48th week of 2008 patent applcation highlights part 55 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20080294482 | Personalized Electronic Meeting Invitations - Personalized meeting invitations, which may be used by electronic calendar applications (which may also be referred to as “calendar applications”, “calendaring applications”, or “calendar scheduling systems”). Using techniques disclosed herein, a meeting can be conceptually viewed as multiple smaller meetings, which are also referred to herein as “submeetings”, and a personalized meeting invitation sent to each invitee reflects that invitee's required presence at the meeting or an individual submeeting thereof. Optionally, personalized meeting invitations may also be used for invitees whose presence at a submeeting is optional. When an invitee accepts a personalized meeting invitation, the submeeting is placed on the invitee's electronic calendar, showing the invitee as unavailable during the corresponding time slot for the submeeting. Other people viewing the invitee's calendar can then see an accurate view of the invitee's availability. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294483 | FREE TIME PRIORITY FOR CALENDAR SCHEDULERS - A method, apparatus and computer program product for schedules common time intervals and reserves free time for a plurality of users in a network environment. An initial free time block is reserved, including corresponding user-defined time reallocation parameters. In the event of a potentially conflicting event arising, parameters of the potentially conflicting event are compared with the requested time block to determine if and how the reserved time block can be apportioned into at least one reallocated new time block. Reapportioning can occur if the parameter of the potentially conflicting event does not violate the corresponding user-defined time reallocation parameters. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294484 | System for optimizing transportation scheduling and inventory management of bulk product from supply locations to demand locations - An optimization system for transportation scheduling and inventory management of a bulk product from supply locations to demand locations is provided. The system has a mathematical model containing mathematical programming equations. In one embodiment, the objective function of the mathematical model is to minimize a cost basis of the product transported. The system also has a database system for data input that interfaces with the mathematical model. The last component of the system is a mathematical optimization solver that solves the equations provided by the mathematical model after the mathematical model receives data from the database system. As a result, the optimization system provides optimized or simulated results for the input data. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294485 | System, method and program for supporting creating a business process - A system supports creating and managing a business process model which creates a business process by: acquiring, based on a selected business, from a business element list that includes a business process template having a basic region in which processing contents are constant for each business and variable regions in which processing defined by a business element vary, as well as business elements included in a business process model, a business process template and a business element corresponding to the selected business; retrieving, based on the selected business element, a business process component that constitutes a portion of the business process model; and allocating the retrieved business process component to a variable region included in the acquired business process template. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294486 | METHOD FOR SUBSTITUTION OF EMPLOYEES IN A SERVICE ENGAGEMENT - The substitution of employees in a service engagement is a computer based method designed to consider a set of attributes that describe the resource capabilities required for delivering a services engagement and identify the actual real-world human assets that can be substituted and/or matched to these attributes. The method will produce an allocation plan that provides the set of permissible substitutes for a given resource demand, given a set of allowable substitute resources for a particular resource attribute, and substitution and matching rules for the given resource demand. A set of metrics is created that identify which substitutions are best relative to the ideal match of resources to the demand. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294487 | METHODS AND APPARATUS TO MONITOR IN-STORE MEDIA AND CONSUMER TRAFFIC RELATED TO RETAIL ENVIRONMENTS - Methods and apparatus to monitor in-store media and consumer traffic related to retail environments are disclosed herein. In a disclosed example method to monitor presentations of media in a monitored establishment, a floor layout map of a monitored establishment is displayed a medium profile associated with a medium presented at a location on the floor layout map is presented in response to receiving a user selection of the location on the floor layout map. The example method also involves storing a media type classification code, a media characteristic identifier code, and location information indicative of the location on the floor layout map in association with the medium profile. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294488 | SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A method of transporting commodities in a supply chain management system including a supply chain. The method includes providing a database and a network in communication with the database, which is accessible by at least one member of the supply chain via the network. The method also includes providing a container and supporting one or more commodities using the container, assigning at least one sensor to the commodities, sensing a condition of the commodities and generating a signal indicative of the commodity condition, identifying information related to the commodities, acquiring data related to identifying the commodity information, distributing the signal and the acquired data over the network, storing the signal and the acquired data in the database, monitoring the commodities via the network, and managing at least one of storage and transport of the commodities through the supply chain based on the signal and the acquired data. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294489 | SCALABLE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS - A method of sharing a satellite communication system having a common equipment includes billing a first user for sending a first message using the common equipment over a first satellite link, billing a second user for sending a second message using the common equipment over a second satellite link, wherein the first satellite link is different than the second satellite link, billing a first network operator for billing the first user, and billing a second network operator for billing the second user. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294490 | Networking Platform For Facilitating Interactions And Sharing Of Caretaking Responsibilities Between Family Members - Systems and methods of a networking platform for facilitating interactions and sharing of caretaking responsibilities between family members are described in this application. In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure include a method, which may be implemented on a system, of managing a set of calendar events of the care receiver, the set of calendar events of the care receiver to be submitted by one or more of the care receiver a caregiver. One embodiment can include, generating a reminder associated with an upcoming occurrence of a calendar event of the set of calendar events at a predetermined amount of time prior to the upcoming occurrence, the reminder to be provided to one or more caregivers, updating a status of one or more of the set of calendar events based on an update provided by one or more of the care receiver the caregiver, identifying the schedules of the one or more care givers, and/or identifying at least one responsible caregiver to manage a calendar event of the care receiver by comparing the schedules of the one or more care givers with the set of calendar events. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294491 | Dynamic and Predictive Information System and Method for Shipping Assets and Transport - The dynamic, predictive information system and method assigns shipping assets (drivers-tractors-trailers) from carriers to transport orders by shippers. Computer databases hold shipping asset data. Specific transport orders are electronically joined to specific driver-tractor-trailer combinations. A search and sort routine produces resulting records based upon proximity, trailer type, proximity of the joined driver-trailer combination, carrier service region and pick-up and delivery date constraints. The sort is by price or performance indicators which are pre-selected shipper ranges matched to historical shipping data from carriers. The system books the carrier, the driver-tractor-trailer combination and the shipper to transport order with an electronic communications phase. In a truck lane scenario, the system joins a specific driver and a specific tractor and a non-specific trailer to a specific transport order. GPS data and electronic shipping document data from PDAs with the drivers is logged into the system and is viewable by the participants. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294492 | PROACTIVELY DETERMINING POTENTIAL EVIDENCE ISSUES FOR CUSTODIAL SYSTEMS IN ACTIVE LITIGATION - The record of custodial systems' involvement in legal matters is coupled with a workflow that detects actual or planned changes affecting custodial systems themselves and/or their associations with other entities in the enterprise map, and that notifies the appropriate parties so the information is preserved. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294493 | WORKFLOW SYSTEM, INFORMATION PROCESSOR, AND METHOD AND PROGRAM FOR WORKFLOW MANAGEMENT - A workflow system is provided in which one person in charge efficiently processes each activity assigned to successive nodes. When a client request management program execution unit | 2008-11-27 |
20080294494 | Sales Order Monitoring - Among other things, monitoring incoming sales orders includes monitoring sales orders at one or more branches. For at least some of the sales orders a buying process is triggered. Based on one or more selection criteria, an analysis of the sales orders is performed. According to the analysis, a result list is displayed. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294495 | Methods of Processing and Segmenting Web Usage Information - A current behavioral targeting system is first tested using a suite of test data. The output of the test is one or more performance metrics. Next, newly proposed behavioral targeting system created. The newly proposed behavioral targeting system is then evaluated using both the existing source data and a new source data. The evaluation of the newly proposed behavioral targeting system produces one or more performance metrics of the same type earlier calculated. Finally, the two sets of performance metrics are compared. The performance metric difference represents the impact of the new source data. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294496 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR AUTOMATING SUPPLY CHAIN PLANNING PROCESSES - Methods, systems, and computer program products for automating supply chain planning processes are provided. A method includes providing a user interface having data fields for receiving product information including projected and actual sales data and finance information from a plurality of entities. The method also includes receiving the projected and actual sales data and finance information via the data fields and storing the projected and actual sales data and finance information in a first database. The method further includes retrieving portions of the projected and actual sales data, for a selected period of time, from the first database in response to a request, and providing a consolidated view of projected and actual sales of products for the selected period of time via the user interface. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294497 | Feedback-driven ad targeting - Methods and systems for selecting and serving an ad to a Web page in response to an ad request from that page, where the ad being delivered has the highest or close to the highest expected value, are described. The prior history of an ad is examined and the circumstances relating to the ad that have led to a positive action for the ad in the past (such as a click on the ad by a user) are determined. This data are collected and stored in a first set of data. In addition, the characteristics of the ad request are examined. A likelihood function is used to derive a likelihood value which can be used to lead to a probability that the ad will be successful or have a positive result. Following this process, a group of Web pages is created that have shown a positive result when the ad was displayed. The creation of the group of Web pages results from executing one or more custom targeting engines. In addition, a group of ad requests for the ad that provided a positive result for the ad and another group of ad requests that did not provide a positive result for the ad are created. An ad is selected and served to the Web page based on a comparison of the ad request with these two groups of ad requests. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294498 | METHODS AND APPARATUS TO IMPROVE MARKET LAUNCH PERFORMANCE - Methods and apparatus to improve market launch performance are disclosed. An example method includes receiving a pre-launch market concept and assessing the concept with a hierarchical framework. Assessing the hierarchical framework further includes identifying a framework dimension, identifying a framework construct associated with the framework dimension, and identifying at least one evaluative factor associated with the framework construct. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294499 | Method and System for Managing Report on Goods Advertisement - The present invention relates to a method and system for managing a report on a product advertisement which enable a relay server, which includes an advertisement service of a product sold in a shopping mall server, to collect information associated with a product sale, and which create a report page by using the collected information. The method and system for managing a report on a product advertisement collect information associated with a product sale in a relay server including an advertisement with respect to a shopping mall server under a predetermined contract, create a report page by using the collected information, and thereby analyze an advertising effect for each product more specifically. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294500 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INCREASING DEMAND FOR PERISHABLE GOODS OR VANISHING GOODS AT A POINT-OF-SALE LOCATION - A method for improving communications to customers therefore increasing demand for a perishable or vanishing item produced, inventoried and/or sold at a facility is provided. The method monitors the sales and production and availability of the perishable or vanishing item at a facility for sale of the perishable or vanishing item and determines if more demand is needed for the perishable or vanishing item and the time period necessary for existing customers to meet the determined demand, and notifies the sales staff and potential customers within the facility when a time period in which the perishable or vanishing item waste is less than that of the determined time period. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294501 | COLLECTING AND PROVIDING INFORMATION ABOUT VENDORS, PRODUCTS AND SERVICES - The utility, reliability and efficiency of vendor, product and/or service ratings are improved by collecting verifiable transaction information along with consumer-supplied ratings indicating consumer satisfaction regarding the corresponding goods, services, and/or vendors. From this collected information, the method and system of the present invention generates a score or set or scores for the vendors, products, and/or services. The score or scores generated by the present invention is a transaction-price-weighted function of the consumer's transaction satisfaction, taking into account not only the consumer-supplied ratings but also providing greater reliability and accuracy by taking into account the amount of money each consumer spent on the goods or services. The score or scores are made available to potential consumers so that they can perform comparative analysis and thereby more easily obtain the best products and services from the best vendors. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294502 | System and Method for Providing Event-Based Services - A system and method for providing event-based services are disclosed. According to one embodiment of the present invention, merchants and users subscribe with an Event Service Provider (ESP), which includes a server and database. The database maintains information relating to merchant events and subscriber's event preferences. Based on time-sensitive merchant event information, an event is published. Furthermore, the database is queried to determine the preferred subscribers based upon the subscriber's event preferences and the merchant event information relating to the published event. Lastly, an event communication is delivered to the device associated with the preferred subscriber. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294503 | Techniques for Displaying One or More Advertisements - The invention relates to a system, device, computer readable medium, and process for displaying one or more individual advertisements based on attributes of one or more phone call related events. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294504 | Method of Evaluating a Project Manager of a Project of a Provider - A method evaluates a project manager of a project of a provider, the project being for a customer. The method includes utilizing a project manager scorecard comprising a plurality of predetermined project phases which are common to a plurality of different projects, and including with each of the predetermined project phases a plurality of predetermined project milestones which are common to the different projects. A potential value is pre-assigned to each of the predetermined project milestones for the different projects. The project manager is evaluated with respect to the predetermined project milestones and an assigned value, which is less than or equal to the potential value, is responsively assigned for each of the predetermined project milestones. A sum is determined of the assigned value for each of the predetermined project milestones. The performance of the project manager on the project of the provider is evaluated based upon the sum. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294505 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR TASK ASSESSMENT MANAGEMENT - Methods and systems for managing an assessment of tasks using a computer implemented task assessment management system are provided. The method includes generating a program objective by a customer that defines an end-product to be supplied to the customer by a contractor and generating a plurality of tasks that support supplying the end-product to the customer, the plurality of tasks including at least one metric that defines the performance of the task to support supplying the supplying the end-product to the customer. The method also includes evaluating the contractor performance in completing each of the plurality of tasks using the respective at least one metric, the self-assessment stored in a memory of the task assessment management system and evaluating the contractor performance in completing each of the plurality of tasks by the customer using the respective at least one metric and the self-assessment. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294506 | Method and a tool for measuring the formation and effects of workplace friendships - A method and a tool to measure workplace friendship formation and its effects on individual and organizational job outcomes. The tool comprises one or more items that measure the formation of workplace friendships ( | 2008-11-27 |
20080294507 | Method and apparatus for generating a clinical quality assurance scorecard - The present invention provides a quality assurance system and method that generates a quality assurance (QA) scorecard for clinicians that participate in a radiological-based medical imaging study using digital imaging technologies. According to one embodiment, client computers, servers, imaging devices, databases, and/or other components may be coupled to provided a unified data collection system. According to one embodiment, systems and methods are provided that analyze various parameters that are derived from the unified data collection system to calculate a QA score for the clinician. The QA score provides a combined subjective and objective feedback system that includes performance evaluations from other users, including radiologists, technologists and patients. According to one embodiment, the feedback may be provided in real-time. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294508 | Method and apparatus for an electronic transaction network designed to facilitate dual, bilateral buyer-driven and bilateral seller-driven conditional early payment incentive offers, acceptances, and payments - This invention is a method and apparatus for facilitating dual, bilateral buyer-driven and bilateral seller-driven commerce through the communication of binding conditional early payment incentive offers, acceptances, and payments. In a preferred embodiment, this invention allows buyers and sellers to communicate conditional early payment incentive offers to each other, and upon acceptance, to bind the other party to a contract. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a controller which transmits and receives conditional early payment incentive offers. Potential parties have the option to accept a conditional early payment incentive offer and thus bind the other party to a contract. The controller then facilitates payments between a buyer and a seller. The method and apparatus of the present invention have applications on the Internet as well as conventional communication systems such as voice telephony and has applications for suppliers, providers, landlords, contractors, retailers, bankers, insurance plans, governments, et al. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294509 | DETERMINING ADVERTISING EFFECTIVENESS - The effectiveness of an advertisement may be determined. The advertisement and an incentive may be received at a data server. An online request from a consumer for a product may be received. The product may correspond to the incentive. The advertisement may be presented to a consumer. The advertisement may be presented in connection with the incentive and a first identifier. The first identifier may be generated unique to the presentation of the advertisement. The first identifier may include a bar code. When the incentive is redeemed, data indicative of the incentive being redeemed may be correlated to the first identifier. The incentive may be redeemed at a physical store, at an online store, and the like. First data indicative of the incentive being redeemed may be received. The first data may be correlated with the first identifier. The advertisement may be correlated to the redemption of the incentive. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294510 | DETERMINING ADVERTISING EFFECTIVENESS - The effectiveness of an advertisement may be determined. The advertisement and an incentive may be received at a data server. An online request from a consumer for a product may be received. The product may correspond to the incentive. The advertisement may be presented to a consumer. The advertisement may be presented in connection with the incentive and a first identifier. The first identifier may be generated unique to the presentation of the advertisement. The first identifier may include a bar code. When the incentive is redeemed, data indicative of the incentive being redeemed may be correlated to the first identifier. The incentive may be redeemed at a physical store, at an online store, and the like. First data indicative of the incentive being redeemed may be received. The first data may be correlated with the first identifier. The advertisement may be correlated to the redemption of the incentive. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294511 | INCENTIVIZING CONSUMER PURCHASES - A system and method for directing a consumer to a first location is disclosed. The system may include a datastore and a processor. The datastore may store first data indicative of a product, a first location, and an incentive. The incentive may be redeemable at the first location. The processor may be in communication with the datastore. The processor may receive an online request for the product from the consumer. The consumer may be presented with a description of the product and a video associated with the product. The processor may present to the consumer second data indicative of the incentive and the first location. The second data may reference the online request. The second data may be presented in a printable form. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294512 | INCENTIVIZING CONSUMER PURCHASES - A system and method for directing a consumer to a first location is disclosed. The system may include a datastore and a processor. The datastore may store first data indicative of a product, a first location, and an incentive. The incentive may be redeemable at the first location. The processor may be in communication with the datastore. The processor may receive an online request for the product from the consumer. The consumer may be presented with a description of the product and a video associated with the product. The processor may present to the consumer second data indicative of the incentive and the first location. The second data may reference the online request. The second data may be presented in a printable form. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294513 | METHOD OF TARGETED MARKETING - A method for supplying a targeted message with a statement to a consumer. Consumer data is provided to generate a first statement item. The first statement item includes data used as predetermined triggers. Supplemental data is provided which is compared to the predetermined triggers thereby creating a first subset of supplemental data. The targeted message is created from the first subset of the supplemental data. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294514 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REMOTE DEPOSIT CAPTURE AND CUSTOMER INFORMATION GATHERING - A system and method for integrated remote deposit capture and customer information gathering on a merchant's workstation where a plurality of checks are received from customers of the merchant and an image of each check is captured. Each check image is interrogated using image recognition software. A customer name and address on each check are identified. A list containing each identified customer name and address is created at the merchant's workstation and the list is stored. The list is useable by the merchant for marketing or gathering customer information where the customer information may include demographics of the customers. The customer information may also be used to identify checks from the same customer to determine a customer frequency useable to identify repeat customers. The list may be stored in a database. The marketing may include sending marketing materials from the merchant to the customers on the list. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294515 | Incentive-Based System and Method for Third-Party Web Application Development and Publication - A system and method is described by which a business entity provides an incentive to a third party to develop and publish a Web application that facilitates access to a Web service hosted by the business entity. In accordance with the system and method, a user attempts to use the third-party Web application via a Web browser executing on a client device, but fails because the user is unauthorized to use the service. Responsive to attempting to use the third-party Web application, tracking information is downloaded to the client device via the Web browser. The user then accesses a Web application hosted by the business entity to subscribe to the Web service. The Web application hosted by the business entity detects the tracking information stored on the client device and initiates a process for issuing payment to the third party responsive to detecting the tracking information. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294516 | ELECTRONIC ADVERTISING SYSTEM - An electronic tearsheet is received at a receipt time from a publisher confirming placement at a placement time of a print ad in a publication according to specified terms between the publisher and an advertiser. The specified terms include a bid amount. The bid amount is collected from the advertiser. The publisher is provided a publisher's share of the bid amount. The publisher's share includes a base amount and a bonus. The bonus is based on a period of time between the receipt time and the placement time. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294517 | CUSTOMIZED IMAGE BASED CALENDAR, METHOD AND SYSTEM - An advent calendar including a first sheet with a full color customized image and a plurality of apertures. Each aperture is associated with a movable door and the door is fastened to a perimeter of the aperture with a hinge element. A second sheet, including a reduced-color version of the customized image and at least one customized indicia. The first and second sheets are registeringly aligned so that the each of the plurality of apertures fully eclipse one of the customized indicia, such that each customized indicia is fully visible through an aperture when the movable door associated with the aperture is in an open orientation. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294518 | Method and apparatus for tracking parameters associated with a redemption certificate - A system that tracks parameters associated with a redemption certificate is presented. During operation, the system receives parameters associated with the redemption certificate. The system then determines whether the parameters indicate that a specified event has occurred. If so, the system performs a specified action for the specified event. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294519 | Method and system for integrating advertising with content - A coupling software system that is designed to be used by an advertiser, a content provider, and a publisher to effectively couple advertisements with content and distribute the information through a media outlet. The coupling software enables the advertiser to search content and distribution channels using a variety of metrics, and allows the advertiser to purchase content and distribution channels through an auction/bidding process. The coupling software is designed to measure and report statistics associated with the transactions between the advertisers, content providers, and publishers. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294520 | MOBILE DISPLAY ADVERTISING SYSTEM AND METHOD - An advertisement display apparatus is disclosed that includes a display screen for displaying advertising content, at least one radiation intensity sensor for measuring incident radiation, and a position adjustment device for adjusting a viewing angle of the display screen on the basis of the measured incident radiation to thereby minimize glare on the display screen. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294521 | Multilanguage Self-Contained Unmanaged Database-Driven Real Time Digital Advertising Display System - The present invention relates generally to an electronic display system and more particularly, to a database-driven electronic display system. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294522 | Method of automated distribution of advertising messages and system for carrying out the method - The method of advertisements automated distribution includes generating the advertising information with indication of display parameters, providing the advertisements, receiving by the user mobile device at least advertisements as provided by the advertisements generation unit, storing at least the received advertising information, sending and providing the advertising information as chosen from the stored advertising information to the addressee mobile device when sending the connection request with the addressee mobile device differs that the mobile communication devices users are registered, advertisements are generated with classification features of mobile communication devices users, the above message is sent to the distribution process control computer, advertisements block which includes at least one advertisement is generated responding to the above received message to send to the particular user, requests with regard to the classification features of this user are generated to allow receiving the above advertisement blocks by users and if acknowledged the above advertisement blocks are sent to users mobile communication devices. The proposed advertisements automated distribution system includes the advertisements generation unit, mobile communication device which includes at least the sender and receiver which serves to receive at least the advertising information, memory unit which serves to store at least advertising information and to record and store the displayed advertisements information; interface unit which serves to send and provide the advertising information stored in the memory unit to the addressee mobile communication device when sending the connection request from the mobile communication device to the addressee mobile device, mobile communication service provider network which includes at least one computer which provides the advertisements distribution process control and the unit which serves to store the information. The advertisements generation unit is linked to the storage device which is linked to the computer providing the advertisements distribution and presentation process control linked to the communication service provider network. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294523 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ADVERTISING VIA COMPUTER NETWORKS AND WEBSITES - Methods and apparatus for advertising according to various aspects of the present invention operate in conjunction with a retargeting system, multiple publisher systems, at least one advertiser, and a user's computer. The retargeting system provides retargeting information to the advertiser for storage on the user computer. The retargeting information may comprise identifiers for publisher systems authorized for retargeting and an advertiser identifier. The retargeting information may also receive user behavior information from publisher system visited by the user after visiting the advertiser's web site. The retargeting system may then transmit an advertisement corresponding to the advertiser identifier to the visited publisher system for presentation via the user computer if the visited publisher system is an authorized publisher system. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294524 | Site-Targeted Advertising - A method is provided. The method includes receiving at a central system advertisement identifiers associated with one or more advertisements, receiving one or more identifiers of web locations to be targeted by the advertisements, receiving one or more non-keyword bids for a display of each of the advertisements, and generating a score associated with each of the one or more advertisements using the non-keyword bid in an advertising auction. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294525 | J2ME application advertisement instrumentation - A method for inserting advertising or other functionality into mobile applications after they have already been compiled and built. The described method has advantages of download time modification of applications, the ability to embed information into the instance builds, and to allow selectable functionality. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294526 | System and Method for Interrelating Alternative Media-Type Commerce Transactions - A system and method for interrelating alternative media-type commerce transactions allow a consumer to select and purchase an A/V product having a particular media-type and track the purchase and the media-type. The system and method include different pricing schemes for each A/V product and each media-type. Each A/V product is associated with a pricing scheme that interrelates pricing for purchases by the same consumer of the same A/V product for multiple media-types. In at least one embodiment, the system allows the consumer to make a second purchase of the A/V product and select an alternative media-type. In at least one embodiment, the first and second products have the same content form and a non-discounted price of the second selected product is higher than a non-discounted price of a first selected product. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294527 | Stock Flow Management System and Method - A computer program product tangibly embodied in an information carrier includes instructions that, when executed, perform operations that modify stock levels of a storage location in a logistic environment system. The operations include receiving information indicating a stock level change at storage location database objects that each represent a storage location for stock in a logistic environment. A storage location database object has associated with it a rule, a stock amount value specifying an amount of stock for the storage location, and a threshold that indicates a stock level to be maintained for the storage location. The operations also include determining, using the rule, if the stock level change would cause the stock amount value to cross the threshold, and if so, generating a request to modify the amount of stock at the storage location so that the stock amount value does not cross the threshold. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294528 | Method of providing for rental of clothing - In a method for providing for rental of clothing, a client visits a store or other location so that all pertinent measurements can be taken and then stored in a suitable data base. Other data is stored such as preferred style and colors of clothing. Once this has been done, when the client wishes to use the method to obtain clothing while on travel, scheduling of the travel is carried out, and during that scheduling, desired clothing is chosen so that it is ready to be picked up or delivered to the client's living quarters when they arrive at their destination. The operator of the method receives the order and assembles all of the required garments, making sure that they are properly tailored to fit the client. Those garments are then used by the client while they are in that location and when the client is ready to leave the location to travel elsewhere or back to their home, they notify the operator of the method so that the operator can pick up the soiled clothing, dryclean it, and place it back into inventory for the next wearer. Used clothing may be periodically sold. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294529 | Method and system for delivering a purchase receipt - The invention concerns a new way for ordering, drafting, paying and delivering a purchase receipt ( | 2008-11-27 |
20080294530 | System and method for registering the ownership and exchange of an item - A system and method for promoting the exchanging of an article between individuals, registering the ownership and exchange of the article via a global central registry, and wherein such article of trade has a unique identifier affixed thereto that functions to identify such article and enable a user of the registry to update and track the current and historical ownership and travels of such article via the internet. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294531 | Digital Audio and Audiovisual File System and Method - A system and method for allowing the owners of audio and/or audiovisual files to resell or purchased used content. The system provides for access via the internet and allows a user to upload or download content. To ensure against illicit copying of content, the system preferably includes a verification software package that must be downloaded onto the audio and/or audiovisual file player from which the user is attempted to resell content. The files uploaded to system are then made available for repurchase by another user. When the file is resold to another user, the file is removed from the available content list so that only the original audio and/or audiovisual file is ever transferred from one user to another user. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294532 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ON-LINE AUTOMOBILE TRADING - A method of trading automobiles, having the steps of entering a preferred set of attributes for a purchase of an automobile, creating a personalized shopping page based on the preferred set of attributes, searching a database of automobiles satisfying the preferred set of attributes, and displaying automobiles from the database that satisfy the preferred set of attributes. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294533 | SYSTEM FOR TRANSFERRING LARGE SUPPLIER CATALOGS THROUGH THE INTERNET NETWORK - System for transferring large supplier catalogs in a data transmission system including the Internet network, a marketplace site able to be addressed through the Internet network, a first plurality of customers connected to the Internet network and a second plurality of suppliers connected to the Internet network, each supplier having a catalog file of available goods to be supplied to any customer. A supplier requests the transfer of its catalog file to the marketplace site through a B2B gateway by using a catalog control protocol. The catalog file is transferred to the marketplace site through a catalog gateway by using a catalog transfer protocol. The catalog file received from the supplier is aggregated to a general catalog. The updated general catalog is published onto a storefront web site so that any one of the customers can view the goods of the supplier. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294534 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ONLINE SHOPPING OPTIMIZATION - Online shopping optimization in this context means, in general, making the optimal business decisions with regard to an online or electronic commerce purchase. The method begins with extracting buyer's demand information from buyer-specified items or a previously-configured shopping cart. It then includes a product catalog search that, when provided with the items specified or selected by the buyer, returns exact or equivalent (i.e., replacement or substitute) items. With the catalog search results, the online shopping optimization method formulates the online shopping decision-making problem into a mathematical programming model, particularly a mixed integer programming model. The method optimally decides, from the universe of vendors and items within the system: 1) from which of the various vendors to buy, 2) what identical, replacement, or substitute items to buy, 3) what package sizes of these items to buy, and 4) how many of each item to buy. To summarize, the system systematically and quantitatively makes decisions for a buyer over various cataloged items in order to maximize or minimize an objective function subject to various constraints including the buyer's demands of the desired items, the minimum order requirements imposed by the vendors on the buyer's spent monetary amount, together with other types of buyer, vendor, buyer-and-vendors interrelationship, or among-vendors interrelationship constraints. Recommended optimized shopping carts are then presented to the buyer. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294535 | Centralized Electronic Sales Using a Consolidator - The present invention provides an electronically accessible site that lists a product and associated distributors that distribute the product to customers. A customer purchases a product from the electronically accessible site, and during the purchasing process, the customer selects the distributor he wants to receive the product from. The order is received by an agent, and transmitted to the selected distributor for eventual distribution of the product to the customer. In response to the purchase, the agent and electronically accessible site receive compensation based on the amount of the purchase. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294536 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING EXPORT SERVICES TO MERCHANTS - A fulfillment services provider may offer export services to merchants, including generation of required export documentation; calculation, collection, and remittance of customs duties; and transportation via an international carrier. Such export services may be offered through a registration service, and may be integrated with other fulfillment services provided to registered merchants (e.g., domestic order fulfillment and/or warehousing of inventory), or may be offered to merchants that do not receive other fulfillment services from the provider. Export services may be provided to merchants who certify that all registered or specified items may be legally exported to all (or specified) international destinations, or the provider may verify compliance to export regulations on behalf of registered merchants. The provider may assume the role of Principal Party in Interest for registered merchants or the merchants may retain this role. Registration and provision of export services may be implemented in one or more software modules. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294537 | METHOD TO SUPPORT ADVANCE ACCOUNTING WITHIN SOFTWARE PARTITIONS - A data processing system includes: a plurality of resources including a processor, a memory, and an operating system; a mechanism for generating one or more software partitions in addition to an administrative partition; and a global accounting engine which enables monitoring and recording of resource usage at both a global-level and a partition-level. Partition-level accounting data is returned for selected resources being utilized within a software partition. The data processing system also includes a first software partition, which utilizes one or more of the first plurality of resources and which includes a first partition-level accounting engine. The partition-level accounting engine provides monitoring and recording of resource usage within the first software partition and stores first partition usage data within a first partition accounting buffer. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294538 | E-Commerce Sales and Use Exchange System and Method - The invention provides a system and method for calculating, collecting and/or disbursing one or more third party payments owed to one or more third parties resulting from one or more electronic transactions occurring over a wide area network (WAN) between a customer and a merchant. The transaction concern one or more services and/or products provided by the merchant. The system and method require that the calculation of the amount owed to the third party occur at a WAN node that is different than and at a different locale than that of the merchant. By so doing, the merchant is not required to purchase and install equipment and/or software of the third party to which a payment is due. The present system includes a merchant node, third party payment processing node, financial network, and third party payment receiving node. A consumer conducts a transaction at a merchant node. As a result of the transaction, a third party may or may not be due a payment. The third party payment processing node determines whether such payment is due, calculates the amount of the third party payment, and/or authorizes payment of the third party payment. The financial network, which includes at least the merchant's acquirer bank, the customer's credit card issuing bank and the credit car association, then handles payment of the amount(s) due to the third party, the amount(s) due to the merchant and the amount(s) owed by the customer. The system of the invention can be a fee for service type of system wherein those (the merchant or the third party) that employ the system and/or method pay a fee, for example per transaction or per amounts collected and disbursed, to the provider of the claimed system. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294539 | PROGRAMMED SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTING AN INDEX - Construction of an index of assets comprises a computer having program code executing within a memory of the computer so as to define a universe of eligible companies using one or more filter criteria provided by a user. The companies in the eligible universe are ranked with regard to one or more parameters, each of which represents objective accounting-based data of the respective company. Respective rankings of each company are transformed into respective composite scores. A relative ranking among an index-component subset of the companies in the eligible universe is defined using the each index component's composite score in relation to the composite score of the other index components. In this way, a relative composite score results, which is used to weight the index components. The weighting results are output to the user. A method for such index construction is also disclosed. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294540 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED DETECTION OF NEVER-PAY DATA SETS - Data filters, models, and/or profiles for identifying and/or predicting the never-pay population (for example, those customers that make a request for credit and obtain the credit instrument but over the life of the account, never make a payment) can be useful to various commercial entities, such as those issuing mortgages, home equity lines of credit, consumer or business lines of credit, automobile loans, credit card accounts, or those entities providing services, such as utility services, phone services, and the like. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294541 | DATABASE FOR CHECK RISK DECISIONS POPULATED WITH CHECK ACTIVITY DATA FROM BANKS OF FIRST DEPOSIT - A plurality of banks of first deposit provide checking account activity data for both transit items (checks received for deposit that need to be cleared) and incoming returns (bounced checks) to a statistical model which determines from the data the likelihood that a check from a specific checking account will be returned. This data is used to populate a database of checking accounts to be used for making check risk decisions, such as check hold policy decisions, check acceptance decisions, and open to buy decisions. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294542 | System and Method For Web-Based Customizable OTC Options Trading - A method for processing electronic requests for price quotes is provided. In the method, a request for a price quote is received, wherein the request comprises one or more characteristics of an over the counter option inputted into an interactive electronic display. A price quote is determined for the option based on the request and is displayed on the interactive electronic display. The ability to execute an electronic sale of the option having the one or more characteristics at the quoted price is provided at the interactive electronic display. A termsheet is automatically populated upon the execution of the sale and is accessible by the parties to the sale. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294543 | Software product and system for facilitating real estate transactions - A software product and system that facilitates real estate transactions. More specifically the software product and system allow users to bid on a variety of terms and conditions to a real estate agreement. The software product and system also allows a user to make a bid via a remote computing device. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294544 | PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR CONDUCTING AUCTIONS OVER ELECTRONIC NETWORKS - An apparatus and process for conducting auctions, specifically municipal bond auctions, over electronic networks, particularly the Internet, is disclosed. The auctioneer maintains a web site from which information about bonds to be auctioned can be obtained. A user participates in the auction by accessing the web site via a conventional Internet browser and is led through a sequence of screens that perform the functions of verifying the user's identity, assisting the user in preparing a bid, verifying that the bid conforms to the rules of the auction, displaying to the user during the course of the auction selected bid information regarding bids received and informing the bidder how much time remains in the auction. The user may be given the option of confirming the accuracy of his bid before submitting the bid. The auctioneer is able to review bidding history, determine the winner and notify the winner over the network, and display selected auction results to bidders and observers over the network. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294545 | Realty commission reinvestment system and method - A system and method for reinvesting realty commissions includes the steps of: a) Offering the system commission reinvestment program to a client who is listing or interested in purchasing a real estate property using a system realty company; b) Fixing a rebate amount of the real estate commission that will be transferred to the system realty company once the real estate property is purchased or sold using an agent of the system realty company, and then rebated back to the client at the end of a pre-set first time period; c) Presenting a first system contract to the client; d) Reviewing and executing the first system contract; and e) Transferring the rebate amount of the commission from the sale or purchase of the real estate property to a system corporate bank account, and a remainder of the pre-agreed commission to the agent of the system realty company on or after the closing. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294546 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PEER-TO-PEER FINANCING - A system and method for an online, peer-to-peer lending platform for microfinance is disclosed. Through the system and method of the present invention, individual and personal lenders across the world can uniquely loan to specific micro-enterprises in many countries and geographic areas in a highly personal and effective manner. This system and method functions as a unique bridge between individual lender and borrower by providing elements and steps for facilitating and processing microfinance institution (MFI) transactions. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294547 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ESTABLISHING BUSINESS CREDIT AND IMPROVING PERSONAL CREDIT - Systems and methods are disclosed for establishing one or more personal guarantor(s); establishing one or more business entities; establishing a professional business presence; reporting the professional business presence and the one or more personal guarantors to one or more credit scoring companies; establishing a PAYDEX score of said one or more business entities to a minimum of 80 resulting in an applicant's ability to obtain a larger credit line and at more favorable contract terms determined by one or more credit line providers reviewing external data. Another embodiment includes a method for establishing at least one high credit line credit accounts of one or more business entities with an open trade account of $10,000 or higher maintained in good standing and reporting said trade accounts(s) to the business credit scoring agencies. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294548 | Fee-Based Distribution of Media Based on Device Proximity - Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for commercial transactions for the sale of images carried out over short-range wireless transmissions. In one embodiment, the transaction may be initiated by a vendor (e.g., a professional photographer), who transmits a wireless signal including an offer for sale of an image. A customer wishing to purchase the image responds by sending a wireless signal including an acceptance of the offer. In another embodiment, the transaction may be initiated by a customer, who transmits a wireless signal including a request for an image to be fulfilled by a vendor. A vendor agreeing to supply the image responds by sending a wireless signal including an acceptance of the request. By offering the images to customers who are in close proximity to the image capture, the vendor may increase the likelihood that the images will be purchased. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294549 | PROCESSING ELECTRONIC TEARSHEETS - In some implementations, a computer-implemented method includes receiving an offer to pay for advertising to be run in a printed publication according to offer parameters that include a publication time; receiving an acceptance to run the advertising according to the offer parameters; receiving, at a submission time, an electronic tearsheet, the submission time being after the publication time of the advertising; and charging a corresponding advertiser a first amount and paying a corresponding publisher a second amount when the submission time is within a first predetermined period of time of the publication time and when a challenge to the electronic tearsheet has not been received from the advertiser within a second predetermined time after the submission time. The electronic tearsheet can evidence publication parameters associated with the advertising that was run in the printed publication. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294550 | METHOD OF PRESERVING RAINFOREST - A method of preserving land in which a large parcel of land is acquired. The land is divided into small sections referred to as tiles and these tiles are advertised for sale. Interested users purchase tiles via a website. Thereafter, the website delivers a printed deed and a preferably a satellite photo bearing indicia, such as the purchaser's name or photograph. The tile sales company can use profits from tile sales to buy more land and equipment. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294551 | Cross-Border Remittance - Systems and methods for cross-border payment of accounts, and other remittance, resulting from provision of goods and services via a trusted agent. In particular, the invention provides systems, methods, and computer programming useful in making, accepting, and processing safe and reliable electronic payment of such debts. The invention is also useful in prepayment for goods and services such as pre-paid telephone or other communication cards and accounts. In some embodiments, such systems and methods proceed in real-time. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294552 | Centralized Affiliated Marketplace Networks and Associated Methods - A centralized marketplace for efficient and streamlined third party listings, including advertisements, to be placed within networks of marketplaces. An automated backend coordinates the submission of listing transactions, including the collection of fees, timings of display of listings, etc., as well as providing a platform to organize networks. Network organization may occur with user intervention or automatically by the automated backend by specifying a predetermined set of criteria. Each marketplace or marketplace network may facilitate the placement of listings in affiliated marketplaces and similarly receive listings from affiliates for a fee or free. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294553 | Reserve account mortgage method and system - A method and system are provided to resolve financial problems and/or discretionary financial decisions by mortgagors and other borrowers. If a mortgage is current, then any extra money received from the mortgagor is automatically credited to a reserve account, which pays down the mortgage principal. If a mortgage payment is due but has not been paid or is only partially paid, then whatever money is needed for the mortgage payment is automatically deducted from the reserve account and applied toward the mortgage payment, thereby increasing the loan principal. As a limit, if the reserve account is depleted, the lender may commence conventional foreclosure procedures. The method and system can similarly be applied to other types of loans. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294554 | AUTOMATED TRANSFER WITH STORED VALUE FUND - According to the invention, a method for automatically transferring credit between a stored value fund and a handler using a wide-area computer network is disclosed. In one step, automated transfer information is received at a server computer system from the wide-area computer network that is coupled to a user associated with the stored value fund. The handler chosen by a user for an automated transfer, the direction of the automated transfer with respect to the stored value fund and an amount for the automated transfer are determined. The amount is automatically transferred between the stored value fund and the handler. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294555 | Data network-implemented tax advantaged account transaction and reconciliation - Data network-implemented tax advantaged account transaction and reconciliation is described, including identifying a tax advantaged account, the tax advantaged account being identified using a card configured to store data, receiving a transaction request, the transaction request being associated with the tax advantaged account, determining whether the transaction request indicates a taxable event, performing a transaction associated with the transaction request and the tax advantaged account, and generating a report associated with the tax advantaged account, the report indicating that a transaction was performed based on the transaction request. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294556 | MOBILE COMMERCE SERVICE - A payment system processes payments so that vendors and consumer may have an increased degree of confidence as to the security of the transaction. More precisely, a consumer enters a messaging address through which the user may receive communications on a wireless device using a vendor point of sale system. The consumer identifies goods for purchase and the vendor generates a transaction total for the identified goods. The consumer's messaging address is received and a transaction request is received at an intermediary server operated by a wireless carrier. The transaction request is presented to the consumer in a display on the wireless device. The consumer uses the wireless device to authorize the transaction request and transmits the authorization to the intermediary server. The intermediary server receives the authorization and transfers, based on receiving the authorization, resources to the vendor to pay the transaction amount. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294557 | Data Processing System And Method - A method of authenticating a transaction, comprising providing details of a card to a merchant; providing transaction identifying information to a data processing device; and sending the transaction identifying information to a third party using the data processing device. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294558 | PORTABLE ELECTRONIC APPLIANCE, DATA PROCESSOR, DATA COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, COMPUTER PROGRAM, DATA PROCESSING METHOD - Aimed at providing a portable electronic appliance and a data processor capable of preventing stealing of electricity, a mobile phone terminal, which is a portable electronic appliance of the present invention supplied with electric power from the specific commercial power source, is brought into functional interruption by a data processor, the data processor executes account settlement of supplied power while keeping the mobile phone terminal in functional interruption, and upon completion of the account settlement, the data processor unlocks the functional interruption of the mobile phone terminal, so that an authorized contractor of the commercial power source is prevented from being unreasonably charged with power rate charged up in the mobile phone terminal, and stealing of electricity by the user of the mobile phone terminal may be avoidable. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294559 | Transmission of Anonymous Information Through a Communication Network - A system that enables anonymous data collection from Respondents, such as over the Internet using public key technologies, where the anonymity and authenticity of Respondents is provided by a trusted mediation service. The invention provides a simple and secure solution that allows authentication of research Respondents while maintaining their anonymity. The Collector cannot link Respondent's real identification and their responses, and a Mediator provides a communication service but has no access to the content of information exchanged between the Respondents and the Collector. According to one aspect of the invention, a Collector requests a list of anonymous Ids from the Mediator. The Mediator then generates a list of anonymous tokens which can then be used by the Respondents when they communicate with the Collector through the Mediator. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294560 | Method of storing content - A method comprising receiving at a user equipment encrypted content. The content is stored in said user equipment in an encrypted form. At least one key for decryption of said stored encrypted content is stored in the user equipment. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294561 | Media content deciphered when initiated for playback - Media content being deciphered when initiated for playback is described. In embodiment(s), encrypted media content can be received from a content distributor without deciphering the encryption that is applied by the content distributor. Optionally, the encrypted media content can also be recorded without deciphering the applied encryption. The encrypted media content can be initiated for viewing or playback from the recording, and at that time, the credentials to decipher the encrypted media content can be obtained, such as from the content distributor. The encrypted media content can then be decipher with the credentials such that the media content can be rendered for viewing. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294562 | Storage Medium Processing Method, Storage Medium Processing Device, and Program - The content data is offered not only to specific storage media but also to the storage media of several different types. Various kinds of storage media (SDq, MSq, HDDq, etc.) enabled to acquire data from a license center unit | 2008-11-27 |
20080294563 | Multipurpose Electronic Payment Method and System - The invention relates to multipurpose electronic payment method and system. The inventive method consists in transmitting (A) from a multimedia terminal (TM) a payment order (MP) issued from at least one multimedia application hosted in the (TM) to a local proxy for payment (PP), in discriminating (B) said payment order in (PP) upon a specific local processing criterion respectively remote, in carrying out (C) a local payment upon the retained local payment specific criterion, if not in transmitting (D) the payment order to a remote system (SD) for carrying out a remote payment. Said invention is usable for proximity payment transitions, external payment or for electronically carrying out a telepayment. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294564 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PRICE MATCHING ON FUNDS TRANSFERS - Systems and methods for performing financial transfers. In some instances, the methods include providing a staged transaction system that includes at least two stages. Quotes are accessed for the first and for the second stage of the transaction. One quote associated with a stage of the transaction is selected and used to consummate the financial transfer. Other methods include marketing financial transfer transactions. Such marketing can include providing a flexible rate fixing mechanism; monitoring a financial transaction market; and fixing a rate based at least in part on monitoring the financial transaction market where the flexible rate fixing mechanism provides access to the fixed rate. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294565 | Basis Instrument Contracts (BICs) derived methods, systems and computer program products for distributional linkage and efficient derivatives pricing - The present invention describes methods, systems and computer program products derived from the BICs structural framework and pricing methodology to facilitate at least two types of intermediate decision-making problems:
| 2008-11-27 |
20080294566 | System for Funding an Organization - A system for funding an organization with cash flows derived from the death benefits of life insurance policies initiated within a bankrupt remote, special purpose entity having the same insurable interest as the organization, by paying the premiums of said policies with proceeds from the issuance of an asset-backed security through the securitization of said death benefits, requiring no use of cash value, no transfer of ownership or beneficiary of said life insurance policies, and providing guaranteed cash flows to said organization while keeping the initial insurable interest intact. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294567 | System and Method for Providing an Index Linked to Separately Managed Accounts - A system comprises a memory operable to store a master index that is based at least in part on a separately managed account (SMA) index, a market index, a first weight associated with the SMA index, and a second weight associated with the market index. The system further comprises a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and operable to update the first weight based at least in part on the market index. The processor is further operable to update the second weight based at least in part on the SMA index. The processor is further operable to update the master index based at least in part on the SMA index, the market index, the updated first weight, and the updated second weight. The processor is further operable to store the updated master index in a memory. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294568 | Indexing a financial instrument having optimized constituent weights - A computer-implemented method, a computer-readable medium and a data processing apparatus are provided for calculating an index of a financial instrument being weighted with optimized weights. The financial instrument comprises a plurality of constituents. Data reflecting characteristics of the constituents is collected. Based on the collected data, continuous returns are calculated for each of the plurality of constituents. The continuous returns are used for determining a covariance matrix. The weights of all the constituents are optimized by using the covariance matrix. The constituents of the financial instrument are weighted with their respective optimized weights. An index of the financial instrument having its constituents weighted with the optimized weights is determined. The weights of the constituents are kept constant for a predetermined period in time before updated optimized weights are calculated. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294569 | Investment portfolio management method and system thereof - An investment portfolio management method and system that enhances an investment portfolio's risk adjusted involves reevaluating recent performance, and based thereon, if unfavorable rebating at least a portion of the reserve as reported performance if a reserve has been established, or if favorable establishing or increasing a reserve, followed by rebalancing the portfolio's leverage and amending the portfolio. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294570 | System and method for providing a mutual fund rating platform - A system and method are provided for assigning ratings (the “Ratings”) on mutual funds and other investment funds (collectively the “Funds”) based on various information gleaned from public and privately traded financial, currency, interest rate and other futures, along with options on said futures (collectively the “Futures”). In an illustrative implementation, the system can operate to combine information on the historical rates of return and variability in the rates of return of the Funds with the expected range of future returns for various asset classes as determined by the pricing of the Futures. Illustratively, the rating for the Funds (the “Rating”) can incorporate the range of expected future returns, the variability of past returns, and the level of risk. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294571 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING DIRECT TO CAPITAL SWAPS - In one aspect, the present invention comprises a computer system for market making, comprising: (a) a computer component for receiving data identifying a user-specified basket of securities; (b) a database storing the data identifying a user-specified basket of securities and storing data describing inventory of a market maker; and (c) a computer component for calculating a swap price for the basket in light of the inventory, the calculating based at least in part on quote deflection related to the inventory. Other aspects comprise related methods and software. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294572 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MARGINING FIXED PAYOFF PRODUCTS - A system and method is disclosed for determining performance bonds related to fixed payoff products, i.e. contracts which payoff a fixed amount based on the outcome of an underlying event regardless of the particular value of the underlying event. The worst outcome of the overall portfolio, which may contain more than one instrument, is calculated. This permits the portfolio to have both long and short positions on the same underlying event and offsets, e.g. long (bought but not closed out) and short (sold but not closed out) positions, among instruments in the portfolio are factored in. A universe of outcomes is constructed including single events with single outcomes, and the probability thereof, an single events with multiple outcomes, each with a probability thereof. This universe is implemented in a matrix probabilities on different outcomes, also referred to as “strikes.” Each strike/outcome then has an associated price and probability, typically factored together as single value reflective of both. Events with low probability will have low values, resulting in a lower margin requirement, as will be explained below. The margin requirement/performance bond is then set equal to the amount of the maximum loss that the portfolio can sustain for any possible outcome of the underlying event, adjusted for the probability of the outcome. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294573 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HYBRID SPREADING FOR RISK MANAGEMENT - A risk management system and method is disclosed which utilizes a flexible and configurable set of spreading techniques which may be incorporated into existing risk management software to enhance functionality, flexibility and accuracy. In the disclosed embodiments, multiple different types of spreading are combined to allow for a more accurate assessment of risk. In one exemplary embodiment, a subset of the derivative products held by a futures trader are first analyzed by the scanning based spreading methodology. Typically, futures products in the same class of products (e.g. equity futures or agricultural futures) would be analyzed together by the scanning based spreading methodology. Then an average delta would be calculated for that subset. Using that delta, that subset would then be analyzed in relation to the remaining derivative products (not in the subset) using a delta based spreading methodology. The delta for the subset could be computed in a variety of ways including scaling the deltas for each product, tying the delta to a fixed time period or other methods. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294574 | TAX MANAGED BUY-WRITE FUND - A system and method is provided for administering a tax-managed, buy-write investment fund having a plurality of units available for sale to the public. An index representing a first portfolio of assets having desired performance characteristics is identified. A second portfolio of assets is configured to have less than 70 percent overlap therewith. Shares of the second portfolio are purchased, while call options against the index are written. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294575 | System for Providing Widget-Type Idle-screen Contents Data Providing System for Mobile Communication Terminal - A system for providing a widget-type idle-screen contents data is provided. The system includes a data generation unit which generates the widget-type idle-screen contents data for the mobile communication terminal; a contents database which receives the widget-type idle-screen contents data from the data generation unit and stores and manages the widget-type idle-screen contents data; and a mobile communication terminal which selectively downloads the contents data from the contents data and stores and operates the downloaded contents data, wherein, the mobile communication terminal comprises a firmware level, an OEM level, an idle-screen platform, a porting layer, a base layer, and an application layer. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294576 | Direct response media distribution method - In direct response media distribution any suitable cause or NPO purchases one or more blocks of direct response time from a media outlet to present a message. The NPO coordinates with one or more advertisers to purchase (sublet) time within the direct response media time and the purchased time offsets the cost of the direct response media time and possibly some of the production cost for the message. NPOs and advertisers may select partners consistent with their positions or goals. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294577 | Efficient Estimation of Events with Rare Occurrence Rates Using Taxonomies - Methods for predicting the click-through rates of Internet advertisements placed into web pages are disclosed. Specifically, a click-through rate prediction is generating using a hybrid system with two terms. The first term is constructed using a machine learning model that incorporates a limited number of important factors. The second term is constructed using a look-up table that is built using a complex statistical analysis of various web page and advertisement combinations. To construct the second term, the field of multi-level hierarchical modeling is used. Specifically, a tree-structured Markov model is used to process the training data and construct the adjustment factor look-up table. To reduce the complexity of the statistical analysis, Kalman-filters are used to estimate parameters in the traditional multi-level hierarchical models for scalability. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294578 | DIAGNOSING INTERMITTENT FAULTS - A method and system for diagnosing any combination of persistent and intermittent faults. The behavior of a system under test is obtained by measuring or probing the system at a particular location(s). The predicted behavior of a modeled system corresponding to the system under test is investigated by drawing inferences based on at least conditional probabilities, prior observations and component models. The predictions are compared to their corresponding points in the system under test. A determination is made if a conflict exists between the measured behavior and the predicted behavior, and the conditional probabilities are adjusted to more and more accurately reflect the action fault(s) in the system under test. The conflicts or deviations between the obtained predicted behavior and the actual behavior are used to isolate the components of the system causing the faults. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294579 | LOW-POWER ANALOG-CIRCUIT ARCHITECTURE FOR DECODING NEURAL SIGNALS - A microchip for performing a neural decoding algorithm is provided. The microchip is implemented using ultra-low power electronics. Also, the microchip includes a tunable neural decodable filter implemented using a plurality of amplifiers, a plurality of parameter learning filters, a multiplier, a gain and time-constant biasing circuits; and analog memory. The microchip, in a training mode, learns to perform an optimized translation of a raw neural signal received from a population of cortical neurons into motor control parameters. The optimization being based on a modified gradient descent least square algorithm wherein update for a given parameter in a filter is proportional to an averaged product of an error in the final output that the filter affects and a filtered version of its input. The microchip, in an operational mode, issues commands to controlling a device using learned mappings. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294580 | Neuromorphic Device for Proofreading Connection Adjustments in Hardware Artificial Neural Networks - A hardware-implemented method for proofreading updates of connections in a hardware artificial neural network (hANN) includes computing a draft weight change independently at a connection between neuroids and at a corresponding dedicated special purpose nousoid, determining whether the draft weight changes agree, and executing a weight change at the connection equal to the draft weight change upon determining that the draft weight changes agree. | 2008-11-27 |
20080294581 | Device Comprising a Sensor Arrangement and an Estimator | 2008-11-27 |