Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100211469 | POINT OF INTERACTION LOYALTY CURRENCY REDEMPTION IN A TRANSACTION - Multiple different non-financial loyalty currencies held by different issuers are used by a consumer as financial tender for a transaction with a merchant. Each issuer pays to a primary issuer the financial currency value of the non-financial loyalty currencies being held in return for a corresponding reduction of the balance of non-financial loyalty currency. For each reduced balance, the primary issuer adds an equivalent primary loyalty currency to a primary loyalty account for the consumer. The primary issuer pays the merchant for the transaction in financial currency and makes an equivalent reduction in the balance of the primary loyalty currency. The financial value of each loyalty currency may be dependent upon its use in a transaction with a competitor of a merchant supplying loyalty currency to the consumer. | 08-19-2010 |
20120233073 | Universal Value Exchange Apparatuses, Methods and Systems - The UNIVERSAL VALUE EXCHANGE APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS (“UVE”) transform cross-ecosystem currency exchange instructions via UVE components into cross-ecosystem currency exchanges. In one embodiment, the UVE may obtain a cross-ecosystem currency exchange instruction and determine one or more sources and destinations based on parsing the cross-ecosystem currency exchange instruction. The UVE may identify currency types associated with the sources and the destinations and determine exchange rates of the currency types relative to a standard currency. In one implementation, the UVE may obtain currency exchange restrictions and conditions associated with the sources and the destinations and generate a currency exchange flow path for currency transfer from the sources to the destinations. The UVE may also issue currency transfer requests to the sources and the destinations, determine that the cross-ecosystem currency exchange has been completed and provide a notification of completion of the cross-ecosystem currency exchange. | 09-13-2012 |
20130218657 | UNIVERSAL VALUE EXCHANGE APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS - The UNIVERSAL VALUE EXCHANGE APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS (“UVE”) transform cross-ecosystem currency exchange instructions via UVE components into cross-ecosystem currency exchanges. In one embodiment, the UVE may obtain a cross-ecosystem currency exchange instruction and determine one or more sources and destinations based on parsing the cross-ecosystem currency exchange instruction. The UVE may identify currency types associated with the sources and the destinations and determine exchange rates of the currency types relative to a standard currency. In one implementation, the UVE may obtain currency exchange restrictions and conditions associated with the sources and the destinations and generate a currency exchange flow path for currency transfer from the sources to the destinations. The UVE may also issue currency transfer requests to the sources and the destinations, determine that the cross-ecosystem currency exchange has been completed and provide a notification of completion of the cross-ecosystem currency exchange. | 08-22-2013 |
20140337175 | Universal Electronic Payment Apparatuses, Methods and Systems - The UNIVERSAL ELECTRONIC PAYMENT APPARATUS, METHODS AND SYSTEMS (“UEP”) transform touchscreen inputs into a virtual wallet mobile application interface via UEP components into purchase transaction triggers and receipt notices. In one implementation the UEP provides, via a user device, a product information search request; and obtains, in response to the product information search request, information on a first product for sale by a first merchant and a second product for sale by a second merchant. The UEP generates a single purchase transaction request, using the information on the first product for sale by the first merchant and the second product for sale by the second merchant. The UEP provides, via the user device, the single purchase transaction request for payment processing. Also, the UEP obtains an electronic purchase receipt for the first product for sale by the first merchant and the second product for sale by the second merchant. | 11-13-2014 |
20150046241 | Universal Value Exchange Multipoint Transactions Apparatuses, Methods and Systems - The UNIVERSAL VALUE EXCHANGE MULTIPOINT TRANSACTIONS APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS (“UVEMT”) transform cross-ecosystem currency exchange instructions via UVEMT components into cross-ecosystem currency exchanges. In one embodiment, the UVEMT may obtain a cross-ecosystem currency exchange instruction and determine one or more sources and destinations based on parsing the cross-ecosystem currency exchange instruction. The UVEMT may identify currency types associated with the sources and the destinations and determine exchange rates of the currency types relative to a standard currency. In one implementation, the UVEMT may obtain currency exchange restrictions and conditions associated with the sources and the destinations and generate a currency exchange flow path for currency transfer from the sources to the destinations. The UVEMT may also issue currency transfer requests to the sources and the destinations, determine that the cross-ecosystem currency exchange has been completed and provide a notification of completion of the cross-ecosystem currency exchange. | 02-12-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110035278 | Systems and Methods for Closing the Loop between Online Activities and Offline Purchases - In one aspect, a computing apparatus is configured to facilitate the identification of a transaction resulting from an activity occurring in a substantially separate context or environment, such as an offline transaction in a “brick and mortar” retail store resulting from an online advertisement or an online search. The computing apparatus may match information about the activity and information about the transaction to correlate the online activity and the offline transaction. The matching process may involve the use of an offer for a discount, an incentive, a rebate, a reward, reward points, cash back, a gift, etc. The offer is to be provided in the advertisement associated with an online activity and redeemed in a payment transaction, processed via the transaction handler, to correlate the advertisement and the transaction. | 02-10-2011 |
20110035280 | Systems and Methods for Targeted Advertisement Delivery - In one aspect, a computing apparatus is configured to receive a request for a profile to customize information for presentation to a user identified in the request and, responsive to the request identifying the user, provide the profile that is generated based on transaction data of the user. The profile summarizes the transaction data of the user using a plurality of values representing aggregated spending in various areas. The information includes an advertisement selected, prioritized, adjusted, or generated based on the profile. The advertisement includes at least an offer, such as a discount, incentive, reward, coupon, gift, cash back, benefit, product, or service. | 02-10-2011 |
20110066483 | REBATE AUTOMATION - A computer receives information that a request is made to authorize a transaction for a sale of a product by a merchant to an account holder in a transaction conducted on a consumer account issued to the account holder. When the computer confirms that the transaction is authorized and that the transaction occurs within a predetermined time period for which there is a rebate associated with the product and a corresponding sponsor financially responsible for the rebate, the computer communicates that the rebate is to be debited to an account of the sponsor and either: (i) given as a discount by the merchant at the point of sale to the account holder; or (ii) credited to an account issued to the account holder by the issuer. | 03-17-2011 |
20110087530 | Systems and Methods to Provide Loyalty Programs - In one aspect, a computing apparatus includes: a transaction handler to process transactions; a portal to receive from users enrollment input identifying account identifiers of the users and respective loyalty programs; and a data warehouse to store data associating the account identifiers with the respective loyalty programs. In response to an authorization request received in the transaction handler for a payment transaction identifying a first account identifier, the computing apparatus is to use the data warehouse to determine whether the first account identifier is enrolled with a loyalty program; and if the first account identifier is enrolled with a first loyalty program, the computing apparatus is to use the transaction handler to request purchase details from the merchant via a response to the authorization request, and determine benefits to be awarded to the user of the first account identifier. | 04-14-2011 |
20110087531 | Systems and Methods to Aggregate Demand - In one aspect, a computing apparatus includes: a data warehouse to store data associating a plurality of account identifiers with an offer having a predefined purchase requirement and an aggregated purchase requirement for a benefit; and a transaction handler configured to process a plurality of transactions. The transaction handler is further configured to determine whether each of the plurality of transactions satisfies a predefined purchase requirement, identify a set of transactions each satisfying the predefined purchase requirement, and determine whether the set of transactions satisfies an aggregated purchase requirement for the benefit. In one example, the transaction handler is configured to provide the benefit via statement credits when the set of transactions satisfies the aggregated purchase requirement. | 04-14-2011 |
20110270665 | Expiring Virtual Gift Card Statement Credit Exchange for Loyalty Reward - A statement credit reward system receives a request to redeem reward points from an account holder in exchange for a virtual gift card, where the account holder's request may be in response to an offer from a merchant for the card. The statement credit reward system receives transaction information corresponding to one or more transactions conducted by the account holder with one or more merchants. The transaction information may contain a qualifying transaction conducted by the account holder with a merchant. The statement credit reward system will attempt to match a statement credit trigger with the qualifying transaction. If a match is not found, the statement credit reward system adds the predetermined number of reward points back into the account holder's balance of reward points. If a match is found, the statement credit reward system credits the monetary amount of the statement credit trigger to the account holder's balance. | 11-03-2011 |
20110302022 | Systems and Methods for Closing the Loop between Online Activities and Offline Purchases - In one aspect, a computing apparatus is configured to facilitate the identification of a transaction resulting from an activity occurring in a substantially separate context or environment, such as an offline transaction in a “brick and mortar” retail store resulting from an online advertisement or an online search. The computing apparatus may match information about the activity and information about the transaction to correlate the online activity and the offline transaction. The matching process may involve the use of an offer for a discount, an incentive, a rebate, a reward, reward points, cash back, a gift, etc. The offer is to be provided in the advertisement associated with an online activity and redeemed in a payment transaction, processed via the transaction handler, to correlate the advertisement and the transaction. | 12-08-2011 |
20110302039 | Systems and Methods for Targeted Advertisement Delivery - In one aspect, a computing apparatus is configured to receive a request for a profile to customize information for presentation to a user identified in the request and, responsive to the request identifying the user, provide the profile that is generated based on transaction data of the user. The profile summarizes the transaction data of the user using a plurality of values representing aggregated spending in various areas. The information includes an advertisement selected, prioritized, adjusted, or generated based on the profile. The advertisement includes at least an offer, such as a discount, incentive, reward, coupon, gift, cash back, benefit, product, or service. | 12-08-2011 |
20120005019 | Systems and Methods to Optimize Media Presentations - In one aspect, a computing apparatus is configured to profile the spending distribution of users who have made purchases from a merchant and who have paid for the purchases via a transaction handler (e.g., using credit cards, debit cards, prepaid cards). The spending distribution is determined based on transaction data of the users, where the transaction data records the transactions of the users for purchases from various merchants. The spending distribution is profiled to indicate the preference of the customers of the merchant as a whole and thus can be used to customize the ratio of media content provided to the customers of the merchant, such as the presentation ratio of advertisements from different merchants, or from merchants of different categories. | 01-05-2012 |
20130275215 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO OPTIMIZE MEDIA PRESENTATIONS - In one aspect, a computing apparatus is configured to profile the spending distribution of users who have made purchases from a merchant and who have paid for the purchases via a transaction handler (e.g., using credit cards, debit cards, prepaid cards). The spending distribution is determined based on transaction data of the users, where the transaction data records the transactions of the users for purchases from various merchants. The spending distribution is profiled to indicate the preference of the customers of the merchant as a whole and thus can be used to customize the ratio of media content provided to the customers of the merchant, such as the presentation ratio of advertisements from different merchants, or from merchants of different categories. | 10-17-2013 |
20130325579 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO PROCESS LOYALTY BENEFITS - A system and method to provide a universal loyalty currency, facilitate exchange of loyalty benefits, and allow payments using loyalty benefits. A method includes: receiving registration information to associate account information of a payment account with at least one loyalty account to enable conversion of first loyalty benefits to second loyalty benefits; receiving, for a transaction, an authorization request identifying the account information and requesting the use of the second loyalty benefits to fund at least a portion of the transaction; and processing the transaction using the second benefits converted from the first loyalty benefits hosted in the loyalty account and funds from the payment account. | 12-05-2013 |
20140310080 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO PROCESS LOYALTY BENEFITS - A system and method to provide a universal loyalty currency, facilitate exchange of loyalty benefits, and allow payments using loyalty benefits. A method includes: receiving registration information to associate account information of a payment account with at least one loyalty account to enable conversion of first loyalty benefits to second loyalty benefits; receiving, for a transaction, an authorization request identifying the account information and requesting the use of the second loyalty benefits to fund at least a portion of the transaction; and processing the transaction using the second benefits converted from the first loyalty benefits hosted in the loyalty account and funds from the payment account. | 10-16-2014 |
20140310086 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO PROVIDE LOYALTY PROGRAMS - A computing apparatus includes: a transaction handler to process transactions; a portal to receive from users enrollment input identifying account identifiers of the users and respective loyalty programs; and a data warehouse to store data associating the account identifiers with the respective loyalty programs. In response to an authorization request received in the transaction handler for a payment transaction identifying a first account identifier, the computing apparatus is to use the data warehouse to determine whether the first account identifier is enrolled with a loyalty program; and if the first account identifier is enrolled with a first loyalty program, the computing apparatus is to use the transaction handler to request purchase details from the merchant via a response to the authorization request, and determine benefits to be awarded to the user of the first account identifier. | 10-16-2014 |
20140344068 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TARGETED ADVERTISEMENT DELIVERY - In one aspect, a computing apparatus is configured to receive a request for a profile to customize information for presentation to a user identified in the request and, responsive to the request identifying the user, provide the profile that is generated based on transaction data of the user. The profile summarizes the transaction data of the user using a plurality of values representing aggregated spending in various areas. The information includes an advertisement selected, prioritized, adjusted, or generated based on the profile. The advertisement includes at least an offer, such as a discount, incentive, reward, coupon, gift, cash back, benefit, product, or service. | 11-20-2014 |
20150019314 | REBATE AUTOMATION - A computer receives information that a request is made to authorize a transaction for a sale of a product by a merchant to an account holder in a transaction conducted on a consumer account issued to the account holder. When the computer confirms that the transaction is authorized and that the transaction occurs within a predetermined time period for which there is a rebate associated with the product and a corresponding sponsor financially responsible for the rebate, the computer communicates that the rebate is to be debited to an account of the sponsor and either: (i) given as a discount by the merchant at the point of sale to the account holder; or (ii) credited to an account issued to the account holder by the issuer. | 01-15-2015 |
20150058108 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO AGGREGATE DEMAND - A computing apparatus includes: a data warehouse to store data associating a plurality of account identifiers with an offer having a predefined purchase requirement and an aggregated purchase requirement for a benefit; and a transaction handler configured to process a plurality of transactions. The transaction handler is further configured to determine whether each of the plurality of transactions satisfies a predefined purchase requirement, identify a set of transactions each satisfying the predefined purchase requirement, and determine whether the set of transactions satisfies an aggregated purchase requirement for the benefit. In one example, the transaction handler is configured to provide the benefit via statement credits when the set of transactions satisfies the aggregated purchase requirement. | 02-26-2015 |
20150088626 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO RESERVE AND RELEASE REWARDS FOR REDEMPTION DURING PAYMENT TRANSACTIONS - A system including a transaction handler configured to split a transaction, initiated between an acquirer processor representing a merchant and an issuer processor representing a user of a payment account, into separate transactions with the issuer processor and one or more sponsor processors in control of reward accounts of the user for the redemption of loyalty rewards. The transaction handler may communicate with the sponsor processors in parallel or in sequence to reserve and release rewards, and may provide a partial authorization for the transaction in response to each authorization for reward redemption from a respective reward account without a subsequent, updated authorization request for the transaction in the payment account of the user. | 03-26-2015 |
20150088633 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO REDEEM LOYALTY REWARDS DURING PAYMENT TRANSACTIONS - A system including a transaction handler configured to split a transaction, initiated between an acquirer processor representing a merchant and an issuer processor representing a user of a payment account, into separate transactions with the issuer processor and one or more sponsor processors in control of reward accounts of the user for the redemption of loyalty rewards. User preferences and rules of the loyalty programs for the redemption of the loyalty rewards are stored to facilitate the determination of the redemption details in an automated way, such that the user (and/or the merchant) does not have to specify the redemption details. A portal may optionally notify the user of the award/redemption of the benefit of an offer using a communication channel separate from the transaction terminal that initiates and approves the transaction between the account holder and the merchant. | 03-26-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090192753 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TESTING ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS - The technology and economics of system testing have evolved to the point where a radical change in methodology is needed for effective functional testing of systems at clock rates of 1 GHz and higher. Rather than providing a test fixture to interface between the system under test and an external tester, it is preferable to provide critical testing functions within each electronic system in the form of one or more special-purpose test chips. An architecture is proposed that supports full-speed testing with improved noise margins, and also efficient methods for learning correct system behavior and generating the test vectors. The test program is preferably written using the same programming language as used for the system application. | 07-30-2009 |
20090193652 | SCALABLE SUBSYSTEM ARCHITECTURE HAVING INTEGRATED COOLING CHANNELS - A method for building scalable electronic subsystems is described. Stackable modules employ copper substrates with solder connections between modules, and a ball grid array interface is provided at the bottom of the stack. A cooling channel is optionally provided between each pair of modules. Each module is re-workable because all integrated circuit attachments within the module employ re-workable flip chip connectors. Also, defective modules can be removed from the stack by directing hot inert gas at externally accessible solder connections. | 08-06-2009 |
20090243076 | ELECTRONIC SYSTEM MODULES AND METHOD OF FABRICATION - This specification describes techniques for manufacturing an electronic system module. The module includes flexible multi-layer interconnection circuits with trace widths of 5 microns or less. A glass panel manufacturing facility, similar to those employed for making liquid crystal display, LCD, panels is used to fabricate the interconnection circuits. A polymer base layer is formed on a glass carrier with an intermediate release layer. Alternate layers of metal and dielectric are formed on the base layer, and patterned to create an array of multi-layer interconnection circuits on the glass panel. A thick layer of polymer is deposited on the interconnection circuit, and openings formed at input/output (I/O) pad locations. Solder paste is deposited in the openings to form wells filled with solder. After dicing the glass carrier to form separated interconnection circuits, IC chips are stud bumped and assembled using flip chip bonding, wherein the stud bumps on the components are inserted into corresponding wells on the interconnection circuits. The IC chips are tested and reworked to form tested circuit assemblies. Methods for connecting to testers and to other modules and electronic systems are described. Module packaging layers are provided for hermetic sealing and for electromagnetic shielding. A blade server embodiment is also described. | 10-01-2009 |
20100007012 | ELECTRONIC SYSTEM MODULES - This specification describes techniques for manufacturing an electronic system module. The module includes flexible multi-layer interconnection circuits with trace widths as narrow as 5 microns or less. A glass panel manufacturing facility, similar to those employed for making liquid crystal display, LCD, panels is preferably used to fabricate the interconnection circuits. A multi-layer interconnection circuit is fabricated on the glass panel using a release layer. A special assembly layer is formed over the interconnection circuit comprising a thick dielectric layer with openings formed at input/output (I/O) pad locations. Solder paste is deposited in the openings using a squeegee to form wells filled with solder. IC chips are provided with gold stud bumps at I/O pad locations, and these bumps are inserted in the wells to form flip chip connections. The IC chips are tested and reworked. The same bump/well connections can be used to attach fine-pitch cables. Module packaging layers are provided for hermetic sealing and for electromagnetic shielding. A blade server or supercomputer embodiment is also described. | 01-14-2010 |
20100297814 | ELECTRONIC SYSTEM MODULES AND METHOD OF FABRICATION - A trace routing method for a multi-layer interconnection circuit includes the steps of providing stacked contacts with trace stubs at input/output pads of said interconnection circuit, and limiting contacts between conductive layers to two-level contacts in routing areas where maximum routing density is desired. | 11-25-2010 |
20140061882 | ELECTRONIC SYSTEM MODULES AND METHOD OF FABRICATION - A circuit assembly includes a plurality of integrated circuits having stud bumps at each input/output pad, an interconnection circuit having wells filled with solder, said wells corresponding in a one-to-one relationship with said stud bumps of said integrated circuits, and electrical and mechanical bonding at each of said input/output pads, wherein each of said stud bumps connects with solder in each of said wells to form a permanent connection. | 03-06-2014 |
20140065847 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SMART CONTACT ARRAYS - A device includes a device body having an attachment face defined by an attachment area and a contact array disposed in the device body and exposed at a coupling face. The contact array comprises one or more magnets disposed on the coupling face and a plurality of terminals disposed on the coupling face. A periphery of the one or more magnets and the plurality of terminals defines a coupling area. The attachment area is greater than and independent of the coupling area. | 03-06-2014 |
20140066128 | SYSTEM OF STACKED DEVICES - A method of implementing use cases includes associating a use case with each of a plurality of devices capable of being used or accessed by a user. The method also includes providing a plurality of stackable blades, each providing a standard physical interface and being configured to implement a solution to the use case associated with each of the plurality of devices. The method further includes stacking the plurality of stackable blades to form an interconnected stack. Each of the plurality of stackable blades are coupled using the standard physical interface. The method also includes executing a first purpose corresponding to a first use case and executing a second purpose corresponding to a second use case. Embodiments provide an electronic ecosystem featuring ubiquitous connectivity in which a standard contact array in each component of the ecosystem assures interoperability between heterogeneous devices. | 03-06-2014 |
20140240085 | System of Stacked Devices - A method of implementing use cases includes associating a use case with each of a plurality of devices capable of being used or accessed by a user. The method also includes providing a plurality of stackable blades, each providing a standard physical interface and being configured to implement a solution to the use case associated with each of the plurality of devices. The method further includes stacking the plurality of stackable blades to form an interconnected stack. Each of the plurality of stackable blades are coupled using the standard physical interface. The method also includes executing a first purpose corresponding to a first use case and executing a second purpose corresponding to a second use case. Embodiments provide an electronic ecosystem featuring ubiquitous connectivity in which a standard contact array in each component of the ecosystem assures interoperability between heterogeneous devices. | 08-28-2014 |
20150072731 | Snap On Wearable Module - An electronic device comprises a wearable docking station containing magnets. A releasable module having matching magnets attaches to the docking station and may be programmed to respond to email or other messages arriving over a BLUETOOTH or other wireless connection to a mobile device. User alerts may also be provided as programmed images on the face of the module. The releasable module may be serviced using a direct physical connection between the module and a servicing device, the servicing device provided with a matching set of magnets, possibly embedded in a protective cover of a user's mobile device. As examples, servicing may comprise charging the module, syncing the module with the mobile device, transferring data, or establishing or amending a trusted pair relationship between the mobile device and the module. | 03-12-2015 |