34th week of 2010 patent applcation highlights part 55 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20100217620 | ELECTRONIC SYSTEM FOR TRACKING AND MONITORING ARTICLES TO BE STERILIZED AND ASSOCIATED METHOD - An electronic system for tracking and monitoring articles to be subjected to a sterilization cycle is disclosed. The method uses a sterilization indicator and electronically links sterilization information with the articles subjected to the sterilization process. The indicator allows a sterilization cycle to be monitored without the need for a user to subjectively distinguish between color, quality or intensity of display patterns. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217621 | Clinical Information - Among other things, a computer implemented method for use in a healthcare environment is described herein. The method comprises documenting a set of medical data of a patient in a data repository based on an identifier assigned to the patient, wherein the set of medical data is provided from a medical data source; managing medical information represented by the set of medical data using a computer system in communication with the data repository; and based upon a received request, providing a portion of the documented set of medical data from the data repository to medical equipment remotely located from the data repository, wherein receipt of the request is based upon the identifier assigned to the patient. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217622 | System for Processing Retail Clinic Claims - A method for electronically determining patient medical treatment eligibility, coverage, copayment amount and insurer billing, by: (a) a patient requesting medical treatment at a retail clinic; (b) the patient presenting a health insurance card at the retail clinic; (c) the retail clinic transmitting patient health insurance card information to a centralized adjudication facility; (d) the retail clinic transmitting medical treatment information to the centralized adjudication facility; (e) the centralized adjudication facility determining patient medical treatment coverage, eligibility and copayment amount (f) transmitting the patient medical treatment coverage, eligibility and copayment amount from the centralized adjudication facility to the retail clinic; (g) the patient purchasing the medical treatment by paying the retail clinic the copayment amount, (h) transmitting a bill to the health care insurance provider; and (i) thereby informing the retail clinic clinician to sell the medical treatment to the patient. By simultaneously billing the patient and the insurer, the present invention provides a system that processes the sale of the medical treatment as a sales transaction. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217623 | Decision Support - Among other things, a computer implemented method includes receiving a unique patient identifier for a patient. The method also includes using the unique patient identifier to retrieve medical information associated with the patient from a centralized information source that includes a patient record containing the medical information. After performing a medical procedure on the patient based on the retrieved medical information, the method includes updating the patient record in the centralized information source to reflect the performed medical procedure. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217624 | AUTOMATED PROCESSING OF ELECTRONIC MEDICAL DATA FOR INSURANCE AND DISABILITY DETERMINATIONS - Methods and systems are described for automated processing of medical data for insurance and disability determinations. Based on medical conditions claimed by a claimant, medical evidence queries are automatically generated to provide instructions to medical providers for conducting physical exams and laboratory tests and for retrieving medical records. After medical evidence is collected according to the queries, the medical evidence and related rating codes and decisions are displayed to rating personnel in a user-friendly format to assist in making a rating decision. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217625 | METHOD OF OPTIMIZING HEALTHCARE SERVICES CONSUMPTION - A method of optimizing healthcare services consumption according to the invention includes the steps of assessing the healthcare situation of an employer providing healthcare benefits to a population, identifying a first group of patients from the population likely to generate expensive healthcare claims based on data representing past claims, periodically determining whether patients in the first group have satisfied certain predetermined healthcare requirements, identifying a first group of providers who provide high quality, cost efficient healthcare services based on the practice patterns of the providers, prompting patients who have not satisfied the predetermined healthcare requirements to obtain services from providers in the first group, and responding to healthcare requests from patients by determining whether the requesting patient is seeking services from a provider in the first group, and, if not, urging the patient to obtain such services from a provider in the first group. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217626 | System and Method for Clinical Strategy for Therapeutic Pharmacies - A system and method of distributing pharmaceutical prescriptions within a network of pharmacies based on the review of prescription claim data and patient medical state to enable stratification of patients, wherein each pharmacy within the network has been established to handle one or more particular patient medical states. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217627 | System and Method for Facilitating Management of a Financial Instrument - A computer-implemented method for facilitating the management of a financial instrument includes determining an account balance for a financial account. The financial account includes an investment portfolio and a springing guarantee of an income base for a retirement income. The retirement income includes periodic monetary transfers to be commenced at a target retirement date. Each periodic monetary transfer has a respective value based on the income base. The springing guarantee of the income base may be activated on an activation date. The account balance is stored in memory of the data processing system. The stored account balance is periodically updated based at least in part on market performance of the investment portfolio. Using a computing system, the activation date is determined based at least in part on the target retirement date and the income base is determined. A respective value is outputted for each one of the periodic monetary transfers. The respective value of each one of the periodic monetary transfers is based on the value of the stored income base at a time proximate the one of the periodic monetary transfers. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217628 | INTERLINE REVENUE SHARE OPTIMIZATION METHOD - A carrier's interline revenue share optimization method in which the carrier is involved in several interline multi-segment journeys with other partner carriers. Each of the involved carriers operate at least one segment of the interline multi-segment journeys and each of these journeys is associated with a fare. The interline revenue share optimization method utilizes a computer system and includes the steps of a) receiving and storing in data structured storing elements of the computer system memory, input data that includes a fixed set of tickets including the journey and the associated fare, a fixed set of prorate factors, a fixed set of partner carriers' interline rules, a set of carrier's interline rules, an interline revenue share determining algorithm and an optimization algorithm, b) defining the variables to optimize, c) splitting the fares of the tickets between the carrier and the partner carriers and calculating an objective function as the carrier's interline revenue share, d) optimizing the objective function and obtaining the optimized set of carrier's interline variables by utilizing a processor of the computer system and e) providing via an output device of the computer system the optimized set of carrier's interline variables. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217629 | COMPUTER-BASED RIGHT DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM - An automated ticket auctioning system receives and evaluates bid information records received from a plurality of remote terminals. Each bid information record corresponds to at least one bid for one or more desired seats at a venue. Each bid information record may also include a plurality of additional bids identified for different seats in the venue. The separate bids in each bid information record are prioritized. The automated ticket auctioning system includes a central controlling computer operable to receive the bid information records and determine, in order of priority, whether any of the bids in a bid information record is accepted. If one bid in a bid information record is accepted, all lower priority bids in that bid information record are dismissed. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217630 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REMOTE VEHICLE RENTAL - An automated vehicle rental system with individual vehicle transmitting sensors for keeping track of vehicle mileage, fill state of vehicle fuel tank, and localized position status in a rental lot. Sensors are linked to the vehicle odometer reading and to the vehicle fuel tank float sensor with compensation for types of driving and fuel fill-ups which affect float level readings. The sensors are integrated with or are linked with communicating tags operable in a defined site for ultimate communication of stored vehicle related sensor data, vehicle location and type to a central data base for automatically completely effecting check out, charges and state of vehicle readiness for renewed rental. The transmitting sensors are adapted to avoid interference between sensors of other vehicles during multiple transmissions. Also included is an in-vehicle check out and payment device operatively linkable to the transmitting sensor of the vehicle. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217631 | CONSERVATION MODELING ENGINE FRAMEWORK - Methods, including service methods, articles of manufacture, systems, articles and programmable devices provide a conservation modeling engine framework. Programmable conservation modeling engines in communication with different customizable resource conservation modules, each resource conservation module customized to a distinct resource, select one of the modules customized to a resource identified for conservation, and user-defined criteria as a function of the identified resource and the selected module. Input data is selected and collected as a function of the resource identified and the selected module and used to weight the input data. Different optimized conservation plans are created as a function of the weighted input data and the selected module, each of the optimized conservation plans displayed having a different implementation cost, a different time for implementation and a different total amount of the identified resource saved. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217632 | MANAGING SERVICE ORIENTED ARCHITECTURE SHARED SERVICES ESCALATION - An approach that manages a service oriented architecture (SOA) shared service that fails to meet a set of objectives of the SOA shared service is provided. In one embodiment, there is a management tool, including an evaluation component configured to receive a SOA shared service that is developed as part of a potential SOA shared services project, and evaluate whether a set of objectives of the SOA shared service has been met; and a determination component configured to determine whether the SOA shared service should be developed in the case that the set of objectives of the SOA shared service has not been met. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217633 | SELECTING A SERVICE ORIENTED ARCHITECTURE SHARED SERVICE - An approach that selects a service oriented architecture (SOA) shared service is provided. In one embodiment, there is a service selection tool, including an input component configured to gather service requirements of a SOA shared service project; an identification component configured to identify a set of candidate SOA shared services that meets the service requirements of the SOA shared services project; an analysis component configured to compare the set of candidate SOA shared services to a set of technical and business requirements, and select a set of SOA shared services from the set of candidate SOA shared services for construction based on a comparison of the set of candidate SOA shared services to the set of technical and business requirements. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217634 | TRANSITIONING TO MANAGEMENT OF A SERVICE ORIENTED ARCHITECTURE SHARED SERVICE - An approach that transitions to management of a service oriented architecture (SOA) shared service is provided. In one embodiment, there is a service transition tool, including a project component configured to provide a SOA shared service developed as part of a SOA shared services project, and a planning component configured to plan a transition from development of the SOA shared service to management of the SOA shared service. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217635 | PACKAGE SHIPPING METHOD - A package delivery method and enterprise include receiving a shipping request including recipient information indicative of an intended recipient of the package, associating a dynamic address with the recipient, and generating an initial routing plan based on the dynamic address. The initial routing plan may including a plurality of routing segments derived from hierarchical addressing. In response to a change of either (a) a physical address associated with the dynamic address and (b) an availability of at least one of the plurality of routing segments, at least one of the plurality of routing segments may be modified. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217636 | MANAGEMENT OF A SERVICE ORIENTED ARCHITECTURE SHARED SERVICE - An approach that manages a service oriented architecture (SOA) shared service is provided. In one embodiment, there is a service management tool, including an identification component configured to identify a SOA shared service that needs to be revised; and a revision component configured to develop a revision procedure to address the SOA shared service that needs to be revised, and implement the revision procedure for the SOA shared service. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217637 | METHOD OF CALCULATING CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSION OF STEAM TURBINE CHP PLANT AND SYSTEM FOR THE METHOD - The present invention relates to a method and a system for calculating carbon dioxide emission of a steam turbine CHP plant, and according to the method of calculating carbon dioxide emission of the present invention, the total fuel emission of a plant is calculated. The total greenhouse gas emission is calculated from the total fuel consumption. System thermal efficiency is calculated from the total fuel consumption. Fuel consumption for thermal generation is calculated from the system thermal efficiency. Fuel consumption for power generation is calculated from the system thermal efficiency. Power generation efficiency is calculated from the fuel consumption for power generation. The total carbon dioxide emission in thermal generation is calculated from the fuel consumption for thermal generation. The total carbon dioxide emission in power generation is calculated from the fuel consumption for power generation. According to the method of calculating carbon dioxide emission of the present invention described above, it is possible to separately obtain carbon dioxide emission when generating heat and electricity. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217638 | In service support center and method of operation - In a method for in service support for a vehicle fleet wherein the improvement comprises providing Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM), Conditioned Based Maintenance (CBM), Fleet Management (FM), Vehicle/Component Asset Tracking, Stores/Consumable Inventory, and maintenance management. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217639 | AUTOMATED SOLAR COLLECTOR INSTALLATION DESIGN INCLUDING EXCEPTIONAL CONDITION MANAGEMENT AND DISPLAY - Embodiments may include systems and methods to create and edit a representation of a worksite, to create various data objects, to classify such objects as various types of pre-defined “features” with attendant properties and layout constraints. As part of or in addition to classification, an embodiment may include systems and methods to create, associate, and edit intrinsic and extrinsic properties to these objects. A design engine may apply of design rules to the features described above to generate one or more solar collectors installation design alternatives, including generation of on-screen and/or paper representations of the physical layout or arrangement of the one or more design alternatives. In some embodiments, metadata about the design process, including the process of classifying features and providing user input, generating layouts, and then modifying those layouts, may be generated. The metadata may include information about exceptional conditions in the project state information or design. A list of exceptions corresponding to exceptional conditions may be generated, and the designer may interact with these exceptions in a variety of ways, such as by complying with rules to remove an item from the exceptions list or overriding the application of the rules. The exceptions may be non-blocking relative to other user actions. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217640 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ADAPTIVE CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCING - A computer implemented method and computer system for adaptive construction sequencing. In one embodiment, a scheduling component is used to access a schedule for completing a project is. A 3-dimensional (3-D) simulation component is used to generate a 3-D model of at least one component used in completing the project. The 3-D simulation component is used to generate a 3-D simulation showing the construction of the project in accordance with the schedule. A cost estimating component is used to generate a cost estimate of the cost of completing the project in accordance with the schedule. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217641 | Community Portal - A group community portal is provided. Data associated with an address book interface is provided. The address book interface includes at least one contact associated with a first group and an option to launch a community portal interface from the address book interface. The community portal interface is configured to provide a first group community page for members of the first group, launching the community portal interface from the address book interface to provide the first group community page, and providing the community portal interface for display. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217642 | System and method for single-action energy resource scheduling and participation in energy-related securities - A system for single-action energy resource scheduling and participation in energy-related securities, comprising a communications interface executing on a network-connected server and adapted to receive information from a plurality of client user interfaces and a secure action server coupled to the communications interface, wherein the secure action server, on receiving a connection from a client user interface, assigns a unique client identifier to the client user interface and associates the unique identifier with a client account, and wherein the secure action server, on receiving a request from a client user interface, determines whether the client user interface is mapped to an authorized market participant who has enabled single-action scheduling, execution order, or participation confirmation functionality for the client user interface, and passes information to the client user interface pertaining at least to a single action needed to confirm scheduling, execution order, or participation and wherein the secure action server, on receiving indication from the communications interface that a required single action has been taken, at least updates information about the market participant who took the action, is disclosed. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217643 | Mass Request Organization System - A computer-implemented method for receiving and fulfilling special intention Mass requests includes receiving at a central processing system a request for a special intention Mass and stipend payment from a requester. The request includes at least one request criterion. A database of the central processing system is then searched for an available Mass that meets the at least one request criterion. A confirmation inquiry message is transmitted from the central processing system to a Church to confirm a date and availability of the available Mass. A confirmation response message from the Church confirming the date and availability of the available Mass is received at the central processing system. The stipend payment from the central processing system is transmitted to the Church. A confirmation and a Mass Card is transmitted from the central processing system to the requester and the Church. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217644 | Electronic Calendar Auto Event Resolution System and Method - A system and method for event resolution. The method includes determining whether a post-scheduled event or a pre-scheduled event conflicts with a scheduled event. The method further includes extracting details of the post-scheduled event or the pre-scheduled event and automatically populating a response with at least some of the extracted details. The method further includes sending the response with an accept indication when the post-scheduled event or the pre-scheduled event does not conflict with the scheduled event, or sending the response with a cancel indication when the post-scheduled event or the pre-scheduled event conflicts with the scheduled event, or sending the response with a tentatively accept indication when the post-scheduled event or the pre-scheduled event conflicts with the scheduled event. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217645 | Engagement Interface Advertising in a Social Network - A social network advertises to its members with engagement interfaces. An engagement interface comprises a call to action and a link to perform the action within the social network from within the engagement interface. Responsive to a user selection of the link to perform the action, the engagement interface modifies one or more objects within the social network associated with the call to action according to the selection of the link to perform the action. The engagement interface may be refreshed on the user's screen to indicate to the user that the action has been performed. An engagement interface may also be presented to a user from the social network or from an external system apart from the social network. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217646 | Calendar Overlay Features - Calendar overlay features are provided. A first calendar that includes a schedule for occurrence of a first event is provided, and second calendar that includes a schedule for occurrence of a second event is provided. A unified calendar interface presents for display the scheduled first event and scheduled the second event. The unified calendar interface is configured as an overlay with the first calendar and the second calendar. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217647 | DETERMINING SHARE OF VOICE - An example embodiment disclosed herein is directed to an apparatus, comprising a communication interface configured to communicate over an associated network, and share of voice analysis logic operable to send and receive data via the communication interface. The share of voice analysis logic is operable to communicate with a device providing advertising coupled to the associated network. The share of voice analysis logic is operable to provide data representative of a targeted profile to the device providing advertising and to receive data representative of at least one advertisement from the device providing the advertising. The share of voice analysis logic is responsive to receiving the data representative of at least one advertisement to analyze the data representative of at least one advertisement to determine a share of voice for at least one advertiser. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217648 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR QUANTIFYING USER INTERACTIONS WITH WEB ADVERTISEMENTS - Methods and systems are provided that may be used to determine a probability of whether a visitor to a web document is likely to click on a web advertisement. An exemplary method may include detecting one or more features in a web document. One or more expert statistical models to which the web document belongs may be determined and associated weightings may be determined based, at least in part, on the one or more features detected. A click-through-rate probability for a web advertisement to be placed on the web document may be estimated based on the one or more expert statistical models. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217649 | METHOD, SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR FILTERING OF FINANCIAL ADVERTISING - An exemplary embodiment of a method for filtering financial advertising may include receiving advertising groupings from a financial institution, where the groupings include a group identifier and one or more advertisements; receiving identity information from a credit consumer and providing the identity to a credit bureau; the credit bureau retrieves consumer credit history including consumer credit attributes; receiving a list of group identifiers from the credit bureau, where the list is generated by the credit bureau for each of the advertising groupings by adding the group identifier to the list if the credit consumer credit attributes satisfy a group financial criteria provided to the credit bureau by the financial institution; identifying the financial advertisements from the advertising grouping, where the group identifier for the advertising grouping corresponds to the group identifier from the list of from the credit bureau; and providing the financial advertisement to the consumer. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217650 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING MARKET SIMULATION/OPTIMIZATION - The market simulator/optimizer of the present invention combines partworth valuation techniques of Conjoint analysis with Nash equilibrium profit-maximization methodologies for sophisticated statistical treatment of a virtual available market comprising a multiplicity of virtual customers. An easy-to-use graphical user interface allows a user to arrange various market component icons to model various market characteristics. Associated with the market component icons are various distributions, including a benefit distribution containing values indicative of respective benefits to the multiplicity of virtual customer, and a cost distribution containing values indicative of respective costs associated with providing the respective benefits to the multiplicity of virtual customers. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217651 | System and method for managing energy resources based on a scoring system - A method for managing energy resources, comprising the steps of collecting energy-related data in an event database from a plurality of network-connected iNodes, using a network-connected statistics server to compute a reliability rating for a plurality of users based at least in part on the data collected from iNodes associated with the users, using the reliability ratings at least to select a subset of users for inclusion in a derivative energy security, computing an expected performance profile and reliability rating for the derivative energy security, and making the derivative security available on a digital exchange, is disclosed. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217652 | System and Method for Strategic Workforce Management and Content Engineering - The invention provides a system that automates workforce management tasks through the integrated use of structured content accessible from a database, a set of business logic rules engines as well as input from users via user interfaces. The invention also provides a methodology for creating engineered content which is accessible to a strategic workforce management system which manages human resources tasks. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217653 | METHOD FOR SOURCING REPLACEMENT PARTS - A method of sourcing a piece of equipment or a replacement part includes preparing a part request record, providing a part source database, an access portal, searching part source records in the database according to one or more search parameters associated with the part, part requestor or part source, creating a prospective part source list, and prioritizing the part source list by one or more indexing fields, to identify sources predicted to have the part at the best combination of quality, price, and other similar factors. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217654 | CREATING AN INCENTIVE TO AUTHOR USEFUL ITEM REVIEWS - A facility for rewarding the provision of useful item reviews is described. The facility receives a plurality of item reviews, each from a source. The facility publishes each of the plurality of received item reviews, and assesses the usefulness of the published item reviews. Based upon this assessment of usefulness, the facility selects one or more of the published item reviews, and provides rewards to the sources of these selected item reviews. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217655 | SERVICES ADVERTISEMENT IN A WIRELESS MESH - A computing environment containing a mesh network that is adapted to provide a reliable transport mechanism over which services may be delivered. Nodes of the mesh can automatically select routable addresses without conflicts, which allows nodes of the mesh to be accessed, even as the mesh changes through the addition or deletion of nodes. Also, nodes communicate with a protocol that supports service advertisements. These advertisements can identify mesh nodes that supply services, such as file or print servers, for which devices that have not yet connected to the network may be searching. Advertisements can also identify services to be used by nodes in the network, allowing, for example, a node to select a gateway providing a reliable connection to an external network. The mesh network can be used as a transport for communication using protocols, such as TCP/IP, that generally exhibit poor performance when using unreliable transports. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217656 | METHOD AND A SYSTEM FOR SUPERVISING THE ACTIVITY OF A USER IN A VIRTUAL WORLD - A method of supervising the activity of a user in a virtual world comprising the steps of: (1) detecting at least one item of collision information between an observation line associated with the user and at least one first virtual object within the virtual world; and (2) determining at least one item of interaction information between the user and the first object on the basis of the collision information. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217657 | ADAPTIVE INFORMATION PRESENTATION APPARATUS AND METHODS - An adaptive information presentation apparatus and associated methods. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a computer readable medium having at least one computer program disposed thereon, the at least one program being configured to adaptively present (e.g., display or play out via an audio system) information that is related or in response to inputs provided via an input device such as a for example touch-screen display device. In one variant, the at least one program analyzes user input to determine a context of the input, and selects advertising related to the context for presentation to the user. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217658 | Method and System for Creation, Distribution, Aggregation, Return, Donation, Exchange, Verification, Redemption and Clearing of Incentives - The present invention provides a space and all necessary procedures enabling visitors to create, distribute, aggregate, exchange, return, donate, verify, redeem, account and clear different kinds of incentives by commonly available means and tools, where the specific commodity (promotional programs) is exchanged for special consideration. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217659 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROVIDING CROSSING MARKETS - Methods and systems for providing and implementing crossing markets are provided. These methods and systems preferably include facilitating trading at crossing markets by establishing crossing market trading rules, incentivizing crossing market participants, and improving the efficiency of crossing market trading. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217660 | CONTEXT-INDUCED WIRELESS NETWORK TRANSPORT FOR CONTENT AND PROFILE INFORMATION - In accordance with the present invention, context-induced wireless network information and content transport systems and methods are provided. In another aspect of the present application, a system includes first and second mobile devices that store respective interest profiles. A further aspect of the present application provides that wireless point-to-point connections are formed when the first and second mobile devices are in close physical proximity to each other. In another aspect, the mobile devices automatically exchange advertising content between each other based on the respective interest profiles over the wireless point-to-point connections. Yet another aspect employs a content distribution device wirelessly transmitting advertising content to one of the first and second mobile devices when the one of the first and second mobile devices is in close physical proximity to the content distribution device. A method of operating such a wireless network is also provided. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217661 | System and Method for Advertising to a Wi-Fi Device - A method is disclosed for providing information related to goods available for purchase in a building. The method includes establishing a plurality of boundary zones where each of the plurality of boundary zones corresponding to a physical boundary zone within a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) network. The method also includes storing product information related to the goods available for purchase that are located within at least one boundary zone of the plurality of boundary zones. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217662 | Presenting Sponsored Content on a Mobile Communication Facility - A computer-implemented method for positioning targeted sponsored content on a cellular phone includes the steps of (a) assessing a likelihood of an interaction by a user of the cellular phone with a sponsored content to be presented to the cellular phone, wherein the assessment is based on a prior interaction by the user of the cellular phone with content related to the sponsored content and/or a plurality of user characteristics associated with the cellular phone; and (b) prioritizing the placement of the sponsored content within one of a plurality of predefined areas of a graphical user interface of the cellular phone over the placement of other sponsored content within the same area, wherein the prioritization is based on the assessment of the likelihood of the interaction of the user of the cellular phone with the sponsored content. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217663 | Mobile Content Cross-Inventory Yield Optimization - A method for selecting among a plurality of advertising content from a first and second mobile content inventory for presentation of the advertising content on a mobile communication facility includes (a) receiving at a server a request for an advertisement associated with a user-action initiated at the mobile communication facility operated by a user; (b) searching the first and second mobile content inventory for a first and second advertisement, respectively, that corresponds to the request for an advertisement; (c) determining that the first advertisement is more relevant for presentation to the mobile communication facility than the second advertisement, wherein the determination is based at least on a respective yield optimization of the first and second advertisements; (d) determining that the yield associated with the first advertisement is greater than the yield associated with the second advertisement; (e) and transmitting the first advertisement instead of the second advertisement. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217664 | Engine, system and method for enhancing the value of advertisements - An apparatus, system and method for generating endorsed advertisements with editorial content is disclosed. The system may include an endorsements database including endorsements associated with endorsers; a news database including news stories associated with endorsers; a recommendation engine configured to match at least one endorsement from the endorsement database and at least one news story from the news database with at least one advertisement template, the matched news story and endorsement both pertaining to the same endorser; and an integration engine configured to integrate the matched endorsement, the news story, and the advertisement template to generate an advertisement, the generated advertisement including a first link associated with the content of the advertisement template that when selected redirects a web browser to a website of the advertiser and a second link associated with the news story that when selected redirects a web browser to a website presenting the news story. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217665 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR LAUNCHING AN ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN - Systems and methods directed to online media advertising are provided. Through the use of the present invention, one may more effectively use competitive analysis, build a media plan, generate a creative piece from the scratch for an advertising campaign, purchase media across multiple publishers and track the campaign through a single web-based platform. The system being a computer system having a memory, a processor, input/output devices, a system bus operatively coupling the computer system components, a plan module adapted to receive one or more user-defined campaign criteria from a user and prepare a media plan satisfying the user-defined campaign criteria, and a purchase module adapted to receive one or more inputs from the user and automatically create one or more media booking orders based on the inputs. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217666 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF DETECTION OF VIEWING OF OBJECTS INSERTED IN WEB PAGES - The invention relates to a method and system for detecting the display of objects inserted in web pages. The method comprises downloading ( | 2010-08-26 |
20100217667 | INTERNET SEARCH ENGINE AFFILIATE SYSTEM AND METHOD - Disclosed herein is an Internet search engine affiliate system and method. The system includes a merchant site server, at least one affiliate application provider server for distributing at least one application for performing an affiliate advertising function for merchandise to at least one application distributor terminal, and, when the application distributor terminal receives a search request signal for merchandise registered on the merchant site from at least one buyer terminal, sending search result merchandise information to the buyer terminal, the application distributor terminal for executing the distributed application, sending information about the merchandise registered on the merchant site to the buyer terminal, and receiving the search request signal for the merchandise from the buyer terminal, the buyer terminal for receiving and displaying the information about the merchandise, and the Internet for connecting the merchant site server, the affiliate application provider server and the application distributor terminal to each other. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217668 | Optimizing Delivery of Online Advertisements - Disclosed are methods and apparatus for delivering online advertisements. For one of a plurality of users, a probability is obtained for each of a plurality of ads that the one of the plurality of users will click on the one of the plurality of ads. In addition, a lower bound is obtained for each of the plurality of ads. For each of the plurality of ads, a delta between the probability that the one of the plurality of users will click on the one of the plurality of ads and the lower bound for the one of the plurality of ads is determined. One of the plurality of ads to provide to the one of the plurality of users is selected based at least in part on the delta for each of the plurality of ads. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217669 | ADAPTIVE INFORMATION PRESENTATION APPARATUS AND METHODS - An adaptive advertising apparatus and associated methods. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a computer readable medium having at least one computer program disposed thereon, the at least one program being configured to adaptively present (e.g., display) advertising-related content (e.g., audio, video, images, etc.) that is contextually related to inputs provided via an input device such as a for example touch-screen display device. In one variant, the at least one program analyzes user input to determine a context of the input, and selects advertising related to the context for presentation to the user. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217670 | REBROADCASTING OF ADVERTISEMENTS IN A SOCIAL NETWORK - The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that receives at a server a first request to rebroadcast a first sponsored content item that was displayed on the social network to the first user to a second user. A second request to display at least one sponsored content item to the second user when the second user accesses an electronic document associated with the social network is received at the server. The first sponsored content item is retrieved for rebroadcast from one or more sponsored content items indicated for rebroadcast to the second user. The first sponsored content item is output to the second user of the social network in response to the second request to display and without requiring the second user to select the first sponsored content item for display. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217671 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING ADVERTISEMENT KEYWORDS IN ASSOCIATION WITH SITUATIONS OF VIDEO SCENES - A method and apparatus for extracting advertisement keywords in association with situations of scenes of video include: establishing a knowledge database including a classification hierarchy for classifying situations of scenes of video and an advertisement keyword list, segmenting a video script corresponding to a received video in units of scenes, and determining a situation corresponding to each scene with reference to the knowledge database, and extracting an advertisement keyword corresponding to the situation of a scene of the received video with reference to the knowledge database. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217672 | Positional Information Analysis Apparatus, Positional Information Analysis Method, and Positional Information Analysis System - A positional information analysis device includes: a position detecting unit that calculates positional information of a mobile station unit; a positional information storage unit that stores the positional information as a history for the mobile station unit; a state attribute calculating unit that calculate state attribute information which indicates a state of the mobile station unit from the history of the positional information of the mobile station unit each time the position of the mobile station unit is calculated; a meaning conversion rule storage unit that stores a first identifier given to a meaning of a movement of a mobile station unit and a rule which detects the meaning of the movement so as to associate the first identifier and the rule with each other; and a rule-positional information correlation calculating unit that determines whether the rule is matched and outputs the first identifier associated with the rule. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217673 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR THE CUSTOMISED DELIVERY OF TARGETED ADVERTISEMENTS FROM A LOCAL SERVER - The invention relates to a device and methods for the customised delivery of targeted advertisements from a local server. In particular, the invention relates to the advertising server embedded in an electronic device and to the delivery and updating methods necessary for the operation thereof. According to the invention, the impact of the delivered advertising is optimised since the advertising content presented to the public matches each individual's requirements and centres of interest. Age, sex and geographical location are examples of criteria employed according to the invention. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217674 | SYSTEMS, METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SELECTING A PAYMENT ACCOUNT FOR A PAYMENT TRANSACTION - Systems and methods for selecting a payment account for a payment transaction are provided by certain embodiments of the invention. Data may be collected from a payment device utilized for the transaction, and a plurality of payment accounts may be associated with the payment device. A personal identification number associated with the payment device may be received. At least one of the plurality of payment accounts associated with the payment device may be selected based on a portion of the received personal identification number. The transaction may be facilitated utilizing at least one of the selected payment accounts. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217675 | AUTOMATICALLY ADDING GRATUITY TO AMOUNT CHARGED IN ELECTRONIC TRANSACTION - A method includes receiving a payment object for payment of a certain amount owed by a first party to a second party. The payment object carries sufficient account information for the payment from an account associated with the payment object. The second party communicates the account information from the payment object and an identification of the second party for receipt by a third party; and receives in return data that is indicative of a gratuity to be charged against the account. The second party prints a document that includes the certain amount owed and the gratuity, as indicated by the data received by the second party, and presents the document for signature by the first party. The printed document preferably includes the total of the amount owed and the gratuity. The payment object may be a credit card, charge card, debit card, rebate card, or stored-value card. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217676 | AUTOMATICALLY ADDING GRATUITY TO AMOUNT CHARGED IN ELECTRONIC TRANSACTION - A method includes receiving a payment object for payment of a certain amount owed by a first party to a second party. The payment object carries sufficient account information for the payment from an account associated with the payment object. The second party communicates the account information from the payment object and an identification of the second party for receipt by a third party; and receives in return data that is indicative of a gratuity to be charged against the account. The second party prints a document that includes the certain amount owed and the gratuity, as indicated by the data received by the second party, and presents the document for signature by the first party. The printed document preferably includes the total of the amount owed and the gratuity. The payment object may be a credit card, charge card, debit card, rebate card, or stored-value card. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217677 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SECURE WIRELESS POINT OF SALE TRANSACTIONS - In an embodiment, a method of masking transaction data for a secure wireless transaction includes transmitting wireless pseudo transaction data that includes false transaction data and processing received pseudo transaction data and transaction data to extract or separate the transaction data. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217678 | Automatic learning in a merchandise checkout system with visual recognition - A merchandise checkout system for ringing up merchandise in a grocery or other retail facility is disclosed. The merchandise checkout system includes visual sensors for acquiring images of an object to be rung up at checkout; a database configured to retain a visual model and UPC code of known items; and a processor configured to maintain and update the database with information about new merchandise presented for checkout. The visual model preferably includes at least one image of each item of merchandise in the retail store as well as geometric point features extracted from images of the merchandise. The processor in the exemplary embodiment is configured to: (a) compare the image of the object acquired at checkout to the visual model of the items in the database; (b) recognize the object based on the overall appearance of the packaging; (c) automatically ring up the price of the object at the POS; and (d) automatically add the acquired image to the database if the image of the object is new, i.e., it does not match the visual model of any of the items recorded in the database, thereby enabling the checkout system to dynamically and automatically build up its database of visual models. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217679 | Ticket trading method - What is disclosed is a ticket trading method for use at sporting events or other live events. The method relates to recovering the value of an admission ticket if the spectator desires to leave the event early. The method is a computer implemented trading method whereby a spectator would communicate with the computerized system by means of a Blackberry®, or other smart phone, text messenger or by means of a kiosk inside the venue that the ticket was available for resale. The computerized system would broadcast a message to other subscribers to the system that the ticket is available for resale. The subscribers could then purchase the ticket at a predetermined price determined by a trading value model. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217680 | ONLINE EXCHANGE SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH REVERSE AUCTION - A method of operating an online dynamic-bidding exchange for use in a reverse auction. The exchange includes a server system that includes a database, and a client system coupled to the server system via a communications network. The method includes determining a lowest credible price of a product, and receiving one or more offers to sell the product from a seller and storing the offers to sell in the database, wherein the offers to sell is embodied as a reserve price. The method also includes determining a sales price of the product based on a comparison of the lowest credible price and the competing reserve prices, transmitting the sales price from the server system to the client system, and displaying the sales price to a buyer via the client system. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217681 | Shopping Cart Planogram Ordering System - A method for providing remote ordering of products and configuring of individualized shelf configurations on a computer network, where the method comprises the steps of presenting an adjustable shelving plan having a shelving space; presenting a list of products or groups of products wherein each product or group of products has a cost; allowing a customer to adjust the shelving plan to reflect the customer's shelf space; allowing the customer to place products or groups of products on empty space in the shelving plan; showing the shelving plan with the products or groups of products placed on the shelving plan and showing the remaining empty space on the shelving plan; calculating the cost of the products or groups of products on the shelving plan; allowing the customer to order a set of products on the shelving plan; and receiving an order for the set of products on the shelving plan. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217682 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CAPTURING USER INPUTS IN ELECTRONIC FORMS - There is disclosed a method of capturing user inputs in a fillable electronic form into an electronic wallet. In an embodiment, the method comprises: accessing the fillable electronic form from a wireless handheld device; upon determining whether one or more changes have been made in any field in the fillable electronic form, requesting authorization to receive information from the fields in the fillable electronic form to update the secured information in the electronic wallet; and upon receiving the authorization, receiving the information from the fields in the fillable electronic form and writing the information into corresponding record fields as secured information in the electronic wallet. In an embodiment, the method further comprises first populating fields in the fillable electronic form with secured information from the electronic wallet. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217683 | ONLINE BUYBACK SYSTEM - An online buyback system is provided, including: a database storing product sale information including product identification information, product specification, product sale price, and product sale date; a buyback request information receiving unit receiving buyback request information including product identification information from a computer of a buyback requester accessing a network; a sale checking unit referring to the product sale information stored in the database to check whether or not a product corresponding to the product identification information contained in the buyback request information has been sold; and a buyback processing unit processing such that the product corresponding to the product identification information is collected from the buyback requester when the product is determined to have been sold, and a buyback price of the product is paid to the buyback requester based on a time interval from the product sale date to buyback request date. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217684 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO CREATE LISTINGS USING IMAGE AND VOICE RECOGNITION - In various example embodiments, a system and method to provide services associated with an image is disclosed. The method includes receiving image data of an item of interest from a client device. The image data is used to identify a similar item from an image catalog based on the image data of the item. Attribute information associated with the similar item is retrieved and used to pre-populate a template. The pre-populated template is sent to the client device, and modified data from the client device is received in response, with the modified data resulting in a final template. A listing based on the final template is generated. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217685 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO PROVIDE GESTURE FUNCTIONS AT A DEVICE - Systems and methods for providing gesture functionality are provided. In example embodiments, a gesture input is received. The gesture input represents a commerce-related action, whereby the commerce-related action relates to an action to be performed within a networked environment. A determination is performed to determine that the commerce-related action is executable. The commerce-related action is then performed based on the determination that the commerce-related action is executable. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217686 | SYSTEM FOR MANAGING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN A REAL ESTATE AGENT AND CLIENTS - An Internet-based system for managing communication between a real estate agent and one or more clients is described. The system allows the real estate agent to provide MLS search results to the clients and the clients can indicate a level of interest for each property. The system facilitates easy two-way communication between the agent and the clients and keeps track of such communication so that the agent and the clients have a ready record of the properties that have been considered and the clients' level of interest in each property. For the agent, the system automates searching and information by client so that the agent can easily keep track of the type of property desired by each client and the properties considered by each client. For each of the clients, the system creates a personalized website that the client can visit at any time to view the new properties located by the agent and to review the properties already considered. Using conventional webpage user interface elements, the clients can indicate a level of interest for each property, thereby saving time for the agent and the client. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217687 | WEB-BASED AUCTION SYSTEM - An auctioneer-led virtual auction which takes place entirely on the World Wide Web. There is no physical auction site, there are no bidders physically in the presence of the auctioneer and the items up for auction remain in the possession of their sellers. The items for sale are located at its/their respective locations, the auctioneer is located at a location different from the items for sale and the bidders are located at locations different from the items for sale and the auctioneer. The auctioneer is connected to the virtual auction via either a telephone or an Internet-connected computer and calls out the bidding as he or she monitors the virtual auction. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217688 | ACQUISITION OF ITEMS OFFERED FOR PURCHASE ONLINE THROUGH A MOBILE COMPUTING APPRATUS - In an example embodiment, a method is provided. The method may comprise receiving an item identifier from a mobile computing apparatus, such as a mobile telephone or global positioning system (GPS) device. Data associated with the item identifier is accessed and transmitted to a initiate a purchase of the item. In some embodiments, a voice portal may be used to facilitate the purchase. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217689 | Methods, Systems, And Products For Providing Electronic Media - Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for providing electronic media to a customer. One method prompts a customer to license a right to electronic media. If the customer agrees to license the right, then the license is electronically stored on behalf of the customer. The licensed electronic media is communicated to the customer via a communications network. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217690 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RECOMMENDING WEBSITE HOSTING APPLICATIONS - Systems and methods of the present invention allow for recommending hosting applications. An exemplary method may comprise the steps of receiving a URL for a Submitted Website from a potential customer, determining the features of the Submitted Website, and offering Hosting Applications (that implement the Submitted Website's features) for sale to said potential customer. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217691 | Transfer Instrument - A method performed by a transfer instrument issuer involves issuing, to a recipient, a certificate which is linked to a national card account obtained by the transfer instrument issuer from an account issuer different from the transfer instrument issuer, without both issuing and providing a physical card for the national card account to the recipient of the certificate, the certificate having been purchased by a purchaser, who is not also the recipient, and containing all information necessary for the purchase of goods or services from any merchant who is capable of processing economic transactions involving one of the plurality national card accounts for which a physical card has issued, but without presentment of the physical card. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217692 | AUTOMATED ACCRUAL ACCOUNT RECONCILIATION - Systems and methods of a reconciliation engine for accrual accounts associated with purchase order documents are provided. The reconciliation engine applies a set of business rules a set of purchase order documents for which the accrual account is nonzero. The business rules allow the system to determine discrepancies that are inconsequential and may be disregarded. Those accounts are marked for clearance and automatically cleared. An interface is provided to reverse the automatic clearance, as well as to adjust accrual accounts manually. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217693 | 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. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217694 | Method and system for collecting and processing electronic data - The present invention provides a system and method of generating a set of tax schedule information comprising: (a) providing an Excel interface, the Excel interface being associated with a set of commands and functions; (b) accessing a separate database, the separate database storing a set of data, the set of data having been defined using the set of commands and functions; (c) manipulating the set of data according to the set of commands and functions to generate the set of tax schedule information; and (d) storing the set of tax schedule information in a separate database. This embodiment may further include one or more of the following: using at least one entry from the set of tax schedule information to populate a tax schedule; wherein the separate database is an XML database; wherein the set of tax schedule information is based, at least in part, on a set of tags associated with the XML database. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217695 | EDGE ATTRIBUTE AGGREGATION IN A DIRECTED GRAPH - Methods and apparatus are described by which edge attribute data relating to a system that may be represented by a directed graph may be efficiently aggregated despite the presence of virtual entities in the system for which edge attribute data aggregation is not useful or meaningful. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217696 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR CHARGING-STATE DEPENDENT DETERMINATION OF SERVICE ACCESS TARIFF RATES BY BID PROCESS - Methods and devices for charging a user for access to a service accessible via a communication network are disclosed. At least two charging-related states are defined for the communication network. A tariff proposal entity associated with the user determines one or more tariff proposals for charging the user for accessing the service and sends the one or more tariff proposals to a rating entity. The rating entity analyzes the one or more tariff proposals in relation to a current charging-related state of the at least two charging-related states, wherein it is determined if at least one of the one or more tariff proposals complies with at least one tariff setting associated with the current charging-related state. The rating entity further selects a tariff of the at least one complying tariff proposals for charging the user for access to the service and initiates a charging of the user for access to the service according to the selected tariff. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217697 | System and Method for Providing a Cash Advance - A loan system and cash advance product is provided which provides funds instantly to a financial institution or equivalent payment provider for pick-up by a registered user of the system. The user selects a cash advance product provided by an authorized distributor. The authorized distributor authenticates the user, pre-authorizes the purchase of the cash advance product, communicates with a loan system that verifies the user, authorizes the transaction, and transfers funds to the financial institution associated with the user. The authorized distributor then charges the user on his bill and remunerates the loan system cash advance product once the user has paid the bill. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217698 | CHARGING METHOD, NETWORK SYSTEM, CHARGING SYSTEM, AND APPLICATION SERVER - A charging method disclosed includes these steps: an application server sends to a charging system a charging request which carries at least two User Equipments' (UE's) access information corresponding to media resources; the charging system performs charging according to the UE access information corresponding to the media resources in the charging request; and the charging system returns a charging response to the application server after completion of the charging. Accordingly, a network system, a charging system, and an application server are provided. The disclosure enables charging for a service processed by multiple UEs of a user in a session. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217699 | AUTOMATICALLY ADDING GRATUITY TO AMOUNT CHARGED IN ELECTRONIC TRANSACTION - A method includes receiving a payment object for payment of a certain amount owed by a first party to a second party. The payment object carries sufficient account information for the payment from an account associated with the payment object. The second party communicates the account information from the payment object and an identification of the second party for receipt by a third party; and receives in return data that is indicative of a gratuity to be charged against the account. The second party prints a document that includes the certain amount owed and the gratuity, as indicated by the data received by the second party, and presents the document for signature by the first party. The printed document preferably includes the total of the amount owed and the gratuity. The payment object may be a credit card, charge card, debit card, rebate card, or stored-value card. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217700 | Mechanism for Providing Real-Time Audio-Based Financial Asset Information - In one embodiment, a mechanism for providing real-time audio-based financial asset information is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a trigger event related to a financial asset from a computer of a user of a financial asset information system while the user is away from the computer, contacting the user via a phone call, and playing an audio signal to the user where a change in sound volume of the audio signal correlates to a deviation of the financial asset from the trigger event. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217701 | System and Method for Predicting of Future Transactions in Customers Bank Account - The present invention provides a computer implemented system and method enabling creating of a prediction sheet comprising various types of future predicted monetary transactions in a customer's bank account and a prediction of the futuristic monetary balance in the account at a future date or time-interval. The system enables identifying former periodic transactions in the customer's account, identifying future known transactions, analyzing the data of these identified transactions and creating the prediction sheet therefrom. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217702 | Electronic System for Coordinating Contracts Relating to Property - A system, method and apparatus using devices connected to an electronic network to enable users to locate other users for the purpose of entering into option contracts for the purchase and sale of goods and other property, and to coordinate secured lending transactions. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217703 | System and Method for Smart Hedging in an Electronic Trading Environment - A system and associated methods are provided for smart hedging in an electronic trading environment. According to one example method, a first order for a first tradeable object and a second order for a second tradeable object are placed based on a spread strategy. Upon receiving an indication that a quantity of the first order is filled, the method involves determining if the second order can be used to offset the quantity filled of the first order by determining if a price of the second order would result in achieving a desired spread price defined for the spread strategy. If the price results in the desired price, the second order is used to offset the quantity filled for the first order in an attempt to achieve the desired spread price. Other tools are provided as well. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217704 | Consular Kiosks and Methods - The invention provides various systems and methods for implementing electronic transfers with government consulates. The method includes presenting an interface terminal to a customer, wherein the interface terminal is configured to receive input from the customer, and receiving, via the interface terminal, a selection of a country's consulate. The method further includes receiving, via the interface terminal, a consulate service type selection, and receiving, at an input device, documentation necessary to complete the selected service type. Furthermore, the method includes receiving, via the interface terminal, a payment for the selected service, and transmitting to the selected country's consulate the service type selection, the documents, and the payment to the selected consulate. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217705 | COMMUNICATION APPARATUS, AND CONTROL METHOD FOR COMMUNICATION APPARATUS - A communication apparatus includes an electronic payment unit configured to perform electronic payment processing via a short-range wireless communication, an acquisition unit configured to acquire, via the short-range wireless communication, a service parameter required for utilizing a public wireless local area network (LAN) service, by performing the electronic payment processing, and a transfer unit configured to transfer the acquired service parameter to a second communication apparatus. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217706 | BILL PAYMENT MANAGEMENT - Methods, systems, and/or computer program products for bill payment management includes determining a periodic payment amount for a customer based on at least one bill of the customer. The periodic payments are periodically charged to the customer by an entity and the entity pays the bill(s) from an account. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217707 | AUTOMATED OPENING OF ELECTRONIC WALLET FUNCTION IN MOBILE DEVICE - A method includes bringing a mobile device into proximity with an indicium, the indicium adjacent a radio frequency identification (RFID) integrated circuit (IC), the RFID IC coupled to an antenna. The method further includes the mobile device reading a message from the RFID IC, where the message is transmitted by the RFID IC via the antenna. The method further includes the mobile device responding to the message by opening an electronic wallet function in the mobile device. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217708 | Superior identification system using numbers - A system and method of preventing unauthorized use of a credit/debit card whereby a new PIN code is used for each new transaction. The user/card holder is in charge of generating each new PIN code. When entering the PIN code, a new PIN code is entered at the same time which replaces the last PIN code. Since only the user/card holder knows this ever changing new PIN code, this system is virtually fraud proof. In an enhanced version intercepting the new PIN code or watching what digits are used by the card holder would be worthless since a secret number only known by the card holder would have to be added to the last PIN code when used for the next transaction. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217709 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PREVENTING UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO PAYMENT APPLICATION INSTALLED IN CONTACTLESS PAYMENT DEVICE - A system, apparatus, and method for preventing the unauthorized access to a payment application installed on a mobile payment device, or to transaction data stored in the device. The mobile payment device may be a mobile phone that includes a contactless element (such as a contactless smart chip) and that is capable of communication and data transfer using a wireless communications network and a near field communications capability. Unauthorized access to the payment application is prevented by requiring that access control data be received from a trusted source, such as a controller or application in charge of managing inputs from a phone keypad, in order to activate the payment application or to access stored data. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217710 | ELECTRONIC MONEY SYSTEM AND ELECTRONIC MONEY TRANSACTION METHOD - An electronic money system is directed to avoid unauthorized use of certificate-type electronic money. The electronic money system is provided with a management server, a verification sever, a remittance terminal, and a receptor terminal. In response to a request from the remittance terminal, the management server issues an inactive electronic certificate including a certificate ID and notifies the verification server of the certificate ID. The remittance terminal gives a group signature to the inactive electronic certificate to generate an active electronic certificate. The reception terminal verifies the active electronic certificate obtained from the remittance terminal on the basis of the group signature. The verification server matches the certificate ID notified from the management server with the certificate ID included in the active electronic certificate verified by the reception terminal to verify availability of the active electronic certificate. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217711 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING A PRIVATE COMMODITY RESOURCE TRANSACTION - The disclosure presents a system, method, and computer readable medium for facilitating a private commodity resource transaction, having logic for establishing a market for the private commodity resource transaction, communicating a plurality of market establishment prompts to the remote computer, establishing a market for the private commodity resource transaction, receiving market establishment offer information comprising a selected subset of potential respondents, offering to the selected subset of potential respondents the private commodity resource transaction, determining which potential respondents of the predetermined set of potential respondents to communicate the market establishment offer information to, privately communicating the market establishment offer information to the potential respondents, receiving an acceptance response from at least one the potential respondents, identifying which of the potential respondents is associated with a first complete acceptance, privately communicating to the identified respondent a execution communication, and closing the market. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217712 | Method for Sales Forecasting in Business-to-Business Sales Management - The invention provides a system and method for analyzing data from sales staff for multiple active business-to-business (B2B) sales opportunities—and generating a sales revenue forecast, along with additional valuable information to give the business management insight into future potential changes in revenue. The present invention lets a user define stages of selling progress based on steps known as Customer Decision Elements (CDEs) that deliver value to the customer's decision-making process, as input data, as well as the dollar value of the active sales opportunity. The sales progress in completing these defined stages is also entered into the system of the present invention. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217713 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MATCHING AN OFFER WITH A QUOTE - Described is a system and method that satisfies offers from customers with quotes from suppliers in a way that increases the likelihood of achieving an acceptable match. The system of the present invention is configured to receive from a customer an offer for a product. The system queries in parallel multiple suppliers for rate quotes on the desired product. Each of the suppliers is ranked according to the lowest rate quoted by each supplier. The supplier quoting the lowest rate is selected as the winner of the offer. The system may then evaluate any other rate quotes provided by the winning provider. The system may satisfy the customer's offer with the winning provider at a higher rate (if one was provided) than the winning rate quoted, up to the customer's offer (perhaps adjusted for a reasonable profit). In this way, even though the provider provides low rate quotes to win the offer, the provider may still realize a much higher rate for the goods or services by quoting additional, higher rate quotes as well. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217714 | Telenostics certify - A method for managing a commercial process comprising the steps of capturing and understanding current as-is processes; comparing before and after performance; developing a transition strategy; evaluating performance using flow charts; redesigning using creative thinking; obtaining real-time data about the process; performing predictive performance actions based on remaining useful life; and performing aggregation, analysis and information fusion to enable process and users to optimize the commercial process. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217715 | CLOSED WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A closed waste management system and method is disclosed. The system and method of the invention allows a waste generator and a system operator to maximize value for the processing of collected waste according to variable costs and benefits that may depend on location and intangible benefits to the waste generator. The system and method of the invention allows for accurate accounting of costs and value within the organization of the waste generator and also allows for accurate record-keeping for compliance issues relating to waste disposal. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217716 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RESTRICTING ACCESS TO AN ELECTRONIC PRODUCT RELEASE WITHIN AN ELECTRONIC SOFTWARE DELIVERY SYSTEM - The invention provides a method and apparatus for limiting access to a selected release of a software Product and/or associated License Keys to a subset of the manufacturer's customers who are entitled to receive the software Product or digital good, within an electronic software delivery and management system. A Product release is transmitted to the system for storage and limited distribution to a subset of entitled customers. A user interface enables the manufacturer, or partner such as a reseller, to specify distribution parameters that restrict distribution of the product version to specified customers. At least one customer is selected, such as, for example, one or more customers authorized to receive the product version. The product version is further designated as a restricted product version for the selected customers. Finally, the customer restriction information is stored in appropriate tables within a database. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217717 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ORGANIZING AND PRESENTING EVIDENCE RELEVANT TO A SET OF STATEMENTS - Evidence relevant to a set of statements can be organized and presented to a user using a suitably programmed computer system. The computer system accepts as input from the user a set of statements, a set of argument tags associated with each statement, a set of evidence items, and a set of argument tags associated with each evidence item. The computer then collects, for each statement, the group containing any evidence item that is relevant to the statement, where relevance is indicated by at least one argument tag shared between the argument tags associated with the statement and the argument tags associated with the evidence item. The computer then presents the set of statements and, for each statement, the evidence items relevant to the statement. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217718 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ACCUMULATING ACCREDITATION - A method of accumulating accreditation includes locating evaluations from different sources relating to at least one entity and accumulating evaluations associated with the at least one entity to create an accreditation associated with the at least one entity. | 2010-08-26 |
20100217719 | Controller Device - A method of validating a cartridge for use with a controller device. The method includes reading a cartridge identifier from at least one of memory of the cartridge and memory of the controller device, obtaining known content associated with the cartridge based on the cartridge identifier, reading actual content from memory of the cartridge, comparing the known content with the actual content, and permitting communication between the controller device and the cartridge when the known content matches the actual content. | 2010-08-26 |