19th week of 2014 patent applcation highlights part 60 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20140129269 | Forecasting Business Entity Characteristics Based on Planning Infrastructure - A planning infrastructure in an enterprise supports planning using characteristics of business entities and key figures collected from the activities of the business entities. The planning may incorporate predictions made on characteristics of the business entities that operate with the enterprise. The predicted characteristics may be stored in the enterprise's master data for those business entities, thus linking the planning results with the business entities. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129270 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MANAGING LOCATIONS OF SERVICE EQUIPMENT FOR PLANT FACTORY - Disclosed herein are an apparatus and method for managing the locations of service equipment for a plant factory. The apparatus includes a sensor registration management unit, a sensor ID issuance unit, and a location registration management unit. The sensor registration management unit performs a registration procedure that registers with a sensor network a plurality of service devices and sensors that are installed in the plant factory. The sensor ID issuance unit issues sensor IDs to the plurality of service devices and sensors registered with the sensor network, respectively. The location registration management unit performs a location registration procedure that registers information about the locations of the plurality of service devices and sensors based on the issued sensor IDs. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129271 | POSITION LEVEL WORK SCHEDULE - A first employment position business object may be created. The first employment position business object may include attribute(s). An employee business object may be associated with the first employment position business object. The employee business object may inherit the attribute(s) in response to the association. The creation or the association may be initiated through a graphical user interface. The attribute(s) may include a work schedule. The employee business object may be disassociated from the first employment position business object. The employee business object may then be associated with a second employment position business object. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129272 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING SERVICE RESTORATION IN A UTILITY NETWORK - Some embodiments include a computer-implemented restoration work plan system and method comprising a processor, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium in data communication with the processor, and a service restoration management system executable by the processor, and configured to prepare a first distribution system operations storm outage prediction project model forecast substantially in real time based at least in part on a weather forecast. Some embodiments include calculating and displaying an expected outage category level substantially in real time for each division based on the weather forecast, and resource numbers comprising the number of personnel needed to respond to outages and the number of crew needed to repair outages. Some embodiments include calculating and displaying an estimated time of repair within the repair plan based at least in part on a historical productivity assumption, the productivity assumption including a historical rate of assessment and repair and percentage of outages requiring repair. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129273 | System and Method for Visual Role Engineering - The system and method of visual role engineering uses a visual assessment tool to identify clusters of users and to define roles. A “cluster image” is generated that visually depicts the cluster tendencies of users and permissions. An operator of the visual assessment tool can visually identify clusters of users with the same permissions. The operator may select a cluster representing a subset of users, define a role for the subset of users, and assign permissions to the role. The process may be repeated in an iterative fashion until it is determined that no more roles are needed. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129274 | SECURITY ESCORT ASSIGNMENT AND MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHOD - Systems and methods providing security escort assignment and monitoring. Embodiments of the invention allow a user (e.g., a security dispatcher) to plan a mission, assign assets to the mission, and monitor a virtual representation of the mission as the mission proceeds in the real world. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129275 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PUSHING OF TASKS FROM AN APPLICATION OR WEBSITE TO ANOTHER APPLICATION - A computer implemented method comprises transmitting by a first device having a first processor a task request initiated by a first user from the first device to a second device. The task is configured to be received by the second device so that a second user can perform the task. The method further comprises receiving by the first device a notice that the second user has performed a task, transmitting by the first device a request for a transaction to reward the second user for performing the task, and transmitting by the first device a notice of a reward to the second device. The task relates to finances, and the task can involve counting currency. The transaction comprises a monetary amount delivered to an account held by the second user or purchasing a credit to a vendor. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129276 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SUPPLIER MANAGEMENT - A method for supplier management is described. The method includes storing metadata related to several executed contracts in a contract library, each contract having one or more deliverables. Further, the method involves normalizing the metadata into a predetermined form. Selecting a deliverable from a contract entered into the contract library, the method identifies one or more deliverables from the contract library that are similar to the selected deliverable. The method then compares the selected deliverable's metadata to the metadata of the identified deliverables and based on the comparison, determines whether the deliverable is likely to be missed. If the deliverable is likely to be missed, the method performs an appropriate action which can include one or more of sending a notification, arranging additional monitoring, modifying benchmarks/thresholds, or suggesting renegotiation of the deliverable. A system for supplier management is also described. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129277 | FIELD MANAGEMENT AND MOBILE INSPECTION - Methods and systems are provided for performing field project management. A user enters a request on a terminal device to initiate an automated field management process. In response to the request, a field management resource is generated and displayed to the user on the terminal device. The user is then directed to perform a plurality of tasks associated with the automated field management process in a specific order. Data associated with the field management resource is received from the user through the terminal device and analyzed. A field management report is then generated electronically based on the analyzed data and the field management resource. Data and reports are synchronized between a central server system and one or more terminal devices used by field users. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129278 | Methods and Apparatus for Schedule Management - Systems and techniques for schedule management are described. Previously scheduled and proposed events for a user are examined to determine if multiple events occupy the same time period, and the presence of such multiple events is identified as a conflict affecting the time period. A severity value is determined for each time period affected by such multiple events, with the determination suitably employing a recursive function based at least in part on a number of conflicting events and their severities. Conflict and conflict severity information may be presented to users in the form of a display indicating relative severities of conflicts, or alerts having characteristics based at least in part on conflict severity. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129279 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SCHEDULE MANAGEMENT - Systems and techniques for schedule management are described. Previously scheduled and proposed events for a user are examined to determine if multiple events occupy the same time period, and the presence of such multiple events is identified as a conflict affecting the time period. A severity value is determined for each time period affected by such multiple events, with the determination suitably employing a recursive function based at least in part on a number of conflicting events and their severities. Conflict and conflict severity information may be presented to users in the form of a display indicating relative severities of conflicts, or alerts having characteristics based at least in part on conflict severity. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129280 | Smart Packaging Initiative (SPI) Scoring System - A method is provided for the smart packaging initiative (SPI) scoring system, with particular relevance for the toy industry. The SPI scoring system may include at least four indicators, including carbon footprint of packaging on a life-cycle basis, materials health on a life-cycle basis, waste-to-landfill measurement, and cube utilization. By using a SPI classification system, products can be placed in classes with very similar functional packaging requirements, regardless of the specific toy genre or traditional retail classification of the product. Accordingly, by utilizing data available for existing products in the industry, a baseline environmental norm for packaging categories can be established, providing a useful reference point for improvement. Further, the SPI scoring system can also support comparisons of multiple packaging scenarios for the same product, allowing users to refine their package designs towards environmentally preferable design changes. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129281 | AIRCRAFT FUEL OPIMIZATION FOR MULTI-STOP ROUTES - Computer-implemented systems, methods, and computer-readable media for reducing operational costs relating to fuel burn of aircraft include receiving trip data including a plurality of airports, receiving operational data including a fuel price corresponding to each airport in the plurality of airports, and determining an amount of fuel to upload at each of the airports in the plurality of airports based at least in part on the operational data. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129282 | Automatic License Entitlement Calculation - Techniques for automatic license entitlement calculation. A method includes decomposing a license metric definition into metric-generic and metric-specific logic, compiling the metric-specific logic to generate intermediate code, interpreting the metric-generic logic and dynamically loading the intermediate code to execute a license entitlement calculation. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129283 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ORDER SPLIT FOR TRANSPORTATION PLANNING - A system and method of creating a transportation plan based on split orders. A received order is divided into split freight units that simulate a possible delivery for transportation. A delivery document is created and stored in persistent memory when the simulated split is planned and released. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129284 | Real-Time System Processing Capability Determination and Workflow Adaptation for Target Regions in a Customer Information Control System - Methods and apparatuses are described for real-time system processing capability determination and workflow adaptation for target regions in a customer information control system. A target region computing device detects a condition in a target region. The computing device publishes a global data element to a list upon detecting the condition, where the global data element includes an identifier associated with the target region and an identifier associated with the detected condition. The gateway receives a workflow request that is compatible with a plurality of target regions including the target region and executes one or more actions based on the workflow request and the detected condition. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129285 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EFFICIENT WORKFLOW SIMILARITY DETECTION - The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for comparing workflows. More particularly, the invention relates to thinning a number of workflow pairs to compare, prior to conducting a detailed comparison among pairs of workflows. The invention can be used to generate a workflow similarity graph based on a large set of workflows. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129286 | Analyzing Operational Results Using Rule-Based Policy Models - Methods, systems, and products that execute modeled business controls on a modeled input work item to generate a corresponding modeled output work item. Input data values included in the modeled input work item either match or approximate corresponding values included in a corresponding actual input work item. Each modeled business control is defined by business rules that represent a business policy, and the business rules and the input data values of the modeled input work item are used to generate the modeled output work item. An actual output work item from a business process is compared to the modeled output work item. The actual output work item includes actual output data values. The business process changes the actual input work item into the actual output work item. The modeled output work item includes modeled output data values. Differences between the actual and modeled output work items are reported. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129287 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REDUCING ROLL-OUT RISK - A system and method for monitoring business processes implementation in organizations, and more specifically, system and method for reducing roll-out risks. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129288 | Systems and Methods for Detecting and Eliminating Marketing of Fraudulent Goods - Online commercial activities are susceptible to high levels of fraud. Online sources of goods, including business-to-business resources, marketplace web sites, custom retail web sites, and the like may knowingly or unknowingly pass off counterfeit goods as genuine, sell overstock goods at low prices without production and commission costs, and solicit customers anonymously. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, electronic commerce sites are monitored using data metrics to track electronic retailer activities, monitor distribution volumes by source, and monitor pricing. Analysis of such items may be used to detect potentially fraudulent activity, and, based on manufacturer policy and threshold settings, may automatically report, notify, or take action against such illicit product sources. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129289 | MEASURING QUALITY OF EXPERIENCE ASSOCIATED WITH A MOBILE DEVICE - Implementations and techniques for measuring quality of experience associated with a mobile device are generally disclosed. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129290 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR PREDICTING ITEM PREFERENCE USING REVENUE-WEIGHTED COLLABORATIVE FILTER - Embodiments disclosed provide a system, method, and computer program product for identifying consumer items more likely to be bought by an individual user. In some embodiments, a collaborative filter may be used to rank items based on the degree to which they match user preferences. The collaborative filter may be hierarchical and may take various factors into consideration. Example factors may include the similarity among items based on observable features, a summary of aggregate online search behavior across multiple users, the item features determined to be most important to the individual user, and a baseline item against which a conditional probability of another item being selected is measured. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129291 | IDENTIFYING AN EVENT ASSOCIATED WITH CONSUMPTION OF A UTILITY - A method of identifying an event associated with consumption of a utility comprises steps of generating a utility consumption profile from utility consumption data, the utility consumption data comprising a plurality of utility consumption values measured at a corresponding plurality of measurement points, detecting an event within the utility consumption profile, comparing the detected event to a stored profile of an event, and identifying the detected event within the utility consumption profile when the detected event matches the stored profile of an event, wherein the detected event is compared to a stored profile of an event which stored profile is a probability density map. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129292 | FACILITATING SOCIAL INTERACTION USING PURCHASE OR INTEREST HISTORY - An apparatus and method for facilitating social connections are disclosed herein. A purchase or interest in a first item by a first user is tracked. A match between one or more second users and the first user is determined, each of the one or more second users having purchased or shown interest in the first item and located in a same geographical area as the first user. Providing a notification to a device associated with the first user, the notification configured to facilitate initiating contact with one or more of the matching second users. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129293 | Method and Apparatus for Dynamic Fencing - The present disclosure provides embodiments of an apparatus and method for generating dynamic fences representing geographical regions where advertisement campaigns can take place. The dynamic fences can have arbitrary shapes and can change over time and in real-time. The method comprises receiving campaign information via connections to a packet-based network; generating at least one dynamic fence of arbitrary shape based on the campaign information; and updating the at least one dynamic fence in response to data received from the packet-based network. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129294 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTEGRATING RETAIL PRICE OPTIMIZATION FOR REVENUE AND PROFIT WITH BUSINESS RULES - The disclosed technology improves the process of generating recommended prices for retail products by optimizing revenue and profit while complying with a set of business rules by assigning a monetary value to each business rule. Then for each decision price that violates a business rule constraint, a penalty value is added to the monetary value. If the monetary value including the penalty is better than an original monetary value, the decision price is included in the recommended prices. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129295 | SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATED PROCESS MINING - The detection and interpretation of data pertaining to the usage of software and documents by end users, and more specifically, the automation of the mining of event logs of events generated by business processes for logging of business processes and automatic discovery of business process models. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129296 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OFFERING AND PROCURING WELL SERVICES - A system for procuring well services for a location is disclosed. The system comprises a computer processor and memory; an input module stored in memory, executing on the computer processor, and configured to obtain a location data item comprising a geographic location; a processing engine, executing on the computer processor, and configured to: receive a plurality of well completions for the location, and compare a first well completions of the plurality of well completions to a second well completions of the plurality of well completions; and an output module stored in memory, executing on the computer processor, and configured to display the first well completion and the second well completion to a user. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129297 | DETERMINING CALCULATION EXPRESSION FOR FINDING KPI RELATING TO BUSINESS PROCESS - A computer-implemented method is disclosed for determining a calculation expression for finding a KPI relating to a business process (process KPI) on the basis of a KPI obtained in each task (task KPI), the business process being representable as a graph structure including a plurality of tasks and edges representing how processing of the tasks proceeds. The method includes preparing a table defining a group of composite operation expressions for the task KPIs of the plurality of tasks, the composite operation expressions being associated with a predetermined relation of the plurality of tasks for each task KPI type; determining composite operation expressions for the task KPIs over the business process for each task KPI type by referring to the table; and creating a calculation expression for finding the process KPI of the business process using the composite operation expressions for the task KPIs over the business process. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129298 | System and Method for Multi-Dimensional Average-Weighted Banding Status and Scoring - Method and system for generating summary scores from heterogeneous measures retrieved from multi-dimensional data structures for monitoring organizational performance. Scorecards are created for each group of tree-structured measures branching from Parent nodes to child nodes based on Key Performance Indicators (KPI). Scores for each parent node may be obtained by rolling up scores for child nodes reporting to the parent node. KPI's at the lowest level are mapped on first scale, then mapped to a normalized scale, and score values determined. KPI scores are weight-averaged for roll-up to a parent node determining the score for that node. Multiple parent nodes may be rolled-up to a higher level node in a similar way. Multiple dimensions of the measure such as geographic and temporal may be scored simultaneously. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129299 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTION AND ANALYSIS OF FIRST CONTACT RESOLUTION FAILURES - The subject matter discloses a method for detection and analysis of first contact resolution failures comprising: obtaining a first plurality of digital representations, each digital representation of the first plurality is associated with a contact center interaction; determining a pair of digital representations that represent a pair of contact center interactions determined from the first plurality of digital representations according to metadata associated with the pair of contact center interactions; determining topics of each interaction of the determined pair of contact center interactions represented by the pair of digital representations; classifying the pair of contact center interactions as first contact resolution failure or first contact resolution interactions pair. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129300 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR PROVIDING A WEBSITE INTRODUCING ORGANIZED, GAINFUL COMPETITION INTO SHARED ELECTRONIC MEDIA - A method for providing rewards includes receiving a media content item from a first user and providing the media content item to a second user. The method further includes receiving input from the second user in accordance with a first set of predetermined rules associated with the second user. The method also includes providing a reward to the first user in accordance with a second set of predetermined rules associated with the media content item. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129301 | MOBILE AUTOMOTIVE WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM ENABLED MICROBUSINESSES - A vehicle rental administrative system comprising a computer system configured to manage vehicle rental transactions between vehicle owners and potential Temporary Users. The system allows an owner to develop a customer profile with information related to a rentable vehicle. The customer profile may include, but not limited to, the model year of the vehicle, engine specifications, and the rental rate. The potential Temporary User may request a certain vehicle to rent, and the system may provide a list of one or more vehicles matching the request. Once the Temporary User selects a vehicle, the system may notify customer that his vehicle has been selected. The customer may either approve or deny permission to rent vehicle. If the customer approves, a rental agreement is signed and the system sends a code to both vehicle and Temporary User's mobile device for a predetermined rental period to allow keyless drive-away of the vehicle. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129302 | PROVIDING A CONFIRMATION INTERFACE FOR ON-DEMAND SERVICES THROUGH USE OF PORTABLE COMPUTING DEVICES - A method for providing transport services is provided. A transport request for a transport service is received from a user. The transport request specifies at least one of a pickup or drop-off location. A confirmation panel is generated to display information corresponding to the at least one of the pickup location or drop-off location. On the confirmation panel, a map relevant to the at least one of the pickup location or drop-off location is displayed. Fare information relevant to the transport request is also displayed on the confirmation panel. A prompt is provided for the user to confirm the transport request. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129303 | Systems and Methods for Providing Financial Service Extensions - Systems and methods are provided for providing financial service extensions. In one implementation, a financial cloud system including a memory storing instructions and a processor configured to execute the instructions is provided. The instructions may be executed to perform a process associated with providing the financial service extensions. The process may include providing a platform application to a client device. The process may also include receiving data associated with a financial service extension to be used in connection with the platform application. The process may further include receiving configuration data associated with the financial service extension. The process may additionally include configuring, by the processor, the financial service extension for use with the platform application. The process may also include providing, by the processor, the financial service extension to the client device. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129304 | METHOD FOR ATTRIBUTING AND ALLOCATING REVENUE RELATED TO EMBEDDED SOFTWARE - A method for attributing revenue for embedded software. The method includes the first step of determining the presence of more than one type of embedded software on a given client site. Then, the process assigns priority based on the length of time each type has resided on the client system and the source of each type, followed by classifying each software type, based on the history of present and predecessor copies of the software. A distribution factor is applied to each software type, based on priority and classification, partner revenue is distributed based on the distribution factor applied to each software type. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129305 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SHOPPING OFFER CONTROL AND FEEDBACK - Systems and methods for providing a brand owner direct control of offers redeemable by users. An exemplary system includes a user interface device, a processing device and a communication device. The processing device receives product information entered via a user interface device by a brand owner authorized user. The product information includes product name, product category and attribute information. The processing device also receives offer information entered via the user interface device by the brand owner authorized user, the offer information being associated with one or more products, wherein the offer information includes at least one product name, validity information, coding information, offer type information and associated store information. The processing device generates an offer(s) based on the received offer information. A communication device makes the generated offer(s) available to a user device-based application program. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129306 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO FACILITATE AN OFFER CAMPAIGN BASED ON THE RESULT OF A COMPETITION - Systems and methods configured to allow an offer campaign to be specified in connection with a competition on a social networking site. Users are classified into different groups based on a result of the competition; and the offer campaign provides different interaction experiences to users of different groups in accordance with the specification of the offer campaign. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129307 | System and Method for Facilitating Commercial Interactions via a Physical Insignia - According to aspects of the present invention, a system, method, and device utilizes insignia such as electronic near field communication (e.g., NFC or RFID) tags or preprogrammed visual insignia (e.g., QR code or bar code) attached to or associated with physical products or service offerings and linked to an Internet-based user interface with a supporting database. In different embodiments, the present invention includes: a registration management component; an offer management component; a loyalty program management component, a referral management component; a purchase and service management component; a customer feedback component; and an interaction tracking component. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129308 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO PROVIDE OFFER BENEFITS BASED ON ISSUER IDENTITY - Systems and methods configured to specify and/or deliver the benefit of an offer, based on the identity of an issuer of a consumer payment account with which the offer is associated and using which account a transaction qualifying for the offer is performed. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129309 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND MEDIA FOR INDUCING CONSUMER LOYALTY - Systems, methods, and media are provided for inducing customer loyalty that are configured to: identify a loyalty account associated with a consumer, wherein the loyalty account is part of a loyalty program established by a retailer, create a monetary account linked to the consumer's loyalty account, designate an amount of change from a cash transaction at the retailer to be deposited into the monetary account, deposit the amount of change into the monetary account by adding the designated amount of change to an existing balance of the monetary account to create a new balance, determine if the consumer is entitled to a reward based on the depositing of the designated amount of change into the monetary account and at least one threshold; and display to the consumer the outcome of the determining. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129310 | MULTI-VENDOR MULTI-LOYALTY CURRENCY PROGRAM - Loyalty programs can be operated within a payment processing system having multiple vendors, thereby providing access to detailed transaction data and with the flexibility for customization of the loyalty programs themselves, by establishing a communication for the transfer of data via a customer-facing channel. When the payment processing system processes a transaction between a merchant and an account holder, in addition to obtaining payment for the merchant from the account via an acquirer and an issuer, respectively, a transaction handler tabulates and stores different types of loyalty currencies in a loyalty reward account associated with the account holder if the account holder is enrolled in a loyalty program and criteria for applying the loyalty program are satisfied. The account holder is provided access to the loyalty account via the customer-facing channel. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129311 | SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING - An incentive option is presented in an e-commerce shopping cart that includes transaction information corresponding to a transaction. A user selection of the incentive option is received and a social media action option is presented. An indication of an available incentive associated with the social media action option. Upon receiving a user selection of the social media action option, a social media incentive service facilitates the social media action and application of the available incentive. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129312 | PROMOTING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES VIA AN ACTIVITY STREAM - Techniques for promoting products and services in an activity stream are presented. A message publishing module provides a means for specifying different member-interest buttons to be presented in connection with messages published to the activity or content streams of members of a social network service, where such messages relate to specific products and/or services of a company. The social network service detects which members interact or select the various member-interest buttons, and in connection with which specific products and services. This information is then provided to authorized administrators or representatives of the company, and made available as member-targeting criteria for targeting members with subsequent messages that may include promotional content (e.g., offers, coupons, etc.) for specific products and services. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129313 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO FACILITATE AN OFFER CAMPAIGN BASED ON TRANSACTIONS WITH DIFFERENT MERCHANTS - Systems and methods configured to allow an offer campaign to be specified based on event requirements associated with multiple, different merchants. The event requirements are linked via prerequisite conditions to form the offer campaign. Each event may identify an event related to one merchant (e.g., a payment transaction for a purchase from the merchant) and an optional action to be performed in response to a user satisfying the requirements of the event. Each merchant in the offer campaign is allowed to insert an event related to the merchant, subsequently edit the inserted event, and identify other events in the offer campaign as prerequisite requirements of the event related to the merchant. Merchants may be prevented from inserting or editing events specific to other merchants. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129314 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO FACILITATE THE REDEMPTION OF LOYALTY CURRENCY - Systems and methods configured with a user interface to allow a user to request automated periodic offers that provide benefits to the consumer account of the user in exchange for a loyalty currency (e.g., loyalty points) the user has earned. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129315 | Group Purchasing System - An e-commerce system for managing group buy operations has a group server ( | 2014-05-08 |
20140129316 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENABLING TARGETED ADVERTISING AND REWARDS BETWEEN CONSUMERS, BUSINESSES, AND DEVELOPERS - Methods and apparatuses in which a multi-faceted network connects game developers, businesses (both product and service oriented), at times referred to as “retailer” or “retailers” and casual gamers, at times referred to as users/consumers through a series of interfaces for the mutual benefit of all involved is disclosed. Through the use of the interfaces described, a casual gamer has the incentive to keep playing developers' games in order to attain rewards based on their own preferences, therefore ramping up advertising revenues for the developer and issuing targeted coupons and promotions from a retailer to an engaged audience. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129317 | GENERATING LEADS FOR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES VIA AN ACTIVITY STREAM - Techniques for generating leads for a company's products and/or services are presented. A message publishing module provides a means for specifying different member-interest buttons to be presented in connection with messages published to the activity or content streams of members of a social network service, where such messages relate to specific products and/or services of a company. The social network service detects which members interact or select the various member-interest buttons, and in connection with which specific products and services. This information is then provided to authorized administrators or representatives of the company, and made available as member-targeting criteria for targeting members with subsequent messages. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129318 | INFLUENCING PRODUCT DEMAND BY AMPLIFYING DEMAND SIGNAL - An application is enabled to influence product demand by amplifying demand signal. Product and customer information is analyzed for patterns within external resources. The patterns are combined to produce demand signal. The demand signal is matched to a target audience to amplify the demand. The product is presented to an audience to influence demand for the product through customer channels including advertising, pricing policies, and offers. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129319 | SYSTEM, METHOD, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM FOR SIMULATING AN ELECTRONIC MESSAGE CAMPAIGN - A computerized system, method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium for simulating an electronic message campaign is disclosed including establishing one or more simulated subscribers and storing an information associated with each of the one or more simulated subscribers in a database, wherein the information comprises a profile information for each of the one or more simulated subscribers, receiving one or more communications addressed to the one or more simulated subscribers, processing the one or more communications based upon the profile information for each of the one or more simulated subscribers to generate a campaign activity, and processing the campaign activity. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129320 | B-MATCHING USING SUFFICIENT SELECTION BELIEF PROPAGATION - A method, system, computer program product and computer readable media for b-matching using sufficient selection belief propagation is disclosed. The belief propagation method, is adapted to use a simplified compressed message update rule and is suitable for use with distributed processing systems. Embodiments for online advertisement/search term matching, product recommendation, dating service and social network matching, auction buyer/seller matching and resource allocation, among others, are disclosed. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129321 | Combination of Social Networking Data with Other Data Sets for Estimation of Viewership Statistics - Embodiments of the invention combine information from different data sets, such as social networks, advertising networks, and/or panels, each data set comprising statistics about past viewership of content (e.g., advertisements). The result of the combination is a model that, when applied to statistics about viewing of particular content, produces viewing statistics about the particular content that are more accurate than the data of any given one of the different data sets when taken in isolation. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129322 | Method and Apparatus for Associating Device User Identifiers with Content Presentation and Related Events - Creating an association of a user identifier linked to a mobile device with the presentation of content. A computing device may create an association between the presentation of content on a presentation device and a user identifier linked to a mobile device in response to the presentation of content. The computing device may detect a presentation event which indicates a connection between a user identifier linked to the mobile device and the presentation of content. The computing device may then send a presentation event message to a network server. Subsequently, a predefined event may be detected via the mobile device, and in response, a predefined event message, including the user identifier linked to the mobile device and the predefined event, may be sent to the network server. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129323 | PREDICTIVE MODEL FOR ADJUSTING CLICK PRICING - Traffic quality on online properties may be assessed continually, and the traffic quality may be used to determine the price of a click-through for an ad placed on the web property. Advertisers bid on keywords, and the bids are used by an advertising engine to place ads on web pages and other online properties. A benchmark price may be set based on the bids. When a user clicks on (or otherwise activates) an ad, the advertiser pays an amount for the click that is based on the benchmark price and on the traffic quality of the property on which the ad had been placed. Machine learning may be used to create a model that predicts traffic quality based on observable feature of a property, thereby allowing the traffic quality of a property to be assessed in real time rather than historically. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129324 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DYNAMICALLY PLACING AND SCHEDULING OF PROMOTIONAL ITEMS OR CONTENT BASED ON MOMENTUM OF ACTIVITIES OF A TARGETED AUDIENCE IN A NETWORK ENVIRONMENT - Techniques are disclosed for dynamically placing, scheduling, and adjusting promotional items based on momentum of activities of a targeted audience in a network. An example method comprises selecting a group of users from a user population in a network. The selection can be based on a degree of association between (i) multiple key words and (ii) profile data or past activities from the user population. The method further comprises monitoring activities performed in the network by the group of users. The method further comprises identifying a topic from the activities. The method further comprises determining momentum for the topic. The momentum can be proportional to (i) a number of how many users whose activities mention the topic and (ii) a frequency of how often the topic is mentioned. The method further comprises selectively delivering promotional content to the group of users based on the momentum for the identified topic. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129325 | Method and System for Advertisement Replacement - A method, system and product useful for online advertisement. The method comprising: displaying a first advertisement in a web page, wherein the first advertisement is associated with a compensation model that is contingent on a user action by a user with the first advertisement; and replacing the first advertisement by a second advertisement that is associated with a serving-based compensation model. In some embodiments, the first advertisement is replaced in response to a determination that a probability that the user action will be performed by the user is below a predetermined threshold. In some embodiments, the first advertisement is replaced in response to a determination that a predetermined threshold time has elapsed after said displaying the first advertisement. In some embodiments, the predetermined threshold time is computed for an ad impression relating to the first advertisement, to the user and to the web page. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129326 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ADVERTISING USING SOCIAL MEDIA - A method and apparatus for advertising over a computer network using social media. The method comprising the steps of: presenting a campaign interface to a campaign entity for initiating a campaign; receiving media data indicative of one or more selected social media avenues associated with the campaign; receiving message data indicative of one or more messages to be associated with each of the selected social media avenues; receiving, for each selected social media avenue, targeting data indicative of a respective campaign budget and campaign parameters; initiating the campaign; receiving payment from the campaign entity; presenting a socialite interface to a first socialite entity for enabling selection from available campaigns; receiving campaign selection data indicative of at least a first campaign selected; presenting available media avenues associated with the first campaign selected; receiving media selection data indicative of a first media avenue selected from the one or more social media avenues associated with the first campaign selected; presenting the one or more messages associated with the first media avenue selected; receiving message selection data indicative of a first message selected from the one or more messages associated with the first media avenue selected; and posting the first message selected, as a campaign posting on behalf of the first socialite entity, to the first social media avenue selected. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129327 | ADVERTISEMENT DELIVERY DEVICE AND ADVERTISEMENT DELIVERY METHOD - An advertisement delivery device acquires a value regarding a degree of relevance with content to which advertisement information set to the content is allowed to be delivered when a delivery request of advertisement information to be delivered to content is received, calculates a degree of relevance between the content and the advertisement information, determines whether the calculated degree of relevance is higher than the acquired value regarding the degree of relevance, and delivers the advertisement information as the advertisement information to be delivered to the content when the degree of relevance is determined as being higher than the value regarding the degree of relevance. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129328 | PROVIDING AUGMENTED PURCHASE SCHEMES - An application provides augmented purchase schemes. A product is displayed through monitors augmenting customer environment. Product and service offers are transmitted to a customer according to online list populated with customer information to affect purchase behavior. Product information is generated according to a customer interest and transmitted to the customer. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129329 | SERVER, ANALYSIS METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT - According to an embodiment, a server includes a first acquiring unit, a second acquiring unit, an analyzing unit, and an output unit. The first acquiring unit is configured to acquire recognition information includes a product identification information for identifying the product. The second acquiring unit is configured to acquire combination information including the product identification information of the product to be combined with an object image including an object. The analyzing unit is configured to calculate product priorities for respective products by analyzing the recognition information and the combination information. The output unit is configured to output information based on the product priorities. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129330 | Methods for Targeted Advertising - The invention described herein solves challenges encountered in targeted advertisement. Methods for targeted advertisement of non-agnostic consumer markets are disclosed. Examples describe a system wherein consumer input informs the method of targeted advertisement. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129331 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PREDICTING MOMENTUM OF ACTIVITIES OF A TARGETED AUDIENCE FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPTIMIZING PLACEMENT OF PROMOTIONAL ITEMS OR CONTENT IN A NETWORK ENVIRONMENT - Techniques are disclosed for predicting momentum of topic in the future in automatically optimizing placement of promotional items or content (e.g., advertisements) in a network. An example method comprises selecting a group of users from a user population in a network based on, for example, a degree of association between (i) multiple key words and (ii) profile data or past activities from the user population. The method further comprises monitoring activities performed in the network by the group of users. The method further comprises identifying a topic from the activities, and determining momentum for the topic. The method further comprises predicting a future momentum for the identified topic based on observing additional topics which are related to the identified topic and have momentums with a rate of growth that exceeds a positive or negative threshold. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129332 | Presenting Sponsored Content on a Mobile Communication Facility - A computer-implemented method for positioning targeted sponsored content on a cellular phone includes the steps of (a) assessing a likelihood of an interaction by a user of the cellular phone with a sponsored content, wherein the assessment is based on a plurality of user characteristics associated with the cellular phone including (i) a television content viewing history; and (ii) a predefined hardware or software characteristic of the cellular phone; (c) prioritizing the placement of the sponsored content within one of a plurality of predefined areas of a graphical user interface of the cellular phone over the placement of other sponsored content within the same area, wherein the prioritization is based on the assessment of the likelihood of the interaction of the user of the cellular phone with the sponsored content; and (d) presenting the sponsored content within the one of a plurality of predefined areas of the graphical user interface. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129333 | ADVERTISING SYSTEM, ADVERTISING SYSTEM CONTROL METHOD, PROGRAM, AND INFORMATION STORAGE MEDIUM - An advertising system capable of efficiently providing an advertisement is provided. An information list acquisition unit ( | 2014-05-08 |
20140129334 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MODELING CONSUMER ACTIVITY AREAS BASED ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND MOBILE DATA - A system and method for modeling consumer activity based on social media and mobile activity data is provided. The location of a consumer and time at which the consumer is present at such location can be obtained using social media and mobile activity data. This data can be analyzed to identify areas frequented by a consumer, and those areas can be classified into different groups based on, for example, the time of the day, the day of week, and other information that can be obtained from the social media and mobile activity data. The resulting analysis can provide an estimated home area and work area, and other insights into the consumer (e.g., where the consumer travels). This consumer activity can be used by a business to provide relevant, targeted advertising to potential customers based on the models obtained from the social media and mobile activity data. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129335 | PRESENTING A REVIEW BASED ON A USER PURPOSE - A review of a venue may be presented based on a purpose (e.g., a user purpose) by a system (e.g., a suitably programmed machine). In particular, the system may identify a purpose of a user (e.g., a first user purpose) for being within a city. The system may access a review of a venue that is located within the city. The review may indicate an opinion of the user with respect to the venue. The system may determine that the purpose of the user matches the purpose of another user (e.g., a second user purpose) for being within the city. Hence, the system may present the review of the venue to the other user, based on the two users having the same purpose for being within the city. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129336 | Targeted Advertising in Conjunction with Consumer Detection - Described herein are systems, devices, and methods for displaying an advertisement to one or more consumers in proximity to advertising space. The presence of the consumer(s) in proximity to the advertising space can be detected and information associated with the consumer(s) can be received or retrieved. Transaction information can then be transmitted to an auction environment where advertisers can evaluate the transaction information and make determinations as to whether to bid for the advertising space and how much to bid for the advertising space. The winning bidder in the auction may then select and/or transmit an advertisement for display at the advertising space that is tailored to the consumer. In this manner, an advertisement directed at an individual, a group, or a portion of a group may be displayed at the advertising space during a time in which the individual, group, or portion of the group can view the advertisement. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129337 | PROXIMITY-BASED OFFERS FULLY CONTAINED WITHIN AN EMBEDDED AD UNIT - Computer systems, storage media encoded with software, and methods comprising a first processing device configured to generate and deliver an ad unit for at least one good or service offered at a physical retail outlet, the ad unit delivered to an application executing on a second processing device, the ad unit providing: a display of one or more outlets, the outlets offering the at least one good or service, the outlets located within a first threshold distance from the second processing device; directions from the location of the second processing device to a selected outlet; and at least one proximity-based offer, the offer triggered by presence of the second processing device within a second threshold distance from the selected outlet; provided that the display of one or more outlets, the directions, and the at least one proximity based-offer are provided within the application executing on the second processing device. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129338 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LOCATION-BASED, INTERACTIVE CONSUMER ENGAGEMENT PLATFORM - A location based wireless consumer interactive system is disclosed. The system includes a first gateway device stationed at a first location which includes a first antenna configured to generate a first wireless zone covering a preassigned area proximal to the first location. The first gateway device includes a first network interface coupled to the first antenna which is configured to communicate with a client device that is connected to the first wireless zone. The first gateway device includes a first memory configured to store a first content profile received from a server device via the first network interface, wherein the first memory stores executable programming instructions to process preloaded consumer content of the first content profile. The first gateway device includes a first processor configured to generate a first interactive content site containing the consumer content on the client device. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129339 | Method and Apparatus for Digital Coupon Presentation - A system includes a processor configured to receive a plurality of media elements including at least one media element containing an interactive advertisement. The processor is further configured to present the media elements to a vehicle occupant. The processor is also configured to receive acquiescence to store a coupon associated with at least one interactive advertisement. Additionally, the processor is configured to instruct storage of the coupon and instruct storage of any events associated with the coupon which may signal a reason to re-present the coupon to a driver. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129340 | LANDMARK ENHANCED DIRECTIONS - Systems and techniques to provide location-based services. In general, in one implementation, the technique includes receiving a request for directions from an initial location to a final location, determining a route from the initial location to the final location, determining one or more landmarks based on the route and providing directions for traveling the route from the initial location to the final location, the directions including a reference to the one or more landmarks. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129341 | CUSTOMIZABLE APPLICATION FUNCTIONALITY ACTIVITY - In one example of customizable application functionality activation, a user interface receives a user's interactive input to a functionality activation sequence field, a security component receives a user's interactive input to the functionality activation sequence field on the user interface to unlock functionality for one or more device features, an integration component receives a customized algorithm for revising at least the appearance of the functionality activation sequence field on the user interface to unlock functionality for the one or more device features, and a functionality implementation component implements a customized functionality activation sequence on the user interface. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129342 | DYNAMICALLY ADJUSTING INVITATIONAL CONTENT PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN INTERACTIVE ENVIRONMENTS - A potential source of revenue for the developer of an interactive environment can be to offer sponsorship opportunities within the interactive environment. These sponsorship opportunities can take the form of sponsoring virtual placement items within the interactive environment by displaying invitational content in conjunction with a virtual placement item. The sponsored placement opportunities can be pre-defined. However, to improve the success of the invitational content, the placement opportunities can be adjusted in real-time based on one or more invitational content placement rules. Additionally, each placement opportunity can specify one or more virtual placement item characteristics from a virtual placement item classification hierarchy. A virtual placement item classification hierarchy can be a semantic hierarchy specifying various characteristics for virtual placement items where the characteristics have telescoping specificity. The classification hierarchy can be used to aid in selecting invitational content for a placement opportunity and in determining a cost of the placement. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129343 | DYNAMIC TARGETED ADVERTISING AVATAR - A dynamic, personalized advertising avatar based on a user's own avatar used in an online service is used to provide branded advertising in a virtual context. A definition of a user avatar with user attributes is acquired, and custom attributes for a dynamic user-based avatar are received from an advertiser. Dynamically generated user-based avatars are created having at least a portion of user attributes of the user avatar and a portion of the custom attributes, so that the resulting custom avatar is recognizable to the user but represents a product brand or service. Information is then acquired regarding user activity on a device capable of displaying the dynamically generated user-based advertising avatar and advertisements generated based on the dynamically generated user-based advertising avatar and the targeting information. The advertisement is then rendered on the user device using the dynamically generated user-based advertising avatar. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129344 | BRANDED PERSONA ADVERTISEMENT - Technology is described for providing an engaging and interactive advertising experience to a user. In one embodiment, an advertising avatar (also known as “advertar”) is created based on information provided for a product or service. An advertisement may be generated and provided to the user that employs the advertising avatar as a digital spokesperson to promote a certain brand of product and/or service. Upon receiving the advertisement, the user can interact with the advertisement by clicking on the advertising avatar or via voice and/or gesture control. A user may be presented with additional information about the brand in response to the user interaction. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129345 | PRESENTING VARIED PRODUCT OR SERVICE CONTENT, BASED ON MEMBER TARGETING CRITERIA - Techniques for generating leads for a company's products and/or services are presented. A message publishing module provides a means for specifying different member-interest buttons to be presented in connection with messages published to the activity or content streams of members of a social network service, where such messages relate to specific products and/or services of a company. The social network service detects which members interact or select the various member-interest buttons, and in connection with which specific products and services. This information is then provided to authorized administrators or representatives of the company, and made available as member-targeting criteria for targeting members with subsequent content, including information provided via a product or service page. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129346 | METHOD OF NOTIFICATION BY AN INVITER OF AN INFORMATION ON A PAGE OF AN ADVERTISER'S SERVER - The invention concerns a method of notification by an inviter of information on a page of an advertising server to at least one contact of the inviter. A sharing server:
| 2014-05-08 |
20140129347 | INTELLIGENT AND INFORMED ADVERTISEMENT CREATION - Mechanisms are provided for intelligently creating advertisements in a neurologically informed manner. A framework is provided for intelligently generating an advertisement and optimizing the advertisement for particular contexts including display characteristics, viewer emotions, and biorhythms. Multiple versions or variations of an advertisement may be manually or automatically generated to suit particular environmental and viewer characteristics. Advertisements can also be provided with wrappers to allow improved connectivity and flow with surrounding media. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129348 | SYSTEM FOR TARGETED ADVERTISING - The system comprises a client computing device having Internet connectivity and at least one display, a browser adapted to run on said client computing device for accessing content on Internet, an advertising software adapted to run on said client computing device for accessing advertisements and comprising means for obtaining information about user-relevant categories of advertisements, and means for down loading image advertisements according to user-relevant categories. The advertising software is adapted to display an image advertisement on the display, comprises means for detecting a triggering event initiated by the user activating a user input interface of the client computing device, allows the user to choose whether or not to display an advertisement downloaded upon detection of the triggering event. If the user has chosen to display an advertisement downloaded, the advertising software is adapted to at least temporarily block access to content on a communication network while displaying one advertisement. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129349 | Building a Social Graph with Sharing Activity Between Users of the Open Web - A social graph is built which includes interactions, sharing activity, and connections between the users of the open Web and can be used to improve ad targeting and content personalization. Sharing activity between two users will affect ads or content that both users will be presented while surfing the Web. This sharing activity includes sending of links, sending of videos, sending of files, cutting and pasting of content, sending text messages, and sending of e-mails. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129350 | ADVERTISEMENT DISTRIBUTION APPARATUS AND ADVERTISEMENT DISTRIBUTION METHOD - An advertisement distribution apparatus of the present application includes a storage unit, a calculating unit, a determining unit, and a distributing unit. The storage unit stores a value related to degree of association with content to which advertisement information is allowed to be distributed. The calculating unit calculates degree of association between content and advertisement information upon receiving a distribution request for advertisement information to be distributed to the content. The determining unit determines whether the degree of association calculated by the calculating unit is within a range determined by the value related to the degree of association stored in the storage unit. The distributing unit distributes the advertisement information as advertisement information to be distributed to the content when the determining unit determines that the degree of association is within the range. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129351 | Systems and Methods for Programmatically Arbitraging Viewable Ad Space - Systems and methods presented herein may programmatically predict that ad space will be in view on a user's screen upon a web page or other content loading, and arbitrage the ad space by selling it in a real-time viewable-only auction. The ad space may be located within content being loaded on a user computing device, such as a webpage, and the system may learn whether the ad space is in view by placing code (a self-monitoring ad tag) along with the advertisement. The self-monitoring ad tag may be executed by the user computing device to assist in determining the viewability of the ad space upon the content loading or shortly thereafter. This may allow an exchange to log known viewable ad space, and make correct decisions regarding whether to sell that ad space as viewable in the future. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129352 | Systems and Methods for Detecting and Reselling Viewable Ad Space Based on Monitoring Pixel Sequences - Systems and methods presented herein may programmatically predict that ad space will be in view on a user's screen upon a web page or other content loading based on monitoring for a sequence of pixels. The ad space may be located within content being loaded on a user computing device, such as a webpage, and the system may learn whether the ad space is in view by placing code (a self-monitoring ad tag) along with the advertisement. The self-monitoring ad tag may be executed by the user computing device to assist in determining the viewability of the ad space upon the content loading or shortly thereafter. This may allow an exchange to log known viewable ad space, and make correct decisions regarding whether to sell that ad space as viewable in the future. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129353 | ADVERTISING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A device and method for advertising a product or service are described herein. The device may take a photograph of a participant holding the product or a thing representing the service. The participant identifies a product identifier of the product or service or the device. The product identifier and the photograph are uploaded to a third-party server that subsequently uploads basic product information and the photograph to the participant's online social network for viewing by the participant's contacts. The participant has a self-interested goal of presenting only relevant products and services to his or her contacts to maintain credibility. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129354 | VIRTUAL PLANOGRAM MANAGEMENT, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS - Systems and methods of constructing and managing virtual planograms are presented. Contemplated systems allow for construction of a virtual planogram, which can be used to present consumers virtual inventory items as being available for purchase via a display device. The display device can include an electronic billboard within an establishment, a mall for example, or include a user's smart device, a cell phone or tablet for example. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129355 | END USER GENERATED BILLING CYCLES - The present invention provides a method for electronically splitting an original billing cycle into at least two billing cycles in an account by electronically changing the debiting timeframe of the original billing cycle and electronically switching on or starting at least one additional billing cycle, as well as a method for electronically replacing an original billing cycle with at least two additional billing cycles in an account by electronically switching off the original billing cycle and electronically switching on at least two additional billing cycles, wherein electronically switching on or starting one or more billing cycles is determined by an end user, and wherein electronic operations of the methods are performed by at least one computer. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129356 | EXECUTING TRANSACTIONS USING MOBILE-DEVICE COVERS - The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for updating mobile devices with additional elements. In some implementations, a cover for a mobile device includes side surfaces, a rear surface, a physical interface, and a circuit. The side surfaces and the rear surface are configured to be adjacent at least a portion one or more side surfaces of the mobile phone. The side surfaces and the rear surface form an opening that receives at least a portion of the mobile device. A first portion of at least one of the surfaces includes a connector for connecting to a port of the mobile phone. The physical interface includes in at least one of the surfaces that receives a memory device external to the mobile device. The circuit connects the physical interface to the connector. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129357 | INTELLIGENT PAYMENT SYSTEM - The present invention provides an intelligent payment system for an automated payment method selection in a payment transaction for a user. The intelligent payment system comprising an electronic device, wherein the electronic device that includes a mobile phone or a portable electronic device, wherein the electronic device is operably used to initiate the payment transaction; a merchant-to-processor module locating at a merchant, wherein the merchant-to-processor module operably transmits a payment request to the electronic device; a remote server for containing a database of information in relation to promotional offers, rewarding schemes, transaction, incentives offering by various financial institutions and/or merchants, wherein the remote server is accessible by the electronic device to transmit the payment method thereto; and a plurality of rule sets defining rules and criteria for evaluating and determining a best payment method for payment transaction; wherein upon receiving the payment request from the merchant-to-processor module, the payment request is processed based on the rule sets and the database to determine the best payment method for the payment transaction, wherein the best payment method is output on the electronic device. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129358 | FINANCIAL TRANSACTION ROUTING - Embodiments of the invention are directed toward selecting a preferred transaction application and/or routing options that are provided by a transaction card. The preference can be determined, for example, based on the lowest interchange fee, a bulk rate, and/or an incentive. In some embodiments a transaction card provides a plurality of transaction applications and/or routing options to a POS device and the POS device can communicate these options to a host processor along with transaction data. The host processor can then determine a preference associated with each of the routing options and/or transaction applications, and provide a recommendation to the POS as to which transaction application and/or routing option have preference. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129359 | EDUCATIONAL MONETARY TRANSACTION MACHINE AND SYSTEM - An educational monetary transaction machine including a processor with a memory to store data including at least one simulated account with a simulated amount of money. The present invention may further include an identification input. The computer may receive the identification input to access the simulated account. The present invention may further include a display that displays the simulated account and the simulated amount of money. A user interface may be connected to the computer so that a user may simulate the withdrawal and deposit of simulated money within the simulated account. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129360 | CREDIT CARD INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM, CREDIT CARD INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, ORDER INFORMATION RECEIVING DEVICE, CREDIT CARD TRANSACTION DEVICE, PROGRAM, AND INFORMATION RECORDING MEDIUM - A seller's workload of managing credit card information can be reduced without changing convenience for an orderer and the seller in a transaction using a credit card. A virtual mall server ( | 2014-05-08 |
20140129361 | SYSTEM FOR SECURE WEB-PROMPT PROCESSING ON POINT SALE DEVICES - A point of sale system including at least one proxy server having an internet connection, a web browser operative to download web pages from the internet via the proxy server, and a real time user input limiting trusted computing base module communicating with the web browser and being operative to limit user input to the web pages in real time. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129362 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RESOLVING EXCEPTIONS DURING A RETAIL CHECKOUT - Systems and methods for retail checkout and, more particularly, systems, methods, computer programs, and checkstands for managing and/or resolving exceptions generated using a multi-item identification device, are provided. In one embodiment, the method of performing retail checkout comprises: providing a multi-item identification device; collecting identification data regarding each of a plurality of items using the multi-item identification device; generating an active itemized order record that comprises information regarding each of the plurality of items using the identification data; recording at least one exception record in the active itemized order record relating to one or more of the plurality of items; providing a user with access to the active itemized order record; and using input from the user to resolve the exception record in the active itemized order record. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129363 | DYNAMIC RATING RULES FOR AN ONLINE MARKETPLACE - In an online marketplace, merchants are rewarded when they contribute successful goods or services, or otherwise contribute to the overall value of the marketplace to purchasers and to the marketplace provider. In particular, a dynamic rating rule is provided that allows revenue sharing to vary dynamically depending on factors such as item price, item volume and transaction type. The dynamic rating rule applied to a transaction can include a primary rule and one or more secondary rules. For example, a primary rule can define a percentage share based on price of an item, and a secondary rule can define an additional percentage share based on total sales of that item for the merchant. Thus different rating rules can apply to different items at different price points and at different sales volumes. As a result, a merchant can receive a higher percentage share of revenue with items with higher prices or higher volumes. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129364 | CAPTURING VALUE OF A UNIT OF CONTENT - Various component values of original content items are extracted via an initial publication and republication of content items. An original, unpublished content item is initially made available for discovery and purchase by different content distributors. When a content distributor first purchases the content item for publication, it is no longer available to other content distributors for an initial time period which can be configured based on different component values of the content item. Upon the expiry of the initial time period, the content item is again provided to various content distributors for republication. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129365 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR NEGOTIATING A PURCHASE PRICE - Systems and methods to facilitate a purchase of a product by a user from a seller. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129366 | SELF-SERVICE REAL ESTATE FRAMEWORK - A system for providing transparency in a real estate transaction is provided that allows buyers and sellers of real property to interact with each other legally, safely, and efficiently without requiring a traditional real estate agent. Sellers interact with the system to create listings, accept offers, make counter-offers, and hire experts as needed. Buyers interact with the system to find listings, make offers and counter-offers, and hire experts as needed. The system may have an integrated connection with platform partners that provide services such as seller authentication, advertising, or payment processing. Service providers may interact with the system to offer services relevant to a real estate transaction such as home inspection, repair, real estate legal counseling, lending, title search, or escrow services. Service providers may receive requests for quotes for service from buyers and sellers through the system, respond with bids, be awarded work, and paid though the system. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129367 | PRESENTING OFFERS TO USERS OF MOBILE DEVICES - The claimed subject matter relates to an architecture for interacting with a multiple criteria buying and/or selling system to conduct business electronically. In particular, the architecture can include a dynamic discount card that includes an information access component for receiving information. In addition, the dynamic discount card can include a presentation component for displaying information to a user via the dynamic discount card. | 2014-05-08 |
20140129368 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PERFORMING ONLINE INTERVENTION - A method and system for performing online intervention based on a life situation. The method includes receiving an input from a first user, the input including a situational parameter; retrieving a product based on the situational parameter; enabling selection of a product from the list of products; affixing a personalized message to the product; and transmitting the product to the second user. The system includes an electronic device, a communication interface, a memory and a processor to receive an input, to retrieve a product based on a situational parameter, to enabling selection of a product from the list of products, to affix a personalized message to the product and to transmit the product to the second user. | 2014-05-08 |