Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20100312667 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CONDUCTING ELECTRONIC TRANSACTIONS - A system and method for conducting electronic commerce are disclosed. In various embodiments, the electronic transaction is a purchase transaction. A user is provided with an intelligent token, such as a smartcard containing a digital certificate. The intelligent token suitably authenticates with a server on a network that conducts all or portions of the transaction on behalf of the user. In various embodiments a wallet server interacts with a security server to provide enhanced reliability and confidence in the transaction. In various embodiments, the wallet server includes a toolbar. In various embodiments, the digital wallet pre-fills forms. Forms may be pre-filled using an auto-remember component. | 12-09-2010 |
20110004532 | Electronic consumption system for a mobile communication device - An electronic consumption system for a mobile communication device receives a transaction message transmitted by a user's mobile communication device, and transmits consumption information to a financial institute port and a vendor port, allowing the vendor port to provide a business activity corresponding to the transaction message, and the financial institute port to conduct debiting to the user and appropriation to the vendor port, corresponding to the transaction message. Therefore, the user can conduct a business activity, like consuming and purchasing, through the mobile communication device at any time, and can be aware of business messages provided by different vendor ports. In addition, an alliance among different industries at the vendor port, and an interaction between the financial institutes can be facilitated. | 01-06-2011 |
20110010268 | DIGITAL CONTENT MANAGEMENT AND USAGE SYSTEM, A DIGITAL CONTENT SUPPLYING STATION, AND A METHOD OF SUPPLYING DIGITAL CONTENT - The present invention discloses a digital content management and usage system, and a digital content supplying station, and more particularly the invention is related to a system that makes it possible to manage all the activities related to digital content supplying stations, that in turn makes it possible for the users to use digital content in a number of types and formats, such as music, video, cellular telephone tones, pod casts, e-books, audio-books, games, applications and any other available digital content, thus serving as a digital supplying station. | 01-13-2011 |
20110010269 | VEHICLE AUDIO SYSTEM FOR PRODUCING SYNTHETIC ENGINE SOUND - An audio system for an electrically powered vehicle includes a data storage unit, a processor for accessing the data storage unit and retrieving one of pre-recorded engine sounds, pre-recorded exhaust sounds, or one or more algorithms for reproducing engine sounds and exhaust sounds, an amplifier operably connected to the processor for amplifying one of an engine sound or exhaust sound, at least one outwardly directed speaker for generating one of an engine or exhaust sound, an interface between the processor and the one or more vehicle performance sensors for sensing a vehicle performance parameter, the interface configured to receive an input from the one or more vehicle performance sensors and transmit it to the processor, wherein the processor receives the input from at least one vehicle performance sensor and varies a sound parameter of an engine sound or exhaust sound projected by the speaker based on the performance parameter. | 01-13-2011 |
20110022496 | ELECTRONIC DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT AND DELIVERY - In one embodiment, system to manage and delivery electronic documents is disclosed. | 01-27-2011 |
20110029405 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR LINKING TO A VENDOR - A method includes receiving from a client terminal an indication of a selection of an item, selecting a vendor from a plurality of vendors, and sending a redirect message to the client terminal. The selection of the item is in response to the receipt of the indication of selection. Each of the vendors is offering the item for sale. The redirect message includes a reference to a webpage associated with the vendor and the item. In some embodiments, the method includes ranking the plurality of vendors based on at least two factors associated with each vendor and then selecting the vendor based on the ranking. | 02-03-2011 |
20110029406 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PLACING A PRODUCT ORDER VIA A COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK - A system and method for a manufacturer to attract a customer for a distributor, via a public access network, and perform product information and ordering transactions with the customer, where payment is made to the manufacturer by credit card or from another financial account maintained by or on behalf of the customer and where the manufacturer subsequently pays the distributor and an associated manufacturer's representative. The system and method includes the customer submitting a price/quotation request or product order to a host system via the public access communications network. The host system interacts with the customer, the manufacturer, the distributor (who provides purchase order information) and a third party who provides financial approval in order to fulfill the customer request. The host system also interacts with the manufacturer, customer, distributor, manufacturer's representative and third party who provided financial approval to fulfill the order. | 02-03-2011 |
20110029407 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A COMMISSION-BASED NETWORK (COBANET) - The present description proposes a system and method for a commission-based network. More particularly, in a server allowing electronic communications thereto and therefrom, there is provided a method for implementing a commission-based network (COBANET) over the data communication network. The method comprises: storing ( | 02-03-2011 |
20110047045 | System and method for paying a merchant by a registered user using a cellular telephone account - A system and method allows users to make purchases by charging or funding a prepaid debit card with their cell phone accounts by simulating a user roaming with their mobile device. | 02-24-2011 |
20110047046 | Methods and devices for providing fashion advice - Fashion advice is easily and readily made available using a fashion application or “tool”. The advice may be based on stored images of a user's wardrobe and/or from images retrieved from clothing retailers. The advice may be communicated to the user via one or more fashion avatars, or by a linked fashion consultant or through the users involvement in virtual fashion shows. | 02-24-2011 |
20110047047 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING A MARKET ENVIRONMENT - The system provides two-sided local markets that enable local and/or intermittent resource allocation through a market model. The system provides a method for defining goods, services or assets are to be exchanged among a large but limited number of participants (e.g. between 10 and 100). In one embodiment, all participants may have both needs and endowments of the goods, services and assets to be traded and who may at times want to simultaneously buy and sell multiple units. Alternatively the market may have participants who are either sellers or buyers. The system provides a market mechanism where participants can submit orders (through limit orders and market orders) in user defined time frames. | 02-24-2011 |
20110047048 | INTEGRATED SOLAR AGENT BUSINESS MODEL - A method of delivering a solar system and related services from a solar system vendor to a customer is provided. The method includes estimating the customer's solar system requirements, delivering the estimated requirements to the customer, providing a sales lead that includes the estimated requirements to a contractor, the contractor contacting the customer to perform a sales close, ordering the solar system products from the solar system vendor, and issuing a payment for the products to the solar system vendor. The method of delivering solar services further includes supplying a first set of solar system components from the solar system vendor and a second set of solar system components from a third-party vendor, configuring all or a portion of the solar system components in accordance with the solar system requirements, shipping the solar system to the customer's site, and installing the system on the customer's site. The method for delivering solar services further includes financing the solar system by providing a loan from a financial institution to the customer, providing periodic payments from the customer to the financial institution, and providing payments from the financial institution to the contractor and from the contractor to the solar system vendor. An optional network monitoring service may also be provided. | 02-24-2011 |
20110055046 | System and Method for Remote Acquisition and Delivery of Goods - A system and method for remote acquisition and delivery of goods includes a server in communication with customer computers, such as through a user interface via the internet. The server can store customer information including billing information, and may include a real-time video processor. A mobile delivery system in communication with the server includes an energy efficient vehicle, a real-time video device, a global positioning system, a communication device and a printer. In use, a customer communicates with a mobile delivery agent via the real-time video device and the communication device to remotely acquire a product. Once acquired, the delivery agent delivers the product to a designated delivery location. The real-time video device can be utilized during the entire transaction. The system preferably includes a processor for optimizing system efficiencies, including selecting a delivery agent based on the product, pick-up location and delivery site. | 03-03-2011 |
20110055047 | INTEGRATED IDENTITY AND FINANCIAL FRAUD PROTECTION AND PROXY SERVICES DELIVERY SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system and method providing a collection of associated servers in a data center connected to the Internet. The servers, each being related to a service, deliver a client to a user, encapsulating the related services to common standard Internet browser software. The system and method provide a window to the Internet. The associated servers perform browsing for a user, stripping out viruses and malware and delivering safe content. The content enables a user to view and interact with the content on its computer, but not processing that content on the user's computer; the content is not stored on any local storage at the user's computer. The system and method for the delivery of services is tightly integrated into the Internet browsing experience and provides the end-user with anonymity, privacy, fraud protection, and multiple-client sharing of meta-information pertaining to the browsing experience. | 03-03-2011 |
20110066524 | Method and System for Secure Electronic Transactions - Micro-payments for electronic sales transactions are securely and anonymously enabled by a central payment agent maintaining declining balance accounts for users and separately authenticating and authorizing customer and vendor transaction requests and payment upon confirmation of delivery. No personal billing information for the customer need be provided to the vendor, maintaining anonymity of the vendor. The vendor may electively set a pricing and terms policy allowing the price of the goods or services to dynamically vary across a series of transactions or transaction portions based on events such as quantity, bandwidth, or aggregate amount paid. A transaction may involve goods or services from multiple vendors in an apparent single transaction, with payment resolved among all participating vendors. | 03-17-2011 |
20110071921 | DISTRIBUTED ELECTRONIC COMMERCE SYSTEM WITH CENTRALIZED POINT OF PURCHASE - An electronic commerce system includes a broker that enables customers to purchase items from merchants. A customer interacts with the merchant to identify items to purchase, and the merchant directs the customer to the broker in order to complete the transaction. The broker receives a description of a virtual shopping cart generated by the merchant and presents the customer with an interface allowing the customer to select shipping and other options for the purchase. The broker calculates a total amount for the transaction based on the shopping cart description and the options selected by the customer. The broker informs the merchant of the purchase and coordinates the shipment of the purchased items from the merchant to the customer. | 03-24-2011 |
20110078043 | PAYMENT AND TRANSFER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM USING WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORK OR INTERNET AND METHOD THEREOF - A payment and transfer management system using a wireless communication network or internet and a method thereof are disclosed. The present invention relates to a payment management method for enhancing safety of a payment process by using a location tracking method between a card payment terminal and a payer cellular phone, and more particularly to a payment management method for performing easily a card payment process and an account transfer process between a registered payer and a payment demander by using a VM banking module of a cellular phone. The present invention includes a composition for performing card management, approval, and payment through an owner (manager) cellular phone by requesting an immediate payment, a payment and report, and a payment approval according to the sum set through the cellular phone when the payment process is performed by a card payment terminal separated from a location of an owner (manager) cellular phone. | 03-31-2011 |
20110078044 | Process for implementing a method for the on-line sale of software product use licenses through a data network, and software component which allows carrying out said process - Online sale of software product use licenses through a data network by offering software products (SOFT) through vendor sites, purchasing a license on-line on one of said vendor sites, and activating said license on-line by a different licensing site. A specific component (COMP) is provided with the software product (SOFT) and identifying data (IDV) of the vendor site are transmitted during the download of the software product (SOFT). When the component (COMP) is executed in an equipment, the component (COMP) locally accesses said data (IDV) and identifying data (IDL) of the licensing site and activates the license by setting up an on-line communication with the licensing site. | 03-31-2011 |
20110099085 | PRODUCT IDENTIFICATION USING MULTIPLE SERVICES - A method and a system to determine a product identification of an item for sale in an online publication system is shown and described. For example, the method may be initiated when an input identifying an item is received from a user. An input type (e.g., image, text, audio recording, etc.) may be determined and one or more identification services may be selected based on the input type. At least a portion of the input is transmit to the selected one or more identification services. A product identification is received from each of the one or more identification services. Based on the received product identifications, a recommended product identification is determined. The recommended product identification is transmitted to the user. | 04-28-2011 |
20110099086 | METHOD AND/OR SYSTEM FOR EXTENDING PAYMENT SYSTEM ARCHITECTURES AND/OR LEGACY ORDER PROCESSING SYSTEMS TO MOBILE COMMERCE APPLICATIONS VIA TEXT MESSAGING - A text message order processing system includes: means for receiving text messages from consumers purchasing products from one or more merchants, each of the text messages being addressed to an address selected by the consumer and including an identification of the product being purchased and an identification of a device from which the text message was sent; means for parsing each text messages to extract the identification of the product and the identification of the device from the text massage; means for selecting based upon each received text message a payment instrument to be used to pay for the purchase; means for establishing payment information related to the selected payment instrument and delivery information indicating where the purchased product is to be delivered; means for generating for each received text message an order including the established payment information, delivery information and identification of the product being purchased; and, means for submitting the generated order to an order management system of the merchant. | 04-28-2011 |
20110106659 | Encryption Switch Processing - A method for delivering non-financial electronic data through a secure communications channel between a payment processing network and an access device is disclosed. One embodiment of the invention is directed to a method comprising receiving, at a payment processing network, a request to establish a secure communications channel between a consumer device and the payment processing network. Upon establishing a secure communications channel with the consumer device, the payment processor network receives non-financial electronic content from a merchant at the payment processing network where the non-financial electronic content is selected at the merchant by a user associated with the consumer device. The non-financial electronic content is sent to the consumer device from the payment processing network via the secure communications channel between the consumer device and the payment processing network. | 05-05-2011 |
20110106660 | METHOD FOR PROVIDING LEARNING AS A SERVICE (LAAS) IN A LEARNING NETWORK - The present invention contemplates a variety of improved methods and systems for providing learning of the service (LaaS) in a learning network. At least certain embodiments include systems, methods, and apparatuses for connecting users with providers of pedagogic or professional content using an online marketplace for self-directed learning. The online marketplace includes a database of searchable content, availability of content experts and subject matter experts for guidance, and community support from peers and colleagues. A web-based graphical user interface is provided to users via the learning network to enable user interaction with the content and allow users to control the content and the pace of learning. Requests for particular content can be received from users and those requests can be fulfilled without regard to the location of the content or time of access, enabling self-directed learning. The content can be decomposed into monetized components, which can be accessed by users on a per-use or per-session basis. | 05-05-2011 |
20110106661 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REPORTING FRAUD AND CLAIMING COMPENSATION RELATED TO NETWORK-BASED TRANSACTIONS - A method and system that allows a user to report fraud and submit a request for compensation related to a transaction completed over a network-based transaction facility. For example, a method can include the following operations conducted via the network-based transaction facility: receiving a complaint from a first party, communicating information about the complaint to a second party, enabling an exchange of information regarding the complaint, receiving a request for compensation related to the complaint, and determining whether a criterion required for approval of the request for compensation has been satisfied. | 05-05-2011 |
20110119154 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CERTIFYING INFORMATION RELATING TO TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN A SELLER AND A PURCHASER - A method for providing certified feedback information on a transaction entity (e.g., seller, purchaser, and/or object (e.g., good, service)) involved in a transaction between a seller and a purchaser. | 05-19-2011 |
20110119155 | VERIFICATION OF PORTABLE CONSUMER DEVICES FOR 3-D SECURE SERVICES - Apparatuses, methods, and systems pertaining to the verification of portable consumer devices for 3-D Secure Systems are disclosed. In one implementation, a verification token is coupled to a computer by a USB connection so as to use the computer's networking facilities. The verification token reads identification information from a user's portable consumer device (e.g., credit card) and sends the information to a validation entry over a communications network using the computer's networking facilities. The validation entity applies one or more validation tests to the information that it receives from the verification token. If a selected number of tests are passed, the validation entity sends a 3-D Secure datum to the verification token. The verification token may enter the 3-D Secure datum into a hidden field of a Purchase Authentication Page appearing on the computer's display. | 05-19-2011 |
20110119156 | SETTLEMENT RELAY METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PERFORMING THE METHOD - A settlement relay system, which is connected to an affiliated shop terminal, a mobile communication terminal of a customer and a credit card company system, includes a communication part and a system control part. The communication part is connected to the affiliated shop terminal and the mobile communication terminal through a communication network. The system control part receives a settlement serial number data corresponding to a settlement from the mobile communication terminal via a communication network, receives a receipt serial number data from the affiliated shop terminal via a communication network, and performs a procedure corresponding to a transaction approval, when it is checked that the settlement serial number data and the receipt serial number data are matched with each other. Thus, a customer self settles through his/her own mobile communication terminal so that risk of duplication of the credit card may be prevented. | 05-19-2011 |
20110119157 | Accepting Payment Information on the Web Using Interactive Voice response (IVR) System - Checkout with PaybyPhone - Alternative method of paying through a credit card using an Interactive voice response (IVR) system redirected from the web page (Checkout with PaybyPhone) from payment portion of the checkout page, rather than the conventional way of entering through the web page. A system and method for paying by a credit card, preferably at a point of sale, is disclosed. The system employs an automated interactive voice response system preferably sponsored by client (Website owner). The user calls into the system using a standard telephone, and enters credit payment information about the customer using the key pad of the telephone in response to verbal questions posed by the system. In one embodiment, only numeric information concerning the customer is entered, such as the customer's credit card number, expiry date . . . etc. This credit card payment information is used to approve/decline via credit bureau database or a third party vendor who specializes in credit card payment processing, which is used by the system to electronically decide whether to proceed with the order or not. The system verbally provides information to the user regarding the results of credit card validation, so that the customer's credit purchase can be quickly completed. | 05-19-2011 |
20110137748 | Systems and Methods for Virtual Credit Card Transactions - The present invention is directed to methods and devices for secure virtual credit card transactions. In one embodiment, a consumer system initiates a transaction with a merchant system. The consumer system generates a first verification code and a second verification code. The consumer system provides the merchant system with the first verification code. The merchant system transmits the first verification code to an authorizing entity, and the consumer system independently transmits the second verification code to the authorizing entity. The authorizing entity compares the verification codes received from both the consumer system and the merchant system. Based on the results of the comparison, the authorizing entity either approves or rejects the transaction. | 06-09-2011 |
20110137749 | System and Method for Pooled Electronic Purchasing - A method executable by a computer system for making joint purchases. The preferred embodiment of the present invention enables customers to establish purchase terms, interactively with the server system, which ensure that the correct amount will be raised (i.e. there will be no surplus or shortfall) and that the participants will contribute appropriate amounts to the overall total through the use of various contribution methods. The preferred embodiment uses the mechanism of direct debit pre-authorized payments to ensure there is no value transfer until the purchase terms have been satisfied, and to guarantee access to the promised funds when they required. | 06-09-2011 |
20110137750 | INTERNET CURRENCY AND A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ONLINE INTERNET CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS - The various embodiments herein provide a system and a method for online internet currency transactions. The system and method includes a Central Internet Bank (CIB) created at World Wide Web (WWW) level. A network is provided in electronic communication with the CIB. A plurality of account holding entities are registered with the CIB. A plurality of online service providers is associated with each account holding entity. An Internet Credit Rating Agency (ICRA) is associated with the account holding entities. The CIB issues and holds Binary Credit Bits (BCB) of the account holding entities and authenticates online transactions between at least two account holding entities in real time and authenticates online transactions between at least one account holding entity and at least one online service provider in real time. | 06-09-2011 |
20110145093 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PURCHASING PRODUCTS FROM A RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT USING A MOBILE DEVICE - Techniques for purchasing products from a retail establishment using a mobile device allow a user to transact a purchase of physical products within a retail establishment site, without need for significant interaction with personnel of the retail establishment to transact the purchase. The user may install a software application on the mobile device to communicate with a purchase facilitating server. An image acquisition component of the mobile device may be used to obtain an image of indicia, such as a bar code, on a product to be purchased within the retail establishment. Image recognition may be performed on the indicia to identify the product to be purchased, the user may submit payment information via the mobile device, and the purchase facilitating server may transact the user's purchase of the product. The purchase facilitating server may transmit a purchase confirmation to the mobile device as a receipt of the user's purchase. | 06-16-2011 |
20110161198 | Centralized Electronic Sales Using a Consolidator - The present invention provides an electronically accessible site that lists a product and associated distributors that distribute the product to customers. A customer purchases a product from the electronically accessible site, and during the purchasing process, the customer selects the distributor he wants to receive the product from. The order is received by an agent, and transmitted to the selected distributor for eventual distribution of the product to the customer. In response to the purchase, the agent and electronically accessible site receive compensation based on the amount of the purchase. | 06-30-2011 |
20110173094 | Electronic Commerce Technique - Described is a system, method, and product for facilitating a transaction between a buyer and a seller. A buyer searches a data store for an item. The buyer places a bid for the item, the bid including an item name for an item, the item name corresponding to an item identifier, the bid further including a price the buyer wishes to pay for the item. A seller searches the data store for the item. The seller receives a search result identifying the item and the buyer. The seller transmits a notice that the seller wishes to sell the item to the buyer. One or more messages are exchanged via a central server between the buyer and seller to arrange the transaction. | 07-14-2011 |
20110173095 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING RECOMMENDATIONS IN AN ONLINE MARKETPLACE - A method and a system to manage recommendations in an online marketplace are presented. A social shopping interface is provided at a publisher site accessed by a first user identified by a first user identifier. A recommendation of a listing describing an item for sale and including a second user identifier corresponding to a second user is accessed from a recommendation database. The recommendation, including at least a portion of the listing and the second user identifier are displayed to the first user at the publisher site via the social shopping interface. | 07-14-2011 |
20110173096 | PAYMENT SERVICE CAPABLE OF BEING INTEGRATED WITH MERCHANT SITES - A computer-implemented service acts as an intermediary between merchant sites and users thereof, and enables the users to purchase items on the merchant sites without having to create accounts with such sites. A user may invoke the service from a web page of a merchant site, and complete a purchase transaction, without having to browse away from the merchant site. The service may either forward the user's payment information to the merchant's system to enable the merchant to charge the customer, or may charge the user on behalf of the merchant. In some implementations, the service enables users to make single-action purchases from the merchant sites. | 07-14-2011 |
20110184835 | Business-to-Business Electronic Commerce Clearinghouse - A business-to-business transaction clearinghouse integrates the traditional point-to-point business supply chain at the clearinghouse. The clearinghouse provides cost effective access to a wide variety of members and includes value-added services. Members of the clearinghouse can include trading members, members that help the trading members ship their products, and banking members. The clearinghouse facilitates business among the trading members by providing a single point of contact for all transactions. The clearinghouse can be specific to an industry, such as the chemical industry. Multiple industry specific clearinghouses may form a network clearinghouses to effectively create one larger and more general business-to-business electronic commerce community. | 07-28-2011 |
20110191208 | Notary application services - The unique part of our product is the invention of the all-in-one price packet, which includes all checks, fees, bonds, insurance and notary tools. | 08-04-2011 |
20110196760 | Online Marketplace for Bartering and Trading Used and Surplus Items - An online computer system for bartering and trading used or surplus items stores information on used items and calculates a value for the items. The system processes a search requests for desired items and automatically notifies an item owner when a purchaser's search matches the owner's item available for sale. The system facilitates communications between the parties regarding a potential trade of the item and automatically notifies a third-party that can provide services to facilitate and support the trade. After the parties agree to a trade, the system processes a transaction for the item by transferring credit from the account of the purchaser to the account of the seller based on the calculated value of the seller's item. The purchaser's credits amount in the purchaser's account can be based on a valuation of his used items stored on the online computer system. | 08-11-2011 |
20110202428 | BUSINESS METHOD OF REAL TIME GROUP BUYING - This invention is a kind of business method in electronic commerce for real-time group-buying, wherein buyers can buy commodities for the cheapest price through buyers organize automatically a buying grouping that buys the same goods during some time wherever they select commodities. This invention as a business method is the method comprising: 1) prepare the group-buying including registering buyers and sellers, 2) select commodities, 3) register buying-intention, 4) extract sellers, 5) transfer selling information, 6) select buying method, 7) register a buying contract, 8) transact the buying contract. This invention for a real-time group-buying enables buyers to prevent their buying from mutual consent between sellers, profiteering due to mutual consent and dishonesty by the operator of this invention of group-buying, because buying amount gathered through ‘Group-buying Server’ makes the buyers' group dominant and because buyers in group-buying can search all sellers and their ‘the terms of selling including prices’. Also, this invention enables buyers to overcome sellers' influence and to buy in real-time through group-buying, because buyers share their buying information by P2P method. | 08-18-2011 |
20110208612 | ELECTRONIC PAYMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - Provided in some embodiments is a method for conducting an honorary credit transaction. The method includes receiving a request to purchase an electronically transmittable item of a vendor via electronic communication network, wherein the electronically transmittable item is configured to be received via electronic transmission, providing honorary credit to a purchaser in exchange for an honorary commitment to provide payment for the electronically transmittable item to one or more agents, wherein the honorary commitment comprises a non-legally binding commitment to provide payment to the one or more agents for purchase of the electronically transmittable item, providing the electronically transmittable item to the purchaser via electronic transmission prior to receiving partial or complete payment for the electronically transmittable item, and receiving partial or complete payment for the electronically transmittable item via at least one of the one or more agents. | 08-25-2011 |
20110218878 | MANAGING TRANSACTIONS OF BROKER AFFILIATES - A distributed network transaction system and method includes a central exchange computer connected via the Internet (world wide web) to multiple remote computers associated with, for example, individual brokers. A central database is provided with the exchange computer and each remote computer can have a respective database for information that the individual brokers was to maintain separate from the system. E-commerce transactions are conducted by the system, which performs a number of transaction-related functions, such as pushing tickets up to the system for sale, purchasing tickets online, shipping, web site-related and bookkeeping. The system and methodology accommodate price event functions where non real-time tickets can be sold and the orders filled with tickets acquired on the system. | 09-08-2011 |
20110218879 | ELECTRONIC PAYMENT PROCESSING METHOD AND SYSTEM WITH SMART/AUTHENTICATE FIELDS AND DEFINITIONS - A method and corresponding system for supporting authentication processing of commercial transactions conducted over a communications network between consumers and merchants. Payment information for a commercial transaction between a consumer and a merchant is received over the communications network. The payment information identifies a payment instrument supporting an authenticated payment program. A determination is made as to whether to authenticate the consumer using the authenticated payment program based on authentication criteria defined by the merchant. The consumer is authenticated over the communications network in accordance with the authenticated payment program if authentication is determined to be appropriate based on the authentication criteria defined by the merchant. | 09-08-2011 |
20110218880 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS USING MOBILE DEVICE IN PAYMENT TRANSACTION - Systems and methods for performing a payment transaction are disclosed. In the embodiments of the invention, a mobile device is used by a user to receive an identifier associated with a piece of merchandise or a service from a merchant. The user then initiates a payment transaction with a remote payment server computer hosted by a third party processor. Upon completion of the payment transaction, the remote payment server computer notifies the user and the merchant that a payment has been made. The merchant then provide the merchandise or the service to the user. In the embodiments of the invention, a payment transaction is performed without exposing or disclosing financial account information of the user to the merchant. | 09-08-2011 |
20110218881 | INTERNET BILLING METHOD - The present disclosure may include, for example, a method for establishing a remitting arrangement between a provider and a vendor to create between the provider and the vendor an electronic process for remitting a portion of a transaction amount billed to at least one billing account of at least one customer associated with the provider for products or services purchased by the at least one customer from the vendor. The method can further include enabling, by way of equipment of the provider, equipment of the at least one customer to communicate with equipment of the vendor, and receiving at the equipment of the provider transactional information indicating that the at least one customer initiated an order for a product or service from the vendor for a transactional amount. The method can also include initiating with equipment of the provider the remittance of the portion of the transaction amount by way of the account of the vendor according to the remitting arrangement. Additional embodiments are disclosed. | 09-08-2011 |
20110225064 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR USING UNIVERSALLY UNIQUE ITEM IDENTIFIERS - Methods and systems for facilitating commercial programs involving consumer products using universally unique item identifiers (UUIIs) include supplying pluralities of universally unique item identifiers to third parties that mat be affixed on a one-to-one basis to products or various other items, and replying to requests for information corresponding to the UUII or an item to which it is affixed. | 09-15-2011 |
20110231283 | Online Processing for Offshore Business Transactions - A method and system for processing offshore online transaction use an intermediary platform to conduct foreign currency exchange on behalf of a buyer and an offshore seller. The method allows the buyer to purchase a product of an offshore merchant website using a local currency through the intermediary platform. The buyer places an order at the offshore merchant website, which sends an order request to the intermediary platform. The intermediary platform calculates the purchase amount in local currency, and exchanges the local currency amount provided by the user into an equivalent foreign currency amount through a financial platform, and sends a transaction message indicating successful payment to the offshore merchant website to allow shipping of the product. The intermediary platform periodically conducts accounting and profit sharing operations with the offshore merchant website. | 09-22-2011 |
20110231284 | MULTISYSTEM DISTRIBUTED PROCESSING OF PAYMENT AND/OR NON PAYMENT INFORMATION - Various systems and methods that may relate to referral and/or delivery services are described. Some embodiments may include communication using a payment processing device. Various other embodiments are described. | 09-22-2011 |
20110231285 | RETAIL MOBILE POINT-OF-SALE (POS) SOFTWARE APPLICATION - A portable electronic device includes a memory and processor. The memory stores instructions, which are part of a retail mobile software purchase software application. The instructions, which when executed by the processor cause the portable electronic device to first transmit an item search request. The device receives item information including item description and item price and also receives an item selection to purchase the item. The retail mobile software creates an order including the selected item and may add other selected items to the order. The retail mobile software application displays payment options for the order and receives a payment option selection for the order including the selected item. The retail mobile software application receives payment confirmation for the order including the selected item and displays receipt options for the order including the selected item. The retail mobile software application generates an electronic receipt for the order. | 09-22-2011 |
20110231286 | ON-LINE PAYMENT TRANSACTIONS - A computer-implemented method includes generating on a user terminal a merchant web site associated with a merchant with code for a merchant web page, transmitting a product selection request for the user to a remote open payment system that is separate from the merchant, and displaying purchase information responsive to the product selection request using the code for the merchant web page. | 09-22-2011 |
20110238529 | INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY TRADING EXCHANGE - A computerized intellectual property trading exchange is disclosed for facilitating the trading of license contracts relating to intellectual property rights. The exchange includes at least one intellectual property license contract relating to intellectual property rights and a computer-accessible forum configured to allow a plurality of participants to trade the license contract. The plurality of participants includes at least one seller, which may be the owner, having the license contract and desiring to trade the license contract. The plurality of participants also includes at least one buyer desiring to obtain the license contract. The buyer may be an investor, speculator, market maker, or arbitrageur, who purchases the license contract to achieve appreciation. The buyer also may be a licensee, who purchases the license contract to practice the intellectual property rights. | 09-29-2011 |
20110246324 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING PIN DEBIT TRANSACTIONS - A system for processing a debit transaction between a merchant and a consumer. The system includes one or more processors programmed to receive payment information for the consumer, collect authentication data for the debit card from the consumer, transmit an alias account number unique to the debit transaction to the merchant, receive a credit authorization message including the alias account number from the merchant, translate the credit authorization message to a debit authorization message using the authentication data, and transmit the debit authorization message to a payment processor. | 10-06-2011 |
20110251921 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO FACILITATE BILLING OF EMBEDDED APPLICATIONS IN A SERVING PLATFORM - Various embodiments described herein include one or more of systems, software, and methods to automatically facilitate a billing transaction between a third-party developer and a user subscribing to a third-party application. Some such embodiments create a sub-account under a serving platform account registered to the user. Some embodiments include storing a billing plan associated with the third-party application, the billing plan defining a fee to subscribe to the third-party application. | 10-13-2011 |
20110251922 | MULTI-PARTY PAYMENT OBJECT ORIENTED SYSTEM AND METHOD - The present invention involves a server for accommodating multiple payments in an e-commerce transaction. The server includes a processor with a communications device and software modules. The vendor software module is adapted to receive payment requirements from a vendor via the communications device, and also to receive payment parameters from an initiator. The payment parameters include an item payment amount and an identification of at least one contributor. The contributor software module is adapted to obtain payment information from at least one of the initiator and the contributors wherein the payment information is sufficient to authorize the commitment of funds to a transaction. The aggregation software module is adapted to send participation messages via the communications device to at least one contributor. The participation messages include information on the item, the item payment amount, and directions for the contributor to interact with the contributor module. Further, the aggregation software module maintains a total of committed funds and initiates a payment transaction when the committed funds are sufficient to pay the vendor the item payment amount. | 10-13-2011 |
20110258075 | Camera as a Vehicle to Identify a Merchant Access Device - Systems and methods of conducting a payment transaction using a mobile phone having a camera. The systems and methods receive an image of a merchant access device and optionally location data from a mobile device of a user engaged in the transaction. The systems and methods also receive transaction information associated with the transaction and account information associated with an account of the user. The systems and methods use the information to authorize or decline the transaction. | 10-20-2011 |
20110258076 | Payment processing systems - A system and methods using applications for payment of goods and/or services based on verifying whether geographic information received from an electronic device with the app corresponds with geographic information from a registered location. A processing center executes a default action when the geographic information so corresponds, and in one embodiment, the default action is to complete the transaction. | 10-20-2011 |
20110258077 | SECURE ELECTRONIC COMMERCE - Secure transactions are achieved over a public network by using a private network to handle the sensitive information of the transaction. When a client requests a product from a vendor server over a public network, the vendor server notifies a facilitation server on the public network. This results in the client receiving a set of computer readable instructions from the facilitation server. The set of instructions provide access instructions to a transaction server system on the private network so that sensitive transaction information is sent to the transaction server system on the private network rather than over the public Internet. Where the sensitive information is credit card information, the transaction server system may obtain authorisation for the transaction from a financial institution and then notify the vendor accordingly. Where the sensitive information is the identity of a user of the client, the transaction server may selectively authorise the transaction without the vendor being apprised of the identity of a user of the client. Secure communications may also be achieved by sending sensitive communications over the private network. | 10-20-2011 |
20110264558 | THIRD PARTY TRANSACTION PAYMENT PROCESSING - Methods and apparatuses for paying for items offered for sale are discussed herein. An example method may include a customer accepting a merchant's offer for sale of a product, the customer paying a third party for the product, and the third party facilitating the payment for the product to the merchant. | 10-27-2011 |
20110282759 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PERFORMING AN ACTION ON A PROGRAM OR ACCESSING THE PROGRAM FROM A THIRD-PARTY MEDIA CONTENT SOURCE - A program may be selected from a list of programs that is presented to the user. It may be determined whether the selected program is scheduled to be broadcast by a first media content source within a certain pre-determined time period. If the selected program is scheduled to be broadcast by the first media content source within the pre-determined time period, then the user may be provided with an opportunity to perform a certain action on the program. On the other hand, if the selected program is not scheduled to be broadcast within the pre-determined time period, the user may be provided with an opportunity to access the program from a third-party media content source. | 11-17-2011 |
20110282760 | Server apparatus and information processing system - Provided is a server apparatus including a first payment-information transmitting and receiving unit and a copy-permission-information providing unit. The first payment-information transmitting and receiving unit transmits and receives, via a network with respect to an information processing apparatus capable of reproducing a medium for rental in which a content protected from copying is recorded, information about payment necessary for obtaining a copy permission of a content recorded in the medium. The copy-permission-information providing unit provides information of permitting copying of the content via the network to the information processing apparatus every time when the copy-permission-information providing unit confirms completion of the payment through the transmission and reception of the information about the payment with respect to the information processing apparatus of the user. | 11-17-2011 |
20110288955 | SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING A PURCHASE REQUEST FOR GOODS OR SERVICES - An invoice processing system includes a requisition and catalog server (referred to as a Req/Cat Web, or RCW, server), a procurement services system (SAP), and a requester terminal (browser). ReqCat Web allows requesters to input requirements (requisitions) which ReqCat then passes to SAP, which creates purchase orders, sends them to vendors for fulfillment, receives the vendors invoices, and prepares the payments. Commodities may be designated as either receivable or non-receivable, and this designation is stored in ReqCat web and passed to SAP on inbound requisitions. Payments on invoices received for non-receivable items are approved via a positive confirmation process, and payments on invoices received for receivable items are approved via a negative confirmation process. Positive acceptance of an invoice by a requester of commodities triggers automatic generation of a goods received (move) ticket. | 11-24-2011 |
20110295713 | PURCHASING SYSTEM AND A METHOD FOR COMPUTERIZED SELLING IN A SERVICE STATION - A portable purchasing device is delivered to a vehicle of a customer of a service station. The customer initiates a purchase order by using the portable purchasing device. The purchase order is transmitted by the portable purchasing device, to a central purchase management computer that adds the purchase order to an order queue. A basket that includes products indicated in the purchase order, is delivered to the vehicle. | 12-01-2011 |
20110295714 | Object Information Derived from Object Images - Search terms are derived automatically from images captured by a camera equipped cell phone, PDA, or other image capturing device, submitted to a search engine to obtain information of interest, and at least a portion of the resulting information is transmitted back locally to, or nearby, the device that captured the image. | 12-01-2011 |
20110302053 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ONLINE SELECTION OF SERVICE PROVIDERS AND MANAGEMENT OF SERVICE ACCOUNTS - An interchange party computer system (IPCS) having means for presenting user interfaces to consumer computer systems and capturing data input through the user interfaces, the IPCS being associated with at least one database holding data representing a plurality of consumer profiles, the profiles including consumer profiles expressing service selection attributes for a plurality of service sectors, and at least one database holding data for a plurality of service programs under a plurality of service sectors, each sector being represented by service programs from a plurality of service providers, the IPCS including (a) a Service Comparison/Selection; (b) a Automatic Bill Payment Module; (c) an Automated Services Monitoring Module; (d) an Automated Best Services Selection Module; (e) a Services Search Module; (f) an Incentive Program Module; (g) a Data Mining Module; and/or (h) a Pooling Module. | 12-08-2011 |
20110302054 | DATA STORAGE AND ACCESS SYSTEMS - Data storage and access systems enable downloading and paying for data such as audio and video data, text, software, games and other types of data. A portable data carrier has an interface for sending and receiving data, data memory for storing received content data, and payment validation memory for providing payment validation data to an external device. The carrier may also store a record of access made to the stored content, and content use rules for controlling access to the stored content. Embodiments store further access control data and supplementary data such as hot links to web sites and/or advertising data. A complementary data access terminal, data supply computer system, and data access device are also described. The combination of payment data and stored content data and use rule data helps reduce the risk of unauthorized access to data such as compressed music and video data, especially over the Internet. | 12-08-2011 |
20110313883 | MANAGEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A PAYMENT SCHEME - A method of determining a set of recommendations of possible available entities, such as tickets, wherein the set of recommendations are available for presentation to a user and match at least one search criteria entered by the user, wherein the search is conducted via a third-party which has a predetermined relationship with a supplier of the possible available entities; the method comprising the steps of: | 12-22-2011 |
20110313884 | ONLINE LOAN APPLICATION SYSTEM USING BORROWER PROFILE INFORMATION THROUGH A BACKGROUND SEARCH PROCESS - Embodiments of an online credit application system are described. The online credit application system displays a solicitation page requesting user credit score information and a selection of desired loan products. Embodiments include means for receiving a request by the user to purchase an item through an online application form, the request including identification information of the user; means for determining whether financing is available for at least part of the purchase request; means for transmitting the identification information to a second server, wherein the second server is configured to obtain a measure of the user's qualification to obtain the financing through a below-the-line credit check from a credit bureau; means for receiving from the second server the measure of the user's qualification and comparing it to the requirements of the financing; and means for notifying the user that the financing is available if the measure of the user's qualification satisfies the requirements of the financing. | 12-22-2011 |
20110313885 | CUSTOM HAIR COLORING FORMULATION - There is disclosed a method for custom hair coloring formulation. The method includes accepting user input of user characteristics including natural hair color, current hair coloring, hair treatments, hair coloring characteristics and hair treatment characteristics. The method further includes accepting user input of desired hair coloring and identifying a hair colorant suitable to create the desired hair coloring in view of the user characteristics. An order is then generated for the hair colorant. | 12-22-2011 |
20110320313 | METHOD TO PROVIDE LIQUID FUNDS IN THE ONLINE AUCTION AND MARKETPLACE ENVIRONMENT - A method, apparatus, and computer readable storage to implement a lending system for use with electronic commerce web sites such as auction sites. A seller may receive a cash loan for items placed for sale but not yet purchased by a buyer. The seller can be required to pay back the loan after a predetermined amount of time or as soon as the item for sale is sold and payment is received from the buyer. The lender would charge interest or commission for the loan. In this manner, sellers can receive cash for items listed on auction sites before those items are actually sold, generating additional cash flow for the seller. | 12-29-2011 |
20110320314 | OPTICAL CONTACT LOADED MAGNETIC CARD - A magnetic interface card appears to be a payment card conventionally provided with an electromagnetic stripe and magnetic data tracks. A magnetic emissive element is disposed in the magnetic interface card body under the magnetic data tracks that can emit a variety of ISO-7813 track- | 12-29-2011 |
20110320315 | Method of using a code to track user access to content - A method for tracking user internet surfing involving steps of providing a computer hosting a plurality of contents stored on a computer storage medium; storing on the computer storage medium a surf code reference for each content in the plurality of contents; storing on the computer storage medium an identification of the user to enable the user to log in to the computer; enabling a logged-in user to access the computer through the requesting client to view a content in the plurality of contents; maintaining a user list comprising the surf-code reference of the content viewed by the logged-in user; enabling the logged-in user to access the user list to identify the content viewed by the logged-in user; and, presenting the content viewed by the logged-in user to the requesting client based on the user list. | 12-29-2011 |
20120005038 | System And Method For PCI-Compliant Transactions - A hosted PCI system for isolating a merchant ecommerce system from credit card data within the scope of PCI standards comprises a server responsive to communication from a purchaser's browser, redirected by the merchant system, for providing the purchaser's browser with a check-out page obtained from the merchant system that solicits the purchaser's actual credit card number. The hosted PCI system receives the purchaser's actual credit card number without exposing it to the merchant system, converts it to a mapped credit card which the merchant system can store without PCI compliance. | 01-05-2012 |
20120005039 | Method of conducting financial transactions - A method is provided of conducting a financial transaction with reduced likelihood of fraud where a first party's financial account information is entered using the first party's mobile device with a single initial entry to a payment service. Funds are transferred to and/or from the first party's financial account using the payment service. The first party is registered with the payment service, or becomes registered prior to transferring funds to and/or from the financial account using the payment service. For future uses of the first party's financial account to transfer funds to and/or from the first party's financial account, the first party's financial account information need not be entered again with the payment service. In response to, (i) entering the first party's financial account information or (ii) using the first party's mobile device for a financial transaction following the single initial entry to the payment service, a determination is made to see if a fraudulent attempt or fraudulent use of the first party's financial account information is committed. | 01-05-2012 |
20120005040 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CAPTURING VALUE FROM A PAYMENT DECLINE OR ERROR - Methods and systems for capturing value from a payment decline or error include receiving a token over a computer network identifying a merchant and a declined or failed transaction initiated by a consumer, receiving confirmation over the computer network that the consumer has accepted an offer for information about why the transaction failed or was declined, requesting transaction data from a payment gateway utilizing the token identifying the merchant and the transaction, receiving transaction data from the payment gateway for the declined or failed transaction, selecting a response to be delivered to the consumer based on the transaction data, and providing the response to the consumer. | 01-05-2012 |
20120011024 | Method for conducting financial transactions - A method is providing of paying second parties where if f they do not have an established association with the payment service, have an established association with the payment service prior to payment. The first party has an association with the payment service. A tab is opened by the first party that can be selected by the qualified second party at any geographic location of a first party's mobile device. The qualified second party is only able to charge a first party's financial account when the first party's mobile device is within a defined geographic area. The tab is a relationship between the first party, the payment service and the qualified second party. The qualified second party can engage in a financial transaction with the first party when the first party is within the defined geographic area. In response to the second party, (i) attempting to charge the first party or (ii) charging the first party, a determination is made to see if a fraudulent attempt or fraudulent use of the first party's financial account is committed. | 01-12-2012 |
20120011025 | Multi-Merchant Payment System - A method of payment for mufti-vendor gift cards, that performs actions including maintaining a merchandise database comprising records for merchandise and services for a plurality of merchants, enabling a gift card giver to interactively purchase a gift card for a gift card recipient, entitling the gift card recipient to redeem the gift card for items up to a specified spending limit, electronically transferring the money used to purchase the gift card into a card funding account that is used to pay for purchases by the gift card recipient, enabling the gift card recipient to interactively select one or more items from the merchandise database, thereby generating an aggregated selection of items for each merchant, issuing orders to each merchant in accordance with the aggregated selected items corresponding to each merchant and paying each merchant the amount of their respective order from the card funding account. | 01-12-2012 |
20120011026 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CUSTOM STRATEGY SPECIFICATION IN A HOSTED ELECTRONIC TRANSACTION SERVICE SYSTEM - A merchant generates a customized service strategy related to a suite of electronic transaction services hosted by a service provider. The custom strategy specifies services to perform, and possibly an order in which to perform the services, by a service provider in relation to an electronic transaction associated with the merchant. Through use of a user interface, the strategy can be represented as a graphical decision tree, with terminal nodes representing services or actions. A customized strategy is transmitted to a service provider, as is transaction related information, whereby the service provider can service the transaction according to the strategy and based on the transaction information. Scheduling information that specifies different strategies to apply to different transaction scenarios can be generated. A strategy is selected by a service provider based on the scheduling information and transaction information, and is used to service one or more electronic transactions. | 01-12-2012 |
20120011027 | DOWNLOADING SYSTEM, AND UNIT, METHOD AND PROGRAM FOR THE SAME - Each of two or more terminals includes calling relationship transmission means which transmits calling relationship information regarding an application (or content data) to a management unit and download means which downloads an application. The management unit includes calling relationship statistics storage means which stores calling relationship statistical information generated based on the calling relationship information received from the terminals. An application server includes attribute generating means which generates attribute data, including information representing applications having high probabilities of being called up during the execution of an application as related applications, for each application managed by the application server based on the calling relationship statistical information. The download means further downloads an application based on the attribute data generated by the attribute generating means. | 01-12-2012 |
20120022968 | USING A FIRST NETWORK TO CONTROL ACCESS TO A SECOND NETWORK - A wireless communication device is configured to be able to communicate via both a first access point and a second access point for using the first access point to obtain validation credentials in order to permit use of the second access point to access a network. The wireless communication device comprises a processor; and a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions. The instructions are operable to: initiate communication with the second access point in order to access a network; obtain an access point identifier from the second access point, the access point identifier for identifying the second access point; transmit the access point identifier to a validation server via the first access point; receive validation credentials from the validation server via the first access point; and use the validation credentials to validate the wireless communication device with the second access point to obtain access to the network. | 01-26-2012 |
20120022969 | RELATED PARTY PAYMENT SYSTEM - Systems and methods are disclosed herein which that enable a first party, such as a child, to selected one or more items offered by an online retailer and to send a request to a second party, such as a parent or guardian, to request that the second party purchase the item or items for the first party. The systems and methods provide the second party with the ability to view requests received from the first party, to set limits on the number of requests and the amounts of the requests that the first party may make. The second party may also designate the parties to whom the first party may submit purchase requests. The child may also submit request to one or more non-parental contributors who may contribute money toward the purchase the one or more items for the child. | 01-26-2012 |
20120022970 | DEAL MATCHING SYSTEM - A multiple criteria buying and selling system and method is provided. A seller initially establishes a deal structure for a product, which provides seller defined selling criteria information relating to the purchasing of the product, such as volume per unit price, quality, delivery time and warranty information. A buyer will be able to review a list of deals if the seller's selling criteria matches a buyer defined buying criteria. The deal structure is preferably set up so as to provide buyers with both price and non-price criteria information that the buyer's would consider important in a purchase of the type of product being offered by the seller. The deal structure is electronically made available to potential buyers of the product. For example, the deal structure may be displayed on an Internet site. | 01-26-2012 |
20120030066 | PAYMENT SYSTEM - Embodiments of the invention provide a method of processing payment authorization requests for payment transactions to be conducted via a data communications network on behalf of online merchants, the payment authorization requests are conducted as a result of orders by financial instrument holders via a plurality of different online merchant systems. Each of the online merchants has an online merchant identity. The method is conducted by a trusted central intermediary system which is arranged to transmit payment authorization requests to each of a plurality of different online merchant Internet Payment Service Provider (IPSP) systems. Each merchant IPSP system is arranged to transmit payment authorization requests to at least one of a plurality of acquiring bank payment processor systems, and each of said plurality of acquiring bank payment processor systems is responsible for processing payment authorizations for at least one of said acquiring banks. Embodiments of the invention enable a user to select a payment method on a per transaction basis, whilst removing the requirement for the user to provide payment details to individual online merchant systems or to their merchant IPSP systems. Thus, providing that online merchants, or their merchant IPSPs, subscribe to a service arranged to perform the method, users only have to submit their respective payment details, preferably only once, to a separate, trusted entity. | 02-02-2012 |
20120036042 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CHECKOUT AND CUSTOMER DATA CAPTURE IN COMMERCE APPLICATIONS - A commerce checkout and customer data capture system for merchants to deliver commerce functionalities to consumer computing devices for completing purchase and payment transactions includes a commerce application and a commerce gateway server comprising a checkout application and a secure payment application. A plurality of merchants are configured to provide product offers to the consumer computing device via the commerce application, to process purchase transactions with the checkout application, and to receive payments via the secure payment application. The checkout application provides responses to purchase transaction requests including “CreateCheckout” for setting up and capturing purchase transaction data, and consumer related data, “Checkout” for calling a checkout transaction user interface, and “GetCheckoutStatus” for checking status of a checkout transaction. The checkout application further captures additional data used to provide fulfillment capabilities, tax calculation, risk management, fraud control, and targeted marketing analytics. | 02-09-2012 |
20120036043 | SOCIAL BUSINESS TO BUSINESS MARKETPLACE SYSTEM AND METHOD - A social business to business (B2B) marketplace and method are provided that provides a business to business network marketplace and facilitates social interactions between the participants in the plurality of B2B marketplace. The social business to business (B2B) network marketplace and method provide both public and private marketplaces and social interactions and allows to conduct business by ordering from storefront. | 02-09-2012 |
20120036044 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO FACILITATE A PAYMENT IN SATISFACTION OF ACCUMULATED MICROPAYMENT COMMITMENTS TO A VENDOR - Methods and systems for facilitating payments between payors and payees are presented. In an example, a plurality of payment commitments made to a payee is accessed. The plurality of payment commitments are made by a plurality of payors to the payee and contribute to a total commitment receivable value of the payee. The total commitment receivable value is calculated based on the plurality of payment commitments made to the payee. A priority of the total commitment receivable value of the payee relative to other total commitment receivable values of other payees is determined. A payment process is initiated based at least in part on the priority of the total commitment receivable value of the payee. The payment process includes a transfer of the total commitment receivable value from one of the payors to the payee. | 02-09-2012 |
20120041843 | METERED DELIVERY OF WIRELESS POWER - A system is disclosed for charging or billing for access to wireless power. The device requiring power communicates with the power provider and the billing method is determined. A consumer may be required to provide billing information, or if the billing information is already associated with an existing account, the consumer account is automatically charged for the wireless power. The account may include prepaid charging minutes that are debited as wireless power is provided, or the account may be billed for the wireless power that is provided. The charging/billing for the wireless power may be used to receive value for the power that is provided, while remaining consumer friendly. | 02-16-2012 |
20120047046 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FACILITATING FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS OVER A NETWORK - Systems and methods for facilitating financial transactions over a network include a merchant device, a client device and a payment processing device. The merchant device is adapted to allow a merchant to provide items for purchase via the network. The client device is adapted to allow a user to access the merchant device via the network and view the items for purchase. The client device is adapted to provide a payment mechanism to the user. The user generates a purchase request for an item by selecting the one item, dragging the item to the payment mechanism, and dropping the item over the payment mechanism. The payment processing device is adapted to receive the purchase request from the client device via the network and authorize the user to purchase the item from the merchant based on information passed with the purchase request. | 02-23-2012 |
20120059736 | PROCESSING VALUE-ASCERTAINABLE ITEMS - Techniques are provided for allowing a merchant to process third party closed-loop instruments (such as gift cards) as if the closed-loop instruments were open-loop instruments. A customer provides card data of a third party gift card to a merchant, e.g., online or in a merchant store, for the purchase of one or more items provided by the merchant. The merchant sends the gift card data to an intermediary that deducts at least a portion of the balance of the gift card. The intermediary sends an offer for the gift card to the customer. If the customer accepts the offer, then the merchant applies the offer towards the total purchase price of the one or more items. | 03-08-2012 |
20120066090 | ONLINE QUICK KEY PAY - A quick pay option is provided so that a user can make a payment from a merchant site by simply entering in a user identifier in a pop-up window. Limits are set for the quick pay option and may vary between different merchants. The payment provider is able to determine the merchant, user, and transaction information automatically, such that the user may only be required to enter the identifier to process and complete the payment. | 03-15-2012 |
20120066091 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR COMMUNICATING ASSET INFORMATION - Apparatus and methods for use with a security system such as a benefit denial system may involve a containing element configured to receive an asset that may include a benefit for a user of the asset. The apparatus may include an electrical circuit operatively associated with the containing element and configured to communicate information to a receiver outside the containing element. The information may be configured to be used by the benefit denial system to provide the benefit to the user. Apparatus and methods for executing a conveyance of an interest in an asset from a first party to a second party may involve a containing element having an electrical circuit configured to communicate information corresponding to the asset to a receiver outside the containing element. An electrical circuit may be provided with means for destruction of the circuit by an asset user. | 03-15-2012 |
20120066092 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR PREDICTING BEST/WORST TIME TO BUY - In response to a user request for information on the best/worst days in an upcoming time period to buy a commodity, a vehicle data system may determine anticipated daily discounts applicable to the commodity. An example commodity may be a vehicle of a specific configuration. In one embodiment, characteristics of month, day of week, and day of month may be gathered and fed into a Best Day to Buy model to determine, for each day of the time period, a projected daily discount relative to a set price for the commodity. Additional input variables such as incentives and seasonal discounts may be included. From the computed daily discounts, the vehicle data system may determine the best day and/or the worst day to buy and report same to the user. | 03-15-2012 |
20120072305 | TRANSACTION SPLIT FEES - A transaction fee imposed by a payment provider may be allocated between the parties to an on-line transaction in any way and at any time. This adds flexibility to the transaction and allows the parties to allocate the transaction fee on a per transaction basis that best suits the parties. | 03-22-2012 |
20120072306 | Payment Service Provision With Reduced Transaction Costs - A method for providing on-line payment services is provided where a payment service provider pays for a plurality of purchases that are made by a user during a plurality of on-line shopping sessions. An authorization is received for the payment service provider to collect a reimbursement amount from a financial institution of the user. The reimbursement amount is at least equal to a cumulative amount of the payments for the plurality of purchases made by the user during the plurality of on-line shopping sessions. The payment service provider collects the reimbursement amount in a single transaction from the financial institution of the user and pays a fee to the financial institution of the user. The fee is based on the single transaction carried out to collect the reimbursement amount rather than being applied to each of the plurality of purchases or assessed as a percentage of the reimbursement amount, which allows the payment service provider to reduce the costs associated with providing payment services. | 03-22-2012 |
20120072307 | PROVIDING A MARKETPLACE FOR SOFTWARE SERVICES - A marketplace machine may provide a marketplace for the software service developed by a developer. The marketplace machine may register a software service, configure a server to provide the software service, and advertise the software service to potential consumers (e.g., other developers). The marketplace machine may receive a request (e.g., a call) to invoke the software service, route the request to a server configured to provide the software service, and record (e.g., meter) the usage of the software service. When the software service is invoked by a consumer, the marketplace machine may charge the consumer a fee for usage of the software service. Furthermore, the marketplace machine may generate and provide a report that indicates usage of the software service. | 03-22-2012 |
20120072308 | INTERNET BILLING METHOD - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, identifying a consumer account managed by a service provider to which purchases are chargeable, the identification of the account based on transactional information, enabling customer equipment to request a purchase of an electronically-purchasable item of a vendor via network equipment of the service provider, wherein the vendor is a party other than the service provider, charging the consumer account a fee for a purchase initiated by the customer equipment, and remitting a portion of the fee to an account of the vendor. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 03-22-2012 |
20120072309 | METHOD FOR SECURE TRANSACTIONS - The present invention relates to a method for a secure transaction, wherein a buying part utilizes a portable radio communication device ( | 03-22-2012 |
20120078750 | Method and system for purchasing goods and services for a group of individuals through a communication network - Allowing users to organize financial resources, it is one object of the present invention to provide a ticket vending and purchasing system for preventing illegal activities, such as ticket scalping, and for ensuring the price determiner is able to exercise their right to setting the price for events. A group purchasing method and system using the Internet is provided. Members of a group register for an event and provide a method of individual payment. A following permission to allow purchase by a system defined agent allows a single agent to purchase the group package for all registered members. The system uses each person's payment information and not only a single user's. | 03-29-2012 |
20120078751 | Mobile device point of sale transaction system - A system and method for a more convenient and secure purchase transaction system using a mobile device associated with a user and a COIN financial instrument that is used as a payment instrument between the user and the merchant. The user and the merchant each sign up with the COINS payment transaction system to transmit and use the COIN to transfer a financial payment from an account the user has established with the COIN system to the account of the merchant. The COIN financial instrument is a one-time use financial construct that includes two or more validation and authentication data points, and that is renewed after each transaction with a new, never used COIN financial instrument. | 03-29-2012 |
20120078752 | TRANSACTION IDENTIFIED HANDLING SYSTEM - The present invention relates to methods, a transaction router ( | 03-29-2012 |
20120084177 | LOCATION BASED TRANSACTIONS - A user's location is determined by location information communicated by a user device, such as a smart phone. Merchants near the user location are determined and selected. Merchant payment information is transmitted to the user device so that the user can easily make a payment to the merchant through the user device. Merchant offerings may also be sent to the user device for purchase and subsequent payment, where the merchant offerings may be specifically selected for the user. | 04-05-2012 |
20120084178 | Processing An Online Transaction Involving A Payment Service Provider - A computer-implemented method for processing an online transaction involving a payment service provider includes receiving, in a backend system and from a frontend system, an initiate payment message generated by a user application for a transaction involving a payment service provider external to the frontend and backend systems. The method includes forwarding a set checkout instruction from the backend system to the payment service provider with first information about the transaction. The method includes redirecting the user application from the frontend system to the payment service provider. The method includes receiving a finalize payment instruction in the backend system from the frontend system after redirecting the user application from the frontend system. The method includes forwarding, in response to the finalize payment instruction, a perform checkout instruction from the backend system to the payment service provider with second information about the transaction. | 04-05-2012 |
20120089480 | ONLINE PURCHASING SYSTEM AND METHODS WITH BUYER'S AGENCY - A method of operating an online purchasing system for use by a plurality of buyers includes receiving product information from a client system including a buyer-observed price of a product that is input by one of the plurality of buyers, using a server system to execute a multi-input search algorithm and to determine a sales price for the product, wherein the sales price is a lowest price available from at least one online search tool and the buyer-observed price, and transmitting the sales price to a client system for display to one of the plurality of buyers. | 04-12-2012 |
20120089481 | SECURING SENSITIVE INFORMATION WITH A TRUSTED PROXY FRAME - A system and method for secure transmission of sensitive end user information from an Internet portal operated by a publisher to a third party data processor. The publisher provides a content portal such as an e-commerce or healthcare information site. A third party data processor such as a bank or healthcare organization requires the sensitive information for a data processing function. In response to the requirement for sensitive information, a trusted proxy frame is invoked from a secure server operative to securely communicate the sensitive information. The trusted proxy frame is displayed in a secure context in the end user's browser and receives input of the sensitive information. The sensitive information is encrypted and communicated through the secure server to the third party data processor. Results of this processing are transmitted to the publisher through a novel callback process that enables the publisher to execute its data processing functions, as if it was in possession of the sensitive information, but without actual access to the sensitive information. The third party data processor returns an acknowledgement of processing of the sensitive information. | 04-12-2012 |
20120089482 | LAST-ROOM-AVAILABLE SEARCH APPARATUS AND METHOD - A system and method for customer-oriented searching and purchasing of goods and services relies on a database having records corresponding to purveyors, products and services, and purchasers and maintained by a third party independent from all the foregoing. Searches may obtain information with or without cooperation of purveyors (vendors). Filtering before presentation to a user, according to specific needs or requirements eliminates inapplicable vendors, products, or services. Particularly, if quality rating, features, or actual availability is lacking, the system does not waste a user's time to evaluate. Deal-killer parameters and values punish vendors lacking disclosure. Rather than publish what the seller wants to advertise, the system retrieves for a user the information on items that meet criteria of, and according to their importance to, a user, especially deal-killer parameters. | 04-12-2012 |
20120089483 | ESCROW PAYMENT TO FACILIATE ON-LINE TRANSACTIONS - A system and method enables sellers to define a secret shared with an on-line payment provider when listing an item or service for purchase. Consumers deposit funds into an on-line escrow or holding account before committing to a financial on-line transaction or purchase. Once an item is located, the consumer may contact the seller for additional information. By placing funds in escrow, the seller may be more willing to spend the time and effort to deal with the consumer. The consumer, in turn, receives more information to make a purchasing decision. If the transaction is to be completed, the consumer instructs the payment provider maintaining the escrow account to release the funds to the seller's account. The seller is notified by the payment provider, where the notification includes the secret. This enables the seller to authenticate the confirmation message. | 04-12-2012 |
20120095867 | Integrated read head device - An integrated read head system includes a mobile device with an audio jack and at least one microphone input port. A read head is physically coupled to the mobile device. The read head has a slot for swiping a magnetic stripe of a financial transaction card to enable a financial transaction between a buyer and seller. The read head reads data on the magnetic stripe and produces a signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe. The read head has an output jack that physically connects the read head to at least one of the audio jack or microphone port of the mobile device. The read head provides the signal to the mobile device. The signal is decoded at the mobile device. The decoding includes determining pulses in the signal and converting at least some of the pulses to characters. | 04-19-2012 |
20120095868 | Read head device with selected output jack characteristics - A read head is configured to be coupled to the mobile device. The read head is positioned in a housing. The read head has a slot for swiping a magnetic stripe of a financial transaction card to enable a financial transaction between a buyer and seller. The read head reads data from the magnetic stripe and produces a signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe. The read head includes an output jack adapted to be inserted at least one of the audio jack or microphone input port of the mobile appliance to provide a signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe to, the mobile device. The output jack extends at least 2 mm from the housing. | 04-19-2012 |
20120095869 | Read head device with narrow card reading slot - A read head is positioned in a housing and configured to be coupled to a mobile device. The read head has a slot for swiping a magnetic stripe of a financial transaction card. The slot is utilized to complete a financial transaction between a buyer and seller. The read head reads data on the magnetic stripe and produces a signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe. The read head device includes an output jack adapted to be inserted at least one of the audio jack or microphone input port of a mobile appliance for providing a signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe to the mobile device. The slot is configured to maintain contact between the read head and the magnetic stripe of the financial transaction card during a swipe and decoding of the signal is performed in the mobile device. The decoding includes determining pulses in the signal and converting at least some of the pulses to characters. | 04-19-2012 |
20120095870 | Read head device with slot configured to reduce torque - A read head system has a housing and a read positioned in the housing with a slot for swiping a magnetic stripe of a financial transaction card with the slot utilized to enable a financial transaction between a buyer and seller. The read head reads data on the magnetic stripe and produces a signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe. The read head includes an output jack configured to be coupled to at least one of a audio jack or microphone port of a mobile device. The read head provides the signal to the mobile device. The slot is oriented and sized to reduce torque applied on the read head as the financial transaction card is swiped through slot in order to maintain accuracy and reliability of the data read by the read head. Decoding of the signal is performed in the mobile device. The decoding includes determining pulses in the signal and converting at least some of the pulses to characters. | 04-19-2012 |
20120095871 | Method for conducting on-line purchases using a mobile device and a payment service - A method is provided for conducing on-line purchases using a mobile device. A first party visits a second party on-line entity. The first party accesses a second party on-line entity. The first party is already registered with the payment service or becomes registered prior to the conclusion of completing a transaction. The mobile device is configured to communicate with the payment service. The first party considers conducting a transaction with the second party on-line entity. The second party on-line entity is registered with the payment service, or in response to the first party's desire to transact with the second party on-line entity, the second party on-line entity becomes registered with the payment service. The first party enters personal identifying information that is sent to the payment service. In response, the first party receives a push notification to the first party's mobile device that enables the first party to complete the transaction with the second party on-line entity. | 04-19-2012 |
20120095872 | MANY-TO-ONE TRANSACTION FULFILMENT SYSTEM - There is provided, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus, system, and method to provide substantially in real time personalized and/or customized consumer credit from multiple money sources into substantially any shopping basket or facility on the Internet or on a mobile network. In one embodiment, a consumer credit provider may provide supplementary or complimentary credit to enable an online purchase, in combination with existing credit sources, in a substantially transparent way, such that the user feels that only one transaction is taking place. | 04-19-2012 |
20120095873 | ESCROW MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR MARKETPLACES - An escrow management system is described. Transaction information between the seller and the buyer from the online marketplace application is received. A shipping transaction information associated with the transaction of a shipping vendor of the marketplace is received. The transaction information and the shipping transaction information are communicated to a financial journaling system. A balance manager module provides collection and payment for the transaction and the shipping transaction in real time, provides a real time journal of the transaction and the shipping transaction, and synchronizes with the financial journaling system without having to manually reconcile with the online market application and the shipping vendor. The balance manager module provides an integrated system to track cash flows related to the collection and payment corresponding to the transaction and shipping transaction. | 04-19-2012 |
20120095874 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO FACILITATE TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN ORGANIZATION REGISTRANTS AND MERCHANDISE SUPPLIERS - A registration system receives a registration to participate with an organization and a merchandise purchase order from a participant. The registration and merchandise order is processed in a single shopping cart transaction by the organization. Provision of merchandise and order fulfillment is performed by a merchandise supplier of the merchandise that ships the merchandise ordered directly to the participant. Merchandise supplier is compensated through a separate agreement with the organization. | 04-19-2012 |
20120101915 | COMMISSION BASED SALE ON E-COMMERCE - One embodiment provides a method for facilitating a seller of a product to sell the product. The method includes accessing information retrieved from a search query conducted by a potential buyer for the product. The buyer information of the potential buyer is extracted form the accessed information. The buyer information includes, for example, contact and interest information of the potential buyer. Thereafter, the buyer information of the potential buyer is transmitted to a third party. In turn, a compensation for the product is received from the potential buyer, in which the compensation identifies the third party as a promoter of the product. A commission is then transferred to the third party in response to the received compensation for the product from the potential buyer. | 04-26-2012 |
20120101916 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SELECTION OF PAYMENT SYSTEMS FROM A PAYMENT SYSTEM DIRECTORY TO PROCESS A TRANSACTION - Dynamically enabling and facilitating businesses or other entities to locate and transact with payment systems for the purpose of processing payments. A customer interacts with a supplier of an item (e.g., goods or services), selects an item for purchase, and provides the supplier with payment criteria. The supplier queries a payment system directory to locate candidate payment systems for the transaction. The supplier then interacts directly with one or more of the payment systems to partially or fully process payment for the transaction. Alternatively, the supplier interacts with a gateway service, which queries a payment system directory to locate candidate payment systems and then interacts with one or more of the payment systems to process payment for the transaction. | 04-26-2012 |
20120109780 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS TO SUPPLEMENT A LISTING VIA A THIRD PARTY TRUST PROVIDER - Various embodiments include a method and system to supplement a listing via a third party trust provider. Responsive to an event associated with an item listing, supplemental trust information is requested from a third party trust provider using at least one predetermined criterion from the item listing. At least a portion of the supplemental trust information may be stored in the item listing. A notification may be presented in response to a trigger based on the at least a portion of the STI stored in the item listing. | 05-03-2012 |
20120109781 | PASSIVE SHOPPING SERVICE OPTIMIZATION - A shopping system may receive, from a user, a request to add information about an item to a watch list associated with the user; may receive, from the user, a price associated with the item; and may receive, from the user, a schedule associated with the item. The shopping system may identify a vendor offer associated with the item and associated with a particular vendor, where the vendor offer includes a price that is less than or equal to the received price, the identifying being based on the schedule associated with the item; and may provide a notification to the user, where the notification includes information about the identified vendor offer. | 05-03-2012 |
20120116918 | SECURE PAYMENT MECHANISM - A processing device of a user, comprising a user interface, processing capability, a biometric reader, and a connection to the Internet, configured to acquire biometric data from the user by the biometric reader, transmit a claim to a payment server, via the Internet, that a payment should be executed, receive an authentication request form from the payment server via the Internet, forward the authentication request form together with identification data including a representation of the biometric data to an identity provider, IdP, server via the Internet, receive an authentication reply form from the IdP server, and forward the authentication reply form to the payment server is disclosed. | 05-10-2012 |
20120116919 | Method for Recipient Orientated Financial Services - A method allowing a first person to provide a “virtual” gift to a second party is disclosed, referred to as a “credit gifting” system, wherein the first person accesses an application allowing predetermined aspects of the gift, such as the retailer, store, product type etc. to predetermined whilst adding personal messages etc. The second person receives a credit towards the purchase of the gift, the credit being redeemable at the defined retailer or store for any wares/services or only those identified by first person. If the credit so gifted is not redeemed within predetermined time the first person is re-credited. In another embodiment the second person is able to select the retailer or store to redeem from or if unable to redeem themselves allocate a proxy. Accordingly the method overcomes drawbacks of current “captive” gift cards and pre-paid gift cards whilst also offering enhanced registry services etc. | 05-10-2012 |
20120130854 | AskMyEsq: Automated Business and Legal Advisory Providing Methodology - AskMyEsq is an automated business methodology that eliminates the need for front office and in-person advisory services in firms. AskMyEsq involves customers contacting attorneys directly via E-mail for advisory services, thus eliminating the cumbersome process of contacting the front office of the firm to schedule time to talk with an attorney and make a payment for the services. AskMyEsq helps faster and 24×7 reach out to attorneys. The system will help firms make attorneys accessible to customers at all times in an affordable way by eliminating the overheads of having the traditional front office. In AskMyEsq, attorneys directly receive advisory requests on-line from customers. Upon receipt of the request, attorneys analyze the request, give professional response, specify a fee and optionally reserve a time-slot. Customers will then be able to view the advisory given and/or confirm the time-slot for meeting by paying the designated fee on-line. | 05-24-2012 |
20120143722 | Fraud Deterrence for Electronic Transactions - Systems and methods are described for providing fraud deterrents during e-commerce, e-transactions, and digital rights management and access. One or more fraud deterrents may be automatically selected by a client, seller, bank, or other third-party and may be implemented or presented to the client as a potential fraud deterrent option that may be chosen. Fraud deterrent options may be provided which are associated with particular aspects of the transaction including a client's profile, the value of an item, or the preferences of the seller. The fraud deterrent features can be provided as part of a digital shopping cart and may be highly customized by the client including allowing the client to customize conceptual passwords which are presented during subsequent transactions. | 06-07-2012 |
20120143723 | COMPUTER-BASED METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AIDING TRANSACTIONS - A method for providing a warranty relating to a transaction between two parties, each party being a client of at least one respective institution which provides services to the respective party, the method including:
| 06-07-2012 |
20120143724 | METHOD FOR SELLING CONTENT OVER A NETWORK - A method to generate revenue from supplied content is provided. Content is provided to a consumer via a network by providing a content service that allows the consumer to select and retrieve content as a package together with a clearing of the selectable content to an operator used by the consumer to select and retrieve the content via the network. Any content selected by the consumer is supplied directly to the consumer via the operator. The operator is charged for the supplied content. | 06-07-2012 |
20120150686 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INTEGRATION OF TRAVEL AND RELATED SERVICES AND OPERATIONS - One aspect of the invention is directed to integrating mobile devices, such as smartphones, tablets, etc., into a mobile retail environment commercial system. A mobile device includes a mobile store module that provides an interactive user experience that allows a traveler to browse goods or services that are available in the mobile retail environment. The device further includes a mobile store inventory records module that maintains records of goods and services that are available in each particular mobile retail environment. An update module facilitates data connectivity with a remote server to update the stored data in the mobile store inventory records module. The remote server, in turn, is communicatively coupled with a transportation service provider system, such as an airline business system that provides information on individual travelers and their itineraries. The mobile device further includes an in-flight data exchange module that facilitates interaction with a point-of-sale device. | 06-14-2012 |
20120150687 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONDUCTING CONTACTLESS PAYMENTS USING A MOBILE DEVICE AND A MAGSTRIPE PAYMENT CARD - Systems and methods for conducting contactless payments using a mobile device and a magstripe payment card are provided. One such method includes receiving, at the mobile device and prior to a requested financial transaction, a dynamic authentication token from a server, the dynamic authentication token indicative of a predetermined authentication of a magstripe payment card based on data obtained during a swipe of the magstripe payment card; wirelessly transmitting, in response to a request to facilitate a financial transaction, the dynamic authentication token from the mobile device to a contactless payment terminal; and sending the dynamic authentication token and information related to the requested financial transaction to the server for authorization of the requested financial transaction. | 06-14-2012 |
20120150688 | PAYMENT SERVICE TO EFFICIENTLY ENABLE ELECTRONIC PAYMENT - A method comprising communicating a web page, over a network, to a merchant server associated with a merchant. The web page includes a plurality of input mechanisms for receiving a plurality of reference return network addresses. The method further comprises receiving a first reference return network address, over a network, from the merchant, the first reference return network address being received at the payment service server, the first reference return network address identifying an interface that is hosted by a first merchant web site that is operated by the merchant and being utilized as a first landing page to which the consumer user is redirected to by the payment server to execute a transaction between the consumer user and the merchant. Finally, the method comprises storing the first reference return network address at the payment service server in user profile information that is associated with the merchant. | 06-14-2012 |
20120150689 | Marketplace Payments - Described herein is a virtual marketplace via which buyers and sellers can conclude transactions for the sale of goods and services. To facilitate payments for goods and services, and to encourage use of the marketplace, the system facilitates the establishment of interest bearing accounts, via which a buyer can fund transactions, | 06-14-2012 |
20120150690 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENABLING A FUNDRAISING AND CONTRIBUTIONS PROGRAM USING FUNDRAISING CARDS REDEEMABLE FOR BRANDED STORED-VALUE CARDS - Disclosed is a system and method for enabling a fundraising program using fundraising cards redeemable by not-for-profit (“NPO”) supporters for branded stored-value cards. The system includes a scrip company host system having a server, where the server includes a microcontroller. A remote user device, having a display, is operatively coupled to the scrip company host system and configured to enable access to the scrip company web site. The microcontroller is adapted to detect access to the scrip company web site by a NPO, and cause the plurality of fundraising cards to be distributed to the NPO in response to detecting an order for the plurality of fundraising cards by the NPO. The fundraising cards are distributed to the NPO prior to receiving payment from the NPO for the fundraising cards, thereby making it unnecessary for the NPO to carry a paid-for inventory of fundraising cards. | 06-14-2012 |
20120158542 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTHENTICATING PAYMENTS OVER A NETWORK - A system and method for facilitating electronic commerce over a network, according to one or more embodiments, includes communicating with a user via a user device over the network, distributing a resident application to the user device over the network, displaying a service icon on the user device, and receiving an authentication request from the user via the user device over the network. The service icon is linked to the resident application, and the authentication request includes user credentials inputted by the user via user selection of the service icon and resulting user access of the resident application. The system and method includes communicating with the resident application on the user device to request user confirmation of the authentication request, receiving user confirmation from the user via the user device over the network, authorizing the authentication request, and notifying the user of the authorized authentication request over the network via the resident application. | 06-21-2012 |
20120166308 | METHOD AND APPARATUS IN-APPLICATION PURCHASING - Techniques for purchasing items within an application on user equipment comprises determining at a network service store that a first message is received through a communications network from an application on user equipment. The message indicates a first item to purchase. A publisher different from the network service store has granted approval to use the application on the user equipment. The network service store determines whether payment is arranged from a user of the user equipment to pay for the first item. If payment is arranged, then the network service store causes, at least in part, actions that result in approval from the publisher to use the first item on the user equipment. | 06-28-2012 |
20120166309 | AUTHENTICATION SYSTEM AND AUTHENTICATION METHOD USING BARCODES - Disclosed is an authentication method using barcodes. the authentication method includes: converting into a first barcode and outputting, by a first user device, authentication related information provided from a service providing server; receiving, by a second user device, the first barcode; generating, by the second user device, signature information or authentication information on the authentication related information by using a signature key or a certificate; and providing, by the second user device, the signature information or the authentication information to the service providing server. | 06-28-2012 |
20120166310 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR BROKERING INDUSTRIAL SERVICE CONTRACTS - A system and method for brokering industrial service contracts is described. The system registers customer users and service provider users. Further, customers may enter order data corresponding to a request for industrial service. Service provider users may enter qualification data corresponding to their ability or capacity to take on service contracts. The system implements a matching module based on the customer user-entered order data to generate a ranked list of suitable service provider users. Sequential offers are made to the qualified service providers in ranked order until an offer is accepted. | 06-28-2012 |
20120173385 | Method and System for a Cloud Based Online Commerce and Listing Service for Item Providers - A cloud based service system for providing an online commerce and listing service comprising a cloud component configured to support the online commerce and listing service for a plurality of item providers and communicate with a plurality of subscriber websites accessible by a plurality of online user devices, a repository coupled to the cloud component and configured to store information for a plurality of items provided by the item providers, and an agent component for websites who subscribe to the online commerce and listing service, wherein the agent component is configured to match and embed an item description and shopping information to content of at least one of the subscriber websites. | 07-05-2012 |
20120179575 | METHODS FOR AUTOMATED ACCESS TO SHIPPING SERVICES - Systems and methods are disclosed for obtaining shipping services information over a network by a telephone call center receiving orders for merchandise. Instructions are received at the telephone call center, which permits the telephone call center to access the shipping information for shipment of the merchandise. The telephone call center sends the request over the network to the server for the shipping services information. Thereafter, the server sends the requested shipping services information to the telephone call center. The shipping service information may be in the format of a label, which may be attached to a package for shipment of the merchandise. | 07-12-2012 |
20120179576 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GENERATING AND SHARING CUSTOMIZED PORTABLE CONSUMER DEVICES - A method for receiving and presenting user-generated designs and sets of terms for portable consumer devices. The method provides for allowing a first person to create a customized design for a portable consumer device, and share the design with other consumers via a host site. Similarly, the method provides for allowing a first person to create and share a customized set of terms for the portable consumer device. Methods for receiving and distributing feedback for customized designs and sets of terms are included. | 07-12-2012 |
20120179577 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING GIFTS FROM A GIVER TO A RECIPIENT - Processing gifts from a giver to a recipient is addressed. The system receives an identification of a product or service as a gift and a recipient. The system transmits an offering including the product/service for selection by the recipient. The system processes the purchase and delivery of the selected product using a recipient payment and delivery account and transfers money from the giver payment account (or a holding account) to the recipient payment account to reimburse the cost of the product. The system can process the purchase and delivery of the selected product using the giver's payment and delivery account. In another embodiment, the system utilizes a group to give a gift to the recipient, each member of the group reimbursing a group giver a portion of the cost of the gift. | 07-12-2012 |
20120191569 | AUTOMATIC DETECTION AND USE OF MOBILE PAYMENT APPLICATIONS - In one embodiment, a method for making an payment from a buyer to an online seller includes providing the buyer with a mobile payment application that is operable when run on one or more processors of a mobile device of the buyer to effect payments to the seller using a payment service provider. The seller is provided with computer code that is operable when run on one or more processors of a web server of the seller to detect whether a mobile device of a buyer in communication with the server has the payment application installed thereon, and if the server detects that the buyer's device has the application installed thereon, the seller's server automatically redirects the buyer to a web server of the payment service provider to effect a payment from the buyer to the seller using the mobile payment application. | 07-26-2012 |
20120191570 | SALES CHANNEL MANAGEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE - A sales system supports sales between a plurality of buyers and a plurality of sellers in a communication network. A sales server has a seller interface used by both a first seller and a second seller respectively via a first seller's computer and a second seller's computer to register availability for sale of a first product and a second product. The sales server, based upon received buyer input from an identified buyer via a buyer computer that includes buyer orders for the first product and the second product dispenses a first sales order to the first seller's computer for the first product and a second sales order to the second seller's computer for the second product. The sales server provides instructions to the first seller's computer for fulfillment of the first sales order and to the second sales computer for the fulfillment of the second sales order. | 07-26-2012 |
20120197759 | Method for multijurisdictional tax collection - A system for calculating and collecting taxes across different tax jurisdictions. The system receives payment information from an online retailer and uses the information to determine if a sales or use tax is owed. If a tax is owed, the system calculates the amount owed and the proper taxing authority to which the tax must be remitted. Upon determining the appropriate tax to be levied, the system provides a tax invoice to an online purchaser and directs the associated tax payment to the appropriate taxing authority. | 08-02-2012 |
20120197760 | UNIVERSAL MERCHANT PLATFORM FOR PAYMENT AUTHENTICATION - A method is provided for supporting processing of a transaction conducted between two parties. The method includes: receiving payment information over a communications network at a server operatively connected to the network, the payment information identifying a particular payment option used by the second party for the transaction, and the server being equipped to format and route messages over the network in different manners to accommodate the different authentication protocols; determining from the payment information received which of the different authentication protocols is prescribed for the type of payment option identified in the payment information; selecting a particular authentication protocol from the plurality of different authentication protocols supported by the server; and, obtaining an authentication determination for the transaction in accordance with the selected authentication protocol, including formatting messages and routing the formatted messages over the network in accordance with the mandates of the selected authentication protocol. | 08-02-2012 |
20120197761 | Method and System for Processing Internet Payments Using the Electronic Funds Transfer Network - Embodiments of the invention include a method and system for effectuating an electronic payment between a payor and a payee using an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) network. The method is implemented by a system having multiple processors. The payor may hold a payor account at a payor institution and the payee may have a payee account at a payee institution. The method includes generating a payment authorization identifying the payee institution, the payee account, and an amount of the payment and transmitting the payment authorization to the payor institution. The method further includes debiting the payor account by the amount of the payment; transmitting from the payor institution to the payee institution through the EFT network an EFT credit message representing a credit in the amount of the payment; and crediting the payee account in the amount of the payment in response to the receipt of the EFT credit message. | 08-02-2012 |
20120203663 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTHENTICATION UTILIZING LOCATION - The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for authentication using physical location, in an embodiment as a second factor in an authentication process. | 08-09-2012 |
20120203664 | CONTACTLESS WIRELESS TRANSACTION PROCESSING SYSTEM - A wireless transaction processing system, comprising a member seller associated with a data that has a machine-readable representation, and a member buyer having at least an Internet enabled device that can access the wireless transaction processing system. The wireless transaction processing system, through the Internet enabled device of the buyer identifies the buyer, including buyer physical location, receives the machine-readable representation of the data, and displays the received data by the Internet enabled device of the buyer. The wireless transaction processing system wirelessly transmits the buyer information (including buyer location information) and received data for verification and approval of transaction between buyer and seller without exchange of confidential information between a buyer and a seller, and without requiring seller specialty equipment. | 08-09-2012 |
20120203665 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FACILITATING SECURE TRANSACTIONS - A system for secure transactions receives an authorization request from a mobile device, the mobile device having received the authorization request by scanning a QR code and/or other encoded data. The system processes the authorization request using one or more transaction accounts that are paired to the mobile device, and transmits a response indicating approval or denial of the authorization request. | 08-09-2012 |
20120203666 | CONTACTLESS WIRELESS TRANSACTION PROCESSING SYSTEM - A wireless transaction processing system that includes a seller associated with a transaction data, and a buyer having an Internet enabled device that can access an account associated with the wireless transaction processing system. The wireless transaction processing system, through the Internet enabled device of the buyer enables full processing of transactions without the use of physical cards. | 08-09-2012 |
20120203667 | System and method for charging a customer's cellular device account after retrieving the customer's cell phone balance via USSD - A system and method charges a customer's cellular account or another account for goods or services ordered from a merchant using USSD and/or other commands. | 08-09-2012 |
20120209744 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INFORMATION EXCHANGE MECHANISMS FOR POWERED CARDS AND DEVICES - A card, or other device (e.g., a mobile telephonic device), may provide transaction, feature information, and/or any other type of information to a merchant terminal based upon check-in options that may be selected by the user on the card. A routing server may receive transaction information, feature information, merchant related information, cardholder information and/or any other type of information and provide the information to networked entities. The networked entities (e.g., websites, social networks, and search engines) may access the information to track the purchasing habits of one or more cardholders. | 08-16-2012 |
20120209745 | COVERS HAVING RFID FUNCTIONALITY FOR PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES - A system for business wireless mobile transactions for electronic hand-held devices including a mobile electronic communication device including a dedicated communication component and a dedicated activatable component; a trigger, a good or service, and an application server; wherein the device and the dedicated communication component are operable for communication with RFID/NFC transceivers when the device is located within a predetermined proximity of a transceiver; and wherein the trigger activates the device to electronically initiate a business transaction for the good or service on the application server when the device detects activation of the dedicated activatable component by the trigger. The system can further include a financial transaction server. Methods of using the system for conducting business or social transactions are also included. | 08-16-2012 |
20120215658 | PIN-BASED PAYMENT CONFIRMATION - The present disclosure involves a method of operating a payment platform. The method includes receiving a request to authenticate a first party from a second party. The method includes determining whether the first party has an account with the payment platform and a communications device associated with the account. The method includes generating a secret code in response to the determining. The method includes sending the secret code to the communications device of the first party. The method includes prompting the first party to input the secret code. The method includes authenticating the first party based on the input from the first party. | 08-23-2012 |
20120215659 | Systems and Methods Relating to Bank Transactions, Prepaid Access, Payment Based Promotions, and Payment Networks - A payment network (for example, an open-loop payment network or a closed-loop payment network) is provided and includes systems and methods of payment utilizing bank transactions (e.g., credit based transactions and debit based transactions) and prepaid access. Systems and/or methods are also provided relating to payment based promotions. Additionally, a platform is provided where users can secure terms of use associated with prepaid access, without having to purchase the prepaid access. Further, users can secure custom terms in connection with qualifying bank transactions conducted in the future. | 08-23-2012 |
20120215660 | MULTI-PARTY PAYMENT OBJECT ORIENTED SYSTEM AND METHOD - The present invention involves a server for accommodating multiple e-commerce payments. The server includes a processor with a communications device and software modules. The vendor software module receives payment requirements from a vendor, and also receives payment parameters from an initiator. The payment parameters include an item payment amount and an identification of contributors. The contributor software module obtains payment information from the initiator and/or contributors sufficient to authorize the commitment of funds to a transaction. The aggregation software module sends participation messages to contributors. The participation messages include information on the item, the item payment amount, and directions for the contributor to interact with the contributor module. Further, the aggregation software module maintains a total of committed funds and initiates a payment transaction when the committed funds are sufficient to pay the vendor. | 08-23-2012 |
20120221435 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING ASYNCHRONOUS PAYMENT PROCESSING - An approach is provided for processing transaction payments. The transaction engine receives payment information, from a device, for completing a transaction between a first party and a second party, wherein the payment information is for requesting, at least in part, a payment approval from at least one payment service provider. Next, the transaction engine determines historical transaction data associated with one or more previous transactions between the first party and the second party. Then, the transaction engine processes and/or facilitates a processing of the historical transaction data to determine whether to initiate a delivery of at least one item associated with the transaction prior to receiving a confirmation of the payment approval from the at least one payment service provider. | 08-30-2012 |
20120221436 | INSTRUCTOR-CURATED ELECTRONIC TEXTBOOK SYSTEMS AND METHODS - An electronic textbook system allows instructors to create custom coursebooks by integrating various materials from disparate sources. Instructors can arrange the materials, format them, provide tables of contents and indices. Payment mechanisms as well as policies for the components are integrated automatically so that the final book satisfies policy requirements for each of its component parts. | 08-30-2012 |
20120221437 | Systems and Methods to Automate Social Networking Activities - Systems and methods are provided to automate certain social networking activities in response to payments processed via mobile communications. In one aspect, a system includes a data storage facility to store social networking preferences with a phone number of the user and an interchange coupled with the data storage facility. The interchange includes a common format processor and a plurality of converters to interface with a plurality of different controllers of mobile communications. The converters are configured to communicate with the controllers in different formats; and the converters are configured to communicate with the common format processor in a common format. The common format processor is configured to communicate with a third party social networking site in accordance with the social networking preferences on behalf of the user, during processing of the payment, such as posting a message about a purchase, checking the user in at a location of the merchant, etc. | 08-30-2012 |
20120226580 | GIFT TRANSACTIONS VIA A CLIENT DEVICE - Methods and systems according to one or more embodiments enable a user to easily send gifts via a client device, for example, a mobile device. In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving, by a server at a remote location, from a user via a client device, an order selecting one or more items and/or services to be sent to a recipient along with a recipient's identifier that is entered by the user on the client device, wherein the recipient's identifier is used to determine delivery information of the recipient. The method also comprises sending, by the server at the remote location, the recipient's identifier to a merchant server for fulfillment of the order. The method further comprises receiving, by the server at the remote location, confirmation of the order from the user via the client device. | 09-06-2012 |
20120226581 | SHOPPING INFORMATION FLOW SYSTEM AND METHOD BY DIGITAL RADIO CHANNEL AND COMMUNICATION NETWORK - A shopping information flow system and method by a digital radio channel and a communication network are provided, and are suitable for an electronic device with a playing digital broadcasting function. The method includes the following steps: a digital radio broadcasting station broadcasting a program signal and a sales information, in which a virtual store providing the sales information on a commodity; the electronic device receiving and playing the program signal, and displaying the sales information; the electronic device starting a web link to connect an authentication terminal, transmitting an identification information of the electronic device for processing a transaction identification; and the authentication terminal processing a sale deal of the commodity, thereby noticing the virtual store to supply the commodity to a user of the electronic device. This can be done to sell the commodity. | 09-06-2012 |
20120226582 | Integration of Payment Capability into Secure Elements of Computers - Methods, secure elements, validation entities, and computer program products for effecting secure communication of payment information to merchants for Internet-based purchases. Payment information for a user's real payment information is installed in a secure element of a computer, the payment information may comprise a pseudo PAN number for the portable consumer device provided by a validation entity. The secure element is shielded from the computer's operating system to thwart hacker attacks. The user accesses the secure element to make a purchase. In response, the secure element contacts the validation entity with the pseudo account number, and in response obtains dynamic payment information that the secure element can used to effect the payment. The dynamic payment information comprises an account number that is different from the pseudo PAN, and which has at least one difference which respect to the user's real payment information. | 09-06-2012 |
20120226583 | METHOD FOR MANAGING BUYER TRANSACTIONS AND SETTLEMENTS USING COMMUNICATION NETWORK BETWEEN COMPUTERS, AND METHOD FOR RELAYING INFORMATION FOLLOWING BUYER CONSUMPTION TRENDS TO THE BUYER - Described herein are methods and apparatus for the processing of electronic invoices. A server for processing invoices communicates with computing systems such as a supplier system (used by a supplier), a buyer system (used by a buyer), and finance systems (which manage bank accounts of the supplier and buyer). The server communicates with the supplier system and the buyer system regarding an electronic invoice that relates to a transaction between the supplier and the buyer, and that includes a unique identification code. When the buyer has approved the electronic invoice, the supplier system and/or the server is able to settle the invoice using the unique identification code. | 09-06-2012 |
20120226584 | METHOD FOR MANAGING BUYER TRANSACTIONS AND SETTLEMENTS USING COMMUNICATION NETWORK BETWEEN COMPUTERS, AND METHOD FOR RELAYING INFORMATION FOLLOWING BUYER CONSUMPTION TRENDS TO THE BUYER - Described herein are methods and apparatus for the processing of electronic invoices. A server for processing invoices communicates with computing systems such as a supplier system (used by a supplier), a buyer system (used by a buyer), and finance systems (which manage bank accounts of the supplier and buyer). The server communicates with the supplier system and the buyer system regarding an electronic invoice that relates to a transaction between the supplier and the buyer, and that includes an identification code. When the buyer has approved the electronic invoice, the supplier system and/or the server is able to settle the invoice using the identification code. | 09-06-2012 |
20120233018 | Automated Transaction Coordinator - A method is disclosed for optimizing a business transaction between a selling vendor and a shipping vendor. The method includes receiving a query from a selling vendor. The query includes customer order data. The method also includes identifying at least one possible shipping vendor based on the customer order data and determining shipping information for each of the at least one possible shipping vendors. The method further includes selecting a preferred shipping vendor from among the at least one possible shipping vendors and completing the transaction between the selling vendor and the shipping vendor. | 09-13-2012 |
20120233019 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING CONTENT TO BE SHARED AMONG DEVICES - A method and apparatus for managing content among user devices is provided. The method includes requesting, from a first server, a list of Digital Rights Management (DRM) supported by at least one user device upon receiving a request to download content; using the list of DRM received from the first server to assign at least one second server supported by the at least one user device; and communicating with the assigned at least one second server to download, to the end user device, the content with at least one DRM license supported by the at least one user device. | 09-13-2012 |
20120233020 | USING SOCIAL NETWORK AND TRANSACTION INFORMATION - Among other things, a user, who is engaged in a commercial activity on a commercial online site, is exposed to computer-stored information that (a) is associated with another user of the online site, (b) would otherwise be private to the other user, (c) relates to the commercial activity of the user, and (d) is controlled by the site. | 09-13-2012 |
20120233021 | Online Transaction System - A method and system for carrying out an online transaction is disclosed. The transaction occurs between a customer having a financial account with a nominated financial institution and an online vendor and includes initiating a transaction server by the online vendor for the customer to conduct the online transaction for a purchase amount; selecting by the customer the nominated financial institution from a list of financial institutions provided by the transaction server and then transferring by the transaction server the customer to the nominated financial institution on selection of the nominated financial institution. The method further includes transacting between the nominated financial institution and the transaction server a first financial transaction for a transaction amount related to the purchase amount and then further transacting between the transaction server and the online vendor's financial institution a second transaction for the purchase amount in satisfaction of the online transaction. | 09-13-2012 |
20120233022 | SYSTEM AND COMPUTER IMPLEMENTED METHOD FOR FACILITATING COLLECT ON DELIVERY TRANSACTIONS - A system and computer implemented method for facilitating collect on delivery (COD) transactions may be implemented using specially programmed, general purpose computers connected to a data network. The process may be implemented using an interface provided by the COD provider and accessible to a vendor and customer. A COD payment from the customer it transferred to the COD provider. The COD provider transfers funds to the vendor upon transfer of the payment, then holds the payment for a predetermined amount of time before processing the COD payment. If the customer desires additional time before the payment is processed, they may access the COD provider via an interface and electronically change the COD payment processing date. | 09-13-2012 |
20120233023 | MANAGEMENT OF BUSINESS PROCESSES - A method and apparatus for managing business processes. First business process data obtained from a first trading participant includes a set of transaction messages having a first data format in accordance with a first protocol for conducting business transactions used by the first trading participant. A virtual trading participant receives fictitious business process data from the first trading participant and acknowledging the fictitious business process data and replying to the first trading participant that the fictitious business process data has been acknowledged. Operational characteristics and a connectivity of a currently trading participant connected to a process management platform accessible via an interconnection fabric are tested, by utilizing the virtual trading participant to determine if the data defining individual business processes is in a uniform format understood by a process management platform. The virtual trading participant is utilized to ensure compatibility with an identified version of the uniform format. | 09-13-2012 |
20120239529 | Single Digital Wallet Across Multiple Payment Platforms - The present disclosure involves a method of conducting a transaction. In one aspect, the method includes: displaying a media program on a media display device; indicating, while the media program is being displayed, an item associated with the media program is available for purchase; receiving authentication information of a prospective purchaser of the item; and completing a purchase of the item in response to the authentication information. In another aspect, the method includes: receiving, from a media display device, a user authentication request that contains user login credentials; granting the user authentication request in response to the user login credentials; and sending an authentication permission to the media display device; wherein the receiving and the sending are each performed such that the user login credentials and the authentication permission are sent through one or more intermediate hops without being inspected by any of the intermediate hops. | 09-20-2012 |
20120239530 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS TO SUPPLEMENT A LISTING VIA A THIRD PARTY TRUST PROVIDER - Various embodiments include a method and system to request supplemental trust information (STI), from over a network, from a third party trust provider. The requesting uses a first predetermined criterion from an item listing that describes a particular item that is offered for sale on a network-based marketplace. The STI includes history information for the particular item that is generated by the third party trust provider. The system then stores and presents at least a portion of the STI. | 09-20-2012 |
20120239531 | FACILITATING E-COMMERCE PAYMENTS USING NON-ACCEPTED CUSTOMER PAYMENT METHODS - A method of providing e-commerce payment functionality between a customer and a vendor wishing to provide or accept alternate methods of payment. The vendor website initiates a transaction payment request identifying the selected customer payment method, the transaction amount, and the desired vendor payment method to a payment facilitation bureau which processes payment for the transaction amount to the selected customer payment method and issues transaction payment credentials to the vendor in a transaction payment response. The vendor e-commerce platform can then process payment for the transaction to the selected vendor payment method using the issued payment credentials. Various vendor payment methods and customer selected payment methods could be used, and the method allows for the bridging of incompatible pairings of payment methods. Client and server level software for use in this payment method is also disclosed. | 09-20-2012 |
20120246024 | SELF-SERVICE HOME BUYING - According to some embodiments, a system comprises an interface and one or more processors. The interface receives a search request indicating that a buyer requests to search for properties to evaluate. The one or more processors determine one or more buyer preferences that describe preferred characteristics for the properties according to the buyer. The one or more processors also determine whether an available property located proximate to a device associated with the buyer satisfies at least a threshold amount of the buyer preferences. If the available property satisfies at least a threshold amount of buyer preferences, the interface communicates a notification recommending that the buyer evaluate the available property. | 09-27-2012 |
20120246025 | INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORTING ONLINE TRANSACTIONS - An online system uses, in various embodiments of the invention, credit report information, loan affordability screening and credit approval and management functionality to facilitate the purchase and finance of products online. The online system may include both sellers of products and lenders that offer financing to buyers seeking to purchase the products. The system may automatically obtain a buyer's credit report information and use that information to determine if the buyer is pre-approved, for example, to obtain financing for a particular product or products. The system also enables use of buyer credit information to identify only those of a seller's products for which the buyer is pre-approved, for example, to finance using one or more loans. The system then enables selection of an identified product or products for purchase, and selection of a loan, for example, for financing of the selected product or products. Credit approval (or pre-approval) may be performed automatically, and along with credit processing, may be performed completely online. | 09-27-2012 |
20120253974 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING MEMORY TAG-BASED PAYMENT METHODS - An approach is provided for memory tag-based payment methods. A transaction management platform receives a payment request via a radio frequency memory tag associated with a device. The transaction management platform also processes and/or facilitates a processing of the payment request to determine whether the radio frequency memory tag includes a value that is sufficient to complete the payment request. On a determination that the value is not sufficient, the transaction management platform further causes, at least in part, one or more actions that result in the device initiating a transfer of additional value to the radio frequency memory tag to complete the payment request. | 10-04-2012 |
20120253975 | Method and System for Using Payment History for Conducting Commercial Transactions - A method is disclosed. The method includes receiving transaction data relating to a plurality of commercial transactions conducted by a plurality of buyers and sellers conducting commercial transactions using a transaction processing system, and then receiving a request for transaction information relating to the received transaction data from an entity, wherein the transaction information also relates to a commercial transaction between a buyer and a seller. The method further includes providing the transaction information to an entity, wherein the entity thereafter makes a decision about further interacting with the buyer or the seller. | 10-04-2012 |
20120253976 | Half-Graphical User Interface Order Processing Method and Web Service - A half-graphical user interface (Half-GUI) order processing (HGOP) system with single sign on and its method of use is described. A set of web services may be utilized for order processing in an electronic commerce system which allows a merchant to host a product catalog and shopping cart, but post the transaction to an e-commerce system in one simple transaction. In response to a shopping cart request and utilizing single sign on technology, the HGOP system exposes a single checkout form, prepopulated with customer account information to a merchant web site. If no edits are required, the transaction posts and an order confirmation/thank you page is displayed. If edits are required or a new customer account is required, the customer's account is updated or created. | 10-04-2012 |
20120253977 | SOCIAL PRICING - Mechanisms are provided to facilitate buying and selling products utilizing social pricing. Sellers initiate sale of a product with volume discounts for a limited time. In other words, the more people that buy a product, the lower the price for the group. Buyers have a real incentive to become prosumers that not only purchase a product but also promote purchase by others. A social pricing system brokers interaction between sellers and buyer groups, and provisions mechanisms to aid promotion of products by consumers utilizing social networks and other online activities. | 10-04-2012 |
20120253978 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CONDUCTING ELECTRONIC TRANSACTIONS - A system and method for conducting electronic commerce are disclosed, In various embodiments, the electronic transaction is a purchase transaction. A user is provided with an intelligent token, such as a smartcard containing a digital certificate. The intelligent token suitably authenticates with a server on a network that conducts all or portions of the transaction on behalf of the user. In various embodiments a wallet server interacts with a security server to provide enhanced reliability and confidence in the transaction. In various embodiments, the wallet server includes a toolbar. In various embodiments, the digital wallet pre-fills forms. Forms may be pre-filled using an auto-remember component. | 10-04-2012 |
20120253979 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR APPLYING CREDIT CARD - The present invention relates to a method of using a credit card to make international trade payments, and to a system whereby a central the buyer bank may make international trade payments by applying the credit card system. The present international trade payment system allows for debit and credit between the buyers and the suppliers with only an importer country server, and no exporter country server is needed for the buyers and the suppliers to pay for transactions. | 10-04-2012 |
20120253980 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CARDHOLDER INITIATED TRANSACTIONS - A cardholder-initiated financial transaction using a cardholder controlled input device in communication with a payment card network and a database is disclosed. The cardholder uses a payment card issued to the cardholder by an issuer bank. An exemplary method includes the steps of storing merchant data within the database including data identifying the merchants registered to utilize the card network and receiving from the input device transaction data relating to the financial transaction. The transaction data includes an authorization request and merchant identifying data that identifies the merchant involved in the transaction. The method further includes determining that the identified merchant is registered to utilize the card network by comparing the transaction data with the merchant data stored in the database, forwarding the authorization request to the issuer bank, receiving a response to the request from the issuer bank, and automatically forwarding the response to the input device. | 10-04-2012 |
20120259734 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CONDUCTING ELECTRONIC TRANSACTIONS - A system and method for conducting electronic commerce are disclosed. In various embodiments, the electronic transaction is a purchase transaction. A user is provided with an intelligent token, such as a smartcard containing a digital certificate. The intelligent token suitably authenticates with a server on a network that conducts all or portions of the transaction on behalf of the user. In various embodiments a wallet server interacts with a security server to provide enhanced reliability and confidence in the transaction. In various embodiments, the wallet server includes a toolbar. In various embodiments, the digital wallet pre-fills forms. Forms may be pre-filled using an auto-remember component. | 10-11-2012 |
20120259735 | METERED DELIVERY OF WIRELESS POWER - A system is disclosed for charging or billing for access to wireless power. The device requiring power communicates with the power provider and the billing method is determined. A consumer may be required to provide billing information, or if the billing information is already associated with an existing account, the consumer account is automatically charged for the wireless power. The account may include prepaid charging minutes that are debited as wireless power is provided, or the account may be billed for the wireless power that is provided. The charging/billing for the wireless power may be used to receive value for the power that is provided, while remaining consumer friendly. | 10-11-2012 |
20120259736 | ON-LINE SALES CHAIN INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORTING MULTIPLE DIFFERING BRIDGING TRANSACTIONS WITH SELLER SYSTEMS - A sales system supports sales between a plurality of buyers and a plurality of sellers in a communication network. A sales server has a seller interface used by both a first seller and a second seller respectively via a first seller's computer and a second seller's computer to register availability for sale of a first product and a second product. The sales server, based upon received buyer input from an identified buyer via a buyer computer that includes buyer orders for the first product and the second product dispenses a first sales order to the first seller's computer for the first product and a second sales order to the second seller's computer for the second product. The sales server provides instructions to the first seller's computer for fulfillment of the first sales order and to the second sales computer for the fulfillment of the second sales order. | 10-11-2012 |
20120259737 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INTEGRATION OF A MUSIC POD SYSTEM - A method for integrating a network-enabled music application with a platform. The platform is configured to render the network enabled application for a user, via a user interface associated with the user, in accordance with various APIs included in the platform and used by a program developer to develop the network enabled music application. The rendering can included recognizing that the user interface is a mobile user interface and rendering the network-enabled music application in a manner appropriate and/or optimal for the mobile user interface. The platform may be a social networking site. | 10-11-2012 |
20120265640 | ON-LINE SALES CHAIN MANAGEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORTING TRANSACTION BRIDGING - A sales system supports sales between a plurality of buyers and a plurality of sellers in a communication network. A sales server has a seller interface used by both a first seller and a second seller respectively via a first seller's computer and a second seller's computer to register availability for sale of a first product and a second product. The sales server, based upon received buyer input from an identified buyer via a buyer computer that includes buyer orders for the first product and the second product dispenses a first sales order to the first seller's computer for the first product and a second sales order to the second seller's computer for the second product. The sales server provides instructions to the first seller's computer for fulfillment of the first sales order and to the second sales computer for the fulfillment of the second sales order. | 10-18-2012 |
20120265641 | SEARCHING FOR MERCHANDISE PRESENTLY UNAVAILABLE ON A COMPUTER NETWORK - A method of searching and purchasing items comprises receiving, via an electronic device having a processor, one or more search queries associated with a user-specified item, and causing a search engine, in communication with the processor, to search one or more databases for the user-specified item using the one or more search queries, thereby generating a search result indicating whether the user-specified item is available or unavailable for purchase. In response to the search result indicating that the user-specified item is unavailable for purchase, the search engine repeatedly searches, the one or more databases at specified time intervals until the search result indicates that the user-specified item is available for purchase. In response to the search result indicating the user-specified item is available for purchase, the method communicates to a user, via the electronic device, that the item is available for purchase. | 10-18-2012 |
20120271735 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING AN ELECTRONIC COMMERCE PLATFORM - Apparatuses, systems, and methods of electronic commerce on a computer-implemented electronic marketplace platform. One embodiment includes receiving, through an electronically implemented listing module of the electronic marketplace platform, electronic information regarding an item to be listed for sale; categorizing, through an electronically implemented categorization module of the electronic marketplace platform, the item to be listed for sale base at least in part on the received information; and receiving, through an electronically implemented query module of the electronic marketplace platform, an electronic query regarding an item to be purchased. The electronic information is generated by a user of the electronic marketplace platform with the assistance of a customer service representative and said electronic information is received into the listing module without a fee being charged to the user. Further, the user is provided an additional service, for a fee, in connection with the electronic marketplace platform. | 10-25-2012 |
20120278201 | Location transaction processing system - A system for identifying the location of a user and presenting the user with the location of nearby merchants that accept payment from a payment system associated with the user's mobile communication device. Upon opening an application associated with the system within the mobile communication device, the user is presented with a map of the user's location, including tags of nearby merchants that accept the payment system. The user may choose a particular merchant by selecting the tag on the map associated with that merchant. The user may input a personal identification number and a payment amount, which authorizes the transfer of funds from a user account to the merchant account via the mobile communication device. | 11-01-2012 |
20120278202 | VIRTUAL PIGGYBANK HAVING QUICK CONNECT - A computer-implemented method of establishing an online account for a prospective user, comprising the steps of presenting to a first user a merchant system through a network; receiving from the first user a product selected from the merchant system for purchase; presenting an online account icon for a banking system to the first user to initiate payment for the selected product; once the icon is selected by the first user, determining if the user has an account with the banking system, and if not, prompting the first user to enter a second user's contact information; contacting the second user by electronic messaging with a request to approve the first user's purchase; and upon receiving the approval, creating the online account for the first user. | 11-01-2012 |
20120284146 | ON-STREET PARKING METER SYSTEM SUPPORTING MULTIPLE PAYMENT TOOLS AND SIGNAL TRANSMISSION METHOD THEREOF - In an on-street parking meter system supporting multiple payment tools and signal transmission method thereof, parking meters spaced along streets are divided into multiple groups, each of which includes a main parking meter and multiple secondary parking meters, all of which are equipped with an all-in-one contactless card reader unit compatible with prepaid card, Visa Wave card and MasterCard PayPass card, and a remotely controllable pay-by-phone unit allowing a user to pay by phone. In each group, the main parking meter is provided with both long-range and short-range wireless communication units for bidirectional communication with a back-end parking charge management system and the secondary parking meters, respectively; while the secondary parking meters each are provided with only a short-ranged wireless communication unit for bidirectional communication with the main parking meter. Therefore, the parking meters have small size and reduced power consumption to enable reduced labor cost for replacing batteries thereof. | 11-08-2012 |
20120284147 | Online Payment Method and Device - In a commerce transaction between a buyer and seller that involves transfer of an item, payment is made through an independent online payment system. A seller sends a threshold amount and a payment amount to a payment server for the transaction involving the item. The payment server creates an intermediate account based on the threshold amount and the payment amount. To proceed with the transaction, a buyer transfers a fund amount to the payment server. The payment server determines whether the fund amount is not less than the threshold amount, and if so, the payment server designates the fund amount as an account balance associated with the buyer in the intermediate account. The payment server then transfers funds corresponding to the payment amount from the intermediate account to an account designated by the seller after receiving a payment request indicating the buyer's receipt of the item. | 11-08-2012 |
20120290436 | PROVIDING CONTENT TO A TARGET NETWORK THAT HAS INSUFFICIENT CONNECTIVITY TO A SOURCE NETWORK - Techniques are provided for remotely controlling the distribution of digital assets to users in less-connected venues. When digital assets are cached within the less-connected venues, users within those less-connected venues are better able consume the assets, and are therefore more likely to purchase rights to consume the assets. Users within a less-connected venue may purchase and consume assets while the target network is completely disconnected from the source network from which the digital asset distribution is controlled. Sessions that are initiated within less-connected venues may be transferred outside those venues, to allow users that have purchased assets to continue to consume those assets after they leave the less connected venues. | 11-15-2012 |
20120290437 | System and Method of Selecting and Acquiring Still Images from Video - The present invention provides a system and process whereby a library of video files is created, and a user may select one or more video files to examine from the library of available files, identify one or more individual frames from the selected video files, optionally manipulate and transform one or more frames to create a customized image, optionally purchase a product incorporating the image, and transmit or send the customized image along with any order information for physical or electronic fulfillment options including, but not limited to, printing, e-mailing, sharing on a social network or other website, or otherwise reproducing. | 11-15-2012 |
20120296771 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FILTERING IMAGE DATA AND USE THEREOF IN VIRTUAL ENDOSCOPY - A method for filtering image data having at least three types of distinct regions from a selected type of region, each of the at least three types of distinct regions being characterized by a plurality of unitary image elements, the method comprising providing the image data; selecting a portion of the image data comprising at least a corresponding portion of each of the at least three types of regions; determining at least one distribution for each of the at least three types of regions in the selected portion; determining at least one function for associating each unitary image element of the selected type of region in the selected portion to another type of region of the at least three types of regions such that the at least one distribution of the selected type of regions in the selected portion is transposed into a corresponding distribution of the another type of region; and applying the at least one function to each unitary image element of the selected type of region of the selected portion to thereby provide filtered image data. Applications of the method for suppressing tagged material in virtual colonoscopy are also disclosed. | 11-22-2012 |
20120296772 | Online Purchasing System Supporting Lenders With Affordability Screening - A method and system for comparing a plurality of financing options to facilitate the purchase and finance of products offered for sale. The method or system may include a credit application that, once completed, is analyzed. The method or system may also communicate whether the credit application has been approved. | 11-22-2012 |
20120296773 | TRANSACTIONAL SECURITY OVER A NETWORK - A system and method facilitates purchase transactions over a computer network, including the purchase of electronically storable items. The embodiments herein encrypt “customer information” in an encryption stream and cause the encryption stream to be transferred from the customer to a merchant in the purchase transaction. A verification entity receives the encryption stream which is sent by the merchant for identity verification and payment authorization. Then, the verification entity verifies the identifiers contained in the encryption stream and transfers an identity verification and payment authorization from the verification entity to the merchant. The encryption stream or unique transaction identifier can be added, by the merchant, to a purchased electronic item to create a personalized electronic item. | 11-22-2012 |
20120303483 | NEAR FIELD COMMUNICATION (NFC)-BASED PAYMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A near field communication (NFC)-based payment method for supporting a payment between seller and purchaser terminals having an NFC module mounted therein. The NFC-based payment method includes: generating and storing a seller code based on seller identification information and sales product information received from the seller terminal, and providing the generated seller code to the NFC module of the seller terminal; generating a purchaser code based on purchaser identification information, purchase product information, and purchase payment information received from the purchaser terminal, matching the purchaser code with the seller code, and storing the purchaser code and the seller code; and transmitting the purchase payment information to the purchaser terminal based on the seller code and the purchaser code which are matched with each other, according to a request of the purchaser terminal acquiring the seller code stored in the NFC module of the seller terminal through NFC. | 11-29-2012 |
20120310774 | ELECTRONIC PAYMENT SYSTEM - An interbank online payment system connecting consumers, consumer banks, merchants and merchant banks via a fixed and/or a mobile telecommunication network, wherein said payment system comprises an automated information system adapted to communicate with a plurality of national banks affiliated to said payment system, a plurality of fixed payment terminals, and a plurality of mobile payment terminals. Said automated information system comprises an aggregation module that manages a plurality of personal user accounts, said automated information system giving said consumers access to a plurality of services including payment, cash withdrawal and/or money transfer. | 12-06-2012 |
20120310775 | Systems and Methods for Providing Dynamic Content into a Static Electronic Document - Included are systems and methods for providing dynamic content into a static electronic document. At least one embodiment includes receiving an indication to include the dynamic content into the static electronic document, creating a computer program that defines functionality of the dynamic content, and deploying the computer program into the static electronic document. Similarly, some embodiments include sending the static electronic document to a user computing device, where at least a first portion of the static electronic document is configured to be viewed as a locally stored document and at least a second portion of the static electronic document receives the dynamic content from a remote computing device and receiving a request to provide the dynamic content, the request being provided in response to a user selection of a predetermined area of interest in the static electronic document. Still some embodiments include providing the dynamic content to the user computing device, wherein upon receipt of the dynamic content, the computer program causes the dynamic content to be provided within the predetermined area of interest in the static electronic document. | 12-06-2012 |
20120310776 | VENDING MACHINE INFORMATION - A method is described for displaying vending machine product data using a display of a mobile communication device. This has the advantage of using the superior display of the mobile communication device and increasing the functionality available to the end user, without needing to invest in expense display equipment at the vending machine itself). The mobile communication device can also be used to order one or more products from the vending machine. | 12-06-2012 |
20120310777 | PAYER DEVICE THAT CHANGES PHYSICAL STATE BASED ON PAYER INFORMATION - A method for providing payer information on a payer device includes providing a payer device that includes at least one physical state change component moveably coupled to the payer device. Payer information is received over a network. The payer information is then determined to be associated with a physical state change instruction in a non-transitory, machine-readable medium of the payer device. The at least one physical state change component is then actuated according to the physical state change instruction to provide the payer information to a payer by changing the physical state of the payer device. | 12-06-2012 |
20120310778 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CLEARING AND SETTLING TRANSACTION ACTIVITY - Various embodiments provide systems for clearing and settling one or more transaction activities conducted between a user and a website. According to particular embodiments, the system comprises a memory and at least one processor configured to: (a) receive one or more clearing files comprising information collected on the one or more transaction activities; (b) receive one or more settlement files comprising information related to funds associated with the one or more transaction activities; (c) credit an electronic settlement account by re-presenting the funds in the settlement account; (d) reconcile the funds credited to the settlement account by comparing the information from the one or more clearing files with the information from the one or more settlement files; and (e) facilitate one or more adjustments to the settlement account such that the funds remaining in the settlement account are due to the website. Associated methods are also provided. | 12-06-2012 |
20120316992 | PAYMENT PRIVACY TOKENIZATION APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS - The PAYMENT PRIVACY TOKENIZATION APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS (“PPT”) transform payment token-based purchase orders via PPT components into multi-issuer purchase payment funds transfers. In one embodiment, the PPT obtains a token arbitration request including unique source-neutral universally-resolvable payment token information from a merchant for processing a purchase order from a user. The PPT queries a token database for issuer information on an issuer using the payment token information, and obtains the issuer information. The PPT also determines that the user should be queried for payment options based on the issuer information, and provides a payment options request to a user mobile device. Upon obtaining a response from the mobile device, the PPT generates a purchase authorization request based on the payment options and pre-defined settings for issuers to be contacted for processing the purchase order, and provides the generated purchase authorization request to the issuer. | 12-13-2012 |
20120323732 | E-Commerce Via Web Banners - Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided for facilitating electronic commerce via a web banner. Entire purchase transactions may be provided via the web banner, where an end user purchases products sold from third parties via the web banner. Entire sale listing transactions may also be provided via the web banner, where an end user lists products for sale via the web banner. Further, users may be identified when they access third party web sites, and customized offers may be generated and communicated to the identified users. | 12-20-2012 |
20120323733 | ONLINE ACCOUNT AUTHENTICATION SERVICE - A payment authentication service authenticates the identity of a payer during online transactions. The authentication service allows a card issuer to verify a cardholder's identity using a variety of authentication methods, such as the use of passwords. Also, the only system participant requiring a certificate is the issuing financial institution. Authenticating the identity of a cardholder during an online transaction involves querying an access control server to determine if a cardholder is enrolled in the payment authentication service, requesting a password from the cardholder, verifying the password, and notifying a merchant whether the cardholder's authenticity has been verified. A chip card and the authentication service independently generate cryptograms to match in order for the service to verify that the correct chip card is being used by the cardholder. | 12-20-2012 |
20120323734 | ONLINE ACCOUNT AUTHENTICATION SERVICE - A payment authentication service authenticates the identity of a payer during online transactions. The authentication service allows a card issuer to verify a cardholder's identity using a variety of authentication methods, such as the use of passwords. Also, the only system participant requiring a certificate is the issuing financial institution. Authenticating the identity of a cardholder during an online transaction involves querying an access control server to determine if a cardholder is enrolled in the payment authentication service, requesting a password from the cardholder, verifying the password, and notifying a merchant whether the cardholder's authenticity has been verified. A chip card and the authentication service independently generate cryptograms to match in order for the service to verify that the correct chip card is being used by the cardholder. | 12-20-2012 |
20120323735 | PAYMENT SYSTEM AND CLEARINGHOUSE OF INTERNET TRANSACTIONS - Disclosed is a system and method for allowing a customer to send payment to a merchant. The method or system may comprise submitting order data from a customer computer to a merchant server. Merchant credentials and order data may be sent to a clearinghouse server. A clearinghouse token URL may be sent to the merchant server. A customer's web browser may be redirected to a clearinghouse gateway using the token URL. A financial institution token URI, may be sent to the customer computer. A customer's web browser may be redirected to a financial institution gateway using the financial institution token URL. A financial institution may be sent to the financial institution token URL. The financial institution token may be sent to the clearinghouse server to validate the financial institution token URL. A payment request may be sent to the financial institution to authorize the financial institution to authorize payment to the merchant. | 12-20-2012 |
20120323736 | ALLOCATING VIRTUAL UNIVERSE CUSTOMER SERVICE - Virtual universe customer service representatives are cloned and assigned as a function of observing customer behavior, retrieving historical data and creating a customer profile. Preferential subavatar assignment parameters are determined for a customer as a function of the customer profile, choosing a subavatar from a plurality of subavatars as a function of a correlation of a subavatar performance characteristic with the preferential subavatar assignment parameter and a store objective, and the clone is populated with the chosen subavatar. Choosing a subavatar may comprise preferentially rating subavatars and determining an appropriateness threshold as a function of the subavatar assignment parameter, the performance characteristics and the store objective. Some embodiments reset a threshold in response to time-in-queue or to repetitively observing customer behavior, retrieving customer data, determining a subavatar assignment parameter and choosing a highest-rated available subavatar meeting a revised threshold. Subavatars may comprise automated, customer service representative-controlled and jointly-controlled subavatars. | 12-20-2012 |
20120330784 | Mobile Device for Transaction Payment Delegation - Methods and systems are disclosed herein to provide payment delegation for transactions. A payment request may be transmitted to a point of sale system from a mobile device. The mobile device owner may request that payment details for the transaction be obtained from a third-party device, such as a parent's computer. The point of sale system may transmit an approval request to the third-party device, or the mobile device may transmit an approval request to the third-party device. Upon receipt of payment details, the payment details may be communicated, and the transaction may be completed. | 12-27-2012 |
20120330785 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PURCHASING VIRTUAL GOODS IN MULTIPLE VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS - A transaction system for purchasing virtual goods, which are to be expressed within multiple virtual environments, may receive a selection from a user for one or more virtual goods. The transaction system may receive a selection for a plurality of virtual environments within which the selected virtual good(s) are to be expressed upon completion of the purchase transaction. | 12-27-2012 |
20120330786 | SERVICE FOR ADDING FUNCTIONALITY TO APPLICATIONS - An application management system modifies developer-submitted applications, such as mobile applications, to add various types of functionality before such applications are made available for purchase. The added functionality may, for example, enable end users to make in-application purchases of content items from an application store. As another example, Digital Rights Management (DRM) functionality may be added for controlling user access to content items, such as content items available in an application store. | 12-27-2012 |
20120330787 | PAYMENT SELECTION AND AUTHORIZATION - When making a payment with an electronic payment type, a user may provide additional verification of ownership through communications with the user's mobile computing device. For example, the user may swipe her bank card at a retailer's store. The retailer may authorize the bank card through an issuing party (“host”). The host may transmit a request to the user via a mobile application running on the mobile computing device, which may request the user to approve or decline the purchase request. In various embodiments, the host's request may require the user to enter personal and/or authorization information (e.g., a PIN, password, biometrics, etc.) via the mobile application to approve the request. In some aspects, the host may allow the user to split or allocate a payment amount across one or more electronic payment types available to the user from the host via the mobile application during the authorization process. | 12-27-2012 |
20120330788 | PAYMENT SELECTION AND AUTHORIZATION BY A MOBILE DEVICE - When making a payment with an electronic payment type, a user may provide additional verification of ownership through communications with the user's mobile computing device. For example, the user may swipe her bank card at a retailer's store. The retailer may authorize the bank card through an issuing party (“host”). The host may transmit a request to the user via a mobile application running on the mobile computing device, which may request the user to approve or decline the purchase request. In various embodiments, the host's request may require the user to enter personal and/or authorization information (e.g., a PIN, password, biometrics, etc.) via the mobile application to approve the request. In some aspects, the host may allow the user to split or allocate a payment amount across one or more electronic payment types available to the user from the host via the mobile application during the authorization process. | 12-27-2012 |
20120330789 | LIMITATION PROTOCOL - The present disclosure provides a computer implemented method of limiting access to an electronic information source. A limitation protocol is defined that provides for one or more access events. A user may access the electronic information source if an access event is available. If an access event is not available, the user is not allowed to access the electronic information source. | 12-27-2012 |
20120330790 | MANAGING TRANSFER OF CONTENT - A system and method for transferring ownership of disc storage media utilizing unique disc identification includes a disc storage medium with a permanently recorded disc identification, a user console with a set identification, a network, and a host server managing a user database and a disc database. Upon purchase of software stored on a disc storage medium, the unique disc identification and user identification are transmitted over the network from the user console to the host server. The host server grants the user console access permission to the programs residing on the disc storage medium and performs the disc ownership transfer transactions. | 12-27-2012 |
20130006809 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A CERTIFIED SWAP PRICE FOR A VEHICLE - Methods and systems are provided that swap certified pre-owned vehicles between dealers. One exemplary computer-implemented method for swapping CPO vehicles includes receiving, by a swap facilitating computer, a request to swap a first CPO vehicle for another CPO vehicle; and determining, by the swap facilitating computer using stored market values, a first base price of the first CPO vehicle and displaying available CPO vehicles or permitting inputting of identification for the other CPO vehicle having a second base price. The exemplary method further includes facilitating an offer to swap the first CPO vehicle for the other CPO vehicle by establishing base prices for each of the CPO vehicles, wherein the base prices can be first and second guaranteed prices. | 01-03-2013 |
20130006810 | Method and system for the execution of non-bank Third Party Services Transactions over Financial Networks through Electronic Terminals utilizing a Non-Depository Virtual Account Management System - The present embodiment of the system is a new and useful method and system for automating Third Party Financial Transactions via an Electronic Transaction Apparatus, by enabling a Transaction Acquirer Processor and a Third Party Service Provider to provide a Financial Instrument Holder, access to a non-bank third party service and complete a transaction utilizing a Non-depository Virtual Account Management System, when the individual's requests a third party transaction on an Electronic Terminal device. | 01-03-2013 |
20130006811 | ONLINE FUNDS TRANSFER METHOD - A method is provided for transferring funds related to a checkout process for a transaction initiated between a user and a merchant. The method may include storing information on a plurality of asset accounts associated with the user and receiving selection of a first account from the plurality of asset accounts as possible choices. The method may also include receiving authorization via the interface from the user to pay the merchant from the first account. The method may further include providing a digital IOU to the merchant and receiving a redemption request of the digital IOU. The method may additionally include determining, automatically with a funds transfer server, a second account associated with the merchant, and initiating, automatically with the funds transfer server in response to the redemption request, an electronic transfer between the first account and the second account that is related to the checkout process for the transaction. | 01-03-2013 |
20130013453 | E-COMMERCE CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR USER DIRECTED VENDOR SUBSTITUTION - An e-commerce content management system generates at least one Website that permits configuration of the Website for dealer self-routing, user directed vendor substitution, destination routing and dynamic vendor substitution routing. The e-commerce content management system allows a user to configure the system, including a Website, such as configuring a dealer Website as part of an ecosystem that includes an alliance of dealers, manufacturers, shippers and other participants that fill orders. The ecosystem integrates orders processed through a business process management kernel operating on one or more computers. | 01-10-2013 |
20130013454 | E-COMMERCE CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR DESTINATION ROUTING - An e-commerce content management system generates at least one Website that permits configuration of the Website for dealer self-routing, user directed vendor substitution, destination routing and dynamic vendor substitution routing. The e-commerce content management system allows a user to configure the system, including a Website, such as configuring a dealer Website as part of an ecosystem that includes an alliance of dealers, manufacturers, shippers and other participants that fill orders. The ecosystem integrates orders processed through a business process management kernel operating on one or more computers. | 01-10-2013 |
20130013455 | METHOD, MEDIUM, AND SYSTEM FOR UNIVERSAL SHOPPING CART ORDER INJECTION AND PAYMENT DETERMINATION - A universal shopping cart is provided that obtains and orders products and services from different merchants located on the Internet. The consumer completes all of their shopping on the shopping site and is not directed to another merchant's site to complete an order. The universal shopping cart provides a monitoring service that allows the consumer to monitor a product for specified criteria. The order injection system places orders for products contained within the universal shopping cart from affiliated and non-affiliated merchants. Specific ordering details required from merchants external to the shopping site are hidden from the consumer. For external merchant sites that require a consumer account before allowing the product to be purchased, the shopping site creates a new consumer account without intervention from the consumer. Once the products are ordered, the consumer may keep track of the ordered products from the shopping site. | 01-10-2013 |
20130013456 | E-MAIL INVOKED ELECTRONIC COMMERCE - A system and method for electronic commerce allowing consumers to purchase items over a network and merchants to receive payment information relating to the purchases. The system includes a server configured to gather purchasing information from a consumer to complete a purchasing transaction. The system has a consumer data structure that stores purchasing information for registered consumers. The server is able to access the consumer data structure and enter the consumer's purchasing information during subsequent purchases such that the consumer does not have to enter the same information every time they purchase an item over the network. In alternate embodiments, the same technology can be applied to other arenas where a user may have to enter the same repetitive information. In addition, consumers can register with the consumer information server prior to making purchase. | 01-10-2013 |
20130018758 | QUIDLRAANM BALASUBRAMANIAN; RAGHURAMAACI OrangeAAST CAAACO USAAGP BALASUBRAMANIAN; RAGHURAM Orange CA USAANM Peachavanish; PeachawatAACI Long BeachAAST CAAACO USAAGP Peachavanish; Peachawat Long Beach CA USAANM Eger; PatrickAACI IrvineAAST CAAACO USAAGP Eger; Patrick Irvine CA US - Embodiments of systems and methods are described. These embodiments may be used to facilitate an electronic payment or request for electronic payment for real-time transactions. In particular, the embodiments comprise a hand-held communication device associated with a payer, an electronic device associated with a payee and an application server associated with an electronic payment transaction application. The hand-held communication device is adaptable to execute the application software that is configured to generate or read a machine readable barcode. The electronic device is also adaptable to execute the application software which is configured to scan or capture the machine readable barcode. The application server is configured to facilitate the electronic payment between the hand-held communication device and the electronic device. The machine readable barcode is generated with a rapidly expiring timestamp which allows the payer and payee to conduct the real-time electronic payment transaction in a secure and cost effective way. | 01-17-2013 |
20130018759 | THIRD PARTY TOKEN SYSTEM FOR ANONYMOUS SHIPPING - A method and a system for a third party token system for anonymous shipping are described. A selection of shipping service providers approved by a recipient is received. A token corresponding to a mailing address of the recipient is generated. The token corresponding to the mailing address of the recipient is sent to a shipping service provider approved by the recipient. The token is valid only for the shipping service providers selected by the recipient. | 01-17-2013 |
20130024325 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SELECTING AND CONVEYING RELEVANT AND PERSONALIZED GIFTS USING ONLINE PERSONAL GIFT PROFILE - A method and system selects and conveys relevant and personalized gifts using an online personal gift profile having personal preference data. The method includes providing, by a conveying user, the identity of a receiving user. The method includes selecting, by the conveying user, a gift-class. The method includes identifying the personal gift profile of the receiving user from the identity of the receiving user and retrieving the personal preference data of the receiving user from the personal gift profile. The method includes sending the selected gift item to the receiving user's physical address. | 01-24-2013 |
20130036026 | Method to regularize and to stimulate the solidary transport of passengers - The present invention refers to a method to allow and to stimulate the solidary transport of passengers, in the common way called hitchhiking or carpool. | 02-07-2013 |
20130036027 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR GENERATING A SINGLE-USE FINANCIAL ACCOUNT NUMBER - A device for facilitating financial account transactions is described which includes a processing unit including a cryptographic processor. The device also includes an input unit, a display unit and a memory device connected to the processing unit. The memory device contains a private cryptographic key, a first data element and a second data element. The processing unit encrypts the first data element using the private cryptographic key and the second data element, modifies the second data element, combines the encrypted first data element and the second data element to generate a single-use financial account identifier, and displays the single-use financial account identifier. This identifier is then transmitted to a central processor for authorization of the transaction. The central processor extracts and decrypts data elements from the transmitted identifier using the private cryptographic key, compares those data elements with data elements stored in a memory, and verifies the single-use financial account identifier in accordance with the comparison. | 02-07-2013 |
20130041776 | CASH PAYMENT APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD - Using communications enabled devices or computers, Cash Payment System (CPS) buyers authenticate and authorize payment to sellers. Sellers identify themselves to the buyer and the buyer controls the payment process. | 02-14-2013 |
20130046655 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DYNAMICALLY SELECTING A PAYMENT PROCESSING GATEWAY - A method for an e-commerce payment transaction to be processed by dynamically selecting at run-time, a third-party payment-processing gateway account, based on one or more rules and their attributes. An authorized system administrator configures and stores the rules and their attributes in a rules database for each third-party payment gateway. The system automatically selects the correct third-payment processing gateway account to be used for each by transaction by matching the pre-configured rules and their attributes against the properties of the payment transaction. The payment transaction is processed using the selected third-party payment gateway and is recorded in the e-commence platform payment processing database. | 02-21-2013 |
20130046656 | Method and System for Navigation Free Online Payment - A system and method of enabling a user to view online content from an online content provider, wherein the user accesses the online content provider on a browsing device over a communication network, has been disclosed in the invention. The online payment method comprising: requesting the online content from the online content provider by the user; sending an authentication request to the browsing device by the online content provider; sending a payment request to a payment system by the browsing device; processing the payment request by the payment system; sending a payment response to the browsing device; further transmitting the payment response to the merchant website; and displaying the online content on the browsing device based on the payment response. | 02-21-2013 |
20130046657 | SUPPLIER DYNAMIC REFERENCE SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Systems and methods for a supplier dynamic reference are provided. Some embodiments include a processor and a memory coupled to the processor for storing instructions. In various embodiments, the memory stores instructions causing the processor to provide product information to a consumer, process data to determine that the consumer wants to make a purchase, process data to enable a supplier to dynamically select a reseller of their products based on a predetermined criteria, and cause the processor to transmit data related to the selected reseller to the consumer. Some embodiments may include a database with product information and product reseller information, including an indication of which resellers sell each product and a selection system configured to select a reseller to provide to the consumer based on the consumer wanting to purchase the product and a reseller selection criteria, wherein the transmitter transmits reseller information to the consumer. | 02-21-2013 |
20130054412 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CONTACTLESS PAYMENTS FOR ONLINE ECOMMERCE CHECKOUT - A process of conducting a contactless payment in an online transaction comprises initiating, at a computer-based system, an online transaction based on a consumer selection, transmitting, from an RF device, consumer information to the computer-based system. The consumer information may provide at least one of shipping information, account information, and billing information for completing the online transaction. Further, the method includes populating a check-out screen with consumer information from the radio frequency device. The consumer is able to confirm the online transaction and associated information prior to submission for processing. In various embodiments of conducting the contactless payment of an online transaction, the RF device may be at least one of a transponder, a mobile phone, a smart phone, or a fob. The contactless-enabled device may at least one of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a notebook computer, a mobile phone, or a smart phone. | 02-28-2013 |
20130054413 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CONTACTLESS PAYMENTS - A contactless payment system for merchant transactions (e.g., a restaurant) comprises generating, at the contactless payment system, a total bill of purchases associated with a consumer, associating a unique identifier of a RFID tag or a QR code with the total bill, transmitting the total bill and associated unique identifier to a consumer accessible payment network, and receiving payment from the consumer for satisfaction of the total bill. The consumer submits the payment using a contactless-enabled device, such as a smartphone. The contactless-enabled device may interrogate the RFID tag or read the QR code to receive the unique identifier and a payment network link. Furthermore, the contactless-enabled device submits a payment transaction request to the payment network, where the payment transaction request includes the unique identifier and an account identifier. The payment network receives the payment transaction request and locates the total bill using the unique identifier as a key. | 02-28-2013 |
20130054414 | ONLINE PAYMENT METHOD AND A NETWORK ELEMENT, A SYSTEM AND A COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT THEREFOR - The invention concerns a payment arrangement in an online shopping. In the method a request for a transaction code containing at least predefined user-related identification information is received. The content of the request is compared to stored information and, in response to a positive outcome of the comparison, a transaction code is generated, stored and delivered to the requesting party. In the next phase an inserted transaction code is received for verification and it is compared to the generated transaction code stored. In response to a positive outcome of the comparison the payment information is confirmed to the requesting entity. The invention also relates to a network element, a system and a computer program product implementing the method. | 02-28-2013 |
20130054415 | REFERRAL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SOURCING BUYER-REQUESTED ITEMS - A method and a system for a finder to send an acceptance that indicates that the finder has accepted a request to find an item requested by a requestor. The finder then sends an electronic notification to one or more other people about the request for the item, wherein the electronic notification includes a monetary incentive for the one or more other people in addition to the finder to assist in locating the item. The finder or the one person of the one or more other people sends location information. The location information includes a seller's contact information or a listing within an online marketplace describing the item. The finder and the one person of the one or more other people receive compensation based on assisting in locating the requested item. | 02-28-2013 |
20130054416 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATICALLY PUBLISHING CONTENT - The publishing system and method automates at least some portion of a publishing process. The system publishes content using metadata, rights templates and/or specifications, publishing profiles and business rules. | 02-28-2013 |
20130066744 | FLEXIBLE SHIPPING DELIVERY - A flexible shipping delivery system has an online marketplace interface, a client interface, a shipping carrier interface, and a flexible shipping delivery engine. The online marketplace interface communicates with an online marketplace application. The client interface communicates with a client that places an order for an item on the online marketplace application. The client interface receives a shipping delivery preference of a user of the client. The shipping carrier interface communicates with a shipping carrier server. The shipping carrier server provides a tracking shipping status of the item. The flexible shipping delivery engine adjusts a delivery option of the item based on the tracking shipping status of the item and the shipping delivery preference. | 03-14-2013 |
20130073429 | SECURE COMMERCE WITHIN ELECTRONIC BANKING - Users perform in-application purchases when logged in to an electronic financial application. User funds are transferred into an intermediate account at the user's financial institution, and merchants are paid from a guaranteed account at a separate financial institution. Non-real-time settlement is performed between the intermediate account and the guaranteed account. | 03-21-2013 |
20130073430 | GIFT GIVING SYSTEM AND METHOD - Systems, methods, and computer program products capable of facilitating gift giving are disclosed. The social media contacts of a consumer may be identified. Personal information may be stored for the social media contacts. The consumer may enter gift criteria for the social media contacts, and based on the criteria, it may be determined that a social media contact should receive a gift for a particular occasion. A gift may be automatically purchased and sent to the social media contact on behalf of the consumer. | 03-21-2013 |
20130103542 | PROVIDING PERSONALIZED RESULTS FOR GIFT GIVING UTILIZING A DATABASE - An approach for providing personalized results for gift giving utilizing a database is provided. The approach includes reviewing, by a processor, an item list of a recipient, determining an item to provide to the recipient that is not on the item list, and sending the item to the recipient. The item list is stored in one or more databases of at least one of a recipient device, a merchant server, and a third party server, for querying of the item list. | 04-25-2013 |
20130103543 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING DATA FEEDS - Systems and methods for generating a customized data feed of real estate listing data for provision to destination websites, and for retrieving and displaying resulting web traffic. | 04-25-2013 |
20130103544 | AUTHENTICATION SYSTEM - A system and method whereby the identity of a person, entity, device or the like attempting to gain access to a secured resource may be securely authenticated includes a means for receiving from a service client (such as a retail store, service station, on-line service provider or merchandiser, healthcare provider, medical insurer, information consumer or the like) a request for access to a secured resource, where the request for access was previously submitted to the service client by a requester purporting to be an authorized user of said secured resource; means for generating and communicating to the purported authorized user a challenge string adapted to provide a basis for authenticating the identity of the requester; a means for receiving from the service client a response string corresponding to the challenge string; and a means for evaluating the response string to authenticate the identity of the requester. | 04-25-2013 |
20130103545 | Cloud Credit Card Transaction System and Transaction Method Thereof - A cloud credit card transaction system and the transaction method thereof are disclosed. The system comprises a client terminal, a cloud credit card service system and at least one shop. The client terminal includes a wireless communication device, and the cloud credit card service system has a cloud credit card transaction module. The transaction method of the present invention comprises that the cloud credit card transaction system is connected to the wireless communication device with wireless and employs the cloud credit card transaction module for authentication of the transaction between the client terminal and the shop. The shop is connected to the cloud credit card service system, and the client terminal can be coupled to the cloud credit card transaction module to transact with the shop by the wireless communication device. | 04-25-2013 |
20130103546 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SECURE ELECTRONIC TRANSACTIONS - Micro-payments for electronic sales transactions are securely and anonymously enabled by a central payment agent maintaining declining balance accounts for users and separately authenticating and authorizing customer and vendor transaction requests and payment upon confirmation of delivery. No personal billing information for the customer need be provided to the vendor, maintaining anonymity of the vendor. The vendor may electively set a pricing and terms policy allowing the price of the goods or services to dynamically vary across a series of transactions or transaction portions based on events such as quantity, bandwidth, or aggregate amount paid. A transaction may involve goods or services from multiple vendors in an apparent single transaction, with payment resolved among all participating vendors. | 04-25-2013 |
20130103547 | System and Method for Franchise, Finance, Real Estate, And Supplier Relationship Management - A system and computer-implemented method for delivering documents associated with a commercial transaction using a computer in communication with a computer network include receiving documents associated with a designated commercial transaction from a first party via the computer network, storing the documents for subsequent access via the computer network in a computer readable storage device, notifying a second party that the documents are available via the computer network, and logging a date that the documents are available to the second party in a log file stored on the computer readable storage device. The system and method may also include receiving a request from a second party via the computer network to review documents for the designated commercial transaction, allowing access to the documents by the second party via the computer network; and logging a date that the documents are accessed via the computer network. | 04-25-2013 |
20130110675 | Marketplace for Composite Application and Data Solutions | 05-02-2013 |
20130110676 | TECHNIQUES FOR CUSTOMER IDENTIFICATION WITH AUTOMATED TRANSACTIONS | 05-02-2013 |
20130117157 | OPTIMALLY SOURCING SERVICES IN HYBRID CLOUD ENVIRONMENTS - A method, system and computer program product for selecting the optimal cloud service provider(s) to service a user's needs. A physical capacity of servers in a non-virtualized data center is converted into a cloud capacity to be used. A list of cloud service providers may be generated from a catalog of providers based on the cloud capacity to be used. Additional requirements and constraints received from the user are used to select an optimal cloud service provider(s) from the generated list of cloud service providers. | 05-09-2013 |
20130124364 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ELECTRONIC PAYMENT USING PAYEE PROVIDED TRANSACTION IDENTIFICATION CODES - A computerized method of payment based on short, temporary, transaction ID numbers which protect the security of the payer's (customer's) financial accounts. The payee will first register a source of funds and a payer device with a unique ID (such as a mobile phone and phone number) with the invention's payment server. Then once a payee (merchant) and the payer have agreed on a financial transaction amount, the payee requests a transaction ID from the payment server for that amount. The payment server sends the payee a transaction ID, which the payee then communicates to the payer. The payer in turn relays this transaction ID to the server, which validates the transaction using the payer device. The server then releases funds to the payee. The server can preserve all records for auditing purposes, but security is enhanced because the merchant never gets direct access to the customer's financial account information. | 05-16-2013 |
20130132234 | TECHNIQUES FOR AUTOMATING A RETAIL TRANSACTION - Techniques for automating a retail transaction are provided. In an embodiment, a customer of a retailer is provided a bill to complete a transaction with the retailer. The bill includes a barcode or a Quick Response (QR) code with details of the bill encoded therein. The customer, using a mobile device, scans the code. The mobile device automatically connects with a mobile transaction service and completes payment details for the customer. The retailer's system is notified that payment was received and the transaction is completed. | 05-23-2013 |
20130132235 | ENABLING THIRD-PARTY E-STORE WITH CARRIER BILLING FOR A MOBILE DEVICE - Techniques and equipment are described for enabling an application developer to provide mobile device users, using the developer's application, an option to purchase digital content items within the application and have the cost of the purchased content billed directly to their respective mobile communications service accounts. The mobile service account for a user or user's mobile device is maintained by a wireless carrier or operator of the mobile communication network to which the user subscribes for mobile communication services. The charges and other transaction details related to the content purchased by a mobile device user via the mobile application on the user's device appear in a billing or account statement periodically provided to the user by the carrier or operator of the mobile communication network. | 05-23-2013 |
20130144755 | APPLICATION LICENSING AUTHENTICATION - Methods and systems for application licensing authentication are disclosed herein. The method includes processing a request for a license for an application from a purchaser at a marketplace service. The method also includes sending a token from the marketplace service to a client platform, wherein the client platform is configured to allow the purchaser to assign a seat to a user and to send the token to a third party service when the user attempts to access the application. The method further includes accepting the token from the third party service at the marketplace service, verifying the validity of the token within the marketplace service, and returning a message verifying the validity of the token to the third party service. Moreover, the third party service may be configured to allow the user to access specific levels of service within the application through the client platform. | 06-06-2013 |
20130144756 | TRANSACTION SYSTEM - A transaction system is disclosed comprising a plurality of merchant devices, a plurality of customer devices and a central payment system, whereby any of the customers can conduct financial transactions with any of the merchants by means of, after an initial registration, entry of a unique ID associated with the merchant, password, payment amount and the system recognition of the customer's mobile phone number CLI. The system is particularly useful for enabling small value merchant or merchants to easily conduct transactions face to face with customers. | 06-06-2013 |
20130151375 | MANAGING LEAD-BASED FEEDBACK IN A NETWORK COMMERCE SYSTEM - A network commerce system comprises a product sale listing searchable by a consumer and comprising one or more products provided by a third-party. A lead tracking module is operable to track consumer leads provided to the third-party vendor. A communications module enables the consumer and third-party vendor to communicate; and a feedback module enables at least one of the consumer and the third-party vendor to leave feedback regarding a lead tracked via the lead tracking module based on a handshake. | 06-13-2013 |
20130151376 | System and Method for Processing Product Orders - A method of processing a product order is disclosed. The method includes receiving a product order from a consumer and selecting a fulfiller to fulfill the product order. A system for processing a product order is also disclosed. | 06-13-2013 |
20130159139 | Systems and Methods for Service Delivery of Automatic Service Level Agreements - A method for delivering the services of automatic service level agreements includes receiving a customer's selection through a service manager portal of a number of services offered by a number of third-party service providers; and invoking underlying contracts with the number of third-party service providers that correspond to the selected services. The underlying contracts are modified when created based on an evaluation of each of the third-party service providers. | 06-20-2013 |
20130166410 | PAYMENT AGENCY SYSTEM, USER TERMINAL AND MARKET SERVER - A payment agency system, a user terminal, and a market server are provided. The payment agency system includes an issue unit that generates at least one payment ticket according to a request of a user terminal and that transmits the at least one payment ticket to the user terminal; and an accounting processor that receives purchase information and a payment ticket of pay digital contents in which the user terminal purchases from a market server and that performs an accounting processing of the pay digital contents using the payment ticket and the purchase information. | 06-27-2013 |
20130166411 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND MEDIUM FOR PROVIDING MIXED COLOR CULLET BROKERING SERVICES - Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for brokering the purchase and/or sale of mixed-color glass and/or cullet, optionally over a computer network. In one embodiment, the broker facilitates the purchase and/or sale of three color mixed cullet between beneficiators, MRFs and/or glass plants, in order to supply, for example, glass plants with and/or allow glass plants to purchase desired quantity and/or quality (e.g., cleanliness) of cullet. | 06-27-2013 |
20130173425 | CONSUMER-INITIATED FINANCIAL TRANSACTION BASED ON SALES-SIDE INFORMATION - During a financial transaction, an electronic device associated with a consumer receives an electronic package from a counterparty in the financial transaction. This electronic package includes sales-side information associated with the financial transaction. Then, the electronic device analyzes the electronic package to extract the sales-side information. Moreover, the electronic device provides the sales-side information and payment information to a third party that completes the financial transaction, thereby allowing the consumer to initiate the payment process. Next, the electronic device receives confirmation from the third party when the financial transaction has been completed. | 07-04-2013 |
20130173426 | RAPID CHECKOUT AFTER PAYMENT - A user's checkout information is stored for a certain amount of time, e.g., 10 minutes, after checkout, and the user is given the option of selecting a button to add one or more items for purchase and completing the purchase by adding the additional item(s) and approving the payment, without having to go through a complete checkout flow again. | 07-04-2013 |
20130179301 | COMPUTERIZED REAL ESTATE MARKETING SYSTEM - A computerized real estate marketing that assists a buyer having available assets locate property to purchase. A computer executes application software that causes the computer to implement a database and a communication dataport. The database includes an entry for the qualified buyer and a description of the real estate the qualified buyer wants to purchase. The computer then markets the qualified buyer to real estate sellers. A seller supplies seller information with the seller information containing a description of property that the seller wishes to sell to the qualified buyer. The computer filters the seller information to determine if the seller property matches the described real estate. If it does the computer causes the qualified buyer to be informed about the seller property. | 07-11-2013 |
20130179302 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FACILITATING A TRANSACTION BY MATCHING SELLER INFORMATION AND BUYER INFORMATION - Systems and methods are provided to facilitate a transaction between a seller and a buyer. According to one embodiment, seller offer information is received at a controller. The seller offer information is associated with an item, such as a secondary market item, being offered for sale by a seller. Buyer offer information, associated with a buyer offering to make a purchase, is also received. An evaluation rule is determined, and the seller offer information and the buyer offer information are matched based on the evaluation rule. It is then arranged for the seller to sell the item to the buyer. | 07-11-2013 |
20130185172 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING INTER-JURISDICTIONAL PERMITS - Permit applications for construction or property improvement projects can be processed for multiple jurisdictions at the same time through a networked system. A kiosk can be provided as a central point of interaction for the user. A property address is received from the user and compared with multiple jurisdictions to determine one or more jurisdictions in which the property address is located. Permit requirement information for each of the jurisdictions is output for the user. Permit application information is then received from the user. The permit application information includes electronic fee payment information. A permit application can then be transmitted to at least one of the jurisdictions. If the permit is approved, one or more permits are received from the jurisdictions. The kiosk or other device can print paper copies of the permits for the user or provide them in electronic format. | 07-18-2013 |
20130185173 | FEATURE LICENSING FRAMEWORK FOR THIRD PARTY FEATURE CREDIT MANAGEMENT - A method and apparatus for provisioning devices. One method includes authenticating a first customer as an authenticated user and receiving from a first customer a first request to establish a credit record for a specified number of upgraded feature licenses. The upgraded feature licenses are obtainable from a third party supplier and are associated with components available from the third party supplier. The credit record includes feature credits to be made available to the first customer to obtain the upgraded feature licenses from the third party supplier. A second request is received from the first customer to release the feature credits to a credit pool associated with the first customer so that the feature credits are available to the first customer. The upgraded feature licenses are generated and the credit pool associated with the first customer is debited for the number of credits needed to obtain the upgraded feature licenses. | 07-18-2013 |
20130191248 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING SECURE LOAN-BASED TRANSACTIONS - A loan is made to a borrower such that the loan funds remain in an account associated with the borrower and cannot be directly accessed by the borrower as cash/currency. The borrower then submits a purchase request indicating items the borrower desires to purchase via a secure loan-based transaction using the approved loan funds. The borrower's purchase request is analyzed and, if the requested purchase is deemed appropriate, the purchase is approved. The funds required to make the approved purchase are then transferred from the borrower's loan account to designated/approved merchant(s) directly, without the transfer of cash to the borrower. The borrower is then informed of the completed financial transaction and the requested purchase items are obtained by, and/or delivered to, the borrower. | 07-25-2013 |
20130198038 | DOCUMENT TEMPLATE LICENSING - Methods and systems for licensing a document template are provided herein. The method includes obtaining, within a computing device, a license for a document template from a marketplace service. The method also includes downloading the document template to the computing device. The method includes providing a functional experience of a document derived from the document template to a licensed user. The method further includes sharing a license-restricted document with an unlicensed user in response to an input from the licensed user, wherein the license-restricted document provides a reduced-functionality experience of the document derived from the document template to the unlicensed user. | 08-01-2013 |
20130204745 | DEFAULT PHONE BILL CHARGING - A consumer payment control system receives a request to increase a stored value of the consumer account by a credit value, transmits a funding request to a consumer account funding infrastructure, the funding request including a credit value, and increases a stored value of the consumer account by the credit value. A communication and routing module receives a charge request, including an amount and identifies a selected one of the consumer accounts. A transaction processing system processes the charge request based on an account detail of the selected consumer account. The consumer payment control system determines whether a top-up confirmation has been received from the consumer account funding infrastructure after a predetermined period of time, and causes charging of the consumer account if the top-up confirmation has not been received. | 08-08-2013 |
20130211960 | ASSET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system to manage, review, and process distressed real estate and other assets, including, but not limited to, performing and nonperforming notes, substandard assets, and other real estate owned (OREO) assets. The system may be hosted on one or more servers on a network, such as the Internet, and accessible to financial institutions and other users through a web browser or similar program. Alternatively, the system may be hosted on an institution's own computers. The system may be used by banks, credit unions, savings and loan institutions, asset management companies, financial institutions, real estate development companies, and other holders of assets to list such assets and make them available for review by potential investors or purchasers, and tracks said assets until said assets are sold or “off-loaded.” | 08-15-2013 |
20130211961 | SYSTEM FOR UTILIZING REDEMPTION INFORMATION - A system to determine offers and/or to determine the acceptability of offers based on received information relating to product redemption at a third party. According to one embodiment, the system includes arrangement for a customer to redeem a product from a third party, reception of information relating to a redemption of the product by the customer, reception of an offer to purchase a product for an offer price, determination to accept the offer based on the received information relating to the redemption, determination of an assigned third party at which the offer product may be redeemed based on the received information, and transmission of an acceptance of the offer and an indication of the assigned third party. | 08-15-2013 |
20130218721 | TRANSACTION VISUAL CAPTURING APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS - The TRANSACTION VISUAL CAPTURING APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS (“TVC”) transform mobile device location coordinate information transmissions, real-time reality visual capturing, and mixed gesture capturing via TVC components into real-time behavior-sensitive product purchase related information, shopping purchase transaction notifications, and electronic receipts. In one implementation, the TVC obtains user check-in information from a user mobile device upon user entry into a store. The TVC extracts a user identifier based on the user check-in information, and accesses a database for a user profile. The TVC determines a user prior behavior pattern from the accessed user profile, and obtains user real-time in-store behavior data from the user mobile device. Using these, the TVC generates and provides a recommendation to the user mobile device. The TVC adds a product for purchase by the user to a cart based on the provided recommendation. Upon obtaining an indication that the user desires to purchase the product added to the cart, the TVC initiates a purchase transaction for the product added to the cart, and provides an electronic receipt to the user mobile device. | 08-22-2013 |
20130226734 | PRIVATE EMBEDDED MARKETPLACE - Consistent with some embodiments of the present invention, an online marketplace service includes am embedded marketplace service that enables third-party merchants to quickly and easily leverage the online marketplace to offer marketplace functionality via their respective online retail stores. Each third-party merchant can configure the embedded marketplace service to meet its needs. For instance, with a user interface presenting various configuration options, the third-party merchant can select a variety of seller-specific, item-specific, or product-specific aspects that must be satisfied to have item listings or product listings qualify for presentation via the merchant's online retail store. | 08-29-2013 |
20130226735 | SYSTEM FOR UTILIZING REDEMPTION INFORMATION - A system to determine offers and/or to determine the acceptability of offers based on received information relating to product redemption at a third party. According to one embodiment, the system includes arrangement for a customer to redeem a product from a third party, reception of information relating to a redemption of the product by the customer, reception of an offer to purchase a product for an offer price, determination to accept the offer based on the received information relating to the redemption, determination of an assigned third party at which the offer product may be redeemed based on the received information, and transmission of an acceptance of the offer and an indication of the assigned third party. | 08-29-2013 |
20130232032 | Methods and Systems for Performing Mobile Collections - Methods and systems for performing mobile collections utilize computer hardware and software for receiving delivery information including, for example, an agent identifier, a delivery identifier and details of a scheduled delivery, and a buyer identifier. Upon receiving the delivery identifier and a submit request from a communication device of the agent, an authorization request is sent to a communication device of the buyer. On receiving the buyer identifier and an authorization response from the communication device of buyer, a settlement request for the delivery is sent to a banking network. Thereafter, payment for the delivery is received in an account of the supplier. | 09-05-2013 |
20130232033 | BILLING SUPPORT IN A MEDIA EXCHANGE NETWORK - A system providing billing support for the exchange of media is disclosed. An embodiment of the present invention may provide for the authorization of and billing for the delivery of media from a media server to local storage for consumption on a television display. The media may be audio, still pictures, video, or data. Other embodiments may provide for the authorization of and billing for the transfer of media from a media peripheral to a media server for media backup or distribution. A media peripheral may be, for example, a digital camera, digital camcorder, personal computer (PC), personal digital assistant (PDA), multi-media gateway, and MP3 player. An embodiment may support pre-payment, payment at time of use, and post-use billing for the media exchange. In an embodiment of the present invention, the storing or accessing of media may be performed without identifying the user to the media server. | 09-05-2013 |
20130238464 | SYSTEM TO FACILITATE SHARING USING CONTINGENCY ORDERING - Purchase order information associated with an item from a first user may be stored initially without completing a purchase transaction. In one aspect, the first user may be enabled to select one or more second users with whom to share the purchase. In another aspect, one or more second users may be given an opportunity to purchase the same instance of an item and share it. In response to determining that a minimum subset of the selected one or more users have indicated to purchase the item, the purchase transaction may be processed and completed. Completion of the purchase may be contingent on the selected one or more second users also purchasing the same item or the same instance of the item. An event may be optionally added to the users' calendars wherein they share the use of the item(s). | 09-12-2013 |
20130238465 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TARGETED GIFTING - Systems and methods for targeted gifting are presented herein. In some embodiments, a giftee (i.e., gift recipient) provides, to a computer system, one or more gift selections and a gift rank set, where each gift rank indicates a giftee's preference for receiving the associated gift selection over other gift selections. A giftor (i.e., gift giver), in turn, may provide, one or more gift criteria defining parameters under which the giftor is willing (or able) to purchase a gift for the giftee (e.g., a purchasing budget). Using the gift selections, associated gift ranks, and the gift criteria, a target gift set may be selected from the gift selection set, and items from the target gift set may be acquired for the giftee on behalf of the giftor. Operations performed in some embodiments may be automatic and in accordance with gift-giving occasions (e.g., in advance of calendared events, such as birthdays). | 09-12-2013 |
20130254070 | LINK OF MOBILE DEVICES TO FACILITATE MOBILE COMMERCE TRANSACTIONS - In linking mobile devices to facilitate a mobile commerce transaction, a primary mobile device creates an invitation to link to a mobile commerce account of the primary mobile device with a mobile commerce payment system and sends the invitation to a secondary mobile device. The secondary mobile device receives the invitation from the primary mobile device and sends an agreement to link to the mobile commerce account to the primary mobile device. The primary mobile device receives the agreement from the secondary mobile device and sends credentials for linking to the mobile commerce account to the secondary mobile device. The secondary mobile device receives the credentials from the primary mobile device and acquires information for enabling the link to the mobile commerce account using the credentials. The secondary mobile device links to the mobile commerce account using the information. | 09-26-2013 |
20130262265 | System and Method for Managing Software Licenses - A method for managing software licenses in a cloud environment includes receiving, by a license services system associated with the cloud environment, a request to use a first application from a first user associated with a first subscribing entity, and receiving, by the license services system, a request to use a second application from a second user associated with a second subscribing entity. The method also includes permitting, by the license services system, the first user to execute the first application if a license for the first application is available to the first subscribing entity, and permitting, by the license service system, the second user to execute the second application if a license for the second application is available to the second subscribing entity. | 10-03-2013 |
20130262266 | DIGITAL PROOF OF DELIVERY - A digital proof of delivery for digital goods items purchased online includes methods and systems for authenticating online purchases for helping to prevent and mitigate fraud. A unique download identification (ID) is created and associated with the digital goods download and purchase. Additionally, third parties may readily be allowed to view the download status of a digital goods item by providing the unique download ID of the item, which may be useful for aiding third party fraud investigations. In response to an item of digital goods purchased by a customer for download from a merchant having reached a specific stage of downloading, but the download is not complete, download is suspended and a dialog box is sent over a network for presentation to a customer, and, in response to a confirmation received via the dialog box, the download is completed with a download ID unique to the completed download. | 10-03-2013 |
20130262267 | SMS MESSAGING METHODS AND SYSTEMS HAVING INTERACTIVE FUNCTIONALITIES FOR INCREASING COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC TO ENTERPRISES AND FOR GATHERING DATA USEFUL FOR COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES - SMS-based communications methods and systems comprising interactive functionalities, as well as devices, software, modules and integrated systems and methods are provided. The text-messaging methods and systems of the invention are particularly useful for increasing the marketability of products and services, and for increasing commercial traffic to one or more commercial establishments through network communicated dialogues and other communications. SMS-based systems and methods of the invention are configured also to be able gather and analyze many different kinds and patterns of data, such as that relating to marketing and advertising activities, and to performance of the systems and methods themselves. The present technology relates also to methods and systems for both gathering and using marketing and other commercial information on a real time basis to increase enterprise incoming traffic flow and business. Methods and systems of the invention can be provided in turnkey forms, and can also configured for particular enterprises, and also by means of one or more modules, for example, provided on a digital device such as a server. | 10-03-2013 |
20130275264 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FACILITATING FRICTIONLESS TRANSACTIONS IN A CLIENT/SERVER ENVIRONMENT - The field of the invention relates to systems and methods for network-based commerce, and more particularly to systems and methods for facilitating frictionless transactions between a user device and server system. In one embodiment, a server system is configured to execute a process including the steps of: receiving a text-based communication sent from the client device using a first native communication medium, the text-based communication having a source address, a recipient address, and one or more short-codes; parsing the text-based communication for said one or more short-codes; and replying to the source address using a second native communication medium with a purchase order for one or more products available from said recipient address defined in the server system, wherein said short-codes uniquely identify said one or more products; and confirming the order through the second native communication medium. | 10-17-2013 |
20130275265 | BUSINESS TO BUSINESS INTEGRATION SERVICES MARKETPLACE - The present disclosure relates generally to a business to business (“B2B”) integration services marketplace. In various examples, a B2B integration services marketplace may be implemented in the form of systems, methods and/or algorithms. | 10-17-2013 |
20130282524 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING REAL ESTATE SERVICES - Real estate brokerage systems and methods are provided. A user may sign up for a real estate brokerage service via a system, such as a website or other network accessible software program. A real estate brokerage system may aggregate information from multiple computer-based real estate information systems, such as an MLS, governmental offices, title companies, credit rating companies, etc. The real estate brokerage system can provide a graphical user interface (GUI) to allow users to access the system and services. The systems and services may be provided for a periodic rate, such as a daily rate, that is independent of the value or selling amount of a listed property. There can also be add-on services, such as photography or staging, for additional amounts, which might be recurring or a one-time charge. | 10-24-2013 |
20130290137 | System And Method For Enabling Users to Purchase In-Game Content for Each Other - A virtual space may be provided to users to participate in, e.g., a game. The users may be able to purchase access to unlockable in-game content within the virtual space for other users, also referred to beneficiaries. Responsive to the completion of such a purchase transaction, access to the purchased unlockable in-game content is facilitated for the one or more beneficiaries. | 10-31-2013 |
20130297452 | PAYMENT PROCESSING FOR CLIENT DEVICES - A method of payment using a client device is disclosed. The payment can be made through a payment method service that can control the payment flow and options available to the user of a client device. Using the payment method service, new payment options with new data schemas and/or new process flows can be used by the client device, but without any need to update software stored on the client device. The payment method service can utilize the look and feel of the client device, such that the user views payment options in the native UI of the client device. | 11-07-2013 |
20130311332 | CUSTOMIZED MARKETING - A computer implemented marketing method comprising: characterizing a customer in real-time based on a determination of whether one or more rules have been satisfied, and providing real-time customized assistance to the customer if a characterizing threshold is met. | 11-21-2013 |
20130325661 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USING ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER TO COMPLETE PAYMENT FOR GOODS AND SERVICES - A system and method of using Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) to complete payment for goods and services. An example method of operating a transaction terminal includes identifying items selected by a customer for purchase, determining a required payment amount for the items, obtaining identification information from the customer, obtaining contact information and payment information, including bank account information and bank routing number information, from a customer profile associated with the identification information, creating a check image, sending a request for payment message providing access to the check image and the payment information to a mobile communication device of the customer using the contact information in the customer profile, and receiving a reply message from the mobile communication device authorizing payment for the items via electronic funds transfer and including a 2D barcode containing the check image and the payment information. | 12-05-2013 |
20130325662 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING WIRELESS INTERNET CONNECTION - A mechanism for providing wireless internet connection is disclosed. A method includes receiving, by an internet service provider (ISP) server device from a client device, a request for access to a wireless internet connection from the client device. The request includes a start time for the access, a total time period for the access, and a client identification (ID) of the client device. The method also includes generating a proposed response including price information based on the request and a plurality of payment service providers (PSPs). The method also includes receiving one of an acceptance or denial of the proposed response. The method also includes providing to the selected PSP, the proposed acceptance response, and an ISP ID assigned to the ISP server device. The method further includes sending one of an access or denial of the wireless internet connection to the client device. | 12-05-2013 |
20130332313 | Electronic Marketplace For Commercial Real Estate - A system facilitates commercial real estate transactions by providing a first electronic interface through which a first broker can post real estate requirements, a second electronic interface through which a second broker can post real estate availabilities, and a facility that finds a match among the requirements and the availabilities, and notifies at least one of the first and second brokers of the match. Preferred systems can match requirements and availabilities based upon multiple factors, including deal terms, type of real estate, and timing, and can use fuzzy logic. Preferred systems can also include automatically notifying relevant brokers upon entry of a new availability of requirement listing. and can make matching recommendations. | 12-12-2013 |
20130339187 | System for Delivering Invoices Over a Secure Messaging Network - A system for delivering invoices over the SWIFT Network to a community of buyers comprises an invoice viewer at each buyer's location, each connected to a shared data center over the Internet. The shared data center comprises a SWIFT interface and BIC for receiving, and a database for storing, invoice objects for each buyer. At a first invoice object includes identification of a first buyer and at least a second invoice object includes identification of a second buyer. A group of buyer records associated each unique buyer with unique access credentials. A delivery application provides a connecting buyer's invoice objects in response to a web services call from the connecting buyer. An invoice viewer generates the web services call, receives the response, and renders a user interface displaying information from each interface object. | 12-19-2013 |
20130339188 | GIFT TOKEN - Systems and methods are disclosed for giving gifts in the form of secure tokens. A gift can be given from a user of a payment provider to a gift recipient. The recipient can be a member of the user's family, a friend, or any other person or entity. The recipient can use the token to purchase a product using a checkout though the payment provider. The purchase can be made without requiring the user to create the user's own payment provider account. | 12-19-2013 |
20130339189 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS - A method of facilitating transactions comprises gathering and storing, in a collection, data relating to an item, gathering and storing, in the collection, information from communications, relating to a purchase transaction sequence regarding the item, parsing the collection to extract items of data or information and incorporating at least a portion of the extracted items into transaction documents relating to the purchase transaction sequence, and providing transaction documents to at least one of prospective buyers or prospective sellers, through a platform adapted to facilitate communication between prospective buyers and prospective sellers. | 12-19-2013 |
20130346243 | TRANSACTION MANAGEMENT BASED ON INDIVIDUAL ORDERS OR NUMBER OF DEVICES AT TABLE FOR DESIRED DISTRIBUTION - A mobile device performs admixed transactions at a merchant. The mobile device receives a purchase amount. The mobile device connects to at least one other mobile device. Responsive to connecting to the at least one other mobile device, the mobile device receives account authorization for at least one other purchase amount. Responsive to receiving the account authorization from the at least one other device, the mobile device creates an admixed authorization. The admixed authorization comprises individual account authorizations for users of the mobile device and the at least one other mobile device. The mobile device initiates a single transaction at a merchant. The mobile device transfers the admixed authorization to the merchant. Each of the individual account authorizations are applied to the single transaction based on the purchase amount and the at least one other purchase amount authorized in the individual account authorizations. | 12-26-2013 |
20130346244 | ONLINE/OFFLINE PAYMENT SYSTEM - A method for receiving a payment includes receiving information for a transaction with a merchant over the network, wherein the transaction includes an incomplete online transaction associated with a user account. A location of a user device that is associated with the user account is then retrieved, and a payment location is determined that is within a predetermined distance of the location of the user device. The payment location is then sent over the network to the user device. The user of the user device may then go to the payment location to provide payment information offline to a payment location device (e.g., by presenting a payment card to the payment location device provider, providing cash, etc.). That payment information is then received over the network from the payment location device and, in response, the online transaction is completed. | 12-26-2013 |
20130346245 | System and Method for Conducting Delegated Payments - The present disclosure involves an electronic device. The electronic device includes a user interface configured to receive an input from, and display output to, a user. The electronic device includes a memory storage configured to store programming code. The electronic device includes a computer processor operatively coupled to the memory storage. The computer processor component is configured to execute the computer programming code to perform the following operations: approving a group of contacts of the user as delegated buyers; receiving, through the user interface, an alert that one of the contacts is within a predefined geographical range of a remote merchant; requesting the contact to buy merchandise from the merchant on behalf of the user; establishing a secure electronic payment channel with a mobile communications device of the contact; and transferring, via the secure electronic payment channel, funds to the contact for buying the merchandise on behalf of the user. | 12-26-2013 |
20130346246 | PERSONALIZED INTERACTIVE NETWORK WITH SOCIAL MARKETING PERSONALIZED OFFERS - Systems and methods are disclosed for personalizing interaction between an information/service/product provider using a knowledge management (KM) system that tracks data exchanged between users and the provider over multiple communication channels. User requests to an information/service/product provider can made via multiple different channels, such as by using ATMs, PDAs, cell phones, computers accessing web sites or other Web Devices, Voice Response Units (VRUs), and others. User requests submitted over these multiple channels are routed into an integrated KM system that services these requests and selects personalized offers and/or personalized content and/or personalized format presentation to be provided to the users. | 12-26-2013 |
20140012704 | SELECTING A PREFERRED PAYMENT INSTRUMENT BASED ON A MERCHANT CATEGORY - The invention provides a computer-implemented method to select a preferred card for a purchase based on a merchant category. In the exemplary method, the computer associates a plurality of financial accounts with an account of a user; associates a merchant category with a financial account associated with the user account; and receives data from a transaction. The computer can maintain a database of merchant categories; determine the category of the merchant based on the data associated with the transaction; and extract data to identify the merchant, such as merchant name, address, or telephone number. The computer can determine the geo-location of the user device and determine the merchant identify from the location. The computer can determine a merchant category of the merchant from the merchant identity; select the financial account associated with the merchant category of the merchant; and communicate the financial account selected to conduct the transaction. | 01-09-2014 |
20140032366 | PEER-ASSISTED SHOPPING - According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a method for peer-assisted shopping, the method includes initiating, on a first endpoint corresponding to a first user, a display of media content. The method also includes initiating, on the first endpoint, an interactive feature configured to allow the first user to interact with the first endpoint in response to the display of media content. The method further includes initiating, on the first endpoint, an option for the first user to invoke a communication request with at least a second user corresponding to at least a second endpoint. Moreover, the method includes, upon selection of the option, initiating a connection request with the at least a second endpoint. | 01-30-2014 |
20140040071 | TRUSTED FULFILLMENT AGENT NETWORK - A system and method for a trusted fulfillment agent network system is described. A network of trusted fulfillment agents is generated for a seller in an online marketplace. A transaction between a buyer and the seller corresponding to a listing of the seller in the online marketplace is accessed. A request is generated to the network of trusted fulfillment agents of the seller to fulfill a shipment of an item from the listing to the buyer on behalf of the seller. | 02-06-2014 |
20140046796 | Digital Commerce Systems and Methods Facilitating Charitable Giving - The invention provides, in some aspects, a digital commerce system that includes first and second digital data devices that are coupled with a server digital data processor via a network supporting at least intermittent communications therebetween. The server digital data processor is responsive to requests by owners/operators of those digital data devices for (i) selling or otherwise transferring ownership of or other rights in an object from an owner/operator of the first digital data device to an owner/operator of the second digital data device, and (ii) transferring any of credits and/or monetary funds (collectively, “funds”) from an owner/operator of the second digital data device to a charity designated by the owner/operator of the first digital data device. | 02-13-2014 |
20140046797 | COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND A RELATED METHOD FOR ENABLING A PROSPECTIVE BUYER TO BROWSE A VENDOR'S WEBSITE TO PURCHASE GOODS OR SERVICES - Buyer, vendor and third party computer systems are disclosed together with a related method for enabling a prospective Buyer to browse a Vendor's website purchase goods or services. The Buyer's computer system automatically extracts purchase information from which the Vendor can identify the Buyer's purchase. The Buyer's computer system may transmit, under control of the Buyer, confirmation to the Vendor that a third party has been instructed to pay the Vendor for the Buyer's purchase. A third party's computer system may transmit to the Vendor confirmation of receipt of an instruction from a Buyer to pay a Vendor for goods or services. | 02-13-2014 |
20140052576 | SYSTEM FOR SUPPORTING INTERACTIVE COMMERCE TRANSACTIONS AND SOCIAL NETWORK ACTIVITY - The disclosed subject matter includes an electronic commerce platform for a user to buy and sell goods and services, as well as a social network platform for a user to socially interact with other users. The combination of these two activities enables the user to solicit information online from other users of the system prior to buying or selling a product or service. The user can also share purchase information as well as information about favorite products, services, sellers, etc. with other users. This interconnected relationship between social connections and buying and selling activities support an entire new set of information available to the community of users of the system and greatly improves their purchasing and selling decision making processes. | 02-20-2014 |
20140058894 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR LIVE VIDEO ADVICE - The invention relates to a method for live video advice for at least one customer using an advice system which comprises at least one customer system having a customer computer, a network as well as a vendor system connected to the customer system over the network, wherein the vendor system comprises a server system and a plurality of adviser systems connected to the server system and each having an adviser computer and a camera, wherein the method comprises the steps:
| 02-27-2014 |
20140058895 | METHOD OF TRACKING AND COMMUNICATING INFORMATION ABOUT A PERSON TO A PROVIDER OF GOODS OR SERVICES - A method of tracking and communicating information about a person to a provider of goods or services is disclosed. A GPS enabled mobile phone is used to search for nearby sites of providers of a specific service. Once a service provider is selected, a route to that provider is advised and as the person travels towards the provider the separation between them is determined. As one or more geofences are broken during the journey warning messages are sent to the service provider indicating the pending arrival. The method is particularly useful where the service is to be provided to a disabled person as their accessibility needs can be identified in the message. | 02-27-2014 |
20140067607 | System and Method for Shared Interactive Network Platform for Real Estate Transactions - An online computerized platform and method are presented for aiding members of a network related to real estate transactions. In some aspects users that are prospective buyers or renters can establish a user-centric network of service providers relating to real estate, including agents, loan entities, legal and labor services, and other relevant contacts in a custom network for such users. Directed automated and user-driven actions can define the network for a given member of the community of users so that the user's experience is user-centric rather than centered around the offerings of a given vendor such as around real estate or loan or service offerings. | 03-06-2014 |
20140081804 | SOCIAL PURCHASE SYSTEM - Systems and methods for providing social purchases include hardware and software configured to receive a purchase instruction from a purchaser that includes an item and a merchant associated with the item. The purchase instruction is determined to be associated with a social purchase request that may be predefined or provided along with the purchase instruction. In response to determining the associated social purchase request, a social purchase solicitation including the item is provided to a plurality of friends connected to the purchaser through a social network on their associated social network profiles. The social purchase solicitation is monitored for social purchase opinions directed to the item by the plurality of friends through the social network profiles. A payment request to make a payment from the purchaser to the merchant is sent in response to the social purchase opinions including a predetermined number of positive opinions directed to the item. | 03-20-2014 |
20140089140 | Individualized Digital Media Delivery Systems - Systems and methods for individualized distribution of digital content to purchasers via portable kiosks are described. The systems contain a storage device for storing the digital content and distribution devices for distributing the digital content to a user. The distribution devices can be configured to be portable so that users who are not mobile can access the distribution device. As well, the users can use a receiving device containing unique identification data to receive and access the digital content. Such a system is extremely useful for users who are not mobile and whose use of the distribution devices needs to be controlled, such as detainees in a corrections facility. Other embodiments are described. | 03-27-2014 |
20140095354 | REMOTE SYSTEM INTERACTION - A computer system includes a processor, a display, one or more input devices allowing a user to input commands into the computer system and a browser which allows the user of the system to browse remote web pages. The computer system is programmed to use the browser to visit a website in response to one or more user commands entered into at least one of the user input devices. Multiple strings are extracted from the visited web page. The probability that the visited web page is one of a predetermined set of types of web pages is determined as a function of whether the strings correspond to a stored list of strings. If the probability is greater than a threshold, an indication is provided on the display that an online loan may be available to the user of the computer system. | 04-03-2014 |
20140095355 | Platform, Method, and Device for Managing Application - The present invention discloses a platform, method, and device for managing an application, and belongs to the field of the Internet. The platform includes a mall and a store, where the mall includes: a management module configured to record and maintain information of an application store, application information, and user information; an application store creation module configured to create the application store according to store implementation logic, so that the application store presents an application according to the implementation logic; and a transaction management module configured to complete billing and charging of the application according to information maintained by the management module; and the store includes: a store interface management module configured to manage and present the application, so that the application is presented in a set presentation manner. | 04-03-2014 |
20140100987 | MONITORING A DROP SHIP PROCESS OF A PARTNER - A method for monitoring a drop ship process may include receiving a drop ship order for an item from a vendor, the item being ordered by a customer of the vendor. The method may also include performing a supplier drop ship process in response to receiving the drop ship order. The method may further include providing a plug point associated with the supplier, the plug point being connectable through an intermediary to an interface, wherein the supplier drop ship process is monitorable through the interface. | 04-10-2014 |
20140108199 | METHOD AND USE OF POINT-OF-SALE TERMINAL, WHICH RECEIVES, TRANSMITS, STORES, AUTHORIZES, RECONCILES, AND CALCULATES TRANSACTIONS ELECTRONICALLY - A point-of-sale terminal, which receives, stores, transmits, authorizes, reconciles and calculates electronic transactions of data. It is also an on-line document delivery system which allows access, download, viewing and printing from a client's desktop, receive and send documents via facsimile to any location, and do virtually any other transaction offered by the System from home, office or from almost anywhere in the world at any time. This point-of-sale terminal is designed to provide access to documents through a graphical interface. | 04-17-2014 |
20140114805 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CUSTOM-FITTING SERVICES TO CONSUMER REQUIREMENTS - Systems and methods for custom-fitting a service solution to consumer requirements are provided. A method for custom-fitting a service solution to consumer requirements, comprises acquiring a request for the service solution from a consumer via a conversational interface, and issuing a query to a service knowledge base to obtain a set of service knowledge representation items from the service knowledge base and analyzing each service knowledge representation item to determine whether a custom-fit service solution can be developed. | 04-24-2014 |
20140114806 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REAL ESTATE SERVICES - A method of brokering real estates between at least one potential real estate investor and at least one potential tenant performed on a system comprising an internet based platform accessible by at least one tenant and at least one investor with use of at least one user terminal wherein the method comprises the steps of entering and storing tenant data into a first database wherein tenant data comprises at least one parameter characterizing the tenant's desired real estate; entering investor data wherein said investor data comprises at least one parameter characterizing the investor's desired real estate; and analyzing said tenant data and said investor data and displaying matching data to bring a potential tenant and investor together for an investment project. | 04-24-2014 |
20140114807 | Utilizing User Devices in Venues - In various implementations, customer service may be provided using a pager and/or user device. Signal(s) associated with a pager and/or user device may be received. One or more metrics may be determined at least partially based on the received signals. The metric(s) may be monitored. In various implementations, a management system of a location may receive a signal from a pager and/or user device indicating that an event has occurred at the location. A time the signal is received by the management system may be determined. One or more time-related metrics may be determined based at least partially on the received signal, the determined time, or both. | 04-24-2014 |
20140129385 | BANDWIDTH MANAGEMENT - A computer identifies a plurality of available network connections, wherein at least one of the identified network connections is contractually available to the computer under terms of a monthly data plan. The computer determines, based, at least in part, on characteristics of each network connection of the plurality of network connections and anticipated bandwidth consumption of the computer, a network connection to connect to from the plurality of network connections. The computer connects to the determined network connection. The computer determines, based, at least in part, on anticipated bandwidth consumption of the computer and contractual terms of the monthly data plan, an amount of excess bandwidth available for sale. | 05-08-2014 |
20140136368 | AVATAR HAVING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR FACILITATING THE CREATION OF PERSONAL DECISION CONTRACTS - The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing an avatar marketplace within which an avatar can enter into personal decision contracts with other avatars to receive goods or services on behalf of the individuals or entities represented by the avatars. An avatar acts as a digital representation of a user by continually searching for information and analyzing the information to provide recommendations of decisions the user may make. The personal decision contracts entered into by the avatar can be commitments to follow a decision recommended by the avatar at a future time. Such contracts can be entered into with other entities or avatars. The avatar can maintain a score that represents the level of trust that the user has in the avatar which is based on how often the user complies with his commitments in a personal decision contract. | 05-15-2014 |
20140136369 | Method of Analyzing a Sale Process for an Entity - A computer-implemented method determines determine an adequacy of a process to sell an entity responsive to competition, fairness, thoroughness, and good faith. A computer evaluates a sale of an entity by rating solicitation efforts associated with potential buyers of the entity (audience), by rating information about the entity prepared for potential buyers, by rating time frames surrounding the sale (timing), by rating circumstances associated with a transfer of the entity, and by rating a negotiation and execution efforts associated with the sale of the entity. Each criteria investigated is provided a weighting factor, where the weighting factor for the audience and transfer is around 0.25, the factor for the information and negotiation and execution is around 0.20, and the weighting factor for the timing is around 0.10. | 05-15-2014 |
20140149253 | TASKING SYSTEM FOR MANUFACTURING AN ELECTRONIC UNIT, TRADING SYSTEM FOR A CUSTOMIZED ELECTRONIC UNIT, QUALITY CONTROLLING SYSTEM FOR TRADING A CUSTOMIZED ELECTRONIC UNIT AND METHODS THEREOF - A tasking system for manufacturing an electronic unit is provided. The tasking system is connected to a network platform, the electronic unit includes at least a board circuit and an IC chip corresponded to an IC program. The tasking system includes a task assignment side, a first task processing side and a second task processing side. The task assignment side is connected to the network platform for proving a task requesting table and publishes the task requesting table to the network platform, wherein the task requesting table is corresponded to the electronic unit. The first task processing side is connected to the network platform. The first task processing side constructs the IC chip in accordance with the task requesting table. The second task processing side is connected to the network platform, and the second task processing side constructs the board circuit in accordance with the task requesting table. | 05-29-2014 |
20140156457 | METHODS AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR FACILITATING THE PROCESSING OF REAL ESTATE INFORMATION - An automated system that routes real estate leads, both from online sources and more traditional sources, to an agent who will be able to respond to the customer(s) associated with the lead in a very short time, perhaps a matter of minutes. A primary advantage associated with at least one embodiment of the present invention is that the response to real estate leads is shortened by a very large order of magnitude, as conventional response time may typically be in the range of several hours to several days. | 06-05-2014 |
20140156458 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING DIRECT FLORIST-TO-FLORIST TRANSACTIONS - A computer-implemented method for providing buyers with a unique purchasing experience based on buyer groups is disclosed. In one embodiment, a web service is provided. The web service lists a plurality of sellers. A list of products and related information based on buyer group of a buyer is displayed. Further, the web service facilitates a sale of one or more of the products based on buyer group of the buyer. Then a seller delivers the received order and receives buyer's feedback for the sale. | 06-05-2014 |
20140164179 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO OPTIMIZE IN-STORE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE - In various example embodiments, a system and method for providing optimized in-store customer experience is provided. Accordingly, a list of a plurality of customers from which a selection is made to initiate a customer session is provided to a mobile device of a user. A selection of a customer from the list of the plurality of customers is received. The selection initiates the customer session for the selected customer. Customer data including a customer profile of the customer that includes sizing and preference information of the selected customer is accessed. The mobile device presents a user interface for the customer session that presents products for customer review and access to the customer data. | 06-12-2014 |
20140164180 | NOTARY APPLICATION SERVICES KIT - A notary application services kit is provided herein. In some embodiments, a notary services application kit comprises a step by step instruction sheet for using items provided in the kit; an application for notary; a check addressed to a state or county office which processes the application for notary; and a voucher for redemption of at least one of a notary bond, seal, or journal. | 06-12-2014 |
20140164181 | COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM, INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM, AND INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD - Example systems and methods involve an information processing apparatus configured to transmit transmission data to one or more of a plurality of other information processing apparatuses, the transmission data including icon-related data for an icon associated with content data executed by the information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus is also configured to receive reception data from one or more of the plurality of other information processing apparatuses, the reception data from each respective other information processing apparatus including icon-related data for an icon associated with content data executed by the respective other information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus cumulatively stores icon-related data included in the reception data received from the one or more of the plurality of other information processing apparatuses. | 06-12-2014 |
20140172638 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ACCESS TO PRODUCT REVIEWS AND/OR RATINGS - A system causes an image of a product and a ratings dashboard to be presented on a client computing device. Interaction with the ratings dashboard causes a quick review summary for the product to be presented. The quick review summary for the product provides a top line visual summary of review information provided by product reviewers which information includes a visualization of at least a number of product reviewers that have given the product each of a plurality of overall product reviewer ratings and a visualization of an average overall product reviewer rating of at least one characteristic of the product. Interaction with the quick review summary for the product may be used to cause a presentation of a more detailed summary of the product reviewer information for the product or information related to all product reviewer reviews for the product which information is further capable of being at least one of sorted and filtered. | 06-19-2014 |
20140172639 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO FACILITATE TRANSACTIONS - Systems and methods to facilitate programmatic access to a network-based commerce facility via a network are described. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving a request from a third party application via a programmatic access application. The request generates a call function to perform an action pertaining to electronic commerce to allow one or more indirect transactions between the network-based commerce facility and a user via the respective third-party application. In responsive to the request, the method performs the action pertaining to the electronic commerce and communicates from a result of the action from the network-based commerce facility to the third party application in a programmatically accessible format. | 06-19-2014 |
20140180871 | Method, System and Program Product for Online Commercial and Social Activity - Method, system and program product comprise requesting to join a trading network of a website. Said trading network is established for commercial and social activity. Said request is transferred to a share network engine to be posted on an out of network board to be viewable by all consumer members and merchant members. Said request is acceptable by any member of said trading network. An acceptance of said request is received from said share network engine. At least a voucher for a product or service provided by at least one merchant member of said trading network is received. Information is transferred to said share network engine to be at least posted on a board of said trading network. | 06-26-2014 |
20140188660 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING THE RIGHT TO BROKER REAL PROPERTY TRANSFERS - A method of doing business to refer the right to broker the sale of real property is disclosed. Additionally, methods and systems to measure the value of the business are disclosed. The methods and systems include determining the value of the properties and determining the value of the right to broker the properties on a networked based computer system as well as a single personal computer. | 07-03-2014 |
20140188661 | UNIVERSAL LEDGER - The present invention provides systems and methods for tracking obligations incurred between individuals. The method may include receiving a request from a first party, where the request includes an expense incurred by the first party for the benefit of a second party. The method may also include providing a notice of the request to the second party and receiving an acceptance from the second party to assume an obligation associated with the expense. The method may further include associating the obligation with the second party and associating a benefit with the first party. The obligation and/or benefit may be substantially equal in value to the expense. The method may additionally include interfacing with a social network service to provide the social network service with information about the obligation and/or the benefit. | 07-03-2014 |
20140188662 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR GENERATING AN INTERACTIVE COMMUNICATION SESSION WITH A LIVE CONSULTANT - Methods and systems for generating an interactive communication session with a live consultant that comprises: receiving a request to communicate with a live consultant concerning at least one item for purchase. In response to the request, an interactive communication session is generated between the live consultant and a customer. The interactive communication session transmits live video images of the live consultant and the at least item to the remote device. Live video images of a customer are transmitted and received. At least one test is applied on the at least one item. The results generated by the at least one a test is transmitted. | 07-03-2014 |
20140195378 | STAGE-WISE ANALYSIS OF TEXT-BASED INTERACTIONS - The stages of an interaction between a potential customer (the user) and a sales representative (the agent) during a sales interaction are identified to understand the interaction factors that drive sales and, by doing so, to serve the customer better and thus increase sales. Initially, a user makes contact with an agent via a communications network. During the interaction, a dropping point is reached, i.e. the point in the interaction at which either the user or the agent ends the interaction. The dropping point and other interaction factors is analyzed. Based upon such analysis, various recommendations are made to the agents to improve the user's sales experience. | 07-10-2014 |
20140207614 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ASSISTING CUSTOMERS IN RETAIL STORES - Methods and systems for assisting customers in retail stores are described. The method comprises obtaining one or more assistance requests from a customer mobile device. The one or more assistance requests include customer device location and assistance information. Further, the assistance information includes at least one of a customer image, a text message, a video, and an audio. The method further comprises analyzing the one or more assistance requests to obtain assistance details. The assistance details include customer data and store associate data. Further, the method comprises transmitting the customer data and the store associate data to store associate mobile devices and the customer mobile device respectively for assisting the customer. | 07-24-2014 |
20140214612 | CONSUMER TO CONSUMER SALES ASSISTANCE - A computer-implemented method is disclosed herein. The method includes the step of receiving, with a processing device of a commerce server, a help request signal from a first augmented reality device worn by a current consumer considering an item for purchase in a retail store. The method also includes the step of searching, with the processing device, a consumer database wherein the consumer database contains purchase histories for a plurality of past consumers. The method also includes the step of identifying, with the processing device, a past consumer in the consumer database who purchased the item. The method also includes the step of transmitting, with the processing device, a communication request signal to a second augmented reality device worn by the past consumer containing data indicative of a request that the past consumer communicate with the current consumer about the item. The past consumer can assist the current consumer in considering the item for purchase. | 07-31-2014 |
20140214613 | PRIORITIZATION OF THIRD PARTY ACCESS TO AN ONLINE COMMERCE SITE - Providing prioritization of user online access to an online commerce site. Third party applications using API function calls to access an online commerce site are restricted to specific services by an access rule. An access rule defines which API server on the online commerce site a specific third party application may access when using a specific API function call. In this way, the operator of the online commerce site may prioritize server access per service level agreements based on a specific third party application and API function call. | 07-31-2014 |
20140222619 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS TO IMPLEMENT A PRIVATE SALE - In some examples, a system comprises a memory and at least one module, executing on one or more computer processors, to host an online marketplace for marketplace participants, allow a segmentation of the marketplace into at least one private group for private participants, and receive listings of items for sale exclusively to the private participants. | 08-07-2014 |
20140236764 | REMOTE SALES ASSISTANCE TRACKING - A computer-implemented method is disclosed herein. The method includes the step of providing, with a processing device of a commerce server, sales assistance to a consumer shopping in a retail store and considering a first item for purchase. The method also includes the step of receiving, at the processing device, a receipt signal containing a list of items purchased by the consumer. The method also includes the step of determining, with the processing device, if the first item is among the list of items purchased by the consumer to track the effectiveness of the providing step. | 08-21-2014 |
20140244437 | Methods and Apparatus for Providing Customer Assistance - Techniques for providing customer assistance with real-time feedback are presented herein. A request for customer assistance is generated by a customer using an application executing on a handheld mobile smart device. The request is transmitted to an employee using another handheld mobile smart device. The request is accepted by the employee and a response is transmitted back to the customer. The response includes the employee's expected arrival time at the customer's location and a floor plan map that depicts the progress of the employee as the employee travels to the customer's location. | 08-28-2014 |
20140249957 | MOBILE APPLICATION FOR IN-STORE USE - According to some embodiments of this disclosure, a software application running on a mobile device (e.g., a tablet or smartphone device) is provided which may be used by a sales associate in a physical store of an entity to assist a consumer in shopping for products or services. For example, the software application may be used by the associate to retrieve and display user generated content (UGC) items related to the products or services to assist the consumer in shopping. The software application may also store a browsing history for the user, and the sales associate may then transmit the browsing history to the consumer (e.g., via email or other electronic message). | 09-04-2014 |
20140249958 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CUSTOM SERVICE MARKETS - Methods and systems for providing custom services are disclosed. A developer interface provides standards, such as an application platform interface, for developers to use to make and test applications and services. A user interface can access downloadable or hosted services or applications to multiple users, such as, merchants, banks and networks. The system can then provide custom individual or packages of services to users based on the services requested by the user and charge the user for them on a subscription or per-use basis. | 09-04-2014 |
20140258037 | Transparency in Processing of Wait Times for Brokered Engagements - Described are techniques for providing broker services to consumers and service providers. An estimate of when a service provider will be available to the consumer is calculated based on determining entries in a queue maintained for the service provider, the entries corresponding to consumers waiting for the service provider. An entry corresponding to the consumer is added to the queue maintained for the service provider, and the estimate is sent to a device used by the consumer; and when the consumer in the queue is at the top of the queue a real-time communication channel is established with a device used by the consumer. | 09-11-2014 |
20140279227 | Connecting Consumers with Service Providers Independent of Consumer Search - A computer-implemented method includes receiving an indication of a request to access to a webpage that identifies service providers who are available for consultations; identifying, by one or more computers, in response to the request one or more available service providers; generating, by the one or more computers, a web page that when displayed on a display device, renders: visual representations corresponding to the identified service providers; and selectable portions of the visual representations through which the consumer selects a service provider from the identified service providers; and receiving data indicating the consumer's selection of the service provider; and establishing a communication channel between a device used by the selected service provider and the device used by the consumer. | 09-18-2014 |
20140279228 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ONLINE AUTHENTICATION CODES USABLE TO PURCHASE GOODS AND/OR SERVICES - A method for providing online authentication codes usable to purchase good and/or services. A plurality of authentication codes that can be provided to third party receiving entities are stored in a database. The third party receiving entities provide goods and/or services that can be obtained through presentment of the authentication codes to the third party receiving entities. An electronic request is received from a third party sender via an interface to purchase and receive an authentication code that can be presented to a third party receiving entity in return for a good and/or service from the third party receiving entity. An identity of a receiving entity for the requested authentication code is received from the third party sender through an interface. Payment for the authentication code is received from the sender. The authentication code is provided to the sender after receiving the payment. A portion of the payment received from the sender is provided to the third party receiving entity after receiving payment from the sender for the authentication code. | 09-18-2014 |
20140279229 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FACILITATING VEHICLE TRANSACTIONS - The present disclosure relates to computer-implemented systems and methods for searching vehicle listings. An example method may include receiving one or more financial parameters. The method may also include generating one or more proposed transactions that may be defined, at least in part, by the one or more financial parameters. Additionally, the method may include determining, based at least in part on the one or more proposed transactions, for one or more advertised offers associated with one or more vehicles. The method may also include transmitting at least one advertised offer of the one or more advertised offers. | 09-18-2014 |
20140279230 | Revenue Sharing System and Method Thereof - A diagnostic tool that can communicate with a computing device such as smart phone is provided. The diagnostic tool can include a power management system that allows the dynastic tool to enter lower power state in order to prevent the power drain of vehicle battery. The diagnostic tool can also AutoID a vehicle or use a “fingerprinting” process to identify the vehicle. A crediting system is provided that can be used to credit a 3 | 09-18-2014 |
20140279231 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING THIRD PARTY PAYMENTS WITH NON-INTEGRATED MERCHANTS - A system and method in accordance with example embodiments may include third party payments with non-integrated merchants. A system and method in accordance with example embodiments may utilize a plug in or application to intercept retailer data from a third party, analyze data, and present information to a customer based on the intercepted data and the analysis. | 09-18-2014 |
20140279232 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AN AFFINITY CAPTURE, USER FEEDBACK AND AFFINITY ANALYSIS - Various affinity systems and methods are provided to enable the capture of unique end-to-end purchase intent information. In some embodiments, the data collected through affinity systems and methods can be used to develop insights into the purchase making decision processes of users at any point of a shopping experience. The systems can host interaction platforms to facilitate the exchange of information, opinion, and/or suggestions on products, recommendations, and/or opinions. Further embodiments provide analysis of the captured data to derive insights regarding the appeal of products/services and the qualitative opinions of the users about the products/services. | 09-18-2014 |
20140279233 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AN AFFINITY CAPTURE, USER FEEDBACK AND AFFINITY ANALYSIS - Provided in some embodiments is a social platform for soliciting qualified opinions and facilitating shopping, engaging shoppers, and delivering feedback. The social platform can communicate or integrate with existing sites to provide options for interacting with other qualified users. The platform can improve engagement, and increase social interaction. In some embodiments, affinity/feedback systems are provided that generate feedback for shoppers during their shopping experience. In addition to providing real-time feedback and opinions to shoppers, affinity and feedback systems can be configured to analyze and stored information on a complete purchasing experience. The complete purchasing experience can include, for example, initial identification of interest (e.g., establishing a purchase intent), specification of a product or service detail, actual identification and/or comparison of products/services, any interaction between shopping participants, conversations between participants, actual service/product purchase, and can also include after purchase conversation and/or review. | 09-18-2014 |
20140279234 | Generation to Generation Data Storage and Access - This disclosure is drawn to systems, devices, apparatus, methods and/or a structure of interoperating functions related to storing and accessing information among generations of users. Specifically, the disclosure relates to generating revenue from storing and accessing information among generations of users, including individuals, entities, and/or organizations. A generation-to-generation transaction model may incentivize the collection of content, genetics, knowledge, and insights, and the distribution of such collected information to future generations that would ordinarily be lost at death (of a human) or evolution (of an entity). This collection of information may be accessed and/or mined by third parties, which may present monetization opportunities that may compensate the information owner's and his related future generations. Monetization opportunities may be negotiated with the third parties by the generation-to-generation transaction system, which may act on behalf of the users. | 09-18-2014 |
20140279235 | ENABLING COLLABORATIVE REACTIONS TO IMAGES - In one implementation, users associated with user identities are enabled to access, via a collaboration session, an image provided in connection with the collaboration session on behalf of a particular user identity. In addition, a reaction to the image provided on behalf of an individual one of the other user identities is received in connection with the collaboration session, and an association between the received reaction and the image is established that links the received reaction to the image. A user associated with the particular user identity then is enabled to access the received reaction in connection with the collaboration session in a manner that reflects the link between the received reaction and the image. | 09-18-2014 |
20140289074 | Systems and Methods for Micro-Casting in Urgent Needs Fulfillment Matching - A computerized multi-casting distributed urgent goods and services fulfillment system configured to triage a plurality of providers with respect to an urgent need for one or more goods and services of a seeker thereby generating a current seeker-adaptive micro-casting triaged provider pool, and further configured to successively proffer an adjustable portion of the current micro-casting triaged provider pool to the seeker. | 09-25-2014 |
20140289075 | TOOL FOR SELLING AND PURCHASING VEHICLE HISTORY REPORTS - Systems and methods for selling and purchasing vehicle history reports are described. In one embodiment, a method includes determining a set of vehicles in a dealer inventory, determining a subset of the vehicles in the dealer inventory for which the dealer has not purchased a vehicle history report, presenting a summary report to a dealer, the summary report including information about at least one of the vehicles in the subset of the vehicles, receiving a selection to purchase a vehicle history report for at least one of the vehicles in the summary report, and providing the vehicle history report corresponding to the selection to the dealer. | 09-25-2014 |
20140289076 | BELIEF PROPAGATION FOR GENERALIZED MATCHING - Entities may be matched to enhance the efficiency of various commercial activities using various system and method embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. Belief propagation on a graph data structure defining a bipartite or unipartite matching opportunity is used to calculate a best matching. In embodiments, functions are implemented based upon the match, such as executing sales between matched buyers and sellers in an online auction system. In embodiments, messages with scalar values carry information about the relative value of possible matchings, initially provided as weights or values for the possible matchings. Weights may depend on, for example, bids or costs. Messages may be passed, for example over a network between processors respective to the nodes. Belief values reflecting a best matching can be continuously updated for each node responsively to the value information and received messages to rank the matches respective to each node, which progressively improve. This allows short or complete terminations conditions to determine the goodness of the matching. Differing numbers of matches respective to each member of the disjoint sets and distributions of the desirability of different numbers of matches can be integrated in the matchings in respective embodiments. | 09-25-2014 |
20140289077 | Method And System To Facilitate An In-Person Exchange - Certificates can be redeemed for a physical product during an in-person exchange. This can be based upon providing to a third party, via an electronic data network, an opportunity to select a physical product to provide to a particular recipient via an in-person exchange; receiving from the third party, via an electronic data network, a selection of the physical product to provide to the particular recipient in an in-person exchange; and providing a message to the particular recipient. The message can comprise, at least in part, a certificate that can be redeemed by the particular recipient for the physical product at a retailer and can further comprise transaction-specific validation information that, when utilized by the retailer, will validate a bearer as being authorized to receive the physical product via the in-person exchange without further additional payment from the bearer to the retailer. | 09-25-2014 |
20140297469 | Consumer Monetization of Pre-existing Internet Usage Data - A system is described wherein a user provides pre-existing information to a data collection company, who in turn sells the data or use of the data to third parties and offers the user a portion of the sale proceeds. | 10-02-2014 |
20140297470 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO DELIVER GOODS TO A BUYER THAT IS DYNAMICALLY LOCATED - Systems and methods to deliver goods to a buyer that is dynamically located are described. The system communicates a user interface to a device that is identified as being located at a first location and associated with a customer. The user interface includes items that are identified as being located within a predetermined distance from the device. The system receives an order from the device that authorizes the purchase of an item and delivery of the item to the customer. The system automatically selects a courier from a plurality of couriers that are identified as being located at different locations. The system communicates a user interface to a courier mobile device that includes instructions to enable the courier to retrieve the item from a second location and deliver the item to the first location. | 10-02-2014 |
20140297471 | COMMODITY INTRODUCTION SYSTEM AND COMMODITY INTRODUCTION METHOD - A commodity introduction system including an exhibition stand for placing a commodity; a worktable for using by a staff; a service communication device placed on the worktable for using by the staff; a client communication device placed on the exhibition stand for using by a consumer, wherein the client communication device can communicate with the service communication device so that the staff can introduce the commodity placed on the exhibition stand to the consumer via the service communication device. In the present invention, the commodity introduction system can provide an easy shopping environment to the consumer, bringing convenience to the consumer. In addition, the present invention also relates to a commodity introduction method. | 10-02-2014 |
20140304114 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FACILITATING UPGRADING OF PREVIOUSLY SOLD PRODUCTS - In accordance with at least some embodiments, systems and methods provide for storing an indication of an initial purchase of a first new product from a supplier and by an initial purchaser and facilitating a provision to the initial purchaser of the second product by the supplier and a return of the pre-owned product from the initial purchaser to the supplier. | 10-09-2014 |
20140310127 | CONFIGURABLE INTERACTIVE ASSISTANT - The present invention employs branded virtual characters across multiple network platforms throughout various stages of complex transactions (eg, selling insurance). These characters initially engage prospective customers on a network platform, such as a social network, and persist over time across other network platforms (eg, university and company websites) to educate consumers until they are ready to purchase—e.g., from their “trusted advisor”—particular products and services offered by various providers. An extensible configuration tool (“Config Tool”) is provided to simplify the continued development of such a system, as well as customization of individual Product Modules (e.g., a Life Insurance Module) by product and service providers (e.g., insurance companies and employers) and other third-party developers (before and during runtime). This Config Tool provides a variety of extension points permitting virtual characters to be added and their appearance and behavior modified, along with the details of the products and services being offered. | 10-16-2014 |
20140310128 | METHOD FOR ENHANCING CONTRACT BASED MOBILE PHONE CONSUMER EXPERIENCE - The various embodiments herein provide a method for enhancing a wireless customer's experience by providing incentives in exchange for the consumer signing a limited period contract. The method comprises the steps of offering a new mobile phone for a subsidized price to an existing consumer, providing an additional discount on the new mobile phone in order to renew the contract at the contract commencement, providing an option for retaining their existing mobile phone that they are already accustomed and continue using the service without signing a renewal, allowing the existing consumer to choose a third party service provider for contract renewal, allowing the third party service provider for purchasing the new mobile phone from the primary wireless service provider at the subsidized price on behalf of consumer, and receiving a monetary payment from the third party service provider in exchange of contract renewal. | 10-16-2014 |
20140316941 | Self-Adjusting Seller Zones - According to various embodiments, a first group of potential buyers of a product item is identified, and an item listing for sale of the product item is posted on a marketplace website, wherein the item listing being viewable by the first group of potential buyers. Thereafter, if it is determined that the product item has been purchased by at least one member of the first group within a predetermined time interval, the item listing is closed. On the other hand, if it is determined that the product item has not been purchased by at least one member of the first group within the predetermined time interval, a second group of potential buyers may be identified. Thereafter, the item listing may be modified to generate a modified item listing being viewable by both the first and second groups of potential buyers. | 10-23-2014 |
20140316942 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRANSACTION AUTOMATION - A system and method provides a user of a network-based commerce system drag and drop functionality that allows a user to purchase goods from a network-based transaction system through the use of links and images. | 10-23-2014 |
20140324629 | DYNAMIC PROMOTIONAL LAYOUT MANAGEMENT AND DISTRIBUTION RULES - Systems, methods and computer readable products are provided for enabling dynamic loading of one or more digital image branding functions associated with one or more distribution rules. A distribution rule is used to target a group of end users that are selected from a dataset mapping a plurality of end-users according to one or more distribution rules. Instructions are forwarded to present an indication the digital image branding function to each member of the end users group. | 10-30-2014 |
20140337173 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING LOCATION-BASED TRANSACTIONS - An approach is provided for managing location-based transactions. A posting application determines to associate transaction information with a geographic location, the transaction information relating to one or more users. The posting application determines location information associated with respective devices of the one or more users. The posting application determines to transmit a notification related to the one or more transactions to the respective devices based, at least in part, on the location information. | 11-13-2014 |
20140344112 | PERSONALIZED REAL ESTATE EVENT FEED - A personalized feed system is described herein that provides feeds that are tailored to the preferences of each user of a real estate website or application. A user signs up to receive a stored profile with the website, and the profile includes information such as what geographical regions the buyer is interested in, what types of homes the buyer is looking for, and so on. The personalized feed system uses this information to provide a feed specific to the buyer that notifies the buyer of listings that are of particular relevance to that buyer. The personalized feed system summarizes other real estate events that are relevant to the user in a single time-oriented feed. Buyers receive information about new and/or modified listings, sales, outstanding offers, status of a transaction, and the like, while sellers receive information about sales, new and/or modified listings, open offers, and so on. | 11-20-2014 |
20140344113 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO FACILITATE DIFFERENT ITEM VIEWING BASED ON PREFERRED STATUS - A method and a system to facilitate differentiated levels of service in a network-based marketplace are described. The system may include a transaction monitor to monitor activity of a user with respect to a network-based marketplace; a status generator to generate a status within the network-based marketplace, for the user based at least partially on the monitored activity; and a user service module to provide service within the network-based marketplace to the user in accordance with the determined status of the user. Users may achieve a preferred user status within the network-based marketplace. A preferred user may receive preview listings of items that are not available to users who did not achieve a preferred user status. A preferred user may also receive personalized customer service within the network-based marketplace. | 11-20-2014 |
20140351088 | COMPUTER-IMPLEMENTED REAL ESTATE INFORMATION DELIVERY SYSTEM AND METHOD - Disclosed is a real estate information delivery system for assisting a user in choosing a neighborhood so as to purchase, rent, or lease a real estate property therewithin. The system comprises a database comprising a plurality of neighborhood entries representing neighborhoods. Each neighborhood entry is associated with a plurality of neighborhood factor scores wherein, a factor score represents a score of a predetermined neighborhood factor that potentially influences the decision pertaining to the purchasing, renting, or leasing of a real estate property within the neighborhood. The system is configured to enable a user, via a user interface, to choose a plurality of predetermined factors that form the criteria of the user in selecting a neighborhood. Each chosen factor is assigned a percentage weightage value. A calculation module calculates, for each neighborhood, the weighted average of the factor scores pertaining to the user-chosen factors. | 11-27-2014 |
20140358727 | PROVIDING ENHANCED CUSTOMER EXPERIENCES - Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for providing enhanced customer experiences are presented. In some embodiments, a computing device may receive information about a mobile device detected within a predetermined distance of a retail location. Subsequently, the computing device may determine, based on the received information, an identity of a customer using the mobile device. The computing device also may determine one or more needs of the customer based on the identity of the customer. Thereafter, the computing device may generate routing information for the customer based on the identity of the customer and the one or more determined needs of the customer. In some instances, determining the one or more needs of the customer may include predicting at least one need of the customer based on at least one of customer product information, customer presence information, customer history information, customer account information, and customer profile information. | 12-04-2014 |
20140358728 | Facilitating Transactions Between Shoppers And Sellers Using Uploaded Content Files - A server for facilitating transactions between shoppers and sellers using uploaded content files includes anon-transitory storage device, a network interface device, and a processing device that executes a content upload module and a search module. The content upload module is configured to receive an uploaded content file from a first user computing device corresponding to an uploader and associate at least one setter of goods or services with the uploaded content file. The search module is configured to electronically provide one or more content files including the uploaded content file to a second user computing device of a shopper. Each content file has at least one associated seller. The search module is further configured to receive an indication of electronic selection of the uploaded content file and update a selection award associated with the uploaded content file or an uploader of the uploaded content file. | 12-04-2014 |
20140358729 | METHOD FOR MANAGING A HOME EQUITY SALES PROGRAM - A system and method for conducting a home equity sales (HES) program enables a real estate property owner to sell a partial equity ownership interest in a real estate property. This allows the property owner to sell the interest outright to an investor and receive compensation for the sale of the interest. The property interests of the property owner and the investor are both recorded in property records relating to that particular property. The property owner may sell multiple interests in the same property and an investor may also purchase these multiple interests. | 12-04-2014 |
20140365334 | RETAIL CUSTOMER SERVICE INTERACTION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system is provided that monitors a customer's movements, locations, product interactions, and purchase behavior within a physical retail store. Emotional reactions to physical items and the virtual display are also tracked. The customer can utilize a mobile device app to request assistance from a retail store clerk. The app determines the position of the customer's mobile device within the store, such as by using Bluetooth beacons, and then transmits this position and a request for assistance to a server computer. The server gathers information about the customer, and then transmits the information along with the request for assistance and the customer location to a sales clerk. A mobile device used by the clerk receives this information and displays the information and request to the sales clerk. | 12-11-2014 |
20140379524 | Shopper Helper - In one embodiment, a method includes monitoring an action of an individual or a certain consumer and maintaining a database stored in a memory personal to the consumer. The database can have an indication of preferences of the consumer and a purchase history of the individual consumer. The database can be based on the monitored action of the consumer. The method can further include providing a suggested product to the consumer based on the maintained database. | 12-25-2014 |
20140379525 | UTILIZING VOICE BIOMETRICS - Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for utilizing voice biometrics to provide relationship-based service are presented. In some embodiments, a computing device may receive a voice sample associated with a customer of an organization. Subsequently, the computing device may determine a voice biometric confidence score based on the voice sample. The computing device then may determine a relationship between the customer and the organization based on the voice sample and the voice biometric confidence score. | 12-25-2014 |
20140379526 | Electronic Shopping System for Retail Stores - A method and system to assist and guide a customer during a shopping experience in a “brick and mortar” type store in order to provide a more pleasant, effective, and efficient shopping environment is provided. Such a method and system allows a customer to more easily locate and access specific desired items in, for example, a large retail store. The customer can also more easily compare similar items, determine if the desired item or similar items are on sale, whether such items are in stock, issue rain checks on sale items out of stock, assess detailed information on such items, and keep a running account of the costs of the items selected. Such a method and system also provides significant benefits to the retailer, including, for example, increased customer satisfaction, direct communication and interaction with the customer, as well as better inventory control and reduced operating costs. | 12-25-2014 |
20150012384 | SHOPPING OPTIMIZER - A method, system, and/or computer program product optimizes shopping for one or more desired items. An identification of a desired item, which is initially available for purchase at a first physical store, is received. An identity of a second shopper, who also wants the desired item and is currently shopping for the desired item, is received. One or more processors then determine a likelihood of the first shopper arriving at the first physical store before the second shopper purchases a last available instance of the desired item in the first physical store. In response to determining that the first shopper will arrive at the first physical store before the last available instance of the desired item has been purchased by the second shopper, the first shopper is provided with an identity of the first physical store. | 01-08-2015 |
20150019377 | DIRECT SALE AND SOCIAL NETWORKING PLATFORM AND SYSTEM - Platforms, systems, media, and methods that enable a direct sale of a product or a service comprising a processor configured to provide an application comprising: a software module for the user or the group of users to purchase a product directly from a manufacturer, provided that the buyer has the option to purchase the product from at least two manufacturers; a software module for selecting a shipping service for the product, provided that shipping is from the manufacturer to the user or the group of users, and provided that the user or the group of users has the option to purchase the service from at least two shipping providers; a software module for tracking the product through the manufacturing and shipping processes; and a software module for social networking comprises directly connecting to the manufacturer, the shipping provider, other users, or other group of users. | 01-15-2015 |
20150019378 | Data Processing Tool to Facilitate Secure and Confidential Interaction Among Buyers, Sellers and Real Estate Agents With Anti-Spoofing Mechanism - The network-based data processing tool facilitates selection and engagement of a real estate broker and providers of ancillary services in a confidential and secure manner. The tool includes a database that automatically stores historical commission bid data and uses that bid data to assist a user in selecting and engaging a real estate agent. To maintain confidentiality agents are only provided with knowledge of potential Buyer and Seller interest if those parties have actively requested bids from those agents. In addition, actual bid amounts are not visible to other agents. The Tool includes an anti-spoofing feature that detects if when an agent attempts to masquerade as a buyer or seller to use the tool to investigate what fees other agents are bidding. | 01-15-2015 |
20150026009 | CONTEXTUAL BASED WIFI APPLICAITON - The invention relates to electronic communication between entities via a transient contextual interaction channel (TCIC) that mirrors the real world nature of the short term interaction between two or more entities such as a consumer and business. The invention employs a mobile phone and a cloud based information system that is a real-time representation of a user's daily interaction with vendors and which provides users with the ability to acquire and respond to structured data concerning these activities. | 01-22-2015 |
20150026010 | REVERSE SHOWROOMING AND MERCHANT-CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT SYSTEM - Systems and methods for providing a merchant-customer engagement system include a physical merchant location in which a customer may be tracked to determine products within the physical merchant location that the customer is interested in. A merchant may use a wearable merchant device that is configured to identify the customer via a camera that captures an image of the customer, and that image may be used to retrieve customer account information for that customer. Using the customer account information and the products that the customer is showing interest in, the wearable merchant device may be used to display merchant-customer engagement information next to a view of the customer to allow the merchant to help the customer while utilizing a variety of displayed information about the customer including, for example, past purchases, products browsed in-store and previously browsed online, time spent in an area of the physical merchant location, etc. | 01-22-2015 |
20150032570 | Time, Place and Need Information Based Optimization System for Customer Service - A method, a data network arrangement, a computer program product and a server accomplish a service platform. The service platform has several customer interfaces whereby the customer can request a service in the service platform. The service platform prioritizes the received customer requests based on the prioritization value given to different customer events. A customer servant sees the customer requests in the order of importance that is based on the given prioritization value of each customer event. By utilizing the service platform the customer servant can concentrate on serving the customer requests in order of importance. | 01-29-2015 |
20150039467 | Print Service Matching - A print service system including a first stage module to set non-price service terms between a buyer and print service providers, and a second stage module to produce price-based terms between the buyer and one print service provider. | 02-05-2015 |
20150039468 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PEER-ASSISTED E-COMMERCE SHOPPING - A method for peer-assisted shopping including receiving, at a first device, a transacting media container comprising base content and supplemental content related to one or more items in the base content. The method also includes receiving a selection of at least one of the one or more items. The method also includes initiating a first shopping cart within the transacting media container of the first device, the first shopping cart identifying the at least one selected item. The method also includes establishing a communication channel with a second device. The method also includes transmitting information to synchronize a second shopping cart associated with the second device with the first shopping cart. | 02-05-2015 |
20150052013 | CUSTOMER SERVICE APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING SERVICES TO CUSTOMERS WHEN ASSESSING AND/OR PURCHASING ITEMS - A customer service apparatus for providing a service to a customer when assessing and/or purchasing one or more items is provided. The customer service apparatus includes an image capture arrangement for capturing one or more images of the customer, and generating corresponding image data, and a data processing arrangement for processing the image data for generating corresponding output data. The customer service apparatus also includes an image presentation arrangement for receiving the output data from the data processing arrangement for presenting to the customer the images captured by the image capture arrangement. Furthermore, the customer service apparatus includes a communication arrangement for communicating information derived from the images of the customer together with customer identification metadata to one or more parties for assessing the information derived from the images in association with the customer identification metadata, and for receiving feedback from the parties to be communicated to the customer. | 02-19-2015 |
20150052014 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROVIDING UPDATED DATA VIA AN IMAGE - Systems and methods for providing updated data via an image. A sales manager system provides an advertisement image of a product for display on one of a plurality of third-party websites. A request is received for the advertisement image from a third-party system that provides a third-party website. Advertisement data is assembled, including product information, seller information, and third-party system information from information that is maintained by the sales manager system. A rendered advertisement image is rendered from the assembled data. The sales manager system also updates any maintained information thus incorporating it in any subsequent rendered advertisement image. | 02-19-2015 |
20150052015 | SECURELY AND EFFICIENTLY PROCESSING TELEPHONE ORDERS - An apparatus for processing telephone orders includes a communications module that establishes a telephonic connection between a customer service representative of a merchant and a customer, and an identification module that receives an identifier linking the customer to a customer billing profile a billing profile access module that receives electronic access to the customer billing profile. The customer billing profile includes billing information of the customer. The apparatus includes a transaction module that processes a sales order using the customer billing profile of the customer in response to a customer approval of the sales order. The sales order is for a product and/or a service offered by the merchant. The billing information of the customer billing profile is unavailable for viewing by the customer service representative. | 02-19-2015 |
20150058165 | ONLINE SHOPPING SYSTEM AND METHOD FACILITATING FOREIGN TRANSACTIONS - Global shoppers may access numerous predetermined online shopping websites. Users can shop normally and can generate a third-party cart. Foreign shipping addresses and foreign payment types may be accepted. | 02-26-2015 |
20150058166 | Computer controlled commercial transactional - An independently operated computer-controlled transactional method and system for facilitating sales, rentals, promotion, streaming content, bartering and exchange of digital and/or physical products and/or services between a property owner and one or more web stores is described. It embodies business methods that are necessary to conduct commerce on a local, regional and international level over the Internet or computer networks that are interconnected through communication links, by packaging, warehousing and delivering digital and/or physical products and/or services of an owner of such products and/or services and parties distributing to end users. | 02-26-2015 |
20150066696 | COORDINATION OF BUSINESS SYSTEMS - Techniques described herein may provide for end-to-end integration of business systems used in the sale and fulfillment flow for products provided by a business. In one implementation, a method may include receiving a request for a contract relating to products and services offered by a business; and transmitting a message, to one or more workers, indicating that the one or more first workers are to generate the contract. The method may further include receiving the generated contract from the one or more workers; transmitting, in response to reception of a signed version of the contract, a message initiating order fulfillment for the products and services to which the contract relates; determining, as part of the order fulfillment, a plurality of work orders corresponding to the products and services to which the contract relates, and issuing the plurality of work orders to a plurality of provisioning departments of the business. | 03-05-2015 |
20150066697 | AFFILIATE WEBSITE CREATION USING TEXT ASSOCIATED WITH WEBSITE - The present disclosure describes techniques for generating new product codes from text associated with an affiliate website. In one scenario, a keyword list is automatically created from text associated with the affiliate website. Using the automatically identified keyword list, an online search of a Vendor Website is performed to retrieve downloadable product codes of currently offered items for sale. A large number of product codes are displayed simultaneously to enable a user to select a subset of product codes which the user wishes to have displayed on the affiliate website. A unique identification code to track payment of commissions in at least the subset of product codes is inserted. The subset of product codes is stored such that the subset of product codes will be displayed along with the content associated with the affiliate website when a visitor links to the affiliate website. | 03-05-2015 |
20150073938 | CHANNEL PARTNERS SYSTEM AND METHOD - Disclosed system, method and related apparatus are described for the management and operation of channel partners relationship and sales transactions in a distributed computing environment over the network, such as the Internet or other type of network. The disclosed system and method allows centered management of complex parties including inter and intra sales parties. An exemplary system implementation includes a party management module for managing and developing party relationships and event management module for generating a plurality sets of events and associated triggered programs. A channel commerce module of the disclosed system provides channel transaction related accounting based on the event and the relationship between the parties including commission calculation and distribution. | 03-12-2015 |
20150095191 | GLOBAL MERCHANT NETWORK - Techniques for providing a global merchant network are provided. In some embodiments, a global merchant network can be established for enabling items offered in a first geographic region by one party to be offered in a different geographic region by a different party. For example, the global merchant network may facilitate or otherwise enable two merchants associated with two different marketplaces (e.g., different electronic marketplaces that service different geographic regions) to provide items from one marketplace to another. | 04-02-2015 |
20150106232 | DURATION AND ACCESS BASED SELLING OF PRODUCTS - Disclosed are methods, systems, paradigms and structures for duration and access based selling of products. Hypervertical is a concept of offering products for sale through specific channels for specific time periods. An online selling entity creates an online sales event offering products for sale. The online sales event is valid for a predefined duration. While the online sales event is active, access to the products are provided exclusively through the online sales event. However, upon expiry of the online sales event, which causes the online sales event to be deleted and access to the products be revoked, the access to the products is provided through third-party applications, such as search results of a search engine, social networking sites, other third-party websites. The third-party applications present the products as, for example, advertisements, accessing which the user can navigate to the online selling entity to view or purchase the products. | 04-16-2015 |
20150112836 | SHOPPING ASSISTANT - Systems and methods of assisting in an electronic shopping experience are disclosed. A request may be received, from a user on a device having a user interface, to search for an item listed for sale in a marketplace. A balance amount of an account associated with or available to the user at the marketplace is displayed in the user interface. The search results are limited to at least one item having a sales price less than the displayed balance amount and the at least one item is displayed in the user interface. The account may be a user account at a payment service provider. | 04-23-2015 |
20150112837 | Systems and Methods for Retail Networking - Computing systems, methods, and program products can support a closed retail network. A computing system can receive an inquiry from a first member entity of a retail network and identifying a product of interest. The system can use a datastore to determine if the product of interest is available for sale by a first member by determining if the product is available from a second member. If the product of interest is available for sale, the computing system can indicate that the product is available, receive data from the first member entity indicating that the product has been sold to a customer and including payment information, use the payment information to transfer funds from the customer, and initiate a distribution of the transferred funds to the first and second member entities. The system may consider distribution rules in determining if the product is available for sale by the first member. | 04-23-2015 |
20150120501 | FINANCIER-FACILITATED GUARANTY PROVISIONING - Disclosed herein are example embodiments for financier-facilitated guaranty provisioning. For certain example embodiments, at least one device, such as a server device of a financier: (i) may discover at least one authorization request corresponding to at least one product transaction; or (ii) may provide at least one proffered guaranty transaction to at least one guarantor. However, claimed subject matter is not limited to any particular described embodiments, implementations, examples, or so forth. | 04-30-2015 |
20150120502 | SUPPORTING GUARANTY PROVISIONING VIA USER ATTRIBUTE PROFFERING - Disclosed herein are example embodiments for supporting guaranty provisioning via user attribute proffering. For certain example embodiments, at least one device, such as a server device of a data provider: (i) may detect one or more opportunities to proffer at least one user attribute to at least one potential guarantor; or (ii) may proffer at least one user attribute based at least partially on at least one data stream. However, claimed subject matter is not limited to any particular described embodiments, implementations, examples, or so forth. | 04-30-2015 |
20150127485 | CUSTOMER MANAGEMENT DEVICE, CUSTOMER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND CUSTOMER MANAGEMENT METHOD - A customer management device for managing states of customers visiting a commercial establishment that provides articles or services to the customers in response to orders from the customers, includes: a first image obtainer that obtains customer images of customers captured at some point from when the customers enter the commercial establishment till when the customers go through reception procedures; a second image obtainer that obtains customer images of customers captured at least either when the customers receive the articles or services or when the customers make payment; a customer information manager that, based on the customer images obtained by the first image obtainer and the second image obtainer, generates and manages customer information relating to customers in a state of waiting for provision of the articles or services; and a customer information provider that provides a user with the customer information managed by the customer information manager. | 05-07-2015 |
20150127486 | INTERNET-BASED REAL-TIME VIRTUAL TRAVEL SYSTEM AND METHOD - The embodiments herein provide an internet-based virtual travel system and method that allows people (viewers or virtual travelers) to explore any destination or location in real-time without having to be physically present at those destinations or locations by means of other people (serving as guides or virtual travel guides) who are physically present at the destinations or locations and use one or more mobile devices and/or wearable devices and/or accessories to stream real-time video. The internet-based virtual travel system enables viewers or virtual travelers to find and hire guides or virtual travel guides, virtually explore any destination or location anywhere in the world in real-time via guides or virtual travel guides, receive personalized recommendations regarding virtual exploration (virtual travel) options, make payments for virtual exploration (virtual travel) sessions, visualize virtual exploration (virtual travel) sessions on an interactive map or other forms of visualization, view promotions or product placements incorporated by guides or virtual travel guides during virtual exploration (virtual travel) sessions, engage in real-time virtual shopping via guides or virtual travel guides, and make bookings for physical trips after virtual exploration (virtual travel) sessions. | 05-07-2015 |
20150134482 | Method for Lease Auctions - A method comprises storing, in a database, a posting at least comprising a listing of a property being offered for lease, terms of the lease, and information regarding an agent providing the posting. The posting to be viewed by a user is retrieved from the database. A proffer for the property being submitted by the user and at least information regarding the user is stored in the database. The agent is notified of the proffer. The proffer and the user information to be viewed by at least the agent is retrieved from the database. A non-binding decision by the agent regarding the proffer stored in the database. The user is notified of the non-binding decision wherein a negotiation of a binding decision is enabled. | 05-14-2015 |
20150134483 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR PROPERTY MORTGAGE MATCHING AND COORDINATION - The disclosed computer system facilitates the matching of prospective borrowers in real estate transactions with mortgage professionals that arrange mortgages and/or financing. Borrowers and mortgage professionals may access the system via a website to execute searches and/or to register and update their profiles. Information relating to borrowers and/or mortgage professionals is stored in a database component of the disclosed system. In one embodiment, prospective borrowers interested in buying or refinancing a specific property may discover mortgage professionals that have previously worked with that property. In another embodiment, the system matches borrowers and mortgage professionals based on pre-selected criteria. In another embodiment, the system automatically matches borrowers and mortgage professionals based on information from their profiles. | 05-14-2015 |
20150134484 | ONLINE REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION SYSTEM - An online purchase transaction system facilitates commencement, listing, selection, negotiation, documenting, closing and recording of complex transactions. The system allows for completion of transactions, such as commencement of a real estate listing through transfer with minimal or no direct third-party human intervention, thus maximizing cost savings and minimizing time to complete a transaction. Interaction through third party agencies, such as escrow companies, title companies, insurance companies and recording entities, is further facilitated in a fully or largely automated processing system. | 05-14-2015 |
20150134485 | CLOUD SERVICE BROKER APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING CLOUD SERVICE USING THE SAME - Disclosed herein is a cloud service broker apparatus and method for providing a cloud service using the broker apparatus, which provide an optimal cloud service for a cloud service user through negotiations between the cloud service user and a cloud service provider. The cloud service broker apparatus includes an operation information management unit for examining a demand entered by a cloud service user. A broker intermediary unit detects a cloud service based on the demand for which verification has been completed by the operation information management unit, and sends a request for positioning of the cloud service for the cloud service user to a cloud service provider that provides the detected cloud service. A life cycle management unit monitors a cloud service positioned in and used by the cloud service user at a request of the broker intermediary unit. | 05-14-2015 |
20150134486 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONNECTING TRADING PARTNERS IN A COMMERCE NETWORK - A method for recommending a first member of a trading network to a second member of a trading member of the network, wherein the network includes a message translation system, a pattern recognition engine and a discovery portal. The method for recommending includes identifying a first plurality of trading parameters of the first member with the message translation system and identifying a second plurality of trading parameters of the second member with the message translation system. The method also includes identifying patterns that are related between the first plurality of trading parameters and the second plurality of trading parameters with the pattern recognition engine and sending a recommendation message to the second member regarding the first member based on the identified patterns that relate the first member to the second member. | 05-14-2015 |
20150142604 | CODES WITH USER PREFERENCES - Systems and methods for facilitating payment at checkout are described. A service provider collects and stores user preference information in advance of checkout. When the user is ready to pay, a code containing the user preferences is generated and presented to a merchant during checkout. User preferences can be matched to a merchant data request once the merchant is identified. Specific user preferences for specific merchants can also be stored and retrieved. | 05-21-2015 |
20150149321 | SOCIAL-MARKETPLACE SYSTEM AND METHOD - The present invention discloses a system and method for facilitating commerce between accounts of individual client computing devices with preexisting relationship and more particularly, a system and a method that provides a host computing platform to enable related client accounts of client computing devices to transact products, with an embodiment of the present invention associating the host computing platform with a network-based social-media platform. | 05-28-2015 |
20150294385 | DISPLAY OF THE BUDGET IMPACT OF ITEMS VIEWABLE WITHIN AN AUGMENTED REALITY DISPLAY - Systems, apparatus, and computer program items are provided for presenting budget information in connection with items within a live video stream of an augmented reality display on a mobile communication device. The invention allows the user who customarily comes in to contact with items throughout the day to able to gauge the budget impact of the purchase of such items and/or immediately ascertain whether certain items being considered for purchase are within the limits of a user's budget or a budget category. By automatically providing such information to the user in a highly efficient manner, the user can make informed decisions on whether a purchase is advisable and/or which purchase options are most suitable to the user's budget. | 10-15-2015 |
20150302499 | KIOSK ESCALATION - Automated kiosks are often provided in retail settings to provide a convenient and cost-effective means to assist customers of the retail setting and as an alternative or supplement to human agents. Kiosks may work well for certain customers and actions, however, the customer and/or kiosk may fail to effectively interact with each other and leave the customer dissatisfied with the interaction. By determining a meta-meaning associated with a customer's actions with a kiosk, the kiosk may be able to determine whether an agent should be summoned to assist the customer. For example, a customer may be using the kiosk for an unusually long time. In response, an available agent may be notified and approach the customer to offer their assistance; without the customer explicitly requesting such assistance. As a benefit, the retail setting may appear more in-touch with the needs of the customer. | 10-22-2015 |
20150317710 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ANONYMOUS GIFTING - A method and system for enabling selectively anonymous gifting. A gift requester may ask a trusted intermediary to post a request for a good, a set of goods, or a service, wherein the posting may or may not identify the requester. The intermediary may be identified and an approval of the gift request posting by the intermediary is implicitly or explicitly published. The giving party may also optionally choose to remain anonymous or may be identified to the intermediary, the gift requestor and/or a recipient of a requested gift. These objects may be enabled by an electronically intermediated social network, such as FACEBOOK™ social networking service, LINKEDIN™ social networking service, TWITTER™ social networking service and/or MEETUP™ social networking service. | 11-05-2015 |
20150324882 | Commerce System and Method of Providing Shopping Agents and Sales Agents for Managing Purchasing Decisions - A commerce system is controlled by a shopping agent. A plurality of recipes are selected using a computer and stored using the shopping agent. A classification is applied to each of the plurality of recipes. A meal plan is generated by randomly selecting a first recipe from the plurality of recipes with a first classification and a second recipe with a second classification. A first product required for the first recipe is shipped to a home. The first product is selected from a consideration set or based on weighted attributes. A second product required for the first recipe is added to a shopping list. The shopping list is accessed using a mobile device. The meal plan is displayed on a smart appliance. Inventory is managed using the shopping agent. The first recipe is selected to include a product in the inventory. | 11-12-2015 |
20150324883 | ITEM TAGGING - Systems and methods for facilitating the purchase of tagged items for a friend are described. The methods include receiving a communication with a link to one or more items tagged by a first user for a second user, transmitting the communication to a user device of the second user, receiving a payment request in connection with the one or more tagged items from the user device, and processing the payment request. | 11-12-2015 |
20150332364 | Service Definition Monitor - A technology is described for monitoring a task definition. The technology may include receiving a task definition from a customer that includes task details for a task to be performed for the customer. The task definition may then be compared to a predetermined criterion where the criterion indicates that the customer may be entering the task definition incorrectly. A task definition that meets the predetermined criterion can be identified and the task definition may be provided to a customer service representative for review. | 11-19-2015 |
20150332365 | EMAIL BASED E-COMMERCE WITH SMS AND SOCIAL MEDIA - Methods for email-based e-commerce using SMS and social media and for an e-commerce stock management system are disclosed. A method for email-based e-commerce using SMS includes receiving, via a social media network, a request from a customer to make a payment via email; generating a first email message that includes a mailto hyperlink and solicits payment in a predetermined amount; transmitting the first email message to the customer; and receiving an email message from the customer confirming payment in the predetermined amount. A method for an email-based financial management system includes storing user based settings, based on stock market events and a plurality of predetermined actions; determining when a stock market event occurs; transmitting a confirmation email to a customer requesting confirmation to perform a predetermined action; receiving a confirmation email from the customer to perform the predetermined action; and performing the predetermined action. | 11-19-2015 |
20150339746 | CONFIGURING A LIFE OCCURRENCE CONTAINER - A method is disclosed herein in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The method may include deriving at a mobile transaction platform a multi-dimensional context from one or more user transactions and determining at least one life occurrence based, at least in part, on the multi-dimensional context. The one or more user transactions may be conducted through the mobile transaction platform. The one or more user transactions may be stored on a third-party source. In an aspect, the at least one life occurrence has yet to occur. In another aspect of the invention, the life occurrence has already occurred. The multi-dimensional context may include at least one of user location information and life occurrence location information. The multi-dimensional context may include at least one of a time of life occurrence and a current time. | 11-26-2015 |
20150346175 | PROCESS FOR DETERMINING A CARBON CREDIT SURPLUS OR DEFICIT - In an apparatus and system for monitoring and communicating emissions data for a diesel engine, an exhaust gas analyzer uses infrared light to measure the quantity of trace gases and particulates in an exhaust gas outlet from a diesel engine. The gas analyzer includes a logic processor to interpret the measured data and a memory device to store the measured data. A radio transmitter, cellular data transmitter, or Smartphone transmits the measurement data. In a diagnostic and monitoring system for a diesel engine, the exhaust gas analyzer is in contact with the exhaust gases from the diesel engine, preferably in the tailpipe. | 12-03-2015 |
20150356653 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SOURCE IDENTIFICATION IN ITEM SOURCING - A source identification service is described that identifies sources for items of interest that are provided by a network-based service and may benefit from additional sources. The source identification service may identify sources for an item of interest in response to receipt a request. In one aspect, the source identification service may conduct a search of a network-based information resource using keywords pertaining to the item of interest to obtain a listing of sources capable of providing the item of interest. A source score may be generated for respective sources and compared to a selected value to identify potential sources for further consideration. The potential sources may also be filtered based upon selected criteria to refine the list of potential sources. An offer may be provided by the source identification service inviting the source to provide the item of interest on the network-based service. | 12-10-2015 |
20150356654 | INFORMATION SYSTEM AND INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD - When an item indicated in received order details is a designated item, an information system outputs consideration information generated based on condition information so that a purchaser can confirm the consideration information. When receiving a confirmation notification indicating that the purchaser has confirmed that he/she has understood the consideration information, the information system updates a confirmation state to a completed state. The information system outputs the confirmation state so that whether a process for finalizing the sale of the designated item is ready can be determined. | 12-10-2015 |
20150363851 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING THE SELECTION OF CLOUD SERVICES BASED ON PRICE AND PERFORMANCE - A system and method is provided for generating and using purchase strategies based on the price, performance, and/or other information related to cloud services to optimize the selection of such services. The purchase strategies may comprehensively describe various cloud services in real-time so that customers may purchase cloud services using up-to-date, real-time information. The purchase strategies may, for example, describe pricing, performance, availability, and/or other attributes of various cloud services. A purchase agent may use the purchase strategies, one or more purchase rules, and/or other information to generate a purchase specification that specifies one or more cloud service instances that should be purchased. The purchase agent may leverage unique properties of spot instances to make favorable purchase decisions. For example, the system may determine bid prices that should be made to obtain certain spot instances. | 12-17-2015 |
20150371302 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING CUSTOMERS WITH PRODUCT PURCHASE GUIDANCE IN A RETAIL ENVIRONMENT - A system and method of providing a customer with product purchase guidance in a retail environment may include controlling a display with a processor to display to display a plurality of selectable bulb type GUI elements each corresponding to a different one of a plurality of light bulb types, controlling the display device to display one or more selectable bulb technology GUI elements each corresponding to a different one of one or more light bulb technologies in which a selected one of the light bulb types is manufactured, controlling the display device to display one or more selectable bulb variant GUI elements each corresponding to a different one of one or more variants in which a selected light bulb technology of the selected light bulb type is manufactured, and, controlling the display device to display a selected variant of the selected light bulb technology of the selected light bulb type. | 12-24-2015 |
20150371303 | LOCALIZED MERCHANT SYSTEM WITH ALERTING TO INCOMING CUSTOMERS' VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURE - The present application provides new omni-channel marketing capabilities for merchants having physical store locations. When a customer walks up to the physical location, the salespeople are alerted to the customer's presence, and are given information on the customer's preferences—IF the customer has chosen to make that information available to this merchant, or to merchants of this kind. The nearest or most suitable salespeople are cued with the customer's picture and first name, and given information such as sizes, shopping purpose, and general preferences. This permits personalized service interactions to be launched very quickly, and can rapidly build high customer loyalty. The system architecture allows the customer to retain control over her own personal information, and thereby makes it safer for customers to share that information on a limited basis. Tying information to physical locations and authorized merchant users avoids many paths to leakage of personal information. | 12-24-2015 |
20150371304 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE REMOTE PROVISION OF CUSTOMER SUPPORT AND SALES SERVICES - A system for the remote provision of customer support and sales services is provided. The system includes one or more passive video assistance stations and one or more active video assistance stations, and audiovisual communication elements, the stations being adapted to allow bidirectional communication between a customer and an operator in order to exchange commercial information; a control system, adapted to automatically select, following a request for commercial information by the customer, an active video assistance station. The system includes elements for locating the customer, and the control system being configured to automatically select the active station as a function of the location of the customer. | 12-24-2015 |
20150371305 | AUTOMATED SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING MOVING LOGISTICS - An automated system for facilitating moving and relocation logistics that includes a plurality of service providers and vendors, wherein the service providers and vendors are associated with moving or relocation activities; automated means for compiling information about each of the service providers and vendors and ranking them in accordance with various predetermined criteria; at least one computerized database for containing information about the service providers and vendors and for storing the ranking data; and at least one computerized device in communication with the at least one database, wherein the at least one computerized device further includes software for managing customer data input, account information, and executing commands related to engaging one or more of the service providers or vendors based on the ranking data. | 12-24-2015 |
20150371306 | Interactive Communication Device - A server system is connected to a number of remote displays for messages for broadcasting by a communication network. The audiovisual messages received from the server system are made perceptible for customers. The customers can send coded instruction signals to a first access device, located near a display, by portable customer badges, which are transmitted to the server system which then establishes a back-up communication with the customer, for example, through a portable telephone. The customer can thus simply establish communication and, when the server system has information specifically concerning the above, the information need not be transmitted over the network. | 12-24-2015 |
20150379601 | Commerce System and Method of Deferring Purchases to Optimize Purchase Conditions - A shopping agent is provided. A product displayed at a premises of a first retailer is selected for purchase. A bar code displayed on the product is optically scanned using a mobile device. Data stored in the bar code is transmitted from the mobile device to the shopping agent. A first set of conditions existing while selecting the product is analyzed. A second set of conditions is determined that will result in a lower price for the product. The second set of conditions is communicated from the shopping agent to the mobile device. An option to defer the purchase of the product until the second set of conditions exist is presented. A notification is generated on the mobile device when the second set of conditions exist. The second set of conditions includes purchasing the product at a second retailer. The second set of conditions includes subscribing to the product | 12-31-2015 |
20160005091 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A SINGLE INPUT FIELD HAVING MULTIPLE PROCESSING POSSIBILITIES - Disclosed herein are methods for providing a buy option to search results in a generalized search engine. That one location for a search field can be a website, an application, a search bar in a web browser, etc. Rather than navigating to a website to perform a search in the context of that website, a user can instead navigate to or open a generalized search field. Via the generalized search field, the system can analyze the input from the user and the resulting context. A buy button can be included a search result to the user input in the input search field. Payment for an item can be processing using a payment account registered with the system with delivery coordinated with a separate merchant via an application programming interface. | 01-07-2016 |
20160005095 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A SINGLE INPUT FIELD HAVING MULTIPLE PROCESSING POSSIBILITIES - Disclosed herein are methods for providing a buy option to search results in a generalized search engine. That one location for a search field can be a website, an application, a search bar in a web browser, etc. Rather than navigating to a website to perform a search in the context of that website, a user can instead navigate to or open a generalized search field. Via the generalized search field, the system can analyze the input from the user and the resulting context. A buy button can be included a search result to the user input in the input search field. Payment for an item can be processing using a payment account registered with the system with delivery coordinated with a separate merchant via an application programming interface. | 01-07-2016 |
20160012505 | Predicting and Responding to Customer Needs Using Local Positioning Technology | 01-14-2016 |
20160012506 | Resident mobile contacts recommendation having a user requested target in their contact lists | 01-14-2016 |
20160019616 | COMPUTER-BASED TECHNOLOGY FOR AIDING THE REPAIR OF MOTOR VEHICLES - A computer-assisted inspection system provides computer architectures and software controlled algorithms to automatically provide vehicle inspections and repair recommendations including estimated repair time and cost of depression type damage such as dents. Features provided by a handheld wireless touchscreen based inspection device include flat car part picking, auto grading including seller grading, and automatic calculation of body and bumper dent repair parameters and directions. | 01-21-2016 |
20160027080 | CUSTOMER SHOPPING HELP SYSTEM - Systems and methods for providing customer shopping help include a system provider device that receives first customer location information from a plurality of beacon devices at a merchant physical location. The first customer location information is collected during a shopping session from a first customer device that is associated with a first customer. The system provider device analyzes the first customer location information to determine a merchant physical location area that is included in the merchant physical location and in which the first customer has not been located during the shopping session. The system provider device then selects a first product, from a plurality of products that are associated with the merchant physical location in a database, which is located in the merchant physical location area. The system provider device then provides a product recommendation for the first product over the network for display on the first customer device. | 01-28-2016 |
20160034889 | APPARATUS, METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR AUTOMATED SEQUENTIAL ELECTRONIC PAYMENTS - In a scenario where a buyer purchases at least one of goods and services from a seller via an intermediary, at at least one of the intermediary and a third party, an indication is obtained that payment to the intermediary from the buyer is appropriate. Responsive to the indication, the at least one of the intermediary and the third party initiates a pull payment, via a payment card network, for an on-file payment card account number of the buyer. Responsive to success of the pull payment, the at least one of the intermediary and a third party initiates a push payment to the seller. | 02-04-2016 |
20160034994 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF APPLYING THIRD PARTY DONATIONS TO A DONEE MERCHANT ORDER - The present disclosure relates to methods of and systems for applying third party donations to an order placed by a donee. Donation data including a total donation amount is received from a donor. At least one order from a preexisting set of orders is selected to which at least a portion of the total donation amount is to be applied, the selecting being based on selection criteria. The portion of the total donation amount is applied to the selected at least one order. A residual donation amount may be determined as the difference of the total donation amount and the portion of the total donation amount applied. The donor and/or donee may be notified of the donation and residual donation amount. | 02-04-2016 |
20160042419 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING CUSTOMIZED INTERACTION EXPERIENCE TO CUSTOMERS - A computer-implemented method and an apparatus for providing customized interaction experience facilitates a capturing of interaction data and non-interaction data related to one or more interactions of a customer on at least one interaction channel. The interaction data comprises information related to elements of interest to the customer from among a plurality of elements presented to the customer during the one or more interactions. The non-interaction data comprises information related to one or more remaining elements of non-interest to the customer from among the plurality of elements. An intention of the customer is predicted based on the interaction data and the non-interaction data. A customized interaction experience is provided to the customer in one or more interaction channels from among the plurality of interaction channels based on the predicted intention of the customer. | 02-11-2016 |
20160042420 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING GROUP CHATS DURING ECOMMERCE SESSIONS - A computer implemented method for managing a group chat during an ecommerce session is provided. The method includes initiating a chat session between at least a first client computer device associated with a first participant and a second client computer device associated with a second participant, and sharing at least one view of an ecommerce website with the first client computer device and the second client computer device. The first client computer device and the second client computer device are configured to display the at least one view of the ecommerce website. The at least one view includes at least one purchasable item. The method also includes initiating a purchase transaction for the at least one purchasable item included in the at least one view, receiving payment information for the purchase transaction, and completing the purchase transaction based on the payment information. | 02-11-2016 |
20160048894 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTERNET-BASED CUSTOMER CHECK-IN - An internet-based system and method allows customers to remotely check-in to a wait list for a no-appointment first listed-first served business. A location associated with a customer is received and an interactive map displays multiple icons with each icon corresponding to a location of the business. A dynamically updated estimated wait time for the wait list at each business location is displayed. A customer selection of a location at which to receive a service from the business is received by a selection of the icon representing the business and the customer is added to the wait list at the location. | 02-18-2016 |
20160050279 | METHOD FOR MANAGING IoT DEVICES AND ANALYZING SERVICE OF BIG DATA - Disclosed is a method for operating an IoT big data analysis service using a computer system connected to at least one mFinity IoT device through the Internet, the method comprising: determining whether data transferred through the internet using an mFinity IoT web server from the mFinity IoT device is a known source point; and storing the data in an mFinity big data cloud if the data is determined to be a known source point, wherein a Hadoop server, which is a big data analysis system analyzes the stored data and produces a big data analysis report. | 02-18-2016 |
20160055573 | APPARATUS, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING MACHINE-TO-MACHINE APPLICATIONS DEVELOPMENT - A framework for a machine-to-machine (M2M) application development is disclosed. The framework enables users to login and affect devices and applications that may interact with the devices by enabling M2M applications. The framework enables M2M application creation, management, and development of various profiled devices based on pre-defined data models associated with corresponding devices. Furthermore, the framework enables marketplace options to permit users to specify purchase options as well as to buy devices and applications. | 02-25-2016 |
20160078512 | CHARACTER PERSONAL SHOPPER SYSTEM - Shopping assistance using an interactive character is provided on a shopping device in a retail store. Input requesting assistance from a character displayed on the shopping device is received on the shopping device. The input is processed. A response is determined based on the input and a character personality profile for the character displayed. The response is generated through the character on the shopping device, providing shopping assistance. | 03-17-2016 |
20160078513 | MANAGED PRINT SERVICES - Systems and methods for managing print services for a customer are described herein. In one example, managing print services for a customer comprises receiving contract data of a managed print services (MPS) contract and collecting device details related to customer devices of the customer. Further, for each of the customer devices, at least one service program to which the customer device is entitled is identified based on the received contract data and the collected device details. | 03-17-2016 |
20160086244 | Send2Mobile+ IM - The present invention is an instant message service (“IMS”) based interactive information, marketing and sales system, which provides a Merchant or Seller with a means to rapidly and effectively communicate with its customer base in order to facilitate the sale of a product or service from a Merchant's website to a customer via a customer's mobile computing device. The system represented by this invention is a voluntary, opted-in system, by which the customer provides its mobile telephone number or the telephone number of its chosen mobile device and the instant messaging system that the customer is using on its mobile device, to the Merchant or Seller. A customer then requests that the Merchant or Seller forward specific information to the customer concerning a particular product or service being sold by the Merchant or Seller. The present invention permits the customer to request that certain product specific information be transmitted by the Merchant to the customer's mobile computing device via an instant message service (“IMS”) message, as soon as said information becomes available. | 03-24-2016 |
20160086255 | System and Method for Maximizing Food Selection Options According to Shopper Preferences, Health Requirements, and Price Preferences and Ensuring Selected Food Freshness to Provide a Complete, Efficient, and Enjoyable Off-Site Grocery Shopping Experience that Benefits Both the Off-Site Shopper and the Grocery Retailer - An integrated shopping and order fulfillment method and system is described whereby the customer is able to tailor her grocery shopping list according to her selected preferences from the product inventory offered by a retailer grocer and viewable on the user's mobile phone device. Once the order is placed, the system initiates its order fulfillment methodology whereby a unique barcode is generated for tracking all packages associated with the order. The items are sorted according to their assigned perishability ranking to generate a packing order list for use by the retailer grocer. The packing order list provides an optimized packing order schedule to ensure the freshness of all perishable items upon the order's pickup and delivery. Selected preferences may include red alert options to warn the consumer of an undesired level of a designated ingredient and black out options to eliminate the posting of a particular food type during shopping. | 03-24-2016 |
20160092954 | MOBILE DEVICE LOCATION-ENABLED SERVICE PROVISIONING - Various embodiments each include at least one of systems, devices, methods, and software for mobile device location-enabled service provisioning. One embodiment, in the form of a method, includes receiving, via a network from a mobile device, data including a customer account identifier and an identifier of at least one beacon device. The method then determines, based on the received data, a location of a customer of the customer account identifier relative to each beacon device for which a beacon device identifier is included in the received data. The method then identifies any activities to be initiated with regard to the customer based on a stored customer profile associated with the customer account identifier, the determined location, and at least one activity rule. The method may then execute instructions associated with each identified activity. | 03-31-2016 |
20160092955 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR RECOGNITION OF IN-STORE CUSTOMERS - Various examples of methods and systems for recognition of in-store customers are described. In one implementation, a method may receive first information related to identification of a first customer prior to the first customer visiting a store. The method may also receive second information related to identification of a second customer when the second customer visits the store. The method may further determine whether the second customer is the first customer based on the first information and the second information. The method may additionally provide the first information related to identification of the first customer to one or more computing devices in response to a positive determination that the second customer is the first customer. | 03-31-2016 |
20160104223 | METHODS FOR FACILITATING REFERENCES IN A CHAT CONTEXT AND DEVICES THEREOF - A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and chat management server apparatus that receives a search request via a search panel provided in response to a user interaction with a chat panel. A token including a special character is generated based on search text in the search request or a unique identifier for one of a plurality of items identified based on a search performed using the search text. The token is provided to a source of the search request for inclusion in the chat panel as a hyperlink. A preview panel request including the token is received in response to a user interaction with the hyperlink. Content for the items or for the one item is retrieved based on the special character included in the token. The content is provided to a source of the preview panel request. | 04-14-2016 |
20160125491 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING PURCHASE TRANSACTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH A SHOWROOM - Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, monitoring a user in a showroom to generate shopping parameters of the user, determining that the user is seeking to purchase a product in the showroom according to the shopping parameters, obtaining user data of the user in response to the determining that the user is seeking to purchase the product, analyzing the user data, selecting interaction data from among a group of interaction data according to the analyzing of the user data, and providing the interaction data to a computing device of a sales agent to enable the sales agent to transact with the user for the purchase of the product. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 05-05-2016 |
20160125492 | PURCHASING, REDEMPTION AND SETTLEMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS WHEREIN A BUYER TAKES POSSESSION AT A RETAILER OF A PRODUCT PURCHASED USING A COMMUNICATION NETWORK - Purchasing, redemption and settlement systems and methods are provided wherein a buyer takes possession of a product at a retailer. A purchasing system may communicate with a buyer through a communication network to establish a first price for a product between the buyer and a seller. The purchasing system may also arrange for the buyer to take possession of the product at a retailer, different from the seller, that offers the product for sale at a second price. Verification information, which enables the retailer to authorize the buyer to take possession of the product, is transmitted to the retailer. The buyer provides a payment, based on the first price, to the purchasing system in exchange for the right to take possession of the product at the retailer. In one embodiment, the purchasing system receives a buyer offer, including an offer price, related to the product. In another embodiment, the purchasing system transmits redemption information, including a redemption code, to the buyer. The redemption information may also include information that enables the creation of a voucher to be used when taking possession of the product. The purchasing system may also receive information related to an attempt by the buyer to take possession of the product, including the redemption code, from the retailer. | 05-05-2016 |
20160125507 | COLLABORATIVE GEOLOCATION SHOPPING - Methods and systems for facilitating collaborative shopping are described. A user creates and shares a shopping list containing desired items. The shopping list includes quantities of the items and deadlines for purchasing the items. When the user or one of his or her friends are at or near a location selling a desired item, they are alerted to purchase the item. As items are purchased by the user and his or her friends, the shopping list may be updated, and notes may be posted to the shopping list. Such updates and notes may include information regarding visited locations, prices of items, availability of items, restock or delivery dates, dates that locations were visited, etc. | 05-05-2016 |
20160132949 | SALES ASSISTANCE BASED ON PURCHASING PREDICTION - The method includes receiving a location of a client device and one or more items of interest to a user of the client device. The method further includes determining that the location of the client device is within a threshold distance of an item of the one or more items of interest. The method further includes generating a communication with the user of the client device. The method further includes receiving a response from the user of the client device. The method further includes determining if the received response indicates an intent to purchase the item. In one embodiment, the method further includes identifying a sales representative to assist the user of the client device, responsive to determining that the received response indicates an intent to purchase the item. | 05-12-2016 |
20160140635 | Methods and Systems for Grouping and Prioritization of Website Visitors for Live Support - A networked communication system allows a vendor that maintains a website to prioritize, select, and establish human-assisted interaction with visitors to the website. The vendor's human help agents are provided with intuitive interfaces that depict visitor priority based on agent-specific ranking rules. Agents can manage these rules to optimize their performance in responding to visitors, and thus improve the quality of visitors' experiences. | 05-19-2016 |
20160155169 | ONLINE SHOPPING SYSTEM AND METHOD FACILITATING FOREIGN TRANSACTIONS | 06-02-2016 |
20160155171 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A SINGLE INPUT FIELD HAVING MULTIPLE PROCESSING POSSIBILITIES | 06-02-2016 |
20160155172 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING CUSTOMER SERVICE HELP | 06-02-2016 |
20160162964 | COLLECTIVE NETWORK OF AUGMENTED REALITY USERS - Embodiments of the invention provide for using video analysis, such as augmented reality or the like to assist a group of users to utilize mobile devices for creating a collective network environment of users that identifies objects in which one or more users in a group of users may be interested, and notifies the one or more users of information associated with the object. A collective network comprises a group of users that each have a mobile device that contains or is otherwise operatively coupled to a data capture device. For example, the mobile device may be a mobile phone that is capable of taking video with a camera device. A user in the collective network may capture video on his mobile device, and an application can identify the object in the video and provide interested users in the collective network with information about the object. | 06-09-2016 |
20160162982 | POPULATING BUDGETS AND/OR WISH LISTS USING REAL-TIME VIDEO IMAGE ANALYSIS - System, method, and computer program product are provided for using real-time video analysis, such as augmented reality to provide the user of a mobile device with real-time budgeting and wish lists. Through the use of real-time vision object recognition objects, logos, artwork, products, locations, and other features that can be recognized in the real-time video stream can be matched to data associated with such to provide the user with real-time budget impact and wish list updates based on the products and budget data determined as being the object. In this way, the objects, which may be products and/or budget data in the real-time video stream, may be included into a user's budget and/or wish list, such that the user receives real-time budget and/or wish list updates incorporating product and/or budget data located in a real-time video stream. | 06-09-2016 |
20160171578 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS SUPPORTING ONLINE SHOPPING AS A SHARED AND SOCIAL ACTIVITY | 06-16-2016 |
20160180450 | Methods and Apparatus for Selling Paint Products in Stores Which Traditionally Do Not Sell Paint | 06-23-2016 |
20160189263 | Method and system of directed, two-way consultative communications between a webpage user and a remote representative - A method of providing directed, two-way consultative communications between a consumer and a customer service representative comprises: establishing a storyboard layout by a company to provide a guideline for the customer service representative to follow; receiving a request by the consumer for a consultation regarding a product or service offered by the company; initiating a two-way online web browser session between the consumer and the customer service representative; pushing content from customer service representative computing device to a consumer computing device, wherein the content is pulled from a server of the company and place in the storyboard layout; and returning data from the consumer computing device to the customer service representative device in response to the content pushed from the customer service representative computing device to the consumer computing device. | 06-30-2016 |
20160189264 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GARAGE DOOR SALE AND MAINTENANCE PRESENTATION AT POINT OF SERVICE - A method and system for a garage door sale and maintenance presentation at the point of service is disclosed. A computer based multimedia sales tool that is useful for sales and maintenance presentations with a customer at their garage. The application program can show a new garage door design overlaid on top of the existing garage door on the house. The application program can additionally present photos of failing parts and the need for repairs. The application program includes the ability to document customer equipment issues. | 06-30-2016 |
20160189265 | PRODUCT INTEROPERABILITY DETERMINATION - A user input pertaining to a question is received. Based on the question a new message is generated and posted in at least one web based forum. Responses to the new message are monitored and analyzed to determine whether, for each response, the response pertains to a subject of the question. Responsive to determining that at least one response pertains to the subject of the question, information contained in the response is presented to the user. | 06-30-2016 |
20160189316 | Native selling platform - Example embodiments of the present disclosure include a system comprising a computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program and a computer-implemented method for providing a native selling platform. In example embodiments, an operating system of a device is configured to share information with other devices and services using native functionalities of the operating system. An indication to share an image of an item is received. A sharing user interface is presented that includes a plurality of services with which the image of the item is sharable. A selection of a publication system from the plurality of services is received. In response, a listing user interface is presented that includes fields for input of parameters used to generate a listing for the item in the image. Parameters and an indication to list the item are received and are shared with the publication system to cause the publication system to create the listing for the item. | 06-30-2016 |
20160196549 | SELECTING A PREFERRED PAYMENT INSTRUMENT BASED ON A MERCHANT CATEGORY | 07-07-2016 |
20160196596 | BRIDGING PHYSICAL AND VIRTUAL SPACES | 07-07-2016 |
20160196597 | MODIFIED QUEUE LIST GENERATION | 07-07-2016 |
20160253724 | System and Method for Co-Shipment Recommendation | 09-01-2016 |
20160253725 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING A PURCHASE USING INFORMATION PROVIDED ON A MEDIA PLAYING DEVICE | 09-01-2016 |
20190147511 | MULTI-SYSTEM DISTRIBUTED PROCESSING OF PAYMENT AND/OR NON-PAYMENT INFORMATION | 05-16-2019 |
20190147516 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS SUPPORTING ONLINE SHOPPING AS A SHARED AND SOCIAL ACTIVITY | 05-16-2019 |