Patents Assigned to BLOCK, INC.
  • Patent number: 11902607
    Abstract: The disclosed technology provides greater security and control to the field of collaborative playlists by utilizing access policies and access tokens to control which user accounts can access a collaborative playlist, what permissions are provided to user accounts that can access a collaborative playlist, and to schedule future permission changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Block, Inc.
    Inventors: Arindaam Roy, Demetrius King, Olayiwola Bakare, William Wang
  • Patent number: 11900340
    Abstract: A decentralized node may generate a network of decentralized nodes individually configured to store, receive, and transmit data based on rules associated with the decentralized nodes. A decentralized node may associate a decentralized identity of an entity with a select decentralized node of the decentralized nodes. A decentralized node may present a user interface including one or more access controls at a edge device, the access controls configuring rules to be applied to third-party access and modification of decentralized identity data associated within the decentralized identity of the entity and stored at the selected decentralized node. A decentralized node may identify the decentralized identity data accessible to the select decentralized node based on the rules. A decentralized node may store the decentralized identity data within the decentralized identity associated with the entity at the select decentralized node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Block, Inc.
    Inventors: Emily Chiu, Daniel Buchner
  • Patent number: 11899515
    Abstract: A point-of-sale (POS) device includes a processor, a battery, a transaction object reader, a printer with a printer controller, and optionally a temperature sensor. The processor determines a present power discharge capability rate of the battery, optionally based on a temperature measured by the temperature sensor. The processor also calculates a first estimated power draw rate based on a first setting value for at least one of the components of the POS device, such as the printer. If the first estimated power draw rate is dangerously close to the present power discharge capability rate of the battery, a second estimated power draw rate is calculated based on a second setting value for the one or more components. If the second estimated power draw rate is no longer dangerously close to the present power discharge capability rate of the battery, the components are set to the second settings value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Block, Inc.
    Inventors: Cory Douthat, Jeremy Wade, Matthew H Maibach
  • Patent number: 11900350
    Abstract: A brick-and-mortar (BAM) store control system uses sensors and wireless transceivers to track customers, merchant representatives, devices, and/or objects within a BAM store area. The system can identify and track product and/or service inventory within the BAM store area and/or in individual's personal inventories, for instance by detecting movements of objects by individuals in sensor data. The system can generate inventory replenishment schedules, for instance based on inventory quantity patterns. The system can provide recommendations to customers and/or merchants, for example recommending products that customers have interacted with. The system can identify individuals and/or objects using a machine learning algorithm, which can learn based on feedback. The system can generate temporary identifiers for unrecognized individuals or objects, which it can merge or convert into long-term identifiers as more information is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Block, Inc.
    Inventors: Marvin Balaoro, Nicholas Slaney, Brett Andler, Nikolaj Leschly, Jeremy Martin, Joshua Boilard, Isreal Blagdan, Patrick Willett
  • Patent number: 11900373
    Abstract: A blockchain agnostic token network is described. In an example, a request to purchase a non-fungible token (NFT) minted on a blockchain from a seller is received. Based at least in part on context data associated with at least one of the user, the seller, or a digital asset associated with the NFT, a plurality of available blockchains is determined for holding the NFT. Information associated with the plurality of blockchains is surfaced and one of the plurality of blockchains is determined for holding the NFT. Based at least in part on the determined blockchain, the NFT is transferred to the determined blockchain and associated with a user account for subsequent viewing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Block, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Tai, Madeeha Ghori, Daniel Barrett
  • Patent number: 11900388
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for providing payment account information in a user account by receiving payment card information by a card reader at a point of sale. An account can be created when the payment card information is read by the card reader. Optionally, a gift card can be scanned prior to the creation of the account, and the gift card information can be combined with the payment card information. The gift card can be an electronic gift card which can be personalized with textual, visual, video, and/or audio portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Block, Inc.
    Inventor: William Henderson
  • Patent number: 11900341
    Abstract: A decentralized node may generate a network of decentralized nodes individually configured to store, receive, and transmit data based on rules associated with the decentralized nodes. A decentralized node may associate a decentralized identity of an entity with a select decentralized node of the decentralized nodes. A decentralized node may present a user interface including one or more access controls at a edge device, the access controls configuring rules to be applied to third-party access and modification of decentralized identity data associated within the decentralized identity of the entity and stored at the selected decentralized node. A decentralized node may identify the decentralized identity data accessible to the select decentralized node based on the rules. A decentralized node may store the decentralized identity data within the decentralized identity associated with the entity at the select decentralized node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Block, Inc.
    Inventors: Emily Chiu, Khiry Shank, Cyrille Villaflores, Lainey Stewart, Claudia Ng
  • Patent number: 11893580
    Abstract: In some examples, a mobile card reader includes a card interface to read information from a card, an interface to enable the mobile card reader to communicate with a mobile device, and a processor configured to send security related information of the mobile card reader to an application executing on the mobile device. The security related information may be for transmission by the mobile device to a remote server system. The mobile card reader may receive, from the application, an indication that the application has been validated by the remote server system based on validation of the security related information of the mobile card reader and security related information of the application. In response, the mobile card reader generates a secure session key with which to carry out encrypted communication between the application and the mobile card reader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: BLOCK, INC.
    Inventors: Max Joseph Guise, Jason Waddle, Dino Dai Zovi
  • Patent number: 11893067
    Abstract: A payment service system monitors data associated with a dynamic information feed and determines trending causes based on the monitoring. The system accesses user information associated with a user and identifies a trending cause that is relevant to the user based on the user information. The system transmits, to the user's mobile device, a recommendation alert that is formatted based on a local application on the user's mobile device, and causes the user's mobile device to surface the recommendation alert to recommend the relevant trending cause within the local application. The system receives an indication of an interaction with the recommendation alert via the user's mobile device. In response, the system facilitates a transfer of at least one asset from an account associated with the user to at least one account associated with at least one recipient entity associated with the relevant trending cause according to a specified distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Block, Inc.
    Inventors: Crissy Solh, Neil Long, Sarah Edwards, Ghazal Niazi, Ashley Yee, Alana Joyce
  • Patent number: 11893624
    Abstract: Techniques described herein are directed to e-commerce tags in multimedia content. In an example, multimedia content is received and item-recognition techniques are performed to identify one or more items referenced in the content. An interactive element is generated that indicates information about a given referenced item, and that interactive element is displayed while the multimedia content is output. Selection of the interactive element may cause a purchasing user interface to be displayed with item and/or or payment information prepopulated based at least in part on identified attributes of the item and/or user preferences determined from historical purchase data associated with the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Block, Inc.
    Inventors: Gabor Angeli, Marsal Gavalda, James Webb
  • Patent number: 11893581
    Abstract: A payment device such as electronic transaction card or an near field communication device can use a temporary token for payment transactions. When processing a payment transaction, the temporary token is provided to a server of the issuer of the payment device, which can authorize the payment transaction and determine if the temporary token can be used for a subsequent transaction. If the server determines that the temporary token cannot be used for another transaction, the server provides the payment device with a new temporary token and an issuer script. When the payment device receives the issuer script, the payment device can execute the issuer script to store the new temporary token on the payment device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Block, Inc.
    Inventors: Afshin Rezayee, Murat Cat
  • Publication number: 20240037542
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to methods, systems, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer readable media for managing cryptocurrency. A cryptocurrency management system has a cryptocurrency management device (CMD), a mobile communication device (MCD), and a cryptocurrency management server (CMS) that are each configured to store a respective private key for use in generating a respective authenticating signature for a multi-signature address of a cryptocurrency network. Any two of the three authenticating signatures capable of being generated by the CMD, MCD, and CMS may be combined to generate a fully authenticated request for transferring cryptocurrency associated with the multi-signature address. The system provides the user with a flexible self-custody solution that permits him or her to transfer cryptocurrency without having to access the private key stored at the CMS. However, the CMS enables for recovery in the event of loss or unavailability of one or both of the CMD and/or the MCD.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Applicant: Block, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Lanman, Alexander Schoof, Arvin Aminpour, Clayton Garrett
  • Patent number: 11887102
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes, by one or more computing devices associated with a payment service (PS), assigning a first payment card number of a first plurality of payment card numbers to an account of a user, wherein the first plurality of payment card numbers is issued from a first issuer processor. The PS detecting an event affecting the use of the first payment card in a transaction. The PS, in response to detecting the event, accessing a second plurality of payment card numbers issued from a second issuer processor and assigning a second payment card number of the second plurality of payment card numbers to the account of the user. The PS receiving an indication that a status of the event has changed. The PS, in response to receiving the indication, automatically enabling, the first payment card number for use in transactions for the account of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Block, Inc.
    Inventors: Conor Walsh, Michael Bain, Alexander Szlavik
  • Patent number: 11887022
    Abstract: A provisioning system is provided for terminals such as point of sale terminals. An interface device interfaces with a smart card and a provisioning server, providing initialization keys and security codes that are stored on the smart card. At a terminal, an initialization key from the smart card may be provided to the terminal if a correct security code is entered at the terminal. The terminal may then provide a terminal authorization package to the smart card. The terminal authorization package is stored on the smart card. At the interface device, the terminal authorization package is provided to the provisioning server. The terminal may then securely communicate transactions with an issuer server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Block, Inc
    Inventors: Malcolm Smith, Kshitiz Vadera, Afshin Rezayee
  • Patent number: 11887074
    Abstract: In some examples, a payment service system receives a request to associate a proxy identifier with a user account of a charity. The proxy identifier is individually distinguishable from other proxy identifiers associated with user accounts of other users, and has a syntax including a symbol and a string of one or more characters. The symbol and the string are concatenated such that the symbol appears immediately before the string. The payment service system receives, via an application on a user device of a user, an input associated with the proxy identifier, and performs a database lookup to identify the user account associated with the proxy identifier. Information associated with the user account of the charity is presented via a user interface presented by the application. The user interface enables the user to donate funds from a financial account of the user to the user account of the charity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: BLOCK, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Grassadonia, Jesse Wilson
  • Patent number: 11887147
    Abstract: In some examples, a graphical user interface (GUI) presented via a mobile application includes a first user interface element representative of a payment instrument of a user, and one or more second user interface elements. Each second user interface element is representative of a respective reward offer associated with a respective merchant, and the respective reward offer is selectable via interaction with the corresponding second user interface element. The second user interface elements are presented in a scrollable carousel that is presented separately from, and proximate to, the first user interface element. Based at least on receiving, via the GUI, a selection of one of the second user interface elements, a corresponding respective reward offer from a respective merchant is associated with the payment instrument of the user, and the corresponding respective reward offer is redeemable in association with a transaction involving the payment instrument and the respective merchant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: BLOCK, INC.
    Inventors: Brandon Jacoby, Owen Jennings, Ali Hussain
  • Patent number: 11888730
    Abstract: Dynamically optimizing routing within a decentralized network is described. In accordance with the described techniques, a node operator accesses historical state data associated with a decentralized network layered on top of a blockchain network. Using machine learning, the node operator trains one or more models based on the historical state data. For example, the node operator trains the one or more models to optimize routing within the decentralized network. In near-real time and using the one or more models, the node operator monitors state data (e.g., current state data) associated with the decentralized network. Based at least in part on the monitoring, the node operator performs one or more actions to optimize the routing within the decentralized network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Block, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Palermo, Marc Tyndel, Hashiam Kadhim
  • Patent number: 11880818
    Abstract: Techniques and arrangements of a point-of-sale (POS) system including a transaction interface control mechanism configured to prevent simultaneous input by a merchant and a customer during a transaction. The POS system can include a merchant user interface (UI) presented on a merchant-facing display and a customer UI presented on a customer-facing display. In some instances, the merchant UI can be on a display of a merchant device, while the customer UI can be on a display of a customer device. In such instances, the merchant device and the customer device can be operably connected via a wired or wireless connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Block, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Bell, Alexey Kalinichenko, Logan Johnson, Nicholas Dower, Raymond Ryan
  • Patent number: 11880788
    Abstract: Geo-fences may be dynamically reconfigured to identify employees that may be of particular interest to users. In some instances, a geo-fence may be defined for a particular user based on a variety of information, in order to identify employees that may be of interest to the user and that are located within proximity to the user. The system may identify employees based on a confidence score that a particular employee or set of employees may have assisted the user during the shopping process. Information regarding the identified employees may be displayed or otherwise output to notify the user of nearby employees that may be of interest, for example in the form of an interactive digital receipt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Block, Inc.
    Inventors: Veronica Ho, Matthew Haehl, Saqi Mehta, Stephanie Snyder
  • Patent number: 11880813
    Abstract: In some examples, a payment system generates, for a first user, a proxy identifier having a syntax including a symbol and a string of one or more characters that are concatenated such that the symbol appears immediately before the string. The proxy identifier is associated with a financial account of the first user. The payment system receives an indication of an intent to transfer funds from a second user to the first user. The indication includes the proxy identifier in lieu of financial account information of the first user, and to identify the financial account of the first user for receiving the funds. Based at least on identifying the proxy identifier, the payment system accesses the financial account information of the first user and initiates the transfer of funds from the financial account of the second user to the financial account of the first user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: BLOCK, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Grassadonia, Jesse Wilson