38th week of 2012 patent applcation highlights part 58 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20120239442 | METHOD FOR AUDITING THE VALUE OF A PARTIAL TICKET CHANGE TRANSACTION - The invention is for auditing the value of a change for at least one non used portion of an interline ticket in a networked travel reservation system including programmed processor performing receiving a request for a change for at least a non-used portion of an interline ticket; calculating the prorated amounts for the original itinerary (Refund) and both the original and new itineraries (Exchange); authorizing the change upon the validating airline ticket's balance being equal or greater than a predefined threshold; and triggering an event upon the validating airline ticket's balance being less than a predefined threshold. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239443 | PROCESSING AND FULFILLING NATURAL LANGUAGE TRAVEL REQUESTS - Systems and methods that process natural language travel requests are described herein. According to some embodiments, methods for processing natural language travel requests may include: (a) decoding itinerary components from a natural language travel request, (b) determining a node type for each of the itinerary components, (c) ascertaining dependencies between each of the itinerary components based upon respective node types, (d) generating an unconstrained schedule using the itinerary components and respective dependencies therebetween, and (d) allocating available inventory to each of the itinerary components according to the unconstrained schedule to fulfill the natural language travel request. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239444 | MVT OPTIMIZATION OF BUSINESS PROCESS MODELING AND MANAGEMENT - A multivariate business process modeling or management (BPM) optimization system and method for optimizing a BPM system includes a logic layer to control operation of the BPM system, a utility layer to implement a randomized experimental treatment based on a hypothesis, and a persistence layer to collect data from application of the randomized experimental treatment to the BPM system. The multivariate BPM optimization system and method optimizes the BPM system by computerized testing of the hypothesis and generation of results to add, remove or modify a step or modify a point in a flow of the BPM system based on the data collected from application of the randomized experimental treatment. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239445 | ANALYTICS VALUE ASSESSMENT TOOLKIT - A computerized system to determine estimations for analytics capabilities includes a value driver determination module to determine key value drivers associated with the entity. The system also includes an analytics matching module to identify analytics capabilities that align to the key value drivers. An analytics valuation module estimates values for the matching analytics capabilities based on benchmarks and financial and operational data for the entity. A cost and capital determination module estimates costs and capital for implementing the matching analytics capabilities, and an analytics selector module determines benefits for the matching analytics capabilities based on the estimated values and the costs and the capital. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239446 | PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT PROCESS SUPPORTING SYSTEM AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT PROCESS SUPPORTING METHOD - Wasteful repetitive tasks are easily reduced in processes to develop complex products. A product development process support system is a system which analyzes dependencies between a plurality of requirements in product development processes belonging to a plurality of layers, and comprises an input reception portion for receiving input of information indicating the dependency between two requirements belonging to adjacent layers and of information indicating the degree of influence of requirements on product development, and dependency derivation portion for deriving the dependency between two arbitrary requirements belonging to the same layer from information indicating the dependencies between the two requirements in question and other requirements received by the input reception portion and from information indicating the degree of influence of the two requirements in question, based on dependency derivation rules established in advance. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239447 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TRANSPORTATION AND UPSELLING OF PRODUCT - A system and method for using product profiling to maximize load capacity of a vehicle. The method includes defining product profiles and retrieving product information associated with the product profiles. The method further includes performing cubing operations for products associated with the product information. The system includes components to perform the method steps. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239448 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TRANSPORTATION AND UPSELLING OF PRODUCT - A system and method for using product profiling to maximize load capacity of a vehicle. The method includes defining product profiles and retrieving product information associated with the product profiles. The method further includes performing cubing operations for products associated with the product information. The system includes components to perform the method steps. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239449 | Notification System and Method - A dispatching system adjusts resources to meet real-time changes in demand. When a customer requests service, a work assignment is generated and sent to an employee. When a customer cancels the requested service, a cancellation code is sent to the employee. The cancellation code informs the employee that the work assignment has been canceled. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239450 | SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING WORK SCHEDULES - Disclosed are new approaches for scheduling workers providing services to recipients at remote locations, such as home health care services. Work assignments may be organized into shifts associated with one or more workers and one or more recipients. Tasks are associated with the shift and have a status associated therewith that can be updated by a worker. Shifts may be replicated by cutting and pasting or specifying a recurrence definition. The tasks associated with a shift may then be replicated according to the cut-and-paste operation or recurrence definition. The status of tasks may be updated using a voice telephony system. The status of tasks may also be reported from a computer located on the recipient premise. Text and/or voice comments and the task status may be accessible by managers, clients, and concerned parties from a web portal accessible using a computing device, such as a tablet computer. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239451 | CALENDAR BASED TASK AND TIME MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A software solution for managing, sorting and ranking lists of tasks and integrating task and time management, such that tasks can be automatically or manually assigned to specified time blocks. Users can monitor the relationship between volume of tasks and available time in which to complete them. The solution and method can be applied to individual task lists as well as to the management of time across multiple projects and can be employed either by individuals or by collaborative groups. The solution and method employ multiple filters, sorts and handling rules to embody users' personal planning preferences. It can be used to manage task lists both with and without employing a scheduling component. The solution can interoperate with existing computer- and web-based calendar software and can use third-party calendar clients to display its output and to accept input from users. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239452 | Fleet Management Systems and Processes - Automated fleet management systems and associated processes. In one embodiment, a method can be provided. The method can include receiving a service request from one or more customers, providing the one or more customers with a plurality of resources to select from, wherein the plurality of resources is ranked by a pain measure, and based at least in part on a customer selection of at least one resource with a pain measure, assigning at least one resource to the one or more customers. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239453 | RESOURCE COST OPTIMIZATION SYSTEM, METHOD, AND PROGRAM - Apparatus and method use a Markov decision process (MDP) to reduce the cost of variations in electric power usage. The user notifies a power company of a predicted value for a period. The period is divided into subsections. For each subsection, on the basis of a MDP including a state that depends on an electric power usage amount error, charge amount, and set target, the amount of charging and discharging of a storage battery as an action at any given time is optimally decided depending on the electric power usage amount error, charge amount, time, and set target at that time. A predetermined time in a subsection is a target setting time, at which a future target is further set as the action. The action includes deciding the charging and discharging amount in that subsection and deciding a future target in a subsection whose target should be set. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239454 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR MANAGING DYNAMIC TEAMS - A system and methods for managing dynamic teams and workflows is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system and methods include processes for dynamically creating and modifying a team-based workflow. In one instance, the system and methods may include processes for defining a plurality of generic roles, assigning participants to the team, defining focus items, associating the focus items with the plurality of generic roles, and assigning each of the participants at least one of the plurality of generic roles. Additionally, the system and methods may include processes that manage workflows by providing interactive prompts that provide information to direct participants to perform certain actions and providing mechanisms to communicate responses to the interactive responses to other participants based on their assigned generic roles. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239455 | TRAVEL-RELATED PREDICTION SYSTEM - A method and system is provided for making price-related predictions of items based on training a classifier using historical information including pricing information for the items and labels relating to the price-related information that are generated automatically from the historical information. A prediction system provides price-related predictions for airline tickets. The prediction system collects flight information for flights on a daily basis. The prediction system generates training data to train a classifier to make the price-related predictions using the flight information. After training the classifier, the prediction system then can make the price-related predictions for a trip. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239456 | CATEGORY ANALYSIS MODEL TO FACILITATE PROCUREMENT OF GOODS AND SERVICES - A category analysis model to facilitate strategic procurement is disclosed. The model can be created by receiving and arithmetically totaling numerical demand characteristics input for each of a plurality of goods and services, and receiving and arithmetically totaling numerical supply characteristics input for each of the plurality of goods and services. Supply and demand characteristics can be input by a user into software such as a spreadsheet, or interactively. The arithmetic totals of supply characteristics are graphically plotted against arithmetic totals of demand characteristics for each of the plurality of goods and services to produce a strategic procurement guide. The strategic procurement guide can then be displayed to a user. In example embodiments, the strategic procurement guide indicated that goods and services are in a clear strategic procurement category, a possible strategic procurement category, possible procurement category, and a clear procurement category. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239457 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING AND UTILIZING USER PROFILES BASED ON PRIOR USER RESPONSES - A system and method for generating a user's profile from their own user-generated content to transform community driven ideas into a company managed idea community and market research platform. The profile associated with the user is updated to provide for persistent unique profile sections based on content generated, associated activity, and end-user domains visited that may be managed by the user from a single portal. The system also provides a method for taking community content and transforming the content into selection criteria for market research. Product researcher administrators may view these community generated ideas to screen for users based on actual behavior. User-generated content may also be used as triggers to invite users to participate in surveys or discussions based upon their activity within the platform. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239458 | Measuring Effectiveness of Advertisements and Linking Certain Consumer Activities Including Purchases to Other Activities of the Consumer - A method for linking online computer activity with non-online consumer activity by creating a unique identifier for each consumer; storing online and non-online consumer activity in a database indexed by the unique identifier; and modifying online or non-online consumer offerings based on processing the stored online and non-online consumer activity. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239459 | MODELING A PLURALITY OF CONTESTS AT A CROWDSOURCING NODE - Crowdsourcing is described, for example, where solutions to tasks such as designing a logo, writing a piece of code or answering a question are solicited by making open calls to large scale communities. In an example, a crowdsourcing node models a plurality of contests as all-pay auctions, each contest having a task and a reward. In examples, the crowdsourcing node is arranged to set rewards for the contests so that the optimal results are received for each contest owner, those owners having provided a budget and using a utility function for each of the contests. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239460 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TRANSPORTATION AND UPSELLING OF PRODUCT - A system and method for using product profiling to maximize load capacity of a vehicle. The method includes defining product profiles and retrieving product information associated with the product profiles. The method further includes performing cubing operations for products associated with the product information. The system includes components to perform the method steps. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239461 | Software program that provides a structured format and verification of date entered via a touch screen tablet that records the status and performance of water purification equipment that is used for dialysis treatments - This computer program is a data logging system that enables the user to monitor and record the status and performance of water purification equipment that is housed and used in a dialysis clinic. The software program will be used by technicians that work in three shifts on a daily basis to ensure that the water being purified for dialysis treatment is within an acceptable range of purity. This software replaces a paper logging system and is more versatile in security, accuracy, function and reporting. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239462 | APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR IMPROVING DRIVING PERFORMANCE - Apparatuses and methods provide for improved driving performance. In one example, a method includes obtaining data describing vehicle parameters effecting fuel efficiency and carbon emissions, where the data is generated during operation of a vehicle by a driver. A performance rating for the driver may be generated based on the obtained data. The performance rating for the driver indicates how the driver's behavior impacted at least both the fuel efficiency and carbon emissions of the vehicle during operation of the vehicle by the driver. Related apparatuses are also disclosed. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239463 | Purchasing Trading Partners Feedback Process for Purchase Practice Refinement - Systems and methods for refining repetitive purchases using historical feedback and contractual data are disclosed. For example, parties to a pharmaceutical purchase transaction typically include one or more of a Group Purchasing Organization (GPO), vendor or manufacturing drug company, wholesaler, and a purchaser, such as a hospital or hospital group. In a typical pharmaceutical purchase transaction, several (possibly inconsistent) agreements can be in place between the parties to the transaction. Disclosed are methods and systems to collect, from a plurality of data sources, information pertaining to negotiated contract prices of pharmaceutical and surgical supplies. Also disclosed is a periodic process to provide purchasing suggestions and receive further feedback from purchasers and suppliers to refine the activities of the purchaser and/or supplier. For example, a purchaser could be informed of a different order placement option which could result in a cost savings based on currently available pricing/purchase agreements. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239464 | COMPUTER METHODS AND COMPUTER SYSTEMS FOR VOTING - In one embodiment, a mobile electronic device at least having: a processor programmed to acquire an access instruction to allow a voter to access vote issues; and execute the following code: to provide, to the voter, information identifying vote issues; to enable the mobile electronic device to transmit at least one vote of the voter, where the enabling is based on: a first software instruction that instructs the mobile electronic device to present a first vote issue, a second software instruction that instructs the mobile electronic device to receive a first vote from the voter, where the voter submits the first vote by a first single action performed immediately after the presentation of the first vote issue and without any intervening action, a third software instruction that instructs the mobile electronic device of the voter to transmit the received first vote from the voter to the computer system. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239465 | ALLOCATING REWARDS FROM A REWARDS ACCOUNT - A method for allocating rewards across a plurality of rewards programs, each associated with one or more accounts owned by a customer, the method includes receiving customer input indicating that one or more rewards associated with a first rewards program should be associated with a second rewards program, determining a conversion factor configured for assisting conversion of the one or more rewards from the first rewards program to the second rewards program, applying, using a processing device, the conversion factor to the one or more rewards, thereby resulting in one or more converted rewards; and associating the one or more converted rewards with the second rewards program. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239466 | OFFERING SOCIAL DEALS BASED ON ACTIVITIES OF CONNECTIONS IN A SOCIAL NETWORKING SYSTEM - Social networking systems allow deal providers to provide social deals that require participation by users connected via the social networking system for activation. A social deal is activated for a user based on actions performed by other users connected to the user. The actions performed by a participant of the social deal include actions related to the social deal as well as actions related to objects associated with the social deal, for example, purchasing an item, associated, checking in to a location associated with the social deal, or recommending the social deal. The social networking system may suggest potential participants in the social deal for a user. The deal may be activated by performing actions of one or more type. A threshold number of actions of each type may be required for activating the deal. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239467 | PLATFORM FOR DISTRIBUTING DEALS VIA A SOCIAL NETWORKING SYSTEM - A social networking system acts as a platform for distributing deals from one or more deal providers. The users of the social networking system can interact with information describing the deals via a dashboard user interface provided by the social networking system. When users purchase deals on the social networking system's platform, the social networking system receives a portion of the deal price called the platform share and compensates the users for purchasing deals via the social networking system. The compensation may be funded from the revenue received by the social networking system for the purchases (the platform share). The compensation provided to a user may depend on social information associated with the user, such as the number of the user's connections also participating in the deal. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239468 | HIGH-PERFORMANCE SUPPLY FORECASTING USING OVERRIDE RULES IN DISPLAY ADVERTISING SYSTEMS - A method, system and computer readable medium to adjust impression supply sampling weights in a display advertising environment while providing high-performance supply forecasting using trends adjustments and override rules. A forecasting system initiates the method upon submitting a campaign query (with a campaign query predicate to be matched with impression supply predicates) and a campaign query time period (specifying time-wise aspects of an advertising campaign). Upon receiving initial campaign query results (e.g. impression supply datastructure with base weights), the method proceeds to identify applicable weight adjustment rules for applying to the impression supply node, then, after accounting for trends or other time-wise aspects of the weight adjustment rule, applying the adjustment rule to the impression supply base weight of an impression supply node, resulting in at least one adjusted trend weight. Given adjusted trend weights, the forecasting system can more accurately predict future supply and pricing characteristics of the campaign. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239469 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MARKETING - Exemplary methods and systems to display advertising content are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method of creating content with embedded advertisements includes creating content, receiving tools to embed advertisements within the content, creating one or more activation zones within the content, linking each of the one or more activation zones to at least one product in at least one link, linking the one or more activation zones with a checkout system, wherein the activation zones and the links to the at least one product and the one or more checkout systems comprise association data, and providing the content and the association data to a publishing system. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239470 | Advertising Element Attachable to Product - An advertising element attachable to a product has a body attachable to a product for example by snapping in or in a different way, a display for displaying advertising information, an electronic unit operative for displaying the advertising information on the display, an audio unit for producing audio messages, and components for displaying preliminarily stored video messages and user-introduced video messages. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239471 | LEARNING DRIVER DEMOGRAPHICS FROM VEHICLE TRACE DATA - A method of providing advertising content targeted to an operator of a vehicle. Vehicle data acquisition devices are employed to collect operator attribute information from vehicle trace data of the vehicle as the operator operates the vehicle. A processor of the vehicle applies a statistical analysis on the operator attribute information for determining a probability of demographic characteristics of the operator of the vehicle. The demographic characteristics of the operator are identified as a function of the determined probability. The vehicle communicates the targeted advertising content to the operator of the vehicle. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239472 | Methods and Systems for Retail Customer Referral Compensation Programs - Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to business methods and systems for retail marketing, and specifically to Retail Customer Referral Compensation Programs for using Performance-Driven criteria to award Production Points for creating a Position Changing Point Driven matrix and determining a Referring Customer's position and compensation within that matrix. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239473 | APPLYING REWARDS BASED ON NON-TRANSACTION EVENTS - A method for providing a customer-centric rewards platform configured to communicate to a customer information related to one or more rewards programs associated with one or more customer accounts includes initiating presentation, using a processing device, to the customer of the rewards platform comprising information related to one or more rewards programs associated with the customer, wherein each of the rewards programs is associated with at least one customer account, determining a non-account transaction event indicating one or more rewards should be applied to one or more rewards accounts has occurred, each of the one or more rewards accounts associated with one or more customer accounts, and crediting one or more rewards accounts with one or more rewards based at least in part on the occurrence of the non-account transaction event. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239474 | PREPAID CARD REWARDS - In general terms, embodiments of the present invention relate to a prepaid card account that can accumulate rewards (e.g., points, miles, credits, bonuses, cash back, etc.). For example, in some embodiments, a method is provided that includes: (a) receiving transaction information associated with a transaction, where the transaction includes a transaction amount and involves a prepaid card account; (b) determining that the prepaid card account has a balance; (c) determining, based at least partially on the transaction information, that the transaction amount does not exceed the balance; (d) authorizing the transaction based at least partially on the determining that the transaction amount does not exceed the balance; (e) determining that the transaction is completed; and (f) attributing rewards to the prepaid card account based at least partially on the determining that the transaction is completed. Other embodiments provide a method that includes: (a) receiving funds from a holder of a prepaid card account; (b) increasing a balance of the prepaid card account based at least partially on receiving the funds; and (c) attributing rewards to the prepaid card account based at least partially on the holder loading the prepaid card account. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239475 | CONSUMER OFFER REDEMPTION METHODS AND SYSTEMS - A computer-implemented offer redemption method includes the steps of: (a) storing information on a consumer and a payment account associated with the consumer in a computer storage system; (b) receiving activation of an offer from the consumer covering a product or service or a purchase from a retailer; (c) linking the offer to the consumer's payment account; (d) monitoring transactions in the consumer's payment account; and (e) when the consumer has purchased the product or service or made a purchase from the retailer covered by the linked offer using the consumer payment account, making payment for offer settlement to a payment processor managing the consumer's payment account to be credited to the consumer's payment account. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239476 | SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING OFFERS USING A BILLING STATEMENT - A billing statement according to one aspect of the invention includes a description of a transaction and an offer pointer associated with the transaction, wherein the offer pointer includes information that may be used to review an offer. In one example of this aspect, a telephone number or a hyperlink is provided adjacent to a total amount owed listed on a statement (e.g., an electronically-displayed billing statement). The offers reviewed may be customized, for example, based on details of the transaction such as the product purchased or the amount of the purchase, the identity of the consumer, and/or on other data. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239477 | Statement Portal With Receipt Tagging And Associated Enhanced Benefit Messaging - Systems and methods are presented for providing a statement portal with receipt tagging and associated enhanced benefit messaging. In one potential embodiment, a method involves receiving transaction information from the payment processing network, where the transaction information is associated with a purchase transaction, and receiving a photograph of a receipt. The photograph is associated, using a processor of the statement portal computer, with the purchase transaction. The system may then receive benefit information, associate the benefit information with the purchase transaction; and communicate the benefit information to a communication device to inform the consumer associated with the transaction about the benefit information. In various embodiments the benefit information communicated to the consumer may be a warranty expiration date. or an extended warranty offer. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239478 | Systems and Methods for Employee Rewards - Vendor information relating to a plurality of vendors is transmitted to an employer. The vendor information of each vendor includes a respective offering of the vendor, including a description and cost of the offering. A selection of a respective offering of a vendor is received from the employer, including a co-payment amount the employer is willing to contribute. A benefits package is created including the selected offering and the co-payment amount. An invitation to participate in the benefits package is transmitted to an employee of the employer. An acceptance of the invitation to participate in the benefits package is received from the employee. The employer is charged the co-payment amount and the employee is charged an amount equal to the cost of the offering net of the co-payment amount and an order for the offering is created on behalf of the employee. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239479 | Systems and Methods to Combine Transaction Terminal Location Data and Social Networking Check-In - A system and method configured to provide enhanced services based on check-in information obtained in a social network system and transaction location information observed in a payment processing system. In one aspect, the transaction location may be used to validate, verify or authenticate the check-in location declared in the social network system. In another aspect, the transaction location can be used as a basis to automate a check-in in the social network system in accordance with a preference of a user. In a further aspect, the transaction location and the check-in location can be correlated to detect inaccurate data, correct the inaccurate data, and/or augment the data in a data warehouse about the locations of transaction terminals. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239480 | SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING OFFERS USING A BILLING STATEMENT - A billing statement according to one aspect of the invention includes a description of a transaction and an offer pointer associated with the transaction, wherein the offer pointer includes information that may be used to review an offer. In one example of this aspect, a telephone number or a hyperlink is provided adjacent to a total amount owed listed on a statement (e.g., an electronically-displayed billing statement). The offers reviewed may be customized, for example, based on details of the transaction such as the product purchased or the amount of the purchase, the identity of the consumer, and/or on other data. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239481 | DIGITAL SHOEBOX - A method and a system stores records of financial transactions from a user in a centralized location. A processor-implemented receipt module receives a record of a financial transaction from a mobile device. A processor-implemented item identification module identifies an item from the record of the financial transaction. A processor-implemented catalog module retrieves data corresponding to the identified item. A storage device stores the record of the financial transaction associated with the identified item along with the corresponding data. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239482 | CUSTOMER AWARENESS PLATFORM - A system and method for providing a customer-centric rewards interface configured to communicate to a customer information related to one or more rewards programs associated with one or more customer accounts includes authenticating an identity of the customer, receiving customer input requesting presentation of the rewards interface, and initiating presentation, using a processing device, to the customer of the rewards interface comprising information related to one or more rewards programs associated with the customer. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239483 | TARGETED INCENTIVE ACTIONS BASED ON LOCATION AND INTENT - A method and a system offer an incentive to a user of a mobile device based on a geographic location of the mobile device and the intent of the user. A processor-implemented location identification module determines the geographic location of the mobile device of the user. A processor-implemented item identification module identifies an item specified by the user at the geographic location of the mobile device. A processor-implemented incentive module offers an incentive from at least one merchant within a predefined distance based on the identified item and the geographic location of the mobile device. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239484 | DEAL SCORING SYSTEM AND METHOD - Prospective deals for a deal vendor's deal inventory may be scored according to one or more population-specific expected-yield scores, such as expected revenue yield, expected new customers yield, and the like. A prospective deal is categorized and characterized according to a number of yield-related characteristics. Some or all of the prospective deal's characteristics are mapped to yield components derived from completed deals that have been offered to a particular population. An expected-yield score for a prospective deal with regard to that population is obtained by combining the mapped yield components. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239485 | ASSOCIATING DEALS WITH EVENTS IN A SOCIAL NETWORKING SYSTEM - Social networking systems create representations of events associated with deals and populate attributes of the event based on information associated with the deal. Examples of attributes populated based on the deal include location for the event, potential participants for the event, or time for the event. The deal can be a social deal that is activated by participation of multiple users of the social networking system. The social networking system synchronizes potential or actual participants for the event with potential or actual participants of the social deal. The social networking system identifies events represented in the social networking system that are associated with the deal and suggests possible interactions with the entities to users associated with the deal. For example, the social networking system may request the user to become member of a social group associated with the deal, or purchase another deal associated with the current deal. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239486 | SUGGESTING DEALS TO A USER IN A SOCIAL NETWORKING SYSTEM - A social networking system suggests deals relevant to a user. The deals are selected for suggestion based on social information associated with the user. Social information used for selecting candidate deals for a user includes information describing other users connected to the user and their associations with the candidate deals or with related deals, for example, deals from the same provider. Associations of connections of the user with the candidate deals may be determined based on actions associated with the candidate deals performed by the connections. The actions performed by the connections may be weighted based on types of the actions to determine a measure of relevance of the candidate deal for the user. Candidate deals are selected from a set of deals by applying deal targeting criteria received from deal providers. The deal targeting criteria specify attributes describing users to be targeted for a particular deal. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239487 | TARGETED DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRONIC COUPONS - A system, method and computer program product is described that matches commercial incentives to consumers based on targeting data associated with the commercial incentive and user data associated with consumers in a manner that advantageously allows for highly-targeted delivery of commercial incentives to the consumers that are most likely to use them. Because both the targeting data and the user data may include spatial, temporal, social and topical data, matching may be performed based on any or all of these data types, as well as based on any combination of these data types. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239488 | TAXONOMY BASED TARGETED SEARCH ADVERTISING - Campaign creation systems and methods for building taxonomy based targeted search advertising campaigns in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. One embodiment of the invention includes obtaining source data describing a plurality of landing pages, obtaining a list of keywords using the campaign creation server system, where the list of keywords comprises keyword component, building a taxonomy using the source data and the initial list of keywords, where the taxonomy uniquely maps the plurality of landing pages to categories and attributes and maps the keyword components to the categories and attributes, mapping keywords to relevant offers based on the taxonomy, automatically generating adgroups based on the offers and relevant keywords, where each adgroup includes a landing page, at least one creative and at least one keyword, and deploying the adgroups to a search engine provider. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239489 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VIRAL PROMOTION OF ONLINE CONTENT - Methods and systems are provided for identifying online content that has a higher likelihood of being more effectively promoted (going viral). In one embodiment the invention includes monitoring traffic on an online network early in the life of a post (online publication of the content) to identify whether and/or which online content has a higher potential to be effectively promoted online. By checking the traffic characteristics against one or more thresholds at one or more time intervals early in the life of the post (e.g., within ten hours or less, or five hours or less), the online content with sufficient potential can be further promoted on various online outlets. For example, the promoting may include publishing a content online more frequently, publishing a content online more prominently, publishing a content on additional web pages, and/or modifying search engine results online to increase a ranking of the content. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239490 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ADAPTIVE SCHEDULING OF REFERENCES TO DOCUMENTS - The order and type of display of documents may be updated or adaptively scheduled. The documents may include advertisements and articles that are displayed together. A popularity or selection weight of the documents may be monitored and used to determine when and where to display the documents. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239491 | ASSOCIATING AD RESULTS WITH PURCHASES MADE VIA MOBILE DEVICES - Implementations and techniques for associating ad results with purchases made via mobile devices are generally disclosed. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239492 | CONTENT PERFORMANCE ESTIMATION - Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, are provided for computing performance estimates. Performance estimates are provided for resources based on candidate targeting criteria included in requests for the performance estimates. The performance estimates are computed based on previously received resource requests that are included in a relevant request group. The relevant request group is defined to include resource requests that include request criteria that match reference targeting criteria. The request criteria can include data characterizing a user for which the resource is being selected. In some implementations, request groups can be defined by analyzing previously-received resource requests and including the resource requests in request groups having reference targeting criteria that are matched by the request criteria. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239493 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INVENTORY TRACKING - In embodiments of the invention, bailed property units may be stored on a portable platform in accordance with a financing/bailment agreement. In accordance with the financing/bailment agreement, the dealer/bailee is required to retain the bailed property units in a controlled area to enable embodiments of the invention to perform real-time execution of inventory financing transactions. Since the platform on which the bailed property units are stored is portable, the platform includes a location detector, such as a GPS unit, to enable tracking the location of the platform in the controlled area. A tag reader and location detector output a wireless event signal and wireless location signal. A first server wirelessly coupled to the reader and location detector, is programmed to access terms of the agreement. The first server is programmed to monitor the event and location signals received from the reader and location detector. A second server is coupled to the first server, and is programmed to collect data based on the event signals and location signals received by the first server and to use that data to prepare targeted advertisements of the bailee's inventory in the controlled area. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239494 | PRICING DEALS FOR A USER BASED ON SOCIAL INFORMATION - Social networking systems determine price of a deal for a user based on social information associated with the user. For example, multiple users connected via the social networking system may participate in a deal. The price of a deal for a particular user may be determined based on the actions of that user to promote the deal and/or the deal's provider. A user may promote the deal or its provider, for example, by sending explicit messages describing the deal to the user's connections or by posting to a newsfeed that is sent by the social networking system on behalf of the user to the user's connections. Factors considered in determining a price of a deal may include information describing the connections of the user, the actions associated with the deal performed by the user, the connections of the user participating in the deal, and the locations of the user's connections. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239495 | PRESENTING SOCIAL INFORMATION RELEVANT TO A DEAL TO A USER - A social networking system suggests deals relevant to a user. The deals are selected for suggestion based on social information associated with the user. Deals presented to the user are categorized based on social information associated with the user including actions taken by connections of the user. Deals that are closely associated with each other based on social information are presented together via a user interface. For a particular deal, social information relevant to that deal is presented, including connections associated with the deal, social groups, social events, images, as well as other deals. Presentation of deals and information associated with the deals in a social context increases the likelihood of the user getting interested in the deal and performing actions related to the deal, for example, purchasing the deal or recommending the deal. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239496 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DISPLAYING CONTEXTUAL ADVERTISEMENTS WITH MEDIA - Systems and methods have been developed for displaying contextually relevant advertisements to users as media objects are being rendered. One or more data sources with contextual information for different portions of each media object are maintained. From this contextual information, keywords may be generated and used to locate contextually-related advertisements. The advertisements are selected based on contextual information about the media object in order to match or otherwise be contextually relevant with the media content being rendered. As the subject matter of the media object changes during rendering, different advertisements related to the new context are provided that replace the prior advertisement. The advertisements are displayed in an area that could be used for other purposes when the rendering device is not rendering media objects. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239497 | METHOD AND PROCESS OF USING A SOCIAL NETWORK TO RETARGET A PERSONAL ADVERTISEMENT - In various exemplary embodiments, a system, a method, and a related non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, of targeting advertisements based on a lifestyle change for an individual is disclosed. The method includes scanning a plurality of social sites to determine the lifestyle change and making a determination whether one or more keywords related to the lifestyle change are found in at least one of the plurality of social sites. Based on the determination that the one or more keywords are found in at least one of the plurality of social sites, the method continues with querying an end-user of the at least one of the plurality of social sites, determining an event related to the lifestyle change, matching an advertisement targeted to the event, and electronically sending the targeted advertisement to either the end-user or the individual. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239498 | MOBILE DYNAMIC ADVERTISEMENT CREATION AND PLACEMENT - A system for targeted delivery of advertising including the steps of: (i) receiving a navigation request from a mobile communication facility including a user selection of a first advertisement displayed on the mobile communication facility; (ii) receiving an indicator input including (a) a geographical location and (b) queries or accesses to content associated with a plurality of other mobile communication facilities within the geographical location; (iii) dynamically creating second and third advertisements configured to be displayed on the mobile communication facility based on the navigation request and/or the indicator input, and a rendering capability of the mobile communication facility; (iv) transmitting the second advertisement to the mobile communication facility; (v) caching the third advertisement until a determination is made that the user is situated in a different geographical location; and (vi) transmitting the third advertisement to the mobile communication facility. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239499 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TARGETED ADVERTISING - In embodiments of the invention, as an inducement to a dealer/bailee entering into the financing agreement with a financing entity/bailor, the bailor may offer the use of embodiments of the invention to prepare targeted advertisements of the bailee's inventory for distribution to the bailee's customers. A first server coupled to a tag reader, is programmed to access terms of the agreement, to monitor the event signals received from the reader. A second server is coupled to the first server and is programmed to collect data based on the event signals received by the first server and to use the data to prepare targeted advertisements of the bailee's inventory, in accordance with the agreement. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239500 | USER IDENTIFICATION WITHIN A PHYSICAL MERCHANT LOCATION THROUGH THE USE OF A WIRELESS NETWORK - A method and system are described for determining a location of a consumer within a retail establishment, or other geographical proximity. The method and system use a portable computing device (“PCD”) such as, but not limited to, a mobile phone. The system and method may leverage existing infrastructure, such as wireless routers, to assist the PCD and a remote server in communication with the PCD to determine a location of a consumer in possession of the PCD within a retail location. The system may comprise a PCD running a geo-network discovery (“GND”) module, a server running a service set identifier (“SSID”) verification and rules (“V/R”) module, a telecommunications network, and a wireless router configured to broadcast a unique SSID. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239501 | TARGETED INCENTIVE ACTIONS BASED ON LOCATION AND INTENT - A method and a system offer an incentive to a user of a mobile device based on a geographic location of the mobile device and the intent of the user. A processor-implemented location identification module determines the geographic location of the mobile device of the user. A processor-implemented item identification module identifies an item specified by the user at the geographic location of the mobile device. A processor-implemented incentive module offers an incentive from at least one merchant within a predefined distance based on the identified item and the geographic location of the mobile device. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239502 | METHOD, SYSTEM, AND SOFTWARE FOR GEOGRAPHICALLY FOCUSED NETWORK ADVERTISING - A software based system and method of displaying location based information from an information site on a network by determining location data of a user of the location based information on the network. The location based information is generated based on the determined location data of the user; and generated location based information is provided to the user over the network. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239503 | SHARED INTERACTIVE MOBILE ADVERTISING PLATFORM SYSTEM AND METHOD - A shared interactive mobile advertising platform with a messaging display is provided that allows for advertising to an audience. The messaging display displays advertising campaigns in the form of response codes and data collection destinations, and displays advertising messages. Advertising users generate or create the advertising campaign and rent advertising space on the display from the platform owner. A member of the audience sees the advertising campaign and if he is interested he enters the response code and the data collection destination information into a personal communication device. The shared interactive mobile advertising platform sends a response to that member in the form of a discount, sale, coupon et cetera and the response and may be redeemed by the member. The advertising user only receives input from interested members of the audience and can focus on marketing to these members in the future. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239504 | Virtual Shopping Assistance - On-premise virtual shopping assistance is provided via a mobile device and other networked user interface devices. The assistance can be based on various context parameters associated with the shopper, including without limitation location, past shopping behavior, shopping list content, store layout, inventory, social networking characteristics, in-store activity, perceived shopper intent, etc. Based on such context information, a retailer and/or a manufacturer can provide relevant information to an on-premise shopper, including without limitation product/service promotions (e.g., discounts), product/service specifications (e.g., nutritional information) and recommendations and on-premise routing information. Such information may be presented to the user through a mobile device or via on-premise displays that respond to the shopper's location within a store. In one implementation, on-premise virtual shopping assistance may be provided through a cross-retailer shopping platform that integrates shopper, product/service, and retailer information and presents relevant assistance to the shopper through one or more user interfaces. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239505 | USER INITIATED DEALS IN A SOCIAL NETWORKING SYSTEM - Social networking systems allow users to initiate a deal associated with a provider. A user sends a deal proposal to the social networking system and provides information describing connections of the user that are potential participants of the deal. The social networking system may propose potential participants of the deal to the user. The social networking system determines whether the proposal is acceptable to the provider. The social networking system may send a request to the provider to determine whether the deal is acceptable to the provider. If the proposal is acceptable to the provider, information indicating acceptance of the proposal is sent to the user. If the proposal is not acceptable to the provider, a modified deal proposal may be sent to the user. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239506 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ADVERTISING USING IMAGE SEARCH AND CLASSIFICATION - An advertising system and method are disclosed for generating advertizing content based on a user's images. These can be photographs owned by a user of a web page. An advertising template for an advertising sponsor is provided. For a user viewing the web page, a set of the user's images is categorized, based on image content of the images in the set. The categorization is performed with at least one classifier which has been trained on a finite set of image categories. An advertising image is selected for advertising content based on the categorization of the user's images. The template is combined with the selected advertising image to form the advertising content. The advertising content can then be displayed to the user on the web page. A user profile is also disclosed which can be used as the categorized user images. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239507 | Sending Notifications to Users Based on Users' Notification Tolerance Levels - In one embodiment, a first computing device accesses a notification to be pushed to a second computing device associated with a user; computes a score for the notification based at least in part on a current level of tolerance of the user to notifications pushed to the second computing device; and if the score is above a predetermined threshold, then pushes the notification to the second computing device. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239508 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REAL-TIME ALLOCATION OF DIGITAL CONTENT - Systems, methods, and software products allocate digital content in real time. Real-time digital content allocation includes processing sign, sales and buying parameters for a digital sign in a sign database. Real-time digital content allocation also includes processing digital content in a submitted database; permitting access to the submitted database by a digital sign owner, for review of the digital content; saving digital content approved by the digital sign owner to an approved content database; processing bidding parameters for a time slot on the digital sign; auctioning the time slot to providers of the approved digital content; distributing digital content to the digital sign; and airing winning digital content during the time slot. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239509 | ONLINE MAP ADVERTISING - Systems and methods for selecting advertisements for presentation in a map space are disclosed. Map requests are received, map spaces identified, advertisement bids are received for advertisement space within the map spaces, and advertisements are selected for presentation in the map space based on the advertisement bids. The advertisement bids can be selected through an auction. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239510 | INTEGRATION OF AN ADVERTISING UNIT CONTAINING INTERACTIVE RESIDUAL AREAS AND DIGITAL MEDIA CONTENT - Described are systems and methods for dynamic integration and presentation of advertising content and media content. The method includes receiving a request for media content from a remote computing device. The method also includes providing an interactive advertising unit, which comprises a first content layer including the requested media content and a media player, a second content layer including the advertising content, wherein the advertising content comprises video content and website content, and an integration module configured to display the video content to match the boundaries of the media player, extend the display area of the video content, reduce the display area of the video content after a period of time, display the website content in an area outside of the boundaries of the media player, and display the requested media content in the media player. The method also includes transmitting the interactive advertising unit for presentation on the remote computing device. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239511 | Automated Graphical Advertisement Size Compatibility and Link Insertion - A system for and method of forming graphical advertisements is presented. The disclosed techniques ensure that the graphical advertisements are compatible with available space and industry-standard sizing. The techniques further allow for insertion of a link into the graphical advertisement, where the link is configured such that an activating user will not receive unwanted material. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239512 | MOBILE PROXIMITY BASED RETAIL MARKETING SYSTEM - A system, method, device, and non-transitory computer-readable medium for providing an incentive to a user of a device to monitor information displayed on a display of the device are provided. The information is visibly displayed on the display of the device. A physical relationship between the device that includes the display that displays the information and the user is monitored while the information is displayed on the display. A reward that is based on the physical relationship that is monitored between the device and the user is displayed on the display of the device. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239513 | VIRTUAL CLOSET FOR STORING AND ACCESSING VIRTUAL REPRESENTATIONS OF ITEMS - A virtual closet stores and presents virtual representations of physical items. The virtual representations may include virtual representations of items owned by a user, items the user would like to own, and memorabilia items for the user. The virtual closet may provide a number of functions. In some embodiments, the virtual closet may be used to facilitate selling items on online selling platforms by providing information (including virtual representations of the items) from the virtual closet to the online selling platforms to place the items for sale. The virtual closet may also be used in some embodiments to facilitate providing advertising targeted to the user based on information available to the virtual closet. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239514 | METHODS AND APPARATUS TO OBTAIN TRANSACTION CONFIRMATION - Methods and apparatus to obtain transaction confirmation are described. One example method includes emulating a payment method using a close-proximity communication device of a mobile device, establishing a close-proximity communication link using the close-proximity communication device of the mobile device, transferring payment information from the mobile device using the close-proximity communication device, switching the close-proximity communication device of the mobile device to an information receiving communication mode, and receiving a transaction confirmation at the close-proximity communication device of the mobile device. Other implementations are possible. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239515 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DYNAMIC PRODUCT AND SERVICE BUNDLING - Systems and methods for dynamic product bundling are described herein. For example, embodiments dynamically generate product bundle for customer within a particular segment in view of that customer's interest in a particular product. Embodiments determine customer affinity, customer commonality, and product complementarity and use this information to dynamically generate and optimize product bundles for customers interested in one or more products. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239516 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF PRODUCT PLACEMENT - A product seller site distributes on a pay for placement basis placed product with purchased product when the purchased product is delivered, where the placed product is associated with the purchased product by at least one specific characteristic. Further, the product owners bid or pay a fee to place their product. When the customer purchases a product, a search engine determines which products from a database of products available for placement meet the search criteria and offers to distribute the placement product with the purchased product. The search criteria comprise matching the purchased product with similar products to be placed with the purchased product and finding the highest bidder or fee from the group of matching placement products. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239517 | DISTRIBUTED NETWORK FOR PERFORMING COMPLEX ALGORITHMS - The cost of performing sophisticated software-based financial trend and pattern analysis is significantly reduced by distributing the processing power required to carry out the analysis and computational task across a large number of networked individual or cluster of computing nodes. To achieve this, the computational task is divided into a number of sub tasks. Each sub task is then executed on one of a number of processing devices to generate a multitude of solutions. The solutions are subsequently combined to generate a result for the computational task. The individuals controlling the processing devices are compensated for use of their associated processing devices. The algorithms are optionally enabled to evolve over time. Thereafter, one or more of the evolved algorithms is selected in accordance with a predefined condition. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239518 | Method For Monetizing Online Content on the Internet - A computer-implemented system for monetizing internet content. In an embodiment, the system includes an internet content provider providing online content and an online section with the online content for containing an expression of at least one reader's posted thoughts or opinion. The online section is capable of having posted thereto the expression of the at least one reader's thoughts or opinion in a free default format or a fee-paid distinctive format. The system also has a processor for executing the computer executable instructions and a memory for storing at least the computer executable instructions. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239519 | PERSONALIZING SEARCH RESULTS - Some embodiments provide personalized search services. The personalized search services operate to contextualize what is being searched for and to provide at least some search results in that context that are specific to the user to whom the results are to be provided. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239520 | AUCTION METHOD AND SERVER - Provided are an auction method and server that enable a seller and bidders to determine the price of a product at their own discretion by enabling the bidders to participate in a bid between the lowest price offered by the seller and the highest price of the product, and give benefit to both the seller and successful bidders by applying the successful bid price of a lowest successful bidder to all the successful bidders as a sale price. The auction method includes maintaining, at an auction server, a database of the highest price of a specific product, the lowest price offered by a seller, and the limited number of successful bidders, receiving, at the auction server, bidding information including bid prices for the specific product between the lowest price and the highest price from bidders, selecting, at the auction server, a lowest successful bidder from among the bidders in consideration of the limited number of successful bidders and the bidding information when a predetermined bidding time elapses, and requesting, at the auction server, payment from all successful bidders using a successful bid price of the lowest successful bidder as a sale price on the basis of bidding information about the lowest successful bidder. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239521 | ART DISPLAY SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system for displaying an illuminated image which includes (1) a frame kit with interchangeable components and an assembled electric cord set and (2) a flexible sheet imprinted with an image which combine to make a unit for display of the image as on a table lamp or hanging lamp. The printed sheet is art paper or other media formed into a closed shape defined by the shape of the frame rims to which it is attached at both ends. One of the frame rims includes provision for the attachment of legs which connect the rim to a central hub, which provides support for a lamp holder. A slot is provided in the central hub so the complete electric cord set with the lamp holder attached can be inserted without disassembly. A website is set up whereby institutions or businesses can upload selected images with instructions for formatting for printing on the flexible sheet. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239522 | Intelligent Multimedia E-Catalog - An intelligent product catalog system provides for electronic creation, management and viewing of product information using a multimedia display system. A central database repository stores the product information and provides for an unlimited number of product attributes and dynamic reconfiguration of the product information. The central database repository comprises a meta data system, a scheme system and an object model system. A plurality of applications access the central database repository, the applications being automatically adaptive to the dynamic reconfiguration of the product information. A user interface provides display, sorting and filtering of the product information including the unlimited number of product attributes. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239523 | Commerce System and Method of Acquiring Product Information to Control Consumer Purchasing - A commerce system has a plurality of retailers offering products for sale. Product information associated with the products is collected by retrieving the product information from a website of the retailer through a consumer computer system and by confirming and updating the product information through electronic communication with the consumers while in a store of the retailer. The product information is stored in a database. A website is provided for consumers to create a shopping list with weighted preferences for product attributes. The shopping list is optimized based on the product information in the database and the weighted preferences for the product attributes. The optimized shopping list is made available to the consumer to assist with purchasing decisions. The purchasing decisions within the commerce system are controlled by enabling the consumers to select the products for purchase based on the optimized shopping list. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239524 | Commerce System and Method of Acquiring Product, Assortment, and Pricing Information to Control Consumer Purchasing - A commerce system has retailers offering products for sale. Product information associated with the products is collected by retrieving the product information from a website of the retailer through a consumer computer system and by confirming and updating the product information, including per unit pricing and price multiples, through electronic communication with the consumers while in a store of the retailer. The product information is stored in a database. A website is provided for consumers to create a shopping list with weighted preferences for product attributes. The shopping list is optimized based on the product information in the database and the weighted preferences for the product attributes. The optimized shopping list is made available to the consumer to assist with purchasing decisions. The purchasing decisions within the commerce system are controlled by enabling the consumers to select the products for purchase based on the optimized shopping list. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239525 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING QUANTITATIVE GUIDELINE FOR PRINT ORDER - Systems and methods for determining a quantitative guideline are provided. One such method may involve receiving into an electronic device a print order from a customer to a print service provider, determining the requisite tasks to fulfill the print order, determining which resources of the print service provider are capable of undertaking the requisite tasks, and determining respective costs and lead times associated with undertaking each requisite task using each capable resource. In particular, such costs and lead times may be determined based at least in part on a dynamic behavioral model of cost and a dynamic behavioral model of lead time associated with each resource. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239526 | INTERACTIVE MUSIC CONCERT METHOD AND APPARATUS - An interactive music concert method and apparatus provides interaction between a performer and concert attendees to communicate and actively participate in a concert. The performer enters concert information into a server by application, which is then accessed wirelessly by a concert attendee with an electronic device running interactive software. Animations from the server are dynamically displayed on the electronic device. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239527 | NON-SERIALIZED ELECTRONIC PRODUCT REGISTRATION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME - A non-serialized electronic product registration (ER) system and method which enables return qualification information to be provided upon request for non-serialized products. Retailer specific return policies are enforced by providing the ER system with retailer return policies for UPCs, SKUs, model numbers and/or other non-unique product identifiers. The retailer periodically provides information to the ER system that indicates the last date on which products having a particular non-unique identifier have been sold. The ER system then determine the last date on which such products can be returned and provides non-serialized return qualification information to the retailer upon request. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239528 | IMAGE ORDERING SYSTEM - An image ordering system includes an order management apparatus and an image providing apparatus. The order management apparatus includes a first image storage section, an order receiving section which receives an order for electronic-album-output of images, and an order information transmitting section which transmits order information to a contact address associated with ordered images. The image providing apparatus includes a second image storage section, an order information receiving section which receives the order information, an image searching section which searches the images stored in the second image storage section for images related to images indicated by the order information, and an image releasing section which releases the images found as a result of the search upon receiving a release permission. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239529 | Single Digital Wallet Across Multiple Payment Platforms - The present disclosure involves a method of conducting a transaction. In one aspect, the method includes: displaying a media program on a media display device; indicating, while the media program is being displayed, an item associated with the media program is available for purchase; receiving authentication information of a prospective purchaser of the item; and completing a purchase of the item in response to the authentication information. In another aspect, the method includes: receiving, from a media display device, a user authentication request that contains user login credentials; granting the user authentication request in response to the user login credentials; and sending an authentication permission to the media display device; wherein the receiving and the sending are each performed such that the user login credentials and the authentication permission are sent through one or more intermediate hops without being inspected by any of the intermediate hops. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239530 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS TO SUPPLEMENT A LISTING VIA A THIRD PARTY TRUST PROVIDER - Various embodiments include a method and system to request supplemental trust information (STI), from over a network, from a third party trust provider. The requesting uses a first predetermined criterion from an item listing that describes a particular item that is offered for sale on a network-based marketplace. The STI includes history information for the particular item that is generated by the third party trust provider. The system then stores and presents at least a portion of the STI. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239531 | FACILITATING E-COMMERCE PAYMENTS USING NON-ACCEPTED CUSTOMER PAYMENT METHODS - A method of providing e-commerce payment functionality between a customer and a vendor wishing to provide or accept alternate methods of payment. The vendor website initiates a transaction payment request identifying the selected customer payment method, the transaction amount, and the desired vendor payment method to a payment facilitation bureau which processes payment for the transaction amount to the selected customer payment method and issues transaction payment credentials to the vendor in a transaction payment response. The vendor e-commerce platform can then process payment for the transaction to the selected vendor payment method using the issued payment credentials. Various vendor payment methods and customer selected payment methods could be used, and the method allows for the bridging of incompatible pairings of payment methods. Client and server level software for use in this payment method is also disclosed. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239532 | METHOD FOR SHOWCASING A BUILT-UP STRUCTURE AND AN APPARATUS ENABLING THE AFOREMENTIONED METHOD - There is provided a method for showcasing a built-up structure with at least one room. It is advantageous that the user is able to view the interior of the built-up structure by accessing and navigating about a single panoramic image for each room. An apparatus enabling the method and a method of using a work product of the method for showcasing a built-up structure with at least one room is also provided. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239533 | WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR USE THEREWITH - An image of at least one object ( | 2012-09-20 |
20120239534 | DETERMINING COMPLEMENTARY PRODUCT CONTENT FROM PRIMARY PRODUCT DOCUMENT INFORMATION AND PROVIDING SUCH COMPLEMENTARY PRODUCT CONTENT IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE PRIMARY PRODUCT DOCUMENT, IN AN ONLINE ENVIRONMENT - When purchasing a product or service from an online merchant (“first merchant”), e-commerce consumers might want to purchase a complementary product and/or service not offered by the first merchant. Such consumers are provided with an opportunity to purchase or otherwise learn about such complementary products and/or services, and secondary merchants are provided with the opportunity to sell or market such complimentary products and/or services in a way that would not jeopardize the first merchant's sale, and indeed, in a way that might provide a benefit to the first merchant. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239535 | Method and System for Demand and Supply Map/Shopping Path Model Graphical Platform and Supplying Offers Based on Purchase Intentions - Methods and systems allowing a consumer to use a graphical tool that summarizes, compares and browses multiple offers for products or services over a network or communications medium such as via the Internet. In specific embodiments, potential purchasers can make declarations to buy, which sellers can use to generate improved and customized offers. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239536 | INTERACTIVE VIRTUAL SHOPPING EXPERIENCE - Embodiments are disclosed that relate to interactive online shopping experiences. For example, one embodiment provides a computing device configured to present an interactive shopping experience including receiving a user input requesting display of an interactive map of a retail store, and outputting to a display device the interactive map of retail store in response to the request. The embodiment further comprises receiving a user input requesting a first-person view of a portion of the interactive map of the retail store and outputting to the display device the first-person view of the portion of the interactive map of the retail store. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239537 | ELECTRONIC COMMERCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method for electronic commerce management is provided. The method includes sending a request to the test server to be assigned a session identifier, the session identifier being associated with an assigned content version and receive the session identifier from the test server. The method further includes generating web page data to send to the client program, the web page data including (1) computer code which upon execution will cause the client program to retrieve the assigned content version of the static content from the test server using the session identifier, and (2) dynamic web page content based on one or more dynamic content factors and send the web page data to the client program. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239538 | INFORMATION MODEL FOR PROPERTY RECORDS MANAGEMENT - An information model for a party and property records management system includes a legal party role object for maintaining relationships between objects, such as legal party objects and revenue-object objects, within the information model. A legal party object could have several associated objects, such as an identification number object or a legal party communication object. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239539 | FLUID FLOW MEASUREMENT SYSTEM - Sub-metering of fluid use is performed using a single acoustic transducer positioned at a common supply point. A computer attached to the transducer determines when each consumption point is active and measures the respective amount of fluid drawn by each. Acoustic signatures of each consumption point differ depending on the length of piping runs, location of elbows, tees, and other structures which cause acoustic energy as the fluid flows through. The acoustic signatures are recorded by the computer and are used to simultaneously differentiate fluid use at each consumption point. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239540 | SYSTEMS, DEVICES AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATIC DETECTION AND MASKING OF PRIVATE DATA - Private, personal, secret, or otherwise sensitive data is masked or redacted in response to receiving an event signal indicative of an occurrence, if any, of at least one of a number of defined events associated with the set of data. The data to mask is detected by matching it to one or more defined patterns and then validating it, in the case of the data being a financial account or credit card account number, by using a validation process, such as the Luhn algorithm. Among others, the defined event may be a transmission of the data between a host computer system and a terminal emulator, an entry of the data into a host screen, or an export of a set of host screen data to an external application by an end user computer system. | 2012-09-20 |
20120239541 | ACTIONABLE ALERTING - A technique involves processing a first event, maintaining state associated with the event, sending an alert on a stateless communication channel to a registered destination of an account holder associated with the event, processing a second event such as an expected response to the alert, updating the maintained state, and closing, reminding, or escalating in response to the second event. The technique can also include aggregation of events. | 2012-09-20 |