Abstract: A method for generating recommendations for a user from a product database is provided. The method comprises determining a taxonomy for the product database, said taxonomy comprising a plurality of attributes assigned to each product in the product database; performing an exploratory procedure in which the user is systematically exposed to products from the product database in order to test the user's preference for products in the product database; and generating a style profile for the user based on the user's indicated preferences.

Abstract: A system and method for recommending a product to a user in response to a query for a product with a feature wherein the recommendation is accompanied by a quotation expressing a sentiment about the feature or the product.

Abstract: A system for creating a meal plan includes a networked computer system including a business server computer and database for storing customer purchase history data and recipe data. The system further includes a mobile computing device coupled to the networked computer system. The mobile computing device includes a memory for storing an application and a processor for executing the application which causes the processor to identify a customer, obtain customer purchase history from the business database, analyze the customer purchase history data to obtain a customer budget, and create a meal plan including meals that collectively have a price falling within the customer budget. Each meal of the meal plan is defined by a recipe requiring items for carrying out the recipe. Also disclosed herein are methods for creating a meal plan and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for creating a meal plan.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a shopping cart communication system. The methods and systems are configured to receive, at an operator terminal of a first shopping cart, operator identifying information. The methods and systems are also configured to generate operator data based on the operator identifying information. The methods and systems are also configured to automatically transmit instructions to configure the graphic user interface of a display device of a second shopping cart to render an image for display to the operator of the first shopping cart, the image comprising a visual representation of the operator data. The methods and systems are also configured to display the rendered image on the display device of the second shopping cart.

Abstract: A method for encoding orders and expediting order processing across a distributed network that enables expedited processing of orders, and expedient fulfillment of repeatable orders, by use of a code in lieu of particular order data, wherein a code input into a merchant point of sale effects communication with a remote server hosting a unique customer account whereby particular order data, associated by the customer with the specific code, is retrievable to effect expeditious fulfillment of the order by use of the code as proxy.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods are provided herein for building a shopping list on a user device using a sensor unit attached to a shopping container. In one embodiment, a shopping apparatus is provided. The shopping apparatus includes a portable item container and a sensor unit attached to the portable item container. The sensor unit includes a sensor configured to detect identifying information from items gathered by a user and placed in the portable item container and a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit the identifying information of the items to a user device configured to use the identifying information to build a shopping list.

Abstract: Systems and methods described herein relate to processing of information, data and transactions involving content and/or experiences. According to one exemplary implementation, an illustrative method of computerized information processing may involve handling and/or processing data regarding a product, the product comprising an experience, a physical product, and/or a digital product.

Abstract: In certain implementations, a system for facilitating voice commerce is provided. A user input comprising a natural language utterance related to a product or service to be purchased may be received. A first product or service that is to be purchased may be determined based on the utterance. First payment information that is to be used to purchase the first product or service may be obtained. First shipping information that is to be used to deliver the first product or service may be obtained. A purchase transaction for the first product or service may completed based on the first payment information and the first shipping information without further user input, after the receipt of utterance, that identifies a product or service type or a product or service, seller information, payment information, shipping information, or other information related to purchasing the first product or service.

Abstract: A user may create a wish/gift list and send the list to recipients, who have the option of accepting the list. Content being viewed or recorded by recipients who have accepted the list is scanned to determine whether the content is relevant to one or more items on the list. If so, an alert is displayed on a recipient device, which can be the same device as the displayed content. The recipient may select the alert to purchase the item(s) or obtain additional information about the item(s) for a subsequent purchase.

Abstract: A gas cylinder counting apparatus that has a cage or rack with aligned parallel rows or bins of industrial gas cylinders stored in the cage or cage having upright posts with gas cylinder movement detectors. Gas cylinders in each bin are separated from each other to form an x-y cylinder array. Sensors attached to posts count cylinder removals by changes of state of the cylinder array and report removal of a cylinder from the bin to a local server. When gas cylinders are removed from cages, local servers report to a remote server that may be in a cloud having management software for gas cylinder delivery using orders from each local server.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a network page are provided. In one embodiment, at least one server serves up a network page to a client to be rendered on the client in a networked environment. The network page is associated with a network site that facilitates ordering items. The network page includes a stack of overlapping identical graphical icons that is employed to represent the item having a quantity greater than one, and a plurality of destination regions, each of the destination regions being associated with a corresponding one of a plurality of shipping addresses. The network page is configured to facilitate an association of the stack of overlapping identical graphical icons with a respective one of the destination regions.

Abstract: A system of and method for online shopping in which an intelligent agent at a client-side server renders and updates domestic information relevant to a first geographical location provided on any deliverable Webpages such that the updated information is displayed on the display device as non-domestic information relevant to a second geographical location.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method can comprise categorizing, in a database, one or more purchasing categories based at least in part on one or more queries. In some embodiments the one or more purchasing categories can comprise one or more products. The method can further comprise computing a set of browse categories of the one or more purchasing categories, loading the set of browse categories of the one or more purchasing categories into non-transitory memory, and receiving a query. In some embodiments, the method can further comprise determining one or more results for the query, the one or more results comprising a portion of the one or more products, analyzing intention of the query, and selecting a display configuration of the one or more results based at least in part on the intention. Other embodiments of related methods and systems are also provided.

Abstract: A transaction manager can obtain a first lease that dedicates a set of virtual resources to the transaction manager for a first time interval. The transaction manager can send a commit request to one or more resource managers regarding a first transaction. The transaction manager can store respective responses from each respective resource manager. The transaction manager can determine if each response is affirmative, and, if each response is affirmative, the transaction manager can complete the first transaction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to lease a dwelling with a computer coupled to a network is disclosed. The method includes printing using a printer a deposit exemption policy and renter Insurance policy for a renter or resident of the dwelling backed by a third party in lieu of a security deposit and/or a last month rent for the dwelling. The policies are funded by the resident paying one-time pricing program fee equal to a portion of a first month's rent into an account. Funds are transferred from the account to pay one or more of the owner, the underwriter, sales and leasing agents, deposit exemption claims, credit score forbearance agreements, royalties and renters insurance.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment includes a data processing system and method for managing the origination of a mortgage loan by a loan originator in coordination with a loan broker for a loan customer. The loan originator is not the loan broker. The loan originator provides services necessary for the origination of the mortgage loan and not duplicative of services provided by the loan broker.

Abstract: There are provided systems and methods for wireless beacon connections for providing digital letters of credit on detection of a user at a location. A payment provider may authorize use of one or more wireless beacons at a merchant location. When a user arrives at the merchant location, the user may be checked in through a communication device in possession of the user. Once checked in to the merchant location, the payment provider may determine and amount of credit to extend to the user based on the user's credit worthiness (for example, their credit rating, asset to debt ratio, etc.). The payment provider may then generate a letter of credit, which the payment provider may limit in use by time, location, etc. The payment provider may communicate the letter of credit to the user for use at the merchant location.

Abstract: An interactive grid-based graphical trading system for use in securities trading provides a dynamic, visual display of trading data consisting of orders, quotes and indices, for any security and for any number of market participants. The trading data are plotted on a grid consisting of cells arranged in rows and columns, which are associated with specific parameters. Distinct visual presentation styles are used, and differences in the price parameter are represented spatially. The values of the price and other parameters associated with the same orders and quotes are mapped against the values associated with the rows and columns of the grid. A trader may place or modify trading orders by interacting with the trading data displayed on the grid, and with specific GUI objects displayed on the same grid. Trading instructions are generated and transmitted to a market participant, in a manner transparent to the trader.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for more efficiently constructing a volatility surface. The methodology results in measurable reduction in the quantity of storage memory space needed on a computer executing the novel methodology, reduces the measurable, on-demand computational load on the processor(s) of a computer executing the novel methodology, and also permits as-of-day calculations of the volatility surface that were previously impossible to obtain in near real-time.

Abstract: Various embodiments include systems, devices, and/or methods for selecting potential trading strategies for users. Various embodiments include presenting potential trading strategies to users. The strategies may be selected based on Greek values associated with the respective strategies. The Greek values may represent values selected by a user or chosen to hedge securities currently controlled by the user. The user may be presented with strategies where such strategies are prominently represented by their associated Greek values. In various embodiments, Greek values for one or more derivatives or other securities are continuously calculated and updated in real time based on market data, and used to update strategies that are made available to a user.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for facilitation of deterministic management of a plurality of electronic message packets communicated to an application via a network from a plurality of message sources. The facilitation involves an electronic message packet from the network, determining data indicative of order the electronic message packet was received relative to previously received electronic message packets, and providing the order to the application.

Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein relate to order entry. In the electronic trading process, order entry involves setting one or more order entry parameters, sending one or more order entry parameters, or both setting and sending one or more order entry parameters. As will be described in more detail below, various order entry actions, such as moving a cursor across an order entry line, moving a cursor into an order entry region, pressing an order entry button, or performing a gesture, may be used to trigger the setting, sending, or both setting and sending of one or more order entry parameters. At least some embodiments relate to enabling an order entry action before the order entry action is able to set, send, or both set and send one or more order entry parameters.

Abstract: A system for determining a subjective risk score may include a vehicle and/or a computing device associated with a user travelling within the vehicle. The computing device may receive input from the user when the user feels a sense of unease regarding a particular road segment upon which the vehicle is traveling. The system may further include a subjective risk analysis computing system that may be communicatively coupled to the computing device. The subjective risk analysis computing system may receive subjective risk information corresponding to the user's sense of unease regarding particular road segments and may process the subjective risk information to determine a subjective risk score for each of a plurality of road segments along a route. An insurance company may use this information to determine whether to adjust a quote or premium of an insurance policy.

Abstract: A method for personalizing a per ride insurance rate which comprises receiving a current insurance rate per distance unit calculated based on a user profile of at least one of the driver and the vehicle, identifying an initiation of the ride with the vehicle by the driver, calculating driving behavior parameters reflecting driver behavior during the ride according to outputs of at least one driving parameter sensor mounted in the vehicle during the ride, identifying a termination of the ride, calculating an insurance cost for the ride according to a distance accumulated during the ride and the current insurance rate per distance unit, calculating an update to the current insurance rate per distance unit according to the driving behavior parameters, and presenting the update and the insurance cost on a display of the client terminal to the driver in the vehicle in response to the detection of the termination.

Abstract: Featured is a method for identifying and categorizing damage to a vehicle including selecting a part, area or region of the vehicle to identify the selected part, region or area; selecting a wand from a device having at least one wand, each wand having a descriptive legend proximal a distal end thereof and positioning the distal end of the selected wand proximal the part, region or area to be identified. The method also includes photographing the selected part, region or area while maintaining the distal end and the descriptive legend within the field of view of an image acquiring device. Also featured is a device for such identifying and categorizing including at least one wand, each wand having a descriptive legend proximal a distal end of the wand. Further featured is a repair method using the information obtained using such a method for identifying and categorizing damage.

Abstract: A water damage mitigation estimation method accepts insurance claim information regarding a water damage insurance claim. The insurance claim information includes a date-of-loss, an insurance-company, insured-information, and a price-book-to-use. The method also accepts structure information regarding the water damage insurance claim. The structure information including square-footage, year-built, central-air-conditioning, foundation-type, construction-type, and number-of-floors. The method accepts loss information regarding the water damage insurance claim, and the loss information includes water-source, anti-microbial, source-location, time-water-stopped, time-respondent-on-site, emergency-time, and affected-area. The method accepts a set of room-information for each water damaged room, each member of the set of room-information includes floor-level, room-dimensions, offset-inset, percent-affected, material-type, and detectable-water-affect.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for compressing data structures. One exemplary method includes accessing a target data structure defining multiple columns, and filtering the columns based on a cardinality of terms in each of the columns. The method also includes, for each filtered column, sorting the data structure by the column, compressing the sorted data structure, and identifying the filtered column as a candidate column when the size of the compressed and sorted data structure is less than a baseline size. The method further includes, for each pair of candidate columns, sorting the data structure by the pair of candidate columns, compressing the pair-sorted data structure, and designating the compressed pair-sorted data structure as an object data structure and the pair of candidate columns as a sorting column pair, when said compressed pair-sorted data structure includes a smallest size compared to sizes of other compressed pair-sorted data structures.

Abstract: A system for masking tax data during collaborative preparation of an electronic tax return, the system includes a server computer having a tax return preparation program running thereon. The system also includes a tax return preparation computer having a first browser program running thereon. The system further includes a support computer having a second browser program running thereon. Moreover, the system includes a network operatively coupling the server computer, tax return preparation computer, and the support computer. The first browser includes a masking module configured to automatically mask a tax datum without user intervention before transmitting the tax datum to the server computer for subsequent transmission to the support computer. The tax datum is masked in real time during collaborative preparation of the electronic tax return.

Abstract: A content server receives artist messages from client devices of artists, each artist message including content created using the client device of the respective artist. The content server receives from a client device of a listener a request for media items, the request including a seed value. The content server provides media items selected based on the seed value to the client device of the listener. The content server identifies a subset of the artist messages as eligible artist messages for the listener based on the media items provided to the client device of the listener. The content server scores the eligible artist messages based on a relevance of the message to a listener, and selects an eligible artist messages based on the scores. The content server provides the selected artist message to the listener.

Abstract: Today crowdsourcing consists of activities which may involve large numbers of individuals but there is no social aspect to the crowdsourcing activities and poor visibility of the crowdsourced results by others. Embodiments of the invention provide an online portal supporting both mobile and non-mobile users with social media and social network visibility of the crowdsourcing being undertaken/requested by others. Such crowdsourcing may also be inventivised by either the generator of the crowdsourced microactions or third parties who are independent of the generator and executer of the crowdsourced activity. Beneficially, the crowdsourcing portal leverages acquiring multimedia content or a user's geolocation in mobile environments to provide part of the completion process for a crowdsourced activity.

Abstract: There are provided a system, a method and a computer program product for creating the social group whose participants are involved in an online conversation. The system aggregates data associated with the online conversation and a group profile, of the social group. The system determines, based on the online conversation data and the group profile, a context of the online conversation and a goal of the social group. The system receives, based on the determined context and the goal, a first bidding from each provider, the first bidding associated with the determined context and the goal, the each provider providing one or more of: goods, services or discounts associated with the context and the goal.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems directed to detecting objects in user-uploaded multimedia such as photos and videos, determining the location at which the media was captured, inferring a set of users of a social network who were physically present at the time and place of capture, and pushing remarketing content to the set of inferred users for the detected objects, or alternatively, the competitors of the detected concepts.

Abstract: An example of a method includes determining, electronically, a social network associated with a user in response to the user visiting a web page. Further, the method includes determining, electronically, a first buddy of the user on the social network. Furthermore, the method includes identifying, electronically, a first event from events associated with the first buddy which matches an event associated with the web page. In addition, the method includes displaying the first event and information associated with the first buddy on the web page.

Abstract: The fuel distribution system with correction mechanism includes systems and methods for distributing fuel at a plurality of fuel pumps. Fuel is distributed at a first fuel pump and at a second fuel pump. Erroneously, multiple payments are received for the distribution of fuel at the first fuel pump. One of the multiple payments is applied to an outstanding transaction of the second fuel pump. The difference amount between the payment applied to the second fuel pump and an amount associated with the outstanding transaction of the second fuel pump is calculated and resolved.

Abstract: In power supply/demand adjustment processing for a DR (Demand Response) system, requests for the power supply/demand adjustment processing can be submitted to customers who maintain power supply/demand adjustment devices that can accommodate the power supply/demand adjustment processing. The control device (A) of the present invention is provided with: an acquisition unit (A1) that acquires processing information indicating power supply/demand adjustment processing that can be accommodated by an adjustment unit that manages, for each customer, adjustment amounts for one or more power supply/demand adjustment devices used in power adjustment of power supply/demand adjustment processing; and a reporting unit (A2) that, on the basis of information indicating characteristics relating to the power supply/demand adjustment processing and processing information, reports the actuation of power supply/demand adjustment processing to customers that are the object of the power supply/demand adjustment processing.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system and method for receiving itinerary information and user information for a reservation for a user where the user has opted to acquire lost item protection for use with at least part of the reservation; receiving a lost item notification from a computing device associated with a notifier, the lost item notification including at least notifier information and lost item information; retrieving itinerary information from the first database associated with the user when it is determined that the notifier information from the lost item report matches the user information stored in the first database; facilitating presentation of a list of one or more establishments associated with the retrieved itinerary information; and automatically generating and electronically transmitting a lost item report to the selected at least one establishment if it is determined that the establishment information is stored in the second database.

Abstract: Examples disclosed herein relate to creating a heterogeneous learner group. In one implementation, a processor associates a selected learner with a group of learners based on a value of a factor associated with the group of learners compared to a value of the factor associated with the selected learner. For example, the value associated with the selected learner may be indicative of a strength compared to the value associated with the group of learners. The processor may output information related to a heterogeneous learner group created from the group of learners and the selected learner.

Abstract: System and methods for determining course need based on member data are disclosed. For a respective skill in a list of skills, a server system determines a member interest score in the respective skill. The server system then determines an employer interest score in the respective skill. The server system determines a number of courses available for the respective skill at a server system. The server system generates a content priority score for the respective skill in the list of skills based on the member interest, the employer interest, and the number of skill learning materials associated with the skill.

Abstract: A comprehensive multi-skilling framework system provides technology tailored for managing and staffing multi-skilled IT professionals. Multi-skill data and proficiencies generated for each individual user are defined, enabled, measured and tracked in the multi-skilling framework. An automated multi-skilling manager receives data that defines technical platforms and a plurality of multi-skill roles within each technical platform. Multiple skills are associated with each multi-skill role and each user is mapped to a multi-skill role. An overall proficiency level that pertains to a user's respective multi-skill role is determined based on multi-skill assessment data for the user. By assigning a multi-skill role to each user and automatically generating a unique proficiency level for each user based on their multi-skill role information, the process of staffing IT projects from large populations of IT professionals is streamlined and conserves processing resources.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for tracking the location and activities of one more persons, such as prisoners, persons under house arrest or persons who have to perform community service.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for identifying unauthorized activity events, assessing the unauthorized activity event and evaluating a potential impact of the unauthorized activity event are provided. In some examples, upon detection of an unauthorized activity event, merchant data may be received for a first evaluation time period. If a sufficient number of events has occurred in the first evaluation time period, additional data may be retrieved and analyzed to determine a control limit related to an expected rate of events. The number of events in the first evaluation time period may then be compared to the control limit and, if the number exceeds the control limit, a priority score for the merchant may be generated. Additional data, such as merchant category, particular state, and/or particular city data, may be analyzed in order to provide a more granular evaluation of a merchant.

Abstract: An approach is provided for determining social influence. Measurements of social reach of social media content are determined. The content is being sent by mobile devices during an ongoing event that involves multiple individuals using social media via the mobile devices. The measurements of social reach include a rate of proliferation of the social media content. Social context features of the mobile devices during the event are determined. The social context features include geographic locations of the mobile devices at times at which the mobile devices send the social media content. A Rayleigh distribution is generated based on the measurements of social reach and the social context features. Based on the Rayleigh distribution, scores indicating respective social influences of the individuals are determined.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to optimizing vehicle driver performance and route travel. Specifically, tracking an activity level, such as a number of steps of a fleet vehicle driver may enable a fleet management system to increase both an efficiency of a particular fleet vehicle driver and an overall efficiency of the entire fleet. As such, the present disclosure provides for the determination of inefficiencies in a fleet vehicle driver stop location, and optimizes the routes for each fleet vehicle in a fleet management system based on the tracked information.

Abstract: Techniques related to concurrent presentation of retail facility maps are disclosed. The techniques involve acquiring tracking data relating to a location of a mobile device in a retail facility and acquiring, using for a search engine module, map data relating to a layout of the retail facility. A first map based on the map data is presented on a display of the mobile device. The first map comprises an entirety of the layout. A second map based on the map data and tracking data is concurrently presented on the display of the mobile device. The second map comprises a zoomed-in portion of the layout that is proximate to the location of the mobile device.

Abstract: Content creation and licensing control techniques are described. In a first example, a content creation service is configured to support content creation using an image along with functionality to locate the image or a similar image that is available for licensing. In another example, previews of images are used to generate different versions of content along with an option to license images previewed in an approved version of the content. In a further example, fingerprints are used to locate images used as part of content creation by a content creation service without leaving a context of the service. In yet another example, location of licensable versions of images is based at least in part on identification of a watermark included as part of an image. In an additional example, an image itself is used as a basis to locate other images available for licensing by a content sharing service.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for generating an anti-forgery image are provided. The method includes: determining, according to a rule for setting bits, related parameters; determining a combination quantity of bits, according to the parameters; acquiring a width, height and code numeric value of the anti-forgery image to be generated and requesting a memory space for the anti-forgery image to be generated according to the width and height of the anti-forgery image to be generated; determining positions of the code points in the bits according to the parameters; determining the image cell's initial coordinate in the anti-forgery image to be generated according to a rule for setting coordinates; and drawing the image cell in the memory space according to the image cell's initial coordinate in the anti-forgery image to be generated, where the drawn image cell forms the anti-forgery image.

Abstract: A graphics processing unit (GPU) may dispatch a first set of commands for execution on one or more processing units of the GPU. The GPU may receive notification from a host device indicating that a second set of commands are ready to execute on the GPU. In response, the GPU may issue a first preemption command at a first preemption granularity to the one or more processing units. In response to the GPU failing to preempt execution of the first set of commands within an elapsed time period after issuing the first preemption command, the GPU may issue a second preemption command at a second preemption granularity to the one or more processing units, where the second preemption granularity is finer-grained than the first preemption granularity.

Abstract: In one aspect, a graphics processing unit (GPU) data sniffing method includes the step of providing a video game software comprising a set of graphics data of a video game. The method includes the step of communicating the set of graphics data to a graphics library using an application programming interface (API) call to the graphics library. The graphics library includes at least one application API interface. The method includes the step of providing a sniffing module. The sniffing module intercepts the set of graphics data before the set of graphics data reaches the GPU. The sniffing module copies the set of graphics data to create a copy of the graphics data. The sniffing module forwards the copy of the graphics data to the graphics library for rendering to a receiving entity.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose an electronic device and a graphics processing unit card, which can improve data input and output capabilities. The electronic device includes a graphics processing unit card and a mainboard. The graphics processing unit card includes a main chip and M first PCIe interfaces electrically connected to the main chip, where M is an integer greater than or equal to 2. The mainboard includes a processing unit and M second PCIe interfaces connected to the processing unit, and the M second PCIe interfaces are respectively connected to the M first PCIe interfaces.

Abstract: A convolutional neural network (CNN) for an image processing system comprises an image cache responsive to a request to read a block of N×M pixels extending from a specified location within an input map to provide a block of N×M pixels at an output port. A convolution engine reads blocks of pixels from the output port, combines blocks of pixels with a corresponding set of weights to provide a product, and subjects the product to an activation function to provide an output pixel value. The image cache comprises a plurality of interleaved memories capable of simultaneously providing the N×M pixels at the output port in a single clock cycle. A controller provides a set of weights to the convolution engine before processing an input map, causes the convolution engine to scan across the input map by incrementing a specified location for successive blocks of pixels and generates an output map within the image cache by writing output pixel values to successive locations within the image cache.