| 04th week of 2012 patent applcation highlights part 56 |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20120022853 | Multi-Modal Input on an Electronic Device - A computer-implemented input-method editor process includes receiving a request from a user for an application-independent input method editor having written and spoken input capabilities, identifying that the user is about to provide spoken input to the application-independent input method editor, and receiving a spoken input from the user. The spoken input corresponds to input to an application and is converted to text that represents the spoken input. The text is provided as input to the application. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022854 | INFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICE, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, AND INFORMATION PROCESSING PROGRAM - An apparatus and method provide logic for processing information. In one implementation, an apparatus includes a receiving unit configured to receive a selection of displayed content from a user. An obtaining unit is configured to obtain data corresponding to the selection. The data includes text data. An identification unit is configured to identify a keyword within the text data, and a storage unit is configured to generate a command to transmit the keyword to a device. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022855 | Searching and Browsing of Contextual Information - Systems and methods for searching and browsing a data store of contextually related data objects. The system includes a search/browse module that receives a search query. The search/browse module identifies data objects that match the search query and generates sentences from data objects that are contextually related to the matching data objects. The sentences are human-readable sentences, for example in subject-verb-object format, where each sentence represents the relationship between two data objects. The sentences are output for display as a hierarchy of sentences. Additionally, a user can browse the data store of contextually related data objects by selecting a sentence that is displayed to the user. The search/browse module then outputs attributes of the data object represented by the sentence for display in two separate regions of a user interface. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022856 | Browsing of Contextual Information - Systems and methods for searching and browsing a data store of contextually related data objects. The system includes a search/browse module that receives a search query. The search/browse module identifies data objects that match the search query and generates sentences from data objects that are contextually related to the matching data objects. The sentences are human-readable sentences, for example in subject-verb-object format, where each sentence represents the relationship between two data objects. The sentences are output for display as a hierarchy of sentences. Additionally, a user can browse the data store of contextually related data objects by selecting a sentence that is displayed to the user. The search/browse module then outputs attributes of the data object represented by the sentence for display in two separate regions of a user interface. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022857 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A COOPERATIVE CONVERSATIONAL VOICE USER INTERFACE - A cooperative conversational voice user interface is provided. The cooperative conversational voice user interface may build upon short-term and long-term shared knowledge to generate one or more explicit and/or implicit hypotheses about an intent of a user utterance. The hypotheses may be ranked based on varying degrees of certainty, and an adaptive response may be generated for the user. Responses may be worded based on the degrees of certainty and to frame an appropriate domain for a subsequent utterance. In one implementation, misrecognitions may be tolerated, and conversational course may be corrected based on subsequent utterances and/or responses. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022858 | HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND ASSOCIATED METHOD EMPLOYING A MULTIPLE-AXIS INPUT DEVICE AND PROVIDING A LEARNING FUNCTION IN A TEXT DISAMBIGUATION ENVIRONMENT - A handheld electronic device includes a reduced QWERTY keyboard and is enabled with disambiguation software. The device provides output in the form of a default output and a number of variants. The output is based largely upon the frequency, i.e., the likelihood that a user intended a particular output, but various features of the device provide additional variants that are not based solely on frequency and rather are provided by various logic structures resident on the device. The device enables editing during text entry and also provides a learning function that allows the disambiguation function to adapt to provide a customized experience for the user. The disambiguation function can be selectively disabled and an alternate keystroke interpretation system provided. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022859 | AUTOMATIC MARKING METHOD FOR KARAOKE VOCAL ACCOMPANIMENT - An automatic marking method for Karaoke vocal accompaniment is provided. In the method, pitch, beat position and volume of a singer are compared with the original pitch, beat position and volume of the theme of a song to generate a score of pitch, a score of beat and a score of emotion respectively, so as to obtain a weighted total score in a weighted marking method. By using the method, the pitch, beat position and volume error of each section of the song sung by the singer can be exactly worked out, and a pitch curve and a volume curve can be displayed, so that the singer can learn which part is sung incorrectly and which part needs to be enhanced. The present invention also has the advantages of dual effects of teaching and entertainment, high practicability and technical advancement. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022860 | Speech and Noise Models for Speech Recognition - An audio signal generated by a device based on audio input from a user may be received. The audio signal may include at least a user audio portion that corresponds to one or more user utterances recorded by the device. A user speech model associated with the user may be accessed and a determination may be made background audio in the audio signal is below a defined threshold. In response to determining that the background audio in the audio signal is below the defined threshold, the accessed user speech model may be adapted based on the audio signal to generate an adapted user speech model that models speech characteristics of the user. Noise compensation may be performed on the received audio signal using the adapted user speech model to generate a filtered audio signal with reduced background audio compared to the received audio signal. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022861 | PARALLEL ENTROPY ENCODER AND PARALLEL ENTROPY DECODER - An entropy encoder block for use in a context adaptive encoder and an entropy decoder block for use in a context adaptive decoder is presented. The encoder block includes a plurality of encoding elements, for processing encoding search tree look tables corresponding to encoding probabilities used by the context adaptive encoder, at least two of the encoding elements servicing the same probability. In an embodiment, at least one of the encoding search tree lookup tables comprises a set of shared encoding search tree lookup tables, accessible by at least two of the encoding elements. The decoder block includes a plurality of decoding elements, for processing decoding search tree lookup tables corresponding to the decoding probabilities used by the context adaptive decoder, at least two of the decoding elements servicing the same probability. In an embodiment, at least one of the decoding search tree lookup tables comprises a set of shared decoding search tree lookup tables, accessible by at least two of the decoding elements. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022862 | SPEECH RECOGNITION CIRCUIT AND METHOD - A speech recognition circuit comprising a circuit for providing state identifiers which identify states corresponding to nodes or groups of adjacent nodes in a lexical tree, and for providing scores corresponding to said state identifiers, the lexical tree comprising a model of words; a memory structure for receiving and storing state identifiers identified by a node identifier identifying a node or group of adjacent nodes, the memory structure being adapted to allow lookup to identify particular state identifiers, reading of the scores corresponding to the state identifiers, and writing back of the scores to the memory structure after modification of the scores; an accumulator for receiving score updates corresponding to particular state identifiers from a score update generating circuit which generates the score updates using audio input, for receiving scores from the memory structure, and for modifying the scores by adding the score updates to the scores; and a selector circuit for selecting at least one node or group of adjacent nodes of the lexical tree according to the scores. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022863 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR VOICE ACTIVITY DETECTION - A method and apparatus for detecting voice activity are disclosed. The method of detecting voice activity is performed in a Continuous Listening environment which includes: extracting a feature parameter from a frame signal; determining whether the frame signal is a voice signal or a noise signal by comparing the feature parameter with model parameters of a plurality of comparison signals, respectively; and outputting the frame signal when the frame signal is determined to be a voice signal. The apparatus includes a classifier module which extracts a feature parameter from a frame signal, and generating labeling information with respect to the frame signal by comparing the feature parameter with model parameters of a plurality of comparison signals; and | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022864 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CLASSIFYING BACKGROUND NOISE CONTAINED IN AN AUDIO SIGNAL - Embodiments of methods and devices for classifying background noise contained in an audio signal are disclosed. In one embodiment, the device includes a module for extracting from the audio signal a background noise signal, termed the noise signal. Also included is a second that calculates a first parameter, termed the temporal indicator. The temporal indicator relates to the temporal evolution of the noise signal. The second module also calculates a second parameter, termed the frequency indicator. The frequency indicator relates to the frequency spectrum of the noise signal. Finally, the device includes a third module that classifies the background noise by selecting, as a function of the calculated values of the temporal indicator and of the frequency indicator, a class of background noise from among a predefined set of classes of background noise. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022865 | System and Method for Efficiently Reducing Transcription Error Using Hybrid Voice Transcription - A system and method for efficiently reducing transcription error using hybrid voice transcription is provided. A voice stream is parsed from a call into utterances. An initial transcribed value and corresponding recognition score are assigned to each utterance. A transcribed message is generated for the call and includes the initial transcribed values. A threshold is applied to the recognition scores to identify those utterances with recognition scores below the threshold as questionable utterances. At least one questionable utterance is compared to other questionable utterances from other calls and a group of similar questionable utterances is formed. One or more of the similar questionable utterances is selected from the group. A common manual transcription value is received for the selected similar questionable utterances. The common manual transcription value is assigned to the remaining similar questionable utterances in the group. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022866 | Language Model Selection for Speech-to-Text Conversion - Methods, computer program products and systems are described for converting speech to text. Sound information is received at a computer server system from an electronic device, where the sound information is from a user of the electronic device. A context identifier indicates a context within which the user provided the sound information. The context identifier is used to select, from among multiple language models, a language model appropriate for the context. Speech in the sound information is converted to text using the selected language model. The text is provided for use by the electronic device. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022867 | Speech to Text Conversion - Methods, computer program products and systems are described for speech-to-text conversion. A voice input is received from a user of an electronic device and contextual metadata is received that describes a context of the electronic device at a time when the voice input is received. Multiple base language models are identified, where each base language model corresponds to a distinct textual corpus of content. Using the contextual metadata, an interpolated language model is generated based on contributions from the base language models. The contributions are weighted according to a weighting for each of the base language models. The interpolated language model is used to convert the received voice input to a textual output. The voice input is received at a computer server system that is remote to the electronic device. The textual output is transmitted to the electronic device. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022868 | Word-Level Correction of Speech Input - The subject matter of this specification can be implemented in, among other things, a computer-implemented method for correcting words in transcribed text including receiving speech audio data from a microphone. The method further includes sending the speech audio data to a transcription system. The method further includes receiving a word lattice transcribed from the speech audio data by the transcription system. The method further includes presenting one or more transcribed words from the word lattice. The method further includes receiving a user selection of at least one of the presented transcribed words. The method further includes presenting one or more alternate words from the word lattice for the selected transcribed word. The method further includes receiving a user selection of at least one of the alternate words. The method further includes replacing the selected transcribed word in the presented transcribed words with the selected alternate word. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022869 | ACOUSTIC MODEL ADAPTATION USING GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION - Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for enhancing speech recognition accuracy. In one aspect, a method includes receiving an audio signal that corresponds to an utterance recorded by a mobile device, determining a geographic location associated with the mobile device, adapting one or more acoustic models for the geographic location, and performing speech recognition on the audio signal using the one or more acoustic models model that are adapted for the geographic location. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022870 | GEOTAGGED ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIO FOR ENHANCED SPEECH RECOGNITION ACCURACY - Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for enhancing speech recognition accuracy. In one aspect, a method includes receiving geotagged audio signals that correspond to environmental audio recorded by multiple mobile devices in multiple geographic locations, receiving an audio signal that corresponds to an utterance recorded by a particular mobile device, determining a particular geographic location associated with the particular mobile device, generating a noise model for the particular geographic location using a subset of the geotagged audio signals, where noise compensation is performed on the audio signal that corresponds to the utterance using the noise model that has been generated for the particular geographic location. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022871 | SPEECH RECOGNITION CIRCUIT USING PARALLEL PROCESSORS - A speech recognition circuit comprises a memory containing lexical data for word recognition, the lexical data comprising a plurality of lexical data structures stored in each of a plurality of parts of the memory; and a parallel processor structure connected to the memory to process speech parameters by performing parallel processing on a plurality of the lexical data structures. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022872 | Automatically Adapting User Interfaces For Hands-Free Interaction - A user interface for a system such as a virtual assistant is automatically adapted for hands-free use. A hands-free context is detected via automatic or manual means, and the system adapts various stages of a complex interactive system to modify the user experience to reflect the particular limitations of such a context. The system of the present invention thus allows for a single implementation of a complex system such as a virtual assistant to dynamically offer user interface elements and alter user interface behavior to allow hands-free use without compromising the user experience of the same system for hands-on use. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022873 | Speech Recognition Language Models - Methods, computer program products and systems are described for forming a speech recognition language model. Multiple query-website relationships are determined by identifying websites that are determined to be relevant to queries using one or more search engines. Clusters are identified in the query-website relationships by connecting common queries and connecting common websites. A speech recognition language model is created for a particular website based on at least one of analyzing at queries in a cluster that includes the website or analyzing webpage content of web pages in the cluster that includes the website. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022874 | DISAMBIGUATION OF CONTACT INFORMATION USING HISTORICAL DATA - Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for disambiguating contact information. A method includes receiving an audio signal, generating an affinity score based on a frequency with which a user has previously communicated with a contact associated with an item of contact information, and further based on a recency of one or more past interactions between the user and the contact associated with the item of contact information, inferring a probability that the user intends to initiate a communication using the item of contact information based on the affinity score generated for the item of contact information, and generating a communication initiation grammar. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022875 | SYNCHRONIZING VISUAL AND SPEECH EVENTS IN A MULTIMODAL APPLICATION - Exemplary methods, systems, and products are disclosed for synchronizing visual and speech events in a multimodal application, including receiving from a user speech; determining a semantic interpretation of the speech; calling a global application update handler; identifying, by the global application update handler, an additional processing function in dependence upon the semantic interpretation; and executing the additional function. Typical embodiments may include updating a visual element after executing the additional function. Typical embodiments may include updating a voice form after executing the additional function. Typical embodiments also may include updating a state table after updating the voice form. Typical embodiments also may include restarting the voice form after executing the additional function. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022876 | Voice Actions on Computing Devices - A computer-implemented method includes receiving spoken input at a computing device from a user of the computing device, the spoken input including a carrier phrase and a subject to which the carrier phrase is directed, providing at least a portion of the spoken input to a server system in audio form for speech-to-text conversion by the server system, the portion including the subject to which the carrier phrase is directed, receiving from the server system instructions for automatically performing an operation on the computing device, the operation including an action defined by the carrier phrase using parameters defined by the subject, and automatically performing the operation on the computing device. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022877 | Dynamic Range Improvement Technique - Apparatus and methods are disclosed for detecting and progressively attenuating specific frequencies prevalent in an audio signal. In contrast to conventional wide-band enhancement techniques over long time frames, narrow bandwidths and short attenuation times employed are commensurate with resonances and timing typical of speech. Apparent dynamic range is therefore increased through attenuation of longer-duration elements with declining informational contribution. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022878 | SIGNAL DE-NOISING METHOD, SIGNAL DE-NOISING APPARATUS, AND AUDIO DECODING SYSTEM - In the field of audio encoding/decoding technologies, a signal de-noising method is provided. The method includes: selecting, according to a degree of inter-frame correlation of a frame where a spectral coefficient to be adjusted resides, at least two spectral coefficients having high correlation with the spectral coefficient to be adjusted; performing weighting on the at least two selected spectral coefficients and the spectral coefficient to be adjusted to acquire a predicted value of the spectral coefficient to be adjusted; and adjusting a spectrum of a decoded signal by using the acquired predicted value, and outputting the adjusted decoded signal. A signal de-noising apparatus corresponding to the signal de-noising method and an audio decoding system using the signal de-noising apparatus are also provided. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022879 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR EMBEDDING CODES IN COMPRESSED AUDIO DATA STREAMS - Methods and apparatus for embedding codes in compressed audio data streams are disclosed. An example apparatus disclosed herein to embed a code in a compressed audio data stream comprises an unpacking unit to determine a plurality of transform coefficients associated with the compressed audio data stream, the plurality of transform coefficients being represented by a respective plurality of mantissas and a respective plurality of scale factors, and an embedding unit to modify a mantissa in the plurality of mantissas and a corresponding scale factor in the plurality of scale factors to embed the code in the compressed audio data stream. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022880 | FORWARD TIME-DOMAIN ALIASING CANCELLATION USING LINEAR-PREDICTIVE FILTERING - In a coder, a method for producing forward aliasing cancellation (FAC) parameters for cancelling time-domain aliasing caused to a coded audio signal in a first transform-coded frame by a transition between the first transform-coded frame using a first coding mode with overlapping window and a second frame using a second coding mode with non-overlapping window, comprising: calculating a FAC target representative of a difference between the audio signal of the first frame prior to coding and a synthesis of the coded audio signal of the first transform-coded frame; and weighting the FAC target to produce the FAC parameters. In a decoder, weighted forward aliasing cancellation (FAC) parameters are received and inverse weighted to produce a FAC synthesis. Upon synthesis of the coded audio signal in the first frame, the time-domain aliasing is cancelled from the audio signal synthesis using the FAC synthesis. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022881 | AUDIO ENCODER, AUDIO DECODER, ENCODED AUDIO INFORMATION, METHODS FOR ENCODING AND DECODING AN AUDIO SIGNAL AND COMPUTER PROGRAM - An audio decoder for providing a decoded audio information on the basis of an encoded audio information includes a window-based signal transformer configured to map a time-frequency representation, which is described by the encoded audio information, to a time-domain representation. The window-based signal transformer is configured to select a window, out of a plurality of windows including windows of different transition slopes and windows of different transform length, on the basis of a window information. The audio decoder includes a window selector configured to evaluate a variable-codeword-length window information in order to select a window for a processing of a given portion of the time-frequency representation associated with a given frame of the audio information. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022882 | LICENSING FEATURES IN WELDING EQUIPMENT - A method and system for managing licenses in a welding system. The system includes a welding system with a memory for storing an unlicensed first optional welding function, a license management system for storing a first license for the unlicensed first optional welding function, and a facilitation system for obtaining the first license from the license management system and providing it to the memory of the welding system to license the first optional welding function | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022883 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING A STATUS OF A PROPOSED TRANSACTION - Embodiments of the present invention include methods, systems, apparatuses and computer program products. Aspects of the present invention can include methods, systems, apparatuses and computer program products for correlating a potential transaction with a unique identification of a mobile terminal, the potential transaction comprising a vendor and a user of the mobile terminal; determining that the mobile terminal is in a finite location of the vendor; and compensating a broker of the potential transaction. In embodiments of the present invention, the potential transaction can be related to a unique identification of the mobile terminal, which unique identification is presented by and/or induced from the mobile terminal at a vendor location by a controller and/or system of one or more preferred embodiments. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022884 | Computer-aided multiple standard-based functional evaluation and medical reporting system - A method of performing an objective functional evaluation of a person's physical capacity comprises of a computer program particularly designed to amass and assess test data in accordance with a selected standard. A wide variety of evaluation protocols are incorporated to lead an operator in a step-by-step process. The method includes special testing tools, many of which have been modified to input data directly into the computer diagnostic program. The interface may be a wired or a wireless connection. The software program may use an algorithm to calculate a coefficient of variation for the multiple trials of a test, using the entered data, to providing a determination of validity of the trials. A second algorithm calculates an average result of the condition-specific protocol of tests, after which the software program correlates those average results to a database of normative standards to compute an impairment rating. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022885 | Treatment Support System for Emergency Patients - This application discloses a treatment support system making it easy for a physician in charge to ask another specialist physician, especially another expert physician, for an opinion. The support system is much useful in providing an optimal treatment for an emergency disease, reviewing an expert-physician's opinion. The support system comprises a database server including an expert-physician database file in which information of expert-physicians belonging to institutions other than the hospital is recorded, a primary terminal handled by a physician in charge of treating the emergency patient in the hospital, secondary terminals handled by expert-physicians, a primary transmitter for transmitting an initial disease data to each secondary terminal, a received information displayer to display the initial disease data on each secondary terminal, a secondary transmitter to transmit an opinion to the primary terminal, an opinion displayer to display the opinion on the primary terminal, and an alarmer to generate an alarm by sound, light, vibration or any combination thereof to each expert-physician when the initial disease data is transmitted to each secondary terminal. The initial disease data includes a disease image of the emergency patient and time when the image was taken. The opinion is concerning to necessity of an additional test and investigation for the emergency patient, a diagnosis for the emergency patient, or a treatment plan for the emergency patient. The primary transmitter transmits the initial disease data with a time period for transmitting the opinion. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022886 | Medical Data Acquisition, Diagnostic and Communication System - A system configured to collect biological samples using a sensor and to extract a medical parameter therefrom outputs a signal to a communication interface. The communication interface is configured to communicate with a wireless electronic communication device having a processor, a memory, and a display, for determination of a value representative of the sensed medical parameter and display on the display. The wireless electronic communication device is configured to transmit the signal to a remote computerized system that is configured to compare the signal to stored values in a database, and to provide a report comparing a value associated with the signal to the stored values. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022887 | System and Method for Optimizing Healthcare Remittance Processing - A system and method for optimizing healthcare remittance processing includes a networked computing device that provides a user interface and access to healthcare claims and remittance data prepared by the system. The user receives a claim file prepared by a healthcare provider and an EOB/EOP prepared by a healthcare payer in response to the claim file. A remittance file is generated from the received data and is validated using automatic and manual means and is indexed against the remitted data. EOB/EOP data is converted to computer readable data in a standardized remittance file format. This transaction information is stored within the database and access to the stored information is provided to a user over a network connected interface. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022888 | WEB-BASED TOOL FOR PATIENTS AND HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS TO NEGOTIATE SETTLEMENT OF PATIENT ACCOUNTS - A web-based tool for patients and health care providers to negotiate settlement of patient accounts includes a first website interface to receive a patient information from the patient, the patient information including a bill amount from the provider; a first module that utilizes a publicly available provider information to provide a cost/charge ratio for the provider; a second module that utilizes the cost/charge ratio and the patient information to produce a suggested bid; a third module to electronically provide the suggested bid to the patient; a second website interface to receive a patient bid from the patient; and a fourth module to electronically provide the patient bid to the provider. The patient information may further include a provider identification for the provider and an amount owed by the patient to the provider, and the provider information includes a publicly available Medicare Cost Report for the provider. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022889 | METHOD FOR COLLECTING, PROCESSING, AND STORING DISCRETE DATA RECORDS BASED UPON A SINGLE DATA INPUT - A method for the collection, capture, processing, storage and tracking of data for both electronic source health records and for electronic clinical trial purposes by electronically collecting clinical trial data at a clinical trial site, instantly preserving all of the clinical trial data as an electronic source document, archiving the clinical trial data in a trusted data server maintained by a third party, transmitting an acknowledgement upon successful archiving of the clinical trial data, and transmitting the clinical trial data to a clinical trial database only after successful archiving of said clinical trial data. A method for electronically gathering clinical trial data. A method of maintaining discrete data records based upon a single clinical data input. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022890 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A SELF-SERVICE KIOSK SYSTEM FOR COLLECTING AND REPORTING BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL - A method and an apparatus is provided for a self-service breathalyzer kiosk system for collecting and reporting blood alcohol level information. The system and method enables a user to submit a report containing the user's current blood alcohol level at the time the report is submitted. In particular, the kiosk may be used to collect the current blood alcohol level information of the user and transmit the report of the current blood alcohol level information of the user over a communication network. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022891 | Information Interface System - A system and method for controlling informational data of a patient includes an electronic database for archiving the informational data; a tag for identifying the patient; and an electronic device for linking the database and the ID tag with the linking device. In operation, the linking device uses identification data from the ID tag, and pre-programmed, security log-in data to establish access into the database. With this authorized access, selected data from the database can then be retrieved and used during the conduct of a patient visit protocol. After the patient visit has been completed, the database can be updated with any additional information obtained during the patient visit. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022892 | ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORD INTERACTIVE INTERFACE SYSTEM - A method of confirming a medical diagnosis using a graphical user interface includes receiving an input selecting a first medical diagnosis as a cause of a patient complaint, and displaying a template based on the first medical diagnosis. The template includes a first query associated with the first medical diagnosis, a suggested response to the first query, and a first input field configured to receive the suggested response to the first query. The method includes using provider-configurable diagnostic based templates facilitating automated data entry to current and future electronic medical records systems. Systems and machine-readable media are also described. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022893 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A MULTI-DIMENSIONAL CONTEXTUAL PLATFORM FOR MANAGING A MEDICAL PRACTICE - A system and method is provided for generating a multi-dimensional contextual platform that may be used to manage, diagnose, and communicate with patients in a medical practice. In particular, the system may provide a website that may provide dynamic, avatar-based interfaces that include a doctor interface and a patient interface. A doctor may create a subscription with an operator of the website in order to find new patients and view patient health records across multiple dimensions. A patient may create a subscription with the operator to locate a doctor and maintain open communications with the doctor. Once subscribed, the doctor and patient may use the website to enhance the overall healthcare experience by using social networking aspects of the website to facilitate doctor and patient communication in real-time. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022894 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ADMINISTERING EXTENDED ABSENCE INSURANCE - A computer receives rating information relating to proposed issuance of an insurance policy endorsement. The rating information relates to a proposed insured that employs a number of employees. The computer processes the rating information to generate a premium amount to be charged for the insurance policy endorsement. The endorsement is then issued. The endorsement may provide reimbursement to the insured for losses incurred by the insured arising from absence from work by one or more of the employees. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022895 | Annuity Maintenance Messaging Protocol - A method of initiating and processing an annuity transaction request according to a messaging protocol that uses entirely electronic forms of communication is provided. Upon receiving an annuity transaction request at a distributor portal associated with an annuity distribution entity, from an individual associated with the annuity, the distributor portal collects information relevant to the annuity transaction request, such as details about the annuity contract and the particular type of transaction request, and transmits the transaction request to a carrier of the annuity. The receiving, collecting, processing and transmitting is conducted entirely by the distributor portal, which facilities the exchange of electronic communications between the different parties involved. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022896 | INSURANCE QUOTING APPLICATION FOR HANDHELD DEVICE - A method of providing location-based insurance rate quotes and a system for implementing that method. The method comprises determining a property address proximate a mobile electronic device based on global positioning system signals received by the mobile electronic device, prompting a user of the mobile electronic device to input a name, requesting a determination of insurable property affiliated with the property address and the name, requesting an insurance rate quote for the insurable property, and receiving and displaying the insurance rate quote on the mobile electronic device. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022897 | APPARATUS AND METHOD OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION COST MANAGEMENT AND QUALITY CONTROL - Improved apparatus and methods, via an internet website, developed for the efficient implementation of workers' compensation cost containment practices for multi-unit employers, more particularly relating to indemnity (lost wages) and medical costs of workers' compensation claims in each unit. The methods analyze information about the user's current workers' compensation injury handling best practices and provide quantified results, customized recommendations and tools to reduce costs and improve best practices quality control. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022898 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OBTAINING COMPARATIVE QUOTES - A method and system are disclosed for providing insurance quotes to a user from a plurality of insurance carriers. The method and system provide a quick quote based upon minimal information entered by a user. A system reduces the amount of information that is necessary for the user to obtain a preliminary quote thereby providing feedback to the user and encouraging the user to complete the interview process. The user may select a carrier and then continue to enter additional information necessary for providing a binding quote. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022899 | Program for Alternative Funding of Employee and Retiree Benefits - An insurance program for funding benefits by maintaining assets in the insurance program that includes an employer or employee owned trust account and at least one life insurance contract or non-cancelable accident and health insurance contract obtained directly or indirectly from a captive insurance company. The life insurance contract or non-cancelable accident and health insurance contract is purchased with assets from the trust account and the captive insurance company is at least partially owned by the employer. When paying or reimbursing benefits, the employer or the trust may pay the benefit and if the employer pays the benefit, the trust may reimburse the employer. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022900 | RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT EXCESS CAPACITY MANAGEMENT AND PRESENTATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method and system of retail establishment excess capacity management and presentation are disclosed. In one embodiment, a computer implemented method includes creating a search result based on criteria of a patron user using a processor. The search result includes an excess capacity across any number of establishments matching the criteria. The method also includes identifying an establishment when a selection of the patron user is processed responsive to the search result. Further, the method includes confirming a reservation of the patron user at the establishment with a payment authority and the establishment, and adjusting the excess capacity based on the reservation. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022901 | Preference Seating System - Improved techniques and systems for assigning resources in a service industry are described herein. These techniques and systems replace the first-come-first-served model traditionally used in airline seating, restaurant table placement, entertainment venue ticketing, hotel room location, and other industries with a two-part system incorporating virtual tracking of available resources and a rules-based assignment system for allocating the available resources amongst the customers. Such a system allows optimization of the resource allocation from a customer perspective (who can select resources based on personal preferences) and from a service provider perspective (who can monetize certain resources and/or allocate the resources to best meet other business goals, such as loyalty preservation, operational requirements, efficiency, etc.). | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022902 | ONLINE/OFFLINE EVENT RELATED ACCESS CONTROLLED SYSTEMS WITH EVENT SPECIFIC CLOSED VENUE WIRELESS APPLICATIONS - Systems and methods for off line/online access controlled environments to implement temporal applications in wireless devices via near field communications in closed group venues; e.g., concert halls, race horse betting, and university scheduling, are disclosed. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022903 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING ARTISTIC EVENT PLANS - A system and method for planning an artistic event may include receiving artistic requirements data inclusive of physical resources for an artist to perform the art form. A date range may be received for the artistic event to be performed. Geographic information defining a geographic region in which the artistic event is to be conducted may be received. Desired audience information of a desired audience to attend the artistic event may be received. Budgetary information for marketing and conducting the artistic event may be received. Based on the artistic requirements data, date range, geographic information, desired audience information, and budgetary information, an artistic event plan may be generated that includes a list of action items for conducting the event, deadlines to perform the action items, and estimated costs for the action items. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022904 | VEHICLE ROUTE SELECTION BASED ON ENERGY USAGE - Vehicle management systems and associated processes can consider energy consumption when selecting routes for fleet vehicles. Vehicle management systems and associated processes are described that, in certain embodiments, evaluate vehicle energy usage based on factors such as terrain or elevation, vehicle characteristics, driver characteristics, road conditions, traffic, speed limits, stop time, turn information, traffic information, and weather information, and the like. The features described herein may also be implemented for non-fleet vehicles, such as in personal vehicle navigation systems. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022905 | PERFORMING FOLLOW-UP ACTIONS BASED ON SURVEY RESULTS - Systems and methods for prompting follow-up actions in response to a survey. According to some implementations, a computer implemented method includes receiving survey result information that is extracted from an automated survey offered to a survey recipient. The method also includes receiving an indication that one or more follow-up actions are warranted based in part on an analysis of the survey result information and providing a notification to one or more individuals responsible for performing the one or more follow-up actions. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022906 | System for Scheduling Classes and Managing Educational Resources - A method is provided for automatically producing a schedule of classes for an educational institution having a plurality of teachers, a plurality of students, and a curriculum. The method preferably includes receiving designations of a plurality of curriculum modules of the curriculum, each curriculum module including educational material, one or more of the curriculum modules being prerequisite modules for one or more subsequent modules. The method also preferably includes receiving, as an input into a computer system, curriculum information comprising an indication of which of the modules are prerequisite modules for subsequent modules. An input into the computer system includes student information comprising, for one or more of the plurality of students, an indication of his level of competence with respect to the educational material of one or more modules. The computer system preferably produces a schedule of classes for teaching the educational material of at least some of the modules responsive to the curriculum information and the student information. Educational material to be taught in each of the scheduled classes includes the educational material of a respective one of the curriculum modules. The students assigned to each of the scheduled classes have preferably attained at least a predetermined level of competence with respect to the educational material of the respective modules that are prerequisite modules for the module to be taught in the class. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022907 | SOCIAL NETWORKING IN AN ASSET PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - Systems and methods are provided that link automation asset analytics with social networking. Automation asset performance is monitored and analyzed in view of one or more asset application models, and asset performance anomalies or inefficiencies are identified. Asset performance management data generated by the analysis is used to search a repository of expert consultants, and one or more suitable consultants having requisite expertise to assist with the identified asset performance issues are identified. In some embodiments, the asset performance management data is forwarded to the selected consultants in order to convey the nature of the asset performance issue. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022908 | TERRITORY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - An apparatus manages delivery of services by service technicians to a plurality of assets within a plurality of user defined territories. The apparatus includes a service territory selector selecting a plurality of service territories, and a geo-code data retrieval portion configured to retrieve for each of first and second sets of assets associated with respective first and second territories, asset data including geocode data representative of geographic locations of each of the assets of the first and second sets of assets. A constraint selector stores constraint parameter data representative of user selected constraints, and a threshold data selector stores threshold parameter data representative of user selected thresholds. A constraint processor applies the constraint parameter data to the asset data, a comparator determines a comparison between the asset data constrained by the constraint parameter data relative to the threshold parameter data, and a display displays a result of the comparison. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022909 | AUTOMATIC MEETING SCHEDULING AND AVAILABLE TIME DISPLAY - Automatic meeting scheduling may be facilitated without the need to open a calendar application to discuss and discover shared available time. A meeting organizer may send a request to one or more potential meeting participants. Based on responses received from the device of the potential meeting participants, the device of the meeting organizer may determine coincidentally available meeting times. The device may automatically select a candidate meeting time from among the coincidentally available meeting times or may rely on the meeting organizer to select a candidate meeting time from among the coincidentally available meeting times. Typical meeting scheduling may then ensue. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022910 | INTELLIGENT MANAGEMENT OF VIRTUALIZED RESOURCES FOR CLOUD DATABASE SYSTEMS - Systems and methods are disclosed to manage resources in a cloud-based computing system by generating a model of a relationship between cloud database resources and an expected profit based on cloud-server system parameters and service level agreements (SLAs) that indicates profits for different system performances, wherein the model comprises a two level optimization/control problem, wherein model receives system metrics, number of replicas, and arrival rate as the multiple input; and dynamically adjusting resource allocation among different customers based on current customer workload and the expected profit to maximize the expected profit for a cloud computing service provider. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022911 | CAPTURING AND PROCESSING DATA GENERATED IN AN ERP INTERIM PHASE - The disclosure provides a system and method for identifying a set of ERP tasks performed by the ERP system when it is functional and for identifying a set of Interim Business Processes (IBPs) associated with ERP tasks. The method includes creating a set of IBP data capture tools Another step is assigning an IBP data capture tool to each IBP optionally using an IBP data main coordinating tool. Another step is identifying a set of responsibility centers in the business entity. Another step is providing an access link to each responsibility center to the IBP data capture tool and sending a notice to each responsibility center to begin capturing data at a predetermined time. Another step is receiving the IBP data from the IBP data capture tools optionally using the IBP data main coordinating tool, and storing the IBP data received optionally using the IBP data main coordinating tool. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022912 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUPERVISING INTEGRATED TRIP MARGIN OF FACILITIES IN INDUSTRIAL PLANT - Disclosed is a method and an apparatus for supervising the integrated trip margin of an industrial plant facility. The apparatus includes a measurement operation value collection means for collecting a measurement operation value of a facility having a trip setting value inside the industrial plant; a trip margin calculation means for receiving the measurement operation value from the measurement operation value collection means and calculating a trip margin; and a display means for displaying a trip margin having a smallest value among trip margins of respective groups on a screen when there is a plurality of groups of objects of interest, the trip margin of which is to be supervised. When supervising the trip margin of a facility within a plant, which has a trip setting value, information regarding a trip-related signal having the highest possibility of trip occurrence and the movement of the overall trip-related signals are grouped and displayed on the screen so that relevant people can supervise them more easily. As a result, any abnormal condition of facilities is detected as early as possible. This decreases the occurrence of trip, and increases the operating rate of the plant. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022913 | Planogram Generation for Peg and Shelf Items - In one embodiment of a computer-implemented method, layout data and product data is collected and a planogram development module processes this data to create multiple test planograms for a display space. Multiple potential planograms may be created by placing merchandise in a planogram using one or more optional rules permitting deformation of non-rigid products such as bags of non-fragile items, permitting product impingement into an adjacent shelf or peg space, allowing for hanging products on a pegboard vertically adjacent to a shelf, allowing product placement a set distance from a shelf or pegboard boundary and allowing two adjacent instances of the same product where those instances are in vertical alignment. In this embodiment, an optimized planogram is selected based on the criteria of packing efficiency, sell-through index, the aggregate sell-through index of each item multiplied by the item's profit margin, and/or overall planogram profitability. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022914 | Web based System for collecting, storing, and distributing customer review/comment information, to aid with more informed decisions at the point of sale or service - Disclosed is a web based system for collecting user and merchant information and making that information available to users and merchants at the point of sale or service to aid in product or service selection. In a specific embodiment, a customer, upon being waited on at a restaurant is presented with a handheld computer device which enables the user to login to the backend server and review comments to previous experiences of a menu item to aid in menu selection. These comments may be personal comments or comments made by other users of the same product or service. Upon logging into the system, an email is sent to the user reminding them that they visited the merchant and can provide comments at the user's convenience. The user is also able to use this capability to determine what merchant may have a product of interest based upon predefined preferences. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022915 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COLLECTION AND USE OF WIRELESS APPLICATION ACTIVITY INFORMATION - A method for targeting one or more users. User interaction with a wireless application is monitored. Information based on the user interaction is analyzed. Based on the analysis, one or more customizations of the application are determined in order to target users. The customizations are dynamically applied to the application. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022916 | DIGITAL ANALYTICS PLATFORM - A digital analytics system includes a client profile database operable to store client profile data for clients. A client identification unit identifies the client profile data corresponding to a first client of the clients. An analytics engine is operable to identify descriptive and predictive analytic solutions corresponding to the client profile data of the first client, and receive a selection of one or more of the identified descriptive and predictive analytic solutions selected by the first client. The analytics engine is further operable to perform the descriptive and predictive analytic solutions selected by the first client and simultaneously perform one or more descriptive and predictive analytics solutions selected by a second client of the clients. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022917 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EVALUATING A CLIENT BASE - The present disclosure describes novel systems and methods that can be utilized to evaluate and/or direct an interaction with a consumer database and/or evaluate a consumer database, where the consumer database contains information about consumers and particular products and/or services held or used by the consumers. The interactions may be, for example, determining a strategy for sales, marketing, cross-selling, and/or retaining one or more of the consumers. The evaluations may include, for example, hierarchically ranking the consumers and/or determining a clustering of the consumers. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022918 | METHOD OF CONDUCTING A LIVE, REAL-TIME INTERACTIVE REALITY SHOW FOR PEOPLE TO SEEK ADVICE - A live, real-time interactive reality show is provided via multiple concurrent communication channels, including television broadcast, the internet, radio broadcast, cell phone airways, and landline phone lines. There are further included advice seekers and an audience that can utilize computers, televisions, cell phones, radios and landline phone lines to interact with or watch the reality show. Online web formats, including websites, blogs and other formats and cell phone applications, email, text messaging, and mobile applications may also be used to interact with or watch the reality show. The advice seekers interact in a live real-time unscripted manner. The audience may also be asked to offer advice and communicate it in real-time via a communication method, including the internet, email, text messaging, web cams, cell phones, land line phones, and mobile applications. The format of the real-time interactive reality show may be online via a web-based format, a television interview show format, a telephone call-in radio talk show format, a cellular phone interview format, or any combination of formats. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022919 | Privacy Ensured Polling - A method for conducting a privacy ensured computerized poll includes, in a computerized anonymizing system ( | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022920 | ELICITING CUSTOMER PREFERENCE FROM PURCHASING BEHAVIOR SURVEYS | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022921 | CONTROL ASSET COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS SYSTEM AND METHODOLOGY - A system and method is provided for determining the variability induced on a process output. The method includes the analysis of input variable values to determine the total variability. A series of processes may be analyzed and ranked so that a process owner may gain an understanding of how a target process performs relative to the processes of other process owners. The method includes the generation of graphical process comparisons and advice regarding asset performance. The method also includes the estimation of cost impacts due to changes in induced variability. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022922 | Method of Assessing A Parking Fee Based Upon Vehicle Fuel Efficiency - A method for assessing fees for parking is disclosed. The method includes providing a vehicle registration card containing a vehicle make and model and a parking fee collection device. The parking fee collection device has an associated database containing a parking fee charged for each vehicle make and model based upon the fuel efficiency of the vehicle. The vehicle make and model is entered into the parking fee collection device for a selected vehicle and a parking fee is assessed based upon the fuel efficiency of the vehicle. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022923 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR ENFORCING PURCHASE AGREEMENTS - Systems, apparatus, articles of manufacture and methods are provided for establishing (e.g., online) a buyer price for a first plurality of products. In one embodiment, the buyer price is lower than a retail price of the first plurality of products. A second plurality of products that the buyer has actually received during the subsequent transaction is determined. A penalty may be assessed if the first plurality of products does not correspond to the second plurality of products. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022924 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CREATING A PERSONALIZED EXPERIENCE WITH VIDEO IN CONNECTION WITH A STORED VALUE TOKEN - A method and system for creating an augmented reality experience with video in connection with a stored value token comprises augmented reality software which can be loaded on a general purpose computer. The augmented reality software may monitor camera signals in order to detect a marker on a stored value token. The augmented reality software tracks the position of this marker relative to camera. The augmented reality software can display video that is projected on the image captured by the camera and adjacent to the image of the marker. The software may also display an object that is projected on the image after the video is displayed. The projected object can have three dimensions as it is projected on a two-dimensional display. In another exemplary embodiment, an electronic-token can be created and which is associated with customized video and without any augmented reality components. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022925 | METHOD FOR BROADCASTING ADVERTISEMENTS ON ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A method for broadcasting advertisements is used on an electronic device. The electronic device may download the advertisements from a server of an advertiser. When the electronic device is awaked from a sleep state, the advertisements are broadcasted on a display of the electronic device. After the advertisements are broadcasted, the display then displays a window already displayed on the display before the electronic device enters the sleep state. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022926 | PROCESS FOR INCREASING VISIBILITY OF ANIMATED ADVERTISEMENTS - One embodiment of a process for improving visibility of an animated advertisement by playing the animation from the beginning when the advertisement becomes visible to the viewer. Advertisement animation is replayed by reloading the advertisement media from cache. Loading from the cache happens very quickly and it appears as though the animation has been replayed. Other embodiments are described and shown. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022927 | SOCIALLY RELEVANT CONTENT MACHINE - A content machine generates content for a particular user of a network-based publication system and provides the content to a client machine configured to present the content to the particular user. The content generated by the content machine is generated based on information accessed by the content machine, and the content may include some or all of the information accessed. The information may include social network data of the particular user, event data referencing an event to occur on an event date, a transactional record of the particular user, a transactional record of a further user, client location data corresponding to the client machine, merchandising data referencing an item listed by the network-based publication system, or any suitable combination thereof. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022928 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VIRTUAL RESOURCE AND LOCATION-BASED ADVERTISEMENT - A system and method for virtual resource and location-based advertisement, including obtaining at least one advertisement including an offer including an exchange of virtual resources from at least one advertiser, obtaining at least one advertiser location of the at least one advertiser, receiving a user location and a selected keyword from a user, determining at least one selected offer associated with the selected keyword based on a distance between the user location and the at least one advertiser location, where the at least one selected offer includes an exchange of at least one selected virtual resource from at least one selected advertiser, and providing the at least one selected offer, the at least one selected advertiser associated with the at least one selected offer, and at least one selected advertiser location associated with the at least one selected advertiser to the user. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022929 | ELECTRONIC COUPON SYSTEM - Internet, web-based platform that offers low cost advertising venue for companies and a convenient shopping venue for customers. The system includes storage capacity to store information on purchased and redeemed coupons, and includes logic to analyze the effectiveness of a marketing campaign based on statistical analysis of redeemed coupons relative to purchased coupons. One embodiment includes a system capable of automatically comparing and analyzing the customers' stored preferences with posted coupons, and automatically sending a listing of coupons that match the customer's preference by email, text message, or by any commercially available communication mode. Another embodiment includes a coupon sales revenue sharing function between the web site and the matched coupon company that credits both the web site's account and the company's account for each coupon sold, where the company's shared revenue portion can be limited. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022930 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF A MEDIA DELIVERY SERVICES PLATFORM FOR TARGETING CONSUMERS IN REAL TIME - A media targeting system may be configured to coordinate media and manage media conflicts in its delivery to consumers. The media targeting system may in near real-time arbitrate between all offers assigned to a particular consumer or available to the consumer via one or more channels to ensure that a consumer only receives non-conflicting offers during particular time periods. The media targeting system may translate offers into a real-time, in-store loyalty environment including consumer real-time behavior assignment into traits in order to make a real-time offer assignment based on the traits. An application on a mobile device of a consumer may allow the consumer to share offers with other consumers via a bump of the consumers' mobile devices. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022931 | On-Line Bulk Acquisition of Digital Products - Techniques and systems for acquisition of digital assets in a bulk fashion are disclosed. In one embodiment, upon accessing an online store, a digital asset and a quantity to be acquired (e.g., purchased) can be identified. In some cases, a discounted cost for acquisition of the quantity of the digital asset can be permitted, provided the quantity is sufficient. After payment of the discounted cost, a set of redeemable codes can be electronically provided. Each of the redeemable codes can be thereafter redeemed for acquisition of the digital asset. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022932 | DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ELECTRONIC COMMERCE - Disclosed herein are methods and apparatus for electronic commerce. By way of example, in one embodiment such methods and apparatus enable a buyer's digital data processor to make requests to an on-line store to view purchase options for a selected product/service as well as to view benefits for consummating those transactions. Further, a store's electronic display/register or a handheld computing device may enable a shopper in a physical store to view such information and earn benefits. Those benefits may differ by item and seller and may include money and/or points. With such money and/or points having been accumulated through on-line and brick and mortar store purchases, e.g. in buyer's account, a buyer's digital data processor can facilitate redemption of the money and/or points at the same or other stores, for example to purchase additional items or for other purposes. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022933 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING A SALE OFFER OVER AN ELECTRONIC NETWORK SYSTEM - A method and apparatus are provided for generating a sale offer over an electronic network (such as the Internet). The method and apparatus may be used with a commercial sale system designed to increase the revenue income of Web site by offering, at a substantially discounted or virtually free basis, one more goods and/or services to visitors of the Web site. According to the features of the invention, the seller (who may be the owner or co-owner of the Web site) transmits a sale offer on the Web site for a high quality good or service, wherein the good or service can be purchased for free or a cost near to zero. The seller may make the offer visible and available to a number of perspective buyers, who are connected at that very moment to the Web site. According to an additional aspect of the invention, the sale offer may be available for only a very limited amount of time (e.g., one or more minutes) and may be offered at random or unpredictable times on the Web site in order to increase Web traffic to the site. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022934 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING A SALE OFFER OVER AN ELECTRONIC NETWORK SYSTEM - A method and apparatus are provided for generating a sale offer over an electronic network (such as the Internet). The method and apparatus may be used with a commercial sale system designed to increase the revenue income of Web site by offering, at a substantially discounted or virtually free basis, one more goods and/or services to visitors of the Web site. According to the features of the invention, the seller (who may be the owner or co-owner of the Web site) transmits a sale offer on the Web site for a high quality good or service, wherein the good or service can be purchased for free or a cost near to zero. The seller may make the offer visible and available to a number of perspective buyers, who are connected at that very moment to the Web site. According to an additional aspect of the invention, the sale offer may be available for only a very limited amount of time (e.g., one or more minutes) and may be offered at random or unpredictable times on the Web site in order to increase Web traffic to the site. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022935 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING A SALE OFFER OVER AN ELECTRONIC NETWORK SYSTEM - A method and apparatus are provided for generating a sale offer over an electronic network (such as the Internet). The method and apparatus may be used with a commercial sale system designed to increase the revenue income of Web site by offering, at a substantially discounted or virtually free basis, one more goods and/or services to visitors of the Web site. According to the features of the invention, the seller (who may be the owner or co-owner of the Web site) transmits a sale offer on the Web site for a high quality good or service, wherein the good or service can be purchased for free or a cost near to zero. The seller may make the offer visible and available to a number of perspective buyers, who are connected at that very moment to the Web site. According to an additional aspect of the invention, the sale offer may be available for only a very limited amount of time (e.g., one or more minutes) and may be offered at random or unpredictable times on the Web site in order to increase Web traffic to the site. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022936 | METHOD OF GENERATING AND REDEEMING COUPONS - A method of generating and redeeming a plurality of coupons includes generating a first coupon, generating a second coupon, distributing the first coupon to the first consumer, and distributing the second coupon to the second consumer. Generating a first coupon includes selecting a first group of offers from a plurality of offers such that the first group of offers is individually customized to the first consumer, and printing a first bar code identifying a first account and indicating that the first coupon relates to the first group of offers. Generating a second coupon includes selecting a second group of offers, and printing a second bar. Each of the plurality of offers is redeemable for a discount on a corresponding one of a plurality of products offered for sale, and the first group of offers differs from the second group of offers. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022937 | ADVERTISEMENT BRAND ENGAGEMENT VALUE - The present invention provides techniques associated with online advertisement brand engagement value, which can be of critical importance to brand advertisers. Techniques are also included involving use of brand engagement value across various online and offline advertising media and venues. Techniques are provided in which experiments are conducted, such as eyeball-tracking experiments, which include measurements to determine brand engagement value of particular online advertisement impressions. Information from the experiments is utilized in making determinations of brand engagement value, or anticipated brand engagement value, of online advertisement impressions for which brand engagement value has not been measured. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022938 | Automated Multivariate Testing Technique for Optimized Customer Outcome - Novel tools and techniques to optimize, from a merchant's perspective, the outcomes of interactions between the merchant and its customers (whether existing, new, or potential customers). In an aspect, certain embodiments allow for multiple variations of options (multivariate or A/B testing) and outcomes which can be statistically applied and then measured and analyzed for best economic impact or preferred outcome. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022939 | Assessing a Response Model Using Performance Metrics - A computer system determines a response model for a solicited offering based on selected variables that characterize a target population. The response model may be used to identify recipients in the target population to increase the expected probability of the recipients responding. The response model may be formed through an iterative process and is initially formed using a subset of variables from characteristics of the target population. A performance process is then performed to assess the initial response model by rendering, a pool of information for analysis. Based on the results of the analysis, the response model may be modified so that the performance results can be enhanced and updated performance metrics can be further analyzed. When desired results are obtained, the response model is finalized and final performance results are rendered. The response model may then be applied to the target population to identify recipients for the solicited offering. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022940 | System Configured to Provide a Software Application to a User Computing Device, Method of Providing Software Application, and Method of Advertising - In some examples, a method of advertising can include: facilitating providing of a first promotional code to a user, the first promotional code provides at least one privilege to the user; facilitating providing of a first software application to the user; receiving the first promotional code from the first software application; and changing one or more first elements of the first software application based on the first promotional code to alter a look and feel of the first software application. Changing the one or more first elements can include embedding promotional materials in one or more user screens of the first software application. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022941 | SSL HTTPS BROWSER - Systems and methods for implementing a web browser which operates to secure all Internet connections of the user using SSL and HTTPS protocols. One implementation is a browser that operates to send all browser navigation commands and send and receive all web traffic through SSL encryption tunnel. In other words, the browser turns all web pages that support only HTTP protocol into HTTPS-enabled web pages. As would be appreciate by those of skill in the art, the use of the SSL and HTTPS secures the user's connection and provides security for user's data. The system may be used to secure email communications, login information for websites, selection of shopping items and all other online activity of the user. All of the above information is encrypted by the inventive system using highly-secure SSL encryption. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022942 | INTERNET-BASED PROXY SERVICE TO MODIFY INTERNET RESPONSES - A proxy server receives from a client device a request for a network resource that is hosted at an origin server for a domain. The request is received at the proxy server as a result of a DNS request for the domain resolving to the proxy server. The origin server is one of multiple origin servers that belong to different domains that resolve to the proxy server and are owned by different entities. The proxy server retrieves the requested network resource. The proxy server determines that the requested resource is an HTML page, automatically modifies the HTML page, and transmits the modified HTML page to the client device. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022943 | APPLICATION PURCHASING - The present technology provides a purchasing interface within an application that allows users to purchase a product from another source without leaving the application. The application offers a product for purchase, and a user, desiring to purchase the product can provide an input effective to cause a purchasing interface to be displayed. While the purchasing interface, or information presented therein, comes from the product source, which is different than the application source, it is presented in such a fashion that gives the impression to the user that they are purchasing the product directly from the application. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022944 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF A MEDIA DELIVERY SERVICES PLATFORM FOR TARGETING CONSUMERS IN REAL TIME - A media targeting system may be configured to coordinate media and manage media conflicts in its delivery to consumers. The media targeting system may in near real-time arbitrate between all offers assigned to a particular consumer or available to the consumer via one or more channels to ensure that a consumer only receives non-conflicting offers during particular time periods. The media targeting system may translate offers into a real-time, in-store loyalty environment including consumer real-time behavior assignment into traits in order to make a real-time offer assignment based on the traits. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022945 | Systems and Methods to Identify Payment Accounts Having Business Spending Activities - Systems and methods are provided to generate tools to evaluate the probability of an account being actually used by a business rather than an individual. 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 business accounts and non-business accounts. The at least one processor is further configured to identify a second plurality of variables from the first plurality of variables for a classification model to distinguish, using the values and logistic regression, the business accounts from the non-business accounts. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022946 | Hierarchical User Interface of a Computing Device For Determining Interest Level of a User in Categories of Advertisement - A hierarchical user interface for determining a user's interest level in categories of advertisements is disclosed. Multiple user selectable icons may be displayed in association with each category of advertisements. An icon is selected and is associated with a user adjustable visual sign indicating the user's interest level in a quantitative manner. Scores for each category or each sub-category of advertisements are determined based upon the user's inputs. Advertisements are delivered to the user according to the scores. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022947 | ADVERTISEMENT GENERATING SYSTEM - An advertisement generating system comprises a database of advertisement templates and a controller operable to: a. access the database to correlate product related data with the advertisement template to selectively retrieve one or more advertisement templates associated with the product, b. output at least partially completed advertisement. The advertisement generating system may comprise a client device such as a point of sale or a service point device, e.g. a weighing scale. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022948 | ADVERTISING FRAMEWORK FOR WIRELESS NETWORKS - Discovery of services between devices is provided prior to establishing a connection between devices, including wireless-enabled devices or devices that are communicatively coupled to wireless access points or other wireless communication devices. Discovering services prior to establishing a connection may facilitate finding a desired service. The services that may be discovered may be, for example, print services, camera services, PDA services or any other suitable services. Services may be discovered using 802.11, Bluetooth, UWB or any other suitable wireless technology. A graphical user interface is provided that enables a user to select a desired service. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022949 | System and Method for Formulating a Life Plan - A method for formulating a life plan, the method steps including a user estimating how many years he or she has left before they believe they will become inactive; the user identifying desirable activities and goal; the user prioritizing desirable activities and consolidated goals in one-on-one comparisons; the computer ranking the consolidated goals highest to lowest based on the results of the one-on-one comparisons; the computer setting up a timeline to achieve the consolidated goals using the prioritized list and the estimated time left of question 1; the computer system placing the results in a project management and reminder system to assist the user in achieving his consolidated goals; the computer querying a life plan networking database to find other users whose timelines match the current users and presenting these matches for networking. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022950 | Systems and Methods for Targeted Advertising in Voicemail to Text Systems - Systems and methods are provided for a voice message to text system supporting targeted advertisements. Voice messages received from users are converted to raw text messages that are normalized to insert proper punctuation and extract entity information. The normalized text and entity information are processed to extract concepts, such as critical phrases, from the normalized text. Extracted concepts are then matched to advertisements on an advertisement database having user selection criteria. Advertisements having selection criteria matching the extracted concepts are transmitted to the users, and the advertisers that placed the advertisements are charged fees for the advertisements. User profile information and user context information can additionally be used to select advertisements for transmission to users. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022951 | DYNAMIC INTERACTION MAPPING FOR ONLINE ADVERTIZING - A method and system for dynamic interaction mapping for online advertizing is disclosed in one embodiment. Metric information relating to interaction with a creative is received from a number of user computer from across the Internet. The metric information is correlated to playback time of the creative and position of interaction with respect to the creative. A graphic overlay or heatmap is formulated according to display options, event triggers, playback time and position of the interaction relative to the creative. The graphic overlay is presented in a way that the graphic overlay changes according to playback time. Display options include creative transparency, graphic overlay transparency, selection from a number of interactions and/or events, selection of one or more panels, choosing clicks and/or rollovers, choice of different colors or shading for different interaction, etc. | 2012-01-26 |
| 20120022952 | Using Linear and Log-Linear Model Combinations for Estimating Probabilities of Events - A method for combining multiple probability of click models in an online advertising system into a combined predictive model, the method commencing by receiving a feature set slice (e.g. corresponding to demographics or taxonomies or clusters), and using the sliced data for training multiple slice-wise predictive models. The trained slice-wise predictive models are combined by overlaying a weighted distribution model over the trained slice-wise predictive models. The combined predictive model then is used in predicting the probability of a click given a query-advertisement pair in online advertising. The method can flexibly receive slice specifications, and can overlay any one or more of a variety of distribution models, such as a linear combination or a log-linear combination. Using an appropriate weighted distribution model, the combined predictive model reliably yields predictive estimates of occurrence of click events that are at least as good as the best predictive model in the slice-wise predictive model set. | 2012-01-26 |
