20th week of 2012 patent applcation highlights part 62 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20120123812 | EVALUATING CUSTOMERS - Scarce resources, such as goods and/or services, can be allocated to customers according to score values associated with each customer that is a candidate to receive such resources in order to achieve an optimal allocation of resources, as determined by a business or other entity or organization that provides the goods and/or services. Each score value is generated automatically according to a set of predetermined rules based on profile information associated with the customer, including attributes of the customer, and based on information regarding goods and/or services purchased by the customer. A current context is used to determine an event and/or an event class, and the set of rules associated with the event or event class is used in generating the score value for one or more customers that are implicated by the current context, such as individuals affected by or eligible for the event. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123813 | SPORTS AND CONCERT EVENT TICKET PRICING AND VISUALIZATION SYSTEM - A system and method for selecting inventory pricing for an event at a venue is disclosed. The method comprising determining a rate at which a first inventory of seats have sold for an event at a venue. The method further comprising calculating a demand for a second inventory of seats as a function of the rate at which the first inventory of seats sold, the seats of the first and second inventories being comparable in quality. provides a user interface to one or more client devices that displays the data. The method further comprising calculating a demand for a second inventory of seats as a function of the rate at which the first inventory of seats sold, the seats of the first and second inventories being comparable in quality. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123814 | PRODUCT ASSORTMENT PLANNING SYSTEM AND METHOD UTILIZING SCALED PERFORMANCE METRIC VALUES - A product assortment planning system determines scaled performance metric values for an assortment of products. The system includes a data store storing performance metric values for an assortment of products including a target assortment of products and a source assortment of products, an equivalization unit and a scaling unit. The equivalization unit equivalizes the performance metric values for the source assortment of products. The scaling unit determines incrementality assumptions. The incrementality assumptions are an estimation of an amount of cannibalization that occurs for the target assortment of products as a result of combining the source assortment of products with the target assortment of products. Scaled performance metric values are calculated for each product in the assortment of products based on the equivalized performance metric values and the incrementality assumptions. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123815 | WAVELENGHT REGENERATION IN A NETWORK - An optical network including a plurality of gateway nodes interconnected with a plurality of intermediate nodes with segments of fiber. The network includes a plurality of devices, such as reconfigurable optical add drop multiplexors, optimally placed at various nodes throughout the network. The device placement is optimized with an integer linear programming analysis considering span definition such that any given span involves some number of segments not exceeding a number of segments that would require wavelength regeneration, cost of placement of a device at a given node, cost of wavelength regeneration, and various parameters and constraints. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123816 | SELECTING SUPPLIERS TO PERFORM SERVICES FOR AN ENTERPRISE - One embodiment is a method that receives historical data of suppliers and applies, to the historical data, a mathematical optimization system that includes a set of mathematical equations and inequalities that express capabilities and capacities of the suppliers. The mathematical optimization system includes an objective function that minimizes a number of the suppliers to perform third-party labor services for an enterprise. The method selects a sub-set of the suppliers to perform the third-party labor services for the enterprise. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123817 | AGRICULTURAL MANAGEMENT USING BIOLOGICAL SIGNALS - A method and system for customizing agriculture management using biological signals and making decisions according to pre-programmed algorithms, including decisions related to irrigation, prediction of future yield, characterization of plant varieties, and administration of topical applications. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123818 | VIRTUAL MEETING SAVINGS - A method comprises receiving, by a processor, a number of participants for a virtual meeting and a home location for each participant. For each participant, the method further comprises ascertaining, by the processor, an environmental emissions savings associated with the participant in participating in the virtual meeting compared to having traveled to a corresponding meeting in-person. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123819 | FORECASTING DEMAND AND AVAILABILITY OF RESOURCES OF A MILITARY INSTALLATION - Methods and computer systems for forecasting demand and availability of resources of a geographic region are provided. Physical, operational, traffic and construction data for a geographic region for a specified time period is utilized to compare the operational needs for at least one resource for a geographic region to the available resources to forecast demands and availability of the at least one resource for the geographic region over the specified time period and determine whether the demand for the at least one resource exceeds the availability of the at least one resource. The forecasted demand and availability of the at least one resource for the geographic region for the specified time period is stored and presented. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123820 | SUPPLY CHAIN DEMAND SATISFACTION - Systems and methods for supply chain management and identification of feasible plans. Identification of feasible plans includes collecting demands for one or more items having the same level code; and for each of the collected demands, determining a first demand shortage quantity, searching the data storage for available unallocated supply responsive to the first demand shortage quantity, determining a second demand shortage quantity, and creating supply, the creation of supply being responsive to the second demand shortage quantity and the creation of supply including satisfying a dependent demand at a higher level code. Satisfying a dependent demand at a higher level code may include using the system recursively. Using the system recursively may include incrementing a current level code. Satisfying a dependent demand at a higher level code may include performing a feasible plan search relating to items assigned the higher level code. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123821 | System and Method for Risk Assessment of an Asserted Identity - A system for providing a risk assessment for an asserted identity comprising an identity database, a first risk database, a second risk database, an identity module that receives the asserted identity and searches the identity database to retrieve one or more known identities and calculates a probability score for each retrieved known identity, a correlator module that receives each retrieved known identity and respective probability score from the identity module, the correlator module further comprising an identity risk sub-module that searches the first and the second risk databases to retrieve respective first and second risk scores for each known identity, and an assessment module that receives the probability score and the first and second risk scores associated with each of the known identities from the correlator module and calculates a final risk score therefrom to thereby provide a risk assessment for the asserted identity. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123822 | COMPUTERIZED COMPLEX SYSTEM EVENT ASSESSMENT, PROJECTION AND CONTROL - Systems, methods and computer readable media for computerized event risk assessment, event projection and control of events associated with complex systems are disclosed. The assessment can include using statistically processed survey data to determine risk category performance. Event projection can be based on data retrieved from a past events database. Control can include real-time control of subsystems within the complex system and providing reports and visualizations. The visualizations can include profile graphs, bar graphs, dashboards and hyperbolic mapping. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123823 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ONLINE USER FEEDBACK ON WEBSITES AND SOFTWARE - A system for collecting and analyzing structured user feedback on websites, the system including website user structured feedback form generation functionality operative to generate structured feedback forms for providing website user feedback on website user interaction with a website-based process and website user feedback analyzing functionality operative to automatically collect and analyze website user feedback entered in the structured feedback forms and to provide at least one analysis report based on feedback from a multiplicity of website users. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123824 | Personalized Interactive Network With Knowledge Management System - Systems and methods are disclosed for personalizing interaction between an information/service/product provider using a knowledge management (KM) system that tracks data exchanged between users and the provider over multiple communication channels. User requests to an information/service/product provider can made via multiple different channels, such as by using ATMs, PDAs, cell phones, computers accessing web sites or other Web Devices, Voice Response Units (VRUs), and others. User requests submitted over these multiple channels are routed into an integrated KM system that services these requests. The user requests are serviced in such a manner that they are personalized in multiple aspects to enrich the user's experience. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123825 | CONCURRENT SCHEDULING OF PLAN OPERATIONS IN A VIRTUALIZED COMPUTING ENVIRONMENT - Systems and methods for planning the execution of one or more plans in a virtualized computing environment are provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises computing an order for execution for one or more plans, and the corresponding operations in said one or more plans; validating whether a plan and the corresponding operations for the plan may be successfully executed, prior to executing the plan and the corresponding operations; executing the plan and the corresponding operations, in response to a successful validation; and aborting execution of the plan and the corresponding operations, in response to an unsuccessful validation, wherein the validating process takes into consideration impact of other plans that are previously validated and possible changes in the computing environment since time the plan was computed. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123826 | Shopping Cart Accountability Using Coupon Incentives with Participation Option - A system and method encourage shopper compliance with a monitoring schedule is provided. When signing up for a customer loyalty card, a shopper is invited to participate in an incentive program. The incentive program provides more valuable benefits to the shopper compared to customers who do not opt-in to the incentive program. More valuable benefits are awarded in exchange for the shopper agreeing to an enhanced level of monitoring as part of the monitoring schedule used while the shopper is in the store. Detectors communicate shopper and cart information to a controller and a computer when the shopper retrieves a cart from a cart corral. Upon completion of the monitoring schedule, the system provides the shopper with various benefits under the incentive program as long as the shopper has opted-in to the incentive program. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123827 | System and Method for an Electronic Gift Key - A system and method facilitating delivery of a fully-integrated physical item providing access to non-physical content is presented. The method includes enabling access to an electronic greeting card, exclusive content, promotion, and/or store credit from a remote system after a gift key is linked to a local system. The system includes a local system and a gift key facilitating access to an electronic greeting card, exclusive content, promotion, and/or store credit after linkage between the local system and the gift key. The gift key includes a decorative cover, an integrated circuit, and an antenna or physical connector. The local system is a personal computer, a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet computer, or a Smart TV. A gift key could be disposed along a box, a bag, a ribbon, an envelope, or a gift wrapping or configured as a sticker with an adhesive backing. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123828 | Fast and Versatile Graphical Scoring Device and Method - A graphical user interface presents an image to a user and two labeled axes of that image corresponding to evaluations by the user of the image or of something represented by the image. The user moves a computer mouse or other input device to select a single location on the image. The display screen provides immediate feedback to the user of the location currently being pointed to by the input device, such as the x and y coordinates currently being moused over. The user then selects the location on the screen being pointed to, thus inputting his two dimensional evaluation. Optionally, based on the user's multidimensional evaluation, commercial offers such as coupons can then be presented to the user based on the user's likes and dislikes. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123829 | INDEPENDENT CARRIER ETHERNET INTERCONNECTION PLATFORM - A communications system is provided for enabling a plurality of service providers to interconnect via an Ethernet platform, the plurality of service providers employing disparate Ethernet protocols. The system includes a central server and a plurality of switching locations. Each one of the plurality of switching locations is communicatively connected to the central server and to the plurality of service providers. Each of the plurality of switching locations includes a plurality of Ethernet router switches, a monitoring device, a local server coupled to a plurality of databases. Each of the plurality of databases is associated with each of the service providers. A communications media is provided for interconnecting the plurality of switches, the service providers, the router switches, the connectivity device, and the local server. The system enables the service providers to be interconnected on the Ethernet platform by establishing protocol mappings between any two Ethernet protocols associated with corresponding service providers. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123830 | USER GENERATED PHOTO ADS USED AS STATUS UPDATES - Systems and methods are disclosed for generating and utilizing photo advertisements (“ads”). In one embodiment, a photo advertisement is posted as a status update for a user via a social networking service. More specifically, first, one or more photo ad templates are obtained for the user, where each photo ad template includes one or more photo wells. A photo advertisement is then generated based on one of the photo ad templates such that a filler image of a different one of one or more participants identified for the photo advertisement is inserted into each of the one or more photo wells in the photo ad template. The photo advertisement is then used as a status update for the user. In another embodiment, the photo advertisement is stored and subsequently used to serve ad requests. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123831 | MEDIA RIGHTS MANAGEMENT USING MELODY IDENTIFICATION - A content recognition system operates in conjunction with a media hosting service to identify hosted media content and ownership rights associated with the hosted content. By applying melody recognition, the content recognition system can identify compositions embodied in hosted media content even when these compositions do not precisely match any known sound recording. Thus, the content recognition system is beneficially able to detect, for example, recorded cover performances and recorded live performances embodied in hosted media content. Once identified, ownership information is determined and the media hosting service can carry out appropriate rights management policies associated with the content such as monetizing or blocking the protected content. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123832 | STORED VALUE EXCHANGE METHOD AND APPARATUS - An apparatus and method for exchanging one form of stored value for another form of value. In one embodiment, a method for exchanging stored value for an alternative form of value comprises receiving stored value account information relating to the stored value from a remote user device, sending at least a portion the stored value account information to a first value provider and receiving a first offer to exchange the stored value for an alternative form of value. A request is then sent to a second value provider requesting that the second value provider provide a supplemental offer, the supplemental offer adding a second form of value to the alternative from of value. The supplemental offer is received, and then both the first and supplemental offers are provided to the remote user device for acceptance. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123833 | STORED VALUE EXCHANGE METHOD AND APPARATUS - An apparatus and method for exchanging one form of stored value for another form of value. In one embodiment, a method for exchanging stored value for an alternative form of value comprises receiving stored value account information relating to the stored value from a remote user device and generating a first offer to exchange the stored value for an alternative form of value. A request is sent to a first value provider to provide a supplemental offer to the first offer. The supplemental offer is then received from the first value provider, and the first offer and the supplemental offer are sent to the remote user device for acceptance. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123834 | STORED VALUE EXCHANGE METHOD AND APPARATUS - An apparatus and method for exchanging one form of stored value for another form of value. In one embodiment, a method for exchanging stored value for an alternative form of value comprises receiving stored value account information relating to the stored value from a remote user device and sending a request to a first value provider to provide an offer to exchange the store value for the alternative form of value. The method further comprises receiving the offer, the offer comprising a first offer to exchange the stored value for an alternative form of value and a supplemental offer comprising a supplemental value. The method further comprises sending the first offer and the supplemental offer to the remote user device for acceptance. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123835 | Systems and Methods of Managing Tasks Assigned to An Individual - In embodiments of the present invention, a method for managing tasks comprises assigning a task to an individual, associating the task with a points value, receiving an indication that a task is completed, grading the completed task, and awarding points for a completed task to an individual. In other embodiments of the present invention, a method of rewarding individuals for completing assigned tasks may comprise providing a collecting, matching, and trading game facility, wherein the facility provides collectables and collectable packs for collecting, matching, and trading as a reward for having reached a level of task completion; and allowing the individual access to the collecting, matching, and trading game facility, wherein access is based on at least one of permission, a task completed, a number of tasks completed, and a value associated with task completion. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123836 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DRIVING INTERNET TRAFFIC - A system and method for driving internet traffic to a coupon website is described. The website can provide low-cost, high traffic advertising to vendors by providing coupons. Traffic to the website can be enhanced by providing a variety of incentives. The incentives can include points, free prizes, and cash incentives. The site can be flexible and adaptable enabling vendors to change coupons and/or offers during the pendency of their contract. The site can be geographically limited to a small number of vendors to increase site demand and decrease vendor competition. The site can comprise a non-exclusive geographical site to increase traffic and improved economies of scale. The site can be divided into zones or areas to provide relevant information to consumers based on geographical, or other, data. The site can provide a variety of payment options including paying all or part of the listing fee with vendor coupons. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123837 | SOCIAL NETWORK SHOPPING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method and computer system for combining functions of social networking and shopping are disclosed. In one embodiment, a server stores user information including information concerning products recommended by a user. The user may notify a friend or a group of people of a recommended product and receive credit when a friend or member of the group purchases a product based on the recommendation. A user may also take guests on a virtual shopping tour, in which different virtual stores may be visited and different products may be discussed and purchased. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123838 | INCENTIVES FOR MEDIA SHARING - Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for providing incentives for media sharing. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a request from a first user to share a media item with a second user, and providing the second user with access to the media item. The method includes determining that the second user has performed an action related to the media item, and in response to determining that the second user has performed the action related to the media item, accessing a referral attribute associated with the first user, the referral attribute being related to the action. The method includes comparing the referral attribute to a reference value, based on comparing the referral attribute to the reference value, determining an amount of referral credit, and providing the determined amount of referral credit to the first user. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123839 | System and Method for Providing Advertising to a Wireless User Device - A system and method for providing wireless service includes a user device and a service provider. The service provider communicates the advertisement to the user device. The user device has a display control module that generates a first screen display at the user device comprising the advertisement and a lockout module that locks at least some device functions. The user device includes a user interface that interacts with the advertisement on the first screen display and allows access to the data or voice function. The service provider may provide a wireless service plan having a rate based upon receiving advertisements and interacting with the advertisements. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123840 | Low cost and effective means for generating sales and raising finance - A method for enabling low cost and effective sale transactions between buyers and sellers is provided, wherein the method is enabled by a system comprising one or more client interfaces and at least one server. Sellers list one or more Price Credits (PCs), and one or more goods on a server for buyers to buy. The discount on a good or a service is equal to the face value of the corresponding PC being offered to buy the good. Buyers can buy PCs using Price Exception Guarantees (PEGs). Buyers may further buy merchant tokens using PCs. Buyers may also resell PCs and merchant tokens before expiration of validity. Sellers may use merchant tokens to raise low cost and effective financing. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123841 | SMART WALLET - A service provider provides one or more “best” total value suggestions for one or more items specified by a user. The suggestions are based on one or more of user preferences, user location, available funding options, available local merchant incentives, available manufacturer incentives, and local merchants offering the item. In one embodiment, the “best” total value is the lowest price available to the user. The user may make a purchase using a suggestion or a revised suggestion. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123842 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING AN IDENTIFICATION REPRESENTING A MEDICATION ADHERENCE INCENTIVE - Generating an identification representing a medication adherence linked incentive and initiating a transmission of the identification to an identification display device by receiving a request from user at the server, generating the identification, associating the identification with the user, associating the combined user and identification with a medication adherence inventive protocol, and initiating a transmission of the identification to an identification display device. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123843 | Food Product Scale System And Method For Providing In-Store Incentives To Customers - A food product scale system includes a video commercial advertisement feature that is linked to an incentive item associated with a food product being weighed, where a coupon or other incentive label may also be printed for the incentive item. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123844 | SYSTEM FOR INDIVIDUALIZED CUSTOMER INTERACTION - A method and system for using individualized customer models when operating a retail establishment is provided. The individualized customer models may be generated using statistical analysis of transaction data for the customer, thereby generating sub-models and attributes tailored to customer. The individualized customer models may be used in any aspect of a retail establishment's operations, ranging from supply chain management issues, inventory control, promotion planning (such as selecting parameters for a promotion or simulating results of a promotion), to customer interaction (such as providing a shopping list or providing individualized promotions). | 2012-05-17 |
20120123845 | Systems and/or methods for fraud detection in award point programs - Certain exemplary embodiments described herein relate to the field of electronic registration (ER) of purchased items and, more particularly, to improved electronic registration techniques that provide validation and/or verification services for an award points program and/or products having associated award points. Certain exemplary embodiments provide electronic award points management techniques that authenticate item purchases, determine eligibility for inclusion in a manufacturer's or a retailer's award program, help identify and detect potential fraudulent transactions involving award points and/or associated products, etc. Certain exemplary embodiments may allow point information to be printed directly on a case where it is continually visible, which may, in turn, help increase enrollment by increasing visibility of the program, reducing the likelihood of insert cards being lost, etc., while at the same time reducing costs for program implementation on the part of manufacturers, retailers, etc. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123846 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING LOCALLY APPLICABLE INTERNET CONTENT WITH SECURE ACTION REQUESTS AND ITEM CONDITION ALERTS - Optimized delivery of locally applicable Internet content to users. A cache of locally applicable Internet content is maintained in a local content server, based upon a monitoring of locations of users requesting Internet content. Requests for Internet content are received from user equipment through a wireless network base station, and served from the local content server, which is logically proximate to the wireless network base station. The caching of locally applicable Internet content may be maintained on a layered basis. Secure action request receipt and corresponding performance, and item condition alerts are also described. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123847 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISTRIBUTION, REDEMPTION AND PROCESSING OF ELECTRONIC COUPONS - In a method of executing a transaction using an electronic coupon, coupon campaign information is provided to an engine. The coupon campaign information defines a discount value, a product family and a number of coupons to be distributed. Each coupon within the coupon campaign has a coupon identification (ID). Coupon publications are provided including a machine-readable portion that encodes coupon data describing the coupon campaign information. The coupon data is retrieved from the machine-readable portion of the coupon publication using a personal electronic device. The coupon data is used to retrieve a coupon ID that is stored in the personal electronic device. The coupon ID is transmitted to a point of sale (POS) system using the personal electronic device. The POS system communicates with the engine to verify a validity of the coupon ID. A discount is applied to a transaction in accordance with the discount value. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123848 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO INITIATE A MOBILE DATA COMMUNICATION UTILIZING A TRIGGER SYSTEM - A system and method to enable a user to initiate a communication with an organization using a mobile communication device by means of a trigger system. A system and method to enable an organization to acquire a user mobile device address by means of a trigger system. A system and method to enable an organization to respond to a user by means of a trigger system and a message application server. A system and method to enable organizations to deliver mobile messages, coupons, offers and promotions to users mobile device by means of a combination of a trigger system, a message application server and an offer application. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123849 | System and Methods for Purchase Reward Investment Communities - Purchase rewards account holders accumulate rewards currency. A network-based investment management system allows account holders to purchase shares in investments using reward currency. When all the shares for a particular investment have been purchased, the underlying investment is acquired. Account holders owning shares in an investment may sell shares to other account holders through system. Account holders are thereby able to invest their rewards dollars in investments typically requiring cash or cash equivalents and to grow their rewards currency. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123850 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACTIVELY RANKING AND FILTERING INFORMATION - One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a method, which includes receiving a request for specific information, wherein the request is associated with a first reward limit and a second reward limit, determining a first reward amount within the first reward limit based on a number of information providers, receiving personal data and a wager from each of the information providers, distributing the first reward amount to at least one of the information providers in a first phase based on a ranking of relevancy of submitted information by the information providers, and distributing the second reward amount in a second phase based on a result of using the submitted information. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123851 | CLICK EQUIVALENT REPORTING AND RELATED TECHNIQUE - Techniques are provided for use in online advertising, such as sponsored search advertising. Information may be obtained that includes historical online advertising information including information relating to conversion rates associated with bid amounts or bid amount ranges, as well as a proposed advertiser bid amount or bid amount range. Based at least in part on obtained information, a forecasted or predicted conversion rate or conversion rate range associated with the proposed bid amount or bid amount range is determined, and associated reporting is provided to the advertiser, which may include click equivalent information associated with a bidding-related standard or benchmark. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123852 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING ADVERTISING EFFECT REPORT - A system and method for providing an advertising effect report are provided. The method for providing an advertising effect report may include measuring an advertising effect of a search advertisement, storing an advertisement management history for the search advertisement, and providing the advertising effect in association with the advertisement management history. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123853 | COMPETITIVE ADVERTISING SERVER - Competitive content item serving is provided. Competitive content item serving can include the ability to receive a request for a content item and to compare an expected return for a first network content item to an expected return for a second network content item. Based upon the comparison, it can be determined whether to provide the first network content item to the publisher. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123854 | DATA MINING TO DETERMINE ONLINE USER RESPONSES TO BROADCAST MESSAGES - In a networked system, a method and apparatus for measuring advertising effectiveness involves broadcasting an advertisement at a broadcast time, monitoring at least one social network or other online forum following the broadcast time, filtering social network traffic to identify messages, search engine queries to identify queries, or other traffic entries, that appear to be responsive to the broadcast advertisement, determining a time of initiation for at least a plurality of entries that appear to be responsive to the broadcast advertisement, and determining at least one demographic for at least the plurality of the entries that appear to be responsive to the broadcast advertisement. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123855 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SUGGESTING RECOMMENDED KEYWORD - Provided are a system and method of suggesting at least one recommended keyword. The recommended keyword suggestion system may include a database storage device, the system including a keyword extracting unit to extract at least one keyword associated with a certain keyword from a related search word database stored in the database storage device, a display score providing unit to provide at least one display score for the at least one extracted keyword, each of the at least one display score being associated with an expected revenue from advertisement of each of the at least one extracted keyword, and a recommended keyword determining unit to determine at least one recommended keyword to be displayed for the certain keyword among the at least one extracted keyword, based on the provided at least one display score. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123856 | DYNAMIC PRICING FOR CONTENT PRESENTATIONS - A request for content is received. First content is selected for the request. The first content is selected from among multiple content items based on information in the request, a characteristic of how the first content is to be presented, and a stored pricing threshold value selected based on the characteristic. The characteristic of how the first content is to be presented includes an amount of available space that is occupied by the first content when the first content is presented. The selected first content is provided for presentation by a publisher that provides second content. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123857 | Bidding Model for Sponsored Search Advertising Based on User Query Intent - A method and a system are provided for sponsored search ad bidding based on user query intent and matching one or more ads to a user's query intent. In one example, the system receives a bid intent of an advertiser for an ad, a query intent of a user, a click-through rate for the bid intent, and a bid value for the ad. The system generates a proximity value for the ad by calculating a proximity between the bid intent of the advertiser and the query intent of the user. The system generates an effective bid value for the ad by using the click-through rate for the bid intent, the bid value for the ad, and the proximity value for the ad. The system ranks the ad among other ads by using the effective bid value for the ad, wherein the ranking is based on the query intent of the user. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123858 | Crowdsourced Advertisements Sponsored By Advertisers In A Social Networking Environment - Users of a social networking system are provided with advertisements when accessing content associated with the social networking system. The content of such advertisement may be generated by other users of the social networking system. An advertiser may provide an advertising template containing an advertised message and fields wherein a user can input an endorsement. The social networking system generates a user interface responsive to the template and provides the user interface to an endorsing user to receive the user's endorsement for the advertised product or event. The social networking system generates an advertisement responsive to the advertisement content provided by the advertiser and the endorsement content provided by the endorsing user. The social networking user can provide the generated advertisements to viewing users who meet the advertisement's targeting criteria and display criteria provided by the endorsing user. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123859 | ONLINE ADVERTISING WITH ENHANCED PUBLISHER INVOLVEMENT - Techniques are provided for use in connection with online advertising exchanges. Methods are provided in which information is obtained, including, for each of multiple publisher sites, a set of publisher site tags, and for each of multiple advertisements, a set of advertisement tags. Methods are provided that include, in selection of an advertisement to be served in connection with a serving opportunity, utilizing, as a factor in the selection, matching of publisher site tags, associated with a publisher site associated with the serving opportunity, with advertisement tags of the advertisement. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123860 | Graphical Internet Search System and Methods - A system and methods for web based graphical internet searching for locating unique items sought by buyers of designs, furnishings and accessories through use of the internet. The invention includes a search interface where both a seller and buyer will use the same graphical alphabet, which divides an item into its component parts, to decipher the language of design which has an infinite number of stylistic combinations. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123861 | ONLINE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM AND INSTRUCTION PROCESS - An improved online medical education program that allows a user to access the site and input information into the system relating to their medical condition is provided. Once information has been inputted into the system, the individuals may be directed to an area which allows them to learn information relating to their specific medical condition. The system and program may deliver to an individual with a specific medical condition, comprehensive disease management programs that are centered on behavior modification and education about the disease and the long and short term impact on their lives. The education program may provide the user a day-by-day management program which lasts for a predetermined period of time. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123862 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SELECTIVE DELIVERY OF ADS BASED ON FACTORS INCLUDING SITE CLUSTERING - For each of various sites, a mathematical representation is computed according to prescribed characteristics of users that have conducted one or more predetermined types of interaction with the site. Cluster of the sites are identified whose computed representations are similar according to prescribed criteria. Responsive to notification of an opportunity to deliver unidentified advertising to a given user via a given site, at least one ad is selected based upon factors including the ad having a prescribed performance history at one or more clusters containing the given site. The selected ad is transmitted to the given user at the given site, or a bid is transmitted for such placement of the ad. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123863 | Keyword publication for use in online advertising - In a technique for publishing keywords for use in an online advertising system (OAS), keywords are extracted from product information that is received from entities that provide products. Based on calculated performance metrics associated with the extracted keywords, an estimated viability of the keywords (such as an estimated profitability) when used in the OAS is determined and a subset of the keywords is selected. Then, the selected subset of the keywords is published to the OAS. For example, the selected keywords may be bid on for use in search-engine-based online-advertising campaigns. Note that the performance metrics for a given keyword may include: a performance metric that is independent of the product information, a performance metric that is based on the product information, and/or an OAS performance metric. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123864 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SELECTING A SUPPLEMENTAL PRODUCT TO OFFER FOR SALE DURING A TRANSACTION - According to some embodiments, a supplemental product or service may be offered to a user during a transaction, either in addition to products and/or services the user is purchasing, or as a replacement to one or more of the products and/or services that the user is purchasing. The functionality may be implemented, for example, in a retail embodiment where a user is purchasing products and/or services at a cash register or other point-of-sale terminal. One or more embodiments may be implemented online where a user is purchasing products and/or services using a computer, terminal, telephone or other client or user device and accessing a World Wide Web site, online catalog, interactive voice response unit or system, etc. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123865 | ENHANCED SHOPPING EXPERIENCE FOR MOBILE STATION USERS - An enhanced shopping experience is provided via a graphical user interface of a mobile station. The shopping experience may include a categorical hierarchy for a catalog of downloadable content items. The catalog may support any or all of several additional features, such as animated promotions, search capabilities, sharing a wishlist with and receiving a wishlist from another user of the shopping service. The shopping experience may also include an interactive virtual mall. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123866 | TARGETED ADVERTISING IN A PEER-TO-PEER NETWORK - A method is described including requesting content from a directory service, receiving a list of peers in a peer-to-peer network having the requested content, selecting a peer from the received list of peers, establishing communications with the selected peer, receiving a list of chunks of content and ads available from the selected peer, requesting a chunk of content and ads available from said selected peer and receiving the chunk of content and randomly selected ads from the selected peer. Also described is a method including receiving a request for content, generating a list of chunks of content available for the requested content, generating a list of ads associated with the requested content, transmitting the list of available chunks of content responsive to the request, receiving a request for a selected chunk of content and transmitting the selected chunk of content and ads associated with the selected chunk of content. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123867 | Location Event Advertising - Information about physical places is gathered to develop quality scores for targeting advertisements to users of mobile devices sharing geographic location events with service providers. A scoring model incorporates selected attributes about places (e.g., created by a service provider vs. user-generated, category, keywords, census data providing population density by location, property values by area, popularity, special events, government vs. private area, whether place is associated with a brand, chain, or is independent) that have been gathered from multiple sources, verified, and normalized. Advertisements are targeted to users running mobile applications based on a location event shared with the service provider using the quality score for the place indicated in the location event in addition to other attributes of the place. In one embodiment, the system uses a machine learning algorithm to analyze conversion rates of targeted advertising to provide feedback to the scoring model. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123868 | System and Method for Physical-World Based Dynamic Contactless Data Emulation in a Portable Communication Device - A system for dynamically adjusting the contactless data emulation used by a portable communication device based on its geo-location. The system determines a geo-location of the portable communication device by transmitting the current geo-location data using a most appropriate channel to a server; receiving data regarding payment systems potentially co-located with the portable communication device; and configuring a payment system in the portable communication device with the data formats and other contact-less point of sale data specific to payment system potentially co-located with the device. A method for dynamically adjusting the contactless data emulation used by a portable communication device based on its geo-location is also disclosed. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123869 | Location Blocking Service from a Web Advertiser - Location-blocking and identity-blocking services that can be commercially offered by a service promoter, e.g., a cellular service provider or a web advertiser. In the identity-blocking service, the service promoter may disclose the current physical location of a mobile subscriber (i.e., a cellular phone operator) to a third party (e.g., a web advertiser) subscribing to the identity-blocking service. However, the service promoter may not send any identity information for the mobile subscriber to the third party. On the other hand, in the location-blocking service, the service promoter may disclose the mobile subscriber's identity information to the third party, but not the current physical location of the mobile subscriber. Blocking of the mobile subscriber's identity or location information may be desirable for privacy reasons, to comply with a government regulation, or to implement a telecommunication service option selected by the mobile subscriber. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123870 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ENABLING PERSONALIZATION OF DATA SERVICE PLANS - Systems and methods for enabling personalization of data service plans are disclosed herein. According to an aspect, a method can include receiving profile and network usage data of a subscriber. Further, the method can include generating a personalized data service offer for the subscriber based on the profile and network usage data. The method can also include presenting the personalized data service offer to the subscriber. The subscriber may respond to accept the offer. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123871 | SERVING AD REQUESTS USING USER GENERATED PHOTO ADS - Systems and methods are disclosed for generating and utilizing photo advertisements (“ads”). In one embodiment, a computer server obtains and stores user-created photo advertisements. Each of the user-created photo advertisements is generated based on a corresponding photo ad template having one or more photo wells such that filler images of one or more participants are inserted into the one or more photo wells. For each user-created photo advertisement, the one or more participants include at least a user by which the photo advertisement was created. In addition, the computer server effects use of the stored user-created photo advertisements as sponsored advertisements. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123872 | COOPERATIVE PERSONALIZED PROMOTION METHOD ACCORDING TO CONSUMER-STORE INTERACTIVE TRANSACTION HISTORY AND SYSTEM USING THE SAME - A system performs cooperative personalized promotion based on consumer-store interactive transaction history at multiple stores of different categories. The system includes a cooperative personal promotion platform. The cooperative personal promotion platform is provided for multiple stores of different categories to register a number of promotion information and to display at least one preferential-combination-information constituted by the promotion information. The promotion platform includes a data exchange interface, a remote-end server and a consumer record unit. The data exchange interface is used for reading a consumer's basic information into the platform, and connecting to the remote-end server via a network. The remote-end server is used for checking the consumer's basic information and recording consumer's latest interactive transaction in the consumer record unit for updating a consumer-store interactive transaction history. The cooperative personal promotion platform matches at least one preferential combination information for the consumer's choice according to the consumer-store interactive transaction history. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123873 | METHOD FOR PROVIDING DATA SERVICE AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING DATA SERVICE APPLYING THE SAME - A method for providing a data service and a system for providing a data service applying the same are provided. The method includes selecting a content that is assigned a data assignment quantity indicating a quantity sufficient for using a service; comparing a data generation quantity indicating a quantity of data generated by a user and the data assignment quantity; and performing the service for the data generated by the user according to a result of the comparison. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123874 | Method and Apparatus for Providing Multiple Online Advertisements Using Location Information of Scroll Bar - According to an embodiment of the present invention, the present invention includes: providing advertisement providing condition information which is previously set and receiving advertisement providing request information corresponding to the advertisement providing condition information; calculating an advertisement providing rate for the multiple web sites using the advertisement providing condition information and the advertisement providing request information; and transmitting advertisement data to the client in accordance with the advertisement providing rate when the advertisement data transmitting request is received from the client. The advertisement data transmitting request that is received from the client is performed in such a manner that the client receives a web document provided from the web server to determine whether a scroll bar is located in location information included in a tag included in the web document, and requests the advertisement server to transmit the advertisement data when the scroll bar is located in the location information included in the tag. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123875 | USER GENERATED ADS BASED ON CHECK-INS - Systems and methods are disclosed for generating and utilizing photo advertisements (“ads”). In one embodiment, a photo check-in process is performed for a user located within a geographic check-in zone which results in a photo advertisement that is utilized as a photo check-in for the user. In another embodiment, a photo advertisement is posted as a status update for a user via a social networking service. In another embodiment, photo advertisements are created by users and stored for subsequent use in serving ad requests. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123876 | RECOMMENDING AND PRESENTING ADVERTISEMENTS ON DISPLAY PAGES OVER NETWORKS OF COMMUNICATION DEVICES AND COMPUTERS - An aspect of the present invention recommends and presents ads of interest to a user requesting display pages by maintaining a Click Through Rate (CTR) matrix containing terms extracted from prior display page request URLs and associated parameters as the row index and corresponding terms extracted from ad URLs, ad text and associated terms of ads presented in response to those display page requests as the column index with the CTR value as the elements, broadly matching current display page request to one of the CTR rows, retrieving the ad vectors and their CTR values for the matched row, computing an ad score for selected ad vectors and providing one or more ads chosen based on the ad scores along with the requested display pages. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123877 | POINT OF INTEREST TRACKING WITH SPECIFIC RETAILER ACCREDITATION - A method and system is provided for crediting presenters of product advertisements for purchases related to a consumer's initial point of interest. A presenter provides a previously generated, point of interest tracking (POIT) code on advertising media, the POIT code having an internet address for fulfillment website site, and the indentify of the presenter embedded therein. A consumer scans the POIT Code on an e-device and establishes communication with the fulfillment website, the presenter identity being extracted and tracked, any purchases thereafter being credited to the presenter. Vendors can now identify and remunerate an initial retailer or presenter for their role in closing the cycle from a consumer's point-of-interest through purchase. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123878 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSOCIATING MENU INFORMATION - Methods and Apparatus related to generating representations of information. The information may include menu information for merchants such as restaurants. Referring to menus, methods may include receiving potential information for a first menu, and receiving indications of associations of the information with the first menu and/or any number of additional menus. Information and/or associations may later be updated by a desired set of users. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123879 | Verification of a Transactor's Identity - A system for facilitating a financial transaction between a prospective transactor and a transactee has an identity and account verifying facility for verifying the identity of the prospective transactor and an account that the prospective transactor has with a financial institution, the identity and account verifying facility being operated by an independent verifier. The identity and account verifying facility includes a storage means for storing an identifier of the prospective transactor and details of at least one account held by the transactor at the financial institution. An identifier input means is provided whereby the transactor enters his identifier when he subscribes to the service. An account details obtaining means for obtaining details of the transactor's account with the financial institution, an identifier input means whereby the transactor enters his identifier; and a communicating means for communicating with the independent verifier are located at the transactee, for furnishing the account details and the identifier to the verifier and for receiving a verification confirmation or rejection from the verifier, prior to the transactor conducting the financial transaction with the transactee. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123880 | System and Method for On Demand Diagnostics of A Device Utilizing Secure Data to Interact Wirelessly with One or More Third Party Systems - A system and method for remotely diagnosing a failure in a mobile transaction is disclosed. The system includes a portable communication device having a diagnostics agent configured to transmit the communication device's unique identification number and present status over a mobile network. The system further includes a retailer subsystem in short proximity communication with the communication device, and a remote system management back end in wireless communication with both the communication devices and the retailer subsystem. The system management back end has a diagnostics management system configured to receive failure data and RF presence data from the portable communication device, and to diagnose the failure based on such data. The system also includes a mobile network in communication with the system management back end, via which the diagnosis and hopefully a solution are wirelessly transmitted to the end user. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123881 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RISK TRIGGERING VALUES - Systems and methods for facilitating risk assessment for point of sale transactions utilizing at least one risk triggering value (RTV) is disclosed. An RTV is a condensed version of a set of complex risk data and strategies usually found in central processing sites. After receiving a request for payment authorization, a risk value is calculated for the request. The distributed processing site compares the risk value to the RTV to determine whether to authorize payment. If the risk value is less than or equal to the RTV, the payment is authorized while a risk value greater than the RTV will not be authorized. The central site calculates a new RTV for the account and distributes the new RTV to the distributed processing site. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123882 | Cardless Challenge Systems and Methods - Systems, methods, and apparatus for handling and/or authorizing payment requests by a consumer for a transaction are provided. Challenge questions may be presented from the non-merchant to the consumer after receiving the payment information, thereby allowing a judicious determination of when to ask such challenge questions and allowing complex and probative questions. The time limit for such challenge questions may advantageously be unconstrained, while still preserving security. Also, a risk analysis may be started prior to the consumer submitting payment information, thus allowing an efficient and complex risk analysis. Information about an access device used by the consumer may be obtained at the non-merchant from the access device with code sent to the access device from the merchant, and the device information may be used in the risk analysis. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123883 | NFC TRANSACTION SERVER - A near field transaction system includes a first transaction device having near field communication circuitry, and a portable device having near field communication circuitry. The system also includes at least one transaction server having a memory area with at least one application program, and a mechanism for establishing a data link between the server and the near field communication circuitry of the portable device. The application program is configured to perform a transaction with the first transaction device, using the near field communication circuitry of the portable device as a proximity relay to communicate with the first transaction terminal. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123884 | Store management via remote point of sale data management system - The present invention provides a method and system for accessing and managing business data stored in a POS system through a mobile device. The method enables a remote user to access and manage the business data present on the POS system in real time and effectively manage a store. The business data is provided to the user based on ad-hoc requests or automatic data feeds. The method includes receiving a request for the business data from the mobile device and converting the request to a first format, retrieving the requested business data from the POS system according to predefined rules and policies, converting the retrieved data to a second format, and transmitting the converted business data to the mobile device. The invention also includes providing the business data automatically to the mobile device based on predefined rules and policies. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123885 | ACTIVATING LICENSABLE COMPONENT OF CONSUMER ELECTRONIC DEVICE AT POINT OF SALE - A purchaser of a CE device informs a retail clerk, at the point of sale (POS) of features of the CE device the purchaser wishes to employ, some of which require a license. The CE device is vended without the licenses but the clerk can upload the desired features to a server, which correlates the features to licensable components and which returns to the POS the license codes needed to enable the components. The codes can be provided to the CE device using RFID at the POS, or storing the codes on a removable storage at the POS and giving the storage to the purchaser, or by printing the codes as bar codes in the sales receipt at the POS and giving the receipt to the purchaser, who later scans the codes past a camera of the CE device to enable the associated licensable components. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123886 | MANAGING SERVICE DEMAND LOAD RELATIVE TO INFRASTRUCTURE CAPACITY IN A NETWORKED COMPUTING ENVIRONMENT - Embodiments of the present invention provide an approach for implementing service level agreements (SLAs) having variable service delivery requirements and pricing in a networked (e.g. cloud) computing environment. Under embodiments of the present invention, a plurality of SLAs, each having a different price level, is made available to a consumer. The consumer may select one or more of the plurality of SLAs that reflects the consumer's service delivery requirements in a cloud computing environment. A consumer having relatively inflexible service delivery requirements may select one of the SLAs having a relatively higher price, whereas a consumer having relatively flexible service delivery requirements may select one of the SLAs having a relatively lower price. In one embodiment, the SLAs may dynamically provide for relatively lower variable pricing in response to the consumer receiving deferred or a relatively lower level of service during a peak service demand load. In another embodiment, the SLAs may dynamically provide for relatively higher variable pricing in response to consumer service requests that are fulfilled during a relatively higher overall service demand load. In yet another embodiment, the SLAs may dynamically provide for relatively lower variable pricing in response to consumer service requests that occur during a relatively lower overall service demand load. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123887 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FACE-TO-FACE MOBILE PHONE MERCANTILE TRANSACTIONS - Methods and arrangements for processing face-to-face mobile phone transactions. An agreed-upon price for a product is accepted from a buyer mobile phone and a seller mobile phone. Distinct random numbers are assigned to each of the buyer and seller mobile phones. The random number assigned to the seller mobile phone is received from the buyer mobile phone, and the random number assigned to the buyer mobile phone is received from the seller mobile phone. A match is ascertained between the buyer and seller mobile phones based on receipt from the buyer mobile phone the random number assigned to the seller mobile phone and receipt from the seller mobile phone the random number assigned to the buyer mobile phone. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123888 | METHOD AND USE OF POINT-OF-SALE TERMINAL, WHICH RECEIVES, TRANSMITS, STORES, AUTHORIZES, RECONCILES, AND CALCULATES TRANSACTIONS ELECTRONICALLY - A point-of-sale terminal, which receives, stores, transmits, authorizes, reconciles and calculates electronic transactions of data. It is also an on-line document delivery system which allows access, download, viewing and printing from a client's desktop, receive and send documents via facsimile to any location, and do virtually any other transaction offered by the System from home, office or from almost anywhere in the world at any time. This point-of-sale terminal is designed to provide access to documents through a graphical interface. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123889 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STREAMLINED ACQUISITION, DOWNLOAD AND OPENING OF DIGITAL CONTENT - A system and method for the purchase, downloading and opening of digital content, which is accomplished with one or two gestures, e.g., button or taps. Digital content items are displayed on the user's local device along with a button, i.e., a “Buy” button that can be selected to purchase a particular item of content. The user taps, clicks, or selects the “Buy” button to initiate the purchase, downloading and opening of the content. The instruction to purchase the content is transmitted to the remote server, which completes the purchase transaction and begins the download of the purchased content. Included with the downloaded content, preferably as parameters or metadata, is an indication of which reader application is required to open and read the digital content. When the download to the user's local device is completed, it uses these parameters to automatically launch the appropriate reader and automatically open the purchased, downloaded content, without any action required by the user. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123890 | System and method for augmenting a user environment with customized information - A system and method is provided which utilizes wireless communications to provide a client with timed, geo-referenced information to augment the user experience in a physical environment. The present invention enriches the user environment by providing targeted information regarding the venue, products, services, customer services, social networking, gaming, targeted advertising, or safety. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123891 | PROFESSIONALLY-QUALIFIED BIDDING SYSTEM FOR A USER SEEKING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES - A professionally-qualified bidding system for a user seeking professional services is presented. The teachings are generally related to a professionally-qualified bidding system for a user seeking professional services. From the user perspective, the system generally includes a component operable for receiving a user's request for a professional service, an optional component operable to verify the user's request, a component operable for a viewing of the user's request by a qualified professional service provider, and a component for communicating a bid from the professional service provider to the user. In some embodiments, the user's request can be verified through one or more questionnaire's, or a submission from the user. In some embodiments, the professional service provider is qualified automatically. And, in some embodiments, the bid can be updated to provide the user with a real-time, or near real-time, status of the professional service provider's offer or counteroffers. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123892 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR REAL-TIME BIDDING - A method and a system to provide real-time bidding in online auction. For example, a system may comprise a notification module to generate and transmit a notification to a client machine. The notification may be generated based on a defined end time of a selected auction. A subscription module may establish electronic communication with the client machine responsive to a subscription message received from the client machine in response to the notification. In some instances, the electronic communication is established using a push technology. An event filter may filter an event from a plurality of events related to the selected auction where the filtered event is a highest received bid in the selected auction. The filtered event may then be pushed to the client machine by the subscription module. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123893 | Device, System, And Method For Trading Units Of Unique Valuable Assets - Device, system, and method for trading units of Unique Valuable Assets (UVAs). For example, a method for securitizing a Unique Valuable Asset (UVA) may include: transferring custody and ownership in the UVA from a settling owner of the UVA to a fiduciary entity; issuing by the fiduciary entity a plurality of tradable UVA certificates which correspond to portions of ownership rights in the UVA; electronically selling by the fiduciary entity one or more of the tradable UVA certificates, through an auction, to one or more purchasers; and transferring from the fiduciary entity to the settling owner at least some of monetary consideration received by the fiduciary entity from said one or more purchasers of tradable UVA certificates. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123894 | Decentralized Transportation Dispatching System and Method for Decentralized Transportation Dispatching - A method for decentralized transportation dispatching is disclosed. The method bypasses utilizing a centralized dispatch call center and includes announcing a transportation requirement via broadcasting directly by at least one user, and replying to the transportation requirement with a plurality of competitive bidding information directly from a plurality of transportation providers who are capable of providing a passenger-carrying service or providing a goods-carrying service. The method further includes selecting one transportation provider from the transportation providers according to a request from the user, in which the selecting is performed through referencing the bidding information replied to by the transportation providers. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123895 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PERSONALIZED CONTENT-SHARING AND GIFTING VIA A COMMUNICATION MEDIUM - The present disclosure describes one or more apparatuses and methods to allow users to generate a greeting card by defining a theme, a personalized message, content, and optionally a gift. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123896 | DECORATIVE END CAPS FOR FIXTURES - Decorative caps for various fixtures that are easy to install, customizable, and interchangeable. The decorative caps can have custom decorations thereupon and when installed are held in proper alignment by mechanical locking such that the custom decoration does not change alignment. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123897 | Methods for Online Selection and Ordering of Custom Furniture - The present invention relates to methods and computer systems for ordering customized furniture pieces to be upholstered and an upholstery covering. In particular, the methods of the present invention relate to calculating the amount of a covering needed based on the fabric repeat size in the case of a fabric covering, or based on hide inconsistencies in the case of a leather covering. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123898 | GENERATING CONFIGURATION OPTIONS FOR A COMPUTING SYSTEM - A computer-implemented method includes receiving, at a configuration server, requirements data identifying computing requirements of a customer. The computer-implemented method includes receiving, at the configuration server, inventory information descriptive of a computing inventory of the customer. The computer-implemented method also includes accessing compatibility rules that specify hardware and software to enable particular computing requirements. The computer-implemented method further includes determining a plurality of configuration options to implement the computing requirements of the customer based on at least one of the requirements data, the computing inventory, and the compatibility rules. The plurality of configuration options include at least one customer premises equipment (CPE)-based configuration, at least one cloud computing-based configuration, and at least one hybrid CPE-cloud computing-based configuration. The computer-implemented method includes comparing the plurality of configuration options based on customer preferences. The computer-implemented method also includes providing at least one configuration recommendation based on comparing the plurality of configuration options. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123899 | SOCIAL NETWORK SHOPPING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A product discovery method displaying products and social media in random order from a preselected list. The user provides comments for individual products or social media. Based on user comments, a preselection of products and social media is filtered to the interests of the individual user. The method therefore focuses over time more and more to the real areas of interests of the individual user. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123900 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SWAPPING OF TANGIBLE AND INTANGIBLE ITEMS - A first user, second user, and third user are registered. Names of a first, second, and third item are stored a website for the first, second, and third users. The items can be tangible items or intangible items. The first user requests the second item. A first credit is removed from the first user and a second credit is stored for the second user when the first user receives the second item. The second user requests the third item. The second credit is removed from the second user and a third credit is stored for the third user when the second user receives the third item. The first credit, the second credit, and the third credit each represents a right to request a future swappable tangible or intangible item for the equivalent value of at least one previously swapped tangible or intangible item. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123901 | METHOD FOR ON-LINE PARTS ORDERING - The present invention is a method of selling replacement parts for a product over a computer network including providing a plurality of product manufacturer selection options for a customer to select from, receiving a manufacturer selection of one of the product manufacturers, providing a plurality of product selections for the customer to select from, receiving a product selection of one of the products, providing a schematic illustrating a plurality of component parts of the product with associated reference identifiers, receiving a selection of at least one of the component parts, providing a description of the component part selected, including at least one name for the component part and at least one part number for the component part. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123902 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO AUTOMATICALLY QUALIFY A PARTY TO PARTICIPATE WITHIN A NETWORK-BASED COMMERCE TRANSACTION - A system to facilitate computer-based commerce includes receiving information relating to an item to be transacted via a computer-based commerce system from a first party. Criterion information specifying at least one criterion to be satisfied by a second party in order for the second party to be qualified to transact for the item via the computer-based commerce system is received from the first party. An automatic determination is made as to whether the second party satisfies the at least one criterion and if so, then the second party is automatically qualified to transact for the item via the computer-based commerce system. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123903 | METHOD OF CONDUCTING TRANSACTIONS OVER THE INTERNET - A method of conducting transactions over the Internet, comprising the steps: opening an online market; applying membership, wherein a member is classified into classes A, B or C; class A member is a professional institution/person who provides security services for a market transaction order; class B member is a seller/provider who participates in network goods/service transactions; and class C member is a purchaser who participates in the network goods/service transactions; establishing a market website; equipping with a website server; drafting market rules; wherein class A member verifies authenticity of general and performance information, which are inputted into market website server by a market administrative institution, declared by class B member; the members learn about financial conditions from one another via the Internet by using a network terminal unit, and negotiate online transactions and sign a contract; and the seller/provider provides goods/service, whereas the buyer fulfill online payment. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123904 | SEARCHING FOR GOODS AND SERVICES BASED ON KEYWORDS AND PROXIMITY - Techniques for keyword-based searching are described. Some embodiments provide a Merchant Information Search System (“MISS”) that allows a potential customer to search for information about proximately located merchants that provide goods and/or services that match one or more keywords provided by the customer. In some embodiments, multiple keywords are associated with individual goods and/or services provided by a merchant. By associating keywords with individual goods and/or services, rather than a category or type of goods, the MISS may provide fine-grained search results that identify merchants that would not have been otherwise identified by category-based approaches to searching. Some embodiments employ other or additional techniques, including proximity-based searching and keyword feedback to improve search performance. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123905 | PURCHASING-ASSISTANCE DEVICE AND SYSTEM AND METHOD USING THE SAME - A assistance device and a system for purchasing and a method using the same. The method includes the following steps. A portable body is provided for a shopper to carry with. A code of a merchandise is read by the portable body to confirm the type and price of the merchandise. The information of the merchandise purchased by the shopper is recorded in the portable body and listed on a purchase list. The purchase list is transmitted to a trade center, which settles the accounts according to the purchase list and withdraws the portable body after the accounts are settled. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123906 | METHOD, SYSTEM AND PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR APPROVING ITEM REQUESTS - Under the present invention, an approver will log into a purchase application or the like. Upon logging in, the approver will be presented with a view of all item requests for which he/she must make an approval determination. The approver can also be presented with informational messages for the requested items. In any event, the approver can make an approval determination for the item requests and post comments related thereto. Once the approval determination has been made for a particular item request, an approver list and approval status corresponding thereto is updated. It should be understood that as used herein, the term “item” is intended to refer to goods or services. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123907 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ONLINE INTEGRATED MULTIPLE TABLET ORDERING - A system and method for ordering a plurality of tablets is described. The system comprises a server accessible via a network by at least one client. An online application is hosted on the server and accessible by the client. The online application comprises a user interface configured to receive a first input associated with a first tablet. The first input comprises a first schedule for consumption of the first tablet. The user interface is also configured to receive a second input associated with a second tablet. The second input comprises a second schedule for consumption of the second tablet. The user interface is further configured to display an integrated schedule comprising the schedule for consumption of the first tablet and the schedule for consumption of the second tablet. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123908 | MULTIPLE LOCATION ELECTRONIC DEVICE COMMUNICATION - An in-vehicle control system for communicating data between at least one of an office control system and a residential control system including a transceiver configured to be in communication with the office control system and the residential control system. The in-vehicle control system further including a memory device in communication with the transceiver. The memory device is configured to store a data file transmitted and/or received from the office control system and the residential control system. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123909 | DISCOVERING AND RESERVING TRAVEL SOLUTIONS - A system and method to facilitate discovery and reservation of travel options suitably include routing processing, flight selection processing, and fare validation processing. Flight selection processing generates flight combinations for each routing discovered by the routing processing. Not all flight combinations are allowed to proceed thus permitting better flight combinations to emerge. Fare validation processing loads fares, checks availability, and validates them according to the specifics associated with each fare. A list of low cost travel solutions is returned to a travel consumer. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123910 | CONSUMER SHOPPING AND PURCHASE SUPPORT SYSTEM AND MARKETPLACE - A system including an Internet based server running a central data repository database, and deploying spiders to scour the Internet analyzing the millions of product-oriented web pages and newsgroup postings, plus a server application for classifying and indexing all of the information derived from the spiders. The web server pushes downloadable—“Rich Internet Application” (RIA) client application to subscribers running client devices. The RIA client application is accessible directly from any other enabled native application to draw information from the central data repository. The RIA client application presents a navigational user-interface on the client device that presents an array of robust information tools necessary for consumers to obtain a comprehensive shopping and purchase support and participate in alternative marketplaces without leaving the other native application pages they are viewing. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123911 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING A PLURALITY OF TIRES - Systems, methods and computer program products are provided for managing a plurality of tires from their procurement through their disposal. An embodiment may include a method for determining all the costs of a tire over its total service life including procurement costs, repair costs, retread costs and disposal costs. An embodiment may include managing an inventory by automatically replenishing the inventory by following a set of stored inventory management rules. An embodiment may include helping to ensure that an impermissible tire is not mounted on a vehicle. A stored set of tire mounting rules automatically check the tire being mounted against requirements for the tire set by the rules, the requirements set as to by vehicle type and wheel position. | 2012-05-17 |