25th week of 2011 patent applcation highlights part 75 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20110153386 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DE-SEASONALIZING PRODUCT DEMAND BASED ON MULTIPLE REGRESSION TECHNIQUES - An improved method and system for forecasting product demand using a causal methodology, based on multiple regression techniques. The improved causal method revises product group seasonal factors used by conventional forecasting applications to best fit the sales pattern of an individual product in the product group through the calculation of an exponential coefficient which measures the deviation of the historical sales pattern of an individual product from the product group seasonal factors. The value of exponential coefficient is calculated using a causal framework through multivariable regression analysis. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153387 | CUSTOMIZING SURVEYS - Surveys are customized for respondents based on historical information of the respondents' system usage activity by generating customized survey questions based on the historical information and/or by analyzing responses to survey questions based on the historical information. The results of survey response analysis and/or aggregation can be used to create, modify, and/or validate one or more system settings. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153388 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COLLECTING END USER FEEDBACK FOR STATIONERY DESIGNS - A system and method are described for collecting user feedback on prospective stationery designs. For example, one embodiment of a system implemented within an online stationery service for collecting user feedback on prospective stationery designs is described, the system comprising at least one memory for storing program code and at least one processor for processing the program code to execute: session management logic to establish and maintain an online session with an end user; a voting module to implement a screening test to determine an association between the user and a particular type and/or class of stationery designs; the voting module to identify a set of stationery to be provided to the user based on the association; presentation logic to dynamically generate a graphical user interface (GUI) containing the identified set of stationery designs, the GUI comprising a thumbnail image of each of the stationery designs and a selection element which the user manipulates with a mouse or other cursor control device to rate the stationery image on a specified rating scale; the voting module to receive and compile the ratings of the stationery designs submitted by all users, the ratings used as a factor in determining whether to utilize the stationery designs on the online stationery service. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153389 | System and Method for Facilitating Bilateral and Multilateral Decision-Making - Techniques for facilitating evaluation, in connection with the procurement or delivery of products or services, in a context of at least one of (i) a financial transaction and (ii) operation of an enterprise, are disclosed. The techniques involve retrieving party and counterparty preference profile data from digital storage media; performing multilateral analyses of the combined preference data by computing a closeness-of-fit value; and delivering a list matching the selected party and the at least one counterparty using the computed closeness-of-fit values. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153390 | METHOD FOR UNDERTAKING MARKET RESEARCH OF A TARGET POPULATION - One embodiment provides a system | 2011-06-23 |
20110153391 | PEER-TO-PEER PRIVACY PANEL FOR AUDIENCE MEASUREMENT - Systems and methods for operating an anonymous peer-to-peer (“P2P”) privacy panel for audience measurement is disclosed. A plurality of portable devices are configured to record and process research data pursuant to a research operation. Each of the panelists associated with each portable devices provide panelist data to a central site, where the panelist data includes demographic information, previous media exposure data, and other data. In accordance with panelist data, a customized P2P network is created where media exposure data is obfuscated and communicate among portable devices in the network. By utilizing a P2P network together with obfuscation techniques, panelist privacy is greatly increased. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153392 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SCHEDULING A PERIODIC COLLECTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLES - According to some embodiments, a set of sampling sites may be automatically selected from a list of potential sampling sites. Each sampling site in the set may then be automatically associated with a list of analytes (e.g., in accordance with a pre-determined rule). A periodic collection of environmental samples from each of the sampling sites may then be automatically scheduled. An output may be provided for a user based on the scheduled periodic collection of environmental samples. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153393 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING AND INCREASING SALES AT A CASH REGISTER - The present invention includes a Point-of-Sale and/or Customer Relationship Management system, which can be used to increase sales by providing an offer to a purchaser using data relating to the purchaser, the purchase, or any other relevant data. The offer can be shown to a purchaser on a display with or without sound. Further, the present invention can also be used to promote new products or services, provide additional advertising or promotions that may or may not be a targeted best-fit at these locations, and measure the sales and up-selling at these locations and/or provide a platform for training employees to better sell, up-sell and promote their respective products and services. Further, the data can be read in from the Point-of-Sale system or any other relevant source and can be analyzed and then displayed based on rules and a weighted scale. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153394 | SERVICE DISCOVERY IN A NETWORK OF AUTOMATIC PRODUCT/SERVICE DISPENSING MACHINES - A method, system, and computer program product for providing products to a user via an automated product dispensing machine is provided. In once embodiment, an automatic product dispensing machine in a micronetwork of proximally located diverse automatic product dispensing machines receives a request for an item. Responsive to a determination that the item is unavailable at a current automatic product dispensing machine, the automatic product dispensing machine provides a user with an alternative redemption product, such as, for example, a coupon that may be redeemed at another automatic product dispensing machine or at a nearby store. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153395 | INCINERATION SYSTEM FOR ORGANIC PRODUCT - An object of the present invention is to provide an incineration system for an organic product which stimulates a positive attitude to developing and using biomass-derived products, reduces the amount of waste disposal, and reduces global warming gases released to the environment. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153396 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING ON-LINE TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING A CONTENT OWNER, AN ADVERTISER, AND A TARGETED CONSUMER - Systems and methods of delivering and accessing information such as targeted advertisements and other information content in a computer network environment that increase the efficiency of services provided by advertisers, while enhancing the economics of information content owners. The system implements a triangular economic transaction enabling negotiated transactions involving an information content owner, an advertiser, and a consumer. During the transactions between the respective parties, the information content owner is in control over terms of sale for its information content, the advertiser is in control over terms of its advertising campaign, and the consumer maintains control over personal profile information upon which the targeting of advertisements is based. The system allows the consumer to view targeted advertisements or any desired information content at a computer or computerized device on his or her own schedule, while maintaining a desired level of on-line privacy. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153397 | AWARDING AN INCENTIVE BASED ON PARAMETERS OF AN INCENTIVE PROGRAM - Systems, methods and articles of manufacture are disclosed for awarding an incentive to a customer. An incentive program may be tailored to suit the needs of a merchant. The incentive program may be provided to a customer to reward specific customer behavior, such as regularly visiting a brick-and-mortar store to purchase store credit and/or to spend store credit and/or rewards, thereby providing the opportunity for increased sales for the merchant. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153398 | Device, Method and System for Facilitating a Transaction - The present invention relates to a device, method and system for facilitating a transaction. In particular, it relates to a drinks container lid on which is provided transaction data, such as a machine readable code. The transaction data may be entered into a mobile communications device, such as a mobile phone, by key entry or by scanning. It then may facilitate a transaction. In one embodiment, the transaction data is a program which causes the mobile device to communicate with a remote transaction processing system to implement a transaction. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153399 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING QUANTITY TIERS USING ATTRIBUTES IN AN ONLINE STATIONERY DESIGN SYSTEM - A computer-implemented system and method are described in which an appropriate pricing structure for a new stationery design is identified by automatically comparing attributes of the stationery design with attributes of existing stationery designs which have assigned pricing structures. In one embodiment, the attributes are prioritized such that certain attributes are weighted more than other attributes when determining an appropriate price structure. For example, in this embodiment, a search is initially performed for a price structure of an existing stationery product which shares all of the same attributes as the new stationery product. If a match is not found, then the least significant attribute is removed from the set of search criteria and another search is performed. This process continues until an existing pricing structure of a stationery product which shares the most significant attributes of the new stationery product is identified. Once the pricing structure is identified, the designer has the option to modify the pricing structure and create a new pricing category, which is then stored in a database with other pricing categories. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153400 | METHOD OF PRODUCT PRICE PROMOTION - A method of product price promotion, which is based on allocating a plurality of Cycled Discount Labels to product types and labeling a plurality of product type members. Cycled Discount Labels are associated with product type member lots. The price promotion option for each product type member, which is associated with a Cycled Discount Label, is calculated and presented to the consumer. The price promotion option for a product type member is further discounted as the product type member approaches its expiration date. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153401 | TESTING THE VALIDITY OF ELECTRONIC COUPON CODES - A system and computer program product for testing the validity of coupon codes. Coupon codes can be automatically tested, instead of manually testing them, by having a program select one or more products on a merchant's website and then add them to the shopping cart on the merchant's website. Upon entering the checkout stage on the merchant's website, the program can submit the coupon code to be tested at the checkout stage. The validity of the coupon code is determined based on the status of the coupon code (e.g., expired, approved advertised benefit) returned by the merchant's website. By having a program automatically test coupon codes instead of having a user manually test each coupon code, the validity of coupons code can be more accurately determined in a more efficient manner. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153402 | Methods and Apparatus for Credit Card Reward and Cost Management - Systems and techniques for selecting accounts to be used for purchases. A consumer's financial information, including status, terms, and reward programs of various credit card accounts associated with the consumer is stored and examined to determine the relative value of the use of each card account for purchases in each of various categories, with the determination including consideration of the rewards available for a purchase with the card account compared to the costs for use of the card account. Recommendations are provided to a consumer based on the determination of the relative value of the use of each card account, including one or more of specification of a selection of preferred card accounts for use during a specified period, specification of preferred card accounts for each of one or more purchase categories, or specification of a recommended card account to be used for a purchase based on purchase details. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153403 | REWARD EXCHANGE METHOD AND SYSTEM WITH CONTROL OF EXCHANGED REWARDS AND MONETARY CONSIDERATION - An item may be purchased using a combination of rewards and monetary consideration, wherein a maximum allowable reward payment portion (or correspondingly a minimum monetary consideration amount) is established by the merchant, the reward issuer, or an online reward exchange operator. The user may select, using for example a user interface slider control, the desired number of rewards to redeem (up to the maximum allowable amount) and the corresponding monetary consideration portion is displayed. The transaction may then be executed wherein the selected rewards are redeemed and the balance is paid for with the corresponding monetary consideration. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153404 | System for Permitting Contact With a Person Based on Previously Associated Indicia - A system for permitting communications with a group of persons living at a set of known street addresses that has a server subsystem having a computer readable memory that has the set of known street addresses recorded thereon and that is capable of storing a set of messages, each linked to one of the street addresses. A network communications and logic subsystem is capable of permitting a message sending user to send a message, indicating a street address, to the computer readable memory. Also, the server subsystem further has the capability to relay the message on to a receiving endpoint. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153405 | METHOD OF ADVERTISING AND A PORTABLE MEMORY DEVICE FOR USE AS AN ADVERTISING PLATFORM - A general media content advertising vehicle usable by a large number of advertisers and with exposure to a large and diverse consumer base whether such users have Internet access or are operating off-line, defined by a portable memory device (PMD) adapted to support advertising and content data of different media types. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153406 | Tracking and Processing Discount Cards - In one example, a stored value card system is modified to process discount cards that are capable of providing varying percentage discounts on an array of products or services that can be purchased by a consumer. Implementations of the stored value card system can include modifications that allow a transaction using the discount card to pass through as an authorized transaction in spite of, for instance, application software logic that otherwise rejects transactions for stored value cards having a zero balance. For example, when the modified stored value card system detects a transaction involving a discount card, an authorization system within the modified stored value card system can generate an alternative error code that prevents the point of sale system from rejecting the transaction due to a zero balance. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153407 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRACKING AND ESTABLISHING A PROGRESSIVE DISCOUNT BASED UPON CUSTOMER VISITS TO A RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT - Methods, computer readable media and apparatus are disclosed for determining and applying a discount for a customer. In some embodiments, the process includes receiving transaction data that represents a current transaction, receiving a customer identifier of a customer, determining a current transaction time and a last transaction time, determining that a duration between the last transaction time and the current transaction time equals or exceeds a predetermined time period, and determining that the current transaction is a first instance of the customer equaling or exceeding the predetermined time period. Since it was the first time the customer equaled or exceeded the predetermined time period, a discount is applied to the current transaction. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153408 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LOYALTY CARD AND COUPON REGISTRATION AND OPT OUT VIA A WIRELESS APPARATUS - A registration and opting out system and method for the receipt of barcodes for coupons, loyalty cards, services discounts and other uses via a wireless apparatus by using text messaging or Near-Field Communications. The system can incorporate methods and processes to convey the offerings to multiple wireless apparatuses simultaneously. The system can register wireless apparatuses for offerings for multiple entities from a single system. The system may be centralized or its components distributed across various network locations. A wireless apparatus can be registered with more than one offering entity on the system. The system may provide a directory of services discount offerings accessible by a single text message containing individual codes, each code representing specific discount offerings, such offerings transmitted to the wireless apparatus after being parsed. The system provides means to update and change personal information and preferences via the internet, accessible from a wireless apparatus or personal computer. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153409 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR USING REWARD POINTS TO LIQUIDATE PRODUCTS - A user selects a product to be liquidated from a product provider and then designates to the transacting entity that reward points are to be used towards the purchase of the liquidated product. The transacting entity acts to decrease the number of reward points in the user's reward account by the required number of points. The reward account holder conveys consideration to the transacting entity equivalent to the par value of the reward points consumer obtains the product in exchange for reward points having a retail value equivalent to what he would have otherwise paid for the product, while the reward account holder is required to convey only the par value of the points. The product provider is able to liquidate the product and obtain payment equivalent to what it would otherwise have obtained in a prior art liquidation process, auction or trading environment. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153410 | DISTRIBUTING COUPON CONTENT AND TRANSACTIONAL ADVERTISEMENTS - A system, method, and computer-readable storage medium having processor-executable instructions recorded thereon is provided for distributing transactional advertisements from a distribution site over a network to online publishers. Transactional data items are rendered by the online publishers, with control elements provided from the distribution site, to control use of the transactional data items on the user terminal. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153411 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IDENTIFICATION OF AN ONLINE PURCHASE WITHOUT NOTIFICATION OF MAKING THE PURCHASE - A system and method for identification of an on-line purchase by tracking on-line advertisement interaction. The method comprises comparing between at least one cookie value generated by a tracking server and at least one cookie value provided by one or more web servers, wherein the comparison results in a list of matching cookies; matching between a plurality of on-line purchase transactions and a plurality of on-line advertisements that a user interacted with, wherein the matching is based, in part, on the list of matching cookies and click identifications; and generating, based on the matching results, a report including conventions of the user interaction with the plurality of on-line advertisements into one or more on-line purchases made by the user. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153412 | Selection and Presentation of Related Social Networking System Content and Advertisements - A social networking system uses information that it obtains from and about its users to select social networking content and advertising for presentation to users in a way that optimizes for one or more optimization goals. Example optimization goals include monetization, user sharing, user engagement, system growth, and user communication. The social networking system may select social networking content and advertising based on their relevance to a particular user. The selected social networking content and advertising may be related to each other to provide a more interesting display to the user. The selected social networking content and advertising may be presented in a supplemental portion of a display, and be selected based on their relatedness to content in the main portion of the display. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153413 | Method and System for Intelligent Targeting of Advertisements - A system for transmission, reception and accumulation of the knowledge packets to plurality of channel nodes in the network operating distributedly in a peer to peer environment via installable one or more role active Human Operating System (HOS) applications in a digital devise of each of channel node, a network controller registering and providing desired HOS applications and multiple developers developing advance communication and knowledge management applications and each of subscribers exploiting the said network resources by leveraging and augmenting taxonomically and ontologically classified knowledge classes expressed via plurality search macros and UKID structures facilitating said expert human agents for knowledge invocation and support services and service providers providing information services in the preidentified taxonomical classes, wherein each of channel nodes communicating with the unknown via domain specific supernodes each facilitating social networking and relationships development leading to human grid which is searchable via Universal Desktop Search by black box search module. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153414 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DYNAMIC ADVERTISING BASED ON USER ACTIONS - A method and system for dynamically responding to advertisement reactions of a user in social network that includes serving an initial advertisement to a user of a social network; gathering a response action of the user associated with the initial advertisement; categorizing a quality of the response action of the user; creating an advertiser response based on the quality of the response action; and sending the response to the user. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153415 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ADDING TARGETED CONTENT IN A WEB PAGE - A network ( | 2011-06-23 |
20110153416 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCT DISPLAY - Systems and methods are provided for receiving a request to display at least one product. A substitute product for the at least one product is selected from a plurality of substitute products. The selection may be based on, for example, expected revenue from display of the selected substitute product, expected revenue for purchase of the selected substitute product, or a substitution success rate. The selected substitute product is then displayed. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153417 | Networking With Media Fingerprints - An information element, uniquely related to a media fingerprint that is uniquely derived from a media content portion during play out thereof, is provided to a first web page. The first web page stores the information element with an associated first information set, which relates to one or more media fingerprints. One or more second web pages store at least a second information set, which relates to one or more media fingerprints. The first and at least second web pages are accessed and crawled in relation to the first and the at least second information sets. One or more information elements, which are common to the first and the at least second information sets, are indexed. The first web page and the at least one of the second web pages are related based on the indexed common information elements. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153418 | BROADCAST DATA MINING FOR TARGETED MAIL STREAM SOLICITATIONS - A computer receives information that indicates viewing and/or skipping of television commercials by a number of viewers. The computer uses the information to compile statistics that summarize viewing and/or skipping of the television commercials within a geographical area. Based on the statistics, an advertising solicitation is selected by the geographic area and is dispatched on paper to recipients in the geographical area. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153419 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTELLIGENT MODELING FOR INSURANCE MARKETING - A computer system selects prospects for insurance policy marketing activities. The computer system stores at least one equation that defines a predictive model responsive to a plurality of independent variables and a plurality of parameters and having an associated error component. The error component includes a spatio-temporal error component. The computer system also evaluates the parameters in order to parameterize the predictive model in such a way as to reduce the error component. Further, the computer system applies the parameterized predictive model to a data set that represents a universe of potential prospects for insurance marketing activities. Still further, the computer system generates a list of selected prospects, based on results of applying the parameterized predictive model to the data set. The list of selected prospects represents a subset of the universe of potential prospects. The computer system also outputs the list of prospective prospects. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153420 | Methods, Systems, and Products for Targeting Content - Methods, systems, and products deliver target content to a pool of candidates. A target specification is received. A database of subscribers is queried for the target specification, and a pool of communications addresses is retrieved having demographic information matching the target specification. An auction is conducted for the pool of communications addresses, and a winning bidder's content is sent to the pool of communications addresses. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153421 | Context-Based Selection and Presentation of Social Networking System Content and Advertisements - A social networking system uses information that it obtains from and about its users to select social networking content and advertising for presentation to users in a way that optimizes for one or more optimization goals. Example optimization goals include monetization, user sharing, user engagement, system growth, and user communication. The social networking system may select social networking content and advertising based on their relevance to a particular user. The selected social networking content and advertising may be related to each other to provide a more interesting display to the user. The selected social networking content and advertising may be presented in a supplemental portion of a display, and be selected based on their relatedness to content in the main portion of the display. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153422 | Unification of Web Page Reporting and Updating Through a Page Tag - A computer-implemented method comprises receiving by one or more computers information indicative of a user's activity with one or more web pages, with the information being received based on an execution by a user's computer of a page tag inserted into the one or more web pages and with the information being associated with a unique identifier included in the page tag; and causing the one or more computers to send to the user's computer updated content of the one or more web pages associated with the unique identifier included in the page tag. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153423 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CREATING USER BASED SUMMARIES FOR CONTENT DISTRIBUTION - A method and system for serving advertisements to a user of a social network, the social network being an internet based web platform with a plurality of user accounts, including creating a user summary by extracting implicit user attributes from a user account of the social network; creating a plurality of advertisement summaries composed in a format shared by the user summary; comparing the user summary to an advertisement summary to calculate a similarity score; and serving an advertisement to the user based on criteria related to the similarity score. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153424 | Voter directed context-sensitive sponsorship of online content and services - A method and system of voting and polling that utilizes content and context awareness of articles or blog posts published to deliver a revenue opportunity via context sensitive ad units based on article content, user revealed and implicit preferences, voting history, and other user opted in behavior. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153425 | KNOWLEDGE BASED SEARCH ENGINE - A system and method for searching a network such as the Internet based in part on relationships in a social network is described. Descriptive data and searching parameters associated with various users is collected and stored such that users can group themselves based on the descriptive data. Information that is deemed by users to be relevant to a particular group is collected and organized in a database to be used in information gathering for future searches by the users, in addition to other resources, such as other search engines. Through the system and method for searching a network, a group of users decide what information is highly relevant content information for the group. The system also allows a user to rank resources from which to gather information. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153426 | MOBILE DEVICE ADVERTISING - Implementations for mobile device advertising are disclosed. In at least one implementation, a method for a mobile device is disclosed that includes: obtaining a plurality of advertisement content items at a mobile device via a communication network; storing the plurality of advertisement content items at a storage device of the mobile device; selecting an advertisement content item from the plurality of advertisement content items stored at the storage device based, at least in part, on an advertisement selection parameter; and presenting the advertisement content item selected from the plurality of advertisement content items stored at the storage device via an output device of the mobile device. In at least some implementations, the advertisement selection parameter includes attributes of media content stored at the storage device of the mobile device or accessed by a user via the mobile device. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153427 | System and Method of Providing Advertisements to Vehicles - A system and method of providing advertisements to vehicles is disclosed. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller adapted to communicate with a wireless access point and a database where the wireless access point is deployed in proximity to a target location and where the database stores format information associated with a type of media file supported by a media system of a vehicle, determine a location of a communication device that can communicate with a data network independently of the media system as the communication device travels in the vehicle, determine whether the communication device is within a target region, determine the type of media file supported by the vehicle media system using the database, transmit media content in the desired format via the wireless access point to the communication device for presentation on the media system when the communication device enters the target region, and cease transmission of the media content when the communication device leaves the target region. Additional embodiments are disclosed. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153428 | TARGETED ADVERTISING TO SPECIFIED MOBILE COMMUNICATION FACILITIES - A system for targeted distribution of advertising content of a sponsor based on rendering capabilities of mobile communication facilities within a cellular telephony infrastructure includes (a) presenting to a sponsor data corresponding to a first type and a second type of mobile communication facility; (b) receiving from the sponsor: (i) a selection corresponding to the first type of mobile communication facility; and (ii) an advertising content, wherein the advertising content requires the rendering capability of the first type of mobile communication facility to be rendered thereon; and (c) receiving an advertising request associated with the first type of mobile communication facility and in response thereto, transmitting the advertising content to the first type of mobile communication facility. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153429 | TARGETING CONTENT TO NETWORK-ENABLED TELEVISION DEVICES - Methods and systems are disclosed herein for managing content, including advertising content, delivered to various network-connected devices, including screens, mobile devices, computers, televisions, radios, and the like, based on usage profiles associated with device-specific identifiers for mobile devices, short-distance wireless technologies for transmission of content and detection of proximity, and content targeting and management techniques. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153430 | METHOD FOR BROADCASTING AND METHOD FOR RECEIVING LOCATION INFORMATION OF BASE STATION - A plurality of location-based service advertisement messages including location information of base stations belonging to each network are broadcasted with different timing in multiple wireless networks. Therefore, a terminal receives only at least on location-based service advertisement message corresponding to an accessible network among the plurality of location-based service advertisement messages. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153431 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TARGETED ADVERTISING BASED ON IMAGE OF PASSERBY - Provided is an apparatus for targeted advertising based on images of passersby. A passerby image extraction unit extracts an image of a passerby. A trait information extraction unit extracts trait information regarding the passerby from the extracted image. A targeted advertisement obtainment unit obtains a targeted advertisement to be displayed based on the trait information. A targeted advertisement display unit displays the targeted advertisement. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153432 | TOOL IN SUPPORT OF CONTENT ADVERTISING - A system and method are provided for generating and deploying content advertisement modules (CAMs). One or more categories are defined that correspond to criteria relating to one or more publisher website users (PWUs). One or more PWUs are categorized into the categories based on one or more criteria and one or more tracking objects are generated to correspond to each of the categories. A generated tracking object is then embedded within website content data being delivered to one or more PWUs. Targeting requirements are received from an advertiser and one or more CAMs are generated, corresponding to the targeting requirements. The CAMs are then deployed to PWUs in response to a detection of a corresponding tracking object. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153433 | Promotion Method - Disclosed is a method and/or system of using mentions and/or advertisements as a means to provide incentive or compensation for potential promoters to introduce end users to an offering entity, where mentions and/or advertisements for the benefit of the promoter are included in communications between the offering entity and end users. An additional function that enables promoters to send communications to the end users is disclosed as well. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153434 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MERCHANDISING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ASSETS - A comprehensive platform for merchandising intellectual property (IP) and conducting IP transactions is disclosed. A standardized data collection method enables IP assets to be characterized, rated and valuated in a consistent manner. Project management, workflow and data security functionality enable consistent, efficient and secure interactions between the IP Marketplace participants throughout the IP transaction process. Business rules, workflows, valuation models and rating methods may be user defined or based upon marketplace, industry or technology standards. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153435 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CURSOR-BASED CONTENT DELIVERY - A system and method for delivering cursor-based content, such as advertising content is disclosed. The system may include an advertising server having a network interface for coupling the server to a computer network. The server includes a processor having software associated therewith to implement a delivery method. The software may receive a request for cursor-based advertising content, select cursor-based advertising content based on the request, deliver the selected cursor-based advertising content, deliver instruction code for displaying the cursor-based advertising content on a user computer instead of, or in conjunction and association with, a cursor image displayed on a users computer, and deliver instruction code for recording and reporting data related to a user's cursor position. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153436 | Method of establishing credit on a cash register - A method is provided for paying for a product or service in a cash register with a credit card using a personal wireless communication device. The method includes loading vending universal wireless interface software into a cash register to interface with the case register microprocessor and an RF transceiver to control communication between the cash register and the personal wireless communication device so that the personal communication device can obtain transaction data from the cash register and communicate the data to a remote server for credit card approval for payment of the transaction so that the transaction can be executed by the cash register. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153437 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING VIRTUAL CREDIT CARD SERVICES - An approach is provided for virtual credit card services. A request for a limited use transactional account number representing a virtual credit card is generated at a mobile device. The limited use transactional account number is received in response to the request. A point of sale interface is configured with the limited use transactional account number for presentation at a point of sale terminal. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153438 | PAYMENT TERMINAL MESSAGING - A payment terminal and a host computer system are configured to provide human-readable messaging capability with a person at an external location outside of a financial infrastructure. A payment terminal at a point of sale may be used to cause human-readable message content to be forwarded to the person by the host computer system, either automatically or at the instigation of an operator of the payment terminal. Message content from the person may be delivered to the payment terminal for display to the operator. The person at the external location may be able to retrieve information stored in the payment terminal via standard communication channels. The system also provides a mechanism for exchanging messages between payment terminals. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153439 | COMPUTERIZED DEVICE FOR SALE OF GOODS AND SERVICES - The computerized device for sale of goods and/or services comprises the banknote validating device ( | 2011-06-23 |
20110153440 | System and method for a private and secure payment system using a merchant sales terminal - A secure payment system between a customer and a merchant, where the sales terminal wirelessly transmits a partial payment authorization transaction record including, at least a merchant terminal identification and a payment amount, but not a customer bankcard data, for a specific sales transaction, to a wireless device of the customer. Alternatively, the sales terminal displays a partial payment authorization transaction record including, at least a merchant terminal identification and a payment amount, but not a customer bankcard data, for a specific sales transaction, for the displayed record to be captured by a wireless device of the customer. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153441 | Systems and Methods for Authorizing Use of Validly Sold Merchandise - The invention is generally directed to a method of managing the activation and use of a specific merchandise, facilitated between at least a retailer that sells the specific merchandise, a customer that purchases the specific merchandise, and a central processor that authorizes activation and use of the specific merchandise. The method includes the steps of receiving an indicia that uniquely identifies the specific merchandise, and an activation code associated with the merchandise that will allow the merchandise to properly function; storing the indicia of the specific merchandise and the activation code; receiving a confirmation of a valid purchase transaction of the specific merchandise, the confirmation of valid sale comprising the indicia of the specific merchandise; determining the activation code associated with the specific merchandise; and providing the activation code associated with the specific merchandise to the customer. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153442 | Apparatus and method of establishing credit on a cash register or printer - A method and system is provided for establishing credit on a cash register or printer. A currency amount is established on a cash register or printer in order to pay for a product or service using a cellular telephone, or other personal wireless communication device. The personal wireless communication device activates an applet, which may be downloaded at the site, to establish a link with a vending universal wireless interface (VUWI) coupled to the cash register or printer's microprocessor controller to establish a link with a remote server for authorizing credit for the payment of the transaction to complete a purchase by a consumer. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153443 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING AUTOMATIC GENERATION OF AN ACCESS SERVICE REQUEST - A system and method for providing automatic generation of a access service request is disclosed. The system may comprise a front-end module configured to receive data associated with an order for a telecommunications service. A request generation interface may be provided to determine at least a service provider and a telecommunications service associated with the order. The request generation interface may also be configured to find a one or more matching templates in a list of templates stored in at least one data storage unit, apply the one or more matching templates to the order, and generate a access service request. A template module may be provided to generate at least one template based on the determination and match at the request generation interface. A business rules module may be provided to apply one or more business rules when generating the access service request. A back-end module may be provided to transmit the access service request to the service provider for ordering the telecommunications service. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153444 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REGISTERING USERS FOR AN IP MARKETPLACE - A comprehensive platform for merchandising intellectual property (IP) and conducting IP transactions is disclosed. A standardized data collection method enables IP assets to be characterized, rated and valuated in a consistent manner. Project management, workflow and data security functionality enable consistent, efficient and secure interactions between the IP Marketplace participants throughout the IP transaction process. Business rules, workflows, valuation models and rating methods may be user defined or based upon marketplace, industry or technology standards. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153445 | DIGITAL DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A digital data management system and method, wherein, a serial number of a multi-media broadcasting device and digital data of a digital data platform are utilized to generate a key, and that is used to encipher said digital data. Upon downloading and storing said enciphered digital data by said multi-media broadcasting device, said key is used to decipher said digital data for broadcast. Through application of said digital data management system and method, management of protection of digital data authorization can be enhanced, such that a user is able to download said digital data to said multi-media broadcasting device for broadcasting, hereby eliminating the inconvenience of having to listen to music on-line. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153446 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING AUCTIION BIDS TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF AN ITEM - In some embodiments, a processor-readable medium stores code representing instructions configured to cause a processor to receive a first signal indicating that a first user has used a first bid to bid on a first item at an auction, and increase an auction price of the first item in response to receiving the first signal. The processor-readable medium further stores code representing instructions configured to cause a processor to receive a second signal indicating that a second user has used a second bid to bid on the first item at the auction, increase the auction price of the first item in response to receiving the second signal and receive a third signal indicating that the first user has chosen to purchase a second item substantially similar to the first item for a discounted price. The discounted price is equal to a retail price of the second item minus at least a price of the first bid. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153447 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENABLING PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT - A comprehensive platform for developing digital products. A standardized process is applied to a product development effort and an online portal provides tools to aid the product development, assessment, funding and commercializing products. Project management, workflow and data security functionality enable consistent, efficient and secure interactions between users. Business rules, workflows, valuation models and rating methods may be user defined or based upon marketplace, industry or technology standards. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153448 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENABLING PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT - A comprehensive platform for developing digital products. A standardized process is applied to a product development effort and an online portal provides tools to aid the product development, assessment, funding and commercializing products. Project management, workflow and data security functionality enable consistent, efficient and secure interactions between users. Business rules, workflows, valuation models and rating methods may be user defined or based upon marketplace, industry or technology standards. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153449 | AUCTION METHODS AND SYSTEMS - A novel online auction system in which both sellers and buyers are compelled to bid their “true value”. Potential buyers solicit desired items or services and submit sealed bids. A demand curve is created based on buyer bids, and a potential seller can use the curve to create its own sealed bid. A winning seller is determined, however the system uses the bid of the second-lowest bidding seller to establish the ultimate group of winning buyers and sale price. Winning sellers can choose lower prices to capture higher sale quantities. Second or multiple transactions can be implemented from a single bid, if included in the winning set of bids. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153450 | Online members shopping club sales system and scaled bidding process - The present invention relates to and describes a method and system for Internet shoppers to purchase products at discounted prices using a members only scaled bidding process within an online shopping club. Internet shoppers would become members of a shopping club described in the present invention paying for the membership right and being granted with their membership a number of bids to be used within the shopping club before their membership expires. The shopping club would than use the membership fee to purchase items to be later bid upon by the members using a sliding scaled bidding process described in detail herein. By allowing members to now bid on items that the club has purchased, items are in essence already paid for by the members and not the shopping club, so members may bid ridiculously low dollar amounts in order to be the winning bid and win the right to purchase an item with no fear of bidding to high for the member is not obligated to purchase the item after they are the winning bid. Members with losing bids may still be afforded the option of purchasing the item at the winning bid amount if certain conditions are met. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153451 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR USING A SOCIAL NETWORK TO PROVIDE PRODUCT RELATED INFORMATION - Social product related content, such as user reviews, comments, and catalogs, are presented to a user via an e-commerce website by assembling, in response to the user requesting accesses to a webpage of the e-commerce website having information for a product, such as a product detail page, a set of documents that have been cross-referenced to the product and by extracting from the set of documents a subset of documents that have been cross-referenced to individuals within a related persons map of the user. The requested webpage is then presented to the user in a manner that additionally provides the user with access to the subset of documents. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153452 | Contextual Commerce Systems and Methods - A system and method for context-sensitive, adaptive commerce is described that features recommendations of products and/or services based on system usage behaviors and supplier contextual information such as inventory levels. Adaptive commerce may include the bundling of a plurality of products and generating an associated price based, at least in part, on usage behavior information. Other contextual information related to the customer or supplier may also be applied in generating recommended products, bundles of products, product configurations, and corresponding prices. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153453 | TRANSPORT ALLOCATION AND PAYMENT SYSTEM, METHOD AND SOFTWARE - A system and method whereby a customer requiring hire of a taxi can view available taxis on their mobile phone and can select a taxi for hire. An authorisation of payment is carried out and the selected taxi allocated to the customer if the authorisation is successful. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153454 | ADVERTISING SYSTEM AND METHOD AND DISPLAY TAG ARRANGEMENT FOR USE THEREWITH - A product announcement and merchandizing device and system is provided and includes a system and method for matching or merging a first product with one or more distinct products or services and displaying that merged message through use of a hang tag or an article identifier arrangement. The hang tag or article identifier has first and second sections with one or more individually operable and distinct fields. The system can actuate a message or other response in connection with receiving a particular signal or as part of an advertising campaign. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153455 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENABLING AN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY TRANSACTION - A comprehensive platform for merchandising intellectual property (IP) and conducting IP transactions is disclosed. A standardized data collection method enables IP assets to be characterized, rated and valuated in a consistent manner. Project management, workflow and data security functionality enable consistent, efficient and secure interactions between the IP Marketplace participants throughout the IP transaction process. Business rules, workflows, valuation models and rating methods may be user defined or based upon marketplace, industry or technology standards. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153456 | Systems and Methods for Selecting Outfits - Systems and methods are described that select an outfit for a user from a database that stores a plurality of predefined outfits. A first interface can be used to obtain instructions from a user including at least a body shape and an event type. Using the instructions, a computer-based selector can select at least one predefined outfit that has at least two pieces, and the at least one predefined outfit can be displayed to the user via a second interface. Physical transfer of the at least one predefined outfit, or a portion thereof, can be facilitated by the systems and methods described herein. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153457 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PURCHASING VIA A CELLULAR SYSTEM - A purchasing capability is provided for supporting purchasing by a customer from an establishment, which may include functions such as placement of orders, processing of orders, and like functions. An order is placed from a mobile node (MN) of the customer to an application server (AS) of the establishment to which the order is placed. The AS may process the order for determining whether or not to accept the order and, where accepted, for completing the order. A payment commitment verification process may be used for verifying the commitment of the customer to pay for the order. The placement and processing of the order may be performed using an ordering application supported by the MN and the AS. The communication in support of the purchasing capability may be facilitated using a cellular serving node (CSN) configured for communicating with both the MN and the AS wirelessly. The communication between the MS and AS for the purchasing capability may be via an always-on connection established between the MN and the AS. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153458 | APPROVAL WORKFLOW ENGINE AND APPROVAL FRAMEWORK FOR PURCHASE ORDERS - This disclosure describes, generally, methods and systems for implementing a purchase order approval workflow engine and approval framework. The method includes receiving, at an approval engine of an application server from a purchaser, a purchase order, wherein the purchase order includes a plurality of line items, applying, by the approval engine, one or more rules associated with the purchase order, and transmitting the purchase order to one or more approvers. The method further includes receiving, from the one or more approvers, approval for each of the plurality of line items. The approval of each line item is completed independent from any other line item. Further, the method includes receiving, at the approval engine, an indication that each of the plurality of line items are approved, and transmitting, to a supplier, the purchase order. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153459 | System and Method for Managing a Plurality of Tires - Systems, methods and computer program products are provided for managing a plurality of tires from their procurement through their disposal. An embodiment may include a method for determining all the costs of a tire over its total service life including procurement costs, repair costs, retread costs and disposal costs. An embodiment may include managing an inventory by automatically replenishing the inventory by following a set of stored inventory management rules. An embodiment may include helping to ensure that an impermissible tire is not mounted on a vehicle. A stored set of tire mounting rules automatically check the tire being mounted against requirements for the tire set by the rules, the requirements set as to by vehicle type and wheel position. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153460 | SINGLE WINDOW BASED E-COMMERCE BUSINESS TRANSACTION - The present invention relates to a single window e commerce based transaction where an end user can access multiple automobile parts dealers' product catalogue by accessing a single webpage, and making purchases online without bothering to physically visit each dealer's location and checking his inventory for the desired product. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153461 | ENROLLMENT AUTHENTICATION WITH ENTRY OF PARTIAL PRIMARY ACCOUNT NUMBER (PAN) - This disclosure describes, generally, methods and systems for implementing enrollment authentication. The method includes receiving from a customer a partial PAN and an issuing financial institution. Further, based on transaction history related to the partial PAN, the method presents challenge questions to the customer, receive answers to the challenge questions. Then, based on the partial PAN, the issuing financial institution, and the answers to the challenge questions, a complete PAN may be resolved. The method includes prompting the customer to select a mutual trust phrase, receiving the selected mutual trust phrase, and placing a call from an interactive voice response (IVR) system to the customer. Further, the method includes playing back to the customer the selected mutual challenge phrase, receiving, from a telephone (e.g., entered on touch-tone keypad or spoken and translated to text), the customer's PIN associated with the complete PAN, and using the complete PAN and PIN combination to authenticate the customer. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153462 | CUSTOM MESSAGING GIFT CARD SYSTEM - The present invention includes a gift card custom messaging system for creating gift card accounts on a database that includes custom messages created by the purchaser for display on receipts of purchase transactions made by the gift card recipient to convey custom messaging information that can include a greeting, celebratory phrase or a commercial message that can include company logos and electronically sounds and animations and also includes the monetary balance remaining on the gift card to allow the recipient to more easily track the balance. The present invention further includes a variety of gift card formats and receipt display methods that allow various methods of delivery to and use by the recipient. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153463 | Methods and systems for transmitting over a network information pertaining to jewelry, and more particularly, to methods and systems for enabling manipulation and arrangement of images representing jewelry components over a network for the purpose of creating, designing, sharing, reviewing and/or purchasing a custom jewelry design; and to methods and systems for managing the images for a custom jewelry design with content management systems, databases and e-commerce technology over a network and/or through the use of a mobile device or a kiosk - A method and system for transmitting images over a network and/or mobile device or kiosk for communication, advertisement, commerce, marketplace, customer relationship, accounting, content management and/or verification of information pertaining to jewelry. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153464 | ELECTRONIC BOOK HAVING ELECTRONIC COMMERCE FEATURES - A viewer for displaying an electronic book and providing for electronic commerce. In conjunction with viewing an electronic book, a user can view information about products and services, view an on-line electronic catalog, and receive samples of products available for purchase. By entering a purchase request, the user can purchase products or services. In the case of a digital product, the user can download the purchased product directly into the viewer. The viewer also records statistics concerning purchase and information requests in order to recommend related products or services, or for directing particular types of advertisements to the user. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153465 | CONTEXTUAL COMPUTING SYSTEM - A contextual computing system allows a variety of actors to interact with system components to carry out computational and communication tasks. The system is provided as a self-contained and portable solution for communications needs, employable by a number of entities such as telecommunications companies, enterprises, and system operators. The computing system is implemented using layers, with components within the layers carrying out computational and communication tasks in response to input from actors. The system allows business logic and communication to be integrated into a single solution, providing for efficient communication and remarkable ease of use in a variety of possible deployments. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153466 | SENSOR BASED INVENTORY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A sensor based inventory management system and method is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of real time inventory management includes providing a communication backbone between an inventory system and an inventory management server. The method also includes communicating a signal generated by a sensor unit of a sensor based inventory bin of the inventory system to the inventory management server through an interface. In addition, the method also includes determining a quantity of an inventory item in the sensor based inventory bin by processing the signal using an algorithm through a processor of the inventory management server. The method also includes communicating a request to a supplier for updating the quantity of the inventory item in the sensor based inventory bin of the inventory system. The method further includes updating the quantity of the inventory item in the sensor based inventory bin of the inventory system. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153467 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MODIFYING MENU DATA FOR SELF-SERVICE COMPUTERS - A system and method of modifying menu data. The system includes a computer for receiving menu data from a host computer, for modifying the menu data to exclude items unavailable for sale at a location, and for making modified menu data available for use by self-service computers at the location. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153468 | INVENTORY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - An inventory management system and method are disclosed wherein the inventory management system comprises a central database populated with product information from a supplier catalog from at least two suppliers wherein the product information is standardized into a common format; software capable of extracting the product information from the central database and inputting the product information into an end-user database; and an inventory management computer program running in the end-user database keeping track of end-user product inventory. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153469 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING MOBILE INVENTORY WITHIN A VIRTUAL WAREHOUSE - A system is provided for managing mobile inventory within a virtual warehouse. The system includes mobile units, each configured to house a respective portion of the mobile inventory. The system further includes communication devices, each configured to collect respective data relating to the portion of the mobile inventory within each mobile unit. Additionally, the system includes a central station in communication with the communication devices, to receive the respective data and to optimize a movement of the mobile inventory within a service area, based on the respective data. The central station is also in communication with a plurality of delivery locations, to receive a delivery request from a respective delivery location of a requested inventory and a requested delivery location, and to determine a movement of the mobile inventory, based on the respective data, respective locations of the mobile units, requested inventory and delivery location. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153470 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RAIL TRANSPORT OF TRAILERS - A trailer transport system for tracking trains having a plurality of rail cars, wherein each rail car can transport a trailer, is described. The system includes a computer system having a trailer tracking program, wherein the trailer tracking program receives information regarding a trailer to be transported and stores the information in a record and a plurality of terminals, wherein each terminal includes a terminal management system communicatively connected to the computer system, wherein the terminal management system pulls up the record corresponding to the trailer to be transported when the trailer arrives at the terminal and modifies the record to reflect the trailer's transportation status. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153471 | EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - The invention is a system and method of managing equipment. The system incorporates a tagging device to attach identification tags to each piece of equipment. A scanning device is used to read the identification tags and relay this information to an equipment server. An input device is used to input information to the equipment server. The equipment server runs the equipment management program. The system flags a potential asset assigned to an asset creating individual. Equipment is designated an asset after use in an asset creating event. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153472 | DISPLAY SUPPORT SYSTEM, DATA MANAGEMENT APPARATUS AND PORTABLE PROCESSING TERMINAL, COMPUTER PROGRAM AND DATA PROCESSING THEREOF - Provided is a display support system which helps a display staff of a commodity supply company to simply and correctly display specific display commodities at specific commodity display positions. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153473 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING ROYALTY PAYMENTS - A comprehensive platform for merchandising intellectual property (IP) and conducting IP transactions is disclosed. A standardized data collection method enables IP assets to be characterized, rated and valuated in a consistent manner. Project management, workflow and data security functionality enable consistent, efficient and secure interactions between the IP Marketplace participants throughout the IP transaction process. Business rules, workflows, valuation models and rating methods may be user defined or based upon marketplace, industry or technology standards. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153474 | ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING AND ACCOUNTING - Electric vehicle charging stations include a time of use meter that can be programmed with different time periods so that different tariffs can be applied to energy readings of those different time periods. The time periods may be specific to electric vehicle operators. The tariffs may also be specific to electric vehicle operators and apply to charging stations that are supplied with electricity from different electric utilities. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153475 | FEDERAL ADJUSTMENT TRACKING SYSTEM - Tracking federal adjustments includes receiving an automated upload at a database, from a tax platform implemented on at least one processor, of at least one of: a beginning balance, a thirteenth period adjustment and an ending balance for a general ledger account. User input specifying a type of tax report is received. A report itemizing data stored in the database and calculations based on the data stored in the database, in accordance with the user input. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153476 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING TAX LIABILITY IN RESPONSE TO A MOBILITY - A tax event system is configured to evaluate a taxable event that gives rise to tax liability in multiple jurisdictions. The system provides for real time determination of location information (e.g. work location, residence location, assignment location, and the like) for the calculation of tax liability. Such real time analysis allows for transactions to be settled and tax liability to be satisfied in time periods prescribed by various regulating authorities. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153477 | PREDICTIVE TIME ENTRY FOR WORKFORCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS - This disclosure describes, generally, methods and systems for predictive approaches used to auto-populate timecards for an employee/contractor. A system/framework is proposed that can auto-populate timecards for employees using predictive approaches. The predictive approaches may look at the patterns of time entry for the individual who is performing entry of the time. The system can also look at patterns of time entry for other team members within an organization or group whose time entry patterns may be similar or identical to other individuals. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153478 | Device and Method for Settlement Optimization - A settlement device for optimizing a transaction includes an input module, a processor, and an output module. The input module receives transaction data of the transaction. The processor determines an optimal location to process the transaction as a function of predetermined rules. The output module transmits the transaction data to the optimal location. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153479 | Alternative Approach to Deployment and Payment for Digital Certificates - A method for managing payment of digital certificates includes receiving a request to issue a digital certificate to a subscriber, capturing and saving payment information of the subscriber, performing a first authentication and verification of the subscriber at a first time, and performing at least one additional authentication and verification of the subscriber at least once every authentication period. A long-lived certificate is issued to the subscriber provided the subscriber is authenticated and verified. The long-lived certificate is valid for an expiration period. However, the long-lived certificate is revoked if (1) the additional authentications and verification produce invalid results, or (2) if payment is not received during a payment period. The authentication period is shorter than the expiration period and there are at least a first and a second authentication period within the expiration period. The expiration period is longer than the authentication period. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153480 | Authenticating Financial Information of A Commercial Enterprise - Techniques are described for generating an assessment of capital state of the commercial enterprise, which may be referred to as a capital health check. Financial key performance indicators for a commercial enterprise are adjusted. The adjusted financial key performance indicators represent lower credit risk than credit risk reflected by the unadjusted financial key performance indicators. A qualitative scoring model is applied to the adjusted financial key performance indicators to generate an assessment of capital state of the commercial enterprise. Authentication of the assessment of the capital state of the commercial enterprise by a third-party financial representative is enabled. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153481 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS AND COMPARING COMPETITIVE GOODS AND/OR SERVICES RENDERED THERETO - A system and method is presented for comparing competitive goods and/or services. The method including steps of receiving, by a processor, first pricing schedule information including fees assessed for providing the goods and/or services to a customer by a first institution, and determining fees incurred by one or more accounts maintained by the customer during a predetermined time period at the first institution per the first pricing schedule information. The method also includes receiving a second pricing schedule information including fees assessed for providing the goods and/or services to the customer by a second institution, and determining fees incurred by the accounts at the second institution per the second pricing schedule information. The method compares the fees determined for maintaining the more accounts at the first institution and at the second institution, and presents a report to the customer including the comparison of the fees. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153482 | Method Of Providing Financial Planning Services - There is provided a streamlined method of providing personal, financial advice on an ongoing basis, wherein a financial planning year of a financial advisor and a plurality of clients is partitioned into predetermined and distinct portions having a predetermined, specific topic or group of topics which is the focus of each. It is contemplated within the scope of the method that the office resources of the financial advisor are devoted substantially exclusively to predetermined financial planning topics during each predetermined portion of the financial planning year such that the financial planning year of an advisor's office and each of a plurality of clients is substantially synchronized. The preferred method includes a financial planning year comprising first, second, third and fourth quarter portions, wherein during each quarter there occurs a meeting between an advisor and each of a plurality of clients the focus of which is the predetermined, specific topic pre-selected for the corresponding first, second, third and fourth quarter, respectively. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153483 | System and Method for Providing Financing for Long/Short Trading Strategies Including Convertible Arbitrage Transactions - A method and apparatus for providing financing for long/short trading strategies including convertible arbitrage transactions is described. First, this novel strategy packages longs and shorts into a single purpose transparent vehicle based on a Single Risk Based Strategy. Second, the platform contains rules-based modules which apply variable margins against securities positions. The Unitary Financial Platform performs daily pricing, risk-based computer modeling, custodial monitoring, client interfacing, and risk reporting to external parties. Third, the funding structure requires that clients contribute capital thereby creating equity in the entity. If multiple parties are involved in a single entity, this requirement puts all clients at risk with respect to the other clients in the context of the rules and provides a clearinghouse like aspect to risk sharing within the entity. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153484 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CENTRAL PROCESSING OF MUTUAL FUND TRANSACTIONS - More efficient systems and methods for processing mutual fund transactions are provided by a centralized settlement and record-keeping repository for mutual fund shares. These systems and methods result in significant enhancements and cost savings to the mutual fund industry. | 2011-06-23 |
20110153485 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STOCK AND INDEX OPTION PRICE IMPROVEMENT, PARTICIPATION, AND INTERNALIZATION - A method for stock option trading includes receiving an option order at a market, contemporaneously receiving a copy of the option order at an electronic drop (EDrop) system, which is separate and distinct from the market, obtaining a potential cross quantity and a potential cross price based on the option order at the EDrop system, and submitting, through the EDrop system, a contra-order, with respect to the option order, to the market for fulfillment, wherein the contra-order specifies at least one of an underlying security potential cross quantity, and the potential cross price. | 2011-06-23 |