45th week of 2008 patent applcation highlights part 46 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20080275731 | Patient data mining improvements - Improvements in mining information from patient records and/or use of such mined information are provided. The identity of the patient is used to link to patient records at different institutions for mining. The user controls one or more thresholds for mining and/or inferring. By providing a user interface that allows selection of a portion of the statistical summary, data supporting the statistics may be output. To assist in understanding the knowledge base used for mining or inferring, a visual representation is output. The mining may be used for diagnosis related groupings. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275732 | Using patterns of medical treatment codes to determine when further medical expertise is called for - A technique for using ICD-9 and CPT codes in an individual's medical records to determine a particular manner in which a medical condition of an individual should be dealt with. The medical records are analyzed for a pattern of the medical treatment codes that is associated with the particular manner of dealing with the medical condition and an indication of the pattern's existence is provided. In one embodiment, the analysis is used to determine whether and what kind of specialist is required. The analysis may be performed when the diagnosis of the condition is uncertain, when the treatment of the condition is uncertain, when the treatment has resulted in further problems, or when the patient is not responding to the treatment. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275733 | Method for evaluation of patient identification - A method and a software product is described for managing the evolution of changes and updates to a patient identification system. In a patient identification system, the data may have errors or inconsistencies which preclude automatic matching of the data for an input data record, representing a person being admitted to a hospital, with a patient object in a data base, the patient object representing a unique individual. The method includes identifying the input data records that cannot be automatically matched, and manually matching the records to objects. The manual steps are recorded and used to develop updates to the software product. The input data is again processed by the patient identification method and the amount of improvement in, or the error in, the association is used to determine when the updated software may be installed. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275734 | Method and Apparatus for Picture Archiving Communication System With STAT Workflow - A method for medical scan archiving and notifying medical professionals of a need for evaluation of the medical scan, having a capability to identify emergency condition data for medical patients and notify appropriate personnel of the emergency data pending within the system. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275735 | Method of Picture Archiving Communication System Messaging Intelligent Update Mechanism - A system and method for medical scan archiving and notifying medical professionals of a need for evaluation of the medical scan, having the steps of enrolling a medical professional in a computer system, the enrolling of the medical professional including a medical professional type, gathering medical data from the patient, entering the medical data gathered from the patient, an urgency type for the patient, and a medical data type for the patient into a data archival system, evaluating the urgency type for the patient related to the medical data, conducing a broadcast message to a medical professional with a medical professional type corresponding to the medical data type when the urgency type corresponds to a need for immediate reading of the medical data for the patient and retrieving the broadcast message to the medical professional and conducting a replacement broadcast when the urgency type of the medical data changes from a first state to a second state. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275736 | System of Picture Archiving and Communication System With Message Broadcasting Mechanism - A method for medical scan archiving and notifying medical professionals of a need for evaluation of the medical scan, having the steps of enrolling a medical professional in a computer system, the enrolling of the medical professional including a medical professional type, gathering medical data from the patient, entering the medical data gathered from the patient, an urgency type for the patient, and a medical data type for the patient into a data archival system, evaluating the urgency type for the patient related to the medical data, and conducing a broadcast message to a medical professional with a medical professional type corresponding to the medical data type when the urgency type corresponds to a need for immediate reading of the medical data for the patient. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275737 | INSURANCE ESTIMATING SYSTEM - Disclosed is a computerized method and system for estimating treatment costs for a health care product and/or service for a health care patient. The estimate of health care costs is calculated before the patient is discharged from the facility providing the health care product or service. The estimate of health care costs may also be performed prior to any treatment or admission to the health care facility of the health care patient. The estimate of treatment costs may include a patient payable amount that estimates the cost of the health care product/service that will be the patient's responsibility. The health care patient may be billed for the health care product or service prior to discharging the health care patient and/or prior to providing the health care product or service to the health care patient. If desired, a loan for the estimated patient payable amount may be arranged and/or provided to the health care patient to pay for the patient's portion of the cost for the health care product and/or service. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275738 | APPARATUS, DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRESCRIBING, ADMINISTERING AND MONITORING A TREATMENT REGIMEN FOR A PATIENT - A treatment Device is provided which enables a Doctor/Pharmacist to provide patient specific instructions in a textual format to a patient. The instructions are converted by a speech synthesizer provided in the Device into an audibly perceptible format. When configured as a hand-held unit, the Device may store a plurality of medications. Upon activation or automatically, instructions saved in the device are communicated to a patient/user via various audible, visual and/or tactile indicators. The instructions are provided to the device via a Platform which enables Doctors and Pharmacists input instructions into the Platform, which, via a Platform interface, are saved into a storage device provided in the Device. In an additional embodiment, a removable medication dispensing cartridge is provided which facilitates the controlled and automatic dispensing of a medication to a patient based upon a treatment schedule. Patient compliance information with a treatment schedule may be provided by the Device. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275739 | TREATMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A system and a method for managing patient treatment stores in the database a patient history for each patient including data related to observations, test results, diagnoses, treatment regimen(s) and a treatment plan associated with the patient. The treatment plan is administered to the patient and medical device operating data related to the tasks of the associated treatment regimen is stored in the database. A reminder is issued if a task associated with the treatment regimen is not completed on time and the effectiveness of the treatment regimen is evaluated based upon the data stored in the database so that only effective treatment regimens are retained in the system. The system performs treatment planning, treatment monitoring, hospital monitoring healthcare insurance billing, patient billing, research and analysis support, supply chain management and personnel scheduling. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275740 | Priority seat management system, priority seat management method, and program storage medium storing program thereof - When a priority passenger detector located at a ticket gate detects priority data transmitted from a priority data storage device | 2008-11-06 |
20080275741 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AN ONLINE RESERVATION SYSTEM FOR SERVICES SELECTABLE FROM MULTIPLE CATEGORIES - The present invention is a method and system for an online reservation system providing services of multiple categories of service providers. A user may enter the online reservation system by clicking on a button either embedded in a directory services search result for a particular service provider or located on a particular service provider's website. Alternatively, a user may search for service providers through the online reservation system by entering criteria such as category of service, pricing, rating, location, or time and day of availability of the service. Both users and service providers receive electronic confirmation and reminders for the booked appointments. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275742 | NESTED HIERARCHICAL ROLLUPS BY LEVEL USING A NORMALIZED TABLE - Nested hierarchies can be efficiently analyzed by normalizing a portion of the hierarchy as defined by a limiting factor for the hierarchy. In a project hierarchy wherein each project contains a task hierarchy, each task hierarchy can be normalized. Further, the projects can be assigned to levels such that data for each level can be indexed, partitioned, or otherwise differentiated. The data then can be efficiently rolled up by level using the partially normalized hierarchy. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275743 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PLANNING - A computer-implemented method of identifying a preferred plan includes modeling one or more plans, each plan having a respective plurality of states and a respective plurality of transitions between the states, generating a respective state transition probability matrix associated with each one of the one or more plans, and generating a respective observation probability matrix associated with each one of the one or more plans. A respective plurality of state histories is identified and a respective quality value for is computed for each state history. A respective expected value is computed for each plan. A preferred plan is identified in accordance with the expected values. A preferred state history is identified in accordance with the quality values. A computer-readable storage medium and a system having a computer-readable storage medium are also provided, each of which is encoded with instructions for performing the method. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275744 | System, method and computer program product for processing and visualization of information - Systems and methods for processing and reporting information and data, such as business information, and more particularly, to systems, software, hardware, products, and processes for use by businesses, individuals and other organizations to collect, process, distribute, analyze and visualize information, including, but not limited to, business intelligence, data visualization, data warehousing, and data mining. Real-time monitoring of web site interactions allows users to modify and fine-tune their websites to maximize value realized. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275745 | METHOD, COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT AND SYSTEM FOR DEFINING, MEASURING AND MAXIMIZING RELATIONSHIP ALIGNMENT AND MATURITY - A method, computer program product and system for systematically defining, measuring, and maximizing relationship capabilities and the maturity levels thereof and providing the most efficient alignment improvement pathway for individual relationships contained therein, is provided. The present invention is adaptable for use with any relationship, including inter-personal relationships. A particular adaptation includes use of the invention to maximize the success of a customer-based relationship comprising eight key customer-focused business functions that are measured and systematically prioritized for efficient improvement and alignment with needs and expectations. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275746 | CROSS-ENVIRONMENTALLY RELEVANT ITEM COMPLEXITY MANAGER - The present invention provides methods and systems for facilitating exchange of rights associated with environmentally relevant items. The methods and systems may include identifying a first type of environmentally relevant item recognized by a jurisdiction associated with a first type of environmentally relevant action, identifying a second type of environmentally relevant item recognized by a jurisdiction associated with a different type of environmentally relevant action and providing a software-based module by which a user can manage actions relevant to both types of environmentally relevant item. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275747 | INCIDENT/ACCIDENT REPORT ANALYSIS APPARATUS AND METHOD - An incident/accident report analysis apparatus is disclosed. An input unit inputs an incident/accident report containing a crisis rate and an severity of an incident/accident. A probability value corresponding to the crisis rate and a loss amount corresponding to the severity is recorded in a data table. A parameter storage unit stores an N value indicating the number of times a failure occurs and an α value indicating a risk tolerance parameter. A risk calculation unit calculates a incident risk including the loss amount occurring with the probability of α% upon repetition of the same failure N times, using the probability value corresponding to the crisis rate and the loss amount corresponding to the severity. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275748 | Systems and methods for facilitating electronic transactions and deterring fraud - Systems and methods are described for providing fraud deterrents during e-commerce, e-transactions, and digital rights management and access. One or more fraud deterrents may be automatically selected by a client, seller, bank, or other 3 | 2008-11-06 |
20080275749 | ADAPTIVE ESTIMATION OF GAIN AND REVENUE - Exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to a method, system, and storage medium for facilitating adaptive estimation of gains and revenues. The method includes receiving initial the data for at least one subject to be measured into an adaptive estimator system. The initial the data includes an estimated cost of the subject, a number of clock cycles for the subject, an initial gain function based upon a desired profit, and a measurement period. The method also includes capturing a number of used units during a current clock cycle. Based upon the initial the data and the captured used units, the method includes computing an actual gain. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275750 | Method and system for processing and communicating corporate action events - Providing for processing and communicating corporate action events and any associated elections. These systems and methods enable straight through processing of corporate action events, including events requiring the election of optional events by a security holder. These systems and methods would receive and process data regarding corporate action events. These data would be processed and notifications sent to affected security holders. For events that require the security holder to make an election, the systems and methods may receive and process those elections. The elections would then be used to implement the resulting outcome. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention would employ XML messaging in the automation process. The systems and methods may also include a process that can identify and, if possible, fix an exception to a message or data stream. Also, an asset servicing portal may be used for communicating notifications and elections. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275751 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSESSING THE STATUS OF WORK WAITING FOR SERVICE - The present invention provides a system and method for assessing the status of work waiting for service in a work queue or a work pool. Work items are placed in the work queue or work pool and have a service time goal. The work items in the work queue or work pool are scanned and a required queue position for each work item is calculated according to the amount of time remaining prior to the expiration of the service time goal and weighted advance time for servicing of work items in the work queue or pool. An array of counters has elements which correspond to required queue positions. Upon the calculation of the required queue position for a work item, the counter corresponding to the required queue position is incremented. When all of the work items are scanned, the array of counters is analyzed to predict a future state of the work queue or work pool. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275752 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSESSING THE STATUS OF WORK WAITING FOR SERVICE - The present invention provides a system and method for assessing the status of work waiting for service in a work queue or a work pool. Work items are placed in the work queue or work pool and have a service time goal. The work items in the work queue or work pool are scanned and a required queue position for each work item is calculated according to the amount of time remaining prior to the expiration of the service time goal and weighted advance time for servicing of work items in the work queue or pool. An array of counters has elements which correspond to required queue positions. Upon the calculation of the required queue position for a work item, the counter corresponding to the required queue position is incremented. When all of the work items are scanned, the array of counters is analyzed to predict a future state of the work queue or work pool. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275753 | System and method for brokering the sale of internet advertisement inventory as discrete traffic blocks of segmented internet traffic. - A management system brokers, between a seller and a buyer, at least a portion of the seller's inventory of advertisement impressions that the seller can render within a web page of internet traffic. The management system comprises a traffic block definition tool adapted to define traffic block parameters for at least two discrete traffic blocks of the advertisement placement. The traffic block parameters for each discrete traffic block comprise a volume parameter and a duration parameter. A sales management tool is adapted to associate advertisement content and a buyer compensation parameter to each salable event. An order fulfillment system: i) directs placement of highest yielding advertisement content if, for each discrete traffic block, a delivered volume of sales events is higher than its minimum fulfillment threshold; and ii) if, for any discrete traffic block, delivered volume of saleable events lower than its minimum fulfillment threshold, directs placement of the advertisement content associated with that discrete traffic block. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275754 | SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATED MANAGEMENT OF A MIXED WORKFORCE USING PRIORITY QUEUING OF AUTOMATED BID DISPATCH AND COMPLIANCE MONITORING - A system for coordinating and monitoring laborers and their agents in and across organizations is provided which includes a database, a computing apparatus, and a first and second network. The database contains information regarding a staffing requirement, including a time period a labor is required and a minimum professional qualification for the labor, a staffing schedule including data on whether or not the staffing requirement is currently filled, and a sequence of preferences related to filling of the staffing requirement. The first network includes a first digital messaging pathway between the computing apparatus and a first potential laborer, and the second network including a second digital messaging pathway between said computing apparatus and an entity possessing the staffing requirement or an agent of the entity. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275755 | System for, and method of, providing a sequence of content segments and advertisements to a user and recommending product purchases to the user on the basis of the user's behavioral characteristics - A user elects to view specific content segments (e.g., movie). The user transmits this election and his identity to a displaced server. The server determines the user's demographics from a first database and the content segments from a second database. The server selects advertisements from a third database based upon the user's demographics and the content segments. The content segments and the advertisements are transmitted to the user for viewing. Alternatively, the user's global positioning are determined and advertisements are selected and transmitted to the user in accordance with the positioning and demographics. Further, the advertisements may be selected on the basis of artificial intelligence in the form of the user's behavioral model algorithms. Additionally, a priority may be established among users by determining if each user's demographics match pre-selected factors and by providing user priority on the basis of the number of matched factors for each user. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275756 | Apparatus and method for analyzing business continuity, and computer product - A business continuity analyzing apparatus includes a process-information extracting unit that extracts processes included in an operation to be analyzed, from a data configuration that forms an operation flowchart representing the operation; an association editing unit that edits association between the processes extracted by the process-information extracting unit and resources previously stored in a common resource master; and a diagram generating unit that generates an influence diagram based on the association edited by the association editing unit. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275757 | Metric Conversion for Online Advertising - Methods, systems and computer program products for estimating a CPC bid (eCPC) as a function of a target CPA bid based on predictive data (e.g., predicted conversion rate) have been described. The eCPC parameter can be used to develop a model that could be used to charge advertisers on a CPA basis while crediting publishers on a CPC basis. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275758 | PRICE PLANNING PLATFORM - In embodiments, the present invention provides methods and systems, including, without limitation, a platform, for producing a pricing plan of record for an entity by determining a pricing plan, the pricing plan specifying price guidelines for a plurality of items on an individual basis while simultaneously being directed at substantially achieving an objective of at least one entity plan on an aggregated basis, and making the pricing plan available in a planning tool used to set prices for the items. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275759 | Content Allocation - A method of publishing and/or allocating content to particular destinations includes determining probable content destinations. One or more probable demographics are inferred based on the probable destinations along with one or more further characteristics relating to consumption of electronic content at the destination. Specific electronic content is selected and allocated and/or published to one or more electronic devices at one or more of the destinations. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275760 | METHOD FOR FACILITATING FINANCIAL AND NON FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN CUSTOMERS, RETAILERS AND SUPPLIERS - A new medium of tender employs both a primary barcode and a merchant specific extension barcode that are both associated with specific consumers. The system operates within preexisting merchant platforms and links merchant systems, POS systems, inventory systems, SKU systems, barcode readers and a server switch. The system allows the ready linking and access of consumer transaction related information including purchase history, credit information, merchandise details and similar information. It further allows for the ready remittance of payment via the ACH network through the eCache computer network or other funding networks based on criteria established by the merchant itself. It further facilitates the administration of consumer rewards or loyalty programs and also facilitates consignment arrangements between suppliers and merchants. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275761 | WINE DATABASE AND RECOMMENDATION SYSTEM - A method for storing wine industry data, consumer preference data, and inventory data for a particular type of wine in a database and using the wine industry data and consumer preference data to provide a personalized wine recommendation comprising obtaining information to identify a bottle of wine, receiving consumer preference data for the bottle of wine, searching the wine industry data based on the consumer preference data and providing a location-based wine recommendation to the consumer. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275762 | VIDEO EMAIL WITH INFORMATION TRACKING - A system and method for identifying and tracking recipient behavior in connection with a multimedia presentation incorporated in an email. The email is received in the manner of an ordinary text email, but when the email is opened, it automatically commences the display of a multi-media presentation that includes streaming video that provides information about the viewing experience to the sender. When the recipient elects to open the email message, the recipient's computer is identified to the sender and correlated with information relating to the recipient's interaction with the program. Such information can include the portions of the program viewed by the recipient and the length of time each portion is viewed, and the identity of any recipient to whom the information is forwarded. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275763 | Monetization of Digital Content Contributions - Methods and system for admitting a content provider into a revenue sharing program are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving a request from a content provider to participate in the revenue sharing partner program and determining whether to invite the content provider based at least in part on infraction information associated with the content provider. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275764 | CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - The invention is a system and method that targets communications devices with content from service providers, third party content providers, sponsors, promotional partners and advertisers. The invention matches the content with communications device users using customer profiles or device usage profiles and transmits the content to communications devices over a wireless network, via the internet, or other means. The communications devices store the content in an internal repository. The content is later displayed as a result of triggers by designated users' actions. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275765 | CONFIGURABLE GIS DATA SYSTEM - A configurable GIS data system that spatially and temporally monitors personnel or material. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275766 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSESSING THE STATUS OF WORK WAITING FOR SERVICE - The present invention provides a system and method for assessing the status of work waiting for service in a work queue or a work pool. Work items are placed in the work queue or work pool and have a service time goal. The work items in the work queue or work pool are scanned and a required queue position for each work item is calculated according to the amount of time remaining prior to the expiration of the service time goal and weighted advance time for servicing of work items in the work queue or pool. An array of counters has elements which correspond to required queue positions. Upon the calculation of the required queue position for a work item, the counter corresponding to the required queue position is incremented. When all of the work items are scanned, the array of counters is analyzed to predict a future state of the work queue or work pool. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275767 | Dynamic Creation of an Online Contest or Poll - A method and a system are provided, such that a subscriber may access a remote processing device to dynamically create or edit an online contest or an online poll. When creating an online contest, the subscriber may provide the remote processing device with contest information including contest rules, contest entrance criteria, access control information, a format for contest submissions, and/or other information. When creating an online poll, the subscriber may provide the remote processing device with information including a poll question, poll answers, a poll category, poll entrance criteria, poll access control information, and/or other poll information. In some embodiments, the subscriber may create one or more access lists to limit access to an online poll or an online contest, to limit viewing of the online poll or the online contest, or to limit participation of users with respect to the online poll of the online contest. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275768 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING A COUPON AT AN AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINE - The present disclosure provides methods and apparatus for providing a coupon at an automated teller machine. In general, a user of the disclosed system performs a financial transaction at an automated teller machine (ATM). In addition, the ATM displays and prints one or more coupons for the user. Preferably, the coupon(s) are selected from a database of coupons based on the geographic location of the ATM (e.g., a nearby restaurant). Preferably, the coupon includes directions to the associated store and/or directions within the associated store. For example, a map with an overlaid route and/or text-based directions from the ATM to the store may be printed on the coupon. In addition to geography, coupon selection may be based on one or more other variables such as the ATM transaction type, the ATM transaction amount, the person's age, the person's sex, the person's previous purchases, etc. Coupon providers may be charged in a variety of different ways. For example, coupon providers may be charged for each time a coupon is displayed, each time a coupon is printed, and/or each time a coupon is redeemed. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275769 | NETWORK-BASED INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT CENTER - A network system for providing an entertainment center in a virtual community includes a computer storage configured to store information about a user, a server configured to support a web user interface on a remote computer device. The web user interface includes an entertainment center including a screen configured to display an image, and one or more seats to be seated by one or more avatars while they watch the image on the screen and a mechanism adapted to control the display of the image on the screen. At least one of the one or more avatars is associated with the user. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275770 | Publisher advertisement return on investment optimization - An advertising network can provide mechanisms to publishers with which the publishers can influence the relevance of the advertisements provided by the advertising network for display with the publisher's web sites. Such mechanisms include bid boosts, discounts and rank boosts, each of which, either directly or indirectly, can increase or decrease the likelihood that an advertising network will provide a advertisement, targeted by these mechanisms, to the publisher's web pages. Each of these mechanisms also enable the publisher to sacrifice ad-generated revenue for the sake of more relevant advertisements. The advertising network can also provide an interface through which a publisher can access these mechanisms. Such an interface can comprise a predictive analysis based on information gathered from the publisher's web sites, that can enable the publisher to visualize the effect of these mechanisms on factors such as ad-generated revenue and visitor return rates. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275771 | Merchant transaction based advertising - Methods and systems are disclosed for producing advertisements on a transaction record for a transaction between a consumer and a merchant involving the use of a portable consumer device such as a credit or debit card. Advertisers may specify criteria so that the advertisements are specifically targeted. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275772 | System and method of facilitating targeted content delivery - A method of facilitating targeted content delivery is disclosed and includes receiving a request from a third-party to deliver targeted content to a plurality of customers of a service provider, where the request includes a plurality of customer profile parameters. The method also includes aggregating profile data associated with at least some of the plurality of customers of the service provider to produce collective customer profile information corresponding to the request. The aggregated profile data matches at least some of the customer profile parameters. The method also includes communicating service terms to the third-party, wherein the service terms are determined for the request based at least partially on a type of the targeted content. Further, the method includes receiving the targeted content from the third-party after the service provider receives data indicating acceptance of the service terms. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275773 | Gift registry system - A gift registry system facilitates the availability of a convenient online accessed gift registry in which a plurality of gift givers make money gifts directly to an accumulating gift registry. The gift registry is maintained by a gift registry operator for the benefit of a registry owner. The gift registry operator accumulates funds given and provides accounting and tabulation of gifts given by each gift giver. Additionally, the gift registry operator provides interactive online service to be accessed by givers and banking services sufficient to accumulate and transfer funds. Finally, a plurality of merchants, vendors and service providers interact with the gift registry operator to offer incentives to the gift registry owner to interact with the subscribing merchants, vendors and service providers in spending the accumulated gift funds. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275774 | Web based auto bill analysis method - Method for automatically analyzing customer's bill, such as cell phone bill, received in electronic format for errors and utilization against company's published plan by third-party on third-party's website for customer. The company's published plan is previously stored on third-party's website. Third-party advises customer of results, in real-time, and provides blind feedback to billing company by type error and utilization. Results and feedback are specific to each customer and billing company, and also provides security for both. Promotional materials are provided to customer for revenue to third-party. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275775 | System and method for using sampling for scheduling advertisements in an online auction - An improved system and method is provided for using sampling for scheduling advertisements in an online auction. A multi-armed bandit engine may be provided for learning the valuation of advertisements through sampling in an online advertising auction. To do so, the multi-armed bandit may schedule advertisements for web page placements in an online advertising auction to optimize payments for maximizing the welfare of the advertisers. An initial list of advertisements may be created that is ordered by expected payment, and an optimal subset of advertisements may be determined from the initial list of advertisements for web page placements by iterative sampling. A web page placement may then be determined and allocated for each advertisement in the optimal subset in order to maximize revenue. And a charge may be calculated for each advertisement allocated the web page placement and sampled in the online advertising auction. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275776 | PROVISION OF WIRELESS OFFERS TO CE DEVICE USING NON-TELEPHONY WIRELESS TRANSMISSION - A method for distributing geographically and socioeconomically targeted media, advertising, and electronic coupons via non-telephony wireless methods to portable consumer electronic and communication devices, based upon the cross-registration meta data of the manufacturer product warranty information to a local digital signage network. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275777 | System and method for brokering the sale of internet advertisement inventory as discrete traffic blocks of segmented internet traffic - An auction management system brokers, between a seller and a buyer, a discrete traffic block of an ad placement. The auction management system comprises a traffic block definition tool providing workflows for obtaining traffic block parameters defining the discrete traffic block, the traffic block parameters comprising: i) an identification of the ad placement; ii) a volume parameter defining the volume of traffic included in the discrete traffic block; iii) at least one duration parameter defining an active time period during which the volume of traffic included in the discrete traffic block will be provided; and iv) an auction parameter defining an expiration time before which buyers submit offers to purchase the discrete traffic block. A listing search tool provides web pages displaying a listing of a plurality of listed discrete traffic blocks. Each listed discrete traffic block comprises a discrete traffic block with an expiration time that has not yet passed. The listing includes, for each listed discrete traffic block, the traffic block parameters associated therewith. An auction management tool provides for: i) obtaining a buyer compensation parameter from each of a plurality of buyers bidding for purchase of the discrete traffic block; and ii) designating the buyer that that provided a compensation parameter meeting selection criteria as the winning buyer. An order management system directs placement of buyer advertisement content designated by the winning bidder within the ad placement for the volume of traffic defined by the volume parameter and during the time period defined by the at least one duration parameter. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275778 | Method of Community Service and Disaster Relief - The present invention relates to a method of community service including the steps of providing a site placement for a storage structure and allowing a relief organization to stage disaster relief supplies in that storage structure in anticipation of a possible disaster. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275779 | MOBILE PAYMENT SERVICES - A Java2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE) enabled server executing Java software provides a financial transaction Web service to a client each of which communicates wirelessly with the J2EE enabled server and executes Java software to conduct financial transactions between a merchant and a consumer upon an account issued by an issuer to the consumer. Each financial transaction is submitted by the merchant to an acquirer for processing by a transaction handler/payment processor, and is submitted by the transaction handler/payment processor to the issuer to obtain a payment amount for the financial transaction from the account, and wherein the issuer forwards the payment amount of the financial transaction to the transaction handler/payment processor who forwards the payment amount of the financial transaction to the acquirer to pay the merchant for the financial transaction. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275780 | Sales Aid For Hot Tubs and Method of Selling - A sales aid for selling hot tubs comprising a full-size pattern of a selected hot tub model which is imaged on a flexible, lightweight carrier sheet or fabric such as a vinyl poly blend which is durable and easily transportable. The full-size pattern is preferably a color photographic image of the actual hot tub model being offered for sale. A hot tub dealer or exhibitor may have one or more patterns of the invention for each of the desired hot tub models it wishes to market, without the need to have the actual hot tubs occupying valuable floor space in the store. When a prospective purchaser wants to ensure a proper site fit of the hot tub on his or her premises, the pattern is loaned to the prospective purchaser with the understanding that it will be returned to the store. This arrangement causes the prospective purchaser to return to the store, at which time the sale is hopefully made, in accordance with the sales aid method of the invention. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275781 | INTERACTIVE ADVERTISING PLATFORM FOR AFTERMARKET AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY - Systems and methods for associating aftermarket parts with information concerning a vehicle are described. One embodiment includes obtaining information concerning a vehicle year, make, and model, providing a directory of aftermarket parts compatible with the obtained vehicle year, make, and model, selecting at least one aftermarket part from the directory, storing a vehicle profile including the selected aftermarket part, associating an advertisement with the selected aftermarket part, receiving an instruction to display the stored profile, retrieving the stored profile and the associated advertisement, displaying the stored profile and the associated advertisement, and recording information concerning the display of the associated advertisement. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275782 | Centralized Affiliated Marketplace Individuals and Associated Methods - A centralized marketplace for efficient and streamlined third party listings, including advertisements, to be placed with individuals. Individuals may set terms and fee schedules for accepting listings from advertisers. An automated backend coordinates the listing transactions, including the collection of fees, timings of display of listings, targeting of individuals with desired demographic data, etc., as well as providing a platform to organize networks of individuals. Each individual may facilitate and receive listings from affiliates for a fee or free on devices capable of receiving listings, such as cell phones, personal computers and digital assistants, etc. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275783 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF INSPECTING ADVERTISEMENT THROUGH KEYWORD COMPARISON - A method and system of inspecting advertising contents of a keyword advertisement is provided. The method includes: crawling a Universal Resource Locator (URL) registered by an advertiser and extracting a URL keyword related to an advertisement site of the advertiser; extracting a target keyword from a plurality of advertisement information being registered in relation to the URL; and determining further inspection-required advertisement information through keyword comparison between the extracted URL keyword and the target keyword, the further inspection-required advertisement information having low relevance to the advertisement site. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275784 | PROCESSES FOR AUTOMATED DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION OF CONTENT AND PRODUCTS THEREBY - The invention provides a system and method for an automated platform that allows for the distribution of digital content (including pictures, audio, video, podcasts, RSS feeds and many others) by means of a digital media player created within branded frames or skins or digital interactive pictures, both types of digital content which allow for enhanced viewing of the digital content and provide integrated and, distributable branding. Revenue can be generated by one of the owner of the digital content, the owner of the digital medium hosting the content and the provider of the automated mechanism. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275785 | Systems and Methods to Provide advertisements for Real Time Communications - Systems and methods to provide advertisements based on the content of documents in which the advertisements are presented. One embodiment includes: a web server to receive a request for an advertisement in reference to a document provided to a user by a content provider; a backend server to identify the advertisement based on relevancy of the advertisement to the content of the document and to associate a communication reference with the advertisement and the content provider, the web server to provide the advertisement and the reference for inclusion in the document; and a telecommunication server coupled to a session border controller and the backend server to receive a connection request via the reference, to determine contact information of the advertiser and identify the content provider based on the reference, and to establish the connection between the user and the advertiser using the determined contact information. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275786 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INCREASING PURCHASE CONVERSION RATES - A system and method is provided for increasing purchase conversion rates for prospective online buyers of products and services by offering an incentive to encourage a quicker decision to complete the purchase. In those cases when a trial is offered, the present invention incentivizes the prospective buyer to skip the trial and proceed immediately to purchase the product or service being offered. The system includes a timer that is visible to the customer and counts the elapsed time since the offer was made and an offer statement that describes the incentive being offered in order to proceed with the purchase. The timer in turn counts down a time until the incentive offer expires. There may further be a hidden prize offered by the seller, to be won by the potential purchaser if they make the decision to buy at a specific time during the offer period. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275787 | DATA COLLECTION AND DISSEMINATION SYSTEM WITH TERMINAL HAVING LITERATURE DISTRIBUTION - Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system for collecting and disseminating customer data and for distributing real estate marketing literature. The system includes a customer terminal, which is in communication with a data center, which, in turn, is in communication with a business terminal. The customer terminal includes a device for inputting customer data and a device for distributing relevant marketing literature. The customer data is sent to the data center, where it is stored for subsequent retrieval by a sales person using the business terminal. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275788 | Systems and Methods to Provide Peer to Peer Connections for Real Time Communications and Commerce - Systems and methods to connect a seller to a customer according to a request received from the seller. One embodiment includes a process implemented in a user terminal of a seller, where the process includes: responsive to a request from the seller, establishing a connection to a user terminal of a customer for real time communications between the seller and the customer, using a reference assigned to the customer; and charging the customer on behalf of the seller for a transaction made over the connection established in response to the request from the seller. In one embodiment, the connection established in response to the request from the seller is a peer to peer connection between the user terminal of the seller and the user terminal of the customer. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275789 | CHARACTER TRADING METHOD - There is provided a character training and development system for a virtual environment and related method. A character can be purchased by a user and then registered on a communication network via a unique code. Once registered, a set of attributes can be assigned to the character based on the type and class of the character. Attribute values can be assigned to the attributes by default or by user preferences. The characters can be manipulated within the virtual environment. In particular, the characters can be trained in order to improve their skills, to add new skills, and to increase their overall value and worth in the virtual environment. In addition, the characters can be traded among users for a price based on their skills. Fees can be charged for each trade. Traded characters are given a new code to transfer all control of the character to the new owner. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275790 | BID GROUPS FOR ONLINE AUCTIONS - Described herein are systems and methods for providing an automated bid proxy for online auctions that manages multiple, concurrent bids. The proxy transmits a user-defined group of bids to an online auction system in a manner that reallocates bids around a target bid time to accommodate limitations of the proxy system, a target auction system, network limitations, and so forth. At the same time, the bids are allocated in a manner that aims to ensure that all bids are placed before a target bid time. Upon the placement of a specified number of winning bids, the proxy may also terminate all remaining bids. By allowing the user to bid on more items than he is interested in buying, this arrangement of automatic bids into an automatically terminating bid group allows a user to improve his chances of purchasing a specified quantity of items at or below a desired price. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275791 | System for managing inventory - A system for managing customer inventory includes a plurality of customers which electronically communicate with a plurality of vendors through a server located at a centralized hub. A retrievable look-up table is utilized by the server to limit communication to only those customers and vendors that have an authorized business relationship. Each customer includes an inventory of items, the inventory level being self-monitored by the customer. When a particular product is required, the customer transmits a purchase order to the server using a handheld compute device which is then forwarded to the vendor designated in the purchase order. In addition, each vendor is capable of sending real-time information, such as product updates and purchase order reminders, to the server which is in turn sent to the handheld device for each customer with which it has an authorized relationship. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275792 | Web Based Marketing Method - A web-based system and method of distributing products which are produced at a location remote from the seller. The system includes an administrator who creates a website having workrooms for each member of the organization. Each member of the system is a seller and producer of a product. Templates are provided in the workroom to permit the members to upload inventory and pricing information. Members will also be permitted to enter markup pricing for transactions where they are acting as sellers. A search engine permits sellers to search the inventory of producers by geographic and other protocol. The inventory along with pricing information which includes both the producer's cost and the seller's markup is displayed at the seller's terminal. The system also includes provisions for affiliates to purchase products form producers either for resale or on a volume discount. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275793 | Method, apparatus and system for selecting, ordering and purchasing glass products - A system, apparatus and method for facilitating the selection, purchasing and ordering glass products, which is informative to guide a novice user in selecting a glass product, even where the glass is comprised of glass panels of more than one manufacturer, the present invention providing an apparatus with a processor which is controlled by software to facilitate a selection process which integrates the comparison of glass products and their properties, as well as, including particular properties of particular components of a glass product, the apparatus can work with a user input device, such as a keyboard or mouse, and is programmed to display graphics associated with selections and potential selections for glass products. The system and method providing selection menus for display on a display device and an animation graphic associated with a selection presented to the user. The system, apparatus, and method integrates the glass product selection information which the user chooses, and preferably the invention makes selections for the user, based on the user's previous choices and specified target performances to present to the user potential glass products. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275794 | Virtual real estate office - Virtual Real Estate Office is to Real Estate and home loans what the assembly line is to automobiles. This patent improves an existing process.” [i.e.] Henry Ford invented a streamlined automobile assembly line to improve an existing process. This process was the assembling of automobiles. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275795 | System and Method for Allocating Manufactured Products to Sellers Using Profitable Order Promising - A system and method is disclosed for allocating products to one or more sellers. The system includes a database operable to store data associated with one or more enterprises. The system further includes an order promising system coupled with the database and operable to model the flow of the products through the one or more enterprises and allocate resources to the one or more sellers based on the modeled flow of the products. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275796 | SYSTEM AND PROCESS FOR SUPPLY MANAGEMENT FOR THE ASSEMBLY OF EXPENSIVE PRODUCTS - A method and system are described for managing component supply for complex products by monitoring the delivery performance of component suppliers and optimizing the times at which orders are placed. Performance of component suppliers is monitored by setting supply delivery performance targets for each supplier, and then monitoring and managing supply delivery performance for each supplier. Component order times are optimized by 1) optimizing safety stock for each component, 2) calculating optimal times to place supply orders for each component in order to maintain the safety stock level, and then 3) iterating safety stock calculations in order to minimize overall inventory costs and maximize supply availability, taking into account supply lead times, component costs, and target tolerances for delays in the assembly of components. The method also provides projections of effects of changes in supply lead time performance on assembly schedules so that managers can seek delivery improvements from component suppliers. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275797 | Nonprofit organization residual merchant account contribution system and method - A system and method whereby certain nonprofit entities and/or their business contributors may recover portions of certain fees currently being paid in the normal and regular in their course of doing business. These recovered fees may then be used as essentially automatic contributions to qualified IRS 501(c)(3) organizations, or public charities described in Internal Revenue Code Section 509, or agencies which operate for the public good (e.g., disaster relief, homeless shelters, support groups such as booster clubs, etc.) (such eleemosynary organizations all being referred to herein generally just as non-profit entities). This system and method is termed “Non-profit Organization Residual Merchant Account Contribution” (NORMAC). | 2008-11-06 |
20080275798 | Evergreen contract billing & in life contract management system and method - The present invention provides an improved billing and contract management method and a computerized enterprise resource management system for processing and management of rent-producing financial products, such as contracts and leases that are past the initial end term date, and that have not been renegotiated or extended, or, in other words, that have entered the “evergreen” period. Among other things, the method and computerized system of the present invention integrate processing of the “evergreen” contracts with a proprietary generalized ERP software product/solution such as Oracle™ E-Business suite's Lease Management system, and supplement the processing of regular contracts with the “evergreen” contract authoring and booking, processing, validation, billing, accounting, collections, modification and audit trailing of the changes made to the “evergreen” contract terms. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275799 | PAYMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Disclosed are payment system and methods. There is an exemplary method for a system having a first business entity, a plurality of persons; a plurality of vehicles; a plurality of cards issued under authority of a government, each card evidencing a license for a person to operate a vehicle; a first signal corresponding to a signal common to the plurality of cards; a second signal on a first card in the plurality of cards; information corresponding to a bank account; and a point of sale. The method includes receiving the second signal from the point of sale; accessing the bank account, by using the first signal and the second signal; and in the accounting system of the first business entity, making an entry corresponding to a second amount, the second amount being owed to the government, responsive to the accessing step. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275800 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DEBT COLLECTION OPTIMIZATION - The present invention employs data processing systems to handle debt collection by formulation the collections process as a Markov Decision Process with constrained resources, thus making it possible automatically to generate an optimal collections policy with respect to maximizing long-term expected return throughout the course of a collections process, subject to constraints on the available resources possibly in multiple organizations. This is accomplished by coupling data modeling and resource optimization within the constrained Markov Decision Process formulation and generating optimized rules based on constrained reinforcement learning process comprising applied on the basis of past historical data. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275801 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INCREASING RETIREMENT INCOME - A method and system for persons who are over the age of 62 to increase their retirement income by utilizing their insurability and real estate equity to fund the purchase of life insurance and/or annuities which are subsequently gifted to a donor advised fund, a charitable gift annuity, or a combination of both. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275802 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A UTILITY FINANCIAL MODEL - A utility financial model involves the setting of a new utility rate after the introduction of a new utility technology that provides immediate capacity relief, reducing the base load capacity and the peak load capacity to electric power providers. The new utility rate is not based solely on performance of the new utility technology but rather based on fixed and variable costs to introduce the new utility technology. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275803 | METHOD FOR CAPTURING FINANCIAL SAVINGS FROM A COLLECTIVE THROUGH ISSUING AND SELLING OF ELECTRONIC CARDS - Business method for capturing popular saving with issue of credit papers with variable monetary values that can receive prizes and be redeemed for cash, good(s) or service(s) from a network of stores and companies. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275804 | Monte Carlo Grid Scheduling Algorithm Selection Optimization - A method for utilizing the Monte Carlo method to determine the most efficient arrangement of schedulers for a grid using a Scheduler Optimization Program (SOP). The SOP obtains the schedulers and scheduler timetable from memory and randomly selects a time period and scheduler to analyze. The SOP then uses the selected scheduler to modify the scheduler timetable. The SOP then runs the ROI calculator to obtain a ROI property for the modified timetable. If the ROI property for the modified timetable is greater than the ROI property for the original scheduler timetable, the SOP replaces the scheduler timetable with the modified timetable. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275805 | Method for valuing forwards, futures and options on real estate - A system and method for matching buy and sell orders is provided. A daily cash index of real estate values for a local region is maintained and a trading instrument representative of an interest in real estate in the local region is created. In this regard, a cash settlement of the trading instrument is a function of the daily cash index on the date of said cash settlement. In addition, a plurality of buy orders relating to the instrument are generated; a plurality of sell orders relating to the instrument are generated; and the buy and sell orders are matched to determine a purchase and sale of the instrument. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275806 | EVENT TRIGGERED TRADING - Networks, systems and methods for event triggered trading of investment vehicles are disclosed. Orders that are conditioned upon events occurring outside a market may be submitted to an exchange. The conditional orders may be held or stored until the occurrence or non-occurrence of the event. An event data feed is provided to provide information identifying the occurrence or non-occurrence of the event. In response to receiving information via the data feed identifying the event, the orders conditioned upon the event will be triggered, matched, and executed. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275807 | Method and System for Offset Matching - The trading of interest rate swaps or other interest rate derivatives gives rise to mismatch exposure. This can be offset by a series of FRA trades. Rather than conducting a series of exposure neutral trades, FRAs can be bought or sold for the entire amount of a trader's reset exposure. To hedge the offset trades, a series of IMM FRA trades are conducted. The relative size of the IMM contracts will be determined by the distance in time from the IMM quarterly contract settlement date. A system is disclosed for performing offset trades and IMM hedges. The embodiments allow for non-neutral trading and subsequent heging brings trading back to a neutral position. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275808 | Anonymous block trade matching system - Disclosed is an anonymous block trade matching system which allows users that wish to cross large blocks of stock to submit orders, or indications of interest, with the option of utilizing market peg benchmarks or future price cross benchmarks. Orders submitted may be subject to minimum thresholds, including a threshold requiring that the order represent ‘X’ % of average daily volume. After submission of a firm order in the system, an alert is generated to provide the order data to other users with potential to cross the order. Visibility of order data by other users may be restricted based upon a data interaction group to which the ordering user or the other user belongs. The system may provide users viewing order data with a capability of negotiating with the submitting user via a restricted two-way messaging interface. Flat rate and rebate/fee cost models may be utilized as a means for charging a user for access to the system. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275809 | ON-SCREEN PRICE LOCK FOR ELECTRONIC TRADING - A system and method of providing an on screen window having a price held for further transactions on an interface for traders of financial instruments. The interface contains a display of products for trading and respective prices for bids and offers. Selection of a particular product results in the display of the price of the product at the instant time the product is selected. The price is held until a confirming key or mouse stroke is received to initiate a trading action such as placing a new order, killing an existing order or hitting or lifting an order. The trading action is allowed only if the displayed locked price matches the current price thus preventing actions when the underlying price has changed in between the selection and initiation of the trading action. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275810 | MARKET DEPOSITORY FOR ENVIRONMENTALLY RELEVANT ITEMS - In embodiments, the present invention provides methods and systems for facilitating exchange of rights associated with environmentally relevant items. The method and systems may include identifying a first environmentally relevant item, identifying a second environmentally relevant item, and providing a single depository for the environmentally relevant items. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275811 | Flexible Advertiser Billing System with Mixed Postpayment and Prepayment Capabilities - The present invention relates to systems and methods for managing risk in business transactions. In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method of managing risk exposure of a provide includes providing a product from the provider to a client under an initial billing experience between the provider and the client, evaluating a credit risk associated with the client at least one of periodically or upon occurrence of an event, and modifying a credit line the provider is willing to offer the client. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275812 | CREDIT UNDERWRITING FOR MULTIPLE FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS - Credit underwriting of bill payments, or other financial transactions on a transaction by transaction basis. A customer is enabled to request the approval of a loan for the payment of a particular financial transaction. The customer provides sufficient information to identify the account and transaction amount. A front end engine performs an approval process and if the customer is approved, provides the terms and conditions of the loan for the payment of the financial transaction. If the customer accepts the terms and conditions, the funds for payment of the transaction are presented to a merchant for payment. The customer is then required to repay the loan after a particular period of time, along with any fees. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275813 | Systems and Methods to Provide Connections for Real Time Communications and Commerce - Systems and methods to connect a seller to a customer according to a request received from the seller. One embodiment includes a session border controller to interface with a packet switched network, and one or more servers coupled to the session border controller to receive from a seller a request for a connection to a customer for real time communications between the seller and the customer, to establish the connection for real time communications between the seller and the customer in response to the request received from the seller, to identify payment information of the customer, and to charge the customer on behalf of the seller using the payment information for a transaction made over the connection established in response to the request received from the seller. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275814 | Data transaction profile compression - Techniques for compressing data transaction history profiles are disclosed. Such profiles can include a plurality of profile variables with each profile variable comprising a real number that provides a factor for determining whether a proposed data transaction is indicative of fraud. A bit string is generated for each profile variable in the profiles that characterizes a first value plus a second value. The first value is equal to a mantissa for the real number corresponding to the profile variable. The second value is equal to a number of orders of magnitude above a minimum required expressed as multiples of the number of orders magnitude required to represent the plurality of real numbers in each the plurality of transaction history profiles divided by a range of bits. The generated bit string is stored as compressed profile variable within the data transaction history profiles. Related systems, apparatus, methods, and/or articles are also described. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275815 | CROSS-ENVIRONMENTALLY RELEVANT ITEM COMPLEXITY MANAGER FOR CARBON REDUCTION, RENEWABLE ENERGY, ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND POLLUTION REDUCTION - Methods and systems for facilitating exchange of rights associated with environmentally relevant items are provided. The methods and systems may include identifying a carbon reduction credit as an environmentally relevant item recognized by a jurisdiction associated with a first type of environmentally relevant action, identifying a renewable energy credit as an environmentally relevant item recognized by a jurisdiction associated with a different type of environmentally relevant action, identifying an energy efficiency credit as an environmentally relevant item recognized by a jurisdiction associated with a different type of environmentally relevant action, identifying a pollution reduction credit as an environmentally relevant item recognized by a jurisdiction associated with a first type of environmentally relevant action and providing a cross-environmentally relevant item complexity manager module by which a user can manage actions relevant to all of the types of environmentally relevant items. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275816 | Method and System for Increasing Client Participation in a Network-Based Bill Pay Service - In a network-based bill pay service including a navigating software for emulating a client in network navigation, a software application for collecting and normalizing client data, and a network interface for presenting the information to the client, a method for increasing the level of client participation in the service includes steps (a) navigating to a client site; (b) accessing and mining client data for payee account data; (c) analyzing the mined payee account data for fullness of information and if required searching and adding new relevant information to the payee account data; (d) formatting the payee account data into an interactive bill pay account module; and (e) presenting the bill-pay service option and the bill pay account module relative to the payee account data to the client as an opportunity. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275817 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENCOURAGING THE FORMATION AND JOINING OF ONLINE ACCOUNT GROUPS - Formation of grouped online monetary accounts. Accounts can be grouped together, and higher interest rates can be offered to each account within the group, based on the total of the account balances of the group. More specifically, individual accounts within the group are not pooled—they remain separate accounts. However, the interest rate applied to the separate accounts is determined according to the total value of the accounts within the group. Groups with larger total assets are offered higher interest rates, which encourages account owners to join groups so as to take advantage of these higher rates. In some embodiments, group owners are given control over who is invited to join their group. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275818 | Methods, Systems and Computer Program Products for Joint Account Registers - A first account profile is on a first mobile communications device and a second account profile is on a second mobile communications device. User input of transactional information is accepted on the first mobile communications device. The first account profile on the first mobile communications device is modified based on the transactional information. A message is transmitted including the transactional information to the second mobile communications device. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275819 | System and Method for Transaction Payment in Multiple Languages and Currencies - The invention relates to a method and system for transaction payment wherein user identification data from an identification module ( | 2008-11-06 |
20080275820 | Apparatus and method for providing account security - An account security apparatus, including a memory device for storing a limitation or restriction on a use of at least one of a cable television account, an electrical utility account, a gas utility account, a fuel oil utility account, an insurance account, a subscription accounts for a good, product, or service, a health care insurance account, a pharmacy account, a social security account, and a credit report account, transmitted to a receiver from a communication device associated with an individual account holder, and a processing device for processing an authorization request for a transaction or a use of the account. The processing device utilizes the limitation or restriction automatically stored in the memory device in processing the authorization request and generates a signal containing information for authorizing or disallowing the transaction or the use of the account. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275821 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RISK TRIGGERING VALUES - The invention includes systems and methods for facilitating risk assessment for point of sale transactions utilizing at least one risk triggering value (RTV) stored within a distributed (e.g., local and/or regional) processing site. An RTV is a condensed version of a set of complex risk data and strategies usually found in central processing sites. The distributed site, after receiving a request for payment authorization, a risk value is calculated for the request. The distributed processing site compares the risk value to the RTV to determine whether to authorize payment. If the risk value is less than or equal to the RTV, the payment is authorized while a risk value greater than the RTV will not be authorized. After one or more authorizations, the distributed processing site forwards the information from the transaction(s) to the central site, wherein the central site calculates a new RTV for the account and distributes the new RTV to the distributed processing site. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275822 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING SPONSORSHIPS - A system and method for managing sponsorships by a sponsor, in which the party requesting the sponsorship requests to use content owned and protected by the sponsor, such as trademarks, logos, and copyrighted material. An embodiment of the method involves receiving, at a computer network site, a request for sponsorship from a requester and responding to the request by sending either an approval or a rejection. If an approval is sent, the method further involves providing the requestor with access to content of the sponsor through the site. As part of providing this access, the method can involve requiring the requestor to accept an agreement posted on the site. The method can also include monitoring the requestor's actual use of the content. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275823 | System and method for generating a leveraged investment plan to provide educational funds - A system and method are provided for developing a leveraged investment plan to cover for higher education costs. The system may have an interface layer, which may have a data input module for entering financial information. The interface layer may further include a counselor/back office override module permitting a user to modify the financial information, or any dependent calculation. The system may further have a middleware layer having a calculation module, a reports module, and a forms module, all connected to data storage in a data storage layer. The calculation module may be configured to generate asset targets based on the financial information entered and the anticipated college costs. The calculation module may then use the asset targets to generate an asset structuring plan having recommendations and strategies for reducing the amount of assets used to calculate financial aid awards. The asset structuring plan may further include recommendations and strategies for leveraging assets to provide income to cover higher educations expenses. The reports module may generate a plurality of reports detailing the asset structuring plan. The forms module may use the financial information entered in conjunction with the asset structuring plan to generate and populate financial aid forms for submission to financial aid providers. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275824 | Method and System for Representing Financial Information in a Gaming Environment - An apparatus, method and data structure for procuring and analyzing information, regarding the financial markets and a system to execute financial transactions using Internet-based front end graphics that resembles casino games and betting games. The system provides a comprehensive combination of financial information and transactions in a format that facilitates known and new casino/betting like front end graphics. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275825 | METHOD FOR IMPLEMENTING A VIRTUAL COMMUNITY OF INVESTORS HAVING INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS - A system and method for providing analytical tools for a community of investors having investment portfolios. A first tool provides an indication of a user's selection effectiveness regarding the user's choice of investments relative to those sectors in which the investment resides, and relative to a broader market. A second tool allows the user to evaluate the effectiveness of community stimuli on the user's portfolio. A third tool provides the user the capability to view relationships among a plurality of preferred analysts. With a fourth tool, a user may view a plurality of other analysts the user referred to the community. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275826 | Method and Device for Generation and Sale of Frankings for Sending Mail - Method for generation and sale of frankings, which can be used for sending mail from a customer to a receiver. The frankings are thus preferably produced on an electronic mailbox, whereby the generation and the printing out can be carried out in a highly personalized manner by using stored customer data and receiver addresses entered by the customer concerned. In addition to personalized address input a franking comprises a unique identification code which can be used for franking security as well as transport control and monitoring. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275827 | Parallelization of Bayesian Network Structure Learning - A master computing node directs parallel structure learning with intelligent computational task distribution. The master computing node may determine what families are to be used to score neighbors in a neighbor scoring process, and determine if the families have scores in a score cache. Families to be scored for the score cache may be marked and distributed for calculation among nodes in the computing cluster. The score cache may be updated to include the scored families, and the cluster synchronized with the score cache data. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275828 | Method and system for independently observing and modifying the activity of an actor processor - A system, method, and computer program product for observing and modifying activity in an actor processor are presented. An observer module is provided for observing a physical property of an actor processor. The observer module comprises a property-observing sensor for detecting and sampling a physical property of the actor processor and for generating an observation signal based on the physical property. The observer module further comprises an observer processor coupled with the property-observing sensor for receiving the observation signal, the observer processor operative to generate an observer output signal based on the observation signal. The observer module permits the observer processor to monitor the actor processor in a manner that isolates an instruction set of the observer processor from direct manipulation by means of an instruction set of the actor processor. Observer processors may be used in a recursive manner to provide a completely-coupled observation module. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275829 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OBFUSCATION OF DATA ACROSS AN ENTERPRISE - A system for obfuscating data across an enterprise, comprising a rule evaluator; an active rule editor; and an active rule editor repository; wherein the rule evaluator evaluates active rules and optimizes its behavior based on both user-specified guidance and properties learned during system execution; wherein the active rule editor provides functionality for specifying, examining, maintaining, simulating and testing active rule behavior and for documenting rules that are bound to any named and typed data spaces of the enterprise that are accessible through connectors to the data systems of the enterprise; and wherein the active rule editor and repository provide functionality for promoting a candidate rule to an active rule and managing the rule in its active state. A method for obfuscating data across an enterprise using the system described above. | 2008-11-06 |
20080275830 | Annotating audio-visual data - A method of annotating audio-visual data is disclosed. The method includes detecting a plurality of facial expressions in an audience based on a stimulus, determining an emotional response to the stimulus based on the facial expressions and generating at least one annotation of the stimulus based on the determined emotional response. | 2008-11-06 |