46th week of 2012 patent applcation highlights part 56 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20120290419 | SYSTEM FOR ELIMINATING COINS FROM CASH TRANSACTIONS - A method and system for eliminating a need for coins in cash transactions in most currencies includes a comparison of a sum of a fractional dollar amount of an original transaction amount of a cash transaction between a merchant and a consumer plus a beginning value of a consumer storage device to a value of either 1.00 or 2.00. The amount of the value depends on whether a sum of credits and debits incurred by the merchant is greater or less than or equal to a sum of per transaction fees. The original transaction amount is decreased or increased to the next whole dollar amount, thereby providing a new transaction amount, if it is determined that the sum of the fractional dollar amount of the original transaction amount plus the beginning value of the consumer storage device is greater or less than, respectively, the value assigned. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290420 | Secure Payment Terminal - Exemplary embodiments include a payment terminal, with corresponding methods, and computer-readable media, which includes a first interface and a second interface. The first interface receives transaction information from an existing interface of a sales device without modification to the sales device. The first interface also transmits first authorization information to the existing interface without requiring modification to the sales device, thereby enabling the sales device to monitor and authorize a transaction associated with the sales device. The second interface transmits authorization request information associated with the transaction to a payment authorization system. The authorization request information represents the payment information. The second interface receives authorization response information associated with the transaction from the payment authorization system. The first authorization information is based on the authorization response information, and the first authorization information does not include the payment information. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290421 | Enabling a Merchant's Storefront POS (Point of Sale) System to Accept a Payment Transaction Verified by SMS Messaging with Buyer's Mobile Phone - A mobile payment system authorizes payment by sending a Short Message Service (SMS) text message or secure hypertext transfer protocol (HTTPS) request to a customer's mobile phone or mobile device requiring customer to respond by SMS or HTTPS. A SMS payment software-plugin is installed on a Point-Of-Sale (POS) terminal. When a customer requests to pay by SMS, the plugin is activated and the customer's mobile phone number and zip code or POS PIN are entered on the POS terminal. The POS terminal sends a request to a SMS payment system, which sends the SMS text message to the customer's mobile device. When the customer replies to the SMS message with an approval code, the SMS payment system uses payment information for the customer to create a transaction request to a bank authorization network. When the SMS payment system receives authorization, it notifies the POS terminal to complete the purchase transaction | 2012-11-15 |
20120290422 | SEAMLESSLY CAPTURING TRANSACTIONAL DATA AT THE MERCHANT'S POINT OF SALE ENVIRONMENT AND CREATING ELECTRONIC RECEIPTS, ALL IN REAL-TIME - Series of processes and methods designed to seamlessly capture detailed transactional data from merchants' Point of Sale environments and generate final presentments of electronic receipts for both consumers and merchants, is accessible from their destination accounts, all in real time. Objectives are to: migrate all printed paper receipts to electronic forms; enable customer facing post-sales management capabilities; increase self serve; create new shopping and post-shopping experiences and satisfaction rates; significantly reduce administrative and storage requirements and costs, and provide more time for work productivity. Customers and merchants are able to create various reports and are able to directly submit them from their destination accounts for: expenditure accounting and tax purposes, payment processing, and for other company expenses. Further capabilities include creating: supplementary accounts; spend alerts; merchant driven targeted profile marketing initiatives, and business directory listings with mapping capabilities. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290423 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MAKING RENTAL INVENTORY AVAILABLE FOR SALE - A system and method for selling a rental media product having entertainment content therein via an automated vending machine are provided. The method receives a request from a user, the request identifying the rental media product, retrieves, from a database, product rental information relating to the rental media product, wherein the product rental information comprises a product release date, a last maximum out-of-rent value, a sold-out date value, and a current on-hand count, determines whether the product rental information satisfies a set of sales decision criteria, wherein the set of sales decision criteria includes a product release date threshold, a last maximum out-of-rent value threshold, a sold-out date requirement, and a current on-hand count threshold. The method further provides an offer to sell the rental media product if the plurality of sales decision criteria is satisfied, and vends the rental product from a vending apparatus to the user if the user accepts the offer for sale. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290424 | PERSONALIZED ITEM SORTING AND PACKING RECOMMENDATIONS AT A POINT OF SALE - A method and system for determining a recommendation for packing an item at a point of sale (POS). A preference indicating a maximum bag weight is received at a POS device. The weight of a next item to be packed is determined. Based on the maximum bag weight preference and based on the determined weight of the item, the recommendation for packing the item is determined by selecting a bag from multiple bags that are available to pack items to be purchased by a customer. The bag is selected so that a sum of the weight of the item and a weight of zero or more other items already packed in the bag does not exceed the maximum bag weight preference. The recommendation for packing the item in the selected bag is presented to a user. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290425 | Charity payment system and process - An Internet-based system and computer implemented method for facilitating a charitable donation from a donor in connection with the purchase of a good or service. The system including a website coupled to a website server. At least one charity is identified on the website designated to be selected by a donor to receive at least a portion of proceeds received from a sale of a good or service. An inventory of goods or services is available for purchase through the website wherein a portion of the proceeds from a portion of purchased goods or services is provided to at least one charity. A purchase tool is provided for executing a purchase of a good or service such that a portion of the proceeds from a portion of purchased goods or services is provided to a charity. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290426 | PROVIDING ACCESS TO IMAGES FROM ELECTRONIC AND/OR HARDCOPY PUBLICATIONS - A method, device, and system maintain a database of electronic and/or hardcopy publications within a first computerized device. The first computerized device receives from a second computerized device a request for at least one of the printable images within an electronic and/or hardcopy publication. The request has an identifier of the electronic and/or hardcopy publication and at least one page number of the electronic and/or hardcopy publication. The first computerized device transmits display information to cause the second computerized device to display one or more of the printable images appearing on the page number of the electronic and/or hardcopy publication. The first computerized device receives an image selection from the second computerized device that identifies selected images from among the printable images displayed by the second computerized device. The first computerized device provides the selected images to the second computerized device, or to a printer or print shop. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290427 | Apparatus and Method for Managing a Trust Network - A computer readable storage medium includes instructions to receive a request from a client to enroll in a trust network. A registration form is supplied to the client in response to the request. Client data in the registration form received from the client is processed to load the client data as parameters in a managed trust network. The managed trust network includes a vouch system, a complaint resolution mechanism, relationship value exchange and endorsements. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290428 | CENTRALIZED COMMERCE AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ENTERPRISE SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS - A method for selling business applications requiring non-trivial integration, customization and configuration via an application store configured as a centralized virtual shop. The method includes selecting a starter kit by a member of the user organization that best matches needs, enabling a plurality of application buyers and application configurers to work with the starter kit to discover any gaps that may remain and plugging-in additional apps and widgets and removing unneeded components to assemble the full solution configuring and tuning setting parameters and testing. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290429 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CREATING AND REMOTELY EDITING INTERACTIVE GENERIC CONFIGURATOR PROGRAMS - Item configurators for websites and other applications, using a plurality of graphic layer files and graphic layer thumbnail files comprising various layers of the item desired for configuration. Generally at least some of this plurality of graphic layer files will contain some transparent pixels. The method also involves creating at least one main description file, which may be in XML format, or a CSV row and column table format, suitable for editing by spreadsheet, which describes the relationships between this plurality of graphic layer files. An interactive generic configurator program (IGCP) that is capable of reading and parsing this main description file, and displaying icons on the GUI that are representative of various user configurator selections will then be used to implement the configurator, often within a web browser over the internet. Additionally, methods of allowing unskilled users to remotely edit such configurator files using standard web browsers are disclosed. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290430 | ELECTRONIC CATALOG CONSTRUCTION AND APPLICATIONS - Various method and systems concerning electronic calendars are described including receiving user selections of digital assets from different suppliers and/or retailers from one or more electronic catalogs, the digital assets representing different products from the different suppliers and/or retailers; and rendering the selected digital assets of the different products together on a same displayed image. Other methods and systems are described. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290431 | Social Marketplace Affiliate Administration - A method and system are disclosed for managing social commerce within a social media environment. Social commerce activity data corresponding to social commerce storefronts associated with various affiliates is processed to generate social commerce analysis data associated with a merchant's products. The social commerce analysis data is then processed to generate recommendations, which are then provided to the various affiliates. The recommendations are then provided to users of a social media environment to incent additional social commerce activity. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290432 | Social Marketplace Affiliate Front End - A method and system are disclosed for managing social commerce within a social media environment. Social commerce data associated with an affiliate's social commerce storefront is processed to generate user activity data, which corresponds to the interactions of a plurality of users of the social commerce storefront. The user activity data is then processed to generate social commerce analysis data, which comprises search terms used by the plurality of users. In turn, the social commerce analysis data is processed to generate social commerce recommendations, which are then used to incent the users to purchase products available for sale in the affiliate's social commerce storefront. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290433 | Recommendation Widgets for a Social Marketplace - A method and system are disclosed for providing syndicated commerce recommendations. A widget is configured to display a recommendation and is then embedded within a user interface (UI) window. Social data associated with a user is then processed to generate a recommendation object (e.g., a product, an offer, a deal, an advertisement, text, a video, an image, a URI, etc.), which is then displayed within the widget. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290434 | Method For Providing a Recommendation Such as a Personalized Recommendation, Recommender System, and Computer Program Product Comprising a Recommender Computer Program - A recommendation engine of a recommender system provides a mobile device user with a personalized recommendation based on, at least in part, the user's current situation. In some embodiments, the recommender system determines the user's current situation by obtaining information identifying the user's present context(s) (e.g., location context, noise context, time context, etc.). For example, assume the user presently has the location context of “at home” and the noise context of “TV on.” From these contexts, the recommender system can categorize the user as being in the “at home relaxing” situation. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290435 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AN ENHANCED SHOPPING EXPERIENCE - Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer readable-media for creating a virtual shopping area. The method includes receiving a query from a user and an automated input specific to the user from a computing device, generating a list of merchants based on the query and the automated input, generating a virtual shopping area from the list of merchants and based on one or more constraints, and displaying the virtual shopping area on the computing device. One optional step is presenting to the user an interface to purchase query-related items from merchants in the virtual shopping area. The method optionally includes receiving an indication of intent to purchase an item from the user, displaying an image of the item to the user, and dynamically updating the displayed image of the item as the user specifies item-specific details. The list of merchants can be restricted to merchants geographically close to the user. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290436 | PROVIDING CONTENT TO A TARGET NETWORK THAT HAS INSUFFICIENT CONNECTIVITY TO A SOURCE NETWORK - Techniques are provided for remotely controlling the distribution of digital assets to users in less-connected venues. When digital assets are cached within the less-connected venues, users within those less-connected venues are better able consume the assets, and are therefore more likely to purchase rights to consume the assets. Users within a less-connected venue may purchase and consume assets while the target network is completely disconnected from the source network from which the digital asset distribution is controlled. Sessions that are initiated within less-connected venues may be transferred outside those venues, to allow users that have purchased assets to continue to consume those assets after they leave the less connected venues. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290437 | System and Method of Selecting and Acquiring Still Images from Video - The present invention provides a system and process whereby a library of video files is created, and a user may select one or more video files to examine from the library of available files, identify one or more individual frames from the selected video files, optionally manipulate and transform one or more frames to create a customized image, optionally purchase a product incorporating the image, and transmit or send the customized image along with any order information for physical or electronic fulfillment options including, but not limited to, printing, e-mailing, sharing on a social network or other website, or otherwise reproducing. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290438 | Mobile Payment System - An apparatus for engaging in wireless commercial transactions includes a mobile phone equipped with a dedicated actuator for initiating a commercial transaction, and an optical input for receiving information concerning prices of goods; a network hub for wireless exchange information between a commercial establishment and said mobile phone within the boundaries of the establishment; and a financial/authorization institution for associating a PIN number with said mobile phone and for authorizing transactions initiated by said mobile phone. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290439 | DIGITAL DIRECTORY OF BRAND GOODS USED IN MOTION PICTURES AND MEDIA - A method for online marketing may include the steps of collecting procurement data relating to items that are portrayed in entertainment media productions or in public images of a celebrity and electronically correlating the procurement data into a processor searchable data base. The correlated procurement data may be presented on a processor searchable website that is accessible to consumers. An operator of the website may accept online procurement orders from the consumers for any of the items. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290440 | System and Method for the Delivery of Customized Information Related to a Specific Product of Interest to a Consumer - A system and method is provided for delivering customized information related to a specific product of interest to consumer. In practice, the consumer uses a suitably enabled portable, mobile and/or wireless device (e.g., such as a mobile camera phone) to scan or otherwise read a marker associated with a product, retail item or other article of interest. From the marker, a unique ID is obtained (i.e., the marker ID). The marker ID is then used to cross-reference a URL or other like address in a database that relates marker IDs to corresponding URLs. The target URL is returned to the consumer's device and an http session is established with a content management server at the target URL. In one suitable embodiment, the content management server obtains a SKU and/or template web page ID that are associated with the marker ID in a database. Suitably, the SKU relates to the specific product with which the marker was associated. Having in this way determined the actual specific product of interest to the consumer, customized information related thereto can be delivered to the consumer's device, e.g., via a web page optimized for the identified device. Optionally, the web page content and/or template is obtained from a database that associates the same with the template web page ID received by the content management server. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290441 | Using Application Market Log Data To Identify Applications Of Interest - Methods, systems and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for receiving a query log, the query log including data relating to information input to an application marketplace and one or more applications available through the application marketplace, generating a map based on the data of the query log, for at least one of the one or more applications, identifying one or more applications of interest based on the map, generating an index, the index associating the at least one of the one or more applications to the one or more applications of interest, storing the index in computer-readable memory, receiving a user selection of a particular application of the one or more applications, retrieving the one or more applications of interest based on the particular application using the generated index, and providing the one or more applications of interest for display. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290442 | Computer Implemented System, Method and Computer Program Product for Identifying Consumer Design Categories - A computer implemented system, method and computer program product for identifying a user's design categories for one or more products offered by one or more sellers of products. A plurality of questions can be displayed. Each question is associated with a plurality of choices. A user can be permitted to select one or more choices to the plurality of questions. An indication of at least one of the selected choices to one or more of the plurality of questions can be received. The selected choices comprise lifestyle preferences for the user. Multiple user design categories can be identified based on the user's lifestyle preferences. The user's multiple design categories can be displayed. Access can be provided to an incentive for the purchase products associated with the user's design categories. The incentive is activatable at a seller's retail location. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290443 | Online Network and Associated Methods - Computer program products, computer systems and related methods are provided which compare a URL, title and/or content of an online site viewed by a user with a first index of keywords relating to a plurality of subject matter categories, to determine any subject matter categories to which the online site relates; cross-reference any determined subject matter categories with a second index of alternative online sites categorised by subject matter, in order to determine any alternative online sites in the same or similar category; and perform a variety of actions in response including displaying a determined alternative online site to the user. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290444 | Golf Course Foodstuff Ordering System and Method of the Same - A golf course food ordering system reduces the period of delay in the play of golf on a golf course created by golfers ordering food and/or beverage between the play of two holes. The system provides an electric menu kiosk at the start of a hole that allows golfers to place a food and/or beverage order for receipt upon completing play of the hole. Orders placed utilizing the menu kiosk are transmitted over a communication network to an order receipt unit located at a food facility on the golf course. The received order is filled and ready for receipt by golfers upon completion of the hole. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290445 | DELEGATED APPLICATION AUTHORIZATION WITH INLINE PURCHASE - Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for delegating authorization to applications to access resources. An application operates in a computing device of a user. The user is navigated from the application to an authorization interface in response to the application determining a need for a resource of a resource repository. The user is enabled to register with the resource repository if the user is determined to not be registered with the resource repository. A resource available at the resource repository designated to be used in the application is determined The user is enabled to purchase a subscription to the resource if the user is determined to not have a subscription to the resource. The application is authorized to use the resource. The user is navigated back to the application. The application is enabled to use the resource associated with the subscription. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290446 | Social Marketplace Digital Worth Score - A method and system are disclosed for managing catalog resources within a social commerce environment. Users are referred by a plurality of affiliates to a social commerce marketplace system. Once referred, the users are presented with a customized social commerce storefront that is associated with an individual affiliate. Each of the customized social commerce storefronts comprises a micro catalog of purchasable products, which is a subset of a master catalog comprising a set of available products. Social data associated with the user and catalog data associated with the purchasable products is processed to generate product catalog data to the user, which is then provided to the user. The user reviews the social commerce content and selects individual purchasable products for purchase. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290447 | ON LINE ADVERTISING AND ELECTRONIC CATALOG PROCESSES AND APPARATUS - Various methods and systems concerning advertisements and electronic calendars with digital assets are described. The methods include receiving from a network a packet having an identifier that identifies a product associated with a digital asset. The digital asset is rendered on a catalog that is rendered on a remote computing system. The identifier is determined from information that was deployed with the digital asset on the remote computing system. The method includes performing a lookup into a database with the identifier. The method includes receiving product information for the product from the lookup and sending the product information to the remote computing system. The method includes receiving from the network a second packet having a second identifier that identifies a second product associated with a second digital asset. The second digital asset is rendered on a second catalog that is rendered on a second remote computing system. The second identifier is determined from second information that was deployed with the second digital asset on the second remote computing system. The method includes performing a lookup into the database with the second identifier. The method includes receiving an identifier or an on-line product feed or on-line product database from the lookup and requesting second product information for the second product from the on-line product feed or on-line product database. The method also includes receiving the second product information for the second product and sending the second product information to the second remote computing system. Other methods and systems are discussed. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290448 | Product Content Social Marketplace Catalog - A method and system are disclosed for managing catalog resources within a social commerce environment. Users are referred by a plurality of affiliates to a social commerce marketplace system. Once referred, the users are presented with a customized social commerce storefront that is associated with an individual affiliate. Each of the customized social commerce storefronts comprises a micro catalog of purchasable products, which is a subset of a master catalog comprising a set of available products. Social data associated with the user and catalog data associated with the purchasable products is processed to generate product catalog data to the user, which is then provided to the user. The user reviews the social commerce content and selects individual purchasable products for purchase. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290449 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR A MOBILE ELECTRONIC WALLET - Physical cards may be presented to a mobile device to establish a contactless communication channel between the physical card and the mobile device. Information communicated by the physical card may be received, stored, and used by the mobile device to generate a mobile wallet of virtual cards. Each virtual card in a mobile wallet may, for example, look just like its physical counterpart card and may provide equivalent functionality as its physical counterpart card when selected for use by the mobile device. Virtual cards may be sorted within the mobile wallet based on card category (e.g., payment, identification, or gift card category), card attributes (associations with other virtual cards), card variables (e.g., credit limit or credit available), and user attributes and variables (e.g., the user's current location). Information related to a virtual card (e.g., receipts) may be viewed from a display of the mobile device. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290450 | System and Method for Interactive, Computer-Assisted Object Presentation - A system and method for interactive, computer-assisted object presentation in which object information is displayed in one more arrays. The object information is displayed in a two dimensional array wherein displayed object information can be selected by a user. In response to the selection, additional information may be displayed about an object corresponding to the selected information such as a link to permit a user to buy the object. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290451 | INTEGRATED DEPOSIT ACCOUNT FEE SYSTEM AND METHOD - Systems and methods are described for managing deposit accounts whereby deposit account customers can receive fee ‘credits’ for performing certain banking activities and such credits may be applied to their present period deposit account management fee or may be accrued and applied to subsequent period deposit account management fees. Accrued credits also may be applied to other subsequent period service fees or, after a certain period of time, may be converted to alternative forms of value for the customer. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290452 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTHORIZING A TRANSACTIONAL SERVICE BY A POLICY AND CHARGING CONTROL ARCHITECTURE - The present invention faces the issue of authorizing transactional services by a Policy and Charging Control system. To this end, the present invention provides for an apparatus carrying out a method of authorizing transactional services and comprising: an authorization requester for submitting a transactional service authorization request with a user identifier and a transactional service identifier, and an authorizer for receiving the transactional service authorization request. This authorizer comprises: a PCRF server for authorizing the transactional service based on subscription and service data, an OCS for authorizing the transactional service based on credit authorization, and a decider for deciding service authorization for the transactional service based on the authorizations respectively made by the PCRF server and OCS. The authorizer of this apparatus is also arranged for submitting a transactional service authorization response to the authorization requester with a decision on service authorization for the transactional service. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290453 | Automated Invoice Processing Software and Services - A method and system for automated invoice processing. An improved method for invoice processing based on an application service provider model in which invoices can be accessed and approved via the Internet from anywhere in the world. This method and system allows a company to manage the process of storing, reviewing, approving, and paying invoices from a single, centralized application. The invoice processing application is integrated with an accounting or ERP system such that payment can be made automatically and redundant data entry eliminated. The approval hierarchy used by the invoice processing application can be obtained from the human resources system of the client organization. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290454 | Nonfinancial Asset Valuation And Depreciation - A new method to depreciate nonfinancial assets is presented, correcting a problem with prior-art depreciation methods that implicitly assumes a zero discount rate. How to implement the method within a financial accounting context and within ad hoc decision making contexts is disclosed. The method has particular applicability for lease accounting, a matter currently under consideration by global accounting boards. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290455 | System and Method for Providing Computer Services - A computer system and method for providing computer services to a user which comprises a plurality virtual computers with each virtual computer associated with a virtual operating system; a virtualization layer for establishing a communication between each virtual computer and a corresponding host computer; a virtual computer selector for allowing the user to establish on an unscheduled basis a network communication between a terminal device and a user virtual computer; and a storage system for making a virtual application program substantially instantaneously available to the user virtual computer and to the user operating the terminal device, whereby the user able to begin interacting with the at least one virtual application program. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290456 | CUSTOMIZED CONTENT DELIVERY - Systems and methods are provided for delivering content to a consumer and tracking the content consumed. For example, electronic content may be provided to a playback device of a consumer. An indication of the amount of content actually consumed by the consumer may be received, where the amount is determined by tracking the content consumed. A cost of content may be calculated based on the indication of the amount of content consumed. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290457 | Fiduciary screener test and benefit plan selection process - A process for enrolling individual participants in financial products or services or a means of determining knowledge of and competency regarding service provider advice using performance scores from a psychometric testing instrument to determine whether individual participants understand the risks of their choices. As an individual's score increases on the test, a larger array of choices become available allowing greater opportunity for financial product, service or advise customization. This screening process benefits the individual by limiting choices where risks are not properly understood. Additionally, the use of the test as a screener to curtail unsuitable choices affords investment custodians, investment advisors or other providers a mechanism to demonstrate that they have properly exercised their fiduciary duty. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290458 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING RETRIEVAL REQUESTS - A system for processing transaction data is provided. The system includes a substitute draft system that receives a retrieval request and generates a substitute draft in response to the retrieval request. The system also includes a merchant interface that is connected to the retrieval system. The merchant interface generates a merchant request in response to the retrieval request. The system thus allows a substitute draft to be generated in response to the retrieval request that may eliminate the need for a merchant response with a sales draft to the request. The system provides for higher and more efficient completion of retrieval requests by ensuring that such retrieval requests receive at least a substitute draft response. By providing at least a substitute draft response to the card user, a chargeback for no response is avoided. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290459 | Fuel Offering and Purchase Management System - The present disclosure is directed to facilitating pricing, sales and delivery of a commodity. In one embodiment, a Fuel Offer Generator facilitates the purchase and management of fuel offerings. The Fuel Offer Generator allows Customers interested in securing fuel to obtain an offer for fuel at lock-in prices for various tenors. Fuel Customers may later exercise the fuel offers so their fuel costs are locked-in at desired levels The Fuel Offer Generator may generate hedges to counteract fuel related risks stemming from fuel offer purchases. A customer that purchases a fuel offering can exercise their fuel offering order at a specified price and redeem any difference between the market price for their purchased fuel and the price specified in their fuel offering order. The Fuel Offer Generator employs a geographical fuel pump location metric as well as consumer redemption to establish the pricing of fuel offerings. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290460 | Composite Public Cloud, Method and System - A composite public cloud enables an automated marketplace system for, selling and trading of computational resources by aggregating available compute resources so that buyers are automatically matched with sellers. A listing of compute resources available on a prospective seller's system and bids by prospective buyers for resources offered is maintained. A seller uses a series of attributes to characterize an available resource for prospective buyers. Compute resources are presented in a form which can be easily quantified or compartmentalized. Prospective buyers search the marketplace system based on desired resource criteria. The marketplace continually evaluates the attributes of resources available for sale and the desired criteria of prospective buyers. The system attempts to match buyers and sellers, optimizing for the needs of both parties. If a desirable match is found, the marketplace system facilitates a transaction between both parties, making the purchased resource available to the buyer. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290461 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CREATING AN EQUITY EXCHANGE FUND FOR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ENTITIES - A method and system for creating an equity exchange fund for public and private entities are provided. The method includes the steps of receiving an application to participate in the fund from at least one investor, the investor having a position in at least one commercial entity; evaluating the entity based on at least one predetermined criteria; if the entity is acceptable, performing a valuation of the position in the entity; and determining a number of shares of the fund to be exchanged for the position in the entity. The determining the number of shares step includes determining a future value of the position at a scheduled date of liquidation of the fund; dividing the future value of the position by a total current fund value plus the future value of the position to determine a ratio; and multiplying a number of shares of the fund by the ratio. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290462 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REGULATORY STRUCTURE PRODUCTS - Accordingly it is a principle object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages and limitations of prior art methods and systems and provide a method and system for trading exchange traded products constituted in accordance with the principles of the present invention which will be a regularity structure, wherein Paired/Split mutual fund units may be created out of the same structure which is open ended. It is yet another object of the present invention to achieve zero sum nature for the paired unit and provide simultaneous issuance/redemption of all classes on units/shares for payoff. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290463 | Processing Binary Options in Future Exchange Clearing - Systems and methods are disclosed for processing binary options (also referred to as digital options) in existing clearing systems, such as futures clearing systems. The binary option is treated, or processed, similar to standard options on a non-tradeable cash-settled underlying futures contract. A hypothetical instrument, referred to as a book instrument is created to facilitate clearing of the binary option. The book instrument has an expiration date after the expiration of the binary option, such as the day after the expiration of the binary option. For each binary option that expires in the money, a transaction is created for the book instrument future. The underlying book future has an assigned price that is a fixed amount less that the final price for the underlying statistical or actual value of the binary option at expiration. Transactions are loaded in the clearing system and processed and all positions are liquidated. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290464 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND PROGRAM FOR AGENCY COST ESTIMATION - A method, system and computer program product for forecasting the transaction cost of a portfolio trade execution that may be applied to any given trading strategy or an optimal trading strategy that minimizes transaction costs. The system accepts user-defined input variables from customers and generates a transaction cost estimation report based on those variables. Two models are utilized: discretionary and non-discretionary. A specific transaction cost estimation and optimization is performed that model the transaction costs of a specific trade execution based on the user's trading profile and market variables. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290465 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING A MARKET MAP IN AN ELECTRONIC TRADING ENVIRONMENT - A market map interface displays market information and trader-related information associated with at least two tradable objects. In one embodiment, the at least two graphical interfaces may be linked, and a user may define one or more adjustment parameters to be used to adjust the view of information being displayed via the linked graphical interfaces. For instance, a user may initiate repositioning of one of the linked graphical interfaces, thus, effectively, causing other linked graphical interfaces to be repositioned according to the defined adjustment parameters. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290466 | Method And System For Matching Short Trading Positions With Long Trading Positions - A system and method for automatically matching short and long positions of participants and automatically generating repurchase agreements (“repo”) and reverse repurchase agreements (“reverse repo”). The system and method provide trading anonymity and various filtering options for the members. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290467 | NETWORKING PLATFORM FOR LENDING - A networking platform for lending is disclosed. The platform may facilitate communication of potential borrowers and potential lenders where such lenders are not traditional financial institutional lenders. Generally, the platform is configured in a manner in which the loan is facilitated between the borrower and a lender such that the platform service is sufficiently distanced from the actual lending such that the platform provider is not required to comply with various lending statutes and regulations. The platform may additionally be configured to poll a potential borrower's social network to identify acquaintances that may wish to fund at least a portion of the requested loan. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290468 | Method and apparatus for secure payment using a network-connectable device - An apparatus and method for completing a payment transaction using a network-connectable device is disclosed. When a payer initiates a payment transaction to a vendor using the network connectable device, a unique identifier and current geolocation of the network-connectable device are sent to a payment server together with a server payment transaction message containing information about the payment transaction. The payment server compares the geolocation with the vendor location and one or more predetermined locations associated with the payer, for example, a home or workplace. Upon a successful comparison, the payment retrieves a third party payment record from a mapping database and uses it to complete the payment transaction with a third party payment processing system. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290469 | System and method for assigning an initial transaction fee tier to a vendor in a payment system with a variable transaction fee - A system for making payments from each payer of a community of payers to each vendor of a community of vendors assesses a variable transaction fee to each vendor. The system comprises a database which associates, for each payer, identification a selected rate tier assigned to each vendor. A rate tier assignment application determines an initial rate tier to assign to a vendor by: i) determining an industry sensitivity score, the industry sensitivity score being representative of how sensitive a typical vendor in the same type of business as the vendor is to payment of transaction fees; ii) determining a payer centric spend score; iii) determining a payer centric frequency score; iv) determining a network spend score; and iv) determining a network frequency score. These scores are used to determine an initial rate tier to associate with the vendor. A payment application, when making payment from the payer to the vendor, determines a transaction fee to apply to the payment, the transaction fee being a product of the amount of the payment and the transaction rate associated with the selected rate tier. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290470 | PAYMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING WIRELESS POWER TRANSFER - Payment systems and methods for providing a wireless power charge are disclosed. In one exemplary implementation, a system includes a wireless charger that is used to provide a power charge to a wirelessly chargeable device. Prior to providing the power charge to the wirelessly chargeable device, the wireless charger obtains payment-related information from the wirelessly chargeable device using near field communications (NFC), and transmits this payment-related information to a payment center via a network such as the Internet. The payment center uses the information to either deny or authorize the power charge operation. If authorized, an authorization indication is provided to the wireless charger via the network, and the wireless charger then wirelessly transmits a suitable power charge to the wirelessly chargeable device. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290471 | Payment Network with Multiple Vendor Participation Levels - A system makes payments from a community of payers to a community of vendors, assesses a transaction fee to the vendor on each payment, and provides a level of service to each vendor based on aggregate transaction fees. The system determines a transaction fee for each payment by looking up a fee rate applicable to payments from the payer to the vendor and multiplying the payment amount by the fee rate. Each vendor is assigned to a service tier based on aggregate transaction fees charged over a period of time. If the aggregate transaction fee is lower than a threshold, the vendor is assigned to tier one. If the aggregate transaction fee is greater then the threshold and less than a second threshold, the vendor is assigned to tier two. If the aggregate transaction fee is greater than the second threshold, the vendor is assigned to tier three. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290472 | SYSTEMS AND DEVICES FOR MOBILE PAYMENT ACCEPTANCE - A mobile device may provide payment acceptance for purchases, payments and/or money transfers by accepting payment information from a powered, or a non-powered, card using a contactless communication channel formed between the card and the mobile device. The payment information may be communicated by the mobile device to network entities that may be used to settle such purchase, payment and/or money transfer transactions. The mobile device may, for example, accept more than one payment account to split a purchase among several payment accounts. A user of a mobile device may, for example, store payment information within the mobile device for future purchases. A user of a mobile device may, for example, request checkout options using the mobile device, such as customizing receipt delivery, annotating receipts with comments and categorizing purchases for customized accounting reports. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290473 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING TRANSACTION DATA - A system for use in managing charge station transaction data is provided. The system includes at least one charging station and a billing server coupled in communication with the at least one charging station. The billing server is configured to receive transaction data from the at least one charging station, consolidate the transaction data, and transmit the consolidated transaction data to an electronic payment processor. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290474 | Payment Network Facilitating Multi-Currency Trade Finance - A system makes payments to vendors, including providing early pay financing of vendor's invoice in a multicurrency environment. Each invoice specifies a transaction currency. At least one of the transaction currency, a payer funding currency, the vendor remittance currency, and the finance currency is of a different currency denomination than the other two. A financier funding amount is the net payment converted to the financier currency at a market exchange rate plus a margin. A vendor resulting remittance is the net payment converted to the vendor remittance currency at a market exchange rate plus a margin. Early payment includes receiving, in a settlement account denominated in the financer currency, the financer funding amount and generating a payment of the resulting remittance amount to a vendor remittance account from a settlement account denominated in the vendor remittance currency. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290475 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING ESTIMATED LEAD TIMES - Embodiments of the invention may provide systems and methods for determining estimated lead times based on delivery history information to a same or similar geographical area. According to one example embodiment, a method is provided. The method can include identifying a payee and determining that the payee is associated with a geographical area for mailpiece delivery. The method can further include identifying multiple delivery methods for mailpiece delivery to the geographical area, wherein each of delivery methods is associated with (a) a distribution center, (b) a delivery agent, and (c) an estimated lead time determined at least in part by analyzing the delivery history information associated with multiple mailpieces mailed from the respective distribution center to the geographical area via the respective delivery agent. The method can further include selecting one of the delivery methods for mailpiece delivery to the payee and associating the selected delivery method with the payee. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290476 | ONLINE INFORMATION INPUT AND FINANCIAL TRANSACTION SYSTEM USING THE PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION MEDIA, METHODS TO INPUT INFORMATION ONLINE AND CONDUCT FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS, AND THE STORING MEDIA THAT STORES THE PROGRAMS FOR THE SYSTEM - This invention is related to the online information input and financial transaction system using the personal identification media, which is intended to facilitate the information input process by utilizing the personal information registered with the personal information management institutions in signing up to be a member of, or logging in to, websites, and the methods to input information online and conduct financial transactions. In this invention, we intended the process of membership joining or logging-in to websites to be completed through transmitting the personal identification data read by the media reader to the personal information management institutions and then receiving the member's personal information or the personal authentication services, and also helped minimize the user's information input by integrating the log-in and payment processes. This invention has merits in that it facilitates the membership-joining, log-in and payment processes, and the amount of the information the user has to input is minimized. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290477 | Methods and System for Utilizing Cash with Online Activities - Systems and methods for facilitating cash payments for online transactions are provided. In some embodiments, a transaction is initiated online with a retailer where a user indicates that payment will be made for the transaction using cash. The user may then complete payment of the transaction with a cash payment service establishment using transaction identification information given to the user. Systems and methods for retrieving funds from an online/virtual account are also provided. In some embodiments, a user is able to initiate a funds transfer from an online/virtual account which are to be received in the form of cash at a money transfer service location. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290478 | CLOUD ENABLED PAYMENT PROCESSING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A comprehensive platform for processing financial transactions is disclosed. The platform is a cloud based and comprises an application programming interface so that application developers can take advantage of the services provided by the framework. The platform replaces many of the expensive, outdated or inefficient aspects of traditional payment processing methods. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290479 | Integration of a Payment Network with Systems of Multiple Participating Banks - A payment system making payments from each payer of a community of payers to each vendor of a community of vendors. The payers are grouped into mutually exclusive sub groups, each being associated with one of a group of participating banks. Upon receipt of a payment instruction file from a bank, including instructions for executing payments from payers in the subgroup associated with the bank to various vendors, the system: i) obtains authorization of a funding amount for each payer; ii) provides a transaction to transfer the funding amount from the payer's account to a pooling account held by the originating bank; and iii) after receipt of the funding amount in the pooling account, provides an EFT file for payment of the vendors. Multiple banks are supported. The vendors are not associated with any particular bank. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290480 | ELECTRONIC PAYMENT USING TRANSACTION IDENTITY CODES - A method for making payments utilizes a server that has a unified transaction identification system. Upon receiving an offer of a transaction from a payee, the server generates a unique transaction identity on behalf of the payee, encodes the unique transaction identity into an encoded image, and sends the image to a transaction initiating terminal to be displayed to a payer. The payer uses a mobile device to scan the displayed encoded image, repackages the transaction identity and the buyer's payment method information into an acceptance, and sends the acceptance to the server, which identifies the transaction according to the unique transaction identity, and allows a payment to be made according to the identified transaction from a payer financial account to a payee financial account. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290481 | METHOD FOR CARRYING OUT A TRANSACTION BETWEEN A PORTABLE DATA CARRIER AND A TERMINAL - A method for carrying out a transaction between a portable data carrier, such as a chip card, and a terminal is described. An information item (TID) about the terminal is transferred to the portable data carrier upon the transmission of transaction data by a communication between the portable data carrier and the terminal. As a result, the portable data carrier obtains from the information item a locational position (ZID, WID, GID) of the terminal. Further, there is ascertained a locational position (OP) of the portable data carrier to which the portable data carrier has access. Finally, the portable data carrier compares the locational position (ZID, WID, GID) of the terminal with its locational position (OP), and initiates a measure for protecting the transaction in case a deviation between the two locational positions (ZID, WID, GID; OP) exceeds a predetermined threshold. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290482 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IDENTITY VERIFICATION AND MANAGEMENT - A system for verifying the identity of a user includes an identification score assignment module configured to receive at least one source of identification of the user and to assign an identification score to each of the at least one source of identification. The system includes a total identification score generation module, in communication with the identification score assignment module, configured to generate a total identification score of the user from the identification scores of each of the at least one source of identification and a predetermined function. The total identification score of the user is associated with a level of verification of the identity of the user, and compared to a minimum identification score associated with a transaction. The transaction is performed when the total identification score of the user is greater than or equal to the minimum identification score. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290483 | METHODS, SYSTEMS AND NODES FOR AUTHORIZING A SECURIZED EXCHANGE BETWEEN A USER AND A PROVIDER SITE - Methods, systems and nodes for authorizing a securized exchange between a user and a provider site are described herein. User credentials are stored in a personal security module and in an authentication server. The personal security module is a user terminal or otherwise connects to a user terminal. The user terminal accesses the provider site, which in turn provides a unique transaction number to the authentication center and to the personal security module. The authentication center provides user authorization information to the provider site. When the personal security module sends the same unique transaction number to the authentication center, the authentication center provides the user authorization information to the personal security module. The user terminal uses the user authorization information for having the securized exchange with the provider site. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290484 | Method and System for Sending Surveys and Receipts Electronically to Customers Purchasing with Credit Cards - A system and method provide customers making purchases with a credit card with electronically delivered receipts and surveys from the merchant. A user subscribes to the system and provides credit card information and an electronic message address (e.g. and email address or mobile phone number). The system does not store the entire credit card information. Upon a purchase, a credit card processor forwards credit card information to the system. A related message address is identified. A survey previously created by the merchant is transmitted to the address. The customer receives the receipt and survey. The customer completes the survey and submits it to the system. The system forwards the survey results to the merchant. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290485 | AUTOMATED NEGOTIATION - A probability that an opposing party in a negotiation will accept the terms of a candidate offer within a given number of rounds of the negotiation may be computed, and the candidate offer may be identified as an offer to present to the opposing party based on the computed probability. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290486 | AUTOMATED METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INTERACTIVE COMPULSORY REPORTING OF LEASE APPLICATION ADJUDICATION DECISIONS, ONGOING TENANCY HISTORIES AND DEBTOR COLLECTIONS - A method, system and related program and user interface for collecting residential and commercial tenancies information for the purpose of enriching a database of leasing decisions, rent tradelines, tenancy histories and tenant based social network is provided. Any tenancy application process requiring a system program to track post tenancy application events and collections can employ this method and business model. Mandatory interactive reporting of a plurality of application adjudication decisions for applicant verification and credentialing include move in, automated collection of good standing tenancies, monthly manner of payment histories, tenancy violations such as all types of termination matters, legal actions to terminate a tenancy, collections and enforcement to final move out status. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290487 | EVALUATING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY - Aggregation, analysis, and presentation of patent and business data in a common interface are described. The analysis includes techniques for evaluating a patent or patent application by examining claim-related information. These techniques include deriving unique signatures of individual claims and ascertaining scope of individual claims relative to other claims in a collection (such as claims found in a common class). The signature and scope of patent claims may be graphically depicted using various graphics elements in a user interface. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290488 | REAL ESTATE PROPERTY TRANSACTION SYSTEM WITH TRANSPARENCY - A web-based technique for managing transactions related to real estate that allows transactions to be advertised and to be transparent to sellers and buyers and potential sellers and potential buyers is provided. Selling agents who represent sellers of properties list descriptions of the properties with the property transaction system. Potential buyers can then view the descriptions of the properties. When a potential buyer wants to place an offer on a listed property, the potential buyer submits the offer to a registered buying agent. After the potential buyer submits the offer to the buying agent, the buying agent posts that offer to the selling agent. Once the selling agent has accepted an offer for the property, which may be contingent on not receiving a better offer, the property transaction system then makes details of offer available to other potential buyers so the potential buyers may submit better offers. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290489 | SYSTEM FOR MANAGEMENT OF OIL AND GAS MINERAL INTERESTS - A system for managing mineral interests includes at least one database for storing data records relating to oil and gas mineral interest. A server enables generation of a graphical user interface at a plurality of locations over an open network. The graphical user interface enables creation and editing of data records stored in the at least one database from the plurality of locations and the editing may occur over the open network. The graphical user interface further enables viewing of data records from the plurality of locations over the open network. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290490 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING PRODUCT CERTIFICATION - A product certification code is provided. The product certification code is associated with a target product and comprises a uniform resource identifier (URI). The URI is configured to identify certification information at a certification data provider, which is configured to maintain the certification information about the target product. A method for retrieving the certification information from the certification data provider is also provided. Further, the certification data provider and a method for providing the certification information from the certification data provider are also provided. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290491 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ELECTRONIC LEAD VERIFICATION - A system and a method provide a lead verification service. A lead generator contacts a verification server when a visitor lands on a hosting site of the lead generator to enter lead information into a form. The verification server issues a reference key (token) to the lead generator and collects information about the visitor and the hosting site of the lead generator, using the reference key to identify the collected information. When the visitor submits the form, the lead generator sends the form data, which includes the entered lead information and the reference key received from the verification server, to at least one interested party. When the verification server receives a request for the collected information from the interested party, the collected information is retrieved based on the reference key included in the request and sent to the requesting interested party. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290492 | COMPUTER-IMPLEMENTED METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETERMINING ZONING CODE COMPLIANCE - Computer-implemented methods and systems for determining zoning code compliance are disclosed. Such methods and systems seek to overcome frustrations and alleviate other impediments that affect efficient use of zoning codes, particularly form-based zoning codes. In a first aspect, a computer-implemented system for determining zoning code compliance includes at least one input interface for receiving property information; a computer program for calculating zoning code criteria and assessing zoning code compliance, using the property information; and at least one output interface for displaying assessment of zoning code compliance. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290493 | Method and Apparatus for Electronic Collection, Translation, Grouping, and Delivery of Wage Assignment Information - This disclosure describes a system that electronically collects, translates, groups, and delivers wage assignment in-formation from at least one initiator to at least one recipient via an accumulator. An initiator initially receives the wage assignment information. Then, an accumulator collects the wage assignment information from at least one initiator, such as a government agency. The accumulator then translates the wage assignment information into a format compatible with electronic data interchange (EDI), such as the ANSI X12 standard. The accumulator then groups the EDI wage assignment information into specific files, batching the files based upon one data field contained within the wage assignment information data set, such as a recipient. The accumulator then delivers a batched EDI wage assignment file to each respective recipient. Once the EDI wage assignment file is received by the recipient, the wage assignment may then be implemented. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290494 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SCREENING AND SELECTING PERFORMERS - Methods, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for automatically screening and selecting performers and for establishing communications between performers seeking roles and representation, and entities that are capable of providing such roles and representation. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290495 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ESTABLISHING TRANSSHIPMENT OF A PRODUCT BETWEEN STOCKING LOCATIONS - The disclosed embodiment relates to methods, systems, and computer readable code for establishing transshipment of a product between stocking locations. The exemplary method comprises the steps of transmitting a transshipment request to at least one supplier requesting transshipment of a product, the transshipment request including information regarding the product and specifying a reward for transshipment of the product, receiving a handshake request from one of the suppliers in response to the transshipment request, the handshake request indicating the willingness of the one of the suppliers to provide the product as specified in the transshipment request and including information regarding the transshipment; and accepting the handshake request, thereby initiating transshipment of the product from the one of the suppliers in accordance with the accepted handshake request. The method may further comprise determining whether to accept the handshake request based on the information regarding the transshipment included in the handshake request. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290496 | METHOD OF CALCULATING DELIVERY OPERATION WORKLOAD AND APPARATUS FOR THE SAME - A method of calculating a delivery operation workload and an apparatus for the same are disclosed. The method includes calculating a route sorting time on the basis of given same-day mail delivery information and delivery point information, calculating a movement time on the basis of the same-day mail delivery information and the delivery point information, calculating a delivery time on the basis of the same-day mail delivery information and the delivery point information, calculating an incidental operation time on the basis of the same-day mail delivery information and the delivery point information, and summing the calculated route sorting time, the movement time, the delivery time, and the incidental operation time, and calculating the delivery operation workload on the basis of processing ability information for each mailman and delivery operation environment information. It is thus possible to more objectively calculate the delivery operation workload. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290497 | FAILURE DIAGNOSIS SYSTEM, FAILURE DIAGNOSIS DEVICE AND FAILURE DIAGNOSIS PROGRAM - In the failure diagnosis system of the present invention, the maintenance case information including data ambiguity and a partially deficient portion is utilized even in the case where maintenance case information having a high similarity is not sufficiently provided. The failure diagnosis system is provided with: a failure diagnosis rule creation unit | 2012-11-15 |
20120290498 | Methods for Strategic Asset Allocation by Mean Reversion Optimization - The invention is directed to a computer implemented method of determining the optimal asset allocation strategy for an investment portfolio. The optimization methodology is premised on computerized mathematical models that relate the distance from the long-term market trend at the beginning of historical periods to the returns investors ultimately receive over subsequent periods. The method incorporates a tendency of asset prices to revert to their long term trend over longer investment horizons. Applying this concept to optimizing asset allocation strategies required building software for configuring a computer to replicate this mean-reverting behavior within an optimization process and determine the distribution of expected returns from a current distance from trend. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290499 | METHOD AND APPARATUS OF ANALYZING SOCIAL NETWORK DATA TO IDENTIFY A FINANCIAL MARKET TREND - In general, the present disclosure includes a system, method and architecture for use in analyzing content of a social network data to identify a financial market trend, e.g., a trend associated with a financial market instrument. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290500 | CONFIGURATION PRICING STRATEGIES FOR MULTI-COMMODITY REQUEST-FOR-QUOTES - Win probability estimation model that statistically computes the probability of winning a bid at a given price, and profit optimization models that compute the optimal price for a bid balancing the probability of winning a bid at a price with the profitability of the bid at the given price. In one stage, an expected profit margin of a product may be formulated as a function of its profit margin and win probability to compute its optimal profit margin. In another stage, an expected profit for one or more product accessories may be formulated as a function of the profit margin and their conditional win probability given the server win to compute their optimal profit margins. The conditional win probabilities for the product accessories may be modeled as a function of the utilities of the various purchase options that contain the product and that accessory. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290501 | GENERATING METHOD FOR TRANSACTION MODELS WITH INDICATORS FOR OPTION - The invention is to provide a generating method for transaction models with indicators for option. The method comprises: (S | 2012-11-15 |
20120290502 | Interprocess Communication Regarding Interest Rates and Spreads - Various embodiments may relate to determining interest rates for one or more periods, determining interest rates for one or more financial instruments, determining correlations, and/or performing any desired actions. Various other embodiments that may include processes and/or apparatus are described. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290503 | SYSTEM FOR ACCESS TO AND EXCHANGE OF MARKET DATA - A system and method for real-time access to information and for information exchange regarding securities markets. The system allows access to securities data obtained from multiple sources, and allows a wide variety of data pertaining to a particular security to be simultaneously displayed. The data may further be automatically and continuously updated in real time, and users may contribute securities data to the system. The system further eases the creation of investment portfolios by relieving the user of the need to type bond identification numbers, issue names, coupons, or maturity data when creating and editing a portfolio. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290504 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING DATA FOR INSTRUMENTS IN MULTIPLE CLASSES FOR PROVIDING DEFERRED INCOME - A computer system for processing data related to financial instruments for providing deferred income includes a data storage device storing data relating to financial instruments representing a right to receive deferred periodic payments includes, for classes of financial instruments, a price, payment amount and frequency, deferral data, and one or more permitted values of one or more actuarial factors of purchasers. The system further includes a processor configured to receive via a communication module data indicative of a request to purchase financial instruments, including a purchase payment amount and one or more values of the one or more actuarial factors of an individual purchaser, and to determine, based on the received data, a number and class of the financial instruments for issue to the individual purchaser and to output data for generation of the determined number and class of the financial instruments for issue to the individual purchaser. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290505 | Market value matrix - An apparatus, computer program product and system for using artificial intelligence based cognitive learning methods to measure, manage and report value, risk and return for a portfolio on a continual basis. The elements of value, external factors and segments of value of the portfolio are analyzed and modeled by item using predictive models that are developed by learning from the data associated with said portfolio. Scenarios of both normal and extreme situations are also developed. The scenarios are then used to drive simulations of the predictive models. The output from these simulations are then used to calculate risks and a risk adjusted value for the elements of value, the items within each element of value, the external factors and the items within each external factor. The optimal mix of changes to the portfolio at the item level are also identified and presented to the user. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290506 | VEHICULAR NAVIGATION APPARATUS - A vehicular navigation apparatus includes a control unit that sets a reachable area that is reachable by a vehicle, such that a remaining charge amount of a battery of the vehicle has a remaining charge amount above a quick charge threshold at the reachable area. The quick charge threshold is provided as a charge level of the battery that is required for a quick charge operation of the battery. The control unit further searches for a battery charge spot in the reachable area, and provides guidance to the battery charge spot. The control unit may further redefine the reachable area where a charge operation is scheduled, based on preferences provided by a user. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290507 | CARPOOL FARE ORGANIZER AND METHOD FOR GENERATING CARPOOL FARES - A carpool fare organizer is useful when there is at least one passenger and comprises a distance recording unit, a passenger calculating unit, a fare calculating module and at least one display device. The distance recording unit records a get-in distance, a get-out distance and an accumulated distance of each passenger. The passenger calculating unit calculates a number of passengers. The fare calculating module calculates an original fare, an accumulated discount and an economical fare. A method for generating carpool fares comprises steps of recording a get-in distance, a get-out distance and an accumulated distance of each passenger and a number of passengers, and calculating an economical fare with the get-in distance, the get-out distance, the accumulated distance and the number of passengers. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290508 | System and Method for Personalized Media Rating and Related Emotional Profile Analytics - A system and a method for generating an emotional profile of the user and deriving inference from the analytics of generated emotional profile is provided. The method involves sharing media content or online event in a connected environment; capturing user's reaction to the said content or event; generating an emotional score of the user to rate the media content or event; and sharing the emotional score within the connected environment. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290509 | Training Statistical Dialog Managers in Spoken Dialog Systems With Web Data - Training for a statistical dialog manager may be provided. A plurality of log data associated with an intent may be received, and at least one step associated with completing the intent according to the plurality of log data may be identified. An understanding model associated with the intent may be created, including a plurality of queries mapped to the intent. In response to receiving a natural language query from a user that is associated with the intent a response to the user may be provided according to the understanding model. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290510 | MULTI-TASK MACHINE LEARNING USING FEATURES BAGGING AND LOCAL RELATEDNESS IN THE INSTANCE SPACE - A multi-task machine learning component learns a set of tasks comprising two or more different tasks based on a set of examples. The examples are represented by features of a set of features. The multi-task machine learning component comprises a digital processing device configured to learn an ensemble of base rules wherein each base rule is learned for a sub-set of the set of features and comprises a multi-task decision tree (MT-DT) having nodes comprising decision rules for tasks of the set of tasks. An inference component comprises a digital processing device configured to predict a result for at least one task of the set of tasks for an input item represented by features of the set of features using the learned ensemble of base rules. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290511 | Database of affective response and attention levels - A data structure stored in memory including: token instances representing stimuli that influence a user's affective state; the token instances are spread over a long period of time that spans different situations, and a plurality of the token instances have overlapping instantiation periods; data representing levels of user attention in some of the token instances used by an application program to improve the accuracy of a machine learning based affective response model for the user; annotations representing emotional states of the user; the annotations are spread over a long period of time that spans different situations; and linkage information between the token instances, the data representing levels of user attention, and the annotations. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290512 | Methods for creating a situation dependent library of affective response - Generating a situation-dependent library comprising a user's expected response to tokens representing stimuli that influence the user's affective state, including: receiving samples comprising temporal windows of token instances to which the user was exposed, wherein the token instances have overlapping instantiation periods and are spread over a long period of time that spans different situations; wherein at least one token is expected to elicit from the user a noticeably different affective response in the different situations; receiving target values corresponding to the temporal windows of token instances; the target values represent the user's responses to the token instances from the temporal windows of token instances; training a machine learning-based user response model using the samples and the corresponding target values; and analyzing the machine learning-based user response model to generate the situation-dependent library comprising the user's expected response to tokens, which accounts for the variations in the user's affective response in the different situations. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290513 | Habituation-compensated library of affective response - Generating a habituation-compensated library comprising a user's expected response to tokens representing stimuli that influence the user's affective state, the method comprising: receiving samples comprising temporal windows of token instances to which the user was exposed, wherein the token instances have overlapping instantiation periods; the samples further comprise data on previous instantiations of at least one of the token instances from the temporal windows; receiving target values corresponding to the temporal windows of token instances; the target values represent the user's response to the token instances from the temporal windows of token instances; training a machine learning-based user response model using the samples, the data on previous instantiations, and the corresponding target values; and analyzing the machine learning-based user response model to generate the habituation-compensated library, which accounts for the influence of the user's previous exposure to tokens | 2012-11-15 |
20120290514 | Methods for predicting affective response from stimuli - Creating a machine learning-based affective response predictor to predict a user's emotional state after being exposed to tokens representing stimuli that influence the user's affective state, comprising: receiving samples comprising temporal windows of token instances to which the user was exposed; the token instances are spread over a long period of time, and a subset of the token instances originate from same source and have overlapping instantiation periods; receiving target values, which represent affective response annotations of the user and correspond to the temporal windows of token instances; and creating the machine learning-based affective response predictor for the user, which compensates for non-linear effects resulting from the user being exposed to the subset of token instances originating from the same source and having overlapping instantiation periods, by running a machine learning training procedure on input data comprising the samples and the corresponding target values. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290515 | Affective response predictor trained on partial data - Creating a machine learning-based affective response predictor of a user when there are significantly more samples than target values available for training, comprising: receiving samples comprising temporal windows of token instances to which the user was exposed; the token instances are spread over a long period of time; receiving intermittent target values corresponding to a subset of the temporal windows of token instances; the target values represent affective response annotations of the user; creating the machine learning-based affective response predictor of the user, by running a semi-supervised machine learning training procedure on the samples and the intermittent corresponding target values; wherein the machine learning-based affective response predictor is more accurate than a predictor created when training only on the samples that have corresponding target values, since it is capable of learning additional information from the samples comprising temporal windows of token instances without corresponding target values. | 2012-11-15 |
20120290516 | Habituation-compensated predictor of affective response - Creating a machine learning-based habituation-compensated predictor of a user's response to token instances representing stimuli that influence the user's affective state, comprising: receiving samples comprising temporal windows of token instances to which the user was exposed, wherein the token instances have overlapping instantiation periods; the samples further comprise data on previous instantiations of at least one of the token instances from the temporal windows; receiving target values corresponding to the temporal windows of token instances; the target values represent the user's responses to the token instances from the temporal windows of token instances; training the machine learning-based habituation-compensated predictor to predict the user's response to token instances, while accounting for the influence of the user's previous exposure to tokens; wherein the training uses the samples, the data on previous instantiations, and the corresponding target values | 2012-11-15 |
20120290517 | Predictor of affective response baseline values - Calculating a situation-dependent baseline value for a user response to token instances representing stimuli that influence the user's affective state, utilizing large time windows and rapid adjustments to changing situations, including: accessing a database storing annotations representing the user's response to token instances originating from multiple distinct token sources; calculating a first situation-dependent baseline value by weighting annotations retrieved from the database and associated with a first situation identifier, which are spread over a long period of time ‘T’; calculating a second situation-dependent baseline value by weighting annotations retrieved from the database and associated with a second situation identifier; wherein the difference between the first and second situation-dependent baseline values is significant, and the method rapidly adjusts to the situation change by exhibiting an extremely shorter transient time between the first and the second situation-dependent baselines than T/2 | 2012-11-15 |
20120290518 | INTEGRATED SEARCH AND ADAPTIVE DISCOVERY SYSTEM AND METHOD - An integrated search and adaptive discovery system and method integrates contents-based indexing and behavioral-based indexing of collections of computer-implemented objects to generate contextualized and/or personalized recommendations. The degree to which contextualization and/or personalization criteria are applied in generating recommendations can be tuned by the recommendation recipient. Personalization functions are applied that are informed by inferred interests and/or expertise, and personalization vectors can be transformed into a format executable by a search engine. Explanations may be provided to recommendation recipients as to why they received recommendations. | 2012-11-15 |