34th week of 2013 patent applcation highlights part 60 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20130218673 | System and Method for Offer Targeting - A system and method for offer targeting is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method for offer targeting may comprise: providing a plurality of offers and a plurality of groups, wherein each group comprises one or more accounts; maintaining an offer counter for each of the plurality of groups; and assigning the plurality of offers, in a predetermined order, to the plurality of groups by repeating the following steps: (1) assigning an offer to one or more groups, wherein the one or more groups are selected from groups that are pre-qualified for the offer based on a plurality of business rules, and the selection of the one or more groups is based at least in part on the offer counters of the one or more groups; (2) incrementing offer counters associated with the one or more groups; and (3) sorting the plurality of groups based on the incremented offer counters. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218674 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SELLING AND DISPLAYING ADVERTISEMENTS OVER A NETWORK - Systems and methods are provided for selling one or more advertisements and displaying the one or more advertisements in a fixed placement for a set duration of time on a web page within an Internet website in combination with displaying advertisements from the same advertiser in contextually relevant locations within the website. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218675 | MOBILE DEDICATED GIFT TOKEN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - Disclosed is a mobile dedicated gift token management system capable of providing a mobile dedicated gift token of using in only the specific member store designated by a customer through a website or a dedicated access terminal of selling the dedicated gift token to a mobile terminal designated by the customer. Also, an expiration date setting unit for setting the term of validity is constructed, thereby restricting an improper use thereof. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218676 | Guaranteed Retargeting in Online Advertising - The present invention provides techniques for use in advertising, including online advertising. Techniques are provided that include providing to advertisers guaranteed delivery advertisement retargeting, or contracts or agreements in guaranteed delivery advertisement retargeting. Techniques are provided that allow advertisers to purchase an anticipated set of advertisement impressions to a single user. The advertisement impressions may be of an identical advertisement or similar advertisements, and may be sequenced over time. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218677 | GENERATING PROMOTIONS TO A TARGETED AUDIENCE - A system generates a targeted promotion for a group of consumers in a store. The system determines the group of consumers or an audience that are within a viewable area of a display during at least a portion of a time period. The system then generates a profile for each of the consumers and, based at least on the profiles and a goal of the store, determines the targeted promotion from multiple potential promotions. The system then displays the determined promotion on the display during the time period. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218678 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SELECTING AND GENERATING TARGETING INFORMATION FOR SPECIFIC ADVERTISEMENTS BASED UPON AFFINITY INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM AN ONLINE SOCIAL NETWORK - Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention can automatically generate advertising campaigns on an online social network using affinity information collected concerning members of one or more online social networks. In one embodiment, a method of targeting a piece of content as a paid advertisement within an online social network includes retrieving metrics with respect to engagement by members of an online social network, determining user affinities based upon the retrieved metrics, determining demographics of members of the online social network that have engaged with the pieces of content, identifying at least one cluster of members of the online social network based on the demographics, where the members are clustered based upon targeting information, and targeting at least one of the specific pieces of content as a paid advertisement targeted based on targeting information. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218679 | Method, System and Program Product for Providing Advertisement - A method, system and program product comprises registering a provider where the registration comprises an identity, an advertisement, a location for displaying the advertisement, and a time period for an advertising event. Funds are deposited into an account for the advertising event. At least one marketer is registered where the registration comprises an identity, an identity of at least one display and control device in possession of the marketer, a location for the display and control device, and an available time period for displaying advertisement. Notification of a match of a marketer to present advertisement content of a provider is received, in which the provider's advertisement is communicated to the marketer's display and control device. Tracking information for the display and control device determines a value of funds. The value of funds is transferred from the account for the advertising event to an account for the marketer. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218680 | LOCATION SENSITIVE ADVERTISEMENT DELIVERY AND PRESENTATION - The delivery and presentation of context-specific content in a user-generated content application is disclosed. A first user-generated content object defined by a content element and an associated location element is received. The content-specific content is also received, and is contextually related to the first user-generated content object. The first user-generated content object is displayed in a first interface panel, and is transitioned to a display of a second interface panel with a transition graphic effect. The context-specific content is displayed in the second interface panel upon conclusion of the transition. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218681 | Methods, Devices and Systems for Targeting Content to the Users of Digital Devices - A system for exchanging GPS or other position data between wireless devices for purposes of group activities, child location monitoring, work group coordination, dispatching of employees etc. Cell phones and other wireless devices with GPS receivers have loaded therein a Buddy Watch application and a TalkControl application. The Buddy Watch application communicates with the GPS receiver and other wireless devices operated by buddies registered in the users phone as part of buddy groups or individually. GPS position data and historical GPS position data can be exchanged between cell phones of buddies and instant buddies such as tow truck drivers via a buddy watch server. Emergency monitoring services can be set up with notifications to programmable individuals in case an individual does not respond. Positions and tracks can be displayed. TalkControl simplifies and automates the process of joining talk groups for walkie talkie services such as that provided by Nextel. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218682 | DIGITAL CONCIERGE APPLICATION - Embodiments of the invention are directed to methods, systems, and apparatuses for providing digital concierge services through a portable electronic device. The digital concierge may be provided through an application installed on a portable electronic device configured to contact a concierge service, provide filtered and relevant offers, and provide ATM location services for users as they travel. One embodiment is directed to a method comprising determining a location of a portable electronic device, receiving concierge data associated with the user, filtering a plurality of offers according to the location of the portable electronic device and the concierge data associated with the user, sorting the plurality of offers according to their offer data, and presenting the plurality of offers in a layered interactive stack of content that allows a user to recognize the type of offer content and a number of offers in the plurality of offers. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218683 | Location Event Advertising - Information about physical places is gathered to develop quality scores for targeting advertisements to users of mobile devices sharing geographic location events with service providers. A scoring model incorporates selected attributes about places (e.g., created by a service provider vs. user-generated, category, keywords, census data providing population density by location, property values by area, popularity, special events, government vs. private area, whether place is associated with a brand, chain, or is independent) that have been gathered from multiple sources, verified, and normalized. Advertisements are targeted to users running mobile applications based on a location event shared with the service provider using the quality score for the place indicated in the location event in addition to other attributes of the place. In one embodiment, the system uses a machine learning algorithm to analyze conversion rates of targeted advertising to provide feedback to the scoring model. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218684 | System and Method for Targeted Marketing and Consumer Resource Management - Systems and methods are provided for providing targeted marketing to goods and services provides and consumer resource management services to consumers. An example system and method for targeted marketing comprises collecting transaction data from point-of-sale (POS) terminals and using a consumer identifier in the transaction data to access stored information about the consumer. This information may be used to target offers and advertisement to the consumer. In an example system for consumer resource management, a consumer may configure a consumer account on the enterprise infrastructure via a web-site. The consumer may use the consumer account to purchase and configure gift cards that may be used for purchasing goods and services. A universal transaction identifier may be associated with the consumer account and used to purchase goods and services from more than one selected goods and services providers. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218685 | Offering an Object For Sale - A method performed by a network management node for offering an object for sale is disclosed. The network management node receives a sales offering request message from a user equipment, wherein the sales offering request message requests the network management node to offer a specific object for sale. In a subsequent step, information about the specific object is gathered from a unique network entity profile associated with the specific object, i.e. the object intended for sale. A sales ad is thereafter generated in step. The sales ad is generated on the basis of the gathered information about the object. Embodiments of the present invention presented herein also relate to methods, network management nodes, user equipments, systems, computer programs and computer program products for offering an object for sale. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218686 | Methods and Systems For Group Offers Within Group Chat - Techniques are provided which engage users and increase social interaction in group buying. Methods and systems may target a group of users if a group chat with one or more group offers based at least in part on the group chat information. The group offer may be displayed in the chat client. Users' responses to the proposed deal may be tracked. The group offer may be updated based at least in part on the users' responses to the group offer. The updated group offer may be displayed in the chat client. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218687 | Methods, systems and devices for determining a user interest and/or characteristic by employing a personalization engine - A user interest and/or characteristic may be determined when permission to access personal information associated with a user account stored in a database operated by a third party, such as a social media network or service, is received. Accessed personal information may be evaluated using different criteria and a concept graph relating a plurality of words and concepts to one another, and an interest and/or characteristic of the user may then be determined based on the evaluation. Accessed personal information may also be evaluated using different criteria, including proprietary algorithms, probabilistic distributions, and a generated concept graph, to determine a price recommendation for a given offer for the user, or the price sensitivity of the user generally. A user's response to personalized offerings and/or terms based upon this evaluation may then be used to determine more refined interests, characteristics, and/or pricing terms in an iterative process. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218688 | AUDIO-VISUAL NAVIGATION AND COMMUNICATION DYNAMIC MEMORY ARCHITECTURES - A method and system for audio-visual navigation having communication dynamic memory architectures is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises providing the user with a user presence within a three dimensional space on a display. The spatial publishing object represented in the three dimensional space is selected via user presence. The spatial publishing object has a plurality of properties comprising auditory and visual fields associated with a media source. The spatial publishing object is manipulated using inputs received from a user, for example, changing a display property of the spatial publishing object, navigating the user presence with respect to the spatial publishing object within the three-dimensional space, or connecting the spatial publishing object to another spatial publishing object. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218689 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ADVERTISING REAL ESTATE OVER THE INTERNET - An Internet-based method and system permits users to list their real estate properties on respective web site pages, edit their pages, and create new pages for additional listings. A feature of the invention provides for opening a domain name file for each new page and for E-mailing a request to register the new domain names. Such web site creation and editing may be made whenever the user wishes by simply accessing a home page, entering a corresponding service function such as editing an existing page or creating a new page. The user can then carry out the selected function from a personal computer over the Internet. The domain name may correspond to a parameter of the property such as its street address. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218690 | ANNOTATING CONTENT - Content can be annotated with indications that contextually-related content associated with the annotation is available to a user in order to allow a user to more easily locate and access contextually-related content, particularly where hypertext links are unsuitable, such as for graphic and/or audio content. The location of the annotation within the content can indicate the portion of the content to which the contextually-related content pertains, and can be associated with a summary of the contextually-related content, such as a summary of the content, a brief explanation of the relatedness of the related content, and/or an indication of the source or the contextually-related content. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218691 | Reward Posting Search - Computer systems and methods on servers in a communication network, including computers with processors and computer-readable media to cause the computers to perform operations, including to receive a reward query through a user interface of a reward system from a user on a communication network. Also to request a search for a plurality of reward pages associated with at least one term in the query from a search engine, and display at least a subset of the plurality of reward pages on a web browser on the communication network. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218692 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SELECTION OF FOODSTUFFS - A method and system for online selection of ingredients and/or use with the selection of a prepared foodstuff supplied by a food vendor is provided. The present invention utilizes an online grid system which lists the toppings and/or ingredients which can be included in any particular food item. The grid has a plurality of columns which includes icons with particular food items and allows the consumer to visually indicate the inclusion of specific food ingredients in their food choices. Additionally, the columns allow the individual consumer to determine the amounts of each ingredient to be included in the preparation of a food item and may also include information relating to directing the food vendor where to locate the particular ingredient, such as including only one ingredient on only a part of a foodstuff, for example, a pizza. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218693 | OBTAINING INSTANT CREDIT AT A POS WITH LIMITED INFORMATION - A consumer at a POS is able to obtain instant credit from a third party payment provider by providing identification information, such as from a driver's license, through a sales associate at the POS and by providing directly the last four digits of the consumer's social security number (SSN). When the consumer wants to make subsequent purchases through the payment provider, the sales associate need only enter the consumer's last name, zip code, and date of birth for the payment provider to locate and retrieve the consumer's account. The consumer may then enter the last four digits of the consumer's social security number, such as into a PIN pad at the POS, and have the information processed by the payment provider. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218694 | SERVICE FOR EXCEEDING ACCOUNT THRESHOLDS VIA TRANSACTION MACHINE - In general terms, embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and apparatuses for providing a service for exceeding account thresholds via a transaction machine. For example, in some embodiments, a method is provided that includes: (a) receiving transaction information associated with a transaction, where the transaction involves an account, a transaction machine, and a holder of the account; (b) determining, based at least partially on the transaction information, that the account will incur an exceeded threshold as a result of the transaction; (c) prompting, via the transaction machine, the holder to consent to the exceeded threshold; (d) receiving the holder's consent to the exceeded threshold; and (e) authorizing the transaction based at least partially on the receiving the holder's consent. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218695 | SYSTEM, PROGRAM PRODUCT AND METHODS FOR RETAIL ACTIVATION AND RELOAD ASSOCIATED WITH PARTIAL AUTHORIZATION TRANSACTIONS - Systems, program product, apparatus and method for transmitting and processing the sale of a transaction card product over an existing payment network using partial authorization messaging, are provided. An example of such a system can include a merchant POS apparatus equipped to support partial authorization messaging, a transaction card issuer server in communication therewith, and a transaction card product. The transaction card product can include a conventional transaction card securely wrapped within a tamper evident container that can carry its own magnetic strip. The container magnetic strip can store an assigned unique card identifier linked to, but different from, the card identifier normally associated with the card. The container card identifier stored in the container magnetic strip is compatible with the merchant POS card reader and is usable to activate the card without the merchant or consumer having access to the card, the card identifier, or the card magnetic strip. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218696 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO FACILITATE THE REPORTING OF SALES TRANSACTIONS - A system and method is provided for promoting reporting sales made by merchants to a taxing authority. Such a method includes entering data that denotes each sale made by the seller into a processor of a computer system. In response to the entry of the data, the method further includes automatically recording, in a memory of the computer system, data from which the amount of tax due from the seller in respect of the sales can be ascertained and providing to a buyer in each such sale a reward which enables the buyer to be eligible for a benefit from the taxing authority. The providing step is performed at least in part by an automatic function of the processor so that the rewards are provided only in response to the entry of data denoting sales. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218697 | SERVICE FOR EXCEEDING ACCOUNT THRESHOLDS VIA MOBILE DEVICE - In general terms, embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and apparatuses for providing a service for exceeding account thresholds via a mobile device. For example, in some embodiments, a method is provided that includes: (a) receiving transaction information associated with a transaction, where the transaction involves an account, a transaction machine, and a holder of the account; (b) determining, based at least partially on the transaction information, that the account will incur an excess threshold amount as a result of the transaction; (c) prompting the holder to consent to the excess threshold amount via the mobile device, where the holder is associated with the mobile device; (d) receiving the holder's consent to the excess threshold amount; and (e) authorizing the transaction based at least partially on the receiving the holder's consent. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218698 | Method and System for a Multi-Purpose Transactional Platform - The present invention relates particularly to a method and system for consolidating a plurality of a consumer's payment and non-payment source accounts into a consolidated platform with a customer identification or available proxy account numbers that can be assigned to source accounts. The source accounts can be, for example, credit card accounts, ATM accounts, debit card accounts, demand deposit accounts, stored-value accounts, merchant-loyalty card accounts, membership accounts, and identification card numbers. The consumer can access and modify any of the source accounts and manage funds across the source accounts by accessing the consolidated platform with a single access device or mode. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218699 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REDUCING POINT-OF-SALE TIRE INVENTORY - Systems and methods are disclosed for manufacturing a tire selected having a certain performance and/or size characteristic from a range of tread-casing combinations having a range of performance and/or size characteristics from a reduced inventory supply. The systems and methods for producing tires can be used to build tires having a selected performance characteristic from an inventory supply having reduced storage time. A customized tire can be produced by providing, either at or near a point-of-sale facility, a set of cured tire casings manufactured without tire treads and a set of cured tire treads manufactured without tire casings. A tire that is customized to the customer is built upon demand at an assembly facility at or near the point-of-sale and delivered to the customer at or near the time of building upon demand by the customer. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218700 | RETAIL SYSTEM FOR SELLING PRODUCTS BASED ON A FLEXIBLE PRODUCT DESCRIPTION - According to one described embodiment, a method is provided in which transaction information is determined. The transaction information is associated with (i) a buyer who has arranged to purchase a product from a central controller at a first price established between the buyer and the central controller and (ii) a merchant that offers the product for sale at a second price, different from the first price, without offering the product for sale to buyers at the first price. Information is transmitted that facilitates the acquisition of the product by the buyer, in exchange for payment provided by the buyer to the central controller. An amount based on the second price is provided to the merchant. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218701 | Apparatus, Method and System for Electronic Gifting - Electronic gifting is performed using various devices, servers, and other system nodes on a network. A gifting server and a transaction facility server associated with a transaction facility have access to the network. A donor's personal electronic device and a recipient's personal electronic device also have access to the network. Both the donor personal electronic device and the recipient personal electronic device may be enabled with the light-simulated barcode technology and/or NFC technology. Financial systems such as, for example, credit card systems, banking systems, and loyalty card systems may also have access to the network, or may be directly accessible to the transactions facility systems. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218702 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPTIMAL TIME FOR PRODUCT LAUNCH AND WITHDRAW IN E-COMMERCE - The present disclosure introduces a technique for achieving the optimal time to launch or withdraw products on a webpage. In one aspect, a method includes: storing information to be collected from a webpage for one or more items corresponding to a first product; collecting data related to the one or more items in each time section of a plurality of time sections; calculating a respective value score for each time section of the plurality of time sections based on a respective number of occurrences of the one or more items in each time section; determining the optimal time to launch or withdraw the first product based on value scores of the first product for the plurality of time sections; and rendering launch or withdrawal of the first product on the webpage in the optimal time. Implementation of the technique will conveniently allow a merchant's product website to automatically complete a product launch or withdrawal in the optimal time. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218703 | GROUP DISCOUNT COLLABORATIVE WEB BASED SHOPPING SYSTEM - The present invention is directed towards to computerized social networks and e-commerce and facilitating ad-hoc screen sharing and co-browsing between users of a social network. The collaborative browsing includes group discounts. The collaborative browsing method comprises a server computer having a Shopping With A Friend (SWAF) server engine coupled to a database, a SWAF client engine coupled to the SWAF server engine and a plurality of client computers each having a web browser program that runs the SWAF client engine. The web browser program does not include a collaboration plug-in. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218704 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ACCESSING CAMERA SYSTEMS - System and methods for identifying one or more out-of-network camera systems of interest and for enabling dynamic bidding for access to the one or more out-of-network camera systems are disclosed. In certain embodiments, identifying one or more out-of-network camera systems may include receiving a search query from a user, comparing search parameters included in the search query with information stored in a database and, based on the comparison, identify one or more camera systems satisfying the search query. In embodiments enabling bidding for access to one or more out-of-network camera systems, a bid management system may receive a plurality of bids for accessing one or more camera systems, determine at least one winning bid and corresponding winning bidder from the plurality of bids, and provide access to the one or more camera systems to the winning bidder. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218705 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ACCESSING CAMERA SYSTEMS - System and methods for identifying one or more out-of-network camera systems of interest and for enabling dynamic bidding for access to the one or more out-of-network camera systems are disclosed. In certain embodiments, identifying one or more out-of-network camera systems may include receiving a search query from a user, comparing search parameters included in the search query with information stored in a database and, based on the comparison, identify one or more camera systems satisfying the search query. In embodiments enabling bidding for access to one or more out-of-network camera systems, a bid management system may receive a plurality of bids for accessing one or more camera systems, determine at least one winning bid and corresponding winning bidder from the plurality of bids, and provide access to the one or more camera systems to the winning bidder. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218706 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ACCESSING CAMERA SYSTEMS - System and methods for identifying one or more out-of-network camera systems of interest and for enabling dynamic bidding for access to the one or more out-of-network camera systems are disclosed. In certain embodiments, identifying one or more out-of-network camera systems may include receiving a search query from a user, comparing search parameters included in the search query with information stored in a database and, based on the comparison, identify one or more camera systems satisfying the search query. In embodiments enabling bidding for access to one or more out-of-network camera systems, a bid management system may receive a plurality of bids for accessing one or more camera systems, determine at least one winning bid and corresponding winning bidder from the plurality of bids, and provide access to the one or more camera systems to the winning bidder. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218707 | METHOD, APPARATUS AND ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE FOR DETERMINING THE END TO A SILENT AUCTION USING A TIERED STRATEGY - Systems and methods of an electronic auction system that receives at least one bid to purchase an item that is available for auction during a period of time. The period of time comprises a plurality of time increments. The system also uses a computing device to determine that the auction for the item has ended. The act of determining includes determining that at least one of the following events has occurred: a first quantity of bids received during a first time increment is less than a first pre-determined number; and a second quantity of bids received during a second time increment is less than a second pre-determined number. Based on pre-determined criteria, the system also determines a winning bid from a plurality of received bids. The system transmits to a remote device a notification of the winning bid. The system also processes a payment of the item. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218708 | Timed Online Auction Events - Techniques for conducting a timed, online auction are described. In an example system, an auction web server sends a current auction price and at least one bid increment to the browser screens of bidder computers. One or more bids are received, wherein each bid is placed according to the then-current bid and the next bid increment. A revision event is triggered by the web site system, whereupon the first bid increment is adjusted, to form a revised bid increment, and the revised bid increment is sent and displayed to bidders. The adjustment of the increment is calculated as a function of the remaining time in the timed auction event, or the ratio of the then-current auction price to a target price for the lot, or both. One or more additional bids are received, wherein the one or more additional bids are based on the revised bid increment. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218709 | MULTIPARTY COMPUTER-ASSISTED HAGGLING - The claimed subject matter relates to a computer-implemented architecture that can facilitate computer-assisted haggling and/or negotiation between multiple parties simultaneously. For example, various proxies associated with both buyers and sellers can be configured to negotiate with other proxies to buy or sell an item. The negotiations can be required to be progressive and during the negotiations a buyer or seller is, typically, allowed to withdraw his or her proposals. The architecture can include a registration component that can resolve concurrency and facilitate a registration of an agreement between two of the parties. The registration of an agreement can create a binding obligation between the parties after which other outstanding proposals can be terminated. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218710 | Cell-Allocation in Location-Selective Information Provision Systems - Systems and methods for allocating cells within a virtual grid to content providers according to various priority and selection schemes are used to target content delivery to information playback devices in a geographically and/or application selective manner. The priority schemes, geographical selectivity, and application selectivity of the system and methods of the invention allow a content provider to specifically target a desired demographic with high cost efficiency and flexibility. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218711 | Message Types for Customer Quote and Customer Quote Request - A business object model, which reflects data that is used during a given business transaction, is utilized to generate interfaces. This business object model facilitates commercial transactions by providing consistent interfaces that are suitable for use across industries, across businesses, and across different departments within a business during a business transaction. In some operations, software creates, updates, or otherwise processes information related to a customer quote and/or a customer quote request business object. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218712 | Method Of Customized Cleat Arrangement - A method for producing articles of footwear with customized cleat arrangements is disclosed. The method includes a step of designing a customized cleat arrangement using a graphical interface system; a step of drilling holes into an outer plate according to the designed customized cleat arrangement; a step of inserting receiving members into the holes; a step of attaching the outer plate to an upper; and a step of associating a plurality of cleats with the receiving members. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218713 | Method for Providing Information and Recommendations Based on User Activity - A method for providing recommendations to a user based on user activity. A plurality of activity data tracking a plurality of activities of a user is obtained. The activity data may be obtained over a wide area network such as the internet or downloaded from a data card which stores activity data whenever the user participates in an activity. The activity data is either stored on the data card or transmitted over the network whenever the user uses a card when participating in any activity such as when making a purchase of goods, paying for services, watching television, etc. The activity data is processed to identify a plurality of user patterns. The user patterns are used to form a user profile and may include user habit data. Recommendations specific to the user based on the user patterns are then created for and provided to the user. The recommendations are provided to a user when the user logs onto a computer network such as the internet. The recommendations may also be provided by electronic mail, electronic pager or other methods. The recommendations are provided by various data analysis techniques including rule based inference engines and other forms of artificial intelligence. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218714 | Apparatus, Article of Manufacture, and Methods for Recommending a Jewelry Item - Apparatus, article of manufacture and methods for recommending a jewelry item that comprise receiving, at a jewelry interface, user-input data regarding: a selection of at least one jewelry item. The at least one jewelry item comprises a plurality of characteristics. User-input data also includes an indication of a level of importance for at least one characteristic of a jewelry item. Each level of importance corresponds to a co-efficient. An ideal profile is computed based in part on the selection of the at least one jewelry item and the indication of the level of importance, an ideal profile. A matching algorithm is applied to a plurality of jewelry items stored in an inventory. Based on the matching algorithm, at least one recommended jewelry item is identified as most closely matching the ideal profile. An indication of the at least one recommended jewelry item is transmitted. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218715 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ITEM LIST CREATION AND COMMUNICATION - A system receives item data describing one or more items added to an item list by a user. The item list may include one or more items. The system communicates the item list to a group of additional users designated by the user and the system then receives member data from one or more members of the group of additional user, wherein the member data is about the one or more items in the item list. The item list is then updated based on the received member data. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218716 | Electronic Commerce File System - In various example embodiments, a system and method for an electronic commerce file system are provided. In example embodiments, a selection of an item contained in a folder of an electronic commerce file system is received. The item is offered for sale by an electronic commerce provider, and the electronic commerce file system resides locally on a client device. Based on a type of the folder, a set of actions are provided for selection, with the set of actions to be performed with respect to the item. A selection of an action to be performed with respect to the item is received. The action is performed with respect to the item, with the action being performed between the electronic commerce file system and the electronic commerce provider via a network. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218717 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATION OF A REGISTRY IN AN ONLINE STORE - A system for an online school store with a plurality of student registries, comprises a store front created from a plurality of store front templates, school-specific variables, artwork associated with the school; a school specific catalogue generated from the base catalogue using the artwork and the school-specific variables; and a plurality of student accounts, each account comprising contacts and a student registry generated by selecting items from the school specific catalogue; and a registry module configured to add the selected items to the associated student registry and send a message to the contacts included in the contact information the message providing a link to the associated student registry. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218718 | MACHINE, METHODS, AND PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR ELECTRONIC ORDER ENTRY - Systems, methods, and program product for facilitating electronic ordering of goods, services, or goods and services, or other products, through messaging over a financial services electronic payment network, are provided. A customer provides electronic order registration activation information for an electronic order transaction card. The customer is provided an electronic order card having a unique electronic payment network compatible electronic order card identifier including a non-financial transaction IIN and a customer number, and is provided a catalogue or list including product order codes each associated with a different product, to enable electronic ordering over the financial services electronic payment network. An electronic order card configured to interface with a conventional point-of-sale terminal can be used to facilitate the electronic ordering over the existing financial services electronic payment network when presented to the point-of-sale terminal with a product order code identifying a selected product. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218719 | Online Barter System - An online barter system for facilitating the exchange of services of equivalent value includes a computer connected to a computer network and having a processor and memory. Programming causes the processor to receive barter offer data from a system subscriber/donor over the network. A monetary value and a corresponding quantity of barter credits are associated with the submitted barter offer. The system includes programming for receiving barter selection data from another subscriber, the request including a request to redeem a respective barter offer using the subscriber's barter credits. The system determines if the requester has sufficient barter credits to redeem the requester barter offer. The system facilitates performance of a redeemed barter service and the recipient may offer online feedback. If the feedback is positive, the donor's credits are increased and the recipient's credits are decreased. The system allows for negative feedback to be challenged by a respective donor. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218720 | AUTOMATED NEGOTIATION - A switching linear dynamical system (SLDS) transition model accommodating any number of different switching states may be used to model negotiation behavior. Furthermore, a negotiation behavior model that accommodates multiple different negotiation strategies (e.g., an SLDS transition model where individual switching states represent different negotiation strategies) may be used to predict a trajectory of offers to be made by a party to a negotiation, and terms of a counteroffer to the party may be calculated based on the predicted trajectory of offers to be made by the party. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218721 | TRANSACTION VISUAL CAPTURING APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS - The TRANSACTION VISUAL CAPTURING APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS (“TVC”) transform mobile device location coordinate information transmissions, real-time reality visual capturing, and mixed gesture capturing via TVC components into real-time behavior-sensitive product purchase related information, shopping purchase transaction notifications, and electronic receipts. In one implementation, the TVC obtains user check-in information from a user mobile device upon user entry into a store. The TVC extracts a user identifier based on the user check-in information, and accesses a database for a user profile. The TVC determines a user prior behavior pattern from the accessed user profile, and obtains user real-time in-store behavior data from the user mobile device. Using these, the TVC generates and provides a recommendation to the user mobile device. The TVC adds a product for purchase by the user to a cart based on the provided recommendation. Upon obtaining an indication that the user desires to purchase the product added to the cart, the TVC initiates a purchase transaction for the product added to the cart, and provides an electronic receipt to the user mobile device. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218722 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR ELECTRONIC COMMERCE USING PERSONAL AND BUSINESS NETWORKS - Electronic commerce over a publicly accessible computer network such as the Internet is facilitated and leveraged by a computer system that forms a community of computer user parties based on personal and business connections of the parties involved. Personal connections are created between users by invitation and mutual acceptance. Business connections are created between users when a transaction takes place between those users. Users search to perform any one or more of a variety of actions such as to purchase products, browse departments and categories for purchasing products, or explore the connections between the parties involved to find items to buy. Different groupings of the parties involved may be the users themselves and other buyers/sellers in the business network, the users themselves and their friends in the personal networks, or some combination of buyers/sellers and friends from each of the types of networks. A computer or server at a site in the network implements an architecture whereby various pages viewed by a user have links to enable them to find products. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218723 | GLOBAL SHIPPING PLATFORM - A system and method for a global shipping platform for an online marketplace is described. A transaction between an international buyer and a domestic seller for an item listed by the domestic seller in the online marketplace is generated. A domestic shipping transaction of the transaction is generated for the domestic seller. An international shipping transaction of the transaction is generated for the international buyer. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218724 | VEHICLE OWNERSHIP IMPACT EVALUATION - Vehicle ownership impact evaluations are implemented by a host system having logic executable thereon. The logic calculates mileage indicative of a roundtrip for a commute received from a user. The logic also acquires terrain data for the commute from a database containing topological information. The logic uses the routing information, in conjunction with a timestamp associated with input from the user, to access a database containing climate information for a geography identified from the routing information, and determines an estimated climate for a time of year via the timestamp. The logic receives an identifier for a vehicle from the user, and retrieves specification data for the vehicle via the identifier. The logic further applies the specification data to the mileage, the estimated climate, the terrain data, and a base energy price, and calculates estimated costs for the commute in terms of energy consumed for the round trip by the vehicle. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218725 | MULTI-COMPONENT SELECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system and method consistent with the present disclosure includes collecting a plurality of information associated with components sold by a plurality of vendors. In response from a requester requesting component recommendations from a system and method consistent with the present disclosure, retrieving the collected component information of the components relevant to the request. Finally, communicating the retrieved component information as component recommendations to the requester. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218726 | Message Types for Sales Order - A business object model, which reflects data that is used during a given business transaction, is utilized to generate interfaces. This business object model facilitates commercial transactions by providing consistent interfaces that are suitable for use across industries, across businesses, and across different departments within a business during a business transaction. In some operations, software creates, updates, or otherwise processes information related to a sales order business object. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218727 | System and Methods for Purchasing Arbitrage - Various systems and methods that may relate to referral and/or delivery services are described. Some embodiments may include receiving from a user on a remote device an order for delivery of a plurality of items. Each item comprises an unique identifier. Embodiments also may include determining a location of the user; identifying at least two providers located within a radius of the user, in which each provider is capable of delivering the requested items; computing for each provider a total cost of delivery of the requested items; receive a request for a first provider to deliver the requested item; and facilitate delivery of the items. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218728 | Virtual on-line pre-shopping system and method - An electronic pre-shopping system and method, that provides the consumer the option of pre-shopping for a gift item from any on-line retail outlet. The system and method provides consumer capability of accessing a retail outlet website, selecting a gift item, selectively extracting the gift item product information, associating the gift item with a future special occasion of a recipient of the gift item, storing the product information along with the recipient special occasion information into a database, securing payment for the item, and delivering the gift item to the recipient within the proscribed time period required for the special occasion. The system further provides the consumer with the option of paying for the gift item immediately or at a predetermined date in the future. The user interface further provides the capability of pre-shopping for an item from any online retail store through a software proxy process. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218729 | ELECTRONIC TEXT MANIPULATION AND DISPLAY - Information is presented to a user by accessing a library of electronic publications that includes a first publication, generating a representation of the first publication in an electronic bookshelf, determining a state for the first publication and modifying the representation of the first publication to reflect the state of the first publication. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218730 | Systems And Methods For Authenticating Bulk Products - This application generally relates to systems and methods for authenticating a bulk quantity of a consumable product with a corresponding product. More specifically, the invention associates a bulk quantity of the consumable product with a product parameter such as a consumption rate of the consumable product within the corresponding product; provides and authorizes a key and/or reader with the bulk quantity and consumption rate data to a specific corresponding product wherein the bulk quantity and consumption rate data are correlated to a maximum consumption quantity value; monitoring consumption of the consumable product within the corresponding product until the maximum consumption quantity value is reached; and providing an event output to the corresponding product when the maximum consumption quantity value is realized. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218731 | EMBEDDED WIRELESS CLOUD CONNECTOR - The current invention is directed to embedded, wireless cloud-connector devices and systems that allow the embedded, wireless cloud-connector devices to be deployed in a variety of embedding devices, applications, and uses. The embedded, wireless, cloud-connector devices to which the current application is directed are implemented using a single integrated circuit, or set of integrated-circuit chips, and each interfaces to a device, product, or system in which the cloud-connector devices are embedded as subcomponents as well as to a communications-services provider. The cloud-connector devices provide data exchange between devices, products, and systems in which they are embedded and cloud providers that provide cloud-computing services, data-message routing, and wireless services through wireless carriers. Embedded, wireless cloud-connector devices, and the systems that interconnect and manage them, allow cloud-providers to extend the cloud-computing domain into many different types of low-cost and geographically dispersed markets and areas of use. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218732 | Methods and Apparatus for Facilitating Immigration Transactions using an Accounting System for Allocating Employment Credits - Methods, systems and apparatus for facilitating immigration transactions and investments are disclosed. Data is prepared for use in an immigration compliance report. One or more employment credits are reported as being allocated to an investment. The employment credits represent jobs created through investment in a first business entity that employs one or more employees that are simultaneously employees of the first business entity and a second business entity. The one or more employees that are simultaneously employees of the first business entity and a second business entity are identified as holding jobs created by the investment in the first business entity. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218733 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DATA MANAGEMENT AND MONETIZATION - An apparatus, method, and system for linking out to product websites in an electronic laboratory journal environment are disclosed. The apparatus, method, and system comprising a module for receiving a content entry in a content space, a module for receiving a hyperlink associated with the content entry in the content space, the hyperlink configured to link out to a third party website with affiliation to the content entry, and a module for generating in the content space a content entry listing having embedded therein the hyperlink that is configured to link out to the third party website. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218734 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ASSOCIATING FINANCIAL TRANSACTION DATA WITH A USER'S PROJECT DATA USING A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE - This invention relates to a system for viewing and manipulating a user's financial transaction data and a method for associating financial transaction data with a user's project data using a portable electronic device. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218735 | USER INTERFACE FOR TAX-RETURN PREPARATION - A method is implementable in an electronic system coupled to an electronic device, which is, in turn, coupled to a display device. A web page displayable on the display device is served to the electronic device. The displayed web page includes a user interface, which, in turn, includes a frame and at least one stile defining a plurality of panes within the frame. In a first one of the panes, at least one field into which a tax-data provider can input tax data is displayed. In a second one of the panes, information of a first type of a plurality of information types operable to assist the provider in performing a first operation of a set of operations using the user interface is displayed. Input tax data is received from the electronic device. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218736 | CROSSED MARKET ALERT METHOD FOR OVER-THE-COUNTER (OTC) MARKETS - A method for use in over-the-counter (OTC) financial markets to selectively generate and transmit crossing market alerts to market participants (e.g., market makers or liquidity providers). The method includes providing an alert generation system with a processor executing code to provide a crossing markets module. The method also includes, with the crossing markets module, receiving from a data source a set of market data defining pricing for a financial instrument, such as a bond, credit default swap (CDS) or other swap, or loan. Then, the method includes receiving a quote for the financial instrument from a market maker. The method involves comparing pricing data in the quote with the pricing for the financial instrument defined by the market data to identify a crossing markets event. The method includes generating a crossing markets alert when a set of alert generation rules, including surpassing an economic threshold, are met. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218737 | Independent Research Consensus Earnings Estimates And Methods Of Determining Such - Apparatus and methods are described for correlating business relationships and issuing earnings estimates. According to the present invention, an earnings estimate can be generated for a company as it compares to a consensus estimate, or other rating aggregate, along with an indication of an investment banking relationship or other business relationship that the entity providing the estimate has had with the company. In addition to a consensus estimate that may be based upon current and previous analyst earnings estimates, operating actuals, expected reporting dates, footnotes and company-issued guidelines, indications of investment banking relationships and a consensus estimate is provided that excludes input from banks conducting business with the company. The present invention can also include suggested actions that can be taken based upon data relating to an investment banking relationship, an earnings estimate and/or a consensus earnings estimate that excludes input from banks with substantial business relationships with the company. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218738 | Integrating Payment Aggregators With E-Commerce Platform - Systems and methods for integrating an e-commerce platform with at least one payment aggregator are provided. The system comprising a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory comprises an integrating module configured to provide a Generic Interface Framework (GIF). The GIF comprises a plurality of configuration files having activity details of a plurality of payment aggregators. The integrating module is further configured to integrate at least one payment aggregator selected from amongst the plurality of payment aggregators with the e-commerce platform based upon the plurality of configuration files. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218739 | Secure Consolidated Exchange Feed for Order Entry and Market Data - Systems and methods are presented for communication of financial messages from an Exchange to market participants whereby messages directed to particular market participants may be consolidated with other messages directed to all market participants and communicated via the same communications medium while preserving the anonymity of those market participants to which messages are particularly directed. Accordingly, redundant communications are eliminated, reducing the overall volume of communicated data and the resources necessary in support thereof; inhibition of any one market participant intentionally or unintentionally influencing the market via exposure of their activities, or otherwise unfairly impinging on the exposed activities of other market participants, is maintained; and inequitable information access is eliminated as the consolidated messages are transmitted to all market participants substantially simultaneously over the same medium thereby minimizing or eliminating any advantage or opportunity one market participant may have to receive market information ahead of the other market participants. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218740 | TRADING SYSTEM PRODUCTS AND PROCESSES - A trading platform and trading method that allows access to additional pools of liquidity is described. Other embodiments are also described. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218741 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ELECTRONICALLY INITIATING AND EXECUTING SECURITIES LENDING TRANSACTIONS - Systems and methods are provided for conducting securities lending transactions using an electronic trading platform. In accordance with an implementation, the electronic trading platform receives, from a trader, order data comprising a plurality of orders to lend or borrow shares of securities, and information identifying a matching criterion associated with a transaction to lend or borrow the shares. The electronic trading platform identifies a counterparty capable of fulfilling at least a portion of the orders in accordance with the proposed matching criterion. The electronic trading platform may then execute transactions between the trader and the identified counterparty to lend or borrow at least a portion of the shares in accordance with terms of an active bilateral agreement between the trader and the identified counterparty. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218742 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF PRICING FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS - Some demonstrative embodiments of the invention include a method and/or system of pricing a financial instrument. The method may include receiving trade information of a plurality of traded financial instruments, the trade information including trade information related to a plurality of market prices corresponding to the plurality of traded financial instruments; determining at least one set of market parameter values based on a predefined criterion that relates to a plurality of sets of one or more of the plurality of market prices and to a plurality of sets of one or more model prices that are calculated for the at least one set of market parameter values by a pricing model using the trade information; and estimating a price of the financial instrument using the pricing model based on the at least one set of market parameter values. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218743 | FORWARD-LOOKING TRANSACTIVE PRICING SCHEMES FOR USE IN A MARKET-BASED RESOURCE ALLOCATION SYSTEM - Disclosed herein are representative embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems for distributing a resource (such as electricity) using a resource allocation system. One of the disclosed embodiments is a method for generating a bid value for purchasing electricity in a market-based resource allocation system. In this embodiment, a desired performance value indicative of a user's desired performance level for an electrical device is received. Price information from an electricity futures market is received. A bid value for purchasing electricity from a local resource allocation market sufficient to operate the electrical device at the desired performance level is computed. In this embodiment, the computing is performed based at least in part on the desired performance value and based at least in part on the price information from the electricity futures market. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218744 | FORWARD-LOOKING TRANSACTIVE PRICING SCHEMES FOR USE IN A MARKET-BASED RESOURCE ALLOCATION SYSTEM - Disclosed herein are representative embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems for distributing a resource (such as electricity) using a resource allocation system. One of the disclosed embodiments is a method for generating a bid value for purchasing electricity in a market-based resource allocation system. In this embodiment, a desired performance value indicative of a user's desired performance level for an electrical device is received. Price information from an electricity futures market is received. A bid value for purchasing electricity from a local resource allocation market sufficient to operate the electrical device at the desired performance level is computed. In this embodiment, the computing is performed based at least in part on the desired performance value and based at least in part on the price information from the electricity futures market. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218745 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING AND EVALUATING NETWORK COMMODITIES PURCHASING - One or more price metrics are generated by retrieving, from a database, one or more price data sets representing a specified time period. Each of the retrieved price data sets includes at least a parameter value, a quoted cost, and a selling unit of measure for at least one item, and is responsive to a product specification data set that includes at least one parameter value and a unit of measure for each of one or more items. In at least one embodiment, a combined item price total is divided by a combined item unit total to generate a metric price per unit for each item in the product specification data set. In another embodiment, a summed individual metric price per unit is divided by the number of individual metric prices to generate an overall metric price per unit for each item in the product specification data set. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218746 | Out of Band Credit Control - Systems and method for mediating risks associated with orders in an electronic trading system are provided. A front end component includes a plurality of trading engines that receive orders from traders. A back-end component includes a match system. The system includes a credit control module, which may be located at the back-end (e.g., clearinghouse), front end, a combination thereof, or other location that communicates with the plurality of trading engines. The credit control may monitor aggregate risk parameters for the trading engines and requests credits from trading engines. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218747 | Implied Volatility Based Pricing and Risk Tool and Conditional Sub-Order Books - The Book Order Management (BOM) system provides a fully automated and efficient electronic trading environment for derivatives trading. The BOM system allows traders to electronically, in real time, both make two sided markets in any option or combination of options, and issue quotations for immediate use, so that the trader providing the quotation has the opportunity to re-evaluate and change markets if conditions change. The BOM system provides a way to efficiently determine whether the conditions placed on a contingent order are met and guaranteed, using a lock (freeze) and reserve procedure. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218748 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING AND MONITORING POST-SALES CONDITIONS WITHIN A NETWORK TRADING PLATFORM - A method and a system to measure and monitor post-sales conditions within a network-based trading platform including a post-sales management module automatically to monitor post-sales parameters pertaining to an inventory of sold items and an alert module automatically to generate an alert when at least one post-sales parameter transgresses a threshold. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218749 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TRANSFER OF BULK COMMODITIES - A method and system are disclosed for making bulk groupings of various products and services available for purchase and sale by an individual or a business. The method includes grouping a plurality of commodities into a bulk bundle. A first price is then established for purchase of the entire bulk bundle. A second price can also be established to permit a consumer to obtain an option to purchase the bulk bundle at a future date. A suitable communication and transaction system, such as an Internet connection, can be used to establish a market in which the bulk bundles can be transferred between or among providers and consumers. The method and system therefore combine conventional trading elements with several new elements, including the concept of partial consumption, to provide a unique method that can be applied in a variety of product and service categories. The significant benefits of price discovery and automation of transactions associated with transfer of bulk bundle commodities are also provided to the consumer. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218750 | Strategic Loan Default Scoring - A strategic default score is determined for an entity that characterizes a likelihood of the entity voluntarily electing to default on a loan. Data characterizing credit data and valuation data of an asset owned by the entity is received. Using the received data, the strategic default score is generated which characterizes a likelihood of the entity to voluntarily elect to default on the loan when the entity is capable of paying-off the loan. Provision (e.g., display, transmission, storage, etc.) of the strategic default score is then initiated. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218751 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING THIN-FILE RECORDS AND DETERMINING THIN-FILE RISK LEVELS - In some embodiments, systems and methods are disclosed for generating filters to determine whether a consumer is likely to have a scoreable credit record based on non-credit data, and to determine a potential risk level associated with an unscoreable credit record based on non-credit data. Existing scoreable and unscoreable records are compared to determine factors correlated with having an unscoreable record, and a multi-level filter is developed. Unscoreable records having at least one entry are compared to determine whether they are “good” or “bad” risks, factors correlated with either condition are determined, and a filter is developed. The filters can be applied to records comprising demographic data to determine consumers that are likely to have unscoreable records but represent good risks. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218752 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF EXPEDITED CREDIT AND LOAN PROCESSING - A system and method of expedited credit approval and lending for an applicant initially pre-qualifies the applicant using an input device to obtain predetermined applicant identification information and transmits the applicant identification information to the credit and loan processor computer which verifies the applicant identification without pulling credit. If verified, applicant answers predetermined prescreen question to initially pre-qualify the applicant and the applicant's answer is compared to a predetermined lender/dealer criteria for the prescreen question to determine whether to continue with the loan application if the applicant's answer meets the predetermined lender/dealer criteria or end the loan application if the predetermined lender/dealer criteria is not met, before pulling credit. The source or transaction originator is notified of the decision. The credit and loan processor software program continues to pre-qualify the applicant using stated debt to income ratio for a selected loan type and if pre-qualified, then processes full credit. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218753 | Commodity Backed Payment System For Social Networks - Embodiments are directed towards providing a computer-implemented method and a network device that provides an electronic payment system for social networks, including maintaining (i) records of registered users, (ii) records of registered merchants, (iii) a credit account for each registered user and registered merchant wherein credits are backed by a commodity and a credit corresponds to a fraction of a standard unit of the commodity, receiving from a user device instructions to deposit a designated amount of currency from a user's account into the user's credit account, using the received instructions, obtaining the designated amount of currency, electronically purchasing from a seller an amount of a specified commodity equivalent to the designated amount of currency minus any transaction fee assessed by the seller, and updating the user's credit account by adding a number of credits equivalent to the amount of the purchased commodity. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218754 | CURRENCY RECYCLER - A cash recycler that is configured to allow deposited money to be dispensed (recycled) in a withdrawal transaction. In one embodiment, multiple currency recyclers could be used at multiple stores of a retail establishment and collectively work from one pending balance. Embodiments are also contemplated in which multiple accounts at one recycler location. In some cases, the currency recycler provides provisional credit for deposits of coinage and checks. In some cases, transactions made on the currency recycler could be settled to any financial institution. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218755 | RENEWABLE RESOURCE DISTRIBUTION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - Energy resource dispensing terminals can be added one-at-a-time to a wide area resource distribution system very easily where needed as needed. Each terminal can dispense any of a number of types of energy resources such as electricity, compressed hydrogen, compressed air, and waste vegetable oil. The energy dispensing terminal includes a terminal control computer that interacts with customer computing devices, such as personal, portable computing devices or onboard computers installed in vehicles to effect negotiation and fulfillment of energy resource purchase transactions. A resource sharing server facilitates such transactions by maintaining and verifying identities of customers and sellers along with financial account information such that a registered customer can purchase energy resources from any seller registered with the same resource sharing server. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218756 | CHARGING PAYMENT SYSTEM AND TARGET APPARATUS USED IN THE SAME - A charging fee payment system is used for a payment process for a payment of a charging fee to charge a target apparatus with a charging apparatus. The target apparatus includes a memory, a controller, and a communication section. When the charging apparatus does not have a function to communicate with an external server that performs the payment process, the memory stores an unique ID code of the charging apparatus and electricity usage data indicative of the amount of electricity used by the charging apparatus to charge the target apparatus. The controller allows the target apparatus to be charged with the charging apparatus on a condition that the ID code remains stored in the memory. When the communication section becomes able to communicate with the external server, the communication section sends the ID code and the electricity usage data stored in the memory to the external server. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218757 | PAYMENTS USING A RECIPIENT PHOTOGRAPH - A user takes a photo of a payment recipient using the user's mobile device. The photo is analyzed to determine whether a matching photo with an identifier exists, such as on the user device or within a payment provider database. If so, the identifier is used to identify the recipient and process a payment from the user to the recipient. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218758 | CUSTOM SCORECARD AND HYBRID FRAUD MODEL - Embodiments of the invention relate to methods, apparatuses, and systems for performing, creating, generating, and displaying transaction scorecards related to fraud evaluations of transactions. Methods may include determining if one or more preselected rules are triggered by transaction data associated with a transaction, determining a trigger score for each of the preselected rules, adding the trigger score for each of the preselected rules to a profile score, applying the profile score to at least one transaction decision rule, and displaying transaction evaluation results in a transaction scorecard. Additionally, some embodiments of the invention may combine a centralized multiple merchant fraud model provided by a merchant processor and a merchant customized model, to a produce a hybrid scorecard model. The respective scores of the multiple merchant fraud model and the merchant customized model may be weighted for further customization. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218759 | VIRTUAL TRANSACTION CUTOFF - In some embodiments of the present invention, a method is provided that includes: (a) receiving transaction information associated with a transaction; (b) determining, based at least partially on the transaction information, that the transaction involves an account, occurred after a daily cutoff time on a first day, has a predetermined transaction type, and includes a transaction amount; and (c) designating, using a processor and based at least partially on the determining that the transaction occurred after the daily cutoff time and has the predetermined transaction type, the transaction amount for inclusion in the daily ending balance for the account for the first day. In some embodiments, the method further includes designating, based at least partially on the determining that the transaction occurred after the daily cutoff time, the transaction for posting to the account on a second day, where the second day is any day after the first day. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218760 | FINANCIAL TRANSACTION TOKEN WITH ONBOARD POWER SOURCE - There is provided a card or token for use in financial transactions. The financial transaction token or card has an onboard energy storage device that enables onboard electronics to operate when the card is not in the proximity of a merchant Point-Of-Service (POS) terminal. In one implementation, the onboard energy storage device includes a capacitor such as a thin-film capacitor that stores sufficient energy to power onboard electronics without the need for an onboard battery. The card may be incorporated within various conventional apparatus such as a see-through and/or protective substrate, an item of clothing, an item of jewelry, a cell phone, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a credit card, an identification card, a money holder, a wallet, a personal organizer, a keychain payment tag, and like personality. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218761 | SYSTEM, METHOD,COMPUTER PRODUCT AND WEBSITE FOR AUTOMOBILE COLLISION REPAIR - A system, method, computer product and website for provides full service concierge style vehicle mechanical repair, collision repair, aftermarket installation services and restoration services. The system, method, computer product and website relate to new and improved means for coordinating automobile collision and mechanical repair services. The claimed invention is also adaptable for use with restoration and aftermarket installation services. More specifically, the claimed invention relates to use of a secure website to offer an exclusive, comprehensive and convenient concierge style auto repair solution for modern lifestyle type customers. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218762 | METHOD AND SOFTWARE APPLICATION AND SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATED BILL PROCESSING - Methods and systems are provided for processing one or more bills of a biller. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218763 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVISIONALLY TRANSFERRING AN ELECTRONIC CURRENCY - Persistent, electronically anchored currency notes (PEAC notes) may be generated by a transaction provider and maintained in a datastore. Each PEAC note may be associated with a respective unique identifier and an asset held by a custodian. The transaction provider may provide for assigning ownership of the PEAC notes to various entities and/or transferring ownership therebetween. Ownership transfers may be performed by the transaction provider while maintaining the PEAC notes in the datastore and/or maintaining the asset(s) associated therewith with their respective custodian(s). The transfer of a PEAC note may be tied to one or more transfer conditions. A PEAC note may be provisionally transferred from a first entity to a second entity subject to one or more transfer conditions. When the transfer conditions are met, the PEAC note may be permanently transferred to the second entity. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218764 | ELECTRONIC SETTLEMENT METHOD, SYSTEM, SERVER, AND PROGRAM THEREOF - A secure electronic settlement by an easy operation is enabled even with any terminal device and any network in any country. Balance information of a user, predetermined voice information that can identify a user, an arbitrary keyword, and a voiceprint are stored in advance in a database of a server in association with a telephone number of the user, and when a remitter user carries out remittance to a recipient user, the server sends out voice guidance including predetermined voice information registered in the database corresponding to the telephone number of a recipient terminal sent from the recipient terminal requesting the remittance or a telephone number of the recipient terminal inputted by the remitter carrying out the remittance to the recipient using a voice response function to a remitter terminal, thereby enabling intuitive confirmation of a recipient by a remitter. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218765 | GRADUATED SECURITY SEASONING APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS - The GRADUATED SECURITY SEASONING APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS (“GSS”) transform user virtual wallet activity and historical fraud reports via GSS components into transaction authorization triggers generated pursuant to graduated, transaction risk-appropriate, escalated security protocols. In one implementation, the GSS obtains a current transaction request, the request utilizing a user virtual wallet account for payment. The GSS identifies a transaction risk type associated with the request, and calculates a transaction risk level associated with the transaction risk type. Based on the transaction risk level, the GSS selects a security protocol for processing the current transaction request; and provide a security data request in accordance with the selected security protocol. The GSS also generates an offer, for an entity involved in processing the current transaction request, of a financial incentive in exchange for assuming the transaction risk level associated with the transaction risk type; and provides the offer for the entity. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218766 | Mobile Transactions and Payments - The present invention includes an apparatus and method for identifying and connecting mobile devices by scanning a tag associated with a location, place, or other information. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218767 | Web Enabled Bank Teller Machine - A system and method is provided for an ATM having a display, a logic server coupled to the display, and a memory coupled to the logic server. The logic server dynamically controls the content of screens to be displayed on the display. The memory, which is accessible to the logic server, contains a profile of at least one user. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218768 | Systems and Methods for Facilitating Secured Financial Transactions - Systems and methods for facilitating at least a portion of a secure electronic financial transaction are provided herein. Methods may include generating a unique payee identifier that represents a unique payment relationship between a payee and one or more payors, receiving a transaction request, the transaction request comprising the unique payee identifier and a payment, and authorizing a payment to the payee that corresponds to the payment. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218769 | Mobile Funding Method and System - Systems and methods for mobile funding are provided. One such method comprises receiving a transaction request to transfer funds from a payor to a payee. The transaction request can include a payor device identifier, a payee device identifier and an amount. A payor account identifier associated with the payor device identifier, and a payee account identifier associated with the payee device identifier can each be determined. Additionally, a first service provider associated with the payor device can be determined based on the payor device identifier, and a second service provider associated with the payee device can be determined based on the payee device identifier. The transfer of funds from the first service provider to the second service provider can then be initiated using the payor account identifier and the payee account identifier. At least one of the first and second service providers is a mobile network operator. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218770 | System and Method for Performing Financial and Other Transactions with Increased Automation, Improved Security and/or Usage of Data - An apparatus, system and method for securely withdrawing, exchanging, depositing and reconciling funds (cash and no-cash value) from automated media item(s) and delivery system for employees, patrons or other individuals so that cash equivalent value can be issued at authorized location, via a tracked and disbursed, exchanged or deposited funds, or other means of printed or credit transfer. Software to integrate various devices and associated databases that are remotely connected to a network, such as the web, including a login device, accounting device, funds delivery device and accounting device. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218771 | ELECTRONIC PAYMENT UNIT, ELECTRONIC PAYMENT ORIGIN AUTHENTICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - An electronic payment unit including includes a data communications interface, a payment card reader and a memory. During a registration process between the electronic payment unit and a registering system at a location having a unique identifier associated with the location, the electronic payment unit is operative to store the unique identifier, or data derived from or including the unique identifier in the memory. The payment card reader is arranged to read a payment card during an electronic transaction, and to form for transmission, via the data communications interface, an electronic payment request including data on the payment card and on the content of the memory. An associated system and method are also disclosed. | 2013-08-22 |
20130218772 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMPLEMENTING A DYNAMIC VERIFICATION VALUE - A method is disclosed, which includes receiving a message including an account identifier and a first verification value. The method uses the account identifier to select a dynamic verification value process from at least two dynamic verification value processes. Then, using the selected dynamic verification value process, a second verification value is determined. Next, the method determines if the first verification value and the second verification value match or are within an expected range. | 2013-08-22 |