| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20090016416 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING APPLICATION, SERVICE, OR DATA VIA A NETWORK APPLIANCE - A portable beacon for use in a local network having a network appliance and an end device includes a processor, persistent storage accessible to the processor, and an interface. The beacon registers with the appliance. Registration employs the beacon's hardware identification to identify the beacon uniquely. The beacon enables communication of information between the appliance and the end device whether the end device is a networked end device that is connected or connectable to the appliance or a sequestered device that is isolated from the appliance. The beacon may be a U3 compliant or other type of USB flash drive device. The beacon may be connected to an end system to identify the system as an authorized system for a service that is provisioned on the appliance. The beacon may also be used as a controllable data transport device between the appliance and a sequestered device. | 01-15-2009 |
| 20090285392 | Real-Time Help Services for Web Applications - A help service includes proxying a web application page between a user web browser and a web application server. The help service includes providing the web application page to a customer service representative (CSR) web browser and opening a live communication channel for human communication between a user and a customer service representative. In some embodiments, from within a user network, a user help request is generated from a user web browser and received from a help server. The web application page may be transmitted over the Internet to the CSR web browser. In some embodiments, the CSR web browser may operate as a COMET client, the user web browser may act as an AJAX server-side processor, and the user web browser may operate as a COMET client for receiving updates to the web application page. | 11-19-2009 |
| 20100066498 | AUTOMATED SERVICE AND SUPPORT NOTICES USING ELECTRONIC SHOPPING LISTS - A method and system of updating an electronic shopping list (ESL) indicating items that may be purchased in response to detecting, by a wireless device having access to the ESL, a service request event corresponding to an asset. Upon detection of the service request event, a service request item may be inserted into the ESL. The asset may be queried from time to time to verify operation of the asset. The items listed in the ESL may be ordered according to a date the service request event was detected. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100070338 | ANTICIPATORY INVENTORY MANAGEMENT VIA ELECTRONIC SHOPPING LISTS - A method and system of managing inventory within a store enables an end user to provide an electronic shopping list (ESL) indicating items that may be purchased in the future by an end user to a network resource associated with the store. The end user may be motivated to provide the ESL to the network resource. When the end user provides the ESL, the ESL may be used to predict future inventory needs and/or adjust inventory levels. Information tracking items on the ESL versus items that are purchased by the end user may be maintained to develop a likelihood of purchase factor for the end user. The tracking information may also be used to predict future inventory needs and/or adjust inventory levels. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100070357 | INCENTIVE BASED MARKETING THROUGH SOCIAL NETWORKS - A method and system for providing an incentive for social network members (SNMs) to opt into a promotional program associated with a seller of goods or services. The SNMs may be provided an initial incentive to opt into a promotional program associated with a seller of goods or services and responsive to an SNM electronically opting in to the promotional program, the SNM may be provided with an additional incentive to identify additional SNMs as opt in candidates. Store coupons or product coupons may be utilized to provide the incentive. The additional incentive may include increasing the value of the initial incentive. The initial incentive may only be available for a predetermined period of time. The additional SNMs may be provided with an incentive to identify yet additional SNMs as opt in candidates. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100070365 | PLANOGRAM GUIDED SHOPPING - A method and system of facilitating shopping within a store enables detection of a wireless device in proximity to a store, identification of items in an electronic shopping list (ESL) resident in the wireless device, and the provision of guided shopping information to the wireless device by accessing item location data so as to facilitate navigation of the store to locate the ESL items. The items in the ESL may be sorted based on the item location data and the sorted ESL may be provided to the wireless device. An image of a layout of the store may be provided to the wireless device. Text based directions for navigating the store to locate items in the ESL may be provided to the wireless device. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100070369 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR LOCATING CONSUMERS IN A RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT - A method and system for providing assistance to a user within a store is disclosed. A communication event between a mobile device of the user and a store item is detected. A database which includes data indicative of a position of the store item within the store is accessed. Based on information from the database, a position of the user within the store is estimated and information, based at least on part of the estimated position, is provided to the user. The information may be provided to the use via the mobile device and may include promotional materials. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20110054904 | ELECTRONIC SHOPPING ASSISTANT WITH SUBVOCAL CAPABILITY - A mobile device suitable for use by a user in a store includes a subvocal message (SVM) module to detect an SVM from the user. The SVM includes data that indicates an item in the store. A transmitter transmits a request after detecting the SVM. The request includes information indicating the item. A receiver receives a reply. The reply includes information responsive to the request. An output device provides the responsive information to the user. The request may include a request for item position information, item price information, or item inventory information. The mobile device may detect the SVM via a subvocal sensor coupled to the user. The subvocal sensor may be in contact with the user in proximity to a vocal cord of the user. The subvocal sensor may be connected to the mobile device wirelessly or via a wire. | 03-03-2011 |
