Abstract: Recorded programs ranked based on social networks is described. In embodiment(s), a content distributor maintains recorded on-demand assets that can be requested by client devices to render as television media content for viewing. For a Network Digital Video Recording (nDVR) system, the recorded on-demand assets are recorded when initially distributed to the client devices as scheduled television media content. The content distributor can form a social network of members based on association(s) of viewers that correspond to one or more of the client devices, and can determine recommended on-demand assets from different ones of the recorded on-demand assets for the members of the social network. The content distributor can then communicate a recommended on-demand asset to a client device that corresponds to a member of the social network where the recommended on-demand asset is communicated for viewing without receiving a viewer selection of the recommended on-demand asset.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for delivering continuous high performance using a multi-stage group perspective collaboration system. In one aspect, a processor presents a user interface through which users of a group can collaborate with one another. A first perspective from a user of the group is received at a first stage of maturation. The first perspective is then presented as a first stage thread to the group for collaboration. The system determines whether an elevation condition has been met to elevate the first stage thread to a second stage of maturation. Upon determining that the elevation condition has been met, the system determines whether content similar to content associated with the first stage thread exists. Upon determining that content similar to content associated with the first stage thread does not exist, the system elevates the first stage thread from the first stage of maturation to the second stage of maturation.

Abstract: A method of presenting real estate data is provided. A plurality of property listings can be presented, and a selection of one of the presented property listings may be received from a user. The user may be associated with a financial profile, which may be specified via user input. In response to receiving the selection by the user, at least one loan offer corresponding to the property listing may be automatically presented, for example, together with the property listing. The loan offer may be at least partially based on the financial profile, and may also be based on a property corresponding to the selected property listing. For example, the property listing and the financial profile may be automatically transmitted to one or more loan providers in response to receiving the selection by the user of the property listing, and in response loan offers may be received from some of the loan providers.

Abstract: A system is provided comprising a computer, project forecast, workflow allocations, and incurred expense databases, and an application on the computer extracting from the project forecast database a list of costs and revenues associated with a first and second project, costs comprising approved expenses described in the workflow allocations database and incurred expenses in the incurred expense database. The system determines the first project is operational and for a first subscriber base and the second project is incomplete and is to be for a second subscriber base, completion of the second project pending release of a remaining cost item. The system analyzes an alternate allocation of the cost item to improve the profitability of the first subscriber base, delaying the second project. The system determines the proposed alternate allocation increases the first subscriber base profitability more than a reduction of second subscriber base profitability resulting from the proposed alternate allocation.

Abstract: Computer method and apparatus managing engineering product revisions. A repository holds one or more assets. For each asset, the repository holds respective revisions of the asset. A revision manager tracks changes of state of assets of the repository. Each change of state of a given asset results in a respective revision of the given asset. The revision manager provides a project view illustrating changes of state of assets and including performance indicators corresponding to respective changes of state of assets held in the repository. The performance indicators may be color coded and may be based on a changeable metric. The revision manager provides in the project view an indication of each change in metric. Plural performance indicators for a set of assets may be presented in the project view as a graphical series.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for controlling cancelled orders in a manufacturing environment. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for controlling cancelled orders in a manufacturing environment can be provided.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system and methods for developing designs. In one embodiment, a method includes electronically distributing a specification for a design to a distributed community of designers, receiving designs from each of a subset of the community of designers in response to the distributed design specification, screening received designs that do not meet the specification, facilitating evaluation of a subset of the received designs by a number of evaluators; and selecting a preferred design in response to the facilitated evaluation of the designs.

Abstract: A system processes product data including values for a product data record corresponding to a product style. A network interface receives a product data record over a network from a source. A memory has stored thereon computer readable instruction code, including, a rule set having rules associated with the product data record, and a processing manager to apply the rules to the product data record and determine availability of values to a venue. The processing manager includes a style identification manager to determine from among the available values a product style associated with the available values, and to make the product style available to the venue based on the rules.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for tracking, reporting and performing processing activities and transactions in association with referral data and related information for a variety of product and service offerings.

Abstract: A method provides a user with access to resources associated with a life or work event by enabling the user to perform certain operations, including specifying a list of one or more tasks corresponding to the event, specifying one or more resources associated with each task, indicating a task order (including an indication of whether two or more tasks in the task list are to be performed in an order-dependent or in an order-independent manner), and formatting the task list into a presentation format. A system with user interface controls enables a user to perform certain operations, including designating an event, generating a list of tasks associated with the event, and specifying an order for performance of the tasks in the task list that may be followed in processing an instance of the event.

Abstract: A method, a system, and computer readable medium comprising instructions for interactive television offer presentation are provided. The method comprises assigning a unique marketing key to a subscriber, storing the unique marketing key and information of the subscriber in a database, detecting a request from the subscriber comprising the unique marketing key, retrieving the information from the database based on the unique marketing key, and making at least one offer of a product or service to the subscriber based on the information.

Abstract: A demand driven process of collecting structured product and service information including the steps of: receiving a request for information from a requestor about a specific product or service, or attribute or class thereof, associating one or more potential responders with the request for information, providing the request to the potential responders, receiving and organizing one or more responses, and providing the organized responses to the requestor, all electronically. An arrangement for the same includes user computers for receiving requests for information, network communication devices for transmitting the requests to potential responders, memory for storing electronic responses and a controller for organizing, updating, and providing access to the electronic responses.

Abstract: A method and a corresponding computer program product for generating control data for the manufacture of a product including a processing unit and a data-input unit, wherein the processing unit processes into a data structure data which are entered via the data-input unit and suitable for controlling production equipment for the manufacture of a product or can be transformed into such control data, the processing unit comprises at least two processing modules, a first processing module generates first control data having a first data structure and the second processing module generates second control data having a second data structure, the first processing module processes first input data from a first user and the second processing module requires second input data from a second user, and the first control data are generated for use by the second user while the second control data are generated for use for the first user.

Abstract: Accordingly some embodiments, a merchant server receives an indication of acceptance by a customer of an offer for a subsidy from a second merchant of a purchase of at least one item from a first merchant. The customer agrees to participate in an additional transaction with the second merchant in exchange for having the subsidy applied against the purchase from the first merchant. In one embodiment, after selling the at least one item to the customer, the merchant server determines that the customer did not participate in an additional transaction with the second merchant as the customer agreed to, and assesses a penalty against the customer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a collaborative automation system (PS), comprising devices providing divided production and control services (D) such as transport and processing machines (M) with associated device agents (ST-AG, MA-AG), products with associated product agents (WP-AG), and a coordination unit (CO) providing a communication platform (SKP); the invention further relates to a method for the control of such a system. In order to obtain a dynamic detection and calling of processes in a loosely coupled production structure and infrastructure, the invention provides for devices (ST, MA, WP) providing the production and control services to be associated with a DPWS-based web service (ST-WS; MA-WS), wherein device functions are implemented into the DPWS-based web service as device service and agent functions. The communication platform (SKP) is designed as a uniform, DPWS-oriented SOA platform.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system and methods for developing designs. In one embodiment, a method includes electronically distributing a specification for a design to a distributed community of designers, receiving designs from each of a subset of the community of designers in response to the distributed design specification, screening received designs that do not meet the specification, facilitating evaluation of a subset of the received designs by a number of evaluators; and selecting a preferred design in response to the facilitated evaluation of the designs.

Abstract: Computer systems, methods, and computer program products for managing a service process that includes a plurality of service steps. A repository holds, for each of at least one configuration item, a set of data that represents at least one predetermined attribute of the configuration item and a relation between the configuration item and a second configuration item. The method includes detecting data on a resource for executing at least one of a plurality of service steps of the service process; creating, in response to a particular service process starting, data using a first configuration item model in which the particular service process is defined as a single configuration item; and creating data from the detected data using a second configuration item model in which one or more particular service steps are defined as a single configuration item.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for optimizing different amounts of output products derived from an initial biomass material. The method includes obtaining economic data of costs and availability of raw materials and resources, and prices that would be paid for output products derived, performing calculations to determine an optimum amount of each of the output products; and controlling processes that generate the output products. In some embodiments, the processes convert initial biomass materials into intermediate and output products, an economic engine that obtains economic data relating to costs of initial materials and prices that would be paid for output products derived from the raw materials, and performs calculations to determine an optimum amount of each of the output products, and valves that are controlled by the economic engine to route variable amounts of the initial biomass materials to the processes to obtain a mix of output products that provides an optimum profit.

Abstract: A system and method is provided that provides an early indication of consensus of opinion among a number of users regarding an event or observation indicated by a user. Such an opinion may be interesting to an information consumer, who may be interested in determining the outcome of the consensus relating to the event or observation, or may otherwise desire to perform surveillance or survey of a particular issue or subject. Such recognition of early events or observations may be useful in different areas, such as healthcare, finance, etc., where initial observations, if provided early, allow resulting decisions to be made much earlier. The opinion may, for instance, be used as an early indicator of problem with a product, company, etc. that would permit an information consumer to perform an action at a much earlier point than if he/she relied on traditional sources of information. Thus, such opinion information may be invaluable as a tool for monitoring events.

Abstract: A method for conducting online discussion and collecting point-of-view information on a topic of discussion that includes displaying a hierarchy of topics, each topic corresponding to a position statement representing a consensus point of view of one or more supporters of the topic. At each level of the hierarchy, topics are ordered based on user-selected attributes of the one or more supporters of the topic. A user is allowed to select a topic from the ordered hierarchy to display the corresponding position statement.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments allow a user to request new product designs and design changes remotely. The requested design or change is then submitted to a network-based automated process. The process may be remotely accessed by the user through a network connection. In one embodiment, the user may meet directly with a customer, pull up the specifications for the product in question, select a design or change desired by the customer, and submit the design or change. The process works in the background to validate the requested design according to one or more validation rules and/or best practices, and completes many of the necessary tasks to allow the requested design to proceed to manufacturing. Once the process has successfully completed the requested change, a notification is sent to the user containing information about the new or changed product, such as the new part number, order number, and the like.

Abstract: A critical parameter/requirements management process model for managing a development program for a product and an associated product structure-driven critical parameter/requirements management tool and environment is provided. In one embodiment, the process includes a product structure classification scheme, a parameter/requirements classification scheme, a parameter/requirements process and maturity model, and in-process and requirements conformance views. In one embodiment, the tool includes a user interface layer, a business layer, a data layer, and a database. The user interface layer may include a product structure feature group, an add/edit/link feature group, a manage maturity feature group, and a manage conformance feature group. The tool may be implemented as a web server accessible to user workstations operating as thin clients.

Abstract: A method and system to automatically translate a definition of a choreography workflow process to an executable process are provided. The method includes processing a collaboration element from the definition, mapping the collaboration element to an executable element based on a knowledge database system that contains the collaboration element and the corresponding executable element and mapping the collaboration element to the executable element statically if the corresponding executable element is unavailable in the knowledge database system.

Abstract: Systems, methods, computer program code, and means are provided for processing retrieve requests received in a business software system. Pursuant to some embodiments, a retrieve request is processed by identifying that the requested node is a retrieve transformation node, determining that the node relates to one of a currently selected business object and a secondary business object, and retrieving the node data from one of a persistence buffer and a secondary buffer based on the determining.

Abstract: The teachings generally relate to a method of creating a derivative artistic work that includes a select, virtual submission from the public obtained from a set of random, virtual submissions submitted, for example, through a network or public venue. The teachings are directed a virtual studio, a method of creating a derivative, multi-track musical work that includes a virtual performance from the public.

Abstract: A data network storing data relating to work done by vendors for clients is described. The network includes two or more servers, each server containing (1) an exhaustive vendor data base that contains client-independent vendor data for every vendor, and (2) one or more individual client databases, each containing client information for a single client. The exhaustive vendor data base is replicated between the servers, and the client information for each client is contained by one individual client data base on one server.

Abstract: A crowdsourcing competition system is described herein that provides a reusable mechanism by which an organization can host a cloud-based crowdsourcing competition. The system facilitates identification of individuals, forums, submission of user-generated content (challenge submissions), automated scoring of user-generated content against test sets, automated outbound communication to participants, and web services for leaderboard functionality. The system provides workflows for users to submit submissions and for the system to receive and organize submissions. Thus, the crowdsourcing competition system provides a generic platform and automated workflow for holding crowd-sourced competitions and automating workflow of user generated content submissions.

Abstract: A submission auditing system is described herein that audits to measure participation and to prevent fraud in online crowd-sourced competitions. Auditability increases the acceptance of crowd efforts. Individual contributors and competition organizers also want to have the individual contributors receive credit from the project sponsor(s), their employer, and/or government or other entities for their time investment. An employer may encourage employees to volunteer time with various charitable organizations, and may use the system to monitor participation and award prizes based on participation. The submission auditing system addresses the problem of auditing engagement in crowd-sourced scenarios, by providing a workflow for measuring engagement with a crowdsourcing project, detecting fraud as part of that measurement, and then delivering a receipt for the individual and third parties that provides tracking for participation.

Abstract: Systems and methods of prioritizing requirements for product release are disclosed. An exemplary method comprises receiving customer satisfaction requirements for a pending product release. The method also comprises receiving product manager input for the pending product release to meet a release schedule on time and on budget. The method also comprises receiving developer business requirements for the product release to balance the business desires of the developer. The method also comprises processing the received customer satisfaction requirements, product manager input, and developer business requirements for the pending product release to prioritize requirements and increase or maximize value for the customer and the developer and increase overall satisfaction with when the product is released.

Abstract: A method and a system for identifying screen flows. An instance of an application utilized by a first entity locates a first key in a first table to identify a first procedure. The same instance of the application utilized by a second entity locates a second key in the first table to identify a second procedure. Using the first procedure, a method and a parameter set based on rules of the first entity are located in a second table. Using the second procedure, the method and a parameter set based on rules of the second entity are located in the second table. The method is executed with each of the parameter sets to identify a first screen flow for the first entity and a second screen flow for the second entity. The first screen flow includes data elements that are different from data elements included in the second screen flow.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a platform of integrating a heterogeneous workgroup collaborative design system and a PLM system, which is suitable for collaborative design of a large complex product, realizes integration of heterogeneous 3D CAD collaborative design system and PDM system, guarantees consistency of parameter and state between 3D CAD data and PDM data, and facilitates automatic circulation of design data from a product R&D platform to a manufacture executing platform. It implements integration of Pro/E-Intralink and SAP-PLM, transmits the product R&D data in the Pro/E-Intralink to the SAP-PLM, creating or changing corresponding material, voucher, and EBOM, realizes review and re-sign of document, associates the data object with the design project PS or change object, and meanwhile automatically transmits back its property and state to the Pro/E-Intralink, thereby realizing automatic circulation of the R&D data from the Pro/E-Intralink to PDM-ERP.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for managing innovation. In one aspect, a computer-implemented method for managing innovation includes receiving over a network, information regarding an uncommercialized product from a first party. The method further includes receiving resource information from a second party in response to the information, and facilitating communication between the first party and the second party regarding the development of the information toward a commercial product.

Abstract: Dynamic adaptation of a business activity involves creation and updating of the business activity in an ad-hoc and collaborative manner as the business activity executes. User input relating to creation of a business activity is received through a user portal, where the business activity involves interactions among people. A business activity orchestrator orchestrates execution of work in the business activity. The business activity is updated using a business activity adapter, where updating the business activity occurs during execution of the business activity, and the updating is further responsive to collaborative input of the people involved in the business activity.

Abstract: A system and method for managing an enterprise is provided. The system and method may be based on a layered architecture including a data center that may store all documents and data abstractions for an enterprise. One or more services may interact with an enterprise resource planning system and/or a customer relationship manager to facilitate interaction with the documents and data abstractions. A client access point of the system may include a graphical user interface that includes one or more enterprise management functions for managing the enterprise documents and/or data abstractions. The enterprise management functions may include a user proposal manager, an enterprise proposal manager, a proposal library, a content health manager, an archive library, a bid center, a contracts manager, a resume manager, a debriefing center, and/or a projects manager.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring and fine tuning a business process are disclosed. A system for monitoring and fine tuning a business process, according to an embodiment of the invention, includes a process cost definition engine to generate and define a cost definition, or function, for each sub-process that is part of a business process. The system may also include a process cost calculator for calculating the cost for each sub-process that is part of a business process, based on the cost function associated with the sub-process. The system may also include a display engine to display various views and communicate data generated by the system to various users of the system.

Abstract: A method for defining and managing a composite service group for a cluster based computer system is disclosed. The method includes instantiating a plurality of application units on a cluster based computer system, wherein the application units implement a business service. The method further includes receiving a composite service group definition, wherein a composite service group enumerates application units, out of the plurality of application units, that implement the business service, and generating a consolidated status of the composite service group. The business service is then started (online)/stopped (offline)/migrated/failed-over/failed-back in accordance with the consolidated status, as a single unit, by using the composite service group.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes systems and techniques relating to enterprise application integration. In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in a computer system including a service oriented architecture (SOA), where the system includes a composite application configured to present sales targeted information by combining services from multiple application resources on a network, wherein the multiple application resources include: a sales force automation (SFA) tool configured to automate sales and sales force management functions; a real-time predictive analytics tool configured to evaluate customer purchasing data and recommend products or services based on the customer purchasing data; a knowledge management tool configured to search and retrieve data across multiple integrated applications; and a calendar tool configured to manage appointment scheduling.

Abstract: The present invention is a method (10) for manufacturing a three-dimensional object. The method (10) includes receiving (14) digital information of the three-dimensional object over a communication line and building (30) the three-dimensional object based at least in part on the received digital information, where at least part of the three-dimensional object is built by rapid manufacturing, and where the three-dimensional object comprises an exterior surface. The method also includes vapor smoothing (32) at least a portion of the exterior surface of the three-dimensional object.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for submitting requests for approval relating to management of real property include presenting, on a user interface, a form for receiving data from a first user. An indication of one or more requests to be approved is received as a result of a user interaction with the form. For each request, types of data items to be provided by the first user are identified. The types of data items identified for each service are based on a type associated with the request. An indication of the identified types of data items for each request is displayed on the form. After a submission of the form, an approval of at least one, but fewer than all, of the requests can be received from a second user. In response, the first user can be notified of the approval and of requests not approved.

Abstract: A method for providing a segment based differentiated customer service solution. The method comprises a step of first receiving information about online status of a customer. The method includes providing one or more personalized offers based on the received information. Further, a remote financial advisor application for facilitating interaction between the customer and an advisor in an advisement session is invoked and financial analysis related to the purchase of one or more personalized offers is provided to the customer. The purchase of the personalized offer is then provisioned which comprises completing transaction details for the purchase. The method also includes facilitating the provision of real-time advice to the customer through a remote advisement session.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for submitting requests for approval relating to management of real property include presenting, on a user interface, a form for receiving data from a first user. An indication of one or more requests to be approved is received as a result of a user interaction with the form. For each request, types of data items to be provided by the first user are identified. The types of data items identified for each service are based on a type associated with the request. An indication of the identified types of data items for each request is displayed on the form. After a submission of the form, an approval of at least one, but fewer than all, of the requests can be received from a second user. In response, the first user can be notified of the approval and of requests not approved.

Abstract: An intelligent enterprise architecture (LEA) for an enterprise is defined. One or more IEA entry points are selected. IEA entry points represent a starting point for defining the IEA, which is an architectural development process for defining an enterprise computing architecture within a smart computing system. One or more business drivers for pain points in the enterprise are associated with a selected IEA entry point. A business value model is generated and utilized to focus a scope of the business drivers for the selected IEA entry point. An optimal IEA that satisfies the business drivers to ameliorate the pain points in the enterprise is then defined.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to matching product information to products. In aspects, a product matching component receives product information. The product matching component normalizes the product information and obtains keywords from the product information. By querying a database of recognized products, the keywords are used to obtain a list of products that potentially match the product information. A confidence level is assigned to each of the potential matches in the list. A match may be returned for the highest matched product or for a selectable number of products whose confidence level(s) exceed a selectable threshold.

Abstract: The exemplary embodiment of the present invention will provide methods and a computer system for managing image content review for image customization of computer-based value-bearing items such as, for example, an exemplary image-customized computer-based postage label 1 in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention as depicted in FIG. 1. With reference to FIG. 1, the exemplary customized computer-based postage label 1 will bear an image 2 that would be provided by a corresponding user, namely by the user that orders the customized computer-based postage label. The user may provide image 2 in an electronic form, such as by uploading a digital representation of image 2. In a variation of the exemplary embodiment, a user could alternatively provide a hardcopy image. The exemplary customized computer-based postage label 1 will bear a human-readable indication of the country 4 for which the postage is approved.

Abstract: A method and system for managing route resources. After receiving a request for a route from a user, user-specified constraints, route supplier-specified constraints, and weights assigned to the constraints, a dynamic model of available routes is queried to generate proposed routes based on the constraints and weights. The model is updated according to the proposed routes. Current bids on related routes are retrieved. Prices of the proposed routes are determined and presented to the user. The prices are based on the updated model and the current bids on related routes. If no price is acceptable, the user modifies the constraints and a new set of proposed routes is generated. A bid from the user to purchase a selected proposed route is received.

Abstract: A system and methods for management and delivery of content and rules is disclosed. An exemplary method may comprise managing, for an organization, a plurality of data and a plurality of content in separate database entities, wherein the plurality of content is associated with the plurality of data based on a plurality of rules; packaging the plurality of rules with the plurality of content in a carrier that is independent from one or more presentation channels, wherein at least part of the plurality of content is integrated with at least part of the plurality of data; delivering the plurality of data and the carrier to the one or more presentation channels; integrating, at the one or more presentation channels, the plurality of data with the plurality of content based on the plurality of rules; and distributing the integrated data and content through the one or more presentation channels.

Abstract: System and method for determining maximal price for projects are provided. A project scope of a project based on a plurality of selected criteria is defined, and total cost of the project is estimated. A value model of the project is generated and estimated value of the project is determined using the value model. A composite object function that includes cumulative distributive functions of the total cost and of the estimated value is computed to determine potential maximal price or share rate or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A model-based customized eco system includes: a work distribution unit for managing a download of a developed work of an embedded software platform; a shared asset management unit for managing a users' upload of a modified version of the developed work; a user support unit for receiving users' opinions about the developed work; and a repository management unit for managing information on the users and the developed work.

Abstract: An item migration system generates a workflow process comprising logical nodes and physical nodes. Candidate physical nodes are associated with the logical nodes. An item generated at an initial logical node within the workflow process is inserted into the workflow and logically migrated to a subsequent logical node. The system determines whether the item requires physical migration based on properties of the item, characteristics of the subsequent logical node, characteristics of candidate physical nodes, and weighting factors applied to the properties and characteristics. If the item requires physical migration, the system selects an optimum target physical node from the candidate physical nodes. The present system migrates the item to the physical location corresponding to the selected physical node. Otherwise, the present system performs logical migration to the logical node without physical migration.

Abstract: A method and system for discovering dependencies in project plans of a distributed system. Project plans are located by a project plan path. A project plan contains dependency information of a task to be performed, a resource necessary to perform the task, and a prerequisite task to perform the task. The method generates a master project plan containing all dependency information in all project plans in the distributed system, which dictates an order of tasks or task-resource maps in all project plans pursuant to the dependency information in project plans. The method utilizes project plan files in diverse formats in generating the master project plan for the distributed system.