Quality Analysis Or Management Patents (Class 705/7.41)
  • Publication number: 20150046231
    Abstract: Implementations described and claimed herein provide systems and methods for increasing order quality. In one implementation, an order for a product, such as a telecommunication product or service, is received. Information corresponding to critical order attributes is extracted from the order. The critical order attributes include technical data for provisioning the product. The information is automatically validated according to a set of critical-to-quality rules defined based on the product. An auditor review of the information is received. The auditor review assigns a pass/fail status to the order. The validated information is collated with the auditor review to obtain an order status. A determination of whether the order is complete for release to provision the product is based on the order status.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Cecil Sunder, Ophir Rahmani, Tara Risser, Derick K. Zines
  • Publication number: 20150032515
    Abstract: The present invention provides a quality inspection processing method and device. The method includes recording a media record of a current service; acquiring each media type in the recorded media record, and searching for and segmenting the recorded media record to acquire a sub-media record corresponding to each media type; and for each sub-media record, performing quality inspection processing on the sub-media record according to a policy that corresponds to the media type of the sub-media record, so as to acquire a quality inspection result of the media record.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Hongkai Zhou, Shuangsheng Zhou
  • Publication number: 20150025944
    Abstract: An apparatus for assessing and controlling the quality of a project in a production environment is provided. The apparatus is configured to: receive a first score, wherein the first score comprises a first numerical value associated with a first level of quality, wherein the first level of quality is associated with a first deliverable; receive a second score, wherein the second score comprises a second numerical value associated with a second level of quality, wherein the second level of quality is associated with the first deliverable; and process the first score and the second score to generate a third score.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Jeannette M. Ross, Shilpi Choudhari, Priyanka Kapoor, Tomy Victor Pathrose, Antonio J. Kinney
  • Publication number: 20150019303
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems, methods, and computer program products for determining reusable templates and parameters for evaluating quality of data. In one embodiment, a system comprises a processor configured to: (a) provide a plurality of element types; (b) provide a template for each of the plurality of element types; (c) use input from the template for each of the plurality of elements types to generate one or more parameter files for one or more data elements; (d) provide the one or more parameter files to one or more workflow processes for generating queries that are used for measuring and evaluating the one or more data elements; and (e) parameterize the generated queries, such that the generated queries can be reused in measuring and/or evaluating data elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventor: Deepak K. Rao
  • Patent number: 8930067
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a diagnostic software service that utilizes a subscription model to distribute diagnostic software to diagnostic tools. A diagnostic application is installed on a mobile device. The mobile device communicates with an adapter coupled to a vehicle. An application server provides software modules to which a technician subscribes and, once subscribed, are utilized via the diagnostic application. Subscription to software modules enable the technician to add and utilize specific diagnostic functionality in an a la carte manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: NMTC, Inc.
    Inventors: John Green, Kimber Fabrick, Brian Katzenmeyer, Jason M. Jones
  • Publication number: 20150006262
    Abstract: A system and method for managing activities of users corresponding to an organizational initiative by allowing the user to commit at least one action element corresponding to the activity for a specific period of time. The system presents a commitment and the action element associated with the user to a plurality of observers. The system further receives an evaluation on the commitment associated with the user for the action element by the observers at the end of the specific period of time and collates the evaluations received from the observers to provide an assessment for the user. The system is further capable of sharing a collated evaluation of the user to a number of platforms. This system helps in creating a commitment from the user irrespective of the nature of the activity or the level in an organization that the user goes through.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventor: Tamal BHATIA
  • Publication number: 20140372184
    Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for providing quality review of products and services using computer implemented technology. A wireless mobile device can be used to access information regarding products and services and enables the user to provide quality review data regarding those products and services. The reported user information regarding the quality of goods or services can be provided in real or near-real time and stored in a database or data warehouse to provide business intelligence for enrolled businesses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventor: Mark Blumenthal
  • Publication number: 20140365279
    Abstract: Provided is an information management device (10) that includes a matrix display unit (15) that displays a two-dimensional matrix table, displays some or all of required qualities required for a first commercial product and specification items associated with the first commercial product, as vertical direction elements, in a vertical column in the two-dimensional matrix table, and displays some or all of the required qualities required for the first commercial product and the specification items associated with the first commercial product, as horizontal direction elements, in a horizontal row in the two-dimensional matrix table, a relationship information reception unit (16) that receives an input of relationship information indicating strength of correspondence between the vertical direction element (required quality or specification item) and the horizontal direction element (required quality or specification item) with respect to a cell at an intersection between the vertical direction element and the hor
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: NEC Corportion
    Inventors: Hajime Eda, Yoshiaki Matsubara, Kazuki Tsuji, Mitsuteru Tanoue
  • Patent number: 8896445
    Abstract: An alert analyzing apparatus includes: a storage unit that stores a first value and a preset second value in association with time-of-day information, the first value fluctuating as time elapses; an alert output unit that outputs an alert and time-of-day information in a case in which the first value diverges from the second value in a certain time of day; a comment accepting unit that accepts an input of a comment on the alert thus output, and stores the comment in association with the time-of-day information; and a classification unit that classifies a plurality of time zones into any one of predetermined segments, and stores the comment associated with the time zone thus classified, in association with each of the segments, based on a fluctuation phase of the first value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: P&W Solutions Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Omiya
  • Publication number: 20140337107
    Abstract: Methods and computer systems report and track resource performance for business customers. The computer system receives usage data about a resource associated with a customer of a utility, including hourly usage information about the resource metered at a business premises of the customer. The computer system receives operational data associated with the business premises, including hours of operations information describing when the business premises is open to patrons. The computer system determines resource performance data for the business premises using the received usage data and the received operational data, including information about: (i) resource usage at the business premises during the hours when open to patrons, and (ii) resource usage at the business premises during the hours when closed to patrons. The computer system causes a reporting of this information to the customer of the resource.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: OPOWER, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin David Foster
  • Publication number: 20140324554
    Abstract: A method comprises the steps of obtaining interactions from network traffic for storage in a playback device, analyzing the obtained interactions to determine correlations between the obtained interactions and a knowledge base and annotating the obtained interactions based at least in part on the analysis of the obtained interactions. The obtaining, analyzing, and annotating steps are performed by at least one processing device comprising a processor coupled to a memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yuan-Chi Chang, Jih-Shyr Yih
  • Publication number: 20140324553
    Abstract: A computer-assisted method is described for continuously assessing the quality of field data in a clinical study, identifying areas of weakness and specific sites where performance may be less than desirable, and flexibly allocating resources to address the problems, including the need to travel to the site to either check data or address problem areas. This method involves specification of key performance indicators that include elements that, preferentially, can be measured from a central location and do not require physical presence at the site to be checked. Such indicators can be continuously evaluated for correlation with desired performance levels, and modified accordingly. This approach thus is both risk-based and adaptive, and specifically enables clinical trial managers to address quality issues without the need to travel to the sites.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventor: Michael Joseph Rosenberg
  • Publication number: 20140304041
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems including a computer comprising at least one hardware processor, at least one tangible storage medium (memory), and at least one input/output (I/O) interface for evaluating a quality of a locate and/or marking operation. First information relating to the locate and/or marking operation is compared to second information relating to one or more environmental landmarks. One or more indications of a quality assessment of the locate and/or marking operation is automatically generated based on such a comparison, and the one or more indications of the quality assessment are electronically stored on the at least one tangible storage medium, and/or electronically transmitted via the at least one I/O interface, so as to provide an electronic record of the quality assessment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: CertusView Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Nielsen, Curtis Chambers, Jeffrey Farr
  • Patent number: 8856023
    Abstract: In a first aspect of the present invention, methods and apparatus implement graphical user interfaces for interactively specifying service level agreements used to regulate delivery of services to, for example, computer systems. An interactive graphical user interface allows a user to see the effects of varying values of service delivery variables on the level of service achievable in a particular service delivery context. In a second aspect, methods and apparatus of the present invention provision resources required for service delivery. In the second aspect, the methods and apparatus of the present invention select a service delivery model dependent on context. The selected service delivery model is used to provision resources that will be required during service delivery. In a third aspect, methods and apparatus of the present invention monitor compliance with a service level agreement during a service delivery event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David F. Bantz, Thomas E. Chefalas, Peter W. Gayek, Walter C. Huber, Srikant Jalan, Patrik Lehrner, Steven J. Mastrianni, Marco Porak
  • Publication number: 20140297374
    Abstract: A production management system for managing at least one process for producing a product, has a terminal and a management computer. The management computer obtains actual performance information from the terminal, and calculates a discrepancy of the actual performance value of the process from the reference value. In a case where the calculated discrepancy is outside a threshold, the management computer displays an alert display screen. In a case where one of the processes is selected on the alert display screen, the management computer displays a details displaying screen that includes, for each product, an actual performance value in the selected process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: KATSUNARI IKEZAWA, MASAHIRO SATO, KAZUNOBU AIZAWA
  • Publication number: 20140297373
    Abstract: A method includes obtaining a value driver tree including (i) one or more parent metrics determined to be of interest to a party and (ii) one or more child metrics. The one or more parent metrics are used to measure at least one of a value of a company, an organization, a service provider, a service consumer or an individual. The one or more child metrics are used to determine the value of the one or more parent metrics. The method includes performing a statistical analysis on historical metrics data of the one or more parent metrics and the one or more child metrics. The method includes pruning the value driver tree based on the statistical analysis by altering the position of the one or more child metrics relative to the one or more parent metrics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rama Akkiraju, Ruoyi Zhou
  • Publication number: 20140257939
    Abstract: A hardware and/or software system for calculating attorney ratings. Data associated with an attorney is collected from a variety of sources. The collected data includes information that can be used to assess how well an attorney might handle legal issues. The data is used to determine values of one or more attributes associated with the attorney. One or more ratings may be calculated for the attorney based on the determined attributes. Each rating may be based on a weighted combination of two or more attributes. The ratings may be converted to a format that is more comprehensible to a consumer and presented to consumers of legal services in a variety of different forms. An unbiased assessment of attorneys in the form of a rating enables consumers of legal services to make more accurate and informed decisions when selecting an attorney.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventors: Mark Britton, Justin Chan, Sendi Widjaja
  • Publication number: 20140249894
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring compliance status are described herein. System performance data for multiple time-ordered reference periods is determined. A compliance status for each reference period is determined based on the system performance data. For each reference period, it is determined whether the reference period is a historical reference period or a current reference period. A set of selected historical reference periods to display is determined. A graphical visualization of the set of selected historical reference periods is generated using a set of nested graphical objects. Each graphical object in the set of nested graphical objects represents a compliance status of a historical reference period of the set of selected historical reference periods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Inventor: Jean-Charles Picard
  • Patent number: 8825516
    Abstract: Traceability codes on perishable products facilitate the correlation of product data from the origin of a distribution chain to quality assessments of the perishable products made at points along the distribution chain. The product data is initially associated with the code, the product is marked with the code, and then the product is distributed. Receipt of a code after the perishable product enters the distribution chain establishes an elapsed time. Location information submitted with the code can also establish a traversed distance. A quality assessment submitted with the code can be associated with both time and distance. Consumers, for example, may submit codes, provide assessments and locations, and in return access product data linked to the specific products they consider in retail stores, purchase, and use. Inspectors can likewise submit quality assessments from locations earlier in the distribution chain as well as in retail stores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: YottaMark, Inc.
    Inventors: Elliott Grant, J. Scott Carr, Robert Herdemann
  • Patent number: 8799042
    Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for maintaining an infrastructure of components. The system receives structured data, unstructured data, and infrastructure data from a database. The system runs at least one statistical and optimization modeler with one or more of: the received structured data, the received unstructured data and the received infrastructure data, in order to calculate a health index of at least one component of the infrastructure. The health index represents a health attribute of the at least one component. The system establishes at least one maintenance plan of the infrastructure, based on the calculated health index. Each established maintenance plan is associated with at least one health index. The system compares health indices of the at least one established maintenance plan. The system selects a plan, among the at least one established maintenance plan, whose health index is a maximum among the compared health indices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Arun Hampapur, Jayant R. Kalagnanam, Emmanuel Yashchin, Yada Zhu
  • Patent number: 8799058
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for scoring and ranking financial advisors based on their sales histories. The system includes a database and an advisor rating system processor in communication with the database. The database stores sales history data related to a plurality of financial advisors. The advisor rating system processor obtains data related to financial advisors from the database and calculates a score for each financial advisor based on their sales revenue and sales frequency. The advisor rating system processor then compares the advisors based on these scores and generates a report indicating to which financial advisors a company should market financial products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Hartford Fire Insurance Company
    Inventor: Keith E. Golembiewski
  • Publication number: 20140214497
    Abstract: A system for ensuring timing study quality in a service delivery environment, comprises a participation module capable of determining a level of participation by assets in the timing study, a volume module capable of comparing effort data volume with workload data volume, and a records module capable of analyzing effort data for a duration for each record, wherein one or more of the modules are implemented on a computer system comprising a memory and at least one processor coupled to the memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gargi B. Dasgupta, Nirmit V. Desai, Yixin Diao, Aliza R. Heching
  • Patent number: 8781885
    Abstract: A methodology for standards registrars to meet requirements of governmental accrediting agencies includes a unique set of procedures and work instructions for certifying or registering an organization as conforming to one or more national or international standards. The procedures and work instructions assure adherence to the international guidance document government registrars, while providing easily used and maintained instructions for employees. The procedures and work instructions are amenable to translation into various foreign languages. In one embodiment, the methodology includes procedures and work instructions governing the quotation process and scheduling of audits, including selection of auditors, as well as audit package review and issuance of appropriate certificates of compliance are. The procedures and work instructions for all audits and certifications are preferably controlled (150) and directly auditable via a single location or office, such as the registrar's headquarters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Perry L. Johnson Registrars of Texas, L.P.
    Inventor: Perry L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8781882
    Abstract: A high performance capability assessment model helps an automotive industry business meet the challenges of the global marketplace. As a result, the automotive industry business can achieve the clarity, consistency, and well-defined execution of core processes that reduce inefficiencies and waste that result from unnecessary process complexity and exceptions. In addition, the high performance capability assessment model helps the automotive industry business to identify specific areas in which improvements may be made and understand how to make the improvements, and establishes levels of capability along the way to reaching an ultimate capability goal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited
    Inventors: Ariano Arboletti, Giorgio Torresani, Nagendra Palle, Per Segerberg
  • Patent number: 8781883
    Abstract: Process studies are performed to determine improvements to processes, such as manufacturing or service related processes. One or more instances of a process may be captured (e.g., recorded) and annotated. A user is enabled to interact with a recording included in the process instance of a process being performed. The user is enabled to apply a process step tag selected from a plurality of process steps to a section of the recording. The user may be enabled to interact with the recording to apply an attribute value selected from a list of attribute values to the process instance. The user may be enabled to interact with the recording to apply discovery information to the process instance. Annotation information associated with the process instance is generated that includes the process step tag, any applied attribute values, and any applied discovery information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Level N, LLC
    Inventors: Justin Whitaker, John Morris
  • Patent number: 8781909
    Abstract: A method of determining a service provider to perform a service. A request for the service and requirements pertaining to performance of the service is received. Identification of providers of service capable of performing the service in conformity with the requirements is received. The request and the requirements are broadcasted to the providers of service. An indication of willingness, by service providers selected from the providers of service, to perform the service in conformity with the requirements is received. An indication of performance of the service by each service provider and statistical data indicative of an extent to which performance of the service by each service provider matches each requirement are received. A preferred service provider is ascertained from analysis of the statistical data, based on performance of the service by the preferred service provider most closely matching the requirements. An identification of the preferred service provider is stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Mohammad Ali Sanamrad
  • Publication number: 20140195311
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and program storage device for integrating a quality inspection system, a production system and a repository system in a computer-based manufacturing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Inventor: Fei Wang
  • Patent number: 8775226
    Abstract: In one or more embodiments of the invention, functional data analysts may use a functional data authoring module to capture functional metadata in a consistent manner. Conflict reports for the business processes may be generated for a subset of the business processes or as an overall report across all business processes. One or more embodiments of the invention may provide early detection of data usage and type conflicts from functional data requirements, automated detection of conflicts from functional data requirements, reports listing detected conflicts, conflicts resolution tracking mechanism, ongoing notification regarding changes in functional data requirements or detected conflicts, and avoidance of conflicting functional requirement in the realization phase, thereby reducing costs and project risks and avoiding project delays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Martin A. Oberhofer, Carl Michael Marrelli, Ram S. Narayanan, Solmaz Rashidi
  • Patent number: 8775232
    Abstract: A transformation engine for transforming a legacy IT infrastructure into an on-demand IT infrastructure in a financial services enterprise, the transformation engine comprising: a determiner component for determining a current status of the legacy IT infrastructure; a comparator component for comparing the determined current status to an idealised set of outcome parameters to determine a set of deviation parameters; and the determiner component determining at least one control point within the set of deviation parameters which require enterprise wide governance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mark K. Chetwood, Martyn J. Dawkes, Christopher J. Holloway, Michael O. Onoufriou, Rashik Parmar
  • Publication number: 20140188537
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for producing maps, including a client module for dividing a map production job into smaller tasks; and a worker module for enabling workers to perform said tasks. A test module is provided for enforcing quality standards and includes a qualification module for verifying that a worker is qualified to work on a task, a binary test module for prompting workers to review and pass or fail a submission, a comparative test module for assigning a task to multiple workers and comparing the results, a defacing module for introducing errors into submissions, a client review module for enabling a client to review and pass or fail a submission, and/or an eligibility module for preventing failing workers from contributing to a job.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: PRIMORDIAL
    Inventors: Randy Len Milbert, Andreas Owkin Robinson
  • Publication number: 20140156357
    Abstract: Techniques for help desk management are provided. A user's experience with a resource is captured via a rating. The rating is recorded along with other metrics associated with a processing environment of the user and proactive action taken in response to configuration or performance problems with the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: Novell, Inc.
    Inventors: Tammy Anita Green, Stephen R. Carter, Scott Alan Isaacson, Eric W. B. Anderson
  • Patent number: 8738424
    Abstract: A monitoring system is disclosed for acquiring output activity, utilization capacity and/or effluent data from an facility on a facility-by-facility and/or an industry-by-industry basis. The system is designed to generate a plant and/or industry output activity database that is updated on a continuous, near continuous, periodic and/or intermittent basis so that subscribers are apprised of changes in plant or overall industry output. A clearing house is also disclosed for distributing the acquired data to subscribers to aid in analyzing, predicting trends, pricing, maintaining, adjusting, minimizing, and/or maximizing individual plant or overall industry output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Nuvo Ventures, LLC
    Inventors: Jack Nuszen, Thomas Vo
  • Patent number: 8739111
    Abstract: The method of the present invention to re-factor, rationalize, and prioritize a service model and to assess service exposure in the service model is illustrated. The service model is reviewed and re-factored and the service portfolio and service hierarchy are refined, exposure decisions are made, and finally the service model and its constituent parts are rationalized based on the re-factoring and exposure decisions. Another technique called Service Litmus Tests (SLTs) is leveraged during service re-factoring and rationalization. SLTs are set of gating criteria to select and filter a set of (candidate) services from the service portfolio for exposure. A Service Exposure Assessment Toolkit (SEAT) is also presented in the present invention. SEAT is a mathematical model to facilitate making exposure decisions for services and prioritizing the services in the service model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Abdul Allam, Ali P. Arsanjani, Shuvanker Ghosh, Kerrie L. Holley
  • Patent number: 8738416
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a difference calculation module, an addition module, and an output module. The difference calculation module calculates a difference between a first information amount that is generated between a first person in charge and a second person in charge when a business that constitutes a business process is finished and a second information amount that is estimated to be generated between the first person in charge and the second person in charge when the business that constitutes the business process is finished. The addition module adds the differences calculated by the difference calculation module in a combination of the first person in the business process and the second person in the business process or in other business process related to the business process. The output module outputs the sum of the differences calculated by the addition module as risks of the business processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Ueno, Manabu Ueda, Yuhei Shimada
  • Patent number: 8731999
    Abstract: A holistic approach to management and oversight of locate and marking operations is provided. Initial requests to perform such operations are improved, and such requests are intelligently assessed to appropriately allocate resources to perform operations. Technicians are effectively dispatched and may be provided with process guides to facilitate performance. A host of information regarding the performance of locate operations and their environs is acquired (e.g., via improved intelligent instrumentation employed by technicians). A quality of operations (e.g., completeness, accuracy, efficiency) is assessed, corrective actions may be taken in essentially real-time as necessary, and information regarding operations and their quality assessments is archived for auditing purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: CertusView Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Nielsen, Curtis Chambers, Jeffrey Farr
  • Publication number: 20140136299
    Abstract: For a plurality of items allowed to serve as variable factors of the prediction object, for each item, a factorial effect value is derived that represents the SN ratio of the prediction object to each data including the data of the item relative to the SN ratio of the prediction object to each data excluding the data of the item. The strength of the SN ratio of the comprehensive estimated value to the data of a plurality of items selected in descending order of the derived value is calculated for each value of the number of items. On the basis of the SN ratio of the comprehensive estimated value, the number of items is determined. In descending order of the derived factorial effect value, items in the determined number of items are selected. The selected items are outputted as a prediction result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: YANMAR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Nagakura
  • Patent number: 8725555
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a computer implemented method and component configured to assess the value of goods and services provided by a vendor to a service agency. An embodiment of the method includes the act of storing, in an electronic database, a total-budget value, an amount-paid value, a case-score value, a total-case-score value, a vendor-service-score value, and a total-vendor-services-score value. The embodiment includes selecting a vendor, forming a vendor-score-contribution value, distributing the case value of one or more service items provided by the vendor, and computing the net contribution of the vendor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Alliance Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris M. Pieper, Lisa C. Gifford, Darcy E. Fleming, Kelly Boston, Peter Benjamin Bolton Turney, Maitri Ray
  • Publication number: 20140129299
    Abstract: The subject matter discloses a method for detection and analysis of first contact resolution failures comprising: obtaining a first plurality of digital representations, each digital representation of the first plurality is associated with a contact center interaction; determining a pair of digital representations that represent a pair of contact center interactions determined from the first plurality of digital representations according to metadata associated with the pair of contact center interactions; determining topics of each interaction of the determined pair of contact center interactions represented by the pair of digital representations; classifying the pair of contact center interactions as first contact resolution failure or first contact resolution interactions pair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: NICE-SYSTEMS LTD
    Inventors: Ezra Daya, Eyal Hurvitz
  • Patent number: 8719147
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for visualizing and analyzing spectrum assets. License, channel, and lease data from a communications authority is collected and formatted into individual polygon maps. The maps could be drawn according to county or state boundaries, or by some other mapping standard. The maps are then divided and redrawn into several market service areas and several basic trading areas. The maps are also divided and redrawn according to the bandwidth spectrum of one or more channels. Since the maps are drawn with several different boundary conditions, the layout of all of the maps result in some maps being partially overlaid onto other maps for the same region. These regions containing partially overlaid maps are redefined as superblocks. Each superblock contains all of the data from each overlaid map portion for that particular region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Daniel Stewart Broyles, Douglas L. Machamer, Anthony A. Panella, Nichole D. Rowland, Michael Iverson
  • Publication number: 20140108103
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to compute indicators of completeness of the work output of a transformation of text-based content, worker capacity in performing the transformation, and/or the degree of matching between a unit of work and a worker, based on information collected about complexity of works, times and throughput of workers, rating of work outputs and using natural language processing techniques and machine learning techniques, such as language detection, longest common substring, length ratio, document similarity, etc. The indicators are utilized to optimize job pickup and output submission for online crowdsourcing tasks related to transformation of text-based content, such as transcription, translation, proofreading, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: Gengo, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew M.I. Romaine, Matthew James Skyrm
  • Patent number: 8700445
    Abstract: A holistic approach to management and oversight of locate and marking operations is provided. Initial requests to perform such operations are improved, and such requests are intelligently assessed to appropriately allocate resources to perform operations. Technicians are effectively dispatched and may be provided with process guides to facilitate performance. A host of information regarding the performance of locate operations and their environs is acquired (e.g., via improved intelligent instrumentation employed by technicians). A quality of operations (e.g., completeness, accuracy, efficiency) is assessed, corrective actions may be taken in essentially real-time as necessary, and information regarding operations and their quality assessments is archived for auditing purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: CertusView Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Nielsen, Curtis Chambers, Jeffrey Farr
  • Patent number: 8694354
    Abstract: A method, system, and/or computer program product predicts trouble during a transition phase of a current project. Past operational data and past trouble data for past healthy projects and past troubled projects before transition phases is collected. A trouble correlation between the past operational data and the past trouble data is then determined. A set of key metrics that describes a current health of a current project before transitioning from a current phase to a future phase is defined, and values of the set of key metrics for the current project are identified. Identified values of the set of key metrics for the current project are compared to the past operational data for past healthy and troubled projects in order to generate a pattern comparison. This pattern comparison, along with the trouble correlation, is used to generate a predicted quality of transition for the current project.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Saeed Bagheri, Douglas C. Bunch, Theresa E. Ell, Krishna C. Ratakonda, Katrina M. Reffett, Rose M. Williams
  • Patent number: 8694441
    Abstract: A method of predicting a quality of a professional based on quality measures of the professional is provided. The method includes collecting recommendations associated with the professional and determining an independent variable for the professional based on the recommendations received for the professional. Here, the independent variable reflects the quality of the professional. The method also includes comparing the independent variable with quality measures associated with the professional and generating a model based on the comparison between the independent variable and the quality measures. The model associates each of the quality measures with the quality of the professional. Particularly, the model assigns a weight to each of the quality measures based on the probativeness of the quality measure in relation to the quality of the professional. Thus, the quality measure of the professional may be used to determine the overall quality of the professional.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: MDX Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Mitchel Rothschild, Christine Parlamis, Todd Rosengart
  • Patent number: 8688508
    Abstract: Embodiments of a system and method for evaluating correction submissions with supporting evidence may include, subsequent to a submitter being provided with item description information for an item offered for sale, receiving a correction submission specified by the submitter. The correction submission may specify a proposed modification to an attribute(s) in the item description information. Embodiments may include generating a measure of risk associated with performing the proposed modification to the item description information. Embodiments may also include, based on an evaluation of the measure of risk and one or more risk criteria, generating an indication that specifies whether the proposed modification to the item description information is permitted to be performed. Embodiments may also include receiving information for confirming the validity of the correction submission, which may include an image (e.g., a product image), or a network address (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Sachin B. Singh, Martin C. Eitreim, Shyam S. Sundaramurthy, Jiahu Deng, Yu Liu, Ronald G. Siemens, Kyle Robert Stanley
  • Publication number: 20140089061
    Abstract: At least one embodiment relates to a mobile computing device having a processor programmed to take a plurality of food orders and programmed to aggregate these food orders into a single scannable source of information such as a 2D barcode. There can be a scanner such as a bar code scanner or a near field communicator configured to read this scannable source of information. There can also be a microprocessor in a computing device which is configured to read from the scanner a scanned aggregated order at a point of purchase location, wherein that microprocessor is programmed and configured to de-aggregate an order from this scanned communication. There can also be a transceiver is configured to send this de-aggregated information. There can also be a point of sale computing device 80 having a processor 81 configured to read this de-aggregated information and to ring up a scanned aggregated order to create an order for a purchase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventor: Christopher Joseph VITALE
  • Publication number: 20140081684
    Abstract: A method includes monitoring a service provided to a consumer to determine an actual quality attribute of the service provided to the consumer. The method further includes comparing a potential quality attribute of an alternative service with the actual quality attribute of the service provided to the consumer to determine a difference between the potential quality attribute and the actual quality attribute. In addition, the method includes comparing the difference between the potential quality attribute and the actual quality attribute with a potential action preference of the consumer. The method also includes performing an action according to the potential action preference in response to determining that the difference between the potential quality attribute and the actual quality attribute satisfies a specific criterion defined in the potential action preference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: CA, INC.
    Inventor: Eitan HADAR
  • Publication number: 20140067485
    Abstract: A sales automation system and method, namely a system and method for scoring sales representative performance and forecasting future sales representative performance. These scoring and forecasting techniques can apply to a sales representative monitoring his own performance, comparing himself to others within the organization (or even between organizations using methods described in application), contemplating which job duties are falling behind and which are ahead of schedule, and numerous other related activities. Similarly, with the sales representative providing a full set of performance data, the system is in a position to aid a sales manager identify which sales representatives are behind others and why, as well as help with resource planning should requirements, such as quotas or staffing, change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: ORACLE OTC SUBSIDIARY LLC
    Inventor: JAMES NEAL RICHTER
  • Publication number: 20140067484
    Abstract: A sales automation system and method, namely a system and method for scoring sales representative performance and forecasting future sales representative performance. These scoring and forecasting techniques can apply to a sales representative monitoring his own performance, comparing himself to others within the organization (or even between organizations using methods described in application), contemplating which job duties are falling behind and which are ahead of schedule, and numerous other related activities. Similarly, with the sales representative providing a full set of performance data, the system is in a position to aid a sales manager identify which sales representatives are behind others and why, as well as help with resource planning should requirements, such as quotas or staffing, change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: ORACLE OTC SUBSIDIARY LLC
    Inventor: JAMES NEAL RICHTER
  • Patent number: 8655470
    Abstract: A computer implemented method for evaluating quality control data of a product manufactured by a partially automated manufacturing process. In the method, a database is generated which includes design specifications for the product. Manufacturing data generated from inspection of the product at each stage of the partially automated process is then received. The manufacturing data is then compared with the design specifications to determine whether the manufacturing data meets the design specifications. In one embodiment, the product is an induction coil used in electric motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas G. Lang, Sumit Singhal
  • Patent number: 8655713
    Abstract: Techniques for help desk management are provided. A user's experience with a resource is captured via a rating. The rating is recorded along with other metrics associated with a processing environment of the user and proactive action taken in response to configuration or performance problems with the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Novell, Inc.
    Inventors: Tammy Anita Green, Stephen R Carter, Scott Alan Isaacson, Eric Anderson