02nd week of 2014 patent applcation highlights part 32 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20140012606 | Systems, Computer-Implemented Methods, and Computer Medium to Determine Premiums and Indemnities for Supplemental Crop Insurance - Provided are systems, machines, non-transitory computer medium having computer program instructions stored thereon, and computer-implemented methods for providing a premium or an indemnity for a supplemental crop insurance policy. The methods including providing for display of a supplemental crop insurance policy information content page including one or more loss parameter fields to be populated by a user with a corresponding set of supplemental crop insurance parameters, receiving a set of supplemental crop insurance parameters submitted by a user via populating the one or more parameter fields of the supplemental crop insurance policy information content page, determining a premium or an indemnity for the supplemental crop insurance policy based at least in part on the set of supplemental crop insurance parameters, and providing for the display of a supplemental crop insurance policy content page including the premium or the indemnity for the supplemental crop insurance policy. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012607 | Providing Loan Services in the Event of a Total Loss Claim - A computer-based method for automatically providing a loan offer to a customer may include: receiving an indication of a total loss event for the customer's property, collecting prequalification data for the customer from a data source comprising customer-specific data, collecting credit data associated with the customer's credit, determining whether to prequalify the customer for a property replacement loan based at least on (a) the collected prequalification data for the customer and (b) the collected credit data associated with the customer's credit, and in response to a determination to prequalify the customer for a property replacement loan, communicating to the customer an offer for the property replacement loan. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012608 | Creation, Discovery and Consumption of Group Experiences - Various embodiments provide a self-service tool to facilitate creation, discovery, and consumption of group experiences. Using the self-service tool, an individual can plan a particular experience for their group at a “one-stop” location. Specifically, an individual planning such an experience can create the experience and invite group members so that the group members can discover the experience and learn more about the planned experience. Further, in at least some embodiments, financial arrangements can be made using the self-service tool in a manner that enables each group member to pay their portion of the expenses for the experience. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012609 | TRANSMISSION OF AUTHORIZATION INFORMATION - The present invention relates to a method for utilizing a mobile station for the transmission of authorization information requiring verification in a telecommunication network comprising the mobile station. In the method, the information to be verified is transmitted to the mobile station, the authorization information transmitted is presented on the display of the mobile station, the authorization information presented is read from the display of the mobile station, and the authenticity of the authorization information thus read is verified. According to the invention, the authorization information is sent in a form comprising information to be presented in a graphic form, and the authorization information is presented on the display of the mobile station using a user-independent function of the mobile station in question for the presentation of graphic information. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012610 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ITINERARY PLANNING - The present invention relates to a system and method for itinerary planning. The method commences with processing of network segments stored in a database to generate builds in response to receiving an itinerary planning request. At least one of the builds having a cost that is lowest is selected. The cost is determined as a function of at least two factors. The at least one build is outputted. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012611 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GENERATING VIABLE PATTERN-TRANSFERS FOR AN ITINERARY -PLANNING SYSTEM - The present invention relates to a method and system for generating viable pattern-transfers for an itinerary-planning system. The method commences with the identification of pairs of patterns along fixed transit routes that are proximate one another. Each of the patterns include a number of stops connected by pattern segments traveled in a specific order. Pattern-transfers are identified between the stops along an inbound pattern of the pairs and the stops along an outbound pattern of the pairs. At least one of the pattern-transfers is discarded if traveling from the inbound pattern to the outbound pattern via the at least one of the pattern-transfers is unadvantageous compared to traveling from the inbound pattern to the outbound pattern via at least one other of the pattern-transfers. The undiscarded pattern-transfers are stored in storage for use by an itinerary-planning system. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012612 | VISUALIZATION OF WAREHOUSE OPERATIONS FORECAST - A computer implemented warehouse operations forecasting system includes a series of user navigable displays hierarchically organized based on level of detail from more general to more detailed in terms of information presented. One of the displays in the series includes an indication of projected warehouse space utilization over a period of time in the future. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012613 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING THIRD-PARTY LABOR - A system. The system includes a computing device, an authentication module, an instruction module and a tracking module. The computing device includes a processor. The authentication module is communicably connected to the processor and is configured to authenticate that a person is associated with a third-party associated with a store. The instruction module is communicably connected to the processor and is configured to coordinate work instructions to be completed at the store. The tracking module is communicably connected to the processor and is configured to track information associated with the person. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012614 | DUE DILIGENCE SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A system for performing due diligence on electronically stored documents is provided. A dynamic due diligence item (DDDI) is created by one user and associated with a particular document or piece of information by the system. The created DDDI is assigned to another user. The created DDDI is then routed by the system over a computer network to another user for review of the DDDI and the associated particular document or piece of information. In certain instances, after receiving the notification and opening the document, the system may enforce upon the second user a required action when the DDDI is presented. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012615 | Method and System for Automated Center Workflow - Described herein are systems and methods for automating workflow of assigning jobs and tracking the process. The exemplary method comprises receiving job data for a plurality of jobs, assigning a current job to one of a plurality of users based on a business rule, sending the current job to the one of the users, and receiving further data for the current job. The exemplary system comprises a job tracking tool receiving job data for a plurality of jobs and assigning a current job to one of a plurality of users based on a business rule, a messaging system receiving the current job from the job tracking tool and forwarding the job to the user; and a work order system receiving the job via the messaging system if the user determines that the job data for the job is correct. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012616 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR NEW LOCATION TASK COMPLETION AND ENTERPRISE-WIDE PROJECT INITIATIVE TRACKING - The present invention describes a computer-implemented system and method for creating and managing a task list for multiple franchise locations in an online work management system accessible to users. In some embodiments of the invention, users create multiple baselines with multiple tasks based on location attributes than can be combined into a unique, dynamic master task list for a particular location. Embodiments of the invention allow tasks to be associated with a timeline of franchise preparation, a subset of tasks to be selected based on keyword or filtering by various attributes, adding additional tasks to a particular franchise master list based on various attributes, adding tasks to multiple locations at the same time dynamically based on various attributes, restricting task list access based on user community or group, altering user access and tasks dynamically based on changing baseline characteristics, and providing a master task list dynamically on a user interface. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012617 | Methods, Systems, And Computer Program Products For Calendar-Based Coverage Monitoring - Methods, systems, and computer program products for calendar-based coverage monitoring are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method includes receiving a coverage rule defining at least one covering entity for performing an activity for a covered entity and at least one period of time during which the multiple covering entities is to perform the activity. Individual calendars for the at least one covering entity are monitored and a change in one of the calendars is detected. It is determined whether the change causes at least one of the coverage rule to be violated and a threshold criteria to be met, and in response to determining that the change causes at least one of the coverage rule to be violated and the threshold criteria to be me, automatically performing an action. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012618 | Determining Availability Based on Percentage Available - An embodiment of the invention provides a system and method for displaying the scheduling availability of a user. The system includes an occupancy module for analyzing the schedule of the user to determine the occupancy for a time period in the schedule. The time period includes an available time slot and/or an occupied time slot. A processor connected to the occupancy module determines whether the occupancy for the time period is above a threshold level of occupancy. The threshold level of occupancy includes a maximum number of occupied time slots, a maximum percentage of occupied time slots, a maximum amount of occupied time, and/or a maximum percentage of occupied time. A scheduling module connected to the processor automatically displays the scheduling availability of the user as unavailable for the time slot when the occupancy for the time period is above the threshold level of occupancy. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012619 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CUSTOMIZING CONTENT FEEDS - The technology disclosed relates to automated customization of content feeds in an online social environment. In particular, it relates to providing customized views of a feed by prioritizing feed items of the feed in accordance with on one or more metrics. The customized views can be configured to automatically provide ready access to information required at a given time, place or situation. Also, the one or more metrics can be based on engagement strength, interaction strength or location proximities of entities in the online social environment. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012620 | CONSISTENT SET OF INTERFACES FOR BUSINESS OBJECTS ACROSS HETEROGENEOUS SYSTEMS - A business object model, which reflects data that is used during a given business transaction, is utilized to generate interfaces. This business object model facilitates commercial transactions by providing consistent interfaces that are suitable for use across industries, across businesses, and across different departments within a business during a business transaction. In some operations, software creates, updates, or otherwise processes information related to a budget availability control register, a financial accounting view of work order, a funds commitment document, an insurance contract, and/or a project cost estimate business object. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012621 | RISK MANAGEMENT DEVICE - A storing unit stores loss data each including a loss amount and loss occurrence frequency, and a coefficient table holding a coefficient in association with the loss occurrence frequency, the coefficient being equal to a value of an occurrence number at a lower α % point (α is a predetermined constant) in a cumulative distribution function of a probability distribution with the loss occurrence frequency as a parameter. A processor is programmed to calculate multiplication values, each of which is calculated for each of the loss data and is a multiplication value of the coefficient held in the coefficient table in association with the loss occurrence frequency included in the loss data and the loss amount included in the loss data. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012622 | DATA PROCESSING APPARATUS AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - A data processing apparatus of the present invention, which receives sales data transmitted from a terminal device installed in a mobile sales vehicle via a communication network and processes the sales data, includes a receiving section which receives current position data and sales data from the terminal device as a sales report of mobile sales, a sales venue storage section which stores and manages position data for each of sales venues where mobile sales by mobile sales vehicles are permitted under contracts with operators operating business of renting the sales venues by hour, a search section which specifies a sales venue relevant to the position data by searching the sales venue storage section based on the position data received together with the sales data, and a processing section which processes, when the sales venue is specified, the sales data as sales data regarding sales at the sales venue. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012623 | Systems and Methods for Analysis of Legal Service Providers and Comparative Unit Costs or Ratio Costs - Systems and methods for analyzing legal service providers and unit or ratio costs are provided. Billing data from legal services providers is analyzed to identify common tasks based on task codes. The common tasks are then analyzed to determine a unit cost or ratio cost for the tasks or a ratio cost for the tasks compared to the total costs for a matter. Analysis constraints are applied to the billing data to generate a cost model, which can be output in a variety of different graphical formats. This output, which identifying at least some of the total matter costs on a unit cost or ratio cost basis, allows for comparison of legal services provided by a number of different legal services providers. It also allows for comparing price quotes from a number of legal services providers against each other and against historical cost information. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012624 | CLOUD-BASED SKIP TRACING APPLICATION - A method executed at least in part in a computing device for providing cloud based skip tracing is provided. The method includes providing a cloud based service enabling data interchange with a plurality of vendors providing skip tracing services and receiving at the cloud based service and from a user a file of records for skip tracing. The method further includes applying a waterfall process to the records using the computing device wherein the waterfall process includes at least a subset of the plurality of vendors and returning to the user a results file containing skip tracing results corresponding to the records. The method may further include generating a waterfall score card and sending the waterfall score card to the user, the waterfall score card summarizing performance of the subset of the plurality of vendors. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012625 | Market Positioning System - System(s) and method(s) for market positioning of a plurality of similar products of a plurality of competing brands are described herein. In one implementation, the method includes processing market data of the plurality of similar products of the plurality of competing brands to obtain a volumetric dataset. The method further includes creating one or more models based on the volumetric dataset to estimate parameters, wherein the parameters are indicative of at least one of cross demand elasticity, brand switching and share switching among the plurality of similar products of the plurality of competing brands. The method also includes simulating the one or more models to generate an output indicative of the market positioning of the plurality of similar products of the plurality of competing brands. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012626 | PREDICTIVE CUSTOMER SERVICE ENVIRONMENT - A mechanism for facilitating customer interactions within a customer service environment provides prompt and accurate answers to customer questions. A smart chat facility for use in a customer service environment to predict a customer problem examines a customer chat transcript to identify customer statements that set forth a customer issue and, responsive to this, can route the customer to an agent, an appropriate FAQ, or can implement a problem specific widget in the customer UI. Customer queries are matched with most correct responses and accumulated knowledge is used to predict a best response to future customer queries. The iterative system thus learns from each customer interaction and can adapt to customer responses over time to improve the accuracy of problem prediction. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012627 | SERVICE DESIGN AND ORDER FULFILLMENT SYSTEM WITH TECHNICAL ORDER CALCULATION PROVIDER FUNCTION - A system that generates a technical order is provided. The system receives a configuration delta including a change in a configuration of resource-facing services or resources. The system further generates technical actions that effectuate the configuration delta, where each technical action includes metadata that defines a pattern of a structured request to perform work on a resource-facing service that is based on a resource-facing service specification or a resource that is based on a resource specification. The system further generates technical order lines, where each technical order line includes a technical action and a resource-facing service that is based on a resource-facing service specification or a resource that is based on a resource specification. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012628 | ESTIMATING WHOLESALE DEMAND FOR CONSUMER PRODUCTS - A system and a method are disclosed for providing buyers of products with a customized list of products for sale that meet the buyers' criteria, capturing buyers' interactions with the products and analyzing the product's popularity based on the interactions. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012629 | SMS MESSAGING METHODS AND SYSTEMS HAVING INTERACTIVE FUNCTIONALITIES FOR INCREASING COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC TO ENTERPRISES AND FOR GATHERING DATA USEFUL FOR COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES - SMS-based communications methods and systems comprising interactive functionalities, as well as devices, software, modules and integrated systems and methods are provided. The text-messaging methods and systems of the invention are particularly useful for increasing the marketability of products and services, and for increasing commercial traffic to one or more commercial establishments through network communicated dialogues and other communications. SMS-based systems and methods of the invention are configured also to be able gather and analyze many different kinds and patterns of data, such as that relating to marketing and advertising activities, and to performance of the systems and methods themselves. The present technology relates also to methods and systems for both gathering and using marketing and other commercial information on a real time basis to increase enterprise incoming traffic flow and business. Methods and systems of the invention can be provided in turnkey forms, and can also configured for particular enterprises, and also by means of one or more modules, for example, provided on a digital device such as a server. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012630 | Surveying Wireless Device Users by Location - The present invention is a system and method for conducting survey using wireless devices. The system architecture of the present invention comprises a location server and a location system. The location server can receive a survey request from a subscriber, delineate a survey area for the survey, broadcast a query containing the survey to a plurality of wireless devices, process responses received from the wireless devices, and deliver a result of the survey to the subscriber. The location system can generate location information for each of the wireless devices that received the query. The location system may be a network-based unit or a portable unit provisioned at each of the wireless devices. In one of the embodiments, the location system is a GPS receiver that generates the longitude and the latitude of the wireless devices at which it is provisioned. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012631 | COMPETITIVE ECONOMY AS A RANKING DEVICE OVER NETWORKS - A method for processing information, includes constructing a directed graph including nodes corresponding to information sources and edges corresponding to links among the information sources. Respective equilibrium prices of the nodes are computed by modeling the directed graph as an exchange economy. A ranking of the information sources is generated responsively to the equilibrium prices of the corresponding nodes. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012632 | EXTENSION OF BUSINESS SCENARIOS - A search area to search business scenarios may be displayed on a display device. Business data flow(s) may be displayed on the display device based on a search criteria specified in the search area. Each business scenario defined for extension purposes may include a plurality of business objects. In response to identification of a business scenario from the business scenario(s), an integrated development environment may be displayed on the display device. The integrated development environment may include functionality to add extension field(s) to business object(s) included in the business scenario. In response to input indicating extension field(s), the extension field(s) may be added to the business object(s) included in the business scenario. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012633 | USING COMMERCIAL SHARE OF WALLET TO COMPILE MARKETING COMPANY LISTS - Commercial size of spending wallet (“CSoSW”) is the total business spend of a business including cash but excluding bartered items. Commercial share of wallet (“CSoW”) is the portion of the spending wallet that is captured by a particular financial company. A modeling approach utilizes various data sources to provide outputs that describe a company's spend capacity. Marketing companies that sell lists compile those lists by searching one or more databases for names and/or businesses that match certain criteria. Those marketing companies can use the CSoW/CSoSW modeling approach to show predicted spend and/or revenues for each company on a list. This makes the list more valuable to list buyers. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012634 | GEOSPATIAL DATA BASED ASSESSMENT OF FLEET DRIVER BEHAVIOR - Disclosed are methods, devices, and systems to assess the performance of a fleet driver using a geospatial tracking device. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed comprising determining a baseline travel time of a fleet vehicle traveling a fleet route from a departure location to an arrival location; obtaining a dispatch estimated travel time of the fleet vehicle traveling the fleet route from a dispatcher; obtaining a driver estimated travel time of the fleet vehicle; determining an actual travel time of the fleet vehicle traveling the fleet route through a geospatial tracking device; and generating a driver performance score of the driver of the fleet vehicle for a duration of the fleet route based on the baseline travel time, the dispatch estimated travel time, the driver estimated travel time, and/or the actual travel time. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012635 | AUDITING ELECTION RESULTS - In one aspect, there is provided a method. The method may include auditing, at a processor, an election by at least determining whether a received first vote tally, a received second vote tally, a received third vote tally, and a received fourth vote tally correspond to the same amount; generating, at the processor, a first indication, when the received first vote tally, the received second vote tally, the received third vote tally, and the received fourth vote tally correspond to the same amount; and generating, at the processor, a second indication representative of a discrepancy, when the received first vote tally, the received second vote tally, the received third vote tally, and the received fourth vote tally does not correspond to the same amount. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also disclosed. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012636 | System and Method for Interfacing Military Records with Pass Control - An improved system and method for interfacing military records with pass control is described herein. In one embodiment, a method of associating military records for pass control can comprise creating one or more driver profiles in a military installation memory on a military installation server. Each of the driver profile can comprise identification information and a driving record. The driving record can comprise a driver permission status. Additionally, the method can also comprise the step of sharing with a pass control application server at least a portion of the driver identification information related to each driver profile wherein the driver permission status comprises a revocation. Further the method can comprise the step of storing in the memory the military base driving revocation associated with the driver. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012637 | TRAFFIC DELAY DETECTION BY MINING TICKET VALIDATION TRANSACTIONS - A method, system and processor-readable medium for detecting traffic delays A transfer time sample can be analyzed from ticketing data (e.g., ticket validation timestamps) that includes data indicative of a plurality of stops. An optimal set of stop pairs can be selected from among the plurality of stops based on a plurality of factors including a coverage, a volume and a distance between at least two stops among the plurality of stops. A structural outlier associated with the transfer time sample can be then detected in order to detect traffic delays determined from the optimal set of stop pairs selected from among the plurality of stops. Note that such a structural outlier can comprise an outlier in a spatio-temporal series collected from the transfer time sample. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012638 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ADVERTISING TO DRIVERS - The present invention relates to an advertising method for reaching drivers who utilize the Toll Road System. By utilizing toll info on a driver as the toll is paid, advertisers can target the driver based on their location and can offer toll reimbursement in return for visiting or utilizing an advertiser's product or service. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012639 | EARNING REWARDS VIA BILL PAYMENT - Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products associated with a bill payment feature that enables users to receive rewards for paying bills before their due dates. In some embodiments, a method comprises determining a bill due within a predetermined period in the future; initiating, via a mobile network, notification of the bill, an amount associated with the bill, and a due date associated with the bill; initiating, via the mobile network, a first option to pay the bill prior to the due date; and in response to determining the first option is selected: deducting, from an account, an amount of funds corresponding to the amount associated with the bill; providing a reward to the account; and transmitting, on the due date, the amount of funds to a merchant associated with the bill. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012640 | System and Method for Targeted Marketing and Consumer Resource Management - Systems and methods are provided for providing targeted marketing to goods and services provides and consumer resource management services to consumers. An example system and method for targeted marketing comprises collecting transaction data from point-of-sale (POS) terminals and using a consumer identifier in the transaction data to access stored information about the consumer. This information may be used to target offers and advertisement to the consumer. In an example system for consumer resource management, a consumer may configure a consumer account on the enterprise infrastructure via a web-site. The consumer may use the consumer account to purchase and configure gift cards that may be used for purchasing goods and services. A universal transaction identifier may be associated with the consumer account and used to purchase goods and services from more than one selected goods and services providers. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012641 | MICRO DIGITAL SIGNAGE HARDWARE INTEGRATION - A system to display information using a display shelf of a retailer may include a first display configured to be attached to a first edge portion of the display shelf and to display information related to a first product. A second display may be configured to be attached to a second edge portion of the display shelf and to display information related to a second product. The first display and the second display can be configured to have a height similar to a height of the first and the second edge portion of the shelf. The first display and the second display may also be configured to display information related to a third product as if the first display is continuously connected to the second display as an extended display. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012642 | EVENT-BASED MANAGEMENT OF A COUPON PROMOTION - An approach for managing a coupon based on an event is presented. Information about an event is received. Attributes indicating an email or text message communication is from a retailer are received. The communication is received. The communication is determined to be from the retailer and include the coupon by determining the communication has the received attributes. Based on the communication having the attributes, the coupon included in the communication is associated with the event. A user selection of the event is received to display the received information about the event and a link to the communication that includes the coupon associated with the selected event. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012643 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ENCOURAGING RECYCLING - Methods and systems for encouraging recycling of used items are disclosed. A central authority receives an indication of a plurality of items and determines a deposit value for each item based on at least an amount and an identity of one or more recyclable materials included in the item. The central authority receives an indication that an item has been sold by a retailer and receives the deposit value for the item from the retailer. The deposit value is invested for the usable life span of the item. The retailer sends a message to the central authority when the item has been returned, and the central authority reimburses the retailer for the deposit value. The return on investment is used to provide subsidies to manufacturers of recyclable material as an incentive to purchase recycled materials. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012644 | SYSTEM FOR INCENTIVIZING CUSTOMER LOYALTY USING AWARDS - Customer loyalty to a retailer is incentivized using awards. Customers are incentivized to shop at a particular retail store by offering awards such as coupons or points redeemable for coupons to customers that have visited the retail store during a specified time period. A drawing or lottery can be used to select one or more winners of an award for each specified time period. Awards can be transmitted to a customer's mobile phone where the customer can redeem them upon purchasing a product. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012645 | SYNDICATED SHARING OF PROMOTIONAL INFORMATION - Systems and methods that enable product (or service) purchasers, or other such entities, to share promotional materials via social networks and/or other means of communication and may further enable the purchasers to receive rewards, such as rebates, in response to interactions with the promotional materials by others (e.g., friends of the purchaser). In various embodiments, the promotional materials shared by the purchaser relates to the product purchased, which may lend greater credibility and/or interest in the promotional material being shared. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012646 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A DISCOUNT - Systems and methods are provided for delivering a discount using a partner-issued currency or a combination of virtual currency and partner-issued currency, offering a high-perceived savings value to an end-user while maintaining the perception of product value. An embodiment of an inventive method includes presenting a display of a price paid by a consumer without access to the virtual currency along with a display of an amount payable by the end-user in actual currency in combination with an amount payable in virtual currency. The end-user perceives a benefit to using the virtual currency and since the price paid in actual currency is less than the displayed price to be paid by a consumer without access to the virtual currency. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012647 | APPARATUS, METHODS, AND ARTICLES OF MANUFACTURE FOR VIRTUAL CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS - In selected embodiments, a computer system implements a virtual currency that can be purchased using a variety of ways, including cash and foreign exchange; wire and similar transfers; trade in of various rewards, airline miles, and unused gift cards; as well as in other ways. Vendors can provide effective discounts and incentives through real time setting of exchange rates between the virtual currency and an existing currency such as legal tender (e.g., dollars), for using the virtual currencies in their stores. The incentive, the fee of the operator of the system, and additional available discounts/coupons may be provided at the point-of-sale. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012648 | System and Methods for Delivering Targeted Marketing Offers to Consumers Via an Online Portal - A system and methods for delivering targeted marketing offers to consumers during a session with an online (web-based) Internet portal, particularly suitable for online banking portals of financial institutions. An offer management system receives information corresponding to an advertising campaign of an advertiser corresponding to terms of a targeted marketing offer to be provided to a consumer accessing the online portal, and provides advertising campaign data corresponding to the targeted marketing offer and to an offer-triggering event to an offer placement system. An offer placement system receives the advertising campaign data, determines the occurrence of the offer-triggering event by a consumer during an online session with the online portal, and delivers information corresponding to the targeted marketing offer to the consumer. In response to the offer-triggering event, such as display of a list of transactions, the predetermined targeted marketing offer is delivered to the consumer during the online session. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012649 | ALLOCATING OFFER SAVINGS TO NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS - Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for allocating offer savings to a non-profit organization. An exemplary apparatus is configured to: determine a purchase associated with an offer, wherein the offer enables a user to receive at least one of a rebate or discount on the purchase; determine whether an option to donate the rebate or discount amount to a non-profit organization is selected; and in response to determining the option to donate the rebate or discount amount to the non-profit organization is selected, increase the rebate or discount amount by a predetermined amount. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012650 | METHODS FOR COMMUNITY-BASED CUSTOMER REWARDS MANAGEMENT - Methods for distributing rewards to buyers purchasing products on online marketplaces, including providing a rewards servers storing community ledgers and seller ledgers, receiving orders from buyers to sellers, receiving from sellers selections of either community-directed awards or seller-directed awards, incrementing seller-specific point balances if sellers selected seller-directed awards, and incrementing community-wide point balances if the seller selected community-directed awards. Some examples may include only community ledgers and no seller ledgers. Some examples may additionally or alternatively include reading scanned identification data with a community identification reader. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012651 | EARNING REWARDS VIA BILL PAYMENT - Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products associated with a bill payment feature that enables users to receive rewards for paying bills before their due dates. In some embodiments, a method comprises determining a bill due within a predetermined period in the future; initiating, via a mobile network, notification of the bill, an amount associated with the bill, and a due date associated with the bill; initiating, via the mobile network, a first option to pay the bill prior to the due date; and in response to determining the first option is selected: deducting, from an account, an amount of funds corresponding to the amount associated with the bill; providing a reward to the account; and transmitting, on the due date, the amount of funds to a merchant associated with the bill. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012652 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REDUCING LOYALTY POINT LIABILITY THROUGH GAMING - Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a system and method to reducing loyalty point liability through gaming. The system enables a member of a loyalty program provided by a loyalty program provider to use the member's accumulated loyalty points to play one or more games in one of a variety of different play modes. The system enables the member to win loyalty points or other suitable awards through game play. The system employs one or more mechanisms to cause loyalty points to be removed from circulation; that is, the system causes loyalty point providers to remove loyalty points from members' loyalty point balances, thereby removing those loyalty points from the loyalty program providers' balance sheets. The system is configured such that, over time, more loyalty points are removed from circulation via these mechanisms than are added to circulation through awards provided to members through game play. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012653 | GEOGRAPHIC LOYALTY SYSTEM AND METHOD - The invention facilitates a loyalty system which is associated with pre-determined geographic locations and/or services and goods offered in a specific geographic area. The system is configured with one product platform with a modularized approach to facilitate the development of market specific rewards and communication materials. The loyalty points may be earned within a specific geographic location, then redeemed in one geographic location, a subset of locations or without restrictions. Similarly, the loyalty points may be earned in one geographic location, a subset of locations or without restrictions, then redeemed only in a specific geographic location. The geographic features of the system may be implemented using existing data that is associated with geographic areas such as, for example, zip codes, retailer identification codes, service establishment codes and/or the like. The geographic area information may be associated with the consumer, merchant, processing system and/or any other part of the overall system. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012654 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF SHARING PROMOTIONAL INFORMATION - Systems and methods that enable product (or service) purchasers, or other such entities, to share promotional materials via social networks and/or other means of communication and may further enable the purchasers to receive rewards, such as rebates, in response to interactions with the promotional materials by others (e.g., friends of the purchaser). In various embodiments, the promotional materials shared by the purchaser relates to the product purchased, which may lend greater credibility and/or interest in the promotional material being shared. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012655 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PURCHASING WITH A DISCOUNT IN EXCHANGE FOR SOCIAL MEDIA ADVERTISING - A method of receiving discounts in exchange for social media advertising for items in a store, including, finding an item of interest at a store by a customer with a mobile device that is configured to execute a discount application; wherein an item code is displayed on or near the item; entering the item code into the mobile device; communicating the item code to a remote server computer to retrieve information about the item; retrieving the information about the item from the server, wherein the information includes one or more discount options that are provided responsive to publication of the item in a social network in which the customer participates; storing the information about the item and the discount options in a list that is accessible by the mobile device. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012656 | Digital Self Service Coupon, Discount Deal And Weekly Ad Application Software Platform - “Self-Service Digital Coupon, Discount Deal and Weekly Ad Publishing and Management Method” is a method or process that in practice is to be used as a software design logic or algorithm, to develop a custom publishing computer software, integrated with a web server and database server for an end to end solution. All solution components for the applied method use an industry standard web server, database server and web development technologies. A user accesses the custom publishing software via a standard web browser, through the web site, to create or manage their digital coupon, discount deal or weekly ad as a self-service solution. This creation and management method uses a pre-built template gallery, eliminating the need for any third party tools, software or human interaction. The integrated web server, database server and custom publishing software process the user requests and instantly publish them to the web site for immediate availability to any internet users. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012657 | CLEARINGHOUSE FOR ELECTRONIC COUPONS - A clearinghouse for electronic coupons is provided to enable retailers to submit electronic coupons for redemption. A clearinghouse for electronic coupons can provide an application programming interface that retailers can use to interface their computer systems, such as a point of sale system, with the clearinghouse. The application programming interface allows retailers to submit electronic coupons for redemption automatically from the retailers' own computer systems thereby minimizing the overhead of accepting and redeeming electronic coupons. The clearinghouse can provide immediate notifications of the validity of a coupon or of the manufacturer's agreement to reimburse the value of the coupon. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012658 | ADVERTISEMENT TESTING APPARATUS AND METHOD - A method is disclosed for testing the effectiveness of one or more advertisements. The method may include conducting a plurality of point-of-sale transactions. In conjunction with these transactions, an advertisement may be presented a first number of times. Each time the advertisement is presented, it may contain a machine-readable code encoded with an identification unique to the advertisement. A computer system may receive first data identifying the number of times the advertisement is presented. The computer system may further receive second data identifying the number of times a machine-readable code encoded with the identification is scanned by a customer. Accordingly, the computer system may calculate and display a success rate for the advertisement. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012659 | MODIFYING TARGETING CRITERIA FOR AN ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN BASED ON ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN BUDGET - A social networking system modifies targeting criteria for an advertising campaign received form an advertiser using performance of completed advertising campaigns with similar characteristics. Completed advertising campaigns having similar targeting criteria to a received advertising campaign are identified. For example, completed advertising campaigns with targeting criteria matching, or associated with, targeting criteria from the received advertising campaign are identified. The social networking system determines an estimated amount to spend on the received advertising campaign based on the amount spent for the completed advertising campaigns, the social networking system. A received budget for the received advertising campaign is compared to the estimated amount to spend, and the social networking system may suggest modifications to the targeting criteria to optimize use of the budget based on performance of the completed advertising campaigns. The suggestion may be sent to an electronic device associated with the advertiser. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012660 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COMPARING ONLINE ADVERTISING PRODUCTS - A method in a networked system for comparing advertising products includes a processor configured to sampling an impression inventory database to produce a first set of impression samples represented by a first product, and a second set of impression samples represented by a second product. The processor is also configured to determine the percentage of the first set of impression samples that are represented by a second product and also the percentage of the second set of impression samples that are represented by the first product. The processor selects the minimum percentage of the two percentages, where the minimum percentage defines the similarity between the first product and the second product. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012661 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INITIATING A TEXT MESSAGE COMMUNICATION SESSION BETWEEN A MERCHANT AND A CONSUMER - A system and method are provided for initiating a text message communication session between a merchant and a consumer. An advertisement may be transmitted to a mobile device associated with the consumer, a signal may be received from the mobile device indicating that the consumer has activated a link associated with the advertisement, and the signal may also include contextual information associated with the consumer's use of the mobile device. A text message communication session may be initiated between the mobile device and a merchant representative; whereby a text message alert may be provided to the merchant representative, comprising the contextual information associated with the consumer. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012662 | Method and system for tracking a cumulative number of identifiable visitors to different objects - A method for uniquely identifying an initial exposure of a visitor to an advertisement campaign is provided. The method includes causing a web browser to call an overlap server upon serving of an advertisement of the advertisement campaign; storing, by the overlap server, an overlap data structure in any one of the web browser and a web server, wherein the overlap data structure is coded to identify the advertisement campaign, a host website through which the visitor is exposed to the advertisement campaign, and an indication as to whether the advertisement campaign was previously visited by the visitor of the web browser; and processing, by the overlap server, the overlap data structure to determine the initial exposure of the visitor to the advertisement of the advertisement campaign and the host website through which the visitor was exposed to the advertisement campaign. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012663 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING ONLINE PROMOTIONS THROUGH A SOCIAL NETWORK-BASED PLATFORM - Systems and methods for providing online promotions integrated with social network-based platforms are disclosed. Promotion details such as rules, offered prizes, incentives and descriptions, survey questions, display banners, terms and conditions, privacy policy, and social networks to integrate the promotion with, are provided by the sponsoring organization to a server. The server generates a custom promotion application and/or widget for integrating with the organization's social network webpage and/or webpages external to social networks. A participant enters the promotion through these webpages or other links and lists friends in the social network to receive an invitation to enter the promotion. Viral features are used to deliver messages to members of the one or more social network-based platforms so as to further spread the word about the organization's promotion. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012664 | System for Targeting Advertising Content to a Plurality of Mobile Communication Facilities - A system for targeting advertising content includes the steps of: (a) receiving respective requests for advertising content corresponding to a plurality of mobile communication facilities operated by a group of users, wherein the plurality includes first and second types of mobile communication facilities with different rendering capabilities; (b) receiving a datum corresponding to the group; (c) selecting from a first and second sponsor respective content based on a relevancy to the datum, wherein each content includes a first and second item requiring respective rendering capabilities; (d) receiving bids from the first and second sponsors; (e) attributing a priority to the content of the first sponsor based upon a determination that a yield associated with the first sponsor is greater than a yield associated with the second sponsor; and (f) transmitting the first and second items of the first sponsor to the first and second types of mobile communication facilities respectively. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012665 | System for Targeting Advertising Content to a Plurality of Mobile Communication Facilities - A system for targeting advertising content includes the steps of: (a) receiving respective requests for advertising content corresponding to a plurality of mobile communication facilities operated by a group of users, wherein the plurality includes first and second types of mobile communication facilities with different rendering capabilities; (b) receiving a datum corresponding to the group; (c) selecting from a first and second sponsor respective content based on a relevancy to the datum, wherein each content includes a first and second item requiring respective rendering capabilities; (d) receiving bids from the first and second sponsors; (e) attributing a priority to the content of the first sponsor based upon a determination that a yield associated with the first sponsor is greater than a yield associated with the second sponsor; and (f) transmitting the first and second items of the first sponsor to the first and second types of mobile communication facilities respectively. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012666 | TRANSFERRING DIGITAL MEDIA RIGHTS IN SOCIAL NETWORK ENVIRONMENT - In various example embodiments, systems and methods for transferring digital media rights in a social network environment are provided. For example, an indication to transfer digital rights in a digital content is received from a user of a social network. A first network connection in the social network associated with the user is determined. An advertisement of the digital content and an offer to transfer the digital rights may be presented to the first network connection. The digital rights in the digital content may be transferred to the first network connection. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012667 | METHODS FOR AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO A PURCHASER - The present invention provides methods and apparatus for assisting a Purchaser in making a decision related to a Purchase. The decision may include which Product or Service will most satisfy a Purchaser in the event that the Purchaser acquires the Product or Service. The assistance is based upon emotional motivators associated with the Purchaser. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012668 | Predictive Shopping Notifications - This document describes techniques and apparatuses that enable predictive shopping notifications. In some embodiments, the techniques determine a purchase pattern for a product based on a user's purchase history, provide this purchase pattern to potential sellers, receive discount offers for the product from those sellers, and notify the user of these offers through his or her mobile device. By so doing, the techniques enables users to pay less for a product that the techniques predict that the user will want to purchase. Also, in some embodiments, the techniques remind a user to purchase a product based on this purchase pattern, such as through a notification indicating that the user is likely running out of that product. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012669 | Method and system for targeted content placement - A method for creating a customized advertising campaign includes displaying a list of available products and/or services for an advertising campaign, determining a list of consumers to be targeted by the advertising campaign, and selecting a product or service for the advertising campaign. The method further includes inputting advertising campaign detail information wherein the advertising campaign detail information includes at least one of an advertising campaign name, a start date, and an end date. The method also includes providing a list of one or more pre-associated banner templates for the advertising campaign, selecting one or more pre-associated banner templates for the advertising campaign, editing text of the one or more selected pre-associated banner templates, and publishing the one or more selected pre-associated banner templates according to the campaign detail information to one or more delivery websites. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012670 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACQUIRING DOMAIN VISITORS ON A PARKING SERVICE AND REDIRECTING TO OPTIMAL ADVERTISERS - A system and method for acquiring domain visitor on a parking service and redirecting the visitor to two or more optimal advertisers is disclosed. The system comprises a processor, and a partner module comprising a first set of software instructions executing on the processor, wherein said first set of instructions are configured to determine a computed bid to acquire a domain visitor for a domain at a rate of profitability. The first set of instructions are further configured to break down the domain into a keyword cloud, and to select at least one of said advertisers based on the computed bid and the keyword cloud. The first set of instructions are further configured to redirect the visitor to a uniform resource locator for the selected advertiser. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012671 | CONTENT-BASED TARGETED ONLINE ADVERTISEMENT - A method of providing targeted online advertisement includes receiving a request for an ad impression to be provided to a user in a network environment. The request includes a first content and a second content. The method also includes, using a processor, determining a context of the first content and a context of the second content, determining a correlation between the context of the first content and the context of the second content, and identifying a plurality of ads as candidates for consideration. The method further includes, using the processor, ranking the plurality of identified ads, selecting an ad among the plurality of identified ads based at least in part on a result of the ranking, and providing the selected ad as the ad impression to be displayed to the user in response to receiving the request. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012672 | CONTENT-BASED BIDDING IN ONLINE ADVERTISING - A method of providing targeted online advertisement includes receiving a request for an ad impression. The request includes a first content and a second content. The method also includes determining information related to (i) a context of the first content, (ii) a context of the second content, and (iii) a correlation between the context of the first content and the context of the second content, and providing the determined information to a bidding service, thereby enabling one or more advertisers to place one or more bids on the ad impression based on the provided information. Each of the one or more bids includes a bid price. The method further includes receiving the one or more bids for the ad impression, selecting one of the one or more received bids based at least in part on the bid prices, and providing an ad impression associated with the selected bid. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012673 | Systems and Methods for Targeted Advertising - Methods of generating recommendations may include obtaining social network data from one or more network resources. Word relationships may be created between selected words in the social network data to produce relationship data. Advertisement or other asset recommendations may be generated for a target user by analyzing browse information of the target user to identify one or more words. Other words in the relationship data may be identified that are related to the words in the target user's browse information. One or more advertisements may be identified having at least one keyword that corresponds to the other words. At least a portion of these advertisements may be selected from a data repository to provide to the target user. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012674 | Heads-up billboard - A method of providing visual information to a human viewer includes the steps of defining a range of distances from a surface and a range of viewing angles with respect to the surface, determining the location and viewing angle of a human viewer with respect to the surface, and providing a virtual image to the human viewer via a visual display device worn by the human viewer when the location and viewing angle of the human viewer with respect to the surface is determined to be within the defined range of distances and viewing angles, such that the virtual image is perceived to be defined on the surface by the human viewer. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012675 | Methods, Systems, and Computer Program Products for Determining Targeted Content to Provide in Response to a Missed Communication - Targeted content is provided to at least one communication device responsive to a notification of a missed communication. Responsive to a notification of the missed communication, a selection of one of a plurality of different pricing options is received for a return communication. Targeted content is provided, in addition to content of the return communication, based on the selected pricing option. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012676 | PROVIDING MOBILE ADVERTISING TO CONSUMERS OVER A NETWORK - Data is received from an advertiser regarding a mobile advertising campaign. At least one content item is created based on the data. The content item is made accessible over a network. A mobile tag having a link is generated for the content item, the mobile advertising campaign, and/or the advertiser. The mobile tag is made available to the advertiser, who may then distribute the mobile tag. A consumer scanning the mobile tag with an electronic communication device makes a request for the content item by accessing the link. In response, access to the content item is provided over the network. The advertiser may be charged based on the consumer accessing the content item. More than one of the content items may be created for the mobile advertising campaign, and the advertiser may be charged differently based on which of the content items is provided to the consumer. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012677 | Mobile Device Application for Dynamic Delivery of Advertising-Based Content - Described is a system, method, and computer readable medium for dynamically delivering advertising-based content. The system can include a first mobile device adapted to transfer data based on an end user's preferences, an advertising transmitter, and a network. The system can also include a first server adapted to store advertising-based content, a second server adapted to store test market data sent from an advertising entity, and an end user device adapted to receive advertising-based content. The computer readable medium can store a program adapted to execute instructions for receiving an input from an end user, receiving an audio signal from an advertising transmitter, transmitting a digital signal to a first server based on the received audio signal, and receiving advertising-based content from the first server. The program can further display advertising-based content options on a first mobile device for the end user to share through social media services. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012678 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INITIATING A TEXT MESSAGE COMMUNICATION SESSION BETWEEN A MERCHANT AND A CONSUMER - A system and method are provided for initiating a text message communication session between a merchant and a consumer. A two-way communication session may be facilitated between the consumer and the merchant, a mobile telephone number disclosed by the consumer during the two-way communication session may be detected, and a text message communication session between the consumer and the merchant may be initiated if a mobile telephone number was detected. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012679 | 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 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 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 describe their advertisement preferences. Messages to be transmitted to particular wireless communications devices are selected based upon both the location information and the demographic codes associated with the messages. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012680 | Directed Advertising and Educational Information Systems - Directed advertising and educational information systems according to particular embodiments include an academic portion and a token portion. In various embodiments, the academic portion is configured to display educational information to a user. The educational information may include grade information, information about homework assignments, school news, and other educational information. In particular embodiments, the token portion is configured to display offers to the user based at least in part on the educational information. In various embodiments, the offers may include a donation to a particular organization such as an educational institution. In particular embodiments, the system is configured to receive an indication of products be purchased by a user from a particular business and automatically adjust the price of those products to reflect a discount to which the user is entitled based on the user's association with an organization or based on offers available from the system's token portion. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012681 | REMOTELY CACHEABLE VARIABLE WEB CONTENT - A method for caching targeted webpage content is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes dividing a cacheable content pertaining to a website into a static portion and a dynamic frame for displaying visitor targeted content. The method determines a result for one or more targeting rules applied to a visitor's activity on a portion of the website and provides the result to the visitor's browser. The method further includes loading the dynamic frame of the cacheable content with visitor targeted content based on the provided result. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also disclosed. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012682 | DIRECT MARKETING SYSTEM FOR MATCHING CALLER VALUE TO RISK AND REVENUE - A method for direct marketing comprising establishing a first communications link between a prospective customer using a device having a unique identification number and a communications device, automatically transmitting the unique identification number associated with the prospective customer's device to a service provider's communications device, establishing a second communications link between the service provider's communications device and a computer operably connected to a database comprising prospective customer information associated with the unique identification number of the prospective customer's device, in which the information in the database determines prospective customer value and risk which can be used to determine subsequent marketing actions with the prospective customer. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012683 | Personalized Interactive Network for Debt Management - Systems and methods are disclosed for personalizing interaction between an information/service/product provider using a debt management system that tracks data exchanged between users and the provider over multiple communication channels. User requests to an information/service/product provider can made via multiple different channels, such as by using ATMs, PDAs, cell phones, computers accessing web sites or other Web Devices, Voice Response Units (VRUs), and others. User requests submitted over these multiple channels are routed into an integrated debt management system that services these requests and selects personalized offers and/or personalized content and/or personalized format presentation to be provided to the users. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012684 | Automated Exchange for the Efficient Assignment of Audience Items - An automated exchange system is provided which includes a smart electronic double auction for allocating audience items among prospective buyers and sellers and for calculating a set of prices for the audience items based on buyer bids from the buyers and seller offers from the sellers, including remote terminals for initiating and transmitting data including buyer bids and seller offers; and a central trade exchange system including a trading means for receiving buyer bids and seller offers from said remote terminals, simultaneously processing the buyer bids and the seller offers, identifying a set of trades in audience items between buyers and sellers which optimize gains obtained by buyers and sellers from the set of trades in audience items based on the bids and offers received by said trading means, and calculating a price for each audience item in the set of trades, and identifying rejected buyer bids and rejected seller offers. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012685 | Characterization of Layered Documents in HTML5 Publishing - An education digital reading platform provides pages of a document requested by a user, the pages including additional content layers associated with the requested content. The additional content layers including related content, user generated content, advertisement content and other services content offered by the digital reading platform. The requested content and additional content layers require processing capability on a web browser application. The amount of data associated with a page of a document may vary dramatically especially considering the additional layers of content associated with the pages. In order to permit the web browser application anticipate the processing needs associated with each page, the digital reading platform provides markers indicating a difference in processing requirements associated between two pages of a document. The markers enable the web browser request additional resources to provide a seamless user experience or enable the web browser application to request additional or fewer content layers. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012686 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING MESSAGE-ENABLED ADVERTISEMENTS AND CONTENT DELIVERY - Systems and methods are disclosed for providing message-enabled advertisements and content delivery, including SMS-enabled advertisements and content delivery. In accordance with one implementation, a method comprises providing, using at least one processor, instructions to display an advertisement together with a user interface on a first device, the user interface including a text entry field. The method also includes receiving a request for sending a message with advertised content to a second device associated with a phone number entered through the text entry field. Further, the method includes providing, using the at least one processor, instructions to send a message to the second device, the instructions including the advertised content and the phone number associated with the second device. In accordance with the present disclosure, at least one of the first device or the second device is a mobile device. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012687 | Directing Internet Shopping Traffic and Tracking Revenues Generated as a Result Thereof - A system having a client, a host server, a sponsor server, and a video server, which are all interconnected via the Internet and which operate seamlessly together in order to provide video content to an end user at the client and allow the end user at the client to purchase products and/or services from the sponsor that are featured in the video content provided by the video server. As the user views video content on his or her computer, images associated with segments of the content are periodically provided in conjunction with the video content. Each image contains an image map, which defines areas in the image. Each defined area is associated with a product which is displayed in that area of the image. Each defined area is also associated with an anchored hyperlink which links to web content from a sponsor server. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012688 | LOCATION-BASED PAYMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A virtual payment system including a customer-specific, customer geolocation responsive, limited time duration payment identifier generator operative to generate a customer-specific, customer geolocation responsive, limited time duration payment identifier, a customer-specific limited time duration payment identifier communicator operative to communicate the customer-specific, customer geolocation responsive, limited time duration payment identifier to a customer and a limited time duration payment identifier validator, operative to verify genuineness and timeliness of the customer-specific, customer geolocation responsive, limited time duration payment identifier presented by the customer at a point of sale. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012689 | AUTHORIZATION OF CARDLESS PAYMENT TRANSACTIONS - A method of processing a transaction between a customer and a merchant includes receiving from a mobile device of the customer or from another device of the customer an indication of consent to perform a cardless payment transaction with the merchant, receiving from the mobile device an indication that the customer is within a predetermined distance of the merchant, after receiving both the indication of consent and the indication that the customer is within the predetermined distance, sending to a computer system of the merchant an indication of the presence of the customer and personal identifying information for the customer, receiving data indicating a transaction between the customer and the merchant, and submitting the transaction to a financial service for authorization. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012690 | Systems and Methods for Facilitating Cash-Based Transactions - 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 pricing systems and methods for establishing and staging transactions between a point-of-sale terminal, one or more merchant-partners, and a service provider. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012691 | TRANSACTION MONITORING AND SAVINGS FEATURE - Systems and methods for monitoring categorized spending limits and promoting savings are provided herein. The systems and methods, identify transactions associated with a spending category that occur during a period of time based on the transaction data, where the spending category comprises a spend limit; provide a confirmation prompt on a display of a mobile device of a user that is in communication with the system; and deduct a transaction amount for each of the transactions from the spend limit in response to receiving a confirmation from the user. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012692 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF A PASSPHRASE ACCOUNT IDENTIFIER FOR USE IN A NETWORK ENVIRONMENT - A system and method for facilitating a financial transaction over a network including use of a passphrase account identifier is described herein. In one embodiment, a system for facilitating a financial transaction over a network comprises a communication interface; and a payment provider system configured to receive via the communication interface a passphrase account identifier from a merchant system, match the passphrase account identifier to a corresponding funding instrument number of a corresponding funding instrument, communicated the corresponding funding instrument number to an issuer system, receive from the issuer system a notification indication of one of acceptance of the funding instrument or decline of the funding instrument, and communicate back to the merchant system the notification indication. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012693 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING LISTING ASSISTANCE - In various example embodiments, a system and method for providing listing assistance to a user is provided. In example embodiments, a query is received from a device of the user. Information from a category that corresponds to the query is accessed. Statistic data is generated using the information accessed from the category that corresponds to the query. The statistic data is provided for display to the device of the user. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012694 | GIFT CARD SERVICES FOR MOBILE DEVICES - Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for gift card services. In general, data characterizing a request to provide a merchant credit service to an intended recipient is received and a message to be sent to the intended recipient is generated, where the message characterizes a phone number to call to activate the merchant credit service. Data characterizing authentication by a call to the phone number to activate the merchant credit service from the mobile phone number of the intended recipient is received, where the authentication includes checking caller identification of the call to ensure the call is from the mobile phone number of the intended recipient. The merchant credit service is activated. Credit associated with an account of a merchant credit service may be redeemed by providing an account number of the service. Redemption may be authorized based on caller identification of a mobile phone number associated with an account. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012695 | BATCH AUCTION - An auction of a batch with a deadline is disclosed. An apparatus includes one or more processors, and one or more memories storing instructions. The instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to set a batch sale function determining pricing control for a batch and for a plurality of items belonging to the batch before an auction with a deadline commences, and to modify at least one price of at least one item belonging to the batch during the auction by the batch sale function. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012696 | Device, Network, Server, and Methods for Providing Service Requests for Wireless Communication Devices - A server stores personal information associated with a user of a wireless communication device. The server also receives from the wireless communication device an image of an item for sale and a price of the item, and appends the image and the price to include the user's email address and the delivery information. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012697 | Intention Aggregation for Conditional Reverse Auction Scaled Purchasing - A system and method for intention aggregation for conditional reverse auction purchasing to achieve economies of scale. Non-binding purchase intentions are aggregated from a number of potential buyers by a computer system to generate a purchase statement. The purchase statement is used to solicit participation in and conduct a reverse auction among a number of potential suppliers. A supply offer from the winning bid is then used to make purchase conversion offers to the potential buyers. The supply offer includes a minimum purchase requirement to provide the necessary economy of scale for the supplier. Potential buyers place conditional purchase orders that are conditioned on achieving the minimum purchase requirement to activate the supply offer. Once the supply offer is activated, the conditional purchase orders are converted into binding purchase orders and secure transactions to address payment and delivery can proceed. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012698 | Systems and Methods Wherein a Buyer Purchases Products In a Plurality of Product Categories - Systems and methods are provided wherein an indication of a plurality of product categories is received, each product category being associated with a plurality of products. For example, the indication of the plurality of product categories may be received from a buyer. Buyer offer information, including an indication of an offer amount associated with the plurality of product categories, is also received. A subset of the plurality of products is selected for each of the product categories, and an indication of the selected products is provided. The buyer's offer may then be evaluated. If the buyer's offer is accepted, the selected products may be provided to the buyer in exchange for payment of the offer amount. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012699 | SERVICE DESIGN AND ORDER FULFILLMENT SYSTEM WITH COMMERCIAL DECOUPLING - A system that decouples a product offering from a fulfillment flow is provided. The system defines a product offering including product specifications. The system further maps the product specifications to fulfillment patterns, where each fulfillment pattern includes metadata that defines a set of fulfillment functions and dependencies. The system further generates a customer order including customer order lines, where each customer order line includes a product action and a product offering that is based on a product specification, and where each product action is a fulfillment action (or “action”) including metadata that defines a pattern of a structured request to perform work on the product offering that is based on the product specification. The system further fulfills the customer order using a fulfillment flow based on the fulfillment pattern mapped to the product specifications. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012700 | METHODS FOR AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING ADVICE BASED UPON EMOTIONAL MOTIVATORS - The present invention provides methods and apparatus for associating Products with Emotional Qualifiers and Purchasers with Emotional Motivators. The associations may then be used to provide advice on a decision to Purchase or other decision. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012701 | ELECTRONIC COMMERCE NETWORK WITH MOBILE TRANSACTIONS - A commerce network that processes a mobile transaction detects a mobile device of a user entering a store, the user having a corresponding user account that includes one or more tenders. The network creates a payment token corresponding to the detecting and registers it with the store. The network receives a personal identification number (“PIN”) from the user and authenticates the PIN. The network receives a basket of goods of one or more items selected by the user for purchase, the basket of goods including line level data for the items. The network then selects one or more payment tenders from the one or more tenders based at least on the line level data and validates and authorizes the selected payment tenders. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012702 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MESSAGE-BASED PURCHASING - Various embodiments of a system and method for message-based purchasing are described. The system and method for message-based purchasing may include a message-based purchase service configured to determine that a selection has been performed through a network-based interface. Such selection may be indicative of one or more items offered for sale via the network-based interface. The message-based purchase service may be configured to, in response to the selection of one or more items, send to a communication device, a message indicating a code corresponding to the selection. The message-based purchase service may receive from the communication device through a communication channel that does not include the network-based interface, a message including the code. The message-based purchase service may be configured to, in response to determining that the message received from the communication device includes the code, generate a purchase request for the one or more previously selected items. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012703 | System and Method for Swapping of Tangible and Intangible Items - A first user, second user, and third user are registered. Names of a first, second, and third item are stored a website for the first, second, and third users. The items can be tangible items or intangible items. The first user requests the second item. A first credit is removed from the first user and a second credit is stored for the second user when the first user receives the second item. The second user requests the third item. The second credit is removed from the second user and a third credit is stored for the third user when the second user receives the third item. The first credit, the second credit, and the third credit each represents a right to request a future swappable tangible or intangible item for the equivalent value of at least one previously swapped tangible or intangible item. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012704 | SELECTING A PREFERRED PAYMENT INSTRUMENT BASED ON A MERCHANT CATEGORY - The invention provides a computer-implemented method to select a preferred card for a purchase based on a merchant category. In the exemplary method, the computer associates a plurality of financial accounts with an account of a user; associates a merchant category with a financial account associated with the user account; and receives data from a transaction. The computer can maintain a database of merchant categories; determine the category of the merchant based on the data associated with the transaction; and extract data to identify the merchant, such as merchant name, address, or telephone number. The computer can determine the geo-location of the user device and determine the merchant identify from the location. The computer can determine a merchant category of the merchant from the merchant identity; select the financial account associated with the merchant category of the merchant; and communicate the financial account selected to conduct the transaction. | 2014-01-09 |
20140012705 | OBJECT INFORMATION DERIVED FROM OBJECT IMAGES - Search terms are derived automatically from images captured by a camera equipped cell phone, PDA, or other image capturing device, submitted to a search engine to obtain information of interest, and at least a portion of the resulting information is transmitted back locally to, or nearby, the device that captured the image. | 2014-01-09 |