Abstract: A multi-level membership management service feeds back profit by setting up a multi-level membership relationship for members. A management server sets up a multi-level membership relationship where a user is registered for membership as an inferior of a predetermined location within a pre-established tree structure. When a product or service launched by a member is sold, the management server re-establishes the tree structure so that the specific member is put as the most superior in the tree structure. The profit from the product/service is fed back to each of the members according to the re-established tree structure. While conventional multi-level membership structures do not enable a newly-subscribed person to attract inferiors, the present invention distributes the profit according to the re-establishment where a product or service newly launched by even a new member is put at the most superior, thereby enabling lower psychological resistance towards new membership subscription.

Abstract: A system that enables development and execution of predictive models comprises a centralized data management system, a data extraction tool a model validation tool and a model execution tool. In embodiments, a data management system includes a data management server that can be accessed via a web browser that stores data. An extraction tool includes a data filter adapted to filter data based on, for example, a population criteria, a sample size, and a date range criteria. A model validation tool validates the model. A model execution tool allows a user to score the model.

Abstract: The system includes a comparison unit that identifies products in an initial assortment of products, a desired assortment of products and the performance metric for each product. The comparison unit compares the initial assortment of products and the desired assortment of products to determine kept products, added product and deleted products. The system includes an interaction unit simulating the interaction of the kept products, the added products and the deleted products based on the performance metric. The system generates simulation results identifying the interactions between the kept products, the added products and the deleted products.

Abstract: A system for generating a product subgroup map for a product adjacency group is disclosed. In one example, a user interface presents data on product subgroups and receives user inputs for user-editable mapping criteria. The user interface has user-selectable indications of a plurality of stores, and receives user inputs for the user-editable mapping criteria. The system generates a combined set of mapping criteria for the user-selected product subgroups based on the user-edited mapping criteria and non-user-editable mapping criteria. The system generates product subgroup maps for the selected product subgroups for the selected stores, based on the combined set of mapping criteria for the selected product subgroups and store layout data for each of a plurality of stores, and provides graphical outputs of the product subgroup maps.

Abstract: A system for generating a product subgroup map for a product adjacency group is disclosed. In one example, a user interface is configured for presenting data on product subgroups and receiving user inputs for user-editable mapping criteria for mapping the product subgroups in the product adjacency group. The user interface has options for editing and assigning priority values to the user-editable mapping criteria. The system generates a combined set of mapping criteria for the user-selected product subgroups based on the user-edited mapping criteria and non-user-editable mapping criteria, including a persistence criterion that prioritizes persisting product subgroup mapping positions from a previous product subgroup map. The system generates a product subgroup map based on the combined set of mapping criteria for the user-selected product subgroups and a set of physical store layout data for at least one store, and provides a graphical output of the product subgroup map.

Abstract: This disclosure provides various embodiments for performing a dry-run of a business process model in a design-time environment. A start event and end event of the business process model are identified, defining a path of a flow map including a sequence of a plurality of events, including the start event, the end event, and at least one other event sequenced between the start and ends. The events in the path are stepped-through to simulate each event. An error is identified corresponding to a particular event in the path and the step-through is paused upon identifying the error. A user is then prompted for an input to at least temporarily resolve the at least one error. The stepping-through of the plurality of events is then resumed in response to a resolution input from the user. The dry run ends in response to stepping-through to the end event.

Abstract: A workflow request having a set of device specific operations and credentials is obtained. The workflow request is parsed to locate at least one of the set of device specific operations and credentials. The located device specific operations and credentials are replaced with at least one logical device operation and logical credentials to create a generalized credential and protocol workflow.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein can be used to provide business intelligence. For example, a tangible, computer-readable medium may include code configured to direct a processor to create a conceptual model of an business process. The code may be configured to direct the processor to parse the conceptual model to create a logical model of the business process, and to parse the logical model to create a physical model of the business process.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for modeling and validating a user process. In an embodiment of the invention, a model validation method can include linking in memory of a computer a task of an activity modeled within a business process model to a defined role specifying information accessible to end users associated with the defined role and additionally linking in the memory of the computer the task of the activity to an object model specifying information required by an end user to complete a corresponding task. The method also can include generating a mapping from the linkings. Finally, the method an include validating the business process by determining from the mapping whether or not an end user associated with the role can access information necessary to perform the task.

Abstract: A computerized system, method and process allows telecommunications carriers to find, evaluate and select locations for equipment through direct access to end users, while providing citizens the opportunity to offer the use of their dwelling or other assets to carriers. The system and method further provides a computerized mechanism for (a) creating an inventory and marketplace for available properties for use in telecommunications networks, (b) providing quality and/or performance monitoring and control for wireless communication systems based on data in the clearinghouse, and (c) providing localized content over wireless networks using the clearinghouse.

Abstract: A system and method for business process modelling including: an image capturing module, configured to capture screenshots of the business process; an image repository, configured to store the captured screenshots; and a mapping module, configured to map the captured screenshots to objects and to connect the objects to model a business process. In a particular case, the system and method may further include an image analysis module configured to analyse the captured screenshots for significant events and wherein the significant events and associated screenshots are mapped to the objects.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to decision node processing in a business process model and provide a method, system and computer program product for linked decision nodes in business process models. In an embodiment of the invention, a business process model simulation method can be provided. The method can include loading a business process model for simulation, designating a decision node in the business process model as a master decision node and linking another decision node in the business process model as a slave decision node to the master decision node. The method further can include simulating the master decision node to select an output pin and storing the selected output pin in association with the master decision node, and applying the selected output pin in the slave decision node when arriving at the slave decision node during the simulation without simulating the slave decision node.

Abstract: A business application development environment and a corresponding business application execution environment is disclosed. A graphical user interface based Workflow Designer allows a user to easily create business applications graphically. The business applications are converted into the Business Process Modeling Language (BPML). Existing BPML applications may also be edited with the graphical user interface BMPL designer of the present invention. Created business applications (that are represented in BPML) can then be hosted on any XML based web services server system. Business applications generally operate on business objects. The objects allow for fields to include functions that combine other fields. Once an application has been designed, the BPML code may be executed using a BPML execution engine. The BPML execution engine executes the BPML based applications. One embodiment interprets BPML applications with an interpreter in the execution engine.

Abstract: A method to model a business object is disclosed. An analysis module analyzes elements of a business object. A modeling module models business object logic based on the elements of the business object. An implementation module implements the modeled business object logic. A repository stores the modeled business object logic. A business object runtime module executes the modeled business object logic.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of generating a model representation of product information. The method obtains a list of products from a source of product information. A hierarchical tree is then constructed from the obtained list of products, wherein each hierarchical layer of the tree corresponds to a different category of product information.

Abstract: A method and system for generating new abstractions for existing process models and modifying existing process models in order to generate new process models by mining run-time service delivery processes. The method and system also “learns” new abstractions for business process models by modifying existing models. The method and system generates new business process models utilizing an online learning mechanism that mines run-time service delivery processes.

Abstract: Certain example embodiments described relate to the generation of variables for data flow chains that are associated with control flow models. Certain example embodiments relate to the creation of a diagram (e.g., an automation diagram) that encapsulates the flow of data in a process model (e.g., EPC). In certain example embodiments, the generation of variables provides for linking executable processes via the automation diagram so that the data flow may be integrated into the EPC model. An EPC model may be transformed into a BPMN model. Optionally, the transformations may occur in reverse so that an automation diagram is created from a modified EPC model.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for the automatic creation of a process model having a graphical representation. The system includes a planner to determine different plans for addressing a problem, and a graphics engine for displaying the process model for the different plans. Furthermore, the present invention includes a method for forming a process model having the steps of obtaining a planning data from a planning software; accessing a graphical editor; building the information needed to create a process model; and drawing a process model diagram with the graphical editor.

Abstract: A system for describing and analyzing service-related human experience in organizational or commercial environments based on a hierarchical model of needs (e.g. Maslow's hierarchy of needs) is provided herein. The system may include a classifier configured to classify experience states based on a predefined hierarchical model of needs, to yield a classification; a modeler configured to model a real-life environment into a model that includes a set of process instances associated with users; and an experience notation generator configured to: extract experience-related data associated with the users from the model, based on the classification; and represent the experience-related data of each one of the process instance as a non-textual time series, based on the classification. Optionally, the time series may be used to produce reports using an analyzer. The reports may be applied to a remedy engine to generate recommendations for improving the human experience.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for providing enterprise level platform that enables collaborative business service delivery and governance through access to underlying infrastructure for connected customer-vendor systems. The said enterprise platform that seamlessly brings together various point solutions with intent of providing a single window that enables access to the underlying infrastructure for a connected customer-vendor IT operations.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including systems and computer program products, for a services architecture design that provides enterprise services having foundation layer functionality at the level of an enterprise application. The design includes a set of service operations, process components, and optionally deployment units. Suitable business objects are also described.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the merchant is free to choose the correct sales/marketing method or methods for their products and services and may choose to experiment with different methods and combinations of methods to determine what is best for their business. For example, merchants can focus on product quality, customer service and maximizing profitability and almost anything else that relates to their business without being concerned about whether they have locked themselves into the wrong sales and/or marketing model(s). The same is true for customers. Using the embodiment described herein, a customer (or potential customer) could choose which model they prefer instead of having to go elsewhere (to another merchant) for any preferred model (thereby providing additional analytics and information that can be used comparatively with a high degree of accuracy and repeatability using site standardized metrics).

Abstract: An online system generates, stores and permits sharing of a client's organizational information and how an individual or an individual's company may fit within the client's organizational landscape. The online system may generate a visual sales plan referred to as a Player Map. The Player Map (PM) may show the unofficial roles that people fill in an organization as well as show what bridges need to be built and how to make the best use of available resources. The online system, which may be referred to as Player Map X-ray (PMX) of the present invention may operate in a cloud environment, allowing users to access the system wherever they have internet access and also allowing team members to access shared Player Maps.

Abstract: A system for enabling a developer to concurrently debug parallel activities in a business process or workflow, or other software process. A production server includes a business process, which includes a parallel activity. The production server is operable to receive a request to debug the business process, present a graphical representation of the business process, receive input which indicates where a breakpoint is to be added to the business process, and insert the breakpoint. When a request to debug the business process is received, the production server instantiates the business process and executes the instance, and pauses execution of the instance when a breakpoint is reached and enters debug mode. It can then receive an instruction to perform a parallel-step operation on the parallel activity, execute a plurality of current activities in the parallel activity concurrently, and pause execution before executing a next activity and waits for further input.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for solving supply chain planning problems. The system includes a database that stores data representing a planning problem of a supply chain network and a computer configured to access the planning problem of the supply chain network stored in the database and model the planning problem as a network of nodes and edges. The computer is further configured to generate a hierarchical linear programming solution of the planning problem and apply advanced heuristics to the generated hierarchical linear programming solution. The computer is still further configured to formulate a mixed integer program to generate an optimized global hierarchical solution and store the generated optimized global hierarchical solution in the database.

Abstract: Implementing a process in an automation platform. Representing conceptual entities of the process as a nodes in a conceptual graph. Representing process relationships between the conceptual entities as edges between the nodes of the conceptual graph. Transforming the conceptual graph into a structural graph representing an automation design of the process. Transforming the structural graph into implementation artifacts executable on the automation platform. Entities can represent a feature, a constraint, a project phase, a screen, a data item, and a process description. Relationships can include a dependency relationship, a temporal relation-ship, and a parent-child relationship. The transformation into a structural graph being traceable between elements of the conceptual graph and the structural graph. The transformation into a structural graph controlled by a first configuration information. The transformation into a implementation artifacts controlled by a second configuration information.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for providing a contextual visualization of business processes and related business data. According to one embodiment, a method for providing a contextual visualization of business processes and related business data can comprise generating a first canvas representing a first business process. The first canvas can comprise a collaborative, interactive environment accessible to one or more users and can provide access to business data of the first business process to the one or more users. One or more visual objects representing the business data of the first business process can be generated and added to the first canvas. The first canvas with the added one or more visual objects can be provided to the one or more users.

Abstract: A system and method for translating activity based modeling into visual modeling may include storing activity based modeling data. The activity based modeling data may be read. A user may be enabled to classify data as elements of an activity based model. A visual model may be generated based on the classified data of the activity based modeling data. The visual model of the classified data of the activity based modeling data may be generated.

Abstract: The present subject matter relates to a method for value articulation of a business service. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving input data associated with the business service. The method further includes generating a value articulation matrix having at least four dimensions such that each of the dimensions comprise elements selected from the input data. In said embodiment, a stakeholder dimension includes one or more elements indicative of stakeholders associated with the business service, an offering dimension includes one or more elements indicative of offerings of the business service, an enablement dimension includes one or more elements indicative of enablements possible due to the business service, and a benefit dimension includes one or more elements indicative of benefits associated with the business service.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for managing development of a model set comprised of one or more object models by a plurality of model developers. Each model developer may be considered an interested party. For example, when a model developer changes an area of the model, that person becomes the most interested party in other changes made to the same area. An automated mechanism is provided to track changes made to the model set and informs interested parties as changes are made or after changes are made to the model based on a weighting system. In one embodiment, the weighting system may be based on a distance from the changed portions and on the amount of time since a party last made a change to the same area.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for managing development of a model set comprised of one or more object models by a plurality of model developers. Each model developer may be considered an interested party. For example, when a model developer changes an area of the model, that person becomes the most interested party in other changes made to the same area. An automated mechanism is provided to track changes made to the model set and informs interested parties as changes are made or after changes are made to the model based on a weighting system. In one embodiment, the weighting system may be based on a distance from the changed portions and on the amount of time since a party last made a change to the same area.

Abstract: A system and method for supply chain management that may include a product hierarchy, a location hierarchy, and/or a time hierarchy; metadata that describes data about the system, located throughout the system; and a model that defines the structure of the metadata, wherein the system may be operable to control distribution of products throughout the supply chain.

Abstract: A business service discovery (BSD) system, implemented as programming on a processor, provides for discovering, formatting, and storing configuration information related to a business service. The BSD system uses a discovery engine to create a search methodology used for discovering the configuration information. The discovery engine controls a number of discovery components, each of which includes a definition of a corresponding BSD class model. The BSD system further includes a universal configuration management database (uCMDB) graph engine that creates a uCMDB graph representing a system discovered by the discovery component, and an input module that receives hints and conditions related to one or more elements of the business service, wherein a completed discovery search produces a business service structure.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to consolidate workload on cloud-based computers by co-locating one or more high-penalty tenants on one or more cloud-based servers; reducing service level agreement (SLA) violations by over-provisioning the cloud-based server; and maximizing an SLA profit.

Abstract: An e-commerce price index is constructed and maintained based on consumer actions in connection with one or more e-commerce websites. A data collector software module collects information regarding products sold or available for sale online, including a price and rate of clicks received for each product on the website(s). An index software module analyzes the collected information to construct the price index. Specifically, the index software module scrubs the collected information to remove outliers and fill in gaps and calculates a click-weighted average price by product category and day. The index module generates the price index by aggregating and normalizing the calculated click-weighted average prices. The index software module can compute the e-commerce price index on a virtually real-time basis. Thus, the e-commerce price index can provide useful information about online pricing trends far earlier than traditional indices.

Abstract: A data center power cost accounting system uses server and storage and cooling power consumption models and device maps, together with runtime application maps, to estimate the equipment power consumption and cooling power consumption of individual applications. An approximation of the cooling cost over a period of time, for any given application, can be pieced together by adding up the equipment utilized by the application and applying the cooling estimates obtained from computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. The cooling estimates can further account for changes or variability in resource usage over time since the cooling estimates are based directly on utilization. The per application power consumption costs are obtained without having to install or depend on power measurement instruments or other hardware in the datacenters.

Abstract: A method of generating a quantitative indicator of sales for a market segment for a predetermined time period is disclosed. The market segment represents a plurality of members with one or more products. The method includes receiving sales data from the plurality of members of the market segment, calculating the quantitative indicator for each member of the market segment, calculating the quantitative indicator for the market segment by creating a composite of the quantitative indicator for each member representing the market segment, and either calculating the quantitative indicator for the member with missing data using a estimated value of units of the product sold by the member or modifying the baseline benchmark by removing the data of the member with missing data.

Abstract: A monitoring system for determining the future behavior of a financial system includes an empirical model to receive reference data that indicates the normal behavior of the system and input pattern arrays. Each input pattern array has a plurality of input vectors, while each input vector represents a time point and has input values representing a plurality of parameters indicating the current condition of the system. The model generates estimate values based on a calculation that uses an input pattern array and the reference data to determine a similarity measure between the input values and reference data. The estimate values, in the form of an estimate matrix, include at least one estimate vector of inferred estimate values, and represents at least one time point that is not represented by the input vectors. The inferred estimate values are used to determine a future behavior of the financial system.

Abstract: Method and arrangement for matching of enterprises and detection of changes for an enterprise by the use of mathematical models that make it possible to match and find similarities between enterprises and also discover changes in an enterprise. The method uses mathematical representation models for enterprises and is suited to make a large number of comparisons automatically. The characteristics of the enterprises are represented by different vectors (74). The direction and length of the vectors are compared by taking the scalar product between them (76). Changes for the characteristics of an enterprise appear as changes in the direction and length of the vectors. By continuously monitoring the derivative of the characteristics of the enterprises this show how large and how quickly a change has occurred (78).

Abstract: A business object model, which reflects data that is used during a given business transaction, is utilized to generate interfaces. This business object model facilitates commercial transactions by providing consistent interfaces that are suitable for use across industries, across businesses, and across different departments within a business during a business transaction. In some operations, software creates, updates, or otherwise processes information related to an automatic identification label, an automatic identification label device, and/or an automatic identification label device observation business object.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to analyzing and visualizing flows in a supply chain context for the purpose of inventory optimization. Embodiments disclosed include a method of analyzing a process flow in a supply chain context, the method comprising: inputting (3402) a first set of data to an application residing on a processor, relating to products, locations and supply routes connecting the different locations in the supply chain; the application generating (3403) from the first set of data an input data array; inputting (3404) a second set of data relating to measured and forecast flows of products through the supply chain over a defined time period; the application calculating (3405) from the data a series of measures of operation of the supply chain; and, based on one or more of the measures being outside a predefined range, the application generating (3406) an output indicating recommendations for adjusting operation of the supply chain.

Abstract: Decomposing a process model in an Enterprise Intelligence (‘EI’) framework, including: receiving, by a process model decomposer, a process model for an EI assembly; identifying, by the process model decomposer in dependence upon an EI framework metamodel, component parts of the process model; and generating, in dependence upon the identified component parts, a taxonomy breakdown comprising a definition of a process classification.

Abstract: Technologies are generally described for systems and methods effective to optimize vendors in a cloud computing environment. In an example, bundled services can be de-aggregated and a hierarchical tree can be generated showing the relationships between the service providers and infrastructure providers. When itemized bills are received from the service providers, the hierarchical tree can be used to match items from the itemized bills to specific infrastructure providers. A transaction report showing all the services rendered by the infrastructure providers can then be sent to the respective infrastructure providers to take advantage of discounts and bulk rates. In another example, a set of infrastructure providers that provide the services at the lowest cost can be determined, and the service providers can be configured or requested to switch to that set of infrastructure providers.

Abstract: A system for discovering business processes from noisy activities logs from various activities performed during the execution of the process. Activities are observed from the noisy activity logs that may include text from manually entered activity logs, chat scripts, emails, voice transcripts, desktop captures, and tool logs, wherein the noisy activity logs are received from multiple person/tool actors with each of the actors performing one or more activities related to one/more business tasks. Extracting information from the noisy activity logs to capture activity based information, and then analyzing similar activities and finding possible paths in the similar activities. The results are used to build a process graph based on the similar activities and the possible paths in the similar activities.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and computer-implemented method are disclosed for connecting a mobile device to a backend server. The backend server includes a processor, a memory, and an input/output interface for receiving and transmitting information to and from the processor. The method comprising capturing information using a mobile device; providing the captured information to the backend server; creating a document in the backend server that includes the captured information; associating the document with a business object; and initiating a business process in accordance with the business object and the recorded information.

Abstract: The present disclosure involves systems, software, and computer implemented methods for providing automatic identification of semantically coherent, user-aligned fragments in business process models. One process includes operations for identifying a hierarchy of process fragments in a business process model associated with a user. At least one process metadata category associated with a role of the user is determined. A score for each process fragment in the hierarchy of process fragments is computed, the score computed based at least in part on a probable level of interest in the at least one process metadata category for the role of the user. At least one process fragment in the hierarchy of process fragments for inclusion in a view of the business process model to be presented to the user, the selection based at least in part on the score computed for the at least one process fragment.

Abstract: A method of autotagging business processes for monitoring analysis of an IT system within an organization is provided herein. The method includes the following stages: modeling an IT system associated with one or more business processes, into a model representing the business processes as process instances; tracking a flow of information entities throughout nodes located along the process instances; extracting, at each one of the nodes, metadata associated with each one of the information entities flowing through the process instance; aggregating over time, the extracted metadata being associated with its respective node and process instance; and visually representing the aggregated metadata in association with its respective business processes, based on the model.

Abstract: Interactive business process modeling and simulation includes generating a business process model including mapping business processes with activities, logical gates, and decision paths of an enterprise. The interactive business process modeling and simulation also includes creating a business process simulation model by assigning a transaction to corresponding activities for business processes in the business process model, the business process simulation model including at least one entry transaction and transaction sequence for each of the activities.

Abstract: A hierarchy of nodes is organized over levels. Each node corresponds to a configuration item. A first topology corresponds to a first model and includes at least a first subset of the hierarchy of nodes. Each node of the first topology has a first calculation unit for the first model. A second topology corresponds to a second model and includes at least a second subset of the hierarchy of nodes. Each node of the second topology has a second calculation unit for the second model.

Abstract: Each of a plurality of governance dimension attributes of a service-oriented architecture governance model are calibrated and mapped to each of a plurality of governance evolution element attributes. A maturity and capability assessment is performed for the service-oriented architecture as a function of the mapping, and a maturity-based and capability-based governance model is generated for the service-oriented architecture as a function of the maturity and capability assessment.