48th week of 2010 patent applcation highlights part 63 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20100306006 | Truthful Optimal Welfare Keyword Auctions - There is disclosed a method for auctioning a set of keywords. Bids may be received from a plurality of advertisers. Each bid may include a value of a click-through and a budget expressed as a maximum number of click-throughs. A flow graph may be created that relates the set of keywords to the bids received from the plurality of advertisers. A minimum cost flow solution may be determined for the flow graph, and the keywords may be allocated to the advertisers based on the minimum cost flow solution. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306007 | ENTERPRISE PROJECT TYPES - A selection of an enterprise project type is received from a plurality of enterprise project types. The enterprise project type may include a plurality of pages. Each page may include a plurality of input fields for collecting values of properties. A project page from the enterprise project type is displayed. The project page may include a create project interface element. When a selection of the create project interface element is received, an instance of the enterprise project type is generated. The instance of the enterprise project type represents an entity, such as a project plan, an application plan, or a product plan. The pages are displayed. The values of properties are collected through the pages. The entity is generated by transforming the values of properties into the entity. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306008 | EXTENSIBLE ROLE-BASED ACCESS CONTROL MODEL FOR SERVICES - Architecture removes the limitation of a fixed set of roles and scopes, allows more effective permission auditing, and provides a convenient delegation model. Administrators can create roles fine-tuned to business needs without changing permissions on the resources. The new roles can be easily examined and delegated to other administrators. Moreover, scoping and delegation is simplified. This is possible because permissions are granted as a role (a unit of permission assignment is a role), which can include multiple entries. The entries correspond to end-user actions and are not related to implementation-dependent resource rights. The actions can include web services or API calls, script or executable file names, specialized commands that implement particular operation, and associated parameters, etc., essentially any action that the end-user performs. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306009 | SPECIAL-ORDERED-SET-BASED COST MINIMIZATION - An embodiment of the invention is directed toward determining a solution to an objective function that is to be maximized or minimized. An initial feasible basis is determined. An entering variable is determined to enter the initial feasible basis. It is determined if there is an exiting variable. While there is an exiting variable, the exiting variable is removed from the feasible basis, the entering variable is added to the feasible basis, and a new entering variable is determined. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306010 | INTERACTIVE MAP/DIAGRAM OF ERP CODE AND MODEL ELEMENTS - A diagramming system for dynamically generating and rendering a diagram depicting graphical representations of modules and elements of an ERP application, and their dependencies, is provided. In some embodiments, the diagramming system provides a dynamic, interactive graphical representation of user-selected elements and/or modules and their dependencies. In some embodiments, the diagramming system allows a user to view additional information about a specific element, such as the dependencies associated with that element that are not displayed in the diagram and also to select these elements for inclusion in the diagram. In this manner, the user can customize the diagram to show additional dependency information for a specific element or set of elements in which the user is interested. In some embodiments, the diagramming system may display an indication of dependencies between the selected element and the modules. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306011 | Project Management System and Method - A project management system comprising a first, second, third, fourth and fifth processing sequences embodied in a computer readable medium. The first processing sequence is operable to provide a user interface to display a plurality of alert indicia corresponding to a plurality of alert status of a plurality of project requirements. The second processing sequence is operable to convert an incomplete requirement to a complete requirement upon completion of a task corresponding to the incomplete requirement. The third processing sequence is operable to determine the alert status of the requirements of the plurality of projects based on a time difference between a current date and a target date corresponding to each requirement. The fourth and fifth processing sequences are operable override the alert status based on user selections. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306012 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING AND PREDICTING CROP PERFORMANCE - The invention provides a method of managing fertiliser and irrigation inputs for a crop, the method comprising obtaining management data for the crop, the management data including a planting date for the crop; obtaining weather data representative of the geographic area of the crop; obtaining soil description data representative of the geographic area of the crop; calculating an emergence date at least partly from the planting date; calculating a plurality of nitrogen deficit values at least partly from the emergence date and the soil description data, the nitrogen deficit values associated with respective dates each later than the emergence date; calculating a plurality of water deficit values at least partly from the emergence date and the weather data, the water deficit values associated with respective dates each later than the emergence date; and presenting on a display a schedule of recommended nitrogen application values, irrigation values and application dates, the schedule calculated at least partly from the nitrogen deficit values and the water deficit values. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306013 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SCHEDULING A MEDICAL SERVICE - A method for scheduling a medical service employing at least one computer system is described. A request for a medical service is received at the computer system. The medical service is scheduled for a requested date. At least one nonpayment exposure factor is analyzed to determine whether providing the medical service involves a nonpayment exposure to a medical service provider. The medical service may then be rescheduled for a date after the requested date if the analysis indicates nonpayment exposure to the medical service provider. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306014 | UTILITY SERVICE COMPONENT RELIABILITY AND MANAGEMENT - A computer-implemented method and system performing allocating capital assets for managing a plurality of utility service components. The method includes ranking each of the utility service components based on data retrieved corresponding to the utility service components, calculating a base failure metric for each of the utility service components, receiving a selection of at least one utility service component of the plurality of utility service components inputted by a user, analyzing the selected utility service component under a plurality of improvement scenarios, calculating an estimated failure metric of the selected utility service component based on each of the improvement scenarios, and displaying comparison information between the base failure metric and the estimated failure metric. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306015 | Systems and Methods to Schedule Transactions - Systems and methods are provided to facilitate online transactions via mobile communications. In one aspect, a system includes an interchange coupled with a data storage facility. The interchange includes a common format processor and a plurality of converters to interface with a plurality of different controllers of mobile communications. The converters are configured to communicate with the controllers in different formats and to communicate with the common format processor in a common format. The common format processor is to instruct a first controller of the controllers, via a first converter of the converters, to communicate with a mobile phone at a mobile phone number of a user to schedule at least one future transaction, and to transmit one or more premium messages to the mobile phone to collect, via a telecommunication carrier of the mobile phone, funds in accordance with an amount scheduled for the future transaction. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306016 | PERSONALIZED TASK RECOMMENDATIONS - Personalized task recommendation technique embodiments are presented that involve recommending a particular task or tasks to a user which can be employed in furtherance of a desired goal based on observations of past users and how they accomplished this goal. The workflow that is recommended to a user is personalized in that it takes into account the demographic characteristics of the user and the workflow tasks they use. This involves grouping the aforementioned past users into groups whose users accomplish a particular goal using a similar workflow and exhibit similar demographic characteristics. A new user wishing assistance in completing a particular goal is then associated with the group having similar demographic and workflow choice characteristics to the new user. A workflow based on the workflows of the associated group is then recommended to the new user. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306017 | CREATING, CONFIRMING, AND MANAGING EMPLOYEE SCHEDULES - A system and method for creating, confirming and managing employee schedules comprises creating a schedule having time slots comprising shifts having employees, publishing the schedule on a network to the employees, and receiving a response of a confirmation, a request for shift change, and a null response from each employee. For each employee, if a null response is received, a reminder is sent. If request for shift change is received, an alert is sent to eligible employees using a preferred communication mode, and if one of the eligible employees responds, the shift change may be confirmed automatically or with manager approval. If approved, the employee requesting the change and the eligible employee are notified of the change; if not approved, both employees are notified of the lack of change. The schedule can be published using an employee's preferred communication mode. All steps contain implications for the system's three-step color-coding schema. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306018 | Meeting State Recall - Meeting state recall may be provided. A meeting context may be saved at the end of and/or during an event. The meeting context may comprise, for example, a hardware configuration, a software configuration, a recording of the meeting, and/or data associated with a subject of the meeting. The meeting context may be associated with an ongoing project and may be restored at a subsequent meeting associated with the ongoing project. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306019 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TASK ASSIGNMENT AND ALERT - A computerized process includes using a processor to receive data associated with a mobile location device such as a mobile phone. The data permits a determination of a location of the mobile location device. The data is used to determine if a person associated with the mobile location device is away from a particular location such as a place of business. If so, the processor automatically assigns a task of the person associated with the mobile phone to a second person. In another embodiment, the processor automatically transmits an alert to a second person as a function of the location of the mobile location device. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306020 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WORKFLOW MANAGEMENT WITH CONFIGURABLE STATES AND EXTENSIBILITY - A workflow management system provides a GUI configuration tool that allows end users to configure the states and state properties of workflows and workers without rewriting the program. The application also provides an interface that allows the use of extensible code to perform custom functions at particular states and at particular state transitions of a workflow. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306021 | CONTACT CENTER INTEGRATION INTO VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS - A contact center has an interface with a virtual environment implemented in a computer system. The operation of the contact center includes receiving, from the virtual environment, spatial information relating to the spatial position within the virtual environment of an inhabitant of the virtual environment, and queuing a contact relating to that inhabitant in a queuing system of the contact center. Queuing decisions are based, at least in part, on the spatial information of the inhabitant in the virtual environment. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306022 | ADVERTISEMENT CONTENT SELECTION AND PRESENTATION - Systems, devices and methods that enable advertisement on mobile computing applications are provided. More specifically, described herein are devices and methods that are capable of delivering relatively more friendly advertising information to a user while causing less interference on graphics-based user interfaces of such devices. Integral projector modules which may be embedded in mobile computing devices are also provided. These modules may be capable of externally projecting advertising content upon most any surface. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306023 | Systems and Methods of Selecting Advertisements Using a Local User Profile - Systems and methods are disclosed for providing user-targeted advertisements to content recipients. Such advertisements may, for example, be selected using a user profile that is maintained locally at the recipient's computing or other content consuming device. A user profile can include information about the user's past viewing behavior. One exemplary embodiment uses a local content player software application to maintain a user profile based on contextual, behavioral, demographic, and other data linked to the content, the user's viewing habits, and/or location, among other things. Such a content player can select advertisements by matching user content information with user profile information. User profile information can be limited to local use to protect user privacy concerns. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306024 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF PROVIDING AN ONLINE SURVEY AND SUMMARIZING SURVEY RESPONSE DATA - Embodiments disclosed herein include systems and methods which allow for the creation of online surveys in which thematically-related questions are grouped together as meta-questions to reduce the perceived and/or actual time and effort needed to complete the survey. Further disclosed embodiments provide the ability to provide a summary display of survey response data in an aggregate format such as a sentence (or pseudo-sentence) which summarizes answers given to a series of thematically related questions. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306025 | COLLABORATIVE OPTIMIZATION OF ONLINE ADVERTISEMENT RETURN ON INVESTMENT - An online advertisement system determines which of a plurality of advertisement clickthroughs are successful online events. A successful online event is based on an advertisement online reference and a success online reference. The system further correlates the number of successful online events for a traffic originator. In addition, the online advertisement system computes an advertisement penalty based on the computed correlation. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306026 | PLACING PAY-PER-CLICK ADVERTISEMENTS VIA CONTEXT MODELING - An advertisement platform system makes advertisement placement decision via context modeling. The advertisement platform system receives advertisements and a plurality of advertisement target pages, wherein each of the advertisements is associated with one of the advertisement target pages. Furthermore, the advertisement platform system computes a similarity metric between one of the advertisement target and a displayed page. The advertisement platform system selects one of the advertisements for display in the display page based on the computed similarity metric between one of the plurality of advertisement target that corresponds to the selected one of the advertisement and the display page. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306027 | Net-Metering In A Power Distribution System - net-metering in a power distribution system that includes a DRG system that is capable of providing power to a local load, an electric utility, and one or more batteries for storage, where net-metering is carried out iteratively during operation of the power distribution system and includes: creating, by a decision control engine, a local load and generation profile for a predefined period of time; deciding, by the decision control engine in accordance with revenue optimizing decision criteria and in dependence upon the local load and generation profile, present and projected utility power purchase prices, and a present state of charge of the batteries, whether to sell or store locally generated power; providing locally generated power to the electric utility if the decision control engine decides to sell locally generated power; and charging batteries with locally generated power if the decision control engine decides to store locally generated power. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306028 | METHODS AND APPARATUS TO MODEL WITH GHOST GROUPS - Example methods and apparatus to model with ghost respondents are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes estimating discrete choice utility values for a plurality of respondents based on a plurality of market-available products, and dividing the plurality of respondents into groups based on an ownership status of the plurality of market-available products. The example method also includes identifying a test starter product from the plurality of market-available products based on test criteria indicative of a degree of similarity with the new product, generating a ghost group associated with the new product, and assigning utility values of the test starter product to the new product in the ghost group. Additionally, the example method includes tailoring the utility values assigned to the new product with a ghost group utility adjustment rule, and generating a ghost group model to represent consumers of the new product. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306029 | Cardholder Clusters - A system and method of using transaction data for a population of account holders, such as credit card holders, is described. A frequency distribution input variable (Frd) and average amount distribution input variable (Avd) are calculated for each account and each merchant category. The Frd and Avd, either alone or in conjunction with each other, are used to assign accounts to clusters as well as calculate factors for factor analysis. The assigned cluster and calculated factors for each account are both used for further processing, such for as selecting accounts to which advertising materials will be sent or determining a surrogate account for a control group. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306030 | Contextual Content Targeting - A first item and a second item placed with content in a first medium are identified, and first performance information associated with the placement of the first item in the first medium and second performance information associated with the placement of the second item in the first medium are received. The first performance information is compared to the second performance information, and using at least one processor and based on the comparison of the first performance information to the second performance information, one of the first item or the second item is selected for placement with the same content in a second medium, the second medium being different from the first medium. The selected one of the first item and the second item then is forwarded. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306031 | System and Method for Product Role Analysis - The present invention relates to a system and method for analyzing product roles. The system receives a listing of products for classification into roles. The system receives volume data for each item, as well as demand coefficient. Elasticity of the products may be determined from the demand coefficients. Product volumes and elasticities may then be compared against one another by graphing the product by its volume versus elasticity. From this comparison the products may be classified into one or more roles. These roles include image items, niche products, assortment completers, and profit drivers. The assortment completer role is populated with products which have high relative elasticity and low relative volume. Niche product role is populated with products which have low relative elasticity and low relative volume. The image item role is populated with products which have high relative elasticity and high relative volume. And lastly, the profit driver role is populated with products which have low relative elasticity and high relative volume. This comparison may also include generating an “image value” for the product. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306032 | Systems and Methods to Summarize Transaction Data - Systems and methods to summarize transaction data via cluster analysis and factor analysis. In one aspect, a method includes identifying at least one set of clusters based on a cluster analysis of transaction records to group entities, identifying a plurality of factors based on a factor analysis of the transaction records to reduce correlations in spending variables, classifying an entity according to the at least one set of clusters, and computing values of the factors based on the transaction records of the entity. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306033 | ELECTRICAL POWER METERING AND BILLING NETWORK - A method and system for facilitating the purchase of electricity between static provider (e.g, an Outlet Owner (OO)) and dynamic/mobile customer (e.g., a Plug Holder (PH)). The system can create open-market, real-time rate and cost determinations based on the conditions of a Charging Instance (CI) and other electricity transfers. In an embodiment, the invention can provide a Transaction Center configured to receive Charging Instance information over communications links. The Transaction Center can include computers and storage devices configured to process Charging Instance data and reconcile accounts of Plug Holders and Outlet Owners. The Transaction Center can be configured to determine the cost of electricity for a particular outlet and a particular plug. Promotional and market data can be used to calculate the cost. Clusters of outlets and groups of Plug Holders can be established. The Transaction Center can perform heuristic analysis of the data associated with a collection of Charging Instances. Users can receive predictive data for their vehicle configuration and current state based on accumulated data. The Transaction Center can communicate with Enabling Devices, Outlets, Connected Devices, and Vehicles. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306034 | System & method for facilitating projected transactions - The present invention provides various capabilities of facilitating projected transactions by managing accounts, projections, and incentives. Features of the various embodiments of the present invention include multiple access options, comprising web mediated interactions and provisionings of compilations of projections and incentives in conjunction with transaction venues, among others. Other features include identifying of incentives related to account associated projections, appraising and comptrolling of incentive benefits, and assessing of projections, incentives, and their various realization statuses. Provisionings of projections and/or incentives will be often venue focused, with substantial degrees of projection and/or incentive compilation customization, modification, and/or provisionings available when accessing an interaction facility via multiple modes. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306035 | DIGITAL MEDIA INVENTORY CONTROL, DISTRIBUTION AND DESTRUCTION SYSTEM - The system ( | 2010-12-02 |
20100306036 | Method, System and Apparatus for Evaluation of Employee Competencies Using a Compression/Acceleration Methodology - A mechanism to evaluate the value of employee competencies across a business entity is provided. Managers provide raw interpretations of employee competencies in a variety of selected competency areas. The raw evaluations of employee competencies are weighted and stored according to an organizational utility of each competency to the business entity, arriving at an adjusted competency value for each competency. Depth of an employee's competency in a particular area is evaluated by selecting the highest adjusted competency value for an employee and then compressing that highest adjusted competency value in order to level initial assessments of an employee's strongest skill. This compressed value is augmented by one or more accelerators based upon the assessments of the employee's other competencies. The result is an overall domain competency rating for the employee that can then be used for comparison against other employees in the business entity. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306037 | METHOD FOR PROVIDING SHOPPING MALL AND SERVER SYSTEM THEREFORE - A method for providing a virtual shopping mall is provided. The method includes receiving a request for a multi-party goods sale contest, proceeding with the multi-party goods sale contest when the contest is established in response to the request, analyzing a contest result in consideration of a sale record after a predetermined time lapses or other triggering even occurs, determining a goods sale rank of the plurality of sellers based on the analyzed sale result, and giving different benefits to buyers purchasing goods of the plurality of sellers according to the determined sale rank. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306038 | Rewarding Initial Purchasers of Digital Media - Rewarding a first classification of purchasers of digital media is provided. Such a classification may include initial purchasers (e.g., purchasers of new items) and secondary purchasers (e.g., purchasers of previously used items). A digital medium is played on a digital device and a notification is sent to a server. The server identifies the user of the digital device based on a unique device identifier associated with the digital device and a stored association of that digital device with the user. The user is determined to belong to the first classification of purchasers of the digital medium based on a unique identifier associated with the digital medium. The user, belonging to the first classification of purchasers, is provided with access to a reward that is not generally accessible to users belonging to a second classification. Users that are identified as belonging to the second classification may be offered a chance to upgrade their classification and access the reward. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306039 | TECHNIQUES FOR CUSTOMIZED DELIVERY OF ADVERTISEMENTS - Techniques for customizing the delivery of advertisements to a client. In one embodiment, the customization comprises dynamically determining a length of time for an advertisement, where the length of time represents the minimum amount of time for which the advertisement is to be output (e.g., displayed) by a client. The length of time may be dynamically determined on a per-advertisement based upon multiple criteria. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306040 | ON-LINE REFERRAL - Various methods and systems are provided to facilitate on-line transactions through the issuance of rewards for users who referral a product that is purchased by another. In one example, a user selects a product that the user purchased and an email recipient. The payment provider, who the user used to purchase the product, sends an email with a URL to the recipient, where the URL contains the merchant product page and the email address of the user or person making the referral. If the recipient purchases the referred product, such as clicking on the link or copying and pasting the URL, the payment provider is notified and issues a reward to the user based on the purchase by the recipient. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306041 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DISTRIBUTING LEAD GENERATION FEES - A system for distributing a loan lead generation fee, including: a computer including a processor in communication with a computer-readable medium and a network, the computer-readable medium having a database stored thereon, the database including a listing of the plurality of participants and hierarchical relationships therebetween; a participant input subsystem operably connected to the computer and to the network; a lead generation fee payment subsystem for receiving the lead generation fee that is generated upon closing of the loan; a calculation subsystem for calculating loan lead generation fee payments to be made to at least one participant, wherein the calculation subsystem calculates a fraction of the loan lead generation fee payment to pay the at least one participant based on the hierarchical relationship between the at least one participant and the plurality of participants; and a payment subsystem for distributing a payment to the at least one participant. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306042 | SYSTEM AND METHOD THAT PROVIDE INCENTIVES TO QUALIFIED USERS OF AN ELECTRONIC TRADING SYSTEM - Systems and methods for electronic trading that provide incentives to users of a trading system. The systems and methods may monitor a trading activity of the user and determine that the orders submitted by the user over a period of time exceed a first pre-determined threshold. Systems and methods also determine that a spread of the plurality of orders exceeds a second pre-determined threshold. Based on these determinations, the user is designated as qualifying for a special status, which entitles the user to incentives in trading. Systems and methods apply the incentives to an order submitted by the user. One such incentive provides the user with a priority in a trading queue, where orders submitted by the user are executed in advance of other orders in the trading queue. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306043 | Measuring Impact Of Online Advertising Campaigns - Methods and systems allow measurement of effectiveness of advertising campaigns based on online advertisements targeted towards specific sets of members. A set of members is allowed to see an advertisement whereas another set of members is withheld from seeing the advertisement under conditions similar to the first set. Test sets obtained from the two sets of members are polled with questions evaluating effectiveness of advertisement. The poll questions evaluate effectiveness based on factors including brand awareness, purchase intent, or brand favorability. Statistical analysis is performed to quantitatively measure the effectiveness of the advertisement by measuring the improvement in above factors as a result of showing the advertisement. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306044 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REPORTING ADVERTISING METRIC DATA - A method comprising the steps of using a processor running a program to perform the step of receiving, at an advertising entity, a report message containing an identifier of an application which presented advertisements, and a data structure with metrics for the advertisements which were presented by the application. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306045 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR KEYWORD DISCOVERY FROM PAID INCLUSION DATA FOR SEARCH ENGINE MARKETING - The invention provides a method of providing information over a network, including preparing a paid inclusion representation of a web page, transmitting the paid inclusion representation to a search engine, transmitting search engine marketing links to web pages to a search engine, wherein the web pages are stored at a plurality of web page locations, a search request transmitted from a client location connected over the network to the search engine, receiving a click data report from the search engine receiving the paid inclusion representation, utilizing the click data report to determine keywords, and transmitting the keywords to the search engine receiving the search engine marketing links. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306046 | FAST BUILDING AND MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SEARCH ENGINE MARKETING - The invention provides a method of providing information over a network, including creating combined information by combining information from a list of product web pages and links to the products with predetermined patterns for keywords, ad titles, and descriptions, and uploading the combined information to the search engine to create the campaign for the links, wherein the web pages are stored at a plurality of web page locations, a search request transmitted from a client location connected over the network to the search engine being utilized at the search engine to extract at least one of the links of the web pages from a search database connected to the search engine, and the search engine transmitting at least one search result link to the client location, the search result link being based on the search request and the search result link being utilized at the client location to transmit a request for the web page over the network such that the web page is transmitted from the web page location to the client location in response to the request from the client location for the web page. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306047 | SYNONYM BUILDING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SEARCH ENGINE MARKETING CAMPAIGN - The invention provides a method of providing information over a network, including extracting a synonym for each of a plurality of keywords, associating each synonym with a respective one of a set of links, and transmitting the synonyms to the search engine for association with the links as a search engine marketing campaign, wherein the links are to web pages that are stored at a plurality of web page locations, a search request transmitted from a client location connected over the network to the search engine being utilized at the search engine to extract at least one of the links of the web pages from a search database connected to the search engine, and the search engine transmitting at least one search result link to the client location, the search result link being based on the search request and the search result link being utilized at the client location to transmit a request for the web page over the network such that the web page is transmitted from the web page location to the client location in response to the request from the client location for the web page. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306048 | Matching Content Providers and Interested Content Users - Methods, systems, and apparatuses to match content providers and interested content users are described. Input indicating an accessing of a network location by a user is received along with the user's identifier. The identifier is obfuscated and transmitted to a content provider configured to provide content to the user at the network location. A re-direct identifier is transmitted to the user instructing the user to directly contact the content provider. When the user contacts the content provider, the user transmits a provider-specific identifier by which the content provider identifies the user and the obfuscated user identifier. The content provider updates a database of obfuscated user identifiers and provider-specific user identifiers based on the received identifiers. Thus, the content provider is enabled to identify interested users based on obfuscated and provider-specific user identifiers. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306049 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MATCHING ADVERTISEMENTS TO WEB FEEDS - A system for serving advertisements in a networked environment includes a web feed ad server operable to receive web feed information, identify concept terms in the web feed information, match advertisements to the concept terms, and communicate the advertisement to a terminal. Concept terms are identified by comparing terms in the web feed to information in an encyclopedia database, a product listing database, and/or a bidded keyword database. Rewrites associated with the concept terms are generated by a sponsored search ad system. The concept terms and rewrites are placed in a document and communicated to a context matching ad system operable to match an advertisement to the content of the document. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306050 | Distributing Personalized Content - The invention provides a method and system for distributing personalized content to potentially large numbers of recipients. A pool is selected, from among all content available for distribution, of those content elements that will be made available for simultaneous distribution, and personalized content is selected for distribution from that pool. The content of the pool can change with new selections over time. For each individual recipient, content elements in the pool are examined to determine if they are predicted to be of sufficient interest to that recipient for distribution, and if so, those content elements are distributed. If not, successive content elements in the pool are examined, relaxing the standard for sufficient interest, until at least one content element is found and distributed to the individual recipient. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306051 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SELECTING SEARCH LISTING IN AN INTERNET SEARCH ENGINE AND ORDERING THE SEARCH LISTINGS - Provided is a keyword advertising system for extracting search listings in response to a search request. The system comprises a memory for storing a search information database; a bid control module selecting a predetermined number of search listings primarily according to the bid amount and an estimated advertising period; a ranking module generating an ordered search result list; and a computation control module computing the advertising period for the received bids. The ranking module orders the selected search listings in the search result list according to the selected search listings' respective bid amounts and the estimated advertising period and the computation control module estimating advertising costs uses the bid amount of the advertiser and average number of clicks information during a predetermined previous period. The computation control module further calculates the estimated advertising period using deposit from the advertiser and the estimated advertising costs. The search information database stores at least one bid received from advertisers, the at least one bid being associated with a cost per click advertising, the each bid being associated with a keyword, a bid amount and a search listing. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306052 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MODIFYING INTERNET CONTENT THROUGH REDIRECTION OF EMBEDDED OBJECTS - Disclosed is a method, and related apparatus, for directing network service provider selected embedded objects to an internet user client. In the method, a network service provider maintains a database of internet user clients that includes a particular service-type value for each internet user client. The network service provider analyzes an HTTP transaction involving the internet user client. The network service provider responds to an HTTP transaction requesting an embedded web object by forwarding to the internet user client, an alternative embedded web object selected in accordance with the user client's particular service-type value, wherein the alternative embedded web object arrives to the internet user client before a response to the originally requested embedded web object. The network service provider causes the originally requested embedded web object to be forwarded to the internet user client after the alternative embedded web object is forwarded to the internet user client. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306053 | Method and Device for Publishing Cross-Network User Behavioral Data - The present invention relates to summarizing cross-network user behavioral data. The summarizing cross-network user behavioral data may particularly include publishing the data to one or more data structures that become accessible to a server hosting an authorized domain when a user accesses the authorized domain. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306054 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING ADVERTISEMENTS - A method is provided for automatically generating and delivering customized targeted advertisements from a first computing device to a second computing device used by a user. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306055 | COMPELLED USER INTERACTION WITH ADVERTISEMENT WITH DYNAMICALLY GENERATED CHALLENGE - Software applications may include many types of sponsorship-related features, such as integrated advertisements displayed to users and captchas that improve advertisement targeting by distinguishing human users vs. automated processes. However, these techniques may consume developers' efforts and creativity, and, if not well-integrated in the application, may annoy or distract users. As an alternative technique, an advertisement may be programmatically analyzed to generate a challenge and a solution. The challenge and an input component may be integrated into the application; a user's challenge response may be automatically compared with the solution; and a reward may be presented for satisfactory input. This automated technique may better integrate advertisements with the application and may improve the effectiveness of the advertising, while also reducing the amount of developer effort and creativity expended on the advertisement integration. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306056 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF REMOTE MACHINE SERVICING - A system for servicing a printing system includes a first device and a processor in communication with a storage medium. The system receives a first request to service the first device, determines a first number of carbon credits associated with driving a vehicle to a location of the first device, receives a second request to service a second printing device having a second number of carbon credits, offers a selected number of carbon credits to a customer to incent acceptance of remote repair of the first device, and causes remote service to be performed relative to the first device upon an acceptance of the offer. The selected number of carbon credits may be greater than the first number of carbon credits and, at least in part, to the first and second numbers of carbon credits. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306057 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING ACTIONABLE OBJECTS DURING PERIODS OF NETWORK UNAVAILABILITY - An approach is provided for the presentation of an actionable object on a mobile device. A presentation of an actionable object is initiated on a mobile device. The actionable object invokes an action. An input from a user specifying selection of the actionable object is received. Whether the mobile device is able to complete the action is determined. If the mobile device cannot complete the action, the action is substituted with an alternative action relating to the actionable object. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306058 | Method and System for Improved E-Commerce Shopping - An e-commerce system and method combining different product presentation formats, where each format has a video presentation component. One such format is the presentation of a live, pre-existing “shop at home” video production feed, consisting of continuously scheduled 5 segments, each segment presenting a product or set of products. A Video on Demand (VOD) format, where users may request different video streams. The VOD streams being similar to the live feed, but stored on a server and organized in one or more different segment orders, as compared to the original order of the live feed. Third, a traditional e-commerce product catalog may be provided. However, as an enhancement, the product catalog may be connected to the VOD server, and stream the presentation segment associated with each product, when a user is viewing the product detail page for that product. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306059 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING BANNER SERVICES - The exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for submitting a banner from a computer system in communication with a client device at a hotspot. The method includes determining if a packet coming from a client device is one that is enabled to receive a banner, and sends a insert message to the client device if enabled to receive the banner. The method further includes associating an appropriate banner for display on the client device by a location of the client device, and sending a banner to the client device for display. The system includes an inspection means that determines if a packet coming from a client device is one that is enabled to receive a banner, and sends a insert message to the client device if enabled to receive the banner. The system further includes a banner lookup means that associates an appropriate banner for display on the client device by a location of the client device, and a banner send means that sends a banner to the client device for display. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306060 | METHOD FOR ADVERTISING USING MOBILE DEVICES - A method for advertising using mobile devices is disclosed. According to one embodiment of the disclosure, a method for advertising using mobile devices includes syncing at least one identifier code to the phone number of a mobile device, wherein the at least one identifier code corresponds to data encoded on the integrated circuit of an RFID tag. The method also includes receiving a first keyword at a target phone number from the phone number of the mobile device and associating the phone number of the mobile device and the at least one identifier code to at least one advertising program based at least partially upon the first keyword. The method further includes producing one or more incentive messages based at least upon the detection of the data encoded on the RFID tag. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306061 | System and method for directing targeted advertisements in IP telecommunications - A Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) targeted advertisement delivery method that is operable in a processor coupled to a memory. The method includes monitoring all outgoing communications on a server in order to identify a VoIP telephony signal. Upon detection of a VoIP telephony signal indicating that a VoIP call setup is in progress, the method determines whether a caller identifier associated with the VoIP telephony signal identifies an associated caller as a candidate for a targeted advertisement delivery. If the caller is a candidate for a targeted advertisement delivery, identifying and retrieving a targeted advertisement for presentation to the caller during the call setup. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306062 | TRACKING PUBLIC PERFORMANCES USING UNIQUE IDENTIFIERS - Identifiers for first and second works can be received, and associated with respective unique identifiers. The unique identifiers can then be utilized to track public performances of the works. One or both of the works can be a copyrighted work, and the unique identifiers can be used to assist in calculating royalty payments. Additionally, one or more of the works being tracked using the unique numbers can be an advertising spot, and an advertising rate can be calculated based on the tracking. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306063 | Method and Apparatus for Generating Advertisement - Disclosed is a method and apparatus for generating an advertisement. The method includes: decomposing contents of an advertisement into advertisement elements; selecting at least one skin element from a skin of a system; combining the advertisement elements and the at least one skin element to generate an advertisement skin; and taking the advertisement skin as a new skin of the system. The apparatus includes: an initialization module, adapted to decompose contents of an advertisement into advertisement elements and select at least one skin element from a skin of a system; and a combining module, adapted to combine the advertisement elements and the at least one skin element to generate an advertisement skin, and take the advertisement skin as a new skin of the system. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306064 | Method, system and apparatus for interactive billboard advertising at a live entertainment event - A system and method collects and processes data from attendants to a live entertainment event at a venue. The system and method employ a wireless interactive device that is capable of (i) receiving and transmitting messages, (ii) accepting input via a user interface, and (iii) displaying messages on an electronic display. The system includes a sign, which presents to one or more of the attendants, a message with a request to respond back via the user interface. The request is transmitted by the interactive device. A receiving device receives the responses at a central processing station or distributed processing stations. Received responses from one or more of the attendants at the venue are stored as attendant data by a storage device. A central processor is adapted to process the stored attendant data into efficacy data for the sign. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306065 | Web-Service Transaction Systems - The present invention provides a method and apparatus for providing real-time, two-way transactional capabilities on the Web. Specifically, one embodiment of the present invention discloses a method for enabling object routing, the method comprising the steps of creating a virtual information store containing information entries and attributes associating each of the information entries and the attributes with an object identity, and assigning a unique network address to each of the object identities. A method is also disclosed for enabling service management of the value-added network service, to perform OAM&P functions on the services network | 2010-12-02 |
20100306066 | TECHNIQUES FOR DISPLAYING AN ADVERTISEMENT ACROSS MULTIPLE PAGES - Techniques for persisting an advertisement across multiple web pages served from page-view based websites. The advertisement is persisted across multiple pages served from page-view based websites without creating new advertisement impressions. This reduces the number of advertisement impressions and also extends the amount of time that a particular advertisement can be shown to a user even as the user navigates across multiple web pages. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306067 | AUTOMATED SELL SYSTEM - An automated sell system comprises a hardware device for inputting product information onto a server. A network allows a user to access the product information together with a means for generating a coded file of the product information for use as an advertisement on a website. Preferably the advertisement is presented in accordance with appropriate marketing practices. In one embodiment, the means for generating the coded file is run by a single command. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306068 | ORDER RECEIVING SYSTEM AND TERMINAL DEVICE - A terminal device according to the present invention is used, in a facility where a plurality of shops are collected, by a customer who purchases a product at any of the shops. The terminal device includes: a portion that displays a list of the plurality of shops, and has the customer specify a shop to be used from the shops in the list; a portion that displays a list of products carried by the shop to be used, and has the customer specify an ordered product from the products in the list; a portion that transmits information indicating the ordered product; a portion that receives information indicating that the ordered product can be handed over, and a portion that, when the reception is performed, provides to the customer a notification indicating that the ordered product can be received. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306069 | Method and System for Purchasing Non-Fuel Merchandise - The present methods and systems (including computer software, computer hardware, and an intermediary system) facilitate a transaction for non-fuel merchandise items at any fuel dispenser during a pre-pay or post-pay inside the store fuel sale. Consumers can select non-fuel merchandise items at a fuel dispenser (either via a fuel dispenser key pad or a separate computerized customer interface, attached to a fuel dispenser) at the time they are selecting their fuel at the fuel dispenser. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306070 | PRINT SYSTEM FOR OUTPUTTING TRANSACTION STATEMENT - A print system allowing a user to obtain a transaction statement in a safe and easy manner is provided. For this purpose, a print system includes: a banking terminal; and a digital multi-function peripheral performing data communication with a Web server having transaction statement data and PIN code stored in association with each other, through an external network and an in-store network. The banking terminal is adapted to include an operation panel receiving a request from a user for an output of a transaction statement, and a PIN code generating unit and a receipt issuing unit for generating and outputting a PIN code in response to the received request. The digital multi-function peripheral is adapted to include an operation panel receiving the PIN code input by a user operation, a control unit obtaining transaction statement data corresponding to the received PIN code from the Web server, and a printer unit outputting a transaction statement based on the obtained transaction statement data. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306071 | Method to transfer sales tax in real time from point of sale to a collecting government agency - A method begins when a merchant sells to a retail consumer. The consumer then pays the merchant by credit card or debit card. The terminal of the merchant collects the sales data and transmits the sales data to a processor along with the sales revenue. The processor determines the geographic location of the merchant or the customer and the type of goods and services purchased, and then refers to an electronic table of tax rates by taxing authority. The processor then calculates the appropriate sales taxes and its commission upon a computer system. The processor then divides the sales taxes and commission from the sales revenue from immediate deposit to a collecting government agency and the merchant respectively. The method collects sales data upon the terminal or keypad of the merchant at the point of sale. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306072 | INSTANT FINANCIAL CREDIT SYSTEM - Systems, apparatus, and computer program products are provided that allow for a credit partner, such as a retailer, to process a customer credit card application at multiple point-of-sale/point-of-contact channels, such as a manned or self-service cash register, a manned or unmanned kiosk, partner web site, a call center or the like and, if the customer is approved, allow for the customer to transact using the approved credit account at the credit partner location/site. The systems, methods and computer program provide for integration of the credit application system within multiple point-of-sale channels without requiring a large degree of customization and/or configuration at the credit partner level. In addition, embodiments support both active and passive instant credit decision processing. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306073 | IDENTIFYING AND PURCHASING PRE-RECORDED CONTENT - Example embodiments of the present invention relate to identifying unknown media content. For example, systems and methods are provided which allow for the identification of broadcast content by receiving a request message identifying a content source and a time; identifying a content item broadcast from the content source at the time; retrieving information identifying the content item; creating a response message including the information; and transmitting the response message to a user device. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306074 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO SUPPORT CODEC DELIVERY MODELS FOR IMS NETWORKS - An architecture (system) and method is provided for transcoding codec information to be sent in a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) signaling stream for rendering rich digital media content. The method is implemented on a computer infrastructure and includes: determining a codec associated with content to be sent to one or more requesting devices; determining that at least one of the one or more requesting devices do not have the codec associated with the content to be sent to the one or more requesting devices; providing codec information to the at least one of the one or more requesting devices; and sending the content to the one or more requesting devices. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306075 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ACCESSING CRUISE SERVICES USING A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE - This is directed to systems and methods for accessing cruise services using a single, integrated application available to a portable electronic device. Through the integrated application, a user can access and control cruise services throughout all aspects of the cruise experience, including before booking a cruise, before boarding a cruise, while on the cruise ship, when a cruise ship is docked at a port, and after the cruise has finished. In some embodiments, the integrated application can provide the user with notifications of available cruise activities. For example, unsold cruise activities for cruise activities that can be purchased can be identified. The user can then be provided with a notification of the unsold cruise activity, provided with an option to purchase the unsold cruise activity, or both. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306076 | Trusted Integrity Manager (TIM) - A system for use with a trusted service manager (TSM) and a mobile device having a subscriber unique identifying data, according to one embodiment, includes: a server in which the server validates an application against the unique and identifying data of the mobile device and provides the validated application for the mobile device; and a secure element (SE) acting as a client in which the SE is present in the mobile device as client; the validated application from the server is installed in the SE; and the SE is adapted to execute the validated application to perform a service process. The service process includes enablement of payment functions on the mobile device, in which enablement of payment functions includes: providing secure communication between the mobile device and the server; secure provisioning of a payment instrument on the mobile device, wherein authentication and verification for the payment instrument on the mobile device is provided by the server; and binding the payment instruments and the validated application to the mobile device to provide a strong ID management for enhanced user protection and system security and integrity. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306077 | System and method of facilitating transactions - The invention teaches methods for facilitating financial transactions for online retailers/wholesalers/merchants by pre-associating a good offered for sale with one or more available vendors for that item, and by automatically notifying the vendor of the sale and automatically sending the vendor its cut of the sales price. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306078 | System and Method for Fuel Price-Protection - A fuel-price protection mechanism whereby customers may pre-purchase quantity-based amounts of fuel and retrieve said fuel at any participating fuel retailer. The quantity-based amounts of fuel are represented in the customers account as a quantity-based fuel credit. The fuel credits may be redeemed at a participating fuel retailer to obtain fuel. The fuel credits are associated with a customer's home geographical region or a customer's selected price class. A conversion mechanism will allow the customer to redeem fuel credits in a different geographical region or price class. Redemption within the home region or the customer selected price class can occur without conversion. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306079 | Collaborative Product Taxonomy Instantiation - A method forms a collaborative product taxonomy instantiation by starting, with or defining a base taxonomy instantiation and collaborating between trading parties to negotiate a collaborative product taxonomy instantiation. The taxonomy instantiation comprises a set of characteristics and values of a desired product. The method assigns a set of characters to the collaborative product taxonomy instantiation. The method uses the set of alphanumeric characters in an electronic trade exchange between a buyer software application and a seller software application. The seller software application may determine whether it has a product that is equivalent to the collaborative product taxonomy instantiation. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306080 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR RECEIPT MANAGEMENT AND PRICE COMPARISON - The present invention relates to shopping assistance solutions, and in particular, to methods and systems for maintaining purchase records, creating shopping lists, and comparing merchant pricing. The user experience in performing shopping functions is simplified and enhanced over existing methods. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306081 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ORDERING GOODS, SERVICES AND CONTENT OVER AN INTERNETWORK USING A VIRTUAL PAYMENT ACCOUNT - A virtual payment system for paying for goods, services and content ordered over an internetwork comprising a commerce gateway component and a credit processing server component ( | 2010-12-02 |
20100306082 | Garment fit portrayal system and method - An on-line garment fit portrayal system configured to operate on a specialized server linked over the internet or any network using standard web services to at least one web-enabled player device capable of common image format display is described. The system comprises a server-side garment model storage capability containing one or more garments, with parameters for each garment chosen from the groupings that include a garment piece parts list, piece spatial properties, piece mechanical parameters, piece optical parameters, and assembly information; a server-side modeler mechanism configured for generating a three-dimensional model of a subject's body from individual body data, the model being represented by body data stored in a body model storage capability; a server-side simulator mechanism operatively coupled with the garment model storage capability and the body model storage capability for simulating a three-dimensional form fit of a garment represented in the garment model storage capability onto a body represented in the body model storage capability, the simulator mechanism producing a portrayal subject model; and a server-side rendering mechanism operatively coupled with the simulator mechanism for portraying a perspective view on any web-enabled device's display screen of the portrayal subject model representing a three-dimensional form fit of the garment on the subject's body. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306083 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR THE CONFIRMATION OF DOWNLOAD DELIVERY AND ITS USE WITHIN A CLEARINGHOUSE SERVICE - Systems and methods for the tracking and reporting of the progress, status and completion of the delivery of digital assets, through a network such as the Internet and/or a wireless network, to an end-user device such as a computer or a handheld device, captured by a database that serves as a clearinghouse for multiple parties who are interested in the knowledge provided about the digital asset delivery status and completion. Consequently, the described systems and methods, acting as a centralized clearinghouse of asset delivery transactional data, assist merchants, content owners, and other business stakeholders in determining when the transaction with a consumer is fully complete and associated fees can be exchanged between consumer and merchant as well as between merchant and content owner and other stakeholders. Furthermore, the systems and methods are for management and reporting of the consumer's behavioral trends, inclusive of many data points that can be correlated in order to establish content access credentials, business rules, fees, recommendations, and other parameters that can be put to use by merchants, content owners, and other stakeholders to improve the consumer experience and to offer consumers additional services, including additional entitlement to said digital asset, or a refund for failure to deliver, as the case may be. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306084 | NEED-BASED ONLINE VIRTUAL REALITY ECOMMERCE SYSTEM - An online virtual reality ecommerce system imposes needs upon its avatars, thereby enhancing the simulation of reality, and providing need-based motivations for ecommerce in addition to enjoyment-based motivations. The virtual needs also cause avatars to be perceived as independent beings which can independently enjoy, desire, and suffer based on experiences and purchases within the virtual world. This causes users to emotionally bond with their avatars, and to feel compassion, empathy, and even friendship toward them. Users feel increased desires to spend time online with their avatars, and to purchase goods for their avatars as well as for themselves. Avatars can be fantasy avatars in a virtual fantasy world, and their needs can include special, fantasy items. Basic needs can include food, clothing, shelter, exercise, bathing, shaving, medicine, and haircuts. Entertainment can be needed to avoid boredom, and specific tools, equipment, fuel, and/or transportation can be needed for various activities. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306085 | RAPID ITEM AUTHENTICATION VIA CONVENTIONAL COMMUNICATION CHANNELS - An authentication manager is provided that is accessible by a mobile wireless device through conventional networks. The mobile wireless device is configured to obtain information regarding at least one identification code displayed on an item and send such information to a the authentication manager. In response, authentication manager provides authentication information to the mobile wireless device. The authentication information indicates whether the at least one identification (and, by implication, the item to which it corresponds) is authentic or not. Additional information regarding the item may also be provided by the authentication manager. The authentication manager can decode and/or translate any received information regarding the at least one identification code as needed. The authentication manager provides the information regarding the at least one identification code to an authenticating entity that returns the authentication information to the authentication manager. Likewise, the additional information may also be provided by the authenticating entity. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306086 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TAGGING AND TRACKING DONATION TRANSACTIONS - Method and system for tagging and tracking donation transactions through accounting means between financial and non-financial entities, method comprising steps of accepting registration of one or more users to the System, accepting a donation transaction via Collection Point, capturing data related to the circumstances, type and quantum of a donation transaction, generating a Tracking Reference upon completion of the donation transaction, delivering a receipt for the donation transaction, in which is embedded the tracking reference for the associated donation, tracking the progress of the donation transaction between financial and non-financial entities by means of the interlinked transmission and receipt of reports, accepting inquiries as to the status or history of the donation transactions by reference to a cited tracking reference, accepting inquiries as to the status or history or delivery of the associated donation value by reference to a cited tracking reference and delivering reports in response to such inquiries. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306087 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ELECTRONICALLY CIRCULATING A CURRENCY - One or more currency notes deposited at a currency reserve may be electronically circulated by a transaction provider. The transaction provider may maintain a record of the ownership status of the one or more currency notes in a computer-readable storage medium. The transaction provider may provide for an entity to obtain ownership of a currency notes. The entity may submit a request to the transaction provider to transfer a currency note to another entity. The transaction provider may authorize the request, and may perform the transfer if the request is authorized. The transfer of ownership may take place while maintaining the physical currency note in the currency reserve. A record of the transaction may be stored by the transaction provider and/or transmitted to the parties to the transfer. The transaction provider may allow for the exchange or currency notes into other denomination and/or currency types. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306088 | SINGLE OR MULTI-COMPANY BUSINESS ACCOUNTING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SAME INCLUDING ACCOUNT NUMBER MAINTENANCE - A computer implemented method for account number maintenance used within a single or multi-company accounting system is provided. The method comprises at a processor, performing the account number maintenance on at least one of a plurality of accounts. Each of the accounts has a plurality of account segments. Performing the account number maintenance includes at least one of i) renaming the account segment of at least one of the accounts; ii) changing a length the account segment of at least one of the accounts from a first defined length having a first number of characters to a new defined length having a second number of characters; iii) changing the account segment of at least one of the accounts; iv) merging two or more of the accounts into one of the accounts; and v) splitting one of the accounts into two different accounts. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306089 | SINGLE OR MULTI-COMPANY BUSINESS ACCOUNTING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SAME INCLUDING VENDOR ACCOUNT MAINTENANCE - A computer implemented method for vendor account maintenance using a single or multi-company accounting system is provided. The method comprises at a processor, performing the vendor account maintenance on one or more vendors within the system including at least one of i) splitting the vendor into two different vendors as of a specified search criteria based on one or more checks that pay one or more vouchers associated with the vendor; and ii) merging two or more of the vendors into a single vendor as of a specified search criteria based on one or more checks that pay one or more vouchers associated with each of the two or more vendors. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306090 | DIGITAL CONTENT BILLING VIA MULTIPLE CHANNELS - Embodiments related to billing for digital content via multiple billing channels with different permissible prices are disclosed. One disclosed embodiment comprises a digital content server configured to receive from a content provider an input of a digital content item, send to the content provider a list of suggested prices that are permissible in each billing channel, and then receive an input of a selected price for the content item. If the selected price is from the list of suggested prices, then billing is enabled via each of the billing. On the other hand, if the selected price for the digital content item is not from the list of suggested prices, then billing is enabled via a first subset of billing channels for which the selected price is permissible, and not enabled via a second subset of billing channels for which the selected price is not permissible. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306091 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND APPARATUS FOR ESTABLISHING PAYEES BASED ON CLEARED ITEMS POSTED TO A FINANCIAL ACCOUNT - Systems, methods, and apparatus for establishing payees based on cleared items posted to a financial account are provided. Information associated with a cleared item posted to a financial account of a consumer may be obtained. Based at least in part on the obtained information, a payee associated with the cleared item may be identified. A form may be generated for activating, at a service provider, at least one of online payment functionality for payments made to the payee by the service provider on behalf of the consumer or electronic bill presentment of billing information of the payee to the consumer through the service provider. The form may be transmitted to a network entity for presentation to the consumer. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306092 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ELECTRONICALLY CIRCULATING A CURRENCY - Virtual currency notes may be derived from one or more currency notes deposited at a currency reserve and/or from an asset held by a depository institution. A transaction provider may provide for ownership and/or transfer of the notes by various entities. Ownership of virtual currency notes may be transferred between entities while the depository institution maintains the asset associated therewith. A virtual currency note may be transferred to a transfer account, which may cause an amount equivalent to the virtual currency note to be deposited therein. After the transfer to a transfer account, the transferred virtual currency note may be removed from electronic circulation and/or transferred to another entity. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306093 | Accounting Apparatus, Accounting Method and Computer-Readable Recording Medium for Recording Accounting Program Codes - An accounting apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention includes an accounting unit, an occupancy time counting unit and a charge discounting unit. The accounting unit is configured to impose a charge for use of a device that is an object of accounting on the basis of the number of operations and/or an operation time of the device. The occupancy time counting unit is configured to count an occupancy time that the device has been exclusively used by a user. The charge discounting unit is configured to discount the charge for use of the device on the basis of the occupancy time. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306094 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND APPARATUS FOR IDENTIFYING PAYEES FROM CLEARED ITEMS POSTED TO A FINANCIAL ACCOUNT - Systems, methods, and apparatus for identifying payees from cleared items posted to a financial account are provided. Information associated with one or more cleared items posted to a financial account of a consumer may be obtained. Based at least in part on the obtained information, at least one payee may be identified. A suggestion to add the identified at least one payee as one of an electronic biller of the consumer or a payee of the consumer for online payment functionality may be generated, wherein receiving an acceptance of the suggestion facilitates activation of an associated service for the consumer by a service provider. The generated suggestion may be transmitted to a network entity for presentation to the consumer. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306095 | METHOD FOR FINANCIAL FORECASTING - A method and system for financial allocation and forecasting for calculating daily, weekly, and monthly spending rates that can be used by a company or a person is disclosed, providing an over/under forecast variance. The forecast variance is converted to the number of days required to reduce all spending to zero to eliminate over spending. The method receives financial data either manually or by a program application and treats all transactions as cash equivalents. The method includes a plurality of program applications formulated to generate a plurality of forecasting parameters. A rate factor which is a subjective decision of the user is received from a range −3 to +3 to automatically calculate an under/over value variance. The invention utilizes Gregorian calendar that has a five week month occurring every three months to identify 7.7% savings of yearly income. Further, the method converts the irregular yearly and quarterly expenses into monthly amounts and put the expenses in savings. The method categorizes the spending into need which is essential and wants which is optional for the user. It integrates all financial decisions made within the invention into a forecast of today's cash balance. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306096 | Cross-Border Trading System using existing market structures - I have invented a system which enables the cross-border trading and settlement of securities and financial instruments worldwide by linking markets and exchanges using a specifically devised computer network. My system frees the markets and exchanges of prevailing limitations imposed by the need to harmonize the automated systems, rules, procedures and practices of existing markets and exchanges to achieve this objective. At the same time, my system does not affect the sovereign status of any home market or exchange, leaving all its laws and mechanisms uncompromised. In all of its respects, my system is novel, unique, without particular precedent, and has long been desired. It will advance economic activity and make possible growth with profit in markets and exchanges worldwide. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306097 | DECENTRALIZED ENERGY SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISTRIBUTING ENERGY IN A DECENTRALIZED ENERGY SYSTEM - In order to ensure the robustness of decentralized energy systems and suitable distribution of the energy in such networks to a large number of energy consumption units, the novel energy system is provided with corresponding agents. At least one agent is associated with each energy consumption unit and/or energy generation unit in the decentralized energy system. The agents are interlinked in such a way that each agent can communicate with other agents in the energy system. Each change in the power output or power consumption requires a trade act, as a result of which large balance errors are avoided. In order to make this coupling between electrical and monetary acts practicable, current consumption contracts of an extremely wide variety can be drawn up between generators and consumers. The energy system is configured such that the energy is distributed in the system at least partially on the basis of monetary transactions arranged between the agents. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306098 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRADING MULTIPLE TRADEABLE OBJECTS USING A SINGLE TRADING INTERFACE - A system and method are provided for displaying information related to a plurality of tradeable objects using a single graphical interface. One example graphical interface includes at least two screen regions displayed in relation to each other, with each region including a plurality of locations. Each location in the first screen region corresponds to a value along a first value axis, and each location in the second screen region corresponds to a value along a second value axis. The graphical interface also includes a first indicator in the first region and a second indicator in the second region. In response to a repositioning command based on an algorithm, the graphical interface includes a repositioned first value axis and the second value axis, such that the indicators are displayed in new locations determined based on the algorithm. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306099 | Systems and Methods to Process Transactions Based on Social Networking - Systems and methods to authenticate and process requests received via social networking websites. In one aspect, a system includes a data storage facility to store data associating a first phone number of a user with an identification of the user in a social networking website; and an interchange coupled with the data storage facility. The interchange includes a common format processor and a plurality of converters to interface with a plurality of controllers of mobile communications. The converters communicate with the controllers in different formats and with the common format processor in a common format. The common format processor receives a request including the identification of the user, identifies the first phone number of the user based on the data stored on the data storage facility, and uses the converters to communicate with a mobile phone at the first phone number to confirm the request. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306100 | Web-based home-loan modification assessment method - The web-based home-loan assessment system and mortgage brokerage service is for use in preparing a detailed financial statement of borrower's income and expenses that the lender uses in making an informed determination on whether or not to modify the borrower's mortgage agreement. The system comprises a website, a data input device, and a processor. The website is easily found on the Internet using common search engines. The website is specifically designed to streamline the information gathering process. The data input device can be a keypad, a pda, or a phone. The borrower submits answers online to the user-friendly questionnaire through the website about his current financial status and his mortgage agreement with the lender. Once the personal data has been submitted, a processor associated organizes the personal data into a request form for a loan modification. The website processor determines the amount that the borrower is able to afford using either a front end debt-to-income ratio, or back end debt-to-income ratio. The net present value of the real property is then calculated, the net present value being a function of net proceeds the lender receives from the real property if the borrower defaults. The request form is then submitted to the borrower for review and approval in real time. If the calculations support modifying the mortgage agreement, the information is submitted to the lender for review and consideration. The web-based home-loan modification system also preferably includes a web-based mortgage brokerage service that enables personal data to be submitted and organized for subsequent consideration for application to a mortgage broker or lender to qualify for a mortgage on a second real property, said mortgage application being submitted for review by said user in real time. The web-based home-loan modification system also includes a rental assessment service enabling the user to conduct a market analysis via the website of selected rental properties in a selected community in real time. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306101 | Credit Approval Monitoring System and Method - A credit approval monitoring system comprises a database system storing credit files for consumers. A monitoring processing system monitors credit reports of subscribing consumers and transmits messages indicative of changes in a subscribers credit report. A screening processing system screens credit reports to determine if credit applicants satisfy select criteria. A watch processing system is operatively associated with the monitoring processing system and the screening processing system for periodically requesting the screening processing system to determine if the credit report of a select consumer satisfies the select criteria and sending the determination to the monitoring processing system to notify the select consumer if the screening processing system determines that the credit report of the select consumer satisfies the select criteria. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306102 | Web Service Network Portal - The present invention provides a method and apparatus for providing real-time, two-way transactional capabilities on the Web. Specifically, one embodiment of the present invention discloses a method for enabling object routing, the method comprising the steps of creating a virtual information store containing information entries and attributes associating each of the information entries and the attributes with an object identity, and assigning a unique network address to each of the object identities. A method is also disclosed for enabling service management of the value-added network service, to perform OAM&P functions on the services network | 2010-12-02 |
20100306103 | System and method for waterfall prioritized payment processing - The invention comprises a system and method for “waterfall” type payment processing using multiple alternative payment sources. A payor provides account information for multiple payment sources, such as a bank checking account, savings account, first credit card account, second credit card account, and so forth. The multiple payment sources are prioritized so that one is a primary payment source, another is a secondary payment source, another is a tertiary payment source, and so forth. After setting up the waterfall payment arrangement, when a bill becomes due a payee or third party payment administrator submits transactions against the payment sources in their order of priority until the payment is satisfied. Other variations and enhancements are disclosed. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306104 | AGGREGATED POSTAL BILLING AND PAYMENT METHODS AND SYSTEMS - A computer-implemented method for a trusted entity such as a Post Office to process bills from a plurality of billers includes generating aggregated listings of bills to be submitted each identified customer and making the aggregated listings available to each identified customer. The trusted entity may then receive orders to effectuate payment of selected ones of the bills in the aggregated listings from customers. The first trusted entity may request that a second trusted entity designated by each identified customer (such as a bank) guarantee availability of funds sufficient to cover payment of the bills selected for payment. A third trusted entity (a central bank) may then be instructed to carry out the payments specified in each of the received orders in batch mode by transferring the payments from the second trusted entities designated by the customers to respective fourth trusted entities (e.g., banks) designated by the billers. | 2010-12-02 |
20100306105 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR GENERATING A SINGLE-USE FINANCIAL ACCOUNT NUMBER - A device for facilitating financial account transactions is described which includes a processing unit including a cryptographic processor. The device also includes an input unit, a display unit and a memory device connected to the processing unit. The memory device contains a private cryptographic key, a first data element and a second data element. The processing unit encrypts the first data element using the private cryptographic key and the second data element, modifies the second data element, combines the encrypted first data element and the second data element to generate a single-use financial account identifier, and displays the single-use financial account identifier. This identifier is then transmitted to a central processor for authorization of the transaction. The central processor extracts and decrypts data elements from the transmitted identifier using the private cryptographic key, compares those data elements with data elements stored in a memory, and verifies the single-use financial account identifier in accordance with the comparison. | 2010-12-02 |