51st week of 2011 patent applcation highlights part 59 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20110313801 | DISTRIBUTING A TASK TO MULTIPLE WORKERS OVER A NETWORK FOR COMPLETION WHILE PROVIDING QUALITY CONTROL - Systems and methods of crowd sourcing by distributing a task over a network to multiple workers for completion while providing quality control are disclosed. In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure include a method, which may be implemented on a system, of identifying an attribute of the task, the task including multiple unit jobs, determining target accuracy in completion of the task by the multiple workers, computing a number of results to be collected for a unit job of the task based on the target accuracy, setting a wage amount that is offered to a worker for completing a unit job of the task based on the attribute and the target accuracy, and/or collecting and aggregating statistics of the workers completing the select unit jobs for quality control. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313802 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TASK MANAGEMENT WITH SUB-PORTIONS AND MULTIPLE SUB-PORTION CHARACTERISTIC MANIPULATION - A method and system for providing for the management of resources wherein the method and system provide an ordered collection of entries that may be selected in a plurality or group and manipulated as a plurality or group. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313803 | Social Task Lists - Providing access to task lists via social communications systems is provided. A user may expose a list authoring surface and associated task lists to other users via one or more social communications systems. When another user attempts to access contents of the list authoring surface, the user attempting access may be required to provide permissions credentials, or the attempting user's social communications account may be designated as a permissioned account from which access to the contents of the list authoring surface may be obtained. Version control management may be applied to the accessed task lists to ensure accessing users receive access to most up-to-date versions of accessed task lists. Once an accessing user obtains access to a given task list, the accessing user may comment on accessed tasks, make changes to accessed tasks and/or collaborate on accessed tasks. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313804 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ARRANGING TRANSPORT AMONGST PARTIES THROUGH USE OF MOBILE DEVICES - A system and method are described for enabling transportation to be arranged for individuals carrying handsets or mobile devices. In some embodiments, a customer can transmit a request for transport from a given customer geographic location. A service may handle the request by selecting a driver for the customer. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313805 | CUSTOMIZABLE USER INTERFACE INCLUDING CONTACT AND BUSINESS MANAGEMENT FEATURES - Embodiments provide aspects of a workspace interface that includes a number of customizable business role workspaces, but are not so limited. In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method provides a number of role-specific workspaces as part of an integrated business development application, each role-specific workspace including role-specific ribbon tools, gadgets, and/or tabs tailored to address particular aspects of a business or business role. In one embodiment, a number of customizable role-specific workspaces are combined with personal information management features as part of providing an integrated business management solution. Other embodiments are included and available. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313806 | ONLINE APPOINTMENT BOOKING SYSTEM - This invention relates to an online booking system and method relating to same which can be used by any user, person, business, professional or facility. More particularly this invention relates to an on line calendar system and computer implemented method for online calendar appointments; embodiments of which can be used for example by, doctors, dentists, restaurants, barber shops, and the like. The person, business or professional sets up the calendar(s) online and users can book. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313807 | DIMENSIONALITY REDUCTION FOR GLOBAL ADVERTISEMENT INVENTORY OPTIMIZATION - Computer-readable media for determining whether to accept a candidate order from an advertiser, to display a particular number of advertisements within a specified time segment are provided. Initially, the content provider may include placement criteria that, among other things, identify a leaf supply node at which impressions of the advertisement are expected to be rendered. Generally, the leaf supply node refers to a location within a topic graph that describes inventory that is permissible to allocate to satisfy the candidate order. To perform the determination, the inventory of impressions available for accommodating the candidate order and a log of booked orders scheduled to be placed within the time segment are identified. Linear programs are then utilized to determine whether the estimated inventory that satisfies the placement criteria is available by predictively placing the booked orders at the estimated inventory. If estimated inventory remains available, the candidate order is accepted. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313808 | Built Environment Management System and Method - A computer-implemented method is provided for producing a capital plan for the built environment of an organization. Data relating to components of the built environment such as buildings, assets, infrastructure, systems, components, energy infrastructure, and security infrastructure can be collected. Plan items for recommended projects can be produced through analysis, modeling, and scheduling routines based on the data. Organizational objectives can be identified and the plan items can be evaluated through configurable algorithms to determine which plan items best meet the organizational objectives. The execution of plan items can be managed through completion and the resulting ongoing performance can be monitored. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313809 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR MANAGEMENT OF LIFE SCIENCES DATA AND RELATED RESEARCH - A system, method and program product for managing data for researchers. A research data server receives and manages experimental data and research data and results from the researchers, and operates with a virtual storage device to maintain the experimental data and research data and results. A reference data access server receives and manages external reference data relating to the research and operating with the virtual storage device to maintain the external reference data. Computational resources allow researchers to capture, process and analyze experimental data to obtain results. A research data network connects the virtual storage device, research data server, reference data access server and the computational resources to allow transfer of data there between. Security management services authenticate and authorize access by the researchers to the system. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313810 | SERVICE TRACKING SYSTEM - A method for servicing machinery for the graphic arts industry uses at least one remote service computer, which receives a service request for a machine via a first information channel and transforms the service request into a service ticket and which receives operating data of the machine via a second information channel. Accordingly, the operating data are linked with the service ticket in the service computer and the linked data are subjected to a diagnostic fault-finding process by the service computer. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313811 | MOBILE RETAIL STORE STRUCTURE WITH INVENTORY SYSTEM - A mobile retail store structure transportable to a plurality of different locations includes a trailer construction configured both exteriorly and interiorly for housing a plurality of storage bins wherein products and/or parts can be stored. Each trailer is a self-sufficient module which includes doors at one end of the trailer unit for entry and exit thereto, portable stairs for providing access to the entry doors, opposed side doors and associated walkways for allowing coupling to additional similarly constructed trailers, extendable canopies for providing a secure passageway between the respective coupled trailers, and a generator/HVAC system for providing heating, cooling and electrical power to each trailer unit. In one embodiment, a terminal is provided to allow a user to either browse electronically various items for selection and/or sale, or access a self-service check-out station to complete a transaction. A plurality of terminals can be coupled to communicate with a master server terminal over a wired/wireless network. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313812 | ACCOUNTING FOR DATA DEPENDENCIES IN PROCESS MODELS, ANALYSIS, AND MANAGEMENT - A method and system comprising a process model analysis module to perform analysis of a process supported by a process system. The analysis is performed based on process information which includes a logical process model defining a series of activities. The process model information further includes IT system dependency information which includes datastore dependency information indicative of datastores which are accessed in execution of respective activities. The process model information also includes data dependency information indicative of dependency of process activities on data in the one or more datastores. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313813 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ESTIMATING BASE SALES VOLUME OF A PRODUCT - A method and a system for estimating a base sales volume of a product are provided. The method includes receiving sales data of the product from one or more sales data sources. Further, the method includes identifying a plurality of independent variables from the received sales data and substituting them in a regression model to calculate a total sales volume of the product. Furthermore, the method includes modifying one or more independent variables of the plurality of independent variables in the regression model to obtain the base sales volume of the product. The base sales volume of the product is the same as the calculated total sales volume when the base sales volume obtained after modifying the one or more independent variables is either negative or greater than the total sales volume. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313814 | DETERMINING ADVERTISING EFFECTIVENESS WITH ONLINE REACH AND FREQUENCY MEASUREMENT - A method for determining advertising effectiveness of cross-media campaigns provided. The effectiveness of the combined campaign is plotted, and the effects of different media are isolated. Examining complementary effects and synergies are examined, and a dollar-for-dollar comparison for each of the media is performed. This dollar-for-dollar comparison may include a return on marketing objective calculation. If applicable, budget re-allocations are recommended. Optionally, post effectiveness, efficiency, and allocation analysis are performed. Such analysis may include providing descriptive advertising and media suggestions on each media independently. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313815 | Systems and Methods Enabling Marketing and Distribution of Products and Services by Product and Service Providers - Systems and methods are provided for distributing a product or service for a provider using a platform for distributing products or services by a plurality of providers. A platform is provided by which a plurality of providers market and provide products or services to users. Information about first activity is obtained in relation to the particular product or service or other products or services of the first provider. Information about second activity is obtained in relation to other products or services of other providers that share at least one attribute with the product or service. Data is provided to the first provider where the data includes the information about the first activity in relation to products or services of the first provider and the information about the second activity in relation to other products or services of other providers based on the at least one shared attribute. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313816 | PROGRESS MANAGEMENT FOR PROJECTS - Project progress management technology is made more objective by excluding as much human subjectivity as possible. Consideration is given to levels of importance of check items and tasks. A more accurate grasp of the progress of a project is enabled even if a significant change occurs in the middle of the project. An indication of a “complete” or “incomplete” state is used as a progress indicator of the lowest order tasks of the project, and progress of a high order task is based on the progress of the lowest order tasks. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313817 | KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATOR WEIGHTING - The relative priorities or weightings of key performance indicators (KPIs) are objectively evaluated for a web service to facilitate determining where efforts should be made in improving the web service. A KPI-taming cost and user engagement variation is determined for each KPI. The KPI-taming cost for a KPI represents a number of engineering man-hours estimated to be required to achieve a unit of KPI improvement for that KPI. The predicted user engagement variation for a KPI represents an improvement in user engagement with the web service estimated to be provided by a certain improvement in that KPI. A KPI-sensitivity is determined for each KPI based on the KPI-taming cost and predicted user engagement variation for each KPI. A weighting may also be determined for each KPI based on the percentage of each KPI's KPI-sensitivity of the sum of KPI-sensitivities for all KPIs. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313818 | Web-Based Data Analysis and Reporting System for Advising a Health Care Provider - A web-based data analysis and tracking system and method for a medium to large organization. Metrics can be determined by asking pre-defined and special questions designed and modified by the facility or organization. The totality of answers to these questions represent a set of metrics that can be weighted and analyzed to produce comparisons with standard or chosen thresholds and/or industry standards. Compliance with best practices can be evaluated, and variances from best practices can be flagged and made visible. The present invention first assures that the organization has reliable data. Next, it analyzes this data to form comparisons and usable output. Finally, it presents the output in various graphical formats that can be used to base management decisions upon such as dashboards, graphs and textual output. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313819 | BUSINESS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND PORTABLE TERMINAL DEVICE - Provided is a business management system that performs a business management of a plurality of stores in a collective manner. The system includes a first terminal device, a second terminal device, and a management server. The first terminal device sets a time at which a first operation is inputted by a visitor via an input device installed in the store as a visiting time, and generates a visitor number for sequentially leading the visitor while associating the visitor number with the visiting time. The second terminal device inputs the visitor number and a preset second operation. The management server obtains a service time (a time period from a service start time till a service end time) and a waiting time (a time period from the visiting time till the service start time), and aggregates the service time and the waiting time on a time-series basis for each store. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313820 | USING VIRTUAL CURRENCY TO COMPENSATE WORKERS IN A CROWDSOURCED TASK - Systems and methods for using virtual currency to compensate workers in a crowd sourced task are disclosed. In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure include a method, which may be implemented on a system, of determining target accuracy in completion of the task by the online workers, computing a number of results to be collected for a unit job of the task based on the target accuracy; and/or setting a wage amount that is offered to a worker for completing a unit job of the task based on the number of results. In response to determining that the worker has completed the unit job, the wage is provided to the online worker in a form of virtual currency. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313821 | Anti Fare Evasion System - A system for monitoring passengers on a vehicle includes one or more detectors for detecting passenger data including one or more passenger identification properties. A computer system receives data from the detectors and uniquely identifies each passenger based on the one or more passenger identification properties. A device receives fare data indicative of whether a passenger has paid the correct fare, and uses the fare data, passenger identity and passenger data from the computer system to indicate which passengers have paid the correct fare. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313822 | Method of Assessing Parking Fees Based Upon Vehicle Length - A method for assessing fees for parking is disclosed. The method includes providing vehicle length or information about a vehicle which is associated with the vehicles length to a parking meter or other fee collection device. The parking fee collection device communicates with an associated database containing a parking fee charged for vehicle based upon vehicle length. A vehicle operator enters into the parking fee collection device a vehicle length or information about the vehicle which is associated with vehicle length for a selected vehicle and a parking fee is assessed based upon the vehicle length. The database may also contain information about unpaid parking tickets associated with vehicles, a list of stolen vehicles and/or outstanding warrants for vehicle owners. An appropriate notice is provided when a match is found. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313823 | MAP INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS - An apparatus includes a map information storage section ( | 2011-12-22 |
20110313824 | Method for Applying Gaming Philosophy to Crowd-Sourced Play-Listing - A method of motivating crowd-sourcing of performance playlists. Two or more users may initiate an exchange of metadata related to playlists via playlist managing software modules running on each of their mobile devices. The users may then receive a reward for having initiated the exchange. The reward may be in the form of a position on a leader board, a level of achievement, an unlocking of an achievement, a badge acknowledging an achievement, a designation of a title an amount of points or some combination thereof. The initiation of the exchange may itself include a game like element and may require each of the mobile devices to be in the same geographical location, and then have the users, simultaneously move them in a predetermined pattern such as a shaking motion. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313825 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSESSING THE PENETRATION OF TOOTH CLEANING ELEMENTS IN THE GINGIVAL POCKET - A method and apparatus for assessing the penetration of tooth cleaning elements into a simulated gingival pocket. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a tooth shaped member, wherein at least a portion of the tooth is transparent to light; a gum member positioned on a first side of the tooth shaped member; a simulated gingival pocket created between the gum member and the tooth shaped member; and an imaging device configured to obtain a plurality of images related to the gingival pocket, and bristle penetration into the gingival pocket. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313826 | PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICE (PED) OPERATING AS A COMMERCE DEVICE ONBOARD AN AIRCRAFT AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - A communications system for an aircraft includes an aircraft in-flight entertainment (IFE) system and at least one personal electronic device (PED) carried by an aircraft passenger. The aircraft IFE system includes an IFE advertisement source, IFE passenger seat displays, and an IFE controller. The IFE controller selectively displays advertisements from the IFE advertisement source on the IFE passenger seat displays. Each advertisement being displayed has a respective advertisement token image associated therewith. The PED includes a PED optical sensor for sensing a selected advertisement token image, a PED wireless transceiver, and a PED controller. The PED controller communicates via the PED wireless transceiver to initiate and complete purchase of the advertisement associated with the selected advertisement token image. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313827 | APPLICATION USAGE REWARDS PLATFORM - A system and method of providing incentives for users to use computer applications. Application use by a user is tracked and participation credits are provided to the user based on the tracked use. Credits can be provided based on time of use and/or application based incentives, such as achievements in a game. A limit may be placed on the amount of credits a user may have at any time, inducing the user to redeem the tokens. Credit redemption is provided by redemption system which rewards users with prizes directly or based on a random generation of prize rewards under the guise of game play based on chance. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313828 | Virtual sample cabinet system and method for prescription drug marketing - A method is provided which provides functionality for doctors and staff to remotely electronically download a “virtual sample cabinet” software program from a central server onto their desktop computers or mobile technology devices to allow them to centrally search, review product information and insurance coverage, print or electronically send prescription drug sample vouchers and co-pay savings coupons to selected pharmacies. This eliminates the need for physician offices to manage and house physical drug samples, as well as offers a more convenient and efficient way to allocate, dispense and monitor needed drug samples and coupons for savings to their patients. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313829 | DYNAMIC AUGMENTATION OF ELECTRONIC COUPONS - A commercial incentive engine and network is described that advantageously allows content and/or terms associated with a commercial incentive that has already been distributed to a consumer over a network to be dynamically augmented. The dynamic augmentation may occur responsive to one or more of revisions to the content and/or terms input by an advertiser, responsive to business information provided by an advertiser, or responsive to spatial, temporal, social and topical data associated with the consumer. An alternate implementation also advantageously allows the content and/or terms associated with a commercial incentive to be dynamically determined prior to distribution of the commercial incentive to a consumer over a network. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313830 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TARGETING TRANSACTION ACCOUNT PRODUCT HOLDERS TO RECEIVE UPGRADED TRANSACTION ACCOUNT PRODUCTS - Utilization of information in a closed loop data system further augments modeling while at the same time enabling customization of offers based on spend patterns. Data mining techniques are leveraged to identify rules to determine higher response rate populations. These rules are referred to herein as “triggers,” in that the presence of particular attributes will trigger a cardholder as being more likely to respond to a particular offer. The benefit yielded by this approach is a greater acceptance rate to an offer provided by a transactional account company. To identify the triggers, records of cardmembers who already utilize a given product are analyzed to determine their spend patterns. The spend histories of customers who are eligible to use the product are analyzed according to the identified triggers. Customers whose spend patterns most closely correspond to the triggers are then targeted with offers for the given product. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313831 | METHOD FOR PROVIDING ELECTRONIC COUPON SERVICE USING COMMUNICATION NETWORK, AND COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM FOR STORING PROGRAM FOR EXECUTING THE METHOD - The present invention provides a method for providing an electronic coupon service using a communication network, including: requesting a purchase for the electronic coupon product registered in an electronic coupon service-providing server via a purchaser terminal; enabling the electronic coupon service-providing server to generate first contract information containing a purchaser and a first contract number, using the electronic coupon service provider as a seller; and enabling the electronic coupon service-providing server to generate second contract information containing a second contract number, using the place at which the electronic coupon is used as a seller, and using the electronic coupon service provider as a purchaser, wherein said second contract information contains said first contract number. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313832 | PRICING IN SOCIAL ADVERTISING - Online recommendations are tracked through a forwarding service. The forwarding service can provide such statistics to an ad service, which can provide incentives to the recommending user and a consuming user. Example incentives may include an accumulation of points by the recommending user, a discount to the consuming user if a purchase is made in response to the recommendation, etc. To determine how much of an incentive each participant in the recommendation flow receives, a graph is created to model the recommendation flow and incentives are allocated using a cooperative game description based on this graph that associates each participant with a power index that represents that participants share of the incentive. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313833 | RECONSTRUCTING THE ONLINE FLOW OF RECOMMENDATIONS - Online recommendations are tracked through a forwarding service. For example, a user may send an email to a friend recommending a product specified at a web site identified by a URI embedded in the email. Before sending the email, the user submits the URI to a forwarding service, which returns a new URI mapped to the original URI and to the recommending user. The recommending user can then recommend the web site by forwarding the new URI to the friend. If the friend selects the recommended URI to review the web site, the forwarding service records the decision to review the web site and directs the friend to the recommended web site. The forwarding service maintains a database of recommendations made by the recommending user, recommendation consumed by the friend, etc. Incentives can be provided to the recommending user and the friend to encourage recommendations. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313834 | ELICITING SOCIAL SEARCH RESPONSES FROM SPONSORING AGENTS - A user may submit to a set of users a query relating to a commercial transaction, and may evaluate the responses provided therefrom. However, the set of users may include vendors or their representatives who might present inaccurate or misleading information in order to persuade the user to purchase the product, or may provide low-quality and impersonal advertisements for a product that do not particularly relate to the query or the user. Instead, the query may be offered to agents who can provide relevant responses, and a response from an agent may be provided to the user in exchange for a response fee charged to the agent. This cost model may promote selectivity and high relevance to the query in the submission of responses from knowledgeable responders, thereby eliciting higher-value responses to the query for the user and financial sponsorship to cover the operating costs of the agent network. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313835 | Systems and Methods to Prevent Potential Attrition of Consumer Payment Account - Systems and methods are provided to generate a tool to predict voluntary account attrition in a payment processing system. In one aspect, a computing apparatus includes: a data warehouse configured to store transaction data of accounts issued by a plurality of issuers; and at least one processor configured to calculate values of a first plurality of variables for each of the accounts using the transaction data of the accounts issued by the plurality of issuers. The accounts include attrition accounts and non-attrition accounts. The at least one processor is further configured to identify a second plurality of variables from the first plurality of variables for a predictive model to distinguish, using the values and logistic regression, the attrition accounts from the non-attrition accounts. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313836 | CONTROLLING COUPON PRINTING TO MULTIPLE TYPES OF CLIENTS - A coupon distributor controls coupon distribution via a centralized coupon distribution server. The server not only distributes coupons to the various computing devices, but also tracks the number of coupons printed for any given coupon offer. The server may use the coupon printing statistics it gathers to, for example, limit the number of times any given device may print a coupon for a given offer, limit the number of coupons printed for an offer in aggregate, or provide reports to the provider of the coupon offer. The server may control coupon distribution to any of a variety of device types, including personal computers, mobile devices, stand-alone printing devices, and in-store kiosks, the clients at some of which may be pre-authorized to print coupons. The server further controls distribution of coupons to devices on one or more private networks via an intermediary. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313837 | System And Method For An Advertising, Loyalty And Rewards Program - A system includes a server, a member portal in communication with the server, a merchant portal in communication with the server, wherein the server captures data relating to a member and the member's transactions, receives data entered by the member and processes the data to administer an advertising, loyalty and rewards program. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313838 | INTERNET STRAWMAN AND USER INTERFACE THEREFOR - A system and method for implementing an intermediary to preserve user privacy and anonymity in electronic transactions. In one embodiment, a computer implemented method for facilitating a transaction between a subscriber and a vendor through an intermediary is provided. In this embodiment, the method comprises the step of receiving at the intermediary personal information from the subscriber to establish a user account. The method also comprises the step of storing the personal information for subsequent access. The method further comprises the step of receiving a request from the subscriber to access the user account, upon which the subscriber's identity is verified by the intermediary against the personal information. The method also comprises the step of the intermediary entering into a transaction with the vendor on behalf of the subscriber based on the subscriber's instruction once the subscriber's identity is successfully verified. The method further comprises the step of notifying the subscriber upon completion of the transaction. Importantly, the transaction is completed without disclosing the subscriber's personal information to the vendor. As such, the consumer remains anonymous with respect to the vendor. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313839 | CONTROLLING COUPON PRINTING USING A DELEGATED IMAGE CLIENT - A coupon distributor controls coupon distribution via a centralized coupon distribution server. The server not only distributes coupons to the various computing devices, but also tracks the number of coupons printed for any given coupon offer. The server may use the coupon printing statistics it gathers to, for example, limit the number of times any given device may print a coupon for a given offer, limit the number of coupons printed for an offer in aggregate, or provide reports to the provider of the coupon offer. The server may control coupon distribution to any of a variety of device types, including personal computers, mobile devices, stand-alone printing devices, and in-store kiosks, the clients at some of which may be pre-authorized to print coupons. The server further controls distribution of coupons to devices on one or more private networks via an intermediary. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313840 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING LOCATION BASED DISCOUNT RETAILING - Systems and methods are disclosed that provide offers for goods or services based on the locations of potential customers and the geographic locations of the merchant. The offers may be limited in quantity and acceptance and redemption of the offers may be limited in time. A unique identifier may be associated with each accepted offer. A merchant may have at least some control over the creation and rendering of one or more offers for the merchant's goods and services. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313841 | TARGETED DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRONIC COUPONS - A system, method and computer program product is described that matches commercial incentives to consumers based on targeting data associated with the commercial incentive and user data associated with consumers in a manner that advantageously allows for highly-targeted delivery of commercial incentives to the consumers that are most likely to use them. Because both the targeting data and the user data may include spatial, temporal, social and topical data, matching may be performed based on any or all of these data types, as well as based on any combination of these data types. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313842 | SYSTEM AND METHODS THEREOF FOR PROVIDING AN ADVERTISEMENT PLACEMENT RECOMMENDATION BASED ON TRENDS - A method for bidding for an advertisement placement of an on-line advertisement. The method comprises identifying at least a trend for at least a first term appearing in at least one data source; extracting at least a second term from at least one on-line advertisement; performing a correlation analysis, responsive of a desired trend of the at least first term, between the at least first term and the at least second term; and placing a bid for placement of the at least one on-line advertisement for any one of the at least first term and the at least second term that demonstrates a predefined correlation. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313843 | SEARCH ADVERTISEMENT TARGETING - Described is processing the search results obtained from a search engine to determine advertisements that match properties of those search results. For example, the URL-related information or domain-related information in the search results may be used to select an advertisement. Also described are various conditions that may need to be met before an advertisement is selected. Further, an advertisement may be modified to include information in the search results, such as to insert a competing company's name that appears in a search result into the advertisement. Also described is a system for returning keywords in response to a URL/domain. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313844 | REAL-TIME-READY BEHAVIORAL TARGETING IN A LARGE-SCALE ADVERTISEMENT SYSTEM - A “Real-Time-Ready Analyzer” combines a data stream management system (DSMS) with a map-reduce (M-R) framework to construct a streaming map-reduce framework that is suitable for real-time Behavioral Targeting (BT) (or other temporal queries). The Real-Time-Ready Analyzer allows users to write “dual-intent” temporal analysis queries for BT. These queries are succinct and easy to express, scale well on large-scale offline data, and can also work over real-time data. Further, the Real-Time-Ready Analyzer uses the aforementioned streaming map-reduce framework to provide dual-intent algorithms for end-to-end BT phases. Experiments using real data from an advertisement system show that the Real-Time-Ready Analyzer is very efficient and incurs orders-of-magnitude lower development effort than conventional systems. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313845 | Learning Display Parameters to Maximize Advertising Revenue - In one embodiment, an evolving advertising system automatically optimizes internet advertising. A data storage unit | 2011-12-22 |
20110313846 | INCLUDING PERSONALIZED CONTENT IN AN ADVERTISEMENT | 2011-12-22 |
20110313847 | MAPPING IDENTIFIERS - Systems and methods for mapping identifiers are provided. Activity logs illustrate activities and/or events associated with a plurality of identifiers. The identifiers may be registered identifiers, unregistered identifiers, or a combination thereof. When at least two identifiers share a linking attribute, the at least two identifiers may be mapped to one another, along with information associated therewith (if any) such as a user profile. Each subsequent line of an activity line may also be mapped to the identifiers of the initial single line when a linking attribute or an overlapping identifier is present. A number of identifiers associated with each other may be increased by mapping identifiers and, thus, a targeted audience for a customized advertisement may, in turn, be increased. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313848 | METADATA-ENABLED DYNAMIC UPDATES OF ONLINE ADVERTISEMENTS - Systems, methods, and computer media for dynamically updating online advertisements and providing updated online advertisements are provided. An object-oriented online advertisement is provided that has properties inherited from an advertisement class. The inherited properties include metadata fields and corresponding metadata values. The metadata fields and values determine the content, appearance, behavior, and other characteristics of the online advertisement when it is published on a web page. Changes to or addition or deletion of metadata fields and values in an advertisement class or subclass are communicated to the online advertisements, and the metadata of the advertisements are updated to reflect the changes. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313849 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR EFFECTIVE MARKET RESEARCH - To assess the effectiveness of advertising campaigns and channels, a portable user appliance is provided to each of a plurality of panel members. Each device includes a scanning module for scanning and storing a UPC code for each product purchased by a corresponding panel member, a processor, a memory, a user-interface, and a communication interface operative to transfer information stored in memory to a central facility. Each device further includes a microphone and is operative to monitor an audio portion of at least one of a radio broadcast and a television broadcast. UPC codes and information corresponding to purchases made by each respective panel member are received from the portable user appliances, as are transmissions from which the identities of advertisements included in monitored audio portions can be determined. This information, along with information collected from the personal computers used by the panel members to view web pages and make online purchases, is associated with the demographic profile and/or identity of each corresponding panelist. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313850 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND MEDIA FOR REVIEWING CONTENT TRAFFIC - Methods, systems, and media for review content traffic are provided. In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, a method, implemented on a processor, for reviewing advertisement placement on webpages is provided. The method can include: receiving a plurality of uniform resource locators (URLs) relating to the placement of a plurality of advertisements associated with an advertiser; obtaining, for the plurality of URLs, a plurality of images and a plurality of advertisement traffic and rating information relating to each of the plurality of URLs, wherein each of the plurality of images shows the placement of an advertisement on the page accessed by a URL; presenting a traffic display that includes the plurality of images for the plurality of pages, wherein the plurality of images are user selectable; and, in response to selecting one of the plurality of images, presenting the advertiser with the advertisement traffic and rating information for a URL corresponding to the selected image and providing the advertiser with an opportunity to provide feedback information for the rating information associated with the URL. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313851 | TOOL FOR ANALYSIS OF ADVERTISING AUCTIONS - A tool for off-line experimentation with auction parameters for auctions for an ad space. The tool computes, using historical bid information, values per click to advertisers competing for the ad space. The tool applies a homotopy algorithm, using these values, to predict equilibrium bids based on the values to the advertisers. In computing the equilibrium bids, the bid of each advertiser is assumed to stay fixed over multiple auction cycles, but each advertiser is assumed to face uncertainty about quality scores used by the advertising platform in selecting bids and the rank of their bid with respect to others. The quality scores also are assumed to vary between auctions. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313852 | ORTHOGONAL CORPUS INDEX FOR AD BUYING AND SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION - Systems and methods for applications of orthogonal corpus indexing (OCI), such as selecting ad words for purchase and improving visibility of web pages in search engines, are described. In one aspect, the systems and methods described herein employ OCI to recommend to an advertiser ad words for purchase. Advertisers pay search engines for placement of their advertising along side results in the search results page, when a given word or phrase appears in a user's search query. The described systems and methods enable automated selection of related and discriminating terms, identifying keywords that increase the ratio of ads clicked-through to money spent on keyword buying. In another aspect, the systems and methods described herein employ OCI to generate content for web pages. OCI may be used to determine content that when added to a web page improves the rank of that page in a search engine. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313853 | SYSTEM FOR TARGETING ADVERTISING CONTENT TO A PLURALITY OF MOBILE COMMUNICATION FACILITIES - A system for targeting advertising content includes the steps of: (a) receiving respective requests for advertising content corresponding to a plurality of mobile communication facilities operated by a group of users, wherein the plurality includes first and second types of mobile communication facilities with different rendering capabilities; (b) receiving a datum corresponding to the group; (c) selecting from a first and second sponsor respective content based on a relevancy to the datum, wherein each content includes a first and second item requiring respective rendering capabilities; (d) receiving bids from the first and second sponsors; (e) attributing a priority to the content of the first sponsor based upon a determination that a yield associated with the first sponsor is greater than a yield associated with the second sponsor; and (f) transmitting the first and second items of the first sponsor to the first and second types of mobile communication facilities respectively. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313854 | ONLINE ADVERTISING VALUATION APPARATUS AND METHOD - A method comprising for determining the value provided to an advertiser through the advertiser's online advertisements. The method may begin with providing an online advertisement linked to content. A macro-context may be obtained that quantifies the affinity of the content for a plurality of domains corresponding to a semantic space. A personalization vector may be obtained that quantifies the affinity of at least one aspect of a user for the plurality of domains. The user may then select the online advertisement. A match value may be calculated that quantifies the similarity between the personalization vector and the macro-context. The advertiser may then be charged a monetary amount for the user's “click.” The monetary amount may be based, at least in part, on the match value. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313855 | System, Method and Apparatus for Automated Resource Allocation among Multiple Resource Server Systems - A system for automated resource allocation includes a client computer provided with a network interface, a plurality of resource server systems each provided with a network interface, and an operation server system provided with a network interface. In an embodiment, set forth by way of example and not limitation, the operation server system can be configured to obtain client parameters from the client computer for a fulfillment campaign, obtain resource parameters from the plurality of resource server systems, obtain operational parameters relevant to the fulfillment campaign, and allocate among the plurality of resource server systems in accordance with at least some of the client parameters, the resource parameters and the operational parameters to implement the fulfillment campaign. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313856 | SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION DELIVERY - In some examples, the technology identifies media and provides a user with supplemental information (e.g., supplemental media, a selectable link, etc.) based on the identity of the media. In other examples, the technology identifies media and provides a consumer with an option to click on a link associated with the media with a remote control to direct the video stream directly to a website sponsored by the commercial entity associated with the media. In other examples, the technology identifies media displayed on a subscriber's first computing device and displays the same media and/or a related media on the subscriber's second computing device. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313857 | USER CENTRIC REAL-TIME ADVERTISEMENT BIDDING - A client-based ad agent dynamically determines whether an advertisement campaign should bid on an impression for an end user and/or sets the bid price of the advertisement campaign for the impression. When an opportunity for an impression on a web page is identified, the ad agent accesses user data associated with an end user. The ad agent analyzes the user data to identify the relevance and/or value of serving an impression to the end user to the advertisement campaign. Based on the analysis, the ad agent controls whether the advertisement campaign bids on the impression for the end user and/or sets the bid price of the advertisement campaign for the impression. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313858 | Merchant Supplied Offer to a Consumer within a Predetermined Distance - A merchant supplies a requested offer for inventory to a consumer when the consumer is within a predetermined distance from the merchant. The merchant transmits a merchant identifier, a description of the inventory of the merchant that the merchant is willing to make an offer on, the offer, and instructions to transmit the offer to the consumer making the request for the inventory when the consumer is within the predetermined distance. The merchant receives notice that the offer has been made to the consumer. The consumer accepts the merchant's offer by entering into a transaction with the merchant for the requested inventory that applies the offer to the transaction. The value of the offer may be based on a parameter such as the transaction history of an account associated with the consumer within a payment processing system. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313859 | TECHNIQUES FOR ADVERTISER GEOTARGETING USING MAP COORDINATES - Techniques to provide geo-targeted advertising are described. A technique may include displaying a map to an advertiser at a first zoom level. The advertiser may stay at the first zoom level or change to a second zoom level. The advertiser may also create a user-defined area of the map. The advertiser may select an advertising campaign, and the advertising system may associate the selected advertising campaign with the user-defined area and the selected zoom level. The advertising system may then provide the selected advertising campaign for display in a mapping application operating on a client device when the user-defined area and the selected zoom level are viewed in the mapping application. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313860 | METHODS FOR RENDERING ADVERTISEMENT MESSAGES BY THE USE OF A MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A method is disclosed for rendering advertisement messages to a user of a mobile device according to the user's commercial interests determined based upon contents of voice communication. A display screen of a mobile device is used to present an advertisement message during or after a voice communication. The contents of the voice communication are recorded and analyzed. According to one aspect of the present invention, the user's commercial interest is determined by ranking frequency of appearance of keywords. According to another aspect, the user's commercial interest is determined by ranking an increased rate of appearance of the keywords over a period of time. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313861 | MOBILE ADVERTISING RELAY SYSTEM (MARS) - A mobile advertising relay system and related methods for relaying images between a designated server and one or more mobile communication devices. The system includes at least one designated server that is configured to supply images, and a database adapted to record information relating to images, users, image publishers (e.g., advertisers), and interactions therebetween. An image queue is uniquely associated with each mobile device whereby a plurality of images are stored for future presentation to the mobile device user. In embodiments, the image queue is stored in the mobile device to facilitate rapid display of the image upon receipt of an incoming communication. The designated server includes an image selection unit for replenishing images queues, and a user profile unit for recording user preferences and image interactions. Images may be rated by the user to enable future images to be selected in accordance with the user's tastes. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313862 | SYSTEM FOR TARGETING ADVERTISING CONTENT TO A PLURALITY OF MOBILE COMMUNICATION FACILITIES - A system for targeting advertising content includes the steps of: (a) receiving respective requests for advertising content corresponding to a plurality of mobile communication facilities operated by a group of users, wherein the plurality includes first and second types of mobile communication facilities with different rendering capabilities; (b) receiving a datum corresponding to the group; (c) selecting from a first and second sponsor respective content based on a relevancy to the datum, wherein each content includes a first and second item requiring respective rendering capabilities; (d) receiving bids from the first and second sponsors; (e) attributing a priority to the content of the first sponsor based upon a determination that a yield associated with the first sponsor is greater than a yield associated with the second sponsor; and (f) transmitting the first and second items of the first sponsor to the first and second types of mobile communication facilities respectively. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313863 | Systems and Methods for Opportunity-Based Services - Systems and methods for presenting a user with one or more forms of data, including, systems and methods of interactively searching and/or matching a user to an opportunity as well as obtaining a related score, and other information related thereto, preferably where the user has the ability to manage, utilize tools and receive education related thereto. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313864 | Method and System for Presenting Targeted Advertisements - A method and system for presenting targeted advertisements to a subscriber includes extracting probabilistic information about subscriber activities from one or more source and processing the probabilistic information about subscriber activities to generate a subscriber characterization vector. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313865 | AD COPY QUALITY DETECTION AND SCORING - Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for evaluating the quality of text within online advertisements using output from a language model are provided. The output from the language model may be used by a machine-learning algorithm to generate a quality score for an individual advertisement. The quality score may be used to filter out advertisements with poor text quality or to tax or penalize an advertisement within an online auction. The ad quality scores may also be used to rank or score advertisers that submit the ads. In one embodiment, the advertiser's quality score is combined with an individual ad's quality score to create a final score, which is used to evaluate the advertisement. The advertiser rank/score and ad quality score may be communicated to an advertiser as advertiser feedback. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313866 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING A VALUE OF A DATA-PROVIDING SERVICE UPGRADE - A system and a method for determining a value of an advertisement data-providing service upgrade are disclosed. The system for determining a value of an advertisement data-providing service upgrade extracts advertisement data from a database to provide an advertisement service for registering and displaying the advertisement data of an advertiser, determines a value of upgrading the service of the extracted advertisement data, and proposes a service upgrade to the advertiser using the extracted advertisement data and the upgrade value. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313867 | System and method for managing restaurant customer data elements - This invention is a system and method for managing restaurant customer data elements. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313868 | Order Management Device, Expansion Board, Order Management System Including These, and a Control Method and Program for an Order Management Device - An order management device that is used connected to an order entry terminal and a display device, includes: a print data acquisition unit that acquires print data from the order entry terminal, the print data being data for printing an order ticket and including an identification code identifying a customer and order information denoting order content; a display data generating unit that extracts the identification code and order information for one or more items from the acquired print data, sorts the order information by identification code, and generates display data for displaying the order information on the display device; and a display data output unit that outputs the generated display data to the display device. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313869 | COMPREHENSIVE ONLINE BIDDING AND SALES MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR MERCHANT PROCESSING SERVICES - A comprehensive online bidding and sales management system and method for merchant processing services of global credit card transactions. Merchants using the system can obtain multiple bid proposals for merchant processing services from sales representatives that are automatically ranked by the system based on the best overall price (estimated monthly expense to merchant) and feedback provided by merchants using the system. The merchant is thus provided with an estimated monthly expense and bid ranking associated with each bid proposal. The system provides the sales representative with its estimated revenues and processing expenses, and provides various merchant processing pricing models to the sales representative to analyze its bid proposals and merchant sales opportunities. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313870 | Initiating and Enabling Secure Contactless Transactions and Services with a Mobile Device - A system and method for a mobile device to initiate and enable contactless transactions and services between a user of said device and remote servers controlled by a service administrator. Such device will have an application or other facility residing it for reading data embedded in an object. The present invention provides for the loading of one or more service profiles to such mobile device based on certain unique identifiers of the user, such as a PIN or username and password, along with the unique ID of the mobile device itself or an administrator-assigned ID. Such service profiles are stored on such mobile device with a unique service ID and a unique service URL for such mobile device to transmit and receive data, along with certain unique identifiers, in real-time and in a secure, closed-loop environment. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313871 | APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING A PAYMENT - An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for facilitating customer payment. The apparatus includes a display module, a selection module, and a payment module. The display module displays on a display screen check details corresponding to one or more items ordered by a party made up of one or more members, the one or more items displayed on a display screen. The selection module allows a member to select check details corresponding to being items for which the member wishes to at least partially pay. The payment module allows the member to enter payment details corresponding to a payment method. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313872 | INFORMATION BANKING - A method for conducting a financial transaction can be used by a person using a mobile device to conduct the transaction. The mobile device receives information related to the person that can be used for authentication purposes, such as a PIN or biometric data. The mobile device then authenticates the person by verifying the information received. If the person is authenticated, the transaction is completed using the mobile device, and if the person is not authenticated, the transaction is prevented. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313873 | Form Factor Identification - A payment device, method, and apparatus configured to determine the form factor of the payment device used in a financial transaction, without requiring a different primary account number for each payment device form factor. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313874 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING LOCATION-BASED TRANSACTIONS - An approach is provided for managing location-based transactions. A posting application determines to associate transaction information with a geographic location, the transaction information relating to one or more users. The posting application determines location information associated with respective devices of the one or more users. The posting application determines to transmit a notification related to the one or more transactions to the respective devices based, at least in part, on the location information. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313875 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ORGANIZING SECURED PURCHASING GROUPS FOR BUYERS OF SIMILAR INTERESTS - This is a system and method of organizing secured purchasing groups (SPGs) to reduce costs and risks for both buyers and sellers by forming binding purchase offers and by selling in volume. The method includes authoring a first buyer to establish an SPG with the buyer's own terms of purchase. Other buyers join the established SPG if they agree to the terms of the SPG. As the established SPG interests more and more buyers and enlists the buyers to become a member, it attracts potential sellers to sell to the buyers of the SPG. A binding purchase contract is established when a seller makes a commitment to sell to a buyer of the SPG. A deposit is required from both the buyer and the seller to deter fraud and to reduce risks. A secret code system helps further reduce fraud and disputes. A user rating system further encourages good community behavior. The results of the rating system are used throughout the system. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313876 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONDUCTING DOMAIN NAME SERVICE - A method for conducting Internet domain name service to users connected to the Internet comprises an automated procedure for transferring Internet domain name service from a domain name owner to a domain name manager. This method further comprises Internet sub-domain name services to prospective buyers based on domain names transferred to the domain name manager. Messages requesting domain name service, including requests from domain name owners to sub-license their particular domain name to prospective sub-domain name buyers and from prospective sub-domain name buyers to license available sub-domain names, are received and responded to by an automated domain name management system. This automated domain name management system further comprises an interactive website which includes a database, search engine, and Web server. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313877 | Method of Conducting Limited Time Offers for Non-Identical Items and Personal and Professional Services over the Internet - A system for aggregating demand through an online buying group, which may include: (a) an e-commerce server-data processing system and configured to define a buying marketplace for a featured at least two different items by specifying the featured at least two different items for the marketplace, a time interval during which the marketplace is available, the marketplace defining a predetermined partial number of different items to activate the sale and one or more prices for the featured product available through the marketplace, (b) a buyer client data processing system coupled to said e-commerce server-data processing system, to display the data describing the conditions for the featured items on the buyer client data processing system, and to receive buyer order inputs that include the buyer's offer for the featured items and to transmit the buyer order inputs for the featured items to said e-commerce server-data processing system. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313878 | Made-to-order direct digital manufacturing enterprise - Methods and systems for designing and producing a three-dimensional object selection of a base three-dimensional object from a customer device. A base three-dimensional model corresponding to the object is displayed on the customer device, and one or more custom modifications are received. A modified three-dimensional model corresponding to the modified object is prepared and displayed. Once confirmation to produce the modified object is received, data corresponding to the modified three-dimensional model is transmitted to a manufacturing device for production of the object, using the data to do so, such that the object corresponds directly to the modified three-dimensional model. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313879 | Custom Hair Coloring Reformulation - There is disclosed a method for custom hair coloring reformulation. The method includes accepting a user login associated with previously entered user characteristics. Accepting user input of new user characteristics including natural hair color, current hair coloring, hair treatments, hair coloring characteristics and hair treatment characteristics. The method further includes identifying available hair coloring, accepting user input of desired hair coloring and identifying a hair colorant suitable to create the desired hair coloring in view of the user characteristics. An order is then generated for the hair colorant. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313880 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SELECTING TRANSPORTATION RESOURCES - Embodiments of the present invention include various steps, which will be described below. The steps may be embodied in machine-executable instructions. The instructions can be used to cause a general-purpose or special-purpose processor to perform certain steps. Alternatively, these steps may be performed by specific hardware components that contain hardwired logic for performing the steps, or by any combination of programmed computer components and custom hardware components. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313881 | AUTOMATED SYSTEM FOR MANAGING BABY CARE PRODUCTS - A method, in a computer-based online system having a memory, for managing an account for purchasing baby care products by a particular user, wherein the account is for use with a particular category of baby care products, including diapers. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313882 | SYSTEM FOR CREATING AND PRICING AGGREGATED BUNDLES OF COMBINED GOODS AND SERVICES - A computer implemented system and method for creating a bundle for purchase of multiple goods and services. A consumer is provided with choices for multiple products and services. The services may be related to one or more of the products being offered. As the consumer progresses through goods and services being offered, prices are calculated instantaneously from the consumer's point of view and other goods and services for bundling with previous choices are offered. Particular calculating methods are used to optimize the pricing for the bundled goods and services. Pre-set bundles may also be offered. Pre-set bundles may also be offered where certain components can be interchanged for other goods and services in a manner which may or may not affect the price. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313883 | MANAGEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A PAYMENT SCHEME - A method of determining a set of recommendations of possible available entities, such as tickets, wherein the set of recommendations are available for presentation to a user and match at least one search criteria entered by the user, wherein the search is conducted via a third-party which has a predetermined relationship with a supplier of the possible available entities; the method comprising the steps of: | 2011-12-22 |
20110313884 | ONLINE LOAN APPLICATION SYSTEM USING BORROWER PROFILE INFORMATION THROUGH A BACKGROUND SEARCH PROCESS - Embodiments of an online credit application system are described. The online credit application system displays a solicitation page requesting user credit score information and a selection of desired loan products. Embodiments include means for receiving a request by the user to purchase an item through an online application form, the request including identification information of the user; means for determining whether financing is available for at least part of the purchase request; means for transmitting the identification information to a second server, wherein the second server is configured to obtain a measure of the user's qualification to obtain the financing through a below-the-line credit check from a credit bureau; means for receiving from the second server the measure of the user's qualification and comparing it to the requirements of the financing; and means for notifying the user that the financing is available if the measure of the user's qualification satisfies the requirements of the financing. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313885 | CUSTOM HAIR COLORING FORMULATION - There is disclosed a method for custom hair coloring formulation. The method includes accepting user input of user characteristics including natural hair color, current hair coloring, hair treatments, hair coloring characteristics and hair treatment characteristics. The method further includes accepting user input of desired hair coloring and identifying a hair colorant suitable to create the desired hair coloring in view of the user characteristics. An order is then generated for the hair colorant. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313886 | SALES SYSTEM AND SALES MANAGEMENT METHOD - A sales system according to an embodiment includes a sales management device and a license management device. When a recording medium on which a digital content is recorded has been sold from a final seller to an end user through the distribution channel of the recording medium, the sales management device communicates the sales information to the license management device. On condition that the sales information has been communicated from the sales management device, the license management device provides a license for enabling the use of the digital content to the user terminal. When the recording medium has been sold to the end user, the sales management device supports transferring part of the sales price of the recording medium to the intermediate seller involving the distribution of the recording medium. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313887 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING DIGITAL MEDIA CONTENT AND DOWNLOADING THE CONTENT OR A PORTION THEREOF TO A MOBILE DEVICE - A system and method are provided for identifying an article of commerce, e.g., digital media content, and downloading all or part of content related to the article of commerce to mobile devices such as portable digital media players and/or mobile phone devices. The present disclosure will enable a user to find an existing digital entertainment product of interest such as but not limited to a music CD, music DVD, electronic game, text (such as a book,) or a movie/television DVD, to identify that product and then to transfer full or selected content, or associated content, to a mobile device, e.g., a portable digital media player and/or a mobile phone device. The system and method of the present disclosure will provide on the spot delivery of the exact content identified by the user, or a portion thereof, on the user's portable digital device(s). | 2011-12-22 |
20110313888 | SUPPLIER DYNAMIC REFERENCE SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Systems and methods for a supplier dynamic reference are provided. Some embodiments include a processor and a memory coupled to the processor for storing instructions. In various embodiments, the memory stores instructions causing the processor to provide product information to a consumer, process data to determine that the consumer wants to make a purchase, process data to enable a supplier to dynamically select a reseller of their products based on a predetermined criteria, and cause the processor to transmit data related to the selected reseller to the consumer. Some embodiments may include a database with product information and product reseller information, including an indication of which resellers sell each product and a selection system configured to select a reseller to provide to the consumer based on the consumer wanting to purchase the product and a reseller selection criteria, wherein the transmitter transmits reseller information to the consumer. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313889 | STREAMING DOWNLOADABLE DISC JOCKEY MIXED MUSIC - The present invention includes certain features such as a business method for a professional disc jockey company to sell streaming music that he has professionally “mixed” or “transitioned” over the Internet. This downloadable streaming music disc jockey service acts perfectly for customers that want the sound of a disc jockey, without the expense of a live disc jockey. In practicing the method, the disc jockey company would first determine highly sellable popular genres of music, such as Rock and Roll, Hip Hop, Country, Jazz, and the like. The disc jockey responsible for the project would then run the selection through a “mixing” software to provide a set of music that would sound just like a live disc jockey was playing the music. Once the music is compiled and transitioned, it is uploaded to a computer server where potential customers can make a selection amongst the pre-recorded and pre-mixed music selections, and the customer then may access their desired music mixes by downloading the mixed music on a per-hour-block basis, purchasing, on a subscription basis, where their music is accessed on a computer, phone or other device capable of downloading and accessing, or customers can purchase their music on a monthly basis, depending on the volume of music selections that they have used, but not stored, on their computers. Customers may make their own musical selections and have them transformed into a set that sounds like it has been professionally “mixed”. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313890 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DISTRIBUTING DIGITAL BOOKS - A method is provided in which a user, in dependence upon purchasing a physical copy of a first book, receives a code comprising an identifier of the first book. The code is provided to an electronic device associated with the user, via an input portion thereof A communication session is established between the electronic device and a digital bookstore via a communication network. The user transmits the code from the electronic device to the digital bookstore via the communication network during the communication session, and in response to providing the code, the user receives from the digital bookstore via the communication network a digital book copy of the first book. The digital book copy of the first book is then stored on a storage portion of the electronic device. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313891 | METHOD OF FACILITATING VALUE-BASED BARTERING OVER THE INTERNET - A method, apparatus, and system of facilitating value-based bartering over the internet are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system of e-commerce includes a computer network, a server to host a market place website, a listing module to enable an entity to assign a specified value to a good and to list the good for trade on the market place website such that the listing of the good will expire after being posted for a specified period of time, a trade module to enable an entity to trade the good for an other good of an other entity on the market place website, a search module to enable the entity to search a list of goods on the market place website. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313892 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR UPSELLING TO A USER OF A DIGITAL BOOK LENDING LIBRARY - A method is disclosed where an e-book lending library is provided. The lending library includes data relating to one of license data relating to a plurality of e-books and a plurality of e-books. A request to borrow a first e-book of the plurality of e-books for a predetermined finite period of time is received at the e-book lending library. A current lending status of the first e-book is determined as one of available for lending and unavailable for lending. When it is determined that the first e-book is unavailable for lending, a second signal is transmitted to the user via the communication network, the second signal comprising an offer to sell to the user the first e-book via the e-book lending library. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313893 | Management and control system for a designated functional space having at least one portal - A control and management system for defined areas such as loading docks, fire stations, and other designated defined areas, employs a card reader, vehicle sensing loop detectors and electric eyes, entrance door sensors and operators, truck securement devices, cameras, a control system with memory, and a wireless connection or internet/intranet connection, is provided to produce event log documentation. The event information is readily accessible by management or supervisory personnel, to see all of the recorded information concerning a specified event. Thus, an event can be readily reconstructed after the fact, using all available sensors and other information relevant to a manager or supervisor. This aids in locating lost packages, documents security procedures, preventing or detecting thefts and vandalism, and for other purposes. An alert can be issued whenever an abnormal or unauthorized event occurs during operations. A QR code reader can be provided for a cell phone with picture-taking capability, which communicates with the system to enable a person carrying the cell phone to scan QR codes at specified locations or on specified items or vehicles. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313894 | System and Method for Surgical Pack Manufacture, Monitoring, and Tracking - A wrapped surgical pack ( | 2011-12-22 |
20110313895 | METHOD FOR REFERRAL-BASED FINANCIAL TRANSACTION PROCESSING - A method for discounting costs of credit card processing for merchant participants is disclosed. A first account is associated with a first one of the merchant participants, and a unique referral identifier may be assigned thereto. A request to process one or more credit card transactions on behalf of the second one of the merchant participants is transmitted along with the referral identifier. The credit card transactions have a cost differential, from which a first fee reimbursement value is derived. The first account is credited based upon the first fee reimbursement value. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313896 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING SOFTWARE AS A SERVICE APPLICATIONS - Methods and apparatus are provided for monitoring usage of a Software As A Service (SAAS) application for post-processing of scanned data generated by a client device (e.g., MFPs). A management system receives a pricing model for an SAAS application, where the pricing model includes a post-post processing feature of the SAAS application available to a user of the client device. The pricing model also includes information identifying a price for use of the post-processing feature. Information is received by the management system regarding use of the post-processing feature by the user, and a revenue report is generated regarding the post-processing feature. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313897 | PAY GROUP - In one embodiment, a group account is provided to enable group members to make and receive payments, form different groups, easily track activities within a group, and manage group financial-based transactions. An administrator, who may also be a group member, creates a group through a payment provider service. The administrator invites individuals to be part of the group. Once the group is formed through individuals who accept the invitation, group members will be able to view information about the group as well as engage in financial transactions through and within the group using a group account. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313898 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FACITIATING CARD VERIFICATION OVER A NETWORK - A system and method for facilitating electronic commerce over a network, according to one or more embodiments, includes communicating with a user via a user device and an issuer of payment media via an issuer device over the network, the payment media being issued to the user by the issuer, receiving user instruction over the network to link the payment media to a user account related to the user, prompting the user over the network to input a secure password known only by the issuer and the user, receiving the secure password from the user over the network, verifying that the payment media is owned by the user over the network via a secure protocol, returning a response to the user related to verification of the payment media, and storing payment media verification information. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313899 | Method of Governing Content Presentation - A method of governing content presentation includes creating a variable computer-readable document file that includes primarily textual content. A delimiter is inserted at a predetermined position of the textual portion, defining delimited content. A viewer accesses the document file and consumes the associated content. A number of predetermined actions and/or events occurring while consuming content is tracked. An integrated device includes a storage medium, a microprocessor device, and an electronic display device. The storage medium includes instructions that can be implemented by the microprocessor device to cause a document to be displayed on the electronic display device according to the described method. | 2011-12-22 |
20110313900 | Systems and Methods to Predict Potential Attrition of Consumer Payment Account - Systems and methods are provided to generate a tool to predict voluntary account attrition in a payment processing system. In one aspect, a computing apparatus includes: a data warehouse configured to store transaction data of accounts issued by a plurality of issuers; and at least one processor configured to calculate values of a first plurality of variables for each of the accounts using the transaction data of the accounts issued by the plurality of issuers. The accounts include attrition accounts and non-attrition accounts. The at least one processor is further configured to identify a second plurality of variables from the first plurality of variables for a predictive model to distinguish, using the values and logistic regression, the attrition accounts from the non-attrition accounts. | 2011-12-22 |