data based on the determined one or more aggregate measures of data quality. The approach further includes displaying the data, the determined one or more aggregate measures of data quality, and the assessed overall data quality.

Abstract: An electric power storage device included in a microgrid is described herein. The electric power storage device has at least one of a charge rate, a discharge rate, or a power retention capacity that has been customized for the microgrid. The at least one of the charge rate, the discharge rate, or the power retention capacity of the electric power storage device is computed based at least in part upon specified power source parameters in the microgrid and specified load parameters in the microgrid.

Abstract: A method and a device for identifying a feasibility of a transmission interface constraint in an online rolling dispatching are provided. The method comprises: S1, establishing an online rolling dispatching model including a transmission interface constraint; S2, establishing a Lagrangian relaxation dual problem of the online rolling dispatching model; and S3, identifying a feasibility of the transmission interface constraint by solving the Lagrangian relaxation dual problem.

Abstract: A determination can be made that a first user is available for a card-less payment transaction with a merchant restaurant. Data describing a booking for a shared financial expense to be incurred at the merchant restaurant can be obtained. The data can describe a second user participating in the group transaction. A total amount due for the shared financial expense can be obtained. A determination can be made that the second user is contributing to the shared financial expense. A respective electronic bill for the first and second users can be generated. Each respective electronic bill can be for an apportioned amount due for the shared financial expense. Data describing the respective electronic bill for the apportioned amount due for the shared financial expense can be sent to the first and second users.

Abstract: A system evaluates processing rules used for processing claim data related to reimbursement for provision of healthcare to a patient by specific payer organizations. The system includes at least one repository of information including first claim data. The first claim data processing rules and associated output data comprise first claim result information derived by applying the first claim data processing rules to the first claim data. The system also includes a source of a second claim data processing rule and a rules processor for applying the second claim data processing rule to the first claim data in deriving second claim result information corresponding to the first claim result information. A comparator compares the second claim result information with the first claim result information to identify changed result data elements and associated data fields in a claim form used in obtaining reimbursement in response to a claim.

Abstract: Disclosed is a change convergence risk mapping system. The change convergence risk mapping system typically includes a processor, a memory, and a risk aggregation module stored in the memory. The change convergence risk mapping system is typically configured for: determining an event risk score for each of a plurality of events; aggregating the event risk scores of the plurality of events and determining a first aggregated risk score associated with a first time period; determining if the first aggregated risk score exceeds a first predefined aggregated risk score threshold or if a first predefined number of events associated with the first time period have an event risk score exceeding a first predefined event risk score threshold; determining a risk level for the first time period; and graphically presenting a first indicator to a user computing system of the risk level associated with the first time period.

Abstract: A cart for marketing bedding is provided that includes a rack including a plurality of vertical support members and at least one tray positioned between the support members. The tray includes a plurality of compartments. A pillow is disposed in each of the compartments. Each of the pillows has a different configuration. Methods of use are provided.

Abstract: A method for watermarking a three-dimensional object is disclosed. The watermarking method comprises computing shape descriptor of a local neighborhood of a current vertex among the plurality of vertices of the three-dimensional object; obtaining a target shape descriptor from the shape descriptor using a quantization grid associated with a watermark payload; and modifying said local neighborhood wherein a position of at least one vertex of said local neighborhood is modified such that a shape descriptor of said modified local neighborhood is close to said target shape descriptor and wherein said current vertex is not modified. A method for obtaining payload from a three-dimensional object, a 3D object carrying a watermark and devices implementing the disclosed methods are further disclosed.

Abstract: Example embodiments include methods and apparatus for exchanging, using a contactless interface included in a portable device, transaction information associated with an electronic merchant device when the portable device is brought into close proximity to a contactless interface associated with the electronic merchant device, with the information identifying the electronic merchant device and identifying a handover wireless network connected to the electronic merchant device and with information including security credentials required to form a secure connection, establishing a persistent, secure wireless connection with the electronic merchant device, using a wireless network interface in the portable device and the transaction information, over the handover wireless network and exchanging transaction messages between the portable device and the electronic merchant device over the persistent, secure wireless connection during a shopping interval.

Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for causing a computer system to perform a method for constructing bounding volume hierarchies from binary trees is disclosed. The method includes providing a binary tree including a plurality of leaf nodes and a plurality of internal nodes. Each of the plurality of internal nodes is uniquely associated with two child nodes, wherein each child node comprises either an internal node or leaf node. The method also includes determining a plurality of bounding volumes for nodes in the binary tree by traversing the binary tree from the plurality of leaf nodes upwards toward a root node, wherein each parent node is processed once by a later arriving corresponding child node.

Abstract: The computer applications, user devices, methods, and/or systems described herein provide a user with automated tools to facilitate creating dynamic, interactive performances of visualizations that utilize datasets of various digital/web content provided from various data sources and types without loss of access to underlying data used to create the performance.

Abstract: A method for the selective utilization of graphics processing unit (GPU) acceleration of database queries in database management is provided. The method includes receiving a database query in a database management system executing in memory of a host computing system. The method also includes estimating a time to complete processing of one or more operations of the database query using GPU accelerated computing in a GPU and also a time to complete processing of the operations using central processor unit (CPU) sequential computing of a CPU. Finally, the method includes routing the operations for processing using GPU accelerated computing if the estimated time to complete processing of the operations using GPU accelerated computing is less than an estimated time to complete processing of the operations using CPU sequential computing, but otherwise routing the operations for processing using CPU sequential computing.

Abstract: A semiconductor device 1 includes an image input unit 11 and an image output unit 12. The image input unit 11 receives first image data from a camera 91 and outputs second image data to a memory unit 93 through a shared bus 130. The image output unit 12 receives the second image data stored in the memory unit 93 through the shared bus 130 and outputs third image data to a monitor 92. The third image data is generated by performing an affine-conversion on the first image data. Magnification processing in the affine-conversion is not performed in the image input unit 11. In this way, it is possible to provide an excellent semiconductor device suitable for image processing or the like.

Abstract: File exploration is facilitated by enabling zoom with respect to a thumbnail as a function of an identified point of interest. More particularly, a scaled thumbnail of the same size as a thumbnail can be presented as a function of an identified point of interest. Furthermore, navigation, among other things, is enabled to allow panning with respect to a scaled thumbnail, for instance.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an exaggeration unit configured to perform on an original image including a hand-drawn element an exaggeration process that expands the hand-drawn element to generate an exaggerated image; and a reduction unit configured to reduce the exaggerated image to generate a reduced image of a predetermined size smaller than a size of the original image.

Abstract: A method and a system for obtaining a high-resolution image of a volume of a sample using laser imaging are provided. The method includes a step of probing the volume of the sample with a first excitation beam having an intensity profile of maximum intensity at a center thereof, thereby obtaining a positive image of the volume. The method also includes a step of probing the volume of the sample with a second excitation beam having an intensity profile of minimum intensity at a center thereof and defining a peripheral region of maximum intensity around the center, thereby obtaining a negative image of the volume. The method finally includes a step of subtracting the negative image from the positive image, thereby obtaining the high-resolution image of the volume of the sample. Advantageously, embodiments of the invention can be probe- and fluorescence-independent, and be conveniently retrofitted into existing laser imaging systems.

Abstract: A method for automatically adjusting a picture right according to contents of the picture at terminal equipment is provided, including the following steps: analyzing the picture, extracting information from the picture; calculating information to obtain weight, respectively calculating the sum of information weight in each of four directions; comparing sums of information weight of the four directions to obtain the direction with the maximum weight; and adjusting the picture in the direction with the maximum weight. The method judges the direction in which the picture should be adjusted according to contents of the picture itself, avoiding manual adjustment to the picture.

Abstract: A method to enhance the contrast of a set of pixels each pixels being characterized by a set of color attributes comprising the steps of: determining a first property of the set of pixels; determining a second property of the set of pixels; determining, for each pixel of the set of pixels, a first property of said pixel; and modifying the color attributes of each pixel of the set of pixels as a function of the first and second property of the set of pixels and the first property of said pixel.

Abstract: A multi-scale detail representation of an image is computed as a weighted sum of translation difference images. A denoising operator is applied to the translation difference images so that translation differences are modified as a function of an estimated local signal-to-noise ratio and at least one denoised center difference image at a specific scale is computed by combining denoised translation difference images at scale s or a finer scale. A denoised image is computed by applying a reconstruction algorithm to the denoised center difference images.

Abstract: Determining of still/movement may be performed with reference to quantization noise of a first section to which a first pixel belongs, and for different results of determining of whether the first pixel is in a movement area or a still area, different frame difference thresholds applicable to the movement area and the still area are separately set, and different frame difference calculation manners are used, different blending coefficients applicable to the movement area and the still area are selected according to the different frame difference thresholds applicable to the movement area and the still area and the frame difference calculation manners, and a noise reduction blending manner is selected according to the different blending coefficients applicable to the movement area and the still area, the frame difference calculation manners, and a pixel value of the first pixel in a current frame.

Abstract: In the present invention, subband signals are obtained by performing multiresolution decomposition on image data by using a broad-sense pinwheel framelet that is a set of an approximate filter with no orientation and a plurality of detail filters with respective orientations, and that has a degree. When an image is reconstructed by summing the obtained subband signals, the reconstructed image data is generated by attenuating or amplifying a subband signal corresponding to at least one of filters that have predetermined frequency characteristics and/or a predetermined orientation among the filters.

Abstract: A convolution circuit includes: a plurality of input oscillators, each configured to: receive a corresponding analog input signal of a plurality of analog input signals; and output a corresponding spiking signal of a plurality of spiking signals, the corresponding spiking signal having a spiking rate in accordance with a magnitude of the corresponding analog input signal; a plurality of 1-bit DACs, each of the 1-bit DACs being configured to: receive the corresponding spiking signal of the plurality of spiking signals from a corresponding one of the input oscillators; and receive a corresponding weight of a convolution kernel comprising a plurality of weights; output a corresponding weighted output of a plurality of weighted outputs in accordance with the corresponding spiking signal and the corresponding weight; and an output oscillator configured to generate an output spike signal in accordance with the plurality of weighted outputs from the plurality of 1-bit DACs.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention are related to systems and methods for estimation of additive noise in an image or in a video sequence. An additive-noise estimate may be computed based on a first significant peak in a histogram of standard-deviation values of patches of an image-channel image associated with an input image.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, computer program product, and system for detecting work-piece defects. The computer-implemented method may include: receiving a first image of a training work-piece captured using a non-destructive imaging process and a second image of the training work-piece captured using a destructive imaging process; receiving an image of a work-piece captured using a non-destructive imaging process, wherein the work-piece is substantially similar to the training work-piece, and the non-destructive imaging process used to capture the work-piece is substantially similar to the non-destructive imaging process used to capture the training work-piece; matching the image of the work-piece to the first image of the training work-piece; and enhancing the image of the work-piece using the second image of the training work-piece, in response to the image of the work-piece matching the first image of the training work-piece.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes a method and system for monitoring food product processing operations and facilities. The food products are examined and/or analyzed with respect to the quality and integrity of the processing thereof, any markings applied thereto, and compliance with commercial, regulatory, or customer requirements. The present disclosure provides a machine vision system that is used in connection with the food processing operations to examine and analyze the eggs being processed. In a preferred embodiment, the machine vision system includes at least one imaging sensor for capturing images of the processing thereof and is positioned above the path along which the food products are conveyed.

Abstract: Tomographic reconstruction is performed of cross-sectional images of downhole or surface multiphase flows containing water (brine), oil, and gas phases. Measures are obtained of digital transmission (or analog attenuation) and also of analog transit time to form two views of the same cross sectional flow in a location of interest in a flow conduit. The measures are then merged by synthesizing a composite image of the multiphase flows. Rather than performing a complex tomographic reconstruction requiring a large number of calculations, measures are also obtained directly from the tomographic pattern which can be used to reconstruct an approximation of the cross sectional flow by the superposition of circles of variable position, radius and density representing flow patterns.

Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting defects on a wafer using defect-specific information are provided. One method includes acquiring information for a target on a wafer. The target includes a pattern of interest formed on the wafer and a known DOI occurring proximate to or in the pattern of interest. The information includes an image of the target on the wafer. The method also includes searching for target candidates on the wafer or another wafer. The target candidates include the pattern of interest. The target and target candidate locations are provided to defect detection. In addition, the method includes detecting the known DOI in the target candidates by identifying potential DOI locations in images of the target candidates and applying one or more detection parameters to images of the potential DOI locations.

Abstract: The described invention provides systems and methods for detecting and segmenting a lesion from longitudinal, time series, or multi-parametric imaging by utilizing spectral embedding-based active contour (SEAC). In addition, the described invention further provides systems and methods for registering time series data by utilizing reduced-dimension eigenvectors derived from spectral embedding (SE) of feature scenes (SERg).