| 31st week of 2012 patent applcation highlights part 54 |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
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| 20120197642 | SIGNAL PROCESSING METHOD, DEVICE, AND SYSTEM - Embodiments of the present invention relate to a signal identifying method, including: obtaining signal characteristics of a current frame of input signals; deciding, according to the signal characteristics of the current frame and updated signal characteristics of a background signal frame before the current frame, whether the current frame is a background signal frame; detecting whether the current frame serving as a background signal frame is in a first type signal state; and adjusting a signal classification decision threshold according to whether the current frame serving as a background signal frame is in the first type signal state to enhance the speech signal identification capability. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197643 | MAPPING OBSTRUENT SPEECH ENERGY TO LOWER FREQUENCIES - A speech signal processing system and method which uses the following steps: (a) receiving an utterance from a user via a microphone that converts the utterance into a speech signal; and (b) pre-processing the speech signal using a processor. The pre-processing step includes extracting acoustic data from the received speech signal, determining from the acoustic data whether the utterance includes one or more obstruents; estimating speech energy from higher frequencies associated with the identified obstruents, and mapping the estimated speech energy to lower frequencies. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197644 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM, AND PROGRAM - An information processing apparatus, information processing method, and computer readable non-transitory storage medium for analyzing words reflecting information that is not explicitly recognized verbally. An information processing method includes the steps of: extracting speech data and sound data used for recognizing phonemes included in the speech data as words; identifying a section surrounded by pauses within a speech spectrum of the speech data; performing sound analysis on the identified section to identify a word in the section; generating prosodic feature values for the words; acquiring frequencies of occurrence of the word within the speech data; calculating a degree of fluctuation within the speech data for the prosodic feature values of high frequency words where the high frequency words are any words whose frequency of occurrence meets a threshold; and determining a key phrase based on the degree of fluctuation. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197645 | Electronic Apparatus - An electronic apparatus includes a communication module, a storage module, a manipulation module, voice output control module, and a control module. The communication module receives book data delivered externally. The storage module stores the received book data. The manipulation module converts a manipulation of a user into an electrical signal. The voice output control module reproduces, as a voice, the book data based on the manipulation while controlling the reproduction speed of the voice. The control module determines a part that is important to the user, stores, in the storage module, a position of voice reproduction of the book data, and synchronizes the position of the voice reproduction with a reproduction position in the book data. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197646 | Open Architecture For a Voice User Interface - A system and method for processing voice requests from a user for accessing information on a computerized network and delivering information from a script server and an audio server in the network in audio format. A voice user interface subsystem includes: a dialog engine that is operable to interpret requests from users from the user input, communicate the requests to the script server and the audio server, and receive information from the script server and the audio server; a media telephony services (MTS) server, wherein the MTS server is operable to receive user input via a telephony system, and to transfer the user input to the dialog engine; and a broker coupled between the dialog engine and the MTS server. The broker establishes a session between the MTS server and the dialog engine and controls telephony functions with the telephony system. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197647 | COMPUTERIZED INFORMATION PRESENTATION APPARATUS - A computerized information system and computer readable apparatus. In one embodiment, the apparatus is configured for use in a transport apparatus and comprises a computer readable medium having at least one computer program disposed thereon, the at least one program being configured to provide the user with requested information (such as for example directions to a desired business or other entity). At least a portion of the information is obtained via a wireless link with a remote server. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197648 | AUDIO ANNOTATION - Embodiments provide methods, apparatuses, systems, and articles of manufacture for annotating and receiving inaudible audio annotations associated with audio content. The inaudible audio annotations may be identified by inaudible marker tones. The inaudible audio annotations and the inaudible marker tones may be included in the source file of the audio content. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197649 | Audio Coding - A method for encoding an audio signal including: processing a selected subset of a lower series of samples forming a lower frequency spectral band of the audio signal and a higher series of samples forming a higher frequency spectral band of the audio signal to parametrically encode the higher series of samples forming the higher frequency spectral band by identifying a sub-series of the lower series of samples. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197650 | METADATA TIME MARKING INFORMATION FOR INDICATING A SECTION OF AN AUDIO OBJECT - The application relates to a method for encoding time marking information within audio data. According to the method, time marking information is encoded as audio metadata within the audio data. The time marking information indicates at least one section of an audio object encoded in the audio data. E.g. the time marking information may specify a start position and an end position of the section or only a start position. The at least one section may be a characteristic part of the audio object, which allows instant recognition by listening. The time marking information encoded in the audio data enables instantaneous browsing to a certain section of the audio object. The application further relates to a method for decoding the time marking information encoded in the audio data. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197651 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SEARCHING FOR, AND MONITORING ASSESSMENT OF, ORIGINAL CONTENT CREATORS AND THE ORIGINAL CONTENT THEREOF - System and method may use assessment information obtained by assessing original content items or creators of the original content items in accordance with a hierarchical talent assessment process, to return search results responsive to a search for talented original content creators. The assessments of the creators and the content items by talent assessors may be monitored to increase the objectivity of the search results returned responsive to a search for talented original content creators. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197652 | DETERMINING AN ENTITY'S SHARE OF ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL BURDEN - Disclosed examples relate to determining an entity's share of economic contribution and environmental burden. In one example, a processor estimates an entity's share of an economic contribution created by an activity relative to multiple entities. In one example, a processor estimates an entity's share of environmental burden caused by an activity relative to multiple entities. In one example, a processor determines an entity's impact related to an activity based on the entity's share of economic contribution and share of environmental burden related to the activity. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197653 | BRAND IDENTIFICATION, SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Product-brand correlation engines are presented. A correlation engine seeks relationships among product-brand pairings. A user can submit a target product definition including product properties to the engine. The engine converts the target product properties into quantified metrics, which can be compared to established relationships among known products and brands. Based on the comparison the engine generates one or more possible product-brand alignments where the alignments indicate which brands would likely have beneficial or non-beneficial associations with the target product. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197654 | INFORMATION LANDSCAPE MODELING, ANALYSIS & VALIDATION - Managing and validating a project using an information landscape. Embodiments include providing an information landscape including a topology of landscape elements for the project, linking the topology of landscape elements to a plurality of solution artifacts, and validating at least one of the plurality of solution artifacts and semantics of the information landscape. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197655 | AIDING USER SELECTION OF A TREATMENT OPTION FOR A HEALTH CARE ISSUE - There is provided a support platform and method that enables a individual to make a health care decision. This platform and method provides comparison information to the individual that allows the individual to compare various treatment options for treating health care issue(s). This comparison information includes information for each of the plurality of treatment options gathered from a plurality of individuals that used at least one of the plurality of treatment options in treating the healthcare issue. This comparison information also includes, for at least one of the plurality of treatment options, information associated with the individual regarding healthcare services provided to the individual. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197656 | RADIATION THERAPY KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE - A method for implementing a radiation therapy knowledge exchange starts with searching a database of cases studies and selecting a case study. The selected case study is downloaded. The downloaded case study is applied to a medical case, wherein the downloaded case is applied using deformable image registration to deform reference images of the downloaded case to medical images of the medical case. After application of the downloaded case study, the medical case is uploaded to the network, wherein uploading the medical case allows at least the submitting clinician to download, review, and edit at least a portion of the medical case to create a reviewed medical case. Finally, the reviewed medical case is downloaded and applied to the medical case to create a final medical case. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197657 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO FACILITATE MEDICAL SERVICES - Systems and methods related to efficient practice of medicine, with a particular focus in the dermatologic field. The systems methods described herein rely on teamwork in which all of the participants (patients, medical staff and medical care providers) contribute to the medical visit, medical record generation, and billing for the visit. The systems and methods include three aspects, which are referred to herein as portals: 1) a patient portal | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197658 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ELECTRONIC SCRIPT USAGE - Methods and systems for electronic script usage are described. In one embodiment, questionnaire data associated with an over-the-counter medication is selected. A questionnaire display including a plurality of questions based on the questionnaire data is generated. Questionnaire response data is received. A prescriber request is transmitted to a prescriber device. The prescriber request is based on the questionnaire response data. The prescriber device is associated with a prescriber. A prescriber response is received in response to transmission of the prescriber request. An electronic script associated with the over-the-counter medication is rendered in response to receipt of the prescriber response. Additional methods and systems are disclosed. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197659 | COORDINATED HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DELIVERY SYSTEM AND PROCESS | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197660 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO FACILIATE MEDICAL SERVICES - The systems methods described herein incorporate on teamwork in which all of the participants (patients, medical staff, and medical care providers), contribute to the medical visit, medical record generation, and billing for the visit. The systems and methods include three aspects, which are referred to herein as portals: 1) a patient portal | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197661 | Managing system for health care plan and managing method for the same - A managing system for health care plan includes a server and a database connected to the server. The server hosts a website thereon, and the database stores disease data of at least one care recipient, and stores at least one health care plan template. When one of the disease data of the care recipient is selected on the website, the care provider selects one of the health care plan templates corresponding to the selected disease data, and applies the selected health care plan template to a dedicated calendar of the care recipient. Therefore, events of the health care plan template are then displayed on the calendar from a specific starting date. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197662 | System and Method for Facilitating Home Care Activities - A computer-implemented system for managing the tracking and completion of one or more caretaking events, including a care management interface configured to receive and track one or more caretaking events and facilitate assignment of at least one caregiver record with each of the caretaking events, wherein a caretaking event is an item to be performed by the caregiver identified in the caregiver record taken for the benefit of a home health care recipient. The system further includes a professional home care management interface configured to receive an assignment of caretaking event in a calendar item or task item, generate and transmit a home care management request including the caretaking event to a home care management system, receive a confirmation from the home care management system that the task has been assigned to the home care management system, and display an indication of the assignment in the care management interface. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197663 | Medication Risk Assessment System - A medication risk assessment method implemented using a computer particularly adapted for a health care management or delivery organization is provided, wherein the method includes at least the steps of: providing a medication risk assessment tool to a client, wherein the medication risk assessment tool includes a questionnaire, and wherein the client maintains a relationship with a population of individuals; administering the questionnaire to the population of individuals, thereby generating questionnaire data; obtaining prescription claims data from the population of individuals; combining the questionnaire data and the prescription claims data in an electronic database, thereby generating population data; analyzing the population data according to a set of rules; ranking the analyzed data according to risk; and generating at least one report based on the ranked data. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197664 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND DEVICES FOR MANAGING TRANSFER OF MEDICAL FILES - The disclosure herein provides methods, systems, and devices for managing, transferring, modifying, converting and/or tracking medical files and/or medical system messages. In certain embodiments, the foregoing may generally be based on requesting medical files at a first medical facility, identifying the requested medical files at a second medical facility, initiating a secure network connection between the first and second medical facility, modifying a header portion of the medical files based on patient identification information created by the first medical facility, and other processing steps. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197665 | SELECTIVELY ROUTING PATIENT DATA BETWEEN FIELD DEVICES AND TREATMENT CENTER DESTINATIONS - Techniques for routing event data from a field device, such as an external defibrillator, to a selected subset of a plurality of possible destinations are described. The event data may include physiological data of the patient, such as a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG). The destinations may be associated with one of a plurality of patient treatment centers, and may include, as examples, computing device, printers, displays, personal digital assistants, or web-accessible accounts. In some examples, a server maintains user-configurable information or rules for at least some of the destinations, and uses the information or rules for determining whether event data received from a field device is routed to the destination. In some examples, the server may also make the routing determination based on an analysis of event data, such as a determination as to whether the event data indicates that the patient is suspected to be experiencing an acute myocardial infarction. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197666 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE - An apparatus for unemployment insurance may include a processor and a non-transitory memory storing instructions. The instructions, responsive to execution, configure the processor to cause the apparatus at least to perform receiving information indicative of a user selection of an unemployment insurance coverage option defining policy parameters corresponding to a policy entitling the user to receive a financial benefit for a predefined period of time in response to an occurrence of a qualifying involuntary unemployment event and determining a premium fee to be paid on behalf of the user to maintain the policy. The premium fee may be determined based at least in part on the user selected coverage option. The instructions may further configure the processor to cause the apparatus to perform determining an allocation for funds associated with the premium fee between a cost of insurance and a smart cash reserve, and, in response to receiving an indication of the occurrence of the qualifying involuntary unemployment event, causing provision of the financial benefit to user. The smart cash reserve may hold funds of the policy to cover initial payout on any claim against the policy until depletion of the smart cash reserve before payout is covered by insurance. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197667 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PURCHASING INSURANCE - Systems and methods related to an online website wherein businesses seeking insurance can obtain quotations and be connected to a plurality of insurance providers are described herein. In some embodiments, the businesses are authenticated and verified by providing such details as, e.g., employer identification number (EIN) or tax identification number (TIN), and being registered with the system prior to requesting quotations. In some embodiments, the system has an online collaboration system where a business can ask or post questions and receive answers from insurance providers or agents who match their search criteria. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197668 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PURCHASING INSURANCE - Systems and methods related to an online website wherein businesses seeking insurance can obtain quotations and be connected to a plurality of insurance providers are described herein. In some embodiments, the businesses are authenticated and verified by providing such details as, e.g., employer identification number (EIN) or tax identification number (TIN), and being registered with the system prior to requesting quotations. In some embodiments, the system has an online collaboration system where a business can ask or post questions and receive answers from insurance providers or agents who match their search criteria. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197669 | Determining Cost of Auto Insurance - A system for analyzing sensor data output from a mobile communications appliance to adjust insurance premiums for consumers includes an Internet-connected server; and software executing on the server from a non-transitory physical medium, the software providing a first function for collecting raw data from the mobile communications appliance, a second function for analyzing the raw data in light of results of previous data analyses, and a third function for adjusting a standing insurance premium rate associated with the mobile communications appliance. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197670 | ONLINE RESTAURANT SYSTEMS FOR FORECASTING BEHAVIORS OF LATE CUSTOMERS - This invention is provided to forecast behaviors of late customers. In one embodiment, a system including a plurality of mobile equipments is provided. In the embodiment, the system includes a mobile equipment of a first customer and a mobile equipment of a second customer. The system also includes an apparatus comprising a computing processing unit configured to process memory units stored to execute instructions by the processing unit. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197671 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR RESERVING PARTIAL SEATS - A seat reservation system and method in which a first user requests a reservation computer to reserve a first regular seat and a first partial seat for an event. A second user requests the reservation computer to reserve a second regular seat and a second partial seat for the event. The reservation computer then matches the first partial seat reservation request with the second partial seat reservation request to generate a middle seat reservation request for the event. The reservation computer assigns a first seat, a middle seat, and a second seat consecutively in a single row to the first user and the second user in fulfillment of the first user reservation request for the first regular seat and the first partial seat and the second user reservation request for the second regular seat and the second partial seat. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197672 | System and Method for Improved Rental Vehicle Reservation Management - A method and system are disclosed for managing a rental vehicle reservation based at least in part on automated processing of vehicle repair data corresponding to a disabled vehicle that is related to the rental vehicle reservation. A preferred method and system can also automatically schedule a callback reminder for the rental vehicle reservation based at least in part on the received vehicle repair data. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197673 | Generating Flight Schedules Using Fare Routings and Rules - Techniques executed in a computer based travel-planning-system for flight scheduling, includes receiving trip segments, determining constraints on sequences of flights between the endpoints of the trip segments, the constraints derived from properties of fares that can be used with the flights, generating itineraries from flights using the constraints, and pricing the itineraries. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197674 | ESTIMATING A FUTURE PROJECT CHARACTERISTIC BASED ON THE SIMILARITY OF PAST PROJECTS - Disclosed embodiments relate to estimating a future project characteristic based on the similarity of past projects. For example, a processor may estimate a future project characteristic based on past projects and a similarity of each past project to the future project. In one embodiment, the processor then provides the estimation. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197675 | AUTOMATED CONTROL PLAN - Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatuses and methods for automatic control plan monitoring. Users can enter the steps of the business process that requires monitoring, the metrics that the user wants to track for a specific control plan, the control limits for the metrics, and/or the location where the metric data can be captured. Thereafter, an automated control plan captures the data and provides customized dashboards so that users can track the metrics associated with the control plan from the beginning of the process until the end, as well as make comparisons of the process over time. Furthermore, notification alerts can be set that alert the proper employees within the business when the control plan is outside of the control plan limits. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197676 | EVALUATING OPERATIONAL MATURITY OF BUSINESS COMMODITIES - Systems, methods, and computer program products for evaluating the operational maturity of business commodities are disclosed. An operational maturity score is computed and based, at least in part, on documentation data relating to operational documents of the business commodities. A determination of the maturity lifecycle stage of the commodity may also be made. If desired, with operational maturity scores and/or maturity lifecycle stage determinations of multiple business commodities, comparison data may be produced to conveniently compare the operational maturity of a plurality of business commodities. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197677 | MULTI-ROLE BASED ASSIGNMENT - A method and system to effectively apply the real time resource information into process models at design time. When process models are being prepared, an optimal list of candidate roles for each task within the process is presented. This list is generated dynamically based on the characteristics of the underlying resources within the roles. Further, the same information, along with historical data related to past performance at a resource level, can be leveraged during process simulations for optimal resource allocations. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197678 | Methods and Apparatus for Managing Interaction Processing - A computing appliance includes a processor, an interface to an external network, an interface to a local area network, software executing on a machine-readable medium, wherein the software provides, a function for determining the ratio of busy time compared to idle time affecting a worker during task and multitask performance, a function for assigning a value defining a natural capacity of the worker to process a specific task type without developing a significant backlog, a function for assigning new tasks to the worker performing significantly under a natural capacity value for the type of task or tasks being processed, and a function for withholding one or more tasks from the worker performing near or at the natural capacity with developing backlog. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197679 | Method and System for Translation Workflow Management Across the Internet - A method and system for managing the workflow of a translation agency between an administrator, multiple customers and multiple translators allows a business to systematically and consistently provide its customers with the best quality, in the shortest time, at the lowest cost, at any given time, given its current talent pool. The method computes a weighted value for each translator based on at least one of a translation quality rating, a translation speed rating, a translation cost rating, and a dependability rating. The method generates a dynamic availability for each translator using a translator's availability profile and a result to of a number of words already assigned for translation to a translator divided by a translator's translation speed. The method assigns a customer text file to a translator for translation based on a translator's weighted value and dynamic availability and a number of words in the customer text file. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197680 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COMPUTING OPTIMAL PRODUCT USAGE - A computer implemented method of computing optimal product usage comprising storing corporate information as a floor plan containing a plurality of hierarchical levels of a corporate organization; storing benchmark data describing a current product usage for at least one application within the corporate organization; performing an analysis based on the corporate information and the benchmark data to determine an optimum usage of a plurality of products for the at least one application; and generating a product usage recommendation based on the determined optimum usage. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197681 | SOFTWARE TOOL FOR GENERATING TECHNICAL BUSINESS DATA REQUIREMENTS - A computer implemented method, system, and/or computer program product generates technical business data requirements from functional process requirements. Such method, system, and/or computer program product include data processing infrastructure. The data processing infrastructure may further include at least one data persistence component and at least one business process hierarchy. The computer implemented method, system, and/or computer program product obtain a set of technical elements concerning functional process requirements for each business process within the business process hierarchy. Such method, system, and/or computer program product classify technical elements into functional objects, link each of the functional objects to at least one process within the business process hierarchy and generate a plurality of business data roadmap templates in the data processing infrastructure. The generated business data roadmap templates are stored in the persistence component of the data processing infrastructure. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197682 | Identifying Quality User Sessions And Determining Product Demand With High Resolution Capabilities - A session quality system collects and evaluates data from multiple user world wide web (“web”) product selection sessions and correlates the collected data with actual product purchases. The system assembles the data into a set of session profiles and assigns a score to each profile that represents a relative likelihood of purchasing the product. The system matches session data collected from future product selection sessions with a master profile. A weighted average of scores based on matched master profiles provides useful product demand information. Furthermore, the system can determine product demand with varying ranges of resolution. For example, the system can capture specific features of each product, such as color, audio system selections, and wheel types. Since these features can be common across multiple products, manufactures can expand their use of the high resolution product demand information. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197683 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONSERVING ENERGY RESOURCES THROUGH STORAGE AND DELIVERY OF RENEWABLE ENERGY - A system for encouraging the use of renewable energy sources and suitable for the conservation of energy resources through the efficient management of energy storage and delivery includes connections to a power source, an energy storage subsystem, and a power grid. The system includes a power routing subsystem coupled to the source and grid, and adapted to operate in a bypass mode, in which energy is transferred from the source to the grid. The system includes a conversion subsystem coupled to the routing and storage subsystems, and switchable in substantially real-time between a storage mode, in which energy is transferred from the routing to the storage subsystem, and a generation mode, in which energy is transferred from the storage to the routing subsystem for delivery to the grid. The system also includes a controller for directing the modes based at least in part on a market factor. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197684 | System and Method for Conducting a Design Process Using Market Research - A method and system for conducting a design process using market research includes extending an offer to grant an ownership interest such as an equity interest or security in a company in exchange for receiving feedback from respondent members of a target market. The company may use the feedback in developing and launching a new product. The feedback may relate to desired design specifications, pricing, marketing approaches, and suggested new ideas for the new product. The various options are presented to the respondents as text, audio, video, and in combinations thereof. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197685 | GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACCESSING AND DISPLAYING AFFORDABILITY DATA - The present invention is a computer-implemented method and system for providing a graphical representation of a geographic area where household expenses, for example, transportation costs, fit a user's budgetary restrictions. The method and system allows for users to select a geographic region to search, select values for individualized household variables to determine household transportation costs, and select a affordability criteria threshold for the search results. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197686 | PREDICTIVE DECONSTRUCTION OF DYNAMIC COMPLEXITY - The dynamic complexity and the operational risk inherent in a system are defined and incorporated into a mathematical model of the system. The mathematical model is emulated to predict the states of instability that can occur within the operation of the system. Dynamic complexity of a service is demonstrated where there is an observed effect where the cause can be multiple and seemingly inter-related effects of a many-to-one or many-to-many relationship. Having assessed the dynamic complexity efficiency and the operational risk index of a service (e.g., a business, process or information technology), these indexes can be employed to emulate all attributes of a service, thereby determining how a service responds in multiple states of operation, the states where the dynamic complexity of a service can occur, optimal dynamic complexity efficiency of a service, and the singularities wherein a service becomes unstable. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197687 | METHOD AND APPLICATION FOR PUBLICLY DISPLAYING CELL PHONE PHOTOGRAPHS - The present invention provides for a computer based method of uploading and displaying media taken by a user on a mobile device wherein the media, such as a photograph, is displayed on a public display unit. The method comprises the steps of downloading an application on a mobile device wherein the application is operable to allow a user to take a photograph on the mobile device. The method further includes the steps of uploading the photograph to a computer based database server, storing the photograph in a first file, monitoring the photograph for inappropriate content, storing the photograph in a second file if the photograph is deemed appropriate for public viewing, and displaying the photograph on the public display unit. The present invention requires the user to enter an access code displayed only at the venue. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197688 | Systems and Methods for Verifying Ownership of Printed Matter - The present application discloses systems and methods for verifying ownership of a printed publication. One embodiment includes receiving a first image of a portion of a printed publication from a first communications device associated with a user, the first image including an identifier uniquely associated with the user. The first image may be analyzed to verify the printed publication and to confirm that identifier is associated with the user. Some embodiments also include authenticating digital content associated with the identified publication for viewing on and/or downloading to one or more communications devices associated with the user whose associated identifier appears in the first image. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197689 | DYNAMIC SAVINGS ALLOCATION METHOD AND PURCHASING MODEL - A system and method for providing a dynamic savings allocation account. The dynamic savings allocation account includes customer-defined savings categories within the account that act as sub-accounts. The customer may create savings categories and set parameters such as the goal amount to be reached, the time to reach the goal, how much or what percentage to be allocated to each category per deposit, etc. As the customer deposits funds into the dynamic savings allocation account, the deposit is automatically allocated to each savings category as defined by the customer. As goals are reached, customers may opt to take advantage of group purchasing benefits offered by the financial institution for some in-demand items. Alternatively, the financial institution, in partnering with third-party vendors may perform targeted sales campaigns. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197690 | Method of Operating a Navigation System to Provide Advertisements - A method of operating a navigation system to provide an advertisement is disclosed. A desired arrival time at a destination is obtained, and the advertisement is selected from an advertisement database. The advertisement includes an incentive to visit a point of interest associated with the advertisement to obtain a product or a service. A travel time from a current location of the navigation system to the destination including traveling to the point of interest to obtain the product or the service is determined, and a new arrival time at the destination is determined. If the new arrival time is before the desired arrival time, the advertisement is provided. If the new arrival time is after the desired arrival time, the advertisement is not provided and another advertisement is requested by the system. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197691 | MOBILE WALLET PAYMENT VEHICLE PREFERENCES - In general, apparatuses, methods and computer program products for making contactless financial transactions utilizing a mobile wallet are disclosed. Particularly, a mobile wallet application is disclosed that utilizes, at least in part, user specific data to generate a payment vehicle recommendation for different transactions. The user specific data may include the active user profile, prior payment vehicle usage, user preferences for the type of transaction, user location, rewards programs associated with use of one or more payment vehicles, or the like, or combinations thereof. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197692 | CREDIT SWAP IN A VIRTUAL WORLD - Rewards, which can be virtual currency which can include items, on one website are transferred to be used on another website. The one website on which the rewards are earned has reciprocity with other websites, and can send those rewards to another website, either associated with the user's own account, or with someone else's account. In one embodiment, the rewards can be transferred even if the user who earns those rewards does not participate in the website that is receiving the transfer. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197693 | ELECTRICITY TRANSFER SYSTEM NETWORK AND RELATED METHODS - Some embodiments include an electricity transfer system network. Other embodiments of related systems and methods are also disclosed. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197694 | SYSTEM TO SOLICIT COMMITMENT TO POST INFORMATION - Products and processes are provided in which an award for a commitment from an entity to post information, via a posting site, at or before a subsequent time is offered to an entity. In response to receiving the commitment, the award is provided to the entity. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197695 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING SALES OF GOODS BY INDEPENDENT PARTIES - Systems and computer-implemented methods are provided for pricing a good offered for sale by a seller. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises receiving from a seller, via a communications network, data identifying a good offered for sale by the seller at an unspecified fixed price to be determined by a marketeer controller as a function of a third party's price for a comparable good. The method further includes querying a third party to determine a price for a comparable good and receiving, via the communications network, the third party's price for the comparable good. The marketeer controller is used to establishing a sale price for the good based on the third party price for the comparable good. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197696 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING ELECTRONIC MAP DISPLAYS WITH POINTS-OF-INTEREST INFORMATION - Methods and systems are provided for generating an electronic map display. In one implementation, a method is provided for determining a route distance based on information for a route, comparing the route distance with a distance threshold, generating a list of points of interest (POIs) when the route distance is less than the distance threshold, the list of POIs identifying POIs that are located along the route, grouping the POIs into one or more buckets based on location, calculating POI densities of the buckets based on the POIs included in each corresponding bucket, ranking the buckets based on the POI densities, providing POI information associated with the POIs included in the ranked buckets, wherein the POI information is provided based on the ranking of the buckets, and generating an electronic map display with the POI information. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197697 | SYSTEM FOR CONCURRENT OPTIMIZATION OF BUSINESS ECONOMICS AND CUSTOMER VALUE - A computer-implemented system and method to provide options on products to enhance customers' experience. A computer-implemented system is operated that delivers to a customer an option to utilize up to n of m selected products, where m and n are whole numbers and n is less than or equal to m. Information is recorded in a data store, pertaining to said option. In addition, a system is operated to define each of the n chosen products, whereby after each of the n chosen products is defined, the customer can utilize said chosen product. The information pertaining to said defined products is recorded in a data store. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197698 | Methods and Systems for an Accountable Media Advertising Application - The systems and methods described herein relates to a system for allowing a consumer to track an advertisement for a product. The system includes an equipment for capturing a response by the consumer to the advertisement delivered from a first platform. The system also includes a portal, provided on a second platform, that permits the consumer to execute a purchase-related activity associated with the product of the advertisement. The system additionally includes an analysis application for generating a trigger that correlates data associated with the consumer response to data associated with the purchase-related activity. Furthermore, the system includes a server configured to display a plurality of triggers that allow the consumer to at least track the advertisement selected by the consumer from the first platform. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197699 | TRADE-IN VEHICLE VALUE OPTIMIZING SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SELLERS, BUYERS, AND DEALERSHIPS - Computer-implemented methods and computer systems for offering vehicles, which are subject to sale agreements between sellers and buyers, on online markets and soliciting additional offers for these vehicles by third parties. This additional offering may generate additional revenues, above the agreed upon prices between the initial seller and buyer, and these revenues can be shared by sellers, buyers, and service providers. For example, a seller may contract with a dealer to sell a used car for a certain price, which may be a part of a trade-in transaction. Information about the car, including a price, is then posted on a website. Third parties may view this information and post their offers, which are higher than the initial contract price. The new higher offer may be accepted and the proceeds may be shared by sellers, buyers, and service providers. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197700 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SHOPPING IN AN ELECTRONIC COMMERCE ENVIRONMENT - A method of shopping within an electronic commerce environment includes enabling a first user of a plurality of users to add one or more items to a virtual shopping cart of the first user that is maintained by a server computer system, generating, by the server computer system, statistical data related to the one or more items, and providing the statistical data to the first user in a web page that is generated by the server computer system. The statistical data includes a total quantity of at least one of the one or more items that are contained in the virtual shopping carts of all of the plurality of users. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197701 | AFFILIATE-DRIVEN BENEFITS MATCHING SYSTEM AND METHODS - In a method of matching a consumer to available benefits, benefit information is received for at least one benefit that an affiliate knows is offered by an enabling organization. From a consumer, enabling organization information is received pertaining to an enabling organization with which the consumer is affiliated. Consumer information is received from the consumer, including consumer identification information for identifying the consumer and consumer interest data for identifying an interest of the consumer. The consumer information, enabling organization information, and benefit information are stored in a computer memory. The consumer interest data, enabling organization information, and benefit information are analyzed automatically to determine whether any enabling organization to which the consumer is affiliated is offering a benefit for the consumer that is applicable to the consumer interest data. A message is displayed to inform the consumer of an available benefit applicable to the consumer interest data. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197702 | AFFILIATE-DRIVEN BENEFITS MATCHING SYSTEM AND METHODS - In a method for matching a consumer to available benefits, enabling organization information pertaining to an enabling organization to which the consumer is affiliated is received. Consumer information is also received, including consumer identification information for identifying the consumer and consumer interest data for identifying an interest of the consumer. Benefit information is provided pertaining to an offered benefit. In a memory, the consumer information, enabling organization information, and benefit information are stored. The consumer interest data, enabling organization information and benefit information are analyzed automatically to determine whether any enabling organization to which the consumer is affiliated is offering an applicable benefit. A message is displayed to inform the consumer of first and second available benefits. The first and second available benefits are offered by first and second enabling organizations, respectively. The consumer is affiliated with the first enabling organization and is not affiliated with the second enabling organization. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197703 | Method and System for Conducting an Auction Over a Network - A method and system for enabling a user or bidder to purchase an option on auction merchandise or services in an online auction are provided, thus allowing the option winner to purchase the merchandise in the event the original auction bidder (i.e., the highest bidder for the merchandise) defaults on his purchase. The method and system also provides an incentive to the users purchasing the option(s), e.g., bid optionees, by partially distributing the option pool of monies collected to the user who purchases the option at the price closest to the final auction price. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197704 | Method and system to market and distribute a product or service - A method of tiered promotion and distribution of a product comprises hosting a transactional applet accessible via the Internet; accessing the host to execute the applet for a first fan; enabling the first fan to process a voucher for the product; and enabling the first fan to propagate the applet to a terminal of a second fan wherein the propagated applet (i) renders content associated with the first fan and the product, (ii) accepts an input from the second fan to process a subsequent transaction relative to the product; (iii) credits the first fan with a credit, and (iv) generates a transactional record for delivery to the first fan. The generated record may include a notation of account credit, evidence of an entry ticket, or other information. The applet may be propagated to third or subsequent fans to provide further credits for the first, second, or subsequent fans. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197705 | SOCIAL PRICING - Mechanisms are provided to facilitate buying and selling products utilizing social pricing. Sellers initiate sale of a product with volume discounts for a limited time. In other words, the more people that buy a product, the lower the price for the group. Buyers have a real incentive to become prosumers that not only purchase a product but also promote purchase by others. A social pricing system brokers interaction between sellers and buyer groups, and provisions mechanisms to aid promotion of products by consumers utilizing social networks and other online activities. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197706 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A MERCHANT LOYALTY SYSTEM - A system and method for implementing a merchant loyalty program is disclosed. The invention includes receiving purchase data, wherein the purchase data comprises a consumer account code, a purchase amount, and a service establishment code; associating the service establishment code with a merchant proprietor rewards account code; calculating a reward amount based on the purchase amount; and, crediting a merchant proprietor reward account with at least a portion of said reward amount. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197707 | LOYALTY POINTS SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH SUPPLEMENTAL AUTHORIZATIONS - The invention facilitates pooling, gifting or transferring of geographic area loyalty points between accounts. The invention also facilitates a transfer of geographic area loyalty points from a consumer account associated with a sponsoring company to a consumer account associated with a host company. The invention may also facilitate gifting of loyalty points to charitable organizations on a recurring basis, wherein the gifting may transfer any portion of geographic based points to various charities. The system may also convert the geographic area loyalty points to a monetary value, thereby allowing the points to be donated to a charity such that the donation appears to be a monetary value donation to the charity. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197708 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SOCIAL NETWORKING MECHANISMS FOR POWERED CARDS AND DEVICES - A card may receive and store one or more coupon offers (e.g., promotions, awards, rewards, or incentives). Coupon offers, associated details, and associated coupon detail updates may be displayed onto one or more displays of a card. A cardholder may monitor, purchase, and redeem such coupon offers automatically and/or by activating manual inputs (e.g., buttons) on the card. Cardholders and one or more components of a payment monitoring system may encourage increased patronage for merchants, since coupon redemption values may be qualified and/or increased through increased interaction of the members. Such increased interaction of the members may be monitored by each member through coupon detail updates displayed on each member's card. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197709 | Mobile Advertisement with Social Component for Geo-Social Networking System - In one embodiment, a geo-social networking system receives from a first user's location a message identifying the first user and one or more other users, generating a redeemable certificate including pictures of the first user and the one or more other users, and present the redeemable certificate to the first user. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197710 | BILLING STATEMENT CUSTOMER ACQUISITION SYSTEM - Some described embodiments provide for selecting (e.g., by a server computer from a plurality of transaction records), a transaction record associated with a financial account of an account holder. In one example, the transaction record includes an indication of an amount due, by the account holder, for a previous purchase completed by the account holder with a first merchant. Some embodiments provide further for generating a billing statement for the account holder, the billing statement including an indication of the amount due by the account holder for the previous completed purchase and an indication of an acquisition offer, in which the acquisition offer comprises a promise from a second merchant to pay at least a portion of the amount due by the account holder, and transmitting the billing statement to the account holder. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197711 | Ranking Vendors by Combining Quantitative and Qualitative Characteristics of Third-Party Advertising - A computer-implemented method for ranking vendors by combining quantitative and qualitative characteristics of a third-party ad. The claimed method commences by storing a third-party internet ad, the third-party internet ad for hosting within a server in a third-party network, then measuring a latency score of the third-party network. Then monitoring the user's behavior to measure or calculate a click-through rate (CTR) score of the third-party internet ad, and additionally processing a quality score of the third-party internet ad for use in combining the latency score, the CTR score, and the quality score to form a reputation score. The reputation score is calculated using a coefficient of correlation for the quality score, and a coefficient of correlation for the latency score and a coefficient of correlation of the CTR score. The highest possible weight is given to the quality score while retaining maximum sensitivity to changes in latency and/or CTR scores. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197712 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING EFFECTIVENESS OF MARKETING - A computer based system ( | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197713 | Interactive Geographic Feature - One or more systems, devices, and/or methods for providing and/or using a navigation/geographic feature are disclosed. For example, a method of operation of a navigation system may include providing a graphics user interface. A data representation of a geographic object, such as a path sign or icon, text, or character thereof, is provided in the graphics user interface. The data representation of the path sign may be provided as a feature of a navigation display. Input identifying a portion of the data representation of the geographic object is received. A navigation-related function is provided based on receiving the input. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197714 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING ELECTRONIC MAP DISPLAYS WITH POINTS-OF-INTEREST INFORMATION BASED ON REFERENCE LOCATIONS - Methods and systems are provided for generating an electronic map display. In one implementation, a method is provided for receiving route information associated with a route having an origination point and a destination point, determining a location of a reference point along the route, assigning a spatial identifier to the reference point, searching for points of interest (POIs) in a search area associated with the spatial identifier, ranking, using a processor, the POIs based on distances of POIs from the location of the reference point, and providing POI information for an electronic map display, wherein the POI information is associated with one or more POIs and selected based on the ranking of the POIs. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197715 | Method and system for distributed marketing displays on municipal gratings - Marketing communications are delivered by advertising displays affixed to or surrounding gratings. Lease arrangements are determined by a machine-based method providing equitable revenue sharing to municipality or other entity owning the grating spaces and the marketing communication entity while providing rapid, reliable deployment to advertisers via a machine-based method of RFID tracking and deployment. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197716 | METHODS FOR AN ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT PLATFORM - Methods and systems are provided for providing an alternative payment platform, including method and systems for providing a platform for presenting an alternate offer to a user who is engaged with a primary offer and receiving an indication of the user's engagement with the alternate offer, wherein the user's engagement with the alternate offer serves as an alternative form of payment for an item associated with the primary offer. Such methods and systems may further include methods and systems for selecting one or more alternate offers engagement with which serves as an alternative form of payment for an item associated with a primary offer, presenting the selected alternate payment offers to a user, receiving an indication of engagement with at least one of the alternate offers, receiving payment in exchange for presenting the accepted offer and providing payment to the offeror of the primary offer. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197717 | METHODS FOR AN ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT PLATFORM - Methods and systems are provided for providing an alternative payment platform, including method and systems for providing a platform for presenting an alternate offer to a user who is engaged with a primary offer and receiving an indication of the user's engagement with the alternate offer, wherein the user's engagement with the alternate offer serves as an alternative form of payment for an item associated with the primary offer. Such methods and systems may further include methods and systems for selecting one or more alternate offers engagement with which serves as an alternative form of payment for an item associated with a primary offer, presenting the selected alternate payment offers to a user, receiving an indication of engagement with at least one of the alternate offers, receiving payment in exchange for presenting the accepted offer and providing payment to the offeror of the primary offer. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197718 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND MEDIA FOR WEB CONTENT MANAGEMENT - Systems, methods, and media for managing web content. Exemplary methods may include the steps of providing a web content management application via a web site, generating a web marketing campaign from at least a portion of a global marketing framework via a web server, gathering via the web server marketing data from at least one of the web server associated with the web marketing campaign and consumer devices accessing the web marketing campaign, the marketing data including information indicative of interests of consumers, storing the marketing data in a database, associating consumers together according to at least one common interest to create one or more consumer groups, and providing the one or more consumer groups to at least one marketing content author. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197719 | AFFILIATE-DRIVEN BENEFITS MATCHING SYSTEM AND METHODS - In a method of matching a consumer to available benefits, benefit information is received for at least one benefit that an affiliate knows is offered by an enabling organization. From a consumer, enabling organization information is received pertaining to an enabling organization with which the consumer is affiliated. Consumer information is received from the consumer, including consumer identification information for identifying the consumer and consumer interest data for identifying an interest of the consumer. The consumer information, enabling organization information, and benefit information are stored in a computer memory. The consumer interest data, enabling organization information, and benefit information are analyzed automatically to determine whether any enabling organization to which the consumer is affiliated is offering a benefit for the consumer that is applicable to the consumer interest data. A message is displayed to inform the consumer of an available benefit applicable to the consumer interest data. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197720 | System And Method For Discounted Sales Transactions - A method and system for communicating promotional offers by registering an electronic device with a server, activating a promotional offer stored on the server, receiving location information of the electronic device by the server over a network, determining the electronic device is to receive the promotional offer based upon the received location information, sending the promotional offer from the server to the electronic device over the network, sending a positive response to the promotional offer from the electronic device, over the network, and to the server, and sending a confirmation of the positive response from the server, over the network, and to the electronic device. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197721 | ADVERTISING IN ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS - The method of advertising according to the present disclosure facilitates the delivery of categorized advertisements to recipients of electronic communications such as emails, SMS messages, MMS messages or instant messaging (IM) messages. In one aspect, the method generally comprises the steps of (i) receiving an electronic communication intended for one or more intended recipients, (ii) inserting one or more selectable advertisement categories into the electronic communication to form a modified electronic communication, and (iii) sending the modified electronic communication to the one or more intended recipients. In another aspect of the disclosure, the method of advertising is associated with a prize draw where a sender's entry of the prize draw is made by the sender sending an electronic communication inserted with categorized advertisements. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197722 | GROUP BUYING SEARCH - A group buying system includes a search engine operable to present group purchasing events to consumers. Consumers utilizing the search engine supply criteria relating to product descriptions, purchasing terms, offer features or the like. The search engine retrieves group purchasing events from one or more sellers in accordance with the supplied criteria. Furthermore, mechanisms are provided to enable the search engine to discover new offers posted by sellers on other systems. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197723 | USER-CUSTOMIZABLE SOCIAL GROUPING AND ADVERTISEMENT TARGETING TECHNIQUES - Methods and systems are providing that include joining a user to asocial group based at least in part on social grouping settings, and targeting the user with advertising based at least in part on at least one of the settings. Social grouping setting information may be obtained from the portable electronic device user. Available social groups may be detected, based at least in part on a detected location of the user. Based at least in part on at least one of the settings, it may be determined whether to join the user to a particular available social group. Furthermore, based at least in part on at least one of the social grouping settings, and/or other social grouping related aspects or parameters, information can be derived and used in selecting and serving highly relevant advertisements to the user. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197724 | Ad-Based Location Ranking for Geo-Social Networking System - In one embodiment, a geo-social networking system receives data indicating a location of a user, generate and rank a list of places based on proximity to the user's location and existence of advertisement associated with one or more places, and present the ranked list of places to the user. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197725 | ADAPTIVE INFORMATION PRESENTATION APPARATUS - An adaptive information presentation system. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a server apparatus with processor, network interface, and computer readable medium having at least one computer program disposed thereon, the at least one program being configured to receive a digital representation of speech input received from a user (such as at a location remote to the server), the speech input relating to an organization or entity which the user wishes to locate. Based at least in part on the digital representation, the program identifies a location associated with the organization or entity, and enables generation of a graphical or visual representation of the location in order to aid the user in finding the organization or entity. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197726 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SUGGESTING SERVICES TO A USER - A method for presenting a vendor selection to a user of a mobile device, including receiving a notification that a first telephone call is initiated by the user of the mobile device to a telephone number for a vendor; while the first telephone call is active and prior to placing an order with the vendor: extracting a set of matching data for the vendor using the telephone number for the vendor, selecting at least one suggested vendor associated with an offer using a set of matching parameters and the set of matching data, generating a message comprising the vendor and the at least one suggested vendor with the offer; and presenting the message to the user of the mobile device, terminating, prior to placing the order, the first telephone call to the vendor, and initiating a second telephone call to the at least one suggested vendor based on the offer. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197727 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING APPLICATION HAVING EMBEDDED ADVERTISEMENT INFORMATION - An apparatus and a method for providing an application having embedded advertisement information, in which an application having embedded advertisement information may be transmitted and received between a server which transmits the application and a terminal which receives the application. The apparatus includes a receiving unit to receive an application and advertisement information added to an execution file of the application from an application providing server, a control unit to execute the application and to control the output of the advertisement information based on an execution environment of the application, and an output unit to output the advertisement information during execution of the application. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197728 | SINGLE ACTION ACCESS TO CONTEXT SPECIFIC CONTENT AT A MOBILE DEVICE - Systems and methods for single action access to context specific content at a mobile device are disclosed. In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure include a method, which may be implemented on a system, for user interface features, also referred to as “hot buttons” which can enhance a mobile user environment or mobile application by linking to real time or near real time information outside of one's social network to include selected web content, within a single dashboard. Hot buttons provide a place to surface dynamic outside of messaging and mobile application contexts. Since many large content providers earn revenue only from site visits by users, hot buttons can provide an ever-present link to the content site, while providing value over a simple URL, since selected context specific or relevant content is being pushed or aggregated dynamically to be accessed via the hot button. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197729 | SHELF-BASED PROMOTION TARGETING - A system and method for implementing promotions in a retail environment is provided. Transceivers located at one or more locations within the retail environment are adapted for communication with personal mobile devices carried by shoppers. Promotions can be offered and accepted based on factors such as a shopper's location within a store, shopper identity, shopper purchase history, shopper promotion redemption history, date and time and other factors. Applicable promotions are then activated within the retailer point-of-sale system for application during checkout. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197730 | METHODS FOR AN ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT PLATFORM - Methods and systems are provided for providing an alternative payment platform, including method and systems for providing a platform for presenting an alternate offer to a user who is engaged with a primary offer and receiving an indication of the user's engagement with the alternate offer, wherein the user's engagement with the alternate offer serves as an alternative form of payment for an item associated with the primary offer. Such methods and systems may further include methods and systems for selecting one or more alternate offers engagement with which serves as an alternative form of payment for an item associated with a primary offer, presenting the selected alternate payment offers to a user, receiving an indication of engagement with at least one and providing payment to the offeror the primary offer. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197731 | METHODS FOR AN ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT PLATFORM - Methods and systems are provided for providing an alternative payment platform, including method and systems for providing a platform for presenting an alternate offer to a user who is engaged with a primary offer and receiving an indication of the user's engagement with the alternate offer, wherein the user's engagement with the alternate offer serves as an alternative form of payment for an item associated with the primary offer. Such methods and systems may further include methods and systems for selecting one or more alternate offers engagement with which serves as an alternative form of payment for an item associated with a primary offer, presenting the selected alternate payment offers to a user, receiving an indication of engagement with at least one of the alternate offers, receiving payment in exchange for presenting the accepted offer and providing payment to the offeror of the primary offer. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197732 | ACTION-AWARE INTENT-BASED BEHAVIOR TARGETING - Methods and computer-storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that facilitate classifying user intent with respect to an entity using intent-strength scores. A user query indicating a particular entity is received. The user's intent with respect to the particular entity is determined by assigning an intent-strength score to the user. The user's intent-strength score is determined using intent-strength scores assigned to seed patterns identified for entities in a category, as well as the received user query. In embodiments, a user's intent-strength score may be updated based on a subsequent query, or may be changed according to a function. A list of users having particular intent-strength scores for particular entities may be also be generated. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197733 | SKILL CUSTOMIZATION SYSTEM - Disclosed herein are methods and systems for customizing content for presentation via a social or business networking service. In some examples, a method may involve an automated mechanism for identifying a plurality of members (e.g., member profiles) to indicate a particular skill possessed by the respective members. Next, the method may involve ranking the plurality of tagged members relative to one another based on a calculated skill level of the particular skill using a computer processor and generating customization information based upon member profile information in the member profiles of the plurality of members with the particular skill and the rankings of the members who possess the particular skill and causing the customization information to be delivered to one of the plurality of members with a particular skill. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197734 | Product Based Advertisement Selection Method and Apparatus - The present disclosure selectively blocks advertisements to a user based upon recent purchases of the user. The selectively blocked advertisements may be chosen from a group of advertisements chosen for the user based upon monitored behaviour of the user. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197735 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING A MOBILE VIDEO BLOG SERVICE - A method and apparatus for providing a mobile video blog (vlog) service in a communication network are disclosed. For example, the method captures video content sourced from a mobile device used by a mobile user through a mobile vlog posting service portal, and provides a vlog viewing function accessible to a viewer through a vlog viewing service portal, wherein the vlog viewing function affords viewing of the video content and is provided in accordance with a user profile of the viewer, wherein the user profile comprises a viewing preference of the viewer. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197736 | System, method, and computer program product for selecting and presenting financial products and services - An apparatus and method use client information to automatically select products appropriate for the client. According to one aspect of the invention, client information, information about the products, ancillary data, and decision criteria pertaining to selection from among the products are stored in a storage device Decision-making logic circuitry use the stored data to select the products. An output device prepares a client communication identifying the selected products and incorporates a portion of the client information and a portion of the product information into the client communication. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197737 | TARGETED ADVERTISING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Systems and methods for monitoring various physiological and environmental factors, as well as systems and methods for using this information for a plurality of useful purposes, are provided. Real-time, noninvasive health and environmental monitors include a plurality of compact sensors integrated within small, low-profile devices. Physiological and environmental data is collected and wirelessly transmitted into a wireless network, where the data is stored and/or processed. This information is then used to support a variety of useful methods, such as clinical trials, marketing studies, biofeedback, entertainment, and others. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197738 | Method of Providing Content Assigned Identifier and ID Management Device - A processor-implemented method includes: acknowledging, using a first affiliator identifier obtained from content assigned the first affiliator identifier, an application from a user other than an owner of the content for the same type of content as the accessed content, an affiliator identifier being used to identify an affiliator for the purpose of providing affiliate service, embedding, in the content provided to the other user, a second affiliator identifier identifying the other user; providing the content assigned the second affiliator identifier to the other user; and identifying an affiliator owning the content assigned the first affiliator identifier, based on the first affiliator identifier. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197739 | APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WEB PUBLISHING AND DELIVERY OF SAME - The present invention is and includes a device, system and method for providing an image enhancement widget. The device, system and method include a javascript component that, upon execution, obtains at least one subject of primary content on a networked page, and at least one permission for enhancement of the primary content, ones of a plurality of content produced remotely from the javascript component and according to the javascript component, and an enhancement widget. The enhancement widget may be a flash widget. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197740 | TRANSACTION AUTHORIZATION SYSTEM FOR A MOBILE COMMERCE DEVICE - Embodiments of the invention include apparatuses and methods that allow a user to wirelessly transmit payment information from a mobile device to a point-of-sale terminal by the user performing only a single action or supplying only a single input to the mobile device. For example, some embodiments of the invention allow a user to assign a default payment vehicle to a particular key or “pay now” icon of the mobile device so that activation of the particular key or icon, alone, causes the mobile device to wirelessly transmit information about the default payment vehicle. In some embodiments of the invention, a user using the single action option of the mobile device does not need to go through an authentication procedure before the mobile device transmits the default payment information. In some embodiments of the invention, if a user uses the single action option, the mobile device is configured to transmit the payment information without needing to first launch an electronic wallet software application installed on the device. | 2012-08-02 |
| 20120197741 | ADJUSTMENT OF A SECURITY LEVEL OF A SELF-CHECKOUT SYSTEM BASED ON SHOPPER ASSISTANT INTERVENTION - Methods and systems for adjusting a security level of a self-checkout system based on shopper assistant intervention are disclosed. According to an aspect, a method includes deducing that shopper assistant intervention occurs in a self-checkout environment based on detection of one or more events in a self-checkout system. The events may occur at shopper terminals of the self-checkout system and may require attention of a shopper assistant monitoring the shopper terminals. The method also includes adjusting a security level of the self-checkout system in response to deducing that shopper assistant intervention occurs. Further, the method may include implementing a predetermined action in response to adjusting the security level of the self-checkout system. | 2012-08-02 |
