| 24th week of 2009 patent applcation highlights part 54 |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
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| 20090150175 | Method and system for multi-device communication - A medical data system including a plurality of receivers configured to wirelessly receive medical data via a signal. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150176 | Patient-centric healthcare information maintenance - A system for facilitating patient centric healthcare information maintenance. For example, a health management software system may be operated to receive, organize, and use patient medical information. The health management software may comprise a database for storing, retrieving, organizing, displaying, and, generally, for managing a patient's health. In one exemplary embodiment, the health management software system is used in conjunction with a healthcare maintenance device, such as a blood glucose monitoring system. The blood glucose monitoring system may contain several database objects in the form of data records. Typically in a portable blood glucose monitor, each data record contains a time and a concentration data element, or a time-amount point. Similarly, an insulin pump, which is another exemplary embodiment of a healthcare maintenance device, may maintain data records with time and dosage information, or a time-dosage point. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150177 | Method and system for setting time blocks - A method and system for setting time blocks of a repeating time period is disclosed. The method and system may be a part of a healthcare management software system. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150178 | Method And System For Tracking Physical Metrics In A Social Commerce System - A method and system for tracking physical metrics in a social commerce system is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the physical metric tracking system comprises a data registering unit that receives activity data by a user, a data processing unit that validates the activity data using a plurality of data validating algorithms and converts the validated data into a convertible value, and a storage that stores the activity data and the convertible value. The convertible value is traded with goods and services, or any other benefits in the social commerce system. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150179 | COMPENSATED ELECTRONIC CONSULTS - The present invention relates to a system and method for providing health care information to health care providers and for obtaining information pertaining to the practice of a health care provider by providing incentives for provision of such information. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150180 | Method, apparatus and solftware for identifying responders in clinical environment - A process for determining responders in clinical testing environments that involves, inter alia, detecting treatment response through the use of small numbers of measurements of randomly varying outcome variables in individual clinical trial subjects, and by analyzing the measurements in such a way as to eliminate troublesome variables, such as a spontaneous population variability. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150181 | Method and system for personal medical data database merging - A method and system for merging databases containing medical, patient and/or healthcare, information is provided, which may be utilized to merge a source database containing medical information into a new or existing destination database. The method may include the steps of identifying a source database containing medical information, identifying a destination database for the receipt of the medical information from the source database, selecting rules for governing the migration of medical information into the destination database, and migrating the medical information from the source database to the destination database. In one exemplary embodiment, the medical information is a plurality of individual patient's medical records. In another exemplary embodiment, the medical information is a plurality of healthcare provider records. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150182 | Disease and case management system - Disclosed herein is a computer implemented method and system that addresses the need for an online disease based and case based management of medical care. An online disease and case management system is provided. The information of the patients is retrieved from multiple information sources. The patient information is used to identify one of a disease condition in a patient population and a patient with a disease condition. Further, the patients are enrolled. The enrolled patients are educated about the disease condition for self monitoring of the disease condition. The status of the self monitored disease condition is recorded in a disease log. Visits to a provider are scheduled for medical treatment of the enrolled patients. The enrolled patients are monitored for medical progress based on the medical treatment provided. Further, the disease and case management of medical care are evaluated and reported based on clinical and financial outcomes. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150183 | LINKING TO CLINICAL DECISION SUPPORT - Computer-implemented methods, systems and computer-storage media that provide a link to a clinical decision support event interface are described. Clinical information for a patient is received and compared against one or more rules associated with a clinical decision support even. It is determined whether at least one of the rules associated with the clinical decision support event have been satisfied based on the clinical information. A clinical decision support event user interface is generated for presentation utilizing the clinical information for the patient. The user interface includes at least a portion of the clinical information for the patient and clinical advice based on the clinical information for the patient. A link to the user interface is displayed to a user. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150184 | Medical user interface and workflow management system - A medical user interface and workflow management system for use in X-ray imaging related procedures includes at least one repository. The at least one repository stores data indicating X-ray imaging related characteristics of a current medical procedure being performed including data identifying a type of procedure, comprising at least one of, (a) a current medical procedure is a cardiac related procedure and (b) a current medical procedure is an Angiography procedure. A workflow processor manages and tracks tasks being performed in a current medical procedure and adaptively selects a next task for performance following completion of a current task by selecting the next task based on the current task and in response to the X-ray imaging related characteristics. A user interface generates data representing at least one display image for presentation to a user. The at least one display image includes image elements associated with the selected next task enabling performance of the selected next task. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150185 | RECORD LOCATOR SERVICE - A system and method for accessing health care data are disclosed. A data retrieval service module is coupled to a client device and to one or more data sources, such as medical data sources, a master patient index or additional data retrieval service modules. The data retrieval service module receives a data request from the client device and transmits the data request to the one or more data sources. The data retrieval service module then receives data associated with the data request from die one or more data sources and generates catalog by aggregating data from multiple data sources. The catalog is then transmitted from the data retrieval service module to the client device, allowing the client device to access data obtained from various data sources. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150186 | Flexible glucose analysis using varying time report deltas and configurable glucose target ranges - A diabetes data management system selects variable threshold parameters to that are utilized in a report. A first low threshold glucose reading and a first high threshold glucose reading for a before meal event timeframe are selected. A second low threshold glucose reading and a second high threshold glucose reading are selected for an after meal event timeframe. The threshold readings are stored in a database. The diabetes data management system analyzes glucose behavior around meal events. The system receives a plurality of glucose readings for a time period, receives a first time range as a pre-meal analysis period for the first meal event and receives a second time range as a post-meal analysis period for the first meal event. The system creates a graph which highlights the pre-meal analysis period, the post-meal analysis period, and displays the plurality of glucose readings for the time period. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150187 | System and method for facilitating candidate and subject participation in clinical trial studies - The present invention discloses systems and methods for facilitating candidate and subject participation in clinical trial studies. Medical professionals participating in the study at satellite sites assist in recruitment of their pre-existing patients as subjects in the study. Clinical trial data collected from the subjects is communicated over a computer network from the satellite sites to core sites. Study coordination is performed at the core sites. The collected clinical trial data is analyzed in accordance with the study at an interested party site. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150188 | PROCESS OF INTERFACING A PATIENT INDIRECTLY WITH THEIR OWN ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORDS - A process of allowing a patient to have limited input access to their electronic medical record including the steps of forming a basic patient medical record in a computer through entry of information using a keyboard, providing the patient with a machine readable medical questionnaire concerning their history, environment, symptoms, and other pertinent information for answering by the patient, interfacing the machine readable medical questionnaire with a scanner to send the data stream to a microprocessor and converting the patient's answers to a protocol simulating the protocol from a party having authority to export data to the patient's medical record, and transferring the protocol-arranged data into the patient's medical record housed in a database through use of an interface engine. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150189 | Hybrid life insurance product with an improved total return - Disclosed is a novel life insurance product that provides an improved return to a purchaser. The life insurance product contains a benefit payment, and has a fixed benefit amount and a variable benefit amount. A policy protection benefit prevents a purchaser's life insurance product from lapsing, and a minimum death benefit ensures that the purchaser receives the greater of the face value of the product and a predetermined percentage of the account value. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150190 | PRIVATE SUPPLEMENTAL UNEMPLOYMENT/LAYOFF INSURANCE METHOD AND SYSTEM - A system and method for computing unemployment insurance premiums that directly supplements government unemployment benefits. To facilitate risk calculations, the work force is classified by industry, occupation, income level, geographic location and many other factors. The insurance premiums are calculated as part of a larger model of private unemployment insurance for high-income workers. If the worker's income exceeds a certain threshold, the insurance would supplement the replacements the government already provides. Additionally this process includes the methods in which the claimant's eligibility is assessed, and how the program is administered (including the claims process). Claim verification relies on piggybacking on the state's determination of a claimant's eligibility for unemployment compensation payments, and the premium computation process takes into account a state's history with respect to granting and denying such claims. The process can also be extrapolated to a non pure supplemental policy. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150191 | System and method for computerized insurance rating - The invention relates generally to a computer system and method for integrating insurance policy underwriting. In one aspect, it integrates an older legacy insurance policy generating system to on-line rating systems where users access the system through browsers. The computer system to perform the process of dynamically rating includes generating an input XML file of risk information that is sent to a web service and calculated in a calculation engine. The processed data is retrieved by the web service and transmitted as an XML file to a user interface that parses the rating information and displays the data. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150192 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CALCULATING THE PREMIUMS AND BENEFITS OF LIFE INSURANCE AND RELATED RISK PRODUCTS BASED ON PARTICIPATION IN A WELLNESS PROGRAM - A method, information processing system, and computer program storage product dynamically manage risk coverage premiums. A given time period is determined to have expired. A risk coverage premium associated with a policy holder is retrieved. A wellness program status level is determined to be associated with the policy holder. A current risk coverage premium is dynamically adjusted based on the current wellness program status level. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150193 | Comprehensive Integrated Online Order and Reservation Platform with Instant Notifications and Interactive Communications - An fully integrated online ordering, online reservation and online catering platform, an advanced software system architecture, and a suite of new types of online services designed and suitable for various industries, especially for restaurant industry, providing business owners and Internet users with a comprehensive and reconfigurable sets of options to deliver and respond to online requests automatically and instantly through various means of real time interactive communications. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150194 | Method to Disable Use of Selected Applications Based on Proximity or User Identification - An application for disabling the use of selected applications is provided. A server receives identification information from a user. The location of the user is determined. If the user is determined to be in a reserved location, the use of one or more applications is disabled, for the user. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150195 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CREATING STRUCTURE FOR INTERNAL CONTROLS - A method and system for creating and managing a control structure for compliance with one or more compliance regimes by an entity is disclosed. The method is used for analyzing risks associated with deficiencies in compliance and for generating reports related to the compliance status. The method includes specifying one or more master structures for the entity, wherein specifying the master structure includes specifying one or more processes associated with the master structure, specifying one or more objectives for the processes, identifying one or more risks associated with the objective, and identifying one or more controls to mitigate the risks. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150196 | SYSTEMS, METHODS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION OF BUSINESS PERFORMANCE INDICATORS - Systems, methods, and computer program products for business transformation of business performance indicators. Exemplary embodiments include a method for business transformation of business performance indicators, the method including building and refining a process model in a process modeler, defining metrics, key performance indicators and events, and creating metrics for capturing working duration and decision paths, specifying and preparing the process model for deployment, deploying the process model, calculating the working durations, the decision paths and the key performance indicators, measuring the process model real-time and feeding the working duration and decision percentage data into the process modeler. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150197 | System and method for managing the surety status reporting process - A method is described for monitoring, documenting, analyzing, and reporting the status of a project being performed by a Principal for an Obligee. The monitoring, documenting, analyzing, and reporting is communicated to a Surety, which has given a Surety bond to the Obligee. In one embodiment, the method is performed using a computing device via a communications network, such as the Internet or an Intranet. The method allows the Surety to monitor the status of the project, compares the Principal's pay applications with the Obligee's reporting of the project's status, and requests site inspections, or the coordination thereof by the entity practicing the method. The method can also alert the Surety of change orders and any premiums due to the Surety based on any change orders as well as alert the Surety of project problems and changes in the expected projection completion. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150198 | ESTIMATING TV AD IMPRESSIONS - The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes receiving cluster information comprising categories and total numbers of media receivers (e.g. television (TV) viewers) associated with the categories and receiving sample data comprising numbers of advertisements (ads) displayed to sampled receivers (e.g., TV viewers) that are classified within the categories. The method also includes calculating probabilities for numbers of ads displayed to the total numbers of receivers associated with the categories, wherein the calculation is based on the cluster information and the sample data, merging the calculated probabilities associated with two or more of the categories, and outputting an estimated number of ads displayed based on the merged probabilities. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150199 | Visual substitution options in media works - A classification method and system for possible content alteration of a media work may include criteria regarding content that is feasible for alteration. Such criteria may be maintained in records that are accessible to an interested party. Some embodiments may include a record of primary authorization rights applicable to a possible content alteration. A further embodiment feature may include a record of secondary authorization rights applicable to substitute altered content incorporated in a derivative version. Various exemplary techniques may be used to provide audio and/or visual substitution options in a derivative version of the media work in accordance with applicable alteration guidelines. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150200 | System and method for generating interpreted damage estimates information - A method and system for generating interpreted damage estimate information. The steps of generating an interpretation of repair operations consists of selecting a interpretation template from a plurality of interpretation templates, reading a damage estimate file, identifying one or more nomenclature in said damage estimate containing repair operations, determining the sections or groups' contained in said damage estimate file, identifying common section indices for the identified sections or groups, retrieving repair/refinish/replacement parts interpretations that consist of a common section index, related repair/refinish/replacement interpretation, interpreted section header, associated graphical images, and creating a displayable repair interpretation file. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150201 | System and method for capital budgeting - A system for generating a capital budgeting plan taking into consideration specific real property information and an objective List of Rules selected by a user(s) against which all projects are compared. The system generates a Ranked List of requirements based on the real property information and the List of Rules. The Ranked List is based on the objective criteria selected by the user to provide a transparent and defensible capital budget plan. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150202 | SYSTEM TO MONITOR IRREGULAR ACTIVITY - A computer-implemented method includes receiving item data at a network-based computer system, the item data related to an item categorized in at least a first category of a plurality of categories supported by the network-based computer system and including an item price-based value associated with the item. A category-specific threshold price-based value, for the first category of the plurality of categories supported by the network-based computer system, is automatically determined. The item data is automatically determined to the irregular, based on the item price-based value associated with the item and the category-specific threshold price-based value for the first category of the plurality of categories supported by the network-based computer system. Responsive to the determination that the item data is irregular, an entity associated with the item is restricted from using the network-based computer system. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150203 | ONLINE PERSONAL APPEARANCE ADVISOR - Architecture for providing feedback to a viewer and/or contributor on fashion and other personal appearance decisions that the contributor desires. The contributor uploads self images for viewing and rating (or voting) by viewers who choose provide an opinion on different fashion and/or cosmetic looks of the contributor. The contributor takes images show the contributor presented with a number (e.g., two) of different fashion choices. The snapshots can then be processed for upload to a website or other accessible location by one or more viewers. The viewers can cast a vote for one of the images by selecting the desired image, in response to which the viewer and/or contributor will be presented with overall statistics for that set of images as to how other viewers voted, as well as a next set of photos depicting the user in a different fashion and/or cosmetic choice. This process can continue until terminated. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150204 | INTERACTIVE SALES PLANNER - The interactive sales planner allows users (e.g., salespersons) to make real time sales decisions in accordance with a profit-maximizing business (e.g., sales) plan. The interactive sales planner uses target information of an optimized business plan generated using business data of an organization. The method is highly efficient in organizations having many products, many customers, and complex production facilities with multiple, interactive product flows. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150205 | CAPITAL ALLOCATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS - In an exemplary system, a capital allocation subsystem is selectively and communicatively coupled to a project screening subsystem. The project screening subsystem is configured to aggregate project data corresponding to a plurality of potential projects within an organization and communicate the project data to the capital allocation subsystem. The capital allocation subsystem is configured to facilitate input of one or more constraints on allocation of capital among the potential projects and adjust at least one of the constraints to select a subset of the potential projects for the allocation of the capital such that a return on the capital is optimized. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150206 | NOTIFICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system and method for generating and communicating notifications is provided. The system includes a notification generator in communication with a database. As information is uploaded into the database, the notification generator may populate the notifications with the information stored in the database before automatically transmitting the notifications. Accordingly, the method may include, but is not limited to, steps of receiving a service request, generating the order commitment notification based on the service request, and automatically transmitting the notification. The steps of the method may be performed by a computer, and specifically, a computer-readable medium may contain instructions for controlling the computer to perform the method steps. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150207 | GENERATION AND TRANSMISSION OF AN ADDRESSABLE SPOT GUIDE FOR ALTERNATE CONTENT INSERTION IN MULTICAST WIRELESS TRANSMISSION - An addressable spot-guide (ASG) is the metadata generated from the advertisement (ad) campaign criteria, the schema of the available ad spots and the characteristics of the ad or ads inserted into the ad-spot. The ASG is generated and transferred into the mobile hand-held viewing platform, typically in advance of the content arrival, through any means available. The ASG enables the recognition, filtering, download and storage of ads on the viewing platform of the focused group for which the ad is meant. The ad is inserted into the content stream at the appropriate ad-spot based on the instructions contained in the ASG. As a result of the ASG, individuals in different target groups will view the same content, but different ads that are targeted to their personal characteristics. The ads are prioritized based on importance to the ad campaign. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150208 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTEGRATED INVENTORY AND PLANNING - An integrated inventory and planning system for a factory system, which builds large buildings for transportation substantially intact from one or more construction sites to building sites, is presented. The system can include a demand calculation unit, a requirements calculation unit and a scheduling unit configured to provide a schedule of operation for a factory system producing large buildings for transportation to a substantially permanent building site, wherein the schedule is based at least in part on a first calculation of the demand calculation unit and a second calculation of the requirements calculation unit. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150209 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING MOBILE WORKERS - A system manages mobile workers and includes a plurality of clients and a server in communication with a plurality of clients. The server includes a database having a plurality of target objects that are classified corresponding to facilities assets to be worked on by a mobile worker and attributes of each target object, including any tasks to be performed on target objects. A rule engine is operative with the scheduling algorithm to map from a problem space for partitioned jobs and mobile workers to a solution to schedule jobs and mobile workers in selected different regions. The rule engine is operative to control the scheduling algorithm using heuristics comprising at least one of a tabu search, iterated local search, guided local search, and variable neighborhood search to focus a search space to regions for moving the schedules of high utility. A communications device is operative with the server for communicating any determined schedules and jobs as messages to clients. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150210 | Advertising associated with multimedia content - A method for placing advertisements selects a first content from a variety of content, analyzes the first content for the presence of advertiser references, and matches a first advertisement from an advertiser to the first content by using the advertiser references. This method determines a set of presentation preferences for presentation of the first advertisement in conjunction with the first content and includes the set of presentation preferences with the first content. In some cases, the method embeds the presentation preferences as advertising information into the first content. Advantageously, the method presents the first advertisement in conjunction with the first content by using the presentation preferences. Further, the method tracks the presentation of content for monetization events and stores the tracking information in a log. The monetization event includes, for example, an impression, a click, an acquisition, and/or a conversion. Further embodiments include a system and a computer readable medium for implementation of the foregoing. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150211 | System and Method for Making a Promotional Offer of a Coupon to a Checking Account Customer via an ATM - Disclosed are methods and systems for offering a coupon to a checking account customer via an ATM. Selecting a coupon to be offered to a checking account customer is based at least in part on information gathered from the customer's cleared checks, so that a coupon offered, is based on a proven sale. A customer may select to have a coupon delivered in paper or digital form by selecting a delivery preference at the ATM. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150212 | Method for identifying entities exhibiting patterns of interest related to financial health - A method of identifying a set of entities based on a pattern of interest is provided. The method includes identifying a reference entity and identifying one or more alert categories indicative of a pattern of interest in the reference entity over a time period of interest. The method further comprises determining a matching percentage of the pattern of interest exhibited by the reference entity, in one or more entities comprising the set of entities based on the one or more alert categories. The method further comprises identifying one or more of the entities comprising the set of entities that exhibit one or more of the patterns of interest exhibited by the reference entity, based on the matching percentage. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150213 | Method and system for providing customizable market analysis - An approach is disclosed for providing segmented market forecasts. A query is received from a user via a graphical user interface. Market analysis information is retrieved from a data repository in response to the query, wherein the market analysis information includes forecast data about a product and associated components in relation to a plurality of market segments, the data being hierarchically arranged with respect to the components. The market analysis information is presented to the user via the graphical user interface. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150214 | Interest level detection and processing - Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to monitor an activity level associated with queries made in an online marketplace over a monitoring time period to provide an activity rate, and to determine that the activity rate has crossed a merchandising threshold rate. In response, a cluster of items or item groups associated with the queries may be presented on a display, perhaps in conjunction with a landing page merchandising promotion. Additional apparatus, system, and methods are disclosed. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150215 | System and method for real-time management and optimization of off-line advertising campaigns - An improved method for managing advertising campaigns is provided. The method includes defining an advertising campaign, uploading a multi-media file of each member of the campaign; linking each of the multi-media files of the advertisements and associating the media files with a data capture template based on the media type; configuring the scheduling and promotion details for display of the media ad; associating survey questions with respondent incentives; calculating the present cost of the campaign; capturing consumer responses to individual members of the campaign; aggregating and analyzing the cumulative responses; making program adjustments to the type, location, and schedule for the campaign members based on these real-time results; and transmitting the revised campaign management instructions and adjusted media files to remote systems at the media channels thereby optimizing in real-time the overall ad campaign. A computer program product which incorporates this method increases effectiveness of managing advertising campaigns through all off-line media channels beyond conventional means. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150216 | Method and System for Providing Real Estate Information Using a Computer Network, Such as the Internet - The present invention provides methods and systems for providing real-estate information using a computer network, such as the Internet. A buyer information web page showing relevant buyer list information in an easy-to-read, summary format is created and displayed to a real estate agent. Buyer information provided includes summaries of various aspects of information needed by a real estate agent to effectively represent and assist a buyer. Examples of information provided include a potential buyer name, a new activity summary summarizing newly-listed properties and other activity meeting the buyer's profile, a new views summary summarizing any views of detailed property information by the buyer using an online property data search and information system provided by the agent, and a new tags summary summarizing any properties that the buyer or the agent finds of particular interest. Moreover, a comparative market analysis (CMA) list web page showing relevant CMA information in an easy-to-read, summary format is also created and displayed to the real estate agent. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150217 | METHODS AND APPARATUS TO PERFORM CONSUMER SURVEYS - Methods and apparatus to conduct surveys are disclosed. An example method includes receiving from a portable device activity data indicative of an activity of a person and counting a first number of exposures a person has to at least one of a first advertisement, a first product or a first location based on the received data. The example methods also include automatically offering at least one survey question related to the first advertisement, the first product or the first location to the person via the portable device substantially while the person is exposed to the first advertisement, the first product or the first location and after a plurality of exposures to at least one of the first advertisement, the first product or the first location. The survey question is communicated through the portable device. Finally, the example method includes storing a response received from the person. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150218 | MOBILE CONCIERGE SYSTEM AND METHOD - The system enables a consumer to receive promotional offers using a mobile communications device. The mobile communications device includes a client application that enables the consumer to assign preference levels associated with promotional offer categories. The mobile communications device transmits a consumer identifier, a location identifier, and preference levels to an application server. The application server uses the preference levels and other information included in a consumer profile associated with the consumer identifier to select promotional offers that are likely to be of interest to the consumer. The application server transmits map data including indicators of locations of local merchants to the mobile communications device. The client application causes the mobile communications device to display the map data, and enables the consumer to request promotional offers from selected merchants. The application server analyzes consumer request patterns and updates consumer profiles accordingly to improve subsequent selection of promotional offers. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150219 | Systems and methods for delivering media content - The present invention is directed to a system and method for offering media content to consumers for a selected interval of time. In one or more embodiments, the present invention uses a content management system for preparing the media content for distribution, a subscriber management system for managing consumer accounts, a content distribution system for distributing the media content to the consumers, and a licensing server for issuing licenses restricting the use of media content. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150220 | Fuzzy Evaluation of Responses to Provide Degree of Satisfaction - The present invention provides a system and method for evaluating offers that are received in response to a request of a user. The system and method of the present invention use fuzzy logic to evaluate the offers. The evaluation provides a degree of satisfaction based on the information provided by the user. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150221 | LEAD GENERATION WEB-SITE - Disclosed is a lead generation web-site primarily serving the niche market of real estate investors. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150222 | METHOD FOR INCREASING THE ACCURACY OF SOCIAL NETWORK PROFILES - Described is a method for increasing the accuracy a profile of attributes, interests and preferences pertaining to individuals registered with virtual social networking services and a method of doing business wherein virtual advertising purchasers are offered increased precision in targeting commercial audiences, provided by the proprietor of a virtual social networking service. Registered users provide information regarding other users of the social networking services and are rewarded according to the success of adverts targeted to users according to the information they provided. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150223 | Forecasting from day-aligned data - A system and method are disclosed for aligning stored data in a matter that may facilitate budgeting and/or forecasting. A definable calendar period is provided which has a starting day. The starting day is applied to the stored data to locate and align each of a plurality of time periods associated with the stored data so that each time period has a starting day that matches the starting day of the calendar period. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150224 | Television Traffic Estimation - A computer-implemented advertising management process includes receiving one or more indicators for a daypart or network on which to run a broadcast advertisement, and a proposed impression-based payment amount for running the advertisement, identifying one or more historical advertisement slots associated with the one or more indicators and applying the impression-based payment amount to advertising data for the one or more historical advertisement slots, and reporting an estimated advertising cost of running the advertisement using the impression-based payment amount and impression estimates derived from the advertising data for the one or more historical advertisement slots. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150225 | DEVELOPING INTERACTIVE CALL CENTER AGENT PERSONAS - A method, software and system of developing personalities for interactive and/or automated call center applications are provided. According to teachings of the present invention, sample population questionnaires and interviews may be used to identify key personality traits. The impact of the identified key personality traits are then empirically determined. Based on the empirical determination of the key personality traits' impact on customer satisfaction, a plurality of personality profiles may be generated for evaluation. A plurality of application types and voice talents may then be employed to evaluate the impact of each personality profile on customer satisfaction, for different user populations and different types of automated systems. The personality traits for each automated system are preferably rated and reviewed to ensure a system accurately represents the identified key personality traits. The various voice talents may also be evaluated to identify those traits best at conveying a desired personality. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150226 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MARKET RESEARCH DATA MINING - Purchases made by customers of a supplier of interest from other suppliers are estimated based upon panelist data regarding purchases made by panelists from the supplier of interest and from the other suppliers, and based upon customer data regarding purchases made by the customers from the supplier of interest. The panelists are a subset of the customers. A linear relationship between the purchases made by the panelists from the supplier of interest and the purchases made by the panelists from the other suppliers is determined. Based upon the customer data and the linear relationship, the purchases made by the customers from the other suppliers are estimated. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150227 | METHOD OF DETERMINING WHETHER TO DEVELOP PRODUCTS FOR POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS - A method is disclosed for determining whether to develop products for potential customers. The method may involve: identifying a plurality of potential products; identifying a plurality of potential customers; assessing salability attributes of the potential products from perspectives of the potential customers to generate attribute assessments; using an input device to enable a user to input the pluralities of potential products and potential customers, as well as the attribute assessments, to a processor; using the processor to determine, for each of the potential products, and using the attribute assessments, all possible implementation combinations in which at least n of the potential customers implement the product, where n is a positive whole number; using the processor to determine the probability of each implementation combination, for each product; and using the processor to assist in determining, based upon the probability determinations, which of the potential products to develop. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150228 | VOTING PROMOTION ACTIVITY SUPPORT PROGRAM AND VOTING PROMOTION ACTIVITY SUPPORT APPARATUS - An apparatus accepts, from each voter, registration of a free delegation relationship. Then, the apparatus presents voting information such as a vote topic, choices and a voting expiration date to the voter. Next, the apparatus presumes how delegated votes are delegated, during a voting state at a total calculation date, in accordance with the delegation relationships, and estimates a voting result in consideration of delegation of votes. Next, the estimation apparatus sends the estimated voting result to the voters and the administrator for encouraging voter to vote. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150229 | ANTI-COLLUSIVE VOTE WEIGHTING - An anti-collusive vote weighting method and system. Instances of possible vote collusion may be identified based on correlating the vote history of users voting on an information item and weighting the votes in accordance with the correlated voting history. A list of information items may be compiled and ranked by the quantity of voting data received from a plurality of users. The vote histories of two or more users may be correlated to obtain a correlation value associated with the users. A lesser predetermined weight may be applied to the voting data of users having correlation values above a first predetermined value. In addition, a greater predetermined weight may be applied to the voting data of users having correlation values below a second predetermined value. The greater the correlation between vote histories of users, the greater the likelihood that the voters are colluding to vote for the information item. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150230 | CUSTOMIZING COMMERCIALS - A system and method for customizing an advertisement based on a surrounding broadcast are provided. A start of a new advertisement is detected (S | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150231 | PACKAGE ASSEMBLY FOR MULTI-MODALITY FUNCTIONAL INGREDIENTS IN CHEWING GUM COMPOSITIONS - A package assembly for a multi-layer center-filled chewing gum is disclosed. The package assembly supports individual gum pieces that have a center surrounded by a gum region. The gum region may include a gum base. Optionally, the individual gum pieces may be further coated with an external coating layer. Components of the individual gum pieces create a duality, such as two functional agents, that are identified by indicia on the package. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150232 | Methods and Systems for Retail Customer Referral Compensation Programs - Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to business methods and systems for retail marketing, and specifically to Retail Customer Referral Compensation Programs for using Performance-Driven criteria to award Production Points for determining a Referring Customer's position in a Performance-Driven Floating Matrix compensation and matching bonus plan in a retail marketing organization | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150233 | COLLABORATIVE ADVERTISMENT METHOD AND SYSTEM - This application discloses a method of generating a collaborative advertisement, the method comprising the steps of: at least two autonomous entities coming together to create an advertisement; the entities sharing substantially all the costs for the production of the advertisement in some proportion; and, wherein each entity does so with the sole intent of benefiting individually and without regard to any direct benefit to any other entity. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150234 | Electronic Coupon Validation For A Point Of Sale ('POS') Transaction - Methods, apparatus, and products are disclosed for electronic coupon validation for a Point Of Sale (‘POS’) transaction that include: maintaining, by a POS module, a product coupon participation table that associates each of a plurality of electronic coupons with one or more items which qualify for that electronic coupon; identifying, by the POS module, a plurality of purchase items for a POS transaction; generating, by the POS module, a transaction coupon list in dependence upon the product coupon participation table and the plurality of purchase items; receiving, by the POS module, an electronic customer coupon; determining, by the POS module, whether the electronic customer coupon is specified in the transaction coupon list; and applying, by the POS module, the electronic customer coupon to the POS transaction if the electronic customer coupon is specified in the transaction coupon list. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150235 | System and Method for Processing Financial Transactions - A system for processing financial transactions based on consumer preferences is disclosed. The system allows a user to specify on a payment device a consumer preference which is communicable to a payment terminal and is determinative in pricing goods and services. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150236 | Digital asset management system and method - A digital asset management system includes an asset reputation manager (ARM) server for responding to a client request to install client software and to verify user and asset ID, client software to interact with a prospective user of the digital asset and bonus assets that might be available based on asset reputation evaluation by the manager, a use redemption server responsive to the ARM server for supplying authentication and bonus asset options to a trusted user, and a content distribution network server for assisting the use redemption server in obtaining and fulfilling asset offerings and for managing and communicating pools of unissued and issued ARM IDs to the ARM server. An asset's “reputation” is calculated and potentially rewarded with bonus assets and other goods and services based upon a) the number of unique, global users of the asset, b) the number of global uses of the asset, c) the asset's age, and d) the frequency of use of the asset. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150237 | POINTS BASED ONLINE AUCTION - A point based auction over a computerized network is disclosed wherein providers of products and/or services may bid on an opportunity to sell to a group of consumers who have indicated a desire to purchase such goods and/or services. Consumers may combine one or more loyalty accounts and the system calculates, according to a point to currency conversion, a currency value of a balance of points. The provider is able to see the currency value of the consumer's points, wherein the provider may determine to place a bid in the reverse auction. The system may not provide the consumer with access to the currency value. Both provider and consumer configure, manage, and participate in the auctions over a computerized network such as the internet. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150238 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE REVERSIBLE LEASING OF ANONYMOUS USER DATA IN EXCHANGE FOR PERSONALIZED CONTENT INCLUDING TARGETED ADVERTISEMENTS - A system and method for the reversible leasing of anonymous user data in exchange for personalized content including targeted advertisements includes: (a) helping users gather and manage data representing their interests ( | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150239 | INTERNET BACKGROUND ADVERTISING SERVICE - The present examples provide for a background advertisement service that automates the advertising process. The background advertisement service efficiently brings advertisers and website publishers together. Advertisements may be placed in a pool and made available in various formats, and other advertiser defined criteria. A publisher may select advertisement in any of a variety of formats, typically as one or more styles of background advertisements. The background advertisements may also be combined with one or more banner advertisements to reinforce the background advertisement. The background advertisement service generates code for inclusion into a website publisher's site so that reprogramming or reformatting may not have to be performed. The code generated may be according to the web publisher's specifications, and done through a web interface. Advertising metrics may also be collected for use by the website publisher and the advertiser. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150240 | LOYALTY TRANSACTIONS SYSTEM AND METHOD - A loyalty transactions system including defining a plurality of teams of service or product providers having at least two favourable or selectable forms: providing a customer with a choice of having loyalty to one of the at least two teams of service or product providers in one of the favourable or selectable forms; wherein loyalty by the customer with one of the service or product providers of one team provides loyalty offers and will allow redemption of accepted loyalty offers or traded loyalty offers with that or any other of the service or product providers of the one team. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150241 | CUSTOMIZABLE FOOD KIT WITH CUSTOMIZED MULTIMEDIA INSTRUCTIONS - The invention relates to a customizable meal kit having at least one customizable ingredient selected by a customer, and a set of customized instructions that may be automatically created and provided to the customer along with the meal kit. The customized instructions may be multimedia or video instructions which in modules corresponding to the customizations available to the customer. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150242 | System for displaying advertisements on vehicles - A method and system are provided for displaying selected advertisements on a vehicle for external viewing with the advertisements being selected based on the location and direction of movement of the vehicle when moving along a highway having a plurality of exits defined by exit zones, the exit zones being separated by non-exit zones, which includes the steps and related components for determining the position and direction of movement of the vehicle; storing exit coordinates and local advertisements of local advertisers; and displaying at least one stored local advertisement of at least one local advertiser located at a given exit when the vehicle is in a given exit zone. Non-exit specific advertisements may be displayed when local advertisements are not displayed. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150243 | Method of disseminating advertising information via shopping cart securing structures - Cart securing structures are provided for securing shopping carts. In one embodiment, the structures include a body having a pair of spaced stops with an intermediate trough. In use, the wheels of the cart are rolled along an upwardly extending face of one of the stops, over the stop and into the trough between the stops. In one embodiment, advertising is located on the surfaces of one or more of the stops. In one embodiment, an electronic display is located on one of the faces of the structure and a control system is provided for presenting advertising and other information using the display. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150244 | COMBINED IN-STORE AND FUEL CENTER POINT-OF-SALE SYSTEM - A combined in-store and fuel center point-of-sale system having a first point-of-sale system, having a checkout manager and one or more checkout terminals, and a second point-of-sale system, having a fuel center and one or more fuel pumps, in communication with each other and with one or more primary databases containing marketing data, consumer data, customer data, master sales data, discount data, and merchandise product data, for generating a fuel discount at the second point-of-sale system based on first purchasing activity at the first point-of-sale system and/or second purchasing activity at said second point-of-sale system. The fuel discount is maintained for each customer in one of said primary databases and is based on a total purchase of products, a total purchase of product units, a total purchase amount of a product type, time period for total purchase of products, or a tiered spending amount. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150245 | VIRTUAL WEB STORE WITH PRODUCT IMAGES - A three dimensional web store having product images is created. Three dimensional product images are rendered from manufacturing information instead of the products themselves. The location of all products, advertisements, aisles, signs, and displays is determined for a real world store. The web store is then created using three dimensional internet or virtual world viewing and maneuvering capabilities, to appear identical to the real world store. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150246 | AUTOMATIC FILTERING OF POS DATA - An inventive system and method for processing transactional data in a point of sale environment is provided. The system includes a video device that can record video output, a POS terminal that generates unfiltered transactional data, a filtering unit that filters the unfiltered transactional data to create filtered transactional data, and a recording device that can combine said video output and said filtered transactional data, such that the filtering unit filters the unfiltered transactional data using automatic rules identification. A POS printer that prints the unfiltered transactional data can also be included, such that the filtering unit transmits unfiltered transactional data to the POS printer. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150247 | Apparatus & method for POS processing - An apparatus and method for configuring, altering, controlling, securing, and extending the processing capability and functionality of PCs and POS devices using a non-volatile memory device using software and data carried within the apparatus. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150248 | SYSTEM FOR ENHANCING PAYMENT SECURITY, METHOD THEREOF AND PAYMENT CENTER - A system for enhancing payment security includes a payment network interface unit for communicating with a POS terminal through a payment network; a database for storing a card number and password of a payment tool of a user and a number of a mobile terminal of the user associated with the card number; an acquiring means for searching in the database to obtain the number of the user's mobile terminal associated with the card number; a receiving/sending unit for sending, according to the obtained number of the user's mobile terminal, a request for a transaction password of the payment tool to the user's mobile terminal by means of a wireless network; and an authentication means for authenticating whether or not the transaction password of the user's payment tool returned from the user's mobile terminal matches with the password stored in the database. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150249 | ENHANCED PRE-ALLOCATED CHECK NEGOTIABILITY SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Systems, methods, and software are described for authorizing transactions undertaken with a negotiable instrument which is pre-allocated a specific amount of funds. A host computer system may receive a request to allocate funds to a negotiable instrument. The host may verify the availability of funds, and allocate the funds to the negotiable instrument. The host may then receive a request to authorize the transaction in which the negotiable instrument is used. The host may verify that the particular instrument has been allocated the specific amount indicated, and thereby authorize the transaction. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150250 | Method and apparatus for supervising a sale of a product between a buyer and a seller - A method and apparatus for supervising a sale of a product between a buyer and a seller using a supervision transaction system is disclosed. The seller is notified to send the product to a system hub. The buyer is notified that the product has been received at the system hub and is ready for inspection. The seller is notified of the transaction status after the buyer inspects the product at the system hub. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150251 | Mobile Information Processing System - A system is provided for providing mobile users with information relating to products and/or services. In one embodiment, the user has a mobile telephone having a barcode reader for reading barcodes associated with products or services. The barcode tag value obtained from reading the barcode is transmitted to a remote server via the mobile telephone network. The remote server uses the barcode value to retrieve a plurality of options associated with the product identified by the barcode value. The options are transmitted back to the user's mobile telephone where they are displayed to the user. In response to the user selecting one of the options, information relating to the selected option is retrieved and displayed to the user on the mobile telephone. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150252 | Connecting Service Providers And Consumers Of Services Independent Of Geographical Location - In general in one aspect, a request is received from a consumer of services in a first geographical location to consult with a service provider having a service provider profile that satisfies at least some attributes in a set of attributes that define a suitable service provider. A user interface that indicates available service providers and their respective geographic locations is rendered on a system. The consumer selects an available service provider in a second, different geographical location from the consumer and the available service provider satisfies at least some of the attributes in the set of attributes. A communication channel between the consumer of services and the selected service provider is established. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150253 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING ADVERTISING - An embodiment of the present invention includes a system and method effectively and efficiently facilitate the selling and buying of advertising online. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150254 | SYSTEMS, DEVICES AND METHODS FOR COMPUTER AUTOMATED ASSISTANCE FOR DISPARATE NETWORKS AND INTERNET INTERFACES - A variety of systems, methods and arrangements are implemented in connection with a processor-controlled routing arrangement. According to one such implementation, a computer-implemented method facilitates payment provided between disparate payment networks of buyers and sellers. The method uses a computer-arrangement to interface with a social website that has user profiles, each user profile corresponding to a user identifier, and for use with a seller website that offers products or services for purchase by users and that generates transaction data for a current user accessing the website. A current user identifier corresponding to a current user profile and the transaction data is communicates to the computer-arrangement. A buyer payment network is selected from a plurality of disparate buyer payment networks that are each associated with the current user identifier. Based upon the selection, the transaction data is formatted to facilitate payment against the selected buyer payment network. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150255 | Method For Fractional Vineyard Ownership and Distribution Therefrom - A method of fractional vineyard ownership and distribution of the wine produced therefrom where individuals purchase an interest in a business entity, receiving a fractional ownership of a winemaking enterprise. Thusly, aggregating their capital and allowing for deployment of same to different licensed business entities at the grape growing, fermentation, bottling and labeling, wholesale, and retail phases of the wine production process. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150256 | BUYER-DRIVEN PURCHASING LOYALTY SYSTEM AND METHOD USING AN ELECTRONIC NETWORK - Disclosed is a method and system for effectuating a buyer-driven and buyer-executed commerce system. The system allows prospective buyers and sellers of goods and services to anonymously exchange conditional Requests For Bids and Conditional Sales Offers based on the buyer's guaranteed ‘purchasing loyalty’ for a self-defined minimum quantity of goods or services, and/or quality of goods of services and/or the length of time or price to which the buyer would agree to be bound or any combination of those condition's. That buyer guarantee permits a seller to easily pre-determine their offers based on the calculated value of ‘capturing’ that buyer's ‘guaranteed purchasing loyalty’. In a preferred embodiment, the method and system of the present invention includes a controller which receives Requests For Bids from prospective buyers and also receives, stores and displays to prospective buyers, bindable sales proposals from a multitude of prospective sellers. Potential buyers are therefore protected from bidding too much and being bound by the bid before having an opportunity to see what the marketplace has to offer. Further, because only the buyer is permitted to bind a seller, the buyer may submit an RFB more than once, changing any or all of the condition's to which he would agree to be bound in order to explore multiple offers from sellers and to better understand how changing one or more of the conditions affects the offers from the sellers. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150257 | Method and apparatus for purchasing items in a program - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for processing purchasing items. A broadcast television signal is received at a television system. The broadcast television signal contains data indicating that an item in the broadcast television signal is being offered for sale. A visual cue is presented in association with the item being presented in the television system in response to receiving the data. In response to receiving a user input to purchase the item, a purchase request process is sent to a seller of the item to purchase the item using personal information needed to purchase the item stored in the television system. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150258 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR WATCHING ITEMS FOR SALE IN AN AUCTION SYSTEM - Described herein are a method and a system to monitor one or more items offered for sale by sellers in a network-based market place. In addition to the information provided by the sellers to describe the items, interested buyers may also provide their own information to further describe the items for the benefit of the buyers. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150259 | Collection of Magazine Articles - A method of doing business of creating a collection of magazine articles selectively collected from multiple magazines and converted to audio mode is disclosed. Several magazines are available for specific areas of interest. However, all articles in all magazines may not be of interest to all readers. So, if a reader wanted to read all the articles related to a particular topic from multiple magazines, the reader, currently, has to get all those magazines from a library or purchase them. The current invention supports the demand and interest for audio versions and solves two potential customer problems: lack of enough time to read multiple magazines and cost incurred by the customer in purchasing several magazines for all articles of interest. So, the customers who are interested in multiple articles from multiple magazines can receive them as a collection of articles or in other words, a personalized magazine in audio mode. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150260 | System and method of dynamic generation of a user interface - The present invention is a system and methods of the dynamic generation of a user interface with form elements in proximity to a schematic or diagram of a product for the purposes of data entry. More specifically, form elements allow the gathering of data such as quantity, finish, size, color, engraving, for the purposes of ordering product from an online Shopping System. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150261 | Method and apparatus for providing status of inventory - A stateless e-commerce status indication system is provided. The system includes software code executable on at least one host website. The software code communicates with a remote processing server to obtain status information relating to status of an item for sale. The software then communicates at least a portion of the status information to a user of the host website. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150262 | On-Line Payment Transactions - A computer-implemented method includes accessing, with a user computing device, a web-based document from a first party containing a mark-up code segment pointing to a second party; and loading, using the mark-up code segment, a program for generating a shopping application for the web-based document. The loaded program is used to add to the web-based document event handlers associated with tags indicating items for sale, and a shopping cart containing information about an item for sale is generated upon triggering of one of the event handlers. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150263 | DYNAMIC ASSET MONITORING USING ELECTRONIC MARKERS - A novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for controlling movement of assets is provided. A method for controlling movement of assets can include reading a first information from a first electronic marker coupled to an asset and reading a second information from a second electronic marker of a transport mechanism in possession of the asset. The method can further include storing in a record the first and second information and a third information comprising a location of the asset. The method can further include retrieving at least one rule comprising at least one value and an action and comparing information in the record to the at least one value. The method can further include executing the action of the at least one rule if the information in the record matches the at least one value. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150264 | DYNAMIC ASSET MONITORING USING AUTOMATIC UPDATING OF RULES - A novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for controlling movement of assets is provided. A method for controlling movement of assets can include reading a first information from a first electronic marker coupled to an asset and reading a second information from a second electronic marker of a transport mechanism in possession of the asset. The method can further include storing in a record the first and second information and a third information comprising a location of the asset. The method can further include retrieving at least one rule comprising at least one value and an action. The method can further include executing a statistical test on the information in the record and executing the action of the at least one rule if a result of the statistical test is outside a predefined confidence level. Information from the record is then added to the empirical data. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150265 | System and Method for Associating Financial Transaction Data with a User's Project Data - This invention relates to an expense reporting system for viewing and manipulating a user's financial transaction data and a method for associating financial transaction data with a user's project data. The system includes a user's financial transaction data hosted in a data storage unit, addressable on a network, and accessible by a remote user on a user interface unit having a user input means and a display; and an expense reporting module having a graphical user interface (GUI) that allows a user to define project category data and associate representations of the user's financial data with the user-defined project category data. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150266 | Buyer Routing Arrangements and Methods for Disparate Network Systems - Electronic transaction data sets are processed for a multitude of disparate transactions using a plurality of autonomous payment networks. A software-programmed computer circuit receives and processes electronic transaction data to identify a buyer using information provided in the transaction data, and uses the identification to access buyer profile information for selecting one of a plurality of networks. In this context, a buyer can be identified using one of a plurality of identification approaches (e.g., different account IDs), and such identification can be used for retrieving and using electronic profile data to select a payment network for the buyer, which may be completely independent from the identification. Payment data is accordingly configured so that the selected network can receive and process the data, such as by configuring the data into a network-specific format and/or communicating the data using network-specific protocols. The configured payment data is transmitted to the selected payment network, for use in effecting electronic payment for the transaction. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150267 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING THE STATUS OF ITEMS SUBJECT TO LIENS - A computer-implemented system and method for monitoring the status of an item subject to a lien, comprising receiving registration information associated with the item subject to the lien, including at least one identifier uniquely associated with the item. The registration information is stored in a record associated with the item within an item database. Data about the item is received over a communications network from at least one information source based on the unique identifier associated with the item. The received data is compared to the stored registration information to determine whether the status of the item has changed. The database record is updated to reflect a change in status of the item and a notification is automatically generated to a holder of the lien when the status of the item has changed. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150268 | EXCEPTION NOTIFICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system and method for distributing prepaid cash alternatives and resolving exceptions related to the sale of prepaid cash alternatives such as traveler's cheques or prepaid cards. Reports of sales may be reviewed to identify exceptions, and information explaining the exceptions may be made available electronically. Sellers may be notified of exceptions by e-mail, which may include a link or address to information explaining the exceptions. The information may be provided in real time through a secure site on a network, such as the Internet. A company may contract with business partners to sell the prepaid cash alternatives to customers, and the business partners may report the sales to the company via reports. After being notified of exceptions, business partners may provide corrected information or new information to resolve the exceptions. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150269 | Systems and Methods for Approval of an Allocation - A financial account issuer facilitating transactions between accounts is disclosed. The invention provides sellers with an irrevocable method of receiving funds from a purchaser and for improving purchaser willingness to transact with an unknown party. The invention also enables the allocation of a portion or all of a charge or loyalty points to different transaction accounts issued by different issuers, or to sub-accounts. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150270 | Systems and Methods for Suggesting an Allocation - A financial account issuer facilitating transactions between accounts is disclosed. The invention provides sellers with an irrevocable method of receiving funds from a purchaser and for improving purchaser willingness to transact with an unknown party. The invention also enables the allocation of a portion or all of a charge or loyalty points to different transaction accounts issued by different issuers, or to sub-accounts. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150271 | Systems and Methods for Authorizing an Allocation of an Amount Between Transaction Accounts - A financial account issuer facilitating transactions between accounts is disclosed. The invention provides sellers with an irrevocable method of receiving funds from a purchaser and for improving purchaser willingness to transact with an unknown party. The invention also enables the allocation of a portion or all of a charge or loyalty points to different transaction accounts issued by different issuers, or to sub-accounts. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150272 | Graphical Representation of Financial Transactions - A statement generator allows financial institutions to present transaction information as a graphical representation to an account holder in, for example, a statement of purchases. The statement generator obtains transaction information associated with an account holder and maps the transaction information to correlate the transaction information with at least one parameter. The transaction information can include at least one of a purchase amount, a purchase location, a purchase time, or a purchase category. The at least one parameter includes at least one of a purchase location, a purchase time, a purchase amount, or a purchase category. The statement generator depicts the mapping to the account holder to identify a correlation between transactions. The depiction can be a print out of the mapping or the mapping can be rendered on a display. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150273 | Calculating an index that represents the price of a commodity - An index that represents a price of a commodity paid by a plurality of purchasers is calculated by identifying a first subset of purchasers from the plurality of purchasers. A second subset of purchasers is selected from the first subset of purchasers, prices are obtained from the purchasers that comprise the second subset, and a statistic of the prices is calculated to develop the index. | 2009-06-11 |
| 20090150274 | Distribution of a monetary fund - A method of allocating units in a monetary fund includes the steps of: determining an initial unit allocation for each policyholder of the fund, and periodically allocating extra units to surviving policyholders of the fund. The number of extra units being allocated is based on a probability of availability of units in the fund arising from deceased policyholders. | 2009-06-11 |
