51st week of 2009 patent applcation highlights part 53 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20090313027 | HIGH-QUALITY ENCODING AT LOW-BIT RATES - Methods and devices provide improved perceived quality of an audio (or other) coded signal at a low bit-rate. An input signal may be split into an outlier portion and a stationary portion. The outlier portion of the input signal may be encoded. The stationary portion may be divided into subvectors. Each subvector may be classified as trivial or non-trivial. Each trivial subvector may be encoded using a pre-defined pattern. Each non-trivial subvector may be encoded with at least one location of at least one significant sample and a sign of the significant sample. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313028 | METHOD, APPARATUS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR PROVIDING IMPROVED AUDIO PROCESSING - An apparatus for performing improved audio processing may include a processor. The processor may be configured to divide respective signals of each channel of a multi-channel audio input signal into one or more spectral bands corresponding to respective analysis frames, select a leading channel from among channels of the multi-channel audio input signal for at least one spectral band, determine a time shift value for at least one spectral band of at least one channel, and time align the channels based at least in part on the time shift value. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313029 | Method And System For Backward Compatible Multi Channel Audio Encoding and Decoding with the Maximum Entropy - A method and system for backward compatible multi-channel audio encoding and decoding in sense of the space information maximum entropy is disclosed. The technical solution according to the invention can adopt any existing stereo channel encoding system to encode the multi-channels audio signals, so as to transmit the multi-channel audio signals at the low bit rate as that of the stereo audio signals. More importantly, the existing stereo channel reproducing systems can also decode the audio format that is encoded utilizing the encoding method according to the invention. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313030 | PROCESS AND SYSTEM FOR GEOGRAPHICALLY OPTIMIZING THE NET DISPOSABLE INCOME OF A USER - A computer-based system and process optimize the net disposable income (NDI) of a user based on location. The user populates a profile with user values, and a report is generated containing an optimal geographic match. The match can include locations which minimize financial liabilities to the user, and/or which maximize the NDI of the user, and/or which utilize a formula based at least partially on preferences provided by the user profile. Taxes are considered which are related to each location and expenses based on lifestyle, preferences, and other needs. The system includes a computing device with a central processing unit (CPU), memory, and permanent storage, a display, a user interface, and a program for implementing the process for optimizing the NDI of the user. The program is executable by the computing device, and can be made available over a network communication via Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and Internet Protocol (IP). | 2009-12-17 |
20090313031 | Systems and Methods To sort Listings of Different Types - Systems and methods are provided to facilitate the presentation of listings of different types as an ordered list. For example, subscription listings and pay for performance listings can be sorted into a mixed list to balance the protection of subscriptions for stable and long term revenue, and the presentation of pay for performance listings that can increase short term revenue. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313032 | Maintaining Energy Principal Preferences for a Vehicle by a Remote Preferences Service - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program product for managing user preferences on remote computing device for utilization in electric vehicle charging transactions is provided. In one embodiment, in response to a determination that a set of preferences for an identified principal are available on a removable data storage device, a first preference service retrieves the set of preferences from the removable data storage device. In response to a determination that the set of preferences are stored on a second computing device associated with a second preference service, the first preference service sends a request for the set of preferences to the second preference service. The first preference service receives the set of preferences from the second preference service and sends the set of preferences to the energy transaction planner. The first preference service is a proxy for the energy transaction planner and the second preference service. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313033 | Generating Energy Transaction Plans - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for generating an energy transaction plan to manage an electric vehicle charging transaction. The energy transaction planner identifies an electric vehicle associated with a charging station and a set of principals associated with a charging transaction for the electric vehicle. The charging transaction is a transaction associated with at least one of charging the electric vehicle, storing electric power in an electric storage mechanism associated with the electric vehicle, and de-charging the electric vehicle. The energy transaction planner receives charging transaction information. The charging transaction information comprises requirements, constraints, and preferences applicable to the charging transaction. The energy transaction planner generates an energy transaction plan based on the charging transaction information. The energy transaction plan comprises terms for governing all aspects of the charging transaction. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313034 | Generating Dynamic Energy Transaction Plans - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for generating a dynamic energy transaction plan to manage an electric vehicle charging transaction. The dynamic energy transaction planner generates a dynamic energy transaction plan based on the charging transaction information. The dynamic energy transaction plan comprises a first set of terms of the charging transaction. An initial portion of the charging transaction is controlled according to the first set of terms of the dynamic energy transaction plan. The dynamic energy transaction planner receives updated charging transaction information during execution of the charging transaction; and updates the dynamic energy transaction plan based on the updated charging transaction information to form an updated dynamic energy transaction plan. The updated dynamic energy transaction plan comprises a second set of terms. A second portion of the charging transaction is implemented according to the second set of terms in the updated dynamic energy transaction plan. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313035 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING SERVICES PRICING - A method of determining services pricing, the method comprising: a server receiving vehicle identification information from a user via a network connection, wherein the vehicle identification information indicates a vehicle type; the server receiving service type information from the user via the network connection, wherein the service type information indicates a service type; the server determining an estimate range based on the vehicle identification information and the service type information, wherein the estimate range comprises a minimum value and maximum value for the indicated vehicle type and service type, and wherein determining the estimate range comprises determining a labor estimate and a parts estimate; and the server providing the estimate range to the user via the network connection. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313036 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ADMINISTERING COMPLIANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING REQUIREMENTS - There are provided methods and systems for facilitating international shipment of goods that enable centralized control of both the establishment of and any changes to international shipping requirements. Users can conveniently query the system through remote terminals. Requirement information is provided in a user-useful and friendly manner including matrices of core requirements relating to all shipments and country specific requirements relating to specified origination and/or destination countries. Compliance testing is provided by which a user can evaluate a particular international shipment for compliance with requirements particular to that shipment. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313037 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ADMINISTERING COMPLIANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING REQUIREMENTS - There are provided methods and systems for facilitating international shipment of goods that enable centralized control of both the establishment of and any changes to international shipping requirements. Users can conveniently query the system through remote terminals. Requirement information is provided in a user-useful and friendly manner including matrices of core requirements relating to all shipments and country specific requirements relating to specified origination and/or destination countries. Compliance testing is provided by which a user can evaluate a particular international shipment for compliance with requirements particular to that shipment. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313038 | Method for Processing a Link of Time Segments - A set of linked lists of time segments represent the actions of resources that are input of a time scheduling system. A system and method are described that operate on said linked list and that produce a solution that meets the constraints imposed by the actions of said resources. The method is described in the context of appointment scheduling systems for medical institutions, where appointments need to be scheduled for patients, taking into account a multitude of constraints such as the availability of staff, equipment, facilities and of the patient himself . | 2009-12-17 |
20090313039 | Pharmaceutical pricing method - This invention provides for innovative methods of pricing generic drugs. In a preferred embodiment, wholesale acquisition costs of identified comparable brand drugs for the generic drugs to be priced according to the invention are identified as comparable brand drug values. The comparable brand drug values are averaged to calculate a stable, predictable benchmark value to be used to determine the price of the generic drug, according to methods of this invention. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313040 | PROCESS FOR FACILITATING THE MANAGEMENT OF CARE - In a patient care process a human patient | 2009-12-17 |
20090313041 | Personalized modeling system - A method, program storage device and system for developing a Personalized Modeling System ( | 2009-12-17 |
20090313042 | Fulfilling Demand for Particular Blood Group Types - Disclosed is a registry for candidate transfusion donors, which invokes an inventory management policy to create and actively manage lists of candidate donors in order to minimize imbalances between demand and supply across multiple regions and across multiple categories of donors and recipients. Together with a genotyping laboratory, the registry does targeted recruitment of prospective donors who are typed for a set of genetic markers relating to clinically relevant antigens including mutations of Human Erythrocyte Antigens (HEA), genetic variants of Rh, and possibly additional antigens such as HLA and HPA. The registry monitors incoming demand for transfusion antigen genotypes, preferably stratify the demand into a set of categories representing stable subpopulations, and will apply strategies, disclosed herein, to tune the composition of candidate donor lists to match the demand, thereby avoiding excess, and unnecessary, typing of candidate donors. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313043 | Connecting Consumers with Service Providers - A request is received from a consumer of services to consult with a service provider having a service provider profile that satisfies at least some attributes in a set of attributes that define a suitable service provider; an available service provider satisfying at least some of the attributes in the set of attributes is identified; and a communication channel is provided to establish a communication between the consumer of services and the identified service provider. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313044 | FLEXIBLE CARE PLAN METHODS AND APPARATUSES - A care plan management system ( | 2009-12-17 |
20090313045 | System and Method for Medical Research and Clinical Trial - A system and methods for a network for medical research and clinical trials are provided. Methods and systems for setting-up a clinical trial have been disclosed. Methods and system for identifying and qualifying participants in a trial have also been disclosed. Methods and systems for the automatic collection, extraction, distribution and review of data are also provided. Integration of a healthcare transcription platform with a clinical trial system is also disclosed. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313046 | HEALTHCARE COMMUNICATION AND WORKFLOW MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A communication and workflow management system and method is provided for integrating a wide range of health care organization workflow management functions, generated by automated systems, manual and automated events associated with patients and staff interactions, through input-output devices such that requests and dispatch requests can be handled locally or over a widely distributed network, and can be tracked and escalated as required. The invention features a rules engine and database that identifies and defines resources, patients, tasks, and task handling. The invention uses extensive logic for the assignment of tasks and communication with resources that can execute tasks, tracking, completion of task, and escalation of tasks. The communication system can be integrated with staff and equipment tracking for automated closure of tasks. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313047 | Brain Condition Assessment - Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for creating an indication of brain condition include: receiving first information concerning a person, the first information indicating presence or absence of markers for an aspect of an assessment performed for the person, the aspect occurring at least twice at respective portions of the assessment; generating an indication of brain condition for the person by comparing the first information with second information concerning a group of people for whom the assessment has been performed, where the comparing includes checking a conditional probability of finding the marker present for the aspect of the assessment in one of the portions of the assessment when the marker is present for the aspect in another of the portions of the assessment; and outputting the indication of brain condition for the person. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313048 | CLINICAL TRIALS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - Clinical trials are defined, managed and evaluated according to an overall end-to-end system. The central authority creates protocol meta-models and makes them available to clinical trial protocol designers. Each meta-model includes a short list of preliminary patient eligibility attributes which are appropriate for a particular disease category. The protocol designer chooses the appropriate meta-model, and encodes the clinical trial protocol, including eligibility and patient workflow, within the selected meta-model. The resulting protocol database is stored together with databases of other protocols in a library of protocol databases. Sponsors and individual clinical sites have controlled access to the protocols. Study sites make reference to the pertinent protocol databases to which they have access in the protocol database library in order to perform patient eligibility screening. Once a patient is enrolled into a study, the protocol database indicates to the clinician what tasks are to be performed at each patient visit. These tasks can include both patient management tasks and data management tasks. The workflow graph advantageously also instructs the proper time for the clinician to obtain a patient's informed consent. The system reports patient progress to study sponsors, who can then monitor the progress of the trial, and to a central authority which can then generate performance metrics. Advantageously, a common controlled medical terminology database is used by all components of the system. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313049 | Apparatus and Method for Processing and/or Providing Healthcare Information and/or Healthcare-Related Information - An apparatus, including a processor which processes a request to access, obtain, change, alter, or modify, information contained in a provider's or payer's record or file, wherein the processor determines whether a requesting individual or entity is authorized to access, obtain, change, alter, or modify, information contained in the provider's or payer's record or file, wherein the processor either allows the accessing, obtaining, changing, altering, or modifying, of the information contained in the record or file, or the processor denies the accessing, obtaining, changing, altering, or modifying, of the information contained in the record or file, and further wherein the processor generates a notification report containing information regarding the allowance or the denial of the accessing, obtaining, changing, altering, or modifying, of the information contained in the record or file, and a transmitter, wherein the transmitter transmits the notification report to a communication device associated with the provider or payer. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313050 | Computer Based System for Pricing an Index-Offset Deposit Product - A computer-based method for determining a value of an index-offset deposit product, having a principal amount P, a term T, a specified guaranteed amount G, and an index credit C, comprising:
| 2009-12-17 |
20090313051 | LIQUID INSURANCE CONTRACTS - A liquid insurance contract (LIC) comprises a security which is traded or tradable and which has cash flows to the issuer based upon a liability whose exact value is unknown at the time of issuance. A method for creating and trading these LICs, as well as other financial products derived from LICs, may include any of the following steps: writing at least one LIC; preparing regulatory filings for at least two LICs; issuing the two LICs; preparing regulatory filings for a financial product which includes at least one detachable LIC provision; issuing the financial product; creating at least one underwriter as a closed end fund owned by a parent company; placing ownership of at least a portion of an issue of the financial product in an underwriter owned by a parent company; spinning off the underwriter from the parent company using at least one stock dividend; trading shares of the underwriter; reporting information on trades and positions of the underwriter; and valuing the underwriter using analytic modeling, sensitivity testing, portfolio analysis, and/or investment analysis. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313052 | System and method for managing tier-priced commodity transactions - Methods and systems for managing the sale of commodities, such as tier-priced commodities, are described. Risk is managed by bundling with the commodity a financial instrument designed to indemnify against the risks associated with purchasing the commodity. The financial instrument may be an insurance instrument, for example. In one embodiment, bundled products are offered for sale to two or more bidders, at respective offer prices. The bidder that exceeds their respective offer price by the greatest amount is sold the bundled product. Different prices may be offered to different purchasers for respective bundled products. The offers, bids, and determination of who wins the bidding may be made by processors or computers coupled to networks, such as the Internet. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313053 | Guest Relationship Management System - A method for implementing a guest profiling program that utilizes guest profiles, which. are developed and expanded by information gathered from various sources and managed in a central Guest Relationship Management System (GRMS). The GRMS is a web-architected internet application. The primary interface between the GRMS and hotel systems is a connection to each hotel's property management system (PMS). The GRMS extracts data from PMSs. PMS data is updated to the central GRMS for processing. The core application logic includes capabilities to identify reservations with attributes and to match guest reservations extracted from each hotel's PMS with profiled guests. Both automated and user-initiated data manipulation processes utilize the central GRMS profiles and PMS data to generate outputs designed to increase the quality and timeliness of services and to assist marketing efforts. The web-based architecture of GRMS enables consistent data sharing and processing capabilities with a plurality of hotels. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313054 | Graphical Travel System for the Internet - A graphical user interface for a travel system allows the beginning and end points to be selected, and then displays a line indicating the travel, and calculates fares. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313055 | COMPUTER-BASED SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING TRAVEL PLANNING FOR A PROSPECTIVE TRAVELER - A travel, e.g., honeymoon, planning system comprises a travel planning tool operative to provide a first set of at least one first travel information request to a first user and to receive a first set of at least one first travel information response from the first user; a match tool coupled to the travel planning tool and operative to rate travel properties based upon the first set of at least one first travel information response of the first user; a booking tool coupled to the match tool and operative to enable the first user to book a specific travel property based on the travel property ratings; and an experience planing tool coupled to the booking tool and operative to track travel planning progress. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313056 | PERFORMANCE METRICS IN RENEWALS ENERGY SYSTEMS - Systems and methods are provided for collecting ( | 2009-12-17 |
20090313057 | SELF-SERVICE USER DEVICE MANAGER - A central management system may manage a plurality of self-service user devices. A user or customer of a business entity operating one or more of the self-service user devices may place an order for a self-service user device, such as the sale of a new self-service user device, a remodel or update of the current self-service user device, the de-installation or relocation of a self-service user device or the like. The self-service user device may be designed and configured to operate with the self-service user device management system. During the operation of the self-service user device, maintenance may be performed. A self-service user device profile may be generated that stores and compiles information relating to the order, the sale, the configuration, the operational tracking, or any other suitable information. Information relating to one or more self-service user devices may be shared between one or more users. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313058 | TOOL, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROJECT MANAGEMENT - The present invention relates to a method, a system and a tool for dynamically optimizing project management. The method, system and tool divide at least one project in sub-elements and define a plurality of paths, each path comprising at least one unit. They further define a plurality of amalgams corresponding to one of the path to be followed by at least one sub-element. Then, they calculate a weight for each of the plurality of amalgams based on predetermined factors, the weight corresponding to a prioritization level for each of the sub-elements of the amalgams in execution of the units. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313059 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTEGRATING ISSUE TRACKING SYSTEMS - Communication between a first issue tracking system and a second issue tracking system is provided. An integration platform is configured to translate an issue tracking ticket from a form recognizable by the first issue tracking system, which can be a component of a customer network, into a form recognizable by the second issue tracking system, which can be a component of a service provider network. A gateway server is provided to control communications between the integration platform and the issue tracking system of the service provider network. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313060 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PERSONALIZED PRINTING AND FACILITATED DELIVERY OF PERSONALIZED CAMPAIGN ITEMS - A system, having a corresponding method, for personalized campaign printing and delivery of a printed campaign includes: a processor that stores and processes printing and delivery data and selects printers to execute the printing and shipping of campaign items requested by a plurality of users designing separate personalized campaign items and accumulates, combines and splits the incoming data into at least one batch of items segmented into an air or ground shipping method; splits the batch into at least one smaller batch segmented by shipping code; and determines whether the batch qualifies for a discounted shipping rate. If no, the processor combines the batch with at least another regional batch of the same shipping method into a succeeding larger batch with a shipping code linked to the shipping code of the batch wherein the resulting combined batch qualifies for discounted shipping rate. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313061 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF CONSOLIDATING PRINT SHOPS ON INVENTORY LEVELS - In an embodiment, a system of evaluating an impact of consolidating a plurality of print shops on inventory levels may include a processor and a processor-readable storage medium in communication with the processor. The processor-readable storage medium may include one or more programming instructions for performing a method of evaluating an impact of consolidating a plurality of print shops on inventory levels. The method may include identifying a plurality of print shops to consolidate from an enterprise, identifying an inventory policy, receiving corresponding job demand information and determining a plurality of total inventory requirements for the identified print shops. The total inventory requirements may include a total average inventory level and a total order-up-to level. The method may also include determining, a plurality of consolidated inventory requirements for a consolidated print shop and displaying statistics pertaining to the job demand information, the total inventory requirements and the consolidated inventory requirements. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313062 | System and Method for Theme Park Line Queue Management - The present disclosure describes a method for managing theme park ride lines by providing an identifying device to a guest, the device configured to uniquely identify the guest, using the identifying device to ascertain an amount of time a guest spends at a predetermined location and reducing the amount of time a guest spends in a line queue for a predetermined ride by the amount of time the guest spends at the predetermined location. A system for managing theme park ride lines is also provided. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313063 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF MIGRATING TO A DYNAMIC PROCESSING ENVIRONMENT - In an embodiment, a method of evaluating an impact on inventory levels of migrating from a pre-processing environment to a dynamic processing environment may include identifying a plurality of form types to migrate from a pre-processing environment to a dynamic processing environment and identifying an inventory policy. For each identified form type, corresponding job demand information may be received. A computing device may determine a plurality of total inventory requirements for the identified form types based on the identified inventory policy. The computing device may determine a plurality of migrated inventory requirements for the dynamic processing environment based on the identified inventory policy. One or more statistics pertaining to one or more of the job demand information, the total inventory requirements and the migrated inventory requirements may be displayed to a user. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313064 | DELIVERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - An item delivery service capable of distributing items while maintaining anonymity between an exhibitor (vendor) and a successful bidder (purchaser) is provided. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313065 | SYSTEM AND TOOL FOR BUSINESS DRIVEN MANAGEMENT - A system/tool/service for a business driven management is described. A strategic alignment is determined for a plurality of services. Demand planning is driven in accordance with the strategic alignment. Program execution and value measurement is outputted in accordance with the demand planning. Program execution and value measurement is applied to the strategic alignment determination. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313066 | System And Method For Determining Trailing Data Adjustment Factors - Timely projections of product sales for a reporting time period are obtained by combining actual sales data received from reporting stores and estimated sales data for non-reporting stores. The projections are adjusted to account for trailing data, which may be reported after the end of the subject time period. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313067 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BUSINESS TO BUSINESS SALES AND MARKETING INTEGRATION - A system for marketing and sales in a business-to-business environment is disclosed. The system includes a close integration of sales and marketing personnel of an organization maximize awareness of the organization in the minds of prospective customers and to be considered as a possible supplier when needs arise. This integration further is utilized to enhance the organization's response to RFP's issued by prospective customers. The system is used to identify unmet customer needs and solutions, to utilize cross-functional teams to more effectively respond to RFPs, and to collaborate with the customer at all levels to achieve and maintain a positive customer experience. The system also provides a variety of consolidated information tools to sales and marketing groups to optimize all oral and written interactions with prospective customers as well as current customers. Examples of such tools include an RFP Response Wizard, a Win Improvement Toolkit, a Learning from Losses newsletter, and a Customer Experience Kit, among others. Success metrics are also used to track the effectiveness of marketing/sales efforts. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313068 | ADAPTIVE INFORMATION & MEASUREMENT SYSTEM - A method, AND apparatus are described to accurately measure the delivery performance of a postal service using without external agents in the measurement process. The invention describes a system that measures the postal logistic automatically, and continuously. The basis for measurement are tag mail pieces that circulate continuously through the postal system. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313069 | Identity Verification Systems and Methods - Systems and methods are disclosed for verifying customer identifications. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving, at a transaction gateway, a communication associated with a transaction initiated by a customer; determining the communication includes an identity verification request to verify encoded data obtained from an identification presented by the customer; routing the identity verification request to an identity verification service; receiving, from the identity verification service, a result including one or more identification values obtained from the encoded data; and transmitting the result to a requester associated with the communication. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313070 | MANAGING ACCESS TO JOB-SPECIFIC INFORMATION, APPLICATIONS, AND PHYSICAL LOCATIONS - A method and storage medium for managing access to job-specific information, applications, and physical locations are provided. The method includes creating an employee record for a new employee. The employee record includes an employee ID, employee personal data, a job code, and administrative data. The method also includes transmitting a portion of the personal data to an employee directory database, and transmitting a notification to one or both of a manager and a system administrator. The method further includes enabling access to job-specific software applications, and establishing a password account for the employee. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313071 | INFORMATION MANAGEMENT AND MATERIAL FOR STERILIZATION FACILITIES - An automated system for management of information and distribution of materials associated with sterilization procedures includes a network server and client computers that communicate via a computer network. The client computers are distributed among sterilization facilities that require sterilization services. The network server exchanges a variety of information with the sterilization facilities. In response to information from client computers, the network server may trigger distribution of materials to sterilization facilities, and generates reports for record-keeping or cost-accounting purposes. The information distributed by the network server may pertain to the operation, maintenance and control of sterilization equipment, characteristics and capabilities of sterilization materials, and expert technical advice. The information received from sterilization facilities includes requests for information, orders for purchase and delivery of materials, and sterilization process information documenting sterilization procedures performed within a sterilization facility. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313072 | COMPUTER-BASED VEHICLE ORDER TRACKING SYSTEM - A computer-implemented system for receiving a delivery estimated time of arrival (ETA) of an expected vehicle at a customer location is provided. The system comprises at least one customer system for receiving the ETA of the expected vehicle at the customer location from at least one tracking tool. The at least one tracking tool is configured to receive historical vehicle order average information which corresponds to known ETAs of one or more delivered vehicles over a predetermined time frame. The at least one tracking tool is further configured to generate at least one linear regression model in response to the historical vehicle order average information to determine the ETA of the expected vehicle at the customer location. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313073 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING SYMBOLIC MODE CHECKING OF BUSINESS APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS - A system and method for providing symbolic mode checking of business application requirements. A language allows for building a model for the business process, the model comprising a plurality of actions, with each action having a precondition and a postcondition or outcome. Specifications are constructed for the properties of the business application, with the specifications describing both the states of the business process and the order in which they may occur. Finally, the model and the specifications are analyzed to determine if the model satisfies the specifications. If the model fails to satisfy the specifications, a problem may be indicated in the business application. The process can be automated to permit the system to make assumptions for conducting a thorough analysis of selected potential problem areas in the application. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313074 | ENHANCED VIEWING/UPDATING OF CALENDAR ENTRIES BASED UPON RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN A VIEWER AND A CALENDAR OWNER AND A RELATIVE IMPORTANCE VALUE OF THE CALENDAR ENTRIES - A calendar of a calendar owner can be identified. The calendar can include at least one calendar entry. Each calendar entry can be associated with access restrictions specific to the entry and/or a type associated with the entry. An attempt from a non-owner to access the calendar of the owner can be received. A relationship between the non-owner and the owner can be determined, which is used to grant access privileges. A non-owner can be permitted to access/change the owner's calendar entries based upon comparisons of the granted privileges and the access restrictions. For example, when certain approved people view busy-time scheduled in a user's calendar, any non-important booked time can be shown as time availably for scheduling events with the user. When an approved person schedules a previously book time slot, and an owner agrees to this change, then existing appointments are automatically rescheduled/adjusted to avoid conflicts. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313076 | ARRANGING REMOTE ENGAGEMENTS - A request is received from a consumer for an electronic, real-time communication with a medical service provider; the availability of the medical service provider is assessed; if the medical service provider is not immediately available, a first scheduling option including waiting in queue and a second scheduling option including an appointment with the medical service provider are provided; a choice among the first scheduling option and the second scheduling option is received from the consumer; and the electronic, real-time communication between the consumer and the medical service provider is arranged, based at least in part on the scheduling option chosen by the consumer. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313077 | Consumer initiated, service provider direct dispatching system - A customer originated and directed dispatching system to provide direct coordination of requested service to service providers without the need for intermediary dispatching assistance. A database stores records each documenting needed services and customer and service provider profiles. Processing circuitry (which may be one or several networked computers) performs a dispatching process which reviews these records, locates records indicating a need for immediate service, locates the customer, identifies potential service responders, carries out an auction for the requested service and collects a list of potential service provides with their bids and profiles. The processing circuitry also performs a monitoring process which monitors service provider's activities by reviewing the records, and automatically obtained service provider's activity information, and records customer and service provider performance ratings to the database. Communications circuitry enables direct communication between the service provider and the customer as well as updates of the service provider's activity and review customer and service provider performance records. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313078 | Hybrid human/computer image processing method - There is provided a hybrid human/computing arrangement which advantageously involves humans in the process of scrutinizing video image frames and processing said video image frames to detect and characterize objects of interest while ignoring other features of said image frame. The invention overcomes the problems of missed and false detections by humans. Said features of interest may comprise equipment and installations found on or in the vicinity of roads including road signs of the type commonly used for traffic control, warning, and informational display. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313079 | MANAGING ACCESS RIGHTS USING PROJECTS - Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to managing access rights. In aspects, projects may be created from templates. The projects indicate one or more roles and one or more resources. The roles indicate access rights of entities associated with the roles. The projects may include events at which access rights change. Using the projects and independent role information, effective access rights to various resources may be determined for one or more entities. These effective access rights may be exported to one or more access control components to control access to the resources. The project and role information may also be used for auditing. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313080 | ONLINE INSTALLATION SCHEDULING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CABLE SERVICES - A system and method for creating, scheduling, and managing time slots for installation appointments. Embodiments of the present invention permit a trading partner to offer a customer the ability to schedule installation of cable services on-line. A cable operator maintains an inventory of time slots. One or more time slots from the time slot inventory are offered to a customer based on ordering information received from the customer. A customer selects a time slot from the one or more offered time slots. A cable operator then assigns an installation appointment to the customer within the time slot selected by the customer. A cable operator may also determine the status of the inventory of time slots (e.g., time slots allocated, time slots consumed, and time slots available) for a system, a location, or a trading partner. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313081 | Computer implemented systems and methods for start-up, calibration and troubleshooting of an installed renewable energy system - Systems and methods are provided for collecting, aggregating, and analyzing data associated with the installation and deployment of systems. Energy systems, ( | 2009-12-17 |
20090313082 | Method and Apparatus for Collecting Information About Targeted Behavior on the Internet - A method and apparatus are provided for collecting information about targeted behavior on the Internet. In one example, the method includes sending an offer to participate in a tracking program to a user computer, receiving an acceptance of the offer to participate from the user computer, sending a software code device to the user computer, receiving targeted behavior information from the software code device located on the user computer, and sending payment for the targeted behavior information to the user computer. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313083 | RENEWABLE ENERGY CALCULATOR - A calculator or system for evaluating renewable energies in various geospatial areas or regions and for targeting potential buyers. The calculator may have a financial model which has inputs of renewable energy data by region including respective energy outputs and monetary values. The inputs may also include financial information related to establishing renewable energies. An output from the financial model may include a scorecard of information. Also, customer information may be added to the scorecard. The scorecard may have an output that targets potential customers of renewable energies. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313084 | USER SELECTABLE GAME INFORMATION ASSOCIATED WITH AN ASSET - Systems, apparatus and methods for interacting with a virtual world being displayed on a video display are described. The virtual world includes user selectable tagged images. The tagged images are related to an asset and can include a redemption feature that can be used when acquiring the asset. A user interacting with a game console can select the tagged images. Upon selection of the tagged image the game console can communicate information related to the tagged image, the related asset and/or the redemption feature to a mobile device. The tagged images can also be associated with distribution rules that can be evaluated to determine when and to whom to distribute digital coupons associated with the tagged images. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313085 | INTERACTIVE PRODUCT EVALUATION AND SERVICE WITHIN A VIRTUAL UNIVERSE - An approach that provides interactive product evaluation and service within a virtual universe is described. In one embodiment, there is an evaluation indicating component that is configured to permit an owner of a virtual universe product to indicate a desire to have at least one avatar in the virtual universe evaluate the virtual universe product. An evaluation generating component is configured to generate an invitation that requests an evaluation of the virtual universe product. An evaluation collecting component is configured to collect the evaluation of the virtual universe product. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313086 | USER RECOMMENDATION METHOD AND RECORDED MEDIUM STORING PROGRAM FOR IMPLEMENTING THE METHOD - A method of recommendation to a user is disclosed. In the method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a recommendation system recommends a product to a user of an e-commerce site, which sells the product through the Internet. The method can include: collecting user behavior information of the user; analyzing the collected user behavior information; creating a recommendation tree for predicting a user preference for a certain product based on the analyzing; and recommending the product to the user based on the recommendation tree. The user behavior information is a command signal inputted by the user in the e-commerce site while the user is accessed to the e-commerce site, and the product can be classified into a plurality of items, which represent the product. The method in accordance with the present invention can analyze the user's preferences more quickly and accurately without inconveniencing the user. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313087 | METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING NET PRESENT VALUE OF A CROSS-SELLING MARKETING CAMPAIGN - The present invention applies a novel iterative algorithm to the problem of multidimensional optimization by supplying a strict, nonlinear mathematical solution to what has traditionally been treated as a linear multidimensional problem. The process consists of randomly selecting a statistically significant sample of a prospect list, calculating the value of the utility function for each pair of an offer and selected prospects, reducing the original linear multidimensional problem to a non-linear problem with a feasible number of dimensions, solving the non-linear problem for the selected sample numerically with the desired tolerance using an iterative algorithm, and using the results to calculate an optimal set of offers in one pass for the full prospect list. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313088 | Patriotic American Shopping Network - Variants of the invention are directed to Internet-based shopping networks which provide information to consumers who desire to purchase locally-produced or locally-manufactured products or services. In one variant, an Internet-based shopping network utilizes a website home page to interface with consumers. The website home page may include consumer-oriented components such as a product search component, a product rank component and/or a product purchase component. The network may include vendor-oriented components such as hyperlinks to predetermined vendors based on products offered by the predetermined vendor and the percentage of sales that is returned by the vendor for recirculation within a local economy. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313089 | System of Acquiring Shopper Insights and Influencing Shopper Purchase Decisions - Systems herein relate to acquiring shopper insights from home product use and influencing shoppers to make additional future purchases of products. Further, the invention relates to electronically communicating with the shopper at the second moment of truth to provide the shopper with one or more influential messages including, but not limited to product information, e-coupons, discounts, surveys, ingredients, ingredient suggestions, recipe suggestions, entertaining, consumer reports, shopping list suggestions, wish list suggestions, and inventory list suggestions. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313090 | RESOLVING DEMAND AND SUPPLY IMBALANCES - A storage medium for resolving demand and supply imbalances is provided. The storage medium includes machine-readable computer program code and instructions for causing a computer to implement a method. The method includes identifying an excess component inventory liability or constraint in supply capability for an end product by matching current buying patterns for the end product against inventory liability and supply capability based on a previous demand forecast. Where excess component inventory liability exists, the method includes: refocusing the excess component inventory liability by determining alternative end products that use components identified in the excess component inventory liability; and executing sales activities for enticing sales of the alternative end products. Where constrained supply capability exists, the method includes determining alternative end products that are functionally equivalent to those in the constrained supply capability, and executing sales activities for enticing sales of functionally equivalent alternative end products. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313091 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING SYMBOLIC MODE CHECKING OF BUSINESS APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS - A system and method for providing symbolic mode checking of business application requirements. A language allows for building a model for the business process, the model comprising a plurality of actions, with each action having a precondition and a postcondition or outcome. Specifications are constructed for the properties of the business applications with the specifications describing both the states of the business process and the order in which they may occur. Finally, the model and the specifications are analyzed to determine if the model satisfies the specifications. If the model fails to satisfy the specifications, a problem may be indicated in the business application. The process can be automated to permit the system to make assumptions for conducting a thorough analysis of selected potential problem areas in the application. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313092 | Method and Apparatus for Collecting and Providing Viewer Feedback to a Broadcast - The present invention provides an improved method and apparatus to collect and provide viewer feedback to broadcasts. According to one aspect of the present invention, a rating is generated for a broadcast by a server system. The rating is based at least in part on viewer feedback to the broadcast, and the rating indicates a likelihood of interest in the broadcast for potential subsequent viewers. Access to the rating is then provided so that predications can be made as to whether or not the broadcast will be of interest to potential subsequent viewers. According to another aspect of the present invention, the rating is provided from the server system to an entertainment system, and the broadcast can be selected for viewing at an entertainment system based on the rating generated by the server system. In one embodiment, the viewer feedback is received at the entertainment system in response to a feedback questionnaire. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313093 | OPTIMIZING GREENNESS - A greenness metric is obtained for a plurality of services. The greenness metric of each of the plurality of services are compared. One or more services are determined from the plurality of services based at least in part upon the greenness metric for each of the plurality of services. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313094 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INCREASING VOTER PARTICIPATION IN ELECTIONS - A method of providing election information includes receiving voter profile information from a voter, associating a personal identifier with at least a portion of the voter profile information, determining at least one voting classification information based on at least a portion of the voter profile information and at least one public record database; and providing at least a portion of the determined voting classification information to the voter via a voter interface. A method for providing voter profile information to a candidate includes receiving a plurality of voter profiles at a voter space database, receiving at least one candidate profile at the voter space database from at least one candidate, determining at least one voter profile based on the candidate profile, and providing the voter profile to the candidate via a candidate interface. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313095 | Collective Transportation System and Process - The object of the invention is a process and a global system for the transportation of people using shared individual vehicles, where multiple vehicles ( | 2009-12-17 |
20090313096 | AUTOMATIC TOLL COLLECTION SYSTEM WITHOUT REQUIRING VEHICLE CLASSIFICATION UNIT - An automatic toll collection system has: a camera for taking a picture of a vehicle which enters a traffic lane of a toll gate; a reading unit for reading vehicle type information and number plate information from a recording medium provided from the vehicle in the traffic lane; a matching unit for checking a matching of information regarding a number plate from the picture and the number plate information; and a calculation unit for calculating a toll based on the vehicle type information when a result of the checking is matched. When the result of the checking is not matched, a request to prompting an input of vehicle type information is issued to a clerk in the toll gate. By these construction, a automatic toll collection system which enables a prevention of misjudge of vehicle type by simple equipment. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313097 | System and Method for Advertisers to Bid on Distributing Ads to Telephone Calling Parties - A system and method of advertising to telephones may include enabling an advertiser to submit a bid for airtime to present an advertisement to callers who call one or more telephone numbers. A bid may be received from the advertiser to advertise to callers who place calls to the one or more telephone numbers. In response to callers placing telephone calls to the telephone number(s), the advertisement may be presented to the callers. The number of advertisements presented to callers may be counted and used for billing the advertiser. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313098 | Network Based Energy Preference Service for Managing Electric Vehicle Charging Preferences - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program product is provided for managing network based preferences associated with charging transactions for electric vehicles. The network based energy preference service receives an identification of a principal associated with a first computing device using a network connection. The network based energy preference service receives a selection of preferences from the principal associated with the first computing device over the network connection to form a set of preferences for the principal. In response to receiving a request for a subset of preferences from the set of preferences for the principal from a preference requesting service, the network based energy preference service retrieves the subset of preferences from the set of preferences by the network based energy preference service and sends the subset of preferences to the preference requesting service. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313099 | MESSAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A messaging method using a mobile user terminal, the method including the steps of: creating, at the mobile user terminal, at least one graphical messaging symbol adapted to convey a meaning to a message recipient; preparing message content including at least one of the created graphical messaging symbols using the mobile terminal; and sending the message to a recipient via a communication network. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313100 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PREVIEWING SEARCH RESULTS - An improved system and method for previewing search results from a search query is provided. A search results page may provide a preview link selectable by a user to preview text on pages of a website that include terms in the search query. A user may select a preview link for one of the search results, and a request may be sent to the server to preview content of a URL in the search results. In response, the server may return content of web pages of the website that include search terms in the search query. The content may be displayed in a preview window for a user to browse. Furthermore, advertisements may also be served and displayed in the preview window. A user may then browse through the specific context in which the search terms of the query appear and may more effectively find the content desired. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313101 | PROCESSING RECEIPT RECEIVED IN SET OF COMMUNICATIONS - Receipts may be received at a location that a customer normally uses to receive electronic correspondence, such as an e-mail address, an instant messaging address, etc. Among the items that are sent to that location, those items that contain a receipt may be identified. The identified receipts, or information extracted from such receipts, may be sent to a receipt store. An action, such as displaying the receipts to a customer, may be taken based on content stored in the receipt store. The information that is stored in a receipt store and/or that is displayed to customers may have an arbitrary level of detail. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313102 | PEER TO PEER SOCIAL NETWORKING - Accessing data through a social network. User input may be received at a node in a social network requesting access to data or requesting a search for data. The node includes data for an entity. In some embodiments, the entity controls the data at the node exclusive of centralized control of the social network. The node further comprises one or more references defining relationships to other nodes. The relationships are defined on an informational basis such that information in data at one node is related through a relationship to information in data at another node. Each of the other nodes includes other data about other entities. Embodiments may further include receiving data at the node from one or more of the other nodes based on one or more of the relationships. At the node, the data from the other nodes may be published. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313103 | Electric Vehicle Charging Transaction Interface for Managing Electric Vehicle Charging Transactions - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for managing an electric vehicle charging transaction. A set of principals associated with the electric vehicle charging transaction is identified. Electric vehicle charging information is retrieved from a set of sources. An energy transaction plan is generated using the electric vehicle charging information. A charging phase of the electric vehicle charging transaction is initiated for an electric vehicle connected to a charging station in accordance with the energy transaction plan. The charging phase comprises at least one of charging the electric vehicle with electricity, storing electricity in an electric storage mechanism associated with the electric vehicle, and removing electricity from the electric storage mechanism to de-charge the electric vehicle. In response to completion of the charging phase, the process then settles the financial obligations of a subset of principals in accordance with the energy transaction plan. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313104 | Managing Incentives for Electric Vehicle Charging Transactions - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for automatically managing incentives associated with an electric vehicle charging transaction is provided. Incentives are received from a set of sources to form received incentives, by an incentive service. Applicable incentives are selected from the received incentives based on an identification of an electric vehicle, a charging station, and a set of principals associated with the electric vehicle charging transaction, by the incentive service. A set of selected incentives is identified from the received incentives for utilization in the electric vehicle charging transaction. The set of selected incentives is sent to an energy transaction planner, wherein the energy transaction planner incorporates the set of selected incentives into an energy transaction plan that is used to control the electric vehicle charging transaction. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313105 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A MOBILE VOUCHER - A mobile voucher apparatus for administrating mobile vouchers redeemable at a Point-of Sale, the mobile voucher apparatus comprising: a module for acquiring a plurality of prepaid card accounts, unallocated to cardholders; a processor for associating a card account with a mobile device number; a transceiver for sending a mobile voucher message to the mobile device number associated with said account; wherein said mobile voucher message comprises at least transaction particulars acceptable as consideration for purchase at a Point-of-Sale. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313106 | System and Method for Granting Promotional Rewards to Both Customers and Non-Customers - Systems and methods of attracting and retaining customers of a Banking institution through an incentive program is disclosed, comprising: operating a promotional program, comprising the dispensing of a indicia redeemable for a prize, and wherein the dispensing of the indicia is accomplished through the use of an automated teller machine (ATM); and operating a rewards program, wherein upon a customer completing a triggering behavior, a specified reward is granted to the customer. Systems and methods of operating a promotional program for customers of a Banking institution is also disclosed, wherein the method comprises dispensing a indicia redeemable for a prize, and wherein the dispensing of the indicia is accomplished through the use of an automated checking machine (ATM). | 2009-12-17 |
20090313107 | Universal Discount Chip (UDC) - A Universal Discount Chip (UDC) is a coding devise placed upon a credit card or a debit card offered by an issuing bank and enabling the card holder to obtain discounts from any and all participating manufacturers, retailers or (hereinafter referred to as “Merchants”) by presenting and scanning the card with the UDC at the point of sale. The issuing bank would collect the necessary data including the name and address of the Merchant, the terms and conditions of the discount. After collecting the data, the issuing bank would apply the discount and reduce the overall amount of the sales transaction. The UDC could be placed on all types of debit or credit cards, including retail store credit cards. The issuing bank would be paid a commission by the Merchant for processing the discount transaction. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313108 | Transaction Card System and Approach - A deferred-type payment approach facilitates transaction card management and processing. According to an example embodiment, a user's transaction card purchases are authorized against a purchase limit associated with a consideration-bearing (e.g., interest-bearing) account. The purchases are tracked and, at the end of a billing cycle, provided to the user via a statement or other informative approach. During a payment time period after the end of the billing cycle, the user is afforded an opportunity to review tracked purchases and provide funds to cover the purchases. If the user does not provide funds for the purchases during the payment time period, funds are automatically transferred from the consideration-bearing account to cover the purchases at the end of the payment time period. In this regard, purchases made with the transaction card against the consideration-bearing account are not assessed against the consideration-bearing account until after the billing cycle has ended. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313109 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OFFERING AND FULFILLING SITUATION-BASED, LOCATION SPECIFIC REWARDS AND OFFERS TO MOBILE-ORIENTED CONSUMERS - A system, method and computer-readable medium are disclosed for advertising and completing a transaction using a credit card or a debit card. The method includes receiving situation information at a device, based on the situation information, transmitting an advertisement to the device, associating an advertisement with an identification card such as a debit card, credit card, student ID card, biometric data, or club card, and receiving an indication of a purchase associated with the advertisement and completed using the card. The disclosure enables a user to receive an advertisement on a device such as a mobile device and then make a purchase decision based on that advertisement in a normal fashion or transparent to the user and sales clerk, without the use of coupons, special codes or any other additional and annoying requirements for making the purchase. The user only needs to use an appropriate identification card. The merchant for the clerk at a point of sale handles the transaction in a standard fashion. The user can then receive a confirmation of a discount for the transaction on the consumer mobile device and later receive a rebate on an identification card statement. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313110 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SUPPORTING SELECTION OF REWARD PROGRAM - A method for supporting a member in selecting one of reward programs includes providing a database storing item information that indicates, for each item, a name, and a reward program awarding a reward point, presenting the item information to the member, storing, in a multiple-service card, for each member, selected item information indicating items selected by the member by giving priorities thereto, obtaining, when a member is awarded a reward point in a shop, the selected item information of the member from the multiple-service card, determining that, among reward programs that award a reward point redeemable for any of the items indicated in the selected item information and are available in the shop, one of the reward programs awarding a reward point necessary to obtain an item placed in a highest priority is suitable for the member, and presenting the reward program thus determined to the member. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313111 | TRACK IMPRESSION OF ADVERTISEMENT UPON MEMORY - Oftentimes users can be exposed to media content such as advertisements while in a non-connective state. Advertisement providers can desire to obtain information related to the exposure and users can be rewarded for the exposure. Therefore, a record can be retained related to advertisement exposure and the record can be transmitted when it is determined that the user is in a connective state. Since personal information can be held upon the record and there can be motivation to alter the record, the record can be stored in hardware, such as a microcontroller of a flash memory device, prior to transmission. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313112 | COOKWARE RECYCLING PROCESS - A method for performing a redemption transaction involves purchasing of new retail cookware, sending used/recyclable cookware to a vender-designated recycling facility, and forwarding a customer bonus item in exchange for the recyclable cookware. The recyclable cookware can be returned in the new cookware retail packaging. The consumer accesses a vender website to select a bonus item and to print out a shipping label for returning the recyclable cookware. The shipping label includes a unique redemption identifier. Upon receipt of the recyclable cookware, the vender facility forwards a customer bonus item to the customer based upon customer preferences and the amount/type of recyclable material returned. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313113 | Business method and process for commercial establishments to advertise directly into proprietary closed circuit networks - The present business method transparently embeds advertisements into client browser displays at the edge of the Internet. A closed system of locally owned businesses makes up a network of publication points. The business method uses a simple single page “dashboard” interface to select and publish ad campaigns directly into one or more premises helping to qualify and quantify publication points and advertising subscription purchases. The dashboards display has controls to dynamically update campaign publications and display pricing results. In addition, the method builds and displays custom groups based on location, business types, and customer demographics. Thus, custom grouping options as selected by dashboard users. Subscription pricing is by ad size, type, location, subscription period and discount codes. The dashboard may include additional statistics such as subscription renewal dates and ad convergence information. Advertisers use this business method to target users directly in proximity to the point of sale. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313114 | Method and System for Location Based Distribution of Content on the Internet - The invention allows web servers to take into account the geographic location of users at the time of their connection to the internet, and thus adapt and differentiate the content that is forwarded to the users based on this information. The invention permits this by enabling ISPs to identify the geographic location of their users at the time of their connection, and communicate this information to web servers in order for the web servers to provide geographically targeted content to the ISPs' users. Information on the geographic location of the users is inferred from telecommunication means that is used at the time that users connect to an internet service provider (ISP) or to an internet access network. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313115 | SPONSORED SEARCH DATA STRUCTURE - A system that facilitates selecting advertisements that match a search query is described herein. The system includes a search query receiver component that receives a search query including keywords. The system also includes a match component that uses an associative data structure to identify in the associative data structure one or more data nodes that are associated in the associative data structure with respective unique keys corresponding to respective one or more hashes of combinations of the keywords in the search query. For each identified data node, the match component selects advertisements associated with bid phrases stored in the identified data node that respectively only include keywords included in the search query. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313116 | DISTRIBUTED CONTENT EXCHANGE AND PRESENTATION SYSTEM - An Internet-oriented advertising exchange controller presents website content in a plurality of frames as well as support search criteria and other flexible forms of inventory formatting and delivery. Applications include Internet protocol request coordination or relay, cooperative frame based or interstitial advertising, and support for a local search or dataless metasearch system. The controller operates in a cookieless environment, has logic to protect advertiser's investment from AutoSurf equivalent systems, and protects against other inappropriate stimuli including denial of service or IP blast attacks. As such, an advertiser's credits are affected only by human stimuli. Communication with and among exchange controllers for sharing or delivering information about inventory occurs by a number of protocols with optional encryption. The controller provides a foundation for a robust, advertiser protective, web based advertising and network search system with economic support by use of unstoppable framesets, and ultimately frame-based advertising and presentation methods. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313117 | TARGETED ADVERTISING - Embodiments of methods, systems or devices for enabling targeted advertising of goods and services are disclosed. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313118 | ACCESS ROUTER, DHCP SERVER, ROUTER ADVERTISEMENT TRANSMITTING SYSTEM, METHOD FOR ROUTER ADVERTISEMENT TRANSMITTING SYSTEM, ANCHOR ROUTER AND PROGRAM - When terminals needing different IP configuration information are mixed under the same link, it is necessary to individually transmit a router advertisement to each of the terminals. By including means for transmitting the router advertisement to a solicited-node multicast address, and means for assigning an IP address corresponding to the solicited-node multicast address, a group of the terminals needing the same IP configuration information are grouped so as to include the same solicited-node multicast address, thereby, the router advertisement for each group can be applied. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313119 | METHOD FOR INCREASING THE AVAILABILITY OF CAPITAL FOR THE PRODUCTION OF FUTURE GOODS, SERVICES AND ACHIEVEMENTS - A commercial exchange platform, adapted to showcase and promote transactions of wares, services, entitlements or future personal achievements, comprising: at least one computer processing unit, at least one networked database incorporating a means for registering user details and at least one computer memory means for storing details regarding the registered users and the conducted transactions. The registered users may purchase interest or otherwise trade in the entitlements, in the production of the wares, or in the realization of the achievements and services in exchange for a share in their future yield. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313120 | Goal-Based Front End Buying of Radio Advertisements - Various aspects can be implemented for automated booking of advertising campaigns. One aspect can be a method that includes receiving information relating to a broadcast advertising campaign such as a marketing objective and a target audience, obtaining market data for one or more broadcasters in one or more broadcast advertising markets, and calculating campaign settings based on the marketing objective and a target audience. Another aspect includes calculating a minimum effective for one or more markets based on the campaign settings. Other implementations of these aspects include corresponding systems, apparatus, and computer program products. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313121 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MARKETING VEHICLES RESIDING ON A DEALERSHIP LOT - An electronic system ( | 2009-12-17 |
20090313122 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO CONTROL PLAYBACK IN A DOWNLOAD-AND-VIEW VIDEO ON DEMAND SYSTEM - Rules concerning whether or not to insert advertisement and/or allow trick mode capabilities during playback of locally stored content downloaded from a content provider's or a VOD service providers server are communicated to the client device and may be specified by a variety of mechanisms including a Web-page based tool for A content provider to edit and for a VOD service provider to review and modify such rules. The client device stores and applies the rules during playback of the content. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313123 | System and method to shop by brands using an internet or online portal - A system and method allow a user to shop by brands using an Internet or online portal to search for and to find information on the Internet, to search for and find brand products, to search for the Internet Uniform Resource Locator (URL) addresses of businesses with the expectation of receiving a correct URL clearly displayed, in one embodiment, by itself without any other related and supported information, and to facilitate the reaching, by an online consumer, of a brand name website in fewer clicks with a greatly shortened list of search returns. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313124 | Street-Level Routing - A system and method for providing a street route to a user. A server communicates with a user and a routing engine. Database includes spherical photographic images, street vectors, and parcel coordinates. User gives start and end addresses and requests a route. Start and end addresses are sent to routing engine which responds with parsed start and end addresses and route therebetween. Exact start and end locations are calculated with reference to street vectors and parcel coordinates in the database. Spherical photographic images corresponding with calculated start and end locations, and display points calculated with reference to maneuver points provided by routing engine, are retrieved. Rectangular images are created corresponding with start and end locations and display points. Graphical navigation aids are superimposed on images. Optionally, advertising is inserted at appropriate points on images. A report is provided to the user. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313125 | PRODUCT PROVIDING APPARATUS, DISPLAY APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING GUI USING THE SAME - A product providing apparatus and display apparatus, and a method for providing a GUI using the same are provided. The product providing apparatus includes a display unit, a collecting unit and a control unit which controls an image based on user characteristic information to be displayed. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313126 | LAYERABLE AUCTION MECHANISMS - Described herein is a method for executing a positional auction. The method includes acts of receiving a keyword and executing at least one multi-item single unit demand auction and at least one single-item auction, wherein a plurality of bidders submit bids in the at least one multi-item single unit demand auction and the at least one single-item auction. The method further includes an act of ranking the plurality of bidders based at least in part upon bids submitted in the at least one multi-item single-unit demand auction and the at least one single-item auction. The method additionally includes an act of allocating a subset of the plurality of bidders to particular positions on a search results page based at least in part upon the ranking. | 2009-12-17 |
20090313127 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING CONTEXTUAL SECTIONS OF WEB PAGE CONTENT FOR SERVING ADVERTISEMENTS IN ONLINE ADVERTISING - An improved system and method for using contextual sections of web page content for serving advertisements in online advertising is provided. A publisher may use a tool to identify sections of a web page that represent content to be used in contextual advertising. When rendered by a web browser, content from marked sections may be extracted from the web page and sent to an advertisement server for selectively matching advertisements for display to a user. Features may be identified from the content sections and used to select advertisements matching the extracted content of the web page. In particular, the features identified from the content sections may be matched with features designated by advertisers for advertisements. Web page placements may be allocated for advertisements matching the extracted content, and the advertisements may be served for display with the web page. | 2009-12-17 |