33rd week of 2012 patent applcation highlights part 55 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20120209712 | PROMOTION INFRASTRUCTURE HAVING USER SELECTION BASED TARGETED PROMOTIONS - An online sales/automatic rebate and coupon redemption system provides online customers automatic retrieval and redemption of all applicable rebates and coupons during purchase. Purchase orders from customers are selectively fulfilled and products are shipped to the customers either by the system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon redemption or by other merchant or manufacturer environments. The system purchases from merchants using applicable coupons and rebates and then sells the products to the customers, passing the savings to them. The system makes it possible to automatically retrieve coupons and rebates for items in a shopping cart during the activity of an online purchase at an electronic mall or an online merchant site. The system provides coupons to potential customers via email, based on customer profile, geographical information, etc. Manufacturers and merchants can update coupon value and content based on ongoing sales and volume of customer activity. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209713 | ELECTRONIC INTERPERSONAL ADVERTISING - Described herein are systems and methods that facilitate interpersonal electronic advertising. An intended recipient of an electronic advertisement gives consumer information relating to a potential consumer transaction to an electronic advertisement suggester. The suggester then selects or suggests an electronic ad for the intended recipient. The suggester input relates to the consumer information and helps determine the ad. The interpersonal advertising systems and methods receive the electronic ad input from the suggester. The systems and methods then send the electronic ad to the intended recipient. Activating the electronic ad, such as when the recipient purchases a product or service related to the ad, may lead to compensation for the suggester. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209714 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING TARGETED ADVERTISING - An advertising provider may be obligated to ensure that its advertising directs users to the correct business entity (e.g., dealer or franchise). The advertising provider may maintain a datastructure comprising a plurality of “areas of responsibility” (AOR), each of which may be assigned to a respective dealer. When generating advertising content to be provided to a user, the advertising provider may access location-identifying information about the user. The location-identifying information may comprise a zip code, street address, or the like, which is sufficiently specific to allow the advertising provider to identify an AOR in the AOR datastructure. Accordingly, generalized location information, such as city, state, and/or country may not be sufficient. The location-identifying information may be used to identify the dealer that is assigned to the user. The advertising provider may access dealer-specific information, which may be used to generate dealer-targeted advertising for the user. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209715 | INTERACTION WITH NETWORKED SCREEN CONTENT VIA MOTION SENSING DEVICE IN RETAIL SETTING - A computing device may be configured to allow a shopper to interact with one or more displays in a retail environment. A perception device may detect human actions in the retail environment and the shopper may be able to use human movements to navigate through retail data and have it displayed on the display device in the retail environment. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209716 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SERVING PROMOTIONS IN A LOW-POWER WIRELESS NETWORK - A first electronic device may begin communicating with a second electronic device in response to detecting that the second electronic device is within communication range of a low-power wireless interface of the first electronic device. The first device may receive, via the low-power wireless interface, information about a status and/or profile of the second electronic device. The first device may generate a promotion customized based on the received information. The low-power wireless interface | 2012-08-16 |
20120209717 | TARGETED DELIVERY OF PAYLOAD TO MOBILE USERS - Embodiments of the present invention enable targeted mobile payload (such as advertisement) delivery to mobile users, optimized for user experience, wireless access network characteristics and performance and advertising/marketing impact. Embodiments leverage subscriber situational insights, provided either by the wireless network or external providers, to associate with a request for advertisement (taking place while end user accesses content) a segment description and/or attributes that describe the end user. Accordingly, the advertisement industry standard (or advertiser, content-provider defined) audience to which the end user belongs can be determined in real-time, and a targeted advertisement can be delivered to the mobile end user. As such, content publisher inventory (i.e., advertisement space) can be purchased by advertisers based on audience. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209718 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROVIDING COMPENSATION FOR ELECTRONIC INTERPERSONAL ADVERTISING - Described herein are interpersonal electronic advertising systems and methods that compensate a first person who suggests or selects electronic advertisements for another person. The first person selects or suggests an electronic ad for an intended recipient. The interpersonal advertising systems and methods receive the electronic ad input from the suggester, and send an electronic advertisement to the intended recipient. When the recipient activates the advertisement, the interpersonal electronic advertising systems and methods attribute compensation to the suggester. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209719 | SYSTEMS FOR ELECTRONIC INTERPERSONAL ADVERTISING - Described herein are systems and methods that facilitate interpersonal electronic advertising. An intended recipient of an electronic advertisement gives consumer information relating to a potential consumer transaction to an electronic advertisement suggester. The suggester then selects or suggests an electronic ad for the intended recipient. The suggester input relates to the consumer information and helps determine the ad. The interpersonal advertising systems and methods receive the electronic ad input from the suggester. The systems and methods then send the electronic ad to the intended recipient. Activating the electronic ad, such as when the recipient purchases a product or service related to the ad, may lead to compensation for the suggester. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209720 | METHODS FOR ELECTRONIC INTERPERSONAL ADVERTISING - Described herein are systems and methods that facilitate interpersonal electronic advertising. An intended recipient of an electronic advertisement gives consumer information relating to a potential consumer transaction to an electronic advertisement suggester. The suggester then selects or suggests an electronic ad for the intended recipient. The suggester input relates to the consumer information and helps determine the ad. The interpersonal advertising systems and methods receive the electronic ad input from the suggester. The systems and methods then send the electronic ad to the intended recipient. Activating the electronic ad, such as when the recipient purchases a product or service related to the ad, may lead to compensation for the suggester. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209721 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OFFERING FINANCIAL PRODUCTS BASED ON A CUSTOMER'S DETERMINED LIFE STATUS - A system and method to provide financial products throughout the life of a customer. The present invention determines the life status of a customer. The life status is determined by analyzing the customer information from a variety of sources. This information is filtered or inputted into an algorithmic model to identify appropriate financial products to offer to the customer. In addition, the customer's creditworthiness is used to determine or optimize the financial product offered to the customer. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209722 | ELECTRONIC INTERPERSONAL ADVERTISING IN A SOCIAL NETWORK ENVIRONMENT - Described herein are systems and methods that facilitate interpersonal electronic advertising. An intended recipient of an electronic advertisement gives consumer information relating to a potential consumer transaction to an electronic advertisement suggester. The suggester then selects or suggests an electronic ad for the intended recipient. The suggester input relates to the consumer information and helps determine the ad. The interpersonal advertising systems and methods receive the electronic ad input from the suggester. The systems and methods then send the electronic ad to the intended recipient. Activating the electronic ad, such as when the recipient purchases a product or service related to the ad, may lead to compensation for the suggester. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209723 | PITCH DEVELOPMENT METHOD - An apparatus, system, and method of developing a pitch through procurement of textual entries from a user through a series of questions and then compiling these textual entries in a specified manner to create a pitch. The pitch may be edited and revised by the user to create final form. The pitch may be revised, modified, or commented on by a second user. The pitch may then become part of a user profile on a computer network of users, some of whom may have also developed pitches. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209724 | System of incentive-based digital content and information sharing platform through mobile technology - A system of incentive-based digital content and information sharing platform through social media includes a software platform which contains an application that is downloadable to an electronic device of a user, allowing users to receive digital content from a central backend system that is built as a SaaS platform, namely the Promotions Management Panel. The Promotions Management Panel is arranged for pushing a digital content to different users and inducing the user to share the digital content through the user's social network by providing an incentive to reward the user, which includes a promotions tab serving as the home-screen; a statistics tab showing the users who have downloaded the promotional software; a reports tab serving as a dashboard for providing and displaying statistical information of a particular piece of digital content; and a rewards tab for creating a reward. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209725 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROVIDING ADVERTISING AND PREVENTING ADVERTISING FRAUD - In one embodiment, a method of displaying advertising is provided. The method comprises determining the y-axis of a page to be displayed on the internet, determining the relative y-axis position of at least some portion of one or more advertisements on the page to be displayed on the internet, determining the y-axis position of the portion of the page that is currently displayed to or viewed by the user and causing the one or more advertisements on the page to download or display when the y-axis position of the portion of the page that is currently displayed to or viewed by the user is equal to or greater than the relative y-axis position of at least some portion of the one or more advertisements on the page to be displayed on the internet, all of which is accomplished on a computer. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209726 | IDENTIFYING RELATED INFORMATION GIVEN CONTENT AND/OR PRESENTING RELATED INFORMATION IN ASSOCIATION WITH CONTENT-RELATED ADVERTISEMENTS - The usefulness of content (target content), such as advertisements, may be increased by determining additional content and providing such additional content in association with the content. The target content may be text, a Web page, a URL, a search query, etc. The additional content might be related suggested queries (e.g. “Try a search for ______”), news articles (or excerpts or summaries thereof), reviews (or excerpts or summaries thereof), advertisements, user group messages, etc. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209727 | NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORTING A MULTI-SELLER PROMOTION AND TRANSACTION ENVIRONMENT - An online sales/automatic rebate and coupon redemption system provides online customers automatic retrieval and redemption of all applicable rebates and coupons during purchase. Purchase orders from customers are selectively fulfilled and products are shipped to the customers either by the system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon redemption or by other merchant or manufacturer environments. The system purchases from merchants using applicable coupons and rebates and then sells the products to the customers, passing the savings to them. The system makes it possible to automatically retrieve coupons and rebates for items in a shopping cart during the activity of an online purchase at an electronic mall or an online merchant site. The system provides coupons to potential customers via email, based on customer profile, geographical information, etc. Manufacturers and merchants can update coupon value and content based on ongoing sales and volume of customer activity. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209728 | ONLINE CONTENT CAMPAIGN CLASSIFICATION - A content evaluation system includes a scanning server to scan web sites to determine metrics for online ads. The content evaluation system may include a content evaluation server to classify the online ads into campaign groups based on the metrics, and each group is associated with a different ad campaign. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209729 | Business communication system and method - A system and method for enabling a customer with a mobile telecomputing device such as a smart phone to communicate with a waiter in a restaurant. The smart phone connects to a wireless local area network such as a WiFi network within the restaurant and, in a first embodiment, downloads a restaurant communication application. The communication application associates buttons on the smart phone with requests for different services in the restaurant. When the customer presses a button, a computer controlling the WiFi network routes an indication of the customer's table number and requested service to the waiter via an on-premises paging system or via a text message to the waiter's mobile phone. In a second embodiment, the smart phone is directed to a website providing a restaurant communication service. The service request buttons are displayed on a webpage, and customer selections are routed to the waiter as before. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209730 | MOBILE RESTAURANT ORDERING SYSTEM - A mobile ordering system for a restaurant configured to request processing of an order made by a customer with a mobile device when the customer enters a predetermined geographic region associated with the restaurant as determined by a server configured to process global positioning satellite (“GPS”) data received from the mobile device. A user associated with the restaurant uses the mobile restaurant ordering system to define the predetermined geographic region. The server may be configured to dynamically alter the predefined geographic region associated with the restaurant based on certain factors associated with the restaurant, the order, and/or the customer. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209731 | COMPUTER-BASED FUND TRANSMITTAL SYSTEM AND METHOD - A fund transmittal system includes a first agent portal module for receiving funds from a first entity to initiate a first fund transaction. The system includes a transaction network and a transaction processor. The first agent portal module routes the first fund transaction to the transaction processor via the transaction network. The transaction processor supplies an authorization code associated with the first fund transaction to the first entity. The first entity provides the authorization code to a second entity. The system includes a second agent portal module that receives the authorization code from the second entity to initiate a second fund transaction. The second agent portal module routes the authorization code to the transaction processor via the transaction network. The transaction processor approves the second fund transaction in accordance with the authorization code. Upon approval, the second agent portal module supplies the funds to the second entity. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209732 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COLLECTING ACCESS POINT INFORMATION IN LINKAGE WITH MOBILE CARD PAYMENT SYSTEM, AND MOBILE COMMUNICATION TERMINAL THEREFOR - Provided is a method and system for collecting access point information in linkage with a mobile card payment system to measure a location of a user using an access point of a wireless local area network (WLAN) service. The method may include (a) receiving payment information relating to a mobile communication terminal from a card company server, (b) transmitting an access point information collecting control signal to the mobile communication terminal based on the payment information, (c) receiving access point information collected by the mobile communication terminal in response to the control signal, and (d) storing the received access point information in a storage means. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209733 | UNIFIED IDENTITY VERIFICATION - Apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed that operate to register one time, at a server associated with an authenticating entity, information comprising an identity uniquely associated with an individual account owner and an account held by the authenticating entity. Further activity includes receiving an authentication request at the server from a requesting party to authenticate an unauthenticated individual purporting to be the individual account owner, and authenticating, by the server, the unauthenticated individual as the individual account owner by matching a token presented by the unauthenticated individual, to the identity. Responsive solely to the authenticating, only a selected portion of the information previously authorized by the individual account owner is provided for sharing with the plurality of selected requesting parties. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209734 | Machine, Methods, and Program Product for Electronic Inventory Tracking - Machine, methods, and computer program encoded on non-transitory memory for facilitating electronic inventory tracking and management of products through messaging over an existing financial services payment network are provided. An example includes an inventory management computer in communication with a merchant POS apparatus or terminal over an existing financial services payment network and configured to receive and process purchase transaction data associated with a product being purchased. The computer can also include, for example, electronic inventory management computer program configured to perform various operations including generating product identifiers, forming product look up tables to correlate the identifiers with the products, and providing inventory data to product providers. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209735 | FEDERATED THIRD-PARTY AUTHENTICATION APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS - The FEDERATED THIRD-PARTY AUTHENTICATION APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS (“FPT”) transform user identity information inputs associated with transactions at a merchant server into a user-profile output that is transferred to other merchant websites for facilitating one or more other transactions without the requisite need for full user re-entry of information. In one embodiment, the method includes establishing a first trust indication associated with a first merchant and receiving first user-transaction-related information from a server of the first merchant. A first user-profile is generated for the user based on the first user-transaction-related information. A second trust indication associated with a second merchant is established. The first user-profile is then sent to the second merchant based on the established first and second trust indications, whereby the first user-profile provides the first user-transaction-related information for facilitating transactions by the user at a server of the second merchant. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209736 | System and Method for Handling Software Activation in Entitlement - A system, method, and computer-readable medium are disclosed for separating the purchase of digital assets from their fulfillment and activation. Digital assets purchase information comprising digital assets identifier information and activation key data, and system identifier information comprising system identifier data, is received. The purchase information and the system identifier information are processed to generate digital assets activation request data, which is then processed by the provider of the digital assets to generate digital assets activation data. Associated digital assets data is provided with the digital assets activation data and then processed with the purchase transaction data to generate digital assets entitlement data. A personalization agent associated with a target system automatically downloads the purchased digital assets and associated digital assets entitlement data, which is used to install the digital assets, thereby entitling the system to process the installed digital assets. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209737 | Multiple Criteria Buying and Selling Model - A multiple criteria buying and selling system and method is provided. A seller initially establishes a deal structure for a product, which provides seller defined selling criteria information relating to the purchasing of the product, such as volume per unit price, quality, delivery time and warranty information. A buyer will be able to review a list of deals if the seller's selling criteria matches a buyer defined buying criteria. The deal structure is preferably set up so as to provide buyers with both price and non-price criteria information that the buyer's would consider important in a purchase of the type of product being offered by the seller. The deal structure is electronically made available to potential buyers of the product. For example, the deal structure may be displayed on an Internet site. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209738 | Multiple Criteria Buying and Selling Model - A multiple criteria buying and selling system and method is provided. A seller initially establishes a deal structure for a product, which provides seller defined selling criteria information relating to the purchasing of the product, such as volume per unit price, quality, delivery time and warranty information. A buyer will be able to review a list of deals if the seller's selling criteria matches a buyer defined buying criteria. The deal structure is preferably set up so as to provide buyers with both price and non-price criteria information that the buyer's would consider important in a purchase of the type of product being offered by the seller. The deal structure is electronically made available to potential buyers of the product. For example, the deal structure may be displayed on an Internet site. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209739 | Multiple Criteria Buying and Selling Model - A multiple criteria buying and selling system and method is provided. A seller initially establishes a deal structure for a product, which provides seller defined selling criteria information relating to the purchasing of the product, such as volume per unit price, quality, delivery time and warranty information. A buyer will be able to review a list of deals if the seller's selling criteria matches a buyer defined buying criteria. The deal structure is preferably set up so as to provide buyers with both price and non-price criteria information that the buyer's would consider important in a purchase of the type of product being offered by the seller. The deal structure is electronically made available to potential buyers of the product. For example, the deal structure may be displayed on an Internet site. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209740 | Multiple Criteria Buying and Selling Model - A multiple criteria buying and selling system and method is provided. A seller initially establishes a deal structure for a product, which provides seller defined selling criteria information relating to the purchasing of the product, such as volume per unit price, quality, delivery time and warranty information. A buyer will be able to review a list of deals if the seller's selling criteria matches a buyer defined buying criteria. The deal structure is preferably set up so as to provide buyers with both price and non-price criteria information that the buyer's would consider important in a purchase of the type of product being offered by the seller. The deal structure is electronically made available to potential buyers of the product. For example, the deal structure may be displayed on an Internet site. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209741 | METHOD OF RECLAIMING PRODUCTS FROM A RETAIL STORE - A method of reclaiming products from a retail store includes passing a plurality of products through an object identification system, capturing images of the plurality of products with object sensors as the products pass through the object identification system, processing the images to identify an indicium for each product, transmitting the indicium for each product through a wireless communication network to a logic engine, sorting the plurality of products based on the indicia to produce a bundled lot of products, producing a unique identifier for the bundled lot, the unique identifier having a machine readable code, and communicating the unique identifier of the bundled lot and the indicia of the products in the bundled lot to an auctioneer for initiation of a direct-to-consumer auction for auctioning of the bundled lot directly to a group of bidders. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209742 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SELLING TIME-BASED INVENTORY - A method for selling time-based inventory over a communications network includes permitting a seller via a graphical user interface to define a total time to be sold for a time based-inventory; permitting the seller via the graphical user interface to define a sales time interval amount smaller than the total time to be sold; dividing the total time as a function of the sales time interval amount so as to define a plurality of time intervals of the total time; and selling the plurality of time intervals via the communications network. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209743 | Multiple Criteria Buying and Selling Model - A multiple criteria buying and selling system and method is provided. A seller initially establishes a deal structure for a product, which provides seller defined selling criteria information relating to the purchasing of the product, such as volume per unit price, quality, delivery time and warranty information. A buyer will be able to review a list of deals if the seller's selling criteria matches a buyer defined buying criteria. The deal structure is preferably set up so as to provide buyers with both price and non-price criteria information that the buyer's would consider important in a purchase of the type of product being offered by the seller. The deal structure is electronically made available to potential buyers of the product. For example, the deal structure may be displayed on an Internet site. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209744 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INFORMATION EXCHANGE MECHANISMS FOR POWERED CARDS AND DEVICES - A card, or other device (e.g., a mobile telephonic device), may provide transaction, feature information, and/or any other type of information to a merchant terminal based upon check-in options that may be selected by the user on the card. A routing server may receive transaction information, feature information, merchant related information, cardholder information and/or any other type of information and provide the information to networked entities. The networked entities (e.g., websites, social networks, and search engines) may access the information to track the purchasing habits of one or more cardholders. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209745 | COVERS HAVING RFID FUNCTIONALITY FOR PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES - A system for business wireless mobile transactions for electronic hand-held devices including a mobile electronic communication device including a dedicated communication component and a dedicated activatable component; a trigger, a good or service, and an application server; wherein the device and the dedicated communication component are operable for communication with RFID/NFC transceivers when the device is located within a predetermined proximity of a transceiver; and wherein the trigger activates the device to electronically initiate a business transaction for the good or service on the application server when the device detects activation of the dedicated activatable component by the trigger. The system can further include a financial transaction server. Methods of using the system for conducting business or social transactions are also included. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209746 | METHOD, SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR E-MAIL REQUISITIONING - A method of and device for enabling the requisitioning of items over a network. The network is coupled to a server, thereby allowing communication between the server and a generating-user, a requisitioning-user and an initiating-user. The server generates a requisition template in response to input received from the generating-user. The server sends an initial e-mail message to the requisitioning-user's e-mail address in response to direction received from the initiating-user. The initial e-mail message includes the requisition template. The initial e-mail message is configured to result in the creation of a reply e-mail message in response to the requisitioning-user selecting to reply to the initial e-mail message from the e-mail application that is accessing the initial e-mail message, the reply e-mail message including the requisition template. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209747 | METHOD FOR SELECTIVELY VERIFYING OR BLOCKING REMOTE PURCHASE REQUESTS - A method for partially verifying the legitimacy of a remote purchase request based on a card number from a card issuing financial institution. The method includes receiving and storing a first purchase request information set including an origin and a card number. Further, the origin and the card number are sent to the card issuing financial institution to determine if the origin matches an origin on file for the card number at the card issuing financial institution. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209748 | DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING GIFT SELECTION AND GIFT REDEMPTION SERVICES IN AN E-COMMERCE ENVIRONMENT OVER A COMMUNICATION NETWORK - Systems, devices, and methods for providing gift selection and gift redemption services in an e-commerce environment over a communication network. Such systems, devices, and methods (i) provide gift recipient attributes and gift experience attributes to a gift donor communication interface; and (ii) receive a selection of gift recipient attributes and gift experience attributes from a communication interface. Further, the systems, devices, and methods provide gift options using a matching algorithm based on the gift recipient attributes and gift experience attributes to the communication interface. In addition, systems, devices, and methods: (i) receive more selected gift options from the communication interface; (ii) generate and provide reveal experiences to the communication interface; (iii) receive selected reveal experiences from the communication interface; and (iii) provide a gift redemption code based on the selected gift option and the selected reveal experience to the communication interface. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209749 | SNAP MOBILE PAYMENT APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS - The SNAP MOBILE PAYMENT APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS (“SNAP”) transform real-time-generated merchant-product Quick Response codes via SNAP components into virtual wallet card-based transaction purchase notifications. In one embodiment, the SNAP obtains a snapshot of a QR code presented on a display screen of a point-of-sale device from a mobile device. The SNAP decodes the QR code to obtain product information included in a checkout request of the user, and merchant information for processing a user purchase transaction with a merchant providing the QR code. The SNAP accesses a user virtual wallet to obtain user account information to process the user purchase transaction with the merchant. Using the product information, merchant information and user account information, the SNAP generates a card authorization request, and which the SNAP provides to a payment network for transaction processing. Also, the SNAP obtains a purchase receipt confirming processing of the user purchase transaction. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209750 | Automated Device Provisioning and Activation - Various embodiments are disclosed for a services policy communication system and method. In some embodiments, a communications device stores a set of device credentials for activating the communications device for a service on a network; and sends an access request to the network, the access request including the set of device credentials. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209751 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF GENERATING USE-BASED PRODUCT SEARCHING - Systems and methods are directed to use-based product searching. Raw product information data, such as product features, specifications, and user reviews are processed and analyzed using pattern-based text analysis to extract relevant product aspects and uses. The aspects are weighted in relation to their importance for various uses, and the corresponding aspects and their weights are linked to the uses. A user selects uses for a product, which correspond to weighted aspects, and the weights for the aspects are used to rank products using the weights of the aspects linked to the selected uses. The ranked products are presented to the user in a customizable interface. The user may directly specify weights for the extracted aspects to further customize the ranked list of products. The interface provides additional options for viewing product details, opinions and comparisons. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209752 | NETWORKED EXCHANGE - A distributed system is provided for initiating and managing commissions between commissioners and contractors, the system comprising a network, at least one server, at least one commissioner data processing device and at least one contractor data processing device, each connected to the network. The server is adapted to process a modular application comprising at least a database, a user profile module, a commission module and an accounting module; distribute a user—configurable interface to each data processing device connected to the network for inputting data and displaying database data; identify each data processing device connected to the network as a commissioner device or a contractor device; and configure the user—configurable interface in real time according to whether the data processing device is identified as a commissioner device or a contractor device, and according to whether the user interface is configured for use with the user profile module, the commission module or the accounting module. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209753 | METHODS, APPARATUSES AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR FACILITATING TOLL FREE DATA ACCESS - An apparatus for facilitating toll free data access includes a processor and memory storing executable computer code causing the apparatus to at least perform operations including sending a request to a device requesting identification of one or more content providers that provide data to users in which the content providers pay for data, accessed from the content providers, on behalf of users. The accessed data is not considered data usage accrued by the users during a billing cycle or against a prepaid data plan. The computer program code may further cause the apparatus to receive an indication from the device of a content provider(s) that pays for the provision of the data on behalf of users. The computer program code may further cause the apparatus to determine whether a selected content provider pays for the provision of the data to users. Corresponding methods and computer program products are also provided. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209754 | DATA-DRIVEN CUSTOMIZABLE PAYROLL ELEMENT TEMPLATE - Various techniques can be used to customize payroll element templates. One method involves accessing a predefined payroll element template; receiving a template modification value, which is input by a payroll user in response to a question in a predefined payroll questionnaire; customizing the predefined payroll element template, based upon the template modification value, to create a customized payroll element template; and storing the customized payroll element template. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209755 | LIGHTING SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DISPLACING ENERGY CONSUMPTION USING NATURAL LIGHTING FIXTURES - A lighting system for displacing energy is provided. The lighting system includes a light sensor to measure an amount of light provided from the natural lighting fixture to a building environment. The lighting system further includes processing electronics to receive information from the light sensor and to use the received information to determine when the amount of light provided from the natural lighting fixture is sufficient to allow one or more electric lighting fixtures to be turned off or dimmed, the processing electronics causing the one or more electric lighting fixtures to turn off or dim in response to the determination. The processing electronics are further configured to calculate the energy saved from turning off or dimming the one or more lighting fixtures. The lighting system further includes a communications interface configured to transmit the results of the calculation of energy saved from the processing electronics to a second party. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209756 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A DECISION SUPPORT FRAMEWORK RELATING TO FINANCIAL TRADES - The system and method described herein includes techniques for making trading decisions based on one or more predictions, outcomes, market data and optimization algorithms. More specifically, the system and method described herein allow users to provide a variety of inputs for consideration by a variety of optimization techniques. The system and methods are flexible with respect to the type of input received and the types of output desired. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209757 | System and Method for Providing Futures Contracts in a Financial Market Environment - A method for offering an asset in a financial environment is provided that includes receiving a request to perform a selected one of a purchasing and a selling operation for a futures contract. The futures contract includes a first asset class having a first value associated therewith and a second asset class having a second value associated therewith. A price for the futures contract is determined at least partially by the first and second values. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209758 | Routing of Orders in Equity Options by Means of a Parameterized Rules-Based Routing Table - An enhanced system and method for the “smart” routing of orders in an electronic options environment is disclosed. The method of routing includes different rules and protocols for orders that are allowed to route using a traditional intermarket linkage than for orders that are allowed to route using an alternative private direct connection or third-party service provider. The system and method of routing has at its basis a configurable, rules-based routing table that allows orders to be routed using different protocols based on the account type of the incoming order. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209759 | Method and Interface for Consolidating Price Levels on a Trading Screen - A trading screen may display price and quantity information for price levels in a static axis of prices. The static axis of prices may be divided into two or more different regions. The price and quantity information for one or more of the regions may be consolidated from price and quantity information from plurality of un-consolidated price levels. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209760 | RISK IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM AND JUDGMENTAL REVIEW INTERFACE - Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for identifying one or more risk patterns for an account based on a plurality of rules, determining whether to add an account on to a judgmental review queue based at least in part on the one or more risk patterns identified for the account, and allowing a user to execute one or more risk mitigation actions for the account in order to curb possible financial losses that may result from the identified risk patterns. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209761 | System and Method for Providing Borrowing Schemes - A system and method providing a borrowing scheme. The method comprises the steps of: establishing an interest-free revolving amount or account using the computer processor; establishing a periodic payment for maintaining the interest-free revolving amount or account using the computer processor; and automatically revising the interest-free revolving amount or account or the periodic payment using the computer processor based upon at least one user performance metric over a predetermined period of time; wherein the interest-free revolving amount or account or the periodic payment for maintaining the interest-free revolving amount is determined by the user via the network | 2012-08-16 |
20120209762 | TRANSACTION PROCESSING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method of processing a transaction between a first user in a first telecommunications network and a second user in a second telecommunications network is disclosed. The first and second telecommunications networks comprise respective first and second transaction processing systems which are not required to have a direct interface between them. A transaction request is received from a first user in the first telecommunications network to effect a transfer of credit to a second user in the second telecommunications network. The transaction request includes an identifier of the second user. A credit value for the transaction is determined. The system verifies that the first user has access to credit sufficient to effect the transfer, and credit associated with the first user is reserved in the first network for the transaction. A transaction instruction message (including the determined value for the transaction) is generated to instruct transfer of credit to the second user, and is forwarded to a trusted third party intermediary server, which interfaces to a plurality of telecommunications networks to arrange transactions between the telecommunications networks. After a confirmation message is received confirming delivery of the credit to the second user, the reserved credit is then debited from an account associated with the first user in the first telecommunications network. An accounting packet associated with at least one transaction and the accounting packet or an aggregated accounting packet for a plurality of transactions is forwarded to an accounting server associated with the intermediary server. This effects transfer of monetary value between an account associated with the first telecommunications network and an account associated with the trusted third party intermediary server. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209763 | INDIVIDUAL LOCKER ASSEMBLY FOR REFRIGERATORS - The individual locker assembly for refrigerators is intended for use in the workplace for employees to secure their perishable foods and beverages. The locker assembly is also suitable for installation in refrigerators in medical offices and the like for the secure storage of controlled medications and the like that must be refrigerated. The locker assembly has a series of panels and dividers installable in an existing refrigerator unit, with the panels and dividers defining a series of individual lock boxes, each having its own lockable door. Alternatively, a specially configured refrigerator has an open front and a series of individual lock boxes installed therein. Each lock box is in contact with other boxes and/or the walls, floor, and top panels of the refrigerator, and is thermally sealed thereto. Each lock box has its own lockable door. The refrigerator includes a system for automating the lock box rental transactions. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209764 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INTEGRATING SAVINGS AND CREDITS WITH DIFFERENT INTEREST RATES - A method and system for operating a new financial instrument and payment card integrates savings and credit transactions belonging to the same payment plan into a single account. Transactions can be carried out at different periods in time, for any amount, agreed on with different fixed or adjustable interest rates, without losing the payment conditions of each savings and credit. A financial account card as a financial instrument can be used to carry out long, medium and short-term savings and credit financial transactions. The card can also be used as a payment card to buy and sell anything of value. The card is operated through financial institutions and service centers by a computer system, which manages transactions between cardholders themselves and with financial institutions, maintains account balances, determines installments for debt and savings balances, manages available credit limits and guarantees, and manages other financial and payment services. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209765 | Monetary Transaction Security Verification System and Method - A payment system is provided having an internet interface. In one embodiment, the payment system issues instruments having control codes. The system may issue a first portion of the control code, and retain a second portion of the control code for later issuance. Such later issuance activates the instrument. Some embodiments have a role-based security access scheme. For example, one embodiment provides a security verification score to be used in assigning user permissions on the payment system. Customer service representatives having different security permissions complete different portions of the security scoring and permission assignment process. Some embodiments have automated processing of security verification items submitted by users. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209766 | BILL AVAILABILITY NOTIFICATION AND BILLING INFORMATION REQUEST - Systems and methods for presenting billing information are provided. Billing information may be received by a bill presentment system, and the bill presentment system may transmit a notice indicating availability of bill presentment information associated with the billing information. The notice may be transmitted in accordance with an e-mail protocol, and the notice may include a hyperlink enabling access to the bill presentment information via a second protocol other than the email protocol. Subsequent to transmitting the notice, a request for the bill presentment information may be received responsive to a selection of the hyperlink. The bill presentment information may be generated based upon at least a portion of the billing information. Additionally, the generated bill presentment may be transmitted by the bill presentment system in response to receiving the request. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209767 | Integrated Technology Money Transfer System - Money transfer system authorizing an escrow agent computer electronically by touch-tone telephone, computer modem, P.O.S. (point of sale) terminal, live operators, to send cash transfers from a sender's account such as their credit, debit, bank, or ATM card, or a bank account, to a recipient who accesses the money at any remote ATM type location or P.O.S. (point of sale) terminal by using cards such as a specialized magnetic cards, credit cards, debit cards, and automated teller machine (ATM) card, at anytime and anywhere. Senders can authorize the transfer by touch-tone and PIN (personal identification number) secure codes. The system can operate without pre-existing relationships, and monitor transactions and take surcharges based on transfer amounts, and use a cards tethered to ATM machines and be used with double magnetic sided cards. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209768 | PAYMENT SYSTEM WITH LOCATION RESTRICTIONS - A method for restricting a payment from an account based on a user location includes receiving at least one payment location restriction for an account from a user device over a network. The at least one payment location restriction includes at least one authorized user location or at least one unauthorized user location for making payments using the account. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209769 | MONEY TRANSFER SYSTEM FOR SENDING MONEY TO AN INSTITUTION FOR THE BENEFIT OF A RECEIVER ASSOCIATED WITH THE INSTITUTION - A computer system is operated to transfer money to a receiver via an institution. A send transaction request including a send amount is received from a sender for a money transfer. The sender is prompted to provide identifying information about the institution and the receiver. The identifying information about the receiver includes the receiver's name. A compliance and/or regulatory review of the receiver is then conducted. If the receiver passes the compliance and/or regulatory review, the receiver name and send amount are provided to the institution in a receive transaction. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209770 | System and Method for Monetizing Video Content - Methods and systems are presented for displaying multimedia content on a user computing device where the content includes several segments. A first segment of the content is displayed on the computing device and following display of the first segment of the content, a request for payment associated with a second segment of the content is displayed to the user. A user payment request approval for the second segment of the content is communicate from the user computing device to a service server, and the service server may respond with an approval or rejection. In a further potential embodiments, segments of the video may be defined and set by a content server, and varied based on feedback and history related to user payments. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209771 | MONITORING FOR OFFLINE TRANSACTIONS - A technique for tracking conversion of an online offer includes tracking online and/or offline transactions. A customer accepts an offer provided by a merchant and submits his or her account information so that he or she may receive a reward for satisfying criteria associated with the offer. Transactions of the merchant are then monitored at the payment processor level to determine whether the customer satisfies the purchase criteria. Therefore, online and offline conversion can both be tracked. Further, the merchant is able to determine the overall effectiveness of advertising campaigns by analyzing the number of offers that are both accepted and satisfied. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209772 | PAYMENT SYSTEM WITH TIME RESTRICTIONS - A method for restricting a payment from an account based on a time includes receiving at least one payment time restriction for an account from a user device over a network. The at least one payment time restriction includes at least one authorized payment time or at least one unauthorized payment time for making payments using the account. The at least one payment time restriction is associated with the account in a database. A request to make a payment using the account is received over the network. A current time is determined. The request is authorized or denied based, at least partly, on whether the current time is included in the at least one authorized payment time or the at least one unauthorized payment time. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209773 | FRAUD ALERTING USING MOBILE PHONE LOCATION - A location of a transaction or payment request is compared with a location of a user device to determine whether the distance is great enough to send an alert for a possible fraudulent transaction. The user device location may be predicted based on a last known location and information about the area of the last known location and movement of the user device. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209774 | Redirecting or Returning International Credit Transfers - Redirecting or returning international credit transfers is described. In one embodiment a system for redirecting or returning international credits is described including a gateway operator that receives a credit transfer from a foreign originator, compares routing and account numbers of the credit transfer with a predetermined table of routing and account numbers, and forwards the credit transfer based on the comparison of the routing and account numbers with the predetermined table, an Automated Clearing House (ACH) that presents the credit transfer to a Receiving Depository Financial Institution (RDFI) for clearing and settlement, and a wire transfer service that presents the credit transfer to the RDFI for clearing and settlement. In another embodiment a method for redirecting or returning international credits is described. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209775 | SOCIAL NETWORK TRANSACTION PROCESSING SYSTEM - A system for transferring funds using social network connections. The system sends application programming interface (API) requests to social networks to obtain “friend” information and create accounts into which funds are deposited and which may be retrieved by recipients via hyperlinks in messages provided through social networks. The system may also be used to request funds from social network friends. The system provides benefactor friends fund requests in the form of social network messages, which allow the benefactors to access the system and provide funds to a user via hyperlinks in the messages. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209776 | VEHICLE DEVICE, AD HOC NETWORK AND METHOD FOR A ROAD TOLL SYSTEM - A vehicle device for a road toll system including: a satellite navigation receiver for continuously generating location data for a processing and transmitting/receiving unit of the vehicle device; and a trusted-element processor configured to log a time segment of the generated location data and to cryptographically signing said time segment. The trusted-element processor is further configured to start said logging upon detection of a predefined time or a predefined location of the vehicle device and to carry out said logging for a predefined time segment. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209777 | Monetary Transaction Control Code System - A payment system is provided having an internet interface. In one embodiment, the payment system issues instruments having control codes. The system may issue a first portion of the control code, and retain a second portion of the control code for later issuance. Such later issuance activates the instrument. Some embodiments have a role-based security access scheme. For example, one embodiment provides a security verification score to be used in assigning user permissions on the payment system. Customer service representatives having different security permissions complete different portions of the security scoring and permission assignment process. Some embodiments have automated processing of security verification items submitted by users. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209778 | MEDIATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RESTRICTED ACCESS ITEM DISTRIBUTION - Mediation systems and methods for restricted access item distribution are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method for facilitating payment from a user device for a restricted access item hosted by a host system is disclosed. In another embodiment, a system for facilitating payment from a user device to for a restricted access item hosted by a host system is disclosed. In another embodiment, a method for providing a mediated marketplace service is disclosed. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209779 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USING SERVICE REPRESENTATIONS TO ALIGN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY WITH THE STRATEGY OF AN ENTERPRISE - A service-oriented architecture for enterprise project management integrates business processes, human resources and project management within an enterprise or across the value chain network. A representation having direction and attributes is provided to show the dependencies between a business value layer and a project-portfolio layer, and between the project-portfolio layer and resources. The representation is mapped to a Web Services representation in UDDI, Web Services interfaces, and Web Services based business processes through rope hyper-linking. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209780 | RECALLED PRODUCT INVENTORY NOTIFICATION, REMOVAL, AND VERIFICATION SYSTEM - A recall management system allows generating, tracking, and verifying product recalls. The system provides notifications of a product recall to affected and unaffected businesses in the supply chain, as well as notification of the public and government agencies that may be affected. Verification of received notifications and the quantity of product removed from supply in response to the recall allows for closure of recall activity. Recalls may be extended over time as additional products needing to be recalled from the particular supplier of the recalled product are identified. Product returns over time are added to the total product recovered and scorecards updated in real-time as the return information is tabulated. Affected businesses and government agencies have visibility to both recall message receipt and product recovered as a part of total product recalled. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209781 | Customer Loyalty, Product Demonstration, and Store/Contact Center/Internet Coupling System and Method - A system for storing information about searches and inquiries by a customer is provided. The system includes a customer service server that receives information from two or more sources, such as from a retail location sales agent, a website, a call center agent, etc. The information is associated and correlated to interrelate inquiries from the different sources. Further, when the user enters a retail location, a node or server at the retail location can push test application to a user's mobile device based on the past inquiries. These test applications are provided only when the customer is present in the retail location. As such, hacking the application is prevented. Further, with the customer using the application in the retail location, a sales agent is present to assist the customer. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209782 | AERIAL ROOF ESTIMATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system that allows the remote measurement of the size, geometry, pitch and orientation of the roof sections of a building and then uses the information to provide an estimate to repair or replace the roof, or to install equipment thereon. The system includes an aerial image file database that shows aerial images of buildings in a designated area according to address. The slope and orientation images are typically oblique perspective views and top plan views of the buildings in the area. The system also includes an image analysis and calibration feature that enables the viewer to closely estimate the size, geometry and orientation of the building's roof sections. By simply inputting the potential customer's address, the company is able to determine the size, geometry, pitch and orientation of the roof sections of the building at that address, and then quickly provide an accurate estimate to the customer. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209783 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS USED IN THE OPERATION OF A RECYCLING ENTERPRISE - A system and a computer program product embodied on a computer readable medium for sharing recycling related photographs with third parties on a social network site to encourage recycling. The computer program product includes receiving a recycling related photograph from a recycling user having a first user account on a recycling related web server in communication with a database having a reward point total and recycling data associated with the recycling user, receiving information related to the recycling related photograph, transmitting the recycling related photograph and at least a portion of the information to the recycling related web server via a network, for creating a user selectable link to the recycling related photograph on the first user account via the network, authorizing the recycling user access to a second user account on a social networking site via the network, transmitting the user selectable link to the second user account on the social networking site via the network, and adding a predefined reward amount to the reward point total in exchange for the recycling user sharing the recycling related photographs with third parties on the social network site. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209784 | Systems and Methods for Providing a Practice Area Option - Included are systems and methods for providing a practice area option. Some embodiments include providing an administrator interface that includes a practice area option to create a custom practice area grouping and providing an intake form option that includes a plurality of information sets. Similarly, some embodiments include providing an option to include the intake form into the custom practice area grouping and in response to receiving an indication to include the intake form into the custom practice area grouping, including the intake form into the custom practice area grouping. At least one embodiment includes providing a user interface for assigning a new client account to the custom practice area grouping and, in response to receiving information for at least one of the plurality of data fields, saving, by a computing device, the new client account. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209785 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR FACILITATING A SUBSCRIPTION-BASED ON-LINE PROPERTY LISTING - Methods and systems for facilitating a subscription-based on-line property listing as part of an on-line property listing publication service are described. Consistent with some embodiments, in exchange for a fixed fee, a property listing is activated for a fixed duration of time, referred to as an activation period. At the end of the activation period, the property listing is deactivated if the property listing has generated a number of leads equal to or greater than some predetermined threshold number of leads. However, if the number of leads generated during the activation period was less than the threshold number, the property listing is reactivated for a rollover period. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209786 | Social Net Advocacy Business Applications - A method and system are disclosed for monitoring user interactions and generating proactive responses thereto within a social media environment. Social media interactions are monitored, collected, and processed to generate social network advocacy analyses, which are in turn processed to generate predictive models. In turn, the predictive models are referenced to perform targeting market segmentation operations and to generate proactive marketing response recommendations. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209787 | COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MATCHING FREIGHT VEHICLES AND LOADS - A system for matching freight vehicles and loads includes a database receiving location data for various freight vehicles associated with multiple organizations, as well as other vehicle data, such as destination location and times. The database also includes location data from a plurality of loads, as well as other load data, such as origin and destination locations and times. A user operating a computing device receives this data based on organizational permissions. The computing device displays a map on which the various freight vehicles, loads, and associated data may be displayed. As such, the user may quickly and efficiently match available loads to available vehicles or vice-versa. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209788 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING SHIPMENT OF PACKAGES - A method and apparatus for facilitating the shipment of a package or packages, each package containing one or more items, from a Sender to a Recipient, via one of a number of shippers. The apparatus includes a database for storing shipper data, a processor for processing the data in the database, a Sender's terminal for selectively receiving and sending shipment information to and from the processing system, a first communications link for selectively enabling communication between the database/processor and the Sender's terminal, a second communications link for selectively communicating between the database/processor and the shipper of the package(s), and a third communications link for selectively communicating between the database/processor and customs facilitation entities such as customs brokers. The Internet may be used as at least one of the communication links, and the database may be made available through a Web site. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209789 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR USING CREDIT LINES TO ENHANCE THE DURABILITY OF SECURITIES PORTFOLIOS - A system and method for determining a desirous funding source and/or sources based upon at least one of user information, home information and portfolio information, wherein said desirous funding source(s) is/are based, at least in part, upon maximization of a user's assets. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209790 | PROCESS FOR VERIFIABLY COMMUNICATING RISK CHARACTERISTICS OF AN INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO - Offered is a process for verifiably communicating risk characteristics of an investment portfolio to an investor without disclosing the exact composition. An investment manager may describe acceptable characteristics of a portfolio within the portfolio's prospectus and may cryptographically commit to the contents without disclosing the exact composition. Risk statistics may be calculated concerning the limitations specified in the prospectus regarding acceptable configurations of assets holdings without disclosing the exact composition. Cryptographic means may be provided to prove that portfolio holdings are within ranges specified in the prospectus. One or more third parties may participate in the protected verification. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209791 | SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A TAILORED INVESTMENT OPTION FOR APATHETIC INVESTORS - An investment system for collecting, adjusting, monitoring and directing data from beneficiaries, customers, superannuation member accounts (investors) where the investor has not made any direction or indication of the third party controlling entity in regards to the investment option, style or type. The system computes a matrix of hurdle levels (potential goals or targets) across the whole pool of eligible investors and sets glide paths (percentage of growth of assets at different stages of the investment) for each of the hurdles. The system automatically provides asset allocations and advice to individual investors and provides asset allocations and advice to third party entities such as a trustee organisation managing investors' funds. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209792 | BIOLOGICAL DATABASE INCORPORATING CONTENT-PROVIDER PAYMENT MECHANISM - Systems and methods are used to provide an aggregated genomic information database and compensate contributors. Genomic data and contributor data are received from a contributor client device and stored in an electronic database using a server computer. A linkage between the genomic data and other genomic data stored in the electronic database is determined and the linkage is stored in the electronic database using the server computer. A request for the genomic data from a user client device is received, the genomic data and the linkage are retrieved from the electronic database, and the genomic data and the linkage are sent to the user client device using the server computer. A compensation amount value for the genomic data is calculated and sent to the contributor client device using the server computer. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209793 | Ideation Search Engine - It is an object of the present invention to provide a system for measuring, valuing, assigning, processing and accessing emotional values for use in an idea generation, or ideation, search engine. This system may be applied to searching and matching between different entities, where an entity can be anything including websites, multimedia objects, products, people, places and ideas. According to another aspect of the present invention, a computer system for codifying human emotion into a machine readable language is disclosed. The computer system comprises an emotion preference server, an enterprise system, an end-user system and a search and match engine. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209794 | SELF-ORGANIZING SEQUENTIAL MEMORY PATTERN MACHINE AND REINFORCEMENT LEARNING METHOD - A self-organizing computing machine utilizes a method for mapping from a plurality of patterns contained within provided inputs to an invariant perception, distinguishable by a name or a label. The self-organizing computing machine includes a network of at least three nodes arranged in at least two hierarchical levels, at least one feature extractor, and at least one output unit arranged to interface the invariant perception. The nodes may include a reinforcement learning sub-network combined with an ensemble learning sub-network. The reinforcement learning sub-network may be arranged to receive at least two correlants, to determine a plurality of output values and to output the output values to the nodes of the higher level and the nodes of the lower level. Also, the ensemble learning sub-network may be arranged to receive and to combine output values from nodes of the higher level and nodes of the lower level. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209795 | WEB PAGE ANALYSIS SYSTEM FOR COMPUTERIZED DERIVATION OF WEBPAGE AUDIENCE CHARACTERISTICS - A system for generating a demographic profile for a set of at least one webpage, the system comprising a webpage audience information gatherer operative for providing, for at least one webpage, training data including demographic information characterizing an audience of the webpage; a predictor developing system operative to compute at least one content characteristic of said webpage and to develop a prediction process which if applied to said content characteristic would have predicted said training data; and a webpage audience predictor operative, for at least one new webpage, whose audience is unknown, to compute at least one content characteristic of the new webpage and to generate predicted demographic information predicted to characterize said unknown audience of said new webpage by applying said prediction process to said new webpage's content characteristic. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209796 | ATTENTION FOCUSING MODEL FOR NEXTING BASED ON LEARNING AND REASONING - A system and method for nexting is presented. The method comprises computing an expected event, observing a new event, when the expected event matches the new event, processing the new event and performing action in accordance with given concepts, when the expected event does not match the new event and the new event can be explained based on the given concepts, processing the new event and performing action in accordance with the given concepts, and when the expected event does not match the new event and the new event cannot be explained based on the given concepts, employing learning mechanism and performing action decided on by the learning mechanism. In one aspect, the method comprises generating new concepts using reasoning or learning. In one aspect, the method comprises converting sensed numerical data into events of interest via the application of learned functions operating on the numerical data. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209797 | System And Method For Facilitating Evergreen Discovery Of Digital Information - A computer-implemented system and method for facilitating evergreen discovery of digital information is provided. A hierarchy of topics for topically-limited subject areas is defined. Seed words characteristic of each topic are selected. Training material from the digital information that corresponds to the respective subject area of each of the topics is designated. Candidate topic models are formed from the seed words. Each candidate topic model includes a pattern evaluable against the digital information. An ability of each of the candidate topic models to identify such digital information matching the candidate topic model's topic is tested by matching the pattern in the candidate topic model to the training material. The candidate topic model for each topic that includes the highest abilities with respect to the topic in performance, simplicity and bias is chosen. An evergreen index is formed by pairing the chosen candidate topic model to each topic in the hierarchy. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209798 | AUTONOMOUS BIOLOGICALLY BASED LEARNING TOOL - An autonomous biologically based learning tool system and a method that the tool system employs for learning and analysis are provided. The autonomous biologically based learning tool system includes (a) one or more tool systems that perform a set of specific tasks or processes and generate assets and data related to the assets that characterize the various processes and associated tool performance; (b) an interaction manager that receives and formats the data, and (c) an autonomous learning system based on biological principles of learning. The autonomous learning system comprises a memory platform and a processing platform that communicate through a network. Both the memory platform and the processing platform include functional components and memories that can be defined recursively. Knowledge generated and accumulated in the autonomous learning system(s) can be cast into semantic networks that can be employed for learning and driving tool goals based on context. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209799 | CLASSIFICATION DEVICE AND CLASSIFICATION METHOD - Provided is a classification device capable of classifying time series data of location information into groups in which continuity of time is secured. The classification device ( | 2012-08-16 |
20120209800 | BUSINESS RULES - Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to business rules. In aspects, an interface is described that allows a user to enter, update, and delete business rules. Once entered, the business rules may be validated and translated into other forms including a form that is executable by a computer system. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209801 | DECIDING AN OPTIMAL ACTION IN CONSIDERATION OF RISK - A method and system for deciding an optimal action in consideration of risk. The method includes the steps of: generating sequentially, by way of a Markov decision process based on a Monte Carlo method, a series of data having states on a memory of a computer; computing a risk measure of a present data by tracking generated data from opposite order to generation order, where the risk measure is calculated from a value at risk or an exceedance probability that is derived from risk measures of a plurality of states transitionable from a state of the present data; and executing the step of computing the risk measure while tracking back to starting data, where at least one of the steps is carried out using a computer device. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209802 | POWER MANAGEMENT IN LINK AGGREGATION FOR DATA TRANSMISSION - A method includes receiving a data query instruction for execution, wherein execution of the data query instruction is to cause a data transfer into or from a data warehouse. The data warehouse includes data servers that are communicatively coupled for data transfer through a link aggregation group having at least two data links. Responsive to receiving the data query instruction and prior to or at least partially overlapping with execution of the data query instruction to cause the data transfer, the method includes identifying which of the number of data servers are to receive or transmit data as part of the data transfer; identifying, for each of the identified data servers, a minimum number of the at least two data links that are needed for the data transfer; and activating, if inactive, the minimum number of the at least two data links for each of the identified data servers. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209803 | DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A document management system allows designation of process owners, approvers, trainers and users of specified documents. The system automatically notifies designated participants of documents to be created, documents awaiting approval, training required, training schedules, and tests. Notifications of approved documents are automatically sent to designated users and trainers for scheduling and tracking user training. The system accommodates requests for document revisions and justifications and allows custom reports to be created and tracked. The system allows for the creation of custom tests that are linked to documents and graded automatically to be used as a final phase of training. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209804 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING CONTENT IN A PROCESSING DEVICE - A method and apparatus for managing content in a processing device are provided. The content management method includes receiving information regarding first content from a first external device; and acquiring second content related to the first content based on the received information regarding the first content. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209805 | NON-DISRUPTIVE FILE SYSTEM ELEMENT RECONFIGURATION ON DISK EXPANSION - An apparatus is operable with a host and a data storage component for controlling expansion of storage, and comprises: an allocating component responsive to a user input for allocating an expanded target storage space to a file system element to thereby make an expanded file system element; a file system metadata component for maintaining file system metadata including metadata for said expanded file system element; a file system I/O component responsive to said file system metadata component for controlling file system I/O between said host and said storage component; and a synchronizing component responsive to said file system metadata component for synchronizing data between a source storage space and said expanded target storage space; wherein said file system I/O component is operable to use said file system metadata component to access said expanded file system element prior to completion of action of said synchronizing component. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209806 | CONTENT SEARCH DEVICE, CONTENT SEARCH METHOD, PROGRAM - A player (content searching device) compares an acquired piece primary metadata (with running number | 2012-08-16 |
20120209807 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DATA DISASTER TOLERANCE PREPROCESSING, AND SERVICE CONTROL POINT - The present invention discloses a method and an apparatus for data disaster tolerance preprocessing and a Service Control Point (SCP), the method and the apparatus are used in each SCP of a plurality of SCPs with databases, the method comprises: setting a first database in a first SCP, wherein the first database is used to perform disaster tolerance backup for a second database in a second SCP. Through the present invention, the cost of the construction of the system is reduced, and the stability and feasibility of a disaster tolerance system are enhanced. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209808 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PEER-TO-PEER DATABASE SYNCHRONIZATION IN DYNAMIC NETWORKS - A distributed database synchronization capability is provided herein. The distributed database synchronization capability may be implemented using one or more of a timer-based scheme and a token-based scheme. The distributed database synchronization capability enables synchronization of databases of nodes in various types of networks, including dynamic networks (e.g., such as rapidly deployable wireless networks) and various other types of networks. The synchronization of databases may include synchronization of databases as a whole and/or portions of databases (which may include any suitable database table or tables). The distributed database synchronization capability enables synchronization of databases of nodes under various dynamic conditions (e.g., synchronization of databases of nodes within a cluster of nodes, synchronization of databases of nodes between clusters of nodes, synchronization of databases of nodes by administrative domain, and the like). | 2012-08-16 |
20120209809 | CONTINUOUS DATA PROTECTION OVER INTERMITTENT CONNECTIONS, SUCH AS CONTINUOUS DATA BACKUP FOR LAPTOPS OR WIRELESS DEVICES - A portable data protection system is described for protecting, transferring or copying data using continuous data protection (CDP) over intermittent or occasional connections between a computer system or mobile device containing the data to be protected, transferred or copied, called a data source, and one or more computer systems that receive the data, called a data target. CDP can be broken down logically into two phases: 1) detecting changes to data on a data source and 2) replicating the changes to a data target. The portable data protection system uses a method that performs the first phase continuously or near continuously on the data source, and the second phase when a connection is available between the data source and the data target. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209810 | Using a Sparse File as a Clone of a File - One embodiment is for using a sparse file as a clone. The method includes creating, by an application associated with a computer system, a snapshot of a file, such as an individual file, a collection of files, file system, directories, and so forth. Further, the method includes requesting, by the application, a clone of that created snapshot. Further still, the method includes generating, by the application, an empty sparse having at least one inode identifying the empty sparse file as the clone and pointing to the snapshot associated with the clone. Thereby, the requested clone is created using the created sparse file, which begins as an empty sparse file. | 2012-08-16 |
20120209811 | Verification of Computer Backup Data - A backup method for a computer system network avoids generating hashes from data that may be inaccurate due to network errors affords verification of source data written to backup media includes reading at a network client a portion of the source data from a source storage volume and generating a hash of the source data at the client. The source data and hash are transmitted to a backup server and written to the backup media. The hash is written to the backup media is associated with the backup data corresponding to the source data from which the hash was generated. Verification of the backup data is performed by reading the backup data from the backup media, generating a hash from the backup data read, and comparing that hash with the hash originally stored on the backup media. This enables the backup data to be verified as corresponding to the original source data without the necessity of rereading the source data from the source volume, and enables faster, more accurate off-line verification subsequent to the backup process. | 2012-08-16 |