13th week of 2014 patent applcation highlights part 63 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20140089025 | AUTHENTICATING A RESPONSE TO A CHANGE REQUEST - A method to authenticate an identity of a responder. The method includes receiving a request and determining, by one or more computer processors, a reviewer for the request. A custom key is generated for the reviewer and the request, and at least one URL is generated that contains the custom key. At least one URL is sent, along with the request, to the reviewer. Upon receiving a response to the request that includes a selection of one URL, it is determined whether the response was received from the determined reviewer for the request. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089026 | System and Method for Filtering, Distributing and Routing Sales Leads - A system and method of managing leads by filtering, distributing and routing leads to a representative using business intelligence. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089027 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OUTSOURCING COMPUTER-BASED TASKS - A system and method are provided for outsourcing a computer-based task, such as modifying a document (e.g., text, an image), transcribing audio, performing research, translating from one language to another, etc. Outsourceable tasks are designed by service developers and posted on an exchange. Service providers bid on tasks they are qualified for, to indicate they will perform those tasks if paid the bid. Task buyers browse or navigate through the exchange to find what they need, and select a task based on its description, price and/or other factors (e.g., delivery time, language(s)). The exchange receives a task order (i.e., a purchased task), identifies qualified service providers and routes the task, with any required input, to a qualified provider who can complete the task before a deadline. Upon completion, the provider submits the completed task and any required output (e.g., deliverables) to the exchange, which forwards the output to the buyer. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089028 | MOBILE APPLICATION FOR ASSISTING A TECHNICIAN IN CARRYING OUT AN ELECTRONIC WORK ORDER - One embodiment is directed to a mobile application executing on a smartphone that is used to assist a technician in carrying out electronic work orders. In some embodiments, the mobile application uses a camera in the smartphone to take photos that are associated with one or more steps of the work order. In some embodiments, the mobile application is used to cause one or more LEDs associated with a step of the work order to be illuminated or otherwise visually actuated. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089029 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SCHEDULING MAINTENANCE OF ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SYSTEMS - A method and apparatus for optimizing the cost of scheduling maintenance of a distributed energy generator. In one embodiment, the method comprises obtaining information, from a controller, related to impaired operation of at least one component in a distributed energy generator, wherein the distributed energy generator comprises a plurality of components; calculating a cost to restore non-impaired operation of the distributed energy generator; calculating a cost of lost power due to the impaired operation of the distributed energy generator; and determining an optimal time to schedule maintenance of the distributed energy generator based on the calculated cost to restore non-impaired operation and the calculated cost of lost power. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089030 | MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - Systems and methods for providing a graphical interface and application for managing assets and products in and between shipper/receiver facilities such as a plant, a port, a warehouse, or a lot. Embodiments of the invention provide a shipper/receiver management software application configured to manage assets and products pro-actively by maximizing visibility of the shipper/receiver facility and by providing selectable options to a user to improve operations across the shipper/receiver facility and between shipper/receiver facilities. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089031 | FLEET ADMINISTRATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - Systems and methods for providing a graphical interface and application for managing assets and products in and between shipper/receiver facilities such as a plant, a port, a warehouse, or a lot. Embodiments of the invention provide a shipper/receiver management software application configured to manage assets and products pro-actively by maximizing visibility of the shipper/receiver facility and by providing selectable options to a user to improve operations across the shipper/receiver facility and between shipper/receiver facilities. Aspects can be directed toward fleet and individual asset management to facilitate tracking, observance, and reporting of use and/or lease terms for both shippers and receivers. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089032 | MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - Systems and methods for providing a graphical interface and application for managing assets and products in and between shipper/receiver facilities. A shipper/receiver management application manages assets and products and provides selectable options to a user to control operations across the shipper/receiver facility and between shipper/receiver facilities. Aspects include inventory and/or workflow management to facilitate timing and control facets of inventory, production planning, and graphical representations thereof for both shippers and receivers. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089033 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROVIDING OFFERS IN A CONTENT WORKFLOW - Methods and systems for providing a content workflow for media assets (e.g., video, audio and the like) include the ability to offer such content for sale to consumers. The invention can be implemented in a client/server environment where such media assets can be ingested and processed electronically prior to the offers for sale. According to an exemplary embodiment, a method for operating a system includes: receiving, via the system, a metadata file for at least one of audio and video content represented by a title; and generating, via the system and in response to the metadata file, one or more software elements representing an offer to sell the content. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089034 | PORTABLE TERMINAL MANAGEMENT SERVER AND PORTABLE TERMINAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM - In a business system providing information relating to a form for a portable communication terminal, the security is further improved, and the processing load required for updating data or searching for data in an ERP system is reduced. A portable terminal managing server operated by ERP includes a process flow DB storing process flow data that is various kinds of data relating to a process flow including a plurality of business processes and is a data including status data, common data, and process specific data and provides the process flow data stored in the process flow DB for a portable terminal in accordance with a reading request for the process flow data from the portable terminal that is in a login state. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089035 | Mining Operation Control and Review - The described system may operate in a variety of environments, but may be useful in a mining environment. The system may control virtually every aspect of the location, such as determining where trucks may be, where diggers may dig, etc. and what incidents and hazards may be present. In addition, the health of the devices in the location may also be monitored and the proper personnel may be informed if a device has an issue. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089036 | DYNAMIC CITY ZONING FOR UNDERSTANDING PASSENGER TRAVEL DEMAND - A system and method for dynamic zoning are provided. Travel demand data is received for a network which includes a set of points. The travel demand data includes values representing demand from each point to each of other point. Destination-distance values are computed which reflect the similarity between points in a respective pair, based on the travel demand data. For each pair of the points, a geo-distance value is generated which reflects the distance between locations of the points in the pair. An aggregated affinity matrix is formed by aggregating the computed geo-distance values and destination-distance values. The aggregated affinity matrix is used by a clustering algorithm to assign each of the points in the set to a respective one of a set of clusters. A representation of the clusters can be generated in which each of a set of zones encompasses the points assigned to its respective cluster. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089037 | DYNAMIC WORKFLOW ARCHITECTURES FOR LOAN PROCESSING - A method according to certain aspects includes launching a plurality of activities representing tasks to be completed in the processing of a workflow. The method can include determining that a set of the plurality of activities are not currently available for execution, and updating an output comprising a user interface based at least in part on the determination. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089038 | APPLYING OF SOCIAL MEDIA METRICS FOR SUPPLIER EVALUATION - In an example embodiment, supplier management is performed first by defining one or more social media metrics pertaining to a supplier brand of interest, with the one or more social media metrics being based on data gathered from social media. These metrics may then be used to analyze values from one or more social media websites. Weights can be assigned to the values, and a score for the supplier brand of interest can be determined, based on the weighted values for the one or more social metrics and based on weighted values for one or more other metrics. The score can then be presented to a user via a graphical user interface. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089039 | Incident management system - A method of managing a data breach is implemented in a management platform, preferably as an Internet-accessible service. The method begins upon receipt of data defining a data loss event associated with an organization. The data is processed by a rules engine against a corpus of data sets. A data set is associated with a business requirement (e.g., a State regulation) and encodes a decision tree defining predefined responses prescribed by the business requirement upon occurrence of a data breach. As a result of the processing, a privacy impact assessment defining an impact of the data loss event may be generated. The data loss event may then be escalated into an incident. The incident has associated therewith a response plan that is generated as a function of at least one characteristic of the data loss event and at least one response in the set of predefined responses. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089040 | System and Method for Customer Experience Measurement & Management - The invention measures and captures customer experience perception parameters against a host of touch-points and from various perspectives, through a coordinated and participative process. Further it provides detailed insight into various telecom process and application impacting the customer experience by using standard approach of eTOM process & TAM application for better understand ability. The system also enabled to perform RAG analysis for the purpose of report generation that helps the management identify good/bad customer experience areas within the total lifecycle of the interaction with the customer. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089041 | TWO SIGMA INTELLIGENCE - Apparatus for identifying misclassified customers in a customer database is provided. The apparatus may include a receiver configured to receive information corresponding to a plurality of customers and information corresponding to a plurality of transactions. The apparatus may additionally include a processor configured to calculate a mean transaction value and a standard deviation from the mean transaction value, wherein the mean transaction value is calculated using the plurality of transactions. The processor may be further configured to identify a subset of customers included in the plurality of customers and modify at least a portion of the electronic classifications of the subset of customers. The modification may include changing an individual customer classification to a small business or preferred customer classification. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089042 | Method, Apparatus and System for monitoring competition price and for providing corrective messages - A computer-implemented method of detecting price discrepancies over time and providing analysis messages comprises: retrieving a set of price results based on at least one parameter selected from a set of parameters; detecting a pattern in the set of price results; accessing and updating a pattern cause database for identifying at least one predetermined pattern cause based on the detected pattern; analyzing each predetermined pattern cause and associated corrective actions; and generating at least one analysis message containing: the at least predetermined pattern cause and the associated corrective actions. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089043 | Audience Size Estimation and Complex Segment Logic - Selection of a trait may be received. A complex segment rule may be created that is usable to evaluate one or more qualification events. For example, the segment rule may be usable to evaluate a combined recency and frequency of the one or more qualification events. The qualification events may be based on collected network data associated with the plurality of visitors with each qualification event corresponding to a separate qualification of visitor according to the trait. The qualification events may be evaluated together according to the segment rule. For example, the combined recency and frequency of the one or more qualification events may be evaluated according to the segment rule. Evaluating the segment rule may include estimating a segment population size in real-time. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089044 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING AND PRESENTING BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS SALES OPPORTUNITIES - The present invention relates to a system and method for efficiently identifying the sales opportunities in a business-to-business market environment. It provides a computer-implemented predictive sales intelligence system and method for identifying sales opportunities. The present invention is a computer implemented system and method for efficiently identifying reliable purchase pattern profiles through scientific analysis of customer data. It includes a system and method for calculating a customer's purchase profile, clustering customers based on similarity of their purchase profile, and efficiently providing a reliable set of opportunities including lost sales (retention) and cross-selling (wallet share expansion) opportunities. It uses this reliable estimate of sales opportunities to retain and expand wallet share for customers. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089045 | METHODS, APPARATUS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETERMINING STAND POPULATION, STAND CONSISTENCY AND STAND QUALITY IN AN AGRICULTURAL CROP AND ALERTING USERS - A computer-based system for combining data related to stand population, consistency and quality in agricultural crops and dynamically analyzing the data whereby stand determinations based on that analysis during a crop growing season can be made. The system is programmed to alert a user (farmer) or other designated parties when the stand fails to meet user-defined parameters. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089046 | System, Method and Computer Program Product for Demand-Weighted Selection of Sales Outlets - In embodiments disclosed herein, a computer may operate to determine, for each member in a set and each non-member under consideration for the set, an expected revenue to be passed to an organization. The expected revenue may be determined utilizing a plurality of weighted features. Members in the set may be ranked according to their expected revenues. Top performing members in the set may be protected to ensure their expected revenues. Bottom performing members may be removed from the set and/or replaced with new members outside of geographical protective areas of the top performing members. The optimization process can be repeated until the set of members can satisfy an existing demand and/or revenue for the organization is maximized. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089047 | Leveraged Usage of Information Regarding Real Estate Offerings - A control circuit gathers information regarding a plurality of independent variables for a given real estate offering. The control circuit then uses this information in conjunction with a computer-calculated model to forecast one or more of real estate buyer demand (forward looking), real estate pricing (current market), and real estate marketing effectiveness (forward looking). By one approach this can comprise applying such information in a regression analysis. By one approach, some or all of the aforementioned information can reflect interactions between at least one prospective real estate purchaser on the one hand and a web-based presentation that offers the given real estate offering for sale on the other hand. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089048 | Determining Metrics for Groups of Users Defined by Social Signals of a Social Networking System - A social networking system generates metrics for one or more groups of users defined by various social signals. A group of users may be defined by the users' observed actions in a social networking system and/or the connections between the users' and other social networking system users. Data for the group of users may be compared against data for a control group to generate metrics for the group of users. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089049 | SELECTING ANONYMOUS USERS BASED ON USER LOCATION HISTORY - Provided is a process for selecting candidates for participating in a market-research survey, or receiving other offers, based on location history while protecting privacy of the candidates. In some cases, the process includes: obtaining, at a survey-participant identification system, location histories from client devices, and the location histories indicating locations of the client device over time; associating each of the location histories with an anonymous pseudonym of the survey candidate; storing the location histories and the association with the anonymous pseudonyms in memory accessible to the server; obtaining, at the survey-participant identification system, criteria by which to select survey candidates, the criteria specifying locations relevant to a survey; selecting, with the survey-participant identification system, anonymous pseudonyms in memory that are associated with a location history that satisfies the criteria; and sending messages to the client devices inviting survey candidates corresponding to the selected anonymous pseudonyms to further identify themselves to participate in the survey. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089050 | Mobile Seller Analytics - Methods and systems are provided for combining historic data with geospacial data to help mobile sellers enhance their profits. Data can be collected, stored, and analyzed, such as via a server, to help mobile sellers select new locations for selling their products. For example, information regarding the sales of a plurality of other mobile sellers can be collected, stored, and analyzed to help the mobile sellers decide which one of a plurality of different candidate locations should be selected as the next location where the mobile sellers should sell products. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089051 | METHODS AND APPARATUS TO ALIGN PANELIST DATA WITH RETAILER SALES DATA - Methods and apparatus are disclosed to align panelist data with retailer sales data. An example method includes calculating a panelist reporting period for a panelist dataset having a first number of occasions, the panelist dataset having a household resolution, applying trip weights to a retailer dataset, the retailer dataset including a second number of occasions during a market research reporting period, the retailer dataset having a trip resolution, and minimizing a gap between the household resolution and the trip resolution. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089052 | Entity Display Priority in a Distributed Geographic Information System - A system for ranking geospatial entities is described. In one embodiment, the system comprises an interface for receiving ranking data about a plurality of geospatial entities and an entity ranking module. The module uses a ranking mechanism to generate place ranks for the geospatial entities based on the ranking data. Ranked entity data generated by the entity ranking module is stored in a database. The entity ranking module may be configured to evaluate a plurality of diverse attributes to determine a total score for a geospatial entity. The entity ranking module may be configured to organize ranked entity data into placemark layers. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089053 | PERPETUALLY DECREASING GROUP PRICING SYSTEM AND METHOD - The present invention takes an input of the acceptable pricing to volume points from a business and outputs a continuous function which interpolates the pricing information for the entire range of customer volumes. As each consumer agrees to purchase an offer, they are added to the group, and the price decreases as defined by the output function. The result of this model is that of consumer collusion; it is in each consumer's best interest to increase the volume of purchases for the offer by the business. This yields lower prices for the individual, incentivizing each consumer to advertise for the business making the offer. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089054 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO FORECAST REPAIR COST FOR ASSETS - Systems and methods of the invention relate to forecasting a projected cost for at least repair associated with one or more assets. Based on evaluation of a portion of historic repair data for the one or more assets, a forecast component can create a projected cost to perform a repair. A cost component can aggregate or receive a portion of historic data related to repair costs previously performed. The cost component can further ascertain a repair cost per duration of time for an asset. Based on at least one of the portion of historic data or the repair cost per duration of time, the forecast component can indicate a projected cost for at least one repair for one or more assets. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089055 | Fuel Cell Fleet Optimization - A fuel cell fleet has a plurality of fuel cell systems each connected to a data server. The data server may be configured to obtain operational data from of the plurality of fuel cell systems. An efficiency controller operably connected to the data server and is configured to predict an efficiency and a power output of the fleet from the operational data and optimize the efficiency of the fleet to minimize the fleet fuel consumption while maintaining a desired fleet output power. The efficiency may be determined by a ratio of the fleet output current or output power to the fleet fuel consumption. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089056 | ESTIMATION OF EFFECTS OF PROCESS CUSTOMIZATION - Embodiments include a method of estimating effects of modifications to a process. The method includes determining, by a processor, first differences between a graphical representation of a first modified process and a base process having been modified by the first modified process. The method also includes comparing, by the processor, the first differences with second differences between a graphical representation of at least one second modified process and the base process. The method also includes estimating a first effect of the first differences relative to the base process based on a similarity between the first differences and the second differences and based on at least one second effect of the second differences relative to the base process, the second effect stored and associated with the second differences in memory. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089057 | Diversity Reporting Tool - Included are embodiments for diversity reporting. Some embodiments include providing a first user interface to a buyer, where the first user interface includes an option to request a report of diversity spend data from a plurality of prime suppliers, receiving a report request to provide a report of the diversity spend data to the buyer and providing a second user interface to the at least one prime supplier that includes a data request for the diversity spend data. Some embodiments include receiving the diversity spend data from the at least one prime supplier, where the diversity spend data that was received includes data regarding an amount spent with a diverse vendor over a predetermined length of time and providing the report of the diversity spend data to the buyer. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089058 | ESTIMATION OF EFFECTS OF PROCESS CUSTOMIZATION - A computer program product estimates effects of modifications to a process. The computer program product includes a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method. The method includes determining first differences between a graphical representation of a first modified process and a base process having been modified by the modified process, comparing the first differences with second differences between a graphical representation of at least one second modified process and the base process, and estimating a first effect of the first differences relative to the base process based on a similarity between the first differences and the second differences and based on at least one second effect of the second differences relative to the base process, the at least one second effect stored, and associated with the second differences in memory. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089059 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR EVALUATING MEMBERS OF A PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY - Techniques for evaluating a person who is a member of a professional community involve collecting quantitative information regarding the person's participation in at least one social network. The quantitative information may be incorporated in computing a score indicating the person's value to the professional community. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089060 | DEMONSTRATING ORGANIZATIONAL TRANSPARENCY - A method of demonstrating organizational transparency is described. The method includes: defining a plurality of different groups of readers to whom organizations may elect to make a report available, wherein each group of readers has an associated transparency value; receiving a report which has an associated group of readers; calculating a transparency level of an organization by determining the transparency value of the associated group of readers to whom the report has been made available; and publishing the calculated transparency level of the organization. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089061 | MOBILE DRIVE THRU ORDERING SYSTEM - At least one embodiment relates to a mobile computing device having a processor programmed to take a plurality of food orders and programmed to aggregate these food orders into a single scannable source of information such as a 2D barcode. There can be a scanner such as a bar code scanner or a near field communicator configured to read this scannable source of information. There can also be a microprocessor in a computing device which is configured to read from the scanner a scanned aggregated order at a point of purchase location, wherein that microprocessor is programmed and configured to de-aggregate an order from this scanned communication. There can also be a transceiver is configured to send this de-aggregated information. There can also be a point of sale computing device | 2014-03-27 |
20140089062 | VOTING SYSTEMS AND VOTING METHODS BASED ON SMART MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICES - The invention provides a voting system based on smart mobile communication devices. It comprises at least one smart mobile communication device, at least one server device, a client module, and a server module. The client module is installed on the smart mobile communication device and it is used for temporarily saving the voter's information, submitting identity verification request, showing voting inquiries, and submitting votes. The server module is installed on the server device and it is used for storing the voter's information, verifying the voter's registration and identity, issuing and verifying the voting certificate, creating and publishing the voting affair, and calculating and publishing the voting contents statistics. The client module and the server module perform digital communications through a mobile communication network. The invention also provides a voting method based on smart mobile communication device. According to this invention, voting can be safe, convenient and fast. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089063 | COMMUNICATION METHOD AND VOTING RIGHT COUNTING SYSTEM FOR SHAREHOLDERS MEETING - A wireless communication system includes a plurality of communication terminals and a control terminal, when the control terminal receives the information data transmitted from each of the plurality of communication terminals, the control terminal identifies each of the communication terminals as a transmission source of the information data and transmits a data receipt acknowledgement to each of the communication terminals; and each of the plurality of communication terminals repeatedly transmits the information data to the control terminal until receiving the data receipt acknowledgement and, after a predetermined duration passes from an initial transmission of the information data or after predetermined time comes, suspends transmission of the information data until a retransmission request is received from the control terminal. Although a large number of transmission side terminals transmit data to a receiving side terminal via a wireless communication, all data can be received in a short time to complete the communication. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089064 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TRANSFERRING ELECTRICAL ENERGY BETWEEN VEHICLES - Motor vehicles may need to exchange electrical energy. The vehicles may negotiate a quantity to be transferred, a price for the transferred energy, transfer parameters for the exchange, and/or the like. A bidding process may be used to set the price. The bidding process may also be used to identify a vehicle with which to exchange energy. A vehicle may perform a credit check on another vehicle, and payment information may be exchanged. The transfer may be monitored and may be controlled based on monitoring data collected. The transfer may be wired or wireless, and the vehicles may be stationary or in motion during the transfer. The vehicles may be, among others, pure electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, and/or fuel cell vehicles. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089065 | DISK DISPENSING AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - A kiosk dispenses and receives recorded optical disk media using an interconnected system central server computer through an Internet Service Provider. The system central server contains databases and processing, and is connected to a credit verification system. The central databases collect inventory administration information and customer data from the kiosks including credit card and email addresses. The central server initiates credit verification and sends receipts to customers via email. The central server maintains databases that are used for remote inventory control and administration of the kiosk network. A kiosk has the capability to identify a recorded disk for automated restocking and may also perform quality assessment of a recorded disk. A kiosk may also provide publishing-on-demand or-act as a portal for remotely served advertisement. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089066 | METHODS FOR MANAGING REFERRALS AND DEVICES THEREOF - A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and a referral management server that identifies a user type stored in a referral network database as associated with login credentials submitted by a user of a computing device. At least summary information and pending transaction information is determined based on the identified user type and the login credentials wherein, when the identified user type is a referral agent, the pending transaction information comprises at least a status of one or more sales leads previously submitted by the user and the summary information comprises an indication of a consummated sale associated with one or more of the previously submitted sales leads. A dashboard web page including at least the summary information and the pending transaction information is generated. The generated dashboard web page is sent to the computing device. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089067 | USER REWARDS FROM ADVERTISERS FOR CONTENT PROVIDED BY USERS OF A SOCIAL NETWORKING SERVICE - In some implementations, a method enables rewards from advertisers to users in a social networking service for content provided by the users. A method can include examining content provided by a user associated with the content in a social networking service. One or more references to one or more products or services are found in the content. The method determines an advertising effectiveness of the one or more references to users of the social networking service. The determined advertising effectiveness facilitates a determination of a reward owed to the user associated with the content. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089068 | Videos for In Application Purchases and Rewards for Sharing Same through Social Media and Video Advertising for Reengagement - The present invention is directed to the systems, computer program products, methods and devices that encourage users of applications for mobile devices to watch and/or to share videos. In some embodiments, users are provided with the opportunity to purchase goods or services in exchange for having viewed a video within the context of an application. These users may also be provided with the opportunity to purchase goods or services in exchange for sharing the videos through social media. Alternatively od additionally, they may be presented with opportunities for reengaging applications that they previously used but for which they have decreased the frequency with which they use those applications or have ceased using those applications. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089069 | System For Incentivizing Charitable Giving Based On Physical Activity And A Method Of Using The Same - A system and method for incentivizing charitable giving based on physical activity includes a computer and a sports ball associated with a first participant identifier. The sports ball includes a sensor that detects and logs activity data. The activity data is received by the computer, and in further transmitted to a server. The server stores the received activity data in a participant record associated with the first participant identifier and assigns a plurality of credits to the participant record associated with the first participant identifier based on the activity data stored in the participant record. Software executing on the server generates a report based on the credits assigned to the participant record associated with the first participant identifier and transmits the report to a participant computer associated with the first participant identifier. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089070 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DETECTING FRAUD IN THE PROVISION OF A DEAL FOR A SERVICE ON A MOBILE DEVICE - A system and method for detecting and accounting for the improper use of a deal code on a mobile device. When the user initially configures the mobile device, the third-party provider receives information from the mobile device that includes user information, mobile device information, a deal code associated with a third-party service, information about an application program preloaded on the mobile device associated with the service, and a hash value that is at least partially calculated based on the foregoing. The third-party service provider calculates a second hash value at least partially based on the received information and based on other predetermined information and compares the first hash value to the second hash value. Based on the comparison, the system determines if use of the deal code is improper and, if so, tracks the user and mobile device information to prevent improper use of the deal code. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089071 | SMART VOUCHER SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Method for efficient use of meal vouchers comprising issuing a unique meal voucher having a per diem value and preset use criteria, verifying voucher validity for use under at least one preset criterion, and, if the preset criterion is satisfied, allowing the use of the voucher. Use criteria may include a day and time limitation on voucher use, redemption of the voucher for goods other than a meal and/or accumulation of the voucher per diem value to a preset sum and/or over a preset period. A system implementing the method includes a dedicated server running applications which enable interaction between employers, employees, meal and non-meal suppliers and non-employee users for issue, distribution and efficient use of meal vouchers which can also be redeemed for goods other than meals and/or have their per diem value accumulated before redemption. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089072 | POSTING PURCHASE INFORMATION - Systems and methods for posting purchase information are provided. In some aspects, a representation of a set of purchases associated with a user of a social networking service is received. That content related to one or more purchases from the set of purchases is to be posted to the social networking service is determined based on a first set of rules. The content related to the one or more purchases is posted, in association with the user, to the social networking service in response to determining that the content is to be posted to the social networking service. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089073 | System and Method For Managing Carbon Emission Credits at a Fuel Dispensing Station Via a Portable Computing Device - Systems and methods are provided for managing carbon emission credits at a fuel dispensing station via a portable computing device. An exemplary method comprises: receiving a request via a communications network for a transaction at a fuel dispensing station; determining a pump identifier associated with the fuel dispensing station; receiving a user selection of a carbon offset for the transaction; sending a message to a store controller associated with the pump identifier for an amount for the selected carbon offset; receiving the amount for the carbon offset; receiving a gas payment amount for the transaction; and initiating processing of a payment comprising the gas payment amount and the amount for the carbon offset. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089074 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ASSIGNING RECYCLING CREDITS - Methods and systems for determining a recycling credit are disclosed. A total recycling credit for a recycled material may be provided. A manufacturer percentage of the recycled material for a manufacturer may also be provided. The manufacturer percentage may be a percentage of the recycled material associated with the manufacturer. A processing device may determine a raw recycling credit to the manufacturer by multiplying the total recycling credit and the manufacturer percentage. The processing device may further determine a recycling credit to provide to the manufacturer by adjusting the raw recycling credit with a manufacturer green credit determined based on a manufacturer's environmental behavior. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089075 | VIRTUAL QUEUE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - Disclosed is a system which provides virtual queue management services, which services are customized through a website and/or API, which services allow the managed virtual queues to be dynamically re-ordered based on queue participant behavior, which services may allow queue participants to see the relative or absolute position of other queue participants in a virtual queue, and which services enable virtual queue interaction via mobile and non-mobile computing devices, whether onsite or remote from a queue location. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089076 | Dual Device Security for Loyalty and Other Transactions - Methods and systems for operating a Smart Device | 2014-03-27 |
20140089077 | CONSUMER OPERATED KIOSKS FOR PURCHASING FRESH FOODS AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS - The present disclosure is directed to consumer operated kiosks for purchasing fresh foods and associated systems and methods. In one embodiment, for example, a consumer operated kiosk can include a temperature controlled compartment for storing an inventory of fresh foods items, a user interface configured to receive user instructions corresponding to selected fresh food items, and a product retrieval system configured to move selected fresh food items from the temperature controlled compartment to a dispensing area. In various embodiments, the consumer operated kiosk can further include a communications facility configured to send transaction information associated with fresh food items purchased at the consumer operated kiosk to a remote computer, and the remote computer can update associated inventory information and store it in a remote database. The remote computer can monitor ages of the fresh food items in the inventory. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089078 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING CARBON EMISSION CREDITS AT A FUEL DISPENSING STATION USING VEHICLE ON-BOARD DIAGNOSTICS DATA - Systems and methods are provided for managing carbon emission credits associated with a vehicle fueling at a fuel dispensing station. An exemplary method comprises: receiving a request via a communications network for a vehicle fueling transaction at a fuel dispensing station; determining a pump identifier associated with the fuel dispensing station; sending a message to a store controller associated with the pump identifier for a fuel amount dispensed by the fuel dispensing station; receiving the fuel amount from the store controller; receiving on-board diagnostics (OBD) data associated with the vehicle; calculating a carbon emission adjustment based on the OBD data; and determining an estimated carbon emissions amount associated with the vehicle fueling transaction by applying the carbon emission adjustment to a predetermined carbon emissions amount for the fuel amount. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089079 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING A CORRELATION BETWEEN AN ADVERTISEMENT AND A PERSON WHO INTERACTED WITH A MERCHANT - A query is generated for determining a correlation between an advertisement and a person who interacted with a merchant. The query includes an image of the person. In response to the query, a determination is made about whether the correlation exists between the image and a face that has given attention to the advertisement. In response to determining that the correlation exists, a report of the correlation is generated for the merchant. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089080 | ADVERTISEMENT CHOOSING DEVICE AND ADVERTISEMENT CHOOSING METHOD - An advertisement choosing device chooses an advertisement to be displayed in a display space of a predetermined size. The advertisement choosing device includes an advertisement storing unit and an advertisement choosing unit. The advertisement storing unit stores therein sizes of multiple advertisements of various sizes. The advertisement choosing unit chooses, from among the multiple advertisements, one or more advertisements whose total size is equal to or less than the size of the display space as the advertisement to be displayed in the display space. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089081 | ASYNCHRONOUS ADVERTISING PLACEMENT BASED ON METADATA - A podcast system and method are provided to select and deliver media ads over a network to a user device and to insert the media ads in media content subscribed to and delivered over the network to the user device. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089082 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ONLINE ADVERTISING - A computer implementable online advertising method is provided. A basic price for publishing an advertisement for a pre-specified duration is determined. A score indicative of the performance of the advertisement during the pre-specified duration is determined. Whether the score satisfies a pre-determined criterion is determined. An incentive associated with publishing the advertisement is provided to an advertiser associated with the advertisement based on the pre-determined criterion being satisfied. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089083 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AN AUTOMATED MARKETING CAMPAIGN COACH - A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and apparatus for recommending one or more cross-media marketing campaign strategies are disclosed. For example, the method collects information about a business, applies a weighting table to the information about the business, wherein the weighting table comprises a pre-defined value for each one of a plurality of cross-media marketing campaign strategies based upon a plurality of different industries and a plurality of different business operations, calculates, via a processor, a total score for each one of the plurality of cross-media marketing campaign strategies for an industry and a business operation determined based upon the information about the business that is collected and recommends one or more cross-media marketing campaign strategies based upon the total score of each one of the plurality of cross-media marketing campaign strategies. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089084 | GENERATION OF ADVERTISING TARGETING INFORMATION BASED UPON AFFINITY INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM AN ONLINE SOCIAL NETWORK - Systems and methods for automatically generating targeting information for presentation of an offer in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. One embodiment includes indexing member profiles within one or more social networks for affinity to keywords using a targeting system that retrieves data concerning member profiles and activities from servers within an online social network, identifying member profiles that have affinity for at least one offer keyword using the targeting system and the index, identifying additional keywords for which the identified member profiles have affinity using the targeting system and the index, determining a set of keywords that target a desired audience based upon the identified additional keywords using the targeting server, and targeting presentation of advertisements for the specific offer to members of an online social network using the online social network and the targeting keywords determined by the targeting server. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089085 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SELECTING A SUPPLEMENTAL PRODUCT TO OFFER FOR SALE DURING A TRANSACTION - According to some embodiments, a supplemental product or service may be offered to a user during a transaction, either in addition to products and/or services the user is purchasing, or as a replacement to one or more of the products and/or services that the user is purchasing. The functionality may be implemented, for example, in a retail embodiment where a user is purchasing products and/or services at a cash register or other point-of-sale terminal. One or more embodiments may be implemented online where a user is purchasing products and/or services using a computer, terminal, telephone or other client or user device and accessing a World Wide Web site, online catalog, interactive voice response unit or system, etc. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089086 | GIFT-RECOMMENDATION APPARATUS AND METHOD - A method for using receipt data within a social network is disclosed. The method may include obtaining, by a computer system, access to a computer-hosted social networking service. The computer system may also obtain access to receipt data documenting one or more purchases made by a first human user of the social networking service. The receipt data may be classified. Based at least in part on the classifications produced, the computer system may generate one or more recommendations for gifts for the first human user. Accordingly, the computer system may present, via the social networking service, the one or more recommendations to a second human user of the social networking service. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089087 | DETERMINATION OF CUSTOMER PROXIMITY TO A REGISTER THROUGH USE OF SOUND AND METHODS THEREOF - A method is disclosed for providing notifications and other communications to a customer based on the customer's proximity to a checkout register at a store. A mobile electronic device with mobile self checkout software thereon may record and analyze ambient noise to determine when a customer is in a checkout line as well as to track the customer's progress through the checkout line. The mobile self checkout software may present information to the customer according to the customer's position in the checkout line. The type and nature of the information presented to the customer may be changed according to the customer's distance from the checkout terminal as well as how quickly the customer is approaching the terminal. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089088 | PURCHASE MANAGEMENT APPARATUS, PURCHASE MANAGEMENT METHOD, PURCHASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AND STORAGE MEDIUM - A purchase management apparatus notifies a target user having purchased a first item about next purchase timing. The apparatus can refer to a purchase history DB associating user ID and purchase history records, and an item DB associating item ID and category ID. The apparatus acquires user ID of a target user from the purchase history DB, specifies a category using the category ID of the category to which the first item belongs, calculates a purchase interval of the items belonging to the category based on the purchase history record specified using the target user ID among the purchase history records of the items belonging to the category, and estimates a purchase interval of the first item based on the calculated purchase interval. The purchase interval of the first item with no purchase history can be thereby estimated based on the known purchase history. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089089 | Presentation of Sponsored Content on Mobile Device Based on Transaction Event - A system and method for positioning targeted sponsored content on a mobile communication facility, comprising (a) receiving data corresponding to a transaction event having occurred via the interaction of a user with the mobile communication facility, wherein the transaction event includes transmission of data representative of a first product or service being purchased by the user and a location; (b) receiving data corresponding to offline inventory within the location, wherein the offline inventory corresponds to a second product or service; (c) selecting advertising content based at least upon a relevance between (i) an advertisement for the second product or service and (ii) the purchased first product or service in the transaction event, wherein the relevance is further based on information relating to compatibility of the advertising content with the mobile communication facility; and (d) presenting the selected advertising content on a display of the mobile communication facility. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089090 | SEARCHING DATA STORAGE SYSTEMS AND DEVICES BY THEME - The invention teaches systems, methods and devices for searching data storage systems and devices by a topical category known as a theme. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b). | 2014-03-27 |
20140089091 | Intelligent Advertising System - Disclosed herein are devices for delivering targeted messages to users in conjunction with data about a given user's planned activities. Detailed information on various example embodiments of the inventions are provided in the Detailed Description below, and the inventions are defined by the appended claims. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089092 | Client-Based Deal Filtering and Display - Various implementations relate to a system that provides a collection of deals to a mobile application on a client device. The mobile application then filters the deals based on relevance using a user profile within the client device, and displays the deals to a user. The display of the deals may be governed by the relevance of the respective deals as determined by matching of the deals with the user profile within the client device. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089093 | Contextual Communication Management System and Method - A contextual communication management system/method that coordinates the dissemination of information to/from a mobile communication device (MCD) and the associated mobile communication user (MCU) is disclosed. The system/method allows the state context of a given MCD and its MCU to be used to direct communications with the MCD based on a wide variety of state parameters including but not limited to current geospatial location, geospatial path, path chronology, third party geo-temporal leaseholds, etc. In some preferred embodiments this contextual communication permits targeted advertising to be “pushed” to a MCD in response to a function of the real-time geospatial location and current/past known states of the MCU. A Leasehold Management Coordinator (LMC) permits targeted bi-directional third-party interactions with the MCD based on advertising “leases” of virtual MCD geo-space/time and associated MCU state/context pools. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089094 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COMMERCE IN MEDIA PROGRAM RELATED MERCHANDISE - The disclosed technology provides systems and methods for delivering a media program and purchase opportunities related to the media program to user equipment. A media program and its related merchandise information can be located at a distribution facility. The distribution facility can tailor the purchase opportunities it provides to the user equipment based on the user equipment's equipment category. When user equipment receives purchase opportunities, the user equipment can select the opportunities based on which types of merchandise are supported by the user equipment. The user equipment and/or a distribution facility may be able to determine the location of the user equipment. When the distribution facility provides merchandise information for physical merchandise to the user equipment, the merchandise information can be selected to include physical merchandise that are available for purchase at stores that are, for example, near the location of the user equipment. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089095 | Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) With Integrated Advertising Channel - A system includes an access point (AP)/charging station, a client device, a local business advertising content/query system, a remote Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) processing and billing management service, an advertising content/query service, and an alternate AP. The station provides compensation to the client device in exchange for the client device consuming advertising content. The advertising content may include one or more of a product advertisement, a service advertisement, and a survey. The compensation may include one or more of Internet access, charging power, a product discount, and a service discount. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089096 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USING IDENTIFIERS ASSOCIATED WITH PRODUCTS FOR APPLYING A MOBILE DEVICE SKIN - A system and method for applying a skin to a mobile device is described. The mobile device includes a camera and a rear screen. The method analyzes an image captured by the camera to detect an identifier and associates the identifier with a product or a vendor. A skin representing the product or vendor is applied to the rear screen of the mobile device and posted to a social networking website, such that the user may express their personal sense of affinity toward a product, an artist, or an organization. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089097 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING ADVERTISEMENT BASED ON GAZE OF USER - Methods and systems of modifying content displayed by a mobile device are provided. A region of interest (ROI) of a user is recognized. The ROI may be associated with content being displayed on a display of the mobile device. A time duration of interest based on the ROI is determined. The displayed content is modified based on the ROI, the time duration of interest, and a content type of the displayed content. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089098 | METHOD FOR PERFORMING INTERACTIVE SERVICES ON MOBILE DEVICE, SUCH AS TIME OR LOCATION INITIATED INTERACTIVE SERVICES - A system for performing interactive services at a mobile device is disclosed. In some cases, the system receives an indication of an event, and provides interactive services to a user of the mobile device based on the event. In some cases, an indication of an event in invokes a script-based process that determines one or more actions to present to a user of the mobile device. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089099 | INTERACTIVE SOCIAL MEDIA TICKER - Systems, programs, non-transitory computer readable media, and methods of providing gift recommendations to a user of a social media website hosted by a social media server are described. For example, the user may grant an administrator server authorization to interface with the social media server such that the administrator server can identify important life events of the user's social media contacts, such as birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, and other events. If a social media contact of the user is determined to have an upcoming life event, then the administrator server generates a post containing (i) an advertisement that invites the user to review gift recommendations, and (ii) a link to a product page of an e-commerce website. Once generated, the post with the advertisement is streamed to a user device where it is displayed to the user in a ticker format along with other social media content. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089100 | METHOD FOR CONSUMER-CONTROLLED DIRECT MARKETING AND CONSUMER-CONTROLLED TARGETING OF ADVERTISING - A method of consumer-controlled direct marketing and consumer-controlled targeting of advertising comprises the steps of user storing an interest or need into the system in context of consuming web content, possibly with related additional information implicitly or explicitly, the business owner searching for potentially commercially relevant interests, and after selecting and defining the target group via user interface keeping consumers anonymous, sending personal offers based on the explicit needs directly to the users. User receives the offer and whenever desired, opens the offer for reading. Opening the offer triggers charging the business owner based on for example click, view or the value of the offer. Charging can be also based on for example call to action or percentage of the purchase value. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089101 | INFERRING USER RISK PROFILE FROM TRAVEL PATTERNS - A method for estimating a risk profile of a user of a personal digital assistant (PDA) includes collecting, using the PDA, data indicative of a travel pattern of the user of the PDA. The risk profile of the user of the PDA is inferred from the travel pattern. The risk profile to is output an external system, so as to enable the external system to provide to the user a commercial offer based on a risk level which is indicated by the risk profile. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089102 | REVERSE SEARCH DATABASE SYSTEM - Disclosed herein are methods useful for reverse-searching, and categorizing consumer markets and preferences according to consumer and/or viewer interaction, in any type of display format, which in turn creates consumer and/or viewer interaction data. The data is then used to process the reverse-search within a database. The methods generally can be utilized for commercial purposes, by a business, such as for advertising or solicitation to the viewer. Also disclosed herein is the incorporation of the Pre-Search Query Label Stack into the reverse-search which improves the quality and reliability of the reverse-search. The methods can provide new and improved commercial success in advertising, education, training, branding, promotional activity, notice, offer and solicitation by the business to the consumer or viewer. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089103 | Methods For Presenting Online Advertising At A Social Network Site Based on User Interests - An advertising system generates customized advertising for social network members. The ads results are personalized based on members' explicit and implicit interests derived from user actions, content selections, etc. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089104 | ADVERTISEMENT PROVIDING SYSTEM AND ADVERTISEMENT PROVIDING METHOD - The present invention relates to an advertisement providing system that takes advantage of the comment function of an SNS to expand Internet advertising, such as affiliate advertising, between members. Upon receiving a predetermined notification from an advertiser server, an SNS site control unit identifies a first user identifier associated with a second user identifier included in the notification and transmits, as content data, comment data including user information pertaining to a user of a second communication terminal and link information for a commercial website to a first communication terminal to which is allocated the identified first user identifier. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089105 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROXY TRACKING OF THIRD PARTY INTERACTIONS - A computer-implemented method and system is operable to: receive a tracking event from a client, recognize tracking specific parameters in the tracking event, generate a tracking entry corresponding to the tracking event, use a tracking service API to send the tracking entry to a second server, and redirect the client to an intended target corresponding to the tracking event. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089106 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FORMULATING BIDS FOR INTERNET ADVERTISING USING FORECAST DATA - A system and method for formulating a bid on an impression for an Internet advertising campaign using market forecast data are provided. The system and method comprise determining a bid policy using an advertiser goal type, an advertiser payment type, and a budget parameter. Historical impression data pertaining to the advertising campaign is sampled using any applicable sampling technique. The sampled data is used to derive forecast data that predicts the future state of the market. The bid policy and the forecast data are used to derive a spend curve, from which an optimal bid is formulated that results in a proper and efficient allocation of the advertiser's budget. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089107 | ADVERTISEMENTS IN VIEW - A technique is provided to determine whether a region within a web page is viewable to a user through a browser window. Often, browsers will only show part of a web page at given time, creating a difficulty in establishing whether a region of the web page, which may be an advertisement for example, is in view. This is addressed by providing one or more test features within the region, rendering the web page, monitoring a behavioural characteristic of the test features and determining whether the region is in view based on the monitored behavioural characteristic, wherein the behavioural characteristic varies according to whether the test feature is currently being displayed. One example of a behavioural characteristic is a frame progression rate. Browsers will typically redraw elements of a web page at a higher rate if they are currently in view through the browser window, and this characteristic can therefore be used to determine whether the test feature, and thus the region, is in view. The present invention finds particular utility where the region contains an advertisement, as it allows an advertiser to discover whether the advertisement has been seen by users. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089108 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RECOMMENDED BROWSING - Various of the disclosed embodiments relate to systems and methods for recommended browsing. More specifically, various embodiments relate to systems and methods for monitoring a user's Internet browsing and for providing recommendations to other websites to the user. The other websites may be of interest to the user and/or may also concern evaluations of the original website browsed by the user | 2014-03-27 |
20140089109 | DISTRIBUTED CONTENT EXCHANGE AND PRESENTATION SYSTEM - An Internet-oriented advertising exchange controller presents website content in a plurality of frames as well as support search criteria and other flexible forms of inventory formatting and delivery. Applications include Internet protocol request coordination or relay, cooperative frame based or interstitial advertising, and support for a local search or dataless metasearch system. The controller operates in a cookieless environment, has logic to protect advertiser's investment from AutoSurf equivalent systems, and protects against other inappropriate stimuli including denial of service or IP blast attacks. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089110 | TERMINAL APPARATUS, ADVERTISEMENT DISPLAY CONTROL APPARATUS, AND ADVERTISEMENT DISPLAY METHOD - Provided is a terminal apparatus including a display unit, an acquisition unit, a detection unit, and a display control unit. The acquisition unit acquires advertisement information from an advertisement delivery apparatus. The detection unit detects a scroll state of a page displayed on the display unit. The display control unit sets an initial display position of the advertisement information to a predetermined position of the page in a case where the page is not scrolling and which sets the initial display position of the advertisement information to a predetermined display position of the display unit in a case where the page is scrolling. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089111 | Mobile Device Order Entry and Submission Using Proximity Events - A system adapted to allow consumers to order delivered products and services from at least one establishment using proximity events is described. The system includes: a set of sensors, each sensor in the set of sensor adapted to transmit a wireless beacon signal, the beacon signal including a sensor ID associated with the sensor, wherein each sensor in the set of sensors is associated with a particular location; and a server adapted to receive a request that includes the sensor ID from a mobile device associated with a particular consumer, generate an order based at least partly on the request and associated with the particular location, and send the order to at least one establishment. In addition, a client application adapted to be executed by a mobile device to allow a consumer to order products and services from a set of establishments is described. An automated method is also described. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089112 | Determination of Customer Proximity to a Register Through Use of Sound and Methods Thereof - A method is disclosed for determining a customer's proximity to a checkout register at a store. A mobile electronic device with mobile self-checkout software thereon may record and analyze ambient noise to determine when a customer is in a checkout line as well as to track the customer's progress through the checkout line. The mobile self-checkout software may present information to the customer according to the customer's position in the checkout line. The type and nature of the information presented to the customer may be changed according to the customer's distance from the checkout terminal as well as how quickly the customer is approaching the terminal. The software may provide detailed data about the shopping and checkout experience. This information may be correlated to customer satisfaction and used identify particular strengths and weaknesses in the shopping experience offered by a store. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089113 | SELECTING ECOSYSTEM FEATURES FOR INCLUSION IN OPERATIONAL TIERS OF A MULTI-DOMAIN ECOSYSTEM PLATFORM FOR SECURE PERSONALIZED TRANSACTIONS - Selecting ecosystem features for inclusion in operational tiers includes taking a reference implementation of a specific application adapted to operate in a multi-domain computing ecosystem and, using a computer, breaking down the reference implementation into service related components, determining ecosystem participants for the reference implementation, and using a feature allocation engine to configure operational features that enable one of the service related components. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089114 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR BULK ACTIVATION OF MULTIPLE, DISPARATE STORED VALUE ACCOUNTS - According to one embodiment of the invention, a method of activating a plurality of disparate stored value accounts utilizes a set of multiple presentation instruments redeemable at different merchants. Each presentation instrument includes a unique presentation instrument identifier used to associate value with the presentation instrument. Also, the set includes a set identifier, which may be included on a package that secures the presentation instruments together. In one embodiment, the set identifier is received over an electronic network, a list of the presentation instruments in the set is accessed from a computer database, and each of the presentation instruments is activated. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089115 | PAYMENT CONVERGENCE SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method and system is provided for convergence of multiple independent applications into a single payment vehicle. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089116 | DETERMINATION OF CUSTOMER PROXIMITY TO A REGISTER THROUGH USE OF SOUND AND METHODS THEREOF - A method is disclosed for determining a customer's progress through a checkout line at a store and for correlating customer satisfaction thereto. A mobile electronic device with mobile self checkout software thereon may record and analyze ambient noise to determine when a customer is in a checkout line as well as to track the customer's progress through the checkout line. The software may provide detailed data about the shopping and checkout experience. This information may be correlated to customer satisfaction and used identify particular strengths and weaknesses in the shopping experience offered by a store. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089117 | Secure Escrow Transaction System - A method and device for conducting a secure transaction, where a buyer and seller have account information on an escrow server including assigned buyer and seller account identification numbers, the buyer and seller authenticate their identities using respective devices, the seller constructs an offer template using their seller device where the offer template includes the seller account number combined with information sufficient to identify the item(s) being sold, the item(s) price and the total amount of the transaction, the buyer communicates their buyer account number to the seller device, the seller combines the buyer account number with the offer template to create a digitally signed offer which is sent to the escrow server, the escrow server then generates and communicates an escrow code to the parties, whereupon payment authorization of the escrow transaction may be completed. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089118 | "Pay/load" product sale at national retailers - Method and apparatus for effecting a bill-pay/account-loading program as a “product” for sale at retailers, preferably including consumer involvement 1) in establishing a relationship with a payment facilitator and with receiving a relevant “app;” 2) in securing a barcode or other product identifier to use at a retailer to purchase a bill-pay/account loading “product,” which could be a gift card controlled by the payment facilitator; and 3) in confirming the tendering of cash or the like to a retailer, preferably based on a retailer receipt and consumer device information; alternately including consumer funding of a retailer gift card and a payment provider paying a consumer's bill using the funded gift card and settling with the retailer based on the amount in the gift card account, preferably after the provider verifying funding of the card account by accessing gift card records. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089119 | COMPETING MOBILE PAYMENT OFFERS - A method for competing mobile payment offers includes presenting a payment request based on a purchase request to an electronic device. A transaction description based on the payment request is forwarded to one or more payment providers. One or more payment offers are received from the one or more payment providers on the electronic device. A payment method is selected for the purchase request based on the received one or more payment offers. The purchase request is completed using the selected payment method. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089120 | AGGREGATING MULTIPLE TRANSACTION PROTOCOLS FOR TRANSACTING BETWEEN A PLURALITY OF DISTINCT PAYMENT ACQUIRING DEVICES AND A TRANSACTION ACQUIRER - Aggregating multiple transaction protocols for transacting between a plurality of distinct payment acquiring devices and a transaction acquirer includes using a multi-protocol meta-model to consistently abstract a protocol of electronic messages received by each distinct payment acquiring device to a transaction acquirer compatible protocol and forwarding a transaction message based on the abstracted protocol and the original electronic message to a transaction acquirer. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089121 | ARRANGEMENT FOR AND METHOD OF ALERTING A USER TO CONTEXT-BASED TRANSACTIONAL INFORMATION UNDER WHICH PRODUCTS ARE TO BE TRANSACTED AT A POINT-OF-TRANSACTION SITE - A user is alerted to context-based transactional information under which products are to be transacted at a point-of-transaction site by a speaker on an electro-optical reader. The speaker announces, as an audible message, to the user a detailed context under which each product identified to the reader is to be transacted. The audible message is broadcast as a sound wave either corresponding to a pattern of original speech, or to a sound effect. The detailed context can, for example, be a reminder to deactivate an electronic article surveillance (EAS) tag associated with each identified product, or a reminder that the identified product is on sale. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089122 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMPROVED E-COMMERCE SHOPPING - An e-commerce system and method of presenting a product to a potential consumer, where a video relating to the product and a first graphic having time sensitive information associated with the product is broadcast towards a remote display device of the potential consumer to be displayed together on the remote display device. Furthermore, the system and method updates the time sensitive information to create updated time sensitive information associated with the product and generates a second graphic having at least a portion of the updated time sensitive information associated with the product before broadcasting the video and the second graphic towards the remote display device of the potential consumer to be displayed together. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089123 | Providing Notice and Purchasing A Gift In An Online or Electronic Environment - Various embodiments are directed to systems and methods for funding the purchase of one or more gifts. In one embodiment, a method for purchasing gifts may include providing a computing device configured to access one or more retailer websites. Each retailer website may list one or more gifts available for purchase. The method may include selecting a plurality of gifts available for purchase. The method may include ranking the selected plurality of gifts to indicate a funding order. The method may include receiving one or more monetary contributions to fund the purchase of one or more of the selected plurality of gifts. The method may include allocating the one or more monetary contributions according to the rank of the selected plurality of gifts prior to purchase of one or more of the gifts. The method may include deselecting at least one of the selected gifts. | 2014-03-27 |
20140089124 | Dynamic Product Content Generation - Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for building and serving dynamic product advertisements. A request is received for content including request data. Product data is accessed representing multiple product records, each associated with a different product. Multiple matching rules are applied to each of the product records in order to identify a subset of product records satisfying the matching rules. For each of the product records satisfying the matching rules, multiple scores are generated, each score representing the relevance of the product to the request based on the request data. The scores are aggregated. One or more of the product records are selected based at least on the aggregate scores. A dynamic product content item is served in response to the request featuring the products associated with the one or more selected product records. | 2014-03-27 |