36th week of 2009 patent applcation highlights part 49 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20090222250 | Hard/Soft Cooperative Verifying Simulator - The present invention provides a hard/soft cooperative verifying simulator based on a SystemC simulator, capable of reducing overhead of context switching control thereby to shorten processing time. Time keepers for controlling simulation times of a plurality of threads are provided corresponding to the threads generated as simulation models for hardware and software. Each of the time keepers has a variable which holds a simulation time for each thread, a variable which holds a summation time, and a break request queue which stores a break time and its corresponding break method therein. The time keeper manages both variables and the queue in response to six types of method invocations from the thread, and invokes a wait function of the SystemC simulator when necessary. It is thus possible to reduce the number of times that a wait function invocation is performed, and shorten the entire processing time. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222251 | Structure For An Integrated Circuit That Employs Multiple Interfaces - A design structure for a integrated circuit interfacing system may be embodied in a machine readable medium for designing, manufacturing or testing a integrated circuit. In one embodiment, the design structure specifies an integrated circuit that includes multiple interfaces. The design structure may specify that each of the interfaces couples to a respective set of registers or storage elements on the integrated circuit. The design structure may also specify a bridge circuit on the integrated circuit that switchably couples the two interfaces together such that one interface may communicate with the registers that associate with that interface as well as the registers that associate with the other interface. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222252 | DATA DRIVEN LOGIC SIMULATION CHIP AND TOOLCHAIN - An apparatus and method may be used for compiling a hardware logic design into data-driven logic programs to be executed on a data-driven chip. The apparatus may include storage with a library for defining a net-list synthesized by a synthesis tool. The apparatus may also include a data-driven logic verification chip comprising a plurality of logic processors. The apparatus may further include a code generator for adopting heuristics to convert the net-list into data driven logic programs and for allocating hardware resources to balance computing and storage loads across the plurality of logic processors of the verification chip. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222253 | System and Method for Switch-Level Linear Simulation Using Verilog - A method for rapidly simulating combined analog circuits and digital circuits includes separating the combined circuits into a linear sub-network and logic sub-network. Shared nodes, shared by the linear sub-network and logic sub-network, are identified. The values of the shared nodes represent logic state values, or digital values, in the logic sub-network, and represent voltages, currents, control inputs and/or circuit parameters in the linear sub-network. Operation of the logic sub-network is simulated using logic node values for the shared nodes. Operation of the linear sub-network is simulated using linear node values for the shared nodes. The method allows fast simulation and rapid revision of mixed signal designs, saving design time and computing resources. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222254 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT EMULATION - A system and method for integrated circuit emulation. One embodiment provides a system for in-circuit emulation of an integrated circuit device with program-controlled components. The system includes an integrated circuit device with program-controlled components used in a system for normal operation. The integrated circuit device having at least one program-controlled emulation unit emulating at least one of the program-controlled components of the integrated circuit device, and at least one statistics memory for storing statistical data of the program-controlled emulation unit during emulation. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222255 | USING GENDER ANALYSIS OF NAMES TO ASSIGN AVATARS IN INSTANT MESSAGING APPLICATIONS - A method for displaying gender-based avatar representations of users in instant messaging communications comprises receiving a username for a first user having a first user account registered with an instant messaging system; performing an anthroponomastic analysis of the username to assign a probable gender for the first user selected from male, female, and neutral; displaying a current contact area in a communication session window of a user interface provided by an instant messaging application on a client system operated by a second user having a second user account registered with the instant messaging system; and displaying the username for the first user and an avatar representation indicative of the probable gender for the first user in the current contact area while the instant messaging application is accessing the instant messaging system to allow the second user to participate in instant messaging communication with the first user via the user interface. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222256 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MACHINE TRANSLATION - In a machine-translation apparatus, an example storage unit stores therein target language examples in a target language and source language examples in a source language, while keeping the target language examples and the source language examples in correspondence with one another. An input receiving unit receives an input sentence in the source language. A searching unit conducts a search in the example storage unit for one of the target language examples corresponding to one of the source language examples that either matches or is similar to the input sentence. A translating unit generates a reverse-translated sentence by translating the one of the target language examples found in the search into the source language. A detecting unit detects a difference portion between the reverse-translated sentence and the input sentence. An output unit outputs the difference portion. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222257 | SPEECH TRANSLATION APPARATUS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT - A translation direction specifying unit specifies a first language and a second language. A speech recognizing unit recognizes a speech signal of the first language and outputs a first language character string. A first translating unit translates the first language character string into a second language character string that will be displayed on a display device. A keyword extracting unit extracts a keyword for a document retrieval from the first language character string or the second language character string, with which a document retrieving unit performs a document retrieval. A second translating unit translates a retrieved document into its opponent language, which will be displayed on the display device. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222258 | VOICE ACTIVITY DETECTION SYSTEM, METHOD, AND PROGRAM PRODUCT - A voice activity detection method in a low SNR environment. The voice activity detection is performed by extracting a long-term spectrum variation component and a harmonic structure as feature vectors from a speech signal and increasing difference in feature vectors between speech and non-speech (i) using the long-term spectrum variation component feature or (ii) using a long-term spectrum variation component extraction and a harmonic structure feature extraction. A correct rate and an accuracy rate of the voice activity detection is improved over conventional methods by using a long-term spectrum variation component having a window length over an average phoneme duration of an utterance in the speech signal. The voice activity detection system and method provides speech processing, automatic speech recognition, and speech output capable of very accurate voice activity detection. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222259 | APPARATUS, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR FEATURE EXTRACTION - A feature extraction apparatus includes a spectrum calculating unit that calculates, based on an input speech signal, a frequency spectrum having frequency components obtained at regular intervals on a logarithmic frequency scale for each of frames that are defined by regular time intervals, and thereby generates a time series of the frequency spectrum; a cross-correlation coefficients calculating unit that calculates, for each target frame of the frames, a cross-correlation coefficients between frequency spectra calculated for two different frames that are in vicinity of the target frame and a predetermined frame width apart from each other; and a shift amount predicting unit that predicts a shift amount of the frequency spectra on the logarithmic frequency scale with respect to the predetermined frame width by use of the cross-correlation coefficients. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222260 | System and method for multi-channel pitch detection - A method and system for multi-channel detection of pitch may comprise one or more of the following steps and/or means therefore: (a) sampling an audio input stream including at least a first channel and a second channel; (b) setting a search frequency for each of the first channel and the second channel; and (c) detecting a pitch of the first channel and a pitch of the second channel. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222261 | Apparatus and Method for Encoding and Decoding Signal - Encoding and decoding apparatuses and encoding and decoding methods are provided. The decoding method includes extracting a plurality of encoded signals from an input bitstream, determining which of a plurality of decoding methods is to be used to decode each of the encoded signals, decoding the encoded signals using the determined decoding methods, synthesizing the decoded signals, and restoring an original signal by performing a post-processing operation on the single signal. Accordingly, it is possible to encode signals having different characteristics at an optimum bitrate by classifying the signals into one or more classes according to the characteristics of the signals and encoding each of the signals using an encoding unit that can best serve the class where a corresponding signal belongs. In addition, it is possible to efficiently encode various signals including audio and speech signals. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222262 | Systems And Methods For Blind Source Signal Separation - Signal separation techniques based on frequency dependency are described. In one implementation, a blind signal separation process is provided that avoids the permutation problem of previous signal separation processes. In the process, two or more signal sources are provided, with each signal source having recognized frequency dependencies. The process uses these inter-frequency dependencies to more robustly separate the source signals. The process receives a set of mixed signal input signals, and samples each input signal using a rolling window process. The sampled data is transformed into the frequency domain, which provides channel inputs to the inter-frequency dependent separation process. Since frequency dependencies have been defined for each source, the process is able to use the frequency dependency to more accurately separate the signals. The process can use a learning algorithm that preserves frequency dependencies within each source signal, and can remove dependencies between or among the signal sources. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222263 | Method and Apparatus for Transmitting Speech Data To a Remote Device In a Distributed Speech Recognition System - A method of transmitting speech data to a remote device in a distributed speech recognition system, includes the steps of: dividing an input speech signal into frames; calculating, for each frame, a voice activity value representative of the presence of speech activity in the frame; grouping the frames into multiframes, each multiframe including a predetermined number of frames; calculating, for each multiframe, a voice activity marker representative of the number of frames in the multiframe representing speech activity; and selectively transmitting, on the basis of the voice activity marker associated with each multiframe, the multiframes to the remote device. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222264 | SUB-BAND CODEC WITH NATIVE VOICE ACTIVITY DETECTION - An augmented version of a Low-Complexity Sub-band Coder (LC-SBC) is described herein that is better suited than conventional LC-SBC for wideband voice communication in the Bluetooth™ framework, where minimizing the power consumption is of paramount importance. The augmented version of LC-SBC utilizes certain techniques associated with speech coding, such as Voice Activity Detection (VAD), to reduce bandwidth usage and power consumption while maintaining voice quality. The augmented version of LC-SBC reduces the average bit rate used for transmitting wideband speech in a manner that does not add significant computational complexity. Furthermore, the augmented version of LC-SBC may advantageously be implemented in a manner that does not require any modification of the underlying logic/structure of LC-SBC. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222265 | Voice Recognition Apparatus - A voice recognition apparatus | 2009-09-03 |
20090222266 | APPARATUS, METHOD, AND RECORDING MEDIUM FOR CLUSTERING PHONEME MODELS - A phoneme model clustering apparatus stores a classification condition of a phoneme context, generates a cluster by performing a clustering of context-dependent phoneme models having different acoustic characteristics of central phoneme for each model having a common central phoneme according to the classification condition, sets a conditional response for each cluster according to acoustic characteristics of context-dependent phoneme models included in the cluster, generates a set of clusters by performing a clustering on clusters according to the conditional response, and outputs the context-dependent phoneme models included in the set of clusters. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222267 | AUTOMATED SENTENCE PLANNING IN A TASK CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM - The invention relates to a task classification system ( | 2009-09-03 |
20090222268 | SPEECH SYNTHESIS SYSTEM HAVING ARTIFICIAL EXCITATION SIGNAL - A speech synthesis system synthesizes a speech signal corresponding to an input speech signal based on a spectral envelope of the input speech signal. A glottal pulse generator generates a time series of glottal pulses, that are processed into a glottal pulse magnitude spectrum. A shaping circuit shapes the glottal pulse magnitude spectrum based on the spectral envelope and generates a shaped glottal pulse magnitude spectrum. A harmonic null adjustment circuit reduces harmonic nulls in the shaped glottal pulse magnitude spectrum and generates a null-adjusted synthesized speech spectrum. An inverse transform circuit generates a null-adjusted time-series speech signal. An overlap and add circuit synthesizes the speech signal based on the null-adjusted time-series speech signal. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222269 | SENTENCE READING ALOUD APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME, AND CONTROL PROGRAM FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - An apparatus for voice synthesis includes: a word database for storing words and voices; a syllable database for storing syllables and voices; a processor for executing a process including: extracting a word from a document, generating a voice signal based on the extracted voice when the extracted word is included in the word database synthesizing a voice signal based on the extracted voice associated with the one or more syllables corresponding to the extracted word when the extracted word is not found in the word database; a speaker for producing a voice based on either of the generated and the synthesized voice signal; and a display for selectively displaying the extracted word when the voice based on the synthesized voice signal is produced by the speaker. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222270 | VOICE COMMAND INTERFACE DEVICE - A device includes a speech input device. A speech recognition processor connected to the speech input device receives speech input. The device includes a computer readable medium coupled to the speech recognition processor. A command table stored on the computer readable medium includes commands corresponding to a control on a manual input interface on a digital music player. The digital music player is separate from the speech input device. The speech recognition processor compares the speech input to the commands in the command table and generates instructions if the speech input matches a command in the command table. A programmable controller is coupled to the speech recognition processor and is configured to receive instructions and to convert the instructions into control signals. The device includes a standard interface connector coupled to the programmable controller. The programmable controller sends the control signals through the standard interface connector. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222271 | Method For Operating A Navigation System - A method for operating a navigation system analyzes several address components to determine the most likely address desired by a user. The navigation device includes a receiving device on which an acoustic address input consisting of several input components can be registered. The input components of the address are analyzed with a speech recognition module, wherein at least one geographical location, which is defined by an address with several address components, is selected from a database for further processing depending on the result of the speech recognition analysis. The method includes analyzing several address component combinations to determine the most likely address inputted by the user. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222272 | Controlling Spatial Audio Coding Parameters as a Function of Auditory Events - An audio encoder or encoding method receives a plurality of input channels and generates one or more audio output channels and one or more parameters describing desired spatial relationships among a plurality of audio channels that may be derived from the one or more audio output channels, by detecting changes in signal characteristics with respect to lime in one or more of the plurality of audio input channels, identifying as auditory event boundaries changes in signal characteristics with respect to lime in the one or more of the plurality of audio input channels, an audio segment between consecutive boundaries constituting an auditory event in the channel or channels, and generating all or some of the one or more parameters al least partly in response to auditory events and/or the degree of change in signal characteristics associated with the auditory event boundaries. An auditory-event-responsive audio upmixer or upmixing method is also disclosed. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222273 | Coding/Decoding of a Digital Audio Signal, in Celp Technique - The invention aims at constructing improved dictionaries of CELP excitation vectors for coding/decoding digital audio signals. Usually, each vector of dimension N comprises pulses capable of occupying N valid positions. The invention concerns the construction of dictionaries with particular structure by: providing a common sequence of pulses forming a base pattern; and assigning the base pattern to each excitation vector of the dictionary, based on one or more occurrences at one or more respective positions among said N valid positions. The invention also concerns a combination of dictionaries thus constructed with optionally standard multipulse dictionaries, by union or summation or cascading. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222274 | PREVENTING FRAUD IN A VIRTUAL UNIVERSE - A solution for preventing frauds in a virtual universe is disclosed. A user interface may be deployed to a user of the virtual universe which enables the user to report a fraudulent activity of a virtual entity. Such a report is processed by an administration center, and the fraudulent virtual entity may be publically tagged such that further frauds can be prevented. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222275 | RISK REDUCTION - A method and system of reducing risk in the life cycle of a product, in one aspect, obtain one or more tasks required to achieve an overall task, determine risk impact of each task, the risk impact being an impact of each task on the likelihood of failure for the overall task and compute risk of overall task based on risk impacts of the tasks. The method and system utilize said risk impact of each task to schedule the tasks in such a way so as to reduce said risk of overall task as rapidly as possible. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222276 | Apparatus, System, and Method for Cloning Web Page Designs or Avatar Designs - An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for facilitating the copying or cloning of web page and avatar designs. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222277 | DEFINING AND IMPLEMENTING CUSTOM TASK PROCESSES - Concepts and technologies are provided herein for defining and implementing custom task processes. An authoring tool provides a user interface for defining a custom task process that encompasses one or more task instances. New workflow logic can be applied to both the task action and the encompassed task instances. Once a task process has been defined using the authoring tool, a workflow that includes the task process is submitted to a collaborative application for execution. The defined task action and task instances are executed by the collaborative application to implement the defined task process. Through the execution of the task process, assignments are made to the defined participants, and additional workflows, actions, and behaviors may be triggered and executed based upon the defined task action and task instances. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222278 | Interactive entrepreneur network and information system - A social networking system and method for entrepreneurs includes a primary forum offering a plurality of multimedia tools and a primary member registration means for registering a plurality of members for access within a primary community. Members include entrepreneur members, investor members and coach members. The primary forum provides access to hyperlinked content for retrieving business information and interacting and communicating among members. The system further comprises a plurality of satellite forums that are linked to, hosted and maintained by the primary forum. Each satellite forum includes the multimedia tools derived from the primary forum so that members on the satellite forum have access to the information on the primary forum. Satellite forums have their own unique URL and is linked to, hosted and maintained by the primary forum and act as meeting places for satellite groups and satellite communities. Each satellite forum allows groups of entrepreneur members to build their own satellite community, allowing them to have control over their own member database and content. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222279 | Rate quote generation for optimization of travel agency profitability - In order for a travel agent to find travel services for clients and maintain profitability (or other advantages) for a travel agency, systems and methods for automatically generating rate quotes for travel services are provided. The travel agent provides the client's requirements for travel within a system that searches fare sources for available fares of travel services that meets the client's requirements. The system calculates rate quotes by applying a mark-up to the available fares from the search and then determines if the rates quotes are profitable based on agency profitability rules. If a rate quote is determined to be unprofitable (e.g., the marked-up fare is below a threshold of profitability), then the rate quote may be removed. The remaining rate quotes are sorted and provided to the travel agent. The travel agent can then offer travel services to the client at the marked-up fare rate quote. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222280 | System and method for certification data management - A system and method are disclosed that provide for processing certification data. The system and method include determining a rating definition associated with an engine configuration, and associating an arrangement number with the rating definition. In addition, the system and method include associating a certification type with the arrangement number, and associating a certification dataset, created by recording emissions test results of one or more emissions data parameters, with the rating definition to generate a certification family. The one or more emissions data parameters are included in at least one of an emissions law or an emissions regulation. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222281 | FORMULATION FOR MULTI-STEP ACNE TREATMENT - Methods and systems ( | 2009-09-03 |
20090222282 | Method for Personalized Diet Design - The present invention is directed to methods of developing dietary guidelines, particularly associated with dietary consumption of fatty acids. We discovered an association of a polymorphic marker with regulation of plasma lipid levels in response to dietary intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Accordingly, the present invention provides methods for providing individualized guidance in design of dietary interventions to alter plasma lipid profiles by genotyping APOA5 locus, wherein the presence of APOA5−1131C, APOA5−3G, APOA5 IVS3+476A, and APOA5 1259C alleles or alleles that are found to be in tight linkage disequilibrium with APOA5−1131C, APOA5−3G, APOA5 IVS3+476A, and APOA5 1259C alleles, is indicative of the individual being susceptible to altered plasma lipid levels in response to intake of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222283 | Healthcare Service Management Using A Centralized Service Management Module - A system and method for scheduling or managing receipt of healthcare services are disclosed. A centralized service management module is coupled to one or more client devices and to one or more service providers, such as healthcare providers or insurance providers. The centralized service management module receives an interaction, such as an appointment request, from a client device or a service provider associated with healthcare services. The centralized service management module associates a service provider with the interaction based on a stored user profile. The interaction is then transmitted by the centralized service management module to the associated service provider, which provides data associated with a healthcare product or service associated with the interaction to the centralized service management module. The data is stored in the user profile and transmitted, buy the centralized service management module, to a client device using a communication protocol specified by the user profile. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222284 | PHYSICIAN OFFICE VIEWPOINT SURVEY SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system and method for conducting surveys, and, more particularly, an at least partially automated and efficient system and method for collecting, processing, and displaying customer satisfaction survey information that enables a product or service provider to evaluate the quality of goods and/or services received based on ratings and reports obtained by performing surveys of customers, employees, and/or staff. The system utilizes an execution platform using a clinical process improvement methodology. The system provides the execution platform with software scripts implementing the clinical improvement process, using drill-down questioning techniques and verbatim comments tailored to the survey participants comments and/or status information to gain insights into the participants' reasons for their opinions. The system obtains raw survey data and processes that data into useful survey information, such as graphs and charts, for presenting to survey consumers (i.e., system users) who may be remotely located. In this way the system and method can be utilized in a quality improvement program for any service or product provider. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222285 | Authentication Of Pharmaceutical Products - A method for authenticating a pharmaceutical product, the pharmaceutical product being associated with packaging having disposed thereon or therein coded data including a number of coded data portions, each coded data portion being indicative of an identity of the pharmaceutical product and at least part of a digital signature of at least part of the identity. The method includes having a computer system receive indicating data from a sensing device, the sensing device being responsive to sensing of the coded data to generate indicating data at least partially indicative of the identity of the pharmaceutical product and the signature part. The computer system determines the identity at least one determined signature part and uses these to authenticate the pharmaceutical product. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222286 | EVENT-MARKED, BAR-CONFIGURED TIMELINE DISPLAY FOR GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE DISPLAYING PATIEN'TS MEDICAL HISTORY - One can display a patient's medical history on a (color-coded), bar-configured chronological timeline. The patient timeline display includes event markers that are located adjacent to specific time increments along the patient timeline when the patient had certain procedures performed. Namely, each procedure is represented by an event marker referenced to its time of performance along the timeline. From the basic bar-configured timeline which contains a pop-up bubble, the physician can see at a glance every major hospital encounter a particular patient has had over the duration of the timeline, e.g., the last 12-months. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222287 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SELF-REPORTING MEDICAL INFORMATION - A patient list is provided to a medical provider. The medical provider may be prompted to review particular patients on the list or they may review these patients on their own. In any case, a patient is selected from the list and the provider determines if a medical metric associated with the patient is accurate or complete. The provider may then selectively enter self-report data concerning the accuracy or completeness of the medical metric. A provider assessment (e.g., score) is recalculated based at least in part on the self-reported data as well as the data that has already been collected. The re-calculated score may be provided to the medical plan. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222288 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING TELEPHONE ACCESS BY PATIENTS TO MEDICAL PERSONNEL - A physician/patient communication system and a method of managing physician/patient communication. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) an account manager configured to interact with at least one patient and at least one physician to allow at least one patient account and at least one physician account to be established, (2) a report generator coupled to the account manager and configured to provide one or more reports to the at least one patient and the at least one physician, (3) a matching engine coupled to the report generator and configured to match the at least one patient with the at least one physician and (4) a telephony interface coupled to the matching engine and configured to enable communication between the at least one patient and the at least one physician. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222289 | PRESCRIPTION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - An imaging and workflow method, system, computer readable medium and user interface for processing information efficiently for the processing of medical prescription orders. The system includes support for document scanning, automated rules-based order processing, statistical reporting, document generation and document storage and retrieval. The present invention takes advantage of imaging technology to assist the user in scanning information into the system and software modules to improve the processing of orders. The present invention also includes database tables that identify to application processing logic the types and sequences of actions to be implemented for orders. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222290 | Methods and Systems for Automated, Predictive Modeling of the Outcome of Benefits Claims - A system for automated, predictive modeling of the outcome of a benefits claim includes a profile generator, an evaluation component, and a case management application. The profile generator executes on a computing device and retrieves a claimant profile associated with an adjudicated claim. The evaluation component executes on the computing device and generates a prediction of an outcome of a claim brought by a potential claimant of a government benefit, responsive to the retrieved claimant profile. The evaluation component generates a recommendation to file the claim for the government benefit, responsive to the generated prediction. The case management application executes on the computing device, receives the generated prediction of the outcome of the claim and the generated recommendation and displays at least one of the generated prediction and the generated recommendation. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222291 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COORDINATED SCHEDULING - A schedule-coordination system and method that analyzes schedules of a plurality of users and detects schedule overlaps between the users. A first user can be proactively alerted to a schedule overlap with a second user, depending upon registration records of the first and second users. The system and method can also optimize the coordination of a user's schedule by facilitating changes to the schedule. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222292 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MULTIPLE SUB-SYSTEMS META SECURITY POLICY - A method for multiple sub-systems meta Security Policy (MSSMSP) including business process policies for a business organization having a meta policy server, Business-Asset-Monitors (BAM's) and security sub-systems, wherein the security sub-systems are supported by Policy Connectors and wherein the BAM's are software agents on each business asset that are responsible to monitor the organizational users' activities and report that information to the meta policy server. The method includes defining by a Chief-Security-Officer (CSO) of the organizational business assets, wherein the business assets are supported by the BAM's. The method also includes correlating by the CSO of abstract, business-oriented-parameters with technical, low-level parameters of the security sub-systems and validating the security policy relative to the user's by monitoring the users' activities against the business assets and by using the meta policy server, thereby enabling the creation, management and control of one central MSSMSP in correlation to the various security sub-system's policies. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222293 | Method and System of Using Commodity Databases in Internet Search Advertising - A method and system are provided for using commodity databases for parallelized and scalable solutions in Internet advertising. In one example, the method includes receiving first-type data and second-type data from one or more web servers, partitioning the first-type data into a particular number of first-type partitions, partitioning the second-type data into second-type partitions, wherein there are a same number of second-type partitions as the particular number of first-type partitions, sorting each first-type event by a second-type timestamp, opening second-type event files and finding first-type event matches, generating annotated second-type data by annotating each second-type event file with data from matching first-type events, and optimizing an advertising model based on the annotated second-type data. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222294 | System and Method for Financial Data Management and Report Generation - A system comprises at least one financial information management system storing financial data, the financial data including transaction data and account data for at least one account; a data aggregation system operative to retrieve data from the at least one financial information management system, to age the data relative to an aging date based on an account characteristic in addition to or instead of a transaction date, and to aggregate the aged data according to one or more predetermined rules; and a report generation system operative to generate reports from the aged and aggregated data. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222295 | METHOD FOR MANAGING AN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICE ACCOUNT - A method to manage an information technology service account comprises engaging a customer to establish the information technology service account and engaging in four phases of management. In the reactive phase, the steps of training the customer on support and assessing technical needs of the customer are performed. In the proactive phase, the steps of establishing a problem reporting procedure, deploying the problem reporting procedure to the customer, identifying known issues of the information technology service account based at least in part on the problem reporting procedure, identifying solutions to the identified known issues are performed. In the planning phase, the steps of determining additional or substitutive tools for the information technology service account based on the problem reporting procedure, querying product releases of the customer, querying technology roadmap of the customer, determining additional or substitutive tools based on the product releases and technology roadmap are performed. In the maintenance phase, the steps of collecting customer feedback data, and determining modification of one or both of steps of the previous phases and one or more tools based on the customer feedback data. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222296 | SUBJECT LINE PERSONALIZATION - One or more conditions associated with personalizing a subject line of a message for each of one or more target recipients may be determined. One or more conditions may be evaluated to determine which of conditional text is included in and which of conditional variables are included with the subject line. One or more values may be determined, for each of the one or more target recipients, corresponding to each of universal variables and the conditional variables for inclusion with the subject line. The subject line of the message may be personalized for each of the one or more target recipients based on the evaluation of the one or more conditions, the subject line including text and values corresponding to the variables for inclusion with the subject line as determined based on the evaluation. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222297 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMPOSITE PRICING OF SERVICES TO PROVIDE OPTIMAL BILL SCHEDULE - System and method for service pricing optimization enables analysis of multi-phased, multi-business unit, multi-process, multi-geo/country deal structure with its parts and phases having different pricing implications, and provides a flexible composite pricing schedule optimized for both service provider and receiver by gain and risk sharing. In one aspect, elementary pricing models and pricing parameters are established and a composite pricing model is constructed based on the elementary pricing models and pricing parameters. An optimizer optimizes the composite pricing model to minimize risk and maximize one or more selected criteria. Price is generated using the optimized composite pricing model. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222298 | Data Mining Method for Automatic Creation of Organizational Charts - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for generating organizational charts. The process receives a selection of an employee from an employee directory to form a reference employee. Thereafter, in response to receiving the selection, the process extracts information relating to a hierarchy of other employees with respect to the reference employee from an employee directory to form extracted information. The process then generates the organizational chart from the extracted information. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222299 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DEFINING AND MANAGING TASK ORIENTED PROJECTS - Systems and methods for project management are provided for a project containing tasks and user designations for administrators and non-administrators. Each task has a task completion status and a task identity. Each respective user designation includes a user account associated with a user. The administrator can change the task completion status of all tasks whereas the non-administrator can only change the task completion status of some of the tasks in the project. A first electronic message is received from the administrator. The message assigns a task to a non-administrator. Subsequently, a second electronic message with a completion status of the task is received from the non-administrator, whereupon the completion status of the task in an electronically stored record of the project is updated to reflect the new completion status of the task without human intervention. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222300 | Systems and Methods of Marketing to Defined Consumer Groups - A method includes implementing a loyalty program in a defined environment. The defined environment is associated with a defined group of consumers. The loyalty program is associated with a product. The method also includes providing a loyalty reward to a consumer of the defined group of consumers in response to the consumer interacting with a product in the defined environment. The method further includes determining a loyalty reward redemption opportunity based on at least one common attribute associated with the defined group of consumers. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222301 | Methods for Implementing a Loyalty Program - A method of rewarding loyalty of a user may include providing a personal terminal to the user, detecting whether the personal terminal is within proximity of an interaction terminal, and based at least in part on the proximity of the personal terminal to the interaction terminal, providing a benefit to the user. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222302 | Method and Apparatus for Social Network Marketing with Consumer Referral - A service provider facilitates consumption of goods, brands, or services on an interactive network using characterizations of consumers, behavior, brands, consumable goods, advertisers, and advocates to determine a three-way match between a consumable good, a consumer, and an advocate. The matching method determines one or more likely consumers by maximizing the estimated contextual value of personalized advocacy. Further, the service provider captures the value of the personalized advocacy in each match, and distributes that value in the form of various marketing incentives. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222303 | Method and Apparatus for Social Network Marketing with Brand Referral - A service provider facilitates consumption of goods, brands, or services on an interactive network using characterizations of consumers, behavior, brands, consumable goods, advertisers, and advocates to determine a three-way match between a consumable good, a consumer, and an advocate. The matching method determines one or more goods likely to be benefit from the marketing scheme by maximizing the estimated contextual value of personalized advocacy. Further, the service provider captures the value of the personalized advocacy in each match, and distributes that value in the form of various marketing incentives. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222304 | Method and Apparatus for Social Network Marketing with Advocate Referral - A service provider facilitates consumption of goods, brands, or services on an interactive network using characterizations of consumers, behavior, brands, consumable goods, advertisers, and advocates to determine a three-way match between a consumable good, a consumer, and an advocate. The matching method determines one or more advocates by maximizing the estimated contextual value of personalized advocacy. Further, the service provider captures the value of the personalized advocacy in each match, and distributes that value in the form of various marketing incentive. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222305 | Shopper Communication with Scaled Emotional State - A shopper communication regarding a product or service includes a scaled emotional state. The scaled emotional state is associated with use of the product or service. The scaled emotional state may be in the form of text, a graphical indicia, or a verbal description. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222306 | METHOD AND CONTROL DEVICE FOR DETERMINATION OF THE TIME DURATION BEFORE A MACHINE ELEMENT REQUIRES SERVICING - The invention relates to a method for determination of the time duration (T) before a machine element ( | 2009-09-03 |
20090222307 | Means for incorporating sustainability metrics and total cost benefit analysis in decision-making - Methods are disclosed for the simplification and integration of data from a diverse set of sources for environmental costs and societal benefit data. The methods allow for the computation of five basic metrics: material use, water use, energy use, toxics emitted, land use and overall pollutants emitted. Further, they facilitate the computation of complementary metrics, as well as the estimation of net present value of costs of unrealized environmental impacts. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222308 | DETECTING FIRST PARTY FRAUD ABUSE - A computerized method includes analyzing data associated with a credit line during an origination stage for predictive variables for use in a model for first party fraud, and flagging an account during the origination stage when at least one or more predictive origination stage variables cause a model score to exceed a pre-defined fraud likelihood threshold. The computerized method also includes analyzing data associated with one or more previously flagged, post-booked stage credit lines for data elements or transactions to be used as variables in a model to predictive of first party fraud at the customer-level or in one or more of the post-booked stage credit lines. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222309 | System and Method for Notifying Multiple Devices of Impending Events - An event notification system includes a provision module, a scheduling module, and a notification module. The provision module is adapted to determine multiple types of devices associated with subscribed services of a user account. The scheduling module is adapted to store a calendar event, and further adapted to generate an impending event signal based upon an impending occurrence of the calendar event. The notification module is in communication with the provision module and the scheduling module. The notification module is adapted receive the impending event signal, adapted to retrieve the multiple types of devices associated with the subscribed services of the user account, adapted to determine which of the multiple types of devices are in current communication with the system, and adapted to send an event notification message to the devices that are in current communication with the system based upon receiving the impending event signal. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222310 | TECHNIQUES TO ALLOCATE PROJECT RESOURCES - Techniques to allocate project resources are described. An apparatus comprises an enhanced PPM component operative to manage a model project investment portfolio of multiple projects for an organization. The enhanced PPM component may include a portfolio definition module operative to receive one or more portfolio parameters controlling resource allocations for multiple candidate projects, a resource allocation module communicatively coupled to the portfolio definition module, the resource allocation module operative to allocate resources to the multiple candidate projects based on the portfolio parameter to form resourced candidate projects and unresourced candidate projects, and a portfolio planning module communicatively coupled to the resource allocation module, the portfolio planning module operative to generate a graphical user interface planning view having resourced candidate projects, unresourced candidate projects, and time-phased information for each candidate project. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222311 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CALCULATING POTENTIAL MAXIMAL PRICE AND SHARE RATE - System and method for determining maximal price for projects are provided. A project scope of a project based on a plurality of selected criteria is defined, and total cost of the project is estimated. A value model of the project is generated and estimated value of the project is determined using the value model. A composite object function that includes cumulative distributive functions of the total cost and of the estimated value is computed to determine potential maximal price or share rate or combinations thereof. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222312 | SUPPLY CONSUMPTION OPTIMIZATION AND MULTIPLE COMPONENT UTILITZATION - The invention disclosed here is a method for achieving simultaneous consideration of multiple independent dates associated with a single demand. The method iterates through the demands to match the demands with the supply quantities respecting demand priorities which vary over time and demand quantities which may perish over time. One embodiment of the invention allocates demand to supply through an iterative process beginning with earlier demand requirement dates and concluding with later demands which may preempt supply from earlier demands depending upon their relative priorities. An additional embodiment transforms the demands to create multiple demand records, each having an associated priority, such that a single original demand record is transformed into a plurality of related demand records, each having an associated priority. The component supply quantities are accumulated into period ending inventories. The method matches the multiple demand records (in priority sequence) to the period ending inventories. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222313 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PREDICTING CUSTOMER BEHAVIOR - A predictive model generator that enhances customer experience, reduces the cost of servicing a customer, and prevents customer attrition by predicting the appropriate interaction channel through analysis of different types of data and filtering of irrelevant data. The model includes a customer interaction data engine for transforming data into a proper format for storage, data warehouse for receiving data from a variety of sources, and a predictive engine for analyzing the data and building models. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222314 | Electronic System for Compiling Information on Characteristics Relating to the Reading of Print Media and Portable Read Unit for Said System - The invention relates to an electronic system for compiling information on characteristics relating to the reading of print media. The inventive system comprises: a central data processing unit ( | 2009-09-03 |
20090222315 | SELECTION OF TARGETED ADVERTISEMENTS - System, methods, and computer-storage media are provided for selecting advertisements specifically targeted to a first end user. Information is provided by a second end user that describes characteristics and interests of the first end user. The information provided by the second user is used to select advertisements specifically targeted to the first end user. The selected advertisements are presented to the first end user through computer-enabled forms of communication between the first end user and the second end user. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222316 | METHOD TO TAG ADVERTISER CAMPAIGNS TO ENABLE SEGMENTATION OF UNDERLYING INVENTORY - A method and system for enabling segmentation of advertising inventory for an advertisement campaign includes capturing a plurality of requirements for an advertisement campaign. The campaign requirements include a descriptive tag that uniquely identifies the advertisement campaign. The requirements include a plurality of campaign attributes that define the requirements of the advertisement campaign including target audience and advertisement campaign objective. A tag inventory, with a plurality of descriptive tags and a plurality of advertisement bookings associated with one or more of the descriptive tags, is analyzed based on the captured advertisement campaign requirements. A recommended suggestion of bookings based on the analysis is presented. The recommended suggestion of bookings matches at least a portion of the campaign attributes. A media plan is finalized for the advertisement campaign based on a response received for the recommended suggestion of bookings, the response defines the relevancy of the recommended suggestion of bookings. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222317 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING ELECTRONIC UPSELL DIRECTORY - Embodiments relate to systems and methods for generating an electronic upsell directory A main networked store can communicate with a set of affiliate sites, each of which offers distinct products or services from individualized affiliate catalogs. The affiliate catalogs are each based on a core catalog available from the main store. When a user initiates a purchase transaction at an affiliate site, a transaction profile is transmitted to the main store. The main store examines the transaction profile to match purchased items against an upsell table containing the catalogs of not just the affiliate site conducting the transaction, but the entire set of affiliate sites. Products or services that form suitable options to the user's selected purchase can be aggregated across the affiliate sites and associated catalogs, and presented in an upsell dialog to the user. The user can thereby select upgrades or options from a broader array of sources. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222318 | METHOD, SYSTEM AND KIOSK FOR CONNECTING A CUSTOMER TO AN EXPERT AT A REMOTE LOCATION - An interactive kiosk is provided and an interactive customer information system that uses same is provided. The kiosk may have at least one an output module to provide a document controlled by a person at a remote location and the ability to display two video images simultaneously. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222319 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CALCULATING PIECEWISE PRICE AND INCENTIVE - System and method for determining piecewise pricing, in one aspect, generate a distribution function of transactions based on a plurality of data records associated with said transactions. One or more correlations between total cost and one or more performance measures are analyzed. Demand model is generated based on the distribution function. Piecewise pricing or level-price pairs are determined for a plurality of levels of performance measure, based on said one or more correlations between total cost and one or more performance measures, said demand model, and desired profit margin. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222320 | BUSINESS MODEL FOR SALES OF SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS - A sales method provides for the demonstration, performance forecasting, financing, leasing, renting, power purchase agreement, tax-advantages, and group benefits of complete renewable energy systems. Even before a sales call is attempted, a system integrator has arranged a special group of lenders and investors that will fund any project initiated, has engaged credit services to check consumer credit files, has collected operational data from a number of its own systems, has created forecast models of performance, and arranged open-membership groups to which a new user can join immediately to share in collective bargaining with utilities, spread down-time risk and expense, utilize tax incentives, etc. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222321 | PREDICTION OF FUTURE POPULARITY OF QUERY TERMS - Disclosed is a system and method that allows a computer system the ability to predict what query terms in a search will be popular. The system creates a unified model that determines the future popularity of a query term over a period of time in the future. The unified model averages the results of three different prediction models to obtain a prediction of the future popularity of a query term. The prediction from the unified model is compared against a threshold value of popularity over a time period. When the predicted popularity of the query exceeds the threshold the term is stored. In some embodiments the period that the term exceeds the threshold may also be stored. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222322 | MONETIZING A SOCIAL NETWORK PLATFORM - A system and/or methodology that exploits user interaction within a social network in order to derive profits. The invention provides for increased flow of money through a social network, and simultaneously allows advertisers and merchants to focus their advertising spending within the social network. Additionally, the invention provides for quantitative measurement of the effects of relational proximity marketing /advertising (RPM), and creates incentives for users to purchase goods through the social network. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222323 | Opportunity segmentation - A method to identify financial opportunity within a set of data, and maximize financial gains from the data set while minimizing marketing costs the method is presented. The method obtains the set of data, the set of data including a value component and an opportunity component, calculates a number of opportunity transactions. The method then creates a value matrix for value components and opportunity components of the set of data to define at least two audiences and identifies at least one audience of the at least two audiences that has a larger opportunity component than a smaller opportunity component of another of the at least two audiences. The method also performs marketing to the at least one of the at least two audiences that has the larger opportunity component. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222324 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONSUMER PRICE INDEX DETERMINATION USING PANEL-BASED AND POINT-OF-SALE MARKET RESEARCH DATA - Systems and methods for consumer price index determination using panel-based and point-of-sale market research data are disclosed. An example method to determine a consumer price index disclosed herein comprises obtaining panelist market research data determined by monitoring items purchased by a plurality of statistically-selected panelists, obtaining retail site market research data for items sold by a plurality of retail sites, combining the panelist market research data and the retail site market research data to determine weighted equivalent unit pricing information for each group of common items in an item stratum of the consumer price index having substantially similar attributes except for a unit amount, and determining the consumer price index using the weighted equivalent unit pricing information. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222325 | METHODS AND APPARATUS TO GENERATE SMART TEXT - Methods and apparatus to generate smart text are disclosed. An example computer implemented method includes receiving at an input module a query input associated with at least one of a product of interest or a market of interest during a time-frame of interest and identifying at least one candidate external application based on the query input. The example method also includes retrieving volume information from the at least one candidate external application, the retrieved volume information associated with a current time-frame and the time-frame of interest, calculating a change associated with the retrieved volume information, and assigning a market change descriptor to the at least one of the product of interest or the market of interest related to a magnitude of the calculated change, the assigned market change descriptor output to a user via an output module. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222326 | Multidiscipline site development and risk assessment process - A software application is provided designed to encourage collaboration between professional disciplines related to land development and construction projects. A graphical risk analysis system is provided based on answers to interdisciplinary questions related to risks. Use of the system promotes a complete checklist of interdisciplinary and informational consultation which, when completed, reduces the risk related to land development. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222327 | MARKETING AND DELIVERING FINANCIAL COACHING SERVICES - Marketing and delivering financial coaching services involves sponsoring a website pertaining to financial coaching services, engaging an electronic communications media partner to direct potential customers to the website, and calculating a behavior-based quality rating reflecting the business opportunity value of the potential customer. The potential customer is advanced within the website to a supplemental landing page, a chat window, a bump offer screen, or a customer consultation page based on data from the potential customer. When the quality rating exceeds a predetermined threshold quality rating, the potential customer is associated to an assigned sales agent. In a telephone conference initiated by the assigned sales agent, an interest rating is determined for the potential customer reflecting the importance of the financial coaching services to the potential customer. When the interest rating exceeds a predetermined threshold interest rating, the potential customer is associated to an assigned enroller. In a telephone conference initiated by the assigned enroller a readiness rating is determined for the potential customer reflecting the willingness of the potential customer to purchase financial coaching services. When the readiness rating for the potential customer exceeds a predetermined readiness rating, the potential customer is enrolled as a buyer of financial coaching services and oriented by telephone. Using electronic communication media, the buyer is conducted through an ordered sequence of one-on-one financial coaching sessions and supplied with financial coaching resources. The buyer completes assignments between consecutive pairs of financial coaching sessions. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222328 | Method of Inducing Communication and Providing Coupons between Businesses and Consumers via a Business and Consumer Management and Resource System - A network based business and consumer resource system for businesses to open a dialog channel with customers and clients, and for potential customers and clients to open a dialog channel with businesses. A search engine is provided to allow potential customers to locate business profile pages, the search engine dependent upon the sum of points awarded to businesses on the network for performing various business related tasks. The search results may be provided in a format wherein brick and mortar businesses geographically local to the searcher are provided in one dataset while eCommerce search results are provided in another. Further, the present system through link swapping provides a means to increase the ranking of the business profile page on popular public search engines. Finally, a means is provided wherein business owners with large consumer lists can take part in targeted marketing to subsets of the list wherein the marketing occurs at a steady rate so the business minimizes large spikes in responses. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222329 | SYNDICATION OF A BEHAVIORAL PROFILE ASSOCIATED WITH AN AVAILABILITY CONDITION USING A MONETIZATION PLATFORM - The present application discloses improved capabilities for aggregating user behavioral data across multiple wireless operators and delivering content to a mobile communication facility based on that aggregation, among other factors. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222330 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING LIKE-MINDEDNESS - Methods and apparatus for a participant response system according to various aspects of the present invention operate in conjunction with an information system and an assessment system. The information system may store selection information in response to a first participant's selection of data choices from a set of candidate survey data. The assessment system is responsive to the information system, identifies a correlation between the selection information of the first participant and a set of comparison data. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222331 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM FOR BILLING BASED ON A DURATION OF A SERVICE PERIOD - A system, method, and computer readable medium for billing based on a duration of a service period, comprises sending fleet data from a third party entity to a toll authority via a toll rental entity, matching toll data with the fleet data by the toll authority, if the toll data matches the fleet data: charging an account by the toll authority and sending the matched data to the toll rental entity, determining, by the toll rental entity, if the sent matched data is related to an opt-in for duration based tolling or an opt-out for duration based tolling, if the sent matched data is related to an opt-in for duration based tolling, charging the third party entity for the duration based tolling, and if the sent matched data is related to an opt-out for duration based tolling, applying at least one of: a fee for the duration based tolling, a toll usage amount, a service fee for the duration based tolling, and a service fee for the toll usage. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222332 | GLITCH FREE DYNAMIC VIDEO AD INSERTION - Techniques for dynamically and seamlessly inserting secondary content via a second video pipeline into the playing of principal content over a first video pipeline are disclosed herein. One aspect of the techniques may involve the file containing the principal content be contiguous instead of being in a plurality of separate sections. The secondary content is able to be pre-processed on the second video pipeline while the principal content is played over the first video pipeline. This enables the secondary content to be available instantaneously upon the pausing of the principal content at various designated points therein. Playing of the principal content may likewise be instantaneous upon completion of the time period for the specified pausing thereof. Since the file containing the principal content is preferably contiguous, rewinding the principal content to a previous point does not require reloading. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222333 | COMMUNITY BASED TARGETED ADVERTISING - Computing devices, computer-readable media, and methods are provided for facilitating community based targeted advertising. A message is received from a first user. At least one intended recipient of the message is determined. Additionally, at least one preferred active communication channel associated with the at least one intended recipient is determined. Supplemental information is selected based on one or more attributes associated with the at least one intended recipient. The message is combined with at least a portion of the supplemental information to create an enriched message. At least a portion of the enriched message is then communicated to the at least one intended recipient using the selected preferred communication channel or channels. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222334 | Recyclable Protective Barrier for Use in Advertising - A recyclable protective barrier for use in advertising is presented. The barrier comprises a single sheet of semi-rigid, recyclable, high density polyethylene fibrous web sheeting pre-cut to cover at least one surface of an article. The sheet has at least one tab extending therefrom and at least one slot for receiving the tab. The sheet has at least one surface capable of receiving at least one kind of permanent ink and a portion of this surface has printing thereon. The sheet is secured to at least one portion of the article by inserting the tab into the slot, forming a physical barrier between at least one portion of the article and a person and wherein the printing is visible to the person. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222335 | Coupons, Multiple Payments, and Recommendations in a Unified Storefront System - A unified storefront system includes a recommendation module, a coupon module, and a payment module. The recommendation module is adapted to recommend and cross promote a first plurality of assets based on a user context and based on an access device. The coupon management module is coupled to the recommendation module, and the coupon management module adapted to store a coupon associated with a user account. The payment module is coupled to the recommendation module, and the payment module is adapted to provide an ability to purchase a first asset with a plurality of payment methods during a single transaction. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222336 | TARGETED ADVERTISING METHOD FOR VENUE SEATING - The present invention provides a method for providing targeted advertising to individuals in a venue. Advertising content is delivered to a predetermined individual via a user interface associated with that individual's seat. The advertising content can be selected based on the location of the user interface. The advertising content can be selected based on stored demographic information associated with the individual's seat or related directly to the individual. The advertising content is conveyed to the individual at a predetermined condition associated with the event, such as a time out. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222337 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DISPLAYING DISCOUNT INFORMATION - A system and method for using a discount display system are provided in which a plurality of purchase option screens are displayed to a user. For each discount-eligible item identifier selected by the user, the price of the item is added to the user's total, the current discount available to the user is re-calculated and the updated discount is displayed to the user. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222338 | Monitoring and Rewards Methodologies for "Green" Use of Vehicles - Energy-efficiency related data corresponding to dynamic energy-efficiency related operational parameters of a vehicle are collected from in-vehicle sensors and energy-efficiency parameters may be computed therefrom. The energy efficiency-related parameters and energy-efficiency parameters are then transmitted either directly of through a wireless and/or network link(s) to a station at which a transaction with a vehicle operator may be performed. An incentive based on efficiency of vehicle operation is computed and awarded to provide feedback to a vehicle operator to provide information concerning efficient vehicle operation and to encourage efficient and environmentally responsible vehicle operation. Both energy efficiency and environmental effects may be displayed at the station or substantially continuously and in substantially real time within the vehicle. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222339 | Systems and Methods for Providing a Personal Terminal for a Loyalty Program - A personal terminal for obtaining loyalty rewards may include a processor, an interaction terminal interface, and a loyalty management engine. The interaction terminal interface may be operable to receive a communication transmitted by an interaction terminal. The loyalty management engine may be operable to provide a loyalty reward based at least in part on the communication with the interaction terminal interface. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222340 | Systems for Implementing a Loyalty Program - A system for implementing a loyalty program includes a personal terminal, an interaction terminal, and a loyalty module. The personal terminal may be associated with a user. The interaction terminal may be associated with a product or service. The interaction terminal and the personal terminal may be operable to establish a communication when in proximity of each other. The loyalty module may be operable to provide a benefit to the user in response to the communication. The benefit may be provided without regard to whether the user obtained or purchased the product or service. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222341 | INTERACTIVE TEXT MESSAGE ADVERTISEMENTS - Systems and methods for interactive text message advertising. A response parsing engine can receive a text message response from a device and can identify an indicator associated with the text message response. A text message page server can identify a selected text message page based upon the indicator associated with the response and can provide the selected text message page to the device. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222342 | IDENTIFYING INDETERMINACY FOR ACTIVITY-BASED ADVERTISING - One embodiment of the present invention provides an activity-based advertisement system that identifies customer indeterminacy. During operation, the system receives a number of trajectories of a customer, and identifies an indeterminacy point based on the trajectory patterns. The system then determines one or more receptive opportunities for presenting advertisements based on the indeterminacy point. The system further presents one or more advertisements to the customer during a period corresponding to the receptive opportunity. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222343 | INCENTIVE MECHANISM FOR DEVELOPING ACTIVITY-BASED TRIGGERS OF ADVERTISEMENT PRESENTATION - One embodiment of the present invention provides an activity-based advertisement system. During operation, the system identifies at an advertising service provider a set of features that characterize a customer's activity. The system then receives at least one trigger from the trigger author, wherein the trigger is based on the features and specifies conditions for an advertising opportunity. The system then identifies an advertising opportunity for a customer when the conditions specified by the trigger are met. The system further presents one or more advertisements to the customer during the opportunity period. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222344 | RECEPTIVE OPPORTUNITY PRESENTATION OF ACTIVITY-BASED ADVERTISING - One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates presentation of activity-based advertising based on receptive opportunities. During operation, the system identifies a number of topics. The system then receives a number of advertisements from advertisers, wherein a respective advertisement is associated with a topic. For a respective topic, the system determines a number of candidate advertisements associated with that topic to be pending presentations. The system further analyzes an activity in which a customer is engaged. Next, the system identifies a receptive opportunity to present one or more advertisements to the customer based on the activity analysis. The system then determines among the pending presentations one or more advertisements to present to the customer during the identified receptive opportunity. Subsequently, the system presents the determined advertisements to the customer during the opportunity period. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222345 | MANAGING AUCTION SIZE FOR ACTIVITY-BASED ADVERTISING - One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that manages auction size in an activity-based advertising system. During operation, the system identifies a topic and determines a set of auction criteria. The system then hosts an auction for advertisements pertaining to the topic. The system determines the quality of auction size and manages the auction size by modifying the auction criteria. The system then presents the advertisements based on the winning bids. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222346 | ADVERTISING PAYMENT BASED ON CONFIRMED ACTIVITY PREDICTION - One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for facilitating presentation of activity-based advertising. During operation, the system receives a set of contextual data of a customer and makes a prediction of the customer's future activity. The system then receives a number of advertisements from the advertisers. Based on the prediction, the system chooses a received advertisement to present to the customer. The system further determines the customer's subsequent activity and confirms the prediction of the customer's activity. The system then receives payments from the advertisers whose advertisement is presented based on whether the prediction is confirmed. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222347 | Method and system for providing targeted content with verification information - The present disclosure is a method and system for providing targeted content with verification information. A method for providing targeted content with verification information may include receiving data associated with verification information, the receiving of data associated with verification information including time information and location information. The method may include retrieving content related to verification information, the content being based upon time information and location information; and generating verification information, the verification information including content related to the verification information and based upon the time information and location information. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222348 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING ONLINE PROMOTIONS THROUGH A SOCIAL NETWORK-BASED PLATFORM - Systems and methods for providing online promotions integrated with social network-based platforms are disclosed. Promotion details such as rules, offered prizes, incentives and descriptions, survey questions, display banners, terms and conditions, privacy policy, and social networks to integrate the promotion with, are provided by the sponsoring organization to a server. The server generates a custom promotion application and/or widget for integrating with the organization's social network webpage and/or webpages external to social networks. A participant enters the promotion through these webpages or other links and lists friends in the social network to receive an invitation to enter the promotion. Viral features such as friend invite features, newsfeeds, minifeeds, other features that display online activities of users and people in the users' social network, notifications, requests, and other social network-based platform features to deliver messages to members of the one or more social network-based platforms further spread the word about the organization's promotion. | 2009-09-03 |
20090222349 | Portable electronic authorization system and method - A portable electronic device may be configured to present information identifying a coupon or rebate offer concerning a product or service in a machine-readable format at a point of sale. The portable electronic device may additionally or alternatively be configured to electronically receive information identifying a coupon or rebate offer concerning a product or service while disposed at a first location, and to store the information in memory so that the information can be selectively retrieved from the memory and presented in a manner that enables the information to be communicated to a provider of the product or service in connection with a purchase of the product or service consummated when the portable electronic device is disposed at a second location. The portable electronic device may be further configured to, in response to the occurrence of at least one event, automatically disable a capability of the portable electronic device to present the information. | 2009-09-03 |