37th week of 2014 patent applcation highlights part 74 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20140257874 | System and Method for Determining and Monitoring Auto Insurance Incentives - A computer system or computer-implemented method may provide incentives to an insured customer for receiving sensor data indicating risk-reducing and risk-increasing behavior during the policy term. In-vehicle sensors or other devices may gather information about the vehicle and its use during the policy term and send the information to a back-end system for analysis. Based on this analysis, the back-end system may determine that the received information is indicative of risk-reducing or increasing behavior. Upon confirmation that the information indicates risk-reducing or increasing behavior, the back-end system may perform one or more actions defined by a set of rules to establish an incentive or disincentive for the customer corresponding to the behavior. For example, the system may modify the customer's insurance policy data, send an e-mail, letter, gift card, coupon, points, or other incentive or disincentive for the customer based on the analysis. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257875 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A GUARANTEE WITHIN A DEFERRED ANNUITY FOR INSURING A SECURITY - A system for providing a guarantee within a deferred annuity for insuring a security against a change in value of the security is disclosed which comprises a computer system configured to have entered information related to a security to be insured by the guarantee within the deferred annuity, the computer system configured to prepare the guarantee within the deferred annuity based upon the entered information related to the security to be insured, the deferred annuity having an account value, and the security to be insured being held in an account separate from the account value of the deferred annuity. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257876 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INSURANCE DATA PROCESSING USING REGISTRATION AND OPERATIONAL DATA OF IP-ADDRESSABLE DEVICES - A system and method are disclosed herein for maintaining an inventory of assets located at an insured property covered under an insurance policy based on data received from IP-addressable devices located at the property. The system includes an inventory database for storing inventory information about assets located at an insured property, a communication interface for receiving registration and operational data associated with an IP-addressable device, and a business logic computer. The business logic computer creates a data structure for storing inventory information about assets located at the insured property in the inventory database for each insured property. The business logic computer determines, for the insured property, the inventory information about the insured property's assets based on registration and operational data received from its IP-addressable devices located at the property. The business logic computer stores the insured property's inventory information in its associated data structure in the inventory database. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257877 | LOCATION SENSITIVE PROCESSING OF RESTAURANT ORDERS - A restaurant portal server receives an order for a menu item on a menu of a restaurant from a computing device via a wide area network. The order is associated with a customer account identity. A geographic location of the computing device or a mobile communication device associated with the customer account identity is determined. A message is sent from the restaurant portal server to an order management system of the restaurant to add the order to an active queue of the order management system to be fulfilled by service personnel of the restaurant. Upon detecting that the geographic location of the customer, the computing device, or the mobile communication device is within a threshold proximity to a target geographic location of the restaurant, a message is provided to instruct service personnel to fulfill the order. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257878 | ROUTING PREFERRED TRAFFIC WITHIN A RESERVATION SYSTEM - A method for managing inbound user traffic to a reservation system. The method includes receiving messages from one or more users and determining, by one or more computer processors, at least one of the one or more users is not a preferred user, based on the messages received. The method further includes sending the messages from the at least one user to a limiting component, wherein the limiting component slows the messages from the at least one of the one or more users to the reservation system. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257879 | Automatic Preference-Based Waitlist and Clearance for Accommodations - Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, are described for a reservation system. In one aspect, the reservation system can receive a request to select a preferred accommodation for a customer from a user of the reservation system, identify available first accommodations from a plurality of accommodations, and determine that the preferred accommodation for the customer is not available for selection by the user from the available first accommodations. In response, the system can place the request for the preferred accommodation on a waitlist. In response to receiving an indication of an occurrence of an event, the system can automatically identify one or more available second accommodations from the plurality of accommodations, determine that the preferred accommodation for the customer is available for selection from the one or more available second accommodations, and assign the available preferred accommodation to the customer. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257880 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR LOYALTY REWARD REDEMPTION FOR EVENT TICKETS - A system and method are provided for loyalty reward redemption for event tickets. The computer implemented method includes displaying on a website accessible via the buyer computing device a listing of available event ticket information comprising a plurality of event tickets and associated pricing information, the event ticket information provided by an event server in communication with the loyalty program server to the website; receiving a request on the website to select purchase of a particular live event ticket from the listing in exchange for a pre-defined number of user collected rewards points; processing the request for purchase at the event server to generate a notification message containing details of the request for purchase from the event server to the seller's computing device to request confirmation of availability of the selected ticket; receiving a response at the event server from the seller computing device that the selected ticket is available and providing a confirmation message to the buyer computing device of a completed sale; and settling payment at the event server. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257881 | DEMAND FORECASTING SYSTEMS AND METHODS UTILIZING FARE ADJUSTMENT - A computer based system for fare adjustment is disclosed. For a particular airline fare class, the system evaluates the financial impact of opening or closing the class, for example taking into account both stimulation effects and dilution effects. Via use of an exemplary fare adjustment system, decision-makers may increase revenues (and/or decrease losses) associated with airline fare class openings and closings. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257882 | DEMAND FORECASTING SYSTEMS AND METHODS UTILIZING PRIME CLASS REMAPPING - A computer based system for remapping prime class seat bookings is disclosed. The system remaps prime class bookings a floor class, or if the floor class is closed, into a higher, displacement class. Via remapping, airline systems, such as inventory management systems, revenue management systems, and the like, may better account for the true value of prime class bookings. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257883 | ENTERPRISE RESOURCE SEARCH AND RESERVATION SYSTEM - Exemplary embodiments are directed to reserving physical resources in an enterprise via an electronic reservation environment. An electronic search request for an availability of one or more resources in an enterprise is received from a user through a web page and/or a mobile application and is submitted to a reservation engine. The search request includes one or more resource search parameters received via a graphical user interface associated with the electronic reservation environment. A result identifying resources that satisfy the resource search parameters in the request is received in response to the search request and an electronic metadata request is automatically submitted in response to receipt of the result. The electronic metadata request including resource identifiers corresponding to the resources identified in the result. Metadata corresponding to the resources identified in the result is received and an identity of the resources returned in the result, an availability of the resources, and the metadata associated with the resources is displayed to the user. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257884 | RESERVATION MANAGEMENT FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING - The disclosure is related to managing a charging reservation of an electric vehicle. Particularly, the disclosure relates to managing an electric vehicle charging reservation based on at least one of a requested charging amount and a remaining battery power amount. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257885 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING LOCATION-BASED UPCOMING EVENT INFORMATION USING A CLIENT-SIDE WEB APPLICATION IMPLEMENTED ON A CLIENT DEVICE - System and methods for providing location-based upcoming event information using a client-side web application implemented on a client device are described. The location-based upcoming event information may be provided to users of an online secondary ticket marketplace using a client-side web application implemented as desktop or mobile widget or within a web browser toolbar. The client-side web application may be configured to communicate with a network-based system that provides online marketplace and ticket fulfillment services and generate a query based upon the location of a user and other event criteria. The client-side web application may communicate the query to the network-based system and, in response, receive location-based upcoming event information which may be displayed to a user as a list and/or information on a map. The client-side web application may display an aggregate of ticket inventory available from multiple online marketplaces providing the user with multiple purchasing options. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257886 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR VALIDATING AN ORDER PURCHASED WITH A UNSPECIFIED TERM - The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for validating an order purchased with an unspecified term. The order may comprise an order for an access ticket or admission ticket or access token, an order for goods or services, or any combination of access, goods, and services. Validation may comprise determining the ticket or token is valid and/or allowing access based on a determined data value for an access term unspecified at the time of purchase; or determining that the order is valid and fulfilling the order based on an identified data value for a term unspecified at the time of purchase. A data value may be set for the unspecified term and a hierarchical tree searched for a leaf corresponding to the set value for the unspecified term and one or more terms specified at time of purchase, the existence of the leaf indicating the order is valid. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257887 | Minimize Downtime with Immediate Upgrade of Data in Databases - Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for updating data stored within the database. In some implementations, actions include determining a cut-off date, defining a first group of data within a first table based on the cut-off date, defining a second group of data within the first table based on the cut-off date, providing the second group of data in a second table, converting the first group of data from a first data structure to a second data structure to provide converted first data within the first table, making the converted first data available for access over a network, converting the second group of data from the first data structure to the second data structure to provide converted second data in the second table, and making the converted second data available for access over the network. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257888 | REAL-TIME INVENTORY TRACKING VIA MOBILE DEVICE - A computer-implemented method is disclosed for real-time inventory tracking with a mobile device, including: receiving a communication for a stationary inventory item via a cellular or wireless network from a tracking server that is coupled with the cellular or wireless network; and tracking the stationary inventory item on a registered consumer mobile device in real-time via the cellular or wireless network, wherein tracking comprises: receiving an updated status regarding a quantity and a location related to the stationary inventory item; and displaying the updated status on a screen of the mobile device in real time. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257889 | CONTROLLING QUEUING IN A DEFINED LOCATION - A facility includes a location node having a transceiver of wireless signals. It communicates with a central hub and mobile devices in the facility. The nodes are located in a specific location in the facility, and provide data about the movement of the entities in the facility relative to the location. Includes at least one of entry into the location, departure from the location, amount of time spent in the vicinity of the location; and the data being transmitted to the operator in at least one of real time or being for storage and analysis at a later time for use by the operator. There can be a series of location nodes in the facility. The nodes provide data about the movement of the entities in the facility, such data including the travel path of the entities in the facility. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257890 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR IMPROVING ENGAGEMENT WITH A RECOMMENDATION ENGINE THAT RECOMMENDS ITEMS, PEERS, AND SERVICES - Computerized methods and systems for improving engagement with a recommendation engine that recommends items, peers, and services are provided. Stored data of a plurality of users is electronically accessed and analyzed. A respective passive profile is determined for each of the users based on the analyzing of the stored data. The respective passive profiles are then stored for use by the recommendation engine. The recommendation engine can then provide recommendations for at least one of items, peers, and services to a respective user based on at least the respective passive profile. The recommendations may be further based on at least one of an explicit profile comprising information provided by the respective user and an activity profile based on tracked activity of the respective user with regard to prior recommended items. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257891 | REQUEST ROUTING UTILIZING COST INFORMATION - A system, method and computer-readable medium for request routing based on cost information are provided. A client request processing a resource identifier for requested content transmits a first DNS query to a content delivery network service provider. The content delivery network service provider transmits an alternative resource identifier in response to the client computing device DNS query. The alternative resource identifier is selected as a function of cost information. The client computing device then issues a second DNS query to the same content delivery network service provider. The content delivery network service provider can then either resolve the second DNS query with an IP address of a cache component or transmit another alternative resource identifier that will resolve to the content delivery network service provider. The process can repeat with the content delivery network service provider's network until a DNS nameserver resolves a DNS query from the client computing device. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257892 | SOCIAL PROJECT COLLABORATION THROUGH SELF-ORGANIZING TEAMS - A graph of tasks and people operated on are incrementally created as nodes in a social network. Task nodes may be created in the social network to represent one or more tasks. A people node in the social network may follow other people nodes and also follow the one or more task nodes, and have one or more tasks associated with the task nodes assigned to one or more people nodes. Projects are run in a self-organizing way by operating on a graph of tasks and people that evolves over the course of the project representing the current state and upon completion representing the entire project state and history including all work results, tasks and people who contributed. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257893 | Method and System for Certification - A computer-implemented method and system for receiving an identifier of a transferred item from an asset database of an owner of the item, updating an inventory tracking database of a certification management system to include the transferred item, receiving a representation of compliance that the transferred item is held by a custodian from a custodian inventory management system, generating a certificate for the item indicating that the item is held by the custodian, in response to receiving the representation of compliance, and distributing the certificate to the owner and the custodian of the transferred item. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257894 | SOCIAL PROJECT COLLABORATION THROUGH SELF-ORGANIZING TEAMS - A graph of tasks and people operated on are incrementally created as nodes in a social network. Task nodes may be created in the social network to represent one or more tasks. A people node in the social network may follow other people nodes and also follow the one or more task nodes, and have one or more tasks associated with the task nodes assigned to one or more people nodes. Projects are run in a self-organizing way by operating on a graph of tasks and people that evolves over the course of the project representing the current state and upon completion representing the entire project state and history including all work results, tasks and people who contributed. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257895 | CONSTRAINED SERVICE RESTORATION - A method of determining service routes for a plurality of crews is provided. Outage data identifying service outage source locations, a number of affected customers associated with each location, and a type of repair to perform at each location is received. Crew data identifying a start location and a crew skill indicator for each crew is received. A service route is determined for each crew using a mixed integer linear program minimizing a total customer time without the service subject to the crew skill indicator satisfying the type of repair to perform at each location. The service route for a crew includes the start location as a first location and at least one location of the plurality of locations. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257896 | MAPPING - A mapping method and system. The method includes receiving from a computing system, a selection of a first candidate skill from a list of candidate skills. The computing system receives a selection of a first work location of associated with a first skill. The computing system determines a first geographical location identifier identifying a first area comprising the first work location. The computing system determines a first work region comprising the first area and the first work location. The computing system selects a first group of suppliers associated the first work region. The computing system generates a candidate request document comprising the first candidate skill, the first work region, and the first work location. The computing system transmits to the first group of suppliers the candidate request document. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257897 | RESPONDER PERSONNEL ON-CALL AVAILABILITY SYSTEM - A system for monitoring an availability status of responder personnel comprises a server and a plurality of electronic devices. The server is configured to maintain a list of responder personnel names and an availability status associated with each name. The server executes a server application which displays a first web page including a first on-screen availability object for establishing the availability status of a responder, such that activating the first on-screen availability object establishes the availability status of the responder as of the moment the first on-screen availability object is activated. The electronic devices are configured to communicate with the server. Each device executes a mobile application which includes a second on-screen availability object for establishing the availability status of the responder, such that activating the second on-screen availability object establishes the availability status of the responder as of the moment the second on-screen availability object is activated. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257898 | PROVIDING SPECIAL RESOURCE AVAILABILITY INFORMATION - Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for providing special resource availability information to a customer. Embodiments determine that the customer is traveling to or is currently located in proximity to a financial institution physical location; determine special resource availability information associated with the financial institution physical location; and provide the determined special resource availability information to the customer. In some embodiments, the special resource availability information comprises information corresponding to an availability of at least one financial specialist based at the financial institution physical location. Some such embodiments, if the customer is travelling to the location, determine whether the at least one financial specialist will be present when the customer arrives at the location; and, if the customer is currently located in proximity to the location, determine whether the at least one financial specialist is present at the financial institution physical location. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257899 | TASK DELEGATION SYSTEM THAT TRANSPARENTLY AND CONSTRUCTIVELY REWARDS TIMELY AND ACCURATE COMPLETION OF TASKS TO INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY AND MORALE OF WORKERS - A system is disclosed to increase productivity and morale by delegating clearly defined tasks and rewarding timely completion of tasks positively with points/scores/advancements, which is constructive and transparent. In some embodiments, the system creates a rewarding, friendly competitive, and fun environment and culture to encourage timely completion of tasks with constructive, transparent feedback. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257900 | RESERVE FORECASTING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A crew planning system includes a demand forecasting module and an optimization module. The system forecasts anticipated reserve demand levels, and determines suitable reserve staffing approaches to meet anticipated reserve demand. The forecasting is based upon probabilistic distribution models which take into account variability associated with reserve demand for a particular day. Via use of the crew planning system, reserve staffing expenses may be reduced and/or reserve demand may be met with a higher degree of probability. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257901 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTEGRATED SERVICES, PROJECTS, ASSETS AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT USING MODULAR ANALYTIC TOOL AND RELATIVE VARIANCE TECHNOLOGY - This invention is designed to implement a practical approach to project governance with the key objective of managing technical resources to deliver cost-effective services and maximize efficiency, time and cost for an organization. The integrated resource management software provides configurable services, workflows and dashboards to manage a specific project. The system and method overcomes the technological challenge by making it easy to use and providing a novel nodal architecture approach to create modular intelligent analytical tools. A novel formula is used to calculate the outcome for relative variance technology used for the services, projects, assets and resource management for a specific project. Modular intelligent agents are customizable for individual users to monitor, manage, triage, assess progress and take decisions at every step of the project. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257902 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INCORPORATING CALENDAR FUNCTIONALITY INTO ELECTRONIC MESSAGES - A system is provided which determines that an electronic message contains natural language that relates to calendar functionality. Calendar functionality may broadly be considered any function relating to a typical Calendar application or any function typically applied to a calendar entry in an electronic calendar system or calendar application. The system may determine an association between said natural language and structured data, and modify a representation of said natural language to reflect the association between said natural language and structured data. The structured data may be structured data from a user's electronic calendar system. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257903 | SCHEDULING SYSTEM - Systems, methods, and devices for managing appointments. A sensor module receives sensor data input. The sensor data is then analyzed by an analysis module which determines if actions are required. In the event actions are required, a scheduling module checks a user's calendar to determine if a suitable opening is available. In the event a suitable opening is available, the opening is confirmed with the user. If the user confirms the opening, an appointment is entered in the user's calendar. If the action required needs external assistance, such as a mechanic, the scheduling module also checks the relevant calendar for the external assistance. Suitable openings are then found in both the user's calendar and the relevant external assistance calendar. If these openings match, the user is then contacted to confirm if the opening is acceptable. If the opening is acceptable, the appointment is then entered in both calendars. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257904 | APPOINTMENT CART - An apparatus having at least one processor is provided that provides instructions that produce a graphical user interface through a display of a client device. Such a graphical user interface may be produced by web pages viewable via a browser of the client device. Also, such a graphical user interface may correspond to the output of a software application executing on a mobile phone, tablet, or other client device. The graphical user interface includes an appointment cart to which the client device may be used to add one or more products, and subsequently schedule an appointment at a user provided date and at least one time to view in person the physical products listed in the appointment cart without providing a payment for the products. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257905 | SERVICE SCHEDULING SYSTEM - A service scheduling system ( | 2014-09-11 |
20140257906 | Workflow Management Method and System - Novel tools and techniques are described for managing workflow for projects, including, without limitation, cadastral survey projects. In one aspect, a method might comprise providing a workflow management schedule to a user over a network from a remote computer system. The remote computer system might compare one or more workflow items—including one or more of a task, a meeting, a project, a deadline, a time, a date, one or locations, or required data—on the workflow management schedule with workflow items on reference schedules, and identifying one or more necessary workflow items not included on the workflow management schedule, based on the comparison. The remote computer system might add the one or more necessary workflow items to the workflow management schedule. The remote computer system might additionally define, and send to the user, a scope of work associated with each necessary workflow item, based on reference scopes of work. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257907 | GENERATING A CAPACITY SCHEDULE FOR A FACILITY - In a method for generating a capacity schedule for a facility to meet a predefined operational goal, in which the facility is to receive resources from a first resource supply, a prediction of a supply of resources available from the first resource supply for a predetermined period of time is accessed. In addition, a prediction of a demand for resources in the facility during the predetermined period of time is accessed. The prediction of the supply of resources and the prediction of the demand for resources are inputted into a constrained optimization problem and the capacity schedule for the facility is generated by finding a solution to the constrained optimization problem. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257908 | VIEWER PATTERN ANALYSIS - A microprocessor executable analytic module is provided that determines, for each of a plurality of selected contact center objects, a visually perceptible parameter based on contact center information and/or a performance parameter and provides a display incorporating the determined visually perceptible parameters, wherein the display comprises an array of pixels and/or cells, each pixel and/or cell corresponding to a respective contact center object and a plurality of the pixels and/or cells having different visually perceptible parameters. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257909 | ESTIMATING PROJECT COST - A method, computer program product, and system is described. One or more project identifiers associated with a project are identified. A secondary data source associated with the project is identified, the identifying based upon, at least in part, identifying an association of the one or more of the project identifiers with the secondary data source. A use of a non-dedicated resource on the project is identified based upon, at least in part, analyzing information from the secondary data source. A cost estimate associated with the project is determined based upon, at least in part, the identified use of the non-dedicated resource on the project. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257910 | ESTIMATING PROJECT COST - A method, computer program product, and system is described. One or more project identifiers associated with a project are identified. A secondary data source associated with the project is identified, the identifying based upon, at least in part, identifying an association of the one or more of the project identifiers with the secondary data source. A use of a non-dedicated resource on the project is identified based upon, at least in part, analyzing information from the secondary data source. A cost estimate associated with the project is determined based upon, at least in part, the identified use of the non-dedicated resource on the project. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257911 | METHODS AND APPARATUS TO SCHEDULE REFUELING OF A WORK MACHINE - Methods and apparatus are disclosed for scheduling refueling of a work machine. An example method disclosed herein includes determining a plurality of potential costs of refueling a work machine at a plurality of locations based at least in part on a location of the work machine, a location of a refueling machine, an energy reserve of the work machine, and an energy consumption rate of the work machine to perform one or more tasks of a mission, the energy consumption rate being based at least in part on one or more task parameters, and selecting a refueling location from the plurality of locations based on the plurality of potential costs. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257912 | PRODUCT INVENTORY ALLOCATION - Sales transaction data of products sold at a store of a retailer is employed to identify opportunities to reallocate product inventory among the products based on characteristics of sales of the products. The sales transaction data is employed to determine characteristics of product sales, including, e.g., sales volume and sell-through. The number of units of products inventoried in a store can be reallocated based on sales volume and sell-through of the products indicated by the sales transaction data. After reallocation to determine new inventory levels for the products, an estimate of sales performance for the products can be determined at the new inventory levels and the estimated sales can be compared to past actual sales measurements to determine the potential effect of changing the number of units of products allocated to inventory in a store in a retail chain of a retailer. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257913 | STORM RESPONSE OPTIMIZATION - A method of predicting equipment failures is provided. Potentially-effected equipment located in a path projection for a weather event is identified based on a current characteristic data describing equipment supporting a service. A likelihood of failure for each equipment of the identified potentially-effected equipment is calculated by executing a failure prediction model with the current characteristic data and weather event data describing characteristics of the weather event. Equipment failures of the identified potentially-effected equipment are predicted by comparing the calculated likelihood of failure for each equipment of the identified potentially-effected equipment to a predefined threshold. Information identifying the predicted equipment failures is output. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257914 | PROVIDING INTERACTION EFFICIENCY INFORMATION TO A CUSTOMER - Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for providing interaction efficiency information to a customer. Embodiments determine that the customer is traveling to or is currently located in proximity to a financial institution physical location; determine interaction efficiency information associated with the financial institution physical location; and provide the determined interaction efficiency information to the customer. The interaction efficiency information may include information related to one or more wait times at the financial institution physical location, where the one or more wait times include a wait time for a drive through station outside the financial institution physical location and a wait time for a teller inside the financial institution physical location. In some embodiments, the interaction efficiency information includes one or more visual representations of one or more wait lines associated with one or more stations of the financial institution physical location. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257915 | AUTOMATING A GOVERNANCE PROCESS OF OPTIMIZING A PORTFOLIO OF SERVICES IN A GOVERNED SOA - Modeling a governance process of optimizing a portfolio of services in a governed SOA and generating, in dependence upon the modeled governance process, one or more automation modules, each automation module including a module of computer program instructions that supports performance of one or more steps of the modeled governance process, where the modeled governance process includes determining whether a collection of service artifacts matches one or more service artifacts stored in a service registry; if no service artifacts stored in the service registry match the collection of service artifacts, initiating creation of a service in accordance with the collection of service artifacts; if one or more service artifacts stored in the service registry match the collection of service artifacts: selecting, in dependence upon predefined action selection criteria, a service administration action to perform; obtaining approval of the selected service administration action; and initiating the selected service administration action. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257916 | EMBROIDERY DESIGN PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT APPARATUS AND METHOD - Provided is an embroidery design production management apparatus that enables a producer to predict a delivery schedule for an order quantity for checking whether it is possible to obtain the production order of an order placer and produce and manage the ordered embroidery designs according to the order schedule of the order placer, in producing embroidery designs. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257917 | Risk Management System for Calculating Residual Risk of a Process - According to one embodiment, a system includes a processor and an interface. The processor determines an entity, a plurality of process groupings associated with the entity, a plurality of processes associated with the entity, a plurality of risks associated with the entity, and a plurality of controls associated with the entity. For each of the controls, the processor calculates one or more weighted control scores for the control. For each of the risks, the processor calculates an inherent risk score for the risk and a residual risk score for the risk. For each of the processes, the processor calculates a residual risk score for the process. The interface communicates for display, for each of the process groupings, an image representing the process grouping. The interface further communicates for display, for each of the processes, an image representing the process and an indication of the residual risk score for the process. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257918 | Risk Management System for Calculating Residual Risk of an Entity - According to one embodiment, a system includes a processor and an interface. The processor determines a plurality of processes associated with an entity, a plurality of risks associated with the entity, and a plurality of controls associated with the entity. For each of the controls, the processor calculates one or more weighted control scores for the control. For each of the risks, the processor calculates an inherent risk score and a residual risk score. For each of the processes, the processor calculates a residual risk score for the process and determines a process weight associated with the process. The processor further calculates a residual risk score for the entity based on each of the residual risk scores of the processes and each of the process weights associated with the processes. The interface communicates for display an indication of the residual risk score for the entity. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257919 | REWARD POPULATION GROUPING - An apparatus and method convert user behavior data into rewards. The method and apparatus determine an undiluted reward for a user of a population of users. The method and apparatus divide the population of users into groups. The apparatus and method determine a dilution factor for each of the groups and assign and/or transmit a reward to the user based upon the undiluted reward and the dilution factor for the group to which that user belongs. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257920 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OFFER TARGETING BASED ON OFFER REDEMPTION - A method for distributing an offer to a consumer based on redemption history includes: storing consumer profiles, each including a consumer identifier and offer redemption data; receiving redeemed offers associated with a consumer identification, the offers associated with offer categories; identifying a specific profile, wherein the consumer identifier of the profile corresponds to the consumer identification; storing, in the offer redemption data of the specific profile, the redeemed offers; generating a behavioral profile for the specific profile based on the corresponding offer redemption data, wherein the behavioral profile includes a propensity to redeem an offer for each offer category; and transmitting an offer to a consumer associated with the specific profile, based on an offer category associated with the offer and the propensity to redeem an offer for that offer category associated with the consumer. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257921 | SOCIAL INFLUENCERS METHOD AND SYSTEM - Disclosed is an approach for implementing a system, method, and computer program product for providing a more complete approach to analyzing the commercial importance of individuals on interactive websites. Person of high commercial importance can be identified even where those individuals are not themselves directly spending high monetary amounts on personal purchases. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257922 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING SOCIAL DISCOVERY RELATIONSHIPS - The disclosed embodiments include methods and systems for providing social discovery service operations. In one embodiment, a system for providing a social discovery service is disclosed. The system may be configured to receive transaction data relating to one or more purchase transactions involving one or more merchants and one or more consumers. The system may also be configured to receive product data identifying one or more products included in the one or more purchase transactions. The system may also receive location data associated with the one or more purchase transactions. Based on the transaction data, location data, and the product data, the system may be configured to generate one or more social discovery graphs. Further, the system may be configured to perform one or more social discovery operations based on the one or more social discovery graphs. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257923 | VIDEO AWARE PAGES - A method is provided that includes retrieving user interface (UI) analytics data describing interactions with a UI provided by an online service, and retrieving media player state information describing interactions with video data included in the UI. The method further includes generating, based on the UI analytics data and the media player state information, UI data describing how the video data affects usage of the online service and how one or more elements within the UI affect user access to the video data, and presenting a comparison between a first subset of the UI data where the video data is not viewed and a second subset of the UI data where the video data is viewed to facilitate evaluation of how viewing the video data on the UI affects navigation to and from the UI. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257924 | AUTOMATED RENTAL AMOUNT MODELING AND PREDICTION - Disclosed systems and methods can determine predicted rental income, estimated error of the prediction, and a set of comparable rental real estate properties for use in the valuation of a subject real estate property rental value. In one embodiment, the rent prediction system receives rental information about real-estate properties, determines feature characteristics, trains a rent amount prediction model using the feature characteristics, determines a second set of feature characteristics based on the output of the rent amount prediction model, and trains an error prediction model using the determined second set of feature characteristics. Using the trained models, the systems and method may predict a rental value and prediction error for one or more subject properties. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257925 | DEMAND FORECASTING SYSTEMS AND METHODS UTILIZING UNOBSCURING AND UNCONSTRAINING - A computer based system for unobscuring and/or unconstraining demand is disclosed. Via use of the system, actual airline seat bookings may be restated in an unobscured and/or unconstrained form, facilitating improved demand forecasts for subsequent seat bookings. In this manner, seat protects may be better allocated to align with actual demand, thus increasing revenue. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257926 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MOBILE POINT-OF-SALE PROCESS MANAGEMENT | 2014-09-11 |
20140257927 | COMPUTER SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING DATA ON RETURNED GOODS - One aspect provides a computer system for processing data on returned products, by receiving returns data on purchased products returned for a refund; and determining predicted return data for a product sold in the future based on the returns data for the product purchased in the past. Another aspect provides a computer system for receiving customer selection data for a product that the customer proposes to one of purchase and refund, the customer selection data including data identifying the customer and the product; accessing returns data using at least one of the data identifying the customer and the data identifying the product, the returns data indicating at least one of a customer's propensity to return products and a propensity of the product to be returned; and generating a customer interface dependent upon on the returns data for one of the proposed purchase and the proposed refund. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257928 | ALLOCATING REGIONAL INVENTORY TO REDUCE OUT-OF-STOCK COSTS - Methods and systems for allocating regional inventory to reduce out-of-stock costs are described. A method may include identifying a total number of units of an item to be stored in a plurality of regions and determining an order forecast for the item in each of the plurality of regions. The method may also include receiving a unit out-of-stock cost of the item in each of the plurality of regions and calculating an expected cost for each of the plurality of regions based, at least in part, on the total number of units of the item, each region's respective order forecast, and each region's respective unit out-of-stock cost. The method may further include allocating a portion of the total number of units of the item to each of the plurality of regions to reduce a sum of the expected costs. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257929 | VISUAL QUESTION SELECTION - A system for an online survey comprising a server, said server coupled to at least one user device by a network; said server operative to select a first query for a user, and one or more options to respond to the first query; transmit a first set of signals to the at least one user device, wherein said first set of signals comprise the first query and one or more options to respond to the first query; receive, from the user device, a first response based on the one or more options to respond; select a second response and one or more options to respond to the second query based on said first response; and transmit a second set of signals to the at least one user device, wherein said second set of signals comprise the selected second response and one or more options to respond to the second query. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257930 | EVALUATING TASTE PROXIMITY FROM A CLOSED LIST OF CHOICES - A system and method for estimating preferences or taste of users comprises a catalog having a closed number of items; a memory for storing distances between ratings of each pair of items; and a user interface to rate a subset of the items. The distances from the subset items to other items of the catalog give the user a preference for each item in the catalog despite never having rated these items. The catalog is ordered using the assigned preferences into a user preference vector, and is compared with vectors of other users to match up different users having similar preferences. Alternatively a distance measure can be defined between preferences of different users, with matching made between the users having the smallest difference. Initial distances may come from rating by a focus group or from application download data or other suitable sources. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257931 | USER INTERFACE FOR A MARKET POLLING AND RESEARCH SYSTEM - The invention may be embodied in a user interface for a dynamic market polling and research system that receives poll definitions and displays real-time progress information and poll results in concise at-a-glance formats. The user interface makes the system intuitively easy non-trained personnel to use, both as poll designers and as poll respondents. The at-a-glance user interface screens for poll participants allows the respondents to easily enroll as pay-per-response participants and to easily answer multiple-choice poll questions on mobile phones and other common user communication devices. The at-a-glance user interface screens for poll designers allow the designers to easily define polls, monitor results in real-time, and view the results on geographic and demographic bases. Taken together, the highly intuitive, easy-to-use, and easy-to-understand poll designer and poll participant user interface screens enable broad enrollment and participation by a much wider audience that conventional polling and market research systems. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257932 | SEGMENT ASSIGNMENT OPTIMIZATION ENGINE - Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods, and computer program products for assigning a user to a user segment. In some embodiments, a system is configured to: receive transaction data associated with a user; analyze the transaction data; identify a user segment based on the analysis of the transaction data; and assign a user to the user segment. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257933 | MICRO SEGMENTS OPTIMIZATION ENGINE - Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods, and computer program products for identifying a user segment. In some embodiments, a system is configured to: receive first information from a first system; receive second information from a second system; verify first information with the second information; in response to positive verification of the first information with the second information, assign a first category to the first information. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257934 | PRICE SCORING FOR VEHICLES - Vehicle pricing such as used vehicle pricing is improved by supplementing statistical modeling techniques with additional algorithms to accommodate factors such as geography and dealer reputation that do not readily yield to regression analysis or similar tools that might be used to characterize a population. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257935 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MEDIA AND COMMERCE MANAGEMENT - A computer-based integrated advertising management platform implements ad pricing options via a Business Rules Management System configured to enable rules-based pricing while avoiding large, multi-dimensional sets of rate tables that must be stored to cover all possible combinations of options. A user makes selections on an ad booking form, pricing rules are checked in the background, and the remaining options and current price displayed to the user are updated. The Rules Engine incorporates an integrated third-party Drools BRMS. Client applications access BRMS functions through a “BRMSEngine” abstraction layer, which preloads rules in compiled binary form to build a rules cache for best performance. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257936 | PROJECT MANAGEMENT - A method of managing preset and bespoke projects efficiently within a collaborative environment that utilises intranets and or the internet to convey data and messages. In one expression of utility a method of commercialising of proposed intellectual property rights comprising five steps is disclosed. The steps are identifying and protecting intellectual property associated with the invention; developing a prototype product and or end user products based on the intellectual property rights being pursued; identifying and/or developing potential markets for the products; determining a preferred route to market for the products; and, depending on the preferred mute to market, either licensing the invention to 3rd parties and or establishing new companies to bring products to market directly. Also disclosed is a system for implementing the method. The system comprises data storage means including data structures, data processing means in communication with the data storage means, input means and output means. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257937 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMPLEMENTING COMPUTING DEVICE FEATURES BASED ON USER INTERACTION - Systems and methods for implementing computing device features based on user interaction are disclosed herein. According to an aspect, a method comprises using at least one processor and memory for determining a measure of interaction of a user at a computing device. The method also includes determining whether the measure meets a predetermined criterion. Further, the method includes implementing a feature set by the user in response to determining that the measure meets the predetermined criterion. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257938 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ANALYZING HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY DATA AND PROVIDING ANALYTICAL PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT TOOLS - Hospitality customer acquisition and retention costs are analyzed on a per-channel, channel-agnostic, and aggregated basis. Hotel performance is analyzed by examining net revenue by channel (accounting for each channel's contribution to operating expenses and profits), net revenue in aggregate (via net revPAR and revPAR capture metrics), and the relative benefit of sales and marketing expenses by quantifying net sales and marketing efficiency. Conceptually, this differentiation parses the relevant business into a revenue performance evaluation and a return on investment evaluation, in terms that are specific to the hospitality environment. Transaction data is analyzed from multiple hotels and each hotel's costs are mapped to a common data structure to allow for hotel-to-industry comparisons. Graphical user interfaces are provided for reporting data and comparisons, and for receiving input to initiate what-if analyses to determine projected impacts to performance metrics as a result of changes made to business mix components. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257939 | RATING SYSTEM THAT CHARACTERIZES ATTORNEYS BASED ON ATTRIBUTES - A hardware and/or software system for calculating attorney ratings. Data associated with an attorney is collected from a variety of sources. The collected data includes information that can be used to assess how well an attorney might handle legal issues. The data is used to determine values of one or more attributes associated with the attorney. One or more ratings may be calculated for the attorney based on the determined attributes. Each rating may be based on a weighted combination of two or more attributes. The ratings may be converted to a format that is more comprehensible to a consumer and presented to consumers of legal services in a variety of different forms. An unbiased assessment of attorneys in the form of a rating enables consumers of legal services to make more accurate and informed decisions when selecting an attorney. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257940 | Methods for Generating Organization Synergy Values - Methods for generating organization synergy values are described. In one embodiment, a project may be created in a project management application, and a rating trigger associated with the project may be created. A rating triggering event may be detected, and a rating request may be generated. A completed rating associated with a project element may be received from a project stakeholder, and an organization synergy value associated with the organization member and the project element may be generated based at least in part on the rating. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257941 | Techniques For Telephony-Based Voting - A telephone network voting system receives telephone ballots cast by voters by dialing a telephone number. The telephone number is dialed by voters spread over a large geographic area. The voting calls are routed to points of presence local to or otherwise identified with the caller by using the caller's ANI or other originating number identification. The points of presence then accumulate votes and periodically forward tallies to a centralized location over a data network. Instructions may be transmitted from the centralized location to the points of presence. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257942 | Tracking the Use of at Least One Destination Location - Tracking the use of at least one destination location is disclosed. Initially, three or more first images are received from a first camera having a first field of view. It is then determined that the first vehicle is stopped within the at least one destination location at a first time and that the first vehicle has left the at least one destination location at a second time that is after the first time. Next, a unique identifier of a vehicle is received from a third-party parking payment system. The unique identifier is associated with the first vehicle. Finally, the first time, the second time and the unique identifier of the first vehicle are indicated. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257943 | Tracking Speeding Violations and Controlling Use of Parking Spaces Using Cameras - Tracking speeding violations and the use of at least one destination location are disclosed. Initially, two or more first images are received from a first camera, two or more second images are received from a second camera having a different field of view, and two or more third images are received from a third camera having a field of view overlapping with the field of the view of the second camera. Next, a speed of the first vehicle at a first time is determined. It is determined that the first vehicle exceeded a first predetermined speed limit at the first time. A unique identifier of the first vehicle and the speed of the first vehicle at the first time are then indicated. Next, it is determined that the second vehicle is stopped in the at least one destination location at a second time and that the second vehicle has left the at least one destination location at a third time that is after the second time. Finally, a unique identifier of the second vehicle, the second time, and the third time are indicated. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257944 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REWARDING CONSUMERS - In order to reward a consumer for trying or learning about a product, the customer is given a unique identification number, preferably an unvalidated ATM readable card, and instructions for completing a test or survey by telephone or on the Internet. Upon successful completion of the test by the consumer, the identification number is validated so that the consumer may withdraw a cash reward from a temporary bank account funded when the identification number is validated via an ATM. Where the consumer is the patient of a physician, the patient may receive the number and card from the physician along with a prescription for redemption at a pharmacy whereat the pharmacy dispenses a supply of the drug to the patient and is paid by the manufacturer of the drug through the former's insurance payment processing system. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257945 | METHOD, APPARATUS, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM FOR TRANSFERRING OF PROMOTIONS - Provided herein are systems, methods and computer readable media for facilitating transfer of promotions. A promotion and marketing service may allow for assignment of one or more promotions to a first provider or consumer. A method for transferring promotions may include assigning a promotion to a first user account. The promotion may be redeemable by a first user account to obtain a good, service, or experience. The method may also include receiving a request to transfer the promotion to at least one second user account, receiving a promotion reassignment trigger, and in response to receiving the promotion reassignment trigger, assigning the promotion to the second user account using a processor, wherein assignment of the promotion to the second user account enables the second user account to redeem the promotion to obtain the good, service, or experience. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257946 | Digital Price, Space Management, and Advertising Display - A digital display system for displaying pricing data, product data, and advertising data on digital display strips connected to shelving in stores and adapted to interface with product placement software enabling the pricing data, product data and advertising data to be positioned & displayed on the digital display strips according to coordinates supplied by the product placement software. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257947 | Integrated Content Provider-Distributor Network - A method and system for providing a digital platform including interactive tools to a plurality of content providers to enable broadcasting via digital streaming by the content providers, side-loading and cross selling between content providers, connecting one or more content providers with each other and with selected content consumers are disclosed. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257948 | System, method, and computer program product for selecting and presenting financial products and services - An apparatus and method use client information to automatically select products appropriate for the client. According to one aspect of the invention, client information, information about the products, ancillary data, and decision criteria pertaining to selection from among the products are stored in a storage device Decision-making logic circuitry use the stored data to select the products. An output device prepares a client communication identifying the selected products and incorporates a portion of the client information and a portion of the product information into the client communication. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257949 | DISPLAYING ADVERTISING DURING TRANSIT - Planning the presentation of advertisements to travelers, includes using a computer and software to receive data pertaining to a departure time, a location of one or more travelers, a starting location of the traveler, and a vendor event, including a time and location for the event. The received information is used to calculate available time between the departure time and the time of the event, and to calculate, for a given mode of travel, a travel time from the starting location to the event location and then to the departure location. The calculated travel time plus a predetermined amount of time at the event location is compared with the calculated amount of time available, and if the calculated amount of time available is at least equal, present an advertisement corresponding to the vendor event to the traveler. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257950 | Method and System for Event-Driven Targeted Advertisement - The event-driven advertisement is targeted to a certain group of potential buyers who actually have needs for obtaining goods, material, products and or services. The buyers indicate these needs in terms of separate reminder items or entries in a reminder list which will be later reminded to the buyers in various manners. The sellers register their for-sale items such as goods, materials, products and services. Upon detecting any occurrence of the predetermined trigger conditions, if the reminder service identified one or more of the buyers and one or more of the reminder items, the identified buyers would be reminded of the identified reminder items with some seller information on the for-sale items that substantially match the identified reminder items. Depending upon the buyer control and preference, the reminder is optionally delivered with or without advertisement and or incentive to obtain goods, products and services from a particular registered seller. The incentives are generally negotiated by the intermediary agent in advance on behalf of the buyers and typically include discounts, coupons, rebates and other promotions. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257951 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR REMUNERATING CROWDWORKERS - According to embodiments illustrated herein there is provided methods and systems implementable on a computing device for remunerating one or more crowdworkers. The method comprising allotting at least one crowdworker from the one or more crowdworkers with a first lottery ticket from a set of lottery tickets on completion of a task allocated to the at least one crowdworker. One or more lottery tickets from the set of lottery tickets are selected by utilizing one or more techniques. Winnings are remunerated to each of a set of crowdworkers from the one or more crowdworkers associated with the one or more selected lottery tickets. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257952 | Methods and Systems for Administering Sweepstakes Contests - Methods and systems for providing sweepstakes entries are disclosed. One disclosed method includes receiving a first transaction information from a first computing device over a network, comparing the first transaction information to a sweepstakes criteria using a sweepstakes engine to determine whether the transaction is sweepstakes eligible, allocating an available sweepstakes entry if the transaction is sweepstakes eligible, storing sweepstakes allocation information on a database server; generating sweepstakes entry information, and transmitting the sweepstakes entry information to a second computing device. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257953 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO ANONYMOUSLY COMMUNICATE ENCRYPTED CONTENT BETWEEN MOBILE DEVICES IN PROXIMITY AND IN EXPANDED USER COMMUNITIES IN A CONTAGIOUS, VIRAL MANNER - An information dissemination method and apparatus facilitates transmission of information to primary receivers and re-transmission to secondary receivers using native mobile devices, without necessarily depending on friends lists or the internet. The chain of transmission “links” can be tracked and logged, and users in the chain can be rewarded for participating. The information, referred to as “germs,” can be generated, propagated and spread in a viral manner, wherein the germs are filtered and exchanged among users in close proximity, within a pre-registered user group, or through the internet. Embodiments can be used for one-to-one and one-to-many communications in the social media, advertising, and/or security industries, and do not require client-users to know each other or be on friends lists. Preference settings, rules, behavior tracking algorithms, semantic data analytics, and manual censorship can be individually or collectively utilized in the peer selection and filtered germ dissemination processes. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257954 | Goal-Oriented Long Term Incentive Award Education System - A long term goal oriented incentive learning and feedback award system is disclosed. A kid user, parent, a school, a charity and/or a program provider are enabled to directly interact to provide financial incentives to the kid user to be motivated in a program. A parent, a school, a charity and/or a program provider are also enabled to define any task or content on the system. A kid user is enabled to set up a monetary holding account on the system to accumulate the financial incentives under a long term goal. A charity is enabled to provide direct financial support to any programs registered on the system. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257955 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR APPLYING PROMOTIONS TO PAYMENT TRANSACTIONS - A method for applying promotion codes to a payment transaction using a computing device is provided. The computing device includes a promotion application in communication with a server. The payment transaction includes a purchase made by a cardholder using a payment card over a payment card network. The method includes providing, by the promotion application, promotion data to the computing device, wherein the promotion data includes a merchant participating in the payment card network, a promotion program offered by the merchant, and promotion codes associated with the promotion program. The method further includes displaying the at least one promotion program on the computing device, receiving a selection of the at least one promotion program from the cardholder using the computing device, and sending the promotion codes associated with the selected promotion program to the server for a payment transaction that corresponds to the selected promotion program. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257956 | COUPON CODE REDEMPTION - Coupon code redemption and/or administration is contemplated. The coupon code administration may be performed by temporarily using specific codes in place of coupon codes. The specific code may be beneficial in restricting access to the coupon codes and/or swaying consumers to redeem coupon codes through certain service provider infrastructures. The specific code may be provided to a website when purchasing a product and replaced prior to purchase confirmation with the actual coupon code required for redemption. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257957 | ELECTRONIC VERIFICATION DEVICE - A system and method is provided for verifying the location of a user when operating a program that tracks when a user is present at one or more locations. The system uses a display unit that displays a predictable pseudo random string that changes periodically. To verify that a user is at a particular location, the user enters the currently displayed pseudo random string in a web site. Based on the string entered, a server can verify the location of the user. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257958 | MERCHANT INCENTIVE PROGRAMS ON PROXY CARD SYSTEMS - Selecting an alternate payment instrument after a proxy card payment transaction comprises associating the proxy card account comprising with a plurality of financial accounts that can be selected for funding financial transactions; associating a merchant account with a merchant, the merchant account comprising an incentive program; associating the user proxy card account with the incentive program; receiving a payment authorization request; accessing the user proxy card account based on the identification of the user proxy card account; determining that the user proxy card account is associated with the merchant's incentive program; when the item information in the transaction data meets at least one rule in the set of rules for obtaining the incentive, applying the incentive to the user proxy account associated with the merchant's incentive program; and communicating a notification of the applied incentive to a user associated with the user proxy card account. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257959 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR VERIFICATION OF CONSUMPTION OF PRODUCT - The present solution provides a new tool for digitally verifying the use or consumption of a product. The methods and systems disclosed herein allow a consumer to easily verify their purchase of a product without removing a product identifier, such as a universal product code (UPC), from the product packaging and mailing it back to the manufacturer. Using the methods and systems disclosed a user can capture an image or a video of a product being, among other actions, opened. The system then analyzes the image or video to automatically verify the product that was consumed and also verifies that the video or image has not been previously submitted to the system. The system can then provide the manufacturer, or other loyalty system, with a product identification and verification the product was consumed. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257960 | METHOD, SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR ATTRACTING LOCAL AND REGIONAL BUSINESSES TO AN AUTOMATED CAUSE MARKETING ENVIRONMENT - The present invention teaches a system, method and computer program for enabling local or regional merchants to participate in an automated cause marketing (ACM) program. The ACM program that may provide benefits to several parties involved in fundraising for one or more supported organizations, including one or more supported organizations, advertising providers, merchants, and individuals. Merchants are able to access enhanced analytics regarding their transactions with members and non-members of the ACM program and can use these enhanced analytics to realize an increased number of or revenue from transactions with members. The present invention also teaches a system and method for enabling advertising providers to acquire and analyze data associated with consumers-merchant transactions. The present invention provides the above advantages optimally using a mobile device. Furthermore, the present invention, may enable a member to disseminate its charitable preferences to members of its electronic social networks. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257961 | SYSTEM FOR DIGITAL BONUS POINT MANAGEMENT - A system for managing an account includes a tag element representing a value, a mobile device adapted to determine the value when being located in proximity of the tag element, and adapted to access a network, and a server adapted to communicate with the mobile device via the network and adapted to access to a database, the database being adapted to store the account, the account being related to the mobile device ( | 2014-09-11 |
20140257962 | DIRECTING ADVERTISEMENTS TO COMPUTING DEVICES - An indication that a user has elected to receive interactive multimedia on a device is received. An interactive multimedia is selected. The selected interactive multimedia is customized and the customized interactive multimedia is provided to the device. The customized interactive multimedia causes the customized interactive multimedia to be consumed by the user. Additionally, a donation amount can be calculated to donate to a charitable cause based on revenue generated by an advertisement provided to a user. An incentive is determined for the user based on the revenue generated by the advertisement. A determination is made of whether the user donated a portion of the incentive. Upon determining that the user donated a portion of the incentive, a loyalty credit is calculated based on the portion of the incentive. The loyalty credit is associated with a loyalty program that rewards the user for a charitable action. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257963 | TECHNIQUES FOR DELIVERING HOTEL SERVICES - Techniques delivering hotel-based services are provided. Hotel and services providers use portal interfaces to register and define content and services to consumers. Instances of apps are dynamically made available to consumers; the apps provide on demand automated and controlled access to the content and services from mobile devices of the consumers. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257964 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR POINT-OF-SALE (POS) UNIVERSAL PRODUCT CODE DETECTION, BLOCKING AND INJECTING - A system, method and computer program product for processing promotions, including a universal product code (UPC) injection sub-system coupled between a UPC reader device and a point-of-sale (POS) device. The universal product code (UPC) injection sub-system including an interface device coupled between the UPC reader device and the POS device and incorporating an OR function to prevent disruption of an existing data stream between the POS device and the UPC reader device; and a controller device coupled to the interface device. The controller device via the interface device is configured to detect a UPC transmitted between the UPC reader and the POS device, block a UPC transmitted between the UPC reader and the POS device, and inject a UPC into the POS device. The POS device performs a POS function based on a received UPC from the controller device. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257965 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPROVING MARKETING SERVICES IN A SOCIAL NETWORKING ENVIRONMENT - A system and method for improving marketing services in a social networking environment are provided. A processor creates and stores data record sections from input data, each having associated metadata associating them with at least one community and at least one associated data record section. Associated data record sections are assembled, and service data records including pages incorporating the input data are generated and stored. A service data record request is received from a device with associated metadata. The processor confirms the request is from a member of the at least one community and the service data record includes only data record sections associated with the at least one community, and responsively transmits the requested service data record to the device to display the pages on the device. A response from the device corresponding to interaction with the series of pages is received and recorded at the memory. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257966 | METHOD , COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING WEIGHTS FOR ATTRIBUTES AND ATTRIBUTE VALUES FOR A PLURALITY OF TOUCHPOINT ENCOUNTERS - A system and method for allocating credit for an advertising conversion among various advertising touchpoints encounter by the consumer is provided. The system and method comprise receiving data pertaining to touchpoints and conversions of an advertising campaign across multiple channels. Users are correlated across the channels and the various conversions, touchpoints, and touchpoint attributes are identified. Each touchpoint attribute and touchpoint attribute value is assigned a weight. An attribution algorithm is selected, and coefficients are calculated using the assigned weights. The algorithm is executed and true scores corresponding to the touchpoints encountered by each converting user are computed. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257967 | Systems and Methods for the Semantic Modeling of Advertising Creatives in Targeted Search Advertising Campaigns - Systems and methods for the semantic modeling of advertising creatives included in targeted search advertising campaigns in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment, an advertising creative generation device includes a processor, an advertising creative generation application, at least one semantic model and performance data, wherein the an advertising creative generation application configures the processor to obtain a set of existing advertising creatives, where at least one of the existing advertising creatives comprises an existing concept, identify at least one existing advertising strategy pattern, determine performance data for the at least one existing advertising strategy pattern based on the performance data, identify at least one performance pattern based on the performance data for the at least one existing advertising strategy pattern, and generate at least one recommended advertising strategy. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257968 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING DIGITAL MEDIA VISIBILITY - A method of determining whether media displayed on a web page in a web browser is visible comprising: determining whether the web page comprises at least one frame; and if the web page comprises at least one frame, using information relating to the activity of the media player to determine whether the media is visible. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257969 | METHODS AND APPARATUS TO MEASURE EXPOSURE TO MOBILE ADVERTISEMENTS - Methods and apparatus to measure exposure to mobile advertisements are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a panelist database containing first time-location data identifying a first set of physical locations of a first vehicle at corresponding points in time; an advertising vehicle database containing second time-location data identifying a second set of physical locations of a second vehicle at corresponding points in time, the second vehicle to display a first advertisement; and credit logic to determine whether to credit the first vehicle with an exposure to the first advertisement based on the first time-location data and the second time-location data. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257970 | INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION APPARATUS, INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - An advertisement distribution device includes: an arrangement position acquisition unit configured to acquire an arrangement position on a display screen of a terminal to display advertisement information; an attention degree index extracting unit configured to extract an attention degree index of the arrangement position based on acquisition of a specific position on the display screen and an attention degree index of the specific position; an arrangement position ranking unit configured to rank a plurality of arrangement positions based on a plurality of attention degree indices extracted by the attention degree index extracting unit; a distribution information ranking unit configured to rank a plurality of pieces of advertisement information based on a predetermined ranking process; and a distribution unit configured to distribute the plurality of pieces of advertisement information based on the ranks of the plurality of pieces of advertisement information and the ranks of the plurality of arrangement positions. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257971 | CLOUD-BASED CAMPAIGN CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD - Disclosed are various embodiments of a system and a method for conducting cloud-based commerce. In accordance with one aspect of the approach, a method of cloud-based commerce, the method may include the steps of receiving a plurality of campaign instructions from a plurality of campaign controllers, configuring the campaign instructions and creating a unique brand identifier, campaign data, and a distribution trigger, the campaign data including a brand communication message and a redemption offer, distributing the campaign data to a plurality of mobile computer devices, causing the display of the brand communication message upon a first of the mobile computer devices, authorizing redistribution of the campaign data to a second of the mobile communication devices, acknowledging the acceptance of the redemption offer, creating analytics data based upon the campaign data, distribution data, and redemption data. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257972 | METHOD, COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING TRUE SCORES FOR A PLURALITY OF TOUCHPOINT ENCOUNTERS - A system and method for allocating credit for an advertising conversion among various advertising touchpoints encounter by the consumer is provided. The system and method comprise receiving data pertaining to touchpoints and conversions of an advertising campaign across multiple channels. Users are correlated across the channels and the various conversions, touchpoints, and touchpoint attributes are identified. Each touchpoint attribute and touchpoint attribute value is assigned a weight. An attribution algorithm is selected, and coefficients are calculated using the assigned weights. The algorithm is executed and true scores corresponding to the touchpoints encountered by each converting user are computed. | 2014-09-11 |
20140257973 | Systems and Methods for Scoring Keywords and Phrases used in Targeted Search Advertising Campaigns - Systems and methods for scoring phrases and keywords utilized in the generation of targeted search advertising campaigns in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment, a keyword and phrase scoring device includes a processor, a keyword and phrase scoring application, phrase key data, and language model performance data including category and attribute data with associated keywords and keyword performance data, wherein the keyword and phrase scoring application configures the processor to obtain a plurality of unscored keywords, identify keyword patterns in a portion of the plurality of unscored keywords, generate a keyword model based on a set of key columns, create a training language model incorporating phrase key data from the key columns using category and attribute data within the language model performance data, and score the plurality of unscored keywords based on the keyword model and the training language model. | 2014-09-11 |