39th week of 2014 patent applcation highlights part 58 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20140288989 | ONLINE REMITTANCE SYSTEM WITH METHODOLOGY FOR PREDICTING DISBURSEMENT TIMES OF ONLINE ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFERS - An online remittance service system with a methodology for predicting disbursement times of online electronic funds transfers is disclosed. In one embodiment, for example, a method includes storing in computer memory a model of a disbursement process performed by one or more partners of the online remittance service for disbursing funds to payees in the destination country; based on the model, scheduling one or more computer-executable jobs with a job scheduling module representing one or more steps of the disbursement process; for each job of the one or more jobs, determining a next execution time for the job, the next execution time representing a time at which the job scheduling module will next execute the job after a specified time; and based on the next execution times for the one or more jobs, determining a predicted time of disbursement of the online electronic funds transfer. | 2014-09-25 |
20140288990 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INCORPORATING CALENDAR FUNCTIONALITY INTO ELECTRONIC MESSAGES - A system is provided which that allows users of electronic communication systems and/or calendar systems the ability to suggest meetings to users of different electronic communication systems and/or calendar systems via electronic messages. The system may provide users with the ability to share calendar availability with users of other electronic communication systems and/or calendar systems via electronic message. One aspect of the disclosed system is the fact that users can share interactive calendar information, and propose and confirm tentative meetings and events, with users of different electronic communications and/or calendar systems. Additionally, calendar information that is shared with others may be dynamically updated even after the electronic messages have been sent. | 2014-09-25 |
20140288991 | PROJECT ESTIMATION AND PLANNING USING FEATURE GRANULARITY - A computer implemented method of generating a feature planning granularity metric in which the method includes receiving certain project estimation constraint metrics, obtaining a reference class of project data of historical reference projects, applying the project estimation constraint metrics in a reference class forecasting, and providing a metric representing the estimated cumulative identified features relative to the effort of the scope of the proposed project, for use in project planning as a feature planning granularity characteristic. | 2014-09-25 |
20140288992 | IDENTIFICATION, CATEGORIZATION, AND INTEGRATION OF UNPLANNED MAINTENANCE, REPAIR AND OVERHAUL WORK ON MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT - An automated interactive method dynamically identifies an unplanned maintenance task during execution of a planned maintenance task on equipment. A user device displays a maintenance menu system for data entry and access and provides an input relating to unplanned maintenance task discovered on the equipment. The unplanned maintenance task is associated with the planned maintenance task at least with respect to a location. The automated interactive method sequentially processes unplanned maintenance task information based on the input from the user device. A user such as a technician enters component data by answering an initial tailored question. An additional tailored question chosen based on a response entered by the technician to the initial tailored question is presented. | 2014-09-25 |
20140288993 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ANALYSIS OF INFRASTRUCTURE - A method and a system for analyzing infrastructure are provided. In one embodiment, a system for analyzing infrastructure is provided. The system includes a grid intelligence quotient as a service (GIQAAS) system. The GIQAAS system includes an infrastructure data gathering system having a first input form configured to collect an economic data related to an infrastructure. The GIQAAS system further includes an economic modeling system configured to import the economic data and to derive an economic analysis based on the economic data. The GIQAAS system is configured to provide the infrastructure data gathering system to a first user for collection of the economic data, and to provide the economic modeling system to a second user for derivation of the economic analysis. | 2014-09-25 |
20140288994 | CROSS DOMAIN INTEGRATION IN PRODUCT LIFECYCLE MANAGEMENT - Cross-domain integration within product lifecycle management can include providing a plurality of finite state machines (FSMs), wherein each FSM is associated with one business object of an integration flow between a first enterprise information system and a second enterprise information system. Each FSM defines a plurality of lifecycle states of the associated business object. A business rule can be associated with each lifecycle state of each FSM. For each FSM, the associated business rules are independent of the FSM. For a selected lifecycle state of each FSM, the associated business rule defines a condition causing a transition from the selected lifecycle state to a next lifecycle state of the FSM. A network of the plurality of FSMs is established by providing communication links among individual ones of the plurality of FSMs according to the business rules. The communication links define the integration flow. | 2014-09-25 |
20140288995 | CRITICALITY SPATIAL ANALYSIS - A system includes a processor, a memory and a user interface. The processor has an input port to receive node data, path data, and spatial data. The node data corresponds to nodes in a system. A node is associated with a facility in a food supply chain. The path data corresponds to connectivity between nodes along paths. The paths are associated with nodes in the food supply chain. The spatial data corresponds to nodes or paths. The memory stores executable instructions for accessing risk data associated with at a node, a path, or a food item. The instructions generate output data based on the node data, the path data, the spatial data, and the risk data. The output corresponds to criticality of the food supply chain. The user interface receives user-selected input data as to the food supply chain and provides the output data. | 2014-09-25 |
20140288996 | TECHNOLOGY ASSET TRACKING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A Technology Asset Tracking System and Method tracks all technology assets including software, hardware and other devices and telecommunications equipment, plans, contracts and agreements, and usage of technology assets from acquisition and assignment to disposal/retirement. An asset database maintains details on each of the devices, including its costs and features. Business rules related to device usage, including compliance policies, are maintained and checked against phone usage to monitor compliance. The system is designed to provide enterprise level configuration and compliance management—to accumulate information about configurations, changes and other data from disparate sources and enable management and data providers to integrate their data into a coherent, seamless unit, using a familiar type of interface. | 2014-09-25 |
20140288997 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING CONTRACTS BETWEEN A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION AND ITS VENDORS - Methods and systems are presented herein for managing contracts between a financial institution and its vendors, for preparation of associated vendor oversight reports, and for securing subscriptions for a financial institution/vendor relationship management system. In certain embodiments, the system provides a guided workflow-driven process for building a complete report for auditors and examiners. In certain embodiments, the system encourages subscriptions from financial institutions for a financial institution/vendor relationship management system. | 2014-09-25 |
20140288998 | System and method for obtaining and paying for consumer data - Consumer data is securely obtained and offered to merchants or their agents in return for monetary compensation. The data's financial worth depends on whether a consumer provides anonymous, personally identifiable information, geo-tracking data, or mobile payment tracking data. The micropayments can be agreed upon in advance, bid on, or a combination of both. A necessary characteristic of the system is the safe and efficient flow of privacy data in return for micropayments that are securely made to consumers and able to be aggregated. | 2014-09-25 |
20140288999 | SOCIAL CHARACTER RECOGNITION (SCR) SYSTEM - A social character recognition system includes a user profile constructer and a data analyzer. The user profile constructer generates a user profile from user's social information available on the internet and from other external information, the user profile having multiple scales, where the lowest scale includes the raw data, higher scales aggregate the data into generic attributes and the topmost level defines a social character of the user. The data analyzer calculates similarities at least between a first user profile and a second user profile based on weighted functions of distances between the each of the scales in the user profiles. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289000 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING CROWD SOURCED METRICS FOR NETWORK CONTENT BROADCASTERS - A system and method for providing crowd sourced metrics for broadcast content providers. For determinations of such metrics, user consumption of broadcast content in multiple streams by multiple content providers may be monitored and user consumption information regarding the broadcast content may be obtained. One or more content consumption metrics may be determined to quantify individual user consumption of the broadcast content. Audience metrics may be determined, for a content provider, to inform about users that are available to consume broadcast content provided by the content provider. Events within the broadcast content may be determined and event information regarding individual user consumption of the broadcast content at the event may be obtained. Event metrics may be determined based on the obtained event information to inform about consumption of the broadcast content at the event by users. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289001 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RECRUITING SUBJECTS FOR RESEARCH STUDIES AND CLINICAL TRIALS OVER THE INTERNET - A system and method for managing private records and other confidential information is provided, including a patient interface that allows patients to configure privileges for various parties to access various private records or portions thereof. A database can be accessed via a privacy engine, which respects the configured privileges and allows searching for private records. A plurality of user interfaces is provided to allow records managers, patients, and interested parties to access selected private information. A clinical trials interface allows limited access to a private records database for interested parties to identify germane clinical trials and research studies. A recruitment interface allows conductors of research studies to access private records to locate appropriate research subjects. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289002 | METHODS FOR IDENTIFYING AND PROVIDING NOTIFICATION ABOUT WEB CONTENT ASSOCIATED WITH AN ORGANIZATION AND DEVICES THEREOF - A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and apparatus that identifies and provides notification about web content associated with an organization includes identifying one or more sets of web content which contains one or more organization keywords. At least a portion of each of the identified one or more sets of web content is extracted. One or more business units within each of one or more organizations and one or more business words for each of the one or more business units are obtained. One or more of the business words are associated with one or more of the extracted portions of the one or more sets of web content. Each of the extracted portions of the one or more sets of web content are provided to a designated recipient computing device based on the association of the one or more business words with the one or more of the extracted portions of the one or more sets of web content. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289003 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETECTING ANOMALY IN PASSENGER FLOW - Methods and systems for detecting an anomaly in a passenger flow towards a transport device. Historical data relating to the passenger flow is aggregated and a forecast passenger flow value for a target time frame is determined based upon the historical data. A first forecast is computed based upon the passenger flow in a first set of the time frames directly preceding the target time frame. A second forecast is computed based upon the passenger flow in a second set of the time frames, the second set of time frames having occurred on a same weekday and at a same time as the target time frame, in weeks preceding the target time frame. The first and second forecasts are combined to produce the forecast passenger flow value for the target time frame. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289004 | Near-Term Data Filtering, Smoothing and Load Forecasting - Techniques for near-term data filtering, smoothing and forecasting are described herein. In one example, data is received from supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) measurements available in an electrical grid. The data may be filtered according to a two-stage Kalman filter, which may include a ramp rate filter test and a load level filter test. The filtered data may then be smoothed according to an augmented Savitzky-Golay filter. Within the filter, a lift multiplier may correct for bias, which may have been introduced by load changes (e.g., an early morning increase in load). In one example, the lift multiplier may be calculated as a ratio between a smoothed load from a centered Savitzky-Golay moving average and a right hand side constrained Savitzky-Golay moving average. The filtered and smoothed data may be used in forming near-term forecast(s), which may performed by autoregressive model(s). | 2014-09-25 |
20140289005 | Systems and Methods for Use in Marketing - The present invention relates to systems ( | 2014-09-25 |
20140289006 | Method and System For Social Media Sales - A system and method to match product supply with demand by identifying potential customers on social media. The system comprising a database, a social search module, a lead analysis module, a customer engagement module, a transaction module, a blog integration module and an inventory classification module, where the database and the modules are all communicatively coupled to each other. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289007 | SCENARIO BASED CUSTOMER LIFETIME VALUE DETERMINATION - A method and system for determining customer lifetime value (CLV) for a business is described. The method may include receiving, from a user, inputs associated with a plurality of parameters. The plurality of parameters correspond to customer transactions. The method may further include determining, based on the received inputs, a CLV base model applicable for the business. The CLV base model is determined from amongst a plurality of pre-defined CLV base models. Further, the method may include identifying at least one market scenario from amongst a plurality of pre-configured market scenarios for the business. Each of the plurality of pre-configured market scenarios are based on a combination of the plurality of parameters. The method may also include computing a consolidated CLV for the business based on the determined CLV base model and the at least one identified CLV scenario model. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289008 | SELLER INTERFACE FOR DISPLAYING STATUS OF AUCTIONS USING PREDICTIVE INFORMATION - One or more auctions of a seller are monitored. An interface is provided that includes auction event information for each of the one or more auctions of the seller. As an example, the auction event information can include a top bid, and an indication as to whether a reserve price has been met. Predictive information is determined for each of the one or more auctions of the seller. Information is displayed based on the predictive information using the interface. The displayed information can indicate a probability as to whether the auction will be successful. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289009 | METHODS, SYSTEMS AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIA FOR MAXIMIZING SALES IN A RETAIL ENVIRONMENT - Methods, systems and computer program products for maximizing sales in a retail environment are disclosed. Information is measured regarding drivers of shopper in-store behavior and its underlying drivers of ergonomics, visibility and desirability. Models are fitted and used to optimize sales. Outputs include new merchandising display arrangements, planograms and marketing plans. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289010 | Systems and Methods for Classifying Computer Video Game Genres Utilizing Multi-Dimensional Cloud Chart - Features of electronically embodied games are logically categorized, analyzed, and compared. Features are preferably organized according to a hierarchical classification scheme, according to a classification scheme that is not strictly tautological. All suitable feature sets are contemplated, including sets corresponding to characteristics of personifications of players and non-players, types and/or uses of game space, methods of rewarding a player, etc. In other aspects comparisons are made between an evaluation game and one or more sets of historically available games. Such sets can be grouped by genre and the number of games in such sets can range anywhere from a single game to hundreds of games, or more. Reporting and guidance can include providing a risk assessment score or other risk analysis, feature assessment (prevalence), market placement, business model analysis, dynamic trend analysis, clustered pattern recognition, and image analysis. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289011 | PARI-MUTUEL PREDICTION MARKETS AND THEIR USES - Computer-implemented methods and apparatus for generating prediction markets are described to gauge business uncertainties surrounding a project with an uncertain timeline and/or an uncertain result. Such prediction markets can be used in any industry segment and across business functions, including research and development (R&D), marketing, executive functions and others. Traditional prediction markets, like equity markets, require liquidity for success. By introducing a pari-mutuel prediction input platform, the present invention describes a modified prediction market that elicits more accurate predictions surrounding business decisions. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289012 | AGGREGATED SENSORY PROFILE GENERATION, ANALYTICS, AND INSIGHTS - Computer-based systems and methods for determining an aggregate sensory profile for a plurality of individuals. The system may comprise a plurality of remote computer systems, each comprising: a local database for storing user data about the plurality of individuals; and a local sensory profile determination engine for generating sensory profile data for each of the plurality of individuals based on user data stored in the local database. The system may also comprise a central computer system that receives the sensory profile data from the plurality of remote computer systems. The central computer system comprises: a central database for storing the sensory profile data received from the remote computer systems; and a sensory profile aggregation engine for generating aggregate sensory profiles for each of the plurality of individuals based on the sensory profile data received from the remote computer systems and stored in the central database. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289013 | CONTEXT-SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE SAMPLING METHOD AND SYSTEM - The present invention relates to a context-specific experience sampling method comprising the steps of: collecting user's experience information; classifying the collected user's experience information and selecting keywords representing the classified user's experience information; generating a questionnaire to be applied to experience sampling based on the keywords; providing the questionnaire to the user; receiving response data by each activity for a context and an environment that the user has experienced, in response to the questionnaire; and analyzing a relationship between the user's context and environment and the user's experience, based on the response data by each activity for the user's context and environment. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289014 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO EVALUATE CONTACTS - A system and method of evaluating contacts for an professional service provider is disclosed. The system may create or more network located online communities related to an professional service provider, such as an investment professional service provider. The communities may display information of interest to the members of the community. The manner a contact reaches the online community may be indicative of the level of interest of the contact. The level of interest may be classified or scored. A series of questions may be posed to the contact and the answers to those questions may also be scored or classified. By scoring or classifying the answers to a series of logically arranged questions, a contact classification or score for a contact may be created and evaluated. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289015 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GAMIFIED AUDIENCE INTERACTION PLATFORM - A computerized method to encourage audience engagement by providing immediate rewards and feedback to audiences as they receive content, the method comprising providing a first content to a user, analyzing a response from the user to the content, wherein the response is selected from a range of options, and analyzing the response to create a second content for the user. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289016 | ENHANCEMENT OF ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS OF CONSUMER FEEDBACK USING MICRO-SURVEYS AND APPLICATIONS THEREOF - The present invention provides tools and methods that offer significant enhancement in consumer compliance in completing surveys, and afford statistically significant/accurate measurements of consumer feedback. In particular, the present invention provides software applications that utilize the methods described herein to administer Micro-Surveys to consumers, eliciting statistically significant feedback to effect global positive commercial change. Moreover, the present further provides a survey tool that utilizes a novel consumer propensity weighted analysis. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289017 | Methods for Viewer Modeling and Bidding in an Online Advertising Campaign - Systems and methods are disclosed for employing supervised machine learning methods with activities and attributes of viewers with truth as input, to produce models that are utilized in determining probabilities that an unknown viewer belongs to one or more demographic segment categories. Using these models for processing viewer behavior, over a period of time a database of known categorized viewers is established, each categorized viewer having a probability of belonging to one or more segment categories. These probabilities are then used in bidding for online advertisements in response to impression opportunities offered in online media auctions. The probabilities are also used in predicting on-target impressions and GRPs (Gross Rating Points) in advance of online advertising media campaigns, and pricing those campaigns to advertiser/clients. Strategies are also disclosed for fulfilling a campaign when an available inventory of known categorized viewers is not adequate to fulfill a campaign in a required runtime. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289018 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DETERMINING USER DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILES - A method determines a user demographic profile of a user that visits one or more websites of a predetermined group of websites. The method includes generating a first record of visits by the user to the websites of the predetermined group of websites. The method further includes providing one or more website profiles comprising demographic characteristics of each website visited by the user of the predetermined group of websites. The method further includes calculating an estimated user demographic profile of the user by using the first record of visits by the user and the one or more website profiles. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289019 | INFORMATION SYSTEM TO OBTAIN AN EXPOSITION RATING OF A GEOGRAPHICAL AREA - An information system is provided to obtain an exposition rating of a certain geographical area. A computer-implemented method is provided to obtain the exposition rating of a certain geographical area. An electronic device is provided for the display of information based on the exposition rating. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289020 | MONITORING TRANSPORT OF MATERIALS IN CONTAINERS - A railcar asset management system proactively issues an alert or task when a pre-determined event occurs. The system may receive information regarding the location and status of a railcar from sensors on the railcar that may include a telematics sensing unit. A database in the railway telematics system stores the data regarding the railcar location and status information. The system determines whether an event has occurred and issues the proactive alerts and/or task. The system may communicate the proactive alert via e-mail, paging, PDAs or by cell phone and may provide interactive preconfigured web pages. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289021 | CROSS DOMAIN INTEGRATION IN PRODUCT LIFECYCLE MANAGEMENT - Cross-domain integration within product lifecycle management can include providing a plurality of finite state machines (FSMs), wherein each FSM is associated with one business object of an integration flow between a first enterprise information system and a second enterprise information system. Each FSM defines a plurality of lifecycle states of the associated business object. A business rule can be associated with each lifecycle state of each FSM. For each FSM, the associated business rules are independent of the FSM. For a selected lifecycle state of each FSM, the associated business rule defines a condition causing a transition from the selected lifecycle state to a next lifecycle state of the FSM. A network of the plurality of FSMs is established by providing communication links among individual ones of the plurality of FSMs according to the business rules. The communication links define the integration flow. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289022 | TASK ASSISTANCE DEVICE, TASK ASSISTANCE SYSTEM, TASK ASSISTANCE METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM WITH PROGRAM STORED THEREIN - A basic behavior information acquirer ( | 2014-09-25 |
20140289023 | LOCAL FARE PROCESSING - Techniques are provided herein that enable local fare processing for access control points (entry gates, turnstiles, etc.) in a transit or similar system that can detect fraudulent activity far more quickly than fare processing systems using traditional blacklists or whitelists—and even detecting fraudulent activity at a first occurrence. Embodiments take advantage of the relatively high communication speed and memory capacity of modern transit systems to generate a list of all applicable cards with usage data such as the time of last use, value, or other “one directional data,” provide it to each access control point in the system. The access control point, upon reading fare media, can then compare the data on the fare media to data on the list to determine whether fraud may be taking place. The access control point may then determine whether to allow access, flag the fare media, and/or take another action. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289024 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM FOR BILLING TOLLS - Billing tolls accumulated during a rental period comprises a third party entity, a toll authority, and a toll rental entity coupled to the third party entity and to the toll authority, wherein the third party entity sends a request for service to the toll rental entity, wherein the toll rental entity sends the request for service during the rental period to the toll authority, wherein the toll authority stores the request, wherein the toll authority sends toll data to the toll rental entity based on the request, wherein the toll rental entity sends toll rental data to the third party entity based on the toll data, and wherein the third party entity generates a bill based on the toll rental data. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289025 | PARKING METER AND A DEVICE THEREFOR - A single bay parking meter device is provided which accepts payment by means of a credit or debit card, an electronic purse, or coins. The device has a power supply unit, a solar power charging arrangement and power management, such that it does not need power supply cables to be installed for each meter. The parking meter device also transmits financial data to a financial institution in a wireless manner, also to avoid the need for cabling. The parking meter device is receivable in the base of a conventional single bay parking meter, such that the new parking meter device may be retrofitted to existing coin operated installed single bay parking meters, using a new cover that is also engageable with the conventional housing base. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289026 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING TRIP INFORMATION - A device determines trip information related to a route travelled by a passenger. In order to provide a solution for automatically verifying trip information and for enhancing passenger comfort when using public transportation, the device includes a receiver that can be carried by the passenger and receives a signal generated by a ground-based local transmitter, and a processor for determining at least one bit of trip information by signal evaluation in which at least one signal characteristic of a received signal is evaluated. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289027 | METHOD OF REUSING SHIPPING AND PACKING MATERIALS - A method of reusing a recyclable container comprises receiving information relating to a change in a location of a recyclable container based on a data device situated on the container and causing transfer of a deposit amount based on the change in location. A method of processing reusable materials comprises receiving a reusable packaging material with a data device associated with unique identifier data; associating a condition of the reusable packaging material with the unique identifier data; sorting reusable packaging material to send to manufacturers; and modifying the data associated with said unique identifier data to reflect the number of uses of the container and the destination of the container. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289028 | Location Aware Deals - In one embodiment, a request is received from a first user to create a location-triggered benefit that may be redeemed by a second user at a vendor and associated with a condition. The first user is not the vendor, and the condition may require that the second user go to a particular location. A record of the location-triggered benefit may be created in a database. Information may be received that the second user has satisfied the condition, and in response, the second user may be allowed to redeem the location-triggered benefit at the vendor. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289029 | LOCAL CONTEXTUAL DISPLAY - A service provider system remembers feedback by a user when the user selects an offer, a presented option, or other content from a page or display on a user device. The user is then taken to a new page or screen with details about the offer, option, or other content. When the user goes back to the original page or screen, the page is revised based on the user feedback. For example, a dialog box may pop up over the selected offer to ask the user whether the user accepted the offer or is not interested in the offer. If so, the offer disappears and subsequent pages may not show the selected offer again. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289030 | SYSTEM FOR ATTRACTING CUSTOMERS - A system for attracting new customer comprises providing a coupon to an existing customer, the coupon identifying only the customer and when that coupon is redeemed by a second customer, the first customer receives value. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289031 | SYSTEMS, METHODS AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM FOR WIRELESS SOLICITATIONS - Product offering systems are provided. Product offering systems may include sending an offer to a customer that possesses a mobile computing device and has agreed to receive offers for products via the mobile computing device. Agreeing to receive offers would result in the unique data about the customer being available to offer provider. Unique customer data may include data related to the customers wireless service provider or from a financial account in a financial institution, and collecting customer data about the customer, wherein the customer data comprises financial data and personal data. Product offering systems may further include registering a wireless computing device of the customer to able the device to receive the offer, and determining opportunities to send the offer to the customer by monitoring the customer and the customer data. Product offering systems may also include sending the offer to the customer's registered device based on the determination of opportunities. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289032 | Multi-User Reward Integration System and Methods of Use Thereof - The present invention provides reward systems and methods that offer significant enhancement to increasing consumer interest and/or to increase consumer engagement with a participating business. In particular, the present invention provides software applications that utilize the methods described herein to offer a plurality of rewards to a consumer using a Multi-User Reward Integration (MURI) system. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289033 | Methods and Systems for Uploading, Trading and Exchanging Loyalty Points on Social Media Websites - A method and system are provided for providing a plurality of loyalty programs for a plurality of merchants. This involves storing, on a computer-readable storage module, identification information for merchants and customers, and a plurality of rule sets for each merchant, receiving, a request from a customer identifying a customer, a merchant, and purchase information regarding a purchase made by a customer from a merchant, determining if the request complies with the corresponding rule set for the merchant, and, if so, determining a social media profile for the customer, awarding loyalty points to the customer, and uploading loyalty point reward information to the social media profile for the customer. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289034 | Systems and Methods for Assisting Users with Contact, Access, and Distribution Lists - A computer server system provides an online community for customers of a business entity. A first level feedback module provides visual feedback to each user in a user interface for the online community, which quantifies each user's interaction with the community. A notification module sends an electronic message to a user when the user's interaction is below a predefined threshold rate. A second level feedback module calculates second level metrics that quantify other users' evaluations of postings to the online community by a first user. Visual feedback of the second level metrics is provided. A third level feedback module awards a designated achievement badge to users whose interaction metrics exceed predefined threshold values, and displays the achievement badge in the user interface. The system promotes a high level of user participation in the online community and thereby contributes to a low cost of technical support provided by the business entity. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289035 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEFINING ROUTING OF CUSTOMERS BETWEEN MERCHANTS - A server or Internet service provider computer selects a soliciting merchant and an outputting merchant based on various factors. In one embodiment, the soliciting merchant is selected is its activity rate (e.g. sales rate) is low. The outputting merchant provides offers for bonuses to customers on behalf of the soliciting merchant. The bonus is provided to the customer in exchange for consummating a transaction with the soliciting merchant. Thus, the soliciting merchant benefits from the increased patronage such offers encourage. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289036 | Marketing Prediction, Analysis, and Optimization - For a plurality of subscribers of network content, a first value per subscriber of may be determined. The determination may be based on conversion data associated with a first advertisement. The first value per subscriber may be compared with a value associated with a second advertisement. The effectiveness of the second advertisement may be evaluated based on the comparison. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289037 | Local Advertising Responses - A computer-implemented method managing telephonic connections is disclosed. The method includes transmitting from a computer server system, for display on an electronic communication device, an advertisement from an advertiser; receiving from the electronic communication device a request to be connected telephonically with the advertiser; automatically playing a predetermined audio message after connecting telephonically with the advertiser; and connecting the electronic communication device telephonically with the advertiser after playing the predetermined audio message. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289038 | CONVERSION ATTRIBUTION FOR EARNED MEDIA - Tracking a path to conversion by receiving, in relation to an engagement of a first computer user with a first computer-hosted media object, an identifier associated with the first computer user and an identifier associated with the first computer-hosted media object, receiving, in relation to an engagement of a second computer user to a second computer-hosted media object, the identifier associated with the first computer user, an identifier associated with the second computer user, and the identifier associated with the first computer-hosted media object, and associating with the engagement of the first computer user to the first computer-hosted media object, a conversion event associated with the second computer user. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289039 | ADVERTISEMENT DISTRIBUTION DEVICE AND ADVERTISEMENT DISTRIBUTION METHOD - An advertisement distribution device according to the present application includes a distribution unit. The distribution unit distributes advertising content while switching an advertisement distribution process in accordance with a predetermined target figure within the range an advertisement listing fee paid to a provider of a Web page on which the advertising content is placed reaches the predetermined target figure. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289040 | Systems and Methods for Avoiding Undesirable Bundling and Use of Computer Applications - Systems and methods are disclosed to avoid the undesirable offer, use, bundling, and other provision of applications. An application can be associated with categories or keywords and another application can be associated with restrictions prevented it from being used with applications associated with certain categories or keywords. If an application is associated with a subject matter categories that is on a subject matter exclusion list of another application, then those applications will not be used, shared, or bundled together. Similarly, an application can be prevented from use with another application based on keyword restrictions. If a first application is associated with particular keywords, such as keywords identifying market or brand, and second application identifies the same as restricted keywords, the second application will not be used with the first application. In some cases, competitors can use such techniques to prevent undesirable cross promotion, bundling, and sharing of applications. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289041 | TERMINAL DEVICE, COUPON SERVER DEVICE, COUPON-USING DEVICE, COUPON HISTORY-OF-USE SERVER DEVICE, AND COUPON SHARING SYSTEM - A terminal device includes a coupon file acquisition unit, a share-coupon file generation unit, a user ID holding unit, a first instruction unit, and a coupon file output unit. The coupon file acquisition unit is configured to acquire a sharable coupon file including a coupon information storing portion and a history-of-share information storing portion through a near-field wireless communication. The share-coupon file generation unit is configured to generate a coupon file to be output to be shared. The user ID holding unit is configured to hold a user ID. The first instruction unit is configured to instruct the share-coupon file generation unit to store a user ID in a history-of-share information storing portion in the generated coupon file. The coupon file output unit is configured to output the coupon file generated by the share-coupon file generation unit to share. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289042 | Method of Delivery, Targeting, and Measuring Advertising over Networks - Methods and apparatuses for targeting the delivery of advertisements over a network such as the Internet are disclosed. Statistics are compiled on individual users and networks and the use of the advertisements is tracked to permit targeting of the advertisements of individual users. In response to requests from affiliated sites, an advertising server transmits to people accessing the page of a site an appropriate one of the advertisement based upon profiling of users and networks. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289043 | ONLINE ADVERTISEMENT PROVISIONING - An online ad provisioning system couples persuasive media items (ads) with an established viewership/recipient set by first identifying a popularity, or number of recipients of a requested media item, and subsequently associating the media item with an advertisement (banner, window, video segment) expecting the established viewership. While conventional advertising seeks to divert the readers attention before their eyes are on the page, the system identifies and targets recipients after their eyes are on the page (or screen, window, etc.). Such an association allows an advertiser to specify, for example, to associate an ad (persuasive media item) with the most popular web page, or to run a commercial in a video stream only if at least a predetermined number of viewers are receiving the stream. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289044 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DELIVERING CURSOR-BASED CONTENTBASED ON USER INPUTS - A client side computer system for receiving and displaying advertising content in a computer network includes a user input device, a display device, a keyword capture module extracting keyword data from user input, an ad invocation module, and an ad deployment module. The ad invocation module is responsive to the keyword capture module and generates an advertising call request to an advertising server. The ad deployment module receives an advertisement from the advertising server and displays the advertisement on a requested webpage displayed on the display device. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289045 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A MODULAR USER CONTROLLED SEARCH ENGINE - Method and system for delivery of personal search services and advertising. The method includes collecting information from the user about the user's personal search engine, including, but not limited to digital content data sources, link crawl depth of those digital content data sources, and time interval to refresh the index of the digital content data sources created. In one embodiment of the present invention users do not pay a fee in return for allowing the provider to present advertising to the user as the user uses the invention. In another embodiment, advertisers purchase advertising display services from the provider to be displayed to specific users. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289046 | Mobile Sales Targeting Application - The disclosed system relates to the pairing of retailers and customers by way of a mobile application. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289047 | SELECTIVE BANNER AD DISPLAY - When a user launches a service provider app on a user device, but before authentication, the user may be presented with an ad or offer, which is dependent on and relevant to the user. The service provider determines which ad to present to the user based on factors such as time of day, time of year, location of user, speed of travel of user, user purchase history, user favorites, saved offers, size of merchant, user actions from previous ads, expiration dates of saved offers, etc. Once an ad is determined, the ad is presented to the user on the user device. In one embodiment, the ad is displayed when the user launches an app of the service provider or accesses the service provider site, such as through a mobile browser. the user does not have to launch an app or access a site for an ad to be displayed. After viewing the ad, the user can accept an offer from the ad or otherwise make a purchase based on the ad, such as by logging into the user account (e.g., entering a password or PIN) and making a payment. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289048 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PRESENTING BANNERS HAVING DIRECT LINK TO USER PROFILE INFORMATION - A method and system for generating electronic advertisement, such as banner ads, based on user profile information and other information are disclosed. An online promotion service may receive profile information, location information and other information from a user. The user may also define a proximity preference which may include a range of distance the user is willing to travel to redeem one or more promotions. A service or product provider or other authorized entity may define a proximity preference which may include a target range of advertisement exposure. The online promotion service may present advertisements for incentives and other promotions based on user profile information as well as proximity preference information where the proximity preference is defined by the user, the provider, or both. The user may activate a user identifier displayed on the advertisement which provides a direct link to user profile information to enable the user to easily and quickly modify and update user profile information. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289049 | COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR THE DISPLAY OF ADVERTISEMENTS - Communication system for displaying advertisements, characterized in that it comprises a cascade geolocation system. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289050 | OUTPUT OF ADVERTISEMENT UTILIZING EXCHANGE OF ITEM DATA - A terminal device includes an owner attribute information holding unit, a program execution unit, an item data holding unit, an output unit, an item data reception unit, a partner attribute information holding unit, an advertisement output unit, and network communication unit. The owner attribute information holding unit holds one or more pieces of owner attribute information. The program execution unit executes a program. The item data holding unit holds item data. The output unit outputs the held item data with the held owner attribute information through short-range wireless communication. The item data reception unit receives the item data with partner attribute information. The partner attribute information holding unit holds the received partner attribute information. The advertisement output unit outputs an advertisement on a basis of the held partner attribute information. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289051 | PROMOTION OPERABLE RECOGNITION SYSTEM - A recognition system is employed in conjunction with a subscriber's cellular phone and the network serving the subscriber. According to an embodiment, a subscriber can use a cellular phone to receive and capture data signals, from, for example, an audio output. The captured data signals can be transmitted to a remote network element that receives and translates the captured data and performs a plurality of functions. A promotion can be selectively tailored to a user based in part on the user location. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289052 | Advertisement Based on Application-Created Social Content - In one embodiment, a social-networking system accesses a social graph, identifies a first set of concept nodes associated with an application, connected to friends of a user, selects a second set of concept nodes from the first set of concept nodes based on edges connected to the concept nodes, and generates an advertisement for the application, where the advertisement includes information representing the concept nodes in the second set of concept nodes. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289053 | Interactive Financial Tool - Discussed herein is an evaluation and scoring system that may be used to quickly assess and guide financial decisions, facilitate or create communities of interest, and assist in accessing markets and/or consumers that may not have been sufficiently considered before. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289054 | BEHAVIORAL TRACKING SYSTEM AND METHOD IN SUPPORT OF HIGH-ENGAGEMENT COMMUNICATIONS - Disclosed is a system and method to measure a first customer's interest and transmit a targeted communication to the first customer as a function of the measured customer interest. Various customer actions are determined, including actions associated with: a plurality of customers on a plurality of destination sites; the first customer on the plurality of destination sites; the plurality of customers on each of at least some of the plurality of destination sites; and the first customer on the at least some sites. At least one processor can be used to determine respective values associated with each of the respective actions, and process the respective values to measure the first customer's interest, and generate the targeted communication to send to the first customer. The targeted communication is transmitted using the at least one processor to the first customer. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289055 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ACCESSING A COMPUTER RESOURCE OVER A NETWORK VIA MICROPHONE-CAPTURED AUDIO - The disclosure relates to accessing computer resources by sensing audio with a microphone. One claim recites a system comprising: a software module comprising instructions for controlling a wireless device to: i) extract identifying data from microphone-captured audio by applying a hashing algorithm to the microphone-captured audio; ii) obtain device information for a class of devices associated with the wireless device; iii) control communication of the identifying data and the device information; and iv) control a user interface to facilitate access to a third party computer resource based on a service received by said software module in response to communication of the identifying data and the device information, in which the service is configured to facilitate access in response to audio prompting; and a network resource comprising a data registry, the data registry comprising a correlation between identifying data, device information and sponsored links, the network resource configured to provide the service to the software module including providing a sponsored link to the software module, the sponsored link being associated with the identifying data and the device information. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided as well. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289056 | CONSUMER-DRIVEN SOCIAL SHOPPING - Systems and methods to facilitate discounted volume purchasing of a product. A server system searches the internet to discover product information about a product. The server system generates a pack listing of product type, purchase quantity, and price per unit product based on the discovered product information, and posts the pack listing on a web site of the server system. The server system further facilitates the activation of the pack listing by a user of the web site to generate a non-public pack. The server system also facilitates the commitment of a supplier to the non-public pack and the transformation of the non-public pack to a public pack. The server system further facilitates the filling of the public pack via the web site and various aspects of purchasing via the pack once the pack is filled by the requisite committed purchase quantity. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289057 | System and Method for Talent Promotion - A system and method for talent promotion including a social network, a venue and a brand accelerator. Users of the system may include artists, managers, venues and fans. The users of the system are allowed to interact with other users within the system to promote their brand as it relates to content and talents. The social network component provides the platform for the interaction between users. Each user may also maintain a homepage which allows for the uploading of content and interaction with various users. The brand accelerator utilizes data within and outside of the system to assist the users with promotion of their brand. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289058 | ADVERTISEMENT GENERATION APPARATUS AND TERMINAL DEVICE - An advertisement generation apparatus includes a generating unit that generates a page to foe displayed on a terminal device that displays an advertisement on a screen. The page includes a content page and an advertising page that are superimposed one on top of the other, where the content page includes an advertising space such that the advertising space is to be scrolled on the screen according to operation, and the advertising page is greater in size than the advertising space. The page is configured to display the content page, and a part of the advertising page located within the advertising space. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289059 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DATA FEED MANAGEMENT - Systems and methods are provided for automatically replacing generic web address information received from a data source with individual web address information. One example computer-implemented method comprises transmitting a data request at an end of a preset time interval, and after each data request: receiving, from the data source, offer information related to a plurality of offers, each offer being associated with a generic web address; associating each offer with a respective one of a plurality of individual web addresses; modifying the offer information by replacing the generic web address for each offer with the individual web address associated with the offer; and posting the offer information on a web page, each offer being displayed with the associated individual web address. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289060 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING CUSTOM REPORTS BASED ON POINT-OF-SALE DATA - A method of generating custom reports based on point-of-sale data transferred between multiple remote computing devices and a central computing device includes generating point-of-sale data at multiple remote locations, transferring the point-of-sale data to a central computing device from multiple computing devices at the respective multiple remote locations, defining a custom report format, the custom report format specifying at least two of the multiple remote locations and specifying a date range, the date range and the at least two multiple remote locations being freely selectable by a user, generating a custom report using the custom report format, the custom report being based on point-of-sale data related to the specified remote locations and the specified date range, and communicating the custom report to a human being. A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium for generating custom reports is also disclosed, as are subscription services, computer systems, graphical user interfaces and other features. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289061 | POINT-OF-SALE TERMINAL BASED MOBILE ELECTRONIC WALLET REGISTRATION, AUTHORIZATION AND SETTLEMENT - Methods for conducting a transaction of a mobile electronic wallet (EW) with a merchant electronic point-of sale (POS) terminal include use of the POS terminal to provide authorization for the transaction directly to an EW terminal server (TS) without involvement of a transaction gateway. The EW-TS receives a transaction request from an authenticated EW application in a mobile device and provides an approval for stored EW-TS card data delivered to the POS terminal The POS terminal authorizes the transaction and submits the authorization request to a host processor. In some embodiments, the POS terminal also enrolls an EW in a mobile EW program. In some embodiments, the POS terminal also settles the transaction. In some embodiments, an EW sends checking account information to be proceessed by check services of the POS terminal. In some embodiments, additional consumer payment data is captured during the EW enrollment. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289062 | Sales Support System for Proposing Product to Customer - A sales support system includes: a used equipment information receiving unit configured to receive used equipment information regarding a used equipment of a customer; a product proposal information generating unit configured to generate product proposal information that is used to propose a product to the customer; and a selected process receiving unit configured to receive a process for generating the product proposal information selected from a plurality of processes for generating the product proposal information by the product proposal information generating unit. The product proposal information generating unit is further configured to generate the product proposal information using the process received by the selected process receiving unit based on the used equipment information received by the used equipment information receiving unit. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289063 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DEPLOYING HIGH-VOLUME LISTINGS IN A NETWORK TRADING PLATFORM - A method and system for deploying high volume listings in a network based commerce system are described. The system uploads listing data that includes a first listing. Next, the system creates a first profile and a second profile based on the listing data. Finally, the system automatically generates a second listing based on the first and second profiles. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289064 | PROVIDING INFORMATION OF ASSETS FOR TRANSACTION TO A USER BASED ON THE USER PROFILE - A method for providing information of assets available for transaction to a user is provided. A report is provided to a computing device operated by the user. The report includes one or more entries that each corresponds to an asset that is made to be available during an auction. Each entry can include a link for the corresponding asset. In response to receiving user selection of one or more links on the report, one or more assets corresponding to the one or more selected links are determined. A profile of the user is updated with information associated with the determined one or more assets. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289065 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING AND UTILIZING NON-BIDDING ACTIVITY OF BIDDERS IN AN ONLINE AUCTION - The non-bidding activity of one or more bidders of an auction is detected over an online interface of the auction environment. The activity of the one or more bidders is detected while the one or more bidders are participating in the auction. The non-bidding activity is correlated to an interest metric for the auction. Information is communicated that is based on the interest metric. The information can be communicated to either a seller or a bidder of the auction. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289066 | COMPUTER SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONDUCTING AUCTIONS OVER A COMPUTER NETWORK - There is provided a computer system for conducting auctions over a computer network, comprising: a posting system operable to post on the computer network information describing each lot of a plurality of lots that are available for bidding by a plurality of bidders, each lot including at least one item; a bid receiving system for receiving a bid relating to at least a portion of a lot of the plurality of lots, characterized in that the posting system is operable to define an n-dimensional matrix, where n is at least 2, wherein the matrix comprises the plurality of lots, and wherein the posting system is operable to post the matrix on the computer network. A computer-implemented method relating to the computer system, and a computer-readable medium containing instructions for implementing the computer-implemented method, are also provided. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289067 | COMPUTER-BASED RIGHT DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM WITH TEMPORAL VARIATION - An automated ticket auctioning system receives and evaluates bid information records received from a plurality of remote terminals. Each bid information record corresponds to at least one bid for one or more desired seats at a venue. Each bid information record may also include a plurality of additional bids identified for different seats in the venue. The separate bids in each bid information record are prioritized. The automated ticket auctioning system includes a central controlling computer operable to receive the bid information records and determine, in order of priority, whether any of the bids in a bid information record is accepted. If one bid in a bid information record is accepted, all lower priority bids in that bid information record are dismissed. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289068 | Method and System for Product Configuration Validation - A computer-implemented method or system that is capable of configuring a product. The computer-implemented method or system receiving a product configuration matrix from a computer storage medium. The computer-implemented method or system also receiving user input defining a user selection of at least one feature or component of the product. The computer-implemented method or system generating a binary representation of the user selection. The computer-implemented method or system deriving a resolution matrix. The method or system comparing the resolution matrix and the binary representation of the user selection to determine whether one or more of the selected product features or components in the user selection are valid for the product. The computer-implemented method or system also generating a validation result that identifies one or more valid product features or components within the user selection. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289069 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RECOMMENDING HOME DECOR ITEMS BASED ON AN IMAGE OF A ROOM - A method, system, and article of manufacture for recommending items for a room. An image of a room is received, a box image is fitted to the image of the room. Information is extracted from the fitted box image and is used for recommending items for the room. The image is a color image and extracting information is done by extracting color histograms from the fitted box image. The color histograms are used to determine items that match the color scheme of the room, the lighting of the room, and/or the decorating style of the room. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289070 | BUYER-SELLER MATCHING METHOD - An inventive two-tiered buyer-seller matching method directed to property transactions is disclosed herein. The inventive method matches buyers that are recruited on an internet website to list criteria for desired real estate properties. Sellers of property are similarly recruited to list the property. In a first matching tier, a cohort of matched buyers is chosen by matching basic property descriptors entered by buyers and sellers. As a further refinement to the first tier of the matching process, a second tier function of the inventive method ranks individual buyers in the cohort by the overall importance of the selected property features that are common to that buyer's choices and to the seller. A list comprising the cohort of buyers ordered by the ranking score is then presented to the seller. In this manner, the seller is provided with a knowledge of which buyers would potentially be most interested in the property for sale, and is thereby provided with a basis upon which one or more of high potential buyers may be contacted with an offer to sell. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289071 | AUTOMATIC PRODUCT GROUPINGS FOR MERCHANDISING - Disclosed are various embodiments for defining subcategories of items to be used in merchandising. The subcategories may be defined on the basis of item data and/or sales data for the items. Based on a distribution of the items in accordance with one or more of the item and/or sales data, implicit groups or subcategories can be identified and selected for merchandising purposes. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289072 | METHODS, SYSTEMS AND COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIA FOR RECOMMENDING A SHOPPING PATH - The present invention provides a method and system for recommending an optimal shopping path to a user. A shopping layout of a shopping store is downloaded on a handheld device. A shopping list is received from the user, comprising one or more shopping items. A final shopping list is created by appending one or more additional shopping items to the shopping list. The optimal shopping path representing a shortest path on the shopping layout traversing each shopping item of the final shopping list is generated. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289073 | Product Localization and Interaction - The present invention provide systems and methods for the display of a prompt on a mobile device display; receipt of an indication of a selection of the prompt by a user; the display of a map showing the nearby locations for products and services, for example; a determination that a user has relocated to one of these locations; and a determination that a user has engaged in a transaction relating to one of the products or services. Other embodiments of systems and methods of the present invention include means for determining and applying the preferences of a user. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289074 | Systems and Methods for Micro-Casting in Urgent Needs Fulfillment Matching - A computerized multi-casting distributed urgent goods and services fulfillment system configured to triage a plurality of providers with respect to an urgent need for one or more goods and services of a seeker thereby generating a current seeker-adaptive micro-casting triaged provider pool, and further configured to successively proffer an adjustable portion of the current micro-casting triaged provider pool to the seeker. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289075 | TOOL FOR SELLING AND PURCHASING VEHICLE HISTORY REPORTS - Systems and methods for selling and purchasing vehicle history reports are described. In one embodiment, a method includes determining a set of vehicles in a dealer inventory, determining a subset of the vehicles in the dealer inventory for which the dealer has not purchased a vehicle history report, presenting a summary report to a dealer, the summary report including information about at least one of the vehicles in the subset of the vehicles, receiving a selection to purchase a vehicle history report for at least one of the vehicles in the summary report, and providing the vehicle history report corresponding to the selection to the dealer. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289076 | BELIEF PROPAGATION FOR GENERALIZED MATCHING - Entities may be matched to enhance the efficiency of various commercial activities using various system and method embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. Belief propagation on a graph data structure defining a bipartite or unipartite matching opportunity is used to calculate a best matching. In embodiments, functions are implemented based upon the match, such as executing sales between matched buyers and sellers in an online auction system. In embodiments, messages with scalar values carry information about the relative value of possible matchings, initially provided as weights or values for the possible matchings. Weights may depend on, for example, bids or costs. Messages may be passed, for example over a network between processors respective to the nodes. Belief values reflecting a best matching can be continuously updated for each node responsively to the value information and received messages to rank the matches respective to each node, which progressively improve. This allows short or complete terminations conditions to determine the goodness of the matching. Differing numbers of matches respective to each member of the disjoint sets and distributions of the desirability of different numbers of matches can be integrated in the matchings in respective embodiments. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289077 | Method And System To Facilitate An In-Person Exchange - Certificates can be redeemed for a physical product during an in-person exchange. This can be based upon providing to a third party, via an electronic data network, an opportunity to select a physical product to provide to a particular recipient via an in-person exchange; receiving from the third party, via an electronic data network, a selection of the physical product to provide to the particular recipient in an in-person exchange; and providing a message to the particular recipient. The message can comprise, at least in part, a certificate that can be redeemed by the particular recipient for the physical product at a retailer and can further comprise transaction-specific validation information that, when utilized by the retailer, will validate a bearer as being authorized to receive the physical product via the in-person exchange without further additional payment from the bearer to the retailer. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289078 | System and Method for Automatic Person-To-Person Vehicle Matching - Computer-assisted and location-aware sales and marketing systems help buyers and sellers of vehicles find each other when one has (and the other wants) a particular type of vehicle, and when they are in geographic proximity to each other. Extensions of the system allow agents (friends, acquaintances, employees) of the principals to increase the geographic range over which a sales match may be made. Other operational features and modes are also described and claimed. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289079 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EFFICIENT HANDLING OF PRODUCT RETURN TRANSACTIONS - A method and apparatus for efficient handling of product returns to reduce associated costs. A computer system at a regional product return center scans a returned product for identifying information, accesses a manufacturer return approval computer system through the internet or the like, and then submits the identifying information to the manufacturer for return approval. The manufacturer computer system utilizes the identifying information to access an electronic registration database to determine whether the returned product satisfies applicable return criteria. If so, the product is approved for return to the manufacturer. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289080 | Aggregator, monitor, and manager of distributed micro-generators - The invention broadly encompasses a system including an aggregator of distributed micro-generator energy sources, a monitor of distributed micro-generator energy sources, the monitor communicates micro-generator energy usage data with a wholesale power producer and a micro-generator asset owner, and a manager of distributed micro-generator energy sources, the manager facilitates control of a micro-generator energy source by assigning a specific micro-generator energy source to a wholesale power producer, wherein the monitor tracks and reports micro-generator energy source use by a wholesale producer. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289081 | Method and Apparatus for Business Planning using Recurring Revenue Allocation - Access or utilization data of multiple products and services that are offered to customers on a “right-to-use” basis is analyzed to allocate revenues generated by the products fairly among them, for purposes such as business planning, performance measurement and account service. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289082 | ELECTRIC CHARGING MANAGEMENT OF ELECTRIC VEHICLE - Described embodiments relate to authorizing an electric vehicle to perform an electric charging operation. A server may receive an electric charging request message from user equipment associated with an electric vehicle, determine whether an electric vehicle is located near to an electric outlet within a predetermined distance based on information included in the electric charging request message in response to the electric charging request message, and transmit one of an electric charging approval message and an electric charging disapproval message to the electric vehicle based on the determination result. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289083 | METHOD OF CLASSIFYING A BILL - Briefly, embodiments of a method of classifying a bill are disclosed. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289084 | SWEAT EQUITY FUND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A system allows discovery of potential sweat equity investment partners and groups them into investment funds. The system allows for the valuation, application and tracking of fund sweat equity to funded projects. A corresponding method includes tracking fund membership of a group of sweat equity investors called daemons, tracking sweat equity invested into the fund by the daemons, computing and tracking the fund ownership of individual daemons based on the amount of their investments, reinvesting the fund's pool of sweat equity into external ventures, in exchange for cash and/or ownership consideration in the funded venture, computing and tracking the valuation of funded ventures, computing and tracking the fund ownership stakes in funded ventures, tracking the proceeds of liquidation of ownership stakes in funded ventures, and distributing venture liquidation proceeds to daemons based on their fund ownership. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289085 | System and Method For Identifying Suspicious Financial Transactions - A computer system detects questionable financial transactions. The system includes a data source component configured to access a database of transaction data, and a data storage component configured to store transaction data that is to be reviewed. An account compilation component of the system is configured to compile data sets from the transaction data. Each data set includes pertinent external transactions in the transaction data that are related to a particular individual client during a screening time interval. The account compilation component excludes internal transactions from the data sets. A screening component is configured to compare each data set with at least one screening criterion. A reporting component is configured to report data sets that satisfy the at least one screening criterion. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289086 | Electronic Futures Spread Exchange System And Method - The present invention creates a futures exchange trading futures and futures options spread products. More specifically, the present invention will create a futures exchange that will list a variety of futures and futures options (intra and inter market) spread instruments. These unique spreads will be created from ongoing price discovery generated at global exchanges but then converted into a tradable single currency product at the new exchange. The product will be cash settled and deliverable in the traded currency. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289087 | System and Method for Chart Pattern Recognition and Analysis in an Electronic Trading Environment - A system and method are provided for chart pattern recognition and analysis. In one embodiment, a graphical interface is provided to enable a trader to select a portion of a chart to be used in the chart pattern analysis. The pattern of the selected portion of the chart could then be used to find one or more similar chart patterns in a user-defined timeframe, such as any future time period or a time period in the past. When a reoccurring chart pattern is found in any future time period, an alert signal can be generated to alert a user of a possibility of the chart pattern reoccurrence. Alternatively, chart pattern matches can be found in a time period in the past, and a set of studies can be applied to the found matches to generate a set of reoccurring indicator values. The reoccurring indicator values can be used in combination with the chart pattern to detect any similar chart patterns in the future. | 2014-09-25 |
20140289088 | LOAN SYSTEM, CREDIT INFORMATION GENERATING DEVICE, LOAN DETERMINING DEVICE AND LOAN CONDITION DETERMINING METHOD - A loan system includes a loan determining device configured to determine a loan condition, and a credit information generating device configured to provide credit information of a store, which applies for a loan, to the loan determining device. The credit information generating device includes a storage unit that stores store operation result data including accumulation of latest data generated along with a store operation, a score data generating unit configured to generate score data of the store based on the store operation result data in a predetermined period, and a credit information generating unit configured to generate credit information of the store based on the score data. The loan determining device includes a credit information obtaining unit configured to obtain the credit information of the store, and a loan condition determining unit configured to determine a loan condition to the store based on the credit information of the store. | 2014-09-25 |