02nd week of 2009 patent applcation highlights part 56 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20090012813 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING MEDICAL INFORMATION - Systems and methods for managing medical information for medical service providers are provided. Personnel are able to manage and track workflow operations, evaluate profitability, and maintain records in an integrated and streamlined manner by executing various modules of a software application. A Dashboard module provides a unitary display of information regarding employee efficiency and operational profitability; a Virtual Will Call module allows for the virtual placement of items in storage areas reflecting the corresponding physical will call storage locations; an Rx Tracker module provides information regarding the status of prescriptions as they go through the process from ordered to dispensed; the Maintenance module allows personnel to define customized delivery methods; and the Archive Viewer module provides a way for personnel to archive images in any accessible drive or memory device, including portable storage media, and to view such images independently of the module using an archive viewer executable. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012814 | Service for managing medications - A health management service includes a computerized management site having one or more servers executing software from coupled computer-readable media, and a data repository storing information regarding a plurality of enrolled persons, including at least medications and medication schedules for individual ones of the persons, and storing information regarding a plurality of associate or partner entities comprising at least physicians. In this service persons, in enrollment, enter personal data and medication data, the service stores the data in the repository associated with each enrolling person entering the data, associates the person with one or more physicians and other partner entities, whom also enter data in enrollment, and enables enrolled persons to share their individual medication data with associated physicians and other partner entities. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012815 | System and Method For Rapid and Secure Introduction of New Drugs, Medications and Therapies, From Clinical Trials Into General Healthcare - An Internet-based ‘Condition Monitoring System’ containing ‘Validated Treatment Plans’ for implementing new drugs and medications into clinical trials and then into the sophisticated infrastructure of large hospitals, as well as into the low-end daily care of general practitioners for individual patients at home. The method comprises an Internet-based server and communication platform with a ‘Best-Treatment Knowledge Base’ managing search and access into ‘Validated Treatment Plans’ and other cases, and different modules like a ‘Personalization’ module, a ‘Condition Monitoring’ module, a ‘Supervision’ module, an ‘Evaluation’ module, and an ‘Editor’ module, in which reports are entered into the database enlarging the knowledge and the number of cases to select from. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012816 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CLINICAL ANALYSIS INTEGRATION SERVICES - Certain embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for organizing and querying patient data by a clinical information system via a clinical analysis integration service. Certain embodiments provide an electronic patient data system for exchanging electronic patient data between a data repository and a clinical system. The electronic patient data system includes an electronic data repository configured to aggregate and store patient-related data. The electronic data repository is accessible to and searchable by a plurality of clinical systems via a clinical analysis integration service. The system also includes a clinical analysis integration service providing data from the electronic data repository to one or more clinical systems in response to a query from a clinical system. In certain embodiments, one or more clinical systems may provide feedback to the electronic data repository and engage in an iterative dialog. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012817 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING CROSS ENTERPRISE DATA SHARING IN A HEALTHCARE SETTING - A method and system for sharing charts associated with a first patient among system entities within a networked system wherein different entities maintain different charts for the first patient, the method comprising the steps of at each of at least a subset of the entities and for the first patient, when a chart is generated, generating a release authorization (RA) token for the chart, maintaining an RA token list including all of tokens received for the first patient from any other system entities, when a token is received from another entity, using the received token to access a chart associated with the received token that is stored at another entity and when a requesting entity requests a chart associated with the first patient, providing the chart along with the RA token list associated with the first patient to the requesting entity. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012818 | DISPENSING MEDICATION AND VERIFYING PROPER MEDICATION USE - Methods, systems, computer program products, and data structures are used for dispensing medication and verifying proper medication use. Medication of a purported type and dosage is dispensed into an individualized patient medication dispensing cup. The cup includes a bar code that associates a designated patient with the dispensed medication. The cup is placed on a network connected scale. Through network communication the scale accesses medication and patient information. From the accessed information (e.g., medication weight data), the scale determines if it is appropriate to administer the dispensed medication to the designated patient and visual indicates the determination. When it is appropriate to administer the medication, it is transported on a secure cart to a patient location. Sensors (e.g., RFID or ultrasound) detect if the dispensed medication is prescribed for the patient at the patient location. When a medication error is detected at any time during dispensing or administration of medication, staff members are alerted. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012819 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ELECTRONIC HOSPITAL FORM COMPLETION - Certain embodiments provide a portable, handheld electronic input device and method of use for completing an electronic clinical form and transmitting electronic clinical form data to an external system. The device includes an adaptable, insertable electronic form requesting information related to at least one of a patient and patient care. The device also includes an input mechanism for providing information to complete the electronic form at the portable electronic input device. The input mechanism includes a keyboard, voice recognition software, handwriting recognition software, a touchscreen and/or a stylus enabling a user to input, output, search for, and retrieve information via the device. The device further includes a communication port for transmitting the electronic form and information. The electronic form, in conjunction with the device, provides policy information to a user and guides a user in completing the form using at least one of audio guidance and visual guidance. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012820 | Medication dose administration and inventory management - A system for managing administration of prescribed medications to patients is disclosed. The system includes a server for receiving prescription fill requests which are based on prescriptions for the prescribed medications, and for causing uniquely identifiable medication packages to be produced based on the prescription fill requests and in conformity with the prescriptions. Each medication package contains a single dose of at least one of the prescribed medications. The server is further for receiving and maintaining medication package records specifying the contents of each particular medication package. The system includes an interface for providing access to the prescriptions and the medication package records for validating administration of the prescribed medications to the patients. Each single dose of prescribed medication is uniquely identifiable by identifying the medication package containing that single dose and by accessing the medication package records specifying the contents of that medication package. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012821 | MANAGEMENT OF LIVE REMOTE MEDICAL DISPLAY - A system and method of locally displaying multiple items of medical information from at least one remote medical system having an output display. The method includes assembling the multiple items of medical information from the output display of at least one remote medical systems into a composite display having regions corresponding to the multiple items of medical information. Video data for the composite display is communicated over a network to a local display. Video data corresponding to the regions of the display are treated differently to provide a composite display with regions of different image quality. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012822 | MEDICAL RECORDS, DOCUMENTATION, TRACKING AND ORDER ENTRY SYSTEM - The new system provides: automatic incorporation of dictated text; medical records summary generation in medical English text; parsing dictation to data; prephrased text; automatic generation of medical record as consequence of data entry; automatic notation of allergies, significant medical conditions and pregnancy; pregnancy linking, automatically; security card—close on pull; multi-look grease board; outstanding orders listing for all patients in the department; department layout; room selection excludes occupied rooms; nurses notes to text; nurses notes from physician orders to nurses; lab request screen shows all previously ordered labs; therapeutics; ACLS recording; lacerations; doctor specific prescriptions and medication orders; review of systems; coding level alerts differential diagnosis—filter to sex and age; diagnosis—fractures to text; doctor interval reexamination; patient instructions predicated on what was done; patient instruction video on demand; patient informed consent video on demand; video teleconferencing; electronic signatures; automatic backup and incremental backup with system on-line; critical management reports; and automatic research data extraction. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012823 | Configuring Office-Specific Security Parameters Using Office Profiles - In general, techniques for configuring blacklist handling via regional profiles of reservation and departure control system (RDCS) are described herein. More specifically, a RDCS is disclosed for use in creating operational profiles. A global profile may be dynamically defined to determine operational aspects of a transportation carrier that are common to all office of that carrier. Office profiles are dynamically defined to determine operational aspects that are specific to that office location. In this manner, the operation of each office may be tailored to the specific location. Moreover, the operational aspects are not “hard-coded”, but instead are readily selectable by an authorized end user. According to one aspect, local management of blacklists is supported by the profiles. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012824 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SUPPLYING AN AGGREGATED AND ENHANCED ITINERARY - A computer readable storage medium supplies an aggregated and enhanced itinerary. The computer readable storage medium includes instructions to select an itinerary template based upon disparate itinerary booking events created for a user. The computer readable storage medium further includes instructions to evaluate the itinerary messages and identify logical relationships between travel events. The computer readable storage medium further includes instructions to produce enhanced travel information based on logical relationships identified within the itinerary messages. The computer readable storage medium further includes instructions to populate an itinerary with information from the received itinerary messages and enhanced travel information. Finally, the computer readable storage further includes instructions to deliver the itinerary to a user. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012825 | Method for determining and/or managing corrosion and/or contamination - The present invention generally relates to methods for determining and/or managing corrosion and/or contamination. More specifically, the present invention relates to various methods to identify, determine and/or quantify the nature, amount and/or extent of corrosion and/or contamination situations, issues and/or concerns in various commercial, production and/or industrial supply chains. In another embodiment, the present invention permits one to identify, determine and/or quantify the nature, amount and/or extent of corrosion and/or contamination situations, issues and/or concerns in various commercial and/or industrial supply chains and recommends various methods by which to mitigate, reduce and/or eliminate such corrosion and/or contamination. In still another embodiment, the present invention provides a method for matching and/or developing specific products, systems, and/or services to solve, address and/or identify corrosion and/or contamination situations, issues and/or concerns. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012826 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ADAPTIVE INTERACTION ANALYTICS - A method and apparatus for revealing business or organizational aspects of an organization from interactions, broadcasts or other sources. The method and apparatus classify the interactions into predefined categories. Then additional processing is performed on interactions in one or more categories, and analysis is executed for revealing insights, trends, problems, causes for problems, and other characteristics within the one or more categories. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012827 | Methods and Systems for Analyzing Patent Applications to Identify Undervalued Stocks - The present invention relates to predicting the value of a published patent application prior to its issuance as a patent. Once a patent application publishes, as most U.S. applications do eighteen months after filing, one can identify the patents cited against the patent application during its prosecution. Such patents may be cited by the applicant in an Information Disclosure Statement (IDS) and/or by the Examiner assigned by the Government to examine the patentability of the application. In some embodiments, the cited patents are evaluated by comparing how frequently they are cited relative to other patents that issued in the same year and in the same technology class. If the cited patents are frequently cited relative to their peers, then the subject patent application likely covers significant technology and has value. The present invention may have several implementations. For example, the present invention may simply be embodied as a service that provides metrics for or reports on the value of various patent applications. In other embodiments, the method for evaluating the value of a single patent application is extended to each of the patent applications in a patent portfolio so as to render judgment on the value of the entire application portfolio. In turn, one can use the value of all or part of the patent-application portfolio to help identify stocks of undervalued companies. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012828 | COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR WORKFLOW AUTOMATION - Computer systems and methods are disclosed for improving professional services delivery, such as services in a data management environment. In certain examples, computer systems comprise portals for transmitting and receiving information from parties involved in the performance and receipt of professional services. For instance, a first portal can receive data (e.g., from sales personnel) descriptive of a customer's product environment. A manager module populates a record with the data, and a second portal provides the customer with access to the record for review, correction and/or validation prior to the generation of a Statement of Work or other like project description. The second portal can also request additional information from the customer regarding the product environment. The manager module compares the data received through the first portal with the customer-entered information to identify and/or address discrepancies between the sets of data and customize the generation of the Statement of Work. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012829 | DYNAMICALLY ASSEMBLING BUSINESS PROCESS MODELS - Apparatus and methods for dynamically assembling a business process model. An apparatus is configured in a company terminal connected with a network, and has a model building unit for building a business process model for the company, characterized in that the apparatus further includes: a retrieving unit for retrieving to obtain the business process model of other company from the network, and an assembling unit for assembling the business process model of the company with that of the other company to obtain an integrated business process model. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012830 | APPARATUS, METHOD, AND PROGRAM FOR EXTRACTING WORK ITEM - A work item extraction apparatus includes: a checklist DB; a checklist input unit for receiving input information to the checklist of the list DB; a work item DB; a work item extraction rule DB; a work item extraction unit for determining whether or not input information of the checklist input unit satisfies an extraction condition of each checklist corresponding to a predetermined work item, for calculating an evaluation value based on a ratio between a total number of the checklist corresponding to the predetermined work item and a relevant number of the checklist satisfying the extraction condition, and for extracting the predetermined work item when the value exceeds a predetermined threshold; and a work-item-extraction-result display unit for outputting the work item extracted by the work item extraction unit to a display screen. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012831 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ASSESSING WORKPLACE SAFETY - A system and method for assessing workplace safety are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the system comprises a memory device configured to store data comprising at least one first set of data comprising information indicative of at least one worker's adherence to predetermined safety procedures and information indicative of a first assessor bias, and at least one second set of data comprising information indicative of at least one workplace environmental parameter and information indicative of a second assessor bias, and a computer processor electrically connected to the memory device and configured to analyze the data stored in the memory device based on the information indicative of the first and second assessor biases. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012832 | PACKAGING AND DISTRIBUTING SERVICE ELEMENTS - A service element is defined and represented by a data structure. It includes one or more components and/or one or more other service elements. A service element providing a complete function is a service offering. Management of service elements and/or service offerings is facilitated by a Service Development Tool. In different aspects, the management includes various tasks associated with creating, modifying and deleting service elements, establishing relationships, error checking and optimization. In a further aspect, service elements are packaged and distributed to enable customers to deliver the service elements. Additionally, the hosting of software packages is facilitated. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012833 | SEARCH ENGINE FOR MOST HELPFUL EMPLOYEES - Methods and apparatus for identifying experts in a subject area are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method includes receiving a request to locate a source of expertise in a subject area within an enterprise, and determining if there is at least one individual associated with the enterprise that has the expertise in the subject area. The method also includes identifying the individual if it is determined that there is the at least one individual who has the expertise in the subject area by comparing a profile associated with an initiator of the request with a profile associated with the individual. Information associated with the individual is provided such that the individual may be identified as the source of expertise in the subject area. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012834 | Compliance Management System - A compliance management system that includes a task module configured to process a task comprising task attributes, to associate the tasks with a workflow, and to assign the task to one or more individuals based on a task assignment attribute, the task assignment attribute representing one or more individuals responsible for the task. The system also includes a case module configured to process a case comprising case attributes and to track the resolution and method of resolution of the case and a document module configured to store or retrieve documents, and to associate the documents with one or more tasks or cases. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012835 | Methods for Increased Compensation for Hourly Wage Employees - Three interrelated methods are presented for providing increased compensation of hourly wage and salaried employees based upon performance requirements and results. The present invention includes methods for increasing employee compensation based upon hourly wage multipliers defined by seasonal, daily, and conditional factors. The methods further include the process guaranteeing the resources necessary for the completion of a specific job. A comparison is made between the nominally defined resources required for the job and the actual resources available, with the actual resources available (the employees) receiving increased compensation based upon the difference between the nominal resources and the actual resources. Finally, increased compensation methods may be based upon identified performance factors and the measurement of actual performance levels that exceed base performance levels. The methods described may be interrelated to calculate an increased compensation for a specific employee based upon modification of a base hourly wage or a salary reduced to an hourly wage, according to each of the processes described. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012836 | Handling Exceptional Situations in a Warehouse Management - The invention provides methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for handling exceptional situations in a warehouse management. From a user application of the warehouse, an exception code is received, the exception code being representative of a predetermined exceptional situation in the warehouse. The exception code is verified as to validity, and if the received exception code is valid, a follow-up action based on the received exception code is automatically triggered. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012837 | MARGIN CALCULATOR FOR THE TEMPORARY STAFFING INDUSTRY - A system and method for providing accurate margin calculations for the temporary staffing industry. A database is provided to allow multiple users to enter parameters that impact the margin such as payroll, benefits, discounts, rebates, and per diem expenses. The system can also include external data sources for retrieving information that impacts margin, such as locale specific tax information. The combination allows temporary staffing providers to engage negotiate complex temporary staffing contracts while retaining a satisfactory margin. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012838 | DETERMINATION OF A PREFERRED RATIO OF SUPERVISORS TO AGENTS IN CALL CENTERS - When determining a preferred ratio of supervisors to agents in a call center, one or more operation parameter values are determined for corresponding operation parameters. Based on the one or more operation parameter values, a benchmark ratio is correspondingly modified to provide the desired preferred ratio. Preferably, the benchmark ratio is identified based on a specific industry. At least one survey response concerning an operation parameter may be obtained and used in determining a corresponding operation parameter value. In this manner, a more structured and customized approach is provided in comparison to prior art techniques. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012839 | Determining Brand Affiliations - To determine brand affiliation, a consumer criterion may be identified. A filtered group of one or more consumers may be created in which each consumer in the filtered group is subject to the consumer criterion. A percentage of consumers in the filtered group of consumers having at least one transaction with a brand of interest may then be determined. A percentage of consumers in a control group of consumers having at least one transaction with the brand of interest may also be determined. A ratio comparing the percentage of consumers in the filtered group to the percentage of consumers in the control group may then be calculated. Based on the calculated ratio, the brand affiliation between the consumer criterion and the brand of interest is determined. This affiliation can be leveraged to target marketing materials for one of the brands to consumers of the second brand. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012840 | System and Method for Developing Loss Assumptions - A method for developing assumptions for use in evaluating the possible occurrence of an event comprises the steps of defining a plurality of factors correlated with each other to the event, assigning a plurality of levels to each factor, determining a relative occurrence rate for selected combinations of factors and levels, and assigning selected combinations to one of a plurality of cohorts. In certain embodiments, the method, and a corresponding system are used in designing an insurance product. The method may include the additional steps of assigning values to the levels and evaluating expected performance of the product based upon the values assigned to the levels and the expected loss distribution. The step of producing an expected loss distribution includes determining, for at least some of the selected combinations, a cumulative probability of occurrence, and determining, for at least one of the selected combinations, an incremental probability of occurrence. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012841 | EVENT COMMUNICATION PLATFORM FOR MOBILE DEVICE USERS - A method, system, and apparatus are directed to communicating data over a network. Event attributes comprising at least two of a temporal, spatial, social, or topical information are received. An event structure comprising fields associated with a different one of a temporal, spatial, social, or topical dimension based on the received event attributes is generated. An advertising attributes about an advertisement is received. The advertising attributes may comprise at least two of another temporal, spatial, social, or topical information. If the event structure matches the advertising attributes, the advertisement may be provided co-located with the event structure. The advertisement may be configured to provide a value exchange if the advertisement is activated. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012842 | Methods and Systems of Automatic Ontology Population - Methods and systems for creating a knowledge graph that relates terms in a corpus of literature in the form of an assertion and provides a probability of the veracity of the assertion are disclosed herein. Various aspects of the invention are directed to and/or involve knowledge graphs and structured digital abstracts (SDAs) offering a machine readable representation of statements in a corpus of literature. Various methods and systems of the invention can automatically extract, structure, and visualize the statements. Such graphs and abstracts can be useful for a variety of applications including, but not necessarily limited to, semantic-based search tools for search of electronic medical records, specific content verticals (e.g. newswire, finance, history) and general internet searches. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012843 | Method for Managing a Shopping Website - A method for managing a shopping website for preventing surging ordering products includes counting orders of a certain product during a predetermined duration, and then denying the ordering of the certain product if the orders of the certain product exceed a predetermined amount during the predetermined duration. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012844 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GATHERING AND REPORTING DATA ASSOCIATED WITH A CARDHOLDER'S USE OF A PREPAID DEBIT CARD - A method and system for gathering and reporting data associated with a cardholder's use of a prepaid debit card is described. One embodiment receives primary personal data associated with the cardholder in connection with the issuance to the cardholder of the prepaid debit card; causes a financial institution to issue the prepaid debit card; causes a card fulfillment process to be performed; causes the prepaid debit card loaded with a predetermined monetary value to be distributed to the cardholder; receives secondary personal data associated with the cardholder; processes one or more transactions initiated by the cardholder with the prepaid debit card; correlates, in a computerized data processing system, the primary and secondary personal data with transactional data associated with the one or more transactions to generate correlated data; and grants an authorized entity access to at least a portion of the correlated data on an aggregated and non-personally-identifiable basis. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012845 | COMMISSION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system for providing a reward to a consumer based on a travel counselor commission for a selected travel reservation booked for the consumer is disclosed. The method comprises offering a plurality of tours to a consumer; receiving a selection of one of the plurality of tours from a consumer; retrieving commission amount data related to the selected tour; and, providing the reward, to the consumer, based upon a portion of the commission amount. The system may also include purchasing carbon credits and providing a donation to a third party organization related to the selected tour, without charging the consumer for the donation. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012846 | COMPUTERIZED BOOK REVIEWING SYSTEM - A user interface system for use with an internet ordering system includes a user-navigable bookshelf environment providing a plurality of columns and rows for displaying items for purchase within item windows aligned along visual representations of shelves bordering the rows. A datastore of item artwork provides visual renderings of items for purchase. An Internet storefront provides a view of a portion of the virtual bookshelf environment to a user. The user interface populates the item windows with item artwork according to predefined criteria, and responds to user interaction with a control of said storefront to change the view of the virtual bookshelf environment presented to the user. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012847 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ASSESSING EFFECTIVENESS OF COMMUNICATION CONTENT - Systems and computer-implemented methods provide for assessing effectiveness of communication content. Methods involve receiving a playlist and schedule implemented to eliminate at least some confounds from experimental data, distributing communication content, displaying the communication content according to the playlist and schedule, and collecting data relating to effectiveness of the communication content. Methods also involve providing rules for displaying the communication content implemented to eliminate at least some carryover effects, displaying the communication content according to the rules, and collecting data relating to effectiveness of the communication content. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012848 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING TIME-SLOT SAMPLES TO WHICH CONTENT MAY BE ASSIGNED FOR MEASURING EFFECTS OF THE ASSIGNED CONTENT - Systems and methods provide for generating time-slot samples to which content may be assigned for measuring effects of the assigned content. Systems and methods provide for receiving viewer visit duration (VVD) that target viewers spend at a location where content is to be presented and receiving time intervals (TI) for data collection for data streams of interest that target viewers can affect during their visit to the location. A time-slot sample duration (TSSD) is determined using VVD and TI. Time-slot samples are generated that have a duration defined by the TSSD and a data collection period defined for at least a portion of the TSSD. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012849 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INTERACTING WITH A USER IN AN EXPERIENTIAL ENVIRONMENT - A method and system for provides a user with an ability to capture a sample of an experiential environment and deliver that sample to an interactive service to trigger one or more predetermined events. In exemplary embodiments of the invention such triggered events include the delivery of information and services to the user, the execution of tasks and instructions by the service on the user's behalf, communication events; surveillance events and other control-oriented events that are responsive to the user's wishes. In other exemplary embodiments of the invention, the triggered events include transaction-oriented events, entertainment events, and events associated with enhancements to human ability or function. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012850 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A TRUE PERFORMANCE INDICATOR - A method, system, and executable software product evaluate the performance of an individual. The method and system include receiving employment information for the individual. The employment information includes information from at least one employer of the individual. The method and system also include storing the employment information and providing to an employer access to the employment information for predicting a performance of the individual. The employer is different from at least a portion of the employer(s) of the individual. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012851 | WIRELESS TOLL COLLECTION SYSTEM - An assembly of devices for charging and cashless automatic payment of costs, e.g. toll, bridge toll, entrance and the like, charged on the basis of geographical locations and/or geographical areas and for the information on the events on the basis of the above-mentioned charging consists of a control centre ( | 2009-01-08 |
20090012852 | DATA MARKETPLACE AND BROKER FEES - In an advertising serving exchange or network, in one aspect, the invention features a computer-implemented method that includes enabling a data provider to provide a content-request tracking token that associates cookie information with a user when the user visits a website. The method also includes allowing, by the data provider, at least one business entity transacting in a common domain to perform an action based on the cookie information when the user subsequently accesses the webpage. The method can also include selecting an advertisement from one of a plurality of advertisers to be placed on a webpage based on the action. In some arrangements, the data provider passes a share of the proceeds back to the website that supplied the information (e.g., the website on which the pixel was placed). | 2009-01-08 |
20090012853 | INFERRING LEGITIMACY OF ADVERTISEMENT CALLS - There are methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for receiving advertisement calls at a first computing system from a second computing system, the first computing system and a second computing system being in electronic communication through a network, each advertisement call being defined by one or more variable-value pairs; extracting data from the advertisement calls, the extracted data including at least two sets of variable/value pairs, the first set of variable/value pairs including variable/value pairs of a first variable type, and the second set of variable/value pairs including variable/value pairs of a second variable type; and performing one or more tests on the extracted data to infer a legitimacy of at least a first subset of the advertisement calls. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012854 | FLEXIBLE, DYNAMIC DESIGN TO ALLOW FOR FIXED AND PERCENTAGE DISCOUNT PRICING AT CONFIGURABLE OPTION LEVELS - A method and system are disclosed for enabling fixed and percentage discount pricing at configuration option level, when a configurable product is ordered. The method comprises the steps of creating a condition table having information used to determine both fixed and percentage discount pricing. A Contract is also provided having information used to determine those discounts. When a product is ordered against the Contract, information from both the Contract and the condition table are used to determine the appropriate discount, if any, for each selected option item. The appropriate discount may be a fixed price discount, or a percentage discount based on the list price for the option. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012855 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USING CAPTCHAS AS ADS - A method of using advertisements in a Completely Automatic Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart (CAPTCHA) challenge/response transaction. In accordance with one aspect, a server allows access to some resource if the response to the ad/CAPTCHA challenge is an acceptable response. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012856 | Method of marketing local products and/or services - A method of marketing local products and/or services includes establishing a database of providers of local products and/or services, wherein the providers are classified into one or more business categories and each provider is certified prior to inclusion. User requests are received for information about providers of local products and/or services in a specified business category, and a list of providers classified in the specified business category is displayed to the user in response to the request. The list has a limited number of providers to avoid an excessive number of choices. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012857 | Real estate sign system - A real estate sign system comprising a plurality of real estate signs, a control system, a communications system, and a plurality of user devices. The real estate signs comprising an electronic device which communicates with the communications system and displays messages to viewers using a visual display, and a stand which supports the electronic device. The user devices accepts information from a user and communicates that information to the real estate sign system. The control system comprising a web server, which communicates with the user device, and a communications component which communicates with the communications system. The web server also communicates with the database to generate a message to be transferred to the real estate sign. The web server further communicates with the communications component to transfer information to the real estate sign. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012858 | PRICE PROTECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD - Disclosed herein is a system and method for price protection associated with one or more items purchased. A registered item, which comprises an item purchased by a buyer from a seller, is monitored electronically to obtain information associated with the item, including an item's current purchase price. If it is determined from electronically monitoring the status of the item that the buyer is eligible for a refund under a price protection policy covering the item purchased, the buyer is notified. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012859 | Targeted and Pulled Advertising System for Delivering Product Information Based on Consumer Requests - A pull-based method for disseminating marketing information to customers based on specific customer requests through a web based portal connected to a sever with a database of product information. The customer can receive the information via a variety of mediums from a distribution hub connected to the server. Information on consumer choices is stored on the server, which can be collated, ranked, and prioritized for use in tracking consumer requests for information. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012860 | REMUNERATION OF MEDICAL DONORS - A method for incentivizing donations by plasma donors is provided. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012861 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING TARGETED INFORMATION USING PROFILE ATTRIBUTES WITH VARIABLE CONFIDENCE LEVELS IN A MOBILE ENVIRONMENT - Various systems and methods for of generating a user profile for use in providing targeted-content-messages to a wireless access terminal (W-AT) are disclosed. For example, a user profile with at least one profile element may be provided to the W-AT, and a profile confidence level for the profile element may be also provided. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012862 | INSTANT ZERO INVENTORY FULFILLMENT REDEMPTION SYSTEM AND METHOD - An instant fulfillment system allows members of programs, such as an incentive, reward, affinity or loyalty program, to use an instant reward card to redeem currency or points stored in a database, for instant ‘rebates’ or ‘discounts’ at selected retailers. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012863 | AUTOMATIC IMAGE ADVERTISEMENT GENERATOR - A method for automatically generating image advertisements to supplement text advertisements within an advertisement group, the method comprising a means for determining the most relevant image on a destination URL linked to by an advertisement. Preferably, the method comprises obtaining at least two advertisement attributes selected from the group consisting of keywords for an advertisement, titles of text ads for an advertisement, subtitles of text ads for an advertisement, and destination URLs associated with an advertisement, then obtaining at least two image attributes selected from the group consisting of image file name, image file location, image “alt” attributes, and URL linked to through image, then through a comparison of said at least two ad group attributes to said at least two image attributes relevance of an image is determined, where a number of potential images may be used as one component to create the advertisement, the most relevant image is used in the creation of the advertisement for display to a user in the form of an advertisement. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012864 | COMPENSATION MODEL FOR NETWORK SERVICES - A compensation model is disclosed for compensating a network service provider. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012865 | CLICKABLE MAP INTERFACE FOR PRODUCT INVENTORY - A method is disclosed for providing a map for displaying inventory for sale. A clickable map interface allows users to view or purchase the inventory of a product from a seller at a particular location. A user can view the inventory of a product from sellers within a particular region. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012866 | SYSTEM FOR SELECTING AD INVENTORY WITH A CLICKABLE MAP INTERFACE - A method is disclosed for providing advertising content for display in a page over a network. Ad inventory is identified and/or organized based on a category and a geographic region. The ad inventory may be displayed on an interactive map that is used for selecting from the inventory based on the geographic location. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012867 | Engagement-Based Compensation for Interactive Advertisement - Systems and methods for dynamically sizing, structuring and operating advertisements that include a variety of content, including interaction prompts and other elements, which enable an engagement-based revenue generation model. According to one embodiment, a computer implemented method comprises storing advertising content, serving an XML file from an advertising server to an advertisement manager in order to control a player on a user computer, dynamically generating the advertisement through the player based on directions from the advertisement manager and the stored content, and tracking and reporting a user's engagement with the advertisement in order to determine compensation for the publisher. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012868 | Systems And Methods For Real-Time Allocation Of Digital Content - Systems, methods, and software products allocate digital content to advertising spaces in real time. Advertising space parameters for an advertising space are processed in an advertising space database. Sales parameters for the advertising space are processed in the advertising space database. Digital content is processed in a submitted content database. An advertising space owner is permitted access to the submitted content database for review of the digital content and approved digital content is tagged with an approval indicator. Bidding parameters for a time slot on the advertising space are processed and the time slot is auctioned to providers of the approved digital content. The approved digital content is distributed to the advertising space and winning digital content is aired during the time slot. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012869 | DYNAMIC DOCUMENT CONTEXT MARK-UP TECHNIQUE IMPLEMENTED OVER A COMPUTER NETWORK - Various techniques are disclosed for delivering contextually related advertising content to end users of a computer network. Advertiser campaign information may be accessed. In at least one embodiment, the campaign information may include a first plurality of keywords provided by an entity other than the end user of a client system. A first document associated with a first uniform resource locator (URL) may be identified. In at least one embodiment, the first document may include a first portion of original content to be displayed on the client system. Using the campaign information, specific original content of the first portion of original content may be selected to be converted to a first hyperlink having a second uniform resource locator (URL) associated therewith. In at least one embodiment, the specific original content includes a first text string matching at least one keyword from the campaign information. Markup operations may be performed on a first portion of specific original content. In at least one embodiment, the markup operations include converting the first portion of specific original content into a first hyperlink to the second URL, wherein the first hyperlink includes a first portion of marked up content. The first hyperlink may be displayed at the client system. In at least one embodiment, the display of the first hyperlink includes display of the first portion of marked up content. In at least one embodiment, when an event is detected relating to a location of a cursor at the client system being positioned over a portion of the displayed first hyperlink, a first overlay advertising impression may be automatically displayed at the client system. In at least one embodiment, the first overlay advertising impression includes advertising information comprising a second portion of content which is different from the first portion of marked up content. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012870 | Methods for driving traffic to a website - The present invention relates to methods and systems for driving traffic to a website and providing incentives for viewers to visit and spend time reviewing a website. According to certain preferred embodiments of the present invention, methods for increasing the number of visitors to a website are provided. In general, such embodiments comprise (a) providing a website in which a party may apply for membership; (b) awarding membership to the party if the party submits sufficient information to a server via the website; (c) periodically publishing the results of a potential award within the website, wherein the results of a potential award communicate to members of the website whether all of such members will share in a payment disbursement; and (d) requiring the members of the website to view one or more pages of the website in order to view the results of the potential award. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012871 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REDUCING CONSUMPTION OF ADDICTIVE COMMODITIES - A method of controlling consumption of a commodity, particularly an addictive commodity, includes issuing a license, in advance of any purchase, to a purchaser of the commodity. The license allows purchase of a specified quantity of the commodity within a specified time period. The license is issued for a license fee that is set according to a schedule that divides the specified quantity into ranges, and charges different per unit base fees for purchases in different ones of those ranges. When a purchase is made, the license is checked to see if the purchase is allowed, and then updated to reflect the quantity purchased. Excessive consumption may be penalized by charging a higher rate for a new license in the same period, while surrender of one's license may be rewarded with incentives. The license fee may include the purchase price of the licensed quantity of the commodity. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012872 | PRICES COMPARISON SYSTEM FOR THE SECTOR OF SUPERMARKET AND RETAILER IN GENERAL IN REAL TIME - “PRICES COMPARISON SYSTEM FOR THE SECTOR OF SUPERMARKET AND RETAILER IN GENERAL IN REAL TIME”, notedly a system able to offer a selection of the cheaper prices and the respective commercial e/or industrial addresses to the final consumer, which stands out still for allowing an inter-activity between involved people, besides dynamism, once that offers the best prices in real time for the registered lists by the final consumer. The inter-activity also is justified by the sending of the information to the clients by e-mail, as well as alert for eventual prices reductions of registered products, without any onus. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012873 | SYSTEMS FOR MANAGING DIGITAL MEDIA DISTRIBUTION - Systems and methods for organizing and managing the collection and distribution of digital content to users via a network of kiosks are described. The systems contain a conglomerate of software applications that can be combined to manage the digital content itself, as well as manage the kiosks that used to distribute the digital content. The software applications are also able to manage the payments received by the users and the payments made to the providers of the digital content. The software applications can be web-based so that they can be accessed and operated via a single portal. Other embodiments are also described. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012874 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR A PRIVATE MARKET: FACILITATING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN BUYERS AND SELLERS OR EXCHANGERS OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES WHILE MAINTAINING PRIVACY - A system and method are described that facilitate bilateral private interaction between participants who wish to initiate personal or business arrangements anonymously or without exposure except to identified trusted parties | 2009-01-08 |
20090012875 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FACILITATING COMMERCIAL TRANSACTIONS USING AUTOMATIC VIRTUAL CURRENCY - Provided are methods and systems for facilitating commercial transactions, such as sales, trades, or barters, using a virtual currency value. A data repository containing a list of available items is created and updated. A virtual value is assigned to each item in the data repository. Upon a match between an offer and a request for an item, the virtual value of the item is deducted from the buyer's account, and is added to the seller's account. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012876 | Method of Doing Business Over a Network By Transmission and Retransmission of Digital Information on a Network During Time Slots - The present invention is a method of doing business over a network that: receives a request for transmitting digital information after a start time and before an end time, determines the time required to transmit the digital information based on the number of packets in the information and the network speed, schedules a transmit time for the digital information, and accepts the digital information for transmission only if the time required to transmit is less than or equal to the difference between the transmit time and the end time. Pricing of the transmission can be determined by the priority of transmission, whether the information is transmitted the first time or rescheduled, and whether the user receives an acknowledgment. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012877 | DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM AND METHOD - Embodiments of the invention are generally, but not exclusively, related to the area of interactive auctions, particularly to interactive Internet-based auctions that may be simultaneously televised and where bidders may input bids over channels other than the Internet. Other methods and apparatuses are also described. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012878 | Apparatus, Systems and Methods for Facilitating Commerce - According to one or more embodiments, apparatus, systems and methods are provided for facilitating commerce. In some embodiments, an apparatus (e.g., a central computer) facilitates posting of an item for sale by receiving a digital image of an item for sale, receiving an audio description (e.g., included in an audio file) of the item, and providing an indication of the description to at least one potential buyer. In one embodiment, the digital image and the audio description are received from a mobile phone. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012879 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ELECTRONIC PAYMENT USING SEPARATED TIMING AND INTERFACE - An electronic payment system includes a receiver for receiving order information which includes order numbers and the settlement accounts for the product and the service ordered by a first client or a second client from an affiliated store system. A first transmitter is provided for transmitting settlement request information which includes settlement accounts for the ordered product and service to a second client making payment on behalf of a first client. A settlement processor is provided for settlement processing of the settlement accounts through a settlement unit selected by the second client by interworking with the second client. A second transmitter is provided for transmitting settlement processing results to the second client and the affiliated store system. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012880 | User Interface For Creating and Displaying Digital Signage - A digital signage network is provided comprising a browser based user interface, a management center, at least one media player and at least one digital display unit. In certain embodiments the browser based user interface allows for a user to create, manage and edit a digital scheduling program via the digital signage network. In certain embodiments the browser based user interface comprises a template community feature, a photo editor feature, a news management feature, a logo manager feature, a video playback feature, a live access feature, a network player status viewing feature, a granular scheduling feature and a dynamic template feature. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012881 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPROVED MANAGEMENT OF SELLER LISTINGS ON E-COMMERCE WEBSITES - A system and method providing improved management of product listings on an e-commerce website by allowing sellers to define rules or conditions that automatically adjust a product's listing price based upon a triggering event. The triggering event may be the expiration of a pre-defined time period. The listing price of a product can be automatically reduced in the event that the product does not sell within a certain time frame. Further, sellers are immediately notified of an offer to purchase a listed product. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012882 | ADAPTIVE INVENTORY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - An adaptive inventory management system and method eliminates or minimizes frequency interference issues within a facility that employs a plurality of RFID readers for purposes of tracking and managing inventory. A middleware server activates and deactivates adjacent RFID readers within the facility based on the location of an item having an RFID tag. The middleware server also queries an inventory database based on the information collected from the RFID tag of the item and generates a command signal based on information retrieved from the database to control the travel route of the vehicle transporting items of inventory within the facility. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012883 | Novel securities, supporting systems and methods thereof - A novel financial instrument, equity dilution inhibitor and security upgrade account are disclosed based on an enhanced callspread option. Implementation of the novel investment vehicle and/or upgrade account are managed via program controlled data processor governing system operation in accordance with investment parameters. Enhanced flexibility for this investment vehicle increases its usefulness to a broad spectrum of potential investors. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012884 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR POPULATING TAX RETURNS USING AGGREGATED DATA - Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that populates a tax return using employee information obtained from a human resources system and/or employee personal profile. During operation, this system obtains employee information associated with a user from the human resources system and/or employee personal profile and then partially populates the tax return using the employee information. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012885 | Adjustable rate usage-based billing for data services - A method of providing adjustable rate usage-based billing for data services establishes an initial level billing rate based on customer estimates of usage and rates established by the provider based on the location of customer sites within predetermined geographic zones and levels of service intended to be used between those customer site pairs. The initial level billing rate is typically monthly, and is maintained during a predetermined level billing period. Upon expiration of the level billing period, the actual average usage on a monthly basis is calculated and compared to the level billing rate. If the absolute value of the percentage difference between them does not exceed a predetermined maximum adjustment, then the level billing rate for the next level billing period is set equal to the computed average of actual use during the just ended level billing period. If the maximum adjust is exceeded, the new level billing rate is capped at the maximum adjust percentage for the next level billing period. A carryover is provided by which whatever amount of increase or decrease is not covered by the maximum adjustment is carried over to the next level billing period, and is carried until it is finally recovered by either the customer or the provider, depending upon to which party the carryover has been accruing. This billing method is particularly useful in networks such as Multi-protocol Label Switching (MPLS), which provide the customer a certain amount of bandwidth for access to the network, but for which bandwidth is not pre-allocated to specific connections. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012886 | CONSTRUCTION PAYMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS WITH SPECIFIED BILLING FEATURES - Systems and methods for managing payments. One construction of the system includes a software enabled user interface accessible by a first party and a second party, at least one computer readable memory, and a processor. The processor is configured to selectively operate in a specified billing mode in response to an input received from the first party. The processor is configured to receiving invoice details from the first party when operating in the specified billing mode and from the second party when not operating in the specified billing mode. The processor is further configured to generate an invoice based on the invoice details, display the invoice to the first party and the second party, and request an approval or a rejection of the invoice from the first party or the second party. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012887 | Method And System For Provision Of Personalized Service - Systems and methods for servicing a user seeking a service over a computer network. In one embodiment the user visits a website of an administrative processing system which performs administrative processing for a plurality of service providers, including service provider(s) which will provide the service(s) to the user. In one embodiment, the administrative processing includes an interactive chat-like interview with the user. In one embodiment the administrative processing system is paid by the user and the payment is shared with the provider(s) who serviced the user. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012888 | Text-to-speech streaming via a network - A network-based approach for converting a first type of data into a second type of data. The first type of data can be sent by an originating network-user to a remote service platform connected to a telecommunications network. Data conversion from the first to the second data types takes place at the remote service platform. The originating network-user can address a receiving network-user to whom the second type of data can be sent. The receiving network-user receives the second type of data as a data stream. The originating network-user can also associate the first type of data with an electronic file. The receiving network-user receives the electronic file together with the data stream. With the functionality of the service platform), network users are able to create and distribute a certain type of data without the required conversion facilities being locally available. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012889 | PAYMENT ACCOUNT MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A network includes an account status system for checking the status of checking accounts used to make payments, and a payment account monitoring system that includes linking files that store, for individual credit card accounts, the account numbers for checking accounts used to pay the credit card accounts. The monitoring system periodically retrieves checking account numbers from the linking files and checks the account numbers at the status system. If a negative status is indicated at the status system, an alert is provided to the credit card company. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012890 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONFIRMING ELECTRONIC SERVICE - A system and method for confirming an electronic service are provided. The system includes an electronic service application system, adapted to send an electronic service confirmation request to a confirmation center when implementing an electronic service, and implement the electronic service according to an electronic service confirmation result from the confirmation center; the confirmation center, adapted to determine a confirmation terminal corresponding to the electronic service confirmation request, send an electronic service confirmation message to the confirmation terminal, and send the electronic service confirmation result from the confirmation terminal to the electronic service application system; the confirmation terminal, adapted to receive the electronic service confirmation message, generate the electronic service confirmation result according to feedback from a user, and send the electronic service confirmation result to the confirmation center. The occurrence of the electronic service can be monitored and the security of the electronic service is greatly improved. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012891 | System and Method for Providing a Trust Associated With Long Positions in Index Futures - A system comprises a memory operable to store market data. The system further comprises a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and operable to buy a plurality of index futures. The plurality of index futures are held as long positions in a trust, and a particular index future is publicly traded on a commodity exchange. The processor is further operable to issue a plurality of trust receipts associated with the trust, wherein the plurality of trust receipts are publicly traded on at least one security exchange. The processor is further operable to post a margin with a futures commission merchant (FCM), wherein the margin is based at least in part on the plurality of index futures and the FCM makes at least one interest payment associated with the plurality of index futures. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012892 | Financial product futures and system and method for trading such futures - A method, system and financial product permitting trading of futures of OTC derivatives is provided. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012893 | Trading System - A method for enabling collaborative processing of data by one or more computers or digital data processing systems. The computer(s) compute a value representative of a first yield for a first instrument, the first instrument being a derivative of an underlying financial instrument, the first instrument being a non-fixed-income instrument. The computer(s) compute a second yield of a second financial instrument. The computer(s) control automated trading of the first instrument based at least in part on comparison of the first yield value with a computed second yield of a second financial instrument, and/or based on comparison of a differential of the first instrument value over change in market interest rates against a differential of the second instrument value over change in market interest rates, the control balancing sizes of positions in the first instrument and second instrument to achieve a desired financial risk profile. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012894 | FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD FOR ACQUIRING AN ASSET - A system and method of acquiring an asset by a purchaser. The method begins by a purchasing entity purchasing an asset. A contractual relationship between the purchasing entity and the purchaser is then established. The purchaser agrees to pay a periodic fee to utilize the asset and equity is built by the purchaser in the asset by conducting specified transactions. The purchaser pays periodic fees, thereby allowing utilization of the asset. The purchaser conducts the specified transactions with a partnership entity affiliated with the purchasing entity. Equity is then built in the asset by the purchaser by conducting the specified transactions. Total ownership of the asset is transferred from the purchasing entity to the purchaser when the equity equals a specified amount. Additionally, transaction fees may be incurred by the partnership entity to the purchasing entity for each specified transaction. The asset may be any valuable item, such as a home, vehicle or other real or personal property. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012895 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING AND PROMOTING A CAUSE AND PROCESSING PAYMENTS FOR THE CAUSE BY UTILIZING SOCIAL NETWORKS - The invention is a system and method for system and method for creating and promoting a cause and processing payments for the cause by utilizing social networks, and in particular, a social network, for example, a highly interactive on-line community, where individuals, representatives, or organizations, may securely conduct fundraising activities, raise awareness, and promote events. By injecting an application that may be virally distributed in a highly interactive on-line community and linking application users to a specially designed website, individuals, representatives, or organizations, may securely conduct fundraising activities, raise awareness, and promote events to a greater audience, thus achieving higher efficiency in a developing virtual environment. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012896 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATED VENDOR RISK ANALYSIS - Systems and methods for automated vendor risk analysis are described. In one described method for automated vendor risk analysis, an analyzer receives payment transaction data associated with a vendor, compares the payment transaction data to a plurality of vendor fraud control measures, identifies the vendor or transaction associated with the payment transaction data as potentially fraudulent, and generates a notification regarding the potentially fraudulent vendor or transaction. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012897 | Person-to-person, person-to business and business-to-business financial transaction system - The delivery of a secure method and system of generating person to person, business to business, business to person and person to business transactions involving transfer of funds from one party (the purchaser) to a second party (the vendor). The functionality of existing credit/debit cards and the associated infrastructure is extended to provide a secure global mechanism for individuals/businesses to receive funds without revealing confidential information or having to become credit/debit accepting merchants. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012898 | Location based credit card fraud prevention - A method is provided for blocking an unauthorized use of a payment instrument for a transaction. The method includes: establishing a transaction location ( | 2009-01-08 |
20090012899 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING AND MANAGING A LINKED DEPOSIT-ONLY ACCOUNT IDENTIFIER - Embodiments relate to systems and methods for generating and managing a deposit-only account identifier that can be portably linked to one or more transaction accounts, at the account holder's discretion. A deposit-only account identifier can be a virtual identifier, such as a temporary or permanent account number. The account holder can publish the virtual identifier to desired persons, financial institutions, or other parties to permit those entities to transmit funds to the deposit-only account. The account holder can move received funds to one or more linked transaction accounts, such as bank checking accounts, money market accounts, or others. Details regarding the underlying account(s) such as geographic location, currency, balances or other information can be retained in confidence, visible only to the account holder. Received funds can be distributed to underlying accounts according to criteria such as the currency or amount of the received funds, time of receipt, or other rules. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012900 | Making Secure Data for Customer Loyalty Programs - A portable device, a terminal, a system, and a method of storing data relating to transactions by terminals ( | 2009-01-08 |
20090012901 | Multifactor authentication system for "cash back" at the point of sale - Systems and methods are provided to allow for multifactor authentication of customers seeking to enter into “cash back” transactions at a merchant's point of sale. In an illustrative implementation, a user presents a prepaid payment card at a point of sale and requests a “cash back” transaction, the merchant thereupon verifying the customer has sufficient value to complete the transaction. The merchant then requests an authentication code from the user who then requests the authentication code from an outside party. The authentication code is delivered to the customer's mobile phone via a text message. The customer offers the authentication code to the merchant, who then allows the transaction to proceed if the authentication code is confirmed. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012902 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING A SUPPLEMENTARY PRODUCT SALE AT A POINT-OF-SALE TERMINAL - A POS terminal provided in accordance with the present invention receives the items in a purchase. Typically, each item will have a bar code that is scanned by a bar code scanner, and the POS terminal in turn receives, from the bar code scanner, signals representative of the items. The POS terminal then determines an upsell based on the items, and a rounded price that the customer may pay for both the items and the upsell. The rounded price may be determined by rounding up the purchase price to a predetermined multiple, such as to the next higher dollar amount. The customer is provided with an offer to exchange the items and the upsell(s) for the rounded price, and the customer in turn responds to the offer. If the response indicates acceptance of the offer, the items and the upsell are exchanged for the rounded price. If necessary, the POS terminal makes appropriate adjustments to stored indications of available quantities of items to reflect that the items and upsell(s) have been sold. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012903 | ONLINE EXCHANGE FOR INTERNET AD MEDIA - Presented are embodiments of methods and systems that create an open ad exchange for online advertising by creating and running a premium ad exchange to provide pricing control to both publishers and advertisers. Techniques are presented where advertisement campaigns are matched with ad spot for sale on relevant pages based on a bid-ask price scheme. Further, techniques are presented for allowing publishers of advertisements to still realize revenue when the exchange cannot sell an impression at an asking price by sending that impression to a backup tag. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012904 | NON-LIQUID ASSET EXCHANGE - Methods and systems are disclosed for providing an open exchange for non-liquid assets, such as high-end collectibles, valuable works of art, and real estate. Methods are provided for providing listings and handling purchase offers for assets which are not presently for sale. Additional methods are disclosed for using such offers as evidence of the value of the related assets. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012905 | Electronic Advertising System - Publisher information, such as information about available advertising space, may be received from publishers. Advertisers may provide requests associated with a print ad and receive a list of publishers with available print ad space. The list of publishers may include at least one publisher having a specified relationship with the advertiser. The advertiser may provide an offer for placing the print ad in a publication of one or more publishers on the list and may be inhibited from placing an offer for the print ad with publishers having a specified relationship with the advertiser. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012906 | AUCTION OF MULTIPLE HETEROGENEOUS ITEMS AMONG MULTIPLE BUYERS AND SELLERS USING SOFTWARE AGENTS LINKED VIA A COMMUNICATION NETWORK - A method, system and computer program product for conducting an online auction of a plurality of heterogeneous items between a plurality of selling and potential purchasing parties. The method includes the steps of accepting an offer in respect of an item, accepting one or more subsequent offers that is/are preferable to a previously accepted offer, and rejecting the previously accepted offer. While the offer/s is/are binding on a party making the offer, acceptance of the offer/s is/are not binding on a party accepting the offer. Classes of “seller strategies”, for offering items to potential purchasing parties, and “buyer strategies”, to decide which offers to accept, are also disclosed. As a result of the interaction of the buyer and seller strategies, the auction mechanism converges to an allocation of items to buyers at particular prices and assists in discovering a free and fair competitive equilibrium price. The auction is performed using terminals connected via a communications network and software-based agents hosted on the terminals, wherein the software-based agents act on behalf of the participating parties. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012907 | BOND ISSUE RISK MANAGEMENT - The present invention provides an auction system that allows bond issue sales to be offered in an open and transparent manner, wherein, a certain percentage (up to 100%) of bonds in a bond issue can be offered to qualified bidders at a “buy now” pre-auction price, set by an issuer and/or lead manager. Investors can be allowed to “bid some bonds out of the auction process” and thus guarantee their allocation and also allow bidders to participate in an open auction for other bonds. Bonds to be offered in a bond issue can include a subset of pre-auction price bonds and a subset of auction price bonds. The pre-auction price bonds are offered to pre-auction bidders at a pre-auction price, and auction bonds are generally sold to the highest bidder. Pre-auction sales can serve as a catalyst for generating enthusiasm for an associated bond issue auction. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012908 | Apparatus and method for facilitating transactions - An apparatus and method for facilitating a transaction, including a memory device for storing information regarding at least one of a good, a product, and a service, and a processor for processing at least one of a request for information regarding the at least one of a good, a product, and a service, and at least one of a bid and an offer to purchase the at least one of a good, a product, and a service. The processor processes at least one of the request for information and the at least one of a bid and an offer in conjunction with information contained in the memory device, and further wherein the processor generates a transaction report, wherein the transaction report contains at least one of the requested information and a response to the at least one of a bid and an offer, and further wherein the response contains at least one of an acceptance and a rejection of the at least one of a bid and an offer. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012909 | MANAGING RISK ASSOCIATED WITH OWNERSHIP OF SHARES IN A COMPANY - A method of managing risk associated with ownership of shares in a company includes accepting shares for pooling into a collective investment fund. One or more financial instruments are issued in exchange for shares. Revenues are generated on behalf of the collective investment fund through realization of accepted shares. A portion of those revenues is distributed among the shareholders according to vested interests in the financial instruments held by the shareholders independent of whether the revenues were generated from the shares accepted from that particular shareholder. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012910 | Method and system for gambling - A method of gambling using the stock exchange as the basis of the stakes. Option to choose specific shares or options or groups of shares or options. Option to choose day tickets or period tickets. Option to choose “blind” or personally chosen shares or options. Made accessible to average person to purchase from street booths without the need to deal with broker. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012911 | Systems and Methods for Providing a Sector Momentum Index - A securities index is provided by identifying a first index that has a plurality of sub-components; constructing a portfolio that has a plurality of sub-portfolios, each sub-portfolio containing holdings corresponding to one of the index sub-components, and each sub-portfolio having a corresponding initial weight with respect to the portfolio. A second index is defined that corresponds to performance of the portfolio. Performance for each of said sub-components relative to performance of said first index is calculated. A correlation of each of said sub-components with said first index is calculated. The portfolio is periodically rebalanced by increasing weights of sub-portfolios corresponding to sub-components that out-perform the first index and decreasing weights of sub-portfolios corresponding to sub-components under-performing the first index; except that for sub-components having the respective calculated correlation differing with the first index, corresponding sub-portfolios do not have weight increased. | 2009-01-08 |
20090012912 | Method and System For Simulating Implied Volatility Surface For Basket Option Pricing - A method and system for simulating changes in volatility for a price of a particular option on an underlying financial instrument is disclosed. A volatility surface model having at least one surface parameter is provided along with a set of volatilities for a plurality of options on the underlying financial instrument. The set of volatilities is analyzed to determine an initial value for each surface parameter which, when used in the surface model, defines a surface approximating the set of volatilities. The values of the surface parameters are then evolved using an appropriate evolution function. A volatility value for a particular option is extracted from the volatility surface defined by the evolved surface parameter values. The extracted volatility value can then be used in an option pricing model to provide a price of the particular option. The volatility of a basket options valued relative to the performance of multiple components can be simulated by determining the value of surface parameters for options on the component securities and then combining the component surface parameters to determine surface parameters for a volatility surface of the basket. | 2009-01-08 |