34th week of 2008 patent applcation highlights part 51 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20080201149 | VARIABLE VOICE RATE APPARATUS AND VARIABLE VOICE RATE METHOD - A variable voice rate apparatus to control a reproduction rate of voice, includes a voice data generation unit configured to generate voice data from the voice, a text data generation unit configured to generate text data indicating a content of the voice data, a division information generation unit configured to generate division information used for dividing the text data into a plurality of linguistic units each of which is characterized by a linguistic form, a reproduction information generation unit configured to generate reproduction information set for each of the linguistic units, and a voice reproduction controller which controls reproduction of each of the linguistic units, based on the reproduction information and the division information. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201150 | VOICE CONVERSION APPARATUS AND SPEECH SYNTHESIS APPARATUS - A conversion rule and a rule selection parameter are stored. The conversion rule converts a spectral parameter of a source speaker to a spectral parameter of a target speaker. The rule selection parameter represents the spectral parameter of the source speaker. A first conversion rule of start timing and a second conversion rule of end timing in a speech unit of the source speaker are selected by the spectral parameter of the start timing and the end timing. An interpolation coefficient corresponding to the spectral parameter of each timing in the speech unit is calculated by the first conversion rule and the second conversion rule. A third conversion rule corresponding to the spectral parameter of each timing in the speech unit is calculated by interpolating the first conversion rule and the second conversion rule with the interpolation coefficient. The spectral parameter of each timing is converted to a spectral parameter of the target speaker by the third conversion rule. A spectral acquired from the spectral parameter of the target speaker is compensated by a spectral compensation quantity. A speech waveform is generated from the compensated spectral. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201151 | INFORMATION-PROCESSING DEVICE AND INFORMATION-PROCESSING METHOD - An information-processing device and method that attains speech-recognition to recognize data input via speech. The information-processing device and method includes analyzing speech-recognition-grammar data, generating data on a template used to input data by speech based on the analysis results, and displaying the generated speech-input-template data. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201152 | Apparatus for Encoding and Decoding Audio Signal and Method Thereof - A method and/or apparatus for encoding and/or decoding an audio signal is disclosed, in which a downmix gain is applied to a downmix signal in an encoding apparatus which, in turn, transmits, to a decoding apparatus, a bitstream containing information as to the applied downmix gain. The decoding apparatus recovers the downmix signal, using the downmix gain information. A method and/or apparatus for encoding and/or decoding an audio signal is also disclosed, in which the encoding apparatus can apply an arbitrary downmix gain (ADG) to the downmix signal, and can transmit a bitstream containing information as to the applied ADG to the decoding apparatus. The decoding apparatus recovers the downmix signal, using the ADG information. A method and/or apparatus for encoding and/or decoding an audio signal is also disclosed, in which the method and/or apparatus can also vary the energy level of a specific channel, and can recover the varied energy level. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201153 | Generation of Multi-Channel Audio Signals - A decoder ( | 2008-08-21 |
20080201154 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTINUOUS PROCESS IMPROVEMENT - A system and method for continuously handling ideas and incorporating them into a business process to improve the business and the business processes are disclosed. The system and method includes pipelining of ideas, organizing the management line personnel for driving the ideas into the business process and organizing, coaching and training the personnel that are implementing the invention into as a sustainable, continuous process | 2008-08-21 |
20080201155 | Valet package handling - A method of reducing the burden, of carrying packages during a shopping trip to a mall type shopping center with retail stores, includes interconnecting valet kiosks with a computer network. Shoppers can conveniently drop packages at the nearest kiosk and be free to continue shopping. Shoppers receive a wallet sized card with claim information encoded magnetically or otherwise. The card is swiped at each kiosk where another package is dropped off. All information is routed to a central computer server. Shoppers need only let an attendant at a kiosk know that they are leaving for the day to have their packages moved to their valet-parked vehicle. If the vehicle is self-parked, the packages are moved to a drive-up locker which is opened by swiping the card. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201156 | User-generated community publication in a geo-spatial environment - A method, apparatus, and system of a user-generated community publication in a geo-spatial environment are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes generating a geo-spatial environment in which residents are represented as users, and in which residents have associated meta-data indicating a physical location and/or an electronic location of the users, processing a user selection of a submit a story idea indicator and/or a become a journalist indicator, processing a submission form when the submit the story idea indicator is selected, and adding a submitted story idea that is geo-tagged to a location identifier of the user to an ideas database, and which remains in the ideas database for a threshold amount of time, transforming a status of a different user to being a community journalist when the different user elects the become the journalist indicator and altering a status of the submitted story idea as being checked out when the community journalist selects the submitted story idea as being one which the community journalist chooses to author. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201157 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER SOFTWARE UTILIZING XBRL TO ELECTRONICALLY LINK THE ACCOUNTING RECORDS OF MULTI-PERIOD CONTRACTS AND MULTI-PERIOD LOANS AND GRANTS FOR MANAGEMENT - A method, system and program product for managing a multi-period contract, comprising: receiving or extracting or generating new contract data on one or more of contracts, changes to the contracts, cost data, changes to the cost data; creating or updating with the new contract data an XBRL multi-period contract record comprising XBRL data fields containing contract data made for different periods in a contract and associated metadata representing attributes at the data field level based on a contract taxonomy, some of the metadata relating to a pertinent time or date for the data, wherein the creating or updating comprises converting the new contract data into values in one or more of the XBRL data fields and associating metadata thereto based on context data for the new contract data and forming links between and/or among at least two items selected from one or more of the categories of the data fields, metadata and components associated with the data fields in the XBRL multi-period contract record; receiving a selection of one of the data fields; obtaining a plurality of data items from current and earlier contract periods associated with the data field; performing an algorithm on the plurality of data items from the current and earlier contract periods to obtain algorithm calculation results; and communicating the algorithm calculation results. In a further embodiment, a disbursement document may be approved or audited based on a disbursement taxonomy and non-conformance determined. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201158 | System and method for visitation management in a controlled-access environment - A method of managing visitation includes accessing a visitation control system including a visitation session scheduling interface, communications devices, a switching interface, and at least one authentication interface, defining rules governing visitation, requesting a visitation session using the scheduling interface, assessing whether the visitation session complies with the rules governing visitation, scheduling the visitation session if the visitation session complies with the rules, using the at least one authentication interface to authenticate a first party and a second party, establishing communication between the first party and the second party after authenticating both parties, and storing a record of the visitation session in a database. The record preferably includes at least information regarding identities of the first party and the second party. The visitation session may also be monitored (e.g., in real time, near real time, or by recording). | 2008-08-21 |
20080201159 | System for Automating and Managing an Enterprise IP Environment - A system and method for tracking an innovation. The system and method determine one or more actions requested by a user with respect to stored information associated with the innovation, determine an identification of the user, and log the one or more actions and the identification of the user. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201160 | Method for Managing Car Lease Using Car-Use Electronic Device and Mobile Device - A method for managing car lease using a car-use electronic device and a mobile device, comprising steps of: picking up a car data from a data base for matching so as to provide a first data comprising a car password and a second data comprising a user password when an information center receives a renting request, wherein the car password and the user password are matched; transmitting the first data to the mobile device of a user and the second data to a controller on a car; and authorizing the user to star the car if the controller verifies that the car password and the user password are matched after the user transmits the car password from the mobile device to the controller. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201161 | System and method for assessing condition and assigning value to watercraft - A computer-implemented system and method for evaluating watercraft, particularly from a remote location. The system includes an evaluation server that receives requests to evaluate a boat from clients. Upon receipt of an evaluation request, the evaluation server submits a request to the client to provide detailed information regarding the boat to be evaluated via a particular website. Once the client has submitted the requested information, the evaluation server notifies a marine surveyor of the report and requests that the surveyor provide comments and cite safety regulations relevant to the boat being inspected. Upon receipt of the surveyor's comments and citations, the evaluation server assembles all gathered information and provides a report to the client or a designated representative. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201162 | E-INTERVIEW SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system and method to create, present, and search “E-Interview” information. E-Interview information may comprise one or more of the following: a resume, a cover letter, a personality profile and interests, a perfect or ideal job description exercise, a character and values profile, a values statement, career goals, pre-answered job questions, other profiles or information selected by the applicant, employment questionnaires related to job function and values philosophy, goal-setting and job search tools, and video presentations. It also may comprise a picture of the applicant, voice-only interviews (in MP3 or other format), and statistics information that indicates how many times the applicant's profile has been viewed by potential employers. The information may be presented in a single website, as opposed to multiple websites or sources. A website containing multiple E-Interviews may be accessible by potential employers. The site may include a variety of tools to assist the employer in creating job profiles, evaluating candidates, building a talent pool, and the like, and tools to assist a job-seeker to create and present the E-Interview information. Some or all of the E-Interview information may be downloaded onto a CD or DVD. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201163 | Vehicle-Value Analyzing and Messaging Systems - A system, process and computer software is disclosed for electronically accessing financial terms related to the acquisition of a vehicle by a purchaser, including contact information, original vehicle information, and the settlement amount. This system may electronically accesses used vehicle valuations, including an estimate for a vehicle similar to the vehicle included with the financial terms. The system may automatically correlate the financial terms to the used vehicle valuations. The system may determine the value-difference between the financial terms of the original vehicle and a new vehicle. The system may transmit a message to the purchaser to communicate that the purchaser can replace the original vehicle with a new vehicle. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201164 | Leadership support system determining a danger of isolation of a group member even under temporarily worsened communication conditions - A leadership support system includes a leader terminal and plural member terminals. The member terminals, according to either the relay of communication information not addressed thereto or the reception of communication information addressed thereto, send back a response to the appropriate communication information. The leader terminal determines, based on the times of relaying the communication information, whether or not the member terminal that transmitted the communication information is in danger of isolation. When the leader terminal determines the member terminal in danger of isolation, it outputs a warning signal indicative of a ranger of isolation to that member terminal. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201165 | PRACTICE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (PMS) INTEGRATION - A system and computer program product for integrating verification of eligibility information of a card member enrolled in a health plan with a payment account required to pay for the services used according to the health plan is described. The present invention integrates card member information to a Practice Management System which provides payment capabilities for services used by the card member. The invention encodes basic patient eligibility information onto a card magnetic stripe. This helps in overcoming any manual data entry errors that can result from a paper-based or paperless electronic process. The invention provides the ability to complete a transaction involving a medical service provider, a patient and a payer in a single swipe of card. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201166 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO BILL A HEALTHCARE ENTITY FOR USE OF AN ASSET OF A SUPPLIER - A system to bill a healthcare entity for use of an asset of a supplier is provided. The system includes a computer in communication to track use of the asset, and a computer readable storage medium having programmable instructions for execution by the computer. The programmable instructions include receiving a request from the healthcare entity for use of the asset; identifying an identifier correlated to the request, the identifier correlated to a request for reimbursement from the insurer; tracking use of the asset by the healthcare entity; detecting receipt of the reimbursement at the healthcare entity from the insurer; calculating a percentage of the reimbursement to bill the healthcare entity for use of the asset correlated to the reimbursement; and generating an output for communication to the healthcare entity. The output includes a display that shows the identifier and the percentage of the reimbursement billed to the healthcare entity. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201167 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OPTIMIZING UTILIZATION OF A DONOR - A system (and method) for optimizing utilization of a human resource, including determining an emotional state or a physical state of the human resource, and determining whether the emotional state or the physical state of the human resource corresponds to a task. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201168 | TREATMENT REGIMEN COMPLIANCE AND EFFICACY WITH FEEDBACK - A method and system for interaction with a community of individuals, relating to compliance with and effectiveness of treatment regimens, including supply and use of pharmaceuticals, using a protocol or other intelligent message which acts in place of a service provider and which is capable of collecting or imparting information to patients in place thereof. Individuals interact with the protocol or intelligent message to provide assistance in all aspects of treatment regimen compliance, data collection, supply or delivery, review and modification. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201169 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC DATA ACQUISITION AND/OR DETECTION - Methods and devices for providing diabetes management including automatic time acquisition protocol is provided. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201170 | KNOWLEDGE-BASED SYSTEM FOR SUPPORTING RADIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT AND DIAGNOSTICS - In a method and a system for determination of at least one additional examination process in the framework of a medical examination of a patient using a knowledge base, the knowledge base contains a number of rules, and each rule contains a condition from which a result can be derived. An item of patient-related information is automatically registered and used to output the examination-specific result. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201171 | PATIENT NOTIFICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - In the practice of the present invention, a method and system for notifying a patient of a medical office about a pharmaceutical event based upon a pharmaceutical sample associated with the patient and corresponding to received event data, said patient selected from a list of patients retrievably stored within a database, a message being generated by the computer in response to said pharmaceutical event and transmitted to the patient. In addition, the present invention allows the medical office to monitor drug sample inventory and record dispensed drug samples and newly received drug samples. Optionally, the system may selectively transmit a portion of the medical office database to a pharmaceutical company for monitoring the inventory, dispensing and utilization of selected drug samples at plural medical offices. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201172 | METHOD, SYSTEM AND COMPUTER SOFTWARE FOR USING AN XBRL MEDICAL RECORD FOR DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, AND INSURANCE COVERAGE - A healthcare management method, system and program product comprising: extracting and/or receiving or generating a medical record comprising at least clinical examination data or laboratory results and context data therefore for a patient; creating or updating an XBRL medical record comprising XBRL data fields containing clinical examination data and/or laboratory results made over a period of time and associated metadata representing attributes at the data value level based on a medical taxonomy, the creating or updating comprising converting the clinical examination data and/or laboratory results into values in one or more of the XBRL data fields and creating from the context metadata and associating the metadata representing attributes at the data value level based on the medical taxonomy and forming links between and/or among at least two items selected from one or more of the categories of the data fields, metadata and components associated with the data fields in the XBRL medical record; obtaining data made over a period of time for that patient in a given data field; performing an algorithm on the obtained data for the at least one of the data fields to obtain an algorithm calculation result; and communicating the algorithm calculation result. In a further embodiment, a genotype for a patient is obtained and used to select a data field from an XBRL medical record for the patient, and then an algorithm is performed on data made over a period of time for at least one of the data fields to obtain an algorithm calculation result, and the algorithm calculation result is communicated. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201173 | Methods for delivering a drug to a patient while restricting access to the drug by patients for whom the drug may be contraindicated - Methods for delivering a drug to a patient in need of the drug, while restricting access to the drug by patients for whom the drug may be contraindicated are disclosed. The methods are of the type in which prescriptions for the drug are filled by a pharmacy only after a computer readable storage medium has been consulted to retrieve a prescription approval code. Embodiments are provided wherein the patients are assigned to risk groups based upon the risk that taking the drug will lead to an adverse side effect, and certain additional information, such as periodic surveys and diagnostic tests probative of the ongoing risk of the side effect developing are obtained before prescriptions for the drug are approved. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201174 | PERSONALIZED MEDICAL ADHERENCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - Techniques and systems are described hereafter for reducing medical non-adherence by (1) developing the adherence-profile of a member, (2) using the profile to automatically generate a set of interventions, (3) categorizing, prioritizing and selecting the interventions, (4) incorporating the selected interventions into a personalized member user interface page, (5) serving the selected interventions to the member at the appropriate times via multiple channels, (6) observing and measuring member responses, (7) recording member responses in a database and analyzing the responses, (8) adapting the interventions, based on the analysis, to keep the member actively engaged, (9) escalating the interventions if the member response is inadequate, (10) updating the member's adherence profile based on analysis of the database, (11) providing member reports to authorized parties for purposes of paying member incentives, predicting member's utilization of high-cost healthcare services, etc., and (12) providing aggregate de-identified reports for purposes of predicting future risk reserve set asides, drug production and supply chain replenishment requirements. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201175 | MANAGING THE BUSINESS OF A MEDICAL SCHEME - The method of the invention provides incentives for medical scheme members to minimize medical expenses both by responsible use of the benefits of the scheme, and also by offering positive incentives to members to adopt a healthy lifestyle and to make use of preventative procedures and pre-treatment medical advice facilities. A number of health-related facilities and/or services (such as membership of health clubs, gymnasiums or fitness programs) are offered to the medical scheme members, and the members are allocated points for using these facilities. Members are also allocated points for using predetermined preventive medical procedures and medical advice services. Rewards are allocated to members based on their points accrued, and the reward may include a payback of premium payments. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201176 | PRACTICE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (PMS) INTEGRATION METHOD - A method and computer program product for integrating verification of eligibility information of a card member enrolled in a health plan with a payment account required to pay for the services used according to the health plan is described. The present invention integrates card member information to a method which provides payment capabilities for services used by the card member. The invention encodes basic patient eligibility information onto a card magnetic stripe. This helps in overcoming any manual data entry errors that can resulted from a paper-based or paperless electronic process. The invention provides the ability to complete a transaction involving a medical service provider, a patient and a payer in a single swipe of card. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201177 | FINANCIAL PRODUCT AND METHOD FOR COMPREHENSIVE ACCIDENTAL MEDICAL INSURANCE - The present invention is directed to a system, method, and product for providing comprehensive accident medical insurance. The invention manages the administration of medical insurance policy in which medical providers are paid on behalf of an Insured Person for all or part of medical expenses incurred by the Insured Person solely as a result of an accident. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201178 | ON-DEMAND TRAVEL MANAGEMENT SERVICE AND PLATFORM - The present invention contemplates an easy-to-use, cost-efficient, and flexible travel booking service and travel management platform. The travel booking service is a unique, subscription-based service that offers subscribers access to the fullest extent of travel service suppliers and also the lowest possible price. The travel management platform allows users to complete all steps of searching for and booking travel arrangements through the convenience of email. Once booked, travel arrangements are automatically calendared into the user's calendar. Optional plug-ins allow the user to filter search results based on existing calendar commitments, receive notifications when new calendar entries conflict with travel arrangements, and make travel arrangements directly through the user's calendar application rather than email. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201179 | OPTIMIZATION OF POLICY ENFORCEMENT - Methods, systems, and machine-readable media are disclosed for improving the efficiency of policy enforcement. According to one embodiment, a method for improving efficiency during enforcement of a policy can comprise determining a topology for the policy. A plurality of equivalent topologies for the policy can then be determined. A cost function can be applied to each of the plurality of equivalent topologies and one of the plurality of equivalent topologies can be selected based on the cost function. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201180 | Facilitating environmental resource and/or energy management on farms - A method of facilitating environmental resource and/or energy management on farms. From each of a plurality of farms, data is collected relating to environmental resource and/or energy management on the farm. For each farm, at least some of the data is monitored to provide a verification of one or more conditions related to a goal of the environmental resource and/or energy management. For one of the farms, the verification is communicated to a party unaffiliated with the one of the farms. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201181 | System and method for determining equivalency factors for use in comparative performance analysis of industrial facilities - The present invention provides a system and method for determining equivalency factors for use in comparative performance analysis of industrial facilities by determining a target variable and a plurality of characteristics of the target variable. Each of the plurality of characterstics is ranked according to value. Based on ranking value, the characteristics are divided into categories. Based on the sorted and ranked characteristics, a data collection classification system is developed. Data is collected according to the data collection classification system. The data is validated, and based on the data, an analysis model is developed. The analysis model then calculates the equivalency factors. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201182 | Method for determining an aggregated forecast deviation - In the method for determining an aggregated forecast deviation, deviations are aggregated in a predefined environment at all reference points in time and are incorporated into an error determination. Using this method, the aggregated forecast deviation for a product is determinable so that this product may be made available in a sufficient quantity. The method is thus suitable, e.g., for disposition planning, warehouse management, or warehousing products of all types. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201183 | MULTI OBJECTIVE NATIONAL AIRSPACE FLIGHT PATH OPTIMIZATION - Systems and methods for optimizing a plurality of competing portfolios of logistical alternatives are disclosed. In one embodiment, where the competing portfolios of logistical alternatives are competing portfolios of flight paths, a method ( | 2008-08-21 |
20080201184 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS RELATING TO A LEAD DISTRIBUTION ENGINE THAT ACCOMMODATES INTERNAL AND IMPORTED DESTINATION EXCLUSION RULES - Lead distribution systems and methods distribute consumer business leads received from lead sources for routing to one or more destinations that will use the lead and/or will forward the lead to another destination. The system identifies a set of most profitable destinations for each lead, while complying with business rules associated with the lead source and the destinations. For each lead, the system identifies a set of candidate destinations. The candidate destinations may include destinations for which the system has established exclusions, destinations for which the lead source has established exclusions, or both. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201185 | METHOD FOR COMBINING MAIL PIECES THAT WERE GOING TO BE MAILED ON DIFFERENT DATES TO INCREASE POSTAL DISCOUNTS - A method for obtaining mail discounts by determining a date a mail piece should be mailed and adjusting the date the mail piece is mailed to fill one or more mailing trays with mail pieces that were originally planned to be mailed on different dates to obtain postal discounts | 2008-08-21 |
20080201186 | IDENTIFYING ADVERTISING SPECIALIST - The present disclosure includes a system and method for identifying advertising specialist. In some implementations, a method includes receiving information associated with a plurality of advertising specialist. One or more profiles associated with each advertising specialist is generated. The specialist profiles are filtered based, at least in part, on criteria received from a user. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201187 | METHOD FOR MANAGING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY - A search algorithm is provided in an intellectual property (IP) management system for determining an optimal IP portfolio. The search algorithm generates and evaluates a plurality of IP portfolios using objective functions to find an IP portfolio that most nearly optimizes at least one goal. The goals to be optimized includes, for example, minimizing the costs of procuring the IP assets or maximizing the growth potential of the IP portfolio. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201188 | Niche-oriented advertising networks platform and methods of operating same - System and methods of constructing and operating a network of advertising networks in support of the real-time selection and distribution of creatives to network connected client computer systems for composited presentation on Web pages served to client computer systems. The network of networks is constructed by associating a plurality of publisher sites with a plurality of advertising networks, with each publisher site associated with one or more advertising networks, and associating a plurality of advertising campaigns with the plurality of advertising networks, with each advertising campaign associated with one or more of the advertising networks and further defined by respective campaign criteria. A campaign prioritization list is produced for each publisher site, generated based on a competitive analysis of respective campaign criteria, including a normalized campaign buy basis, employing a past-performance-based projection of a competitive completion of the advertising campaigns. Advertising creatives are served, in real-time, in response to service requests received from client computer systems, where the advertising creative selection is determined from the campaign prioritization list dependent on the respective publisher site and real-time evaluation of the respective campaign criteria. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201189 | COLLECTED DATA PROVIDING APPARATUS AND PORTABLE TERMINAL FOR DATA COLLECTION - A collected data providing apparatus and a portable data collecting terminal capable of collecting valuable effective data from object of data collection. When a server receives a data-collection request from a data collection requester's terminal, the server examines whether or not there is a data collector with a terminal in the vicinity of a place of data collection included in the request. If there is, the server sends a data collection request to the portable terminal, which receives the request, collects data on the place at the request, and then sends the server the collected data. The server then delivers this collected data to the data collection requester's terminal (FIG. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201190 | System and method for electronic processing of default case files - A system and method for automated processing of default case files including foreclosure and bankruptcy related documents is disclosed. The system and method increases efficiency and reduces errors in the volume processing of case files for issuing foreclosure notices and for generating various documents related to bankruptcy proceedings such as MFR and POC. The method includes receiving a default case file, inputting default information from the default case file to a computer system, the default information comprising data records and digital images from the default case file, reviewing the data records and digital images to verify the validity and accuracy of the default information, electronically signing a notice for issue, and producing the notice using a printer connected to the computer system. The system includes a database server networked to other components in the system such as workstations, printers, scanners, and other document processing equipments. The system provides high level security, such as encryption and protection from malicious code, commensurate with the requirements of a financial institution such as a bank or a mortgage lender. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201191 | DYNAMIC WORKFLOW RESOURCE AUTHENTICATION AND DISCOVERY - Techniques for dynamic workflow resource authentication and discovery are presented. A processing workflow is augmented with a dynamic resource that becomes available and is authenticated as the workflow is processed. A reference to the newly discovered resource is provided and permits tasks of the workflow to be handled by the newly discovered resource via the dynamically supplied reference. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201192 | CALCULATION APPARATUS, PROGRAM, CALCULATION SYSTEM AND CALCULATION METHOD FOR PRODUCTION PLAN - A technique that can make a flexible production plan adaptable to circumstances of a production request-issuing side. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201193 | Method of Commercializing Technology From Research Entities - Methods of business designed to commercialize technology from academic institutions, research laboratories or other early stage sources on a self-sustaining and positive cash generation basis. Methods herein provide an independent operating company the line of business of which is the process itself of commercialization of technologies for profit and cash generation endpoints in accordance with a business plan put in place for such purpose. An independent and perpetual operating company is operable to make an operating business of the commercialization projects and ventures it undertakes, making money for its own account under normal business plan from the full panoply of commercialization vehicles as needed to achieve the business plan rather than the happenstance needs of the target technologies, and generating a growth pattern in its financial metrics that will continue to enhance shareholder value in the company itself independent and apart from the projects and ventures it develops in its business. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201194 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEFINING ROUTING OF CUSTOMERS BETWEEN MERCHANTS - A server or Internet service provider computer selects a soliciting merchant and an outputting merchant based on various factors. In one embodiment, the soliciting merchant is selected is its activity rate (e.g. sales rate) is low. The outputting merchant provides offers for bonuses to customers on behalf of the soliciting merchant. The bonus is provided to the customer in exchange for consummating a transaction with the soliciting merchant. Thus, the soliciting merchant benefits from the increased patronage such offers encourage. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201195 | SYSTEM AND METOD FOR TRANSFORMING AN ENTERPRISE USING A COMPONENT BUSINESS MODEL - A system and method are described for using a Component Business Model (CBM) to transform a business. A CBM map is used to identify components that collaborate to provide a specified capability, and a repository supporting the CBM map is filtered to provide a view of the identified components that highlights how they collaborate. The view is used to identify component features contributing to the specified capability. The specified capability is then enhanced by a transformation strategy that includes re-engineering particular components, identifying a pattern characterizing the collaboration between components and adding a component to perform the collaborative pattern, and/or adding an additional feature to the collaboration and adding component to perform the additional feature. The CBM repository provides exemplar best practices that can be adapted for use in a re-engineered component. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201196 | Method and system for event planning - The present invention provides systems and methods for planning important events such as weddings, milestone birthday parties and the like. A suite of computer-implemented applications perform various aspects of event management, including guest list and seating management, task planning, vendor selection, budget control and gift recordation and tracking. The data gathered, processed and stored by different portions of the application suite is used seamlessly by other portions of the application suite to synergistically enhance the overall functioning of the system. The system may be a web-based Internet implementation where brides and other users can input and manipulate the information for the event planning system. Guests are provided a unique URL to a web page about the wedding, which contains information about the bride and groom. Guest preferences can be input and that information used to coordinate seating. The budgeter provides the user with task and vendor details to optimize planning. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201197 | System and Method for Peer Person- And Situation-Based Recommendations - A system and method for peer person and/or situation-based recommendations. In one embodiment, the method, which may be implemented on a system, comprises receiving a request for a set of entertainment events, the requesting comprising at least one of an identity of an inviter and an identify of an invitee; selecting a first set of entertainment events from a database by comparing information in the request to one or more units of data in the database, comprising peers of the inviter, peers of the invitee; and, providing to be viewed the first set of entertainment events selected from the database. In an alternative embodiment, the selecting the set of entertainment events from the database, further comprises comparing information in the request to one or more units of data in the database, comprising peer companies of the invitee, peer companies of the inviter. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201198 | Method, System and Computer Program Product for Measuring and Tracking Brand Equity - Methods, systems and computer program products for measuring and tracking brand equity are disclosed. According to one embodiment disclosed, a brand equity value for each of a plurality of brands in a market category is obtained ( | 2008-08-21 |
20080201199 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BEHAVIORIAL PSYCHOLOGY AND PERSONALITY PROFILING TO ADAPT CUSTOMER SERVICE COMMUNICATIONS - Systems and methods for behavioral psychology system are provided. The system gathers information about one or more users to form a profile, and adapts the customer's interaction based on the profile. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201200 | Method of Obtaining a Representative Online Polling Sample - A method of obtaining a representative online polling sample is disclosed. The first step is to provide a polling web site with polling information for a user to select or otherwise interact with. However, that polling web site has a domain name that differs from the domain name of a web site the user intends to reach, the polling web site being reached when the user makes a typing or other address input error and inadvertently enters the polling web site domain name. Hence, for example, Google could harvest the many thousands of users who inadvertently type in gogle.com instead of google.com and direct them to an online polling page, instead of simply redirecting them to the google.com web site. This approach substantially eliminates coverage bias from the sample. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201201 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR FINDING, TAGGING, RATING AND SUGGESTING CONTENT PROVIDED BY NETWORKED APPLICATION PODS - Software application providers can connect to a common platform in order to offer access to and use of their applications and/or content to a global community of mobile device users through a variety of different mediums. The users are automatically charged via the user's billing account with the wireless network carrier to which the user subscribes. The platform can also use billing mechanisms to bill the user other than the user's wireless network carrier, such as credit cards, bank accounts, prepaid cards, web-based payment services, etc. The application provider need not have contractual agreements with any of the wireless network carriers, as billing is automatically performed by the platform through the wireless network carriers his or her behalf. According to one aspect, an application pod is provided, with which a user can rate and tag content such as music and video. In this way, other people who are looking for a song will be able to find songs that have been highly rated by the community, and that have tags that correspond to a particular search term. According to another aspect, a method is provided for predictively selecting content to suggest to a user, based upon that user's indicated preferences and purchase history. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201202 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS RELATING TO A LEAD DISTRIBUTION ENGINE THAT ACCOMMODATES INTERNAL AND IMPORTED DESTINATION RELATIONSHIPS - Lead distribution systems and methods distribute consumer business leads received from lead sources for routing to one or more destinations that will use the lead and/or will forward the lead to another destination. The system identifies a set of most profitable destinations for each lead, while complying with business rules associated with the lead source and the destinations. For each lead, the system identifies a set of candidate destinations, each with associated business rules. The candidate destinations may include destinations with which the system has established business rules, destinations with which the lead source has established business rules, or both. For leads that may be multi-distributed, different business rules may apply to each time the lead is distributed. When both the lead distribution system and the source have different business rules established with a destination, the rules established by the source may take precedence over those of the lead distribution system. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201203 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS RELATING TO A LEAD DISTRIBUTION ENGINE THAT USES MARGIN SCORES - Lead distribution systems and methods distribute consumer business leads received from lead sources for routing to one or more destinations that will use the lead and/or will forward the lead to another destination. The system identifies a set of most profitable destinations for each lead based on a margin score, while complying with business rules associated with the lead source and destinations. Each lead source is associated with at least one cost score, reflective of a monetary cost for the lead and of other business considerations associated with the lead source. Candidate destinations are each associated with a revenue score, reflective of an amount to be paid for a lead and of other business considerations associated with the destination. A margin score for each destination is calculated based on the cost and revenue scores, and the lead is distributed, based at least in part on the calculated margin scores. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201204 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS RELATING TO A LEAD DISTRIBUTION ENGINE WITH QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF LEAD SOURCES - Lead distribution systems and methods distribute consumer business leads received from lead sources for routing to one or more destinations that use the leads and/or forward the leads to another destination. A quality level is assessed for each lead source, based in part on a percentage of leads from the source that result in a desired business transaction with the ultimate user of the lead. The system identifies a set of most profitable destinations for each lead, while maintaining a desired overall quality level and flow rate of leads routed to each destination. Adjusting the quality ratings of the lead sources may advantageously be used to affect the placement of their leads with destinations. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201205 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS RELATING TO AN OPPORTUNITY DISTRIBUTION ENGINE AND DISTRIBUTION SIMULATION - Opportunity distribution systems and methods distribute business opportunities received from lead sources for routing to one or more destination businesses that will make use the opportunity, such as an opportunity to place a webpage advertisement on a webpage that is being served to a viewer. The system identifies a set of most profitable destinations for each opportunity, for each routing, while complying with business rules associated with the opportunity source and the destination businesses. System variables associated with the lead source and the destinations may be advantageously adjusted to maintain desired flow rate and quality levels of leads to each destination and to maximize profit to the system. A system administrator module and log of lead transactions allows the system to review previous performance and to carry out simulations in order to identify desired adjustments to system variables. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201206 | Use of behavioral portraits in the conduct of E-commerce - A method is provided for determining a website user behavioral portrait based on navigation on the website and dynamically reconfiguring web pages based on those portraits. In accordance with the method, data relating to the progress of a user through a website is recorded, and an ongoing behavioral portrait of the user is built based on the data. The portrait is then used to dynamically reconfigure web content. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201207 | MEETING EFFECTIVENESS PROGRAM OPTIMIZATION - A method and system of developing an event designed to appeal to prospective attendees associated with an event-owner. First and second different events are defined as a function of modeled values and defined attributes having values corresponding to collected preferred values. The event-owner compares the first reward program to the second reward program as a function of the weighted prospective attendee preferred values and selects and implements one of the events based on the provided comparison. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201208 | Advertising system and method - An advertising system has a public electronic sign and an audience feedback tracking system that tracks the audience reaction to an advertisement on the electronic sign. The feedback system can include a camera and software that can count the number of people in the audience or provide other data. The feedback system may include an audio feedback system. The system also may include a factor dependent advertising content scheduler that plays an advertisement based on an external factor such as the weather. The display may be cylindrical and may have a number of images displayed simultaneously. Any audio associated with these images may be spatially coordinated with the display images. The display may include a telemetry system that monitors the status of the display. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201209 | Computer assisted process for providing liquidity by sale of intellectual property trust certificates - A computer program storing computer instructions therein for instructing a computer to perform analytical steps for the centralized public sale of intellectual property trust certificates issuing from the securitization of intellectual property assets, the securitization initiated by an analytical entity and managed by a management company, the securities sold as intellectual property trust certificates to an investor having access to a central database by a banking institution and the program comprising: a recording medium readable by the computer; and the computer instructions stored on said recording medium instructing the computer to perform the processes including: reporting to the central database an evaluation report of the aggregation for soliciting investment; reporting to the central database a title certificate; reporting to the central database a licensing agreement report for the aggregation for licensing intellectual property assets to licensees; reporting to the central database a description of an intellectual property securitization fund for guaranteeing the intellectual property trust certificates; reporting to the central database a royalties receivable report for the aggregation; reporting to the central database an intellectual property securitization fund statement; reporting to the central database a surveillance report; and reporting to the central database an intellectual property trust certificate chain of title report. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201210 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY - The present invention relates to methods and systems for intellectual property management. In an embodiment, a system includes an intellectual property asset inventory system to manage an inventory of intellectual property assets. A product inventory system manages an inventory of products, where the inventory of products corresponds to a plurality of products and one or more of the products of the plurality of products are associated with one or more of the intellectual property assets of the plurality of intellectual property assets. A marketing management system manages a plurality of marketing projects, where one or more of the marketing projects of the plurality of marketing projects are associated with at least one of (i) one or more products of the plurality of products, and (ii) one or more intellectual property assets of the plurality of intellectual property assets. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201211 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LIFE CYCLES - The present invention relates to methods and systems for managing intellectual property assets. In an embodiment, an intellectual property protection life cycle of an intellectual property asset is managed, and an intellectual property marketing life cycle of the intellectual property asset is managed. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201212 | SMART SIGN MOBILE TRANSIT FARE PAYMENT - A system and method for facilitating the payment and collection of transit system fares using a mobile device utilizes a smart sign including near field communication (NFC) devices that communicate with a contactless element embedded within a mobile wireless device. Each NFC device is associated with a different transit location. The NFC devices may be included on the same smart sign located at one transit location or on different smart signs located at different transit locations. Alternatively, one NFC device may be included on a smart sign at a departure location and another NFC device may be activated when or after the user enters the transit system to provide proof of fare purchase. The mobile device is positioned proximate the NFC devices to activate the NFC devices and access fare and/or schedule information or purchase a fare. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201213 | Products And Processes For A Membership For A Customer Of A Vending Machine - In a disclosed embodiment of the invention, a customer of a vending machine is provided with an offer to establish a membership at a vending machine. After receiving an acceptance of the offer, a membership identifier is determined. The membership identifier is stored in association with the term of the membership. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201214 | Methods, Systems and Computer Program Products that Use Measured Location Data to Identify Sources that Fraudulently Activate Internet Advertisements - Methods of detecting potential click fraud are provided in which information relating to a click on an Internet advertisement is received. A measured location of a source of the click is also received. The source of the click may be identified as potentially fraudulent based at least in part on the received information and the measured location of the source. Methods of identifying potentially fraudulent activations of Internet advertisements and related systems and computer program products are also provided. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201215 | MOBILE ADVERTISEMENT METHODS AND SYSTEMS - A method of displaying an advertisement on a vehicle comprising the steps of detecting a user's wireless transmission, receiving information pertaining to an advertisement from a user via a wireless interface, activating an electronic paper screen by supplying power to the screen, displaying the advertisement on the electronic paper screen and removing the power to the electronic paper screen such that the advertisement may still be displayed on the electronic paper screen after the power is removed. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201216 | Target advertising to a specific user offered through an intermediary ISP, Server or Wireless Network - A method for targeting advertisings to users through an ISP by supplying related content to the user visited webpage, websites, user profile, previously viewed content, user surfing history and wireless node's demography data. Furthermore, an Indexing Server working in harmony with the ISP as to provided related contents to the user and based on user's previously viewed contents, user's surfing history and user's profile. As well, a wireless node having means to provide to a user additional contents and based on the wireless node's contents choice. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201217 | Method of providing value estimates and facilitating product trade-in - A method for providing a value estimate and facilitating the trade-in of used golf equipment is described. The method includes the steps of providing an online database of value estimates for at least one product and offering payment at least equal to the value estimate for said product. The methods of payment can be cash or a gift certificate that can be used at authorized on-line or retail stores. The value estimates can be based on current market data. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201218 | Methods of dynamically creating personalized internet advertisements based on content - Advertising is used to generate awareness of commercial Internet web sites. To greatly simplify the marketing of a commercial Internet web site, the automatic creation of an advertising campaign would be desirable. A method of automatically creating an Internet web site may be performed by first crawling through the Internet web site to identify products and services offered by the Internet web site. Information about the identified products and services is stored. The system then creates advertisements for the identified products and services. The advertisements may include images, text, a link to the web page where the product or service was found, and keywords associated with the product or service. The automatically created advertisements may then be placed into an advertisement pool for use with advertising supported web sites. The automatic Internet advertisement campaign creations system of the present invention may be used to create free trial advertisement campaigns for potential advertising clients. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201219 | Query classification and selection of associated advertising information - A system and method to facilitate classification of search queries and selection of associated advertising information over a network are described. A search query received from a user over a network is processed to retrieve a predetermined number of query results. The predetermined number of query results is further classified to select one or more categories associated with the query results. Finally, advertising information is selected based on the one or more selected categories for further display to the user in connection with the query results. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201220 | Methods of dynamically creating personalized internet advertisements based on advertiser input - The World Wide Web portion of the Internet is largely supported by advertising. To deliver the most effective advertising, a system for dynamically creating customized advertisements is introduced. The behavior and any demographic information known about web viewers is used to select an advertising template that will be used to create an advertisement. The advertisement template comprises an incomplete advertisement with certain missing information along with identifiers for functions that may be used to complete the advertisement. In one embodiment, the functions may specify how the advertiser associated with the advertisement template may be contacted with the demographic information known about the user in order to fill in the missing portions of advertisement template. For example, the advertisement may concern flights to Hawaii and the advertiser may fill in the price of a flight to Hawaii based upon being provided with the user's location. The complete advertisement may then be displayed to the user. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201221 | Apparatus, method, and computer program product providing enhanced document management - The exemplary embodiments of the invention, as further described herein, provide apparatus, methods and computer program products that, for example, address the notification issue that can occur in extensible markup language (XML) document management (XDM) when a new entry is added to a Shared List document that is referred to from a Shared Group document. One non-limiting, exemplary method includes: in response to a user being added to a shared uniform resource identifier (URI) list, determining that the shared URI list is referred to by a shared group document; determining whether a group associated with the shared group document uses an automatic group advertisement feature; and, in response to determining that the group uses an automatic group advertisement feature, sending a group advertisement directly to the user. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201222 | Blog advertising - Blog advertisement selection and placement is driven by the analysis of different facets, which are defined as why-facet, how-facet, who-facet and what-facet. The objective of defining such facets and their labels is to be able to better classify and distinguish information from blogs with the goal to use these different facets to better target advertisements on blogs. A model of features is built and maintained that classifies information from blogs along the defined facets. The features, including non-keywords and keywords, are extracted from a set of blogs of at least one blogosphere. Non-keywords are related to the blog information and keywords, and assist the keywords in the classification of the different facets/labels. An advertising campaign is defined in terms of the defined facets. The model and the defined advertising campaign will then be able to determine and/or predict placement of an advertisement in a blog or blog page. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201223 | PRODUCTS AND PROCESSES FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION SERVICES - Methods and system are provided herewith for providing information services. A data service in according with the methods and systems disclosed herein may provide content for the data service and/or may provide content to subscribers via the service and the content provider may provide a credit or other benefit to the content provider. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201224 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING REWARDS - Methods, systems, apparatus, computer program code and means for processing reward transactions are provided including receiving, from a point of interaction associated with a merchant, an authorization request message identifying a requested purchase transaction, the authorization request message including data identifying a payment account identifier and a purchase amount. Authorizing the purchase transaction, and receiving, from the merchant, merchant reward data associated with the purchase transaction, and updating a pooled rewards database entry associated with the consumer. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201225 | Consumption Profile for Mobile Media - In embodiments, the present invention provides a method and system for delivery of content on a mobile media platform, providing a consumption profile, and delivering content to a mobile device, wherein content delivery is based at least in part on the consumption profile. Further, in embodiments, the present invention provides a consumption profile for a mobile media platform comprising a device profile, a user profile, a network profile, an encoding profile, and a content profile. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201226 | MOBILE COUPON METHOD AND PORTABLE CONSUMER DEVICE FOR UTILIZING SAME - Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods involving mobile coupons. In one embodiment, an indication of a prior purchase transaction over a payment processing network, serves as a trigger to generate and disseminate a mobile coupon for a subsequent transaction. By generating and promulgating the coupon within a limited time of the first transaction, the recipient is disposed to be receptive based upon his or her current shopping status and also possibly geographic location. According to another embodiment, information from a mobile coupon may be presented from the consumer to a merchant in a contactless manner, utilizing an antenna of a portable device operated by a consumer. Coupon information may be communicated to the merchant with the payment information, or prior to or subsequent to transmission of the payment information to the merchant. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201227 | Interactive, Internet-based, trip planning, travel resource, travel community, virtual travel, travel-based education, travel-related gaming and virtual/live tour system, methods, and processes, emphasizing a user's ability to tailor complete travel, trip, route, game and touring choices to unique user-specified personal interests, preferences, and special requirements for self and companions - Interactive, Internet-based, Trip Planning, Travel Resource, Travel Community, Virtual Travel, Travel-based Education, Travel-related Gaming and Virtual/Live Tour System, Methods, and Processes, emphasizing a user's ability to tailor complete travel, trip, route, and touring choices to unique, user-specified personal interests, preferences, and special requirements for self and companions throughout a particular trip or for gaming or virtual (including live, passive, interactive, individual, group, and scheduled, reserved or on-demand) tours, and including methods and processes related to scheduling games, tours, site visits and other travel-events, making related reservations and obtaining confirmations and e-tickets, and on-line banking services to process ticket, membership and merchandise payments and advertising, reservation and ticket and merchandise transactions for vendors. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201228 | Methods and systems to schedule a transaction - A system to assist sellers create automated sales for products and services the seller has made available for purchase. The embodiments include receiving sales information that includes data item information that identifies a plurality of data items that are offered for purchase by a seller on a network-based marketplace. The system provides means for scheduling a sale based on the sale information, the sale to begin at a first time and end at a second time, the first time associated with a reduction of a plurality of prices to a plurality of discounted prices. The plurality of prices respectively associated with the plurality of data items. The plurality of discounted prices respectively associated with the plurality of data items and the second time associated with a restoration of the plurality of prices for the plurality of data items. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201229 | System and Method for Providing a Representation - A system and web-based representation is provided. The representation may be used to supplement an application to an institution, be used as an application to an institution or be a portion of such an application. The representation features multimedia, including, for example, but not limited to video, audio, or textual representations of an applicant. Applicants may be applying, for example, to college, private school, graduate school, vocational/technical school, or schools for specialized studies including but not limited to performing or fine arts. Profit models based on this representation are also described. The information or computer instructions (for example, embedded code) uploaded by an applicant is stored in at least one database that is incorporated in a system used to populate one or multiple web pages for the applicant. For example, the one or more databases may be stored in memory operatively connected to a server. This content may be viewed by admissions professionals. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201230 | Internet-based method of and system for equity ownership optimization within a financial and retail marketplace - A system and method(s) for “loading” coupons, discounts, rebates, offers and other incentives onto purchase/payment vehicles by a consumer, who may or may no be an equity stake holder in a company with which various “loaded” offers are associated. Furthermore, the system and method(s) of the present invention allow a consumer to design his/her purchase/payment vehicle by pre-defining various desired purchase/payment vehicle attributes for inclusion in the consumer's purchase/payment vehicle. The consumer-designed purchase/payment vehicles will allow a consumer to discern and “load” various offers from companies in which the consumer holds an equity stakeholder interest, thereby allowing the consumer to purchase goods and services from those companies helping those companies' fortunes and, thus potentially increasing the value of the consumer's equity stake holdings. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201231 | System and Method for Tracking User Activity in an Incentive Award System - A method of efficiently detecting a visit to a web site participating in an incentive award program, wherein the visit is detected at an information gathering system and wherein the information gathering system provides the incentive award program, the method including receiving a request message from a user including an award identifier, wherein the award identifier is associated with a predefined user activity and wherein the user sends the request message by activating a hyperlink presented on the participating web site during the visit; identifying a desired destination based on the request message received from the user, wherein the hyperlink advertises the desired destination to the user and wherein the desired destination is distinct from an address of the information gathering system at which the request message is received; and sending a redirect message to the user, wherein the redirect message includes an Internet address of the desired destination. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201232 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL BUYERS - A method by which potential buyers are identified includes receiving a description of an item a potential buyer intends to purchase within a particular time, determining a reward for the potential buyer based on intent data, providing the reward to the potential buyer and applying a penalty to a financial account of the potential buyer if the potential buyer does not purchase the item within the particular time period. The system includes a controller coupled to at least one input device with the controller operable to compute a reward offer. The controller includes circuitry, or software, configured to compute and apply a penalty if the potential buyer does not purchase the item within the particular time period. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201233 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS - A system for managing real estate purchase transactions is provided. The system collects various types of information relating to real estate purchase transactions. The system then tracks various milestones under a real estate purchase contract and provides automated alerts to one or more users. The system further allows different users with varying functional roles to monitor their respective real estate purchase contracts. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201234 | LIVE ENTITIES INTERNET STORE SERVICE - The claimed subject matter provides for an online, Internet-class service that can correlate between an application interface utilizing a highly expressive, EDM conceptual format and a data store structured in an efficient, highly scalable storage format. Such a service can include components that map between an EDM schema and a data structure format. Additionally, a query reply can include data presented with a payload format distinct from an EDM query format. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201235 | Advertising revenue sharing - A method for compensating all parties involved in producing the income stream for a content distributor is presented where the content-hosting site, the content writer and the user doing the interaction with paid contents receive a fair share of the generated income stream. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201236 | PRINTING VIA E-COMMERCE METHOD AND SYSTEM - A method and system used to obtain and process orders for full color printing. A job configuration and price calculator is supplied to a customer. The calculator calculates automatically a price quote as the customer selects configuration options of a print job. The price quote is then displayed automatically. The customer may select configuration options repeatedly until the job configuration is final. A digital graphic layout or image file is then obtained from the customer. The digital graphic layout or image file is then prepared and a proof thereof is created. When the proof is satisfactory, the print job is printed and delivered to the customer. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201237 | Adaptive Direct Transaction For Network Client Group - Internet-based software and associated database provide group analysis overlay to monitor client-server web traffic and provide direct marketing to client group. Client car, patient, office or school sensor and interface provides overlay attribute for database comparison to classify usage pattern, location, timing, or family for targeted messaging for enhanced service from server source. Database group registry tracks client classification and provides adaptive context mapping according to set attribute relative to targeted on-line transaction. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201238 | Premium SMS billing method - A method of billing for products and services wherein a user makes a voice call to a telephone number from a mobile telephone, interacts with a human or computer operator to learn about audio-text products and services offered by a vendor, and then agrees verbally or by pressing one or more DTMF keys on the user's mobile telephone's keypad to have the charge for the purchase placed on the user's mobile telephone bill. The service is then provided while the call still is connected, and after the call is terminated, an MT-PSMS message is sent to the user to place the charge on the user's mobile telephone bill. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201239 | Electronic retail order communication - Multiple users are provided the ability to add or modify items in an open order created by an originating user on an electronic retail system. The originating user has the ability to verify and authorize a final purchase order that is submitted to the retail system. The originating user forwards an open order to other users, who are then allowed to add to the order, such as by adding items to a shopping cart. In a tandem browsing mode, other users are invited to observe the interaction of the originating user with an electronic retail system an modify an order for approval by the originating user. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201240 | Visual shopping graphical user interface - The Visual Shopping Graphical User Interface is a graphical user interface or any type of user interface that allows users to apply any selected product or products to any selected motor vehicle picture in order to view what that product or products would look like on any type of selected motor vehicle. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201241 | Automated coffee system - The invention provides a system in which a user may make a personalized recipe for food or beverage such as coffee and place an order online. A central server processes the order and redirects the recipe, timetable and a reference number associated with the order to a local service station designated by the user. The local service station prepares the ordered product pursuant to the recipe and timetable, and delivers the drink to the customer who enters a correct reference number. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201242 | Dynamic reconfiguration of web pages based on user behavioral portrait - A method is provided for determining a website user behavioral portrait based on navigation on the website and dynamically reconfiguring web pages based on those portraits. In accordance with the method, data relating to the progress of a user through a website is recorded, and an ongoing behavioral portrait of the user is built based on the data. The portrait is then used to dynamically reconfigure web content. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201243 | System and method for providing a price quotation for a transportation service based on equipment ownership - A method and system for computing the price of a railway transportation service for the shipping goods is provided. A computer delivers first information to a user prompting the user to enter at the computer information about a rail route for shipment of goods by one or more railcars. A price for the shipment of the goods is then computed at least in part on the basis of the information about the rail route and the ownership of the one or more railcars. The computer displays to the user the price for the shipment of the goods or, alternatively, the price for the shipment of the goods is provided to the user via other ways such as e-mail, snail-mail or fax. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201244 | Network-facilitated central storage/shipping/cleaning and maintenance service for frequent travelers and method thereof - An Internet-facilitated storage, shipping, cleaning and maintenance service and method thereof, wherein the repeated, time-consuming management and organization of personal belongings, the burdensome process of packing, and the increasingly complicated chore of carrying and/or checking luggage may be essentially eliminated. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201245 | ON-DEMAND MONITORING OF COMPONENT CONVERGENCE FOR CUSTOMER SOLUTION INTEGRATION - A system and method for coordinating delivery of components to manage solution delivery and installation to customers. When a customer order for components is received, a component tracking device is configured to be placed within one or more pre-designated areas of a customer site. Each component to be shipped to the customer site is tagged with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag that is associated with the order. The tracking device is used to detect the presence of each component at the pre-designated areas within the customer site. An RFID reader in the tracking device detects the presence of a component by reading the RFID tag on the component. Data about the presence of each component is recorded. An installation team may be notified when the recorded data indicates that a number of components in the order have been detected within the pre-designated areas of the customer site. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201246 | METHODS, APPARATUS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR USE IN ASSOCIATION WITH JOINT VENTURES AND/OR POTENTIAL JOINT VENTURES - In one embodiment, a method includes receiving information associated with a joint venture; determining an amount of a distribution based at least in part on the information; determining financial information for the joint venture based at least in part on the amount of the distribution; storing the financial information in a database; retrieving the financial information from the database using a processing system; and determining, in the processing system, an amount of a distribution based at least in part on the financial information. In one embodiment, apparatus includes a processing system to receive information associated with a joint venture, determine an amount of a distribution based at least in part on the information; determine financial information for the joint venture based at least in part on the amount of the distribution; store the financial information in a database, retrieve the financial information from the database, and determine an amount of a distribution based at least in part on the financial information. In one embodiment, a computer program product includes a storage medium having stored thereon instructions that if executed by a machine, result in the following: receiving information associated with a joint venture; determining an amount of a distribution based at least in part on the information; determining financial information for the joint venture based at least in part on the amount of the distribution; storing the financial information in a database; retrieving the financial information from the database using a processing system; and determining, in the processing system, an amount of a distribution based at least in part on the financial information. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201247 | Method, system and computer-readable media for evaluation or selection of real estate appraisers - A system and method for using information technology to enable selecting candidates for a real property appraisal assignment from among a population of real estate appraisers. A database contains information about the appraisal history of each of the population of appraisers. A query engine accepts specifications concerning a subject property from a user. The use may direct the query engine to identify appraisers that have experience in appraising real properties located within a certain distance from the subject property. The user may specify that only appraisals performed within a certain time period may be counted as valid appraisal experience. The user may direct the query engine to count references of comparable properties that lie within the specified distance from the subject property in appraisals performed by an appraiser as valid experience in selecting and ranking appraisers for an appraisal assignment. | 2008-08-21 |
20080201248 | Method and system for managing case based promises to pay - A method of managing case based promises to pay includes displaying a customer hierarchy. The customer hierarchy displays (i) a customer level with customer level information and (ii) plural account levels with account level information for respective multiple accounts of a customer needing collection. Also included is displaying action now amounts for the customer on the customer level and on the account levels of the customer hierarchy; wherein the account level information is rolled up into the customer level information. The method further includes interacting with a user to select the action now amount for an upper level in the customer hierarchy, and dispersing a partitioned amount of the action now amount to levels which the customer can promise to pay, for levels which are hierarchically below the level of the selected action now amount in the customer hierarchy. | 2008-08-21 |