| 01st week of 2013 patent applcation highlights part 68 |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
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| 20130006711 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENHANCING PRODUCTIVITY OF SALES AND MARKETING OPERATIONS OF PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES - A system and method for enhancing productivity of sales and marketing operations of pharmaceutical companies is provided. The method includes collecting information pertaining to pharmaceutical sales and marketing operations from all available sources. The method further includes processing the collected information to identify a plurality of market segments, to determine performance of sales representatives, and to determine impact of sales and marketing efforts. Further, the method includes generating marketing content based on the processed information. Marketing content is generated based on feedback on previous sales and marketing materials, specific questions asked during sales interactions and new research on pharmaceutical medicines. Ultimately, pharmaceutical sales and marketing campaigns are generated based on the generated marketing content. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006712 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REVENUE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM BASED ON MARKET PRICING - The method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention allows a comprehensive and unbiased analysis on hotel prices for a market. It allows to position a particular hotel vis-à-vis the market characteristics where it is located. This market price analysis is integrated into a revenue management system in order to update price recommendations based on market elements which are external to the hotel. The method according to the present invention poses no limit to the number of competitors against whom the hotel own rates are benchmarked, its purpose being to provide a global market vision. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006713 | METHOD FOR AGGREGATING PRICING INFORMATION AND ASSIGNING A FAIR MARKET VALUE TO GOODS SOLD IN A PEER-TO-PEER E-COMMERCE TRANSACTION - A computer-implemented method for aggregating pricing information and assigning a fair market value to goods sold in an ecommerce transaction comprising obtaining pricing information of a good, collecting pricing information of said goods from one or more sources, determining the fair market value of said goods by calculating a weighted mean average of the collected prices, identifying one or more sellers offering to sell said goods, displaying the results of said calculation and said identification using a computerized electronic device. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006714 | SUSTAINING ENGINEERING AND MAINTENANCE USING SEM PATTERNS AND THE SEMINAL DASHBOARD - Supporting problem resolution of an organization, in one aspect, may include obtaining operational data associated with the organization, calculating operating metrics based on the operational data, detecting one or more metrics trends based on the calculated operational metrics, identifying one or more relations between the metric trends, and determining one or more SEM patterns from two or more of the calculated operational metrics and metric trends. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006715 | Fleet Vehicle Management Systems and Methods - Some embodiments of a system for communicating vehicle information can provide equipment for use inside a fleet vehicle to facilitate prompt and efficient transfer of vehicle and driver information. In particular embodiments, the system may include an electronic onboard recorder mountable in a vehicle and a mobile communication device that is configured to wireless communication with the electronic onboard recorder. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006716 | SYSTEM OF MANAGING CHANGE PROCESS - A system for managing changes to obviate inefficiencies in business processes involves identifying business activities ( | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006717 | EVALUATING A WORKER IN PERFORMING CROWD SOURCED TASKS AND PROVIDING IN-TASK TRAINING THROUGH PROGRAMMATICALLY GENERATED TEST TASKS - Systems and methods for evaluating a worker in performing crowd sourced tasks and providing in-task training are disclosed. In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure include a method, which may be implemented on a system, for selecting a job distributed through a job distribution platform for workers to work on, for use to generate a test task, the job being associated with a known correct result, associating a manipulated result, known to be an incorrect result for the job, with the job to generate the test task, and/or presenting the job with the manipulated result as the test task to a worker for evaluation of work quality of the worker. The job distribution platform crowd sources tasks online to workers to work on via their respective computing devices. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006718 | METHODS, APPARATUS AND SYSTEMS FOR CHRONICLING THE ACTIVITIES OF FIELD TECHNICIANS - Tracking or monitoring activities associated with employees, such as field technicians working in the field, is based on receiving and processing activity information related to activities conducted by the employees. Activity information may include location information associated with individual activities or equipment, employee status information (e.g. clocked-in or clocked-out), travel information, or other information associated with an employee's activities. In an example, tracking employee activities may include receiving field service activity information, associating at least one data source with at least one technician, associating an acquisition event with at least one time window and at least one location, and generating a timeline associated with the at least one technician and at least one data source, where generating the timeline includes reconciling the acquisition event with the received field service activity information. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006719 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ELECTIONS AND GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY - A system and method for a voter to vote using an electoral system ( | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006720 | System and Method for Creating Limited Edition Product - An method and system for partnering with fashion and design industries to create limited-edition, exclusive product. A designer is asked to submit 3-4 sketches each of 4-6 related styles in a collection, along with swatches of fabrics and colorways of the fabrics. Buyers each select, for each style in the collection, a preferred combination of silhouette, fabric and color and the system records each selection through a Multilateral Voting Matrix on an e-commerce platform. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006721 | Computer Implemented Method for Scoring Change Proposals - A method for scoring changes of components of a concept by a group of evaluators in a collective decision process is presented. First, the level of disagreement with the components is collected together with comments indicating desired changes. The expected incremental decrease of the overall disagreement level achievable by a component change is computed for a given probability that a formulation can be found that is acceptable by both agreeing and disagreeing evaluators. Performing this computation for different values of the compromise probability yields a score indicating the expected incremental decrease in overall disagreement achievable by a component change. Next, alternative formulations for the selected components are drafted and subjected to a second round of voting. For each component the alternative yielding the maximum incremental improvement of overall consent is selected, where the sequence in which the components are scrutinized is determined by the score computed in the first step. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006722 | Universal vehicle management system - A universal vehicle management apparatus that can be installed on any means of conveyance, including means of conveyance where installation would result in significant exposure to environmental hazards, and including a rating system that can handle complex fare calculations from a plurality of sensors. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006723 | TOLLED ROADWAY AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A ROADWAY TOLLING SYSTEM - A method for operating a roadway tolling system includes recording an entry time onto a ticket when a vehicle enters a tolled roadway at an entry point of an entrance location. The method also includes dispensing the ticket to an occupant of the vehicle at the entry point and collecting the ticket from the occupant when the vehicle exits the tolled roadway at an exit point of a tolling location. The method further includes recording an exit time for the vehicle at the exit point, calculating a toll for the vehicle, and calculating an average speed for the vehicle. The method further includes comparing the average speed to a speed limit, and issuing a fine to the occupant of the vehicle if the average speed of the vehicle is greater than the speed limit. A tolled roadway is also provided. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006724 | TOLLING USING MOBILE DEVICE - In one aspect, a tolling system is operable to perform operations, which may include: receiving, over a network and from a mobile device application operating on a mobile processing device, an identifier and road usage data collected by the mobile device application; identifying a profile based on the identifier; accessing a toll pricing model applicable to an entity associated with the identified profile; and determining a tolling charge incurred by the entity based on the road usage data collected by the mobile device application, the identified profile, and the accessed toll pricing model. In another aspect, a mobile device application is operable to perform operations that may include: collecting road usage data; communicating, over a network to a tolling system, the collected road usage data and an identifier; and receiving, from the tolling system, tolling charge data computed based on the communicated road usage data. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006725 | TOLLING INTEGRATION TECHNOLOGY - In one aspect, a tolling system is operable to perform operations, which include: identifying tolling data sources in a network; constructing a toll pricing model based on the identified tolling data sources; integrating tolling data from two or more of the identified tolling data sources, the tolling data including data describing characteristics of road usage by an entity; and determining a tolling charge incurred by the entity in accordance with the toll pricing model based on the integrated tolling data. In some example implementations, the integrated tolling data may be collected by at least two different tolling data sources that collect different types of tolling data. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006726 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING TOLL FEES IN A ROAD TOLL SYSTEM - Method for determining toll fees for vehicles in a road toll system including vehicle-onboard units and positionally distributed beacons capable of communicating with the onboard units via radio signals. The method includes: providing a toll fee level and a validity time frame; retrieving an identifier of the onboard unit, the toll fee level and the validity time frame from the onboard unit as a data record; resetting the toll fee level, if the validity time frame has expired; increasing the toll fee level and storing the updated data record in the onboard unit and the beacon; transmitting a request for deletion of stored data records for this identifier to other beacons; transmitting the data record from the beacon to the central station, if no deletion request for the data record arrives within the validity time frame; and deleting the data record in the beacon. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006727 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SOCIAL FILTERING OF GEOBOOKMARKS - A computer-implemented method and system of providing geobookmarks to a user of an online community are described. The method may include: displaying a graphical user interface screen on a user device, the graphical user interface screen including a location interface with a first set of geobookmarks; displaying a trust guide within the graphical user interface screen, the trust guide configured to allow the user to make a selection to filter available data; and updating the location interface with a second set of geobookmarks if the selection from the user is received. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006728 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GOAL BASED SAVINGS - A method, performed by a server, for incentivizing school performance includes receiving score information corresponding to a student from a first user terminal and adding score information to a student profile corresponding to the student in a database. A credit adjustment value is calculated based on the received score information and a new total number of credits stored in the student profile is set to a sum of the credit adjustment value and a total number of credits previously stored in the student profile. A request for merchant offer information corresponding to the student profile is received from a second user terminal. For each of at least one merchant, a respective merchant offer is generated according to at least a portion of the total number of credits set in the student profile and information corresponding to the merchant. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006729 | Network Based Ambient Services - Various embodiments are disclosed for a services policy communication system and method. In some embodiments, a network device implements a service profile for assisting control of a communications device use of a service on a network, in which the service profile includes service policy settings, and the service profile is associated with an ambient service plan for the communications device that provides for initial access to the service with limited service capabilities prior to activation of a new service plan for the communications device; and monitors use of the service by the communications device based on the service profile. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006730 | OPTIMIZATION OF YIELD FOR ADVERTISING INVENTORY - Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for optimization of yield for advertising inventory. A method includes, in a network of interconnected computers, sending a request for a file from a browser residing on a user system to a publisher server, receiving the requested file from the publisher server, the requested file including instructions for the browser to request a site file from a rules server, receiving the site file in the browser, the site file including rules for deciding whether an advertising impression is desired, rules for valuing the advertising impression, and browser executable code that applies and evaluates the rules, executing the browser executable code to evaluate the rules from the site file which determine if one or more signals should be attached to an advertisement request, and selecting an advertisement from a network ad server based on a signal received with the advertisement request from the browser. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006731 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROVIDING A SECURE ELECTRONIC MAILBOX - A secure electronic mailbox is provided to a customer having an electronic account. The electronic account links the secure electronic mailbox to a physical address of the customer. The customer can send and receive secure and non-secure messages via the secure electronic mailbox. The customer can also access electronic services such as electronic bill presentment and payment using the secure electronic mailbox. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006732 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR GROUP TARGETING FOR ADVERTISABLE CALENDAR ENTRIES - Techniques are provided which engage users and increase social interaction in group buying. Methods and systems may target users with a first advertisement comprising one or more proposed deals based at least in part on the users' electronic calendar entry information. The advertisements may be served and displayed in the users' electronic calendars. Users' responses to the proposed deal may be tracked. Users may be targeted and served with additional advertisements based at least in part the users' responses to the proposed deal included in the first advertisement and the calendar entry information. Users may forward the advertisements to other individuals to encourage them to participate in the proposed deals in order to receive additional discounts. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006733 | SOCIAL NETWORKING RELATIONAL REWARD SYSTEM - Methods for operating a reward program are provided. The method allows rewarding members of social media sites based on their online or offline activities, based on such activities of members connected to them. The disclosed method encourages Internet users to spread commerce-related content via social media sites to connected members for a reward. The method may comprise receiving a log file of a user activity at a reward program site, the user being a member of one or more social media sites, ascertaining one or more connected members who are connected to the user within the one or more social media sites, determining whether the one or more connected members triggered the user activity, and providing a reward to the one or more connected members who triggered the user activity and/or to the user based on predetermined criteria. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006734 | AUTOMATED BIDDING PLATFORM FOR DIGITAL INCENTIVES - An automated bidding system accepts offers for an advertising opportunity within a computer-implemented game. The advertising opportunity may indicate an opportunity to place a branded virtual object in a virtual environment of the computer-implemented game. This bidding system may receive advertising offers for the advertising opportunity from multiple entities, where an advertising offer may include offer attributes that indicate at least a virtual object for the advertising opportunity. The bidding system may also determine opportunity constraints of the advertising opportunity, which are used to select an advertising offer that is appropriate for the advertising opportunity. The bidding system may then selectively accept an advertising offer from an advertising entity based on the offer attributes and the opportunity constraints. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006735 | INCENTIVIZING FLASH SALES - A method of incentivizing flash sales is disclosed. It is detected that a group of users are within a proximity to a location. The group of users is notified of an incentive reward to be provided based on a number of users from the group performing a location-based action at the location within a time period transgressing a threshold value. It is detected that the number of users from the group that have performed the location-based action at the location within the time period has transgressed the threshold value. The incentive reward is provided based on the detecting that the number of users from the group that have performed the location-based action at the location within the time period has transgressed the threshold value. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006736 | PROVIDING REWARDS TO USERS BASED ON THEIR LEVELS OF INFLUENCE OVER OTHER USERS - A method of providing rewards to users based on their levels of influence over other users is disclosed. A level of influence of a user of a system over other users of the system is determined. An incentive reward that is to be provided to the user based on a success of the user at influencing the other users to perform a location-based action within a time period is determined. The determining of the incentive reward is based on the level of influence of the user. A success of the user at influencing the other users to perform the location-based action is determined. A reward is provided to the user based on the determining of the success of the user at influencing the other users to perform the location-based action. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006737 | LOCATION AWARE MOBILE GAME REWARD SYSTEM FOR ENCOURAGING REAL-WORLD ACTIVITY - There is disclosed a method and apparatus for enabling a location-aware mobile game reward system for encouraging real-world activity. The method includes sending an electronic notice of a reward available in a physical location to a mobile application operating on a mobile device, the mobile application having enhanced functionality available to be enabled by the reward and receiving location data indicating that the mobile application is operating online and currently at the physical location. The method further includes receiving interaction data indicating that a user of the mobile application has interacted with the mobile application in the physical location so as to obtain the reward and crediting the mobile application with the reward thereby enabling the enhanced functionality of the mobile application. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006738 | SHARED ELECTRONIC INCENTIVES AND COUPONS LEVERAGING SOCIAL CONNECTIONS AND SHEPHERDING - Systems and methods for distributing shared electronic coupons are provided. According to one aspect, the electronic coupon may include a coupon benefit display region displaying a textual and/or graphical representation of a coupon benefit. The electronic coupon may further include a candidate display region displaying a list of one or more friends of the user who are determined to be redeemer candidates from among friends in a social network profile or address book of the user. Each redeemer candidate friend in the list has an associated selector, and selection by the user of a selector corresponding to a friend causes the client device to send a message to a coupon server to instruct the coupon server to send the electronic coupon to a client device of the selected friend. Predictive models generated through machine learning may aid in selecting the user to which coupons are distributed and the redeemer candidates. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006739 | ONLINE MARKETPLACE WITH SHIPPING INCENTIVES - A marketplace server and method for facilitating purchase transactions are provided. A marketplace server may include a routing engine configured to receive an order for goods from a first computing device associated with a first customer, with the order including a first delivery address of the customer. The routing engine also calculates a delivery route to the first delivery address. An offer engine is configured to create an offer for other goods. The offer includes a shipping incentive associated with a second delivery address of a second customer. The offer may be targeted to the second customer based on a proximity of the second delivery address to the delivery route. The offer engine sends the offer to a second computing device associated with the second customer. Upon receiving an acceptance of the offer from the computing device, the offer engine processes a purchase transaction for the offer. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006740 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING REWARDS TO A PORTABLE COMPUTING DEVICE AT THE POINT OF SALE - A method of providing rewards to a user by storing, in a portable computing device, user profile data which may be accessed by a merchant terminal only if allowed by the user. A merchant terminal interacts with the portable computing device by accessing the user profile data from the portable computing device if allowed by the user, and providing the user with a reward in accordance with the user profile data allowed by the user to be accessed by the merchant terminal, wherein the merchant terminal provides a relatively greater reward to the user when the user allows relatively more user profile data to be accessed by the merchant terminal and a relatively lesser reward to the user when the user allows relatively less data to be accessed by the merchant terminal. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006741 | Discounted Deals with Supplier Ranking Information - A system and method that facilitates e-commerce volume pricing is provided. According to one aspect of the present invention, the system includes an offers and orders component that receives and aggregates orders for a product from a plurality of buyers. The system also includes a logistics component that determines a shipping price for the product for a subset of the plurality of buyers. The shipping price is determined at least in part upon the subset of buyers sharing a shipping method. According to another aspect of the present invention, a method is provided in which buyers within an aggregated purchasing group may be subject to different pricing structures for the same product. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006742 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GENERATING A DYNAMIC PURCHASE INCENTIVE - A computer-implemented method of providing a dynamic purchase incentive to a purchase of a product. A product identification is input into a purchasing device which transmits it to a discount server computer along with customer identification data. The discount server computer uses the product identification to retrieve from a product discount database associated product discount data, and uses the customer identification data to retrieve from a customer profile database associated customer profile data. The discount server computer uses the retrieved customer profile data and the product identification to generate a dynamic purchase incentive to be applied to the purchase of the product by the customer, the incentive varying as a function of the retrieved customer profile data and the product identification. The discount server computer transmits the purchase incentive to the purchasing device, and the purchase incentive is applied to the purchase of the product by the customer. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006743 | Method and Apparatus for In-Application Deals - A computer-implemented method for in-application advertising display on a second computer using a first computer. A request is received on a first computer to display an advertisement on a second computer, the request from the second computer and including an identification of an application and a location information. The first computer selects an advertisement containing a deal comprised of a discount for prepurchase from a first company and a reward from a second company. The second company is selected based on the identification of the application and the selection is based on both the identification of the application and the location information. The first computer transmits the advertisement to the second computer. The first computer receives a signal from the second computer indicating a purchase of the deal by a user of the second computer. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006744 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING LIMITED USE COUPON AND COUPON PRIORITIZATION - A system for managing coupon redemption and prioritization is provided. According to one aspect of the system, the system allows an electronic coupon or reward to be redeemed a specific number of times. The specific number of times may range from one to infinity. According to another aspect of the system, the system automatically resolves any redemption conflict associated with the concurrent redemption of electronic coupon(s) and paper-based coupon(s) by using certain predefined rules and logic. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006745 | SYSTEM & METHOD FOR PROVIDING INSTANT TANGIBLE REWARDS AT AUTOMATED DEVICES - An incentive system is provided which includes the coordinated operation of at least one automated customer service device, an incentives program management system and a tangible reward awarding device, wherein a user is automatically awarded a tangible award if certain criteria or activity is carried out and identified by the incentives program system. Through appropriate communication, the incentives program management system can identify predetermined user activities or criteria based upon a user's interaction with an automated customers service device, and then trigger a tangible reward device to award a predetermined tangible award to the user. In this manner, tangible rewards can be awarded to users at a location having the automated customer service device and an associates reward device without the need for interaction by an employee. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006746 | TECHNIQUES FOR INTEGRATING SOCIAL NETWORKING REWARDS WITH THE RETAIL CHECKOUT PROCESS - A customer registers a social networking identifier with a retail loyalty program. When a customer completes a transaction at a retail establishment and provides a customer loyalty account number for the customer, a determination is made as to whether the customer can use social networking awards as part of the retail transaction. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006747 | System and method for providing online group-buying services - A system and method for providing online group-buying service is proposed. A group-buying company negotiates with a merchant to select a featured item to be sold on a group-buying website. The group-buying company and the merchant execute a binding agreement with regard to the feature item. The featured item is a product or service provided by the merchant to the group-buying company conditioned upon a first number of minimum sales. The group-buying company then advertises the feature item, and receives a number of orders from consumers purchasing the featured item. The group-buying company calculates a total number of sales and thereby determining a required remaining number of sales based on a second number of minimum sales. The group-buying company then processes the purchase orders if the required remaining number of sales has been reached. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006748 | DATA SAMPLING AND USAGE POLICIES FOR LEARNING AND PERSONALIZATION WITH PRIVACY - Various embodiments are described for systems and methods for facilitating data sharing between a user of a client device and an online service. The system may include a module configured to display a graphical display of data sharing specifications on the client device. The graphical display may include one or more user-adjustable privacy setting selectors configured to receive input of user-selected privacy level selections. Each of the privacy level selections may be associated with a report of the probability that data attributes will be captured and used and/or with other measures such as the size of the set of people that are identifiable from the revelation. Data attributes may include a data type, a data use purpose, a data use timeframe, and a data storage timeframe. The graphical display may further include a consent selector configured to receive consent from the user. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006749 | PROXIMITY BASED SOCIAL NETWORKING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Social networking systems and methods including a server and a user device. The server includes memory and a server processor. The server processor is programmed with instructions to receive current geographic position data for each user, calculate an interaction zone for each user, cross reference the interaction zones for each user and identify users with current geographic positions within other users' interaction zones, and serve to a given user the user profiles of other users within the given interaction zone of the given user. The network capable device includes a display, a geographic positioning device, and a device processor. The device processor is programmed with instructions to upload current geographic position data of the given user to the server, receive user profile data corresponding to other users within the interaction zone of the given user, display the user profile data of the other users within the given user's interaction zone on the display, receive input from the given user to send a message to a selected other user, and send the message to the selected other user. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006750 | CONSUMER CREATED COUPONS - Apparatus and a method create on-line obtainable coupons. The apparatus includes at least a first server enabling communication with a first class of third party on-line communicators. The first server receives proposed content on coupons from the first class of third party communicators, such as consumers, vendees and service users. The first server posts a list of proposed coupons, with or without modification of the proposed coupons after receipt from the first class of third-party on-line communicators. The server then enables access to the server to a second class of third party communicators. The server allows members of the second third party communicators to approve or disapprove of proposed coupons that are dedicated to business. This approval may be based on response in the form of voting, requests, a tally of positive and negative comments, or any other indicator that shows consumer interest in a proposed coupon. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006751 | PROMOTION SYSTEM SUPPORTING EMAILED PROMOTIONS AND AT SELLER PREMISES TRANSACTION COMPLETION - An online sales/automatic rebate and coupon redemption system provides online customers automatic retrieval and redemption of all applicable rebates and coupons during purchase. Purchase orders from customers are selectively fulfilled and products are shipped to the customers either by the system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon redemption or by other merchant or manufacturer environments. The system purchases from merchants using applicable coupons and rebates and then sells the products to the customers, passing the savings to them. The system makes it possible to automatically retrieve coupons and rebates for items in a shopping cart during the activity of an online purchase at an electronic mall or an online merchant site. The system provides coupons to potential customers via email, based on customer profile, geographical information, etc. Manufacturers and merchants can update coupon value and content based on ongoing sales and volume of customer activity. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006752 | SALES PROMOTION SYSTEM SUPPORTING COUPON LINK IN MULTI-SELLER ENVIRONMENT - A system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon redemption provides customers making online purchases to automatically retrieve and redeem all applicable rebates and coupons during an online purchase. Purchase orders from customers are selectively fulfilled and products are shipped to the customers either by the system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon redemption or by other merchant or manufacturer environments. The system makes purchases from merchants or manufacturers using all applicable coupons and rebates and then sells the products to the customers, passing the savings to them. The system automatically retrieves coupons and rebates for items in a shopping cart during the activity of an online purchase at an electronic mall or an online merchant site and to retrieve manufacturer's and merchant's coupons prior to an online purchasing activity for subsequent submission to an online merchant during a subsequent purchasing activity. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006753 | SALES PROMOTION SYSTEM SUPPORTING A PLURALITY OF SELLERS - A system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon redemption provides customers making online purchases to automatically retrieve and redeem all applicable rebates and coupons during an online purchase. Purchase orders from customers are selectively fulfilled and products are shipped to the customers either by the system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon redemption or by other merchant or manufacturer environments. The system makes purchases from merchants or manufacturers using all applicable coupons and rebates and then sells the products to the customers, passing the savings to them. The system automatically retrieves coupons and rebates for items in a shopping cart during the activity of an online purchase at an electronic mall or an online merchant site and to retrieve manufacturer's and merchant's coupons prior to an online purchasing activity for subsequent submission to an online merchant during a subsequent purchasing activity. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006754 | MULTI-STEP IMPRESSION CAMPAIGNS - Various embodiments are described for computerized advertising systems and methods. The system may include an ad server that includes an impression campaign engine configured to associate a target user profile with a plurality of computing devices. The ad server is also configured to receive a multi-step impression plan including a plurality of triggers from an advertiser. Each trigger is associated with a different advertisement to be served to at least one of the plurality of devices. The system also includes an ad serving engine configured to serve a first advertisement to a first device in response to making an inference from sensors or detecting a first trigger, and a second advertisement to a second device in response to a second inference or detecting a second trigger, according to the impression plan. A predictive model developed from machine learning may be used to develop a learning-based multi-step impression plan. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006755 | Methods, Systems and Computer Program Products for Tailoring Advertisements to a User Based on Actions Taken Using a Portable Electronic Device - A method of advertising tailored based on usage patterns of a portable electronic device includes determining if a portable electronic device has entered an area associated with a local area network (LAN). A link is established between the portable electronic device and the LAN if it is determined that the portable electronic device has entered the area associated with the LAN. User services are established between the portable electronic device and a remote server using the established link based on a user profile associated with the portable electronic device. Devices associated with the remote server communicatively coupled to the LAN are controlled using the portable electronic device. Actions and/or behaviors of a user are tracked based on use of the portable electronic device. Advertisements are displayed and/or played on at least one of the controlled devices based on the tracked user actions and/or behaviors. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006756 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ADVERTISEMENTS BASED ON USER'S INTENTION TO PURCHASE - Provided is a system and method for providing advertisements. The system may include a user identification unit to identify a user with an intention to make a purchase, a bidding unit to receive a bid for a right to offer an advertisement of an advertiser for a product or service to the user, a storage device to contain an advertisement database to store an identification (ID) of the advertisement, and an advertisement provision unit to provide the user with the advertisement of the advertiser. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006757 | METHOD, MEDIUM, AND SYSTEM FOR KEYWORD BIDDING IN A MARKET COOPERATIVE - A computer-implemented method and system for keyword bidding in a market cooperative are disclosed. A particular embodiment includes receiving a keyword bid from a first party; determining a value to a host associated with the keyword bid; augmenting the keyword bid by an amount corresponding to the value to the host; and sending the augmented keyword bid to a second party. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006758 | USER FEEDBACK-BASED SELECTION OF ONLINE ADVERTISEMENTS USING NORMALIZED COST MODIFIERS - Advertisements to be presented to a user are selected based on feedback responses received from other users where the feedback responses represent the level of interest to the advertisements expressed by the other users. In selecting which advertisements to be presented to a user, the online service takes into account feedback responses previously collected from a group of users and revenue expected for presenting certain advertisements to the user. An online service computing device computes a total value of an advertisement based on an estimated revenue value for presenting an advertisement and a modifier representing the user's estimated interest in the advertisements. The modifier is normalized based on a market value of the corresponding advertisement or a user. The online service then selects or prioritizes the advertisements based on the total values. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006759 | MONETIZING USER GENERATED CONTENT WITH EMBEDDED ADVERTISEMENTS - A system and method are disclosed for monetizing user generated content. A user can have options for including advertising as part of their content. For example, the user may select a location, size, and shape of an advertisement for display as part of an image. An advertisement matching those attributes may be included as part of the image. The user may receive payment for displaying ads with their user generated content. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006760 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PRESENTING COMPARATIVE ADVERTISING - Methods for displaying advertisements on a computer are provided. One method includes: detecting keyword information from a source module with a data processor wherein the keyword information is visible to a user on a display component of the computer; comparing the keyword information to a keyword database wherein the keyword database associates the keyword information with one or more keywords; comparing the one or more keywords to an advertisement database wherein the advertisement database associates the one or more keywords with one or more advertisements; and displaying the one or more advertisement on the display component through a sidebar module, wherein the sidebar module is viewable by the user independently of the visibility of the source module. The advertisements may be ranked according to perceived user benefit and/or social-media popularity. Associated computer program products and advertisement display systems are also provided. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006761 | METHOD, SYSTEM, AND ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE FOR GENERATING AD GROUPS FOR ON-LINE ADVERTISING - An Ad (Advertisement) group for display on a webpage is generated in response to a request for displaying an advertisement on the webpage. Ad units relevant to the content of the webpage are identified with each Ad unit having an associated category. Ad units are selected for insertion into the Ad group. The Ad group has a predefined number of positions that define a time-based sequence for display of the selected Ad units. Each position has associated with it a respective category. Each selected Ad unit is assigned a respective position within the Ad group such that the category associated with the position matches the category associated with the selected Ad unit. The selected Ad units are added to the Ad group in accordance with their respective assigned positions. In certain circumstances additional Ad units may be added to positions within the Ad group that do not have matching categories. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006762 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COLLECTION AND DISPLAY OF TIME SENSITIVE INFORMATION - A system and method for collecting and displaying time sensitive information consisting of multiple information sources connected to an information storage facility via an upload link. The information storage facility may, in turn, be interrogated by information sinks via a download link to display the collected time sensitive information. The system may support multiple alternate information storage facilities by allowing them to connect to the information storage facility via an API. The multiple alternate information storage facilities may communicate with information sinks via an alternate download link. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006763 | INCENTIVE NETWORK FOR DISTRIBUTING INCENTIVES ON A NETWORK-WIDE BASIS AND FOR PERMITTING USER ACCESS TO INDIVIDUAL INCENTIVES FROM A PLURALITY OF NETWORK SERVERS - Systems and methods for distributing incentives on a network-wide basis and for permitting user access to individual incentives from any network server are provided. A method performed by a server for accessing incentives may include receiving an access request from a device associated with a user and connected to a network, transmitting identifying information corresponding to the access request to a host, receiving incentive information from the host reflecting available incentives corresponding to the identifying information, and transmitting a network document, including the incentive information, to the device associated with the user in response to the access request. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006764 | INVENTORY ESTIMATION FOR SEARCH RETARGETING - Techniques for estimating advertisement inventory for search retargeting segments are provided. A total inventory for each cluster of a plurality of clusters is estimated based on a history of previously viewed pages and previously used search keywords that were submitted by users is searches performed prior to accessing the previously viewed pages. A search retargeting (SRT) segment is received that includes a set of search keywords. The SRT segment is received in a request for deliverable advertisement inventory for advertisements associated with the SRT segment. A deliverable inventory for the received SRT segment is estimated based on the estimated total inventories for the clusters. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006765 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RECOMMENDING MATCHING PROFILES IN AN INTERACTIVE MEDIA GUIDANCE APPLICATION - In some embodiments, a media guidance application may automatically generate a media guidance profile. Attributes from the media guidance profile may be compared with attributes from a plurality of partner profiles received from a remote provider. A set of recommended partner profiles may be displayed. In response to a selection of one of the recommended partner profiles, a user may have the opportunity to register with the service provider. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006766 | Spend Based Digital Ad Targeting and Measurement - The present disclosure includes a system, method, and article of manufacture for spend based targeting and measurement. The method may comprise transmitting to a third party system a model and/or a measurement file associating a first party cookie ID with a model, and receiving, from the third party system, an updated model (and/or measurement) file associating a third party cookie ID with web-browsing data. The third party cookie ID may anonymously and uniquely correspond to the first party cookie ID, and the first party cookie ID may be stripped from the updated model (and/or measurement) file to de-identify a customer associated with the first party cookie ID. Moreover, the web-browsing data may be received by the third party system from a second party system. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006767 | PROMOTION SYSTEM SUPPORTING EMAILED PROMOTION CROSS-SELLING OPPORTUNITIES - An online sales/automatic rebate and coupon redemption system provides online customers automatic retrieval and redemption of all applicable rebates and coupons during purchase. Purchase orders from customers are selectively fulfilled and products are shipped to the customers either by the system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon redemption or by other merchant or manufacturer environments. The system purchases from merchants using applicable coupons and rebates and then sells the products to the customers, passing the savings to them. The system makes it possible to automatically retrieve coupons and rebates for items in a shopping cart during the activity of an online purchase at an electronic mall or an online merchant site. The system provides coupons to potential customers via email, based on customer profile, geographical information, etc. Manufacturers and merchants can update coupon value and content based on ongoing sales and volume of customer activity. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006768 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GATHERING AND STANDARDIZING CUSTOMER PURCHASE INFORMATION FOR TARGET MARKETING - The present invention relates to storing and manipulating customer purchasing information, particularly purchasing information by credit cards, debit cards, checks, and the like. A hierarchical organizational structure is created comprising a plurality of categories and sub-categories. The customer purchase information may then be retrieved according to user created links to generate customer preference information. The customer preference information may be stored in a customer account, thereby allowing targeted offers to be made to customers. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006769 | Criteria-Based Audio Messaging In Vehicles - A method for providing marketing materials from a marketing and information service platform to a vehicle telematics system comprises the steps of receiving route information at an integral telematics system of a vehicle and delivering personalized messages to the telematics system for transmission to a user of the vehicle based on at least one of location and pre-defined preference information corresponding to the route information. A method for providing marketing materials from a marketing and information services platform to a vehicle telematics system comprises the steps of sending route information from the vehicle telematics system integral with a vehicle to the marketing and information service platform remote from the vehicle and receiving personalized messages at the vehicle telematics system from the marketing and information service platform based on at least one of location and pre-defined preference information corresponding to the route information. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006770 | PAY-FOR-VISIT ADVERTISING BASED ON VISITS TO PHYSICAL LOCATIONS - A method and system for providing a pay-for-visit billing model for advertisements is provided. The advertisement system provides advertisements that have associated physical visit locations. The advertisement system provides advertisements to a mobile device or fixed of a user when the user is in the vicinity of or examining locations in the vicinity of the visit location. If the user subsequently visits the visit location of the advertisement by physically going to the location, the advertisement system then bills the advertiser for the advertisement. The advertisement system bills the advertiser under the assumption that but for the advertisement, the user would not have visited the visit location. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006771 | INFER LOCATION FROM PUBLISHER'S PAGE AND MATCH WITH ADVERTISERS - An apparatus and method for inferring a geographic locus for a publisher document in order to obtain advertisements that are relevant to the inferred geographic locus. Landing pages are analyzed by determining whether the page encodes a street address and extract the street address or for information that is indicative of a geographic locus and thereby determine the geographic locus of the page. The ad server can infer a geographic locus for the publisher document based on information indicating a geographic location encoded in the publisher document, and select ads based on corresponding landing pages having inferred geographic locus that match the inferred geographic locus for the publisher document. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006772 | SYSTEM FOR PERSONAL EDITORIAL AND ADVERTISING CONTENT DELIVERY - A system is provided for enabling personal editorial and advertising content delivery. The system has a publication server which receives information regarding interests of a user and selects editorial content in accordance with the information. The publication server also receives information regarding a locality and demographic of the user and selects advertising content in accordance with the information and the published editorial content. Further, the publication server publishes a personalised publication with the selected editorial and advertising content. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006773 | SYSTEM FOR MANAGING PROMOTIONS - In various embodiments, promotions are featured on mobile gaming devices. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006774 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PUSHING INFORMATION TO A MOBILE DEVICE - A system and method for pushing information to a mobile device are disclosed herein. A triggering event is detected, and information relevant to the detected trigger event is determined. The information is located in one of a plurality of memory location channels, wherein the information is stored in the one of the plurality of memory location channels based on a category of the information matching a pre-defined category of the one of the plurality of memory location channels. When the information relevant to the detected triggering event comprises content information, a meta tag is inserted to the content information. The meta tag relates to display of specific one or more advertisements with the content information. The content information that includes the meta tag is transmitted to the mobile device. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006775 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RENDERING CONTENT ON A VEHICLE - One variation of a preferred system for rendering content on a vehicle includes a display, a memory, a communication module, and a processor. The display is configured to mount adjacent an exterior surface of a vehicle. The memory is configured to store a plurality of executable applications including a vehicle identification application and an application elected by a user. The communication module is configured to download the user-elected application to the memory. The processor is configured to selectively execute applications to control visual content rendered on the display, wherein the display renders vehicle identification information when the vehicle identification application executes, and wherein the display renders additional visual content when the user-elected application executes. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006776 | System and Method for Ordering Items - Systems and methods allowing for a customer to initiate a fuel purchase transaction utilizing a mobile device are described. The customer may further be presented with advertisements on his mobile device and/or be provided with the opportunity to purchase additional items for inclusion on his fuel transaction. In some embodiments, the customer may pay for his transaction using mobile wallet information or other information associated with the mobile device. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the customer may pay for his transaction using input means of the fuel pump. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006777 | DETERMINATION AND MONETIZATION OF FUTURE LOCATION - A computer-implemented method for monetizing future location of users includes identifying indicator(s) retrieved from log data or an electronic declaration that indicate a possibility that a user will be at a specific location in the future; generating a probability that the user will be at the specific location in the future based on the indicator(s); and charging an advertiser a cost for an impression to which to serve a location-specific advertisement targeted to the user, the cost charged being greater when the probability is greater that the user will be at the specific location in the future. The method may be extended to targeting a group of users that expect to be at the same location at the future point in time. Monetization of future locations may depend on the quality and/or quantity of the log data and declarations of future locations and on a number of users in a group of users if monetized according to the group. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006778 | IDENTIFICATION OF USERS FOR ADVERTISING USING DATA WITH MISSING VALUES - A method and system for identifying users for advertising. Users, attributes, and first web sites provided by ISPs accessed by the users are identified. First data including content of the first web sites and user time spent thereon are received from ISPs and analyzed to determine first attribute values indicative of user interest. Second data received from ISPs include content of second web sites and user time spent thereon. Second attribute values, derived from questionnaires completed by the users, indicate interest in each attribute by each user. Third attribute values are determined by combining the first and second attribute values. The third attribute values are processed to identify users to which a product or service may be advertised. The identified users are communicated to a service provider or product provider. The first, second, or third attribute values may have missing values, which are determined by correlation and linear regression. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006779 | Process for occasion based gift giving through social media networks - A process for gifting through a social media network with credits redeemable through preferred vendors only. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006780 | Network Based Ambient Services - Various embodiments are disclosed for a services policy communication system and method. In some embodiments, a network device implements a service profile for assisting control of a communications device use of a service on a network, in which the service profile includes service policy settings, and the service profile is associated with an ambient service plan for the communications device that provides for initial access to the service with limited service capabilities prior to activation of a new service plan for the communications device; and monitors use of the service by the communications device based on the service profile. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006781 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPUTING INDIVIDUAL ITEMS THAT ARE THE SUBJECT OF A TRANSACTION - A system and method for disputing individual items that are the subject of a transaction includes storing, in a database, a record of a transaction in which a plurality of goods or services were sold to an individual that owns a transaction card through which access to monetary funds may be obtained, so that the transaction is identified by a transaction identifier. Also, information identifying each good or service that is a subject of the transaction is associated with said transaction identifier. A cost associated with one of the goods or services associated with the transaction identifier is disputed, without subjecting costs of all goods or services that are associated with said transaction identifier to dispute. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006782 | APPARATUS AND SYSTEMS OF A COMPUTERIZED BILL PRESENTER SYSTEM - In some embodiments, an electronic check presenter includes a bi-fold booklet and a tablet personal computer. The tablet personal computer includes at least a non-transitory processor-readable medium, a processor, a display, a magnetic stripe reader, and a communication interface. The non-transitory processor-readable medium includes code to cause a processor to send a signal to display information on the display associated with a check and/or payment thereof. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006783 | PORTABLE CHANGE DEVICE - A method and system for conducting a monetary transaction regardless of currency at the point of sale is provided. The method includes receiving a portable device that corresponds with a financial account, where the financial account includes financial account monetary value. The information regarding the financial account is stored on a network device, such as a cloud network. A predetermined amount of monetary units are exchanged for purchase at a point of sale, where the purchase includes a purchase price that is measured in monetary units. The predetermined amount of monetary units is subtracted from the purchase price to determine a change amount where the change amount is measured in at least one of a banknote value and a coin value. Data associated with the coin value of the change amount is saved to the financial account and the financial account is credited with the coin value of the change amount. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006784 | PERSONAL AUTHENTICATION - A method and system of authenticating a person is disclosed. The authentication may include verifying authenticity of the person when interacting with a point of sale system or other authenticating requesting device according to whether biometric information collected proximate in time to the authentication request sufficiently correlates with biometric information previously collected from trust sources. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006785 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO FACILITATE SETTLEMENT OF A TRANSACTION - Disclosed herein are systems and method for facilitating transactions between a merchant-partner and an end-user (e.g., a customer of the merchant-partner). More specifically, presented herein are systems and methods for settling a transaction between a point-of-sale terminal and a merchant-partner, wherein the point-of-sale terminal receives presentment of a payment for the merchant-partner from an end-user. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006786 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - An image processing apparatus that charges a user for executing a predetermined image process holds charging information in a storage device, charges a user for executing the predetermined image process based on charging information held in the storage device. When the charging information held in the storage device is updated, the image processing apparatus determines whether to permit the update of the charging information based on an operated state of the image processing apparatus by the user, and according to the result of determination, the image processing apparatus is controlled so that the charging information is updated if the update of the charging information is permitted, and is controlled so that the charging information is not updated if the update of the charging information is not permitted. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006787 | SELF-CHECKOUT TERMINAL - An article code reading device optically reads a code symbol on an article, and decodes and outputs an article code. An image pickup image part picks up an image of an area of an article, the code symbol of which is read by the article code reading device, and outputs pickup image data. An article registration is executed by searching an article data file for a corresponding price for the article, and an extraction process extracts an exterior characteristic of an article from the pickup image data outputted by the pickup image part. A consistency is determined between a first data obtained based on the extraction process and a second data obtained based on an output from the article code reading device, and an alarm is generated when it there is not a consistency between the first data and the second data. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006788 | RETAIL ENVIRONMENTS WITHIN SOCIAL NETWORKING ENGINES - Provided are novel methods and systems for integrating various aspects of online retailing and social networks to provide more effective and efficient online shopping experience. Social networks are designed to gather and manage information about their users and users' environments and may include features such as ranking users' connections, interests, activities, and even credibility. This social networking information may be leveraged to provide tailored product information to the users. As such, social networks also serve as marketing tools that are at least in part driven by the users. Users are expected to pay more attention and to trust product information and product offerings that came from their own social groups as opposed to traditional marketing channels, such as online ads. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006789 | In-Store Communication, Service and Data Collection System - An apparatus and method to improve the handling of in-store customer requests for assistance, generate feedback and use data generated by customer requests for assistance. A customer input device, such as a placard, hand-held or cart carried mobile device, enables customers to request assistance and immediately and easily grade the assistance they receive. In one embodiment, the communication from such customer input device is automatically routed to individual(s) having responsibility for the department from which the customer's request for assistance has emanated. In other aspects, the response times, self expressed customer satisfaction scores and subsequent sales results are compiled and collated to improve customer service, and enable management to develop an appropriate reward or sanction system for sales employees. In still another embodiment, the customer request is associated with a musical chime or other identifying information that assists the customer representative in identifying the location of the customer. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006790 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PLANNING LAYOUT OF A RETAIL STORE - An interactive map for a retail store floor to determine product placement is disclosed. The interactive floor map can be customized for each retail store using custom-designed or pre-defined fixture blocks. Each fixture block includes a display surface, a representation of a product being displayed, and representation of its associated signage. Multiple products can be included in a fixture block and multiple fixture blocks can then be used to complete the interactive floor map for a retail store. Notes can be added at each level of creating the interactive floor map to add details that may be product, fixture, fixture block, and/or location specific. Also, an effective date and time for an interactive floor map for a store can be managed based on the date and time associated with a local time zone where the store is located. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006791 | METHOD AND DEVICE UTILIZING POLYMORPHIC DATA IN E-COMMERCE - An aspect of the present invention includes a protocol for conveying data during an e-commerce session with a polymorphic response, comprising initiating a session with a message from a buyer application to a broker application and a session identifier assigned by the broker application; conducting the session between the buyer application and a supplier application; and concluding the session with a additional message which includes a schema identifier for the additional message, resolvable in a context of a system identifier; and a polymorphic response comprising a type and a version, wherein the polymorphic response includes additional data elements corresponding to values assigned to the type and version. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006792 | METHOD OF REQUESTING A CUSTOMIZED INSTANCE OF AN OBJECT USING INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN AN EXISTING INSTANCE - A system for reselling an object in a client-server environment is disclosed. The method and system also enables a user using a client device can order an object, order a customized object, order a composite object, and order a customized composite object. The system includes an object order form handler, an object order handler, a view objects handler, a reseller form handler, a reseller handler, a reseller permission handler, an add object handler and a server database. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006793 | Migrating Computing Environment Entitlement Contracts Based on Seller and Buyer Specified Criteria - Mechanisms are provided for migrating a computing environment entitlement contract (CEEC) from one computing resource to another. These mechanisms generate one or more CEEC data structures, each CEEC data structure defining terms of a business level agreement between a contracting party and a provider of the data processing system. A first request from a provider system is received requesting to be a buyer of a CEEC data structure. The first request comprises first selection criteria for selecting a seller of the CEEC data structure. A second request from a seller system that owns a CEEC data structure is received requesting to be a seller of the CEEC data structure. The second request comprises second selection criteria for selecting a buyer for the CEEC data structure. The provider system is paired with the seller system based on the first and second selection criteria and the CEEC data structure is migrated from the seller system to the provider system. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006794 | ONLINE MARKETPLACE WITH OFFER/BID POOLING - Systems and methods for facilitating purchase transactions through real-time dynamic marketplace sessions are provided. A method may include pooling offers for goods/services to form a pooled offer, and pooling bids to form a pooled bid. The pooled offer and the pooled bid may be matched to form a pooled offer/bid pair. Methods for inducing and using predictive models for successful configuration of properties and participants with machine learning procedures that operate on data about successful and unsuccessful offers may be employed. A real-time dynamic marketplace session may be established between offer agents associated with the pooled offers and bid agents associated with the pooled bids. Upon a successful conclusion to the negotiation, a purchase transaction for the pooled offer/bid pair may be processed. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006795 | INTERNET BASED FORUM ALLOWING INDIVIDUAL CONSUMERS TO POOL THEIR BUYING POWER - The invention relates to a method of realizing volume saving for consumers through the use of a web based system. In the claimed method at least one consumer and at least one supplier registers in a web based medium. Each is dynamically presented with a technological environment that is customized to perform at least one consumer task or at least one supplier task. The at least one consumer utilizes the technological environment to express an interest to enter into at least one consumer transaction, and to subordinate or subject this consumer transaction to at least one prerequisite condition. The disclosed technological environment also enables the at least one supplier to list at least one supplying transaction and subject such transaction to a perquisite condition or to a prerequisite minimum quantity condition. The present invention also discloses a mediator step, which is responsible for facilitating the meeting of the minds between at least one consumer an the at least one supplier. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006796 | METHOD FOR FINDING ACTIONABLE COMMUNITIES WITHIN SOCIAL NETWORKS - A computer-implemented method that includes identifying a social network of a plurality of entities, each entity is associated with at least one other entity in the social network. A group of entities is identified from the plurality of entities that have expressed an interest in any one of a plurality of items. A primitive-community for each of the groups of entities is determined for each distinct item of the plurality of items. Common sets of entities are determined within each primitive-community associated with the each distinct item of the plurality of items based on a minimum support level, using a frequent itemset mining approach, where the first primitive community and the second primitive community are treated as transactions and entities are treated as items. A union including all distinct entities from the common sets of entities is determined from the common sets of entities. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006797 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR VENDOR ASSURANCE - Methods and systems for managing financial transactions. Specifically, the invention includes methods and systems for creating order profiles used to select vendors for carrying out third-party sub-transactions needed to complete financial transactions. A product related to the completion of the financial transaction is selected, a vendor ordering profile is selected, a product vendor that most closely matches the characteristics designated in the ordering profile is selected, and the selected product is ordered from the selected product vendor. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006798 | Penny Auction With Reserve - A method of conducting an on-line auction comprises selecting a product with a reserve price set by the seller which is less or more than one dollar. Starting the auction by placing product and reserve price on the web, accepting bids that are in increments of dollar amounts or in pennies and providing a count down time period during which bidding continues until the reserve price is reached or the count down clock reaches zero. If the reserve price is reached before count down to zero is reached, bidding is restricted only to prior bidders and continues without new bidders up to the end of the count down time period at which time the highest bidder wins. If the reserve price is not met before the count down time ends, the bidders get their bids back. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006799 | SYSTEMS, APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HOSTING AND ASSIGNING DOMAIN NAMES ON A WIDE AREA NETWORK - Embodiments of the instant invention are directed to a domain management system, apparatus and method for hosting and assigning domain names. Embodiments of the domain management system comprise a name assignment system and a hosting system, wherein the hosting system comprises a domain retrieval system and a data storage apparatus. The name assignment system verifies availability and assigns domain names to requesting clients. The name assignment system comprises an input component, a confirmation mechanism and a name storage means. Preferred embodiments of the domain retrieval system comprise a scheduler, a parsing member having a plurality of redirectors and a plurality of servers. The domain retrieval system locates the domain referenced by the domain name by parsing header information and utilizing a wildcard DNS. Once the domain is located, the domain retrieval system forwards the domain to the user computer. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006800 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PRICING AND SELLING DIGITAL GOODS - Systems and methods are provided for pricing, selling, and/or otherwise distributing electronic content using auction mechanisms. A randomized auction mechanism is used to determine both the number of goods that are sold and the selling price. The auction mechanism automatically adapts to the bid distribution to yield revenue that is competitive with that which could be obtained if the vendor were able to determine the optimal fixed price for the goods. In one embodiment a set of bids is randomly or quasi-randomly partitioned into two or more groups. An optimal threshold is determined for each group, and this threshold is then used to select winning bids from one or more of the other groups. In another embodiment, each bid is compared to a competing bid that is randomly or quasi-randomly selected from the set of bids. If the bid is less than the randomly-selected competing bid, the bid is rejected. Otherwise, the bid is accepted and the bidder buys the auctioned item at the price of the randomly-selected bid. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006801 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS ALLOCATING ITEMS AMONG AUCTION SITES TO MAXIMIZE PROFIT - A method for allocating vehicles to auction sites. An inventory database stores information uniquely identifying a plurality of items and associating each of the items with one of a plurality of available auction sites. Constraints relating to the movement of the items are stored in a constraints database. Items are identified which are available to be moved from a current location to one of the auction sites. A profit value is estimated for each available move. A move is identified for one item having a highest estimated profit above an identified threshold and meeting related constraints. This move is selected, and profits are reestimated for remaining items to be moved. The selection steps are repeated until no remaining available moves are feasible according to the threshold and constraints. Once all feasible moves have been selected, information associated with the items and moves is transmitted to a client device. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006802 | GENERATING A LOCATION-AWARE PREFERENCE AND RESTRICTION-BASED CUSTOMIZED MENU - Location-aware preference and restriction based customized menu may be generated, for example, by obtaining a list of preferences and restrictions, tracking a dietary intake, determining a list of foods available at current location, and generating a list of recommended foods from the current location based on the list of preferences and restrictions, and the tracked dietary intake. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006803 | ITEM SOURCE OF ORIGIN STAMP - Disclosed are electronic systems and techniques for implementing lists that include source of origin information for items added to the lists. A portal can include a component that enables items to be added to lists associated with the portal from a variety of sources, such as social networks, other portals, advertisements, search engines, other users, etc. In this regard, the items can be added to a list with references to the portal, instead of the source of origin, and information relating to the source of origin can be maintained to assist users in future prioritizations of items included in the list. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006804 | WEB BASED SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REVERSE TRADING TRANSACTIONS - An internet server or web server based trading system that is designed to facilitate barter type trade transactions. In addition to accommodating standard type trade searches that allows users to browse for items or services that the user wants or needs, the system also has a unique reverse trading system, here called “Wishtrades”, that also allows a user to enter in what the user has, and receive a list of items or services that can be traded for what the user has. The invention also has additional features, such as integration with social networks and geographic proximity based searching to improve reliability, as well as various automatic search features designed to allow the system to continually look for potential beneficial trades when the user is not online, and to notify the user when such trades are detected. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006805 | Online Marketplace for Collective Buying - The present specification is an e-commerce business/system (“System”) that facilitates the sale of goods and/or services between Seller(s) and individual consumers that are affiliates/members of a community group (“Organization”). In addition, the present specification is a System that facilitates formation, identification, aggregation and registration of such Organizations, to help its constituent consumers/members realize cost savings through collective buying opportunities and, optionally, have an opportunity to pledge at least a portion of the cost savings realized through such buying as charitable funds to be donated to the Organization. In addition, the present specification is a System that provides to interested sellers a retail platform for specified periods of time to reach and sell to specific group(s) of consumers who constitute Organizations defined by demographics, socio-economic factors, geographical location and known buying preferences. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006806 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLICATION COSTING FOR SERVICE PROVISIONING - Various methods for application costing to provide decision making for service provisioning are provided. One example method may comprise providing for transmission of a request for a service. The method may further comprise receiving a message comprising an ordered list of entries for providing the service. Each entry may comprise requirements. The method may further comprise iteratively evaluating the entries in the order specified by the ordered list. Evaluating a respective entry may comprise determining attributes related to the requirements associated with the respective entry, and evaluating whether the attributes satisfy the requirements. The method may additionally comprise providing for delivery of the service as specified in an entry upon a determination that the attributes satisfy the requirements of the entry. Similar and related example methods, example apparatuses, and example computer program products are also provided. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006807 | Guideline-Based Food Purchase Management - Techniques for guideline-based food purchase management are provided. The techniques include generating a personalized set of nutrition guidelines for a user, generating a user profile for the user, wherein the user profile comprises health information and nutrition preferences, and using the personalized set of nutrition guidelines and the user profile to generate a guideline-based shopping list for the user. Techniques for generating location-based food purchase guidance are also provided. The techniques include obtaining a shopping list of food items and a list of stores to be considered in connection with the food items on the shopping list, using the shopping list, list of stores, a store location map and inter-store routing guidance to generate an inter-store shopping route, and generating an in-store shopping route, for each of the stores in the inter-store shopping route, based on the shopping list, intra-store routing guidance and a floor plan for the store. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006808 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TRANSFORMATION OF SUBMITTED LISTINGS - Systems and methods for transformation of submitted listings are described. An example system comprises a policy module to receive a listing describing an item for sale and to determine that the listing does not comply with one or more marketplace policies of a marketplace. The marketplace publishes listings describing items for sale, and the one or more marketplace policies are based on item characteristics or listing characteristics. A presentation module, responsive to the determination that the listing does not comply with the one or more marketplace policies, transforms the listing according to the one or more marketplace policies and publishes the transformed listing in the marketplace. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006809 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A CERTIFIED SWAP PRICE FOR A VEHICLE - Methods and systems are provided that swap certified pre-owned vehicles between dealers. One exemplary computer-implemented method for swapping CPO vehicles includes receiving, by a swap facilitating computer, a request to swap a first CPO vehicle for another CPO vehicle; and determining, by the swap facilitating computer using stored market values, a first base price of the first CPO vehicle and displaying available CPO vehicles or permitting inputting of identification for the other CPO vehicle having a second base price. The exemplary method further includes facilitating an offer to swap the first CPO vehicle for the other CPO vehicle by establishing base prices for each of the CPO vehicles, wherein the base prices can be first and second guaranteed prices. | 2013-01-03 |
| 20130006810 | Method and system for the execution of non-bank Third Party Services Transactions over Financial Networks through Electronic Terminals utilizing a Non-Depository Virtual Account Management System - The present embodiment of the system is a new and useful method and system for automating Third Party Financial Transactions via an Electronic Transaction Apparatus, by enabling a Transaction Acquirer Processor and a Third Party Service Provider to provide a Financial Instrument Holder, access to a non-bank third party service and complete a transaction utilizing a Non-depository Virtual Account Management System, when the individual's requests a third party transaction on an Electronic Terminal device. | 2013-01-03 |
