10th week of 2009 patent applcation highlights part 73 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20090063206 | System and methods for selecting event tickets - A system is provided that enables customers to search for event tickets for purchase. A computer interacts with the user to allow the user to specify criteria for event tickets the user wishes to purchase. The system presents relevant event ticket results, and provides filters for the user to further refine those search results. The user selects an event, and then selects tickets for that event. Ticket availability is shown, with seat locations indicated directly on an interactive venue map. For purchase, the user is directed to the selling ticket provider. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063207 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EXCHANGING EVENT TICKETS - A method of exchanging event tickets may comprise determining a monetary value of at least one event ticket offered for redemption by a ticket holder, assigning a number of points equivalent to the monetary value of the at least one event ticket, and offering the number of points to the ticket holder in exchange for the at least one event ticket. A system is also provided for exchanging event tickets. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063208 | Seat Routine Processes - The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a process that includes selecting accommodations during a travel reservation is described. The method includes receiving, at a software application that manages travel reservations, input that customizes configurable attributes of software travel objects representing accommodations used in transportation of passengers. The method also includes receiving criteria from a customer specifying preferences that affect a passenger's experience during travel, ranking the received criteria so that one or more criterion are preferred, selecting one or more of the accommodations using an optimization function to compare the ranked criteria to the customized configurable attributes, and outputting the selected one or more accommodations for use by the customer in selecting a first accommodation for the passenger. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063209 | Six sigma enabled business intelligence system - A method of presenting an analysis of enterprise wide business data. In response to a user request to a web site operable to access enterprise wide business data and to provide statistical analysis, a six sigma enabled BIS transfers an electronic document to the user. The electronic document allows the user to select dimensions to specify which data to analyze for a given performance measure. Then, in response to a request from the user for a statistical analysis, the six sigma enabled BIS performs a statistical analysis of the performance measure and transfers an electronic copy of the statistical analysis to the user. In one embodiment the document comprises a histogram. The histogram has an overlay indicator of the statistical mean, as well as a target limit. In this fashion, the user may view the variance in the data, and see how much data are outside the target range. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063210 | ORGANIZATIONAL DESIGN APPROACH TO TRANSITION COST ASSESSMENT FOR BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION - A method for facilitating in assessing transitional costs in business transformations using a computer-aided organizational design system is provided. The method comprises creating a first organization design model representative of the current organizational design state of an organization using a graphical tool. The method further comprises changing the first organization design model into a second organization design model representative of the organizational design state of the organization after the business transformation. The method further comprises generating a report identifying the transition cost factors and the transition cost of moving from the first organization design model to the second organization design model, wherein the transition cost is determined based on predetermined calculation algorithms or heuristics. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063211 | Finding a Shortest Waste Credit Path for a Manufacturing Process - In an embodiment, a directed graph is created that includes nodes and directed edges that connect the nodes. The nodes represent components and processes, and the directed edges represent a time order of the components and processes in manufacturing processes. Amounts of waste credits for tail nodes in the directed graph are calculated and stored as weights of entering directed edges of the respective tail nodes. The waste credits represent tradable permits for the components and processes to emit waste as part of the manufacturing processes. A shortest path from a begin node to a final node is found, where the shortest path has a lowest sum of its weights, as compared to the sum of the weights for all other paths that exist in the directed graph from the begin node to the final node. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063212 | BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION - Business processes are transformed into a solution having a portal for a service-oriented architecture. A plan for the transformation is created, including a portal implementation roadmap. A services providing company deploys the solution to a client company. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063213 | GENERALIZED PARAMETRIC OPTIMIZATION ARCHITECTURE AND FRAMEWORK - A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer program product for providing an optimization solution comprising an open, generalized and reusable parametric optimization framework and architecture which enables rapid deployment of optimization solutions to any tool or program that builds on an integrated development environment platform. In the optimization framework, a core optimization plugin is provided which comprises an internal optimization model and a set of optimization tools. The optimization framework also comprises pluggable and customizable component providers and descriptors external to the core optimization plugin. The core optimization plugin receives configuration information from a user. The information enables the core optimization plugin to interact with a user data model in a plurality of different user data models. The information also enables the core optimization plugin to interact with providers selected from the plurality of providers and descriptors based on a format of the user data model. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063214 | Advertisement Profiling and Selection - In one embodiment, advertisement consumption data is determined for a viewer. An advertisement is selected from a server based on the determined advertisement consumption data, and the advertisement identification is inserted into a transport stream. A hierarchical categorization of advertisements is used to provide granularity to the advertisement consumption data. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063215 | Location Determination by Current Day Confirmation - Embodiments of the invention include a system and process that manages scheduling and processing of orders to provide improved delivery schedules. The system attempts to schedule package deliveries in time to meet a requested delivery target time and date. This scheduling attempts to schedule a shipping time for the current day to meet next day or nearer term deadlines. The scheduling system examines schedules and shipping locations that are not optimal for minimizing costs, but provide more timely delivery including examining locations other that a facing location for shipment | 2009-03-05 |
20090063216 | On-Line Dynamic Certification - A method for ensuring compliance with an investment policy is described. Information regarding past or contemplated future trades is collected. Financial and/or fiduciary positions are then automatically approved, automatically denied, or submitted for approval or denial by a supervisory user. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063217 | MULTI-STAGED AND MULTI-VIEWPOINT CHOREOGRAPHY MODELING - A choreography manager may be configured to manage a choreography model governing interactions between at least two entities. The choreography manager may include a first choreography modeler configured to provide a first view of the choreography model, the first view including first constructs that are associated with a first sequence degree characterizing a degree to which a sequence of the interactions between the entities is provided. The choreography manager may include a second choreography modeler configured to provide a second view of the choreography model, the second view including second constructs that are associated with a second sequence degree characterizing the degree to which the sequence of the interactions between the entities is provided. The choreography manager may include a choreography mapper configured to relate the first view to the second view, and configured to relate the first constructs to the second constructs. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063218 | Local Event Infrastructure - A local event infrastructure and method for detecting events of a business application. An event manager is configured to detect one or more events of the business application based on a number of predetermined conditions. An event filter is configured to filter the one or more events detected by the event manager according to a relevance to an operation of a business application system that contains the business application. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063219 | REVENUE MONITORING METHOD AND SYSTEM, IN PARTICULAR FOR AIRLINE COMPANIES - The invention relates to a method for building a revenue database of an airline company comprising revenue information for all electronic tickets involving the airline, wherein said method includes the steps of:
| 2009-03-05 |
20090063220 | AGREEMENT METHOD AND SYSTEM TO CONSENT TO A PRORATED VALUE OF COUPON OF AN INTERLINE E-TICKET - An enhanced agreement method and system to consent to a prorated value of a coupon of an E-ticket corresponding to a multi-segment transport involving at least two carriers for the transportation. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063221 | System, method and computer program product for generating key performance indicators in a business process monitor - A system, method and computer program product to enable graphical modeling of business processes. KPIs may be defined as part of the design procedure of forming the process. Once defined, the definitions of the KPIs may be included in deployable units and provided to a runtime environment. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063222 | System for managing loading operations of haul vehicles - A loading system for use with a haul vehicle and a loading machine configured to load material onto the haul vehicle is disclosed. The loading system has an identification tag located on the haul vehicle, an identification tag reader configured to recognize the identification tag, and a transmitter configured to deliver a first signal including information related to the identification tag. The loading system also has a transceiver configured to receive the first signal and deliver a second signal including loading information to the loading machine to initiate loading of the haul vehicle. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063223 | Systems and methods for assessing the level of conformance of a business process - A system for assessing a level of conformance of a business process with one more activities is disclosed. The disclosed system includes a memory to store program code and a process to assess the level of conformance. The assessment process includes storing a process standard, a business process classification, and a conformance scoring criterion, and determining a first conformance score for a first activity in the business process based on the conformance scoring criterion and the process standard. The assessment process further includes the steps of determining a second conformance score for a group of activities including the first activity based on one or more conformance scores including the first conformance score, determining a third conformance score based on the second conformance score, and assessing the level of conformance of the business process based on the third conformance score. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063224 | Integrated and platform independent approach to modeling of business rules using business and application domain ontologies - A method, system, and computer program product for integrated and platform independent modeling of business rules, including ***. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063225 | Tool for automated transformation of a business process definition into a web application package - A method and apparatus for automatically transforming a business process definition into a web application package. The method may include receiving a definition of a business process, and transforming the definition of the business process into a web application package, where the transformation is performed automatically without requiring a user to specify deployment descriptors for executing the business process as a web application. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063226 | Systems and methods for improving haul route management - A method for managing haul routes in work environments comprises receiving performance criteria associated with a haul route and establishing a target total effective grade for at least one machine associated with the haul route based on the performance criteria. The method also includes collecting performance data associated with the at least one machine. A drive axle torque of the at least one machine is determined and an actual total effective grade associated with the at least one machine is estimated. The at least one machine is identified as an underperforming machine if the actual total effective grade for the at least one machine exceeds the target total effective grade. An average total effective grade for the at least one machine is determined as a function of the actual total effective grade. A haul route deficiency is identified if the average total effective grade exceeds a threshold level. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063227 | System and Method for Providing Advertisements in Connection with Tags of User-Created Content - There is provided a system for providing advertisements in connection with tags of user-created content. The system includes: a request receiving unit configured to receive a request for user-created content from a client terminal, wherein the user-created content includes non-text information; a content reading unit configured to read the user-created content according to the received request; a tag retrieval unit configured to retrieve tags of the read user-created content; an advertisement searching unit configured to search advertisements connected to the retrieved tags; and a transmission unit configured to transmit the read user-created content and the searched advertisements to the client terminal. When using the above system, it is possible to provide advertisements having higher relevancy with the content. Further, it is possible to provide advertisements having relevancy with even the content that includes the non-text information. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063228 | Method and apparatus for providing a virtual electric utility - A method and apparatus for virtually generating electricity for use by electric utilities provide a virtual electric utility. In one embodiment, a non-power generating electric utility enters into a supply agreement to acquire electric power from an electric power generating entity. During a term of the agreement, the non-power generating utility intentionally refrains from receiving at least some of the electric power to which it is entitled under the agreement to produce deferred electric power. The non-power generating utility offers to supply the deferred electric power to third party, such as an electric power supplier or an electric power consumer. The power deferment is preferably achieved through issuance of power control commands to a load management system. In another embodiment, an independent third party controls the load management system to function as an alternative energy supplier by virtually supplying deferred electric power back to a power grid. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063229 | ADVERTISER AD REVIEW - A review for a content publisher is received, the content publisher publishing content to which advertisements are targeted over a distribution network. An aggregated approval score for the content publisher is generated based on the received review and other reviews for the content publisher. The aggregated approval score is provide to an advertiser. An indication to accept or reject the targeting of the advertisements to the publisher content is received, the indication being received after providing the aggregated approval score to the advertiser. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063230 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DATA CONTEXT SERVICE - The invention relates to a method of performing an oilfield operation. The method steps include extracting context information from a host application associated with an oilfield project, sorting the context information into a plurality of dimensions of relevance, generating at least one search profile for each of the plurality of dimensions of relevance, requesting a plurality of searches using the at least one search profile, receiving one or more oilfield data items resulting from the plurality of searches, and selectively adjusting the oilfield operation based on one or more oilfield data items. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063231 | Recommending Waste Reductions and Credit Purchases for Business Units - In an embodiment, revenue loss functions associated with business units are determined and waste credit constraints associated with the business units are received. A recommended waste credit purchase amount and recommended waste credit reduction amounts associated with the business units are calculated by minimizing a sum of the revenue loss functions and a purchase function, subject to the waste credit constraints, a purchase constraint, and a reduction goal constraint. In various embodiments, the recommended waste credit purchase amount and the recommended waste credit reduction amounts are presented, the amount of waste credits specified by the recommended waste credit purchase amount are purchased, and the business units reduce their waste emissions by their respective recommended waste credit reduction amounts. In an embodiment, the minimization is perfumed via a quadratic programming algorithm. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063232 | REAL ESTATE LEAD INCUBATION SYSTEM - A system for lead incubation is used to alert an agent and to customize contacts with leads generated by an internet form, return mail form, voicemail, or telephone inquiry. For example, a lead may be interested in purchasing real estate, which requires a long lead incubation period. The system dynamically and recursively classifies the lead according to actions taken by the lead, requests made by the lead, and interactions between the lead and the system and/or agent. Based on heuristic patterns and triggers, the system provides suggestions to the agent for marketing campaigns for a lead or a class of leads, and alerts the agent when action or contact between the agent and the lead is recommended. The system is customizable by lead, by agent performance and/or by class of lead. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063233 | Goods Receipt Preparation - Methods and systems for receiving shipping documents, correlating information in the shipping documents with purchase-order information in a database to produce expected delivery manifests, then directing a transport to a processing facility to unload items which are verified against the delivery manifest. Software to support these systems is also described and claimed. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063234 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CAPACITY MANAGEMENT AND INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - The present system provides an automated and computer driven incident management system. The system can provide communication paths between responders or scan a network to determine when certain conditional tasks have been performed. The system can note when expected responders are not active and page backup responders or re-assign tasks to appropriate personnel to ensure adequate response to an incident. Updates to procedures can be done from a central location. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063235 | CONTROL SYSTEM FOR ENTERPRISE PRODUCTION BASED ON INVENTORY DATA - This invention relates to a control system for enterprise production based on inventory data. Said system is comprised of a central processing system and a or more data collection terminal to exchange data with the central processing system; the said data collection terminal collects the incoming/discharging data of all goods delivered to the said central processing system, which is used to make statistics, analysis and storage; the said central processing system is set up with a real-time inventory database, an optimum analysis database, a data statistics unit, an optimum analysis unit, a data store and output unit, a manual input device and a central control unit. This system could not only make a collection and statistics of warehouse data, but also optimize and control the inventory method, storage, and inventory time of goods according to the enterprise's operation status, and give an alarm when optimum problem occurs. This system is favorable to enhance the enterprise's overall operation and management level. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063236 | UNIDIRECTIONALLY PROTECTED, FULLY AUTOMATED ASSET ALLOCATION AND ASSET MONITORING APPARATUSES, AND A CORRESPONDING METHOD - A computer-aided asset allocation and asset monitoring apparatus comprising a unidirectional, data-protected control signal apparatus, in which data from locally arranged, protected databases can be transferred via a network to the asset allocation and asset monitoring apparatus and can be evaluated and in which electronic control signals and/or control data can be transmitted to at least one authorized receiver station. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063237 | Process for estimating operational availability of a system - The invention is a process for determining the operational availability of a system and includes the following steps: 1) selecting values for flight hours per year, repair concurrency, annual preventative maintenance time and non mission capable-supply rate; 2) calculating the effects of usage rate, repair concurrency, and not mission capable-supply; and 3) calculating the operational availability of the aircraft based on the calculation of the effects of usage rate, repair concurrency, and not mission capable-supply. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063238 | Executed Workload - Methods and apparatuses enable generation of an executed workload electronic record. The executed workload record indicates data related to one or more performance metrics by which performance of a work task is evaluated. One such performance metric is an expected time for completion of the task. Performance of the task can be monitored to determine an actual completion time for the task to compare against an expected completion time. The executed workload record can be used for evaluation of workers. Executed workload records provide centralized, aggregatable information for evaluation purposes. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063239 | Method and Apparatus for Providing an Electronic Calendar with an Indication of Timeslot Availability Dependent on the Importance of a Requester - An electronic calendar scheduling system is disclosed in which a participant schedules an event in a particular timeslot. In one embodiment, the participant may associate a timeslot importance level with the particular timeslot. When a requester later sends the participant a request to schedule another event during the already scheduled particular timeslot, the system informs the requester that the particular timeslot is either available or unavailable depending on the importance of the requester in a predetermined organization hierarchy. In one embodiment, if the requester importance level is greater than the timeslot importance level, then the system informs the requester that the already scheduled timeslot is available. Otherwise, the system informs the requester that the already scheduled timeslot is unavailable. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063240 | ROUTING TRANSACTIONS IN A MULTIPLE JOB ENVIRONMENT USING AN APPROVAL FRAMEWORK - Approval routing and processing is provided in a multiple job environment by providing the ability to pass job information through a universal class, along with information for the employee submitting a transaction for a approval, to an Approval Framework. An engine of the Approval Framework determines whether a routing is necessary, and a user list object of the Approval Framework contains the logic necessary to determine the appropriate person to which to route the transaction, using the employee and job information for the transaction. The Approval Framework also writes the job and employee information to a database such that the logic can be reconstructed outside transaction processing or for subsequent processing, such as to determine a status or path of the approval process or to determine a subsequent person or department to approve the transaction. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063241 | Demand Driven Scheduling - Scheduling of service calls for field service workers may be optimized based, at least in part, upon market demand for field service visits, in accordance with various embodiments of the invention. During relatively higher demand periods, schedules for field service workers may be optimized to be relatively compact such that relatively more appointments are placed on a given schedule. During relatively lower demand periods, schedules may be optimized such that relatively more time will be provided between appointments to allow for more up-selling opportunities during service visits. Such scheduling optimizations are referred to herein as demand driven scheduling because how a field service worker's schedule is optimized is determined based, at least in part, on market demand for service calls in a particular geographic region during a given period of time. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063242 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING AUTOMATIC TASK ASSIGNMENT AND NOTIFICATION - A system and method of managing and prioritizing tasks amongst resources and, more particularly, to a system and method for providing automatic task assignment and notification amongst globally dispersed human resources. The system includes a change of management application configured to store a list of tasks and a task notifier configured to retrieve a list of geographically-dispersed resources and notify selected ones of the geographically-dispersed resources of a priority of completion of one or more tasks retrieved from the change of management application. The system further includes a message application configured to be polled by the task notifier to determine which of the geographically dispersed resources is at least one of online and currently working. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063243 | PRIVATIZED ASSET FIRE PROTECTION - A method for providing external fire protection is herein disclosed, including providing a service contract for external fire protection, providing access to a dedicated firefighting unit, wherein the dedicated firefighting unit will respond to protect an associated designated piece of real estate, wherein an associated customer provides payment for the service contract, and wherein the firefighting unit responds to notification of an associated external fire at or near the piece of real estate. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063244 | TRIANGULATION METHODOLOGIES - A method for selecting a moderator from a group of moderators, thus defining a selected moderator. An IT-related issue to be addressed is defined. At least one expert is selected from a group of experts, thus defining at least one selected expert. At least one three-way discussion is scheduled between a client, the selected moderator, and the at least one selected expert. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063245 | Scheduling and budgeting application - Generating budgeting information for a project is disclosed. An indication of a project phase and a time period associated with the project phase are received. Financial data associated with the project phase is received. Budgeting information is automatically generated based at least in part on the time period and the financial data. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063246 | Apparatus and Method for Online Advice Customer Relationship Management - An apparatus and method for online advice customer relationship management are described. The method includes the determination of a service provider ID code from a requesting service provider. Once a service provider ID code is determined, a list of service seekers that have received advice regarding a field of service from a service provider corresponding to the service provider ID code is generated. Once generated, the listing of service seekers is displayed via a customer management screen. As such, system administrators, as well as the service providers themselves, may view listings of service seekers in order to provide relationship management of the service seekers, such as for example, providing incentives to service seekers for follow-up advice, as well as blocking undesired service seekers from further contact with the service provider. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063247 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COLLECTING AND CLASSIFYING OPINIONS ON PRODUCTS - Methods, systems, and apparatuses for generating and providing review information for products are described. Product reviews for a product are collected from multiple websites over the Internet. The product reviews may be collected in any manner, such as by crawling the Internet to collect product review information for the product. Review information may be collected for multiple versions/releases of the product. Websites, RSS feeds, consumer reports, and other Internet sources may be parsed for product reviews for the product. Product reviews and product review ratings received from multiple websites may be weighted and normalized into common form. Product reviews may be weighted based on a reputation of the reviewers who submitted them. Product reviews may also be filtered based on time of submission. One or more summary ratings for the product are generated based on the collected product reviews. The summary ratings are displayed. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063248 | EDUCATION SYSTEM TO IMPROVE ONLINE REPUTATION - A method and a system for improving online reputation through education are provided. Example embodiments may include analyzing information related to a first entity associated with a transaction to derive present reputation data for the first entity and automatically taking action to educate the first entity in order to improve future reputation data. According to example embodiments, the system may include an analysis module, one or more database, an advice module, an action module and a user interface. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063249 | Adaptive Ad Server - A system is disclosed for distributing an ad to a user. The system may include and advertisement database for maintaining a plurality of advertisements, and a user profile database for maintaining a plurality of user profiles. The system may also include an advertisement server coupled with the advertisement database and the user profile database, the advertisement server operable to: receive a first set of information indicative of a user profile; receive a second set of information indicative of an ad property; receive a third set of information indicative of a plurality of advertisements; determine, based on the user profile, a user group for the user, the user group having an associated probability of an action in relation to an advertisement; select, based on the determined user group and the ad property, an advertisement from the plurality of advertisements for placement in the ad property; and deliver the selected advertisement at the ad property to the user. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063250 | Controlled Targeted Experimentation - A method of advertising selects an attribute value for a test. The attribute value is for representing a relationship between a user activity and one or more of a user segment, a publisher group, and an ad category. The method optionally constructs a test case that includes the attribute value and one or more of: the user segment, the publisher group, and the ad category. The method selectively places the test case in an inventory location of the publisher group, presents the test case to the user segment, and monitors the status of the attribute value based on user activity. The method of some embodiments tracks a confidence metric for measuring the reliability of the attribute value. If, for instance, the confidence metric is below a predetermined threshold, then the method performs the test. Alternatively, or in conjunction with the foregoing, the method applies a set of rules for determining the importance of the test. If the importance of the test according to the set of rules is low, then the method advantageously forgoes the test. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063251 | System And Method For Simultaneous Price Optimization And Asset Allocation To Maximize Manufacturing Profits - Systems and methods in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention provide for a system and method for simultaneous price optimization and asset allocation to maximize manufacturing profits. In one embodiment, a set of price points for the item and a set of expected demand values for each price point are determined. A supply-side constraint which models inventory, replenishment, and capacities associated with replenishment and a joining constraint, which requires that the set of expected demand values be equal to a planned supply of the item, are determined. A demand-side constraint is determined. Further, an objective function to maximize profits is determined, based on the set of price points, the set of expected demand values, and subject to the supply-side, joining, and demand-side constraints. Based on the objective function, an optimal price profile for the item is provided. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063252 | Polling in a geo-spatial environment - A method, apparatus and system of polling in a geo-spatial environment are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes generating a community network of user profiles, each user profile associated with a specific geographic location, determining a geographic region associated with a neighborhood, determining a first group of user profiles, the specific geographic location of each user profile associated with the geographic region, generating a first play view to include a three-dimensional map view embodied by the community network and the first group of the user profiles represented at locations in the three-dimensional map view associated with the specific geographic location of each user profile, generating a poll associated with the first group of user profiles and receiving poll results associated with the poll via a communication mode. The method may also include automatically tabulating the poll results and publishing, via the communication mode, the poll results. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063253 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTERACTIVE MARKETING USING NETWORKED DEVICES - An interactive marketing technique may include distributing an electronic marketing item to electronic devices. The users of the electronic devices may share the marketing item with other electronic devices to progressively attain credit that leads to an ability to use the marketing item. Each time an electronic device shares the marketing item, location information is collected to determine where sharing of the marketing item is active. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063254 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO IDENTIFY INFLUENCERS - A method and apparatus for identifying influencers are disclosed. For example, the method obtains a list of customers, and determines a social network for each of the customers. The method selects one or more attributes to be used for predicting a measure of influence for each of the customers, and determines one or more influencers in the social network by using the one or more attributes. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063255 | CONSUMER EXPERIENCE ASSESSMENT SYSTEM - A system assesses consumer experience by evaluating neuro-response measurements for a consumer exposed to products, services, offerings, and stimulus. Examples of neuro-response measurements include Electroencephalography (EEG), Galvanic Skin Response (GSR), Electrocardiograms (EKG), Electrooculography (EOG), eye tracking, and facial emotion encoding measurements. Components of a consumer experience are analyzed to assess neuro-response measurements specific to each component. In many instances, neuro-response data is combined with other data and analyzed to determine total consumer experience. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063256 | CONSUMER EXPERIENCE PORTRAYAL EFFECTIVENESS ASSESSMENT SYSTEM - A system assesses consumer experience portrayal effectiveness by evaluating neuro-response measurements for a consumer directly experiencing stimulus and/or indirectly experiencing stimulus through observation of another. Neuro-response measurements are collected using multiple modalities to evaluate personal and observed experiences of products, services, offerings, and stimulus. Examples of neuro-response measurements include Electroencephalography (EEG), Galvanic Skin Response (GSR), Electrocardiograms (EKG), Electrooculography (EOG), eye tracking, and facial emotion encoding measurements. In many instances, neuro-response data is combined with other data and analyzed to assess total consumer experience portrayal effectiveness. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063257 | AUTOMATED PEAK DEMAND CONTROLLER - A system and method for managing electrical energy output by a power utility facility are disclosed. The system comprises a computing device associated with a power utility facility that is connected to a computing device operating at a customer facility. The power meters linked to the computing devices provide readings of energy consumption by the customer facility and energy output by the utility. The computing device associated with the utility is configured to control electrical energy output by the power utility facility by predicting a peak energy demand and by requesting the computing device associated with the customer facility to reduce energy consumption when the predicted peak energy demand by the customer facility exceeds a predetermined peak energy consumption setpoint. If the peak energy demand still exceeds the setpoint after the customer reduced its energy consumption, the utility dynamically adjusts the setpoint to match the demand. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063258 | Engineered Labor Standards ("ELS") Management - An Engineered Labor Standards (“ELS”) scheduling system prepares preliminary estimates of task durations based on a subset of the conditions affecting task duration, then later prepares adjusted estimates when more information about the conditions becomes available. The actual time a resource spends performing the task is measured, and the estimates and measurements are stored in a database. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063259 | INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR BIOLOGICAL AND LIFE SCIENCES RESEARCH - An online life science research environment and virtual community with a focus on design and analysis of biological experiments includes a life sciences laboratory system employing at least one networked computer system that defines a virtual research environment. Users access the system through a portal associated with the networked computer system(s). The virtual research environment has a data coupling mechanism by which the user designates a set of user-specified data for bioinformatics processing. A processor(s) associated with the networked computer system(s) performs bioinformatics services upon the user-specified data. In one embodiment, the data coupling mechanism enables transfer of the user-specified data to a memory space that is mediated or accessed by the processor performing the bioinformatics processing. Users may thus exploit bioinformatics processing resources that are not deployed on users' local computer environments, and to store and organize information relating to life sciences research in a secure, online workspace. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063260 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR A TIERED INCENTIVE PROGRAM - An embodiment relates generally to a method of offering incentives. The method includes receiving a registration event of a newly registered user and designating a probationary status for the newly registered user. The method also includes accumulating probationary points for a probationary sum based on at least one answer posted by the newly registered user in a forum and elevating the newly registered user to a status of a rated user in response to the probationary sum exceeding a predetermined threshold. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063261 | CONSUMER DATABASE LOYALTY PROGRAM FOR A MONEY TRANSFER SYSTEM - A money transfer system provided in connection with a loyalty program where the loyalty program members are assigned a loyalty identifier. The system includes point of entry ports to communicate transaction information with points of entry; a promotion database, a customer database, a pricing database, an analytics port to communicate marketing information with a marketing analytics system and a transaction processing system. The transaction processing system updates the promotion database as a function of the marketing information, receives money transfer transaction requests including loyalty identifiers, determines whether the requested transactions are entitled to loyalty program promotions, prices the transactions as a function of base transaction pricing and promotions pricing of any promotions to which the transaction is entitled, provides the transaction pricing information, updates the customer database as a function of transaction information and periodically provides transaction information to the analytics port. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063262 | BATCHING AD-SELECTION REQUESTS FOR CONCURRENT COMMUNICATION - Methods, systems, and computer-storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, perform methods in accordance with embodiments hereof, for batching requests into calls. Initially, an indication to present a web page is sent from an input device that triggers a web browser to download and execute source code underlying the requested web page. The executed source code instructs the web browser to send one or more ad-selection requests to an ad-delivering engine. The web browser batches the ad-selection selection requests into a retrieval call such that the ad-selection requests are communicated concurrently. The ad-delivering engine parses the retrieval request, extracts parameters from the parsed ad-selection requests, distributes the parameters to back-end servers, and batches location indicators of advertisements that correspond to the parameters into a response call. The web browser receives and parses the response call, and renders ad content based on the location indicators of advertisements. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063263 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF SELECTING ADVERTISING CONTENT - Systems and methods of selecting advertising content are provided. A method of selecting advertising content includes analyzing first data associated with a first display element of the plurality of independent display elements. The plurality of independent display elements are associated with a representation of a three-dimensional object. The method also includes analyzing second data associated with a second display element of the plurality of independent display elements. The method further includes selecting, based at least partially on the first data and the second data, first advertisement content for display via an advertisement window separate from the first display element and the second display element. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063264 | METHOD FOR TRANSMITTING ONLINE ADVERTISEMENTS TO USERS - A method for transmitting online advertisements | 2009-03-05 |
20090063265 | INFORMATION NETWORK FOR TEXT ADS - In an information network for text ads, a method includes receiving a subscriber web page from a text ad subscriber and choosing a plurality of internet websites to display hyperlinks thereof on the subscriber webpage by: analyzing the subscriber webpage with a keyword extractor, wherein the keyword extractor parses and tokenizes the text on the subscriber web page to determine a top at least two keywords of those analyzed based on a popularity and a token frequency of the keywords; querying a search engine and a social bookmarks server with the at least two keywords to provide resultant websites with a ranking score; selecting a top predetermined number of websites from a union of website results from the search engine and social bookmark queries based on their respective ranking scores; randomly choosing the plurality of internet websites from among the top predetermined number of websites; and displaying hyperlinks to the plurality of chosen internet websites on the subscriber webpage. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063266 | PERFORMING OF MARKETING ACTIONS WHILE PRESERVING CONFIDENTIALITY - A system provides targeted advertising to customers of an application while preserving the confidentiality of the customers' application information. A marketing system provides a marketing engine that executes on a computer system of the customer of an application and provides targeted marketing to that customer. Since the marketing engine executes on the customer's own computer system, it may have access to the customer's application information. The marketing engine can analyze the application information and provide marketing information that is targeted to the customer without compromising the confidentiality of the customer's application information. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063267 | MOBILE INTELLIGENCE TASKS - One or more intelligence tasks can be selected by a user on a mobile device. Once the user completes all or portions of an intelligence task, the user's performance of the intelligence task is validated by comparing the user's performance with the performance of the same intelligence task by other users. If the user's performance is validated, the user is provided with an award. In another aspect, the system is directed to collecting information regarding capabilities of various mobile devices through the performance of intelligence tasks. Intelligence tasks that prompt a user to identify or verify capabilities of a mobile device are provided to the user. Based on the validated performance of these intelligence tasks, information regarding the capabilities of various types of mobile devices is obtained. The obtained capability information is utilized to enable rendering of content on one or more mobile devices. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063268 | Targeting Using Historical Data - A method of advertising receives a data log that includes the activities of users. The users have unique identifiers and associated profiles that form a user base. The method segments the user base into user segments by types of users. Hence, a first user segment is formed. The users within the first user segment have a profile similarity. The method groups publisher inventory, and forms a first publisher group. The publishers provide content to the users. The method categorizes advertisements and thereby generates a first ad category. The advertisements relate to a marketer, which has various marketer data. The method targets a first advertisement within the first ad category based on at least one of the first ad category, the publisher grouping, and the user segments. A system for ad targeting includes a user module, a publisher module, a marketer and/or advertisement module, and a matching engine. The user module is for receiving a plurality of users and segmenting the users into user segments including a first user segment. The publisher module is for receiving several publishers' inventory and grouping the publishers' inventory into publisher groups that include a first publisher group that has a first inventory location for the presentation of advertising. The marketer-ad module is for receiving advertisements and categorizing the advertisements into ad categories that include a first ad category. The matching engine is for matching the first publisher group and/or the first user segment to the first ad category. The matching engine is also for ranking ads and placing within the first inventory location a first advertisement from the first ad category. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063269 | System and Method for Freemium Based Marketing - A method of freemium based marketing includes providing a utility consumer with an offer for a freemium requiring the consumer to respond to the offer. When the consumer responds to the offer, consumer data is collected and a bundle of additional consumer products are selected based on the consumer data. The bundle of additional products may include home service products. The method then offers the consumer an opportunity to purchase products from the selected bundle. The method then provides the user with the freemium. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063270 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTERACTIVE MARKETING USING NETWORKED DEVICES - An interactive marketing technique may include distributing a marketing item to electronic devices. The users of the electronic devices may share the marketing item with other electronic devices to progressively attain credit that leads to an ability to use the marketing item. Also, sharing of the marketing item may progressively display larger portions of an image content component of the marketing item on a display of the electronic device. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063271 | PET OF THE MONTH EXCLUSIVE LIMITED TIME REWARDS - A unique code is used to register a virtual pet or other item using a code that is associated with the pet, and which, when entered, allows viewing and interacting with a virtual representation of the actual item on the website. If the code is entered during a specific time period, it allows obtaining at least one additional item, for example an exclusive item that cannot be obtained in any other way. The specific time period can be extended, e.g., using supplemental codes. The codes may specify fixed or variable time periods, and may be generic extension codes and extend other things other than this period. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063272 | Method, system and computer-readable media for acquiring, providing and responding to data, requests and commands related to real property rental - A method, system and computer-readable media for generating a renter account associated with an individual person. In a first version, an information technology system enables (a.) accepting rental payment performance information of the person; (b.) storing the rental payment performance information in a database record of the information technology system; (c.) associating a database record with the rental account; and (d.) receiving permission from the individual to release the rental payment performance information to at least one landlord. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063273 | PAY-FOR-PERFORMANCE JOB ADVERTISING - A method includes electronically posting an advertisement of a job opening with an employing entity, receiving a notification that an applicant has applied to fill the advertised job opening, and after receiving the notification, charging the employing entity a predetermined fee. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063274 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TARGETED ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONS USING TABLETOP DISPLAY DEVICES - A system comprises multiple display devices that deliver digital advertising and promotional content directly to the tabletop of restaurant or bar patrons, along with a support server that may be responsible for recharging batteries and/or replicating data files and managing communications. The support server may be linked by a conventional computer network or telephone data link to a content replication server that coordinates and directs placement of ads and other content on the display devices. The promotional, advertising, or other data may be made available to the distribution network from a network of one or more web application servers that may implement a variety of methods or processes that not only provide for direct customer management and control of that data, but also contain a database of information to help target, design, manage, measure and/or track the performance of advertisements and promotions based on a variety of criteria. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063275 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO FACILITATE SETUP OF A PROXY WEB STORE BY AN ITEMIZED SELECTION APPROACH - A method and system for setting up and operating a facilitator Website, the facilitator Website allowing each of a plurality of stores to create a corresponding proxy Web store presence. The method includes launching the facilitator Website by supporting it in a computer server so that it can be accessed by consumers for the purpose of placing orders, setting up a database for a template of products and services to be offered by the each of the plurality of stores and logging onto the facilitator Website by each of the plurality of stores. The method also includes identifying and selecting items from the template of products and services to be offered, placing an order by a consumer, managing by the facilitator Website all of the orders that will be placed to the facilitator Website and communicating by the facilitator Website with the plurality of stores for handling the orders. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063276 | Deferred Performance Based Advertising and reward Payment Process - A marketplace service platform (“service provider”) that allows for deferred payment of advertising or promotional fees by an offerer (“offerer”) until after the sale, lease, or execution of the product or service whereby the service provider then shares a predetermined portion of the payment with the customer, lessee, or service recipient. The returned portion of the fee to the customer may be deemed as a “reward” for having used the service provider to locate and execute a transaction. The offerer indicates the amount of the reward the service provider must offer to the customer prior to any interaction between the offerer and customer. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063277 | ASSOCIATING INFORMATION WITH A PORTION OF MEDIA CONTENT - A media fingerprint is derived from a portion of media content. Information is associated with the media content portion based on the derived media fingerprint. Upon linking to the associated information, the associated content is presented with the media content portion. The media fingerprint includes a unique representation of the media content portion that is derived from a characteristic component of the media content portion. The media content may comprise an original instance of content or a derivative instance of the original content. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063278 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ADJUSTING QUALITY INDEX AND PROVIDING ADVERTISEMENT USING ADJUSTED QUALITY INDEX - Disclosed is a method and system for adjusting a quality index and providing an advertisement using the adjusted quality index. The method includes adjusting a quality index based on a maximum quality index and minimum quality index among quality indexes of advertisements included in an advertisement region, and providing an advertisement according to the advertisement region based on the adjusted quality index. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063279 | Contextual Advertising For Video and Audio Media - A system and method for serving contextually relevant advertisements is provided, including monitoring a media stream to indentify an audio or video asset, extracting and storing corresponding text from the asset, retrieving stored text when the asset is selected by a user, analyzing the text and identifying relevant advertisements that are then displayed to a user as a clickable text next to the playing video or audio asset. In further embodiments, the method may include the steps of retrieving a variable length portion of the text corresponding to the portion of the asset being played by the user, analyzing the portion of the text to identify advertisements relevant to the corresponding portion of the asset, displaying the advertisements during the playback of the portion of the asset, and then repeating the steps until the playback of the whole asset is completed. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063280 | Delivering Merged Advertising and Content for Mobile Devices - A request to initiate delivery of content via a messaging services protocol to a mobile phone can be received. Thereafter, content and one or more advertisements associated with the request can be obtained. The content and the one or more advertisements can optionally be converted into a baseline format. The content and the one or more advertisements can be integrated to generate an integrated media file, the integrated media file substantially conforming to content delivery specifications for the mobile phone. Thereafter, delivery of a packet data unit encapsulating the integrated media file to the mobile phone via the messaging services protocol can be initiated. In some variations, the integrated media file can be modified to make it actionable. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063281 | In-call enterprise advertisement - A call is received by an entity from a caller. The entity plays an initial greeting to the caller and provides a list of options to the caller. The entity receives a caller selection from the list of options and offers the caller an opportunity to opt-out of listening to advertisements while waiting for a representative. If the caller does not opt-out of listening to advertisements, an advertisement is selected for the caller from among multiple advertisements. The advertisement is selected based on the caller's selection, bid prices associated with the multiple advertisements, and information known about the caller from previous calls. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063282 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TOY ADOPTION AND MARKETING - A computer system provides a virtual world. The computer system includes a server subsystem serving virtual world data, via a communication network, and receives data and/or commands. A registration subsystem, coupled to the server subsystem, verifies information from a toy, registers the toy, and determines a quantity of toys registered by a user who is registering the toy. The verifying includes determining the validity of the information. A virtual world providing subsystem, coupled to the server subsystem, provides the virtual world data, which produces data that presents the virtual world. The virtual world data includes a virtual toy representing the toy and a reward provided to the user for registering the toy. The reward is based on the quantity of toys previously registered by the user, such that the reward received for registering the toy is different than another reward previously received by the user for registering another toy. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063283 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONSUMER-SELECTED ADVERTISING AND BRANDING IN INTERACTIVE MEDIA - A user of an interactive medium may select advertising for display on the user's avatar, property, or other user-associated environment. The invention presents one or more advertisements to the user and allows the user to select at least one advertisement to display. The user may also choose a location for displaying the selected advertisement. The invention presents the selected advertisement to other users of the interactive medium. The invention tracks these presentations or displays and rewards the original user based on the presentation. The tracking data may also be used to bill the advertiser or optimize the process of selecting and displaying advertisements. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063284 | System and method for implementing advertising in an online social network - A system and method for integrating analytics data of user profiles within a social network with targeted ad campaigns. The system includes an advertisement targeting system that obtains analytics data of user profiles and utilizes the data to filter through the user profiles to select desired user profiles for delivery of advertisements targeted to the interests and personality of the desired user profiles. Utilization of the analytics data includes generating a social rank of each user profile relevant to other user profiles in the social network. An advertising marketplace is implemented for use by ad marketers to purchase advertisement rights on a user profile webpage, to filter through user profiles in a social network for select user profiles with desired analytics data, and to generate advertisement campaigns targeted to the selected user profiles within a social network. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063285 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR STORING USUAL ORDER PREFERENCE DATA FOR RECURRENT ORDERS - Methods, systems, and computer program products for storing usual order preferences associated with a point of sale transaction involving an identification article. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving an initial order involving the use of an identification article for purchasing at least one good or service. As part of receiving the initial order, a query asking if the initial order is to be designated as a usual order is issued. The method also includes registering the initial order as the usual order if a received response to the query indicates a usual order designation and storing an indication of the usual order in a storage medium. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063286 | System and Method for Payment of Services for the Non-Banking Sector Through a Multimedia Kiosk - A method for paying services includes steps or acts of: receiving a request for making a payment for a service; receiving a selection of the type of service to be paid and an account number; receiving identifying information from the consumer and the amount of the payment; and providing a payment voucher to be used as payment for the services. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063287 | Method of Processing Orders - A method and apparatus are provided for processing orders by a host of an ordering organization, the orders being placed by the ordering organization with a vendor. The method includes the steps of an agent of the ordering organization accessing an order website and entering a plurality of order items and the host incorporating the order items and a change subroutine into a webpage. The method further includes the steps of an agent of the vendor retrieving the webpage from the host of the ordering organization, the agent of the ordering organization and agent of the vendor negotiating the conditions of the order and the change subroutine tracking and recording the agreed upon conditions. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063288 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRODUCT REVIEW INFORMATION GENERATION AND MANAGEMENT - A computer-implemented system and method for product review information generation and management are disclosed. An example embodiment prompts a first user for entry of product review information associated with a product in a product category and with product attributes, stores the product review information, determines when a second user accesses product listings in the product category or with one or more of the product attributes, and presents the second user with the product review information. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063289 | TRUSTED STATEMENT VERIFICATION FOR DATA PRIVACY - Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to privacy data management and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for trusted statement verification for data privacy. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for trusted statement verification for data privacy can be provided. The method can include deducing a claim from an attribute for personal data for an end user, receiving a request from a personal data consumer to vouch for an assertion based upon the attribute, comparing the assertion to the claim, and providing a voucher for the assertion to the personal data consumer on behalf of the end user if the claim supports the assertion without revealing the attribute to the personal data consumer. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063290 | System and Method Utilizing A Customer Relationship Management Software Application To Convert A Price Quote Into An Electronic Shopping Cart - A customer requests a price quote for certain goods or services. The requisite information is entered into a customer relationship management (CRM) software application, which is capable of sending a price quote to the customer. The CRM application is provisioned with a feature that creates an e-mail containing a weblink to an electronic shopping basket, along with other information pertaining to the price quote. Once finalized, the e-mail is sent to the customer who had requested the price quote. If the customer then activates the weblink, the web site application displays the electronic shopping cart to the customer, and gives the customer the opportunity to conclude the sale. This makes it easy for the customer to purchase the goods or services in the shopping cart, without further the delay. For the vendor, it increases the likelihood of converting a price quote into a sale. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063291 | Data Element Specific Transaction Routing - Systems and methods for determining a least cost transaction scheme for a merchant is provided according to one embodiment of the invention. The least cost transaction scheme may be determined at a point of sale device or at a host computer system that communicates with a point of sale device. The least cost transaction scheme may depend on a standard industrial classification (SIC) code associated with the merchant and a transaction amount. In one embodiment the transaction amount and merchant ID is sent to a host computer system. Based on the merchant ID and the transaction amount the host computer system determines a fees for a plurality of transaction schemes. From the plurality of transaction schemes, a least cost transaction scheme is selected and a user is prompted to use the least cost transaction scheme to tender the transaction. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063292 | Method and Apparatus for Purchasing Digital Playlists - Digital media products and methods for making them are disclosed. A digital media product can effectively not have any value until purchased and activated at a point-of-sale. In one embodiment, the digital media product is content specific and provided to allow acquisition of a particular collection of digital media assets upon activation. As one example, the collection can pertain to a playlist, album or set of content. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063293 | Dynamic Presentation of Location-Specific Information - Improved approaches to allow a portable electronic device to dynamically present location-specific information while the portable electronic device is at a predetermined location are disclosed. In one embodiment, the portable electronic device has a display that can display the location-specific information and has wireless capabilities for use in receiving the location-specific information from the server. The location-specific information can, for example, augment other information that is to be presented on the display. In one embodiment, the location-specific information can be information pertaining to a media item being played in an establishment, such as a store, where the portable electronic device is located. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063294 | Scoring Feed Data Quality - A method and apparatus for scoring a data feed is provided. A feed scoring system takes as an input a data summary file produced by the data feed processing engine. The data file contains field coverage data, attribute extraction data, and mapping data. The data file is processed by the feed scoring system to create a set of scores. The scores are organized and presented in a hierarchical manner. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063295 | Electronic commerce rule-based multi-selection gifting - A method for multi-selection gifting, including maintaining a merchandise database comprising records for merchandise for a plurality of merchants, each record including a stock keeping unit (SKU) for an item of merchandise, a description of the item, a price of the item, and the merchant for the item, maintaining a gift database comprising records for multi-selection gifts, each record including at least one gift recipient, a plurality of SKU's for items of merchandise, and at least one selection rule for selecting at least one of the items of merchandise, interactively enabling a gift giver to generate a multi-selection gift for a gift recipient, Interactively guiding the gift recipient to select at least one of the items of merchandise in the multi-selection gift in accordance with the gift's at least one selection rule, aggregating the at least one item selected by the gift recipient according to merchant, issuing purchase orders to each merchant in accordance with the aggregated selected items corresponding to such merchant, and billing the gift giver according to the at least one item of merchandise selected by the gift recipient. A system and a computer-readable storage medium are also described and claimed. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063296 | Business method for improving the flower industry - A business method in flower industry is created, where internet technology is that brings more revenue to the flower industry, using different opportunity that internet technology offers to customers and businesses. Flower industry customers have own web page where may receive a business offers. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063297 | System and Method for an Electronic Gift Key - A system and method for a physically-based gift key enabling a purchaser to deliver a single, fully-integrated gift item to a recipient and including an electronic greeting card and store credits redeemable online is presented. The method includes the steps of activating a gift key, customizing an electronic greeting card associated with the gift key at a host site via physical or wireless linkage of a gift key to a first local computer, accessing the greeting card at the host site via linkage of the gift key to a second local computer, and redeeming a store credit associated with the gift key at a retail website accessible from the host site. The system includes a gift key and a host computer system directly or indirectly controlling a host site. The gift key has a housing, an integrated circuit within the housing, and a connector or wireless interface extending from the housing so as to allow linkage of the gift key with a computer remotely located with respect to the host and retailer sites. The local computer automatically launches a website at the host or retailer levels when the gift key is linked to the local computer. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063298 | ONLINE INFORMATION MARKETPLACE FOR OBTAINING A QUALIFIED BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY - A computer-implemented method for obtaining information is described. The computer-implemented method includes receiving an information request for a qualified business opportunity from a user. The computer-implemented method also includes providing the information request to an information source. Moreover, the computer-implemented method includes receiving the qualified business opportunity from the information source. The computer-implemented method further includes sending the qualified business opportunity to the user. Furthermore, the computer-implemented-method includes awarding compensation to the information source. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063299 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SIMPLIFYING USER MANAGEMENT OF PRODUCTS DURING ONLINE SHOPPING - In accordance with a method for simplifying user management of products during online shopping, an informal storage space for a merchant's web site may be displayed when web pages from the merchant's web site are displayed. The informal storage space may be separate from a shopping cart for the merchant's web site. The informal storage space may include visual identifiers for products that are currently added to the informal storage space. Users may be permitted to compare the products that are currently added to the informal storage space. Users may also be permitted to make modifications to the informal storage space. State information for the informal storage space may be updated to reflect the modifications made to the informal storage space. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063300 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING SHOE SELECTION SERVICES TO A PERSON - Described herein is a method for providing shoe selection services to a person. The method includes providing a website for the sale of shoes and providing a list of categories, wherein the list of categories includes characteristics of shoes. The method further includes providing a list of options for each characteristic, providing a means for selecting an option from the list of options, and providing a means for evaluating the selected option and displaying shoes based upon the selected option. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063301 | Digital Asset Delivery to Different Devices - Improved approaches to electronically deliver digital assets to appropriate electronic devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, a user can purchase access rights to one or more digital assets from an online digital asset store, and then the one or more digital assets can be electronically delivered to one or more electronic devices associated with the user. Advantageously, different types of digital assets can be delivered to different electronic devices of the user, whereby limited resources of the different electronic devices can be used in a more intelligent manner. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063302 | FLORIST BROKERAGE METHODS - In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for florist methods. A method of providing a floral arrangement marketplace includes providing an implementation of a WYSIWYG interface that displays a floral arrangement; receiving a signal that indicates authorization to place a floral arrangement order for an actual floral arrangement, the actual floral arrangement substantially embodying the floral arrangement; creating the floral arrangement order; and transmitting the floral arrangement order to a floral arrangement provider. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063303 | Systems and methods of providing a guaranteed price for a used durable good - Systems and methods are provided for periodically calculating a guaranteed price for a used durable good, such as an automobile. The current guaranteed price is continuously accessible by an owner of the used durable good for an extended period, and the owner can receive at least the value of the guaranteed price at the owner's discretion. A guarantor of the calculated guaranteed price backs a transaction that ensures that the owner receives at least the value of the current guaranteed price in exchange for the used durable good. The transaction may include a trade-in of the used durable good. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063304 | System and method for searching, identifying, and ranking merchants based upon preselected criteria such as social values - A social purchasing, networking, and ranking method and system for linking consumers and merchants who share similar social values, personal values, and personal contacts or referrals. The present invention may allow both a consumer and merchant to associate specific criteria such as personal values, religious faith, hobbies, interests, affiliations, political party, favorite charitable organization, social responsibility value, and the like with their respective profiles. A conventional electronic network, or web, search by the consumer launches a first graphical user interface module wherein a list of participating merchants is searched for keyword matches, and then ranked according to the preselected criteria such as the social values, personal referrals, and geographic location of the participating merchant. The present invention allows a user (consumer) to guide their transactions and interactions toward merchants sharing similar values, interest, affiliations, and the like, to further rank merchants by personal referral and geographic proximity to the user. Additionally, the specific type and number of shared criteria may be graphically depicted to the consumer via at least one icon displayed in conjunction with the advertisements or other information displayed by each of the respective participating merchants. | 2009-03-05 |
20090063305 | Method and System for Automatically Adjusting Inventory Based on Loaner Parts and Order Demands - A system for performing a part inventory analysis. In response to determining a current part inventory, current order demands on the current part inventory are determined. The current part inventory is segmented. An order demand coverage is determined for each segment of the segmented inventory based on the current order demands. A conditioned part inventory is determined based on a loaner part inventory analysis of the segmented inventory. A part purchase recommendation is calculated based on the conditioned part inventory. Then, data for the segmented inventory, the order demand coverage, the conditioned part inventory, and the part purchase recommendation are stored in a storage device. | 2009-03-05 |