| 09th week of 2011 patent applcation highlights part 74 |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
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| 20110054984 | STOCHASTIC METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETERMINING DISTRIBUTION CENTER AND WAREHOUSE DEMAND FORECASTS FOR SLOW MOVING PRODUCTS - A method and system for determining distribution center or warehouse product order quantities of a slow selling product. The method includes the step of determining for each one of a plurality of stores supplied by the distribution center, a store sales forecast for the slow selling product. The method converts the store sales forecast to a stochastic forecast when the average rate of sale of the product is less than a minimum average rate of sale threshold value. Store order forecasts are thereafter determined by subtracting a store inventory value from the stochastic forecast when average rate of sale is less than the average rate of sale threshold value, and subtracting the store inventory value from the sales forecast when the average rate of sale is not less than said average rate of sale threshold value. The individual store order forecasts are accumulated to generate a distribution center demand forecast; which is compared with current and projected inventory levels for the product at the distribution center to determine distribution center order quantities necessary for maintaining a product inventory level sufficient to meet the distribution center demand forecast for the product. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110054985 | ASSESSING A COMMUNICATION STYLE OF A PERSON TO GENERATE A RECOMMENDATION CONCERNING COMMUNICATION BY THE PERSON IN A PARTICULAR COMMUNICATION ENVIRONMENT - In one embodiment, a method includes accessing a set of responses to an instrument for assessing a communication style of a person; based on the set of responses to the instrument, determining a communication profile of the person that indicates how the person mentally processes information, how the person mentally organizes information, how comfortable the person is at expressing himself or herself, and whether the person presents information in a more linear manner or a more nonlinear manner; based on the communication profile of the person, generating a recommendation concerning communication by the person in a particular communication environment; and communicating the recommendation for consideration. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110054986 | DONATION FACILITATOR SOCIAL NETWORK - Methods, techniques and systems for electronically facilitating donations are provided. Example embodiments provide a Donation Facilitator Social Network (“DFSN”), which enables users (participants in the DFSN) to more easily donate to the organizations, especially non-profits or NGOs, that are most suitable to their interests and desires. In one embodiment, the DFSN comprises one or more of an NGO Search Engine; an NGO Suggestion Engine; a weighting and ranking engine; account management; sponsor integration support; donor matching services; a DFSN API; and one or more data repositories such as NGO data repository; and a user data repository, which maintains information on the various preferences, weightings, donation accounts of the participants. These components cooperate to automatically distribute funds to a weighted list of organizations based upon donation specifications amongst other criteria. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110054987 | Point of Sale System for Reconciling Sales Information with a Sales Incentive - A Point Of Sale (POS) reconciles generates revenue estimation data based on the reconciliation of POS sales transactions associated with a sales incentive (e.g., a store or manufacturer coupon). When a coupon is used in conjunction with a sales transaction at a POS, the coupon can be verified and factored in the sales transaction. The sales incentive data can be synchronized, along with other sales information in a POS connected server, where the data can be reconciled and analyzed for future reporting to a remote user requesting the revenue data. The POS connected server, or the POS terminal itself, can generate revenue estimations, return on investment calculations, and related reports. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110054988 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING ELECTRONIC COMMERCE THROUGH PROVIDING CROSS-BENEFITS DURING A TRANSACTION - Accordingly some embodiments, a merchant server receives an indication of acceptance by a customer of an offer for a subsidy from a second merchant of a purchase of at least one item from a first merchant. The customer agrees to participate in an additional transaction with the second merchant in exchange for having the subsidy applied against the purchase from the first merchant. In one embodiment, after selling the at least one item to the customer, the merchant server determines that the customer did not participate in an additional transaction with the second merchant as the customer agreed to, and assesses a penalty against the customer. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110054989 | Methods for Providing Network Marketing and Revenue Sharing to Participants of an Electronic Marketplace System - A method of sharing marketplace revenue includes recognizing revenue generated from the sale of an item supplied to the marketplace by a first marketplace participant and apportioning the revenue to at least a second marketplace participant associated with the first marketplace participant. A computer based system for implementing the foregoing method is also described herein. The system may include a marketplace server connected to a telecommunications network and configured to exchange electronic communications over the network with a plurality of participants and a plurality customers. The system may further include a datastore communicatively coupled to the server configured to store listings of goods and services being offered on the marketplace, the marketplace participant associated with each of the goods and services, transaction details of the sale of items from the listing of goods and services, and a recruitment network identifying recruitment associations between the plurality of participants. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110054990 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR MOBILE NETWORK SUBSCRIBER INCENTIVE PROGRAMS - A number of reward programs can be offered to subscribers of a mobile network as an incentive to use fewer allocated resources, rather than more. For example, in some embodiments, a subscriber may elect to participate in a reward program wherein a portion of the unused resources are used to determine a monetary amount to be returned to the subscriber at, for example, the end of a year. In some embodiments, a subscriber may elect to participate in a reward program wherein a portion of the unused resources (such as unused minutes under their plan) are used to offset the costs of “green programs”, which may be implemented by the operator of the network. In other words, the subscribers can be encouraged to use fewer resources by allowing a portion of those unused resources (in the form of, for example, cash) to offset the cost of a program, which the subscriber believes provides some benefit. The reward programs offered may recognize any societal issue. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110054991 | Profile Based Content Creation - Systems and methods of combining digital promotions with independent incentives are presented. In some embodiments, a social network site can allow users to have multiple profiles, where each profile could be active or inactive. The profiles can also include one or more user attributes. As the user interacts with the social networking site, the site server can create advertisements comprising a promotion and independent incentives. When the user engages with the promotion the incentive can then be provided to the user. The site server can form the advertisements by comparing profiles or attributes of the user with those of the promotions or incentives. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110054992 | COMMUNICATING PRICE DISCOUNTS - The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for communicating price discounts. Embodiments include alerting customers (e.g., to an imminent or impending) price reduction on (e.g., perishable) items. More particularly, embodiments include compiling product and consumer data to determine which consumers are to receive notifications of impending price discounts. This compilation of data is transmitted to a communications system, which then transmits via instantaneous electronic means, such as SMS text message, picture message, e-mail, or micro-blogging, a price discount notification. Computer systems enabled to practice the present invention, comprising one or more databases and a communications system configured to transmit price discount notifications, are also described. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110054993 | ELECTRONIC COUPON MANAGEMENT, DISTRIBUTION, AND RESERVATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Exemplary electronic coupon management, distribution, and reservation systems and methods are disclosed. An exemplary method includes an electronic coupon subsystem maintaining data representative of an electronic coupon in a repository of coupon data such that the electronic coupon is accessible to a plurality of access devices associated with a plurality of consumers, receiving a request to reserve the electronic coupon from an access device within the plurality of access devices, the access device associated with a consumer within the plurality of consumers, and reserving the electronic coupon for the consumer for a reservation time period such that the electronic coupon is unavailable to one or more other consumers within the plurality of consumers during the reservation time period. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110054994 | INFRASTRUCTURE FOR MARKETING DISPARATE SERVICES - Methods for implementing a discount program directed to reducing costs to a consumer for first and second disparate services provided by first and second unrelated entities are described. A seller can sell addition of the consumer to the discount program, without requiring the consumer to purchase anything else from the seller to benefit from the program. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110054995 | CENTRAL SAVINGS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A central savings management system and method is provided. A central savings management system is comprised of a data storage device with a storage medium associated with a customer, a point of sale device for receiving currency in at least a first transaction associated with at least one commercial environment from the customer, the point of sale device operatively coupled with the data storage device, wherein the point of sale device displays an option to retain a portion of the currency from the at least a first transaction, and a management system operatively coupled to the point of sale device, configured to receive the portion of the currency from the at least a first transaction, the management system including a processor, a memory, a server, a customer database communicatively linked with the at least one commercial environment storing the portion of the currency from the at least a first transaction, and a web module for displaying portions from a plurality of commercial environments to the customer. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110054996 | Network for Targeting Individual Operating a Microcomputer Regardless of His Location - A network adapted to target an individual operating a microcomputer that is linked to an Internet to offer this individual goods or services appropriate to his needs that are available at a place within reach of the individual's present location. The microcomputer is provided with a GPS receiver that indicates the present location of the individual, this location and the identity of the individual being transmitted from the microcomputer to a web site on the highway. At the web site, a computer associated with a data bank storing the profiles of a multitude of consumers is programmed to find out whether the identified individual is included in the data bank, and to determine from his profile whether there are available at a place reachable from his present location appropriate goods or services. If a match is found, an offer to supply such goods or services is conveyed from the web site to the microcomputer. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110054997 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ELECTRONIC ADVERTISING - A method of delivering advertising in an online environment includes determining an intent of a user interacting with an e-commerce website, and determining a hurdle rate that is based at least on the user intent and which identifies a threshold amount to be bid by an advertiser in order to display an advertisement to the user. The method further includes selecting, from a plurality of advertisements, an optimal advertisement having an advertiser bid that exceeds the hurdle rate, and displaying the optimal advertisement to the user in an interface of a client computer system. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110054998 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ELECTRONIC ADVERTISING - A method of delivering advertising in an online environment includes determining an intent of a user interacting with an e-commerce website and determining a hurdle rate, based at least on the intent of the user, that identifies a threshold amount to be bid by an advertiser in order to display an advertisement to the user interacting with the e-commerce website. The method may further include selecting, from a plurality of advertisements, one or more optimal advertisements having a combined advertiser bid that exceeds the determined hurdle rate. The method may further include providing one or more controls in a user interface of a client computer system, each of the controls being associated with a respective advertisement of the one or more optimal advertisements and adapted to enable the user to select one or more of the controls, and providing an element, responsive to an input of the user, that is adapted to display, to the user, the respective advertisements selected by the user. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110054999 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PREDICTING USER NAVIGATION WITHIN SPONSORED SEARCH ADVERTISEMENTS - An improved system and method for predicting user navigation within sponsored search advertisements is provided. A list of sponsored advertisements for display on a web page of search results may be received. A click prediction classifier may be applied to predict a click probability of each sponsored advertisement and a dwell time prediction classifier may be applied to predict a dwell time probability on web pages of a website of each sponsored advertisement. A probability of user navigation may be predicted for each sponsored advertisement using a probability of a click on each sponsored advertisement and a probability of a dwell time on web pages of a website of each sponsored advertisement. The list of the sponsored advertisements may be ranked in part by the probability of user navigation and served to a web browser executing on a client device for display on a web page of search results. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055000 | PREDICTING EMAIL RESPONSES - One embodiment is a method that predicts a probability of users responding to a second email campaign based on data gathered from a first email campaign. Data from the first email campaign is applied to different models to identify attributes that are predictive of users who responded to the first email campaign. These attributes are used to predict a probability of users responding to the second email campaign. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055001 | AD NETWORK OPTIMIZATION SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF - A system and method for optimizing advertisements. To maximize revenue, a plurality of ad networks are tiered based on their pricing data, and more preferably, their cost per thousand impressions (CPM). Each tier includes a pricing data range. Periodically, the system increases and decreasing frequency caps for the plurality of ad networks to raise the plurality of ad networks to a higher tier. Frequency caps are increased for an ad network when the CPM for the ad network is above the CPM range for the ad network's tier. The frequency caps are decreased for the ad network when the CPM for the ad network is below the CPM range for the ad network's tier. For each ad network request received, the system traverses through the tiers of the plurality of ad networks for an ad network that is capable of serving an ad based on the ad network's frequency cap. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055002 | FUNDING INFORMATION DELIVERY USING ADVERTISING REVENUE - Embodiments are provided to deliver information to a user such that data information delivery costs are less than an amount of generated advertising revenue. In an embodiment, a system can be configured to deliver information, including content and advertisements, to a user which operates to remove the burden of payment for the information delivery by the user. In one embodiment, bandwidth, compression, minimization, protocols, timing, and other optimization parameters can be used to minimize the cost to communicate information, including content and advertisements, to a user. Embodiments can be configured to optimally package advertisements and content, such that advertising revenue can be used to compensate for or override costs associated with the transmission of the content and advertisements. Other embodiments and functionality are available. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055003 | BUDGET-INFLUENCED RANKING AND PRICING IN SPONSORED SEARCH - Methods and systems are provided for ranking of sponsored search advertisements, and for auction pricing, based on revenue factors in addition to bid amounts and click through rates including budgets associated with advertising accounts, campaigns and portions thereof. Methods are provided in which linear programming or other techniques are used to optimize the search engine revenue, and the optimized solutions are used in ranking sponsored search advertisements based on factors including an advertiser bid amount associated with the advertisement, a historical, estimated or predicted click through rate associated with the advertisement, and a budget over a period of time, such as a daily budget, the budget including spend associated with the advertisement. Instead of one fixed position, the new ranking is a service distribution on multiple positions. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055004 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SELECTING AND OPTIMIZING BID RECOMMENDATION ALGORITHMS - A system and method are provided for evaluating the performance of at least one algorithm that generates bid recommendations for keyword advertising on search engines. According to one example, metric data associated with a plurality of internet advertisement objects is divided into a plurality of similar object groups. In one example, these object groups are provided to one or more client devices. In one example, the client devices generate bid recommendations according to at least one algorithm and place the bids with search engines. In still another example, the performance of the at least one bid recommendation algorithm is later measured or compared to the performance of another bid recommendation algorithm. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055005 | System and Method of Delivering Ads - An ad delivery and payment system over a wide area network wherein a system server which transmits ads to end users via their mobile devices who then completes a sales transactions for a good or service at the advertiser's store. The system server then reviews the advertiser's sales transactions database for customers names that match the names of end users who received the ads. The system includes an end user database that contains a plurality of end users signed up for the service and an advertiser's database containing a plurality of advertisers signed up for the service. When an ad is delivered to an end user, the name of the end user the nature of the ad and the name of the end user is recorded in the advertiser's ad delivery folder. When a customer completes a sales transaction using his or her credit or debit card, the name of the customer and the purchased product(s) or service(s) are recorded in the advertiser's sales transaction folder. A name matching software program and a query software program are then used to filter and sort the names to find matching names. In necessary, the query software program may use different filtering factors to create more accurate matching results. A report is then generated showing the total number of end users who completed a transaction is prepared which is used to determine the total revenue generated and the return on investment for the advertising campaign. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055006 | Advertising Distribution System - The invention is a software system capable of managing advertisement campaigns across remote digital signage advertising participating locations. The system provides interfaces for advertisers, locations, system administrators and consumers. Central to the system is an algorithm that ensures advertising budgets are dispersed across a specified timeframe. This algorithm adapts to changes in campaign timeframes, price per advertisement impression, number of active locations, average display frequency per location and addition, revision or removal of advertisements. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055007 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, PROGRAM AND INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM - There is provided an apparatus including: a preference information generation unit for generating preference information; a status determination unit for determining a status of an operation application based on a change in the status of the operation application having a first status for displaying a first operation screen on which registered applications can be selectively executed and a second status for displaying a second operation screen on which display information attracting a user is selectively displayed; a display control unit for selectively displaying the first operation screen and the second operation screen on a display screen based on a determination result; a display information displaying control unit for displaying the display information on the second operation screen based on a determination result; and a processing unit for performing a processing corresponding to an application selected on the first operation screen or display information selected on the second operation screen. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055008 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ELECTRONIC ADVERTISING - A method of delivering advertising in an online environment includes determining a context of a user operating a client computer to interact with an e-commerce website, where the determined context representing an intent of the user to locate a product for purchase, defining a relation between one or more of a plurality of advertisements and the product based on at least one of a plurality of relevance types, and displaying, to the user, at least one of the advertisements having the relation to the product. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055009 | AUDIENCE SEGMENT ESTIMATION - Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for estimating segments from key values for advertising impressions. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055010 | Enabling High Performance Ad Selection - A method and a system are provided for enabling high performance ad selection. In one example, the system receives an ad. A relevance of the ad needs to be determined. The relevance is a function of one or more computational intensive functions. A computational intensive function is a function that requires more than trivial processing. The system identifies one or more arguments of the computational intensive functions that are within a fixed range. The system generates a tableau based on the one or more arguments that are within a fixed range. The tableau is configured to benefit run-time performance of an ad selection process whenever the computer uses the pre-generated tableau during run-time instead of calculating one or more computational intensive functions. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055011 | System and method for supporting a consumer aggregation procedure in an electronic network - A system and method for implementing an information distribution network includes an information service that is configured to provide information distribution services through the information distribution network. User devices are utilized by device users to communicate with the information service for receiving the information distribution services. Transport structures are implemented to collect appropriate metadata from various entities in the information distribution network. A group aggregator analyzes grouping factors from the collected metadata to define at least one consumer group from among the devices users. Various advertisers then communicate with a bid manager to participate in a bidding procedure for obtaining advertising rights to provide selected information to the consumer group. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055012 | CROSS-PLATFORM TARGETED ADVERTISEMENTS - Various embodiments of systems, methods, computer devices, and computer software are disclosed for implementing cross-platform targeted advertisements. One embodiment is a method for providing a targeted advertisement. One such method comprises: accessing one of a web site and a mobile site in an initial session; collecting information related to a user in the initial session; storing the collected information; accessing the other of the web site and the mobile site in a subsequent session; determining the user for the subsequent session based on the stored information; selecting a targeted advertisement for the subsequent session based on the stored information; and providing the targeted advertisement to the user in the subsequent session. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055013 | SECURE ALERT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method for receiving transaction data for a transaction, accessing a database comprising alert preference data, and generating a secure alert message using the transaction data and alert preference data using a notification server coupled to the database. The secure alert message comprises a dynamic identifier personal to the consumer. The method also includes sending the secure alert message to a consumer device. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055014 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING REGION-BASED MOBILE ADVERTISING - Disclosed is a method for providing a region-based mobile advertising service. Before an advertisement server delivers an advertisement to a terminal, a gateway receives the advertisement from the advertisement server. The gateway is a communication network between the advertisement server and the terminal. The gateway, then delivers the advertisement from the advertisement server when it is determined, based on the current position of the terminal, that the terminal is located in a region established for the provision of an advertising service. In contrast, when the terminal is not located in the established region, then the gateway asks the terminal whether or not to receive the advertisement. The gateway then sends or interrupts the advertisement according to a response from the terminal. When the terminal undergoes roaming, then the user is informed of an additional fee due to advertisement, so that the user can be provided with an opportunity to accept or reject the advertisement. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055015 | METHOD AND NETWORK NODE FOR DEFERRING A TRANSMISSION OF A MESSAGE COMPRISING AN ADVERTISEMENT COMPONENT - The invention relates to a method and network node for deferring a transmission of a message comprising an advertisement (Ad) component. The method comprises the steps of detecting that a target device for the message is roaming and that a deferring option is active for the target device. The method also comprises a step of storing the message with the Ad component. After the step of storing, the method comprises a step of receiving a notification indicating that the target device is not roaming. If the Ad component is valid, a step of sending the message to the target device is executed and if the Ad component is not valid, the steps of retrieving a new Ad, updating the message with the new Ad and sending the message to the target device are executed. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055016 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO DISTRIBUTE PROMOTIONAL CONTENT - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a computing device having a controller to receive descriptive information to customize an avatar presented by the computing device, transmit the descriptive information to a system, and receive from the system promotional content correlated to the descriptive information. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055017 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SEMANTIC BASED ADVERTISING ON SOCIAL NETWORKING PLATFORMS - A system and method for semantic based advertising is provided. Information related to a social network may be obtained. Analysis of collected information may be performed to produce an analysis result. An advertisement may be selected based on the analysis result. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055018 | DYNAMIC BID PRICING FOR SPONSORED SEARCH - A method for an online sponsored search system includes storing a database of items. At least some of the items include a keyword and a money amount associated with a respective advertiser. The method further includes receiving information about current user preferences within the online sponsored search system. When the received user information relates to a keyword of an item, the method includes automatically adjusting the money amount of the item based on the received user interest information. In response to a received user query, the method includes identifying items relating to the received user search query and generating a search result list including the related items. The method then includes ordering the related items according to the adjusted money amounts associated with the matching items. In response to the designation of a Web page to receive sponsored advertisements, the method includes identifying items relating to the subject matter of one or more portions of the Web page. In this instance, the method then includes determining which items are to be shown and their placement on the Web page according to the adjusted money amounts associated with the related items. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055019 | PRIVACY PROTECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method and system for asserting control over and protecting the privacy of individuals' personal and transactional information, to prevent unauthorized use thereof, and permit limited use thereof, with compensation, to the extent permitted the individual. Privacy notices are given in printed and electronic form to other parties involved in the individuals' transactions. The individuals' own data are collected and maintained in a privacy trust database. On a voluntary basis, abstracted, anonymous profile information can be made available to advertisers, in exchange for compensation to the individuals. One use is in a content broadcasting system, where receipt of profile based viewer-specific commercial messages provide financial compensation for the cost of user-selected content received by the individual. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055020 | System and Method for Providing Advertising Content Using a Group Training System - A method of providing advertising content using a group training system (GTS) includes transferring first advertising content from an advertiser system (AS) to a first GTS by an advertising content service provider system (ACSPS), transferring payment from the AS by the ACSPS as compensation for the first advertising content being displayed on a multi-user display associated with the first GTS, and transferring payment from the ACSPS to an entity associated with the first GTS as compensation for the first advertising content being displayed on the multi-user display associated with the first GTS. An advertising content service provider system (ACSPS) includes a processing device and a memory device. The processing device transfers first advertising content from an advertiser system (AS) to a first GTS for display on a multi-user display associated with the first GTS, payment is transferred by the processing device from the AS as compensation for the first advertising content being displayed on the multi-user display associated with the first GTS, and payment is transferred by the processing device to an entity associated with the first GTS as compensation for the first advertising content being displayed on the multi-user display associated with the first GTS. A computer-readable storage medium includes instructions in accordance with the disclosed method. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055021 | Affiliate Network Hybrid Tracking System and Method - A system and method for determining a commission for an affiliate referral is described. Typically, affiliate tracking programs utilize a cookie deposited on an end user's computer to collect the data it needs to accurately associate a commission with an affiliate. If the cookie is lost for some reason (e.g. the user deletes cookies), that valuable information is missing, and the system must collect other information to determine the possible source of the referral. Two additional data collection and association pathways may be utilized to ensure that the commissions paid to affiliates are complete and accurate. These additional pathways include eTags and a caching system which enable cookieless tracking techniques. In addition a conversion breakdown report provides the data collection and user interface for an affiliate manager to determine in some circumstance to whom, among several possible affiliates, the commission should be given. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055022 | MEDIA CONTENT DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS AND METHODS - An exemplary method includes receiving end-user-provided media content with a first media content distribution platform subsystem, distributing the end-user-provided media content with the first media content distribution platform subsystem, receiving end-user-provided ratings of the distributed end-user-provided media content with the first media content distribution platform subsystem, selecting, by a platform linking subsystem, at least a subset of the end-user-provided media content based at least in part on the end-user-provided ratings, and distributing the selected at least a subset of the end-user-provided media content with a second media content distribution platform subsystem. In certain embodiments, the second media content distribution platform subsystem may comprise a subscriber television content distribution platform subsystem. In certain embodiments, the first media content distribution platform subsystem may comprise a World Wide Web media content distribution platform subsystem. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055023 | ABOVE THE FOLD - A computer-implementable method for determining an advertisement position is provided. The method includes receiving, at a server, a user request, via a computer client, for displaying a webpage in a window of a browser of the client computer, where the webpage includes at least one ad. Further, the method includes receiving viewport information from the browser. Based on the viewport information, viewable canvas information is calculated. The viewable canvas information is related to a displayable portion of the webpage. The method further includes generating ad position information based on the viewable canvas information. In embodiments, the ad position information is for determining fees related to advertising on the webpage. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055024 | METHOD FOR LOADING ADVERTISEMENT IN ELECTRONIC MAP - The present invention relates to a method for loading advertisement in electronic map, which comprises the following steps: opening the electronic map in the Geographic Information System (GIS); identifying a plurality of advertising areas on different display scales; numbering each identified advertising area; recording the attributes of each advertising area, such as the current scale, coordinates, size and shape; designing at least one 2D advertising graph according to the attributes of each identified advertising area, to which the shape of the graph adapts; and placing the designed advertising graph into the corresponding advertising area and then distributing through the GIS. The advertisements appear to be embedded in the electronic map when displayed, thus do not affect the display effect of the electronic map, besides, they further enrich the content and reasonably expand function of the electronic map. Accordingly, great social benefits are brought about by the electronic map that possesses greater value of market and utilization. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055025 | Component-Based Network-Delivered Advertising - A single advertisement presented within a web page can be comprised of individual components: “ad beans”. Each ad bean can be directed to a single task and multiple ad beans can be combined within an advertising structure to provide a nearly limitless set of combinations and associated functionality. An advertising structure can act as a host for ad beans and can obtain the ad beans on a real-time basis from a remote source. The ad beans themselves can likewise obtain information on a real-time basis, such as from either the same, or a different, remote host. A single entity can thereby aggregate purchases of advertising such that the aggregator's purchase of advertising can be subsequently divided among differing entities such that each individual entity need only purchase a minimum amount of advertising from the aggregator that can be substantially lower than the minimum amount of advertising traditionally sold by publishers. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055026 | METHOD OF COLLECTING DATA USING AN EMBEDDED MEDIA PLAYER PAGE - A method of collecting data in connection with the retrieval of a media file includes the steps of transmitting to a media device ( | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055027 | COOKING ASSISTANCE TERMINAL, WEARABLE COOKING ASSITANCE TERMINAL AND METHOD - A cooking assistance terminal includes a display unit and an acceptance unit. The display unit displays a list of ordered items included in order information from a customer. The acceptance unit accepts a selection command to select an ordered item with cooking completed, from the ordered items displayed in the list. The display unit also displays the ordered item on which the selection command is given, identifiably from the other ordered items, as an ordered item that is already cooked. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055028 | ARTICLE SALES DATA PROCESSING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD FOR THE SAME - According to one embodiment, an article sales data processing apparatus includes a storage unit, a selection acceptance unit, a confirmation unit, and a payment processing unit. The storage unit stores, for each article sold, sales data and information indicating a payment method prohibited for that article, of plural payment methods. The selection acceptance unit accepts selection of payment method. The confirmation unit refers to the information stored in the storage unit and confirms whether articles sold include an article for which payment by the payment method with its selection accepted by the selection acceptance unit is prohibited. If it is confirmed that the articles sold include an article for which payment is prohibited, the payment processing unit notifies that the articles sold include an article for which payment is prohibited, and executes payment for articles for which the same payment method is not prohibited, by the same payment method. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055029 | Point of Sale System for Reconciling Point of Sale and Financial Information - A Point Of Sale (POS) system is presented that can consolidate and reconcile sales information from various POS terminals with financial information from one or more financial systems, including bank-related systems and credit-related systems. In some instances, the POS system enables a user to access, from a POS connected server, a financial report based on the reconciliation of sales and financial information associated with a sales transaction. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055030 | Point of Sale System for Communicating Marketing Messages Based on a Sales Transaction - A method, POS system, and computer program product is provided for integrating a POS system with social networking platforms. A Point Of Sale (POS) system obtains sales information associated with a sales transaction. After acquiring a customer's authorization to use his/her e-mail address information, the POS system reconciles the sales information with marketing data. The POS system packages marketing information based on the sales information acquired and communicates the marketing information associated with the sales transaction to a social networking platform to which the customer is a subscriber. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055031 | REGISTRATION TERMINAL, SETTLEMENT TERMINAL, TRANSACTION CONTENT CHANGING METHOD, AND COMMODITY SALES PROCESSING APPARATUS - According to one embodiment, a registration terminal includes: a connecting unit connected to a settlement terminal, the settlement terminal being configured to store sales data indicating transaction content of a transaction for purchase of a commodity transmitted from the outside and execute processing concerning settlement of the transaction on the basis of the stored sales data; a generating unit configured to generate, every time the transaction is performed, sales data indicating content of the transaction; a registering unit configured to transmit the sales data generated by the generating unit to the settlement terminal; a readout requesting unit configured to request the settlement terminal to read out the sales data stored in the settlement terminal; and a changing unit configured to change the transaction content of the sales data read out from the settlement terminal and transmit the sales data after the change to the settlement terminal as sales data for update. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055032 | INTEGRATED POINT OF SALE (POS) TERMINAL - The integrated point of sale (POS) terminal includes: a calculating device; and a monitor, an input device and an output device respectively electrically connected to the calculating device. An input data is inputted into the calculating device via the input device and displays on the monitor, and then the output data is displayed thereon and outputted from the output device post calculation. In other POS, the input device performs input and output functions, or a touch panel might be the input device. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055033 | PAYMENT WORKFLOW EXTENSIBILITY FOR POINT-OF-SALE APPLICATIONS - Architecture that employs a software development kit and an add-in model to collect payment data and communicate with payment processors in a point-of-sale (POS) application to meet new requirements in new markets. Data gathered from an add-in and from the POS application can be combined and then communicated to the payment processor. The payment method can be determined and payment processing routed to different payment processors based on data and schema of data collected is also described. An add-in can also programmatically obtain information from the POS application information about a transaction and authorize a payment. A payment collecting/processing API is the interface between the POS application tender logic and payment collecting/processing logic and defines how a payment collecting/processing add-in interacts with the POS application. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055034 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PRICING SOFTWARE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A CLOUD COMPUTING ENVIRONMENT - A software provider system can provide and price software infrastructure for a cloud to a cloud provider based on expected utilization and actual utilization of the cloud. The software provider system can provide the software infrastructure of the cloud and technical support for the software infrastructure under a varying price structure which is dependent on the expected utilization and the actual utilization of the software infrastructure. The software provider system can determine the initial price of the software infrastructure based on the expected utilization of the cloud and a purpose of the cloud. The software provider system can monitor the actual utilization of the software infrastructure, over time, in order to modify the initial price based on the actual utilization of the software infrastructure. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055035 | Method and system for integrated professional continuing education related services - The present invention provides a computer-implemented integrated professional services research, resource, and education delivery and management system. The invention integrates the professional services delivery aspect with the professional education, training and requirements aspect associated with professional services firms and concerns. The invention provides electronic filing and reporting of requirements related documents to maintain state certifications. By providing a more efficient learning environment that is more fully integrated in the practice of a given profession, the present invention promotes an environment that more quickly advances and cultivates the skills of professionals, especially those with little experience, and more closely relates such development with the particular areas in which the individual is engaged in the practice and delivery of professional services, thereby enhancing value delivered to the client. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055036 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MANAGING ELECTRICITY DELIVERY AND COMMERCE - Methods and systems of managing electric energy delivery and/or commerce. One of the methods comprises providing a plurality of power sell offers of a plurality of first consumers each connected to an electric grid, providing a power purchase offer of a second consumer connected to the electric grid, selecting at least one of the plurality of sell offers of at least one of the plurality of first consumers according to the power purchase offer, and billing the second consumer according to the at least one selected sell offer so at to allow crediting the at least one first consumer. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055037 | STORED ENERGY AND CHARGING APPLIANCE - A charging system detachably drawing from a power source comprising: (a) an electrical output configuration; (b) an electrical input configuration; and (c) an energy store configuration; and methods of provisioning the energy store, the charging system, and electric vehicle charger devices. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055038 | MOBILE DEVICE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - A method and system to conduct financial transactions over a communication network is provided. A purchase request is received via a communication network, the purchase request associated with a mobile airtime account of a user. A purchase amount and a merchant account are identified based on the purchase request. A financial account module is configured to debit a financial account of the user with the purchase amount and credit the merchant account with at least a portion of the purchase amount. Also, an airtime account module to credit the mobile airtime account of the user. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055039 | Bidder identity encryption for enabling an audit trail - A computer network implemented public auction preserves audit trail data in a remotely secured storage site which may be accessed by subscribing auction participants in the event auction fraud or collusion is suspected. To insure the authenticity of the stored data and to verify the identities participating in the auction a unique encrypted identification code is assigned to each bidder after the bidder's identity is verified against public data banks and once so verified is stored in association with the image and/or document record sequences for a period determined by the subscription agreement and/or the relevant statute of limitations period. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055040 | LISTING RECOMMENDATION IN A NETWORK-BASED COMMERCE SYSTEM - According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method to facilitate generating listing recommendations to a user of a network-based commerce system. In one embodiment, the method includes identifying a term associated with a user interaction in a network-based commerce system. The method further includes generating a recommendation query including the identified term. In addition, the method includes running the recommendation query against a plurality of listings hosted by the network-based commerce system to identify a recommendation. Moreover, the method includes presenting the recommendation to a user of the network-based commerce system. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055041 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING WORKFORCE TRANSITIONS BETWEEN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYMENT - A method includes configuring a labor pool, the labor pool including a plurality of human resources in a first workforce sector. In addition, the method includes configuring a plurality of business entities operating in a second workforce sector that is distinct from the first workforce sector. The configuration of a plurality of business entities includes storing job-opening information for a plurality of job openings. Further, the method includes normalizing the labor pool to a human-capital management (HCM) taxonomy. Additionally, the method includes normalizing the plurality of job openings to the HCM taxonomy. The method also includes facilitating a redeployment of at least one human resource in the normalized labor pool from the first workforce sector to the second workforce sector. The facilitating includes matching the at least one human resource to at least one job opening in the normalized plurality of job openings. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055042 | SYSTEM FOR PROCURING BUSINESS IN AN E-COMMERCE ENVIRONMENT - A system, method and computer program product are provided for e-commerce. In use, a plurality of suppliers are registered. In addition, goods-related information from customers is received, where the goods-related information is associated with goods. Access to the goods-related information by the suppliers is allowed utilizing a network. Further, offers relating to the goods from the suppliers are received utilizing the network, and the customers are informed of the offers. Still yet, a guarantee is provided to the customers regarding a qualification of at least one supplier with respect to a provision or fulfillment of the offer received therefrom. Such guarantee is provided as a function the at least one supplier or at least one action thereof. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055043 | METHOD AND A SYSTEM FOR GENERATING A CUSTOM ITINERARY ACCORDING TO USER SPECIFICATIONS - An automated method for operating a bimodal itinerary creation and management system. The method includes specifying by a user of his travel preferences and telling the system to plan and calculate an itinerary, calculating by the system of an itinerary meeting said user's travel preferences and presenting said itinerary to said user. The method also includes either accepting this as the final itinerary by the user or further specifying and fine tuning his preferences and finally recalculating the itinerary, until a sufficiently satisfactory itinerary is created. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055044 | RECIPE ENGINE SYSTEM AND METHOD - Disclosed is a system and method for providing electronic meal information to a user. At least one database stores recipe information, recipe attribute information process information and time information for recipes. A web site linked to the Internet includes a prompt for a user to submit at least one characteristic of a meal and another prompt for available ingredient information. Recipe information is generated by a selection of at least some of the stored electronic recipe information that corresponds to the characteristic of the meal and the available ingredients. An electronic list of ingredients is generated that includes the difference between ingredients for the meal, and the at least one ingredient that the user has available for the meal. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055045 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF DISPLAYING, MANAGING AND SELLING IMAGES IN AN EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY ENVIRONMENT - An image display system is provided that allows event organizers to sell images of the event to interested parties. The interested parties would have access to the images and allow them to copy and manipulate the same. In addition, customers would have the ability to order image related products containing one or more of the images. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055046 | System and Method for Remote Acquisition and Delivery of Goods - A system and method for remote acquisition and delivery of goods includes a server in communication with customer computers, such as through a user interface via the internet. The server can store customer information including billing information, and may include a real-time video processor. A mobile delivery system in communication with the server includes an energy efficient vehicle, a real-time video device, a global positioning system, a communication device and a printer. In use, a customer communicates with a mobile delivery agent via the real-time video device and the communication device to remotely acquire a product. Once acquired, the delivery agent delivers the product to a designated delivery location. The real-time video device can be utilized during the entire transaction. The system preferably includes a processor for optimizing system efficiencies, including selecting a delivery agent based on the product, pick-up location and delivery site. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055047 | INTEGRATED IDENTITY AND FINANCIAL FRAUD PROTECTION AND PROXY SERVICES DELIVERY SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system and method providing a collection of associated servers in a data center connected to the Internet. The servers, each being related to a service, deliver a client to a user, encapsulating the related services to common standard Internet browser software. The system and method provide a window to the Internet. The associated servers perform browsing for a user, stripping out viruses and malware and delivering safe content. The content enables a user to view and interact with the content on its computer, but not processing that content on the user's computer; the content is not stored on any local storage at the user's computer. The system and method for the delivery of services is tightly integrated into the Internet browsing experience and provides the end-user with anonymity, privacy, fraud protection, and multiple-client sharing of meta-information pertaining to the browsing experience. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055048 | Book purchasing system with filters and continuous loop execution - A book purchasing system allows a book buyer to log onto the system via a Web interface and purchase books from one or more book-selling venues. The buyer enters information on the books he wants to purchase and criteria relating to the purchases. The system searches the venues for listings matching this information. The listings are filtered using the other criteria entered by the buyer. These filtered listings may be displayed to the buyer and the buyer may then select which listings to execute to meet his purchasing needs. Once selected, the buyer can execute the listings at the venue. The system may automatically complete the transactions at the venues on behalf of the buyer. The system may continuously search the venues for listings that match the buyer criteria and will continue searching until listings are identified or the buyer manually stops the search. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055049 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CREATING AN AUGMENTED REALITY EXPERIENCE IN CONNECTION WITH A STORED VALUE TOKEN - A method and system for creating an augmented reality experience in connection with a stored value token comprises augmented reality software which can be loaded on a general purpose computer. This augmented reality software can be downloaded from an external source, such as the Internet. The augmented reality software may monitor camera signals in order to detect a marker on a stored value token. The augmented reality software tracks the position of this marker relative to camera. The augmented reality software can produce an object which is projected on the image captured by the camera and adjacent to the image of the marker. The projected object can have three dimensions as it is projected on a two dimensional display. In response to certain conditions, the projected object may later be changed so that it contains a graphical item related to the value associated with the stored value token. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055050 | METHOD OF AND SYSTEM FOR COLLECTING PRODUCT AND RELATED INFORMATION VIA A NETWORK AND PLACING THIS INFORMATION IN A PERSISTENT DATA STORE FOR LATER DISTRIBUTION TO RESELLERS OVER A NETWORK - Disclosed is a system and method that collects information from suppliers/distributors into a relational database on one or more servers and delivers that information to resellers/distributors. The present invention resides upon one or more computer servers hosting a web server for user interface and/or an application server for business logic and/or a database server for persistent storage. A supplier introduces product and supplier information consisting of text, digitized images, digitized audio or similar multimedia formats into the system using an Internet browser or a web services client. Resellers use an Internet browser or web services client to retrieve supplier information. The suppliers may define product groups and reseller groups in order to efficiently manage its products and resellers. The supplier may define distribution rules to limit to which resellers specific product information is available. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055051 | COMMUNICATION DEVICE AND COVER UNIT FOR COVERING COMMUNICATION TERMINAL - According to one embodiment, a communication device of a certain embodiment includes a communication terminal including a first component having a display section provided on a front surface, a second component having an operation button unit provided on a front surface, and a coupling section configured to openably and closably couple the first and second components. The communication device also includes a first cover configured to cover a front surface of the communication terminal in a state in which the first and second components are open and including at least two windows arranged in positions corresponding to the display section and the operation button unit. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055052 | System for Selectively Supplying Inventory to a Customer - The invention relates to a method and system for selectively providing inventory to an online retailer including an inventory database, a customer database, a computer in communication with the inventory database and customer database, software executing on the computer for retrieving inventory data from the inventory database, software executing on the computer for generating a product list containing one or more products to be made available for purchase by the customer, and software executing on the computer. for transmitting the product list to the customer. The software for generating the product list includes a graphical user interface, and the product list is generated based on the selection of products by a user via the graphical interface. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055053 | Computerized method of identifying best fitting footwear - A method of identifying footwear which best fits a customer's feet, includes the steps of digitizing the feet of a customer needing footwear with a 3D foot scanner and generating a numerical 3D model of the customer's feet, comparing, with a computer-based matching engine, the information of the 3D feet model with the content of a database containing numerical 3D models of the interior shoe shape of footwear available to be sold, producing a list of one or more best-fit footwear candidates to the customer and/or to the staff of a footwear shop and concluding the purchasing process or, respectively, aborting it in case of insufficient best fit footwear being found in the footwear stock available for selling. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055054 | METHOD FOR ONLINE SELECTION OF ITEMS AND AN ONLINE SHOPPING SYSTEM USING THE SAME - A method for facilitating an online selection of an item by a user is described. The item is selected out of a plurality of selection items of different sizes, the selection being based on a reference item located remotely from the plurality of selection items. The method is performed on an electronic system and starts with accessing data related to a first image of the reference item, and at least one known first reference measurement associated with the first image. Data is then accessed related to one or more second images of one or more selection items, and at least one known second reference measurement associated with each of the second images. The data associated with the first and second images is then processed so as to facilitate dimensional comparison of the reference item with at least one of the selection items. Finally, the user is enabled to visually compare at least one dimension of the at least one of the selection items, with a corresponding dimension of the reference item, the result of the comparison enabling the user to select an item out of the plurality of selection items. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055055 | GENERAL LEDGER CHART OF ACCOUNTS COMBINATION EDITING REQUEST RESPONSE - A web-service for validating or invalidating accounts from a general ledger (GL) chart of accounts is described. Upon a request from an application for whether an account value corresponding to a department and a product is valid, the service indicates whether the combination of account value/department/product is valid for the chart of accounts. The system can be extensible markup language (XML)-based and can indicate validity down to the line level of a request. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055056 | Systems, Processes and Methods of Financing Entertainment Projects and Products Thereby - Systems, processes and methods of financing an entertainment project such as a feature film comprising the public offering for sale of a limited-life vehicle such as shares of common stock in a corporation whose primary asset is the project such that buyers (investors) become beneficial owners of the entertainment project, using the proceeds associated with the sale of the vehicle to produce the project, providing for the registration of the security instrument evidencing the vehicle, and paying to investors periodic returns such as distributions based upon the revenues of the entertainment project. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055057 | RETURN PAYMENT CARD PROCESS - A payment card returned as undeliverable is processed with a card administration system that responds to the return of the payment card by setting a “returned” indicator in a data record of a cardholder to whom the payment card was intended for delivery, and otherwise maintains the cardholder's account without change. A card handling system initiates destruction of the returned payment card and provides a replacement payment card to the cardholder if updated profile information of the cardholder is received within a predetermined time period, and closes the cardholder account and returns any funds in the cardholder account if no updated profile information of the cardholder is received within the predetermined time period. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055058 | CONTACT ALERT SYSTEM AND METHOD - Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a system and method for receiving transaction data for a transaction, accessing a database comprising alert preference data, generating a contact alert message using the transaction data and alert preference data using a notification server coupled to the database wherein the contact alert message comprises contact information of a first person who conducted the transaction, and sending the contact alert message to a notification device of a second person. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055059 | COMPUTER-IMPLEMENTED METHOD AND SYSTEM OF TRACKING AND AUTOMATICALLY MAKING PAYMENTS FOR RECYCLABLE ITEMS DEPOSITED AT REVERSE VENDING MACHINES - A method and system are provided for automatically making payments for recyclable items deposited at reverse vending machines. The method includes the steps of: (a) creating a user recycling record accessible by a server computer system for each of a plurality of users and associating each user's record with a unique user identifier; (b) receiving data in real time at the server computer system from a plurality of reverse vending machines over a communications network, the data relating to deposits of recyclable items by users at the reverse vending machines, the data for each deposit by a user including the unique user identifier of the user and information on the recyclable items deposited; (c) from the data for each deposit by a user identifying the user recycling record associated with the unique user identifier and crediting the user recycling record based on the information on the recyclable items deposited by the user using the server computer system; and (d) for each deposit by a user, issuing a request to have a financial institution to make a specified electronic payment based on the recyclable items deposited by the user. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055060 | Voluntary Benefits Outsourcing Systems and Methods - Voluntary benefits outsourcing systems and methods may be used to provide voluntary benefits to employees. An employee may choose to select any number of voluntary benefits from a menu of voluntary benefits available to that employee through the voluntary benefits system. Available voluntary benefits may include, but are not limited to, automobile insurance, homeowners insurance, life insurance, accident insurance, critical illness insurance, disability insurance, healthcare insurance, dental insurance, long term care insurance, pet care insurance and legal services insurance, discounts on computers, movie tickets, auto financing, educational testing, telephones, travel, child care, and a host of other work/life offerings, for example. The voluntary benefits systems and methods include calculating a single payroll deduction based upon the selection of the voluntary benefits by the employee. In this manner, the employee may receive a pay check with only one deduction for all selected voluntary benefits. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055061 | Method and system for retaining customers with interrupted payment streams - A method and system for retaining customers with interrupted payment streams includes identifying an at-risk-for-lapse customer based on at least one failed billing attempt. The at-risk-for-lapse customer by use of at least one communication channel. A billing information database is updated with updated billing information provided by the at-risk-for-lapse customer as a result of the communication, and a transaction record, which is indicative of the failed billing attempt, is recorded in a transaction history for future reference. This method is enabled by use of a specialized software application capable of retrieving, analyzing, and storing customer information from a central database. The software application is capable of identifying the at-risk-for-lapse customer based on certain factors, as well as selecting an appropriate customer contact strategy. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055062 | Activity Scheduling and Clearinghouse System - A method and system for managing activity registrations using an activity clearinghouse system includes receiving requests from a plurality of activity providers to create activity records in the activity database, where each activity record including a plurality of activity parameters. The method also includes receiving system a request from a user to view one or more of the activity records, the request including at least one activity parameter selected by the user. The method includes, in response to the request, providing to the user the one or more activity records including the at least one activity parameter selected by the user. The method also includes receiving a request from the user to register an individual for a selected activity associated with an activity record, and updating the activity record to reflect registration of the individual for the selected activity. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055063 | Method, Centralized Control Device, and System for Charging Service - In a service charging method, a centralized control point in Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) receives a service request from a service consumer. The centralized control point invokes a requested service for the service consumer according to the service request. The centralized control point generates a Call Detail Record according to an invoked result of the service. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055064 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ASSISTING FINANCIAL SERVICES FIRMS AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVES - Methods and systems are provided for assisting financial services firms and their representatives in efficiently managing their businesses, and in developing and maintaining strong customer service and loyalty. An integrated, preferably web based browser operated system is provided that uses one or more central databases to store customer, account, accounting, compliance, and other relevant information. Interfaces and tools are also provided for accessing the one or more central databases in a manner that is consistent with and supports how a representative actually works. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055065 | METHOD FOR DECISION MAKING USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE - A method of decision making using artificial intelligence that: receives data associated with a user regarding the situation of the user; identifies action options that the user might pursue; computes normalized scores for each of the action options based on the eligibility and likely outcome of the user pursuing the respective action option; compares the scores to a minimum threshold and to each other using quantitative and qualitative metrics; outputs a list of action options to the user as primary and secondary options to pursue based on the comparison; receives a selection from the user based on the list of action options; and transmits a message to a party who provides the action option(s) based on the selection. The method is, for example, applicable to decision making in the context of personal finance and debt assistance. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055066 | System and Method for Enabling Financial Planning - A system and method for financial planning are provided. The system includes a financial planning engine, storage, a client database, and a set of pre-defined components. The financial planning engine generates financial plans. The client database is maintained in the storage and stores client data. The client data includes personal data and client parameters. The set of pre-defined components is stored in the storage. The components include a set of controls for communicating data with the client database, and for presenting outputs from the financial planning engine. The pre-defined components are designed to be included in a financial planning interface. The financial planning engine has a set of pre-defined function objects. Each of the function objects corresponds to one of the components and is used by the financial planning engine for handling communication with the one component. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055067 | UTILIZING A TRIGGER ORDER WITH MULTIPLE COUNTERPARTIES IN IMPLIED MARKET TRADING - An electronic trading system utilizes a Match Engine that receives orders, stores them internally, calculates tradeable combinations and advertises the availability of real and implied orders in the form of market data. Calculating tradeable combinations or cycles for certain strategies becomes complex. Strategies that utilize legs having different volume ratios may form tradeable combinations that will traverse a trigger order more than one time. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055068 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING INITIAL OR VARIATION MARGIN VIA CUSTODY - In various embodiments, a computerized system and method manages custody and mitigates counterparty credit risk exposure associated with a trade of a financial instrument. A custodian computer system is established that receives an initial margin payment from a pledgor and electronically posts the initial margin payment in a custody account record maintained in the database. A control agreement is established between the pledgor and a secured party with agreement details stored in the database. The dual-custody control agreement gives control of the custody account to the pledgor if the secured party defaults on trade obligations, and gives control of the custody account to the secured party if the pledgor defaults on trade obligations. During the life of the trade, the custodian may invest a current margin deposit in the custody account directly through the network into one or more investment vehicles to achieve a greater return. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055069 | System and Method for Determining Implied Market Information - Implied prices and their quantities are computed. Markets are characterized by exhaustively computing one or more combinations of other related markets. Each combination when summed in a particular way results in the market under consideration. In a described embodiment, the number of market combinations found is an exhaustive list of market combinations such that the market under consideration can be fully and completely characterized, such that each combination provides implied market information about the market under consideration. Implied market information can include implied prices and their quantities, which are computed for each combination and used accordingly in displays or used by automated or semi-automated trading tools. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055070 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SPECTRUM MANAGMENT - Transferring spectrum use rights may include ascertaining information regarding available spectrum for use in wireless communications. A request for spectrum use from a spectrum user system may be matched with available spectrum. A spectrum certificate may be issued to the spectrum user system, where the spectrum certificate contains at least one spectrum-related variable under which the spectrum user system is to engage in wireless communications. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055071 | SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING AND CALCULATING INELIGIBLE COLLATERAL - Aspects of this disclosure relate to a computer for determining and calculating ineligible collateral which includes a processor and memory storing computer executable instructions that, when executed, cause the computer to perform a method for determining and calculating ineligible collateral, by receiving data relating to assets or collateral of a client and determining and calculating ineligible collateral based on the data by applying one or more rules or definitions regarding ineligible collateral to the data. The rules and definitions applied to the collateral are variable based on a particular client to which the data relates. According to aspects of the disclosure, the computer is configured to receive client data relating to assets or collateral of a client, search the client data for relevant data, extract the relevant data and create a summary of the relevant data and determine and calculate ineligible collateral by applying one or more rules or definitions regarding ineligible collateral to the relevant data in the summary. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055072 | EVENT PROCESSING FOR DETECTION OF SUSPICIOUS FINANCIAL ACTIVITY - Event processing for detection of suspicious financial activity is disclosed. Financial events can be detected by receiving data from a plurality of detection channels. Events are consolidated or otherwise grouped based on common relationship factors, such as related accounts, related parties or the like. Factual data associated with the events, referred to herein as risk attributes, is collected and risk factors are assessed based on one or more of the risk attributes. The risk factors are subsequently used to determine whether an event group should be elevated to the case level for further investigation. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055073 | System and Method for Implementing a Consolidated Application Process - A system and method for dynamically creating and presenting a network based application for any number of a plurality of products. The method and system upon receiving a request to apply for one or more of a plurality of products, dynamically creates an application pages that includes fields to input the specific information required to apply for the selected products. The application page is provided to the applicant through the network and the application data is received by the system. The method and system causes the application data to be processed and provides the results to the applicant. The applicant is provided the results of multiple specific applications in with minimal data input and in real time. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055074 | VISUALIZATION FOR PAYMENT CARD TRANSACTION FRAUD ANALYSIS - A computer-implemented method and system for visualizing card transaction fraud analysis is presented. Transaction data and account data related to one or more payment card accounts is stored in a database. The transaction data includes a fraud score. A computer processor generates one or more of a plurality of visualizations of activity of at least one suspicious account from the one or more payment card accounts for display in a graphical user interface, each of the plurality of visualizations providing at least a graphical representation of the transaction data and which is selectable from a menu provided by the computer processor in the graphical user interface. The visualizations assist in case judgment of the one or more payment cards. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055075 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEARCH CODE INFORMATION RETRIEVAL - An information retrieval system using a search code is provided. Embodiments of the present invention may include a processor component configured to perform the operations of a system application, the system application configured to generate one or more data records, the system application further configured to generate multiple search codes and store the multiple search codes and the one or more data records in memory and associate each of the one or more data records with one or more of the multiple search codes, each of the one or more data records including instructions for the execution of a predetermined action. The predetermined action may be, for example, delivering content, sales, a marketing activity, a discount offering, an advertisement campaign, a transaction, an application to use, or any other type of offer that is generally directly at users of offline or online media. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055076 | RESPONSE TO ALERT MESSAGE - One embodiment of the invention is directed to a system comprising a server computer, a database coupled to the server, and a notification device in operative communication with the server. The server comprises a processor and a computer readable medium coupled to the processor. The computer readable medium comprises computer readable program code embodied therein. The computer readable program code is adapted to be executed by the processor to receive a request to modify delivery instructions for alerts associated with a consumer, and modify delivery instructions for alerts associated with the consumer. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055077 | PORTABLE CONSUMER DEVICE WITH FUNDS TRANSFER PROCESSING - A portable consumer device with funds transfer processing systems and methods are disclosed. A sending entity may initiate a money transfer from one portable consumer device, such as a credit or debit card, to another portable consumer device through a money transfer system. A sending entity may initiate a payment request and the money transfer system may prompt the sending entity to use one of a plurality of payment account identifiers it possess. A recipient entity is defined by either an alias or a recipient entity personal account identifier. Additionally, an unregistered recipient entity may return a claim code to the money transfer system to claim a money transfer. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055078 | ONLINE FRAUD PREVENTION USING GENETIC ALGORITHM SOLUTION - Online fraud prevention including receiving a rules set to detect fraud, mapping the rules set to a data set, mapping success data to members of the rules set, filtering the members of the rules set, and ordering members of the data set by giving priority to those members of the data set with a greater probability for being fraudulent based upon the success data of each member of the rule set in detecting fraud. Further, a receiver coupled to an application server to receive a rules set to detect fraud, and a server coupled to the application server, to map the rules set to a data set, and to map the success data to each members of the rules set. The server is used to order the various members of the data set by giving priority to those members of the data set with a greatest probability for being fraudulent. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055079 | REAL TIME ACCOUNTS PAYABLE WEB SERVICE - A web service facilitates real time payment of suppliers' invoices with accounts issued by issuers to account holders. A payment request received by the web service from a client, identifying a credit limit for one commercial account in a pool thereof, is sent from the web service to the issuer to determine availability of the account and the credit limit for an account holder. If the issuer's response to the request confirms availability, payment instructions to the issuer are sent from the web service to pay the supplier's invoice. Alternatively, the request can be to determine availability of a single-use-account (SUA) and an adjustment to the account holder's credit limit from the issuer in order to make a future single payment on the SUA to the supplier for a purchase corresponding to a future invoice from the supplier who has not yet provided goods and/or services pertaining to the invoice. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055080 | System, Program Product, and Method for Debit Card and Checking Account Autodraw - A consumer is prequalified for a line of credit attached to a checking account by a lending institution computer responsive to consumer underwriting data. The lending institution computer makes available draws to the line of credit line in an authorization stream for a proposed payment from the checking account. When the line of credit is accessed, the checking account is credited with an additional value equal to one or more preselected loan increments so that the account then has a new amount totaling a previous amount plus the amount of value of the one or more preselected loan increments and so that the new amount exceeds or equals the value of a proposed payment. Next, a new value for the line of credit balance available is determined, accounting for value credited to the checking account and a preselected loan advance fee for each loan increment credited to the account. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055081 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ALTERNATE FUNDING SOURCE FOR PORTABLE CONSUMER DEVICE - A system, apparatus, and method for providing a mechanism for loading a prepaid card, such as a payroll card, with funds from a source other than the employer of the cardholder. The invention permits a cardholder to request that their employer provided payroll card (or other form of prepaid card) be charged or loaded with funds from an alternate source of funding. In response to the request, one or more background, credit, or other forms of security checks or investigations may be performed to ensure that accurate data regarding the cardholder is available and that there are no indications that the request might be an attempt to commit a fraudulent act. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055082 | Method and System for Distributing and Activating a Non-Personalized Purchase Card - The system includes a first and second computer systems and a purchase card associated with a major credit card organization. The card does not include information about any prospective card holder and is provided with a card number so that when activated, has an initial monetary value. The first computer system, located at a purchase outlet, is configured to transmit the card number over a communication network to the second computer system to activate the account, without requiring information from any person acquiring the card. The activated card is usable at retail establishments that accept credit cards. A method includes the steps of authorizing distribution of a plurality of non-activated purchase cards to purchase card outlets and authorizing activation of the purchase card account without requiring information from any person acquiring the card. Another method includes the steps of receiving a plurality of non-activated purchase cards at a purchase card outlet, and selling the purchase cards without acquiring information about the purchaser and initiating activation of the purchase card sold. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110055083 | System and method of funds transfer using a secure financial account - A system and method of transferring funds from a depositor (payer) to a recipient (payee) comprises at least one account issuer issuing a deposit account located at a first financial institution and a withdraw account located at a second financial institution. A first reserve account is established at the first financial institution and a second reserve account is established at the second financial institution. An online processing system automatically detects when funds are deposited into the deposit account and automatically transfers the funds from the deposit account to the first reserve account. The funds from the first reserve account are transferred to the second reserve account, accounting for any foreign currency exchange rates. The system electronically processes a request from the recipient to transfer at least a portion of the funds located at the second reserve account to the recipient. | 2011-03-03 |
