Abstract:
In an automatic ticketing apparatus in which a customer-operated display screen (2) operated by a customer also serves as a maintenance display screen, the customer-operated display screen (2) is configured to be linearly movable while maintaining the direction of the display surface in the same direction, and by moving the customer-operated display screen, a maintenance space (15), through which the interior of the apparatus can be accessed, is opened. Furthermore, a lower operation unit (4) that is movable in a direction different from the movement direction of the customer-operated display screen (2) is provided, and the lower operation unit (4) is configured such that the maintenance space (15), through which the interior of the apparatus can be accessed, is enlarged by moving the lower operation unit (4). Accordingly, an operator can perform a maintenance operation easily while checking the display content of the customer-operated display screen.
Abstract:
A system includes automated banking machines that operate responsive to data read from data bearing records. Transactions can be carried out through communication with local and remote service providers. An automated banking machine is operable to conduct transactions for machine users responsive to data read from user cards and communication with a transaction host. The machine is operable to provide output signals which drive external displays. The machine is operable to receive visual and/or audio content from remote content sources, store data corresponding to the content, and then output the content through the external displays.
Abstract:
A system and method for managing the drafting, submission, and evaluation of invitations to bid for the delivery of one or more products and/or services. An archival database of performance descriptions and prices is utilized to generate a list of desired performances; the list being automatically distributed to a plurality of selected potential bidders. Upon receipt of the submitted bids, the system evaluates the bids based on price, past pricings, and bidder performance history. A bid is selected as the winning bid, and a contract listing the desired performances is generated and forwarded to the successful bidder. During contract performance, bidder performance is monitored, with the results being added to a historical database for subsequent use in the bid evaluation and selection process. The contents of the successful bid, including any new performance descriptions drafted during the generation of the bid, are added to the archival database for use in future bid invitation generation applications.
Abstract:
A method for implementing production processes includes a step of programming a state machine for each production process. The programming step includes a definition of a plurality of states and a definition of a plurality of transitions between states, corresponding to possible actions which the corresponding production process may execute. The programming step further includes the steps of detecting whether or not one or more states to be defined for a state machine have already been defined for state machines already programmed for other production processes, and executing the definition of states only for states not detected in the detecting step.
Abstract:
Automated banking machines include a Global Positioning System (GPS). The machines can transmit their GPS location reading to a service center. The service center can receive through a customer's cell phone, a customer request for directions to the nearest cash dispensing machine that does not have a transaction fee. The customer request can include account data and GPS location of the cell phone. The service center can determine from the account data which financial networks would not cause the customer to be assessed a transaction fee for a cash withdrawal. The service center can then determine from the GPS locations of the machines in these financial networks, which machine is geographically closest to the cell phone's GPS location. Directions to this nearest automated banking machine are then sent to the cell phone.
Abstract:
A system and method for offsetting printing costs. Specifically, the method includes collecting user information about a user and generating a user profile based on the user information. The user profile is stored such that the user profile is used to achieve delivery of data that is targeted to the user based on the user profile without requiring a release of user information in the user profile. At least one offer for the delivery of data is presented to the user. The data is targeted to the user based on the user profile. Thereafter, the method determines that an item of the data presented to the user has been printed. An incentive is received for printing the item.
Abstract:
A method includes receiving a first voting selection from a first user logged in at a set-top box device, the first voting selection associated with video content that is received at the set-top box device. The first voting selection is added to a tally of votes when a voting status of the set-top box device indicates no previous voting selection has been received from the first user. A second voting selection associated with the video content is received from a second user logged in at the set-top box device. The second voting selection is added to the tally of votes when no previous voting selection has been received from the second user. A third voting selection received from the first user is not added to the tally of votes when the voting status indicates that the first voting selection has been received from the first user.
Abstract:
A point of sale system or other computer system stores a product pricing database in which a full price and discount prices corresponding to one or more discount pricing tiers are stored for each product available for sale. Each of the discount prices for a given product has an associated historical transaction amount associated therewith, such that in order to qualify for a given pricing tier and thus a given price for a product, a customer must be associated with the appropriate historical transaction amount corresponding to the pricing tier.
Abstract:
Method, procedure, algorithm, system, and computer program and computer program product for improving and optimizing or attempting to optimize performance of messaging campaigns, particularly to marketing campaigns in which advertisements or other messages are distributed over an interactive measurable medium such as the Internet. When message is an advertisement, campaign involves a list of ad alternatives and a target customer population. Goal of message manager or marketing manager is to allocate ad alternatives to customer population to optimize business objectives such as maximizing the number of positive responses received. This is achieved at least in part by segmenting customer population into segments and then finding best allocation of ad alternatives for each segment. The number of segments and grouping of a customer population changes at different stages of the campaign. When the message is other than an advertisement, goal is to allocate messages to optimize analogous business or campaign objectives, typically measured by the number of successes or successful responses.
Abstract:
A system includes automated banking machines that operate responsive to data read from data bearing records. Transactions may also be carried out through communication with local and remote service providers. An automated banking machine (322) operative to conduct transactions including cash dispensing for users responsive to data read from user cards and through communication with a transaction host (336). The machine is also operative to provide output signals which drive external displays (328, 330). A machine processor is operative to cause the machine to receive visual and/or audio content from content sources (342, 343) and to store data corresponding to the content. The content is then output through the external displays.