9688 results about "Engineering management" patented technology

The present invention generally relates to an inventive automated system, and method for its use, including a computer having a computer program defining three development phases including project proposal development, business proposition development, and implementation for market introduction. The project proposal development phase includes a unique idea verification feature by automated reference to an internal knowledge repository and database. The computer is coupled for intercommunication to a plurality of stations or clients from which respective authorized users each have a browser-based interface with the computer.

A system and methods for implementing education online by providing institutions with the means for allowing the creation of courses to be taken by students online, the courses including assignments, announcements, course materials, chat and whiteboard facilities, and the like, all of which are available to the students over a network such as the Internet. Various levels of functionality are provided through a three-tiered licensing program that suits the needs of the institution offering the program. In addition, an open platform system is provided such that anyone with access to the Internet can create, manage, and offer a course to anyone else with access to the Internet without the need for an affiliation with an institution, thus enabling the virtual classroom to extend worldwide.

Improved approaches to providing on-line appointments over a network are disclosed. The network is, for example, a global computer network such as the Internet. One of the improved approaches provides various notifications to requestors pertaining to appointments with individuals or businesses (e.g., service providers). In one implementation, the notifications can be provided by electronic mail. Another of the improved approaches allows notifications pertaining to requested appointments to be provided to service providers that have not previously registered to receive on-line appointments.

A method and system for providing incentive programs over a computer network is provided in which a host may provide sponsoring companies with the capability to buy prepackaged or self-built incentive programs, offer such incentive programs to consumers, provide sponsoring companies and retailers with the capability to associate prizes with incentive programs, provide sponsoring companies, retailers and consumers with convenient fulfillment of prizes, and store and manipulate databases regarding all of the foregoing.

A communication method allows members of an affinity group to obtain up-to-date information concerning the status of other members of the affinity group. Each member of the affinity group is provided with a communication device for communicating with other members. The communication device includes a memory for storing member status information. When the status of one member in the affinity group changes, a status update message is sent from the member whose status has changed to other members of the affinity group. When a status update message is receiving from other members, the status information data contained in the message is used to update the member status information stored in memory.

A consumer-centric service for matching local consumers with local service providers. A matching is performed between consumer needs and local vendor capabilities and the results are presented back to the consumer so that the choice of which vendors to be contacted is left to the consumer. Mechanisms are provided for immediately and automatically contacting the chosen vendor in one or more of a plurality of communication media and offering the chosen vendor the details of the consumer's request, including the preferred method of contact information, for a fee. Also, the system immediately informs the consumer about the status of the vendor contacts, including whether or not the vendor has accepted the lead. Once a chosen vendor accepts the lead, the consumer is contacted by the vendor, in the manner requested by the consumer. Thus, the invention enables consumers to maintain control over the selection and contact process with matched vendors. The system of the invention is particularly advantageous for providing community based services such as babysitting, cleaning, painting, software support, typing, and in obtaining professional services from professionals such as electricians, carpenters, gardeners, accountants, lawyers, and the like.

A universal electronic transaction card (“UET card”) is capable of serving as a number of different credit cards, bank cards, identification cards, employee cards, medical cards and the like. The UET card includes storage elements, an input interface, a processor, a display, and a communications interface. In a preferred embodiment, the UET card stores transactional information to eliminate paper receipts and includes security features to prevent unauthorized use. The UET card may also be used to replace conventional currency and traveler's checks, and may be configured to store and display promotional information, such as advertising and incentives. A communications interface unit (“CIU”) may be provided to interface between the UET card and a personal computer, automatic banking terminal (commonly referred to as ATM machines) and/or an institutional mainframe computer. CIU devices may include electrical contact for recharging a UET card. A system of utilizing the UET card is also provided which includes UET cards and CIU devices which enable the transmission of information between point of sales (or point of transactions) computers and the UET cards. The system further includes point of sales computers configured to communicate with the UET card and with service institution computers. The invention also includes a health care management system utilizing UET cards. In the health care management system, all medical information for a patient may be stored in the UET card so that when a patient receives services from a health care provider, that health care provider connects the patient's UET card to the health care provider's computer system and can then obtain all pertinent medical information concerning the patient, including the patient's medical history, insurance information and the like. In addition, the treatment or services provided by the health care provider are stored in the patient's UET card. The invention also includes methods of issuing an account authorization to a UET card, a method of transferring transactional and account information between a UET card and a personal computer or a mainframe computer, a method of using the UET card as a remote terminal for a mainframe computer, and a method of conducting an electronic transaction.

A centralized health screening and data mangement system is provided. Specifically, the invention includes a method, system, and computer program for maintaining a centralized health screening and data mangement system in communication with a plurality of screening facilities, such screening facilities including mobile units for dispatch. The screening facilities (and mobile units) provide for collecting health data and conducting tests. The data and test results are transmitted to the centralized health screening and data mangement system for analysis and storage in a manner that is accessible for report generation and aggregate information analysis.

A system and related method has a database that stores information indicative of a plurality of assets that are used in a building or system. A user interface of the system enables identifying a group of such assets and associating a portion of the assets with the identified group of assets. The assets included in the identified group of assets may collectively be located in different rooms of a building in which the assets are located and/or on different floors of a building in which the assets are located.

The present invention is directed to a system and method for providing complete electronic commerce (“E-Commerce”) transactions and solutions for a marketing company's products via the World Wide Web, including facilities for signing up new customers and recruiting, training and supporting new Independent Business Owners through an interactive online process. In another aspect, the present invention relates to the combination of a marketing business with a membership buying opportunity using both electronic commerce and face-to-face transactions. The present invention is also directed to a system and method for combining a marketing business with a membership buying opportunity, so that Independent Business Owners participating in the marketing plan can introduce customers to a membership buying opportunity and earn bonuses or commissions based on the purchases by those members, while Members in the buying opportunity can consume products or, at their option, qualify to become Independent Business Owners.

Provided herein is an electronic message management platform that enables management and execution of electronic message campaigns while appropriately managing challenges presented by spam filters, black lists, and domain blocking technologies, and that includes elements for managing an electronic message campaign based on dynamic conditions, quality measures, engagement factors, and other measures, factors and conditions.

A method and system for comprehensively managing real estate transactions through a network from inception of a sale or purchase through listing, purchasing, closing and post-closing activity. Participants or potential participants in a real estate transaction can access, generate, modify, distribute and sign real estate-related documents, information, and reports through a network while communicating with each other electronically. Participants or potential participants can also track the development of a real estate transaction and receive automatic notification of changes in the development. Access to the system's various features can also be restricted to certain transaction participants or potential participants.

Systems and methods are provided for electronically certifying financial account data and providing enhanced credit reporting capabilities. The systems and methods may include electronically receiving a certification request from a requesting computer, wherein the request is associated with a financial account requiring certification, collecting financial data from at least one financial data provider, where the financial data provider is associated with at least one financial account requiring certification. The systems and methods may further include routing at least a portion of the financial data to a certification engine for electronically certifying at least a portion of the collected financial data and electronically generating an electronic account certification for at least a portion of the collected financial data. Authorized recipients may be electronically transmitted information contained in a report which may provide indication that at least a portion of the account has been certified or indication that at least a portion can not be certified. Further electronic processes include electronically determining if at least a portion of the certification data is acceptable for total financial reporting and directing communication to authorized recipients at least a notice of availability of the total financial reports. Enhanced credit reports may spawn with electronically certified financial asset data consolidated with historical debt data reported by a credit bureau. Credit interest matching and interactive credit accounts may also spawn as a function of receiving the electronically certified financial data.

Systems and methods for detecting and verifying the adequacy of personal protective equipment needed by a person to complete a potentially hazardous task.

The present invention comprises a system and method for a customer and merchant to perform an on-line, and in some cases, real-time financial transaction from a personal computer or similar processing terminal over a public access communications network utilizing a universally acceptable electronic financial transaction instruction that debits a customer's selected account and notifies a merchant that a credit is due or forthcoming and a service provider. The financial transaction instruction is provided in a secured format for transactions sent over the public access communications network, which is external from any other conventional open or closed communication channels used for performing financial transactions.

A system to manage a supply chain may include a purchase order management module operable on a processor to electronically receive purchase order information from a buyer and to store and track information associated with each purchase order. The system may also include an invoice and trade document management module to electronically store, aggregate and manage invoices and trade documents related to each purchase order and information required for presentment and reconciliation of each purchase order.

A Human Resource Networking System, which is a novel Method establishing a business system for locating, identifying, promoting and assisting in the employing of career project workers in the non-career workforce, includes a Relational Database comprising an Industry Credit Inductive Lineage Construct Matrix containing People Elements, Places Elements, Projects Elements, and Things Elements derived from People Information, Places Information, Project Elements, and Things Elements; a plurality of Credit Constructs each of which is formed by associating two or more of the People Elements, the Places Elements, the Projects Elements, and the Things Elements and stored in the Industry Credit Inductive Lineage Construct Matrix of the Relational Database; and a Display Device for outputting Credit Bytes generated by combining the Credit Constructs upon query.

An on-line forum for auctioning non-performing assets includes offering for auction sale of non-performing assets in a lot of as few as a single asset or a plurality of assets following completion of a third-level registration. Access to a limited amount of information on the on-line forum is permitted without registration. Additional information is accessed following completion of a first level registration. Direct communication is facilitated between one or more registered potential bidders and a registered seller in an on-line discussion forum. Assets offered in the on-line forum auction are bidded upon following completion of second level registration by each potential bidder. Collection assistance may be provided to the on-line forum bidders.