Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120150726 | PAYMENT SYSTEM USING SPENDING GATES - A method for making a payment includes receiving a plurality of spending gate definitions for a customer account over a network. Each of the plurality of spending gate definitions associates at least one of a plurality of funding sources of the customer account with a purchase amount range. The plurality of spending gate definitions are stored in a database. A payment request for a purchase using the customer account is received over the network. The payment request includes a payment amount. The payment amount is corresponds to a first purchase amount range included in at least one of the spending definitions in the database. A payment is made using the at least one funding source of the customer account that is associated with the first purchase amount range according to the at least one spending definition. | 06-14-2012 |
20120150727 | RFID PAYMENT SYSTEM - A method for making a payment using a RFID system includes associating a first RFID identifier with a payer account in a database. A purchase type and an associated spending gate definition are received for the first RFID identifier over the network. The spending gate definition is associated with at least one of a plurality of funding sources of the payer account. The purchase type and associated spending gate definition are associated with the first RFID identifier in the database. A payment request is received for a purchase using the first RFID identifier over the network. It is determined that that the payment request includes the purchase type in the database. A payment is made using the at least one funding source of the payer account according to the spending gate definition associated with the purchase type. | 06-14-2012 |
20120158582 | PAYMENT SYSTEM USING IMAGES - A method for making a payment using an image includes receiving an image from a camera. The image is analyzed using a processor. A payee indicator that is included in the image is determined. Payee information from a database is retrieved using the payee indicator. A request to make a payment to a payee is sent over a network using the payee information. Thus, a payer may take an image that includes a payee indicator and the method will use that payee indicator to retrieve payee information that may include a current payment due to the payee and a due date for that payment, and the payer may quickly and easily send a request to make that payment to a payment service provider to ensure that the payment is made to the payee. | 06-21-2012 |
20120191603 | LOCATION-BASED AUTOMATIC PAYMENT SYSTEM - A method for making a location-based automatic payment includes receiving an automatic payment instruction that designates a payee account. The automatic payment instruction is associated with a payer account in a database. A payment location is received and associated with the automatic payment request in the database. A payer device that is associated with the payer account is determined to be in the payment location and, in response, a payment request is sent over a network to make a payment from the payer account to the payee account. | 07-26-2012 |
20120197764 | METHOD AND PROCESS OF USING METADATA ASSOCIATED WITH A DIGITAL MEDIA TO SEARCH FOR LOCAL INVENTORY - In various exemplary embodiments, a method of selecting and retrieving information related to selectable items in a dynamic digital event (e.g., a movie) is presented. Each of the selectable items is available for purchase by an end-user. The method includes preparing the digital event for presentation on an electronic device of the end-user. Preparing the digital event includes generating tags for each of the selectable items within the digital event and adding metadata for each item. The metadata includes a description for each item. An indication is displayed to the end-user that one or more of the selectable items are present within at least a portion of the digital event. A determination is made whether the end-user has selected at least one item. Based on a determination that the end-user has selected at least one item, the metadata associated with the at least one item is displayed to the end-user. | 08-02-2012 |
20120209768 | PAYMENT SYSTEM WITH LOCATION RESTRICTIONS - A method for restricting a payment from an account based on a user location includes receiving at least one payment location restriction for an account from a user device over a network. The at least one payment location restriction includes at least one authorized user location or at least one unauthorized user location for making payments using the account. | 08-16-2012 |
20120209772 | PAYMENT SYSTEM WITH TIME RESTRICTIONS - A method for restricting a payment from an account based on a time includes receiving at least one payment time restriction for an account from a user device over a network. The at least one payment time restriction includes at least one authorized payment time or at least one unauthorized payment time for making payments using the account. The at least one payment time restriction is associated with the account in a database. A request to make a payment using the account is received over the network. A current time is determined. The request is authorized or denied based, at least partly, on whether the current time is included in the at least one authorized payment time or the at least one unauthorized payment time. | 08-16-2012 |
20120215643 | METHOD AND PROCESS OF USING A MUSICAL COLLECTIVE TO DETERMINE PREFERENCES OF A SOCIAL GROUP AND TARGET ADVERTISEMENTS BASED UPON THAT GROUP - In various exemplary embodiments, a system and related method of determining group preferences from a group of end-users and targeting an advertisement to the end-users based on the group preferences is provided. The method includes electronically collecting information from electronic devices of the end-users; determining an overall preference of the plurality of end-users based on the collected information; and transmitting an advertisement to the electronic devices of the end-users based on the determination of the overall preference. | 08-23-2012 |
20120221463 | LOCATION-BASED AUTOMATIC PAYMENT SYSTEM - A method for making a location-based automatic payment includes receiving an automatic payment instruction that designates a payee account. The automatic payment instruction is associated with a payer account in a database. A payment location is received and associated with the automatic payment request in the database. A payer device that is associated with the payer account is determined to be in the payment location and, in response, a payment request is sent over a network to make a payment from the payer account to the payee account. | 08-30-2012 |
20120239497 | METHOD AND PROCESS OF USING A SOCIAL NETWORK TO RETARGET A PERSONAL ADVERTISEMENT - In various exemplary embodiments, a system, a method, and a related non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, of targeting advertisements based on a lifestyle change for an individual is disclosed. The method includes scanning a plurality of social sites to determine the lifestyle change and making a determination whether one or more keywords related to the lifestyle change are found in at least one of the plurality of social sites. Based on the determination that the one or more keywords are found in at least one of the plurality of social sites, the method continues with querying an end-user of the at least one of the plurality of social sites, determining an event related to the lifestyle change, matching an advertisement targeted to the event, and electronically sending the targeted advertisement to either the end-user or the individual. | 09-20-2012 |
20120240019 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TRACKING WEB LINK USAGE - A method and system for tracking web link usage is provided. An example system includes a request detector, a click history module, a link presentation generator, and a serving module. The request detector may be configured to receive a request for a web page comprising a web link. The click history module may be configured to access click history associated with the user account. The link presentation generator may be configured to modify the web page, utilizing the click history. The serving module may be configured to serve the modified web page in response to the request for the web page. | 09-20-2012 |
20120259720 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO CONFIRM OWNERSHIP OF DIGITAL GOODS - A method and system to confirm ownership of digital goods is provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving, from a client device via a data network interface, a request for a digital good, completing one or more micro transactions with respect to a financial account, generating a code utilizing information derived from the one or more micro transactions and embedding the code into a first copy of the digital good, the code to be used to confirm ownership of the digital good. | 10-11-2012 |
20120296818 | METHOD FOR AUTHORIZING THE ACTIVATION OF A SPENDING CARD - A method of authorizing the activation of a card holder's spending card is provided. The method includes receiving a request from the card holder to authorize the activation of the spending card and then requesting identity verification of the card holder. Following the identity verification request, the method includes obtaining a geographic location of the card holder. After determining the geographic location of the card holder, the method may include temporarily activating the deactivated spending card and instructing the card holder to conduct at least one transaction with the spending card at at least one selected location, wherein the selected location is selected based on the geographic location of the card holder. Spending card activity may be monitored to determine whether the at least one transaction was completed, and, based on whether the at least one transaction was completed, the activation of the spending card may be authorized. | 11-22-2012 |
20120310777 | PAYER DEVICE THAT CHANGES PHYSICAL STATE BASED ON PAYER INFORMATION - A method for providing payer information on a payer device includes providing a payer device that includes at least one physical state change component moveably coupled to the payer device. Payer information is received over a network. The payer information is then determined to be associated with a physical state change instruction in a non-transitory, machine-readable medium of the payer device. The at least one physical state change component is then actuated according to the physical state change instruction to provide the payer information to a payer by changing the physical state of the payer device. | 12-06-2012 |
20120311342 | FOCUS-BASED CHALLENGE-RESPONSE AUTHENTICATION - A method for authenticating an access attempt includes detecting an access attempt by a user device over a network. A challenge-response authentication is provided over the network to the user device. The challenge-response authentication includes an image having a plurality of image objects. The challenge-response authentication is operable to display the image such that at least one of the plurality of image objects is in focus and at least one of the plurality of image objects is not in focus. In response to providing the challenge-response authentication, an authentication response is received from the user device over the network, and it is determined whether the authentication response includes an indication of the at least one of the plurality of image objects that is in focus to determine whether to authenticate or deny the access attempt. | 12-06-2012 |
20130030964 | LOCATION-BASED PAYER CHARGING SYSTEM - A location-based payer charging system includes a charging database including at least one transportation charge element associated with a transportation provider. A system provider device in the location-based payer charging system is coupled to a network and the charging database. The system provider device is operable to receive first location data from a payer device over the network in response to the payer device entering a first transportation area, and then receive second location data from the payer device over the network in response to the payer device exiting a second transportation area. The system provider device will then determine a payment amount using the first location data, the second location data, and a transportation charge element retrieved from the charging data, and send an instruction to charge the payment amount to a payer account that is associated with the payer device. | 01-31-2013 |
20130030965 | LOCATION-BASED PAYER CHARGING SYSTEM - A method for charging a payer includes detecting a payer device, which is associated with a payer account, entering an event area. The payer device is then associated with an event invoice in a database. When the payer device is determined to have been involved in at least one payer charging event while being located in the event area, a charge is associated with the event invoice in the database for each payer charging event the payer device has been involved in. When the payer device is detected leaving the event area, a payment is charged to the payer account for the event invoice. | 01-31-2013 |
20130073543 | SEARCH SYSTEM UTILZING PURCHASE HISTORY - A method for providing a purchase history context search includes receiving at least one search term from a user through an input device. A purchase history for the user is then accessed from at least one purchase history database over a network. A web index that is located on at least one storage device is then accessed. A plurality of search results, each associated with a web page indexed by the web index, are then determined using the at least one search term and the purchase history, each search result including a link to an associated web page. The plurality of search results are then provided for display on a display device. | 03-21-2013 |
20130074169 | Restrictive Access of a Digital Object Based on Location - The present disclosure involves a method including: receiving a request to access an object from a user; prompting the user to go to a target location; receiving feedback from the user with respect to the user's location; determining, electronically by a processor, whether the user has reached the target location; granting access of the object to the user in response to the determining. The present disclosure involves a system including: a storage storing an electronic item; an electronic communications interface that: detects a request to access the item from an entity and prompts the entity to go to a target location in response to the request; a computer processor that: analyzes feedback from the entity with respect to the entity's location, determines whether the entity's location is sufficiently close to the target location, and grants or denies access of the item to the entity based on the determination. | 03-21-2013 |
20130173467 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR USING A CO-LOCATED GROUP AS AN AUTHORIZATION MECHANISM - Systems and methods to enable a co-located group to be used as an authorization mechanism are discussed. For example, a method to receive a group account configuration, define a group account according to the group account configuration, receive a transaction authorization request associated with the group account, and authorize payment from the group account. The account configuration including a membership list and a target location. The method further including determining whether the transaction authorization request includes data identifying an identified user on the membership list. The method also including determining whether the identified user on the membership list is physically proximate to the target location. The authorizing payment from the group account including verifying that the identified user is determined to be physically proximate to the target location. | 07-04-2013 |
20130198002 | METHOD AND PROCESS OF USING META-DATA ASSOCIATED WITH A DIGITAL MEDIA TO ADVERTISE LOCAL INVENTORY BASED UPON VIEW GPS LOCATION - Retrieving information related to a plurality of viewable items in a dynamic digital event, the information including metadata, by displaying an indication on an end user device that one or more of the items are present within at least a portion of the dynamic digital event; identifying the location of the end user device; based on its location, identifying one or more merchants at or near the location of the end user device that offer at least one of the items, and displaying such information on the end user device. The system may determine whether a merchant may offer a special offer with respect the item. If no merchant offers the advertised item at or near the location, the system may select a merchant providing an item similar or substitutable for the advertised item. Object recognition may be employed, including using near real-time tagging. | 08-01-2013 |
20130253998 | CONTINGENT PAYMENT SYSTEM - A method for providing contingent payments includes receiving, from a first user through a user device over a network, a contingent payment request. The contingent payment request is stored in a database. A contingent payment intent is provided on a user profile that is associated with the first user. The user profile is monitored. When it is determined that at least one contingent payment factor in the contingent payment request has been satisfied by a second user, funds are transferred from a user account associated with the first user to a merchant account in order to purchase a first product that is associated with the contingent payment request. In an embodiment, the second user may provide a coupon on the user profile that satisfies the at least one contingent payment factor and results in the purchase of the first product using the user account. | 09-26-2013 |
20130260890 | DONATION INCENTIVATION SYSTEM - A method for incentivizing donations using virtual currencies includes determining that a user associated with a game and determining a location of the user. A charity provider is then identified that is both associated with the game and within a predetermined distance of the location. A donation incentivization message is then sent to the user that includes an identification of the charity provider. A plurality of redemption codes are also sent to the charity provider. A first redemption code of the plurality of redemption codes that is associated with the user and a donation from the user to the charity provider is received. The first redemption code is then used to credit a user account that is associated with the user with a virtual currency amount that is determined using the donation. | 10-03-2013 |
20130276083 | FOCUS-BASED CHALLENGE-RESPONSE AUTHENTICATION - A method for authenticating an access attempt includes detecting an access attempt by a user device over a network. A challenge-response authentication is provided over the network to the user device. The challenge-response authentication includes an image having a plurality of image objects. The challenge-response authentication is operable to display the image such that at least one of the plurality of image objects is in focus and at least one of the plurality of image objects is not in focus. In response to providing the challenge-response authentication, an authentication response is received from the user device over the network, and it is determined whether the authentication response includes an indication of the at least one of the plurality of image objects that is in focus to determine whether to authenticate or deny the access attempt. | 10-17-2013 |
20130346244 | ONLINE/OFFLINE PAYMENT SYSTEM - A method for receiving a payment includes receiving information for a transaction with a merchant over the network, wherein the transaction includes an incomplete online transaction associated with a user account. A location of a user device that is associated with the user account is then retrieved, and a payment location is determined that is within a predetermined distance of the location of the user device. The payment location is then sent over the network to the user device. The user of the user device may then go to the payment location to provide payment information offline to a payment location device (e.g., by presenting a payment card to the payment location device provider, providing cash, etc.). That payment information is then received over the network from the payment location device and, in response, the online transaction is completed. | 12-26-2013 |
20140006114 | SPENDING CAPABILITY SYSTEM | 01-02-2014 |
20140006253 | LOCATION-BASED CREDIT PROVISION SYSTEM | 01-02-2014 |
20140040071 | TRUSTED FULFILLMENT AGENT NETWORK - A system and method for a trusted fulfillment agent network system is described. A network of trusted fulfillment agents is generated for a seller in an online marketplace. A transaction between a buyer and the seller corresponding to a listing of the seller in the online marketplace is accessed. A request is generated to the network of trusted fulfillment agents of the seller to fulfill a shipment of an item from the listing to the buyer on behalf of the seller. | 02-06-2014 |
20140046745 | CONTINGENT PAYMENT SYSTEM - A method for providing contingent payments includes receiving, from a first user through a user device over a network, a contingent payment request. The contingent payment request is stored in a database. A contingent payment intent is provided on a user profile that is associated with the first user. The user profile is monitored. When it is determined that at least one contingent payment factor in the contingent payment request has been satisfied by a second user, funds are transferred from a user account associated with the first user to a merchant account in order to purchase a first product that is associated with the contingent payment request. In an embodiment, the second user may provide a coupon on the user profile that satisfies the at least one contingent payment factor and results in the purchase of the first product using the user account. | 02-13-2014 |
20140067634 | FINANCIAL GOAL VISUALIZATION SYSTEM - A method for visualizing a financial goal includes receiving a selection of a financial goal from a user device of a user over a network. The financial goal includes a plurality of financial sub-goals, each of which is associated with a different image in a database. A plurality of first financial data is retrieved from user accounts of the user, and a first financial goal status is determined using the first financial data. An image for each financial sub-goal of the financial goal is provided based on the first financial goal status in order to display a storyboard having a plurality of images for visualizing progress related to the financial goal on a display device. As the financial goal status changes according to financial data retrieved from the users accounts, the image displayed for may financial sub-goal may be changed, visually indicating the users progress towards their financial goals. | 03-06-2014 |
20140081804 | SOCIAL PURCHASE SYSTEM - Systems and methods for providing social purchases include hardware and software configured to receive a purchase instruction from a purchaser that includes an item and a merchant associated with the item. The purchase instruction is determined to be associated with a social purchase request that may be predefined or provided along with the purchase instruction. In response to determining the associated social purchase request, a social purchase solicitation including the item is provided to a plurality of friends connected to the purchaser through a social network on their associated social network profiles. The social purchase solicitation is monitored for social purchase opinions directed to the item by the plurality of friends through the social network profiles. A payment request to make a payment from the purchaser to the merchant is sent in response to the social purchase opinions including a predetermined number of positive opinions directed to the item. | 03-20-2014 |
20140081859 | FINANCIAL STRENTGH INDICATION - A method for providing an indication of financial strength includes receiving a financial indicator and a predetermined spending budget status from a user. The predetermined spending budget status is associated with a spending budget for the user that has at least one payment account. The financial indicator is then associated with the predetermined spending budget status. A payment request that includes one of the at least one payment accounts is then received from a merchant. A current spending budget status is then determined using the spending budget and the at least one payment account. The financial indicator is then sent to the merchant for provision to the user in response to the current spending budget status being included in the predetermined spending budget status. | 03-20-2014 |
20140136410 | Credit Card Fraud Detection - Methods and systems are provided for detecting and preventing fraudulent use of credit cards and the like. The amount of wear of a magnetic strip of a suspect credit card can be compared to an amount of wear of the magnetic strip of the corresponding legitimate credit card. If the amount of wear of the magnetic strip of the suspect credit card is less than the amount of wear of the magnetic strip of the legitimate credit card, then both the suspect credit card and the legitimate credit card can be deactivated. | 05-15-2014 |
20140136435 | SOCIAL MEDIA AND TRANSACTION DISPLAY SYSTEM - Systems and methods for displaying transaction data and social media are provided. In an embodiment, a receiver and record generation module generates a record of a transaction performed by a user. A transmission module sends a request for social media data related to the transaction and about the user to a network-based social platform. A receiver module receives at least one piece of social media data. A signal generation module provides a rendering signal instructing a client device to render at least a portion of the record of the transaction and the at least one piece of social media data. | 05-15-2014 |
20140142992 | Trip Planning and Budgeting - Methods and systems can facilitate enhanced planning and spending during travel. According to an embodiment, each travel destination of a trip can have one or more payment events or purchases associated therewith. The purchases can be prepaid, such as prior to the trip. Recommendations for the purchases can be made by the system based, at least in part, upon the user's spending history and/or social network indications. | 05-22-2014 |
20140244678 | CUSTOMIZED USER EXPERIENCES - Systems and methods for customizing a user experience are described. The methods include automatically collecting identifying characteristic information for a current user, comparing the identifying characteristic information to stored user profiles for known users, identifying the current user as a known user, retrieving user preferences for the known user, and presenting the user preferences. | 08-28-2014 |
20140258012 | Concealed Purchase History - Methods and systems are provided for concealing information regarding products purchased as gifts for others, such as the intended gift recipient. Often, opportunities exist for a gift recipient to inadvertently or intentionally obtain information regarding a gift to be given or already given to them. For example, such information can be readily available via sources such as social media and other websites, as well from account statements. Such information can be omitted from websites, account statements, and the like, at least until such a time that the user wants for the information to be available. | 09-11-2014 |
20140258022 | Inferred Budget - Methods and systems are provided for providing purchase recommendations and a budget to a user. The purchase recommendations can be for discretionary products for the user or for gifts for others. The purchase recommendations and the budget can be based upon the amount of discretionary money available for the user to make such purchases and for whom the purchases are to be made. The purchase recommendations and the budget can be further based upon purchase histories, wish lists, and calendars. | 09-11-2014 |
20140304150 | PAYER DEVICE THAT CHANGES PHYSICAL STATE BASED ON PAYER INFORMATION - A method for providing payer information on a payer device includes providing a payer device that includes at least one physical state change component moveably coupled to the payer device. Payer information is received over a network. The payer information is then determined to be associated with a physical state change instruction in a non-transitory, machine-readable medium of the payer device. The at least one physical state change component is then actuated according to the physical state change instruction to provide the payer information to a payer by changing the physical state of the payer device. | 10-09-2014 |
20140324685 | RFID PAYMENT SYSTEM - A method for making a payment using a RFID system includes associating a first RFID identifier with a payer account in a database. A purchase type and an associated spending gate definition are received for the first RFID identifier over the network. The spending gate definition is associated with at least one of a plurality of funding sources of the payer account. The purchase type and associated spending gate definition are associated with the first RFID identifier in the database. A payment request is received for a purchase using the first RFID identifier over the network. It is determined that that the payment request includes the purchase type in the database. A payment is made using the at least one funding source of the payer account according to the spending gate definition associated with the purchase type. | 10-30-2014 |
20150026068 | FOCUS-BASED CHALLENGE-RESPONSE AUTHENTICATION - A method for authenticating an access attempt includes detecting an access attempt by a user device over a network. A challenge-response authentication is provided over the network to the user device. The challenge-response authentication includes an image having a plurality of image objects. The challenge-response authentication is operable to display the image such that at least one of the plurality of image objects is in focus and at least one of the plurality of image objects is not in focus. In response to providing the challenge-response authentication, an authentication response is received from the user device over the network, and it is determined whether the authentication response includes an indication of the at least one of the plurality of image objects that is in focus to determine whether to authenticate or deny the access attempt. | 01-22-2015 |
20150235213 | PAYMENT SYSTEM USING SPENDING GATES - A method for making a payment includes receiving a plurality of spending gate definitions for a customer account over a network. Each of the plurality of spending gate definitions associates at least one of a plurality of funding sources of the customer account with a purchase amount range. The plurality of spending gate definitions are stored in a database. A payment request for a purchase using the customer account is received over the network. The payment request includes a payment amount. The payment amount is corresponds to a first purchase amount range included in at least one of the spending definitions in the database. A payment is made using the at least one funding source of the customer account that is associated with the first purchase amount range according to the at least one spending definition. | 08-20-2015 |
20150310120 | SEARCH SYSTEM UTILZING PURCHASE HISTORY - A method for providing a purchase history context search includes receiving at least one search term from a user through an input device. A purchase history for the user is then accessed from at least one purchase history database over a network. A web index that is located on at least one storage device is then accessed. A plurality of search results, each associated with a web page indexed by the web index, are then determined using the at least one search term and the purchase history, each search result including a link to an associated web page. The plurality of search results are then provided for display on a display device. | 10-29-2015 |
20160055475 | LOCATION-BASED PAYER CHARGING SYSTEM - A method for charging a payer includes detecting a payer device, which is associated with a payer account, entering an event area. The payer device is then associated with an event invoice in a database. When the payer device is determined to have been involved in at least one payer charging event while being located in the event area, a charge is associated with the event invoice in the database for each payer charging event the payer device has been involved in. When the payer device is detected leaving the event area, a payment is charged to the payer account for the event invoice. | 02-25-2016 |