Patents Assigned to The Vanguard Group, Inc.
  • Patent number: 7792725
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided to administer an investment company. The investment company issues one or more classes of shares that are bought from and redeemed with the investment company at a net asset value. The investment company also issues one or more classes of shares that are listed for trading on a securities exchange and that are bought and sold in a secondary market at negotiated market prices. One or more computers maintain information regarding portfolio holdings of the investment company and outstanding shares in the investment company. Dividends are periodically declared at a first time interval for the outstanding shares that are bought from and redeemed with the investment company at a net asset value. The amount of dividends to declare is calculated from the information maintained in the one or more computers. Dividends are periodically declared at a second time interval that is different from the first time interval for the outstanding shares that are exchange-traded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: The Vanguard Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn H. Booraem, Kenneth E. Volpert, Kathryn J. Hyatt
  • Publication number: 20100223202
    Abstract: A computer program product is provided for administering a single investment company. The computer program product has a computer-readable medium encoded with computer-executable instructions. The instructions perform a method wherein the single investment company issuing one or more classes of shares that are bought from and redeemed with the single investment company at a net asset value and issues one or more classes of shares that are listed for trading on a securities exchange and that are bought and sold at negotiated market prices. One or more computers maintain account data of the outstanding shares. An owner of any share of any share class has an undivided interest in the single investment company.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: THE VANGUARD GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: George U. SAUTER, Walter LENHARD
  • Patent number: 7720749
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method of purchasing or selling exchange-traded shares is performed by entering into a computer an order to purchase or sell exchange-traded shares on behalf of an investor on the secondary market through a broker, executing the order on the secondary market via one or computers, and updating account data of the investor in one or more account data computers to reflect the new number of exchange-traded shares held by the investor. The exchange-traded shares are exchange-traded shares that are associated with a single investment company that has issued one or more classes of shares that are bought from and redeemed with the single investment company at a net asset value, and one or more classes of shares that are listed for trading on a securities exchange and that are bought and sold at negotiated market prices. The shares that are bought and sold at negotiated market prices are the exchange-traded shares.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: The Vanguard Group, Inc.
    Inventors: George U. Sauter, Walter Lenhard
  • Publication number: 20090307120
    Abstract: Computer-implemented methods of creating and maintaining stock indexes are provided. For a stock index of a particular size, a band is defined around the upper and/or lower limits of the stock index. To be added to, or dropped from, a particular stock index, the stocks must fall outside of the bands for that particular stock index size. Stock migration is controlled using a systematic stock migration process so that stocks are gradually added and deleted from an index. Stock investment style is determined in a multi-dimensional process, instead of a linear process. Furthermore, the number of stocks in the stock index need not be a fixed value, but may depend upon how many stocks meet predefined criteria at any given point in time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: THE VANGUARD GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: George U. Sauter, James D. Troyer
  • Patent number: 7623650
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for providing customer service, comprising providing an external user interface (UI) remotely accessible by customers via a global computer information network; providing an internal UI accessible by call-center customer service representatives (CSRs); retrieving from databases and displaying information on the internal and external UIs; automatically storing information entered via the internal UI and information entered via the external UI in the databases; and receiving and automatically processing instructions entered via the internal UI and instructions entered via the external UI. The internal and external UI each include a shared website browser that displays information in a specific format, has a specific functionality, and receives information for processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: The Vanguard Group, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Dalton, Jeffrey E. Dowds, James G. Lehman, Catherine B. Krauss, Saundra K. Lanyon, Richard Dalton
  • Patent number: 7558751
    Abstract: Computer-implemented methods of creating and maintaining stock indexes are provided. For a stock index of a particular size, a band is defined around the upper and/or lower limits of the stock index. To be added to, or dropped from, a particular stock index, the stocks must fall outside of the bands for that particular stock index size. Stock migration is controlled using a systematic stock migration process so that stocks are gradually added and deleted from an index. Stock investment style is determined in a multi-dimensional process, instead of a linear process. Furthermore, the number of stocks in the stock index need not be a fixed value, but may depend upon how many stocks meet predefined criteria at any given point in time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: The Vanguard Group, Inc.
    Inventors: George U. Sauter, James D. Troyer
  • Publication number: 20090164581
    Abstract: A system and method for enabling co-browsing between two or more users accessing a website in separate sessions. Each of the users operates a web browser instance to browse the website. The website comprises one or more web pages, at least a portion of which includes embedded software code or script. A collaboration manager, established after the users consent to co-browsing, associates the sessions of the users. As the users navigate to new web addresses in the website or enter data into their browser instances, the software code or script embedded within the web pages rendered in the browser instances causes each user's browser to communicate changes in the web addresses or data to the collaboration manager. The collaboration manager receives the communicated changes and provides them to other co-browsing users. Synchronization of cursors, scroll-bar positions and other browser events is also supported.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: The Vanguard Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Louis Peter Bove, Joseph F. Ceklosky, JR., Glenn Jackson Hubler
  • Patent number: 7552079
    Abstract: An apparatus automates and executes investment planning for a client. The apparatus includes a processor and a trade execution computer. The processor receives data regarding the client's current asset portfolio, including the taxable status of each asset, the client's desired asset allocation, and the client's preferred domain. The processor is configured to use the data to automatically generate financial transaction recommendations for modifying the client's current asset portfolio to reach as close as possible to the desired asset allocation and the preferred domain. The recommendations include specific recommendations for selling amounts of selected current assets and specific recommendations for buying amounts of one or more investment funds. The trade execution computer is configured to sell amounts of selected current assets or buy amounts of one or more investment funds in accordance with the specific recommendations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: The Vanguard Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven A. Bove, Ralph C. Wileczek, Jeanne Gill
  • Publication number: 20090083194
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided to administer an investment company. The investment company issues one or more classes of shares that are bought from and redeemed with the investment company at a net asset value. The investment company also issues one or more classes of shares that are listed for trading on a securities exchange and that are bought and sold in a secondary market at negotiated market prices. One or more computers maintain information regarding portfolio holdings of the investment company and outstanding shares in the investment company. Dividends are periodically declared at a first time interval for the outstanding shares that are bought from and redeemed with the investment company at a net asset value. The amount of dividends to declare is calculated from the information maintained in the one or more computers. Dividends are periodically declared at a second time interval that is different from the first time interval for the outstanding shares that are exchange-traded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: THE VANGUARD GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Glenn H. Booraem, Kenneth E. Volpert, Kathryn J. Hyatt
  • Publication number: 20090083196
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided to administer an actively managed investment company that invests assets in fixed income securities. The investment company issues one or more classes of shares that are listed for trading on a securities exchange and that are bought and sold in a secondary market at negotiated market prices. The investment company selects and holds a portfolio of fixed income securities that relate to a benchmark index. The selection is made in an actively managed manner such that the duration range of the securities holdings is either longer than the duration of the benchmark index, close to the duration of the benchmark index, or shorter than the duration of the benchmark index. The investment company defines a creation unit basket that has a duration that is equal to a midpoint of the duration range of the securities holdings of the investment company.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: THE VANGUARD GROUP, INC.
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Volpert
  • Publication number: 20090076980
    Abstract: A method of administering an investment fund. The method includes the steps of creating shares for sale, providing a managed distribution schedule identifying a number of payments to be provided during each of consecutive periods, providing an investment strategy for investing in assets to provide funds sufficient to meet the managed distribution schedule, issuing a share to an investor in exchange for funds received from the investor, investing the received funds according to the investment strategy, calculating the value of each of the payments to be provided according to the managed distribution schedule in a period to the investor, and providing each of the payments to the investor during the period. Each payment is calculated according to a formula that specifies that the value of each payment is based on a trailing Net Asset Value (NAV) of the investor's share.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: THE VANGUARD GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: John Ameriks, John Buhl, Edward Delk, Kathryn Hyatt, Ranga Narayanan, Shawn Travis, Daniel Wallick
  • Patent number: 7461027
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided to administer an actively managed investment company that invests assets in fixed income securities. The investment company issues one or more classes of shares that are listed for trading on a securities exchange and that are bought and sold in a secondary market at negotiated market prices. The investment company selects and holds a portfolio of fixed income securities that relate to a benchmark index. The selection is made in an actively managed manner such that the duration range of the securities holdings is either longer than the duration of the benchmark index, close to the duration of the benchmark index, or shorter than the duration of the benchmark index. The investment company defines a creation unit basket that has a duration that is equal to a midpoint of the duration range of the securities holdings of the investment company.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: The Vanguard Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Volpert
  • Publication number: 20080147464
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method of purchasing or selling exchange-traded shares is performed by entering into a computer an order to purchase or sell exchange-traded shares on behalf of an investor on the secondary market through a broker, executing the order on the secondary market via one or computers, and updating account data of the investor in one or more account data computers to reflect the new number of exchange-traded shares held by the investor. The exchange-traded shares are exchange-traded shares that are associated with a single investment company that has issued one or more classes of shares that are bought from and redeemed with the single investment company at a net asset value, and one or more classes of shares that are listed for trading on a securities exchange and that are bought and sold at negotiated market prices. The shares that are bought and sold at negotiated market prices are the exchange-traded shares.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: The Vanguard Group, Inc.
    Inventors: George U. Sauter, Walter Lenhard
  • Patent number: 7337138
    Abstract: An investment company is administered by issuing one or more classes of shares that are bought from and redeemed with the company at a net asset value, issuing one or more classes of shares that are listed for trading on a securities exchange and that are bought and sold at negotiated market prices, and maintaining, in one or more computers, account data of the outstanding shares. A shareholder may acquire exchange-traded shares by requesting conversion of a designated number or dollar value of shares belonging to the one or more classes of shares that are bought from and redeemed with the company at a net asset value for a monetarily equivalent number of shares of the one or more classes of shares which are exchange-traded shares of the company. An authorized participant may purchase exchange-traded shares directly from the investment company in exchange for a basket of securities of generally equivalent monetary value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: The Vanguard Group, Inc.
    Inventors: George U. Sauter, Walter Lenhard
  • Patent number: 7149713
    Abstract: A computerized scheme automates investment planning for a client. In the scheme, data regarding the client's desired asset allocation, current asset portfolio and preferred domain are input into a computer or processor. This data are used to automatically generate financial transaction recommendations for modifying the client's current asset portfolio to reach as close as possible to the desired asset allocation and the preferred domain. The recommendations include specific recommendations for selling amounts of selected current assets and specific recommendations for buying amounts of one or more investment funds. The recommendations are displayed on a summary report for review by the client or the client's financial manager, or the recommendations are electronically communicated to a trade execution computer which automatically performs the necessary transactions to execute the buy/sell recommendations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: The Vanguard Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven A. Bove, Ralph C. Wileczek, Jeanne Gill
  • Publication number: 20050154658
    Abstract: Abstract of the Disclosure A computerized scheme automates investment planning for a client. In the scheme, data regarding the client's desired asset allocation, current asset portfolio and preferred domain are input into a computer or processor. This data are used to automatically generate financial transaction recommendations for modifying the client's current asset portfolio to reach as close as possible to the desired asset allocation and the preferred domain. The recommendations include specific recommendations for selling amounts of selected current assets and specific recommendations for buying amounts of one or more investment funds. The recommendations are displayed on a summary report for review by the client or the client's financial manager, or the recommendations are electronically communicated to a trade execution computer which automatically performs the necessary transactions to execute the buy/sell recommendations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 1999
    Publication date: July 14, 2005
    Applicant: The Vanguard Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Bove, Ralph Wileczek, Jeanne Gill
  • Patent number: 6879964
    Abstract: An investment company is administered by issuing one or more classes of shares that are bought from and redeemed with the company at a net asset value, issuing one or more classes of shares that are listed for trading on a securities exchange and that are bought and sold at negotiated market prices, and maintaining, in one or more computers, account data ofthe outstanding shares. A shareholder may acquire exchange-traded shares by requesting conversion of a designated number or dollar value of shares belonging to the one or more classes of shares that are bought from and redeemed with the company at a net asset value for a monetarily equivalent number of shares of the one or more classes of shares which are exchange-traded shares of the company. An authorized participant may purchase exchangetraded shares directly from the investment company in exchange for a basket of securities of generally equivalent monetary value. A direct purchase requires a purchase of a predetermined number of exchange-traded shares.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: The Vanguard Group, Inc.
    Inventors: George U. Sauter, Walter Lenhard
  • Publication number: 20040210501
    Abstract: Personal qualified dividend income (QDI) is calculated for one or more investors for mutual fund dividend distributions made to accounts of the investors from one or more mutual funds. A first database stores account transaction history data of the investors for each of the mutual funds. A second database stores dividend distribution information for each of the mutual funds and information indicating what percentage of dividend distributions of each of the mutual funds are QDI. A QDI calculation engine receives and processes the account transaction history data, the dividend distribution information, and the percentage of mutual fund dividend distributions that are QDI from the first and second databases to automatically determine the personal QDI for a selected time frame for one or more of the investors. The account transaction history data is used to provide transaction data for a specific investor and to determine whether holding period requirements are met for a specific investor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Applicant: THE VANGUARD GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Dori Laskin, Michael A. Bray, Thomas J. Cresswell, Deanna J. Flores, Andrea A. Gasser, Mary H. Pichola, Robert P. Smith
  • Publication number: 20040181477
    Abstract: Computer-implemented methods of creating and maintaining stock indexes are provided. For a stock index of a particular size, a band is defined around the upper and/or lower limits of the stock index. To be added to, or dropped from, a particular stock index, the stocks must fall outside of the bands for that particular stock index size. Stock migration is controlled using a systematic stock migration process so that stocks are gradually added and deleted from an index. Stock investment style is determined in a multi-dimensional process, instead of a linear process. Furthermore, the number of stocks in the stock index need not be a fixed value, but may depend upon how many stocks meet predefined criteria at any given point in time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Applicant: The Vanguard Group, Inc.
    Inventors: George U. Sauter, James D. Troyer
  • Publication number: 20020128947
    Abstract: An investment company is administered by issuing one or more classes of shares that are bought from and redeemed with the company at a net asset value, issuing one or more classes of shares that are listed for trading on a securities exchange and that are bought and sold at negotiated market prices, and maintaining, in one or more computers, account data of the outstanding shares. A shareholder may acquire exchange-traded shares by requesting conversion of a designated number or dollar value of shares belonging to the one or more classes of shares that are bought from and redeemed with the company at a net asset value for a monetarily equivalent number of shares of the one or more classes of shares which are exchange-traded shares of the company. An authorized participant may purchase exchange-traded shares directly from the investment company in exchange for a basket of securities of generally equivalent monetary value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2001
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Applicant: The Vanguard Group, Inc.
    Inventors: George U. Sauter, Walter Lenhard