49th week of 2009 patent applcation highlights part 67 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20090299779 | METHOD FOR MANAGING INVENTORY UNDER PRICE PROTECTION - A method and system for managing inventory under price protection plan determine an inventory replenishment plan for one or more goods considering a price protection agreement including at least length of price protection between at least two supply chain partners in a supply chain having decentralized control over a predetermined time period. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299780 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING AND/OR PROVIDING POWER OUTPUT INFORMATION OF WIND TURBINE FARMS - A computerized method for determining a power curve for a wind farm having a plurality of wind turbines and a meteorological mast (met mast) includes collecting measurement data points of at least wind speed and wind direction over time for each of the wind turbines and the met mast. The measurement data points include measured power output for each of the wind turbines. The method further includes removing measurement data points for wind turbines performing in a non-standard manner or that are unavailable to generate remaining measurement data points, statistically determining a power curve model for the wind farm using the remaining measurement data points, and displaying the power curve model for the wind farm. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299781 | PROFILE MANAGEMENT AND CREATION METHOD AND APPARATUS IN A CATALOG PROCUREMENT SYSTEM - A catalog based purchasing and requisition system profile manager for a procurement services system that allows profile searching and editing features. The system provides simplified new profile creation, existing profile editing, profile grouping, customized profile copy and profile searching features. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299782 | VARIANCE MANAGEMENT - Method and system for determining estimation variance associated with project planning are provided. In one aspect, information associated with a project is obtained and initial estimations for the tasks in the project are determined using available information. The tasks are performed and actual measurements are obtained from the completed tasks. The actual measurements are used to revise the estimates of the remaining tasks. The revised estimates are used to compute a project level estimate and a variance on that estimate, and to enable better project management. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299783 | Method and system for defense capability in trading in a complex environment - A system for interfacing with an information management tool. The system includes a memory for storing information regarding a plurality of programs, each program having at least one capability component. A processor is configured to generate a portfolio of projected capabilities by aggregating the capability components from the plurality of programs, and to create a visualization of each of the projected capabilities at discrete points in time for: analyzing an impact of each projected capability on each of the remaining projected capabilities to identify projected capability implications, and analyzing effects of reallocating resources among the programs to determine changes in the projected capability implications. The system also includes a user interface for displaying projected capability implications due to the effect of reallocating resources. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299784 | METHOD, SYSTEM AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR FURNISHING INFORMATION TO CUSTOMER REPRESENTATIVES - A method is provided for permitting telephone sales representatives access to information on qualification of customers to obtain particular products. A client server system is used. A client submits information concerning a product, a type of qualification and customer information to the server. Based on the product and type of qualification, a set of qualification rules is then obtained. The qualification rules are organized by category. Customer credit information, including credit history, preexisting products, and other information, is obtained from a customer credit database. Customer credit information is then traversed through the qualification rules to obtain a qualification result, which is returned to the client. In a method for providing scripts to representatives, who identify a requested type of script and the product, the representatives are provided with a dynamically generated script of the requested type and specific to the identified product. Script types are classified into functional types. Scripts are dynamically filled with customer-specific information, such as name, price and product. The output is provided for display on the telephone representative's browser. A general sales script is provided in the browser window. Links for items that are required in response to customer inquiries are also provided in the window. When a link is selected, a script is provided specific to the type of customer inquiry. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299785 | METHOD, SYSTEM, AND STORAGE DEVICE FOR JOB POSTING, MATCHING, RATING, AND REFERRAL - A job posting method, system, and storage device which allows users to create one or more talent networks each containing one or more connections, create job postings that trickle down to other users according to a set of rules, a referral system for rewarding users who recommend candidates for the job postings, and a recommendation system which allows both job posters and job seekers to have the system recommend potential candidates or jobs, as the case may be. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299786 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PRICING SOFTWARE SERVICE REQUESTS - A system and method for pricing software service requests is provided. The method includes entering input details corresponding to a clients' software service usage data. The method further includes calculating a cost per ticket for each severity level of the software service request. A margin for each severity level is assigned to each severity level in the order of increasing severity. Thereafter, a price per software service request is calculated for each severity level using the corresponding margin. Additionally, the method includes determining an optimal staffing scheme corresponding to one or more software services. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299787 | COMPLETE HAND CARE - A complete hand hygiene station and method of monitoring a complete hand hygiene station are provided. The complete hand hygiene station may include at least an automated wash cylinder or chamber, a sanitizer dispenser and a lotion dispenser. The wash chamber and/or the sanitizer dispenser may be used to provide a user with a hand washing. The lotion dispenser may be used to moisturize a user's hands after the usage of the sanitizer dispenser. The complete hand hygiene station may be monitored to ensure compliance with one or more hygiene protocols. A particular hygiene protocol may specify hygiene requirements such as daily hygiene station usage, lotion usage subsequent to sanitizer usage, and/or mandatory wash chamber use subsequent to a predetermined number of lotion usages. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299788 | COMMERCE AND SERVICES IN A FEMTOCELL NETWORK - System(s) and method(s) are provided for commerce and services through a set of networked femto access points (APs) and served devices. Incentive(s) and advertisement are delivered to a device based at least in part upon at least one of a location of the device within a coverage area spanned by the set of networked femto APs. Commercial transaction(s) can be implemented based at least in part on a commercial profile associated with a mobile device. Order(s) for a product can be issued remotely and a related transaction can be effected at a point-of-sale linked to the product; transaction's billing charges can be adjusted based at least in part on available incentive(s). Navigation from a point of entry to a destination can afford delivery service(s) or locale or product identification or discovery. Revenue sharing and generation of business intelligence is provided. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299789 | Method, System And Computer Program Product For Analyzing Maintenance Operations And Assessing The Readiness Of Repairable Systems - An automated method, system and computer program product for assessing the readiness of a plurality of repairable systems, such as a fleet of aircraft, are provided. In addition to identifying the repairable systems that will be operational, the relative state of readiness of the repairable systems is determined such that the repairable systems that are most likely to successfully complete the designated task can be selected. Additionally, an automated method of analyzing the maintenance operations performed upon a plurality of repairable systems, such as a fleet of aircraft, is provided. In this regard, the relative states of readiness of the repairable systems are determined and maintenance resources are allocated based upon the respective measures of the relative states of readiness of the repairable systems. As such, maintenance operations scheduled for the aircraft that will have the greatest state of readiness upon completion of the maintenance operations can be prioritized. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299790 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF INTERACTIVELY OPTIMIZING SHIPPING DENSITY FOR A CONTAINER - A system and method for interactively optimizing shipping density of racked parts by a user is provided. The system includes a user computer system, a communications network, a remotely located computer system, a data storage device a computer-generated model of a component part; a computer-generated model of a container for transporting the component part and an executable shipping density optimization software program. The methodology includes the steps of the user selecting the component part model and container. The methodology also includes the steps of analyzing the shipping density of component parts within the container. The methodology further includes the steps of identifying a bottleneck feature and modifying the bottleneck feature and determining the optimized density of the modified component parts in the container. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299791 | Method and system for management of licenses - Licensed connections to network resources or services, such as servers or applications, are managed, including setting, limiting, monitoring, enforcing, recording, reporting, or otherwise managing licenses across multiple network resources. Real-time information that tracks license usage is logged. Reporting features are provided to allow a system administrator, vendor, network operator, or other entity to access the log information to determine license usage and compliance. Layer | 2009-12-03 |
20090299792 | Cargo management system having integrated work order functions for cargo management - A cargo management system is described that includes a host computer system operating software that performs work order management tasks to maintain data associated with a work order. A user interface module presents a user interface for access to the host computer system. The user interface includes at least one input mechanism for specifying within the work order transfer of one or more goods undergoing a process to a destination location as specified by the work order. In one embodiment, the destination location includes one of a terminal container, a terminal location, a warehouse, and a unit load device. Based on the input mechanism, the host computer system links data associated with the one or more goods to the data associated with the work order, thereby adding the one or more goods to the work order. The one or more goods undergoing one or more processes may include goods in transit, goods still pending and goods undergoing unloading. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299793 | System and method for automating a business process of a service provider - A method for automating performance of administrative tasks for a service provider is presented. The method includes storing information including customer profile data and account metadata, and organizing the stored information to facilitate automatic retrieval and manipulation of the information in order to perform a particular administrative task. The method further includes receiving at least one query from a user to initiate performance of a particular administrative task, and processing the organized information in response to the at least one query in conjunction with performing the particular administrative task. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299794 | Goods Distribution Management System - A goods distribution management system for managing the distribution of goods to a plurality of retailers including: a first goods distribution channel for distributing the goods to a first group of retailers; first and second goods distribution channels for distributing the goods to distinct groups of retailers; a first data processing system adapted to manage the distribution of goods in the first distribution channel, the first data processing system being adapted to manage orders of goods received from the retailers of the first group. The first data processing system includes: a first storage inquiry unit adapted to assess an availability of the ordered goods and a goods delivery schedule of the first distribution channel; a second storage inquiry unit adapted to assess an availability of the ordered goods in the goods storage of the at least one wholesaler; and a buy back request placement unit operatively associated with the first and second storage inquiry units and adapted to place a buy-back request to the at least one wholesaler for buying-back the ordered goods; the buy-back request, if accepted by the wholesaler, causes the wholesaler to schedule a delivery of the bought-back goods of the retailer of the first group. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299795 | TRACKING FEEDSTOCK PRODUCTION WITH MICRO SCALE GAS-TO-LIQUID UNITS - A method of tracking production from an NG source that includes the steps of providing one or more micro-scale GTL units, feeding NG from the source to the micro-scale GTL units, operating the micro-scale GTL units and adjusting the number of micro-scale GTL units employed to track or match the production from the source is provided. In some aspects of the invention, the micro-scale GTL unit includes both syngas manufacture and liquid product synthesis. The liquid product synthesis step may produce methanol, mixed higher carbon number alcohols, dimethyl ether, Fischer-Tropsch liquids, and/or any combination of these products. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299796 | CONFIGURATION OF RESOURCES FOR AN ENTITY - A set-up facilitating system assists an entity (such as a business entity) in providing one or more resources, including one or more network-accessible resources. The set-up facilitating system begins by identifying initial information regarding the entity. The set-up facilitating systems then uses the initial information to glean additional information from one or more sources. The initial information and additional information are used to automatically provision the resources, such as a network-accessible page, review-related information, an ad program, service, etc. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299797 | INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING AND DESIGN SERIES ARCHITECTURE EDUCATION FRAMEWORK - A document is generated that is configured to architect an infrastructure environment. Capabilities and requirements are determined for one or more technology solutions in an infrastructure technology space. Factors considered in selecting the one or more technology solutions for implementation are determined. The determined capabilities and requirements are mapped to the determined factors. A flow diagram is generated based on the mapping. The flow diagram includes a beginning node, at least one of a task node or a decision node, and at least one end node. A description of the flow diagram is generated that includes a description of the task node(s) and/or decision node(s). A document is generated that includes the flow diagram and the description of the flow diagram. The document may be configured to assist a user in selecting an infrastructure technology solution, or to assist the user with planning/designing a selected infrastructure technology solution. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299798 | SUPPLY CURVE PRICING IN A NETWORKED ADVERTISING ENVIRONMENT - A method for purchasing advertising space in an Internet environment is provided. The method may include receiving an advertiser order, including an order budget, and displaying, via a user interface, the order budget and an available budget, the available budget corresponding to an amount of the order budget available for purchasing advertising space. The method may also include displaying a control that may provide a visual representation of a number of impressions available versus a proposed cost per impression. The number of impressions available may be the sum of the impression available across a number of publisher web sites that are part of a network of publisher web sites. The number of impressions desired and the proposed cost per impression may be specified via the control. A desired number of impressions may be purchased on the network based on the proposed cost per impression. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299799 | PLACEMENT PRICING IN A NETWORKED ADVERTISING ENVIRONMENT - A method for purchasing advertising space in an Internet environment is provided. The method may include receiving advertiser orders that including an order budget. The method may also include displaying, via a user interface, the order budget and an available budget. The available budget may correspond to an amount of the order budget available for purchasing advertising space. The method may also include receiving, via the user interface, parameters including a desired number of impressions, a proposed cost per impression, and a total cost. Non-received parameters may be calculated based on the received parameters. The available budget may be decremented by the total cost. A desired number of impressions may then be purchased based on the proposed cost per impression. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299800 | Device maintenance scheduling method and system - Maintenance schedules and costs for a network of self-service terminals are generated based upon usage data for respective peripheral devices at each of the self-service terminals. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299801 | To plan working hours and controlling manpower - The cost factor related to the number of employees is known to be the highest expenditure of a industrial firm. Hiring of workers (by skills) intended for performing work packages are done without any assessed data. This computer program/software is a very effective tool making it possible for the management of firms to control and supervise wisely their number of employees. By integrating volume of work packages will help Controlling the number of employees and re-routing them when it is necessary. As a result of discretionary planning, firms will efficiently save a great deal of money. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299802 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS - A system and method of managing partner organizations. Partners and partner capabilities and objectives are defined. Partner capability questions are generated and partner capability facts are automatically collected from the partners. Gaps in partner capabilities are identified, wherein the gaps are a function of the collected partner capability facts. One or more partner capabilities are selected and automatically improved. Automatically improving includes informing each partner of gaps in their capabilities, automatically collecting partner capability facts relevant to the gaps and measuring improvement in the selected partner capabilities. Partner capabilities are monitored to ensure that improvements remain in place. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299803 | Resource Scheduling and Monitoring - A resource scheduling system includes a set of resources and associated resource attributes, a representation of resource demands, and a scheduling module for generating a schedule of resource utilization. The representation of resource demands and availability may include information about time slots, calendars, and shifts. A slot is a representation of a demand for one or more individual item. A calendar is a representation of dates when resources are needed. Each shift represents a set of time intervals of resource demands. Additionally, the system keeps track of individual resource availability and preferences and attempts to create a resource utilization schedule that satisfies all constraints generated based on the time slots, calendars, shifts, and resource schedules. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299804 | OPERATIONAL RISK ASSESSMENT AND CONTROL - System and method for operational risk assessment and control. The present invention, in disclosed, example embodiments provides systems and methods to facilitate risk assessment, prioritization, mitigation and control activities. Various modules work together to accomplish risk assessment, prioritization, mitigation and stability tracking. The modules can be implemented by a computer system or systems, software and networks, or by other means, such as paper-based means. In some embodiments, operational risk management and control begins with an assessment for one or more functions of the organization involved. This assessment includes identifying failure modes, causes and effects, which are permuted to define risk items. A risk prioritization report is produced which prioritizes the risk items based at least in part on the ratings associated with the causes and effects, and a mitigation plan can be put in place. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299805 | Server-based systems and methods for processing fuel orders - Systems and methods for handling fuel orders. A system and method can include using a plurality of data interfaces, wherein a first data interface is operable to receive fuel order data from order senders. A database operating on a server is used for storing the fuel order data. Semantic fuel order business rules accessible through a server arc used for constructing groups of orders that comprise shifts so that drivers can fulfill orders specified in the stored fuel order data. A second data interface is operable to send fuel order data generated from the server database to a fuel vehicle operator's communication device. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299806 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEMAND AND/OR SKILL HEDGING - A risk management method and system determine distribution of skills, composition of skills and resources to achieve said distribution, a set of actions to achieve said composition, a portfolio of service and/or product offerings, a composition of staffing plans to achieve said portfolio, and a set of demand conditioning actions to achieve said composition, in order to hedge against uncertainty based on demand information, risk information, product and/or service revenue and information, and skill cost and information, while meeting business objectives. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299807 | SCHEDULING OPPORTUNITY PREVIEWER - Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for previewing and managing scheduling opportunities. A scheduling opportunity is received. A context of one or more surrounding appointments to the scheduling opportunity is retrieved. The scheduling opportunity is displayed with the context of the surrounding appointments, such as in a mini-calendar format. When the appointment is a recurrent appointment, the scheduling opportunity for the recurrent appointment is displayed with a context of the surrounding appointments. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299808 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROJECT MANAGEMENT - In one example embodiment, a system and method is shown that includes receiving a plurality of appropriation amounts and corresponding requested amounts associated with a project. The system and method also includes tabulating the plurality of received appropriation amounts and requested amount data in a budget table. Further, initiating an approval request for a requested amount may also be implemented. In an additional embodiment, the system and method include sending the approval request to one or more approvers using an email system. Further, the system and method includes receiving an approval response from the approvers using the email system. Moreover, the system and method includes updating the budget table to indicate the status of the approval request. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299809 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO ALLOW AN END USER TO CREATE AND MAINTAIN A SUB WORKFLOW - A first party, such as a service provider maintains a workflow, and defines at least one access point therein. The first party obtains, from a second party, such as an end user, a specification of at least one sub workflow, for insertion at the access point. The first party runs the workflow. The first party obtains, from the second party, an indication of identity of the second party. During the processing of the workflow, the first party executes the sub workflow, when the access point is reached, based on the indication of identity of the second party. The processing of the workflow thus produces a customized result for the second party. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299810 | COMBINING TASKS AND EVENTS - A software application (“smarttime system”) for combining tasks and events is described. The software application provides a user interface for viewing and sorting tasks dynamically, taking into consideration multiple possible prioritization factors in one view; In various embodiments, the smarttime system integrates tasks and events from conventional databases into a common calendar (“smarttime calendar”) to provide a user interface for easily managing tasks and events. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299811 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TASK MANAGEMENT - An method for managing a sales process via a graphical user interface (GUI) generated by a computer and displayed on a computer display is described. The method includes the step of defining a sales process, the sales process including a first task assigned to first assignee and a second task. The method further includes, at the GUI, displaying a prompt for an identifier of a second assignee upon receipt of an indication that the first task has been completed. The method yet further includes receiving the identifier of the second assignee and assigning the second assignee to the second task. The assignment of the second assignee to the second task is displayed on the computer display, stored in a computer memory device, or displayed on the computer display and stored in a computer memory device. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299812 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING EXPERT CONTENT - Systems and methods for managing consultation requests to communities of experts comprising receiving consultation requests, receiving responses to consultation requests, and compensating experts for their responses with fractional ownership in a value-added investment vehicle based at least in part on the value of those responses. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299813 | SUSTAINABLE PERFORMANCE INFORMATION FOR A PROPERTY - Subject matter disclosed herein may relate to measuring, calculating, and/or displaying sustainable performance information for a property. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299814 | ASSESSING PERSONALITY AND MOOD CHARACTERISTICS OF A CUSTOMER TO ENHANCE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION AND IMPROVE CHANCES OF A SALE - A method, system and computer program product for enhancing customer satisfaction with his/her shopping experience and improving the chances of a sale. The personality and mood characteristics of a customer is obtained by analyzing various features of the customer, such as the customer's facial image, the customer's gait, the customer's location of his/her gaze as well as analyzing other personalized information, such as who the customer is shopping with and information contained in the customer's profile (if one exists). By assessing the customer's personality and mood characteristics, a better sales approach may be recommended to the sales professional, or, alternatively, a better sales professional may be assigned to approach the customer thereby enhancing the customer's shopping experience by reducing the possibility of an unpleasant shopping experience as well as increasing the chances of a consummated sale. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299815 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR VALUATION SERVICES INFORMATION MANAGEMENT - Systems, methods and consumer-readable media for valuation services information management are provided. A method according to the invention may include the following steps. A first step may include receiving a request for a valuation service that includes a group of multiple properties. The request may then be validated. The validation may be based on prior requests. The method may also include determining whether the request allows providing valuations of the properties instead of more rigorous appraisals. If valuations are allowed the method may allow the direct award of the valuations to a valuation provider for completion. If valuations are not permitted, then the method may further include transmitting a request for proposal (“RFP”) regarding the request for appraisals for multiple properties to a plurality of appraisal providers. Bids from the valuation service providers may be received in response to the RFP. Reviews of the received bids may then be received. A selection of a appraisal provider may then be received. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299816 | Search Tool Advertising - A content item is presented to at least one user via a first medium, where the content item identifies a target concept. The first medium can be, for instance, radio, television, print advertisements, or the Internet. The number of requests at a search tool for the target concept are measured subsequent to the presentation of the content item in the first medium. The difference (e.g, increase or decrease) in use of a second medium, e.g., the Internet, subsequent to the presentation of the content item in the first medium can be measured, which can be used to modify a value associated with a subsequent presentation of the content item using the first medium. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299817 | MARKETING AND ADVERTISING FRAMEWORK FOR A WIRELESS DEVICE - Targeted advertising can be provided by monitoring application specific details that go beyond observing merely the types of applications and/or functionality utilized on a device. The specific details can be monitored on at least a periodic basis and the advertisements changed based on the monitoring such that the advertisements transition from generic advertisements to advertisements that are more narrowly tailored for the user. The targeted advertisements can be retained locally on the user device, accessed over a network, or combinations thereof. Presenting the targeted advertisements can include displaying the advertisements in at least a portion of a display screen, wherein the portion is selectable and changeable. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299818 | METHODS FOR MERCHANDISING DIGITAL CONTENT - A method for merchandising digital content of an event includes measuring consumer attention level in the event and comparing the measured consumer attention level to a predetermined threshold. The method also includes predicting a time after the event at which the consumer attention level in the event will fall below a critical level and estimating the time needed for processing digital content of the event. Merchandising of digital content is initiated if the measured consumer attention level exceeds the predetermined threshold and the predicted time at which the consumer attention level will fall below a critical level is greater than the estimated content processing time. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299819 | Behavioral Trust Rating Filtering System - An improved rating system allows users to give anonymous ratings of any item such as devices, compositions and services including personal services (i.e., individuals). The system is based on degrees of behavioral similarity between raters. The highest degree of behavioral similarity is established between raters who have rated the same item identically or similarly. The system allows a user to view ratings or anonymous raters who have a high degree of behavioral similarity to the user. The system allows users to control the various ‘degrees’ or levels of behavioral linkage to gather meaningful data in a way that greatly extends the potential usefulness and applicability of the rating filtering system while preserving the anonymity of raters and their individual ratings. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299820 | CONTINGENT FEE ADVERTISEMENT PUBLISHING SERVICE PROVIDER SYSTEM AND METHOD - A purchase-transaction-settled online consumer referral and reward system and method using real-time specific merchant sales information is provided for the advertising publishing industry. The system provides a pay per transaction platform that allows advertising publishers to leverage online advertising to sell offline advertising. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299821 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING AND PROVIDING A COMPREHENSIVE PET HEALTH AND NUTRITION FEEDING PLAN - In order to provide a comprehensive pet health and nutrition feeding plan for a pet, the pet's condition is assessed using a predetermined assessment scheme. A diet suited for the pet's condition is determined using an analysis procedure or algorithm established for the assessment scheme. The assessment scheme takes into account feeding preferences of the pet's owner. A feeding plan is selected according to the determined diet, the feeding preferences, and budget considerations, if any, of the owner. Optionally, the owner may conveniently obtain the combination of foods/treats/supplements/pharmaceuticals in the selected feeding plan at a predetermined location, which is informed of the pet's feeding plan in advance of the arrival of the pet's owner. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299822 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPTIMIZED SHOPPING TRANSACTIONS - A system and a method for constructing a shopping list for purchasing a collection or basket of goods according to a plurality of weighted parameters, preferably with comparison to both “bricks and mortar” stores and also virtual stores (collectively termed suppliers). Preferably the weighted parameters include the ability to prefer friendlier products, such as products which are organic, environmentally friendly, ethical or a combination thereof. Optionally, the user could determine that certain goods could only be purchased from one or more outlets and/or from a particular type of outlet. Optionally and preferably, the optimization includes determining whether to purchase a larger amount of a product in order to enjoy price savings for that product. According to other preferred embodiments, the user may optionally choose to divide a basket of products between a plurality of suppliers, rather than optimizing the basket at a single supplier. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299823 | INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM AND INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD - An information processing system includes a terminal device and a server device. When recommending subsidiary contents, recommended contents are extracted at the server, and recommended content information is returned to the terminal device. At the terminal device, a recommendation order is set regarding the recommended contents which the recommended content information indicates, upon which the recommended contents are presented, such that recommended content extracting processing and recommendation order setting processing is dispersed among the server device and terminal device. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299824 | System and Method for Collecting and Distributing Reviews and Ratings - A system and method for providing ratings related to a plurality of websites is provided. One embodiment of the system may include program code adapted to execute as a browser toolbar to implement a method comprising retrieving an identifier from the end user computing device, transmitting a request to a remote computer system for a rating value in response to a web page being loaded into the browser, receiving a rating value from the remote computer system, displaying the rating value in the toolbar, receiving a first user rating of the user from the remote computer system, displaying the first user rating in the toolbar, receiving a user input comprising a second user rating from the end user, transmitting the second user rating to the remote computer system, and displaying the second user rating in the toolbar. The remote computer system may store user ratings and reviews and transmit user ratings, an average rating, and a review count. The remote computer system may also parse URLs to determine whether the domain of the URL comprises a domain for which content may be rated. By parsing out an identifier of the URL for such domains, the system can be used to rate profiles of people on social networks and dating websites. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299825 | SALES LEAD MANAGER AND FILTER WITH RANDOMIZER - A computer implemented method for automatically managing and delivering sales leads to a seller of a product. the steps of said method comprising 1) receiving a sales lead comprising information about a potential customer; 2) applying one or more query expressions to the information, the query expressions comprising a Boolean condition and one or more parameters; 3) applying one or more random query expressions to the information, the random query expressions comprising a Boolean condition and one or more parameters defined by the third-party manager; 4) setting a lead value indicator associated with the sales lead in response to the sales lead; and 5) regulating delivery of the sales lead to one or more seller clients in response to the lead value indicator satisfying a minimum priority level. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299826 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING CROSS-VERTICAL PROFILING AND SEARCHING - Methods and systems of providing a user profile for multiple verticals are disclosed herein. The methods and systems disclosed herein aggregate user profile information from multiple verticals and redistributes aggregated data to the multiple verticals to create more robust personalized profiles. A first input that populates a first vertical attribute in a first vertical profile is received from a user computing device. The first vertical attribute can hold a first value for a user characteristic. A second user input that populates a second vertical attribute in the second vertical profile is received from the user computing device. The second vertical attribute can hold a second value for the user characteristic. The first value of the first vertical attribute is assigned to an attribute in the generic profile if the first vertical attribute is determined to have a greater reliability weight than a reliability weight of the second vertical attribute. The second value of the second vertical attribute is assigned to an attribute in the generic profile if the second vertical attribute is determined to have a greater reliability weight than the reliability weight of the first vertical attribute. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299827 | Verifying Operator Competence - Systems and methods are disclosed herein for verifying the competence of an operator in a manufacturing facility. In one implementation, for example, an operator competence verifying system comprises one or more input/output (“I/O”) devices configured to receive information from a user and provide information to the user. The system also comprises a processing device, which is configured to enable the user to set up a competence profile of an operator in the manufacturing facility. The processing device is further configured to enable the user to define jobs related to handling sensitive material at multiple material handling stages in the manufacturing facility. Also, the processing device is configured to assign training to the operator as needed to meet industry guidelines. The processing device is also configured to enable the user to define competence levels required at each multiple material handling stage. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299828 | Scoreboard for Managing Bank Teller Performance Variability - Methods and systems for a performance measurement are disclosed to reduce teller performance variation. The process may generate individual and organizational report views of both actual performance and process capability of banking tellers. The performance may be based on one or more actual teller or teller-related performance metrics. The performance may then be compared to, for example, “Best-in-Class” performance, ranked amongst others, and/or analyzed for trends and process capability. Finally, underperforming tellers may be coached for improvement in those areas where rankings were low. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299829 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR JOB PLACEMENT - A computer-implemented method of recording employment history of a job seeker includes receiving at least one employment experience selection from a job seeker. A plurality of skills related to the at least one employment experience selection are presented to the job seeker over a network. The job seeker is asked to provide a time period corresponding to an amount of time that the job seeker has used a selected skill. The job seeker is also asked to select one of a plurality of predefined competency ratings for the selected skill. A time period and competency rating for the selected skill is received. A freeform text entry field is provided for the job seeker to provide information about how the job seeker has performed a selected task. A description of how the job seeker has performed the selected task is received over the network from the freeform text entry field. The at least one employment experience selection, the selected skill and related skill data received from the job seeker, and the selected task and related task data received from the job seeker are stored in a database on the server. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299830 | DATA ANALYSIS AND FLOW CONTROL SYSTEM - A computer implemented method and system for analysing and identifying the flow of internal and external communications in a large enterprise by collecting and analysing data relating to the information flow. The system comprises: a capture component adapted to capture communication activity data comprising communication data relating to the type of communication and organisational data relating to parties participating in the communication, the capture component further adapted to transform the communication data into a common format in dependence on the type of communication activity; an analysis component adapted to analyse the transformed data to identify patterns of communications and variances from previous patterns of communications; and, a presentation component adapted to present the data or results of data analysis. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299831 | ADVERTISER MONETIZATION MODELING - Embodiments of the claimed subject matter provide a method and system for modeling advertiser monetization. The claimed subject matter provides a method and system from which an advertisement may be evaluated according to various metrics to determine a quality relative to other advertisements. The relative quality considers the content of the advertisement, the performance of the advertisement and the history of the advertiser's bidding behavior. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299832 | METHOD TO VERIFY INTEGRITY OF PROMOTIONAL BILLING DATA WHILE PRESERVING PRIVACY - Systems and methods are described that facilitate capturing promotional information details such as the number of promotional material items printed for a given vendor supported by a marketing agency, item size, placement details, price, and authentication information to prove that a print log or summary is genuine. The authentication information can include a timestamp, printer identity, job identity and run-length. This information is summarized in a message digest and is signed by the printing system using digital signatures, which are then verified by the marketing agency through a public key counterpart of a private key used to generate the signatures. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299833 | Messaging Gaming Patrons - The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes monitoring game play information transmitted from a gaming device to a server. The monitored information specifies a gaming patron's interactions with the gaming device. The method also includes recording, in a data store of the server, player information comprising the game play information for the gaming patron and a communication device identifier that specifies a communication device associated with the gaming patron. The method includes generating at the server an electronic message that includes one or more offers personalized for the gaming patron based on the recorded player information and transmitting, using a messaging interface, the electronic message to the communication device specified by the communication device identifier. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299834 | Dynamic time-of-purchasing-decision incentive system and method - A system and method that provides suppliers or sellers with a competitive opportunity to influence consumers at the precise moment a purchasing decision is being made. A consumer using a personal wireless device ( | 2009-12-03 |
20090299835 | Method of Soliciting, Testing and Selecting Ads to improve the Effectiveness of an Advertising Campaign - Method for advertisers to improve ad metrics through performance based prize Competitions. A business method that enables advertisers to host prize competitions that attract and motivate ad-writers to create better ads, resulting in higher click-through-rates (CTR). Advertisers challenge writers to beat the performance of their existing ads by offering cash prizes tied to the annual CPC savings their ads generate. The method automatically advertises competitions, queues submitted ads, A/B tests them, selects the ad with the highest CTR, oversees payouts (if any), and restarts the competition with the next submission. The present invention builds a base of professional writers who specialize in multiple categories of businesses. These writers are motivated by the cash prizes but also by improving their skills over multiple challenges. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299836 | RADIO ACCESS SYSTEM ATTACHMENT - The present invention aims at an effective approach to radio access system attachment in a heterogeneous communication network environment. According to the present invention, cooperation between different radio access systems is executed to advertise one radio access system in another. After receipt of a secure advertisement from a control unit of the advertising radio access system, a broadcasting unit of the receiving radio access system broadcasts advertisement information in relation to the secure advertisement in the communication network. Therefore, according to the present invention, a user terminal may at any time receive broadcasted advertisement information while establishing a trusted relationship with advertiser. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299837 | System and method for brand affinity content distribution and optimization - An endorsed advertising engine, system and method, which includes at least one vault having media assets, a recommendation engine that matches the media assets from the vault with at least one requested creative, and a delivery engine that integrates the requested creative with the matched media assets from the vault. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299838 | Method of giving through advertising publication - This business method creates a business model that creates a publication used as an information vehicle that converts pre-owned consumer goods into for profit revenue with a portion of the revenues donated to legitimate 501(c)3 organizations. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299839 | First in Home Marketing Method - Time is of the essence when advertising to new homeowners. The present invention is an advertising technique that enables advertisers to reach new homeowners at the time of closing of the new homeowner's home purchase. Hence, advertisers advertising via the present invention are able to reach potential customers at least several days, even weeks, if not months, before other advertisers using conventional approaches. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299840 | Methods And Systems For Creating Variable Response Advertisements With Variable Rewards - System, method and software product create variable advertisements with rewards. A first variable response advertisement with at least one button is generated. Selection and response behavioral data resulting from the variable response advertisement is collected and stored. A new variable response advertisement is generated based upon analysis of the selection and response behavioral data, and the steps of collecting and generating a new variable response advertisement are repeated until a sequence end is reached, whereupon at least one reward is generated. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299841 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROCESSING TRANSACTIONS USING MULTIPLE BUDGETS - Facilitating commercial transactions using a payment system directory are disclosed. A payment directory and/or wireless point of sale (POS) device may be configured to use predetermined rules, a multitude of data items and/or conditions to locate a payment system, and transmit a payment authorization request from a remote location to at least one payment system, either directly, or via a payment system directory and/or a SSL Gateway. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299842 | Nobel auction house coins - An improved advertising method which provides discounts for purchasers and sellers. One future embodiment of this coin is as a round shape with King's Head. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299843 | TARGETED TELEVISION ADVERTISEMENTS SELECTED ON THE BASIS OF AN ONLINE USER PROFILE AND PRESENTED WITH TELEVISION PROGRAMS OR CHANNELS RELATED TO THAT PROFILE - In an automatic, computer-implemented method, a selected television advertisement is presented automatically in association with a television program or channel. A relationship is identified between an online user profile and the television program or channel, and the television advertisement is selected based at least in part on information from the online user profile. The selected television advertisement is presented, in association with the television program or channel that is identified as being related to the online user profile, via a set-top box having a corresponding set-top box identifier that is associated with the online user profile. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299844 | PREPAID RELOADABLE ELECTRONIC TRANSACTION CARDS WITH LOYALTY PROGRAM - A reloadable prepaid electronic transaction card is provided that is tied either electronically or physically with a loyalty program, a bonus point program or reward program. The card includes machine readable indicia thereon that allows the card to be linked with a cash balance that resides on the card itself or in an account that is tied to the card. Another feature of the transaction card is that it is tied either electronically or physically to a loyalty program. In one embodiment the card is a reloadable prepaid electronic transaction card that both allows the customer to complete a purchase transaction without the need for cash while also including a customer loyalty code. In another embodiment, the card is tied to a points or bonus rewards system. In a further embodiment, the reloadable prepaid electronic transaction card is used to provide rebates for purchases, such as fuel purchases. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299845 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE TRANSFER OF LOYALTY POINTS - The present invention includes a loyalty program on a network-wide level, wherein the program facilitates a transfer of loyalty points from at least one consumer account associated with a sponsoring company to at least one consumer account associated with a host company. In one embodiment, the invention analyzes the loyalty point balances of consumer accounts associated with a sponsoring company, and based upon certain criteria or rules, the system determines particular loyalty point balances which are below a certain threshold amount or which have remained inactive for a certain time period. After determining particular consumer accounts which meet the criteria or rules, the system establishes a new host account in a host system for each qualifying consumer. The system then deducts all or any portion of the remaining loyalty point balance in the particular consumer's sponsored account and credits the corresponding host account with a corresponding loyalty point balance. By transferring the consumer accounts to a host system, the sponsoring company eliminates or reduces the loyalty point balances from its system, thereby reducing the sponsoring company accounting liabilities and providing new options for the consumers to redeem the points. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299846 | Linking loyalty reward programs - Linking loyalty programs by use of a new and unique cross-reference number. Reward points from the linked accounts are pooled. Redemption of reward points associated with the linked accounts can be restricted using restriction rules. Restriction rules restrict redemption of points from an individual's account; from the pooled rewards, and/or restrict redemption for a predetermined reward type. Reward points in the linked accounts can also be converted from one reward account to another using a conversion table, which holds a liability ratio for each account. A processing platform, typically comprising a computer-implemented linking engine and an account files database, is logically connected to a network to receive linking instructions from an account holder. The linking engine can assign the cross-reference number; apply restriction rules; and convert reward points using the conversion tables. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299847 | System for Multi-Tiered Allocation of Promotional Incentives - An interactive promotion platform for supplying a call center agent with promotional incentive information to provide to a customer. The interactive promotion platform includes a promotion database having a promotional incentive index into which a promoting entity inputs one or more promotional incentives for inclusion in the promotional incentive index. A promotion allocation dashboard displays to an allocator the promotional incentive index and enables the allocator to designate at least one promotional incentive from in the promotional incentive index and allocate the designated promotional incentive to one or more call center agents. A computer network including a network link connects the call center agent to the interactive promotion platform and provides substantially real time updated information on the designated promotional incentive to the call center agent. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299848 | Method and Apparatus for a Promotional Couponing System - A method and apparatus for the creation and management of promotional coupons are provided. Promotional coupon templates are written in a template definition language and promotions, promotional campaigns, and triggers for the generation and issuance of promotional coupons based on the promotional coupon templates are defined. The promotional coupons may be printed either in real time, based on a predetermined date and/or time, or based on other triggers by a printer. Furthermore, the method and apparatus facilitate management of the redemption of promotional coupons for use in a gaming, vending, or other business environment. The system uses a host system and a graphical front-end. The system further includes at least one printer and may include routing devices. The system may interface with other systems such as a point of sale system or slot accounting system. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299849 | Methods and Apparatus for Freshness and Completeness of Information - A system that facilitates publishing and consuming information that is of time sensitivity, for example, price information. Methods are employed to achieve completeness and freshness in information for a given domain. A preferred embodiment is a shopping site that is capable of comparing prices, purchasing bundled products and dealing with coupons. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299850 | COMPUTING SYSTEM AND COMPUTER-IMPLEMENTED METHOD OF PROVIDING TARGETED ADVERTISEMENT USING ACCOUNT SPACE - A computing system and computer-implemented method of providing a targeted advertisement using an ACCOUNT SPACE are provided. The computing system may include: a target setting unit to set a plurality of advertisement targets and combine some or all of the advertisement targets, an object setting unit to set an advertisement target object based on the combined advertisement targets; and a content connection unit to connect (correlate) an advertisement content to (with) the advertisement target object. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299851 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF THE IMPACT OF A BILLBOARD ADVERTISEMENT - The invention concerns a method for the measurement of the impact of an advertisement concerning a product or service, displayed on at least one advertising billboard ( | 2009-12-03 |
20090299852 | CONTENTS DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM, DEVICE FOR PROCESSING CHARGE FOR ADVERTISEMENT INFORMATION, CONTENTS DISTRIBUTING SERVER, THEIR PROGRAM, AND PROGRAM RECORDING MEDIUM - A content distributing system distributes advertisement information concurrent with distribution of content. A content distributing server, connected to a communication network, supplies content and advertisement information to a member device in response to a request, transmits introducing information to the member devices, receives information on whether a user has performed an action in response thereto, receives information provided by the user in accordance with the introducing information, records the received user action information and user-provided information, calculates an advertisement charge based on the recorded information, and outputs the calculated advertisement charge. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299853 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF IMPROVING SELECTION OF SEARCH RESULTS - A system and method utilizing human searchers and/or guides to select a search result(s) which may and/or may not be influenced by commercial or compensation information. A guide(s) may be selected and/or provided with information which may be influenced by compensation information associated with the guide(s) and/or other information. Human judgment may be used to select an organic search result(s) and/or a sponsored result. A person searching on behalf of another may make a decision regarding what will be provided to the other person based on varying degrees of commercial influence which may be explicitly and/or indirectly applied to a selection by a person. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299854 | MEANS FOR TRACKING COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH SALES LEAD SOLICITATION - A computer-implemented method for automatically tracking the cost of sales leads to a seller client, the steps of said method comprising: 1) accessing a sales lead data storage repository, wherein the sales lead comprises information about a potential customer, said information comprising one or more of: age, address, gender, credit rating, email, telephone number, commercial or residential nature, title in residence, size of residence, price of residence, income, education, purchasing interests, and purchasing practices; 2) receiving cost information comprising one or more of: costs of generating a sales lead, costs of purchasing the sales lead, and costs of soliciting the potential customer; 3) setting a cumulative cost indicator associated with the sales lead in response to receiving the cost information; and 4) allowing one or more seller clients to access the cost information. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299855 | PREDICTING KEYWORD MONETIZATION - Embodiments of the claimed subject matter provide a method and system for predicting bidding keyword monetization. The claimed subject matter provides a method and system with which the value of a keyword for the purpose of relevant online advertisement may be evaluated according to various metrics to determine a bidding landscape for use in advertising campaigns. The value of the keyword considers certain attributes related to the monetization of the keyword. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299856 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VIRAL MARKETING CAMPAIGN WITH A COMMON GOAL - A system and method are provided for a viral marketing campaign with a common goal. A first wireless device may complete the first part of a campaign application, and a second wireless device may complete the second part of the campaign application. A reward may be given if at least two wireless devices participate in completing at least one part of the campaign application. The reward may be given to all participating wireless devices or a subset therein. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299857 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OBTAINING REVENUE THROUGH THE DISPLAY OF HYPER-RELEVANT ADVERTISING ON MOVING OBJECTS - A system for obtaining revenue through the display of advertising on fixed or moving objects id disclosed. Such objects receive, store, poll and extract data to present content based on the time of day, locations, and relative movements in a specific environment, where data and information stored in moving or mobile objects within that environment can be transmitted between those objects or to stationary objects, where it is then used to enable and control such displays for which the owners of those objects are then compensated. The system enables the display of hyper-relevant ad content with synchronized remote audio, personal messaging and public service alerts on surrounding objects and provides for the real-time logging and later downloading of data to confirm communications and content deliveries between objects, track and measure consumer engagement, verify consumer's direct responses to ad viewings with accountability systems. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299858 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ENCOURAGING CONTENT DISTRIBUTION WITHOUT RESTRICTIONS - An embodiment relates generally to a method of monitoring playback of content. The method includes providing for a file of content and embedding a playback counter in the file of content, the playback counter associated with a vendor. The method also includes distributing the file of content with the playback counter without restriction and incrementing a value of the playback counter in response to a viewing of the file of content with the embedded playback counter. The method further includes forwarding the value to the vendor to determine a payment to an author of the content. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299859 | METHODS, COMMUNICATIONS DEVICES, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR ADDING DISPLAYED ADVERTISEMENT CONTACT DATA TO NETWORKED ADDRESS BOOKS - Method, communication device, and computer program products are provided for adding advertisement contact data to a networked address book. Advertisement data is accessed. The advertisement data is retrieved and parsed to determine if the advertisement data is in a proper format for a networked address book. The advertisement data is converted to the proper format, in response to determining that the advertisement data is not in the proper format. The advertisement data is transferred to the networked address book. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299860 | Method and System for Creating Dynamic Advertisements - A method and system for receiving an inputted request for information related to a financial instrument from a user with a first processor, where the request includes a financial instrument identifier. The request is processed to identify the financial instrument identifier. A plurality of data representative of a financial instrument associated with the financial instrument identifier is provided with at least one second processor. A dynamic advertisement is generated based on the received plurality of data. Preferably, the generated dynamic advertisement further includes a chart and text associated with the financial instrument. Preferably, the inputted request for information related to a financial instrument includes a Uniform Resource Locator (“URL”) that includes a query string and the query string includes the financial instrument identifier. Preferably, the logic necessary to process the request for information related to a financial instrument is contained within the computer code that represents the advertisement. This generated dynamic advertisement can be a banner advertisement. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299861 | Interactive OnLine Fundraising Promotion - Customized interactive fundraising promotion technology operable to provide users with an interactive interface for designing a personalized graphic object is disclosed. In one embodiment, the user can custom design the graphic object for presentation on a webpage interface in return for making a donation. In another embodiment, the user's custom design can be viewed on the Internet by a community. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299862 | ONLINE AD SERVING - Online ad hosting (e.g., hosting ads from one domain on a webpage from a different domain) is accomplished using a cross-domain frame (e.g., an inline frame (IFrame)), a secure inter-frame communications channel, and a source code interface (e.g., a set of application program interfaces (APIs)). That is, a cross-domain IFrame may be created in a host webpage, which can isolate an ad from the host webpage. An inter-frame communications channel may be utilized to communicate between the contents of the cross-domain frame and the host webpage. Further, a source code interface may be used to communicate a host's preferences for an ad's parameters and restrictions. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299863 | PERFORMING A CHECK TRANSACTION USING ADD-IN MODULES - A point-of-sale (POS) module and associated methods are described for performing a transaction involving a check. The POS module interacts with one or more add-in modules. Each add-in module is associated with a particular method for processing a payment using a check. Accordingly, the POS module can accommodate multiple different workflows by plugging in appropriate add-in modules. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299864 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF PAYMENT ACCOUNT ACTIVATION - Systems and methods are provided for activating a payment account. The payment account is associated with two identifiers. A payment instrument is provided as having the two identifiers. A first identifier is read at a first point of sale device to activate the payment account. A second identifier is read by a radio frequency identification reader at a second point of sale device to access funds in the payment account. The first point of sale device may not be capable of reading the second identifier. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299865 | Method and system for making and managing purchases - A method and system for storing purchase information are presented. A consumer sets up a transaction management account to electronically receive information regarding purchases. The customer provides information regarding the management account to a transaction terminal and makes a purchase. The vendor then electronically sends a receipt to the management account, where purchase information can be managed by the consumer. The management account may be associated with multiple financial accounts, so that when the consumer makes a purchase, information regarding the financial accounts may be provided to the consumer. The consumer can then choose an account to use to complete the purchase. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299866 | Detecting device for a cash drawer and a point of sales system - A detecting device for a cash drawer is used for detecting a status of the cash drawer. The detecting device includes an operation logic circuit and a switch element. The operation logic circuit has a first input terminal, a second input terminal and an output terminal. The first input terminal and the second input terminal are respectively coupled with a micro switch. The first input terminal and the second input terminal are respectively inputted with a high level voltage. When the first input terminal and the second input terminal have the same logic voltage levels, the operation logic circuit outputs a first logic level to the output terminal. When the first input terminal and the second input terminal have different logic voltage levels, the operation logic circuit outputs a second logic level to the output terminal. The switch element is coupled between an electromagnetic switch and the first input terminal. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299867 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR LABELING AND MANAGING THE SALE OF MANUFACTURED CONCRETE BLOCKS - In a method for identifying manufactured concrete or masonry blocks and managing the sale thereof to a customer in a retail establishment, the retail establishment having a computer system configured to monitor inventory, a database operatively coupled to the computer system, and a plurality of point of sale (POS) terminals operatively coupled to the computer system. The method includes a) applying a releasably secured label to the concrete block or a layer of concrete blocks contained on a pallet, where the label has UPC information affixed thereon and is releasable from the concrete block or layer of concrete blocks on the pallet, b) selecting for purchase by the customer, a number of concrete blocks from a selected pallet, c) removing the label from the concrete block or the layer of concrete blocks on the pallet, d) presenting the label at the POS terminal, e) scanning the label via the POS terminal to process the UPC information, and entering the number of concrete blocks intended for purchase, f) transmitting data encoded in the UPC information to the computer system along with an indication of the number of concrete blocks purchased to effect maintenance of the inventory of concrete blocks, and g) issuing a receipt to the purchaser evidencing purchase of the concrete blocks. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299868 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING BID INFORMATION TO A USER IN RESPONSE TO A SERVICE REQUEST - This disclosure generally relates to computer- and network-based methods and systems for providing bid information to a user in response to a service request in order to facilitate the selection of a preferred service provider. In some cases, bid information from each of a number of bids originating from a selection of service providers is presented in such a manner that a user is able to simultaneously view at least a portion of the bid information of each respective bid. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299869 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING SINGLE SALE TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING ONE OR MORE PAYORS - A system for processing sales transactions may include a first computing device in communication with a buyer-operated computing device, and a computer-readable storage medium in communication with the first computing device. The computer-readable storage medium may include programming instructions for receiving an order including one or more of a commitment of a buyer to purchase an item, and a preferred share value associated with the buyer, receiving contact information associated with one or more third parties, receiving a fractional share value associated with each of the one or more third parties, and in response to a sum of the fractional share values associated with each third party and the preferred share value equaling the purchase price associated with the item, using the received contact information to send a message to each third party. Each message may include the fractional share associated with the third party. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299870 | CONSUMPTIBLE IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A consumptible identification system for use with a computer network includes a need prioritization module adapted to obtain a prioritization of consumer needs associated with a consumptible category from a particular consumer, wherein the prioritization expresses a preference of the particular consumer pertaining to at least one need associated with the category relative to at least one other need associated with the category. It further includes a matching module adapted to match a comsumptible identity to the particular consumer based on the prioritization of consumer needs and relationships between consumer needs and consumptible identities associated with the consumptible category. In addition, it has a user interface adapted to communicate the consumptible identity to the particular consumer. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299871 | METHOD FOR SELECTING, ORDERING AND ACCESSING COPYRIGHTED INFORMATION FROM PHYSICAL DOCUMENTS - A method for processing edited objects associated with a physical document, for use in a user workstation by a user. An edited object is identified in an edited objects table from being associated with an item that has been selected from a page of the physical document through use a point pressed on a touch foil aligned over or under the page. It is ascertained that the user does not have a license to use and/or copy the edited object. Information concerning the edited object is received by the user workstation from an edited objects server and then displayed on the user workstation. The user workstation receives the edited object with the license from the edited objects server, stores the edited object, and updates an edited object path column in the edited objects table in the user workstation with a file path for accessing the stored edited object. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299872 | ELECTRONIC CURRENCY, ELECTRONIC WALLET THEREFOR AND ELECTRONIC PAYMENT SYSTEMS EMPLOYING THEM - Electronic currency consists of data in a form suitable to be stored in a user's data storage medium, comprising information on the data value, identification of each specific set of data or data point, and authentication information suitable to verify that said data has been generated by a specific Currency Issuing Authority (CIA). A method and a system for effecting currency transactions between two users over the Internet or other communication network are also described. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299873 | Server, Information Communication Terminal, Product Sale Management Method, and Storage Medium and Program Transmission Apparatus Therefor - A product retail sales management server for managing the retail sales of a product across a communication network comprises: a retail sales management module for managing the retail sales of the product; a price update module | 2009-12-03 |
20090299874 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATIC BID SOLICITATION DURING TRANSACTION PROCESS - Embodiments relate to systems and methods for automatic bid solicitation during a transaction process, in which a user's checkout basket is automatically transmitted to a set of vendors for potential bids based on the user's selected items. The user can select products or services for purchase from an original Web site or vendor. Upon receipt of those selections, a transaction server can identify vendors who wish to receive notification of a pending purchase of particular items. The set of selections can be transmitted to participating vendors to determine a bid on the same or related goods or services. A vendor may wish, for example, to bid to offer after-market support or supplies for a printer or other pending hardware purchase. The user can view the additional bid items in a bid dialog, make selections from those options, and incorporate options of their choosing in the finalized transaction. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299875 | SYSTEM TO FACILITATE ONLINE SHOPPING - A system for facilitating online shopping that includes one or more content providers of a first domain, one or more online merchants of a second domain, and a framework. Web pages may be aggregated from the content providers. Descriptions of products for sale may be aggregated from the online merchants. The products for sale may be matched with the web pages based on relevancy. A list of descriptions of products that are relevant to each web page may be provided. A shopping cart list may be maintained by the framework. The shopping cart list may facilitate payment for the products for sale selected from different web pages. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299876 | Method and apparatus for conducting unsolicited trades using personal computers or handheld devices over cellular networks and the internet - A method and apparatus to enable subscribers of cellular or telephone networks and internet users to conduct unsolicited and direct trading of goods, offering or requesting services, searching for friends, obtaining or providing specific pieces of information using handheld and personal devices that include smart phones, personal digital assistants, video devices, desktops and laptops. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299877 | USER INTERFACE FOR DISPLAYING PURCHASE CONCENTRATION DATA FOR UNIQUE ITEMS BASED ON CONSUMER-SPECIFIED CONSTRAINTS - A system and method for providing a user interface to facilitate the purchase of unique items by presenting past purchase information of unique items to consumers. The user interface is a two-dimensional chart, with each axis of the chart representing a variation of values of an attribute that characterize an item that was previously sold. The system populates the chart with sales data that reflects the past sales of items having attribute values that fall within the chart. By visually presenting to consumers the distribution of past purchases, the consumer is better able to assess whether an item that they are purchasing falls within “typical” purchase behavior of other consumers. In some embodiments, the system allows a user to select a region of the chart and initiate a search for items that are available for purchase that satisfy the attribute values that are associated with the selected region. | 2009-12-03 |
20090299878 | UNIVERSAL PAYMENTS DASHBOARD - A universal payments dashboard system provides eCommerce merchants with an easy to integrate web page (inline frame) that displays all alternative payment button options that consumers can use on the merchant website(s) to pay for the purchase. Such merchants can display the dashboard on their shopping cart page(s) and on their checkout page(s) at the point where users select the payment option. The dashboard communicates with a payment dashboard provider to complete the payment for the transaction, including any consumer interaction such as entering checking account information, personal details, etc. Upon completing the payment for the order, the dashboard provides the merchant with the completed order information (e.g., a prepaid order) along with all the payment information. The dashboard supports all alternative payment options, payment transaction notifications to enable single cash register functionality and work in conjunction with alternative payment initiatives. | 2009-12-03 |