| 36th week of 2010 patent applcation highlights part 50 |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
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| 20100228606 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PLANNING AND CUSTOMIZING A GAMING EXPERIENCE - The invention includes a system and method for planning and customizing a gaming vacation. Initially, a central controller receives preference and configuration data from a user at a user terminal. A preparation code is then determined and associated with the configuration data. The configuration data and the associated preparation code are transmitted from the central controller to a casino server. The central controller provides feedback regarding the user's requests. The feedback may include, for example, marketing offers for the user and/or configuring a gaming device according to the configuration data associated with a preparation code received from a user at the gaming device. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228607 | ELECTRIC TOLL MANAGEMENT - Identifying a vehicle in a toll system includes accessing a set of toll transaction entries. Each entry in the set designates a toll transaction between a vehicle and the toll system and includes a transaction descriptor and a transaction time stamp. A series of toll transaction pictures is accessed. The series includes a plurality of pictures, each of which is associated with a picture time stamp. A toll transaction entry is identified from the set as a violation transaction entry based on the transaction descriptor. A toll transaction picture is selected from the series. The transaction time stamp of the violation transaction is compared, using a processing device, with the picture time stamp of the selected toll transaction picture. The selected toll transaction picture is identified as a violation picture corresponding to the violation transaction entry based on a result of the comparison. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228608 | ELECTRIC TOLL MANAGEMENT - Identifying a vehicle in a toll system includes accessing a set of toll transaction entries. Each entry in the set designates a toll transaction between a vehicle and the toll system and includes a transaction descriptor and a transaction time stamp. A series of toll transaction pictures is accessed. The series includes a plurality of pictures, each of which is associated with a picture time stamp. A toll transaction entry is identified from the set as a violation transaction entry based on the transaction descriptor. A toll transaction picture is selected from the series. The transaction time stamp of the violation transaction is compared, using a processing device, with the picture time stamp of the selected toll transaction picture. The selected toll transaction picture is identified as a violation picture corresponding to the violation transaction entry based on a result of the comparison. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228609 | Electronic transcript generator - An electronic transcript generation and transfer system is described. It contains functionality for facilitating transactions between requestors and reporters by receiving a request for a transcript quote from a requestor and providing the request to a reporter. The system provides the reporter an interface to associate a number of pages with the request and based on various factors, generates a communication with the requestor containing the quote. The system then facilitates the requestor's payment for the transcript and provides the reporter a work request with specific details about the transcript request. Finally, upon receipt of the transcript sent notification from the reporter, the system transfers the requestor's payment to the reporter and transmits a communication to the requestor containing tracking information and other details of the completed transcript request. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228610 | ADDING TEXT OR GRAPHICS TO AN ADVERTISEMENT USING DTV CLOSED CAPTIONING - A mechanism to controllability overlay text and/or graphics over advertisements within the context of a DTV system using a closed captioning (CC) processing ability of set-top boxes within the DTV system. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228611 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ASSOCIATING CONTENT AND ADVERTISEMENT - A method and system for associating content and advertisement at a delivery client on a device, the method receiving a first data set having a metadata link associated therewith, the metadata link implies retrieval of a second data set; retrieving the second data set from a location defined by the metadata link; providing content to a first application, the content being one of the first data set and the second data set; and providing an advertisement to the first application or to a second application, the advertisement being the other one of the first data set and the second data set. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228612 | DEVICE TRANSACTION MODEL AND SERVICES BASED ON DIRECTIONAL INFORMATION OF DEVICE - With the addition of directional information in the environment, a variety of service(s) can be provided on top of user identification or interaction with specific object(s) of interest. For instance, when a user points at a particular item at a particular location or place, this creates an opportunity, e.g., an advertising opportunity, for anyone having an interest in that particular item to communicate with the user regarding that item or related items at a point in time when the user's focus is on the particular item. User context for the interaction can also be taken into account to supplement the provision of one or more interactive direction based services. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228613 | Systems and Methods for Interactively Rewarding Users of an Entertainment System - A user is rewarded for actions performed within an entertainment system. Digital content is provided to a client device over a network. Data is then received from the client device over the network. The received data represents an input from a user of the client device in response to the digital content provided to the client device. A value associated with the input from the user is determined. An account balance associated with the user is adjusted by a quantity of credit tokens. The quantity of tokens is determined by the value associated with the input from the user. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228614 | AdHeat Advertisement Model for Social Network - In one implementation, a computer-implemented method includes receiving at a server information indicating activity levels of users of a computer-implemented social network or acquaintance relationships of the users on the computer-implemented social network. The method further includes generating by the server influence scores for the users based on the received information. The method also includes recursively propagating by the server an ad through the computer-implemented social network between users having an acquaintance relationship by transmitting the ad from a propagating user to a recipient user when a difference between a first influence score of the propagating user and a second influence score of the recipient user is greater than a threshold. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228615 | SYSTEM FOR SALES, PRICING, AND SOURCING SPONSORED MATERIALS TO TARGET MARKET - A system and method for providing customized or personalized memorabilia to end users, wherein the system allows the price for the customized or personalized memorabilia to be established by obtaining the lowest production costs from approved vendors, and further allowing such costs to be offset by any sponsorship underwriting of the memorabilia. The system further allows establishment of advertising to target demographic audiences by underwriting customized or personalized memorabilia orders and placing advertising indicia for the sponsor on or with the ordered customized or personalized memorabilia. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228616 | WIRELESS SUBSCRIBER LOYALTY SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system and method are disclosed for providing a complete architectural and procedural solution to wireless subscriber loyalty issues. A flexible promotion creation environment allows mobile phone operators to rapidly create and deploy various incentive programs and other such loyalty schemes; together with a data mining and profiling method for tracking, monitoring and analysing subscriber (or aggregate) usage information associated with given promotions. The proposed data mining and profiling method purposely incents specific subscriber behaviors by triggering a point-based reward scheme based on the dynamic screening of event records which are correlated with incented behaviors. Wherein a threshold is assigned based on usage information for a particular promotion; upon realization of which, the subscriber is, immediately notified of the reward through a plurality of means including e-mail, voice notification and by way of Short Message Service (SMS) at their wireless handset. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228617 | PROVIDING ONLINE PROMOTIONS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA NETWORKS - Systems and methods for providing online promotions integrated with social network-based platforms are disclosed. Promotion details such as rules, offered prizes, incentives and descriptions, survey questions, display banners, terms and conditions, privacy policy, and social networks to integrate the promotion with, are provided by the sponsoring organization to a server. The server generates a custom promotion application or widget for integrating with the organization's social network webpage external to social networks. A participant enters the promotion through these webpages or other links and lists friends in the social network to receive an invitation to enter the promotion. Viral features such as friend invite features, newsfeeds, minifeeds, other features that display online activities of users and people in the users' social network, notifications, requests, and other social media-based platform features to deliver messages to members of the one or more social networks further spread the word about the organization's promotion. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228618 | CLOSED-SELLER ONLINE MARKETPLACE FOR LISTING EMPLOYEE-OWNED ASSETS WITH EMPLOYER-FUNDED SALES INCENTIVES - Systems, methods and computer program products for implementing and operating a closed-seller online marketplace for listing employee-owned assets with employer-funded sales incentives are disclosed. In an aspect, an employer who frequently relocates employees minimizes the costs associated with such relocation—employee's moving expenses, expenses related to the employee's current home until it is sold, and the cost of temporary housing for the employee in the new location. Such savings is achieved through an online marketplace where the employer can offer incentives for buyers to purchase real estate or other assets being sold by the (soon-to-be or already) relocated employee. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228619 | NETWORK GAMING SYSTEM - The present invention is a method and apparatus for collecting information about network (internet) users for determining advertising to be presented to the users. In one embodiment, user profiles are determined, and advertising is selectively provided by comparing user personal information in such profiles with a desired demographic profile. User responses to advertising are used for evaluating advertising effectiveness. The invention is useful for test marketing of products, advertisements, and reduces advertising costs. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228620 | NETWORK ADVERTISING - The present invention is a method and apparatus for collecting information about network (internet) users for determining advertising to be presented to the users. In one embodiment, user profiles are determined, and advertising is selectively provided by comparing user personal information in such profiles with a desired demographic profile. User responses to advertising are used for evaluating advertising effectiveness. The invention is useful for test marketing of products, advertisements, and reduces advertising costs. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228621 | Method of Using a Flat Panel Television to Deliver Digital Content to a Targeted Demographic - A method of using a digital content display frame around a flat panel television that allows advertisers to use the attention-capturing power of television to reach a targeted demographic with content rich, high definition media in any location where a flat panel television is, or could be, located. Dynamic digital content is displayed on the centrally-located flat panel television, including plasma and LCD televisions, and/or on any combination of the display panels in the frame around it, which preferably comprises four panels in a rectangular configuration, but is not limited thereto. Digital content on any of the display panels can be independent or unified with any other panel, and/or the television. Content management of the displayed digital content can be remotely accomplished via one or more web interfaces, as well as locally via on-board USB, Cat5 wiring, firewire-type technology, and/or other means allowing quick upload of local content. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228622 | Messaging Interface for Advertisement Submission - Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, in which submission of targeted advertisements can be facilitated using text messaging. Text message received from advertisers can include advertisement information and target audience information. Such information can be used to generate an advertisement for the advertiser. The generated advertisement can be provided for targeted distribution to users. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228623 | TRACKING AD UNIT PERFORMANCE - Methods and computer storage media for tracking and reporting ad unit performance are described. Tags are associated with ad units and may be manually associated and/or extracted from content items to be presented on a webpage associated with an ad unit. Upon receipt of a request for an advertisement to be presented in association with an ad unit, one or more associated tags are also received. Performance of the ad unit may be tracked utilizing the associated tags and one or more performance data elements, for instance, click-through-rate, income generated by the ad unit, visitor data, number of impressions, and expected cost per thousand impressions (eCPM). Reports on the tracked performance may be generated as desired. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228624 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR USING VERIFIED INFORMATION CARDS IN A COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK - Digital information cards associated with verified information about users are described. The cards can be used to optimize a network communications experience or interaction for a user and a commercial entity, such as a website provider. The cards can be user-centric in that the user can control access to information associated with the card. A website can access the information claim using a link of the information card and can customize a user's website experience based on the verified information claim. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228625 | WIRELESS NETWORK USER TRACKING - Requests for WAP-enabled content from mobile subscribers may be assigned to a particular subscriber based on a degree of match between hashed request attribute groupings. Targeted contend and/or advertising may be directed at the subscribers based on identifying common requests assigned to the same subscriber. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228626 | CONTENT REPRODUCTION AND CONTENT PUBLICATION METHODS AND CLIENTS THEREFOR ENABLING CONTENT USER OR CONTENT PUBLISHER TO SELECT ADVERTISEMENT INSERTED IN MEDIA CONTENT - Provided are content reproduction and content publication methods and apparatus therefor. The content reproduction method selects an advertisement to be inserted in a media content by referring to information about advertisements which are insertable into the media content, inserts the selected advertisement into the media content received from a media server, and reproduces the media content having the selected advertisement inserted therein, thereby enabling a client reproducing the media content to dynamically configure the advertisements being inserted to the media content, according to a user selection. Thus, a content user can actively select advertisements to be watched. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228627 | Method, System and Apparatus for Electronic Business Suited for Conventional Retailing - An electronic business method and system suited for conventional retailers are disclosed. A business transaction server receives from a seller an order form of a product, stores the received order form, assigns an order identification to the product, and communicates the order identification to the seller, who advertises the product with the order identification in any desirable manner including conventional advertising venues such as printed materials. The business transaction server receives from a buyer a purchase order containing the order identification and payment information, and notifies the seller to ship the product to the buyer according to the purchase order. The seller can be a conventional retailer and does not have to rely on Internet for advertisement in order to take advantage of electronic business transactions. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228628 | Integrated Real-Time Ancillary Revenue Optimization System - Systems, methods and computer program products for providing a user with a real-time ancillary offer(s) that maximize profits for merchants by increasing the likelihood of ancillary sales. Ancillary revenue sales include revenue generated from goods or services that differ from or enhance the main product or service lines of a company. An embodiment includes a ancillary revenue maximization engine and a recommendation engine. The user is provided with an ancillary offer generated by the ancillary revenue maximization engine, immediately before a merchant processes a sale with a user. In another exemplary embodiment, the user is provided with an ancillary offer generated by the ancillary revenue maximization engine after a merchant processes a sale with a user. An ancillary offer refers to an offer made to a customer by a merchant to sell an ancillary product or service. The ancillary revenue maximization engine may generate such an ancillary offer based on input received from a recommendation engine. In an embodiment, the recommendation engine uses rule selection, conversion segmentation and product selection to recommend one or more products that may enhance the value of a product or service purchased by a user and may maximize profit to the merchant processing the sale. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228629 | Method and System For Behavioral Classification - A plurality of pages viewed by a communications network user (e.g., an Internet user) are classified as pertaining to one of a plurality of topics. A count of each of the pages viewed by the communications network user for each of the topics is tracked, as is a recency with which each of the pages viewed by the communications network user was viewed for each of the topics. The communications network user is characterized as belonging to one or more behavioral segments based on the count and the recency. Advertisements are served to the communications network user based on at least advertising targeting parameters and the characterization. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228630 | Advertising methods and system with improved media delivery platform - The present invention provides a method for delivering a multimedia data file, comprising advertising content and/or advertising visuals and/or copy from one or more servers to an electronic device or devices, comprising:
| 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228631 | Bidding on Users - In one implementation, a computer-implemented method includes receiving at a server a request from an advertiser to target an ad to users of a computer-implemented social network, the request comprising data representing characteristics of the users that the advertiser desires to target. The method further includes ranking the users based on how similar the users' characteristics are to the received characteristics and an influence score for each user that indicates how influential the user is within the social network. The method also includes scoring the advertiser's request based on a bid from the advertiser for an opportunity to display the ad to one or more of the users and assigning the opportunity to display the ad to the one or more users based on a correlation between a score of the advertiser's request and one or more rankings of the one or more users. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228632 | Narrowcasting From Public Displays, and Related Methods - A user with a cell phone interacts, in a personalized session, with an electronic sign system. In some embodiments, the user's location relative to the sign is discerned from camera imagery—either imagery captured by the cell phone (i.e., of the sign), or captured by the sign system (i.e., of the user). Demographic information about the user can be estimated from imagery captured acquired by the sign system, or can be accessed from stored profile data associated with the user. The sign system can transmit payoffs (e.g., digital coupons or other response data) to viewers—customized per user demographics. In some arrangements, the payoff data is represented by digital watermark data encoded in the signage content. The encoding can take into account the user's location relative to the sign—allowing geometrical targeting of different payoffs to differently-located viewers. Other embodiments allow a user to engage an electronic sign system for interactive game play, using the cell phone as a controller. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228633 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR HOSTING A METAVERSE ENVIRONMENT WITHIN A WEBPAGE - The invention is a method and system for hosting a metaverse environment within a webpage and navigating within that environment. The metaverse is established by embedding an interface in a web page, then creating an avatar when a mouse, under control of an environment user, moves over the interface. A virtual reality street, serving as the central point of the environment, and associated with a particular URL, is established and placed on the bottom of a webpage. The street is customized with a plurality of facades, and the avatar is caused, by the user, to move up or down the street. The movement of the avatar allows it to interact with the facades or activities that are built into the street. Navigation of the avatar to the end of the street causes the avatar to select from among one or more choices for selecting a next web page. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228634 | Caching bids in an online advertisement bidding system - An online advertising system integrates third party agents to permit the third party agents to participate in auctions to bid on a per opportunity basis. An advertising exchange module receives requests for opportunities to serve online advertisements to users. In response, an advertising exchange module applies one or more business rules to determine third party agents that qualify to serve the online advertisement. A bid gateway module generates and transmits requests for bids to the third party agents. The bid gateway module then receives bids from the third party agents in response to the requests for bids. The advertising exchange module then selects an advertisement based on the bid. The online advertisement exchange system provides a unified marketplace to permit integrator networks to bid on both ads pursuant to guaranteed contracts and ads not subject to guaranteed contracts (e.g., non-guaranteed ads). The online advertisement system further includes traffic management to allow the third parties to regulate bid requests sent from the online advertisement system. In some embodiments, the online advertising system caches bids, to efficiently implement the per opportunity auction, and transmits information, such as targeting information, to the third party agents to aid in the third party agents' formulation of bids. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228635 | Unified Marketplace for an Online Advertisement Bidding System - An online advertising system integrates third party agents to permit the third party agents to participate in auctions to bid on a per opportunity basis. An advertising exchange module receives requests for opportunities to serve online advertisements to users. In response, an advertising exchange module applies one or more business rules to determine third party agents that qualify to serve the online advertisement. A bid gateway module generates and transmits requests for bids to the third party agents. The bid gateway module then receives bids from the third party agents in response to the requests for bids. The advertising exchange module then selects an advertisement based on the bid. The online advertisement exchange system provides a unified marketplace to permit integrator networks to bid on both ads pursuant to guaranteed contracts and ads not subject to guaranteed contracts (e.g., non-guaranteed ads). The online advertisement system further includes traffic management to allow the third parties to regulate bid requests sent from the online advertisement system. In some embodiments, the online advertising system caches bids, to efficiently implement the per opportunity auction, and transmits information, such as targeting information, to the third party agents to aid in the third party agents' formulation of bids. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228636 | RISK PREMIUMS FOR CONVERSION-BASED ONLINE ADVERTISEMENT BIDDING - An advertiser specifies a conversion-based bid for a conversion event associated with an ad. If a conversion event occurs for the ad, an effective conversion-based bid can be adjusted by a risk premium associated with the ad. An account associated with the advertiser can be debited based upon the adjusted effective conversion-based bid. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228637 | Architecture for an Online Advertisement Bidding System - An online advertising system integrates third party agents to permit the third party agents to participate in auctions to bid on a per opportunity basis. An advertising exchange module receives requests for opportunities to serve online advertisements to users. In response, an advertising exchange module applies one or more business rules to determine third party agents that qualify to serve the online advertisement. A bid gateway module generates and transmits requests for bids to the third party agents. The bid gateway module then receives bids from the third party agents in response to the requests for bids. The advertising exchange module then selects an advertisement based on the bid. The online advertisement exchange system provides a unified marketplace to permit integrator networks to bid on both ads pursuant to guaranteed contracts and ads not subject to guaranteed contracts (e.g., non-guaranteed ads). The online advertisement system further includes traffic management to allow the third parties to regulate bid requests sent from the online advertisement system. In some embodiments, the online advertising system caches bids, to efficiently implement the per opportunity auction, and transmits information, such as targeting information, to the third party agents to aid in the third party agents' formulation of bids. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228638 | USER TERMINAL AND WIRELESS ITEM-BASED CREDIT CARD AUTHORIZATION SERVERS, SYSTEMS, METHODS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS - Credit card transaction authorization is performed using ad-hoc, short-range wireless links to obtain item identification information from items that include ad-hoc short range wireless link transmitters and that are carried by a user who is associated with a prospective credit card transaction. Authorization information for the prospective credit card transaction is generated based on the item identification information that was obtained. Location information for a wireless terminal that is associated with the user and/or Internet Protocol (IP) address information for a transaction terminal that is associated with the transaction may also be used. Related systems, devices and computer program products are also described. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228639 | Systems And Methods To Initiate Payments From Electronic Devices - Disclosed are systems and methods to initiate electronic payments using wireless network broadcasts. For example, a purchaser may purchase goods and/or services offered by a merchant by checking out (initiating a payment transaction for the goods and/or services) via a cash register or a point of sale terminal at the merchant. When a purchase amount or total for a particular purchase is calculated, a payment request message may be broadcasted publicly on a wireless network where the merchant and an electronic device operated by the purchaser may participate as network nodes. The electronic device may receive the broadcasted payment request message and may display an interface or visual indication that includes information associated with the payment request message such that the purchaser interact with the interface or visual indication to initiate a payment transaction to purchase the goods and/or services associated with the particular purchase. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228640 | Systems and Methods for Providing Responses to Requests from Users of an Entertainment System - Systems and methods for providing a response to a request are provided. A request may be a transaction request. In some embodiments, a request is received from a client device which is coupled to a display device. The client device is associated to a user. A determination is made whether the request is authorized. A request may be authorized if it includes a key that is associated with sensitive credit card user data stored offsite by a merchant bank. A request is transmitted to a server coupled to the display device. A response from the server is transmitted to the display device for display therein. The response is based on the determination of whether the request is authorized. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228641 | Bid Gateway Architecture for an Online Advertisement Bidding System - An online advertising system integrates third party agents to permit the third party agents to participate in auctions to bid on a per opportunity basis. An advertising exchange module receives requests for opportunities to serve online advertisements to users. In response, an advertising exchange module applies one or more business rules to determine third party agents that qualify to serve the online advertisement. A bid gateway module generates and transmits requests for bids to the third party agents. The bid gateway module then receives bids from the third party agents in response to the requests for bids. The advertising exchange module then selects an advertisement based on the bid. The online advertisement exchange system provides a unified marketplace to permit integrator networks to bid on both ads pursuant to guaranteed contracts and ads not subject to guaranteed contracts (e.g., non-guaranteed ads). The online advertisement system further includes traffic management to allow the third parties to regulate bid requests sent from the online advertisement system. In some embodiments, the online advertising system caches bids, to efficiently implement the per opportunity auction, and transmits information, such as targeting information, to the third party agents to aid in the third party agents' formulation of bids. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228642 | Traffic Management in an Online Advertisement Bidding System - An online advertising system integrates third party agents to permit the third party agents to participate in auctions to bid on a per opportunity basis. An advertising exchange module receives requests for opportunities to serve online advertisements to users. In response, an advertising exchange module applies one or more business rules to determine third party agents that qualify to serve the online advertisement. A bid gateway module generates and transmits requests for bids to the third party agents. The bid gateway module then receives bids from the third party agents in response to the requests for bids. The advertising exchange module then selects an advertisement based on the bid. The online advertisement exchange system provides a unified marketplace to permit integrator networks to bid on both ads pursuant to guaranteed contracts and ads not subject to guaranteed contracts (e.g., non-guaranteed ads). The online advertisement system further includes traffic management to allow the third parties to regulate bid requests sent from the online advertisement system. In some embodiments, the online advertising system caches bids, to efficiently implement the per opportunity auction, and transmits information, such as targeting information, to the third party agents to aid in the third party agents' formulation of bids. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228643 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CHANGING ORDER PRIORITY LEVELS IN AN ELECTRONIC TRADING ENVIRONMENT - A system and method for fee-based order priority level modification in an electronic trading environment are described. When an order reaches an exchange, a priority level of the order may be changed to a higher priority level, and the priority level of the order initially at the higher priority level may be changed to a lower priority level of the received order. In one embodiment, a trader who is gaining a higher priority level will be preferably charged a fee for having his order moved to the higher priority level, and at least a portion of that fee may be paid to a trader who is giving up his high priority level. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228644 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A FAIR EXCHANGE - A fair exchange is disclosed to reduce potential inequities in an electronic trading environment. Market data is sent from a host system to client devices through one or more synchronized local communication servers such that the data can be displayed simultaneously or nearly simultaneously at each client device. Market data sent to client devices might include price information. Likewise, a host system may transaction data sent from client devices via the local communication servers. The ordering of transaction data is based, at least in part, on when the local communication servers received the transaction data from the client devices. Transaction data sent to a host system might include order information. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228645 | INTERNET BILLING METHOD - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, establishing a billing arrangement with a purchasing customer to permit a third party to charge a billing account associated with the purchasing customer for a purchase transaction between the purchasing customer and a selling vendor, establishing a remitting arrangement with the selling vendor to permit the third party to remit to an account associated with the selling vendor a portion of the purchase transaction, establishing communications between equipment of the third party and equipment of the purchasing customer, wherein the equipment of the third party enables the equipment of the purchasing customer to communicate over the Internet with equipment of the selling vendor concerning the purchase transaction, obtaining transactional information relating to the purchase transaction, receiving authorization over the Internet to charge the purchasing customer the first amount, charging the first amount to the billing account associated with the purchasing customer in accordance with the billing arrangement, and remitting the second amount to the account associated with the selling vendor in accordance with the remitting arrangement. Additional embodiments are disclosed. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228646 | Integration of scanner/sensor apparatuses, web-based interfaces, and pull-supply chain management into product, clothing, apparel, shoe, and/or accessory markets - The patent pertains to an embodiment of an invention and/or process for scanning a person's, object's, and/or animal's body and/or physical disposition using a scanner/sensor apparatus to generate measurements and/or avatars comprised of exact, specific, and/or unique body measurements, physical dispositions, and/or spatial requirements within three dimensional and 360 degree space. Once the avatars are generated, stored to a database and/or memory device and uploaded to a Web-based interface, consumers will be able to purchase products, clothing, apparel, shoes, and/or accessories across varying lines, brands, styles, and trends that are manufactured to their exact body measurements. Businesses and/or commercial entities will have the ability to create digital images of their subsequent lines, brands, styles, and trends of products, clothing, apparel, shoes, and/or accessories and upload them to a Web-based interface. Businesses and/or commercial entities will also be able to advertise their abilities to market; manufacture, and sell varying lines, brands, styles, and trends of their products, clothing apparel, shoes, and/or accessories to consumers. Finally, businesses and/or commercial entities will be able to utilize pull-supply chain management as a result of utilization of the invention and/or process. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228647 | Process for implementing a method for the on-line sale of software product use licenses through a data network, and software component which allows carrying out said process - Online sale of software product use licenses through a data network by offering software products (SOFT) through vendor sites, purchasing a license on-line on one of said vendor sites, and activating said license on-line by a different licensing site. A specific component (COMP) is provided with the software product (SOFT) and identifying data (IDV) of the vendor site are transmitted during the download of the software product (SOFT). When the component (COMP) is executed in an equipment, the component (COMP) locally accesses said data (IDV) and identifying data (IDL) of the licensing site and activates the license by setting up an on-line communication with the licensing site. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228648 | MOLD MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF - A mold management system connected to a shopping floor control (SFC) system is operable to manage a plurality of molds. Each of the plurality of molds bears an exclusive barcode containing basic information of the mold. The mold management system includes a query module, a selection module, an input registration module, and a notification module. The query module queries basic information for requested molds in a database, and production information from the SFC system to obtain a scheduled usage history of the requested molds. The selection module selects a mold with usage history most exceeding the scheduled usage history to be outbound. The input registration module updates a usage history of the outbound mold when the outbound mold is to be inbound. The notification module determines whether the inbound mold is to be discarded based on the updated usage history. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228649 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETECTING FRAUD IN A CREDIT CARD TRANSACTION OVER THE INTERNET - A method and system for detecting fraud in a credit card transaction between consumer and a merchant over the internet. The method and system comprises obtaining credit card information relating to the transaction from the consumer; and verifying the credit card information based upon a variety of parameters. The variety of parameters are weighted so as to provide a merchant with a quantifiable indication of whether the credit card transaction is fraudulent. In so doing, an integrated verification system is provided which allows a merchant, or the like, to accurately and efficiently determine the validity of a transaction over the internet. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228650 | Apparatus and Method for Tracking Transaction Related Data - A method of tracking information in a multi-tier computerized environment, the method comprising: receiving an at least one packet; storing data associated with the at least one packet and with an at least one request or transaction associated with the at least one packet; parsing a byte stream generated from conversion of the at least one packet; detecting data associated with the at least one request or transaction related to the byte stream; matching a thread associated with the byte stream with the at least one request or transaction associated with the at least one packet according to predetermined fields within the byte stream, an apparatus for implementing the same and methods for determining resource consumption of requests or transactions. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228651 | Systems and Methods for Providing Loans in Response to the Occurrence of Predetermined Events - Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided that allow customers to build equity (e.g., by adding money to their selected savings vehicle) feeling secure in knowing that, should they undergo one of the pre-determined events, they will have access to a low/no interest loan (or other loan) that will help them get through that period of crisis. The financial product may offer customers a collateralized loan during a time of need, the ability to set and redefine savings goals to reflect changes in a customer's life, savings on fees as collateral grows, the waiver of monthly fees during benefit period and for a one-month grace period, and a manageable payback schedule once the benefit period begins. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228652 | BILLING MECHANISM FOR A MOBILE COMMUNICATION NETWORK - There is provided a method for charging a user of a mobile communication device connected to a communication network. An exemplary method comprises detecting a predetermined trigger event in a trigger unit of the mobile communication device. The exemplary method also comprises detecting the predetermined event. In response to the detection of the predetermined event, a consent message is generated in a message generating unit of the mobile communication device. The consent message is sent to the communication network, the receipt of the consent message prompting a payment process. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228653 | DATA REPRODUCTION DEVICE, CONTENT DELIVERY SYSTEM, AND CONTENT DELIVERY METHOD - A content delivery system includes a data reproduction device and an in-store terminal that are connected to each other via a communication line. The data reproduction device includes a reproduction device for reproducing contents, a content element selection device, a transmission device for transmitting content element selection information and a reception device for receiving the contents, while the in-store terminal includes a data input device for inputting content information, a content element generation device, a reception device for receiving the content element selection information, a content generation modification device, a storage device, and a transmission device for transmitting contents. The in-store terminal generates contents based on content elements selected by the user of the data reproduction device, and the data reproduction device reproduces the contents received from the in-store terminal. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228654 | COMMUNICATION NETWORK - When an IP (Information Provider) server is accessed from a mobile station, a gateway server determines whether or not the IP server is to be IP billed. If it is not to be IP billed, then user billing is applied. In this case, the gateway server sends a user management number of the mobile station and the number of exchanged packets to a billing system. The billing system calculates a communication fee in accordance with the number of packets, and issues a bill to the user specified by the user management number. On the other hand, if the accessed IP server is to be IP billed, then IP billing is applied. In this case, the gateway server sends the number of exchanged packets and the address of the accessed IP server to the billing system. The billing system calculates a communication fee in accordance with the number of packets, and issues a bill to the IP. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228655 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REPORTING USE AMOUNT OF DATA SERVICE, MEDIA PROCESSOR AND MEDIA CONTROL - A method and a system for reporting use Amount of a data service, an MP, and an MC are disclosed herein. The method includes: An MP receives a quota delivered by an MC; the MP sets the quota for a terminal on the MP, and statisticizes the amount of the data service usage of the terminal; and reports a Quota Completion event to the MC when the amount of the data service usage consumed by the terminal reaches the quota. The system includes an MC and an MP which are telecom-connected. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, through real-time interaction between the MC and the MP, the MP can monitor the amount of the data service usage in real time, and report the statistic information when conditions are fulfilled. In this way, the amount of the data service usage can be reported proactively in real time. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228656 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FRAUD PREVENTION - The disclosed method and apparatus combine interactions and transactions in order to detect fraud acts or fraud attempts. In one embodiment, one or more interactions is correlated with one or more transactions, the interactions is and transactions features are combined, and features are extracted from the combined structure. The features are compared against one or more profiles, and a combined risk score is determined for the interactions or transactions. If the risk score exceeds a predetermined threshold, a preventive/corrective action can be taken. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228657 | Price indexing - Transactions involving assets that share a common characteristic are represented as respective data points associated with values of the assets, the data points including transaction value information, the data points theoretically excluding data points that are outside defined cutoffs, the cutoffs being defined so that effectively no data points are excluded at either a lower end, an upper end, or both. Parameters are determined that fit probability density functions to at least one component of a value spectrum of the data points, the probability density function for at least one of the components comprising a power law, the parameters not including an offset parameter representing possible shifts in the value spectrum over time. An index of values associated with the assets is formed using at least one of the determined parameters. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228658 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREDIT REPORTING - A system for providing creditworthiness information based on a credit application, including: at least one database storing a plurality of information elements corresponding to credit information; and at least one server configured to: receive at least one data file including first additional information elements and store the additional data elements in the at least one database using batch processing; receive at least one record including second additional information elements and storing the second additional information elements in the database substantially contemporaneously with their being received; receive creditworthiness requests; automatically query the at least one database including the information elements, first additional information elements and second additional information elements dependently upon the received requests substantially contemporaneously with the requests being received to generate query results; and automatically transmit creditworthiness indicative information based upon the query results substantially contemporaneously with the query results being generated. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228659 | RECEIPTS SCANNER AND FINANCIAL ORGANIZER - The system contains a scanner, an apparatus for scanning receipts into a computer and a unique software program which automatically processes, organizes and saves expense information that can be viewed in various formats, namely, tabular statements, pie-charts, etc. The scanner, which accommodates paper of differing sizes, is used to input bills, receipts, bank statements, etc. The scanner is usually connected to a computer through a Universal Serial Bus or a parallel port for easy installation. The software program creates a text file of the scanned data by inclusion of sorting, categories, etc., and automatically saves the information in Quicken Interchange Format, allowing it to be imported into any financial management software for further processing. Each receipt is treated as an individual transaction. Multiple items in the receipt are used to create a “split” transaction with proper customizable categories added. Further, the software also allows for record keeping, budgeting and budget balancing. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228660 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING A NATIONAL PORTAL FOR ELECTRONIC SERVICES - Apparatus and methods for providing a single location where an entity may conduct electronic services over a national portal. The entity includes an employer, a state, an employee, or any other entity. The electronic services include employee obligations, employee garnishments, new hire reporting, communications, call center, exception handling, regulation database, other databases, human resources, search engine, payments, disbursements, and future uses. Future uses includes additional users (e.g., additional entities) or additional uses (e.g., additional services). | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228661 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EXCHANGE-BASED CONDITION PROCESSING - Various embodiments of exchanges are described. Methods and other embodiments are also described. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228662 | Flexible System and Method for Electronic Trading - System, method, and program products offer flexibility to the rather rigid way of trading in an electronic trading system. Orders for a tradeable object may typically get matched according to set terms and/or conditions at an electronic exchange. A trader may log onto the electronic exchange to trade the tradeable object, and may choose to display and trade the tradeable object according to a different set of terms and/or conditions. As such, the market data sent to the trader from the exchange is converted to a format according to the trader's selection, so that it may be presented to the trader in this format. Transaction messages sent to the exchange from the trader are converted to the format readable by the matching process, so that it can process the messages. Other features and advantages are described herein. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228663 | MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITY HEDGING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A computer assisted method of developing a hedge position for a mortgage-backed security. The method includes calculating a duration of the security based on price histories of the security and changes in yield of a benchmark security and expressing periodic changes in price of the security. The method also includes calculating a relative coupon of the security and calculating a current coupon yield of the mortgage sector. The method further includes calculating an empirical duration of the security, calculating a hedge ratio for the security, and outputting a hedge position for the security based on the hedge ratio. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228664 | IDENTITY VALIDATION FOR FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS - Systems and methods for validating a party's identity for facilitating peer-to-peer loan transactions are provided. Drivers of a fleet of parcel delivery vehicles associated with a particular common carrier are used to collect information validating a party's identity. As part of a scheduled parcel delivery, or as an independent stop specifically for identity validation, a driver visits an address associated with a party (e.g., a consignor or consignee) and confirms the party's association with the address, such as by visually inspecting the party's driver's license or other identifying document. Information regarding the party's association is provided to a system accessible by a peer-to-peer lending facilitator. Input from the drivers relating to the association may be transmitted to a server via the driver's handheld device. The information can be used by the peer-to-peer lending facilitator to determine a level of risk associated with entering into a loan transaction with the party. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228665 | Collateral Management System and Method - Embodiments of the invention include a computer-implemented collateral management system and method for managing collateral of multiple participants including borrowers and lenders. The system may include a global long box available to each borrower, each global long box configured for storing all types of available assets possessed by each borrower. The system may additionally include an eligibility database storing eligibility and concentration limits, the concentration limits defined by lender rules controlling the acceptability of the available assets for use as collateral, the value of the assets, and overall acceptable composition of assets. An interactive participant interface may be provided for accepting collateral use preferences from the borrowers, the collateral use preferences including, lender ranking components, asset ranking components, and allocation run type selection components for facilitating collateral allocation. An allocation engine implementing computer processing components for selecting an allocation sequence based on the collateral use preferences of the borrowers and in compliance the stored eligibility and concentration limits in the eligibility database and allocating collateral from each global long box in the selected sequence. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228666 | Vehicle Lock Box - A relocatable and remotely actuatable vehicle security system. In some embodiments, the vehicle security system includes a relocatable structure forming an enclosure over a parking surface and an electronic actuation system. The relocatable structure has a closeable opening through which a vehicle enters and leaves the enclosure. The electronic actuation system is configured to actuate a drive mechanism to close the opening or to expose the opening upon receipt of a remotely generated signal. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228667 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ON-STREET PARKING REVENUE MODEL FOR ELECTRONICALLY COLLECTING FEES - A system and method for collecting on-street parking revenue. The method utilizes a device which establishes a link with a server. Once the device is validated and the location of the vehicle is established, a message is transmitted to the device with the parking rates for that location. The time that the vehicle is parked at the location is tracked. The parking charges are collected electronically by charging the user's account based upon the parking rates and the time that the vehicle was parked at that location. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228668 | Method and System for Conducting a Transaction Using a Proximity Device and an Identifier - A proximity device transmits a first dynamic authentication value contactlessly to a terminal. The first authentication value is included in a discretionary data field of message data arranged in an ISO Track 1 and/or ISO Track 2 format. Message data is sent from the terminal to an issuer. The issuer separately derives a second authentication value and compares it with the first authentication value. An identifier associated with the primary account number (PAN) is also used and transmitted instead of the PAN. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228669 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EXECUTING A FINANCIAL TRANSACTION - A computer-implemented system and method for processing one or more second transactions. The system and method provides for storage of customizable business rules, which are set by a user. Upon receipt of electronic digital information relating to a first transaction, the system and method initiate execution of one or more second transactions, which are controlled by the customizable business rules. As such, the second transactions are processed independently of the first transaction. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228670 | System and Method for Account Level Blocking - A system and method are disclosed. The method includes receiving, at a server computer, a transaction clearing request for a transaction, and then determining, using the server computer, if the transaction satisfies a stored blocking parameter. The method further includes allowing, using the server computer, the transaction clearing request if the transaction does not satisfy the stored blocking parameter, and denying, using the server computer, the transaction clearing request if the transaction satisfies the stored blocking parameter. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228671 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACCOUNT LEVEL BLOCKING - A system and method are disclosed. The method includes receiving, at a server computer, a transaction clearing request for a transaction, and then determining, using the server computer, if the transaction satisfies a stored blocking parameter. The method further includes allowing, using the server computer, the transaction clearing request if the transaction does not satisfy the stored blocking parameter, and denying, using the server computer, the transaction clearing request if the transaction satisfies the stored blocking parameter. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228672 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EXECUTING AN ELECTRONIC PAYMENT - A computer-implemented system and method for processing an electronic payment. The system and method provides for storage of at least one customizable business rule, which is set by a user, a merchant, a business and/or a third party entity. Upon receipt of electronic digital information relating to a financial transaction between a first entity and a second entity, the system and method initiate execution of an electronic payment from the second entity to a third entity that is controlled by the at least one customizable business rule. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228673 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING DIGITAL STRINGS TO PROVIDE SECURE DISTRIBUTION OF DIGITAL CONTENT - A method and system for secure distribution of digital content, using a disintegration tool under control of a distributor of the digital content to divide the digital content into protected and unprotected segments, delivering the unprotected segments to the customer along with installation software and identification information. The segments to be protected are modified using the identification information on the distribution medium and hardware information unique to a particular customer device. Upon communication of this information from the customer device, the modified segments are sent to the customer device for integration with the unprotected segments to generate a modified digital content operable only on the particular customer device. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228674 | CRYPTOGRAPHIC MODULE FOR SECURE PROCESSING OF VALUE-BEARING ITEMS - An on-line value bearing item (VBI) printing system that includes one or more cryptographic modules and a central database is disclosed. The cryptographic modules are capable of implementing the USPS Information Based Indicia Program Postal Security Device Performance Criteria and other required VBI standards. The modules encipher the information stored in the central database for all of the on-line VBI system customers and are capable of preventing access to the database by unauthorized users. Additionally, the cryptographic module is capable of preventing unauthorized and undetected modification, including the unauthorized modification, substitution, insertion, and deletion of VBI related data and cryptographically critical security parameters. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228675 | Issuing machine and issuing system - An issuing system for issuing unmodifiable and/or unforgeable hardcopy documents or securities includes a server and a plurality of issuing machines connected to the server via a network. Each of the issuing machines receives an ID recording medium provided by a potential purchaser, retrieves an identification recoded in the received ID recording medium, requests the potential purchaser to input request for a transaction of the security or fixed rate financing instrument, processes the requested transaction by retrieving information via a network from the server, and prints out on demand a hardcopy of the security or fixed rate financing instrument as purchased by the potential purchaser and a checksum thereon. A method for forming a new market with the issuing system. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228676 | Apparatus And Method For Recycling Mobile Phones - A recycling kiosk for recycling and financial remuneration for submission of a mobile telephone is disclosed herein. The recycling kiosk includes an inspection area with a plurality of white walls in order to perform a visual analysis of the mobile telephone for determination of a value of the mobile telephone. The visual analysis inspects the LCD screen of the mobile phone to determine if the LCD screen is damaged. The recycling kiosk also includes a processor, a display and a user interface. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228677 | DIGITAL RIGHTS MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUDIENCE MEASUREMENT - Digital rights management systems and methods for audience measurement are disclosed. An example method to monitor a media content presentation disclosed herein comprises configuring a media handler to present the media content presentation, automatically processing a measurement rights agreement with a digital rights manager to determine whether the measurement rights agreement authorizes monitoring of the media content presentation, when the digital rights manager determines that monitoring of the media content presentation is authorized, configuring the media handler to obtain measurement information corresponding to the media content presentation, and when the digital rights manager determines that monitoring of the media content presentation is not authorized, configuring the media handler to prevent measurement information corresponding to the media content presentation from being obtained, but not preventing the media handler from being configured to present the media content presentation. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228678 | MANAGEMENT AND PUBLICATION OF IDEAS FOR INVENTIONS ACCUMULATED IN A COMPUTER DATABASE - A method of managing ideas includes the following steps: (a) maintaining a computer database for accumulating ideas for prospectively patentable inventions; (b) systematically establishing contractual obligations by contributors of said ideas to said database to transfer property rights to inventions respectively derived at least in part from said contributed ideas to a proprietor of said database or to a party in concert with said proprietor; and (c) prior to filing any patent applications for inventions respectively derived at least in part from said accumulated ideas, systematically publishing said accumulated ideas. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228679 | Hardware Unit-Based License Management Method - Disclosed herein is a method for licensing at least one hardware resource for use by a customer computer, the at least one hardware resource provided by an application service provider (ASP) distinct from the customer computer. The method includes providing licensed units to a customer, assigning a predetermined number of ASP assigned hardware units to the at least one hardware resource, and determining whether the customer can utilize the at least one hardware resource using the licensed units provided to the customer and the ASP assigned hardware units for the assigned to the at least one hardware resource. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228680 | DETERMINING RELATIVE PERFORMANCE - A method and system for evaluating a public sector organization includes identifying at least one outcome measure and at least one cost-effectiveness measure for a public sector organization; obtaining measurements associated with the measure; and determining a relative public performance measure of the public sector organization based on the measurements. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228681 | Semi-quantitative risk analysis - A semi-quantitative analysis on the risk management process increases the possibility of performing an accurate risks comparison, making easier the identification of which risks shall be prioritized and shall receive the greatest mitigation efforts. Specifically, the semi-quantitative risk analysis enables an improved risks comparison for evaluating the consequences of each risk considering its impacts on the project's Net Present Value (NPV), reflecting the project's cash flow at different times. The use of such method makes the prioritization process more efficient, helping the managers and other personnel involved on the process to focus their efforts to the most critical risks for the project's success. In this sense, the risk management process becomes more efficient and better able to provide better support to the project decision makers. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228682 | Project Simulation Method and System - A simulation for an efficient allocation of the resources, such as funds and manpower, can be performed in plural concurrent projects in order to minimize a delay period and excess of cost. The simulation is practiced with each project regarded as an agent and the optimized solution is outputted by using a genetic algorithm. Specifically, a risk factor of each project is inputted by input means, and the optimal allocation of facilities and labor is determined by arithmetic means with a delay period and a delay event probability using a delay risk model, time development of production, and minimization of an objective function. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228683 | ISSUING SYSTEMS, ACQUIRING SYSTEMS, AND PAYMENT NETWORKS/SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT - An exemplary system is adapted for developing, testing, and operating payments and funds transfer systems, such as, for example, issuing systems, acquiring systems, and/or payment networks/systems. A model content repository stores elements for system models. An integrated development environment allows users to access the model content repository and design models. A deployment manager is adapted to compile and test models that have been defined and stored in the model content repository. The compiled code is executed in a platform runtime environment. Information that is collected from an executing system is communicated to the integrated development environment where the information may be presented to a user. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228684 | Computerized method for open-ended investments - The investment liquidation and purchase adjustment method is an investment model for open-ended investments that takes into account the net asset value (NAV) of the mutual fund and an accumulated stock brokerage transaction commission fees. The accumulated commission fees are added to the net asset value per share prior to the purchase of shares of the mutual fund. Alternatively, the accumulated commission fees are subtracted from the net asset value per share prior to the liquidation of the shares. These additional fees flow into the assets of the mutual fund. As accumulated brokerage transaction commissions change each day because of the trading of the positions in the mutual fund, the brokerage transaction commission's percentage change on a daily basis, too. This also solves the problem of maintaining the true asset value for existing shareholders when there are share liquidations by existing shareholders, protecting the true asset value for the remaining existing shareholders. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228685 | Financial Risk Cover Analysis, Modeling Control and Monitoring System - An automatic Financial Risk Cover configuration which receives returns behaviors connecting statistical behavior of each potential allocation of a submanager to a resultant statistical behavior of a Financial Risk Cover associated with a client portfolio, creates a total set of Financial Risk Cover configurations using genetic optimization processes to produce unpredictable variations of configurations, simulates and models each configuration in the total set against a set of potential or expected transient market events representative of a plurality of combinations of transient events, removes from the total set each configuration which fails to meet performance objectives during the modelling from said total set of configurations; and outputs each remaining configuration in the total set, wherein each configuration represents a plurality of investment instruments, each investement instrument being associated with an initial cash position. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228686 | Structured financial products - A method of assembling a structured financial instrument, including electronic methods of pricing, selling, and administering the structured financial instrument are provided. A minimum deposit and a specified term are specified. The structured financial instrument is indexed to at least one economic indicator. A percentage of the original deposit may be withdrawn at a specified interval without penalty, with interest calculated at the end of the term reduced to reflect any prior partial withdrawals. The structured financial instrument is insured from the FDIC. In the event of death, a death benefit is provided equal to the value of the structured financial product on the date of death. At a specified time, a structured financial product holder has an option of choosing to lock in a specified percentage of the index gains to date, in exchange for re-upping the structured financial product into a new structured financial product of equal or greater term length and using a similar return framework as the original structured product. In additional embodiments, nursing home liquidity and required minimum distributions liquidity can be provided. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228687 | Electricity Vending Devices And Associated Methods - Electricity vending devices and methods and software for vending electrical power are disclosed. Payment information may be received by the electricity vending devices by way of a magnetic or electric card reader, a fingerprint scanner, a retinal scanner, a keypad, a touchscreen, or an RFID detector. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228688 | OPTICAL DETERMINATION AND REPORTING OF GAS PROPERTIES - A chemical composition analyzer may be used to optically determine and report chemical compositions associated with gases within a gas collection and transmission infrastructure. This analyzer includes a number of optical sensors which may be used to perform spectroscopic spectrographic analysis in order to determine the chemical composition of the gas. Additionally other sensors may be used to measure other physical properties associated with the gas. These sensors are tied to a data collection system wherein the output of the optical sensors and sensors used to measure the physical properties of the gas may be combined and processed in order to determine in a nearly continuous fashion the chemical composition associated with the gas at various locations within the gas collection and transmission infrastructure. This real time compositional analysis may be used to determine valuations of the gas or to optimize other processes or equipment configurations. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228689 | Eyeglasses, eyecups, and methods of use and doing business - Described herein are various embodiments of eyewear provided for advantageous use in sports, work, and casual activity. According to one embodiment, methods of retailing eyecup assemblies include a replenishment program for transmitting replacement eyecup assemblies to a purchaser at a regular interval. According to another embodiment, a method of retailing eyecup assemblies includes providing a retailer with eyecup assemblies differing from one another and providing the retailer with an eyeglasses frame. According to an embodiment, a method of retailing eyecup assemblies includes providing a retailer with eyecup assemblies differing from one another and without providing an eyeglasses frame. According to another embodiment, a kit having eyecup assemblies includes eyecup assemblies differing from one another and an eyeglasses frame. According to an embodiment, a kit having eyecup assemblies includes eyecup assemblies differing from one another without providing an eyeglasses frame. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228690 | CUSHION ASSEMBLY - A portable cushion assembly including a cushion, and a pouch pivotally coupled to the cushion, wherein the pouch is pivoted away from the cushion to permit sitting on the cushion without sitting on the pouch. Preferably, the cushion has an outer surface on which advertising material can be displayed. At least one strap may be affixed to the cushion or to the pouch for carrying the cushion assembly. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228691 | Media Tag Recommendation Technologies - Technologies for recommending relevant tags for the tagging of media based on one or more initial tags provided for the media and based on a large quantity of other tagged media. Sample media as candidates for recommendation are provided by a set of weak rankers based on corresponding relevance measures in semantic and visual domains. The various samples provided by the weak rankers are then ranked based on relative order to provide a list of recommended tags for the media. The weak rankers provide sample tags based on relevance measures including tag co-occurrence, tag content correlation, and image-conditioned tag correlation. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228692 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MULTI-MODAL BIOMETRICS - A system and method relate to multi-modal biometrics. A single modality score is generated for each of a plurality of biometric modalities. A classifier is selected from a database of multi-modal classifiers, and a multi-modal fusion is applied to the single modality scores using the classifier. The single modality scores are then aggregated. A context dependent model is generated, and a measure of the context in which the biometric samples were obtained is applied to the aggregated single modality scores. It is then determined whether there is a match between two or more biometric samples. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228693 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GENERATING A DOCUMENT REPRESENTATION - A method, system and computer program product for generating a document representation are disclosed. The system includes a server and a client computer, and the method involves: receiving into memory a resource containing at least one sentence of text; producing a tree comprising tree elements indicating parts-of-speech and grammatical relations between the tree elements; producing semantic structures each having three tree elements to represent a simple clause (subject-predicate-object); and storing a semantic network of semantic structures and connections therebetween. The semantic network may be created from a user provided root concept. Output representations include concept maps, facts listings, text summaries, tag clouds, indices; and an annotated text. The system interactively modifies semantic networks in response to user feedback, and produces personal semantic networks and document use histories. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228694 | Data Processing Using Restricted Boltzmann Machines - Data processing using restricted Boltzmann machines is described, for example, to pre-process continuous data and provide binary outputs. In embodiments, restricted Boltzmann machines based on either Gaussian distributions or Beta distributions are described which are able to learn and model both the mean and variance of data. In some embodiments, a stack of restricted Boltzmann machines are connected in series with outputs of one restricted Boltzmann machine providing input to the next in the stack and so on. Embodiments describe how training for each machine in the stack may be carried out efficiently and the combined system used for one of a variety of applications such as data compression, object recognition, image processing, information retrieval, data analysis and the like. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228695 | Computer system in which a received signal-reaction of the computer system of artificial intelligence of a cyborg or an android, an association of the computer system of artificial intelligence of a cyborg or an android, a thought of the computer system of artificial intelligence of a cyborg or an android are substantiated and the working method of this computer system of artificial intelligence of a cyborg or an android - A computer system in which a received signal-reaction of the computer system of Artificial Intelligence of a cyborg or an android, an association of the computer system of Artificial Intelligence of a cyborg or an android, a thought of the computer system of Artificial Intelligence of a cyborg or an android are substantiated and the working method of this computer system of Artificial Intelligence of a cyborg or an android. The computer system is based on one natural language. The computer system includes the hardware devices ( | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228696 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REASONING OPTIMIZED SERVICE OF UBIQUITOUS SYSTEM USING CONTEXT INFORMATION AND EMOTION AWARENESS - A method and system for reasoning an optimized service of a ubiquitous system using context information and emotion awareness may be provided. The system for reasoning an optimized service of a ubiquitous system, the system including: a ubiquitous system unit to collect information about surroundings of a user; a context awareness unit to recognize a state of the user based on the information collected in the ubiquitous system unit, and to generate context information; an emotion awareness unit to recognize an emotion of the user based on the information collected in the ubiquitous system unit, and to generate emotion information; a combination unit to combine the context information and the emotion information; and a service selection unit to reason and select a service for the user based on the combination result of the combination unit. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228697 | APPARATUS FOR SELECTING MOTOR CONTROLLER - Provided is an apparatus for selecting a motor controller, the apparatus including a selection calculation unit, an input unit, an output unit, a mechanism condition input unit, a command setting unit, a monitoring unit, and an evaluation unit. The apparatus can select a motor controller registered in the characteristics database and machine parts registered in a mechanism condition characteristics database on the basis of an operation pattern and a mechanism condition. The apparatus can evaluate whether a combination of the motor controller and the machine parts is operable as a machine system. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228698 | METHOD FOR DOUBLY BACKING UP FILES ASYNCHRONOUSLY - The present invention proposes a method for doubly backing up files asynchronously, wherein at least two first network elements share a second network element, both of said first network elements include respectively an active file handling device and a standby file handling device, characterized in that, said active file handling device copies the files to the second network element, if said standby file handling device finds that said active file handling device misses the files, said standby file handling device copies backups of the files to said active file handling device, thus the files stored in said active file handling device and the files stored in said standby file handling device being synchronized. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228699 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTERACTING WITH CLINICAL TRIAL OPERATIONAL DATA - A method and system for exchanging clinical trial operational data by using a centralized shared server system connected to a plurality of shared servers. The system and method manage a plurality of clinical trial-related applications by creating a plurality of tables stored within the shared database of the shared database system connected to a centralized shared server system within a virtual network for updating and sharing among clinical trials. The current system and method allow exchanging clinical trial operational data between a centralized shared server system and a plurality of shared servers to delegate responsibility to other clinical trial organization users for producing subsets of clinical trial operational data with limited data access rights. The current system and method allow assigning data access rights to other clinical trial organizations by configuring the at least one other clinical trial organization as either a producer or a consumer of the clinical trial operational data for limiting access to the at least one table with the clinical trial operational data by the at least one other clinical trial organization. The current system and method allow each business partner to manage the assigned responsibilities by using existing clinical trial management systems applications and to maintain views of other clinical trial organizations activities of clinical trial operational data subject to assigned data access rights. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228700 | METHOD, SYSTEM AND PROGRAM FOR ARCHIVING FILES - Provided are a method, system, and program for archiving files. A hierarchical file system having directories is provided. An archival retention policy is associated with at least one of the directories in the hierarchical file system, wherein the retention policy applies to files included in the associated directory, and wherein the retention policy specifies a retention time indicating a time period during which a file is subject to the retention policy. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228701 | UPDATING BLOOM FILTERS - The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for updating Bloom filters. Embodiments of the invention facilitate more efficient use Bloom filters across multiple computers connected across a WAN (potentially having limited bandwidth and latency characteristics), such as, for example, computers located on different continents. The acceptability of false positives is leveraged by allowing the operation of removing items from a set to be batched and delayed. On the other hand, insert operations may be more latency sensitive as a delayed insert results in the semantic equivalent to a false negative. As such, additions to a set are processed in closer to real time to update Bloom filters. In some embodiments, Bloom filters are used to check set membership for electronic mail addresses. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228702 | FILE HANDLING FOR NAMING CONFLICTS - A file operations engine is provided that manages many user interactions with their files via a computer system. The operation engine may provide a user with the option to keep both files that have a file name conflict. It may further permit the user to rename a file involved with a file name conflict. The operations engine may also automatically rename one of the files of a file name conflict by appending a character to a root of the filename. The character may include the lowest integer available for the root in a destination for the files. The operations engine may provide the option to keep both files as part of a pre-calculation of potential errors for a requested operation. The operations engine may place file name conflicts in an error queue and permit the user to select an option to keep both files after the conflict is encountered. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228703 | REDUCING MEMORY REQUIRED FOR PREDICTION BY PARTIAL MATCHING MODELS - Some embodiments of a method and an apparatus to reduce memory required for prediction by partial matching (PPM) models usable in data compression have been presented. In one embodiment, statistics of received data are accumulated in a tree of dynamic tree-type data structures. The data is compressed based on the statistics. The tree of dynamic tree-type data structures may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228704 | Recognizing a disc - A method and a system are provided for recognizing a disc. In one example, the system receives a disc, such as, for example, a Blu-ray Disc. The disc includes a content certificate and data files. The content certificate includes a unique text file that certifies the disc complies with predetermined disc parameters. The data files are the actual audio and/or video content on the disc. The system reads the content certificate or reads the data related to the data files. The system generates a hash value by applying a hash function to the content certificate or to the data related to the data files. The hash value is a unique identifier for the disc. | 2010-09-09 |
| 20100228705 | Conditional commit for data in a database - A database comprises a database interface and a database updater. The database interface enables a reading of a first set of information from the database. The database updater updates a second set of information in the database based at least in part on one or more conditions. The one or more conditions limit changes allowable to the first set of information from the database that occurred after the reading of the first set of information from the database. | 2010-09-09 |
