02nd week of 2018 patent applcation highlights part 45 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20180012230 | EMOTION DETECTION OVER SOCIAL MEDIA - Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for detecting emotions with social media settings. Integral-based, emotion-based, and temporal-based features are used to assess the context of a dialogue between two parties. Social media features and textual features are also considered in order to detect the emotions of a party by assessing the popularity of the party and non-contextual factors within the dialogue, respectively. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012231 | AUTOMATICALLY SUGGESTING RESOURCES FOR RESPONDING TO A REQUEST - A user may respond to a request of another user by entering text, such as a customer service representative responding to a customer. Suggestions of resources may be provided to the responding user to assist the responding user in providing a response. For example, a resource may provide information to the responding user or allow the responding user to perform an action. Previous messages between the two users and other information may be used to select a resource. A conversation feature vector may be determined from previous messages, and feature vectors may be determined from the resources. The conversation feature vector and the feature vectors determined from the resource may be used to select a resource to suggest to the responding user. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012232 | USING SEMANTIC PROCESSING FOR CUSTOMER SUPPORT - A third-party company may assist other companies in providing customer support to their customers. The third-party company may provide software to a computer of a customer service representative to present a user interface to assist the customer service representative in responding to customer requests. Third-party company may also send update data to the computer of the customer service representative to cause a portion of the user interface to be updated, where the update data is determined using an intent of a message received from a customer. A message received from the customer may be processed to determine the intent of the message, a template may be obtained using the intent, and the update data may be generated by rendering the selected template. The update data may then be transmitted to the computer of the customer service representative to cause a portion of the user interface to be updated. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012233 | METHOD AND A SYSTEM FOR ALLOCATING EMISSIONS RESULTING FROM TRANSPORTATION OF CARGO - Disclosed is a method and a system for allocating energistic loss and/or emissions resulting from transportation of cargo comprising determining shipment emissions and disaggregating the shipment emissions to provide the emissions resulting from each shipped product. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012234 | METHOD FOR AUTHENTICATING FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND FINANCIAL TRANSACTION REQUESTS - A method for authenticating a check of a plurality of checks where the check was previously issued from a first party to a second party, including receiving first information from the first party, storing the first information in a file of a third party and receiving the check. The check has first party identifying information, a unique pseudorandom number of a pseudorandom sequence, and an amount. A status of activating the plurality of checks is determined. At least a portion of the first party identifying information included with the check, the unique pseudorandom number included with the check and the check amount included with the check are authenticated. The received check is authenticated if the first party, the unique pseudorandom number included with the check and the amount included with the check are authenticated and if the plurality of checks have been activated. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012235 | ON DEMAND PRODUCT PLACEMENT - In at least one aspect, methods and corresponding systems are provided herewith for mixing media and advertising content on demand The systems preferably include at least one computing device coupled over a communication network to a plurality of other devices. The at least one computing device is preferably operable at least to: receive a request for media content from a user of a device, retrieve a media file associated with the media content requested and product placement data, and mix the media file with product placement data such that the product placement appears in the media content disposed in at least a portion of a defined null space within the media file. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012236 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ANALYZING INTERACTION-BAIT CONTENT BASED ON CLASSIFIER MODELS - Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media can select one or more content items that are associated with one or more interactions that each at least meet a specified interaction metric threshold. Data associated with the one or more content items can be acquired. A classifier can be developed based on the data associated with the one or more content items. At least some of the one or more content items can be identified, based on the classifier, as having at least a threshold confidence score of being interaction-bait content. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012237 | INFERRING USER DEMOGRAPHICS THROUGH CATEGORIZATION OF SOCIAL MEDIA DATA - Embodiments include method, systems and computer program products for inferring user demographic groups through categorization of social media data. Aspects include receiving, by a processor, unknown user data made up of social media data and social media metadata for an unknown user. Also, aspects include analyzing the unknown user data to determine features of the unknown user data that indicate the unknown user belongs to a demographic group. Next, aspects include analyzing, via a machine learning algorithm, the features of the unknown user data to determine a confidence level for the unknown user belonging to each demographic group and updating a user demographics database based upon the confidence level for the unknown user belonging to each demographic group. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012238 | APPLICATION RECOMMENDATION DEVICES AND APPLICATION RECOMMENDATION METHOD - According to various embodiments, an application recommendation device may be provided. The application recommendation device may include: a metrics determination circuit configured to determine a plurality of metrics; and a user input circuit configured to receive user input; a weight determination circuit configured to determine a plurality of weights based on the user input; a weighting circuit configured to determine a weighted metric based on weighting the plurality of metrics based on the plurality of weights; and a recommendation determination circuit configured to determine a recommended application based on the weighted metric. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012239 | Data Pre-Processing and Searching Systems - Systems and methods for pre-processing data to facilitate efficient and accurate machine learning are provided. The data may include market data. The pre-processing may include partitioning the data into windows assigning categories to windows generate a series of vectors. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012240 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF COMMUNICATING INFORMATIONAL MESSAGES AND MONITORING RECEIPT AND USE OF MESSAGES - The present disclosure relates to management of informational message communications including distribution and interaction with various types of messages including various types of data and interactive options. Data and tracking gathered with this method can provide innovative methods for businesses to evaluate consumer responsiveness as well as overall effectiveness of certain types of messages. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012241 | Customer Presence Detection - In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to track customer presence and movement within a shopping facility. More specifically, reflections of non-visible electromagnetic (EM) waves can be analyzed to locate customers within an area and track customer movement over time. Maps of the area can be created at first and second times and compared with one another to determine differences. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012242 | AUTOMATICALLY DETERMINING AND RESPONDING TO USER SATISFACTION - One embodiment provides a method comprising receiving user data from one or more devices of a user, determining a satisfaction level of the user with a wellness plan based on a learned statistical model, and selectively sending a communication to a different user based on the satisfaction level. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012243 | EXPENDITURE DATA SYSTEM - An expenditure data system including a bonus server, a data server, a mobile communication device and a wearable device is provided. The bonus server may store the bonus point information. The data server generates special offering information according to the consumption report. The mobile communication device receives the bonus point information and the consumption report, and transmits the bonus point information and the consumption report to the bonus server and the data server, respectively. The mobile communication device also downloads the special offering information. The wearable device generates the consumption report in response to purchasing operation involving the wearable device, and generates the bonus point information according to the consumption report. The wearable device transmits the consumption report and the bonus point information to the mobile communication device, and analyzes the consumption report to generate and display an expenditure analysis. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012244 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO DETERMINE PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT ELIGIBILITY FROM ELECTRONIC PRESCRIPTION DATA STREAMS - Example embodiments of a system, apparatus, and method are disclosed for determining eligibility of a prescription for a discount benefit program from one or more electronic prescription data streams. The embodiments may specify at least one eligibility check on the one or more electronic prescription data streams for confirming whether the covered entity is eligible to replenish dispensed medication under a drug discount program, and process prescription data associated with medication that has been dispensed. The example embodiments may include applying the at least one eligibility check to the electronic prescription data to generate an eligibility determination indicating whether the covered entity is eligible to replenish the dispensed medication under the drug discount program, and, in response to the eligibility determination indicating that the covered entity is eligible, automatically ordering replenishment of the medication and causing physical delivery of the ordered medication. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012245 | Systems and Methods For Using Video Testimonials To Promote Product Sales - Methods and apparatus for promoting on-line product sales. The method includes: playing a sequence of video testimonials recorded by respective creators; identifying a motivating video in response to a product purchase; adjusting the position of the motivating video within the sequence; and providing a reward to the creator of the motivating video. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012246 | Method of Selectively Displaying Electronic Coupons In Real Time Depending On Market Conditions - A method of displaying an electronic coupon by a system comprises a merchant assigning a discount percentage to the regular price of a service or commodity for a customer, and assigning a particular time of the day for which the electronic coupon is displayed, wherein an electronic customer coupon is issued; wherein a merchant offering commodities or services is qualified according to the customer criteria; displaying an electronic coupon to a potential customer from a merchant qualified according to the customer criteria; means for the merchant to optionally activate and/or inactivate the electronic coupon, where upon inactivation the coupon is not displayed and upon reactivation the electronic coupon is once again displayed to the customer. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012247 | SYSTEM FOR MONITORING A VENDING MACHINE - A system for monitoring a vending machine is presented, the vending machine includes a controller and associated memory configured to store information associated with the condition of the vending machine. The vending machine also has a first short range transceiver configured to transmit the information associated with the condition of the vending machine, a first distance. A plurality of mobile devices each having a second short range transceiver and a first long range transceiver, the mobile devices configured to receive information associated with the condition of the vending machine and transmit it via the long range transceiver. A second long range transceiver is associated with a server coupled to the second long range transceiver. The server configured to receive the information associated with the condition of the vending machine, the server configured to send a signal to a subset of the plurality mobile device to induce the mobile device to be transported to within the first distance from the vending machine. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012248 | REAL TIME AUDIENCE FORECASTING - A system, method, apparatus and processor readable media are described for real-time prediction of an advertising audience volume through analysis of historical audience data, and tuning of the predicted audience volume. Embodiments enable a user to specify a query for audience volume prediction. Such a query may be a Boolean combination of various audience categories. A time range may be determined that indicates the amount of historical data that is to be analyzed to make the audience volume prediction in real time. Employing the user-specified query, an audience volume prediction may be provided for a future time period, based on an analysis of retrieved historical audience data for the time range. Embodiments may also enable a user to tune the predicted audience volume through modification of the query through one or more iterations. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012249 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR BIDDING AND PERFORMANCE TRACKING USING ONLINE ADVERTISMENTS - The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method for using longer term site performance data to better estimate optimal click and impression value for a specific source of online advertising inventory, and to use these estimates to optimally adjust bids for specific audience segments. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012250 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR RENDERING AND OPTIMIZING INTERNET CONTENT - Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described herein for managing an optimizing advertising content placement, rendering third party advertising tags, and tracking analytics associated with third party advertising content. The tag management system is a publisher-side platform for native and recommended content that enables publishers to manage their relationships with native advertising partners and optimize their placement of native ads. The global ad tag may detect a location within a HyperText Markup Language (HTML) document, wherein the location is associated with placement of advertising content. A script associated with the advertising content may then be loaded at that location on the HTML document. Analytics associated with the advertising content may then be tracked, and the analytics associated with the advertising content may be reported to a server running the tag management system. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012251 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AN ATTENTION-BASED FRAMEWORK FOR CLICK THROUGH RATE (CTR) ESTIMATION BETWEEN QUERY AND BIDWORDS - The present invention relates generally to an attention-based model framework for click through rate (CTR) prediction between a search query and bidword. Aspects of the present invention include using vector representation of a search query and a bidword. In embodiments, an attention-based model is used to predict CTR for a search query-bidword pair. In embodiments, a bidword with a highest CTR prediction for a given query is used to place an advertisement. Thus, a bidword may be used even without an exact match to a search query. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012252 | AUTOMATION PREVIEW - Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for automated management of campaigns using scripted rules. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012253 | CONTENT DATA MODEL FOR OPTIMIZED CONTENT CREATION - An online system provides a content data model to content providers for optimizing content creation. The content data model is a hierarchical model with multiple levels for content creation, e.g., campaign level, content item set level and content item level. At each level of the content data model, a content provider can specify certain information concerning the content creation at that level, such as optimization goal for each level. The information specified at each level of the content data model is applied to all elements under that level by the online system during the content creation process. With the content data model, a content provider can efficiently design creative campaigns by specifying objectives, optimization goals, target audiences and budgets, etc., at different design levels. The online system dynamically optimizes content item creation based on information about creatives to be included in a content item for a target user. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012254 | ADVERTISEMENT DELIVERY APPARATUS, ADVERTISEMENT DELIVERY METHOD, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - An advertisement delivery apparatus according to the present application includes a receiving unit, a classifying unit, and a determining unit. The receiving unit receives a delivery request for a plurality of advertisements to be delivered to a terminal device. The classifying unit classifies the advertisements for which the delivery request is received by the receiving unit into a plurality of groups, based on a predetermined condition. The determining unit determines the advertisements to be delivered, for each of the groups classified by the classifying unit. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012255 | Comprehensive business marketing methodology integrating business, community, community organizations and consumer, and simultanously integrating and adapting technologies: internet, mobile device, location navigation, application and QR code technology - This invention is an Internet based marketing methodology connecting businesses, communities, and good/service seekers. Small-to-medium-sized business information is posted on a Web page and/or physical outdoor sign board structure, with the website made available as a link on community based websites. The process then utilizes existing technology to create a mobile device downloadable application of the website from the Internet, or from a QR scanning code from the outdoor sign board. The intent is a comprehensive marketing plan utilizing and adapting existing technology and relationship development to create name recognition, and easily accessible local business information for customer/users. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012256 | REAL-TIME MONITORING OF ADS INSERTED IN REAL-TIME INTO A WEB PAGE - There is provided a method for monitoring of web browser media object(s) received in response to a web browser request rendering a web page, comprising: loading ad-monitoring code with the web page that includes at least one designation for placement of at least one web browser media object received in response to a web browser request by the web browser; monitoring, using the ad-monitoring code, at least one of actions and events driven by the at least one web browser media object; identifying a deviation from a set-of-rules according to an analysis of the monitored at least one of actions and events, wherein the set-of-rules define at least one of allowable and prohibited actions and events of the at least one web browser media object; and at least one of filtering and outputting an indication of the at least one web browser media object identified as deviating from the set-of-rules. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012257 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR DELIVERING TARGETED MARKETING OFFERS TO CONSUMERS VIA A DISTRIBUTED ARCHITECTURE SYSTEM - A system and methods for delivering targeted marketing offers to consumers during a session with an online (web-based) Internet portal, particularly suitable for online banking portals of financial institutions. An offer management system receives information corresponding to an advertising campaign of an advertiser corresponding to terms of a targeted marketing offer to be provided to a consumer accessing the online portal, and provides advertising campaign data corresponding to the targeted marketing offer and to an offer-triggering event to an offer placement system. An offer placement system receives the advertising campaign data, determines the occurrence of the offer-triggering event by a consumer during an online session with the online portal, and delivers information corresponding to the targeted marketing offer to the consumer. In response to the offer-triggering event, such as display of a list of transactions, the predetermined targeted marketing offer is delivered to the consumer during the online session. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012258 | NETWORKED ADVERTISEMENT DISTRIBUTION AND COMPLIANCE - A vehicle advertising system comprises a processor configured to perform operations in response to instructions from a predefined instruction set, a memory, and an advertisement module comprising instructions selected from the instruction set. The instructions when executed on the processor are operable to receive identification and financing information regarding a specific vehicle for sale, to generate a first advertisement formatted for presentation in a search engine result listing based on at least the received identification information and the received financing information, to generate a second advertisement formatted for presentation on a vehicle dealer website landing page associated with the first advertisement and based on at least the received identification information and the received financing information, and to provide a predicted effectiveness score on at least one of the first advertisement and the second advertisement before publication of the at least one advertisement. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012259 | PRODUCT DISPLAY SYSTEMS INTEGRATED WITH BEACON TECHNOLOGY TO ASSIST SHOPPER NAVIGATION - A system is disclosed including beacons and sensors that are incorporated in point-of-purchase displays and other in-store displays. The beacons and sensors detect signals from mobile devices to activate sensory stimuli incorporated into the displays. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012260 | Motion Activated Advertising Apparatus With Wireless Device Connectivity - An advertising apparatus is capable of motion sensitive illumination and 180° viewing, wherein the advertising apparatus comprises: a top piece; a bottom piece; a back piece adapted for mounting the advertising apparatus to an external structure; a front display piece adapted for displaying graphics, wherein the front display piece has a convex shape, and wherein the top piece, the bottom piece, the back piece, and the front display piece are mechanically coupled together; an illumination source for illuminating the front display piece, wherein the front display piece is illuminated when the illumination source is active; a multifaceted motion sensor for detecting motion of a person, wherein the multifaceted motion sensor is configured to trigger the illumination source when said person's heat moves across at least two facets of the multifaceted motion sensor; a wireless transmitter, wherein the wireless transmitter has a transmission radius, wherein the wireless transmitter is capable of detecting a person carrying a wireless-enabled device when said person passes within the transmission radius of the wireless transmitter, and wherein the wireless transmitter delivers advertising and marketing content to said wireless-enabled device; and a power source, wherein the illumination source, the motion sensor, and the wireless transmitter are coupled to the power source. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012261 | COMPUTERIZED METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PERSONALIZED STORYTELLING - A method and system are proposed for presenting information relating to a product to a potential customer for the product, upon the user scanning a 2D barcode using a mobile device. The information is presented to the customer as a story generated by an agent-based storytelling system. The story is personalized to the customer using online multimedia. It can be used to conduct mobile branding and advertisement, and is able thereby to augment offline shopping with online shopping experience. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012262 | COMPUTER IMPLEMENTED METHODS AND SYSTEM FOR TRADING KEYWORD(S) AND MANAGING REVENUE IN A SEARCH NETWORK - Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a computer implemented method comprising enabling a user to search for at least one keyword available for buying by inputting the at least one keyword. The method includes displaying the at least one keyword available for buying in response to the user inputting the at least one keyword, whereby the at least one keyword available for buying associated with at least one of: pricing raging from a minimum value to a maximum value or a fixed pricing and selecting the at least one keyword available for buying. The method also includes initiating an online payment for buying the at least one keyword. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012263 | COMPONENT OPTIMIZATION OF BENEFIT COMPUTATION FOR THIRD PARTY SYSTEMS - An online system identifies an impression opportunity for a target user of the online system. The online system accesses predictors for a third party system, each predictor determining a prediction value indicating a likelihood of users to provide a specified benefit to the third party system after a specified timeframe from the performance of a specified type of action by the users at the online system, each predictor trained using a training feature set extracted from an impressions log including metadata for past impression opportunities made to users. The online system determines a combined bid value for the third party system based on prediction values determined by the predictors trained for the third party system. In response to determining that the combined bid value for the third party system is a winning bid value, the online system presents a sponsored content from the third party system to the user. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012264 | CUSTOM FEATURES FOR THIRD PARTY SYSTEMS - An online system manages a set of custom features for a third party system stored in user profiles. The online system accesses predictors for the third party system based on the set of custom features for the third party system, the predictors generating predictions for users to the third party system based on the custom features of a lifetime expected incremental value to the third party system from presenting the sponsored content item to the target user. The online system receives from the third party system, data elements for a target user, the data elements related to the actions performed by the target user. The online system extracts custom features from the data elements based on a custom feature definition associated with the third party system. The online system determines a value score for the target user based on the extracted custom features for the target user using the predictors. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012265 | LOCATION-BASED BID MODIFIERS - Systems and methods for determining location-based bid modifier suggestions include determining a content placement cost based in part on a likelihood of a user that has entered a physical establishment completing a transaction, an average transaction amount for the establishment, and an expected return on investment (ROI). A location-based bid modifier may be determined using the computed cost and a base bid amount. In some implementations, the location-based bid modifier may also be based on a probability model that models the probability of the user visiting the establishment. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012266 | COMPUTER IMPLEMENTED METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR COMPREHENSIVELY IDENTIFYING DECLINED SERVICES FROM SERVICE WRITE UP RECORDS - Computer implemented methods and systems are disclosed for automatically identifying declined services from service records by extracting information from fields in the service record, analyzing the extracted information to identify issues found and issues addressed in the service record, comparing the issues found and issues addressed to identify issues found in the service record unrelated to the issues addressed, and inferring the issues found unrelated to the issues addressed to be declined services. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012267 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE, APPARATUS AND SYSTEM - An electronic device has a display and a circuitry. The circuitry is configured to obtain location information of a specific item of multiple items located in an environment, wherein the location information of the specific item is obtained based on a correlation between location tracking information of electronic devices moving in the environment and item list data representing items of the multiple items being purchased by users of the electronic devices for which the location tracking information has been provided; and display an indication of the location of the specific item on the display. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012268 | SYSTEM AND METHODS OF AN EXPENSE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM BASED UPON BUSINESS DOCUMENT ANALYSIS - The disclosure herein relates to business content analysis. In particular, the disclosure relates to systems and methods of an expense management system operable to perform automatic business documents' content analysis for generating business reports associated with automated value added tax (VAT) reclaim, Travel and Expenses (T&E) management, Import/Export management and the like. The system is further operable to provide various organizational expense management aspects for the corporate finance department and the business traveler based upon stored data. Additionally, the system is configured to use a content recognition engine, configured as an enhanced OCR mechanism used for extracting tagged text from invoice images and also provides continuous learning mechanism in a structured mode allowing classification of invoice images by type, providing continual process of improvement and betterment throughout. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012269 | Migrating Computing Environment Entitlement Contracts Between a Seller and a Buyer - Mechanisms are provided for migrating a computing environment entitlement contract (CEEC) from one computing resource to another. These mechanisms generate one or more CEEC data structures, each CEEC data structure defining terms of a business level agreement between a contracting party and a provider of the data processing system. A CEEC cohort is generated comprising a collection of CEECs having similar terms. The one or more CEEC data structures are associated with a computing resource cohort and a seller of a CEEC data structure, in the one or more CEEC data structures and a buyer of the CEEC data structure, in the one or more CEEC data structures, is identified. The CEEC data structure is migrated from the seller to the buyer and workloads are executed in accordance with terms specified in the CEEC data structure at the buyer after migrating the CEEC data structure. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012270 | USER COMMUNITY GENERATED ANALYTICS AND MARKETPLACE DATA FOR MODULAR SYSTEMS - Embodiments are directed towards providing analytics and marketplace data to members of a user community. In some embodiments, the analytics and marketplace data are generated based on machine data provided by the members. The analytics and marketplace data may enable automatically identifying, configuring, monitoring, controlling, managing, and/or maintaining a machine or a collection/system of machine components. The analytics may include, but are not limited to analytics related to machine component reliability, machine maintenance conditions, machine prohibited conditions, machine usages, machine alert conditions, and the like. The marketplace data may include information relating to the maintenance of the machine, replacement components or alternative components for the machine, and the like for various machines. Marketplace data may include an aggregation of electronic (e)-commerce data. The marketplace data may be provided is based on data aggregated from various sources, including vendors, suppliers, buyers, sellers, online auctioneers, or other members of the user community. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012271 | MOBILE GROUP-PURCHASE SYSTEM AND IMPLEMENTING METHOD THEREOF - A mobile group-purchase system and implementing method thereof is provided, in which the system is formed by a group-purchase server and at least one mobile communication device. User can send a group-purchase invitation by a mobile communication device to a plurality of designated mobile communication devices and create an original buying group so that each member of the group can order commodity offered by the group. Moreover, any member of the original buying group can also create an extended sub-group, so that the creator can get more favorable purchase price. When group-purchase activity is completed, the group-purchase server further calculated out a spread profit which is then feedback to the creator of the extended sub-group, so as to encourage the member of the buying group to use the mobile group-purchase system. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012272 | METHOD FOR SIGNING UP A USER TO A SERVICE FOR CONTROLLING AT LEAST ONE VEHICLE FUNCTIONALITY BY MEANS OF A USER TERMINAL - A method for signing up a user to a service for controlling at least one functionality in a vehicle ( | 2018-01-11 |
20180012273 | Methods and systems for controlling communications by a driver in a vehicle - A vehicle is provided that stores limit(s) on third party vendor communications associated with a user in the vehicle. The limit(s) restrict financial transactions of the user with third party vendors. The vehicle determines that the user desires to interact with a third party vendor, based on the limit(s), determines if the vehicle can send a first communication to the third party vendor (the first communication being related to initiating or completing a financial transaction with the third party vendor), when allowed by the limit(s), automatically sends the first communication to the third party vendor for the user, and when not allowed by the limit(s), does not send the first communication to the third party vendor for the user. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012274 | Agent System - The invention is for an agent system that achieves a B2C system for not only a relationship of “selling to consumers” but also a new relationship of “proposing and contributing to a better life for each living person”. The agent system includes: a life agent that corresponds to each of the users or a group of the users and that has a device, a first agent application, and a first platform; and a business agent that corresponds to each of the sellers or a group of the sellers and that has a work application, a second agent application, and a second platform. The life agent and the business agent perform commerce transactions in cooperation with each other via the first platform and the second platform, based on instructions of the first agent application and the second agent application. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012275 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PREVIEWING CUSTOMIZABLE PRODUCTS - Some embodiments can include a system. In some embodiments, the system can comprise one or more processing modules and one or more non-transitory storage modules storing computing instructions configured to run on the one or more processing modules and perform acts. In some embodiments, the acts can comprise receiving input from a user, the input can comprise one or more user characters. In various embodiments, each of the one or more user characters can be associated with a different character file of one or more character files. In some embodiments, the acts can comprise generating a plurality of thumbnails of the one or more user characters on a plurality of customized products by, for each thumbnail of the plurality of thumbnails, composing a monogram file comprising the one or more user characters and combining a monogram container file of one or more monogram container files with the monogram file. Other embodiments of related methods and systems are also provided. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012276 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IDENTIFYING MEDIA AND PROVIDING SUPPLEMENTAL MEDIA INFORMATION - Systems and methods are provided for dynamically engaging a user with media, and providing the user with supplemental information about products or services appearing in or associated with the media. In one embodiment of the invention, sample media data is received from a media source, such as live TV or a television or radio commercial, the sample media is identified by comparing the sample media to previously identified media stored in a database, and supplemental media information, such as product placement information, is provided to the user via a network. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012277 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR REDUCING ITEM SELECTION ERROR IN AN E-COMMERCE ENVIRONMENT - Methods and systems for displaying, to a user interface, categories of items for the user to select from for querying the system, in order to enable the system to return to the user images of items of the type desired by the user for possible purchase. The items categories of items can be presented to the user interface visually in silhouette form so that the user can select brand and the silhouette image of the type of item desired. Upon selection of the silhouette image, a query is sent to the system and images of the desired type of item are returned to the user interface for presentation to the user, along with certain attributes of the items. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012278 | TEXT TRANSLATION USING CONTEXTUAL INFORMATION RELATED TO TEXT OBJECTS IN TRANSLATED LANGUAGE - In an example embodiment, input is received from a first user of a computer system. A text object relating to a first item from the input is created, and translated from a first language to a second language. A plurality of text objects, in the second language, having text similar to the translated text object, are located in a database, each text object comprising textual information pertaining to the first item. The plurality of text objects having text similar to the translated text are then ranked based on a comparison of the contextual information about the first item and the contextual information stored in the database for the plurality of text objects having text similar to the translated text object. At least one of the ranked text objects is translated to the first language. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012279 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR AUTOMATICALLY SENDING RULE-BASED COMMUNICATIONS FROM A VEHICLE - A vehicle is provided that determines a need for communication with a third party vendor, retrieves the user rule from the memory (the user rule defining to which third party vendor the vehicle can send a first communication to address the need and defining a geographic location of the third party vendor relative to a current location of the vehicle, a monetary amount the vehicle can pay to a third party vendor for a product or service to address the need, and a time limit for the third party vendor to provide the product or service to address the need), based on the user rule, selects a third party vendor from among multiple possible third party vendors, and when determined by the user rule, automatically sends the first communication to the selected third party vendor to order the product or service and provides an authorization to the selected third party vendor to complete the order. The vehicle uses different communication protocols to provide the first communication and authorization to the selected third party vendor. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012280 | UNIVERSAL SHOPPING SEARCH ENGINE - In some embodiments, systems are provided to enable a consumer to search the inventory of an enable a consumer to search the inventory of a plurality of unaffiliated brick-and-mortar retail entities to facilitate purchase opportunities. The system may include electronic user devices comprising a search interface stored thereon. Databases can be communicatively coupled to a plurality of unaffiliated brick-and-mortar retail entities and configured to store inventory transaction data points received from unaffiliated brick-and-mortar retail entities. Each inventory transaction data point can correspond to descriptive characteristics of a first inventory item. Search requests for second inventory items can be received from search interfaces. Inventory transaction data points that correspond to first inventory items that each share a threshold number of descriptive characteristics with some second inventory items. One or more notifications can be generated when the threshold number of descriptive characteristics are confirmed, the notification can include descriptive characteristics. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012281 | Virtual, Location-Based Connection Tool for Service Providers and Users - An online tool, including a technology application that connects workers with customers that have immediate service needs. This tool provides immediate solutions to customers in need of a service and an economic opportunity to workers around the world. This tool seeks to connect expertise with opportunity at massive scale. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012282 | IMAGE-BASED SHOPPING SYSTEM - In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to providing an image-based shopping system. In some embodiments, a system for helping a customer find a desired product based on an image includes an electronic input device configured to receive, from the customer, the image, and a control circuit coupled to the electronic user input device and configured to identify one or more items in the image, identify, from a product data structure, a product that is similar to at least one of the one or more items in the image, and present, via an electronic display device, the product and an option to purchase the product. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012283 | SENSOR BASED PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS - A system, method, and computer program product for generating item recommendations based on sensor data captured by sensors on client machines. A server processes collected sensor data to estimate user physical activity based on sensor data patterns, and forms a user profile based on the estimated user physical activity. The server associates the user profile with relevant product or service recommendations, based on previous purchases by a user or by others matching the user profile. The user may make a purchase based on the displayed recommendations or forward the recommendations to others. The recommendations include discounts based on the user profile. Subsequent sensor data showing satisfaction with a purchased item serves as a testimonial to user satisfaction with the item. The sensor data may be collected from a user in an augmented or virtual reality system, and the recommendations may be displayed in such a system. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012284 | INFORMATION ANALYSIS APPARATUS, INFORMATION ANALYSIS METHOD, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - An information analysis apparatus includes: a weight assigning unit that assigns a weight to each of a plurality of items based on an action taken by a user who has viewed a sales content on which the plurality of items to be recommended are posted; a selection unit that selects a plurality of pairs in which two items are selected among the plurality of items placed in the sales content and associated with each other; and an evaluation unit that evaluates a characteristic based on characteristic information indicating a property of each of the two items selected as a pair by the selection unit and the weight assigned by the weight assigning unit to the two items. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012285 | SYSTEM FOR COORDINATING INFORMATION FROM A PLURALITY OF WEBSITES AND SELECTIVELY PROVIDING THIS INFORMATION TO A USER - A system comprises at least one first processor and at least one second processor. The at least one first processor is of a vendor website and is configured to produce a web site including vendor product information and a widget on the web site. The widget on the web site, in response to a user input, has a vendor product added to a watchlist of a non-vendor third party. The widget on the web site updates the watchlist of the non-vendor third party. The at least one second processor of the non-vendor third party adds the vendor product to the watchlist in response to the widget on the web site. The at least one second processor updates the watch list in response to the widget on the web site. The at least one second processor sends the watchlist to a user. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012286 | E-commerce system - A computer implemented system for e-commerce includes a server hosting a system management domain, and a number of domains. A first domain provides a first website displaying a plurality of products for purchase using a first shopping cart provided by the system management domain. A second domain provides a second website displaying a plurality of products for purchase using a second shopping cart provided by the system management domain. The system management domain may display on the first website a link pointing to a product displayed by the second website when certain conditions exist. When the link is followed to the second website, the first shopping cart is used for purchases at the second website. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012287 | INFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICE, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, AND INFORMATION PROCESSING PROGRAM - It is an object to allow, even if an item selected by a user cannot be shipped to its destination, the user to order another item without wasting the effort spent in selecting the item. An information processing device receives selection of an item for order. The information processing device obtains a destination specified for the selected item. If the specified destination is outside the area to which the selected item can be shipped, the information processing device causes substitute information to be displayed. The substitute information can identify a substitute item that can be shipped to the destination. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012288 | ON-LINE PAYMENT TRANSACTIONS - A computer-implemented method includes generating on a user terminal a merchant web site associated with a merchant with code for a merchant web page, transmitting a product selection request for the user to a remote open payment system that is separate from the merchant, and displaying purchase information responsive to the product selection request using the code for the merchant web page. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012289 | NETWORK-BASED GROCERY STORE - The present invention is a method and system for a network-based grocery store. The invention provides for network-based order placement, fulfillment, and delivery. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012290 | Ad Hoc Item Geo Temporal Location and Allocation Apparatuses, Methods and Systems - The Ad Hoc Item Geo Temporal Location and Allocation Apparatuses, Methods and Systems (“GeoTemp”) transforms user requested area ( | 2018-01-11 |
20180012291 | Physical Product Display-Based Apparatus - A retail shopping facility has a plurality of physical product displays where at least some of the physical product displays simultaneously display a plurality of different available items. A central computer system is configured to receive from a mobile device a customer message from a customer. This message includes information that identifies at least a portion of a particular one of the physical product displays (such as an empty part of the display). The central computer system is also configured to transmit to that mobile device a reply message that includes a pictorial depiction that corresponds to the aforementioned portion of this particular physical product display. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012292 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, AND COMPUTER READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - An information processing apparatus including: a memory configured to store information associating, for each project of one or more projects having a flat structure, the project with an organization that is selected from a plurality of organizations having a hierarchical structure, at least one of one or more members of the project belonging to the selected organization, and a processor coupled to the memory and the processor configured to: charge, when a first service is provided for a first project, a first organization for the provided first service, the first organization being associated with the first project by the stored information. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012293 | MULTI-THREAD AUCTIONS - Users using different messaging webservices or social network platforms can participate in an auction managed by a multi-thread auction system. Users on a first platform may bid on the auction through a message thread configured for the first platform, and users on a second platform may bid on the auction through a message thread configured for the second platform. The communications may be ordered for submission, based on the order in which they were generated, by a machine learning engine that generates its own training data. As communications are received, the machine learning engine adjusts their submission times using the learned model. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012294 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO GENERATE LEADS TO CONNECT PEOPLE FOR REAL TIME COMMUNICATIONS - Methods and apparatuses to connect people for services delivered via real time communications and to optionally generate leads to new customers for the services. One embodiment includes: providing a communication reference to an entity for distribution to customers; establishing connections for real time communications between the entity and the customers in response to requests made via the communication reference; charging the customers on behalf of the entity using a process to establish the connections for a service of the entity provided to the customers over the connections; presenting the service of the entity to customers on behalf of the entity; charging the entity a first fee according to what the entity charges a customer for the service; and charging the entity a second fee according to a bid price specified by the entity in response to a determination that the presenting of the service leads to the customer. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012295 | OLED-BASED SECURE MONITORING OF VALUABLES - A method for enhancing security of a receptacle for valuables may be provided. The method may include placing currency in the receptacle. The receptacle may include an integral OLED display. The OLED display may occupy a portion of the receptacle. The OLED display may form a portion of the receptacle. The OLED display may be visible from a viewpoint external to the receptacle. The method may include capturing one or more biometric characteristics on a pressure-sensitive portion of the OLED display. The method may include storing the captured biometric characteristics on a software chip of the OLED display. The method may include transmitting the captured biometric characteristics via a communication circuit of the OLED display. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012296 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR OFFERING A CREDIT CARD ACCOUNT TO A CONSUMER AT A POINT-OF-SALE LOCATION - Systems and methods are disclosed for offering a credit card account to a consumer at a point-of-sale location. The systems and methods may include offering a product to the consumer at the point-of-sale location. In addition, the systems and methods may include offering a credit card account to the consumer at the point-of-sale location. Moreover, the product offer may be conditioned based on the consumer's acceptance of the credit card account, fees allocating charges associated with the product may be required to be charged to the credit card account. The fees allocating charges associated with the product may comprise periodic subscription fees associated with the product's use. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012297 | SYSTEMIC RISK MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, SYSTEMIC RISK MANAGEMENT METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM STORING SYSTEMIC RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM - This systemic risk management system comprises: a sampling means which, given a set of interbank loans, i.e., loans of funds from any of multiple banks to any borrower included in the aforementioned multiple banks, generates a sample which represents the aforementioned set modified by means of a reconnection in which the aforementioned borrower of the interbank loan selected from the set is replaced with a selected bank; an important transaction designation means which selects multiple of the aforementioned generated samples on the basis of the scale, derived on the basis of the set represented by the sample, of a bankruptcy of the multiple banks resulting from the effects of the collapse of prescribed investments of at least one of the multiple banks, and which designates an important interbank loan on the basis of the interbank loans included in the aforementioned selected multiple samples in which reconnections have been made; and an important bank designating means which designates an important bank on the basis of the designated important interbank loan. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012298 | SYSTEMIC RISK MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, SYSTEMIC RISK MANAGEMENT METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM STORING SYSTEMIC RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM - This systemic risk management system | 2018-01-11 |
20180012299 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR EXTENDING CREDIT LINES ASSOCIATED WITH CREDIT RATINGS - Methods and systems for extending credit associated with credit ratings are disclosed. One or more credit scores of a person may he received and, if the credit scores are insufficient to qualify the person for a credit line from a lender, the lender may inform the person what actions can be undertaken to improve the credit scores. Once completed, the lender may then extend a credit line to the person. Alternatively, a lender may receive a first credit score of a person and determine the actions to be undertaken in order to improve the credit score to a second credit score. Pre-determined time periods for completion may he established. The lender may determine different credit lines based upon different credit scores and extend a credit line to the person or upgrade/downgrade the credit line if certain actions are completed or not completed. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012300 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RESOLVING TRANSACTIONS WITH LUMP SUM PAYMENT CAPABILITIES - A system and method for settling of a transaction is provided. The system includes a server arrangement having a rules based engine and a meta-object system comprising a runtime utility engine configured to compile multiple meta-object instances, wherein the server arrangement is configured to receive a lump sum payment proposal from the user, the lump sum payment proposal comprising only that amount the user is presently willing to pay, process information comprising the lump sum payment proposal according to the rules, and present a second transaction settlement offer set to the user including the lump sum payment proposal and a plurality of offers limited to a plurality of installment payment options with no further immediate payment offered beyond the lump sum payment proposal. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012301 | BLOCK-PRICE OPTIMISATION IN ENERGY MARKETS - Aspects optimize competitive bidding processes for energy suppliers as a function of energy block denominations. Subset energy block sizes are defined with different quantities of energy that total up to a specified quantity of energy, as a function of matching block sizes to bidding size preferences indicated by prior supplier bidding activities of different energy suppliers. Likely dispersion distributions of bids of offered energy by the energy suppliers are determined across each of the different energy block sizes as a function of likelihoods to bid for each of the energy block sizes at the specified price. A subset group of the energy blocks are identified that have likely dispersion distribution values less than a threshold dispersion value. Energy bids are allocated to the suppliers according to their likelihood to bid in the energy quantities of the subset of the energy blocks. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012302 | DATA PROCESSING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR VIRTUAL RESOURCE - Aspects of the disclosure provide a data processing apparatus having interface circuitry and processing circuitry. The interface circuitry is configured to obtain data related to at least two resource accounts, and related to resource transfer of the at least two resource account. The processing circuitry configured to construct resource transfer relationships of the at least two resource accounts according to the data, calculate, based on the resource transfer relationships, similarity measurements between the at least two resource accounts according to a preset calculation rule, and output, according to the calculated similarity measurements, a resource account with a similarity measurement satisfying a preset condition. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012303 | Trading Tools for Electronic Trading - Tools for trading and monitoring a commodity on an electronic exchange using a graphical user interface and a user input device. The tools will aid the trader in determining the status, trends in the market, and the trader's position in the market. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012304 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING INVESTMENT POSITION RISKS - A method and system for controlling investment position risks, which are applied to the field of financial investment, and are particularly applicable to high-risk and lever trading investment modes, so as to solve the problem of risk control for position weight during a investment trading of an investor, overcome mental states of greed and fear, achieve the optimal income in a limited risk range while position blast is prevented, and improve the efficiency of investment. The system is simple and convenient in operation, a user only need to input two groups of four data comprising preference parameters and trading parameters, the system can calculate, by means of a group of mathematical models, a position value of the optimal risk-income ratio meeting the risk preference requirements of the investor under the current trading condition, the position value of the optimal risk-income ratio is converted into the specific trading number of a corresponding contract, and the user determines to execute the trading by clicking confirmation, or abandons the trading by clicking cancel and turns back. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012305 | ESTIMATION OF MARKET RISK - A method of determining the return of a securities portfolio defined by returns from a portfolio's excess returns and returns from exposure to the market's excess returns, or changes in valuation, by calculating tangible returns and intangible returns, and applying the tangible returns and intangible returns to models used in determining asset allocations. A computer program stored on non-transitory media encoding instructions for executing a method that determines the return of a securities portfolio defined by returns from a portfolio's excess returns and returns from exposure to the market's excess returns, or changes in valuation, by calculating tangible returns and intangible returns, and applying the tangible returns and intangible returns to models used in determining asset allocation. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012306 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING TRANSACTION LOCATIONS BASED ON GEOCODED INFORMATION - Systems and methods for determining a transaction location based on transaction history data include storing, in a database, transaction history data related to a plurality of account holders, storing, in a database, location data for a plurality of locations, wherein each of the plurality of locations is associated with a respective merchant store location, receiving, via a network, transaction data associated with one of the plurality of account holders' recent transaction, obtaining, using a processor, the location data for a plurality of locations, retrieving, using a processor, transaction history data associated with the account holder from a transaction history data store associated with a financial institution, creating transactions clusters based on the transaction history data, analyzing a location associated with each of the transaction clusters and the location data, and determining a predicted transaction location based on the analysis of the one or more transaction clusters and the location data. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012307 | MOBILE POINT OF SALE SYSTEM WITH PHOTO SERVICE RECORDS AND MEDIA PUBLICATION - Systems and methods are provided for a point of sale system that facilitates the development and maintenance of a photo-based record of goods sold or services rendered by the merchant to a consumer. The photo-based records can be beneficially utilized for multiple purposes, including, without limitation, one or more of: providing a historical record to the merchant of goods or services provided; capturing examples of goods or services provided for advertising and marketing purposes; providing consumers with photographic evidence of goods or services within an electronic receipt, potentially strengthening the customer's relationship with the merchant as well as supporting associated charges; enabling seamless, unobtrusive mechanisms for soliciting consumer releases and authorizations for use of the photographic record; and automating authorized publications of the photographic record, such as via posting to one or more social media platforms. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012308 | INTERACTION SYSTEM AND METHOD, CLIENT, AND BACKGROUND SERVER - A method, including: at a client terminal of a user of a social network platform: displaying a first network resource published by a first resource publisher; displaying a resource rewarding affordance in association with the first network resource or an identifier of the first resource publisher; detecting user selection of the resource rewarding affordance; and in accordance with a determination that the resource rewarding affordance has been selected while the resource rewarding affordance is displayed in association with the first network resource or the identifier of the first resource publisher, initiating a resource rewarding operation to reward the first resource publisher on the social network platform, wherein the resource rewarding operation transfers reward goods from a social network account of the user to a social network account of the first resource publisher on the social network platform. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012309 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONVERSATION DISCOVERY - Embodiments of a system and method for sharing content across a social network can include: receiving content (e.g., a content update) for a content channel (e.g., at a channel node of a set of remote channel nodes); assigning a content identifier to the content; transmitting the content with the content identifier to a user account associated with the content channel; and modifying the content channel with the content based on the content identifier. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012310 | CREATING AND EXECUTING A WELL CONSTRUCTION/OPERATION PLAN - A plan structure and a method for creating a plan for forming/operating a sub-sea or sub-terranean well, in an automated planner, are disclosed. The plan defines logical, sequential and conditional interrelationships between events in the plan, so that a controller can carry out the plan in a flexible and time-independent manner to complete the sequenced events. The definition of the logical, sequential and conditional interdependencies permits flexibility in how the controller uses the time and resources available to it so that the plan directs the controller in a non-prescriptive manner, allowing greater flexibility in plan execution and reducing the necessity for re-planning to occur when changes in the world or environment in which the controller executes the plan are detected. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012311 | SECURE AND TRACEABLE MANUFACTURED PARTS - A method for the verification and authentication of additive manufactured product, comprising the steps of receiving, from a customer, at least one customer requirement for a product, deriving at least one manufacturing requirement and generating a product geometry file for the product, recording, by a first computing device, to a distributed transaction register, a first transaction reflecting certification of the product geometry file, obtaining a first output reflecting the first transaction, printing the product with a 3D printer, recording, by a second computing device, to the distributed transaction register, a second transaction reflecting the printing of the product and the first output, obtaining a second output reflecting the second transaction, embedding within the product a unique code reflecting the second output, whereby the product geometry file and the printing of said product may be verified with the unique code such that the product may be authenticated. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012312 | Bus Stop Systems and Methods of Scheduling - Methods of providing services to individual and methods of manufacturing items are described. Data structures to represent priority values for those individuals or items are also described. By ascribing priority values to a set of items, those items can be grouped based on those priority values. Once grouped based on priority values, the items within each group can be manufactured according to group priority as well as according to the characteristics of each item to be manufactured within that group. The same concept applies to providing services to individuals. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012313 | Bus Stop Systems and Methods of Scheduling - Methods of providing services to individual and methods of manufacturing items are described. Data structures to represent priority values for those individuals or items are also described. By ascribing priority values to a set of items, those items can be grouped based on those priority values. Once grouped based on priority values, the items within each group can be manufactured according to group priority as well as according to the characteristics of each item to be manufactured within that group. The same concept applies to providing services to individuals. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012314 | METHOD FOR DISTRIBUTING ENERGY IN A HOME ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A method for distributing energy in a home energy management system including a central unit, at least one energy source and at least one energy consumer that are interconnected to exchange information. According to the method, the central unit generates information containing a first price information element and a first energy quantity information element for a predefined time period; the central unit transfers the information to the energy consumer; the energy consumer, taking account of the information, determines requirement information containing at least one requested energy quantity for the predefined time period; the energy consumer transfers the requirement information to the central unit; the central unit checks whether, at any given time, the total requested energy quantity determined from the transferred requirement information exceeds the energy quantity available at this time; and the central unit transfers confirmation information to the energy consumer or the method is carried out again. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012315 | VARIATIONS MANAGEMENT - Systems and methods are presented by which a contractor can initiate a proposed variation to a project contract and request payments against the proposed variation even before the variation is approved by the other party to the project contract. A data structure representative of proposed variation is generated and maintained as the proposed variation is reviewed, approved, and elevated to become part of the actual budget for the project. Because the same data structure is maintained throughout the process and after the proposed variation is approved, payment requests, payments, and any other actions taken against the data structure before the proposed variation is approved are automatically linked to the actual budget after approval and, thereby, are recognized and processed by external accounting systems as though the variations were created by the other party to the contract. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012316 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONNECTING DISPARATE COMPUTING DEVICES VIA STANDARD INTERFACES AND DIRECT NETWORK CONNECTIONS - Embodiments of the disclosure describe a data object information processing method, apparatus, and system. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing, by a platform server, hotel data object information to a client device, the hotel data object information including a plurality of type attributes including a credit type attribute; receiving, at the platform server, a reservation request from the client device, the reservation request including an identification of the credit type attribute; verifying, by the platform server and in response to the reservation request, a credit authorization of a user associated with the client device; generating, by the platform server, a credit-type booking upon verifying the credit authorization; transmitting, by the platform server, booking information associated with the credit-type booking to a hotel data processing system associated with a hotel; receiving, at the platform server, a check-out request from the hotel data processing system; and transferring, by the platform server, resources associated with the booking information from a payment account associated with the user to the hotel data processing system upon receiving the check-out request. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012317 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONNECTING DISPARATE COMPUTING DEVICES VIA STANDARD INTERFACES - The disclosure relates to a hotel information processing system. In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving a notification sent by a hotel reservation server for verifying a hotel credit qualification of a user submitting a reservation request, the notification including identity information associated with the user; acquiring a credit score for a third-party account of the user based on the identity information; determining that the user is approved for the hotel credit qualification if the credit score meets a preset minimum credit score threshold; generating a booking for the user of a specified hotel room type included within the reservation request; and returning a verification result of the hotel credit qualification of the user to the hotel reservation server. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012318 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REMOTE ORDER SUBMISSION VIA A LIGHT IDENTIFIER - A system and method for delivering a remote order is provided. The system includes a light transmitter and a server. The server transmits, to an ordering device, a light-ID. The ordering device receives the light-ID, and upon selection of a remote order, transmits the remote order and the light-ID received to the server. The server receives, from the ordering device via a network, the remote order and the light-ID, assigns an order-ID to the remote order received, and outputs order information including at least the order-ID and a designated location of a store premise associated with the light-ID. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012319 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING VEHICLES AND DRONES - Embodiments are provided for controlling a fleet of vehicles and drones. The vehicles are directed to respectively drop off passenger groups at multiple locations. Routes are calculated routes for the vehicles to respectively pick up the passenger groups from the multiple locations based on predicted pick-up times, passenger group sizes and available vehicle capacities. One or more assign drones are assigned to each passenger group at each location. Each drone is configured to broadcast a current location of the passenger group in the location and a corresponding one of the predicted pick-up times and delay the corresponding passenger group in the location based on one of the vehicles assigned as a pick-up vehicle for the passenger group being delayed. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012320 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVED STUDENT MANAGEMENT - Improvements in administration are achieved by freeing personnel from the consequences of being at different locations and enabling a benefit from communications and related technologies. In one embodiment distance between an event, such as violation of behavior rules witnessed by staff, and the location of an administrator required to consent to imposition of disciplinary consequences is overcome. This is achieved by communicating the nature of the event and those involved to the administrator even though the administrator is absent from the scene of the event and allowing the administrator to consent to the imposition of disciplinary consequences without changing the administrator's location. In another embodiment, a student may request and receive a hall pass without interrupting a class or the teacher by communicating the request to a remote location enabled to agree or decline the student's request and communicate the response to the request back to the student. Data collected in the course of operation may be used to compute teacher effectiveness based on measured data. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012321 | Facilitating and Tracking Clinician-Assignment Status - Subject matter described herein is related to assigning a healthcare clinician to provide care to a patient. For example, a GUI is provided that includes contextual information relevant to the assignment and that allows a user to electronically create the assignment. Relevant information includes a list of clinicians, a list of patients, and an estimate of the amount of resources required to provide care to a patient. In addition, this disclosure describes tracking the status of a healthcare clinician, such as primary provider, secondary provider, and on-break. Status might be tracked by capturing an image of a display board, which supports clinician barcodes that are movable to desired locations within a depiction of a healthcare facility (e.g., floor plan laid out using barcodes). | 2018-01-11 |
20180012322 | SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING USER-CENTRIC TREATMENT DATA - A system relating to medical treatment, such as hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, for determining user-centric treatment data includes a user device and a central device. The user device and the central device each include a wireless communication component. The wireless communication component of the central device and/or the wireless communication component of the user device is/are configured to distinguish between the user device being in a first location and the user device being in a second location, wherein the first location is associated with a treatment area and the second location is associated with a general purpose area. The user device and/or the central device is configured to determine, based on the user device being in the first location and/or the user device being in the second location, an overall treatment time and an overall spent time. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012323 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVING DISPATCH OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PATROLS FOR ACHIEVING A DESIRED DETERRENT EFFECT - A process for improving dispatch of different types of law enforcement patrols (LEPs) for achieving a desired deterrent effect includes first receiving patrol route information indicating patrol routes taken by first LEPs, and then determining, as a function of a type of each of the first LEPs, a threshold level of deterrence reached for each of the patrol routes taken. Subsequently, a threshold level of deterrence desired (TLoDD) for each of the plurality of patrol routes is determined as a function of historical and/or real-time crime information. A first patrol route having a threshold level of deterrence reached (TLoDR) that is less than a TOoDD is identified and, as a function of the difference, a particular type of second LEP having a sufficient deterrent effect factor to compensate for the difference is identified. An available responding second LEP of the particular type is then identified for dispatch. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012324 | COMMUNICATION FLOW FOR VERIFICATION AND IDENTIFICATION CHECK - A computer-implemented method that includes providing, by a first computing device, a request for identifying data, wherein the first computing device is accessible by a first user. The method may further include receiving, by a second computing device, the request provided by the first computing device, wherein the second computing device is accessible by a second user. Additionally, the method may include, transmitting, by the second user, identifying data to a location accessible by the first computing device, wherein the identifying data is transmitted to the location based on an address provided by the first user. The method may yet further include accessing, by the first user, the identifying data transmitted by the second user; and validating, by the first user, the identifying data provided by the second user in response to accessing the identifying data. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012325 | Methods of orchestrating ground to trans-orbital pipelines connecting to orbital freight management hubs to create and sustain any orbital heavy industry. - At the time of this invention, parallel efforts by military and government agencies in conjunction with the mushrooming commercial space flight industry are reaching for a everyday, reliable, and profitable solution to making Space and Planetary development an advantageous business venture. To date, their solutions still have major shortfalls originating from the missing link of not providing for a highly profitable routine round trip utilizing trans-orbital, extremely heavy-lift freight carrier operation of greater than 60 tons which is modeled after typical air freight operations similar to UPS or FedEx. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012326 | System and Method for Distributing Product Samples to Promote Sales in an Ornamental and Pressure-Free Environment - A system and method for distributing product samples to promote sales in an ornamental and pressure-free environment. The system allows a consumer to sample a product and become educated about the product in an ornamental, strategically illuminated chamber, and with no sales pressure. The chamber includes a product section that displays product samples that correlate to products. The product samples are displayed from multiple modules, aesthetically arranged throughout the product section. A radial illumination assembly, which is shaped similar to a snowflake, illuminates the modules to strategically enhance the display of product samples and create a pleasant product sampling experience. The chamber includes a registration section to collect information from the consumer. The chamber includes an educational section to educate the consumer about the product. The chamber includes a product collection section that provides the option of performing a purchase transaction for the product, or receiving a free product bundle. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012327 | OVERLAYING MULTI-SOURCE MEDIA IN VRAM - Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for overlaying multisource media in VRAM are described. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012328 | GRAPHICS COMMAND PARSING MECHANISM - A mechanism for command stream processing is described. A method of embodiments, as described herein, includes fetching cache lines from a memory to fill command first in first out buffer (FIFO), wherein the fetched cachelines an overfetching of data necessary to process a command, a first parser to fetch and execute batch commands stored in the command FIFO and a second parser to fetch commands and execute the batch commands and non-batch commands stored in the command FIFO. | 2018-01-11 |
20180012329 | IMAGE DATA ENCRYPTION AND RENDERING SYSTEM - Systems, devices, and techniques are generally described to transmit image data. An image file including image data may be identified. The image data may be divided into a plurality of portions. The plurality of portions may include a first portion corresponding to a first position in the image data and a second portion corresponding to a second position in the image data. The image data may be modified to produce a shuffled image. The shuffled image may indicate that the first portion corresponds to a third position and the second portion corresponds to a fourth position. The shuffled image may be sent to a recipient computing device. The recipient computing device may render the first portion at the first position and the second portion at the second position to display the image data. | 2018-01-11 |