281 results about "Relative significance" patented technology

The present invention relates to systems and / or methods that generate playlist(s) for a library or collection of media items via selecting a plurality of seed items, at least one of which is an undesirable seed item. Some of the seed items are desirable indicating that a user prefers additional media items similar to the desirable seed items and others are undesirable indicating that the user prefers additional media items dissimilar to the undesirable seed items. Additionally, the seed items can be weighted to establish a relative importance of the seed items. The invention compares media items in the collection with the seed items and determines which media items are added into the playlist by computation of similarity metrics or values. The playlist can be regenerated by adding desirable seed items to the playlist and removing media items from the playlist (e.g., undesirable seed items).

A method and system for selecting an agent to service a contact at a contact center accounts for the state of the contact center and for individual agent proficiency and performance. A software-implemented method includes an algorithm that adjusts the agent-selection process according to variations in state such as fluctuating call volume. When two or more metrics describe distinct aspects of an agent's performance and both aspects are relevant to agent selection, the algorithm can weigh each according to relative importance to the center's operational effectiveness. The present invention couples to the information infrastructure of a computer-based contact center and interfaces with the components of the center that acquire and maintain information pertinent to the agent-selection process. This connectivity delivers real-time information to the software algorithms and thereby facilitates rapid response to changing conditions.

A method and system for selecting an agent to service a contact at a contact center accounts for the state of the contact center and for individual agent proficiency and performance. A software-implemented method includes an algorithm that adjusts the agent-selection process according to variations in state such as fluctuating call volume. When two or more metrics describe distinct aspects of an agent's performance and both aspects are relevant to agent selection, the algorithm can weigh each according to relative importance to the center's operational effectiveness. The present invention couples to the information infrastructure of a computer-based contact center and interfaces with the components of the center that acquire and maintain information pertinent to the agent-selection process. This connectivity delivers real-time information to the software algorithms and thereby facilitates rapid response to changing conditions.

A method of encoding knowledge is disclosed, which can be used to automatically detect problems in software application deployments. The method includes accessing a source of knowledge describing a problem known to occur in deployments of a particular software application, and which identifies a plurality of conditions associated with the problem. An encoded representation of the knowledge source is generated according to a predefined knowledge encoding methodology. The encoded representation is adapted to be applied automatically by a computer to analyze data representing a current state of a monitored deployment of the software application to detect whether the conditions and the problem exist therein. In various implementations, the encoded representation of the knowledge can include queries for deployment information, information concerning the relative importance of the conditions to a detection of the problem, and / or logical constructs for computing a confidence value in the existence of the problem and for determining whether to report the problem if some of the conditions are not true. The knowledge source can comprise a text document (such as a knowledge base article), a flowchart of a diagnostic troubleshooting method, and the like. Also disclosed are methods of at least partially automating the encoding process.

Managing the selection and scheduling of security audits run on a computing network. The computer network is surveyed by a security audit system to determine the function and relative importance of the elements in the network. Based on function and priority, a more thorough type of security audit is selected to run against each of the network elements by the security audit system. The security audit can also be automatically scheduled based on the information gathered from the survey. Once the system runs the security audit, a vulnerability assessment can be calculated for each element in the network. The vulnerability assessment can be presented in a format that facilitates interpretation and response by someone operating the system. The vulnerability assessment can also be used to configure and schedule future security audits.

A method for predicting risk and designing safety management systems of complex production and process systems which has been applied to an FPSO System operating in deep waters. The methods for the design were derived from the inclusion of a weight index in a fuzzy class belief variable in the risk model to assign the relative numerical value or importance a safety device or system has contain a risk hazards within the barrier. The weights index distributes the relative importance of risk events in series or parallel in several interactive risk and safety device systems. The fault tree, the FMECA and the Bow Tie now contains weights in fizzy belief class for implementing safety management programs critical to the process systems. The techniques uses the results of neural networks derived from fuzzy belief systems of weight index to implement the safety design systems thereby limiting use of experienced procedures and benchmarks. The weight index incorporate Safety Factors sets SFri {0, 0.1, 0.2 . . . 1}, and Markov Chain Network to allow the possibility of evaluating the impact of different risks or reliability of multifunctional systems in transient state process. The application of this technique and results of simulation to typical FPSO / Riser systems has been discussed in this invention.

A method for intelligent extraction of key-frames from a video that yields key-frames that depict meaningful content in the video. A method according to the present techniques includes selecting a set of candidate key-frames from among a series of video frames in a video by performing a set of analyses on each video frame. Each analysis is selected to detect a corresponding type of meaningful content in the video. The candidate key-frames are then arranged into a set of clusters and a key-frame is then selected from each cluster in response to its relative importance in terms of depicting meaningful content in the video.

A system for heart performance characterization and abnormality detection includes an interface for receiving sampled data representing an electrical signal indicating electrical activity of a patient heart over multiple heart beat cycles. A signal processor automatically, decomposes the received sampled data to multiple different subcomponent signals in the time domain. The signal processor associates individual decomposed subcomponents with corresponding different cardiac rotors and determined characteristics of the subcomponents indicating relative significance of the rotors in a cardiac atrial condition. A reproduction device provides data indicating the subcomponent characteristics indicating relative significance of the rotors in a cardiac atrial condition.

A method for producing a new image of a desired aspect ratio from an original digital image comprises the steps of: (a) determining a cropping window of the desired aspect ratio and a predetermined size; (b) obtaining a main subject belief map including an array of belief values indicating the location and relative importance of subject matter in the original digital image; (c) using the main subject belief map, determining a location of the cropping window in the original digital image that satisfies a predetermined set of criteria; and (d) producing a cropped image of the desired aspect ratio.

A search engine for databases, data streams, and other data sources allows user preferences as to the relative importance of search criteria to be used to rank the output of the search engine. A weighted preference generator generates weighted preference information including at least a plurality of weights corresponding to a plurality of search criteria. A weighted preference data search engines uses the weighted preference information to search a data source and to provide an ordered result list based upon the weighted preference information. A method for weighted preference data searching includes determining weighted preference information including a plurality of search criteria and a corresponding plurality of weights signifying the relative importance of the search criteria, and querying a data source and ranking the results based upon the weighted preference information. In addition to allowing client input of the relative importance of various search criteria, the system and method also preferably include the ability to provide a subjective ordering for at least some of the search criteria.

A navigation system and related operating methods are provided for instructing an operator of a vehicle. The navigation system obtains a destination location and generates a proposed route to the destination location. The proposed route is defined by one or more driver decision points and associated driving maneuvers. Before the vehicle reaches an approaching driver decision point, the navigation system pre-calculates alternate routes between the approaching driver decision point and the destination location, and saves the alternate routes for subsequent activation. Pre-calculated alternate routes can also be used to determine and indicate the relative importance of an approaching driving maneuver. The driver can consider the importance of driving maneuvers when deciding whether or not to follow the recommended route.

In a business network environment, each workstation or information access point (IAP) has installed thereon a quality of service (QoS) module to monitor the IAP's performance. The QoS module declares exceptions when it perceives that one or more of a predetermined plurality of functions or conditions of the computer has entered into a state indicative of degraded performance. At the time that an exception is declared, a snapshot is taken of the software applications running on the IAP, the amount of resources that they are using, and presence or absence of the user. As used in calculating a QoS index representative of the operational state of the IAP, exceptions are weighted to take into account the relative importance of these exceptions and the users which they affect. Because the QoS indices are time-normalized, they may be aggregated or compared across the network by an IT administrator.

The present invention is a system and method for determining the hierarchical purchase decision process of consumers in front of a product category. The decision path of consumers is obtained by combining behavior data with the category layout and transaction data based on observed actual in-store purchase behavior using a set of video cameras and software for extracting sequence and timing of each consumer's decision process. A hierarchical decision tree structure comprises nodes and edges, wherein a node represents the state-of-mind of the consumer, the number of nodes is predefined, and an edge represents the transition of the decision. The decisions for each product group are captured down to the product attribute level and analyzed by demographic group. The outcome provides relative importance of each product attribute in the purchase decision process, and helps retailers and manufacturers to evaluate the layout of the category and customize it for key segment.

A system and method solicit decision-making input from a large number of users in a structured manner that facilitates generation of useful recommendations. The individual seeking advice posts a request for advice in the form of a decision question, or identifies a previously posted decision question. Visitors to the website can post secondary questions that are intended to assist the advice-seeker in making the decision. For each secondary question, the user posting the question can specify which choice for the decision question is recommended by each answer to the secondary question. The user can also specify a strength for the recommendation. The advice-seeker then inputs answers to the secondary questions. The advice-seeker can indicate a relative significance value for some or all of the answers. For each secondary answer, a score is generated. Scores are totaled and the results are provided to the advice-seeker to assist in decision-making.

An automated physical database design tool may provide an integrated physical design recommendation for horizontal partitioning, indexes and indexed views, all three features being tuned together (in concert). Manageability requirements may be specified when optimizing for performance. User-specified configuration may enable the specification of a partial physical design without materialization of the physical design. The tuning process may be performed for a production server but may be conducted substantially on a test server. Secondary indexes may be suggested for XML columns. Tuning of a database may be invoked by any owner of a database. Usage of objects may be evaluated and a recommendation for dropping unused objects may be issued. Reports may be provided concerning the count and percentage of queries in the workload that reference a particular database, and / or the count and percentage of queries in the workload that reference a particular table or column. A feature may be provided whereby a weight may be associated with each statement in the workload, enabling relative importance of particular statements to be specified. An in-row length for a column may be specified. If a value for the column exceeds the specified in-row length for that column, the portion of the value not exceeding the specified in-row length may be stored in the row while the portion of the value exceeding the specified in-row length may be stored in an overflow area. Rebuild and reorganization recommendations may be generated.

A search engine for databases, data streams, and other data sources allows user preferences as to the relative importance of search criteria to be used to rank the output of the search engine. A weighted preference generator generates weighted preference information including at least a plurality of weights corresponding to a plurality of search criteria. A weighted preference data search engine uses the weighted preference information to search a data source and to provide an ordered result list based upon the weighted preference information. A method for weighted preference data searching further includes allowing a user to re-rank the ordered result list and determine newly updated weighted preferences based on the re-ranking process. A plurality of weights signifying the relative importance of the search criteria may also be generated by the user inputting an ordered list. This ordered list may be a single alternative or a plurality of alternatives.

A method and system are provided for enabling a user to control or adjust importance levels assigned to tags by manipulating corresponding tag representations or a tag group representation displayed to the user. In one embodiment, tag representations for a number of tags are displayed to a user. The tags are generally any criterion used to describe or classify digital content. In one embodiment, the user is enabled to resize, or otherwise manipulate, the tag representations to thereby adjust the importance level of the corresponding tags. In another embodiment, tags are classified into at least one tag group. A tag group representation corresponding to the tag group is displayed to the user. The user is then enabled to resize, or otherwise manipulate, the tag group representation to thereby adjust an importance level of each of the tags in the tag group.

Search term ranking algorithms can be generated and updated based on customer settings, such as where a ranking algorithm is modeled as a combination function of different ranking factors. An end user of a search system provides personalized preferences for weighted attributes, generally or for a single instance of the query. The user also can indicate the relative importance of one or more ranking factors by specifying different weights to the factors. Ranking factors can specify document attributes, such as document title, document body, document page rank, etc. Based on the attribute weights and the received user query, a ranking algorithm function will produce the relevant value for each document corresponding to the user preferences and personalization configurations.

A system and method to accurately modify the function of a user's electronic device in response to the multiple aspects making up a user's evolving state of mind are presented. Persistent intent objects are generated to represent a user's state of mind and the relative importance of a particular state of mind to a user's instant attention. The intent objects can be related to situations or environments and could exist beyond any specific situations or environments. The collective effect of the intent objects can be used to customize the functions of a user device to match the user's state of mind extending beyond inferences drawn from an individual or instant set of circumstances.

A method of processing information items, the method comprises the steps of:for an information item comprising primarily text information:analysing text information of the information item to detect a set of constituent information elements relating to that information item;detecting for each of the constituent information elements a respective degree of relative significance based on the frequency and / or nature of occurrence of the constituent information elements with respect to that information item;selecting a subset of at least two most significant constituent information elements; andgenerating a pseudo-image representative of the information item, the representative pseudo-image comprising the selected subset of constituent information elements arranged in a predetermined image layout such that:the most significant constituent information element of the subset is represented with most prominence and at a first predetermined region within the representative pseudo-image; andthe one or more other constituent information element(s) of the subset are represented at other predetermined regions of the representative pseudo-image in dependence on the corresponding degree of relative significance of those element(s).

A system and method to accurately modify the function of a user's electronic device in response to the multiple aspects making up a user's evolving state of mind are presented. Persistent intent objects are generated to represent a user's state of mind and the relative importance of a particular state of mind to a user's instant attention. The intent objects can be related to situations or environments and could exist beyond any specific situations or environments. The collective effect of the intent objects can be used to customize the functions of a user device to match the user's state of mind extending beyond inferences drawn from an individual or instant set of circumstances.

Effective acquisition of high-quality sales leads is provided. Businesses provide scoring criteria, representing the relative importance of a potential customer's attributes, such as sales revenue, number of employees, industry, geographic location, etc. A scoring engine determines a score for the combination of a potential customer and one or more businesses by applying the criteria in the business' quality profile to the attribute values provided by the potential customer. If the score exceeds a threshold, information about the potential customer is provided to the business at a customized price. The business can then purchase contact information for the potential customer. If the business does not pursue the potential customer, the lead may be offered to additional businesses in a secondary marketplace. A business that agrees to have rejected leads contributed to the secondary marketplace can be issued a credit against past or future leads purchases.

Parametric Bayesian Updating method is described for attribute importance measures. AIM is a quantitative measure of the relative importance of multiple attributes used in a Bayesian Updating parametric multivariate modeling approach. The AIM is a function of the correlation coefficients between the attributes themselves and the attributes with collocated target variable. The importance calculation is straightforward, repeatable, and objective.

A method, system, and computer program product for determining a business level metric for assessing the impact of performance degradation of IT components upon the revenue stream of an entity is provided. In one embodiment, the business level metric is determined by determining business functions that comprises a revenue stream for a line of business. Weights are then assigned to each business function, wherein the weights indicate the relative importance of each business function in relation to the other business functions. For each business function, the business processes that enable the completion of a specific business function are determined and weights. For each business process, critical service points for measuring the performance of supporting information technology components for the business process are determined and weights are assigned. The critical service points are then monitored and a partial business level metric raw score is determined.

A method for automatically producing a new digital image from a first digital image that includes regions of interest, includes obtaining a main subject belief map including an array of belief values indicating the location and relative importance of subject matter in the first digital image; producing a mask for each privileged object in the first digital image, each such mask including margins around its corresponding privileged object; overlaying the mask(s) onto the belief map; and producing a first convex hull that includes the mask(s) with margin(s) and regions of the highest belief values from the belief map.

A method of processing information items, the method comprises the steps of: for an information item comprising primarily text information: analysing text information of the information item to detect a set of constituent information elements relating to that information item; detecting for each of the constituent information elements a respective degree of relative significance based on the frequency and / or nature of occurrence of the constituent information elements with respect to that information item; selecting a subset of at least two most significant constituent information elements; and generating a pseudo-image representative of the information item, the representative pseudo-image comprising the selected subset of constituent information elements arranged in a predetermined image layout such that: the most significant constituent information element of the subset is represented with most prominence and at a first predetermined region within the representative pseudo-image; and the one or more other constituent information element(s) of the subset are represented at other predetermined regions of the representative pseudo-image in dependence on the corresponding degree of relative significance of those element(s).