36th week of 2012 patent applcation highlights part 44 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20120226493 | System and Methods for Using Short-Hand Interpretation Dictionaries in Collaboration Environments - A method for creating and using a short-hand interpretation dictionary in a collaboration environment includes creating or editing a document in a collaboration environment, said document comprising at least one short-hand notation; and replacing the at least one short-hand notation with an interpretation from at least one short-hand dictionary. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226494 | IDENTIFYING AN ENCODING FORMAT OF AN ENCODED VOICE SIGNAL - A digital broadcast transmitting device is described that includes a packet generation unit configured to generate packetized elementary stream (PES) data by converting an inputted voice signal into an encoded voice signal and generating a voice stream packet including the encoded voice signal; a descriptor updating unit configured to update a component descriptor to include a component type identification (ID) and a change reservation ID, the component type ID indicating an encoding format of the encoded voice signal is MPEG surround format and the change reservation ID indicating a change of a format of the encoded voice signal to the MPEG surround format; a packetizing unit configured to generate section data by packetizing the component descriptor; a multiplexing unit configured to multiplex the PES data and the section data; and a modulation unit configured to modulate and transmit multiplexed data acquired from the multiplexing unit. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226495 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR FILTERING OUT NOISE FROM SPEECH OF CALLER - A device and a method for filtering out noise from speech of caller are disclosed. The method is applied to the device, includes: inputting a speech sound of a caller; converting the speech sound to digital signals by an analyzing-to-digital converting unit; analyzing the digital signals to identify a pure speech of the caller and filtering out an extraneous noise thus obtaining pure speech signals of the caller; encoding the pure speech signals by a coder and decoder unit, and submitting the encoded speech signals to the receiver. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226496 | APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING A SIGNAL AND METHOD THEREOF - An apparatus for processing a signal and method thereof are disclosed. The present invention includes receiving coding mode information indicating a speech coding scheme or an audio coding scheme, linear prediction coding degree information indicating a linear prediction coding degree, and the signal including at least one of a speech signal and an audio signal; decoding the signal according to the speech coding scheme or the audio coding scheme based on the coding mode information; decoding linear prediction coding coefficients of the signal based on the linear prediction coding degree information; and generating an output signal by applying the decoded linear prediction coding coefficients to the decoded signal. In this case, the linear prediction coding degree information is determined based on a variation of a value of an LPC residual generated from performing the linear prediction coding on the signal. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226497 | SOUND RECOGNITION METHOD AND SYSTEM - A method for generating an anti-model of a sound class is disclosed. A plurality of candidate sound data is provided for generating the anti-model. A plurality of similarity values between the plurality of candidate sound data and a reference sound model of a sound class is determined. An anti-model of the sound class is generated based on at least one candidate sound data having the similarity value within a similarity threshold range. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226498 | MOTION-BASED VOICE ACTIVITY DETECTION - Motion-based voice activity detection may be provided. A data stream may be received and a determination may be made whether at least one non-audio element associated with the data stream indicates that the data stream comprises speech. In response to determining that the at least one non-audio element associated with the data stream indicates that the data stream comprises speech, a speech to text conversion may be performed on at least one audio element associated with the data stream. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226499 | SCRIPTING SUPPORT FOR DATA IDENTIFIERS, VOICE RECOGNITION AND SPEECH IN A TELNET SESSION - Methods of adding data identifiers and speech/voice recognition functionality are disclosed. A telnet client runs one or more scripts that add data identifiers to data fields in a telnet session. The input data is inserted in the corresponding fields based on data identifiers. Scripts run only on the telnet client without modifications to the server applications. Further disclosed are methods for providing speech recognition and voice functionality to telnet clients. Portions of input data are converted to voice and played to the user. A user also may provide input to certain fields of the telnet session by using his voice. Scripts running on the telnet client convert the user's voice into text and is inserted to corresponding fields. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226500 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTENT RENDERING INCLUDING SYNTHETIC NARRATION - A system and method for capturing a voice information and using the voice information to modulate a content output signal. The method for capturing voice information includes receiving a request to create speech modulation and presenting a piece of textual content operable for use in creating the speech modulation based on the textual input. The method further includes receiving a first voice sample and determining a voice fingerprint based on said first voice sample. The voice fingerprint is operable for modulating speech during content rendering (e.g., audio output) such that a synthetic narration is performed based on the textual input. The voice fingerprint may then be stored and used for modulating the output. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226501 | Document Navigation Method - A document navigation tool that automatically navigates a document based on previous input from the user. The document navigation tool is utilized each time a page loads. The method recognizes user behavior on pages using patterns, which are based on four criterion: location, frequency, consistency, and scope. If the user has visited the page previously and has established a pattern, the method automatically focuses on the portion of the page indicated by the pattern, e.g. the location on a web page of the link clicked by the user in the user's last three visits to the page. If the user has not visited the page previously, the method logs the events that occur during this visit to the page. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226502 | TELEVISION APPARATUS AND A REMOTE OPERATION APPARATUS - According to one embodiment, a television apparatus includes a speech input unit, an indication input unit, a speech recognition unit, and a control unit. The speech input unit is configured to input a speech. The indication input unit is configured to input an indication to start speech recognition from a user. The speech recognition unit is configured to recognize the user's speech inputted after the indication is inputted. The control unit is configured to execute an operation command corresponding to a recognition result of the user's speech. The control unit, if a volume of the television apparatus at a timing when the indication is inputted is larger than or equal to a threshold, temporarily sets the volume to a value smaller than the threshold while the speech recognition unit is recognizing. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226503 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD - An information processing apparatus comprising an information output unit configured to switch a plurality of languages at each given time interval while output a guidance information set by the plurality of languages, a response detection unit configured to detect a response to the guidance information when the guidance information is output while the languages are switched and a processing language determination unit configured to take the language which detect the response to the guidance information as a processing language. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226504 | Method of distortion-free signal compression - An audio signal in which an audio signal is received as a stream of digital samples, each being a numerical value representing a sampled signal level. A first zero crossing point is identified and the received audio samples are stored until a second zero crossing point is identified, thereby storing a first half-wave of samples. The highest intensity sample is identified from the stored samples and this is compared against a predetermined threshold. All stored samples are scaled by an initial scaling factor so that the intensity of the highest intensity sample is not above this threshold. A second half-wave of samples is stored in which all samples of the second half-wave are below the threshold. All stored samples of the second half-wave are also scaled but by a modified scaling factor derived from a combination of the initial scaling factor and a decay factor. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226505 | HIERARCHICAL AUDIO CODING, DECODING METHOD AND SYSTEM - A hierarchical audio coding, decoding method and system are provided. The method includes dividing frequency domain coefficients of an audio signal after MDCT into a plurality of coding sub-bands, quantizing and coding amplitude envelope values of coding sub-bands; allocating bits to each coding sub-band of the core layer, quantizing and coding core layer frequency domain coefficients to obtain coded bits of core layer frequency domain coefficients; calculating the amplitude envelope value of each coding sub-band of the core layer residual signal; allocating bits to each coding sub-band of the extended layer, quantizing and coding the extended layer coding signal to obtain coded bits of the extended layer coding signal; multiplexing and packing amplitude value envelope coded bits of each coding sub-band composed by core layer and extended layer frequency domain coefficients, core layer frequency coefficients coded bits, and extended layer coding signal coded bits, then transmitting to the decoding end. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226506 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING AN ENHANCEMENT LAYER WITHIN A MULTIPLE-CHANNEL AUDIO CODING SYSTEM - A method and apparatus are disclosed for generating a coded audio signal based on a multiple channel audio input signal. A balance factor having balance factor components each associated with an audio signal of the multiple channel audio signal is generated. A gain value to be applied to the coded audio signal to generate an estimate of the multiple channel audio signal based on the balance factor and the multiple channel audio signal is determined, with the gain value configured to minimize a distortion value between the multiple channel audio signal and the estimate of the multiple channel audio signal. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226507 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING AN INTEGRATED HEALTH NETWORK - A system and process for aiding the transition of patients to and from the post acute market, and more specifically to a computer based system for facilitating the transition and an application program for doing so in a networked computer environment. The system may include advertising, the transfer of employment records, and the networking of vendors to coordinate the provision of services. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226508 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HEALTHCARE SERVICE DATA ANALYSIS - Certain embodiments of the present disclosure describe the combined analysis of dynamic models and static models generated as part of a healthcare delivery process. Based on the combined analysis, As-Is and variation models (each having dynamic and static components) are generated. In one embodiment, the As-Is model components may be used in strategic planning. Likewise, in one embodiment, the variation model components may be used to derive respective dynamic and static quality metrics that may be used in report and control processes applied to the healthcare delivery process. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226509 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING DATA RELATED TO DEATH BENEFIT AMOUNTS FOR LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES - A computer system for processing data relating to a life insurance policy issued by an insurance company to an owner includes a data storage device storing data relating to the life insurance policy, including data indicative of a face amount, a benefit account, an investment account and a death benefit factor, and a processor configured to access data indicative of the face amount, a value of the investment account, a value of the benefit account and a value of the death benefit factor; determine a first value based on a sum of the face amount and the value of the investment account; determine a second value based on the benefit account value, the investment account value and the value of the death benefit factor; and determine an amount of a death benefit of the life insurance policy to be the greater of the first value and the second value. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226510 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING PROJECT STATUS METRICS - A method, a system and a computer program product for providing status metric of a project to a user is a provided. An input data corresponding to the project may be received from a service provider. Further, the input data may be validated based on one or more pre-defined rules. The validated data may be aggregated into one or more tables. One or more attributes of the aggregated data, from the one or more tables, may be analyzed to generate one or more reports. The generated report includes project information corresponding to the project. Further, the generated reports may be provided to the user. Thereby, the method provides the status metric of the project to the user. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226511 | One view integrated project management system - Projects of any type require sophisticated management software programs. In reality, these management software programs are provided by various vendors and for different professional fields. For example, scheduling programs for construction professionals, blue print programs for drafting professionals, accounting programs for cost-control professionals. In addition, there are numerous other unofficial and official documents generated by managers of different levels for reporting or track-record-keeping purposes using popular word processing programs and spread-sheet programs. Documents generated by different software programs can only be viewed under the programs they are generated under or compatible programs. This poses a problem in that there is a lack of organized control resulting in difficulty in locating and viewing documents in a timely manner. The present invention provides an one view software program that would be able to provide an organized control and viewing of all documents regardless which software programs they are generated under. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226512 | ANALYSIS OF MULTIPLE ASSETS IN VIEW OF FUNCTIONALLY-RELATED UNCERTAINTIES - A client-server based system for building and executing flows (i.e., interconnected systems of algorithms). The client allows a user to build a flow specification and send the flow specification to the server. The server assembles the flow from the flow spec and executes the flow. A flow may be configured to analyze the impact (e.g., the financial impact) of a number of uncertainties associated with a plurality of assets. Uncertainty variables are used to characterize the uncertainties associated with the assets. An uncertainty variable associated with one asset may be functionally dependent on an uncertainty variable associated with another asset. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226513 | PROJECT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A project management system is provided according to various aspects of the disclosure. In one aspects, the project management system comprises a people database, a project database, and a project processor. The people database discloses profiles of individuals and the project database stores information about projects. The project processor may be configured to identify individuals to work on a project by comparing the profiles of the individuals stored in the people database and the information for the project stored in the project database, to modify a performance evaluation based on feedback from at least one of realized outcomes in relation to at least one of expected outcomes, to modify at least one of the expected outcomes based on feedback from at least one of the profiles, and to modify at least one of the expected outcomes based on feedback from at least one of the realized outcomes. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226514 | Calendaring Tool Having Visual Clues to Address Conflicting Meeting Invitations - Methods and systems of distinguishing conflicting appointments from one another may involve determining, for each of a plurality of conflicting appointments, a corresponding visual differentiator based on appointment detail information. The plurality of conflicting appointments and corresponding visual differentiators may be displayed in a calendar view, wherein the appointment detail information is excluded from the calendar view. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226515 | Idea Tracking and Management - Disclosure is related to idea tracking and management. The disclosure invokes a method and system for displaying and tracking ideas from a database. The invention accesses a data repository via a data connection, displays the data from the data repository, and allows the displayed data to be characterized as scheduling data, statistical data, action items, current status, and listing of individuals. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226516 | E-BUSINESS VALUE WEB - A method and system is provided to manage and track changes in enterprise architectures. The invention provides a hierarchical visual management tool to manage and update relational information within an enterprise in a controlled fashion. The relationship may be maintained in a database and displayed via graphical user interface. Enterprise assets are categorized into such categories as goals, customer values or requirements, capabilities, resources, and the like. A hierarchy is constructed so that relationships between these various categories are identified and captured using the invention. Weights may be assigned to each element of the categories so that any proposed change to an enterprise architecture may be viewed so that a value can be ascertained and compared between other values of other proposed changes. In this manner, tracking and management of evolutionary changes to an architecture may be accomplished using relational information. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226517 | System and Methods for Communicating Mediated Knowledge - The present invention discloses a method of identification and problem solving in agriculture for holistic enhancement of agriculture productivity, sustainability and profitability on location specific in a real time basis. The method comprises the steps of: preparing a block profile by collecting field data, facilitating a District Level Resource Person (DLRP) in planning of location specific fanning system based education and communication activities including customized farmers training and on-farm demonstration, transferring real time data on crop growth and coverage to a central computer through a communication means, developing at least an advise by analyzing the data by the central computer, and delivering the advise to farmers. The present invention also discloses a Rational Unified Process of extension program management involving inter-sectoral, inter-organizational and interpersonal communications coupled with consensus-building, negotiation, networking and multidisciplinary capacity building in a multi-cultural settings at different levels. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226518 | Service Level Agreement Work Prioritization System - A service task request ordering or prioritization system which has the intelligence to check all incidents on accounts supported by the Delivery Team in the current month, check the customer Service Level Agreement (“SLA”), check monthly ticket number average and calculate for a customer (or all customers) a priority level. The priority level assigned to a customer may be relative to other customers, or it may be an absolute indication of priority without regard to other customers. With this information, when a new ticket is opened, if this ticket is crucial to maintain the SLA according to the contract, the ordering will be based upon the priority level. For example, a light and/or sound alarm may turn on to indicate to the Delivery Team that a new ticket requires urgent attention based on its calculated priority level. This automation of priority level determination and/or the indications of priority level provided to the Delivery Team will drive them to fix the crucial tickets more quickly to avoid or minimize violations of the SLAs of the various customers. There is an accessible database which has information about tickets, and numbers of tickets in past periods. The system uses this ticket number information from past periods to determine risk attributes and/or prioritization levels. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226519 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETERMINING RISK ASSOCIATED WITH A REQUIREMENTS DOCUMENT - Systems and methods are provided for assessing a risk associated with a requirements document and/or identifying one or more resources that can be used to manage the risk. A requirements document can be analyzed to extract elements from the requirements document into relationships. A relationship interface can be generated that includes the relationships for the requirements document. Information, associated with an entity or otherwise, relevant to the requirements document can be organized into risk issues using the relationships interface. One or more resources may be identified for the information relevant to the requirements document and an interface can be provided between the identified resource and a manager of the requirements document. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226520 | Fiber to the Premises Network Modeling Systems and Methods - An exemplary method includes a fiber to the premises (“FTTP”) network modeling system assigning a cost factor to each of a plurality of street segments within a geospatial polyline map of a fiber optic network service area, receiving input representative of a geospatial location of each of a plurality of FTTP demand sites, automatically determining a least cost path along one or more of the street segments for each of the FTTP demand sites to a central office included in the FTTP network in accordance with the assigned cost factors, automatically determining a demand associated with each street segment included in the plurality of street segments; and automatically determining a geospatial location and a size of a plurality of fiber distribution hubs to be included in the FTTP network. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226521 | Utilize Experts and Influencers in a Social Network - One embodiment accesses one or more experts and one or more influencers identified for a subject matter, wherein the one or more experts and the one or more influencers are among one or more users of a social-networking system; and invites a first expert and a second expert to establish a first social connection within the social-networking system. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226522 | PERFORMING STUDIES OF CONSUMER BEHAVIOR DETERMINED USING ELECTRONICALLY-CAPTURED CONSUMER LOCATION DATA - In embodiments, methods and systems for performing studies of consumer behavior are provided. The consumer behavior may have been determined using electronically-captured consumer location data for multiple consumers. The gathered data may be analyzed to determine behavior patterns or other characteristics of the multiple consumers. Further, inferences or predictions about consumers may be derived based on the characteristics. The inferences and predictions may be the basis of consumer analytics supplied to a business or other entity as results of a study of the consumer behavior. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226523 | PERFORMING STUDIES OF CONSUMER BEHAVIOR DETERMINED USING ELECTRONICALLY-CAPTURED CONSUMER LOCATION DATA - In embodiments, methods and systems for performing studies of consumer behavior are provided. The consumer behavior may have been determined using electronically-captured consumer location data for multiple consumers. The gathered data may be analyzed to determine behavior patterns or other characteristics of the multiple consumers. Further, inferences or predictions about consumers may be derived based on the characteristics. The inferences and predictions may be the basis of consumer analytics supplied to a business or other entity as results of a study of the consumer behavior. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226524 | CAPACITY PLANNING FOR USER WAIT TIME - Systems and methods are disclosed for determining when installation of additional self-service financial transaction devices (SSFTDs) may be desired at a site to improve end-to-end user experience. The system may collect and store transaction-level data, session-level data, user wait time data, and/or other data, and use an enhanced SSFTD user wait time model to identify recommendations and other statistical outputs. The SSFTD may include hardware and software to assist in measuring and collecting various useful readings. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226525 | METRIC DRIVEN BEHAVIOR AND PRESENTATION OF GOALS - A Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system enables tracking of multiple types of goals within the system employing the same construct, whose look-and-feel and behavior may be dynamically modified based on different user defined metrics. Actuals against the goals are computed by the system based on source entity definitions in metrics and user defined dimensions with filters. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226526 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR BUSINESS PROCESS MONITORING - The present invention is a video surveillance, storage, and alerting system having the following components. One or more surveillance cameras capture video data having attribute data, the attribute data representing importance of the surveillance cameras. One or more video analytics devices process the video data from one or more of the surveillance cameras and detect primitive video events in the video data. A network management module monitors network status of the surveillance cameras, and the video analytics devices, and generates network events reflective of the network status of all subsystems. A correlation engine correlates two or more primitive video events from the video analytics devices weighted by the attribute data of the surveillance cameras used to capture the video data, and network events from the network management module weighted by attribute data of device corresponding to the network event. An alerting engine generates one or more alerts and performs one or more actions based on the correlation performed by the correlation engine. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226527 | CENTRALIZED CUSTOMER CONTACT DATABASE - According to some embodiments, a method receives a request for contact information associated with a customer. The method determines a plurality of contact values associated with the customer. The plurality of contact values include a first set of contact values that a first line of business associates with the customer and a second set of contact values that a second line of business associates with the customer. The method determines priority information associated with each contact value. In response to the request for contact information, the method communicates one or more of the contact values. For each contact value being communicated, the method communicates at least some of the priority information associated with the each contact value being communicated. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226528 | Result-based Payment Method and System - The invention is a method and system for providing compensation for services based on the results achieved using these services. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226529 | RESOURCE AVAILABILITY AND APPLICABILITY MECHANISM - A computer system may identify an individual accessing a resource computer system. A request from the identified individual to access employee data in a resource computer system may be received. A determination may be made as to whether the identified individual is an employee of a plurality of employees of an entity. Upon determining the identified individual is an employee of the plurality of employees of the entity, updated identified individual entered proficiency level ratings data for a plurality of skills of the identified individual may be received. A notification to a manager of the updated identified individual entered proficiency level ratings data may be generated. For each updated identified individual entered proficiency level ratings data for the plurality of skills of the identified individual, manager entered validation data may be received. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226530 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING COUPON-LESS DISCOUNTS BASED ON A USER BROADCASTED MESSAGE - The systems and methods provide an offer to a user that may be accepted by the user through an action by the user. The action may be, for example, a broadcast through a social media channel. The parameters of the offer may defined that the broadcast comprise an offer identifier and may require that a user take subsequent action to fulfill the offer. The systems and methods may also be configured to monitor one or more broadcast channels, identify the source of a broadcast, identify transaction accounts associated with the source, evaluate transaction data associated with the transaction account, and provide benefits to the source and/or the transaction account. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226531 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD FOR EMBEDDING PRODUCT INFORMATION IN ELECTRONIC MAP WITH PRODUCT PLACEMENTS - A method embeds product information in certain features in an electronic map using an electronic device. The electronic device receives a selection of a place to display advertising information within the electronic map displayed on a display device, imports street views of the electronic map, and searches for a street view image related to the selected place. When a particular surface or other display area has been selected for embedding the advertising information, the electronic device embeds the advertising information in the display area. When the display area is selected during display, the electronic device reveals the advertising information of the product on the display device. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226532 | MITIGATION OF CONGESTION IN USE OF A CAPACITY CONSTRAINED RESOURCE BY PROVIDING INCENTIVES - Congestion of a network being accessed by users is mitigated by providing predetermined incentive credits to users who follow network use recommendations and allowing the users to redeem accumulated credits for entry in a game of chance that provides a chance of winning a large reward. A server collects network use data to determine network congestion states and to determine whether users followed network use recommendations. The server also implements a web portal through which users can view historical network use and awarded credits, and redeem their credits. Application domains of the method to mitigate congestion include public transportation networks, wireless communication networks, and energy distribution networks. The techniques may also be enhanced by integration with online social networking features. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226533 | METHOD, SYSTEM AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR REMUNERATING ENDORSERS OF A PRODUCT AND DEMOCRATIZING PRODUCT SALES - A method and system are disclosed for remunerating endorsers of a digital artistic product online, and of tangible products sent to purchasers, such as a video, image, or music production. An endorser of a product is compensated for recommending the product which the endorser has purchased to other users. A portion of the revenue generated either on the digital music product, or the on other products, resulting from the recommendation of the endorsers is paid to the endorser. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226534 | LOYALTY INCENTIVE PROGRAM USING TRANSACTION CARDS - A system and method provide rewards or loyalty incentives to card member customers. The system includes an enrolled card member customer database, an enrolled merchant database, a participating merchant offer database and a registered card processor. The registered card processor receives a record for charge for a purchase made with an enrolled merchant by an enrolled card member customer and uses the record of charge to determine whether the purchase qualifies for a rebate credit in accordance with a discount offer from the enrolled merchant. If the purchase qualifies for a rebate credit, the registered card processor provides the rebate credit to an account of the enrolled card member customer. The system provides a coupon-less way for merchants to provide incentive discounts to enrolled customers. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226535 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PAYING WITH LOYALTY CURRENCY DURING ONLINE PAYMENT - Methods and systems for paying with loyalty currency at a merchant website by a user using a browser app are provided. The user is presented with the loyalty currency balance information based on the loyalty currency units available in the loyalty currency account. Thereafter, the user is presented with an option to pay for the purchase transaction using the loyalty currency. The user may select the option of paying for the purchase transaction using the loyalty currency, thereby redeeming the loyalty points. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226536 | Encryption-Free Content Purchase Platform Apparatuses, Methods And Systems - The ENCRYPTION-FREE CONTENT PURCHASE PLATFORM APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS (“ECPP”) transform content seed selections and recommendations via ECPP components such as discovery and social influence into events and discovery of other contents for users and revenue for right-holders. The ECPP may obtain from a user of a universally resolvable media content (“URMC”) service a request to purchase an unlocked URMC item. The ECPP may obtain the user's social influence metric in the service and a purchase price associated with the URMC content item. The ECPP may further determine, based on the user's social influence metric, a discount. The ECPP may receive from the user an indication and an authorization to purchase the URMC item, and in response, may charge an account associated with the user the purchase price reduced by the discount. The ECPP may provide the user a mechanism for unlocking the URMC item. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226537 | Methods and Systems for Paying With Loyalty Currency during In-Store Shopping - Methods and systems for paying with loyalty currency at a store merchant by a user using a mobile app are provided. The user is presented with the loyalty currency balance information and one or more store merchants located in proximity of the user. The user may select a store merchant from the one or more store merchants. Thereafter, user is presented with one or more transaction rules associated with the selected store and an activation button for activating pay with points. The user may opt for activating pay with points for upcoming purchase transaction at the selected store based on the one or more transaction rules, thereby redeeming the loyalty currency. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226538 | ADVERTISING PRICING SYSTEM USING STRIPED AGGRESSIVE DISCOUNTING AND SHARED AUDIENCE AUCTIONS - Embodiments are directed towards an advertising pricing system that uses striped aggressive discounting and shared audience auctions. A plurality of stripes is determined for an audience, where at least one stripe is assigned a different discount. Each user in the audience is associated with one of the stripes. All audience data can then be distributed to and shared between data buyers; thus, each data buyer can use the audience independent of other data buyers. In one embodiment, data buyers can provide content to individual users regardless of the stripe that is associated with the user. Data buyers can then be billed based on the stripe discount associated with each user that the data buyer provided content. In one embodiment, the number, size, and discount associated with each stripe may be modified to dynamically produce an optimum yield based on shared audience auction bidding volume using striped aggressive discounting. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226539 | REBATE AND DISCOUNT SYSTEM PARTICULARLY SUITABLE FOR DRIVING PATRONAGE BY MEMBERS OF ORGANIZATION - Systems and methods are provided for offering promotional discounts, rebates, and other promotions to improve the utilization of unused inventory and to drive consumer patronage and loyalty. An electronic platform enables businesses and other entities to create and manage customer loyalty and promotional programs. The electronic platform enables businesses and other entities to track levels of patronage by customers in order to offer instant or retroactive rebates on an individual or group basis. The electronic platform further enables an entity to adjust the benefits, discounts, rebates, and promotions based on predetermined behavior, including tracking consumer activity and processing rebates or refunds based on the discounts. The electronic platform provides information systems and networks to track, monitor, and reserve resources. The electronic platform further provides database structures to track purchasing activity and apply varied pricing structures based on volume of usage during set time frames. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226540 | MERCHANT DEAL CREATION AND REDEMPTION SYSTEM - A merchant application is installed on a mobile device and can be used by a merchant to create a real-time deal for one or more products or services provided by the merchant. The deal is provided by the merchant application to a deal server for offering the deal to consumers based at least in part on geographic proximity of the consumers to the location at which the deal can be used. The merchant application can receive real-time information regarding purchased deals from the deal server in response to transactions made between the deal server and consumers to purchase the deal. The merchant application can display a listing of purchased deals, which can be updated in response to receiving input indicating that a particular purchased deal has been redeemed. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226541 | Discounted Deal Pricing with Merchant Rankings - A system and method that facilitates e-commerce volume pricing is provided. According to one aspect of the present invention, the system includes an offers and orders component that receives and aggregates orders for a product from a plurality of buyers. The system also includes a logistics component that determines a shipping price for the product for a subset of the plurality of buyers. The shipping price is determined at least in part upon the subset of buyers sharing a shipping method. According to another aspect of the present invention, a method is provided in which buyers within an aggregated purchasing group may be subject to different pricing structures for the same product. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226542 | PROVIDING COUPONS VIA A MOBILE DEVICE - A facility for distributing electronic coupons is described. The facility presents to a user indications of each of at least one coupon pack. Each coupon pack comprises a plurality of independently-redeemable electronic coupons. The facility receives user input selecting an indicated coupon pack, and uses payment information associated with the user to collect a price indicated for the selected coupon pack. The facility then makes the selected coupon pack available for use by the user such that the user may redeem any of the electronic coupons of the selected coupon pack. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226543 | ELECTRONIC GROUP COUPON RESELLING METHODS AND SYSTEMS - The present disclosure relates generally to a system and method of reselling “group deal coupons” or “group buy coupons” using electronic methods (such as through a computer software application) and non-electronic methods. The reselling process can include electronic devices, networking equipment capable of transmitting data packets to and from the seller, buyer, main operations hub and any required verifications data centers. The transaction can consist of electronic exchange and display of coupons to be sold, terms and conditions to buy including the price, taxes and charges. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226544 | Method and system to create a proprietary social network that allow users to earn free points when they perform certain action on the social network. The method also deducts points when the user fails to perform certain task. The method allows users to accumulate points which convert to credits. The method and system allow users to use credits towards the purchase of special deals offered on the social network. - The invention relates to a system an algorithm where people in a network earn virtual currency in the following manner; when they perform task and buy and trade currency in the network. The system use virtual currency to reduce the price of items for sale from merchants in the network. The invention automatically deducts from the purchase price the equivalent of virtual currency from the system and uses it to instantly reduce the price of items. The invention allows merchants to control the amount of currency that can be credit to each item individually. The invention provides a means where people can create their own savings and does not have to wait for discount sales. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226545 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING COUPON-LESS DISCOUNTS BASED ON A USER BROADCASTED MESSAGE - The systems and methods provide an offer to a user that may be accepted by the user through an action by the user. The action may be, for example, a broadcast through a social media channel. The parameters of the offer may defined that the broadcast comprise an offer identifier and may require that a user take subsequent action to fulfill the offer, The systems and methods may also be configured to monitor one or more broadcast channels, identify the source of a broadcast, identify transaction accounts associated with the source, evaluate transaction data associated with the transaction account, and provide benefits to the source and/or the transaction account. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226546 | System and Method for Satisfying a Transaction Amount from an Alternative Funding Source - Systems and methods for paying a transaction amount at a point of sale (e.g. a physical point of sale or a virtual point of sale) are disclosed. The systems and methods are configured to monitor transaction information to identify eligible transactions at the point of sale. Where the transaction information conforms to predetermined rules, an indicator of an alternative funding source is provided to a user through a web browser, portable electronic device, or other suitable medium. Moreover, the alternative funding options are presented at substantially the same time as a transaction is being processed at a point of sale. Based on the user's selection, a credit may be applied to the transaction account corresponding with at least a portion of the transaction amount from the alternative funding source. Moreover, the credit associated with the alternative funding source is not communicated to the point of sale or the corresponding merchant, but rather is applied directly to the transaction account associated with the purchase of an item. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226547 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO PROVIDE COMMUNICATION CONNECTIONS VIA PARTNERS - Methods and apparatuses to provide user interfaces dynamically customized according to partners through which the user interfaces are accessed in a customer acquisition process. One embodiment includes providing to a plurality of entities a platform, configured to assign references for embedding in listings for presentation and configured to connect people for real time communications according to the references embedded in the listings, the references to be used to request the platform to provide the connections; responsive to a request received via a first entity of the plurality of entities, presenting a user interface of the platform in a first format to identify the first entity; and responsive to a request received via a second entity of the plurality of entities, presenting the user interface of the platform in a second format to identify the second entity. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226548 | METHOD FOR REQUESTING, DISPLAYING, AND FACILITATING PLACEMENT OF AN ADVERTISEMENT IN A COMPUTER NETWORK - A method and computer-readable storage medium for submitting a request to display an advertisement in a network, facilitating display of an advertisement in a network, and receiving a request to display an advertisement in a network. A request to display an advertisement specifies at least one desired condition for display of an advertisement. The request is reviewed and if the at least one condition is accepted, the advertisement is displayed. Data relating to advertising is also collected and analyzed. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226549 | ADVERTISING AND FULFILLMENT SYSTEM - A method is provided for a method of purchasing goods online, which allows end users to receive money in return for browsing the internet and making purchases. According to the features of the invention, the end user enters a profile into YOUniverse, which is uploaded to the database. The user then logs in to search for items and the advertisement search results are specific to the end user's profile. The user controls the amount of information in their profile; however, more information yields better advertisement results and more money. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226550 | METHOD, SERVER, AND COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM FOR PROVIDING ADVERTISEMENT USING COLLECTION INFORMATION - The present invention relates to a method for providing advertisement by using collection information. The method includes the steps of: allowing recognition reference information on an object from a vendor server to be received; allowing collection information to be acquired; allowing the object corresponding to the basic recognition information to be recognized by comparing between the basic recognition information included in the digital data in the collection information acquired from the user terminal and the recognition reference information received from the vendor server and allowing statistical collection information to be calculated by referring to the information on the recognized object and a user of the user terminal who remits the basic recognition information; and allowing advertising information on a peculiar object to be provided for a user terminal(s) included in a specific user group. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226551 | System and Method for Predicting Card Member Spending Using Collaborative Filtering - The disclosed method and system allows a credit or charge card issuer to provide its card members with a list of restaurants that might be of interest based on the financial transactions of similar card members. In one instance, this method filters financial transaction data from a plurality of card members that involves a plurality of restaurants to generate a set of candidate restaurant recommendations for a selected card member. This set of candidate restaurant recommendations is processed to yield a list of restaurant recommendations for the selected customer that is prioritized on the basis of the selected card member accepting the recommendation. The list of restaurant recommendations is then reported to the selected card member to enhance card use and marketing. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226552 | MEDIATION SYSTEM AND METHOD TO PROVIDE RELEVANT ADVERTISEMENTS - In one embodiment a method comprises: at an access network, receiving a first request from a request source for an advertisement; requesting request source information related to the request source from an access network knowledge base using identification data of the request source; generating a second request for an advertisement in response to the request source information; and sending the second request to an ad server to obtain a targeted advertisement for the request source based on the request source information. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226553 | AUTOMATED CONTENT SCHEDULER AND DISPLAYER - A method for providing content via a communications network on a user's computer, obtained from a plurality of resources in an organized arrangement is provided. The method includes creating a show structure of nodes, each node identifying a resource from a plurality of accessible resources, at least some of which are network accessible resources. Without requiring user input, a plurality of the network accessible resources, identified by a corresponding node, are automatically accessed. Content corresponding to each of the accessed resources is automatically presented through the user's computer in accordance with the show structure. Advertisement content is presented to the user in connection with the automatic presentation of the content through the user's computer. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226554 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING DATA TO A PORTABLE COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE BASED ON REAL-TIME SUBSCRIBER BEHAVIOR - Timely and relevant advertisements and/or data that are tailored to a subscriber based on real-time behavior information compared to historical behavior information derived from location histories of the subscriber and other subscribers, subscriber-defined preferences, etc. are served to the subscriber. Location history and real-time behavior information are compiled using location information derived from a variety of methods including GPS, associations between the subscriber's mobile communication device and network access points, and other location services. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226555 | PERSONAL ARTICLES WITH RECONFIGURABLE SURFACES AND SUBSCRIPTION-BASED SYSTEM FOR OPERATING WITH SAME TO ENABLE TARGETED DISTRIBUTED MOBILE ADVERTISING - A method for operating with reconfigurable personal articles to enable targeted distributed mobile advertising is disclosed. A web server is provided for product registration. The web server receives identifying personal data from a mobile subscriber and stores the personal data in a database. Non-identifying demographic data is received from the mobile subscriber and stored in the database. A unique serial number associated with a reconfigurable article purchased by the mobile subscriber and is received and stored in the database, in association with the mobile subscriber. A portal accessible via the world wide web is created for the mobile subscriber. A patch having an advertisement thereon is sent to said mobile subscriber for display on the reconfigurable article, and advertisers are provided with electronic access to the non-identifying demographic data. A personal article with a reconfigurable surface substantially covering each exposed exterior surface is disclosed. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226556 | SHOPPING CART AND METHOD - According to one embodiment, a shopping cart includes a cart, a display, a registration and a display control unit. The cart configured to convey commodities. The display mounted on the cart. The registration unit configured to register a customer who operates the cart. The display control unit configured to display on the display premium infatuation indicating premium which is offered to the customer registered by the registration unit within the premiums offered to customers when purchasing commodity. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226557 | METHOD OF MARKETING USING MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A method of marketing using mobile communication devices provides a computer database of market potentials. Fields associated with the computer database that are representative of demographic characteristics are established. Access is provided to the computer data base to consumers enabling consumers to populate the fields with characteristic demographic information. Access to the computer database is provided to businesses seeking to market goods and services to consumers having a predetermined demographic characteristic. The computer database is transformed into market segments defined by the business' predetermined market demographic and an electronic message is generated and transmitted to mobile communication devices owned by the consumers whose characteristic demographic information match the market segment defined by the business. Remuneration is provided to the consumer whose characteristic demographic information matches the market segment in response to the consumer receiving the electronic message. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226558 | Dynamic Advertising System - A real-time database system for creating and searching for advertisements, discounts and/or coupon offers. The system allows full dynamic control to merchants, which provides an ability to generate electronic advertisements, monitor competitor advertisements, and dynamically change existing advertisements in real-time, in response to changes in the marketplace, or in response to competitor activity. This will allow business owners to offer the best available price, and consumers to locate the best available price in one location. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226559 | AUTOMATIC CLASSIFICATION OF CONSUMERS INTO MICRO-SEGMENTS - A campaign is received, at a micro-segmentation system, from an offer provider. The micro-segmentation system is a third-party system. The campaign indicates a set of target attributes and one or more offers corresponding to the set of target attributes. A set of user attributes pertaining to each of the plurality of users is received at the micro-segmentation system. The set of attributes is defined by an attribute knowledge structure. Permission is received at the micro-segmentation system from each of the plurality of users to receive an offer from the micro-segmentation system. Data associated with the micro-segment classification is provided from the micro-segmentation system without user information to the offer provider. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226560 | MICRO-SEGMENT DEFINITION SYSTEM - A selection of one or more segment attributes from an offer provider campaign is received at a graphical user interface. The one or more segment attributes define one or more segments that correspond to one or more offers in the offer provider campaign. Further, an expression graph based on the one or more segment attributes is generated. In addition, a portable micro-segment object is generated based on the expression tree such that the portable micro-segment object lacks dependence on the offer provider campaign. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226561 | Aggregated Contextual Targeting Advertisements Using Instant Messaging Clients - A method, apparatus and computer program product for displaying to a user an aggregated contextual targeting advertisement using an instant messaging client having an ad line area within an instant messaging graphical user interface, and an ad pop-up area on the same display surface as the instant messaging graphical user interface. The method commences by receiving a user context profile and then selecting at least one advertisement based on characteristics of the user. The method continues by separating the advertisement into a first portion and a second portion for the purpose of displaying the first portion in an ad line area within an instant messaging graphical user interface, and for displaying the second portion in an ad pop-up area on the same display surface as the instant messaging graphical user interface. Some embodiments separate the first portion and the second portion by automatically selecting strings, and/or by automatically selecting images. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226562 | PERSISTENT METADATA FOR A USER-CONTROLLED POLICY OF PERSONAL DATA DISCLOSURE AND USAGE FOR ONLINE ADVERTISING - A user policy definition of a user policy is received. The user policy definition indicates a user is receptive to receiving an offer and a user-controlled criterion for disclosure of user information. Further, persistent metadata that includes the user policy is generated. A compliance engine sends the user information with the persistent metadata to an offer provider. Further, offer data for a user is received from an offer provider. The offer data indicates a description of content in the offer and an offer criterion indicating a targeting characteristic. In addition, the compliance engine validates that the offer criterion complies with the user-controlled criterion. The offer is sent to the user upon determining that the offer criterion complies with the user-controlled criterion. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226563 | SEGMENT OPTIMIZATION FOR TARGETED ADVERTISING - A system for generating behavior segments and serving targeted ads. The system generates variables based on data from targeted users, incorporates recency, frequency, and velocity for the variables; optimizes the variables; converts the variables into behavior segments; and saves the behavior segments to a database. The system updates the behavior segments in real time. When a publisher requests an ad call, the system generates a score for advertisements based on the user profile, multiplies the score by the amount each advertiser is willing to pay for serving their ad, selects the highest value, and serves the ad. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226564 | PROVIDING ADVERTISEMENTS ON A SOCIAL NETWORK - In one implementation, a computer-implemented method includes receiving, at a server system, a request for an advertisement to provide to a first user of a social network, and determining, for each of a plurality of advertisements, a probability that the first user will select the advertisement based, at least in part, on previous propagations of the advertisement by one or more second users of the social network. The method can further include scoring, by the server system, the plurality of advertisements based upon the determined probabilities of selection by the first user and bids associated with the plurality of advertisements, and providing one or more of the plurality of advertisements for presentation to the first user based upon the scoring of the plurality of advertisements. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226565 | Method and apparatus for payment with mobile device at point of sale terminal - A method and apparatus for payment with mobile device at point of sale (POS) terminal are proposed, where said apparatus is comprised of a microprocessor which connects to POS terminal as a payment console and communicates with said POS terminal via protocols developed for payment consoles; said apparatus also has an additional connection to internet via which the apparatus communicates with services supporting its function. The mobile device operated by a user captures a public token exposed by said POS terminal and communicates with the supporting internet services, which validate said mobile device, authenticate the mobile device owner, validate the POS terminal, and establish link between said mobile device and said apparatus. As said link is established, in response to the payment request sent by said POS terminal to said apparatus, said apparatus communicates payment details with said mobile device, said user authorizes the payment on said mobile device, and the transaction gets executed by a money processor as with regular payment console. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226566 | SCANNER AND SALE DATA PROCESSOR - According to one embodiment, a scanner comprises an image pickup unit, a light source, a control unit, an image capturing unit and an output unit. The light source configured to illuminate the light to an image pickup area of the image pickup unit for pickup the image. The control unit configured to change the illuminating angles of the light illuminated to the image pickup area. The image capturing unit configured to capture the image of the image pickup area by changing the illuminating angles. The output unit configured to output the image with the different illuminating angles captured by the image capturing unit. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226567 | JOURNAL ISSUING SYSTEM AND JOURNAL ISSUING METHOD - A journal issuing system includes a purchase data storing unit, a journal issue requesting unit, a purchase history searching unit, a purchase amount determining unit, and a purchase history outputting unit. The purchase data storing unit stores purchase data of a customer. The journal issue requesting unit requests issuance of a journal representing a purchase history of the customer. The purchase history searching unit searches for the purchase history of the customer stored in the purchase data storing unit, when the request of the issuance of the journal representing the purchase history of the customer is made. The purchase amount determining unit determines whether the purchase amount searched by the purchase history searching unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. The purchase history outputting unit outputs the purchase history of the customer if the purchase amount is equal to or greater than the predetermined value. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226568 | Bar Bandit - A method and system for streamlining the customer experience at a live event or in a bar/restaurant setting thru the use of an electronic device; the process may include the use of a chip embedded in/bar code imprinted on a bracelet worn by the customer or displayed on an electronic device. When seating is limited, this check-in process will also allow the customer to reserve the next available table. The vendor can page each checked-in guest via the Bar Bandit system when their table becomes available; this will eliminate the need for a physical restaurant pager. The Bar Bandit system will allow the acceleration of any portion of the client service experience; this may include any of the following: interaction w/the ordering system, payment processing & paging the server. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226569 | INFORMATION DELIVERY SYSTEM - A method for enabling a user to view information filtered to align with the user's life state includes enabling the user to register and become a member of an information delivery system. The user provides the information about the user's life state. This information may include at least demographic information, ethnic information, social information and psychological information. The user may grant partners permission to access the information about the user's life. The granting of the permissions is performed and controlled by the user and may be limited to some information about the user's life. The partners are also members of the information delivery system. The partners are evaluated using a set of criteria before they become members of the information delivery system. The partners may use the information about the user's life to filter its information according to the information about the user's life. The method also enables the partner to participate in a marketplace to procure the information about the user's life, to rate the user according to the user's behavior, and to enable search engines to filter search results according to the information about the user's life. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226570 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR TRACKING A PRICE CHANGE FOR A PURCHASE MADE USING A TRANSACTION CARD - A computer-based method and system for tracking a price change of a purchase made using a transaction card over an interchange network is provided. The interchange network includes a price tracking computer device in communication with a memory device. The method includes receiving, at the interchange network, transaction data associated with a purchase of an item by a cardholder using the transaction card, transmitting via the interchange network an authorization message in response to the purchase of the item, directing at least some of the transaction data to the price tracking computer device including a purchase price of the item, and using the price tracking computer device to track changes in a current asking price of the item, and compare the purchase price of the item to the current asking price of the item. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226571 | Product tracking to enable tipping of a producer - Provided herein are various techniques for monetarily tipping a producer through product tracking. An exemplary system or method constructed in accordance with techniques described in this paper can generate a computer readable reference code in association with a producer or product, wherein the computer readable reference code (e.g., barcode, image, or alphanumeric character string) once received by a computing device, is configured to cause the computing device to be directed to an interface (e.g., application or web-based interface) through which an individual can send a monetary tip to the producer. After generation, the computer readable reference code may be provided for marking on a product that is associated with the producer. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226572 | POWER CONTROL APPARATUS AND POWER CONTROL METHOD USING SAME - Disclosed is a power control method and a power control apparatus. The power control method comprises the steps of: a first charge comparison step for receiving charge information of supplied power, and comparing the charge of the supplied power with a preset reference charge; and a second charge comparison step for comparing the charge of the supplied power with the preset lowest charge. The method comprises the steps of: a first power quantity comparison step for confirming a stored power quantity within a power storage unit, and comparing the stored power quantity with a preset reference power quantity; and a second power quantity comparison step for comparing the stored power quantity with a preset power quantity demand. Further, the method comprises a control step for selecting one of externally supplied power and internally stored power as the usage power for the customer, through at least one of a charge comparison step and the power quantity comparison step. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226573 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR BUNDLING GOODS AND SERVICES - The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for bundling multiple goods and/or services from one or more vendors. An exemplary system includes: a customer interface module adapted to present a bundle to a customer, the bundle comprising a plurality of items for purchase; a pricing engine module adapted to provide the vendor with pricing information for the bundle based in part on at least one vendor objective, wherein the pricing information includes a price; a fulfillment module adapted to enable a vendor to fulfill a customer order; and a payment and transaction module. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226574 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A PAWN SHOP - The invention relates to a computer-implemented data processing system which comprises a database, an offering module comprising an offering user interface for a pawner to enter an indication of an item to be pawned into the database, a bidding module comprising a bidding user interface for at least one bidder to enter at least one bid into the database, a selection module for selecting one of the at least one bid as a winning bid and the bidder of the winning bid as a pawnee, a release declaration module for declaring a release of the item if the release declaration module receives a release remark, and a release notification module for notifying the pawnee that the item was released if the release declaration module declares a release of the item. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226575 | ELECTRONIC TICKET MARKET - A method is provided. The method comprises obtaining data identifying a buyer of tickets for a venue and obtaining data from the ticket buyer identifying at least one section within the venue. The method obtains data identifying (i) a maximum amount the ticket buyer would spend for a first ticket associated with a most favorable seat within the section; and optionally (ii) a maximum amount the ticket buyer would spend for a second ticket associated with the least favorable seat. The method then provides an algorithm that receives the data that the ticket buyer identified. The algorithm generates a plurality hypothetical acceptable tickets representative of the ticket buyer. The method then generates a matrix comprising of the ticket buyer's bids and extrapolated hypothetical bids to give other ticket buyers and tickets sellers' feedback to adjust bids and asks or provides the sellers the ability to execute a transaction. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226576 | Method and System for Conducting a Silent Auction - A method for conducting a silent auction using software that communicates via text/SMS messaging with a bidder's personal mobile phone devices using the bidder's wireless service provider. The auction management software may be effective for managing and conducting multiple auctions simultaneously. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226577 | BIDDER-SIDE AUCTION DYNAMIC PRICING AGENT, SYSTEM, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT - A system, method, and computer program product for automating an online auction service and bidder interaction including receiving a keyword searching based on the keyword product auctions of a plurality of auction sites; and may include using a search agent or a meta-search agent, and providing returned auctions, and may include presenting current status of product auctions. The method can monitor temporal progression of auctions, and can notify users of changes in status A bid proxy can be activated as an auction nears completion placing bids until the auction is won or lost. In the event of a counter offer, a higher bid can be made. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226578 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SELLING WELLHEAD PRODUCTION ASSETS - A system for selling wellhead production assets is provided. The system includes a bid request system that displays one or more bidders, such as approved oil refinery operators, and receives one or more bidder selections from the seller. A production posting system connected to the bid request system receives the bidder selections and provides lease data to the bidders selected by the seller, so as to allow the seller to obtain competing bids without alerting the bidders of the other competing bids. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226579 | FRAUD DETECTION BASED ON SOCIAL DATA - A system or method that assesses a transaction request from a client to identify characteristics that are likely to indicate fraudulent behavior, based on data associated with the request and the client, including client data that is obtained from a social network, such as Facebook. The assessed characteristics may include the client's social profile, including number and status of friends, likes, and virtual account status, as well as parameters associated with the connection used for the transaction, such as IP and email addresses, country of origin, and language. A database is maintained that includes records associated with IP and e-mail addresses, users' characteristics and past redemptions, and the like. Specific criteria, limits, and responses may be defined for each particular class of transaction. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226580 | GIFT TRANSACTIONS VIA A CLIENT DEVICE - Methods and systems according to one or more embodiments enable a user to easily send gifts via a client device, for example, a mobile device. In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving, by a server at a remote location, from a user via a client device, an order selecting one or more items and/or services to be sent to a recipient along with a recipient's identifier that is entered by the user on the client device, wherein the recipient's identifier is used to determine delivery information of the recipient. The method also comprises sending, by the server at the remote location, the recipient's identifier to a merchant server for fulfillment of the order. The method further comprises receiving, by the server at the remote location, confirmation of the order from the user via the client device. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226581 | SHOPPING INFORMATION FLOW SYSTEM AND METHOD BY DIGITAL RADIO CHANNEL AND COMMUNICATION NETWORK - A shopping information flow system and method by a digital radio channel and a communication network are provided, and are suitable for an electronic device with a playing digital broadcasting function. The method includes the following steps: a digital radio broadcasting station broadcasting a program signal and a sales information, in which a virtual store providing the sales information on a commodity; the electronic device receiving and playing the program signal, and displaying the sales information; the electronic device starting a web link to connect an authentication terminal, transmitting an identification information of the electronic device for processing a transaction identification; and the authentication terminal processing a sale deal of the commodity, thereby noticing the virtual store to supply the commodity to a user of the electronic device. This can be done to sell the commodity. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226582 | Integration of Payment Capability into Secure Elements of Computers - Methods, secure elements, validation entities, and computer program products for effecting secure communication of payment information to merchants for Internet-based purchases. Payment information for a user's real payment information is installed in a secure element of a computer, the payment information may comprise a pseudo PAN number for the portable consumer device provided by a validation entity. The secure element is shielded from the computer's operating system to thwart hacker attacks. The user accesses the secure element to make a purchase. In response, the secure element contacts the validation entity with the pseudo account number, and in response obtains dynamic payment information that the secure element can used to effect the payment. The dynamic payment information comprises an account number that is different from the pseudo PAN, and which has at least one difference which respect to the user's real payment information. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226583 | METHOD FOR MANAGING BUYER TRANSACTIONS AND SETTLEMENTS USING COMMUNICATION NETWORK BETWEEN COMPUTERS, AND METHOD FOR RELAYING INFORMATION FOLLOWING BUYER CONSUMPTION TRENDS TO THE BUYER - Described herein are methods and apparatus for the processing of electronic invoices. A server for processing invoices communicates with computing systems such as a supplier system (used by a supplier), a buyer system (used by a buyer), and finance systems (which manage bank accounts of the supplier and buyer). The server communicates with the supplier system and the buyer system regarding an electronic invoice that relates to a transaction between the supplier and the buyer, and that includes a unique identification code. When the buyer has approved the electronic invoice, the supplier system and/or the server is able to settle the invoice using the unique identification code. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226584 | METHOD FOR MANAGING BUYER TRANSACTIONS AND SETTLEMENTS USING COMMUNICATION NETWORK BETWEEN COMPUTERS, AND METHOD FOR RELAYING INFORMATION FOLLOWING BUYER CONSUMPTION TRENDS TO THE BUYER - Described herein are methods and apparatus for the processing of electronic invoices. A server for processing invoices communicates with computing systems such as a supplier system (used by a supplier), a buyer system (used by a buyer), and finance systems (which manage bank accounts of the supplier and buyer). The server communicates with the supplier system and the buyer system regarding an electronic invoice that relates to a transaction between the supplier and the buyer, and that includes an identification code. When the buyer has approved the electronic invoice, the supplier system and/or the server is able to settle the invoice using the identification code. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226585 | Method and Apparatus for Dynamic Online Pricing - A method and apparatus for presenting a dynamic pricing of a commodity to a prospective client. The apparatus comprising: a server module coupleable to a database that includes data indicative of pricing parameters for calculating the dynamic pricing; the server module being coupleable by a data network to a remote interface element for presenting the dynamic pricing to the prospective client. The apparatus being adapted to: receive pricing parameters for calculating the dynamic pricing; compute the dynamic pricing according to a predetermined pricing function using the pricing parameters; and present an instant of the dynamic pricing to the prospective client. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226586 | COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INTERACTIVE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE IN RETAIL STORES - In one embodiment, the instant invention includes a computer system of a physical retail store performing the following method that at least includes the steps of: determining a single action performed by a customer to or with at least one physical product, where the at least one physical product is provided in the physical retail store, and where the at least one physical product is accessible to the customer who visit the physical retail store; where the single action is an action that is performed by the visiting customer immediately after or as soon as, and without any intervening action, the visiting customer is in a vicinity of the at least one physical product; and providing to the visiting customer, a product information about the at least one physical product in response to the action performed by the visiting customer. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226587 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ELECTRONICALLY-FACILITATED COLLECTIVE PURCHASING - A system for aggregating resources for the purchase of at least one item by a plurality of individual participants includes a server accessible over a network or Internet, an administrator terminal operable to communicate with the server and allow an administrator to enter and transmit to the server, a purchasing scenario for at least one item, the purchasing scenario specifying at least a group membership condition, an identifier of a recipient, and a purchasing goal, web pages operable to display to a plurality of invitees satisfying the group membership condition the identifier of the recipient and at least one of the purchasing scenario and the purchasing goal, and a plurality of individual participant terminals operable to display the web pages, communicate with the server, and allow the plurality of invitees to indicate to the server a participation in the purchasing scenario, whereby the server is operable to calculate a purchasing threshold defined by the purchasing goal to determine whether the plurality of invitees has reached the threshold by collectively indicating a willingness to reach the purchasing goal. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226588 | eGift Social Platform - Systems and methods for electronic commerce using a dynamic checkout and/or group gifting are provided. The dynamic checkout process can be integrated with a social platform electronic commerce experience allowing a user to select a single gift, multiple gifts, and/or to create a basket of goods to send to one or multiple recipients. The dynamic checkout allows the user to select the desired recipient(s) before, after, or intermixed with selecting the offers and/or creating the basket of goods. These offers or products can be purchased by the user with a single payment which will be appropriately apportioned to the merchants based on the products purchased. Once the payment has been successfully processed, an electronic delivery or a physical delivery of the goods or products will occur. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226589 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TICKET SELECTION AND TRANSACTIONS - A system and a method for selecting tickets on-line according to one or more parameters by the user. Optionally and preferably, the user is also able to purchase the tickets on-line as well. According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, the user may optionally and preferably search on-line for a ticket according to a plurality of parameters, including but not limited to, price, dates/times, exact show, type of show and/or type of seat. The user may also optionally interact with a theater community. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226590 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SUSPECT ENTITY DETECTION AND MITIGATION - A plurality of institutions (such as financial institutions) contribute data to a data analysis and linking system. The system analyzes the data to create data nodes (records) associated with an entity, where the entity may be, for example, a person/individual, business, organization, account, address, telephone number, etc. After data is linked, and in order to retrieve linked data, a requester may provide to the system an identifier associated with an entity. The linked data provided by the system in response to the identifier may be in the form of a network of data nodes associated with the entity and for use in assessing risk, such as risk associated with a transaction being conducted by a person. The linked data may also be analyzed at the system to score risk associated with the entity, and the risk score provided in conjunction with or in lieu of the network of data nodes. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226591 | TAX RETURN EVALUATION SYSTEM - Tax returns are received from one or more tax agencies. Each tax return is compared to a stored profile, and a determination is made as to whether each tax return falls within a trend. An evaluation of the tax return is generated based on the comparison and the determination of whether the tax return falls within the trend. The evaluation includes an indication of the tax returns potential to be a fraudulent tax return. | 2012-09-06 |
20120226592 | Approach For Producing And Managing Electricity - An approach for producing and managing electricity includes producing electricity off premise while providing offsetting of power consumed on premise. As used herein, the term “off premise” refers to a location other than the location where electricity is being consumed and the term “on premise” refers to the location where the electricity is being consumed. The approach is applicable to any method or technology for generating electricity. Participants or customers have an ownership interest in the power generating facility. The offsetting of power may be accomplished using a wide variety of techniques, for example, energy production data may be reported to the premise where electricity is consumed and/or to an electric utility company to allow for customer billing credits, adjustments and/or direct or in-direct utility meter off-sets (net metering). Thus, each participant produces the power they consume with electricity production equipment in which they have an ownership interest. | 2012-09-06 |