1915 results about "Weight factor" patented technology

A method and system for placement of graphical objects on a page to optimize the occurrence of an event associated with such objects. The graphical objects might include, for instance, advertisements on a webpage, and the event would include a user clicking on that ad. The page includes positions for receipt of the object material. Data regarding the past performance of the objects is stored and updated as new data is received. A user requests a page from a server associated with system. The server uses the performance data to derive a prioritized arrangement of the objects on the page. The server performs a calculation regarding the likelihood that an event will occur for a given object, as displayed to a particular user. The objects are arranged according to this calculation and returned to the user on the requested page. The likelihood can also be multiplied by a weighting factor and the objects arranged according to this product.

A method of determining at least one match item corresponding to a source item. A database of multiple items such as songs is created. Each song is also represented by an n-dimensional database vector in which each element corresponding to one of n musical characteristics of the song. An n-dimensional source song vector that corresponds to the musical characteristics of a source song is determined. A Distance between the source song vector and each of database song vector is calculated, each distance being a function of the differences between the n musical characteristics of the source song vector and one of source database song vector. The calculation of the distances may include the application of a weighted factor to the musical characteristics of resulting vector. A match song is selected based on the magnitude of the distance between the source song and each database songs after applying any weighted factors.

An automated method for determining domain traffic including receiving at authoritative name server a request to resolve a domain name that has n labels separated by periods. The leftmost label is the first label and the top level domain is the nth label. If the first label of the received domain name includes the string “www”, then a www hit counter and / or a www requesting server counter for the domain name are incremented. If the received domain name has only two labels, then an exact hit counter and / or an exact requesting server counter for the domain name are incremented. If the first label of the received domain name does not include the string “www” and does not have only two labels, then another hit counter and / or another requesting server counter for the domain name are incremented. A domain traffic score is calculated based upon a plurality of the counters, and calculating the domain traffic score includes applying a weighting factor to at least one of the counters.

Systems and methods for scoring a domain web traffic based on DNS traffic requests received at an authoritative name server to resolve the domain name. A request to resolve the domain name is received at an authoritative name server. A counter, such as a server counter or a hit counter, for the domain name is incremented based on the received request. A score, such as a domain traffic score or a domain rank, is calculated based upon a count of the counter. Calculating the score may also include applying a weighting factor to the counters based on information about a requesting set of resolvers and other domains / websites that may be linking and driving traffic to the domain whose traffic score is being calculated. Examples of relevant set of resolvers information may include location, traffic levels, traffic type and architecture of the set of resolvers.

A method and system for distributing professional investment advice to investors is provided. A computerized exchange system permits one or more advisors to make investment strategies available to subscribing investors. Each strategy defines a sequence of trade transactions that are consistent with strategy parameters and are designed to achieve the risk and return objectives of the strategy. The strategies are distributed to subscribers who can undertake the recommended transactions using separate brokerage accounts. A subscriber can maintain a corresponding portfolio that assigns weighting factors to various strategies in order to provide a customized investment strategy. Accordingly, the exchange system can provide professional fund manager trading decisions to individual investors in near real time without the administrative burdens or costs associated with traditional mutual funds.

A generic algorithm for analysis of resource metrics. A threshold is calculated in a stack tier policy for the performance state of a metric in a virtualized process collection (VPC). Responsive to determining that the metric is a critical metric, a weighted average of all metrics in the VPC is determined. Responsive to determining that the weighted average exceeds the threshold in the stack tier policy, if the value of the metric is determined to be higher than values for all recorded metrics, the value of the metric is stored as a highest value. A weighted average performance state of all metrics is calculated as the weight property of the performance metric divided by the weight factor total. Responsive to determining that the highest value is higher than the weighted average performance state of all metrics, the highest value is used as the performance state of the VPC.

A video encoder and method are provided for encoding video signal data for at least one cross-fade picture disposed between a fade-out start picture and a fade-in end picture, where the encoder portion includes a reference picture weighting factor unit for assigning weighting factors corresponding to each of the fade-out start picture and the fade-in end picture, respectively, and the method for encoding cross-fades between pictures includes identifying pictures between which a cross-fade is desired, determining appropriate end-points for the cross-fade, and encoding the end-points prior to encoding the cross-fade picture.

A time of day zoning control system for a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system is provided. The system utilizes a programmable thermostat and a number of temperature sensors to control the HVAC system to regulate the temperature in a particular location within a dwelling or structure based on consumer preferences. The regulation control will utilize a temperature sensed by a particular temperature sensor at different times throughout the day to control the temperature in that zone to ensure occupant comfort. A single temperature sensor may be selected to control the HVAC system during these different periods, or multiple sensors may be utilized during the same period. When multiple sensors are used, a weighting factor may be used.

Methods of generating a playlist for a user are disclosed. For example, an input seed from the user associated with one or more items in a database is received. The input seed may be a song name or artist name. Characteristics that correspond to the input seed are identified. One or more focus traits based on the characteristics are also identified. Based on the identification of the one or more focus traits, a weighting factor is assigned to at least some of the characteristics. The weighted value of the characteristics that correspond to the input seed and characteristics of items in the database are compared. Based on the comparison, items for the playlist are selected.

A method, software and apparatus are provided which enable promotion of products and services in a deterministic manner free of conflicting actions modifying raw ranking data based on merchants interests. For this purpose, an information consolidator is provided to obtain search results for a plurality of sources including directly from merchants. When a shopper enters a set of key words in an entry field in an on-screen form for a web server to obtain a list of items (products and / or services) of interest to the shopper, the documents describing the items can be prioritized by the information provided by the information source based on the web sites owner's priorities. The information consolidator receives ranking information taking the highest ranked products and obtains the product information for the most highly ranked products. The information consolidator then reranks the products using a preferred ranking algorithm to remove information sources biases in this ranking of the products. The information consolidator can add weighting factors such as those covered in the copending applications by the merchant. The weighting factors are combined with the mentioned ranking mechanisms to the documents to increase the probability that certain items come to the top when the search results are presented to the shopper. These pages could be used to promote products or otherwise direct the selection shoppers. The weighting factors are configured so as to not decrease the shoppers confidence in the ranking process.

An automated audio tuning system may optimize an audio system for power efficiency when performing automated tuning of the audio system to optimize acoustic performance. The system may establish any number of different power efficiency weighting factors to provide a balance between acoustic performance and power efficiency during operation. The power efficiency weighting factors may range from representing optimizing power efficiency with constrained optimization of acoustic performance to optimized acoustic performance with minimized regard for power efficiency. For each of the efficiency weighting factors, the system may generate operational parameters, such as filter parameters, to achieve a target acoustic response while maintaining a determined level of power efficiency.

An apparatus, method, and computer program product are provided for generating an image representation. The method includes receiving an input digital image, extracting features from the image which are representative of patches of the image, generating weighting factors for the features based on location relevance data for the image, and weighting the extracted features with the weighting factors to form a representation of the image.

A communication device (104, 106) or communication system (100) employs a method for automatically organizing a contact list for use by the communication device (104, 106). A plurality of contact records are stored in a memory. Each contact record is associated with a corresponding contact and includes one or more contact entries. Each contact entry is further associated with at least one service type. A respective weighting factor is assigned to each contact entry of the contact record. Each weighting factor relates to communication activity involving a contact identified by the particular contact record and a service type (e.g., phone, text, etc.) associated with the contact entry. The contacts are ordered based on the weighting factors for a desired service type. In one embodiment, the ordered contact list is displayed to a user to facilitate communication with one or more of the contacts.

A driving behavior prediction apparatus includes, for accurately predicting a driving behavior, a position calculation unit for a subject vehicle position calculation, a route setting unit for setting a navigation route, a distance calculation unit for calculating a distance to a nearest object point, a parameter storage unit for storing a template weighting factor that reflects a driving operation tendency of a driver, a driving behavior prediction unit for predicting a driver's behavior based on vehicle information and the template weighting factor, a driving behavior recognition unit for recognizing driver's behavior at the object point, and a driving behavior learning unit for updating the template weighting factor so as to study the driving operation tendency of the driver in a case that a prediction result by the driving behavior prediction unit agrees with a recognition result by the driving behavior recognition unit.

A unique health score computation method is disclosed which masks underlying health statistics, yet provides a benchmark for a variety of applications. A system and method for collecting health related information, processing the information into a composite numerical value, and publishing the value is provided. The system includes a computer having a processor, memory, and code modules executing in the processor for implementation of the method. Information concerning a plurality of intrinsic and extrinsic parameters of a user is collected. Weighting factors are applied to the parameter in order control the relative affect each parameter has on the user's calculated numerical. The health score is computed using the processor by combining the weighted parameters in accordance with an algorithm. The numerical value is published to a designated group via a portal, while the underlying parameters remain private. In one implementation, the portal is an internet based information sharing forum.

Multiple Transmit Multiple Receive Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (‘OFDM’) comprising generating bit streams and corresponding sets of N frequency domain carrier amplitudes ({tilde over (s)}(kN+j), 0≦j≦N−1) modulated as OFDM symbols subsequently to be transmitted from a transmitter, where k is the OFDM symbol number and j indicates the corresponding OFDM carrier number. Affix information is inserted at the transmitter into guard intervals between consecutive time domain OFDM symbols and are used at the receiver to estimate the Channel Impulse Response (Hlm) of the transmission channels, the estimated Channel Impulse Response (Ĥlm) being used to demodulate the bit streams in the signals received at the receiver. The affix information is known to the receiver, as well as to the transmitter, and is mathematically equivalent to a vector (cD) that is common to the time domain OFDM symbols multiplied by at least first weighting factors (αk) that are different for one time domain OFDM symbol (k) than for another and second weighting factors (wi(k)) that enable one of the transmit antenna means (i) to be distinguished from another.

An image encoding apparatus includes a multidirectional predicting unit configured to predict a plurality of pixel blocks by using an encoded pixel as a reference pixel according to a plurality of prediction modes having different prediction directions to generate a plurality of first prediction signals corresponding to the pixel blocks obtained by dividing a frame of an input image signal a setting unit configured to set a weighting factor depending on the prediction directions of the plurality of prediction modes and a spatial distance between a prediction pixel in the pixel block and the reference pixel, a weighted average unit configured to calculate a weighted average of the plurality of first prediction signals according to the weighting factor to generate one second prediction signal corresponding to the pixel blocks, and an encoding unit configured to encode a prediction residual error signal representing a difference between an image signal of the pixel block and at least the second prediction signal to generate encoded data.

Provided are an apparatus and method for eliminating multi-user interference in a codebook-based beamforming system. A transmitter for providing a service to multi-users in the codebook-based beamforming system includes a beamformer for generating beamformed user signals by multiplying transmit data of users, to whom the service is to be provided, by corresponding weighting factor vectors using feedback information; a null space generator for generating a null space matrix orthogonal to weighting factor vectors of other users; and a projector for projecting the beamformed user signals on the corresponding null space matrix and transmitting the resulting signals through a plurality of antennas. Because the multi-user signals can maintain orthogonality, the performance degradation caused by the multi-user interference can be prevented.

Methods for contrast enhancement of digital images are provided. A method of adaptive histogram equalization is provided that determines weighting factors for discriminating between sub-regions of a digital image to be more enhanced or less enhanced. Another method for content adaptive local histogram equalization is provided that uses a mapping function in which the dynamic range is not changed by the transformation. A third method for contrast enhancement is provided that includes dividing a digital image into a plurality of regions of pixels, and for each region in the plurality of regions, determining a threshold gray level for the region, generating a mapping curve for the region based on the threshold gray level, and applying the generated mapping curve to each pixel in the region to enhance contrast.

A system and method allows occupants in various locations to provide indications as to their respective levels of comfort. The indications as to comfort level are provided to a network computer. The network computer is operative to compute overall levels of comfort for each location by using a weighting factor for that location in combination with the indications as to levels of comfort These overall levels of comfort are sent to an HVAC control for further analysis prior to controlling the HVAC system that is to provide conditioned air to the locations. The resulting control of the HVAC system is influenced by the over weighting or under weighting factors used in computing the comfort levels for the locations.

A weighting factor mode determination unit (13) determines whether to code an interlaced picture in a field mode or a frame mode, based on a value of a flag "AFF" indicating whether or not to switch between the field mode and the frame mode on a block-by-block basis and notifies switches (14 and 15) and a multiplexing unit (106) of the determined mode. The switches (14 and 15) select either the field mode or the frame mode according to the notified mode. A field weighting factor coding unit (11) or a frame weighting factor coding unit (12) performs respectively the coding of respective weighting factors when the respective modes are selected.

A directional antenna system is disclosed in which a plurality of RF nodes are provided for cooperatively forming a directional antenna array for transmitting and receiving wireless signals between a wireless client at a predetermined position in space. One or more network interface assemblies are provided for exchanging signals between the plurality of RF nodes and a network. Preferably, the plurality of RF nodes are distributed in space with respect to each other and the network interface assembly. The network interface includes a beamformer for applying a plurality of antenna weighting factors to the respective RF nodes, for introducing phase differences in the respective transmitted and received wireless signals that produce a directional steering vector for the wireless signals. In one embodiment of the invention, a processing arrangement is provided for deriving an array manifold, which includes a respective plurality of antenna weighting factors corresponding respectively to distances between each of the plurality of RF nodes, for producing the directional steering vector for the wireless signals. In another embodiment of the invention, a subspace beamforming arrangement is provided for building a covariance matrix from sampled values of a wireless client signal at each RF node, and deriving dominant eigenvectors corresponding to each RF node. The dominant eigenvectors are used as the respective antenna weighting factors for producing the directional steering vectors for the wireless signals.

An index for an item in a computer implemented merchandising system is computed as a function of objective data, e.g., transaction data, and subjective data, e.g., customer satisfaction ratings or reviews. The index may be extended with other data, including revenue, returns, refunds, discontinuations, and interactive shopping data. The index may further be weighted using a variety of weight factors for different components of the subjective and objective data. A display of the index places customer satisfaction data in the context of transaction data. The index may be used to provide prospective customers with a more balanced picture of consumer satisfaction than can be provided from customer satisfaction data alone, including prospective purchase comparisons and desirability.

The subject innovation provides for systems and methods to facilitate weighted suffix tree clustering. Conventional suffix tree cluster models can be augmented by incorporating quality measures to facilitate improved performance. Further the quality measure can be employed in determining cluster labels that show improvements in accuracy over conventional means. Additionally “stopnodes” can be defined to facilitate traversing suffix tree models efficiently. Quality measurements can be determined based in part on weighting factors applied to terms in a vector model, said terms being mapped from a suffix tree model.

A system and method of moving information units from an output flow control toward a data transmission network in a prioritized sequence which accommodates several different levels of service. The present invention includes a method and system for scheduling the egress of processed information units (or frames) from a network processing unit according to service based on a weighted fair queue where position in the queue is adjusted after each service based on a weight factor and the length of frame, a process which provides a method for and system of interaction between different calendar types is used to provide minimum bandwidth, best effort bandwidth, weighted fair queuing service, best effort peak bandwidth, and maximum burst size specifications. The present invention permits different combinations of service that can be used to create different QoS specifications. The "base" services which are offered to a customer in the example described in this patent application are minimum bandwidth, best effort, peak and maximum burst size (or MBS), which may be combined as desired. For example, a user could specify minimum bandwidth plus best effort additional bandwidth and the system would provide this capability by putting the flow queue in both the NLS and WFQ calendar. The system includes tests when a flow queue is in multiple calendars to determine when it must come out.

An encoder for use in scalable video coding has a mechanism to perform macroblock mode selection for the enhancement layer pictures. The mechanism includes a distortion estimator for each macroblock that reacts to channel errors such as packet losses or errors in video segments affected by error propagation; a Lagrange multiple selector for selecting a weighting factor according to estimated or signaled channel error rate, and a mode decision module or algorithm to choose the optimal mode based on encoding parameters. The mode decision module is configured to select the coding mode based on a sum of the estimated coding distortion and the estimated coding rate multiplied by the weighting factor.

A method (100) of electronically determining a group preference in a social network from multiple individual preferences of members of the social network is provided. One embodiment of the method (100) uses a combination of an individual's importance to a social network and a social network's importance to the individual as weighting factors when combining the individual preferences to generate a shared set of preferences. This group preference may be used to select content for broadcast to the network, including audio content and video content. A social network group preference determination apparatus (401) can determine the individual's importance to the social network by interrogating or monitoring the communication activity of portable electronic communication devices (402) belonging to the members of the social network.

System and method of determining active / standby statuses of an intermediary device with respect to a logic group based on a user defined switchover policy. A user is allowed to configure a template to determine respective health levels for multiple sets of delivery resources. Each set of resources associated with a function engine residing in a respective intermediary device. The multiple sets of resources, in conjunction with the associated function engines, are equivalently operable to provide the same service function. The template may include user-specified events and respective weight factors. The specified events are monitored and a health score is dynamically derived for each delivery resource based on the template. Based on an updated health score rank with respect to the service function, a switchover may automatically occur from an intermediary device of a lower health score to another device with a higher health score.