41st week of 2011 patent applcation highlights part 48 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20110251829 | SIMULATING PAINTING - A paint simulation system described herein includes a brush component that outputs a three-dimensional computer-implemented model of an image editing tool. A paint component receives the three-dimensional computer-implemented model and generates a two-dimensional map corresponding to a footprint of the three-dimensional model with respect to a computer-implemented canvas, wherein resolution of the two-dimensional map is substantially similar to resolution of a paint map of the computer-implemented canvas. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251830 | System and Method For Obtaining A Model of Data Describing A Physical Structure - There is provided a system and method for obtaining a model of data describing a physical structure. An exemplary method comprises defining a three-dimensional (3D) object that corresponds to a physical structure. The 3D object comprises a set of topological elements that each has an initial geometric definition. The exemplary method also comprises creating a subsequent model of the data by updating a subset of the topological elements in the 3D object. Each updated element in the subset has a geometric definition that has changed relative to its initial geometric definition. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251831 | METHOD OF PROCESSING A DIGITIZED WORKPIECE, PARTICULARLY A THREE-DIMENSIONAL MODEL OF A DENTAL PROSTHETIC ITEM TO BE PRODUCED THEREFROM, AND APPARATUS THEREFOR - In a method of processing a digitized workpiece ( | 2011-10-13 |
20110251832 | METHOD, DEVICE AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR DETERMINING AN ELECTROMAGNETIC NEAR-FIELD OF A FIELD EXCITATION SOURCE OF AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - A method, a device and a computer program product for determining an electromagnetic near-field of a field excitation source of an electrical system are provided, in particular for analysis and/or optimization of an antenna radiation, of a cross-talk problem, of a signal reflexion/transmission, of a stray field, of an irradiation problem or the like. The method includes defining electrical and magnetic properties of the material distribution of the system, defining at least one field excitation source, and determining the electromagnetic near-field components within at least one and in particular all partitions by solution of the Maxwell's equations of the near-field, where each near-field component of each partition can be represented by a linear position of M predetermined ansatz functions P | 2011-10-13 |
20110251833 | DETERMINISTIC VERSION OF THE MULTIPLE POINT GEOSTATISTICS SIMULATION/RECONSTRUCTION METHOD WITH THE SIMULATED/RECONSTRUCTED VALUES ARE DIRECTLY TAKEN FROM THE TRAINING IMAGES WITHOUT PRIOR ESTIMATION OF THE CONDITIONAL - A method of simulating, reconstructing and scaling digital data sets, in particular images, but not exclusively. The method of the invention is based on a training image that is directly sampled each time a point in the simulation image is to be filled, and does not need the preliminary creation of a data structure storing conditional probabilities, as it is often the case in known multipoint simulation method. Accordingly, the method of the invention is less memory-demanding than conventional methods, and is better suited to simulations including continuous variables. Embodiments regarding the application to reconstruction of partial images and downscaling are also presented. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251834 | Methods And Systems For Improved Pharmaceutical Intervention In Coagulation Control - Contemplated methods and devices for coagulation control allow to establish a more constant dosage of required medication and to quantify/take into account patient-specific sensitivity to warfarin and Vitamin K by using logit (1/INR) as the dependent variable to so stabilize the variance across all values of INR. Moreover, it should be noted that such use simplifies the relation between INR and dose of coumarins or Vitamin K and reduces the number of parameters to be estimated for each patient. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251835 | DEVICE, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DIGITIZING POSITION AND ORIENTATION INFORMATION OF HIP JOINT IMPLANT COMPONENTS | 2011-10-13 |
20110251836 | CIRCUIT EMULATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS - An apparatus for circuit emulation may include a first circuit board, one or more circuit emulation resource on the first circuit board, a first interconnection interface on the first circuit board, and a second interconnection interface on the first circuit board. The first circuit board may include conductive wiring paths. The circuit emulation resource is on the first circuit board and coupled with a portion of the conductive wiring paths, with each circuit emulation resource being configured to emulate a portion of an electronic circuit by receiving input signals and producing output signals in response to the input signals. The first interconnection interface is on the first circuit board and coupled with at least a first portion of the circuit emulation resource, The first interconnection interface may be configured to couple with an interconnection interface of a second circuit board having a second group of conductive wiring paths and having a second group of circuit emulation resources. The second interconnection interface is on the first circuit board and coupled with at least a second portion of the at least one circuit emulation resource. The second interconnection interface may be configured to couple with an interconnection interface of a third circuit board having a third group of conductive wiring paths and having a third group of circuit emulation resources. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251837 | ELECTRONIC REFERENCE INTEGRATION WITH AN ELECTRONIC READER - A system for and method of electronic reference integration with an electronic reader is presented. The system and method may include providing an electronic reference on an electronic paper display device. The method may include receiving, on an electronic paper display device, a request for an electronic reference, the request being associated with electronic content of the electronic paper display device, determining a context of the request within the electronic content, identifying a language of the electronic content based on the context, identifying an electronic reference corresponding to the identified language, and providing the electronic paper display device with access to the identified electronic reference. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251838 | METHOD FOR DISPLAYING INFORMATION IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES ON WELDING HELMET CARTRIDGE - A method for displaying information in multiple languages on a welding helmet cartridge is provided, which not only shields a worker's face from light generated when the worker performs a task such as welding or cutting but also automatically performs shade level adjustment and work time setting functions for each task and also allows information such as an operating status to be displayed in multiple languages. In the method, a work time during which the LCD screen of the cartridge is darkened is calculated and the calculated work time is stored in the memory and the stored work time is displayed on the display unit when entering a life mode entrance step. Data of an operating state in multiple preset languages is stored in the memory and data of the operating state in a desired language, which is selected from among the multiple languages, is displayed on the display unit. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251839 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INTERACTIVELY FINDING SYNONYMS USING POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE FEEDBACK - Determining synonyms of words in a set of documents. Particularly, when provided with a word or phrase as input, in exemplary embodiments there is afforded the return of a predetermined number of “top” synonym words (or phrases) for an input word (or phrase) in a specific collection of text documents. Further, a user is able to provide ongoing and iterative positive or negative feedback on the returned synonym words, by manually accepting or rejecting such words as the process is underway. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251840 | PITCH-CORRECTION OF VOCAL PERFORMANCE IN ACCORD WITH SCORE-CODED HARMONIES - Despite many practical limitations imposed by mobile device platforms and application execution environments, vocal musical performances may be captured and continuously pitch-corrected for mixing and rendering with backing tracks in ways that create compelling user experiences. In some cases, the vocal performances of individual users are captured on mobile devices in the context of a karaoke-style presentation of lyrics in correspondence with audible renderings of a backing track. Such performances can be pitch-corrected in real-time at a portable computing device (such as a mobile phone, personal digital assistant, laptop computer, notebook computer, pad-type computer or netbook) in accord with pitch correction settings. In some cases, pitch correction settings include a score-coded melody and/or harmonies supplied with, or for association with, the lyrics and backing tracks. Harmonies notes or chords may be coded as explicit targets or relative to the score coded melody or even actual pitches sounded by a vocalist, if desired. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251841 | COORDINATING AND MIXING VOCALS CAPTURED FROM GEOGRAPHICALLY DISTRIBUTED PERFORMERS - Despite many practical limitations imposed by mobile device platforms and application execution environments, vocal musical performances may be captured and continuously pitch-corrected for mixing and rendering with backing tracks in ways that create compelling user experiences. Based on the techniques described herein, even mere amateurs are encouraged to share with friends and family or to collaborate and contribute vocal performances as part of virtual “glee clubs.” In some implementations, these interactions are facilitated through social network- and/or eMail-mediated sharing of performances and invitations to join in a group performance. Using uploaded vocals captured at clients such as a mobile device, a content server (or service) can mediate such virtual glee clubs by manipulating and mixing the uploaded vocal performances of multiple contributing vocalists. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251842 | COMPUTATIONAL TECHNIQUES FOR CONTINUOUS PITCH CORRECTION AND HARMONY GENERATION - Using signal processing techniques described herein, pitch detection and correction of a user's vocal performance can be performed continuously and in real-time with respect to the audible rendering of the backing track at the handheld or portable computing device. In some implementations, pitch detection builds on time-domain pitch correction techniques that employ average magnitude difference function (AMDF) or autocorrelation-based techniques together with zero-crossing and/or peak picking techniques to identify differences between pitch of a captured vocal signal and score-coded target pitches. Based on detected differences, pitch correction based on pitch synchronous overlapped add (PSOLA) and/or linear predictive coding (LPC) techniques allow captured vocals to be pitch shifted in real-time to “correct” notes in accord with pitch correction settings that code score-coded melody targets and harmonies. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251843 | COMPENSATION OF INTRA-SPEAKER VARIABILITY IN SPEAKER DIARIZATION - A method, system, and computer program product compensation of intra-speaker variability in speaker diarization are provided. The method includes: dividing a speech session into segments of duration less than an average duration between speaker change; parameterizing each segment by a time dependent probability density function supervector, for example, using a Gaussian Mixture Model; computing a difference between successive segment supervectors; and computing a scatter measure such as a covariance matrix of the difference as an estimate of intra-speaker variability. The method further includes compensating the speech session for intra-speaker variability using the estimate of intra-speaker variability. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251844 | GRAPHEME-TO-PHONEME CONVERSION USING ACOUSTIC DATA - Described is the use of acoustic data to improve grapheme-to-phoneme conversion for speech recognition, such as to more accurately recognize spoken names in a voice-dialing system. A joint model of acoustics and graphonemes (acoustic data, phonemes sequences, grapheme sequences and an alignment between phoneme sequences and grapheme sequences) is described, as is retraining by maximum likelihood training and discriminative training in adapting graphoneme model parameters using acoustic data. Also described is the unsupervised collection of grapheme labels for received acoustic data, thereby automatically obtaining a substantial number of actual samples that may be used in retraining. Speech input that does not meet a confidence threshold may be filtered out so as to not be used by the retrained model. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251845 | VOICE ACTIVITY DETECTOR, VOICE ACTIVITY DETECTION PROGRAM, AND PARAMETER ADJUSTING METHOD - Judgment result deriving means | 2011-10-13 |
20110251846 | Transient Signal Encoding Method and Device, Decoding Method and Device, and Processing System - A transient signal encoding method and device, decoding method and device, and processing system, where the transient signal encoding method includes: obtaining a reference sub-frame where a maximal time envelope having a maximal amplitude value is located from time envelopes of all sub-frames of an input transient signal; adjusting an amplitude value of the time envelope of each sub-frame before the reference sub-frame in such a way that a first difference is greater than a preset first threshold, in which the first difference is a difference between the amplitude value of the time envelope of each sub-frame before the reference sub-frame and the amplitude value of the maximal time envelope; and writing the adjusted time envelope into bitstream. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251847 | Loyalty Measurement - A computer-implemented system measures loyalty of one partner to another partner in a relationship, such as the loyalty of a company's customer to the company. The first partner's loyalty is measured by obtaining information from the partner, such as through answers to survey questions, about the partner's perception of the climate of the relationship. A loyalty index function may be applied to scores associated with the answers to produce a single loyalty index representing the first partner's loyalty to the other partner. The system may recommend that the second partner change their practices to increase the first partner's loyalty index. For example, the system may recommend that the second partner improve practices related to “satisfier” dimensions of the relationship, and/or that the second partner improve practices which empirical data have demonstrated to correlate most strongly with increased loyalty. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251848 | GLOBAL HEALTH CARE COMMUNITY AND MEDICAL RECORD ACCESS WEBSITE - A global health networking system includes at least one server coupled to a network, a plurality of user interfaces, and a plurality of search applications. The network includes a plurality of databases configured to store information from multiple countries relating to academic studies, healthcare procedures and pharmaceuticals, institutes of higher medical related studies, healthcare providers, corporate subscribers, and individuals. The server is configured to communicate between each database such that a user is provided access to information stored in each database for addressing health related topics. Each interface includes user selectable options and is configured to provide access to the databases. The search applications are configured to search the databases according to search parameters entered by the user, wherein the user's needs are linked to information stored in the databases allowing continuous real time access to medical personnel, medical files, and healthcare related information. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251849 | Healthcare System and Method - A healthcare system includes a database having stored thereon patient information data, patient medical data, treatment plans data and healthcare provider data. A treatment module accesses the data stored in the database and uses the data to determine a plurality of patient treatment steps required to implement a treatment plan thereby to treat the patient. A communications module communicates with a healthcare provider system to instruct the healthcare provider to perform a next activity of the patient treatment activity required in the treatment of the patient and a monitoring module monitors that the next activity has been performed. In addition, an awards module determines an award for the healthcare provider or their agent if the healthcare provider or their agent performs the next activity in the treatment of the patient. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251850 | On Site Prescription Management System and Methods for Health Care Facilities - A system and method for control of prescription drug packaging and dispensing machines located in an in-patient health care facility including centralized control and enhanced communication between system components. Delay and errors in processing item data in the prescription dispensing system are reduced by using concise ID data incorporated into each canister memory chip and storing canister contents data elsewhere. Canisters are configured in a pharmacy using interchangeable parts. Data being processed is synchronized by a combination of user tokens (who), data identifiers (what), and unique Ids for the entities in the system (where). The foregoing combination enables substantial efficiency improvements and error reduction. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251851 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MULTI-PERSON AND MULTI-SITE, INTERACTIVE TREATMENT SIMULATION | 2011-10-13 |
20110251852 | MEDICAL IMAGING AND REPORT MANAGEMENT - This invention provides methods of capturing, transporting, and reporting video patient studies using electronic networks. A medical image reporting system may include a data harvester that receives digital video clips for review by a radiologist, cardiologist, or other specialist, an application that provides a convenient user interface for the user to create diagnosis statements and Digital Imaging and Communications (“DICOM”) compatible data, an overview engine that allows review of the report statements and correction of entries, and a data packager that packages and transports the preliminary report, video clips, and/or patient information electronically to a data center, which then offers electronic access to authorized physicians and specialists located remotely. Some embodiments involve the use a foot pedal or other foot-operated component to trigger or otherwise control the capture of video images. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251853 | Methods For Improving The Clinical Outcome Of Patient Care And For Reducing Overall Health Care Costs - The current invention is directed to improved methods for providing health care and for reducing the cost of health care. Additionally, the methods of the current invention are designed to improve the clinical outcome for the patient. The methods of the current invention provide financial incentives to both the patient and the medical service provider in an integrated manner that create appropriate checks and balances which encourages patient empowerment as well as patient and medical practitioner accountability. The method of the current invention incorporates evidence-based medicine treatment guidelines and content, and dispenses information therapy and other similar types of content through an Internet application or by other means to improve the standard of health care treatment which leads to better clinical outcomes, healthier behavior, and a reduction in the overall cost of health care. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251854 | PC-BASED ACCESS METHOD BETWEEN ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORD SYSTEM AND INTERNET-BASED PERSONAL HEALTH RECORD ACCOUNT - A PC-based access method between an EMR system and an Internet-based PHR account is disclosed. A doctor inquires and creates the EMR data on a patient recorded in the EMR system of a hospital/medical clinic using an EMR access module installed in a doctor's office terminal and, accesses a PHR account of a patient that resides on the Internet and inquires and creates the PHR data on the patient stored in a PHR system. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251855 | ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS IN CLINICAL TRIALS - A method for collecting self-reported data from an individual for use in a clinical trial is provided. The method includes providing a web site allowing the individual to store, organize, and access personal health records associated with the individual and sharing selected personal health records associated with the individual with a clinical trial sponsor. A system for electronic health records includes a web server programmed to provide a secure web-based interface to the electronic health records, means to collect self-reports from an individual participating in a clinical trial, means to disseminate the self-reports from the individual to a clinical trial sponsor, and means to collect health care records from a health care provider of the individual. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251856 | HEALTH MONITORING AND DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE AND NETWORK-BASED HEALTH ASSESSMENT AND MEDICAL RECORDS MAINTENANCE SYSTEM - A health monitoring and diagnostic device (LIFESTREAM cholesterol meter) configured as a self-contained testing and diagnostic unit in a clam-shell type case. One side of the case includes a spring-loaded finger stick and a compartment for carrying one or more packages of disposable items including a test strip, a needle for the finger stick, and an alcohol swipe. The other half of the case includes a test strip reader, a key pad, and a liquid crystal display. The meter reads a test strip carrying a droplet of blood and receives additional diagnostic information from the patient, such as age, gender, weight, and family history of heart disease. Within minutes, the meter displays test results, including total cholesterol levels. The meter also displays additional diagnostic results, such as the patient's “cardiac age,” recommended weight loss, and a cardiac risk assessment. The meter also works in connection with a network-based comprehensive health analysis and reporting system. The meter writes patient data to a smartcard. This patient data typically includes patient identification information, the test results, the diagnostic information, and the diagnostic results. A computer station reads the smartcard and establishes a network connection with a health report server over the Internet. The computer then downloads the patient data to the health report server, which prepares a comprehensive health report. Within minutes, this report is transmitted back to the computer station, where it is printed out and delivered to the patient. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251857 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS - A system and method for improving medical care through tracking reported findings or diagnoses of patient medical conditions and feeding back actual medical conditions and patient medical condition outcomes to determine accuracy of the reported findings. By feeding back the actual medical conditions and patient medical condition outcomes, a quantitative measure of each reported finding of each medical professional can be determined. One medical professional expertise in which the feedback system can be particularly useful is with medical image reading professionals, as this medical professional expertise provides a basis for other medical professionals to determine treatment and/or additional testing options. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251858 | INSURANCE ALERT SYSTEM AND METHOD - An insurance alert system comprises an alert module executable by a processor, the alert module configured to automatically interface with a plurality of different insurance providers for an insurance broker. The alert module is configured to obtain and aggregate alert data from the plurality of different insurance providers corresponding to customers of the insurance broker, the alert data corresponding to insurance policies of the customers with the respective insurance providers. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251859 | Method and Apparatus Pertaining to Facilitating Administration of a Fixed Annuity Having a Long-Term Care Rider - Administering a fixed annuity having a long-term care (LTC) rider includes calculating, at a time of an insured party entering a claim period for LTC benefits and as a function of a value of a fixed annuity for an annuitant, an available insurance amount for an LTC benefit. This fixed-annuity value can comprise a present value of the fixed annuity at the time the insured party enters the claim period. These teachings will also accommodate calculating the total LTC benefits by summing the value of the fixed annuity with the value of the fixed annuity as multiplied by a multiplier. LTC benefits can be paid by apportioning a first part of the payment against the fixed annuity itself while apportioning a second part of the payment against an available insurance amount. Following depletion of the annuity, however, one can then apportion such payments only against the available insurance amount until exhausted. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251860 | POINT OF SERVICE THIRD PARTY FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT VEHICLE FOR THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY - A point of service third party adjudicated payment system and method which provides for the creation of an adjudicated settlement transaction at a point of service which designates the portion of the service to be paid by the third party payor and the portion to be paid by the customer. The system includes a point of service terminal which accepts a payment system access card for payment for a purchase of a service and/or product by a customer, where at least part of the purchase is reimbursable by a third party payor. The point of service terminal creates a purchase transaction which is adjudicated by an adjudication engine substantially in real-time to determine a first portion of the purchase which is to be paid by the third party payor and a second portion of the purchase which is to be paid by the customer. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251861 | COMPUTER BASED METHOD OF MANAGING, SAVING FOR, AND ARRANGING TRAVEL - The invention is a computer-based method of saving for and booking travel arrangements. The method includes a full service travel website and computer accessible interest bearing bank account that is set up for the express purpose of saving funds for future travel. The method includes a reward system that allows users to pay for travel with the savings account funds, interest from the account, and the rewards points. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251862 | Ticket Segmentation - Techniques to segment a ticket into at least two ticket segments for a customizable event experience are disclosed. Events can have natural break points or event segments such as innings, periods, quarters, halves, or acts. In accordance with the claimed subject matter, a ticket can be segmented into a ticket segment for each of the event segments. Event factors, progression, and demand information can be monitored to allow or deny access to a ticket segment, set pricing, filter ticket segments, or adjust ticket segments. Furthermore, as the event progresses, analysis can continue and the ticket segments can be dynamically updated accordingly. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251863 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INVENTORY DATA SHARING BETWEEN AIRLINES - The method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention allows a single computerized Inventory system to access multiple sources of Inventory data for different airlines in real-time; without a performance hit on the inventory system; without needing specific interfaces to be put in place; and without needing duplication of data. A customer request requiring inventory data from some other airlines is detected on the airline Inventory system. For each other airline involved in the action that has been detected, a component holding access rules is queried to check whether the airline has the permission to access the other airline inventory data, and the precise data to which it has access. For each other airline involved in the action that has been detected and for which the airline has the permission to access inventory data, the airline Inventory system connects to the other airline partition, retrieve the required current other airline inventory data, and disconnects from the other airline partition. The action that has previously been detected is finally processed, taking into account all the other airline inventory data. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251864 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MITIGATING SURVEY FRAUD - A method and system for mitigating survey fraud is provided. Survey responses stored in storage of a computer system are analyzed. The survey responses include identifiers associated with computing devices of users providing the survey responses. The number of the survey responses is totaled for each of the identifiers. The identifiers for which the number of the survey responses meets a threshold are identified as belonging to suspected gamers. At least some of the survey responses for the identifiers identified as belonging to suspected gamers are flagged as invalid. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251865 | SYSTEM, METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR MANUFACTURING ESTIMATION PRODUCTION ASSEMBLY AND INVENTORY MANAGEMENT - The present invention relates to novel systems and methods for manufacturing estimation, production assembly and inventory management. In an embodiment, a system is provided to create and respond to RFPs, perform capacity planning for an eventual production line, efficiently implement the production line in software, and track detailed warehouse data, including transaction data. Such tracking may allow process improvement, report generation, and market research analysis. In an embodiment, one or more systems may be used to implement one or more aspects of the present invention. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251866 | DYNAMICALLY POOLING UNUSED CAPACITIES ACROSS AN ORGANIZATION TO EXECUTE ATOMIC TASKS - In the context of a work container which includes a set of atomic tasks to be executed in some order, along with a specification of the role/skill needed for each task, the estimated effort and due date, methods and arrangements for pooling unutilized capacities of multiple resources whenever possible, and making adjustments to the estimated effort to take transactional costs into account. More particularly, preferred embodiments of the invention operate on a principle that if resources do not individually have the available bandwidth needed to execute and complete an atomic task during a given period then, collectively, the time available on their calendars, when pooled together and aggregated in sequence, may well be more than sufficient for the task, even after making adjustments to account for transaction costs. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251867 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INTEGRATED OPERATIONS AND SERVICE SUPPORT - A method, system, and computer program product for initiating a plurality of incident and service requests are provided. Outages are checked corresponding to the incident and service requests. If the outages exist, they are displayed and mapped to the incident and service requests. If the outages do not exist, they are created if required and mapped corresponding to the incident and service requests. The incident and service requests are assigned to users available in a shift for solutions. If the solutions corresponding to the incident and service requests exist in a knowledge database, they are implemented. If the solutions corresponding to the incident and service requests do not exist in the knowledge database, they are created by the users available in the shift. Various checks are performed based on a checklist prior to the closure of the incident and service requests. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251868 | TECHNOLOGY SHARING DURING DEMAND AND SUPPLY PLANNING IN A NETWORK-BASED SUPPLY CHAIN ENVIRONMENT - A system, method, and article of manufacture are provided for technology sharing during demand and supply planning in a network-based supply chain environment. Steps included are providing locator and mapping capabilities utilizing the network. Technology that includes streaming audio, stereo audio and video data is also shared utilizing the network. Encryption capabilities for the technology are also included. Further, searching capabilities are provided utilizing the network in addition to logging events and passive user profiling. The event logging includes logging network operations. User profile data is automatically received and stored. User profile data includes user identity, state, preferences and interests. User profile data is also automatically exported to an active profile manager which automatically adds additional user profile data. Additional user profile data includes information related to whether the user is a service provider or a manufacturer and the location of user. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251869 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING FRAUDULENT AFFILIATE MARKETING IN AN ONLINE ENVIRONMENT - A method for monitoring merchant website transactions generated by affiliate marketing sources to detect fraudulent affiliate transactions involves obtaining transaction data for multiple on-line transactions, processing the transaction data using an affiliate separation module to separate the transactions based on affiliate identification, grouping the transaction data by affiliate source, analyzing all transactions corresponding to each affiliate using first algorithm that determines whether transaction data for each of said transactions matches pre-defined parameters that are consistent with fraudulent activity, determining the percentage of suspicious transactions relative to all transactions using a second algorithm, and identifying an affiliate as potentially fraudulent if said percentage of suspicious transactions exceeds a predetermined percentage. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251870 | POINT-OF-SALE-BASED MARKET TRACKING AND REPORTING - Systems and methods are described for transforming actual aggregated data (e.g., transaction and terminal data) from a large number of POS terminals into market trend reports that include macro-level trend data and analyses. For example, POS datasets are aggregated from POS terminals distributed across many merchant outlet locations, each POS dataset including location data and transaction data for its respective POS terminal. A reporting request is received for a market trend report corresponding to a designated market over a designated timeframe. A market dataset is identified from the portion of the aggregated POS data corresponding to the designated timeframe and market. Unreliable portions of the data may be discarded. Market trend data is then calculated as a function of the reliable portion of the market dataset, and graphical report data is output as a function of the market trend data in response to the reporting request. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251871 | Customer Satisfaction Analytics System using On-Site Service Quality Evaluation - This invention provides a service quality monitoring and improvement system. It is designed so that a number of different organizations or service providers can use the system simultaneously to obtain satisfaction data from customers and highlight areas for improvement. Customer satisfaction data is conducted at the site where the service or product is provided, to improve the response rate and data quality. For each user organization, the apparatus provides focused questions or information to improve service quality that are selected on the basis of feedback from their own customers. By using the system and making improvements in the areas identified, each user organization may improve the quality of the service it provides—leading to a wider customer base and improved profitability. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251872 | Methods For Improving Skin Quality - A skin treatment regimen for delivery of a rinse-off personal skin care composition is provided. The rinse-off personal skin care composition includes varying ratios of a lathering agent to a hydrophobic benefit agent. The rinse-off personal skin care composition can be applied to skin of a user in phases over and/or in a treatment cycle. Each of the phases of the treatment cycle can include a ratio of the varying ratios that can be different such as higher or lower than a ratio of adjacent phase. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251873 | METHOD, SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM FOR GENERATING KEYWORD PAIRS FOR SEARCH ADVERTISEMENTS BASED ON ADVERTISEMENT PURCHASE HISTORY - The present disclosure relates to a method, system and computer readable recording medium for generating a keyword pair for search advertisement based on advertisement purchase history. The method includes acquiring a set of search keywords for each of advertisers having purchased or attempted to purchase the search keywords to place search advertisement or to make an attempt to place the search advertisement, selecting at least two search keywords among the set of keywords, generating a keyword pair of the selected search keywords correlated to each other, and storing information regarding the generated keyword pair. It is possible to provide an improved keyword determination model capable of determining correlated search keywords without processing an enormous amount of data such as search keywords of all users or keywords appearing on all of web pages, thereby enabling more efficient data processing. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251874 | CUSTOMER ANALYTICS SOLUTION FOR ENTERPRISES - A method for building an integrated customer analytics solution for an enterprise is provided. The method enables retrieving and processing customer data from data sources available in the enterprise. Further, statistical techniques are generated using the processed data to facilitate analyzing attributes related to the customer. Statistical model outputs are, then, derived using the generated statistical techniques. The statistical model outputs represent metrics corresponding to the analyzed attributes. Furthermore, statistical models are generated corresponding to the statistical model outputs. The statistical models are associated with scores that facilitate to predict likelihood of customer behavior towards products, services and other customer related aspects associated with the enterprise. In addition, reports are generated based on at least one of: the processed data and the one or more statistical model outputs. Finally, the method enables building analytical modules comprising the reports and the statistical models. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251875 | NETWORK-BASED SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DEFINING AND MANAGING MULTI-DIMENSIONAL, ADVERTISING IMPRESSION INVENTORY - A method for representing and managing an inventory of overlapping multi-dimensional items such as advertising or ad impressions. The method uses an inventory management module to generate unique segment identifiers for sets of inventory items by processing descriptions of the sets of impressions including defining criteria. The method includes processing the unique segment identifiers to create a representation of the inventory as a plurality of inventory regions, which may include non-overlapping regions that correspond to inventory items in a single set of the inventory and also include overlapping regions that correspond to inventory items in two or more of the sets (e.g., items that match two or more sets of defining criteria or attributes). Availability and selection of inventory is determined using the information on inventory regions to control effects of cannibalization, such as by implementing logically necessary allocation to only cannibalize a region on a limited or forced basis. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251876 | ELECTRONIC LOCK BOX SYSTEM WITH INCENTIVIZED FEEDBACK - An electronic lock box system that includes a central computer, which allows “listing agents” (if used in a real estate sales environment) to custom tailor a survey questionnaire that relates to features connected with the potential sale or lease of a property, and thereby garner feedback information from potential buyers (or lessees), or at least from “showing agents” that represent potential buyers/lessees. To improve response rate, the listing agent can add incentives to other agents who provide useful feedback. Furthermore, the system can be configured such that reciprocal feedback is necessary in order for a participating agent to see feedback about his or her own listings. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251877 | MODEL FOR MARKET IMPACT ANALYSIS OF PART REMOVAL FROM COMPLEX PRODUCTS - A model for impact analysis determines impact of part removal from a product. An entity is identifies that includes a plurality of sub-components. One or more performance measures associated with the entity are identified. One or more of the sub-components to be removed from the entity are identified. A substitution impact function is defined. Impact on said one or more performance measures is determined using the substitution impact function. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251878 | SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING LARGE AMOUNTS OF DATA - A system for processing data includes a first data pipeline. The first data pipeline includes a processor to process a first set of data stored in a tangible memory. The system also includes a second data pipeline to process a second set of data. A mapping processor matches the first set of data to the second set of data to produce a third set of data. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251879 | Product discount system, apparatus and method - A product discount system, apparatus, and method are herein disclosed. A discount server may receive one or more product discounts from a use. A wireless device may retrieve product identification information from a product and generate a discount request message that is transmitted to a discount server. The discount server may identify potential discounts associated with the product identification information and transmit product availability data to the wireless device. The wireless device may notify a user of available product discounts based on the product availability data. Once notified, the user may proceed by redeeming one or more of the available product discounts. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251880 | VIRAL COUPON INFRASTRUCTURE - Methods, systems, devices and/or apparatus related to generating, transmitting and/or tracking coupons. Specifically, the disclosed methods, systems, devices and/or apparatus relate to generating, transmitting and/or tracking a plurality of coupons among a plurality of consumers using social media channels and other electronic distribution channels. Some exemplary embodiments may include authenticating consumers and/or coupons. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251881 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR AMOUNT CALCULATION - Methods and systems for amount calculation are described. In one embodiment, a determination that a participant has a referral relationship with a first merchant may be made. A first processing fee of the first merchant may be obtained. The first processing fee may be based on a payment volume of the first merchant. A second processing fee of the second merchant may be obtained. The second processing fee may be based on the payment volume of the second merchant. A rebate amount for the participant may be calculated based on the first processing fee, the second processing fee, and a determination that the participant has the referral relationship with the first merchant. Additional methods and systems are disclosed. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251882 | REWARD EXCHANGE METHOD AND SYSTEM IMPLEMENTING DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS - A method of operating a data collection and analysis system. An exchange computer receives customer identification data associated with a customer. A quantitative analysis algorithm determines whether the exchange computer has received an amount of customer identification data sufficient for the customer to be uniquely identified, and if so, then a linking service computer or a plurality of remote database computers perform a qualitative analysis algorithm with the customer identification data to determine if the customer identification data is sufficient for the customer to be uniquely identified. If the qualitative analysis algorithm passes, then customer information may be retrieved from the remote databases and collated and analyzed at the exchange computer. The customer may automatically register with reward programs using already-entered user information. A data analysis embodiment enables offers to be generated that are tailored towards specific users. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251883 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING LOYALTY CARD REWARDS THROUGH AN ALTERNATE USER FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT - The present disclosure relates to comparison shopping and usage based service analysis for consumers, primarily for financial products. A consumer may not be aware of a provider's services, options, terms, conditions, costs, or how the service options change based on the consumer's particular usage characteristics. The disclosed comparison shopping method uses actual or predicted service usage data from the consumer. Service provider information is used to present the consumer with relevant alternative service offering options. Transaction data is gathered from a user's financial account and is analyzed for a savings opportunity indication. The analysis is used to match a savings opportunity from a database of savings opportunities, and the savings opportunity may be displayed in a statement of a user's financial account. Past responses to a savings opportunity indication may be gathered and analyzed. In one example, a savings opportunity is presented for use in a subsequent transaction. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251884 | E-COUPONING - Handling electronic coupons includes accessing information indicating association of an electronic coupon with an account of a user that identifies multiple retail entities associated with the user. Information indicating association of electronic coupons with the user's account may be transmitted to respective computer systems associated with the multiple retail entities. The computer systems may associate electronic coupons with the user such that the user may redeem the electronic coupons at a retail store upon presentation of a user identifier. When the user redeems an electronic coupon, cancellation information for the electronic coupon may be transmitted to the computer systems of other retail entities associated with the user. Receipt of the cancellation information may cause the respective computer systems to cancel the redeemability of the electronic coupon such that the user is prevented from redeeming the electronic coupon at a retail store associated with the corresponding retail entity. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251885 | Differentiated experience for user generated content (UGC) based on popularity - The preferred method involves receiving user generated content from an end user terminal at a web server; inserting an advertisement into the beginning of the user generated content; monitoring each occasion on which the user generated content is accessed from the web server; adjusting the length of the advertisement after the user generated content is accessed a threshold number of times; adjusting the quality of the user generated content after the user generated content is accessed a threshold number of times; and increasing the number of distribution channels for the user generated content after the user generated content is accessed a threshold number of times. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251886 | PROMOTIONAL PLACEMENT OF APPLICATIONS IN A MARKETPLACE - Assigning a mobile application to a promotional slot in a mobile application marketplace managed by an operator. One or more bids for the promotional slot in the mobile application marketplace are received. Each of the received bids is associated with one of a plurality of applications and includes a value representing a proposed revenue share with the operator. Revenue potential information corresponding to the applications associated with the bids is accessed. Expected revenue for the operator for the applications associated with the bids is calculated based on the received bids and the accessed revenue potential information. The calculated expected revenue differentiates the mobile applications. One of the applications is selected to be assigned to the promotional slot based at least on the calculated expected revenue for the operator. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251887 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVING CLICK-THROUGH-RATE OF ADVERTISEMENTS LEVERAGING EFFICIENT TARGETING TECHNIQUES - A method for optimized selection and rendering of advertisements on various device types of a user is provided. The method enables receiving inferred data related to the user. The inferred data includes static context inferred from user profile information. The user profile information includes static details pertaining to the user. The inferred data further includes dynamic context. The dynamic context is inferred from the user's behavior across multiple communication channels using the various device types of the user. The method further enables short listing advertisements based on the inferred data and applying predetermined rules on the short listed advertisements to select a final advertisement. Finally, the method enables rendering the final advertisement on at least one of the various devices types of the user. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251888 | System and Method for Managing Tailored Marketing to Users of Wireless Devices - A system for managing tailored marketing to users of wireless devices adapted to wirelessly access a computer network. The system includes a user database storing a plurality of user data, each user data including a user identifier and a device identifier that identifies a wireless device of a user. A management module transmits marketing information to a selected wireless device, and receives an identifier of a financial account that was used to perform a financial transaction in response to the marketing information transmitted to the selected wireless device. The module stores this identifier in the user database so as to associate the selected wireless device to the received financial account identifier. The financial account identifier can now be used to obtain personal information about the user such as the user's purchase history to generate tailored marketing information to the selected wireless device. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251889 | INVENTORY CLUSTERING - Various embodiments provide techniques for inventory clustering. In one or more embodiments, a set of inventory to be processed is placed into an initial cluster. The inventory can be related to impressions for advertising that are defined by values for a set of attributes. Recursive division of the initial cluster is performed by selecting an attribute and deriving child clusters that are constrained by one or more values of the attributes in accordance with one or more clustering algorithms. The clustering algorithms are configured to derive an optimum number of clusters by repetitively generating smaller child clusters and measuring a cost associated with adding additional clusters. Additional child clusters can be formed in this manner until the measured cost to add more clusters outweighs a benefit of adding more clusters. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251890 | SYSTEM FOR COMMERCIAL INFORMATION TRANSMISSION AND ITS APPLIED METHOD THEREIN - A system for electronic commercial information transmission, and the method for electronic information transmission applied therein. The system comprises a server and at least one portable work station that can communicate with the server on which a combination of free multi-media information are stored. The multi-media information is played free of charge with non-limited times. The music group and commercial goods will gradually become famous. The actions for watching the commercial information will enlarge the market for multi-media information download and the commodities business. This system will enclose the combination of the said multi-media information and commercial information in the greeting card and send the same to whose lover and families to offer the festival wishes, and this card, further to the multi-media information and commercial information will easily become the gossip topic of the public. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251891 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AN EXECUTABLE SCRIPT RELATED TO PROVIDING A SAVINGS OPPORTUNITY INTERFACE - The present disclosure relates to comparison shopping and usage based service analysis for consumers, primarily for financial products. A consumer may not be aware of a provider's services, options, terms, conditions, costs, or how the service options change based on the consumer's particular usage characteristics. The disclosed comparison shopping method uses the consumer's actual or predicted service usage data. Service provider information is used to present the consumer with relevant alternative service offering options. Transaction data is gathered from a user's financial account and is analyzed for a savings opportunity indication. The analysis is used to match a savings opportunity from a database of savings opportunities, and the savings opportunity may be displayed in a statement of a user's financial account. Past responses to a savings opportunity indication may be gathered and analyzed. In one example, a savings opportunity is presented using executable script in a user's graphical user interface. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251892 | Mobile Phone Payment Processing Methods and Systems - Embodiments provide systems, methods, processes, computer program code and means for using mobile devices to conduct payment transactions at merchant locations including brick and mortar locations and remote locations as well as for person to person transactions. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251893 | URL SHORTENING BASED ONLINE ADVERTISING - Methods of the present inventions allow for URL shortening based online advertising. An exemplary method may comprise the steps of receiving a URL that resolves to a first network resource, parsing the URL into keyword(s), transmitting the keyword(s) to an online advertisement provider, receiving online advertisement(s) from the online advertisement provider, generating a second network resource (comprising the first network resource and one or more online advertisements), and generating a shortened resource locator that resolves to the second network resource. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251894 | TOOLS ENABLING URL SHORTENING BASED ONLINE ADVERTISING - Systems of the present inventions allow for URL shortening based online advertising. An exemplary system may comprise a website hosted on a server computer and having a field configured to receive a URL that resolves to a first network resource. The system may further comprise software modules running on at least one server computer communicatively coupled to the website and may include: a keyword extraction module configured to parse the URL into keyword(s) and transmit keyword(s) to an online advertisement generation module configured to generate online advertisement(s) relevant to the keyword(s) and transmit them to a network resource generation module configured to generate a second network resource (comprising the first network resource and one or more online advertisements), and a shortened resource locator generation module configured to generate a shortened resource locator that resolves to the second network resource. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251895 | TARGET SPECIFIC URL SHORTENING BASED ONLINE ADVERTISING - Methods of the present inventions allow for URL shortening based online advertising. An exemplary method may comprise the steps of receiving a URL that resolves to a first network resource, parsing the URL into keyword(s), transmitting the keyword(s) to an online advertisement provider, receiving online advertisement(s) from the online advertisement provider, generating a second network resource (comprising the first network resource and one or more online advertisements), and generating a shortened resource locator that resolves to the second network resource. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251896 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MATCHING AN ADVERTISEMENT TO A VIDEO - Systems and methods for automatically matching in real-time an advertisement with a video desired to be viewed by a user are provided. A database is created that stores one or more attributes (e.g., visual metadata relating to objects, faces, scene classifications, pornography detection, scene segmentation, production quality, fingerprinting) associated with a plurality of videos. Supervised machine learning can be used to create signatures that uniquely identify particular attributes of interest, which can then be used to generate the attributes associated with the plurality of videos. When a user requests to view an on-line video having associated with it an advertisement, an advertisement can be selected for display with the video based on matching an advertiser's requirements or campaign parameters with the stored attributes associated with the requested video, with the user's information, or a combination thereof. The displayed advertisement can function as a hyperlink that allows a user to select to receive additional information about the advertisement. The performance or effectiveness of the selected advertisements can be measured and recorded. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251897 | Online Shopping Circulars - There is provided a system and method for user interfaces to navigate online shopping circulars. There is provided a method comprising retrieving circular data, presenting the circular data arranged by sorting parameters, receiving a request to obtain a product, and initiating a transaction for the requested product with a retailer. The sorting parameters may include parameters such as retailer bids for enhanced visibility, thereby providing increased monetization opportunities. The sorting parameters may also include flexible preset or user defined filtering options, allowing users to enjoy an engaging and streamlined shopping experience. The online shopping circulars may be implemented as a module for online media content, such as a news site or an entertainment portal. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251898 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISTRIBUTING MESSAGES TO ELECTRONIC DEVICES BASED ON LEVELS OF ACTIVITY OF THE DEVICES - The present disclosure described herein relates to a system and method for distributing messages to electronic devices. The method comprises: identifying a set of devices that meet a first criteria regarding an activity level; and transmitting a set of advertisements to the set of devices based on activity levels of the set of devices. For at least one of the devices, the activity data may relate to at least one communication log of communications processed by at least one device. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251899 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DELIVERY AND PRESENTATION OF MESSAGES IN DEPENDENCE UPON THE MODE OF OPERATION OF THE COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A method and system for delivery and presentation of a message on a communication device. A detection of a connection of a call made by a communication device is detected at the communication device. A further detection that the communication device is operating in a pre-defined mode of operation is performed, a message accessibly stored in memory is accessed, and display or other presentation of the message is initiated on an interface such as a display screen of the communication device. The call connection status is monitored, and the message is presented at least while the call is connected and the device is operating in the pre-defined mode of operation. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251900 | System And Method For Providing Short Message Targeted Advertisements Over A Wireless Communications Network - A method and system for providing targeted advertisement information to consumers over a wireless communications network. In one embodiment, local advertisers register to advertise on certain wireless communications devices that are in close proximity to the advertiser. As a consumer enters a cell site that is near the location of the advertiser, the wireless network delivers a message to the wireless device that is specified by the local advertiser. An acknowledgement signal is then received by the network, and the local advertiser's account is charged for transmission of the advertisement. In a further embodiment, each of the messages stored in the database is also associated with one or more demographic codes, and users of wireless communications device select from one more demographic codes to describer their advertisement preferences. Messages to be transmitted to particular wireless communications devices are selected based upon both the location information and the demographics codes that are associated with the messages. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251901 | METHOD FOR AUCTIONING AND BILLING FOR SEARCH ADVERTISEMENT, SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM - A method, system, and computer-readable recording medium for holding an auction and imposing a charge in relation to a search advertisement are provided. The method includes receiving bid information related to the search advertisement from an advertiser calculating device, the bid information including a search keyword, a posted time of the search advertisement, and a bid price for the search advertisement, determining a posting position and/or a posting order of the search advertisement with respect to a predetermined time slot of the posted time of the search advertisement, based on the bid price corresponding to the time slot, and posting the search advertisement according to the determined posting position and/or the posting order for the predetermined time slot. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251902 | Target Area Based Content and Stream Monetization Using Feedback - A system and method to increase monetization of event streams with relevant content such as advertising, games, puzzles, sensory output, etc. using target areas on a client device. The target area enables contextually relevant advertisement objects to be streamed in from a server device. The target areas enable the event streams and user generated content to be sold as cost-per-time, click-sale, click, impressions, etc. increasing monetization revenue, brand awareness and traffic. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251903 | METHOD, APPARATUS, AND COMPUTER READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM FOR ACQUIRING INFORMATION ON PRODUCTS ATTACHED TO PERSON IN IMAGE DATA - There are provided a method and an apparatus for acquiring information on products which are located on the body of a person appearing in image data. More particularly, a method and an apparatus for analyzing a posture of a person from image data, i.e., a face posture and a body posture of the person, displaying, according to information on the posture of the person, at least one of candidate regions in which products are attached to the body of the person in the image data on a screen of a terminal of a user, and, if the user selects any one of the candidate regions, providing the terminal with information on products same as or similar to an image of a specific product included in the selected candidate region. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251904 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EVALUATING VISITORS TO A WEB SERVER - Different web pages on a web server are associated with different qualification profiles, each of which is assigned a value by the web-site proprietor. Traffic data hits at the web-site are analyzed to determine which web pages the visitor viewed on the web server. Each qualifying visitor is thereafter associated with a qualification profile and a corresponding value. In another aspect of the invention, visitors arriving as a result of an advertisement on a remote web-site are tracked. The web-site proprietor is consequently able to determine a return on advertising investment based on the value of visitors brought to the site by the tracked advertisement. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251905 | Touch Sensitive Holographic Displays - We describe a touch sensitive holographic image display device for holographically projecting a touch sensitive image at an acute angle onto a surface on which the device is placed. The device includes holographic image projection optics comprising at least one coherent light source illuminating a spatial light modulator (SLM), output optics to project a hologram onto an acute angle surface, and a remote touch sensing system to remotely detect a touch of a location within or adjacent to the holographically displayed image. A control system is configured to provide data defining an image for display, to receive detected touch data, and to control the device responsive to remote detection of a touch of a the displayed image. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251906 | MOBILE AGENT POINT-OF-SALE (POS) - Systems and methods are disclosed for conducting transactions and financial transfers utilizing a mobile device communicatively coupled with a mobile communications network and executing a mobile point-of-sale application. According to some embodiments, the mobile point-of-sale application is adapted to conduct money transfer transactions by communicating transaction information through the mobile communications network to a money transfer provider system that processes the money transfer and communicates receipt information to the mobile point-of-sale application. Additionally, according to some embodiments, an account associated with an agent of the money transfer provider can be used in money transfer transactions conducted by the mobile point-of-sale application. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251907 | ELECTRONIC MARKET TRACKING AND REPORTING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Systems and methods are described for transforming actual aggregated data (e.g., transaction and terminal data) from a large number of POS terminals into market trend reports. For example, POS datasets are aggregated from POS terminals distributed across many merchant outlet locations, each POS dataset including location data and transaction data for its respective POS terminal. A reporting request is received for a market trend report corresponding to a designated market. A market dataset is identified from the portion of the aggregated POS data. Market trend data is calculated and graphical report data is output as a function of the market trend data in response to the reporting request. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251908 | PERSONAL INTERFACE DEVICE AND METHOD - A personal device is provided. The personal device includes an identification verification system that receives first identification data from a physical identification device, such as by inserting a driver's license into a card reader that is adapted to receive a driver's license. Second identification data such as a PIN number is also received. Payment authorization data or other suitable data is generated if the driver's license corresponds to the PIN. A payment selection system or other suitable system receives the payment authorization data and displays one or more payment accounts for selection by a user. Where a payment selection system is used, the payment selection system transmits payment account data to a point-of-sale system. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251909 | CREDIT CARD PAYMENT SYSTEM FOR HANDLING NUMEROUS PAYORS - A method, apparatus, computer system and computer program product for managing a plurality of credit card payments over a communications network is disclosed. The apparatus of the present invention includes a plurality of slots, each allowing for insertion of a card. Each slot includes a sensor for reading information from a card inserted into the slot and a moving mechanism for ejecting a card inserted into the slot. The apparatus further includes a processor communicatively coupled with each sensor and moving mechanism associated with each slot, wherein the processor is configured for receiving data read by the sensors and sending an actuation command to the moving mechanisms. The apparatus further includes a communications module communicatively coupled with the processor for sending data read by the sensors and receiving commands for actuating the moving mechanisms. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251910 | Mobile Phone as a Switch - Embodiments of the streamlined payment system described herein are directed to a consumer mobile device (e.g., a mobile phone) that sends transaction details for authorization, instead of the merchant sending the transaction details for authorization. This eliminates the need to present the consumer's payment account information to the merchant. The transaction details may include an amount and merchant payment initiation information. In one embodiment, the consumer mobile device may directly contact an issuer without using a traditional payment processing network. The issuer may then approve or deny the transaction and communicate directly with the issuer, merchant, or merchant's acquirer. In one embodiment, transaction details may need to be communicated from a computing device (e.g., a PC) operated by the consumer that is not collocated with the merchant. In this embodiment, the transaction details may be encoded into a particular format that can be received and read by the consumer's mobile device. The format may be a transaction details identifier or a transaction details data payload. The transaction details identifier or transaction details data payload may be an SMS or MMS message, barcode, watermarked image, or manual identifier that represents the transaction details. The SMS/MMS message with transaction details payload or identifier may be received by the mobile device. The barcode, text image, or watermarked image may be read using the mobile device's camera or other input means. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251911 | SYSTEMS AND/OR METHODS FOR DETERMINING ITEM SERIAL NUMBER STRUCTURE AND INTELLIGENCE - Certain exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for determining the correct item serial number structure, even when information regarding the serial number data and/or structure is lacking. Such techniques advantageously promote data integrity by helping to ensure that the desired data is captured correctly, while also reducing (and sometimes even eliminating) the need to obtain detailed information regarding serial number structure and intelligence that sometimes is guarded by producers/manufacturers. Statistical sampling of collected unknown data formats may be used to help decipher product identification numbers (or other numbers) such as product serial numbers through a repetitive process of scanning a known constant such as the UPC number, followed by a variable number such as a products serial number. Certain exemplary embodiments check serial number against a database containing algorithms to determine if and which algorithm is used to create such serial numbers. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251912 | Method for Producing Custom Composite Products - A method of producing a product composed of a set of components generally consisting of providing certain raw materials suitable to produce such components; providing a CNC machine operable upon suitable programming to produce the components from the raw materials; providing programming for the machine suitable for forming the components from the raw materials; soliciting the sale of the components to a prospective customer intended for assembly by the customer in producing the product; producing the components from the raw materials, utilizing the machine suitably programmed upon the sale of the components to the customer; and delivering the components to the customer for assembly thereof by the customer to produce the product composed of the components. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251913 | Electronic commerce telecommunication telephone number bank key computer data bank - A computer based method for preventing electronic bank robbery and account hijacking. The method provides the online account holder to access electronic bank accounts, storefronts, and electronic mail, etc. by using their telephone number as an electronic commerce account access key. For providing telecommunication caller identification, account access verification. The institution provides a 1-800 number with caller identification, electronic numerical telephone number key tumbler account holder verification. The telephone number key tumbler can also prevent electronic auction fraud. The key tumbler can monitor the merchant's account activities, and prevent merchant fraud from repeat offenders. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251914 | System and Method for Providing Scalable and Customized Product Offerings to Customers - The present invention is directed to a data driven methodology to construct software configurations and product catalogs. A system and method are provided for tracking and maintaining large numbers of groupings of data and their interrelationships and thereby providing scalable and customized product offerings to customers. In particular, the present invention relates to a product catalog tagging methodology for specifying and making available specific product items from a catalog of products, to individual customers or locations. Such product offering of related data items include, product availability information, product descriptions and graphics, associated pricing, shipping/delivery options, product specifications (e.g., image sizes in the case of a photography related implementations), mappings of orderable products to fulfillment instructions, and specifications for centralized/common data files that may be relevant to particular fulfillment locales. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251915 | MULTI-SYSTEM DISTRIBUTED PROCESSING OF DELIVERY SERVICES - Various systems and methods that may relate to referral and/or delivery services are described. Some embodiments may include communication using a payment processing device. Various other embodiments are described. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251916 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMPLEMENTING BAR CODES WITH ONLINE AUCTIONS - A method of and system for scanning a bar code associated with a product with a mobile device to obtain (i) a list of online auctions for the product or a similar product; (ii) a list of commercial web sites in which the product or a similar product is being offered for sale; and/or (iii) a list of resellers of the product or a similar product where the product or similar product is located in a geographic region in predetermined proximity to the location. In addition, a seller may scan a bar code associated with a product that the seller would like to sell via an online auction service in order to obtain a predetermined product listing that the seller may modify prior to listing on the online auction service. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251917 | PERFORMING PREDICTIVE PRICING BASED ON HISTORICAL DATA - Techniques are described for using predictive pricing information for items to assist in evaluating buying and/or selling decisions in various ways, such as on behalf of end-user item acquirers and/or intermediate item providers. The predictive pricing for an item may be based on an analysis of historical pricing information for that item and/or related items, and can be used to make predictions about future pricing information for the item. Such predictions may then be provided to users in various ways to enable comparison of current prices to predicted future prices. In some situations, predictive pricing information is used to assist customers when purchasing airline tickets and/or to assist travel agents when selling airline tickets. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and it is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251918 | RECOMMENDATION-GUIDED INTERNET PURCHASES UTLIZING CONTEXT DERIVED FROM A CONSTELLATION OF DEVICES - An embodiment of the present invention provides an Internet access device, comprising a processor adapted to provide recommendation-guided Internet purchases by identifying purchasing opportunities that would be directly relevant to a user of said Internet access device, wherein the Internet access device would utilize context received from the user's constellation of devices to develop a profile of the user's purchasing behavior, and automatically offer purchasing opportunities that are most likely to be of interest to the user. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251919 | MULTI-SYSTEM DISTRIBUTED PROCESSING OF PAYMENT AND/OR NON-PAYMENT INFORMATION - Various systems and methods that may relate to referral and/or delivery services are described. Some embodiments may include communication using a payment processing device. Various other embodiments are described. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251920 | ITEM FINDER SYSTEM FOR FINDING ITEMS STORED IN STORAGE REGIONS - An item finder system for situating in a retail environment for the purpose of assisting customers to find the items they wish to find has a touch-sensitive display screen. Customers enter the name of the sought item by touching letters displayed on the touch-sensitive surface which then displays a list of item names from what the customer can choose. An item name is selected from the list by touching a graphical symbol associated with the item name. The item finder system responds to the customer's touch by displaying a floor plan or layout of at least part of the store, a marker symbol representing the location of the item, for example, a section of shelf space that contains the item, and a path line extending from the customer's present location, i.e., the location of the touch-sensitive screen, to the location of the item in the store. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251921 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO FACILITATE BILLING OF EMBEDDED APPLICATIONS IN A SERVING PLATFORM - Various embodiments described herein include one or more of systems, software, and methods to automatically facilitate a billing transaction between a third-party developer and a user subscribing to a third-party application. Some such embodiments create a sub-account under a serving platform account registered to the user. Some embodiments include storing a billing plan associated with the third-party application, the billing plan defining a fee to subscribe to the third-party application. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251922 | MULTI-PARTY PAYMENT OBJECT ORIENTED SYSTEM AND METHOD - The present invention involves a server for accommodating multiple payments in an e-commerce transaction. The server includes a processor with a communications device and software modules. The vendor software module is adapted to receive payment requirements from a vendor via the communications device, and also to receive payment parameters from an initiator. The payment parameters include an item payment amount and an identification of at least one contributor. The contributor software module is adapted to obtain payment information from at least one of the initiator and the contributors wherein the payment information is sufficient to authorize the commitment of funds to a transaction. The aggregation software module is adapted to send participation messages via the communications device to at least one contributor. The participation messages include information on the item, the item payment amount, and directions for the contributor to interact with the contributor module. Further, the aggregation software module maintains a total of committed funds and initiates a payment transaction when the committed funds are sufficient to pay the vendor the item payment amount. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251923 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR A CENTRALIZED GIFT REGISTRY WITH TWO-WAY SYNCHRONIZATION - Systems and methods for that allow for the creation and management of a centralized gift registry are described. Gifts are added to the centralized gift registry from retailer-specific registries. A gift list is created and displayed. Gift givers may select a gift from the gift list of the centralized gift registry. In one embodiment, when a purchase of a gift occurs, the gift list is updated. Updates to gifts are sent between the centralized gift registry and the retailer-specific registries, such that the gifts common to these registries are synchronized. This synchronization may involve the use of APIs at the centralized gift registry or the retailer-specific registries. The centralized gift registry system automatically searches for all retailer-specific registries pertaining to the gift registrant. The centralized gift registry system may request a retailer's system to create a retailer-specific registry. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251924 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR A CENTRALIZED GIFT REGISTRY WITH UPLOAD AND MERGE OF A RETAILER-SPECIFIC REGISTRY - Systems and methods for that allow for the creation and management of a centralized gift registry are described. A retailer-specific registry is imported into the centralized gift registry. A gift list is created and displayed. Gift givers may select a gift from the gift list of the centralized gift registry. In one embodiment, when a purchase of a gift occurs, the gift list is updated. Updates to gifts are sent between the centralized gift registry and the retailer-specific registries, such that the gifts common to these registries are synchronized. This synchronization may involve the use of APIs at the centralized gift registry or the retailer-specific registries. The centralized gift registry system automatically searches for all retailer-specific registries pertaining to the gift registrant. The centralized gift registry system may request a retailer's system for information on gift items of a respective retailer-specific registry. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251925 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR A CENTRALIZED GIFT REGISTRY WITH AUTOMATIC RETAILER-SPECIFIC REGISTRY CREATION - Systems and methods for that allow for the creation and management of a centralized gift registry are described. Gifts are added to the centralized gift registry from retailer-specific registries. A gift registrant may select one or more retailers. The centralized gift registry system may automatically submit a request for the creation of retailer-specific registries at each of the retailers selected by the gift registrant, based in part on information provided to the centralized gift registry by the gift registrant. This creation may involve the use of APIs at the centralized gift registry or the retailer-specific registries. A gift list is created and displayed. Gift givers may select a gift from the centralized gift registry. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251926 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, COMPUTER PRODUCTS, AND WEBSITE FOR PROGRESSIVE E-COMMERCE - An e-commerce system where progressive incentives are displayed to entice shoppers to purchase goods is disclosed. The e-commerce system includes a database with a region of memory having data related to a first inventory of physical goods and a second inventory of digital goods. The e-commerce system also includes a website configured to facilitate an event, where the website is coupled to the database for accessing the first inventory in response to the event. The event may be a purchase of one or more physical goods. The e-commerce system further includes a webpage configured to display at least a portion of the first inventory that is available for sale, and to display one or more digital goods, where the webpage presents a locked digital good before the event occurs, and in response to one or more events occurring, the webpage presents an unlocked digital good. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251927 | PRECIOUS METALS DISTRIBUTION WEBSITE - A distribution channel of precious metals utilizes an investment agent and/or insurance agent model. A method for purchasing and selling precious metals may be a web-based trading model that may allow individuals to conveniently trade precious metals. A monthly accumulation plan may allow clients to develop a portfolio in precious metals. | 2011-10-13 |
20110251928 | VIRTUAL WORLDS SEAMLESS OBJECT DROP INTEGRATION - Virtual worlds seamless object drop integration enables users to obtain products in a virtual world by dragging a product image icon off of an e-commerce web page and on to a virtual world client. The drag-and-drop movement is initiated by the user from a browser window on a display screen. The browser calls an underlying system service to pass an image tag corresponding to the product image icon on to the virtual world client. The image tag includes a unique identifier. The virtual world client checks the image tag to see if the corresponding product has a price, and asks the user if they want to buy it. A product purchase transaction is completed by a virtual world network server and a payments network server that is called in for the financial authorizations. The seller's web page and payments network server are addressed by their respective Uniform Resource Locator (URL). | 2011-10-13 |