39th week of 2013 patent applcation highlights part 68 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20130253989 | USING THE INHERITANCE OF PROFESSIONAL-SOCIAL NETWORK INFORMATION TO FACILITATE ORGANIZATIONAL POSITION CHANGES - A method for maintaining professional-social networks can begin with the automatic creation of a professional-social network for each member of an organization by a professional-social network tool based upon electronic communication analysis. Each member can have a uniquely-identified organizational position within an organizational model of the organization. A professional-social network can be comprised of nodes representing the member's contacts that can be connected to the member by relationships that express an interaction context. In response to a change from a currently-held first organizational position to a second organizational position for a specified member, the specified member can be dissociated from the professional-social network of the first organizational position. The specified member can then be associated with the professional-social network of the second organizational position. Tacit information contained within the professional-social network for performing the job functions of the second organizational position can be inherited by the specified member. | 2013-09-26 |
20130253990 | Enterprise Value Assessment Tool - An enterprise value assessment tool includes a feedback engine executed by a computer processor. The feedback engine is implemented as a workbook having a tree structure of weighted nodes configured to generate scores according to user inputs regarding an enterprise respective of market drivers and operational drivers. A threshold engine executed by the computer processor uses the scores to calculate an asset rating and an enterprise value. An output engine executed by the computer processor displays contents of the workbook according to user selections, supplies the user inputs to the feedback engine, and generates one or more reports, including an enterprise value report containing the asset rating and the enterprise value. | 2013-09-26 |
20130253991 | USING THE INHERITANCE OF PROFESSIONAL-SOCIAL NETWORK INFORMATION TO FACILITATE ORGANIZATIONAL POSITION CHANGES - A method for maintaining professional-social networks can begin with the automatic creation of a professional-social network for each member of an organization by a professional-social network tool based upon electronic communication analysis. Each member can have a uniquely-identified organizational position within an organizational model of the organization. A professional-social network can be comprised of nodes representing the member's contacts that can be connected to the member by relationships that express an interaction context. In response to a change from a currently-held first organizational position to a second organizational position for a specified member, the specified member can be dissociated from the professional-social network of the first organizational position. The specified member can then be associated with the professional-social network of the second organizational position. Tacit information contained within the professional-social network for performing the job functions of the second organizational position can be inherited by the specified member. | 2013-09-26 |
20130253992 | INFORMATION SYSTEM WITH SERVICE-ORIENTED ARCHITECTURE USING MULTIPLE CRITERIA THRESHOLD ALGORITHMS - A method, a system, and computer-readable medium for processing of data are disclosed. A service-oriented architecture containing a first information system for implementation in an enterprise system can be generated. Efficiency of the first information system is analyzed by comparing the efficiency of the first information system with efficiency of a second information system, wherein the second information system is associated with the service-oriented architecture and performs at least one function performed by the first information system. Based on the analyzing, a more efficient information system for implementation in the service-oriented information system is selected. | 2013-09-26 |
20130253993 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MICRO-PAYMENTS AND DONATIONS - Micro-donations are received from users for various items of content published by different content providers. The micro-donations are aggregated into the user accounts and the content provider accounts until a transaction condition is satisfied. When the transaction condition is satisfied for the user account, a process to collect the micro-donation amount contributed by a respective user to different content providers is effectuated. When the transaction condition is satisfied for a content provider account, the micro-donation amount received from different users and aggregated within the content provider account is provided to the respective content provider. Various user and content provider incentives are implemented to encourage participation by the users and the content providers. | 2013-09-26 |
20130253994 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MICRO-PAYMENTS AND DONATIONS - Micro-donations are received from users for various items of content published by different content providers. The micro-donations are aggregated into the user accounts and the content provider accounts until a transaction condition is satisfied. When the transaction condition is satisfied for the user account, a process to collect the micro-donation amount contributed by a respective user to different content providers is effectuated. When the transaction condition is satisfied for a content provider account, the micro-donation amount received from different users and aggregated within the content provider account is provided to the respective content provider. Various user and content provider incentives are implemented to encourage participation by the users and the content providers. | 2013-09-26 |
20130253995 | METHOD FOR REWARDING PARTICIPANTS OF A VOTING EVENT - A method for rewarding participants of a voting event is to be performed by a computing device, and includes: hosting the voting event for participation by the participants; presenting description information of candidates of the voting event; receiving inputs to vote from the participants, each of the inputs to vote corresponding independently to one of the candidates; selecting a winning candidate according to numbers of inputs to vote corresponding to the candidates; and providing a reward to the participants from which the inputs to vote corresponding to the winning candidate were received, the reward including beneficial information associated with the winning candidate. | 2013-09-26 |
20130253996 | PASSENGER WAITING SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF - The present invention discloses a passenger waiting system and a method thereof. The passenger waiting system comprises a transportation service demander device, a transportation service supplier device and a server. The transportation service demander device is used to provide a user to input the transportation demand to send a transportation demand message to the server. The transportation service supplier device is used to provide a service provider to input the transportation providing service to send a transportation supplying message to the server. The sever is used to compare the transportation demand message and the transportation supplying message to execute a supply-demand pairing task, and used to send the transportation demand message and the transportation supplying message to the transportation service supplier device and the transportation service demander device respectively for making the transportation service demander device can communicate with the transportation service supplier device. | 2013-09-26 |
20130253997 | TOLL FEE SYSTEM AND METHOD - A toll fee tracking system comprising a toll authority adapted to collect data associated with at least one toll fee tracking device and a toll rental entity adapted to communicate with the toll authority and a third part entity. This Abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an Abstract that allows a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain subject matter of the technical disclosure. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. | 2013-09-26 |
20130253998 | CONTINGENT PAYMENT SYSTEM - A method for providing contingent payments includes receiving, from a first user through a user device over a network, a contingent payment request. The contingent payment request is stored in a database. A contingent payment intent is provided on a user profile that is associated with the first user. The user profile is monitored. When it is determined that at least one contingent payment factor in the contingent payment request has been satisfied by a second user, funds are transferred from a user account associated with the first user to a merchant account in order to purchase a first product that is associated with the contingent payment request. In an embodiment, the second user may provide a coupon on the user profile that satisfies the at least one contingent payment factor and results in the purchase of the first product using the user account. | 2013-09-26 |
20130253999 | TRANSACTION AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VENDORS AND PROMOTERS - Transaction and communication systems and methods are disclosed for vendors and promoters. Some embodiments disclosed herein provide a deal manager system comprising transaction data associated with the promotional activities of one or more promoters, such as promoters registered with the deal manager system. The deal manager system can process the transaction data and provide compensation to promoters for their promotional activities based at least partly thereon. In certain embodiments, at least a portion of the transaction data can be provided to one or more vendors. A vendor may direct that benefits or promotional material be provided to a subset of promoters based at least in part on the received transaction data. The deal manager system may include promoter contact information, and materials provided by the vendor may be conveyed by the deal manager system to certain promoters based on the same. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254000 | Methods and Systems for Customer Incentive Awards - Methods and systems for generating customer incentive awards involve receiving, using a processor coupled to memory, information regarding a balance of a deposit account, such as a savings account, of at least one customer for determination of an award amount related to a loan account of the customer. Using the processor, the award amount may be computed based on at least in part on the balance of the deposit account and at least in part on an interest rate of the loan account of the customer. Thereafter, likewise using the processor, the award amount may be applied to an account designated by the customer, such as a mortgage loan account of the customer. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254001 | CONVERTING A DIGITAL MEDIA ITEM FROM A RENTAL TO A PURCHASE - Consumer satisfaction and revenue both have the potential to increase through the conversion of a digital media item from a rental to a purchase. After the rental of a digital media item, the occurrence of a predefined event can trigger the display of a conversion opportunity on a client device. The predefined event can include identifying that the digital media item has previously been rented, detecting that the digital media item has been paused or playback has reached a predefined point, or detecting the expiration of the rental period. In some cases, the digital media item can be offered for purchase at a discounted rate based on the rental history or in a different level of quality. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254002 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OFFERING AND FULFILLING OFFERS ASSOCIATED WITH A RECIPIENT PAYMENT AND DELIVERY ACCOUNT - A system, method and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium are disclosed for one-click purchasing via a mobile device based on situation information of a user. A system associates a product with the user and a registration profile that includes a user payment and delivery account (registration profile) at an on-line shopping environment. The system transmits an offering to a device of the user that includes a presentation of the product and an indication that the user can purchase the product via interaction with the offering. The system receives an indication of the purchase via interaction with the offering and the purchase is completed using the payment account and delivery is accomplished either physically or to an electronic device destination based on data in the registration profile. In one embodiment, one-click gift purchasing for a contact via a mobile device is disclosed. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254003 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR RESERVING FUTURE PURCHASES OF GOODS AND SERVICES - A method and system for reserving future purchases of goods or services or events including plural electronic options with associated option fees for the goods or services or events. The plural electronic options include electronic option terms established by one or more suppliers who can supply the goods or services or events. The purchase of the electronic option is accepted according to electronic option terms established by the desired supplier. The option terms may vary greatly among the individual suppliers and no two suppliers may use the same option terms. The electronic options are displayed, viewed, purchased, and exercised from a client network device. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254004 | COUPON BEARING SPONSOR ACCOUNT TRANSACTION AUTHORIZATION - A transaction handler receives, for forwarding to a sponsor account's issuer, a coupon authorization request message from a merchant's acquirer that identifies the sponsor account and a coupon for an item being purchased by a consumer in a transaction with the merchant. The issuer determines eligibility of the coupon for use by the consumer, and sends an authorization response message to the merchant via its acquirer and the transaction handler for the application of a corresponding discount for the item when the coupon is eligible. One or more coupon eligibilities for the purchase of the item by the consumer from the merchant can be derived from comparisons of the transaction to predetermined times, geographies, jurisdictions, sets of merchants, and/or the number of times that coupons have been used in other transactions. The transaction handler can further process the transaction for authorization the consumer's account to pay of the transaction. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254005 | ONLINE AUCTION AND METHOD - An online auction and method of conducting an online auction accessible over a communications network includes the step of providing a computer programmed to host the auction, the computer being accessible to a user through the communications network and adapted to provide a user interface to allow the user to bid on or sell an item on the auction. The method also including the steps of providing instructions to the computer through the user interface, the instructions providing parameters for the auction being conducted; and displaying the item for sale on the user interface with an initial sale price and prompting a bidder to bid on the item. The method further including the steps of allowing the bidder to bid on the item through the communications network, wherein in response to a bid by the bidder, the computer reduces the initial sale price by the bid value and displays a new sale price on the user interface; and using the computer to determine a winning bidder and shipping the item to the winning bidder. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254006 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TRANSFERRING COMMERCIAL DATA AT A STORE - The subject matter discloses a method, comprising identifying a customer in a retail store; obtaining personal data related to the customer; obtaining commercial data related to the customer; transmitting a message comprising the personal data and the commercial data to a computerized device accessible to an employee of the retail store; wherein the method is performed by a processor. In some cases, the method further comprises obtaining try-on data related to the customer and transmitting the try-on data related to the customer to the computerized device accessible to the employee of the retail store. In some cases, the method further comprises a step of recommending an article to be suggested to the customer based on the commercial data and adding data related to the article to be suggested to the message transmitted to the computerized device accessible to the employee of the retail store. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254007 | Flash Sale Systems - An apparatus and method are disclosed for receiving the identities of a plurality of users that register to be notified when a flash sale occurs. The identities of the plurality of users are ranked in a queue. When one of the plurality of users purchases a product in a flash sale, the rank of the user in the queue is improved. Variable item price discounts may be offered to users in a flash sale based on rank or based on demand (or lack thereof). If the item is a limited inventory item, discounts may be offered to the highest ranking members. Flash sales may be created based on comparison of registered user product preferences and product inventory. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254008 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO APPLY BENEFIT OF OFFERS - To automate the redemption of offer benefits, data associating offers and payment accounts is stored in the data warehouse of a first transaction handler. If a payment account to which an offer is associated is in the payment processing network of a second transaction handler separate from the first transaction handler, the system uses a payment processor that is in both the payment processing network of the first transaction handler and the payment processing network of the second transaction handler to communicate with the first transaction handler to detect the authorization request in the payment account that satisfies the benefit redemption requirements of the respective offer and apply the offer benefit to the transaction when the authorization request is detected. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254009 | TRANSACTION INFORMATION INTERFACE - Apparatus and/or methods for performing a method for distributing rewards points are presented. Such apparatus and methods may include using a receiver module to receive a data file. The data file may include transaction information representing a customer's transactions that occurred over a predetermined period of time. The receiver module may also be configured to receive transaction processing network identification information and rewards partner identification information. The apparatus and/or methods may be further configured to store, in computer readable memory, (1) the data file; (2) transaction processing network identification information; and (3) the rewards partner identification information. The apparatus and/or methods may also include using a processor to retrieve the data file and to instruct a transmission module to transmit the data file to a transaction processing network and to instruct the transmission module to initiate a transfer of funds from the platform to the rewards partner. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254010 | Server Dynamic Offers Subject To Mobile Device Holder Location - Systems, apparatus and methods that give selling actors the abilities and means to sell products and services by providing dynamic offers to buying actors subject to buying actors locations and information received by a selling actor sever. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254011 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DISTRIBUTION OF DIGITAL CONTENT - This disclosure provides a method and system for distributing digital content utilizing defined and dynamically displayed start and end dates for a sale, configurable pricing options, the dynamic display of sales data, the option to include a charity of choice and the setting of a sales goal or goals with incentives released or provided to purchasers when the sales goal or goals are achieved. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254012 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DISPLAYING DISCOUNT INFORMATION - A system and method for using a discount display system are provided in which a plurality of purchase option screens are displayed to a user. For each discount-eligible item identifier selected by the user, the price of the item is added to the user's total, the current discount available to the user is recalculated and the updated discount is displayed to the user. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254013 | BRAND POSITIONING AND PROMOTION IMPACT EVALUATION SYSTEM - Systems and methods described herein relate to brand positioning and promotion impact evaluation for stationary sales brands. According to one embodiment of the present subject matter, an impact output indicative of the competitive brand positioning of each of a plurality of stationary sales brands is generated based on identification of a hidden co-integration relationship that may exist between pairs of brands from amongst the plurality of stationary sales brands. Further, according to another embodiment of the present subject matter, impact of promotional variables on sales of a stationary sales brand is evaluated based on identifying hidden co-integration relationship between the promotional variables and the sales of the stationary sales brand. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254014 | Automatic Information Placement - The present disclosure introduces a method and an apparatus of automatic information placement. A server receives display location publishing information and determines a value index of a corresponding display location according to the received display location publishing information. When the server receives an information placement request, the server determines an investment index of corresponding placement information according to the received information placement request. The server compares one or more value indexes of display locations with one or more investment indexes of one or more placement information, and places respective placement information at a corresponding display location according to a comparison result. The present techniques improve the efficiency of placing information and optimizing resource deployment. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254015 | MULTI-CAMPAIGN CONTENT ALLOCATION - Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for creating experiment content distribution campaigns (“experiment campaign”) and allocating content in accordance with the experiment campaign. In one aspect, a control campaign or an experiment campaign are selected as an available campaign for providing content in response to receiving a content request. The selection can be a probability constrained selection where the probability with which the experiment campaign is selected is specified as a portion of a total number of requests received during an experiment period for which the experiment campaign is available to provide content. Content is provided in response to the request, where the provided content being content corresponding to the selected campaign. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254016 | DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM, SERVER, AND COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM RECORDING PROGRAM FOR DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM - Disclosed is a data processing system including a plurality of terminals and a server connected to the terminals via a communication network. Each of the terminals includes a display unit, a layout modifier which modifies the layout data of the POP advertisement in response to a user operation, and an improvement-report-data transmitter which transmits the improvement report data to the server. The server includes an improvement analyzer which stores the linked analytical result and the improvement report data in a storage unit, and an analysis transmitter which transmits at least the POP advertisement of before and after the modification and the analytical result of the modification among the improvement report data stored in the storage unit in response to a request from any one of the terminals. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254017 | SYSTEM FOR INFLUENCING THE BUYING PREFERENCES OF USERS - Disclosed is a system for enabling first users to influence the preferences of second users in the favor thereof. Each first user represents a part or the entirety of a business entity and each second user representing an individual or an organization. The system comprises a plurality of preference polls accessible by a second user wherein, each preference poll requires a second user to select a poll entry out of at least two poll entries listed therein; each poll entry managed by a first user. The system further comprises a communication module for enabling the first users to persuade those second users, who have not selected the poll entries thereof, to reselect the poll entries thereof as preferred poll entries. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254018 | CLIENT AND SYSTEM FOR INSERTING ADVERTISEMENTS INTO INTERACTIVE CONTENT PROVIDED TO MOBILE DEVICES - A system for mobile devices that facilitates the creation and dissemination of interactive media to a plurality of mobile devices and PCs/laptops that comprise a client component. The interactive media may comprise of a list of products and services that are for sale and the user can select one or more for purchase. It may also comprise a list of real estate entries with associated user interest solicitation and the user can indicate his interest in one or more of the entries. The server can help the user make an appointment to view the corresponding real estate properties. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254019 | USER LEVEL INCREMENTAL REVENUE AND CONVERSION PREDICTION FOR INTERNET MARKETING DISPLAY ADVERTISING - User level incremental revenue and conversion prediction for internet marketing display advertising are described. The method of an example embodiment includes: identifying a plurality of items of secondary content for display to a particular user on an e-commerce site; calculating a predicted incremental revenue value based in part on a likelihood that the particular user will convert if the particular user is not shown secondary content, a likelihood that the particular user will convert if the particular user is shown secondary content, and how much the particular user is likely to buy on the e-commerce site if the particular user is not shown secondary content, and how much the particular user is likely to buy on the e-commerce site if the particular user is shown secondary content; and using the predicted incremental revenue value for a particular user to rank a conversion probability for the particular user. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254020 | Systems and Methods for Push Based Advertisement Insertion - The present disclosure includes a system and method for push based advertisement insertion. In an example of push based advertisement insertion according to the present disclosure, content ( | 2013-09-26 |
20130254021 | Systems and Methods for Pull Based Advertisement Insertion - The present disclosure includes a system and method for pull based advertisement insertion. In an example of pull based advertisement insertion according to the present disclosure, content ( | 2013-09-26 |
20130254022 | Method and System for Multimedia Content Stream and Social Network for Locations - A system and method for preparing an advertising campaign, the campaign prepared on a first mobile device and directed to a demographic group within a location. The campaign is then received by a second mobile device associated with the demographic group when the second mobile device is located within the location. The system can be accessed through a website or through mobile platform applications. Certain content can only be added through a mobile device in which GPS data and photo time stamping will be accessed. Real-time content will be viewable by users in the form of a two-directional stream of photos with related comments in which this content is prioritized by time and algorithmic methods. Users will have the ability to communicate with other users through the system while advertising can be set up in the mobile application with payment occurring through an in-app purchasing mechanism. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254023 | System and Method of Selecting Advertising Content - A method includes receiving data for an object at a computing device. The method includes sending a representation of the object from the computing device to a display device coupled to the computing device. The object includes a first display element in a featured position and a second display element. The method includes selecting advertising content with a processor of the computing device based on first information retrieved from the data that is associated with the first display element, based on second information retrieved from the data that is associated with the second display element, and based on a first location in the representation of the first display element relative to a second location in the representation of the second display element. The method also includes sending the advertising content from the computing device to the display device for display in an advertising window. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254024 | Systems and Methods for Cross-Platform Software Bundling - Systems and methods are provided to enable bundling of software applications across multiple, disparate platforms, such as for example, bundling PC applications with mobile applications. The system enables mobile application developers to make offers to publishers of PC software to compensate the publishers for presenting advertisements for mobile application developers' product offerings during the installation of the publishers product offerings on user PCs. The publishers integrate an offer manager into their installation packages. When the installation packages are installed on a user's PC, the offer manager communicates with a software bundling service and identifies relevant offers, such as, for example, offers made by mobile application developers that are partnered with the software publisher supplying the installation package. Relevant offers are then presented to the user on the users PC, and if accepted, a download URL for a mobile user's application is transmitted to a user mobile device. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254025 | ITEM RANKING MODELING FOR INTERNET MARKETING DISPLAY ADVERTISING - Item ranking modeling for internet marketing display advertising are described. The method of an example embodiment includes: identifying a plurality of items of secondary content for display to a particular user on an e-commerce site, the plurality of items of secondary content having associated secondary item information; obtaining user demographic and historical information associated with the particular user; generating a correlation between the secondary item information and the user demographic and historical information; generating scoring information based on the correlation between the secondary item information and the user demographic and historical information; and generating instructions to place one or more of the plurality of items of secondary content in slots of a graphical user interface (GUI) based on the correlation between the secondary item information and the user demographic and historical information and the related scoring information for a particular user. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254026 | CONTENT FILTERING BASED ON VIRTUAL AND REAL-LIFE ACTIVITIES - According to an aspect of an embodiment, a method of content filtering is described. The method may include receiving contextual data. The contextual data may indicate virtual activity associated with a user of the communication device and real-life activity associated with the user of the communication device. The method may also include identifying a pattern based on the virtual and real-life activity. The method may also include filtering content based on the identified pattern to present on the communication device. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254027 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EVENT EXPERIENCE ANALYSIS AND CORRELATION - Techniques for providing online experiences based on onsite visitor experiences are described. Some embodiments include a system configured to receive expressions of interest by visitors with respect to points of interest within a venue, and then later to provide those visitors with additional information related to the points of interest. In one embodiment, each point of interest in a venue is associated with a scanning station that can read a bar code presented by a visitor. In another embodiment, visitors use mobile devices (e.g., smart phones) to scan barcodes associated with points of interest or to transmit GPS coordinates of their locations as they interact with a point of interest. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254028 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONDUCTING MOBILE COMMERCE - In a system for conducting mobile commerce, a mobile operator central server sends silent authorization messages to a smartphone including a wallet application responsive to received messages to display offers, advertisements or coupons to a user. A wallet manager application resident on a remote server for selecting offers, advertisements or coupons relevant to a particular user from multiple data sources sends the selected offers or coupons in messages over a wireless link to the wallet application. The mobile operator central server receives information from the user in response to the wallet application presenting a buy option to the user. The mobile operator central server sends an authorization message to a secure payment application resident on the smartphone to present the user with a payment interface. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254029 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SEARCHING CLOUD-BASED DATABASES - Systems and methods for searching cloud-based databases are provided herein. A service provider may have a need to make their database(s) searchable through search technology. However, the service provider may not have the resources to implement such search technology. The search technology may allow for search queries against these cloud-based databases. The technology described herein provides a solution addressing the service provider's need, by giving a search technology that furnishes search results in a fast, accurate manner. In further embodiments, systems and methods to monetize those search results are also described herein. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254030 | KEYWORD-BASED CONTENT SUGGESTIONS - A system and related methods suggest content based on user input and another metric. In one implementation, web-sites are suggested to advertisers in response to keyword input and by factoring in how often such web-sites were selected or “clicked on” as a result of corresponding search queries. Search logs are processed to determine how often certain query terms led to web-sites being selected. Web-sites are ranked accordingly. Keywords from advertisers are matched to the web-site rankings to present the top web-sites. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254031 | Dynamic Modification of Advertisements Displayed in Response to a Search Engine Query - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for modifying advertisements. A set of keywords is received from a user. A query is performed in a search engine with the set of keywords. A set of websites comprising ranked search results and ranked advertisements is displayed. Responsive to detecting a user input selecting a first website in the set of websites, modifying the ranked advertisements, based on the content of the first website, to form modified advertisements. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254032 | Method for Image-Based Payment Medium - Disclosed is a method for use of an image-based payment medium through images stored on the consumer's mobile phone in place of traditional plastic gift, credit or debit cards. Upon authentication, an image is sent to the consumer's mobile phone. The consumer displays the image at the retailer's point of sale when completing a transaction. The image is scanned with a barcode reader, a webcam or other scanning device and the consumer's account in a database is debited or credited based on the amount and type of transaction. An image-base payment medium provides for the ability to target specific ads to the consumer, directed to the registered mobile phone number and also to attach loyalty and coupon programs to the account, which the recipient may redeem upon scanning of the encoded image on the mobile phone at the point of sale. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254033 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DYNAMIC MEMBER SEGMENTATION AND TARGETING - A system and method for dynamic segmentation of members and further rewarding or transmitting one or more promotional notifications to members having an associated member profile, wherein the member profile includes one or more updatable attributes, the method comprising the steps of retrieving a segmentation rule from a promotion rule stored in a database based on triggering of a promotion or notification; dynamically assessing the qualification of members based on matching corresponding predetermined value of one or more attributes of the segmentation rule with the value of the updatable attribute of the member profile based on a rule criteria of the segmentation rule; rewarding or notifying based on a promotion or notification rule. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254034 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ACCESSING TRAVEL SERVICES USING A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE - This is directed to systems and methods for integrating travel services in a single application available to a portable electronic device. Using the single application, a user can access and control travel services before arriving at the initial location of travel, on arriving at the initial location of travel, during travel, and after travel. Such services can include, for example, reserving a travel itinerary, checking-in remotely for a reservation, providing airport information, providing for social networking, obtaining dining or entertainment during travel, controlling and requesting cabin services, providing arrival notifications to third parties, providing destination location information, and the like. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254035 | REVENUE MODELS ASSOCIATED WITH SYNDICATION OF A BEHAVIORAL PROFILE USING A MONETIZATION PLATFORM - A system is configured to perform the steps of: (a) receiving a request from an ad network for a wireless operator user profile datum, wherein the ad network includes a bidding platform configured to receive bids from third-party bidders; (b) receiving from the bidding platform data representative of which of the third-party bidders within the ad network have a right to request the wireless operator user profile datum based on the respective bids submitted by each of the third-party bidders; (c) receiving a financial consideration from the ad network; (d) delivering the wireless operator user profile datum to the ad network for delivery to the third-party bidders within the ad network having the right to request the wireless operator user profile datum; and (e) sharing a portion of the financial consideration with a corresponding wireless operator from which the wireless operator user profile datum is derived. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254036 | Method and/or System for User Authentication with Targeted Electronic Advertising Content through Personal Communication Devices - An apparatus and method is provided for generating a request for a one-time password (OTP), and with the OTP transmitted to a mobile device in an electronic message that includes the OTP in conjunction with an electronic advertising content that is targeted to the user of the mobile device. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254037 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ADVERTISING USING A MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A method for providing advertisements on mobile communication devices includes identifying at least one URL link to which it is desired to add an advertising functionality and adding the advertising functionality to the at least one URL link. Upon the addition of the advertising functionality to the at least one URL link, selection of the at least one URL link results in opening both a primary first web page directly associated with the at least one URL link clicked by the user and a secondary second web page. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254038 | APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR SHARING PROMOTIONAL INFORMATION FROM A 3-D SCAN FROM A MOBILE DEVICE - Apparatuses, methods and systems for sharing promotional information from a 3-D scan from a mobile device. Interest activity information and situational information provided by a 3-D capable mobile are accumulated. The interest activity information may include a scan by the mobile device of a 3-D object in a 3-D virtual environment and user identifying information. The situational information may include information about the 3-D virtual environment. A dynamic portion of a user profile associated with user identifying information is updated with the accumulated user activity information and the accumulated user situational information. A first rule is applied to the user profile to select information from an information database. A message is generated using the selected information and sent to the mobile device. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254039 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING ADVERTISEMENT SERVICE IN MOBILE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - Provided is a method and apparatus for providing an advertisement service in a mobile communication system. A method of a server for providing an advertisement service in a mobile communication system includes receiving a message for requesting to provide an advertisement corresponding to an advertisement board to a terminal, searching at least one advertisements corresponding to the advertisement board, determining an advertisement corresponding to user attributes of the terminal among the searched advertisements, and transmitting the determined advertisement to an external device. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254040 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING PROMOTIONAL CONTENT DURING A CALL ATTEMPT - Systems and methods for call management for providing promotional content in a telecommunications network are described herein. A dialed telephone number is determined from a call request. The call request originates from a mobile device of a user. During a call attempt, promotional content that correlates with the dialed telephone number is provided. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254041 | METHOD FOR DELIVERING FAIR ADVERTISING INVENTORY SPLITS GIVEN POSITION PREFERENCES - A computer implemented method and system for enabling service providers to fairly distribute advertisement placement opportunities containing inventory splits is disclosed. A router receives a play list containing inventory split percentages of ownership of a number of placement opportunities. The router associates ownership of each of the placement opportunities at random, but weighted by the inventory split percentages. The router inserts the placement opportunities into designated time intervals of a stream. The router transmits the stream to a user. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254042 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EMBEDDING ADVERTISEMENTS IN AUDIO FILES FOR INTERNET AND NETWORK DISTRIBUTION - A method for distribution of advertising that includes combining an audio data file that produces an advertising message when processed with a data file that produces a performance of a musical composition when processed. Alternatively the invention may be viewed as a method for distribution of music which includes providing a server connected to a computer network, permitting message data files to be provided for a fee paid by the party providing the message, purchasing rights to multimedia data files from owners of such rights and making available to end users data files comprising a message and a licensed multimedia file by a connection to the network server. Preferably the method provides a multimedia file that comprises a musical composition. An especially preferred embodiment provides a multimedia data file that is an MP3 file comprising a musical composition. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254043 | CONTROLLING AND USING VIRTUAL UNIVERSE WISH LISTS - Described herein are examples of a virtual universe wish list as well as its control and use. Some embodiments are directed to determining a selection of an object in a virtual universe that is a desired by a user, which user is represented by a first avatar. Some embodiments are further directed to designating the object as a desired item in a wish list for the first avatar. The wish list may be stored in the avatar's virtual universe inventory. Some embodiments are further directed to determining a second avatar in the virtual universe that possesses an instance of the virtual object. Some embodiments are further directed to generating an advertisement to obtain the instance of the virtual object from the second avatar on behalf of the first avatar. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254044 | SELF-CHECKOUT GUIDANCE SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Improved self-checkout guidance systems and methods are shown and described. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254045 | Electronically maintained community escrow - Coin types of coins with which a user is permitted to pay for a transaction are divided into first and second groups. The coin types of the second group are of lower value than those of the first group. A difference in which a total amount of the transaction is a minuend is determined. Where the difference is positive and can only be exactly paid for by the user using just coins of the coin types of the second group, and where a community escrow has a current balance greater than the difference, the following is performed. In response to the user indicating that the difference should be paid for from the community escrow, the transaction is electronically credited from the community escrow by an amount equal to the difference, and the difference is electronically debited from the community escrow. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254046 | METHODS, DEVICES AND BANK COMPUTERS FOR CONSUMERS USING COMMUNICATORS TO WIRE FUNDS TO SELLERS AND VENDING MACHINES - Methods for consumers to pay at the point of sale by using a personal communicator to wire transfer funds out of their bank account. The communicator is coupled to, and exchanges signals with a reciprocating communicator of the seller, which in turn is coupled to the seller's bank. This way the money is transferred as an EFT payment code directly from the buyer's bank to the seller's bank, where it may be considered direct deposited, without processing delays. Devices also include vending machines that can receive payment this way. Bank computers are provided with systems and software for enabling the above. The bank computers are accessible by telephone lines, and work with cooperating banks by exchanging signals, for transferring the funds. The seller's bank generates a payment confirmation code that is ultimately transmitted to the seller's satisfaction for releasing the goods at the point of sale. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254047 | AUTONOMOUS OPERATIONS OF SECURABLE DEVICES - A system and method for assigning controlled access to a securable device may include a kiosk configured to receive a PIN and to collect payment from a user for rental of a securable device from among multiple securable devices. A lock unit associated with the securable device and in communication with the kiosk may be configured to receive the PIN from said kiosk. After receiving the PIN, the kiosk may be configured to operate autonomously with respect to the kiosk to enable the user to access the securable device in response to the user entering the PIN into the lock unit. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254048 | KIOSK FOR RENTING SECURABLE DEVICES CONFIGURED TO OPERATE AS A POINT-OF-SALE - A system and method for assigning controlled access to a securable device may include (i) a kiosk configured to enable a user to rent a securable device from among multiple securable devices and (ii) a lock unit associated with the securable device and being in communication with the kiosk. The lock unit may further be configured to enable the user to access the securable device after being rented by the user via said kiosk. The kiosk may further be configured to enable the user to purchase goods or services in addition to rental of the securable device. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254049 | MULTI-ACCOUNT PAYMENT CONSOLIDATION SYSTEM - A multi-account payment consolidation system and process, including a central computer system operatively coupled to a payment terminal through a network connection. A plurality of external financial accounts are registered and associated with a user. At least one user-defined customized rule-set for processing a payment associated with the user is stored. A request to initiate payment of a transaction is received from the payment terminal. The payment is automatically processed in accordance with the customized rule-set by accessing the external financial accounts, wherein the customized rule-set directs at least a rule that the payment of the transaction be apportioned between more than one of the external financial accounts. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254050 | MOBILE DEVICE DISCOVERY AND INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR AN INDICIA READER SYSTEM AT RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT - A retail store communications network, a point of transaction (POT) terminal and methods of using the same according to embodiments of the application can include a hand held and/or stationary optical reader for reading a bar code symbol of an item and generating a decoded out bar code data message. The network is configured so that the POT terminal can use linked or identified mobile devices by way of wireless communication, to provide a sequenced order of identified customers at the POT terminal among a plurality of discoverable wireless devices. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254051 | APPARATUS FOR ISSUING RECEIPTS AND USER TERMINAL USING THE RECEIPTS - There are disclosed a receipt issuing apparatus, a user terminal, a receipt issue system, and a method using smart receipts. The receipt issuing apparatus can include an issue unit configured to receive settlement information, configure a smart receipt based on the settlement information, and issue the configured smart receipt and a receipt transmission unit configured to send the issued smart receipt to a user terminal using short range wireless communication, wherein the smart receipt comprises at least one of information on a place of business, the settlement information, information on a transaction article, discount information, and an image of user signing. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254052 | Systems and Methods for Facilitating Payments Via a Peer-to-Peer Protocol - This disclosure describes systems and methods related to facilitating payments via a peer-to-peer protocol. Tokenized information associated with a payment transaction may be obtained. Establishment of a peer-to-peer communications session with a payment recipient device may be facilitated. The tokenized information to the recipient device via the established peer-to-peer communications session may be communicated in order to facilitate completion of the payment transaction. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254053 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMPLETING A TRANSACTION WITH A PAYMENT TERMINAL - A method of completing a transaction with a payment terminal involves the payment terminal transmitting to a network gateway via a first communications network a transaction proposal identifying a proposed transaction with a network device, and receiving from the network gateway a transaction proposal response in response to the transaction proposal. The transaction proposal response specifies a pointer to the proposed transaction. The network gateway is configured to authenticate to the network device via a second communications network that comprises the network device. The payment terminal transmits over a payment network, distinct from the communications networks, payment particulars for the proposed transaction, and receives from the payment network a payment confirmation in response to the payment particulars. In accordance with the payment confirmation, the payment terminal initiates completion of the proposed transaction by generating a transaction completion request and transmitting the transaction completion request to the network device via the network gateway. The transaction completion request is generated from the transaction pointer, and requests completion of the proposed transaction with the network device. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254054 | CONSUMER DUE DILIGENCE FOR MONEY TRANSFER SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A method of transferring money from a sender to a recipient using a third party money transfer service a point of sale device receiving transaction details for a requested money transfer; determining whether the requested transaction is an allowable transaction; and either aborting the transaction; attempting to identify the sender as an existing customer using the transaction details; using the sender's transaction history and the transaction details to determine whether to allow the requested transaction to proceed. If the requested transaction is allowed to proceed, the method includes creating a money transfer record for the requested transaction; associating a money transfer control number to the money transfer record; and using the transaction details to determine whether to monitor the requested transaction. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254055 | Commerce System and Method of Learning Consumer Behavior Based on Prior and Current Transactions - A commerce system involves purchase transactions between retailers and consumers. The purchase transaction includes products associated by a common product type. A plurality of classifications is defined based on an attribute of the products within the common product type. Transaction probabilities for each classification are determined based on a prior transaction probability and transaction weight for each product. A consumer probability associated with each classification is revised based on a prior consumer probability and the transaction probabilities. The consumer probability indicates a likelihood of a consumer purchasing a product having the attribute associated with the classification. A product probability associated with each classification is revised based on a prior transaction probability, consumer probability, and product weight. The product probability indicates a likelihood of a product having the attribute associated with the classification. Transactions within the commerce system are controlled based on the consumer probability and product probability. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254056 | HYBRID PURCHASE METHOD FOR PRINTED AND ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTION OF COMPILATION OF WORKS - A method for controlling rights for purchasing and using a compilation of works, including the steps of compiling the compilation of works, obtaining rights to use the compilation of works in different formats, setting different options for a user to purchase the rights to use the compilation of works in different formats, and allowing a user to purchase the rights to use the compilation of works with different options such that they may be exercised based on the user's needs. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254057 | Bidder System For Efficient Dynamic Multi-Unit Auction - The present invention implements an auction in which multiple types of goods may be auctioned in a dynamic process. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention is a system and method for computer implemented dynamic multi-unit auction in which the price paid or received by bidders tends to be independent of their own bids, in which participants may be provided with information concerning their competitors' bids as the auction progresses, and in which the confidentiality of high values may be maintained. Participants' quantities bid at a given time may be restricted to be less than or equal to the quantities bid at an earlier time. These features provide the advantage of improving economic efficiency of the auction design over the prior art. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254058 | AUCTION METHOD AND SERVER - Provided are an auction method and server that enable a seller and bidders to determine the price of a product at their own discretion by enabling the bidders to participate in a bid between the lowest price offered by the seller and the highest price of the product, and give benefit to both the seller and successful bidders by applying the successful bid price of a lowest successful bidder to all the successful bidders as a sale price. The auction method includes maintaining, at an auction server, a database of the highest price of a specific product, the lowest price offered by a seller, and the limited number of successful bidders, receiving, at the auction server, bidding information including bid prices for the specific product between the lowest price and the highest price from bidders, selecting, at the auction server, a lowest successful bidder from among the bidders in consideration of the limited number of successful bidders and the bidding information when a predetermined bidding time elapses, and requesting, at the auction server, payment from all successful bidders using a successful bid price of the lowest successful bidder as a sale price on the basis of bidding information about the lowest successful bidder. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254059 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR BATCH- LISTING ITEMS STORED OFFLINE ON A MOBILE DEVICE - Embodiments of computer-implemented systems and methods for listing on a marketplace an item, or batch-listing a plurality of items, previously stored on a mobile device. One example embodiment comprises receiving a request from the mobile device for a price estimate for the prospective sale of an item or a plurality of items and subsequently receiving a request to list the item or a plurality of items. The listing process may include receiving images of one or more items, receiving data associated with the one or more items, and using the data, listing the one or more items on the marketplace. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254060 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ASSISTING CONSUMERS IN NEGOTIATING PURCHASES WITH A PLURALITY OF SELLERS - Systems and methods for assisting a consumer in negotiating with a plurality of sellers for the purchase of products and/or services are provided. A consumer provides search criteria for generating a list of potential sellers to participate in the negotiations. From this list, the consumer selects a plurality of sellers to receive invitations to participate in the negotiations. Invitations are then sent to each of the sellers selected by the consumer inviting each of the sellers to participate in the negotiations. Each of the sellers may opt-in or opt-out of the negotiations. Once all sellers have opted-in or opted-out, either directly or indirectly, the negotiations with the sellers that have opted-in begin. During a pre-determined time period, each of the participating sellers may update quotes for the purchase of the product. At the end of the time period, the consumer may select the winning seller and complete the transaction. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254061 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COORDINATION OF REMOTE INSPECTORS - A method and a system to automatically coordinate remote inspectors are provided. Initially, a listing is identified for remote inspection in an online publication system. The listing may describe an item for sale that is, in turn, associated with a geographical location and a category. One or more remote inspectors are identified based on the geographical location and the category associated with the item for sale. The listing and respective profiles of each of the one or more remote inspectors is published to a buyer. A selection of a selected remote inspector is received from the buyer. A template inspection report is provided to the selected remote inspector. Once the remote inspector has inspected the item for sale, the buyer is provided a completed inspection report received from the selected remote inspector. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254062 | On-Demand Digital Assets Hosting Service - A system provides on-demand digital assets hosting services to one or more users. The system receives a user selection of a digital representation (e.g., a digital image) of a digital asset, where the digital representation of the digital asset can be divided into multiple pixel blocks and the each pixel block represents a portion of the digital representation for purchase or donation. The system then tracks user's zoom level of the digital representation while the user browses the digital representation. Based on the zoom level, the method dynamically generates a zoomed version of the digital representation. Responsive to user selecting a pixel block of the digital representation and size of the pixel block, the system calculates the number of pixels contained in the selected pixel block, displays the selected pixel block and prepares the user to check out the purchase of the selected pixel block. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254063 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMPLEMENTING AND MANAGING VIRTUAL GIFT CARDS - According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a method for administering a virtual gift card, the method comprising acts of receiving a request from a server of a retailer, providing, in response to the request, an interface to a terminal operated by a purchaser, the interface comprising fields for receiving a value and a recipient for the virtual gift card, receiving from the terminal, in response to input from the purchaser, the value and the recipient for the virtual gift card, generating a code for the virtual gift card, and sending a message to the recipient of the virtual gift card, the message including the code for the virtual gift card. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254064 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMPLEMENTING AND MANAGING VIRTUAL GIFT CARDS - According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a method for administering a virtual gift card, the method comprising acts of receiving a request from a server of a retailer, providing, in response to the request, an interface to a terminal operated by a purchaser, the interface comprising fields for receiving a value and a recipient for the virtual gift card, receiving from the terminal, in response to input from the purchaser, the value and the recipient for the virtual gift card, generating a code for the virtual gift card, and sending a message to the recipient of the virtual gift card, the message including the code for the virtual gift card. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254065 | PLAY HISTORY BASED DETECTION OF SIMILAR DIGITAL WORKS OR WORK CREATORS - A computer-implemented service recommends digital works (and/or creators of works) to a user based on works currently or previously played or downloaded by the user on a player device or based on playlists stored on the player device. The works may be, for example, music files, video files, electronic books, or other digital content for playing by users. A user may thus obtain personalized recommendations that are based on works obtained from sources (web sites, physical CDs, etc.) that are independent of the recommendations system. In one embodiment, the service identifies pairs of works (and/or work creators) that are similar to each other by virtue of the relatively high frequency with which they co-occur on playlists or within play histories of users. The resulting mappings are used to provide recommendations to users. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254066 | SHARED USER EXPERIENCES - Information from a position and/or gesture detection system can be embedded in a Web page, or other such presentation of content, and used to select or otherwise interact with content on the page. In some embodiments, video is captured and displayed showing a current view of the user. Position data corresponding to the video is provided and used to determine directions and extents of motion without having to do significant amounts of image processing. The position data is used to determine locations on the page where the user is attempting to provide input, such as to select an item of content. The content can be modified and/or rendered to appear to be associated with the user in the rendered view. Information from multiple gesture systems can be combined on a single page, and information from one or more gesture systems can be shared among multiple pages and devices. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254067 | System and Method for Networking Independent Sellers of Items - A system and method for networking independent sellers of items is described herein. Specifically, a system that networks independent sellers of items can comprise a merchant-linking server memory that stores a plurality of affiliated partner profiles each associated with an affiliated partner, said affiliated partner profiles comprising a merchant address and an inventory catalog comprising a plurality of item listings, each identifiable by an item identifier, and a member profile associated with a member, said member profile comprising an item list, said item list comprising one or more of said item identifiers. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254068 | Systems, Methods, And Computer Program Products For On-Line Gifting - A method includes receiving an identification of a first item to be purchased, entering the first item into an electronic shopping cart facilitating an on-line transaction, providing a method of payment for a value of the first item to the shopping cart, and sending the value of the first item and a description of the item to a recipient with at least the following electronic options from which the recipient may choose: accepting the first item with payment made and modifying the transaction in accordance with the value of the first item. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254069 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING AN ORDER FOR PURCHASE - A method and apparatus for use by a buyer for a store includes a software application computer that is provided to the buyer at a buyer show. The application displays product features and pricing information and receives product order information from the buyer. The application displays information regarding sales of the products by the store. After completing an order, the application submits the order, and prints or transmits confirmation copies. The buyer leaves the computer at the show prior to departing. A virtual shopping cart is displayed on the computer into which goods are placed prior to submittal of the order. Multiple shopping carts can be opened by the user with differing shipping priorities and different shipping destinations for each cart. Multiple shopping carts can be used while the user is browsing an on-line catalog of products to be ordered. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254070 | LINK OF MOBILE DEVICES TO FACILITATE MOBILE COMMERCE TRANSACTIONS - In linking mobile devices to facilitate a mobile commerce transaction, a primary mobile device creates an invitation to link to a mobile commerce account of the primary mobile device with a mobile commerce payment system and sends the invitation to a secondary mobile device. The secondary mobile device receives the invitation from the primary mobile device and sends an agreement to link to the mobile commerce account to the primary mobile device. The primary mobile device receives the agreement from the secondary mobile device and sends credentials for linking to the mobile commerce account to the secondary mobile device. The secondary mobile device receives the credentials from the primary mobile device and acquires information for enabling the link to the mobile commerce account using the credentials. The secondary mobile device links to the mobile commerce account using the information. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254071 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING ANONYMITY TO A CONSUMER - A system and a method comprise connecting to a proxy business. The proxy business is configured for conducting a transaction as a proxy for a consumer. Details, of an item for which said proxy business is to conduct a transaction and identifying information for said consumer, are transferred to the proxy business. Final transaction details and terms of acceptance are received from the proxy business. An acceptance of the final transaction details and terms is communicated to the proxy business. The proxy business initiates a consumer transaction with the consumer. The proxy business further communicates an order, to the vender, for the item in the name of the proxy business. The vender completes the order by making available the item to the proxy business. The item is received from the proxy business to complete the consumer transaction in which the consumer remains anonymous to the vender. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254072 | Collaborative System for Online Search - A collaborative real estate search is described. Overlay data including indications of properties for sale within a geographic area are provided to a first user device. The overlay data are capable of being overlaid on a map of the geographic area on a user interface. Selections of some of the properties for sale are received from the first user device and a list of those properties is stored within a folder associated with the first user. The system enables a second user device—associated with a second user who is associated with the first user—to access the list of the properties selected by the user. This includes enabling the second user device to cause information regarding the properties to be stored within the folder. The information is made available for display on a user interface of the first user device. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254073 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RETURNING INDIVIDUAL LINES OF A PURCHASE REQUISITION FOR CORRECTION AND APPROVAL - Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to methods and systems for processing purchase requisitions and purchase orders in a procurement system and more particularly systems and methods for returning single or individual requisition lines back to the requester without affecting other associated requisition lines under the same requisition. Generally speaking, embodiments allow users of a procurement system to return individual requisition lines instead of returning all the requisition lines in the purchase requisition. In some cases, policies require all or some subset of all lines of a requisition be processed together when possible. Hence, if there are more than one requisition lines, the buyer can be presented with a choice whether he or she would like to return the individual line or whether he would like to return all or some subset of all of the lines allowing a buyer to make a more informed decision. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254074 | GIFT CARD EXCHANGE MARKETPLACE - Systems, apparatus, methods, and computer program products for gift card exchange. The gift card holder is able to exchange either the full purchased amount or a residual balance amount. In other embodiments, a gift card exchange marketplace is provided to allow gift card exchange amongst gift card holders. Thus, gift card exchange alleviates the problem of undesired gift cards (i.e., gift cards from merchants that the recipient does not prefer). Moreover, gift card exchange of residual balances eliminates the problem related to unknown residual gift card balances and keeping track and possession of multiple gift cards with minimal residual balances. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254075 | Taxonomy and Data Structure for an Electronic Procurement System - A computer-implemented method is described, performed at a server hosting an electronic procurement system. Supplier catalog data is received at the server from a plurality of respective suppliers associated with the electronic procurement system. The supplier catalog data is in a plurality of formats. The supplier catalog data is converted from the respective plurality of formats to respective common format catalog data. The respective common format catalog data is added to a database. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254076 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SELLING SOUNDS - Systems and methods sell a sound file to a user of a digital audio workstation (DAW). A sound vendor receives the sound file from a sound creator and analyzes the sound file to automatically determine a beats-per-minute value and a musical key value. The sound file is stored, in association with the beats-per-minute value and the musical key value, within a database of the sound vendor. A web interface is generated to interact with the user to receive a search request defining at least one of the beats-per-minute value and the musical key value. The sound file is selected from the database based upon the search request, a financial agreement between the user and the sound creator is completed for sale of the sound file to the user, and the sound file is sent to the DAW. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254077 | METHOD, SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATION OF LOT CODES AND EXPIRY DATES - According to embodiments described in the specification, a method, system and apparatus for code and expiry date generation are provided. The method comprises receiving a request to generate a code at the processor; automatically selecting one of a plurality of code generation rules from the memory based on an item identifier derived from the request, the selected rule including one or more code fragment definitions; retrieving data from at least one reference table stored in the memory, based on the code fragment definitions; generating the one or more code fragments according to the selected rule using the retrieved data; and concatenating the generated code fragments to generate the code | 2013-09-26 |
20130254078 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING AND MONITORING THE DISPENSING OF FUELS - A fuel management system for use by operators of temporary and/or permanent inventories of vehicles such as vehicle dealerships. Fuel vouchers are issued by authorized issuing personnel to authorized recipients if a validation procedure is passed using a database incorporating employee and vehicle inventory information. At the time of delivery, the fueling station will verify the vehicle and individual presenting the voucher. If verification occurs, the authorized quantity of fuel is dispensed. The voucher and sales receipt are returned to the dealership for future auditing and report generation. The system stores information to enable reports to be generated concerning fuel voucher issuance, actual fuel usage and to detect fraud or misuse, allowing more effective fuel expense management. In the event a report generates a fraud alert, appropriate management personnel are immediately notified by email, text messaging or other means. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254079 | System and Method to Consolidate and Update A User's Financial Account Information - Computer software, systems and methods preventing automatic deductions/credits to a User's financial account from being interrupted when a User changes the account. A User inputs information for one or more of their financial accounts into a record stored on a server database that is accessible from the User's electronic communications device. When the User changes information within the System database for one of their financial accounts, the System will automatically or periodically perform updates of the information on a Third Party database; or the Third Party server will request the updated information, wherein the Third Party is authorized to electronically debit or credit the account. Therefore, the User is not required to individually contact each Third Party with their updated account information, such as for monthly membership deductions, direct deposit of paychecks and retirement account contributions, and stored credit cards for online shopping. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254080 | Casual Dynamic Model for Revenue - Drivers that affect or relate to revenue to be forecast are identified. Each driver is a variable. One or more particular drivers are selected from the drivers, based on an analysis of the lags between the revenue and the drivers as synchronized. A causal dynamic model for the revenue is constructed using the particular drivers selected. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254081 | MAINTENANCE-COST-AWARE BILLING FOR CLOUD SERVICES - In some examples, a method for performing maintenance-cost-aware billing is described. The method may include generating a version of a virtual machine image. The method may also include calculating a usage charge for usage of an instantiated virtual machine corresponding to the version of the virtual machine image. The calculation of the usage charge may be based on an age of the version of the virtual machine image. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254082 | System and method for automatic invoice approval requests - A computer-implemented method for circulating invoices electronically to members of a group so that each relevant member of the group can review the invoice and make changes or add comments the other relevant members of the group, in the context of an online network. When the invoice is ready for review by a member of the group, that member receives a notification on his or her online network homepage. The notification that the invoice is ready for review contains a link to the invoice within the online network, so that each reviewing member can automatically access the invoice through the notification link. As each member of the relevant group completes their review of the invoice, a notification is sent to the next member in a sequence of members selected to review the invoice. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254083 | Payment device policy management - A method, apparatus and computer program product enables user-directed, selective control of payment transactions for a user's payment device. The techniques enable a payment device user to create and manage self-defined policies on how a particular payment device (tangible or intangible) may be used. This approach enables the end user, as opposed to the financial or commercial institution, to control transactions with respect to the account. Thus, for example, using a display interface, the account holder can control factors such as: allowed or disallowed vendors, a number of charges, timing of charges, a charge frequency, types of purchases allowed, and the amount charged. This fine-grained, device-specific control mechanism enables account holders to protect financial assets against fraudulent or improper activity. The approach provides a policy management system by which user-directed options for selectively controlling and restricting payment transactions may be realized, thereby providing better security and more customized account control. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254084 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EFFECTIVE INTEREST RATE CALCULATION - Systems and methods can quickly and easily compute an effective interest-rate calculation, such as an annual-percentage rate (APR), offered in connection with a credit-card balance-transfer promotion. The systems and methods fully automate the process, allowing a consumer to instantly solve an effective rate on a credit card balance transfer offer with no special knowledge or skills. The process can work with all or some of the variables, in any order. The consumer can use the tool to see how the variables of the offer alter the effective annual effective percentage rate, enabling the consumer to better shop and compare credit card balance transfer offers. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254085 | Online Produce Brokerage - Disclosed are computer systems for facilitating market transactions between sellers, buyers, and carriers of perishable commodities. One system includes computer hardware that: features computer readable memory containing program code; and is organized according to client-server architecture. In the same embodiment, the hardware plus associated program code and architecture are configured for: sellers to list the prices and quantities of perishable commodities; buyers to search or bid for listed commodities by price; buyers to order listed commodities for delivery; a seller's approval of orders; buyers or sellers to list haul orders based on approved orders, wherein the haul orders identify a pickup and delivery location plus the ordered quantities of commodities; carriers to search for and provide a price quote for serviceable haul orders; buyers or sellers to approve quoted prices for a haul orders; and, buyers, sellers, or carriers to negotiate payments for approved commodities or haul orders. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254086 | GIFT CARD CREDIT EXCHANGE - Systems, apparatus, methods, and computer program products for gift card exchange. The gift card holder is able to exchange either the full purchased amount or a residual balance amount. In specific embodiments, gift card credit may be exchanged for financial institution account credit, such as savings, checking, credit card account credit. Thus, gift card exchange alleviates the problem of undesired gift cards (i.e., gift cards from merchants that the recipient does not prefer). Moreover, gift card exchange of residual balances eliminates the problem related to unknown residual gift card balances and keeping track and possession of multiple gift cards with minimal residual balances. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254087 | Web-based peer-to-peer electronic negotiations - Electronic peer-to-peer negotiations are provided which a user accesses via a web-based application. A requestor sends a request for quote. A liquidity provider can respond with a desired price or decline. If the liquidity provider responds, the requestor is given time to accept or decline the trade. The liquidity provider can change the negotiation price while the negotiation is live. If the liquidity provider's price change favors the requestor at the same time the requestor is agreeing to the prevailing negotiation price, the trade will be executed at new price. If the price change has moved the price to a level beyond which the requestor has signaled at the same time the requestor is agreeing to the price, the transaction will not occur. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. | 2013-09-26 |
20130254088 | Computer-Based Systems and Methods for Efficiently Trading Bundles of Volatility Instruments - Computer-implemented system, method and apparatus for constructing and executing a realized volatility bundle representing a bundle of daily realized volatility futures contracts for a set term (e.g., monthly, quarterly, yearly, etc.) or combination of dates (i.e. unemployment, earnings dates, election results, etc.). A full term is set for a transaction to fully execute, where the term is bundled into a plurality of sub-terms having a shorter period than the full term. During execution, a portion of the transaction is realized market-to-market according to each sub-term, until the full term is reached. | 2013-09-26 |