45th week of 2011 patent applcation highlights part 50 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20110276328 | APPLICATION SERVER FOR REDUCING AMBIANCE NOISE IN AN AUSCULTATION SIGNAL, AND FOR RECORDING COMMENTS WHILE AUSCULTATING A PATIENT WITH AN ELECTRONIC STETHOSCOPE - An application server for reducing ambiance noise in an auscultation signal, and for recording comments while auscultating a patient with an electronic stethoscope This application server (AS) comprises: means (SPH) for receiving samples of a raw auscultation signal representing auscultation sounds mixed with ambiance sounds, this raw auscultation signal being transmitted by a first microphone (M | 2011-11-10 |
20110276329 | SPEECH DIALOGUE APPARATUS, DIALOGUE CONTROL METHOD, AND DIALOGUE CONTROL PROGRAM - A speech dialogue apparatus, a dialogue control method, and a dialogue control program are provided, whereby an appropriate dialogue control is enabled by determining a user's proficiency level in a dialogue behavior correctly and performing an appropriate dialogue control according to the user's proficiency level correctly determined, without being influenced by an accidental one-time behavior of the user. An input unit | 2011-11-10 |
20110276330 | Methods and Devices for Appending an Address List and Determining a Communication Profile - Disclosed are methods and electronic communication devices, such as an in-car speaker device, that can receive via a downloading process, a communication address list from another device to the memory of the electronic communication device and can append a predetermined communication address to the communication address list. The predetermined communication address, which can be to an automated voice recognition based service, can be annunciated first. Also disclosed are methods and electronic communication devices for determining that a communication is with an automated voice recognition based service and then switching from a first call profile to a second call profile. Such a second profile can include different features such as a change of the frequency response of the audio signal of the electronic communication device, and/or reduction or elimination of the echo control, and/or a change in the noise control of the digital signal process. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276331 | VOICE RECOGNITION SYSTEM - A voice recognition system includes: a voice input unit | 2011-11-10 |
20110276332 | SPEECH PROCESSING METHOD AND APPARATUS - A speech synthesis method comprising:
| 2011-11-10 |
20110276333 | Methods and Systems for Synchronizing Media - Systems and methods of synchronizing media are provided. A client device may be used to capture a sample of a media stream being rendered by a media rendering source. The client device sends the sample to a position identification module to determine a time offset indicating a position in the media stream corresponding to the sampling time of the sample, and optionally a timescale ratio indicating a speed at which the media stream is being rendered by the media rendering source based on a reference speed of the media stream. The client device calculates a real-time offset using a present time, a timestamp of the media sample, the time offset, and optionally the timescale ratio. The client device then renders a second media stream at a position corresponding to the real-time offset to be in synchrony to the media stream being rendered by the media rendering source. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276334 | Methods and Systems for Synchronizing Media - Systems and methods of synchronizing media are provided. A client device may be used to capture a sample of a media stream being rendered by a media rendering source. The client device sends the sample to a position identification module to determine a time offset indicating a position in the media stream corresponding to the sampling time of the sample, and optionally a timescale ratio indicating a speed at which the media stream is being rendered by the media rendering source based on a reference speed of the media stream. The client device calculates a real-time offset using a present time, a timestamp of the media sample, the time offset, and optionally the timescale ratio. The client device then renders a second media stream at a position corresponding to the real-time offset to be in synchrony to the media stream being rendered by the media rendering source. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276335 | METHODS FOR SYNCHRONOUS AND ASYNCHRONOUS VOICE-ENABLED CONTENT SELECTION AND CONTENT SYNCHRONIZATION FOR A MOBILE OR FIXED MULTIMEDIA STATION - A system is provided for enabling voice-enabled selection and execution for playback of media files stored on a media content playback device. The system includes a voice input circuitry and speech recognition module for enabling voice input recognizable on the device as one or more voice commands for task performance; a push-to-talk interface for activating the voice input circuitry and speech recognition module; and a media content synchronization device for maintaining synchronization between stored media content selections and at least one list of grammar sets used for speech recognition by the speech recognition module, the names identifying one or more media content selections currently stored and available for playback on the media content playback device. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276336 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING PRODUCTION COMPLEXITY OF HIGH YIELD, MULTIPLE CROP GARDENING AND SUSTAINABLE FARMING OPERATIONS - The presented inventions provide systems and methods (i.e. utilities) in which cultivators of varying skill-levels use a web-based application or software, to manage the complexity involved in planning and implementation of annual production of high-yields of multiple crops over time for a specific number of consumers and/or to fulfill specific retail and/or wholesale sales projections. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276337 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING ELECTRONIC MESSAGES IN A CLOSED NETWORK - There is provided a method and system for managing electronic messages in a closed network. Both the method and system include determining a quantity of credits to be expended for a transmission of each electronic message from a device in the closed network; and deducting the quantity of credits from a sender's account at a central credit repository. Preferably, the quantity of credits to be expended is dependent on an identity of a recipient of the electronic message. The identity of the recipient of the electronic message may preferably be associated with the recipient's position in an organizational hierarchy. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276338 | AUTOMATED WORKFLOW ENGINE IN A DELIVERY OF HEALTHCARE - Systems and methods for tracking the real-time progress of a medical workflow are provided. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving in a data processing system locations of a plurality of objects from a location system and determining in near real time whether the real-time locations indicate that a predetermined workflow has progressed from a first stage to a second stage using the data processing system. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276339 | FRONT END - Systems and methods are provided including a system for managing patient data. The system includes a computing system including a processing unit and a storage. The processing unit executes one or more programs for managing patient data. Managing patient data includes enrolling patients in a centralized care network including presenting each patient with an electronic enrollment interface, assigning each patient a patient identifier, and receiving an electronic consent to collect data. Managing patient data further includes providing patient data to the centralized care network including patient data relating to disease progression, clinical trials and treatments rendered. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276340 | PERSONAL SURGICAL CENTER - A personal surgical center embodied as a general purpose computer (e.g. laptop) with wireless technology for monitoring the operation of an independent surgical center and/or handheld instruments. The computer tracks procedures in the operating room and instruments used during those procedures, and accounts for billing, supply management, and payment options. The monitoring of the instruments used during the surgery is conducted by the personal surgical center while actual control of the settings of those instruments is via the independent surgical center or via controls included in the instruments themselves. The monitored information is stored in a log file which is then transmitted to a hospital server for generating reports, inventory control, billing, and the like. Other information generated during the procedure (e.g. doctor notes) is also stored in the log file. The personal surgical center may also access the hospital server or local data storage device for retrieving a surgeon's specific surgery parameters, obtaining patient files, and the like. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276341 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC DRUG PRESCRIPTION - In one embodiment, a method of automatic drug prescription is provided. The method comprises steps of receiving a query at a central server system regarding a patient, the query concerning the type of drug and dosage level to be administered to the patient, obtaining patient data from at least one medical information system coupled to the central server system and processing the patient data to determine a set of drug and dosage level that can be administered to the patient. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276342 | VALIDATION OF POINT-OF-CARE TEST RESULTS BY ASSESSMENT OF EXPECTED ANALYTE RELATIONSHIPS - Methods for determining the validity or accuracy of a clinical test result are provided. The methods entail obtaining patient analyte concentration data for two or more analytes with a concentration relationship; calculating a likelihood distribution for the concentration relationship between the two or more analytes; obtaining a clinical test result comprising measured concentration values for the two or more analytes; and determining the validity or accuracy of the clinical test result based on whether the clinical test result falls within the boundaries of the likelihood distribution. Analyte pairs that can be analyzed by the methods of the invention include albumin/calcium, sodium/chloride, BUN/creatinine, AST/ALT, total protein/albumin, potassium/total CO | 2011-11-10 |
20110276343 | DYNAMIC CLINICAL WORKLIST - A system and method receiving patient information entered via a user interface, processing the patient information to generate an initial worklist based on the patient information and a patient guideline, displaying the initial worklist, receiving a user input based on the initial worklist, processing the user input to generate an updated worklist based on the user input and displaying the updated worklist. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276344 | METHOD FOR DIAGNOSING FOOD ALLERGY - According to the invention there is provided a method for diagnosing food allergy including: (a) asking a patient each of the following questions: are any drugs which can cause the symptoms complained of being taken or have recently been taken; are symptoms triggered by nuts other than peanut; are symptoms triggered by a specific food other than a nut; are symptoms triggered by fruit and vegetables; (b) carrying out each of the following tests: skin prick test to a plurality of nuts to determine if there is a reactivity to any one of them; RAST test to a plurality of nuts in order to determine the highest quantitative result; and (c) inputting the results of the questions and tests into a neural network that has been trained to diagnose food allergy, wherein the highest quantitative result from the RAST test to a plurality of nuts is inputted; and (d) producing an output indicative of a food allergy. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276345 | Healthcare System - The healthcare system comprises at least one detector and an analyzer. The detector detects physiological parameters of a patient. The detector has a fist wireless module and a first electronic paper display. The first electronic paper display displays the physiological parameters. The analyzer has a second wireless module to communicate with the first wireless module and a second electronic paper display. The analyzer receives the physiological parameters and displays the physiological parameters on the second electronic paper display. The medical and nursing staff can input doctor's advice in the second electronic paper display based on the physiological parameters and sends the dioctor's advice to the first electronic paper display. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276346 | AUTOMATED METHOD FOR MEDICAL QUALITY ASSURANCE - The present invention relates to an automated method for quality assurance (QA) which creates quality-centric data contained within a medical report, and uses these data elements to determine report accuracy and correlation with clinical outcomes. In addition to a QA report analysis, the present invention also provides an automated mechanism to customize report content base upon end-user preferences and QA feedback. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method of automated medical QA includes storing QA data and supportive data in at least one database; identifying a QA discrepancy from QA data; assigning a level of clinical severity, to the QA discrepancy; creating an automated differential diagnosis based on the level of clinical severity, to determine clinical outcomes; and analyzing the QA data and correlating the analysis of the QA data with stored supportive data and clinical outcomes. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276347 | VALUE NETWORK - Systems and methods including a computer network are provided. The computer network includes a plurality of affiliate computing systems, each affiliate computing system including a processing unit and storage, the processing unit executing one or more programs for supporting care of a patient. The computer network includes a centralized care network including a central health care computing system, the central health care computing system being coupled to each affiliate computing system by way of a network and including a processing unit and storage, the processing unit executing one or more programs for managing patient records stored in the storage. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276348 | BILLING SYSTEM FOR MEDICAL PROCEDURES - A method may include outputting a graphical user interface (GUI), the GUI including a visual representation of at least a portion of the human body. The method may also include receiving input from a user via the GUI, the input selecting portions of the visual representation and medical procedures that were performed with respect to the selected portions, highlighting the selected portions of the visual representation and providing at least one of icons or text corresponding to the medical procedures that were performed. The method may further include automatically generating billing codes associated with the medical procedures that were performed and displaying the billing codes on the GUI. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276349 | Publishing Templates Having Practice Defined Triggers - A healthcare management system is presented where the management system can include a data routing engine configured to route patient data to various authorized providers as a function of one or more trigger rules. The routing engine can operate as a web portal, through which clients of system can define medical form templates, where a template can include one or more triggering rules that cause further action to take place. When a patient interfaces to the web portal, the portal can render a medical form for the patient based on the template. As the patient interacts with the form, including entering their patient data, the routing engine can determine if any triggering criteria have been satisfied. If so, further actions can place including routing the data to authorized entities or providing notifications. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276350 | METHOD, DEVICE AND SYSTEM TO STORE, ACCESS, AND TRANSFER PERSONAL HEALTH RECORDS - A method, device and system to store, access, and transfer personal health records includes: a storage unit adapted to store the medical record; a biometric verification module to verify an identity of the person; and a communications interface; wherein the device shares the medical record utilizing the communications interface upon verification of the identity of the person. The device may encrypt the medical record for storage and decrypt the encrypted medical record for access. The biometric verification module may include a fingerprint scanner, retina scanner, or body part scanner. The communications interface may include a serial interface or a wireless interface. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276351 | PROJECT INFORMATION DISPLAY DEVICE, PROJECT INFORMATION DISPLAY PROGRAM, AND ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORD INFORMATION DISPLAY DEVICE - Provided are a project information display device, a project information display program, and an electronic medical record information display device which are capable of displaying project information for project management while allowing time spans to be changed by a simple operation to time spans a user desires, and which include: a time scale display information generation unit ( | 2011-11-10 |
20110276352 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INSURANCE VENDOR SELF-AUDITS - A computerized system and computer-implemented method for enabling insurance vendor self-audits that receives referral data from a vendor, samples the referrals, assigns audit questions to each referral within the sample of referrals, presents the audit questions to the vendor and receives answers from the vendor, scores the answers based on rules, and reports the audit scores. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276353 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO IMPLEMENT A BUSINESS MODEL FOR DETERMINING A RELIABLE ECOLOGICAL BALANCE OF A SPECIFIC PRODUCT - A system and a method implements a business model for determining a reliable eco-balance of a specific product. An eco-balance typically has consumption of resources, e.g. water consumption, energy consumption and waste products, e.g. CO2 production. Incoming products and outgoing products having a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag for storing their own ecological balance. A calculation unit for each link of a whole product chain of the specific product, is calculating an aggregated ecological balance from parameters of the process of the actual link and from ecologic balances of incoming products, if there are any, and storing it to the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag of the outgoing product of the actual link. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276354 | ASSESSMENT OF SOFTWARE CODE DEVELOPMENT - A cost per unit of processed code metric is determined based on a quantity of processed code during a given time period that is attributable to one or more developers, and a cost to develop the quantity of processed code during the time period attributable to the one or more developers. Also, a quality scaling factor is calculated based on quality measurements for the quantity of processed code. Thereafter, the cost per unit of processed code metric is scaled (or discounted) by the quality scaling factor to provide a cost of development index (CDI). Because the inputs to the quality scaling factor may be determined in an automated fashion, this CDI determination permits more rapid response to any adverse assessments. Furthermore, because direct measurement of code quality is employed, more meaningful insight is provided into the likelihood that end product, i.e., the software code, is of good quality. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276355 | Method and system for informed decision making to locate a workforce - The present invention generally relates to a computer-implemented method and system for informed decision making when a user decides between and amongst geographic areas having a suitable workforce. More specifically, the present invention applies user selections that send SQL statements that extract and index data on workforce demographics for a range of areas over a Network. Data is returned to the user's computer as a virtual table and is a mixture of critical or informational factors representing all areas returning data. Areas are ranked according to the value of an area's lowest returned index number, and data is displayed where each critical factor's lowest index value and its corresponding low value are extracted and used as ranking factors for all area's returning data. Areas are screened by acceptable values for critical factors. Area utilities are created by weighting critical factors based on user needs when selecting a workforce. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276356 | METHOD OF MATCHING EMPLOYERS WITH JOB SEEKERS - A method of facilitating a match between an employer with at least one job opening and job seekers is provided. The employer has a set of position preferences related to the job opening. The job seekers have suitability data, resumes, etc., that are provided to the employer. The suitability data includes normalized assessment data. The method includes the steps of: determining a position quotient based on the position preferences; deriving a performance quotient for each job seeker, the performance quotient including normalized assessment data; comparing each the performance quotient to the position quotient; and ranking each the job seeker based on the comparison of the performance quotient to the position quotient. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276357 | SYSTEM AND METHODS OF MANAGING ASSIGNMENTS - Disclosed are systems and methods of making assignments, particularly of sales leads. The assignments are considered either committed or uncommitted responsive to an effective date associated with one or more assignment rule used to make the assignments. Uncommitted assignments may be used to review the effects of changes in assignment rules. Examples are provided including the use of uncommitted assignments to review the effects of changes in a hierarchical territory structure. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276358 | Allocation of work items via queries of organizational structure and dynamic work item allocation - Disclosed are systems and methods for identifying one or more individuals in an organizational model to work on a particular work item where the method includes receiving a query having one or more attributes where the one or more attributes indicate the criteria for one or more individuals to work on a particular work item. The systems and methods further include searching an organizational model for the one or more individuals associated with the attributes defined in the query, and identifying the one or more individuals associated with the attributes defined in the query. The systems and methods also include allocating or offering the particular work item to the one or more of the individuals associated with the one or more attributes defined in the query. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276359 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, COST FORECAST CALCULATION METHOD, AND COST FORECAST CALCULATION PROGRAM - An information processing apparatus, a cost forecast calculation method, and a cost forecast calculation program are provided that enable the calculation of cost forecast without cost performance data such as initial inventory and warehousing schedule. The information processing apparatus includes: a reception unit for obtaining production plan data indicating the production plan of a product including date data; a plan change unit that changes the initial inventory data to the production plan data based on the product identification data and the plan identification data; and a cost calculation unit that calculate the cost. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276360 | MANAGING CONSISTENT INTERFACES FOR BUSINESS OBJECTS ACROSS HETEROGENEOUS SYSTEMS - A business object model, which reflects data that is used during a given business transaction, is utilized to generate interfaces. This business object model facilitates commercial transactions by providing consistent interfaces that are suitable for use across industries, across businesses, and across different departments within a business during a business transaction. In some operations, software creates, updates, or otherwise processes information related to a budget availability control register, a financial accounting view of work order, a funds commitment document, an insurance contract, and/or a project cost estimate business object. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276361 | Method and Apparatus for Service Portfolio Manager (SPM) - A computer program for organizing, reporting, analyzing and managing service portfolio supply chain information is disclosed. More specifically, the tool is a web-enabled, database application leveraged for defining, costing and managing the delivery of services throughout their full lifecycle while providing integration points for external tools as both inputs and outputs to the application for purposes of building a bridge between technology managers and business executives/finance mangers. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276362 | AUDITING CLIENT - SERVICE PROVIDER RELATIONSHIPS WITH REFERENCE TO INTERNAL CONTROLS ASSESSMENTS - A system and method for facilitating auditing a client-service provider relationship. An example method includes determining a scope of an audit with reference to an audit plan; ascertaining one or more business entities or processes that are subject to audit based on the scope; and automatically retrieving one or more business controls associated with the one or more business entities or processes. In an illustrative embodiment, the example method further includes electronically accessing one or more Service Level Agreements (SLAs) associated with the one or more business entities to extract one or more descriptions of controls. A description of each control is electronically stored in association with one or more descriptions of one or more risks associated with each control. A description of each control is stored, in a library of risks and controls, in association with one or more risks. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276363 | SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT CONSTRUCTION - A method for facilitating construction of an agreement between a client and a service provider. An example method includes determining a business process to be performed by a service provider of a client-service provider relationship on behalf of a client; employing a description of the business process to reference to a library of risks and controls to ascertain one or more risks associated with performance of the business process and one or more predetermined controls for mitigating the one or more risks; providing a first user option to select from a set of one or more controls; and incorporating a description of the one or more selected controls in a proposed agreement to characterize the client-service provider relationship. In an illustrative embodiment, the proposed agreement includes a Service Level Agreement (SLA). The illustrative method further includes providing a second user option to view an SAS-70 certificate associated with the service provider. The SAS-70 certificate certifies that the service provider has one or more controls in place to mitigate the one or more risks associated with the performance of the business process. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276364 | Method and System for Optimizing Store Space and Item Layout - A method in a computer system for generating an efficient item assortment associated with a plurality of items includes obtaining choice set data specifying a multiplicity of choice sets associated with the plurality of items, where each of the multiplicity of choice sets includes several of the plurality of items, at least some of which are mutually substitutable, obtaining item interaction data descriptive of substitutions between pairs of items in each of the multiplicity of choice sets, obtaining a set of benefit metrics associated with the plurality of items, obtaining a constraint parameter associated with the item assortment, and generating an item selection based at least on the item interaction data, the set of benefit metrics, and the constraint parameter, where the item selection identifies at least one of the plurality of items selected for inclusion in the item assortment. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276365 | Computer assisted marketing process - A system for contacting leads and tracking the status of those contacts includes a website containing information of interest to the prospects. Preferably, the list of leads is a narrowly targeted group defined by one or more preselected metrics, and the information is narrowly directed to such targeted group. Each lead is contacted through a secondary channel, such as normal US Mail, and provided an offer and information related to the website. Each lead is provided with targeted sales information and a unique identifier to enable them to log on to the website to retrieve information of interest to them; the act of logging on to the website then qualifies them as prospects. A tracking system recognizes when a prospect logs on to the website and keeps identifiable records of the time and locations each prospect visits or utilizes on the website. Upon receipt of a log on by a new prospect, a designated representative is informed of such contact by email and put in direct touch with the prospect. The salesperson further has a dashboard available for viewing the accumulated logs of the prospect's visits. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276366 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR EVALUATING A MOBILE DEVICE MANUFACTURER PERFORMANCE - The present relates to a method and a system for evaluating a mobile device manufacturer performance. The method and system update a database of subscriber records representative of mobile devices used on a mobile operator network, and extract information from the subscriber records in the database in relation to a selected mobile device manufacturer and a selected time period. The method and system further process said information to calculate a metric representative of a performance of said selected mobile device manufacturer over said selected time period, wherein each subscriber record comprises at least a unique identifier of a subscriber, a mobile device manufacturer identifier, and a timestamp. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276367 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REAL-TIME REPORTING OF ELECTRONIC COMMERCE ACTIVITY - A method and apparatus is disclosed for tracking and reporting electronic commerce activity over a web site that is stored on a first server coupled to a wide area network. The web page is programmed to include data fields reflecting commerce transaction activity and data mining code. The web page is uploaded to a visitor computer responsive to a request over the wide area network from the visitor computer. Commerce information is accepted within the data fields of the web page at the visitor computer to form a completed web page. The data mining code is operated on the visitor computer to obtain technical and commercial data and sent to a second server on the wide area network for logging and analysis. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276368 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COLLECTING AND USING MARKET DATA FROM VARIOUS SOURCES - A system and a method for collecting and using market data. The system includes a workstation, where at least one message is entered, a transmitter, where the at least one message is transmitted, a parser for parsing the at least one message, a data recognizer for identifying relevant information in the at least one message, a processor for extracting the relevant information and a communicator for communicating the relevant information. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276369 | ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR MONITORING ANALYSIS AND INFLUENCE - Approaches are provided for monitoring, analyzing, and influencing organizational behaviors through multi-modal communication systems. Desired and undesired behaviors and applicable organizational contexts are defined and action plans developed. The behaviors are then monitored through communication sessions between members and analyzed for comparison to the action plans such that feedback may be provided at individual and/or organizational levels to influence the behaviors. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276370 | Mobile parking enforcement method - A real-time wireless parking enforcement system is provided that includes a remote parking enforcement system having a plurality of parking sensors disposed to gather parking occupancy data and at least one source of parking payment data, where the parking occupancy data and parking payment data is communicated to a central server in real-time, and a plurality of wireless mobile platforms are operated by a plurality of parking enforcement officers (PEO's). The wireless mobile platforms send and receive real-time and continuous parking occupancy data and parking payment data to and from the central server, where bidirectional communication exists between the central server and the wireless mobile platforms. When the PEO enters response information to a potential violation to the wireless mobile platform, the bidirectional communication updates the status of the potential violation to all the wireless platforms in real-time, where the information is used to reduce enforcement redundancies by the PEO's. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276371 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR VALIDATING REDEMPTION OF A COUPON - An approach is provided for validating redemption of a coupon. The coupon management module causes, at least in part, presentation of a coupon via a device. Next, the coupon management module receives a first code in response to the presentation. Next, the coupon management module causes, at least in part, validation of a redemption of the coupon based, at least in part, on the first code. The validation is performed at the device, at a server, or a combination thereof. Next, the coupon management module retrieves a second code based, at least in part, on the coupon, the first code, or a combination thereof. Next, the coupon management module causes, at least in part, presentation of the second code for verification. The validation of the redemption of the coupon is further based, at least in part, on the verification of the second code. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276372 | TEMPORAL INDICES OF THE WEB THAT ASSOCIATE INDEX ELEMENTS WITH METADATA - A system for generating an interactive calendar guide to scheduled web-based events is described. The guide can be presented in any format, including a grid view and a list view, within various media, including at a website hosting the interactive guide and as a widget on a computer display. A user can interact with elements of the guide, select elements of the guide for more information, customize events presented in the guide, filter the results displayed in the guide, send a response to attend an event, go directly to an event from the guide, and modify the presentation format of the guide. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276373 | Online coupon distribution system and method - The online coupon distribution system and method distributes discount coupons through a website. The website is designed and constructed to include a “trifold” process that blends discount coupon purchasing with cost effective advertising and charitable contributions into a powerful web presence. The process is called cooperative couponing. The system sells coupons and allocates generated revenue among merchants, a website principal, and a designated charity. The website identifies local merchants in a geographic area. Coupons are electronically distributed on a daily basis. The website features target goal coupons, two subsidiary coupons providing discounts, and five additional weekly merchant coupons strategically placed on the website. The website permits website users to designate a charitable contribution to a charity of their choice based on their coupon purchase. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276374 | Targeted marketing with CPE buydown - Systems and methods are described that facilitate incentivizing vendors to give greater discounts on items or services offered or advertised to specific customers on a third-party website in exchange for reduced advertisement pricing. For instance, a vendor enters offer parameters (e.g., item or service for sale, price or discount amount, terms of the offer, a permitted number of acceptances of the offer such as 100, 1000, 5000, etc.) into a user interface (UI) along with target customer criteria (e.g., age, gender, minimum income, etc.). The target criteria is matched to customer profile data associated with or stored at the website (e.g., or a server associated therewith), and an advertisement generated using the offer parameter information is presented to customers whose profiles match the target criteria. In return for offering larger discounts, a cost per event (CPE) associated with the advertisement is reduced for the vendor. An invoice is generated and transmitted to the vendor, and upon receipt of payment, the advertisement provider remits a portion of the received payment to the website owner. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276375 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OBTAINING REFERRALS - Web-based methods and systems enable businesses to obtain customer referrals from customers. Businesses may offer incentives to customers to provide information on prospective customers. The business may then contact the prospective customer and request approval to market to the prospective customer. The prospective customer may indicate approval, permitting the business to market to them directly. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276376 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING MULTIPLE INCENTIVES FOR JOB REFERRALS - Systems and methods as described herein provide for a professional talent management platform and associated interfaces. Embodiments provide for registering one platform members, listing open positions, accepting referrals for the positions from the platform members, and providing incentive rewards to the members for qualified referrals and/or other qualifying platform interactions. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276377 | Communication system and method for narrowcasting - A communication system with client devices in communication with at least one communication network. User data stores are also in communication with the communications network and store user data of users using respective ones of the client devices. Offer data stores also in communication with the communications network store offers from merchants. A narrowcasting engine includes an active data gathering module to collect the user data, and an active learning module to generate a user profile based on the user data. The communication engine selects dynamically offers from the offer data store based on the profile, and communicates the selected offers in the offer data store to the users. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276378 | MOBILE COUPON ANALYSIS SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Methods and systems are described for issuing and settling electronic coupons. A financial service host may receive authorization and settlement information, wherein the authorization and settlement information comprises an account number of the consumer. The account number may be linked to an account of the consumer enrolled in an electronic coupon program. The methods and system may also include transmitting a notification to the consumer that indicates the electronic coupon has been redeemed. A monetary value associated with the electronic coupon may be debited from an account linked to the merchant, and the account of the consumer may be credited with the monetary value associated with the electronic coupon. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276379 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A DISCOUNT - In particular, systems and methods are provided for delivering a discount using a partner-issued currency or a combination of virtual currency and partner-issued currency. Inventive systems and methods offer a high-perceived savings value to an end-user while maintaining the perception of product value. Further, systems and methods for providing a discount are described which impose little or no cost on the service or product provider. An embodiment of an inventive method includes presenting a display of a price paid by a consumer without access to the virtual currency along with a display of an amount payable by the end-user in actual currency in combination with an amount payable in a combination of actual partner-issued currency, a combination of virtual currency and partner-issued currency or a combination of actual currency, virtual currency and partner-issued currency by an end-user of an inventive system. The end-user perceives a benefit to using the partner-issued currency or a combination of virtual currency and partner-issued currency since the price paid in actual currency is less than the displayed price to be paid by a consumer without access to the partner-issued currency or a combination of virtual currency and partner-issued currency. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276380 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROGRAMMABLE PAYMENT CARDS AND DEVICES WITH LOYALTY-BASED PAYMENT APPLICATIONS - A payment card (e.g., credit and/or debit card) or other device (e.g., mobile telephone) is provided with a magnetic emulator operable to communicate data to a magnetic stripe read-head. Data may include the type of reward that a user would like to earn as a result of making a purchase or the type of reward that a user would like to utilize to at least partially pay for a purchase. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276381 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROGRAMMABLE PAYMENT CARDS AND DEVICES WITH LOYALTY-BASED PAYMENT APPLICATIONS - A payment card (e.g., credit and/or debit card) or other device (e.g., mobile telephone) is provided with a magnetic emulator operable to communicate data to a magnetic stripe read-head. Data may include the type of reward that a user would like to earn as a result of making a purchase or the type of reward that a user would like to utilize to at least partially pay for a purchase. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276382 | CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR PHYSICAL LOCATIONS - A method for outputting information about a person includes identifying the person utilizing a wireless system upon entry into a physical location, and also includes locating the person within the physical structure. An engagement plan is retrieved based on the identification of the person and output. The engagement plan has information useful for interacting with the person. The engagement plan is created based at least in part on personal information of the person, the preferences of the person, and the past transactions of the person. A system for outputting information about a person, such as a customer, includes an object carried by the person, which is capable of being identified by a wireless system. A wireless interface communicates with the object. A computing device correlates the identification of the object with the person. An output device outputs information relating to the person. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276383 | Consumer-specific advertisement presentation and offer library - Systems and methods are described for presenting targeted offer advertisements to qualified customers while browsing the Internet. A designated interaction region such as a frame or border is positioned on each advertisement, and when a customer activates the border by clicking on or hovering a cursor there over, a menu of selectable options is displayed, from which the customer may select to perform an action on the offer. For instance, the customer may select an option to save the targeted offer to an offer library for later review. Additionally, the customer may select an option to access the offer library to review details of saved offers. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276384 | BILLING STATEMENT CUSTOMER ACQUISITION SYSTEM - Some described embodiments provide for selecting (e.g., by a server computer from a plurality of transaction records), a transaction record associated with a financial account of an account holder. In one example, the transaction record includes an indication of an amount due, by the account holder, for a previous purchase completed by the account holder with a first merchant. Some embodiments provide further for generating a billing statement for the account holder, the billing statement including an indication of the amount due by the account holder for the previous completed purchase and an indication of an acquisition offer, in which the acquisition offer comprises a promise from a second merchant to pay at least a portion of the amount due by the account holder, and transmitting the billing statement to the account holder. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276385 | Mobile Shopping Decision Agent - A mobile shopping decision agent application is disclosed. A wireless-enabled (e.g., WiFi) device that uses three or more routers to locate the exact position (e.g., aisle number, shelf, etc. in a store) of a user operating the wireless-enabled device to provide the user with assistance in shopping (e.g., comparison, order online, read technical specifications, read customer reviews, etc.) for a product, and allows the user to purchase the product on the spot from the merchant (or another competing merchant) direct from his/her account with a bank online or at the merchant POS/checkout. In addition, application also may use various social networking features (e.g., product recommendations from friends, recommendations from public at large, wish list, etc.) to enhance the customer's shopping experience. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276386 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR MOBILE DEVICE LOCATION BASED SERVICES - The present invention is directed to a discount service including a system and methods for delivering incentives to a mobile device while the mobile device is in close proximity to a merchant outlet. The presence of a mobile device is detected by receiving communication transmitted from the mobile device to a transmission tower using low wattage receivers placed at or near a merchant outlet. Incentives such as discount coupons and other promotions are sent to the mobile device in the form of an email message, text message, and/or voice message. The incentive may then be redeemed at the merchant outlet. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276387 | VALUATION OF AN ADVERTISEMENT IN A PRINTED ADVERTISING CIRCULAR - A method for valuating an advertisement included in a printed advertising circular comprises computing a plurality of scores measuring aspects of the advertisement, and computing a quantitative valuation of the advertisement by computing a weighted aggregation of the scores. At least the computing of the weighted aggregation is performed by a digital processing device. The scores optionally include an advertisement size score. The scores optionally include at least one competition score measuring an aspect of competing advertisements also included in the printed advertising circular. The scores optionally include at least one past history score selected to adjust the quantitative valuation based on past advertising history of a product advertised by the advertisement. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276388 | System and Method for Managing, Distributing, and Advertising a Plurality of Promotional Offers - The present invention is a system and method for managing, distributing, and advertising a plurality of promotional offers. The promotional offers are deals such as coupons, gift certificates, and bargains. The present invention allows a plurality of advertisers to enter their promotional offer onto the present invention through an advertiser management infrastructure. The present invention distributes the promotional offers to a plurality of customers through a distribution infrastructure. The distribution infrastructure consists of a website, a mobile phone application, and a plurality of kiosks. The distribution infrastructure allows the plurality of customers to save, print, or share a particular promotional offer seen on the distribution infrastructure. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276389 | BID LANDSCAPE TOOL - Techniques are provided that can be used in advertising campaign management in connection with auction-based online advertising. A tool is provided, for use by advertisers or advertising campaign managers, for being provided with, in connection with specified parameters, an indication of a competitive bid and a non-competitive bid. The tool may also provide an actual, estimated, or projected bid, which may be associated with an advertising campaign or a portion thereof, for comparison with the competitive bid and the non-competitive bid. The tool may allow assessment of a competitive bid landscape and help allow determination of an optimal bid. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276390 | SELECTING ADVERTISEMENTS FOR PRESENTATION WITH SEARCH RESULTS - This patent application pertains to selecting advertisements for presentation with search results. One example includes receiving a user's search query. This example also includes selecting an advertisement that is relevant for presentation to the user with search results for the search query. The advertisement is selected from a set of advertisements by comparing a semantic context of individual advertisements to a semantic context of the user's search query. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276391 | EXPANSION OF TERM SETS FOR USE IN ADVERTISEMENT SELECTION - Techniques are provided for use in online advertisement selection in response to a search query. Techniques are provided in which historical online advertising information is obtained. Segmentation is performed of advertisements and queries and used in generating segment pairs, and an associated advertisement performance is determined for each pair. Segmentation is also performed of a particular query and a candidate advertisement for selection to be served in response, and using the resulting segments, pairs are identified and used in adding to a term set associated with the candidate advertisement, which term set is used in assessing the advertisement for selection. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276392 | Performing Geography-Based Advertising Experiments - Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for performing geography-based advertising experiments. One method includes receiving pre-spend data for geographic regions, identifying the geographic regions as control or treatment regions, obtaining change in ad spend data for each region, estimating a variance in a return on ad spend according to the pre-spend and the change in ad spend data. The method further includes determining whether the variance satisfies an acceptance criterion, and either allocating the change in ad spend data for use in an advertising experiment or selecting different change in ad spend data. Another method includes receiving pre-spend data for geographic regions, determining a change in ad spend for each geographic region, fitting a model to the pre-spend data, the change in ad spend, and test data, and determining a return on ad spend from the fitted model. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276393 | Pay-Per-Sale ad system - A method and system are provided for connecting consumer searches and in-store transactions using credit cards, debit cards, and gift cards. In accordance with one or more embodiments, the method includes the steps of (a) receiving from a search system and storing the search results relating to an online or mobile search performed by a consumer, the search results identifying one or more telephone numbers of merchants that signed up with the search system as Advertisers, and the search association identifiers such as IP Address, Cookie, and/or Carrier User ID associated with the consumer; (b) associating the card to the online or mobile search by matching the search association identifiers based on two purchase transactions originated from the same card number within a predetermined period of time of the one or more searches; (c) charging the selected Advertiser a fee for successful correlation of the consumer's transaction to the search association identifiers; and (d) providing detailed Return-On-Investment reports. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276394 | Automated Targeted Information System - A method and apparatus for accessing information relating to an object is provided. The object can be found through a specification searching criteria derived from an identification code and/or specification of the consumer's computer. The object can be a mobile device, an accessory of mobile device, a mobile subscription plan, or promotion or coupon information of service or merchandise. The identification code can be used to identify the consumer's computer and/or its specification. The identification code of the computer device is used to supply the consumer with shopping information, product searching, product and/or service promotions, etc. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276395 | NEW AGE REAL ESTATE MARKETING METHOD AND SYSTEM - The present invention relates generally to a computer implemented system for the real estate marketing, and more particularly, to a computer implemented method/system that integrates both the present age networking technologies and the knowledge of the licensed real estate brokers and agents for marketing and facilitating real estate property transactions. The present invention provides instant communication among parties involved in the real estate transactions such as broker, real estate agents, sellers, buyers and vendors; convenient online auction, bidding and purchasing; prequalifying prospective buyers online; allowing prospective buyers to bid online on contingencies; business across a much larger geographic area, such as a state or multiple states; and knowledge and credibility from licensed broker and real estate agents so that both seller and buyers feel comfortable making deals online. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276396 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DYNAMICALLY MONITORING, RECORDING, PROCESSING, ATTACHING DYNAMIC, CONTEXTUAL AND ACCESSIBLE ACTIVE LINKS AND PRESENTING OF PHYSICAL OR DIGITAL ACTIVITIES, ACTIONS, LOCATIONS, LOGS, LIFE STREAM, BEHAVIOR AND STATUS - A system and method for dynamically monitoring, tracking, storing, processing & presenting physical or digital activities, actions, locations, behavior & status with dynamically attached active links is described. A method includes system, method, protocol, service, platform, and framework for dynamically monitoring, tracking, storing, determining, & processing user(s)' or any types of entities' physical or digital filtered activities, actions, interactions, responses, events, transactions, life stream, locations, behavior, movement, environment, status, states & conditions from one or more filtered sources and dynamically presenting said action or activity or status or log item(s) with dynamically attached active links to determined receivers, wherein said active links enables user to access action item specific functionalities including any types of application, service, accessing, processing functionalities, take one or more actions on action item, communicate, collaborate, participate, provide services & responses, workflow and any types of application, service functionalities. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276397 | SOCIAL MEDIA ENABLED ADVERTISING - Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for social media advertising. In one aspect, a method includes associating keywords with a social media network property of an advertiser, periodically obtaining from the social media network property content on the social media network property of the advertiser, receiving a keyword for an advertisement request for a user device, determining that the received keyword is one of the keywords associated with the social media network property and in response to the determination generating an advertisement responsive to the request, the advertisement including at least some of the content obtained from the social media network property, providing the advertisement for display on a user device. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276398 | Method for providing location aware social network service advertisements - A method for providing location aware social network service advertisements comprises the steps of: receiving a post request via a mobile network, wherein the post request comprises location-related information; responding to the post request by creating a web post on a social network website; receiving an inquiring request of the web post; aggregating location-related advertisements corresponding to the content of the web post and the location-related information; and dynamically creating a web page that combines the content of the web post and the aggregated advertisements. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276399 | ON-LINE ADVERTISEMENT - Displaying, on a mobile communication device, an opportunity to receive selection of a displayed ad. Receiving selection of a displayed ad. Determining at least one re-serve condition for the selected ad. Making the selected ad available for re-serve. Upon occurrence of a determined re-serve condition, displaying the selected ad on the device. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276400 | Online Advertisement Storage and Active Management - A system and a method are disclosed for techniques and processes for stored online content, e.g., digital advertisement objects in a personally controlled repository. The content, e.g., digital advertisement objects, may be enhanced with additional metadata, extended upon by user generated and/or collaborated metadata, as well as the communication used by both the originating user storing the content, e.g., digital advertisement as well as those to whom said user may share the advertising objects with, and the advertiser, publisher and distributor of the content, e.g., digital advertisement. The systems and methods described herein allow for the control and management of distributed advertisements within a controlled repository. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276401 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISTRIBUTING MESSAGES TO AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE BASED ON CORRELATION OF DATA RELATING TO A USER OF THE DEVICE - The present disclosure described herein relates to a system and method for distributing messages to an electronic device. The method comprises: analyzing data relating to the device to determine a correlation of data relating to a user of the device; selecting an advertisement from a set of advertisements based on the correlation of data; and transmitting the advertisement to the device. The correlation of data may be determined from analyzing movement data and at least one status indicator relating to the device. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276402 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INTERACTIVE MERCHANDISING USING MULTIPATH CONTACTLESS COMMUNICATIONS - A system for interactive merchandising, comprising a server accessible via a data network to a mobile device and a graphical indicia displayed in a public location and associated with one or more nearby items, wherein, on receiving, at the server, a message from the mobile device comprising information based at least in part on the graphical indicia, the server determines a location of the mobile device and transmits information determined at least in part based on the graphical indicia and the location of the mobile device to the mobile device. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276403 | HANDOVER DECISION PROCEDURE IN A MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM - In an advertisement based movement detection a mobile node adjusts its advertisement waiting period when it receives an advertisement from a serving access entity of the mobile node and an advertisement from another access entity. By adjusting the waiting period a timely handover may be performed. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276404 | Method of Anonymising an Interaction Between Devices - A method is provided of anonymising an interaction between a user entity and a service provider node wishing to provide a service to the user entity in dependence upon characteristics of the user entity determined or revealed as a result of the interaction, the method comprising: assigning the user entity to at least one set, each set comprising as members a plurality of user entities sharing a characteristic associated with that set; ensuring that the intersection of the at least one set comprises at least a predetermined minimum number of user entities; and providing to the service provider node information relating to the or each characteristic associated with the at least one set, the information being for use at the service provider node in providing a service to the user entity that is appropriate in view of the characteristics of the user entity but insufficient to identify the user entity. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276405 | COMBINATORIAL ADVERTISEMENTS - Combinatorial advertisements are provided based on textual advertisements and rich media advertisements. A textual advertisement and rich media advertisement are identified as matching. Based on identifying the textual advertisement and rich media advertisement as matching, a combinatorial advertisement is generated. The combinatorial advertisement includes a text portion derived from text from the textual advertisement. Additionally, the combinatorial advertisement includes a rich media portion derived from rich media from the rich media advertisement. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276406 | System and method for social product information sharing - An e-commerce system, comprising a portal server executing on a digital computer and coupled to a digital packet network and an analysis software executing on the server system or executing on another digital computer and adapted to communicate with the server across the digital packet network, wherein the portal server is adapted to receive information from a user via the digital packet network, said information including at least a plurality of data elements pertaining to products owned, used, or sought by the user, and wherein the received information is made available to the analysis software, and the analysis software computes a maturity score for the user based at least in part on the received information provided to the analysis software, said maturity score further being provided to the portal server, and wherein the portal server uses at least a maturity score to order a selection of information to be provided to the user, and wherein at least some of the received information is made available to a plurality of external systems based at least in part on privacy settings established by or for the particular user, is disclosed. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276407 | Method and apparatus for measuring the motion of a person - One or more micro-impulse radars (MIRs) are configured to determine the movement of at least one person. Media can be output to the person responsive to the movement. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276408 | Personality Profile Markers for Targeted Ads as a Method and a System - The ad delivery system delivers personality profile typed ads to a user's Internet enabled devices (IED) when the device has a personality type marker-cookie (Ph-M data) thereon. Ad databases store ads designated by Ph-M type. The Ph-M data is loaded onto the IED when the user takes a test, the system classifies user's personality, and uploads Ph-M data onto the EID. Thereafter, when the user employs the IED, web servers recognize the associated Ph-M cookie-marker and the operative website server presents a personality typed ad to the user. The testing server may have an id in the Ph-M data. A centralized or distributed database system may be used. The ad system may be operable on a social network and ties to the user's social network profile. The system delivers effective and relevant ads based upon the user's personality type. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276409 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING FEEDBACK ABOUT MERCHANTS USING PAYMENT TRANSACTIONAL INFORMATION - Information is analyzed from a user's financial account in order to identify one or more payment transactions between the user and a corresponding one or more merchants. The user is enabled to provide feedback, over a computer interface, about individual merchants, as identified from the information. Information about the merchant is published that incorporates or otherwise uses the feedback provided from the user. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276410 | Apparatus and Method for Advertising during Login Process - An apparatus for presenting a personalized advertisement in a login process for logging into a certain service by a user of a user terminal is provided. The apparatus includes a recognition unit configured to recognize the user terminal under the login process, an obtaining unit configured to obtain a user identity of the user using the recognized user terminal and an advertising unit configured to present to the recognized user terminal a personalized advertisement associated with the obtained user identity when the user identity is obtained by the obtaining unit. The advertising unit presents the personalized advertisement to the recognized user terminal before the user is authenticated. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276411 | METHOD FOR OPTIMUM PLACEMENT OF ADVERTISEMENTS ON A WEB PAGE - A method and system for placement of graphical objects on a page to optimize the occurrence of an event associated with such objects. The graphical objects might include, for instance, advertisements on a webpage, and the event would include a user clicking on that ad. The page includes positions for receipt of the object material. Data regarding the past performance of the objects is stored and updated as new data is received. A user requests a page from a server associated with system. The server uses the performance data to derive a prioritized arrangement of the objects on the page. The server performs a calculation regarding the likelihood that an event will occur for a given object, as displayed to a particular user. The objects are arranged according to this calculation and returned to the user on the requested page. The likelihood can also be multiplied by a weighting factor and the objects arranged according to this product. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276412 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PORTABLE PROFILES - Embodiments of the present invention include improved communication system and methods. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a wireless communication method comprising, on a first wireless device, receiving one or more wireless device identifications associated with one or more other wireless devices, and transmitting at least one of the one or more wireless device identifications from the first wireless device to a remote computer system, and on the remote computer system, receiving the at least one wireless device identification, and accessing information associated with the at least one wireless device identification. Embodiments of the present invention may be used for electronic dating, social networking and other communication applications. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276413 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUCTIONS USING TIME DEPENDENT BIDS AND FIXED UNIT PRICE DEPENDENT ON CLICKS OR VIEWS, AND ADVERTISING AND CHARGING METHODS AND SYSTEMS - Disclosed are an auction method and system, an advertising method and system, and a charging method and system, based on a bid price depending on a time period, and a fixed unit price depending on clicks or exposures. The advertising method may include verifying an advertisement exposure priority determined with respect to an advertisement of an advertiser, based on a period-based bid price which may be input from the advertiser, and exposing the advertisement of the advertiser during a time period corresponding to the period-based bid price, through an advertisement exposure region depending on the verified advertisement exposure priority, wherein an advertising fee depending on the exposure of the advertisement may be calculated based on the period-based bid price, a unit price per click (or a unit price per exposure) determined through an administrator system, and a number of clicks (or a number of exposures) which may actually occur during the time period. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276414 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PAYING DIRECTLY AT BILLER WEBSITES FROM WITHIN A BILL PAY WEBSITE - A method and a system for performing an online payment related activity using a browser application. The browser application interfaces a bill pay website with one or more biller websites to which the online payment needs to be made. When a user logs-in to the bill pay website, the browser application is activated. The user then selects a biller from a list of billers pre-stored at the bill pay website. The browser application automatically navigates the user to a biller website of the selected biller, while concurrently maintaining a communication link to the bill pay website. The browser application then enters payment information on the one or more payment related web pages displayed at the biller website. After the online payment related activity is completed, and the user is navigated back to the bill pay website without the need for a user input. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276415 | WINE MARKETING METHOD FOR SPORTING EVENTS - What is described is new method of marketing of wine in relation to a sport or a sporting event. What is also described is a new method of integrating and selling wine at the sporting event or in association with a sport. The methods including the creation of a wine club for selecting and licensing of brands to be associated with selected high quality wines each brand linked with a famous player. Further, the wine club will brand the sport association in association with the wine club and the branded wines. The method also include the use of a wide range of marketing outlets to help promote the wine including the construction of temporary structures to be placed at selected sports events and tournaments, direct sales, sales to corporate programs, offering of travel services, concession stands, or existing clubhouses. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276416 | PAYMENT CARDS AND DEVICES OPERABLE TO RECEIVE POINT-OF-SALE ACTIONS BEFORE POINT-OF-SALE AND FORWARD ACTIONS AT POINT-OF-SALE - A payment card or other device (e.g., mobile telephone) is provided with a magnetic emulator operable to communicate data to a magnetic stripe read-head. A user can utilize buttons located on the card to perform activities that would otherwise be performed at an ATM, payment card reader, or by a waitress. A user can provide instructions on a card to accelerate a transaction. The information a user enters can be communicated to a point-of-sale device. For example, a user can enter into his/her card that the user desires $100 withdrawal from a checking account. The user can also enter his/her PIN into the card. The user can swipe his/her card into an ATM and instantly be provided with the desired $100. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276417 | SYSTEM FOR PERSONALIZED PAYMENTS VIA MOBILE AND INTERNET CONNECTED DEVICES - The present invention allows a merchant to accept payments from both a physical (card—Chip/PIN, Magstripe or Contactless) and virtual (internet or server based) payments accounts. The customer decides how they wish to pay. If physical card account then they present the relevant card or tag. If the customer wants to pay by virtual account then the merchant tells the customer what they owe, the customer then uses their mobile or computer to make an internet payment via a server-based wallet, virtual account or internet payment account (i.e. PayPal) identifying the merchant by their merchant identification number. The merchant receives secure confirmation of payment to the PayPod in the form of a text or numeric message. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276418 | Apparatus, System and Method For Purchaser to Business Payments - A mobile device, a system and method for enabling payment absent communication of payment account information or personal information at a point of sale are disclosed. The purchaser or holder of the payment account is pre-registered with a payment processing system. The purchaser's identity is authenticated and payment account information is communicated only during the pre-registration process. Thereafter, the purchaser uses their mobile device to authorize the payment transaction. The remote payment processing system directs the transfer of funds equivalent to a total purchase price from a first bank supporting the purchaser's payment account to a second bank having a merchant's account. Upon completion of the transfer or instruction, the remote payment processing system sends a confirmation to the merchant and to the purchaser via the mobile device. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276419 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PAYMENT BETWEEN A HAND HELD` DEVICE AND A MERCHANT DEVICE - A system which has a hand held device with an application program. The hand held device allows a merchant device to locate the hand held device. The merchant device has an application program wherein the merchant device allows the merchant device to locate the hand held device. The merchant device provides a charge and the hand held device provides a payment for the charge. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276420 | CASH CARD SYSTEM - A method includes entering transaction data into a point of sale (POS) terminal. The POS terminal is operable with a number of payment applications. An integrated circuit (IC) card is interfaced to the POS terminal. The IC card stores data objects that correspond to the payment applications in the POS terminal. The POS terminal retrieves the data objects from the IC card and selects a payment application to be used for the transaction based on the data objects indicated as present in the IC card and/or based on the information related to the transaction. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276421 | Method, Device, and System for Carrying Point of Sale Data Service over Internet Protocol Network - A method, device, and system for carrying a Point of Sale (POS) data service over an IP network are disclosed. A method for carrying a POS data service over an IP network includes receiving, by a home gateway, a number dialed by a user at a POS. When determining that the number dialed at the POS is a POS access code according to configuration information, a call link with a softswitch is set up through Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) signaling interactions and Session Description Protocol (SDP) negotiation is performed with the softswitch. A DSP inside the home gateway is switched from a normal voice mode to a POS data service mode. POS negotiation is performed with a Network Access Server (NAS) connected to a banking center and data services exchanged between the POS and the banking center are transferred after successful negotiation. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276422 | SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS IN A SELF-SERVICE LIBRARY TERMINAL - A library terminal permits a user to execute a loan transaction without assistance. The library terminal(i) provides a visible scan line from a bar code reader indicating the correct positioning of the bar code on a circulating item, (ii) leads a user through a loan transaction, (iii) provides an explicit feedback to a user when an article has an improper position on the article receiving area, (iv) both checks out and checks in circulating items, (v) stores fonts in bit maps of screen displays instead of in a separate font memory, (vi) integrates a security marker reader, a printer, and a controller in the same housing, (vii) processes financial transactions related to the borrowing of circulating items, and/or (viii) displays actions for helping the user to correct errors in use of the terminal. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276423 | Systems and Methods for Content Communication - A system, a method, and a computer program product for content communication are disclosed. A first content is received by a first party. At least one second party configured to obtain a second content related to the first content is determined. Based on at least one first criterion, at least one second party for obtaining the second content is selected. At least one second party is contacted and requested to obtain the second content. The second content is obtained by the first party. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276424 | DYNAMIC CREDIT CARD WITH MAGNETIC STRIPE AND EMBEDDED ENCODER AND METHODS FOR USING THE SAME TO PROVIDE A COPY-PROOF CREDIT CARD - A dynamic credit card is provided in which a secure credit card number (e.g., a secret/hidden credit card number) is encoded based on a timing signal (e.g., an internal counter) to provide a dynamic credit card number. This dynamic number may be displayed to a user via a display (e.g., so that online purchases can be made) or written onto a magnetic stripe such that the number may be processed by traditional credit card merchants (e.g., swiped). At a remote facility, the dynamic number may be decoded based on time (and/or a counter/key number/equation) or the facility may have the secure number and perform the same function as the dynamic credit card (e.g., encode using time data as a parameter to the encoding equation) and compare the resultant dynamic number to the dynamic number received. Thus, a dynamic credit card number may change continually or periodically (e.g., every sixty seconds) such that credit card numbers may not be copied by thieves and used at later times. A dynamic verification code may be utilized in addition to, or in lieu of, a dynamic credit card number. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276425 | DYNAMIC CREDIT CARD WITH MAGNETIC STRIPE AND EMBEDDED ENCODER AND METHODS FOR USING THE SAME TO PROVIDE A COPY-PROOF CREDIT CARD - A dynamic credit card is provided in which a secure credit card number (e.g., a secret/hidden credit card number) is encoded based on a timing signal (e.g., an internal counter) to provide a dynamic credit card number. This dynamic number may be displayed to a user via a display (e.g., so that online purchases can be made) or written onto a magnetic stripe such that the number may be processed by traditional credit card merchants (e.g., swiped). At a remote facility, the dynamic number may be decoded based on time (and/or a counter/key number/equation) or the facility may have the secure number and perform the same function as the dynamic credit card (e.g., encode using time data as a parameter to the encoding equation) and compare the resultant dynamic number to the dynamic number received. Thus, a dynamic credit card number may change continually or periodically (e.g., every sixty seconds) such that credit card numbers may not be copied by thieves and used at later times. A dynamic verification code may be utilized in addition to, or in lieu of, a dynamic credit card number. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276426 | Methods and systems for facilitating aircraft parts manufacturing - A computer-implemented method for facilitating manufacturing of aircraft parts, the method comprising: gathering from a user, via a first computer, the user's aircraft information; gathering, via the first computer, a specification for an aircraft part; soliciting, via a second computer, at least one quotation from a supplier to supply the aircraft part; and ordering the aircraft part based on the quotation from the supplier. | 2011-11-10 |
20110276427 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED PREPARATION OF QUOTES AND PROPOSALS - A system includes a proposal engine configured to present quotes and/or proposals to customers at a network site. | 2011-11-10 |