41st week of 2014 patent applcation highlights part 55 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20140303965 | METHOD FOR ENCODING VOICE SIGNAL, METHOD FOR DECODING VOICE SIGNAL, AND APPARATUS USING SAME - The present invention relates to a method for encoding a voice signal, a method for decoding a voice signal, and an | 2014-10-09 |
20140303966 | COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND TERMINAL DEVICE - A communication system according to the present invention includes a plurality of terminal devices that are able to communicate mutually. Each of the terminal devices includes a voice input conversion device, a voice transmitting device, a voice receiving device, and a voice reproducing device. When there is a plurality of voice signals which has not been completed reproduction, the voice reproducing device reproduces after arranging the voice signals so that respective voices corresponding to the respective voice signals do not overlap. | 2014-10-09 |
20140303967 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR QUANTIZING VOICE SIGNALS IN A BAND-SELECTIVE MANNER - The present invention relates to a method and device for quantizing voice signals in a band-selective manner. A voice decoding method may include inversely quantizing voice parameter information produced from a selectively quantized voice band and performing inverse transform on the basis of the inversely quantized voice parameter information. Thus, according to the present invention, coding/decoding efficiency in voice coding/decoding may be increased by selectively coding/decoding important information. | 2014-10-09 |
20140303968 | DYNAMIC CONTROL OF VOICE CODEC DATA RATE - A method, system, and computer-usable non-transitory storage device for dynamic voice codec adaptation are disclosed. The voice codec adapts in real time to devote more bits to audio quality when it is most needed, and fewer bits to less important parts of utterances are disclosed. Dialog knowledge is utilized for compression opportunities to adjust the bitrate moment-by-moment, based on the inferred value of each frame. Frame importance and appropriate transmission fidelity is predicted based on prosodic features and models of dialog dynamics. This technique provides the same communications quality with less spectrum needs, fewer antennas, and less battery drain. | 2014-10-09 |
20140303969 | SPEECH RECOGNITION CONTROL DEVICE - A speech recognition control device has a plurality of microphones placed at different positions, a speech transmission control unit, and a speech recognition execution control unit. The speech transmission control unit stores data based on the speeches which are input from the microphones and time data related to ranks among the microphones, assigns ranks to the plurality of microphones using the time data based on a preset condition, and transmits a speech data signal corresponding to the microphone to the speech recognition execution control unit in the order of the ranks. The speech recognition execution control unit executes the speech recognition process according to the order of the speech data signals transmitted from the speech transmission control unit. | 2014-10-09 |
20140303970 | ADAPTING SPEECH RECOGNITION ACOUSTIC MODELS WITH ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL CUES - An acoustic model adaptation system includes a memory device and a model selector engine coupled to the memory device. The model selector engine is configured to compile information of environmental conditions to identify a current speech environment for audio input into a speech recognizer on a device. The model selector engine is further configured to compare the information of the environmental conditions with profiles of acoustic models. Each profile associates with an acoustic model. Each acoustic model compensates for background noise or acoustical distortions of the audio input. The model selector engine is further configured to select a first acoustic model for the speech recognizer based on the information of the environmental conditions exclusive of audio input from the user. | 2014-10-09 |
20140303971 | TERMINAL AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - This specification provides a terminal including a microphone that is configured to receive a user's voice input for controlling an operation of the terminal, an analyzing unit that is configured to sense a degree of proximity between the user's mouth and the microphone while the voice is input, an output unit that is configured to output at least one of visible data and audible data based on the voice, and a controller that is configured to restrict the output of the audible data when the degree of proximity is smaller than a preset range and a volume of the voice is below a preset reference volume. | 2014-10-09 |
20140303972 | Method and Apparatus for Identifying Acoustic Background Environments Based on Time and Speed to Enhance Automatic Speech Recognition - Disclosed are systems, methods, and computer readable media for identifying an acoustic environment of a caller. The method embodiment comprises analyzing acoustic features of a received audio signal from a caller, receiving meta-data information, classifying a background environment of the caller based on the analyzed acoustic features and the meta-data, selecting an acoustic model matched to the classified background environment from a plurality of acoustic models, and performing speech recognition as the received audio signal using the selected acoustic model. | 2014-10-09 |
20140303973 | Minimum Bayesian Risk Methods for Automatic Speech Recognition - A hypothesis space of a search graph may be determined. The hypothesis space may include n hypothesis-space transcriptions of an utterance, each selected from a search graph that includes t>n transcriptions of the utterance. An evidence space of the search graph may also be determined. The evidence space may include m evidence-space transcriptions of the utterance that are randomly selected from the search graph, where t>m. For each particular hypothesis-space transcription in the hypothesis space, an expected word error rate may be calculated by comparing the particular hypothesis-space transcription to each of the evidence-space transcriptions. Based on the expected word error rates, a lowest expected word error rate may be obtained, and the particular hypothesis-space transcription that is associated with the lowest expected word error rate may be provided. | 2014-10-09 |
20140303974 | TEXT GENERATOR, TEXT GENERATING METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT - According to an embodiment, a text generator includes a recognizer, a selector, and a generation unit. The recognizer is configured to recognize an acquired sound and obtain recognized character strings in recognition units and confidence levels of the recognized character strings. The selector is configured to select at least one of the recognized character strings used for a transcribed sentence on the basis of at least one of a parameter about transcription accuracy and a parameter about a workload needed for transcription. The generation unit is configured to generate the transcribed sentence using the selected recognized character strings. | 2014-10-09 |
20140303975 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM - There is provided an information processing apparatus including a history acquiring unit configured to acquire histories of information obtained by analysis of voice information including utterance content by a speaker, and a display control section configured to identifiably display each acquired history as history information in an order in which the corresponding histories are recorded in association with display information corresponding to voice recognition. | 2014-10-09 |
20140303976 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DYNAMIC CREATION OF CONTEXTS - A method and a system for a speech recognition system, comprising an electronic speech-based document is associated with a document template and comprises one or more sections of text recognized or transcribed from sections of speech. The sections of speech are transcribed by the speech recognition system into corresponding sections of text of the electronic speech based document. The method includes the steps of dynamically creating sub contexts and associating the sub context to sections of text of the document template. | 2014-10-09 |
20140303977 | Synchronized Transcription Rules Handling - Methods, systems, and software are disclosed for providing rule handling functionality in a distributed transcription environment. Some embodiments provide client-server workflow management for providing and supporting distributed transcription services. Other embodiments provide audio-to-text synchronization to support certain transcription functionality. Still other embodiments provide logging functionality to support quality, personnel, billing, and/or other enterprise tasks. And other embodiments provide functionality to support rule generation, editing, validation, and/or execution. | 2014-10-09 |
20140303978 | GRAMMAR FRAGMENT ACQUISITION USING SYNTACTIC AND SEMANTIC CLUSTERING - A method and apparatus are provided for automatically acquiring grammar fragments for recognizing and understanding fluently spoken language. Grammar fragments representing a set of syntactically and semantically similar phrases may be generated using three probability distributions: of succeeding words, of preceding words, and of associated call-types. The similarity between phrases may be measured by applying Kullback-Leibler distance to these tree probability distributions. Phrases being close in all three distances may be clustered into a grammar fragment. | 2014-10-09 |
20140303979 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONCATENATE SPEECH SAMPLES WITHIN AN OPTIMAL CROSSING POINT - A method for identifying an optimal crossing point for concatenation of speech samples within an overlap area is provided. The method includes retrieving a first speech sample and a second speech sample, the second speech sample is concatenated immediately after the first speech sample is concatenated; determining a first region within the ending of the first speech sample and a second region within the beginning of the second speech sample, the first region and the second region are determined respective of relatively high spectral similarity over time between the first speech sample and the second speech sample; identifying an overlap region between the first region and the second region; determining an optimal crossing point between the first speech sample and the second speech sample, the optimal crossing point has a maximum correlation over time; and concatenating the first speech sample and the second speech sample at the optimal crossing point. | 2014-10-09 |
20140303980 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUDIO KYMOGRAPHIC DIAGNOSTICS - A system and method for assisting in a determination of one or more maladies associated with a human voice anatomy utilizes voice information acquired over at least two temporally displaced acquisitions. Acquired voice samples, including plural vowel sounds, are digitized and passed through one or more bandpass filters to isolate one or more frequency ranges. Curve fitting of acquired data is completed in accordance with a plurality of parameter weights applied in either a time domain or frequency domain model of the voice. This process is repeated a second, later time, for the same human, and the same process is completed for the subsequently-acquired voice information. A difference between the curve information in the respective data sets is analyzed relative to the weights, and corresponding changes are correlated to maladies of various areas of the human voice anatomy. | 2014-10-09 |
20140303981 | CROSS-LINGUAL SEEDING OF SENTIMENT - A contact center system can receive messages from social media sites or centers. The messages may be in a foreign language. The system can review messages by identifying content in the social media messages with negative/positive sentiment and then identify a seed term in the messages. A seed term can be a word in another language, different from the message body. The seed term is then used to find one or more other words, in the foreign language, that are correlated with the seed term. The identification of the found words in other messages can then be used to determine sentiment in the foreign language. | 2014-10-09 |
20140303982 | PHONETIC CONVERSATION METHOD AND DEVICE USING WIRED AND WIRESS COMMUNICATION - A phonetic conversation method using wired and wireless communication networks includes: receiving, by a voice input unit of a phonetic conversation device, a voice that is input by a user; receiving, by a wired and wireless communication unit of the phonetic conversation device, a voice that is input through the voice input unit and transmitting the voice to a mobile terminal; receiving, by the wired and wireless communication unit, an answer voice that is transmitted from the mobile terminal; and receiving and outputting, by a voice output unit of the phonetic conversation device, a voice from the wired and wireless communication unit. | 2014-10-09 |
20140303983 | AUTHENTICATION FOR RECOGNITION SYSTEMS - Embodiments include a method, apparatus, and computer program product for authentication for speech recognition. The method can include sensing an authentication device with a target device. One or more decoded voice commands can be processed after verification of the authentication device by the target device. Further, one or more decoded voice commands can be executed by the target device. | 2014-10-09 |
20140303984 | LAYERED AUDIO CODING AND TRANSMISSION - Embodiments of systems and methods are described for generating layered audio such that computing devices can request a variable amount of data based on criteria such as their available bandwidth, device capability, or user selection. A base layer and one or more enhancement layers that incrementally enhance the previous layers may be generated. A computing device may retrieve the base layer and/or one or more enhancement layers, adjusting, in real-time or near real-time, which layers are retrieved based on fluctuations in the available bandwidth among other possible criteria. | 2014-10-09 |
20140303985 | METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR ENCODING AND DECODING OBJECT-BASED AUDIO SIGNALS - Provided are an audio encoding method and apparatus and an audio decoding method and apparatus in which audio signals can be encoded or decoded so that sound images can be localized at any desired position for each object audio signal. The audio decoding method generating a third downmix signal by combining a first downmix signal extracted from a first audio signal and a second downmix signal extracted from a second audio signal; generating third object-based side information by combining first object-based side information extracted from the first audio signal and second object-based side information extracted from the second audio signal; converting the third object-based side information into channel-based side information; and generating a multi-channel audio signal using the third downmix signal and the channel-based side information. | 2014-10-09 |
20140303986 | PREDICTION OF AN OPTIMAL MEDICAL TREATMENT - A method of determining an optimal treatment includes determining a frequency for each health care provider indicating how frequently each treats a selected disease, determining for each health care provider, their average patient outcome APO for treating the selected disease, determining a score for each health care provider based on the corresponding frequency and APO, determining which of the health care providers are experts from the scores that exceed a predefined threshold, and selecting a treatment proscribed by at least one of the identified experts as the optimal treatment. | 2014-10-09 |
20140303987 | PREDICTION OF AN OPTIMAL MEDICAL TREATMENT - A method of determining an optimal treatment includes determining a frequency for each health care provider indicating how frequently each treats a selected disease, determining for each health care provider, their average patient outcome APO for treating the selected disease, determining a score for each health care provider based on the corresponding frequency and APO, determining which of the health care providers are experts from the scores that exceed a predefined threshold, and selecting a treatment proscribed by at least one of the identified experts as the optimal treatment. | 2014-10-09 |
20140303988 | COLLABORATIVE HEALTHCARE - According to an example, collaborative healthcare may include retrieving healthcare data for a patient from at least one data source, and generating a plurality of distinct healthcare programs for the patient based on the healthcare data. Collaborative healthcare may further include reconciling the plurality of distinct healthcare programs to generate a universal patient healthcare plan for the patient. The universal patient healthcare plan may include a universal view of the overall healthcare for the patient and healthcare provider-specific views for the patient. The reconciling may include detecting conflicts for predetermined components of the healthcare programs, and in response to the detection of the conflicts, eliminating errors related to the detected conflicts. | 2014-10-09 |
20140303989 | AUTOMATED MEDICATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USE - Systems, apparatuses, and methods for tracking the status and use of packaged goods are provided. The systems of the invention coordinate various stakeholders, hardware devices, computer software systems, standards, methods, procedures, practices and their interconnection in ways that lead to greater efficiency, safety, and efficacy, along with potentially lower cost, and less waste in the delivery of packaged goods and their use. In one aspect a Medication Management System (“MMS”) that tracks the status of packaged medications and patient compliance is also provided. | 2014-10-09 |
20140303990 | INTEGRATED ORTHOPEDIC PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT PROCESS - A method can include receiving, at a server, preoperative image data of a patient's bone, and accessing, at the server, a database of three-dimensional model data. A patient specific three-dimensional model of the patient's bone can be generated, at the server. A preoperative surgical plan can be generated at the server, which can include comparing aspects of the preoperative surgical plan with predetermined reliability criteria. An interactive user interface for use by a surgeon to review the preoperative surgical plan can be provided, from the server, to a user device. Approval of the preoperative surgical plan can be received, at the server, via the interactive user interface. Postoperative image data of the patient's bone can be received at the server. A postoperative outcome study report can be generated, at the server, and can include a comparison of the preoperative surgical plan with the postoperative image data. | 2014-10-09 |
20140303991 | PERSONAL DEVICE-ENABLED LIFESTYLE, COMMERCE AND EXCHANGE TRACKING SYSTEM - In one embodiment, a system and method include receiving user information data from a personal electronic device. The user information data includes information about a user using the personal electronic device. The server stores user information data and receives action data from the personal electronic device. The action data includes information relating to an object captured through the personal electronic device. The object captured may include an embedded signal such as a bar code, QWERTY code, fingerprint, watermark, and/or Ribbon®. The server generates and sends coupon, promotion, and/or information with respect to the embedded signal. The server receives redemption information with respect to an item represented within embedded signal. | 2014-10-09 |
20140303992 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ASSISTING PRESCRIPTION TREATMENT FULFILLMENT - Provided is a method and system for facilitating limited fulfillment of a prescription for a drug. An indication that an authorizing party has rejected an insurance claim submitted by a pharmacy for insurance coverage of at least a portion of a purchase price of a prescription drug on behalf of a patient is received over a network, in addition to an indication that prior authorization is required. Before a decision whether to grant the prior authorization is issued by the authorizing party, initiating transmission of an offer to allow redemption of a quick start voucher to the pharmacy over the communication network that allows the limited fulfillment of the prescription for the prescription drug, but less than the complete fulfillment. | 2014-10-09 |
20140303993 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IDENTIFYING FRAUD IN TRANSACTIONS COMMITTED BY A COHORT OF FRAUDSTERS - Disclosed are systems and methods for identifying potential fraud committed by a cohort of people using models for identifying relationships among people to build the cohort and using fraud models to identify indicators of frauds from attributes of people. Embodiments may predict a likelihood applicants seeking privileges to distribute governmental benefits by identifying members of a cohort associated with an applicant, assigning a value to the strengths of the relationships between people in the cohort, determining weights for identified indicators of fraud identified using fraud models, determining a risk score for the cohort using the values and data points, and then performing a clustering analysis for the risk score of the cohort to determine a risk factor for fraud committed by the applicant and the cohort. | 2014-10-09 |
20140303994 | INTERACTIVE MONITOR SYSTEM FOR A MEDICAL CAMPUS - An interactive systems and method for providing medical or emergency information across a medical campus including a master computer that receives, stores and selectively transmits medical or emergency information to a plurality of interactive monitors, which are accessible by a plurality of users. | 2014-10-09 |
20140303995 | Computer-Implemented System And Method For Facilitating Accurate Glycemic Control By Modeling Blood Glucose Using Circadian Profiles - A computer-implemented system and method for facilitating accurate glycemic control by modeling blood glucose using circadian profiles is provided. Anti-hyperglycemic medications are categorized based on similar glucose lowering effects. A circadian profile for a diabetic patient is built by assembling meal period data including at least two recent typical measurements of pre-meal and post-meal self-measured blood glucose, identifying a dose of an anti-hyperglycemic medication, and identifying the class of the anti-hyperglycemic medication. A model of glucose management through the circadian profile is created by estimating expected blood glucose values and their predicted errors at each of the meal periods, visualizing the expected blood glucose values and their predicted errors over time for each meal period in a log-normal distribution, and selecting one of the meal periods and, for each anti-hyperglycemic medication in the identified class, and modeling a change in the dose of the anti-hyperglycemic medication. | 2014-10-09 |
20140303996 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO MANAGE DELIVERY HEALTHCARE TO A PATIENT - A system and method to manage delivery of healthcare via a plurality of resources to a patient is provided. The system and method track and output a signal representative of a location of at least one of a series of resources relative to a control volume associated with the patient, acquire at least one signal representative of detecting ingress or egress of at least one of the plurality of resources relative to the control volume; and output a first signal representative of one of a series of milestones as defined in a predetermined protocol in response to detecting ingress or egress of at least one of the resources relative to the control volume. | 2014-10-09 |
20140303997 | MASS CUSTOMIZATION FOR MANAGEMENT OF HEALTHCARE - A healthcare mass customization infrastructure individualizes plan designs by incorporating demographics, income, drug history, medical history, lab values, and future genomic information for appropriate and affordable access to medications. The mass customization infrastructure results in quality outcomes for the patients, improved care and productivity for the providers, and lower medical costs for the payers. | 2014-10-09 |
20140303998 | METHOD FOR MANAGING A HEALTH CARD - A system includes an intermediate element, which is provided between a health file copy and at least one party with a strong authentication requiring, and for which a user is identified with some strong identification, and after which the intermediate element associates an intra-health card user identifier and a user identifying code with each other. From the database to the intermediate element is delivered information, which matches the user identifying code and requires strong authentication, whereby the intermediate element for its part delivers at least some of this particular information to such a health card with whose internal identifier the user identifying code has been associated by the intermediate element. | 2014-10-09 |
20140303999 | METHOD FOR CREATING AND USING REGISTRY OF CLINICAL TRIAL PARTICIPANTS - A method of screening participants for a clinical trial by obtaining a biometric sample from a prospective participant, generating a unique identifier code, populating a database with the unique identifier code and participant information and storing the database on computer readable media, and screening the participant for the clinical trial based on the unique identifier code and participant information. A method of screening participants for a clinical trial by obtaining personal information from a prospective participant, generating a unique identifier code, populating a database with the unique identifier code and participant information and storing the database on computer readable media, and screening the participant for the clinical trial based on the unique identifier code and participant information. A database stored on computer readable media populated by unique identifier codes of prospective participants of clinical trials obtained by the methods. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304000 | DIAGNOSIS-AND-TREATMENT-RECORD MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, DIAGNOSIS-AND-TREATMENT-RECORD MANAGEMENT METHOD, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM - A diagnosis-and-treatment-record management system includes a diagnosis-and-treatment-information memory, a disease-information memory, a compression unit, and a decompression unit. The diagnosis-and-treatment-information memory stores one or more records. In each of the records, patient identification information and diagnosis and treatment details are recorded. The disease-information memory stores information indicating at least one of a recurrence interval and a recurrence time period for a recurrent disease. The compression unit compresses information recorded in, among the records, a record the use of which has been completed and in which diagnosis and treatment details for a recurrent disease are recorded. Since a reference time at which treatment for the record for which information has been compressed was completed, before at least one of the recurrence interval and the recurrence time period has elapsed, the decompression unit decompresses the compressed information for the record. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304001 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PATIENT CARE DOCUMENTATION - A patient care documentation method includes receiving care task data including user-undertaken care tasks from a patient care documentation server, receiving an answer selected in response to a text query or a symbolic answer selected from a plurality of symbolic expressions, the text query or the plurality of symbolic expressions corresponding to processes of performing the user-undertaken care tasks and providing the received answer or symbolic answer to the patient care documentation server. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304002 | Collaborative Synthesis-Based Clinical Documentation - A graphical user interface, referred to herein as a virtual whiteboard, that provides both: (1) an automatically prioritized display of information related to a particular patient that is tailored to the current user of the system, and (2) a “scratch pad” area in which multiple users of the system may input free-form text and other data for sharing with other users of the system. When each user of the system accesses the virtual whiteboard, the system: (1) automatically prioritizes the patient information based on characteristics of the user and displays the automatically prioritized patient information to that user, and (2) displays the contents of the scratch pad to the user. As a result, the whiteboard displays both information that is tailored to the current user and information that is common to all users (i.e., not tailored to any particular user). | 2014-10-09 |
20140304003 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MEDICAL REFERRAL ANALYTICS - A health information management system is provided which includes the ability to identify explicit referral activity reported into a referral workflow system, infer referral activity not reported into the referral workflow system utilizing intent-based clustering of medical information, and generate reporting metrics from the inferred and explicit referral activity. Additionally, a referral suggestion may be generated for an identified condition. Physicians are selected within a geographic area who are properly specialized for the condition. This group is then filtered based upon patient preferences and default preferences in order to generate physician referrals. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304004 | CONTROLS AND INDICATORS WITH ON-SCREEN COGNITIVE AIDS - The invention relates to an applet for a mobile computing device, comprising an element to detect user input and perform appropriate associated actions, and to provide a cognitive aid for users of the mobile computing device. The invention also relates to a method for controlling operation of a mobile computing device, comprising detecting user input and performing appropriate associated actions and providing a cognitive aid for users of the mobile computing device. The invention further relates to a cognitive aid for a mobile computing device having a display screen, the cognitive aid being displayed on the display screen and including an on-screen and/or an audio tip, and being associated with an input vehicle of the mobile computing device. The cognitive aid provides relevant information to the user regarding the input vehicle. The invention still further relates to a method for assisting users of a mobile computing device having a display screen. The method comprises providing a vehicle for user input to the mobile computing device and providing a cognitive aid on the display screen, the cognitive aid being associated with the user input vehicle. The cognitive aid provides relevant information to the user regarding the user input vehicle. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304005 | METHOD, APPARATUS, AND SYSTEM FOR READING, PROCESSING, PRESENTING, AND/OR STORING ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORD INFORMATION - A method for accessing, processing, presenting, and/or storing electronic medical record (EMR) information on a touch-sensitive display includes reading EMR information, displaying at least a portion of the EMR information on a touch-sensitive sliding timeline, detecting finger swipe or similar gestures, and scrolling the sliding timeline so that a different portion of the EMR information is displayed chronologically on the touch-sensitive sliding timeline. The resolution of the timeline can be expanded or collapsed in response to pinch gestures. The timeline is divided into a columns, each column including icons representing medical related events. A second timeline having a different time resolution from the first timeline is used for navigating the medical related events. Different levels of detail regarding the medical related events can be viewed in different detail panes. An EMR access device and system are also disclosed, which are configured to access and present EMR information. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304006 | INDIVIDUAL HEALTH RECORD SYSTEM AND APPARATUS - A system, apparatus, and related methods for the collection, processing, evaluation, transformation, and reporting of individual health care information from diverse information systems and sources. A individual health record (IHR) of the present invention provides a structure for individuals to participate in, and manage, their health and their medical care, while still meeting the needs of health care organizations and caregivers. An IHR object may be formed by obtaining information from diverse health care information systems and sources, and transforming and re-purposing into a coherent account of the individual's overall health and care using a comprehensive health care ontology. As information from various sources is updated or available, the IHR is dynamically updated on a continuous or periodic basis. In one embodiment, the IHR system is contained in a self-contained package or “appliance” designed to “plug and play” in existing health care information technology systems and networks, with minimal effort and intervention. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304007 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ACCOUNT-LEVEL FLOOD RISK ASSESSMENT - Systems, apparatus, interfaces, methods, and articles of manufacture that provide for account-level flood risk assessment. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304008 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED CLAIMS DATA AUDITING - A system and method for automated claims data auditing. The system may include a memory device configured to store a plurality of audit questions associated with audit question metadata, to store a plurality tasks associated with task metadata, to store a plurality workflows associated with workflow metadata and to store a plurality surveys associated with survey metadata. The system may include a processor configured to generate an audit template based on at least a subset of the plurality of surveys and the plurality of tasks. The processor may further be configured to generate a copy of the audit template for use in a project. The system may include a receiver configured to receive assignment instructions associated with the project, wherein the assignment instructions assign resources to the project. The receiver may further be configured to receive claim data to be audited, wherein the processor may be configured to integrate the received claim data, the copy of the audit template, and the assignment instructions to create the project. The system may also include a publishing module configured to publish the project. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304009 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGEMENT OF INSURABLE ASSETS - Systems and methods for managing insurable assets in a multi-party process. An insurable asset management system includes a data store, in which one or more data structures are stored. Each data structure represents assets for a corresponding location and a corresponding client account. The system further includes hardware comprising a processor-based computing system and a set of instructions executable by the system hardware and stored in a non-transitory storage medium that facilitates access to the data structure for clients, delegatees, and insurers. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304010 | HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REAL-TIME CLAIMS ADJUDICATION AND PAYMENT - A system and method for permitting real-time payment of healthcare charges from multiple sources of payment. A POS terminal is used to enter a patient ID and treatment code. A health insurance network receives the patient ID and treatment code and returns an electronic explanation of benefits (EOB) data packet that is used to display an EOB statement at the POS terminal, the display including information on a patient portion not covered by the health insurance plan. The EOB data packet is used to electronically process payment for the patient portion from a second payment source, such as an medical savings account (MSA), credit card account or banking account. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304011 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CUSTOMIZING INSURANCE - System and methods provide customizable insurance according to consumer preferences. Demand simulators guide the creation of optimized packages of features, which consumers may select from to form an insurance product appropriate for their particular needs. Packages may be formed with a particular appeal to consumers with common needs, wants, or characteristics. In addition, methods and systems are provided for presenting insurance products for consideration by customers over a network. Presented insurance products may be formed through an optimization process or according to customer preferences. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304012 | INSURANCE POLICIES FOR STEM CELLS DEPOSITORS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING SAME - A method, apparatus and computer program product for generating and applying insurance policies intended to guarantee sufficient amounts of available, viable stem cells to policy holders in case the policy holders are in need of stem cell therapy. An individual may deposit stem cells and give consent to allocate at least some of the stem cells deposited by said individual for public use, and in return be entitled to receive viable stem cells deposited by another individual in case of need. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304013 | Airport Experience - A system for credit issuance provides for fully automated credit evaluation and card issuing integrated with travel provider ticketing and reservations. The system includes a travel provider processing system under control of travel provider, a credit card authentication and issuance system working under control of a credit card issue in conjunction with a payment transaction service in a banking system, and a plurality of travelers wishing take advantage of flights, promotions and convenient credit card issuance. Once a traveler books a ticket, information collected during the ticketing process is shared by a travel provider with a credit card issuer. With this information a determination is made by the credit card issuer that the traveler is eligible to receive an offer for a credit card. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304014 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS ASSOCIATED WITH TRAVEL PLANNING - Embodiments described herein are directed towards methods and systems that allow a content providing user to publish journals, blogs, reviews, notes, etc. associated with their travels. Using the content generated by the user, other users may be able to gain from the users traveling experiences. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304015 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MANAGING ACCESS TO A RESOURCE - There is provided a resource access management system for managing user access to a resource having a number of resource slots, wherein each resource slot can be used by a user. The resource access management system comprises a standard access configured to allow users to access the resource, and a queue-less access configured to allow users that have a valid authorisation to access the resource. The resource access management system is configured, for each occurrence of the resource, to make a portion of the resource slots available for allocation to users that access the resource using the queue-less access, to make at least the remaining resource slots available for use by users that access the resource using the standard access, and to ensure that a number of authorisations issued for an occurrence of the resource does not exceed the number of allocable resource slots. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304016 | REGULATING ASSET USE BY USER ENTITY - Methods and systems for regulating use of an asset by a user entity. The user entity may be bound by an asset use agreement providing the user entity a right to use the asset subject to at least one use limitation. Regulating use of the asset may be carried out using at least one processor in communication with a sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to sense a condition associated with the asset relating to at least one use limitation. The method may include generating a violation notification message for a managing entity when the at least one processor identifies a violation by the user entity of the at least one use limitation. The managing entity may be the entity responsible for regulating the user entity's use of the asset. The managing entity may be remote from the asset and/or the processor. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304017 | PROCESS MODELING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Providers and sourcing locations for recommended optimization processes of operational processes are evaluated based on provider metrics and sourcing metrics. Providers and sourcing locations for the optimization processes are recommended based on the provider and sourcing evaluations. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304018 | Verification Method and System - Systems and methods for verifying and monitoring employees are provided. Employees call-in to the system at scheduled times. If an employee misses a scheduled call-in, an alert can be generated. An employer notification process can generate the alert, notifying a supervisor of the employee's missed call. The alert can include the employee's name, the location of the employee, and the time he/she was supposed to call. Such systems and methods can be used to verify that a worker is at the proper location at the proper time and awake and alert during the entire time period that he/she is supposed to be working. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304019 | MEDIA CAPTURE DEVICE-BASED ORGANIZATION OF MULTIMEDIA ITEMS INCLUDING UNOBTRUSIVE TASK ENCOURAGEMENT FUNCTIONALITY - In one embodiment, a processor-implemented method for encouraging a user of a computing device to perform a task. The task includes the user providing input to the computing device and is divisible into a plurality of portions performable by the user at different times. The method includes: (a) the processor dividing the task into a plurality of portions; (b) the processor waiting for one or more conditions to be satisfied; (c) after the one or more conditions are satisfied, the processor prompting the user to provide a response; and (d) after receiving the response from the user, the processor executing a software routine that enables the user to perform one of the portions of the task. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304020 | LABOR OPTIMIZATION PLATFORM - The present invention provides a labor optimization system comprising listing one or more available employee work schedules into a web based system. The listing of available employee work schedules is created by one or more employers from one or more companies. A rating system created by the employer is allocated for one or more job functions to each available employee work schedule. One or more of the job function for the available employee work schedules are bided on by one or more employees via the web based system. The bidding is based on an employee wage wherein the employee wage decreases with each bid. A rating score is assigned for each bidding employee wherein the rating score is based on one or more factors. The rating score is assigned based on the job function for the available employee work schedule. A winning employee for the available employee work schedule is determined based on the assigned rating score for the job function for the bidding employee and based on the bided employee wage. The available employee work schedule is awarded to the winning employee via the web based system. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304021 | Method for Brokering Purchases of Procedural Services - A method for brokering purchases of procedural services between a buyer and at least one professional service provider is a software-based system that negotiates transactions between potential clients and professional service providers by receiving, verifying, and negotiating appointment availabilities and appointment offers while providing privacy to both parties until a transaction is conducted. The system comprises the steps of receiving and indexing appointment openings from providers, receiving and indexing appointment offers from buyers, matching appointment opening with appointment offers, anonymizing appointment offers, and negotiating the exchange of personal information between both parties when a transaction is conducted, as well as provide ancillary product suggestions. The system provides functionality to match a submitted appointment offer anonymously with at least one professional service provider. Additionally, the system provides automated features that improve matching of the appointment opening and the appointment offer by user submitted parameters of system derived value optimums. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304022 | Location and Time Sensitive Wireless Calendaring - A computer-implemented method provides location-sensitive and time-sensitive calendaring to a wireless device, such as a cell phone, pager, PDA, etc. A user's calendar is maintained with a number of appointments, start times and end times for the appointments, meeting place and a list of attendees for the appointments. When the present time reading is within a predetermined minimum of a meeting start time of an appointment of a calendar user, the location of the user is determined based on the location of the wireless device. The location of the meeting place is also determined. Using historical data (of the user or others), the estimated time of arrival of the user at the meeting place is determined. If the estimated time of arrival is after the meeting start time, then a late message may be sent to the user and/or to the other meeting attendees. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304023 | EXTENDING CALENDAR SYSTEM TO EXECUTE DISCOVERABLE TASKS PRIOR TO THE MEETING - There are provided a method, a system and a computer program product for managing an on-line meeting. The system determines one or more tasks to prepare for the on-line meeting. The system calculates a time period that takes in order to complete the one or more tasks before the on-line meeting starts. The system runs the one or more tasks the calculated time period ahead before the on-line meeting starts. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304024 | EMPLOYEE VACATION SCHEDULING SYSTEM - Disclosed is an employee vacation scheduling system for enabling an employee to purchase vacation travel services on the basis of the availability of the paid leaves thereof. The vacation scheduling system comprises a database comprising a plurality of employees wherein, each employee is associated with the number of paid leaves the employee is entitled to. The scheduling system further comprises a store module for enabling an employee to purchase a vacation travel service that spans a predetermined number of vacation days, a date module for enabling the employee, in the process of purchasing the vacation travel service, to mark successive vacation dates for the utilization of the vacation travel service, and a payment module for enabling the employee to pay for the vacation travel service upon determining that the number of vacation days are lesser than or equivalent | 2014-10-09 |
20140304025 | MANAGING ENERGY ASSETS ASSOCIATED WITH TRANSPORT OPERATIONS - Apparatus, systems, and methods are described that can be used to generate an operating schedule for a controller of an energy storage asset that is in communication with a transport vehicle, based on an optimization process. The operating schedule is generated based on an operation characteristic of the energy storage asset, an energy-generating capacity of the transport vehicle in communication with the energy storage asset based on a motion of the transport vehicle, and a price associated with a market (including a regulation market and/or an energy market). Operation of the energy storage asset according to the generated operating schedule facilitates derivation of energy-related revenue, over a time period T. The energy-related revenue available to the energy customer over the time period T is based at least in part on the regulation market and/or the energy market. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304026 | PRODUCT LEVEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - The invention relates to a product level management system, method and apparatus that enable the levels of product to be maintained through automated ordering once product levels fall below a preset level. Product usage is tracked by using a device to read a code associated with a product at the time the product is used. Product usage data is used to update product level data, which is used to determine whether more product is required. The invention also allows an audit of product levels to be conducted and the product level data to be updated as a result of the audit. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304027 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR WORKFLOW CLUSTER PROFILE GENERATION AND SEARCH - A system and method for generating and searching workflow cluster profiles by generating a workflow similarity graph based on multiple workflows, generating a set of workflow clusters based on the workflow similarity graph, generating workflow cluster profiles for the set of workflow clusters, receiving a querying workflow, and comparing the querying workflow to the workflow cluster profiles. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304028 | EXECUTION OF FLOW DIAGRAMS - In some embodiments, a method comprises processing parameters at a current node of a plurality of nodes in a process flow diagram. The method may further, in some embodiments, comprise receiving a signal at the current node from a first immediate preceding node of the plurality of nodes. The first immediate preceding node may be connected to the current node, in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the method may include: determining whether the current node is connected to a second immediate preceding node of the plurality of nodes in the process flow diagram, and in response to determining the current node is connected to the second immediate preceding node, determining whether to process parameters associated with the current node in absence of receipt of a signal from the second immediate preceding node or to wait to receive the signal from the second immediate preceding node prior to processing the parameters. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304029 | Enterprise Product Management System and Method - A comprehensive enterprise product management system to effectuate efficient product time to market. The system includes a process model and a data model. The process model consists of entities that represent typical concepts in a trade setting and relationships among these entities. The data model represents the complexity of a product, including defining the entities that comprise the product and the relationship among these entities. The process model and the data model accommodate the dynamic characteristics associated with both product definition and channels of trade. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304030 | SUPPLY CHAIN ARCHITECTURE - The disclosed architecture is an end-to-end supply chain audit and compliance architecture that enables users to capture pertinent supplier information throughout the entire supply chain, and conduct comprehensive risk analysis as part of due diligence compliance efforts. The architecture find particular applicability to monitoring the origin and introduction into the supply chain of conflict minerals, such as gold, diamonds, oil, etc., that have been obtained illegally or against moral and ethical standards. The architecture also enables the exposure of forced labor sources, counterfeit materials, and false quality certifications. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304031 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PERFORMING ANALYSIS OF ITEM ORDER FREQUENCY - An improved approach is described for identifying frequently ordered items. This approach allows the counts for the months that are currently relevant to be summed quickly and ranked at runtime so the items with the highest frequency can be recommended. In addition, this approach provides very up-to-date data at very low levels of incremental expense. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304032 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMPLEMENTING DISPLAY OF REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES - An improved approach is described for performing analysis and display of revenue opportunities for large data sets. A user interface is provided to the CSR which provides real-time data relevant to the sales process. The information includes, for example, up-selling opportunities, cross-selling opportunities, profitability analysis, and/or fulfillment analysis. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304033 | METHODS, APPARATUS AND SYSTEMS FOR DATA VISUALIZATION AND RELATED APPLICATIONS - A computer implemented method of analyzing and graphically representing the correlation of a plurality of transaction items, the method comprising the steps of: retrieving data associated with groups of the transaction items, correlating a plurality of groups of transaction items in a dimensionally reduced manner, creating a tree hierarchy which classifies the groups of transaction items in a hierarchy according to a defined user understandable factor, wherein the tree hierarchy is linked to the groups of transaction items, and graphically representing the correlated groups of transaction items and tree hierarchy to enable interaction between the correlated groups of transaction items and the linked tree hierarchy. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304034 | PROFITABILITY SIMULATOR - Disclosed are methods and apparatuses for generating sales data reports. One approach is provided for receiving time information, simulation information, and forecast parameters to generate on the fly revenue and profitability reports for past historical data and future forecasts. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304035 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR DERIVING COMMONALITIES AMONG DATA ENTRIES - In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for deriving commonalities among data entries, These mechanisms and methods for deriving commonalities among data entries can identify characteristics that are known to be common to at least some data entries in addition to unknown characteristics that are common to data entries, The ability to identify common known and unknown characteristics among data entries may allow data entries to be grouped according to the identified common known and unknown characteristics. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304036 | MONETIZING ACCESS FOR DEMONSTRATIONS AND RUNNING SOFTWARE IN THE CLOUD WITHOUT REBUILDING THE SOFTWARE APPLICATION TO A WEB APPLICATION - A web based administration console is provided to enable access and use software applications online through a browser. A hosting system for providing access to online usage of software comprises one or more servers set up to provide a platform having a virtual environment. The servers have vendor software installed thereon for running by the servers in the virtual environment. The platform and its installed software are remotely accessible over a network to multiple simultaneous users who have registered their user information. The user information may be used to customize the experience with tailored tutorials, questions and guidelines when using the software. Contact and usage information is delivered back to the software vendor. Software selected by users is run on the servers, each user interacting in the virtual environment remotely over the network with the software, either as a software demonstration, education or as subscription service. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304037 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR COLLECTING SEGMENTATION DATA - A system, method, and computer readable medium are provided to collect and process signal data used to segment a user population. For example, a segmentation client operating on a client machine may be initialized to collect signal data in a signal file maintained by a central repository of a segmentation server. The initialization of the segmentation client may be performed by sending an initialization file to the segmentation client. The initialization file may specify a signal data type of the signal data that is to be collected. Then, an update to the signal file may be received from the segmentation client. The update may include signal data matching the signal data type specified by the initialization file. The user is then grouped in a user segment based on the signal data. Content is then published to the user segment. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304038 | Measuring Retail Visitation Amounts Based on Locations Sensed by Mobile Devices - Provided is a computer-implemented method that includes obtaining a user location dataset indicative of a location visited by a user, the user location dataset being based at least in part on a location signal received from a mobile computing device associated with the user, determining that the location visited corresponds to a geographic location of a place of interest, determining, using a computer, a visit count corresponding to the location dataset, adjusting a visit count for the place of interest to include the visit count corresponding to the location dataset, and storing the adjusted visit count for the place of interest in a visitation rate datastore. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304039 | MARKETING MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS - A method for managing a performance-based award of a new distributorship within a network of distributorships. The method includes tracking a metric associated with an existing distributorship within the network of distributorships, comparing the metric with a corresponding metric threshold, determining whether the metric satisfies the corresponding metric threshold, and automatically allocating the new distributorship to the existing distributorship within the network of distributorships. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304040 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMPLEMENTING A COMPOSITE QUALITY PERFORMANCE INDEX - Disclosed is an improved method and mechanism to implement a framework for defining multiple Quality Variables. Each quality variable corresponds to its own weight, measurement definitions, control range values and normalization formula. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304041 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ANALYZING LOCATE AND MARKING OPERATIONS WITH RESPECT TO ENVIRONMENTAL LANDMARKS - Methods, apparatus and systems including a computer comprising at least one hardware processor, at least one tangible storage medium (memory), and at least one input/output (I/O) interface for evaluating a quality of a locate and/or marking operation. First information relating to the locate and/or marking operation is compared to second information relating to one or more environmental landmarks. One or more indications of a quality assessment of the locate and/or marking operation is automatically generated based on such a comparison, and the one or more indications of the quality assessment are electronically stored on the at least one tangible storage medium, and/or electronically transmitted via the at least one I/O interface, so as to provide an electronic record of the quality assessment. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304042 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTERACTIVE CONTESTS - A system and method provide content review, distribution, ranking and access and automate creation and performance of contests among sets of content-based contestants. The system and method provide customizable interactive, ongoing, multi-level, multi-round contests with expert review of and filtered submission of content-based contestants. Among other advantages, providers may use the system and method to obtain expert and consumer review and ranking of their content. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304043 | REVENUE-GENERATING ELECTRONIC MULTI-MEDIA EXCHANGE AND PROCESS OF OPERATING SAME - In a process for creating media content, media submissions are requested and electronically received from end users and stored in a computer database. The submissions are searched for material to be included in the media content, and cross-checked against the other submissions for originality and timeliness. After the material is selected from one or more submissions, the content is developed and released to an audience for review. The end users whose submission material was included in the released content are rewarded. In one embodiment, third parties are permitted to access and search the submissions on an open exchange. The third parties can bid for rights in submissions on the open exchange. After receiving these bids, they are forwarded to the particular submission's end user for acceptance or rejection. Appropriate billing and payment processes are used to bill and pay the parties involved. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304044 | RETURN COUPON HOLDER - A return coupon holder is described for holding a return coupon issued in a store in conjunction with a customer's merchandise return transaction. The return coupon holder is preferably sized large enough to discourage the customer from stowing the coupon away, such as in a handbag. Additionally, holders may be of different types that visually or electronically convey information about a category associated with the customer's return transaction. Thus, salespersons may accordingly provide appropriate customer service to the customer. The holder categories may indicate an approximate dollar value of the return transaction, a type of merchandise returned, a return payment method, an assessment of the profitability of the customer, an assessment of the risk of fraud associated with the return transaction, and the like. A computer decision system may select holder type. Some embodiments of the coupon holder are fitted with a device that allow tracing of the customer's movements while still in the store. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304045 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SELECTING INCENTIVE TARGET USERS - A method is provided for selecting incentive target users. The method includes a server configuring multiple incentive conditions based on preset rules. The method also includes the server selecting incentive conditions from multiple incentive conditions based on a first configuration instruction and forming multiple incentive sets by performing a logical combination of the selected incentive conditions. Further, the method includes the server selecting incentive sets from multiple incentive sets based on a second configuration instruction and forming an incentive program by performing a logical combination of the selected incentive sets. The method includes the server receiving user information of multiple user groups sent from a user terminal and selecting users whose information meets at least one incentive set included in the incentive program as incentive target users. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304046 | Universal Recognition Platform - A platform for universal recognition (UR) is described. A consumer has one or more UR numbers, each of which is uniquely recognizable within the UR platform. During a transaction with a merchant, the consumer uses a non-payment token that presents a UR number or uses a payment token that presents a payment number associated with a UR number. A membership identifier used to recognize the consumer within a membership program of the merchant is retrieved and routed to the merchant. Each UR number begins with a six-digit Issuer Identification Number (IIN) which identifies the UR platform from which the UR number was issued. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304047 | MERCHANT VOUCHER OFFER PROCESSING METHOD AND APPARATUS - A system, method, and computer-readable storage medium configured to link electronic voucher offers with complementary voucher offers and consolidate redemption of electronic vouchers with electronic payments into a single transaction. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304048 | DESCENDING-PRICE AUCTION METHOD WITH PARTICIPATING FEE - A system and method is provided for a descending-price auction with participation fee. The present invention starts with the buying of participations by prospective buyers. The auction starts near the retail price and time duration is announced at the start of the auction within which each participant can bid for the asset for sale. The prospective buyers use their bought participations for bidding. The price is decreased by a predefined amount till the price reaches zero currency units after which it stays at zero and the time duration is reset. The whole process of the auction is repeated till the end of auction time and the last participant will be deemed the final buyer for the last low price. Other participants can also be compensated with other benefits according to the level of their participation in the auction. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304049 | CONSOLIDATED ELECTRONIC VOUCHER REDEMPTION AND PAYMENT METHOD AND APPARATUS - A system, method, and computer-readable storage medium configured to consolidate redemption of electronic vouchers with electronic payments into a single transaction. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304050 | PARTNER LINKAGE METHOD AND APPARATUS - A system, method, and computer-readable storage medium configured to link electronic voucher offers with complementary voucher offers and consolidate redemption of electronic vouchers with electronic payments into a single transaction. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304051 | INTEGRATION OF WIC ITEMS AND TRANSACTIONS INTO PERSONAL SHOPPING DEVICES - A method, computer program product, and point of sale system provide access to discounts and other benefits during shopping. The method includes receiving an input of a user identifier (ID) or a Women, Infants and Children (WIC) ID and identifying that the associated user is a recipient of specific benefits. The method also includes displaying a graphical interface that provides a subsidized list and an out-of-pocket list to visually communicate benefits available under a subsidy program to the user. The method further includes displaying an option to claim or refuse a benefit with respect to each individual product in the subsidized list. In response to receiving a user input to refuse to claim the benefit for a selected individual product, the method provides for moving the selected individual product from the subsidized list to the out-of-pocket list and displaying the selected individual product within the out-of-pocket list. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304052 | COMMERCIAL TRANSACTION MANAGEMENT DEVICE, COMMERCIAL TRANSACTION MANAGEMENT METHOD, COMMERCIAL TRANSACTION MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, AND COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM FOR RECORDING SAME PROGRAM - A commercial transaction management device includes a coupon creation control unit that receives a coupon issuance request containing sales terms when purchasing a plurality of items together from one user, a determination unit that determines whether to accept the sales terms based on information from a shop related to the items, and an issuance unit that issues an electronic coupon when it is determined to accept the sales terms. This enables an offer of a coupon that matches a desire of one user. In addition, the commercial transaction management device further includes a purchase receiving unit that receives a purchase order of a plurality of items with the sales terms from another user having received an offer of the coupon from one user, and therefore other users can also purchase a plurality of items with the sales terms contained in the coupon. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304053 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF PROVIDING INFORMATION TO AN OCCUPANT OF A VEHICLE - Providing information to an occupant of a vehicle. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including: identifying an occupant of a vehicle, the identifying creates an indicia of occupant identity; determining an identity of the vehicle, the determining creates an indicia of vehicle identity; tracking location of the vehicle when occupied by the occupant; and providing information to the occupant, the information selected based on the indicia of occupant identity, the indicia of vehicle identity, and/or the locations of vehicle when occupied by the occupant. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304054 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HANDLING GAMIFICATION FRAUD - Some embodiments of the present invention include determining if updates performed by a second user include a systematic change such as a reversal of an update previously performed by a first user within a time window. The reversal is associated with a record of data used by a gamification application executing in a computer system. A time delay is introduced between the update performed by the second user and rewarding the second user if the update performed by the second user includes the reversal within the time window. An update history of the first user and the second user is evaluated to identify pattern of reversals associated with similar records within the time window. The second user is prevented from being rewarded based on identifying that there are patterns of reversals from the update history occurring within the time window. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304055 | Using Mix-Media for Payment Authorization - Techniques for identifying a user and authenticating payment transactions based on the identification include requesting the user to send his audio, video, and/or image from the point of sale location and comparing the received audio, video, and/or image to an audio/video/image on file to identify and authenticate the user as being the official holder of the payment device being used in the transaction. Once the user is authenticated, the payment processing can be performed using conventional techniques. Some techniques involve use of accelerometer data associated with the user in addition to or in lieu of the audio, video, and/or image data to perform the identification and authentication of the user. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304056 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DONATING REWARD POINTS TO TARGETED CHARITY - A method and system for making a donation to a third party in which a consumer is shown a video regarding a specified charitable organization on an interactive video terminal while in a captive environment such as on an airplane or cruise ship and then queried if he or she wishes to make a donation to that organization in reward points or miles. The user/donor may then request the donation via the interactive screen as desired. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304057 | LOYALTY REWARDS OPTIMIZATION BILL PAYABLES AND RECEIVABLES SERVICE - For several accounts receivable, a reward account is determined as the account that receives the largest deposit to the loyalty reward balance thereof by a payment of the account receivable. For each reward account, a deficient reward account is found if the currency balance for the reward account is not sufficient for the payment of the account payable. For each deficiency reward account, if identified accounts receivables can be deposited such that the currency balance thereof will be sufficient to pay the account payable, then payments are made of: (i) the identified accounts receivables as corresponding deposits to the currency balance of the deficiency reward account such that the currency balance thereof is sufficient for the payment of the account payable; and (ii) the account payable by a withdrawal from the currency balance of the deficiency reward account. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304058 | CLOUD SERVICE AND PRODUCT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR MANAGING WARRANTY AND OTHER PRODUCT INFORMATION - Disclosed in some examples is a product management service including a point of sale module configured to receive from a point of sale terminal, over a network, product and consumer information as part of a sale of a product described by the product information; associate the consumer information with a consumer account; and update the consumer account with the product information; and a warranty registration module configured to send a portion of the product information and a portion of the customer information to a warranty registration service responsive to updating the consumer account with the product information to register the product described by the product information. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304059 | Systems and Methods for Price Matching and Comparison - A method and system for providing a consumer comparative pricing data from at least two merchants is discussed. In one aspect of the invention a customer queries a database containing time and location specific pricing data for competitors of a first merchant. If the query shows that the customer could have purchased the same item or items for a lower price at a competitor, the first merchant awards the customer an on-line credit that is redeemable at the merchant. In another aspect, a consumer uploads an image of a competitor's receipt. The item specific data on the receipt is converted to UPC codes on an item-by-item basis. These UPC codes are then compared against the merchant's pricing database and the consumer is provided data set comparing the prices the consumer paid to the prices the consumer would have paid had the consumer shopped at the merchant. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304060 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONDUCTING SEMI-OPAQUE SALES WITH ITEM BUNDLES - Disclosed are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for semi-opaque sales with bundles of items. An example bundle can include hotel lodging and a bonus service, status, or item associated with that hotel. An system can identify a first bundle of a first base and bonus item, and a second bundle of a second base and bonus item. The system can present a semi-opaque offer comprising the first bundle, the second bundle, and a discount price, wherein the semi-opaque offer does not identify which of the first bundle and the second bundle will be sold at the discount price to the user upon acceptance of the semi-opaque offer, and wherein the discount price is a full price of the first base item. After receiving acceptance of the semi-opaque offer from the user, the system can disclose that the user has purchased the first bundle at the discount price. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304061 | Obtaining Metrics for Online Advertising Using Multiple Sources of User Data - A system for obtaining metrics for online advertising uses multiple sources of user data, including panel data, social networking system data, and user data from other online service providers. An advertising impression system notifies each data source when an advertising impression occurs for an advertising campaign. The user data sources identify users corresponding to the impression by referencing a look-up table that matches a user ID at the advertising impression system with the user ID of users at the user data source. Each user data source generates a demographics report based on the user data known to that user data source. The user data sources transmit the demographics reports to a data aggregator, which determines estimated viewing statistics based on the various user data sources without revealing personally identifiable information from the user data sources. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304062 | ENTERPRISE DATA RE-MATCHING - A system and method for managing media advertising enterprise data including a process for learning enterprise data matching. An EDM (Enterprise Data Management) application module can be configured to include a set of rules at an enterprise level to manage disparate and disconnected records associated with an entity. A number of unmatched and enterprise entities that matches with respect to an active entity can be returned based on a fuzzy logic associated with various matching options stored in an EDM database. A matching process can then be performed to accurately match similar records regardless of manual input, location, and format of the records in a distributed system. Each unmatched record can then be assigned with a parent enterprise entity. Such an optimization mechanism can interactively manage and report records at the enterprise level in a simple and efficient manner. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304063 | DETERMINING RESOURCE ALLOCATION FOR CONTENT DISTRUBUTION - An example system includes: identifying campaigns for content distribution for which conversion information has been collected over time and stored in a database in computer storage, where the identified campaigns have at least one subject in common; for each of at least some of the campaigns, performing operations that include: identifying distribution clusters associated with the campaign, and determining relative conversion rates for the distribution clusters; and using relative conversion rates for distribution clusters, which have one or more features in common and are in different campaigns, in determining how to allocate resources for the content distribution. | 2014-10-09 |
20140304064 | Smart Billing System - A method for optimizing ad-based conversions is provided. The method may comprise the steps of receiving user input from a user through one or more ad-based entry points, where each entry point providing one or more reference codes in response to the user input; initiating a subscription sequence based on the reference codes; randomizing a plurality of concurrently available advertising campaigns selected based on the reference codes; selecting at least one landing page from the randomized advertising campaigns to be presented to the user based on the reference codes; and determining a conversion rate based at least partially on one or more of the reference codes, the engaged entry point, the selected advertising campaign and landing page. | 2014-10-09 |