Patents Examined by Charles C Agwumezie
  • Patent number: 8898086
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for securely transmitting information, including financial account information. An irreversibly encrypted account number can be transmitted to a processing party as part of a transmission packet. The processing party can extract other information from the transmission packet to determine one or more registered account numbers that may match the irreversibly encrypted account number. Using the same encryption algorithm used to create the transmission packet, the processing party can create a verification packet by encrypting the one or more registered account numbers and determine if the verification packet matches the transmission packet. As a result, financial account information can be transmitted in such a way that it cannot be intercepted and then used to perform an unauthorized transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Fidelity National Information Services
    Inventors: Robert W. Downing, Nicole Steffensmeier
  • Patent number: 8898083
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method. The method includes identifying, using a mobile device, an encrypted electronic token associated with at least one physical package designated for delivery to a destination. The electronic token having been encrypted by a first key associated with a particular party. The method also includes electronically signing, using the mobile device, for the at least one physical package. This includes initiating a decryption of the encrypted electronic token with a second key associated with the particular party.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: FedEx Corporate Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Ole-Petter Skaaksrud, Miley Ainsworth
  • Patent number: 8880434
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for authorizing a payment for a point of sale transaction by authenticating the user of a mobile device, such as a mobile phone. The present invention authenticates the consumer and verifies that he is authorized to conduct a transaction at the point of sale by means of the consumer's mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Open Invention Network, LLC
    Inventors: Vincent Bemmel, Shaoib Mian
  • Patent number: 8862515
    Abstract: A device is enabled to display Internet TV by accessing a management server with a secret unique ID and receiving back from the server, assuming the ID is approved, a user token and a service list of content servers with knowledge of the user token. A user can select a content server which causes the device to upload its user token and in response receive a content list from the content server, from which content can be selected for display. Neither list may be modified by the device and the device can access only content on a content list. The service list may be tailored for the geographic location of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Leo Pedlow, Brant Candelore
  • Patent number: 8843389
    Abstract: A mobilized polling station is deployable for voting in remote locations. The mobilized polling station includes a mobile polling server that stores a voter registration depository identifying potential voters and a ballot repository of blank ballots for the potential voters. Various client devices, such as smart phones, tablets computers, connect to the mobile polling server for voters to enter their credentials, receive the appropriate ballots, and cast their votes. The cast votes are collected by the mobile polling server and then provided to an election center for counting. Versions of mobilized polling station can operate with limited or no power and communications infrastructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Everyone Counts, Inc.
    Inventors: Elan Kaplan, Aaron Marcus Contorer, Michael Lee Joyce
  • Patent number: 8831994
    Abstract: This invention is a method and system for tokenless biometric authorization of an electronic communication, using a biometric sample, a master electronic identicator, and a public communications network, wherein the method includes: an electronic communication formation step, wherein at least one communication comprising electronic data is formed; a user registration step, wherein a user electronically submits a registration biometric sample taken directly from the person of the user; a public network data transmittal step, wherein the registration biometric sample is electronically transmitted to a master electronic identicator via a public communications network, said master electronic identicator comprising a computer database which electronically stores all of the registration biometric samples from all of the registered users; a user registration biometric storage step, wherein the registration biometric sample is electronically stored within the master electronic identicator; a bid biometric transmittal
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Open Invention Network, LLC
    Inventor: Ned Hoffman
  • Patent number: 8831996
    Abstract: In computer and video games in which a character is managed by registering an ID assigned to an object, objects corresponding to the same player can be duplicately registered, and a bonus that increases the ability of the player corresponding to the duplicately registered object is granted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignees: Bandai Co., Ltd., Namco Bandai Games Inc.
    Inventors: Taira Nakamura, Osamu Sarudate, Daisuke Masui, Tsukasa Oikawa
  • Patent number: 8818895
    Abstract: A vehicle device for a road toll system including: a satellite navigation receiver for continuously generating location data for a processing and transmitting/receiving unit of the vehicle device; and a trusted-element processor configured to log a time segment of the generated location data and to cryptographically signing said time segment. The trusted-element processor is further configured to start said logging upon detection of a predefined time or a predefined location of the vehicle device and to carry out said logging for a predefined time segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Kapsch Trafficcom AG
    Inventor: Oliver Nagy
  • Patent number: 8818871
    Abstract: A method and a system for electronically transacting a purchase between a purchaser and a merchant are disclosed. The method includes storing accrued incentives on an intelligent data carrier medium via interactive television (DTV/STB) equipment and redeeming a discount or a value corresponding to the accrued incentives present on the data carrier medium when a purchase is made. The electronic purchase system using an electronic network contains a purchaser interactive television (DTV/STB) equipment connected to the electronic network, a fixed intelligent data carrier medium connected to the interactive television (DTV/STB) equipment for service authentication and decryption and a detachable intelligent data carrier medium connected to the interactive television (DTV/STB) equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Richard Humpleman, Dan Watson, Manu Mehta
  • Patent number: 8781886
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating a computer to transform and present data gathered from respondents to electronic surveys and to evaluate preferences related to digital two dimensional and three dimensional images. The method includes receiving computational results for an electronic survey in the form of data files, which include one or more cluster scores for clusters identified in an image presented in the electronic survey. The computational results are transformed for presentation on a graphical user interface. The method provides a summary of the computational results for all images viewed in the survey and detailed survey results for selected images from the survey. The method further provides formatting options for presentation of the computational results, with the formatting options including mode selection, cluster selection, and data display adjustment. The final formatted computational results are presented on the graphical user interface for review by an operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Mark S. Penke, Donald A. Brown, Sarah E. Campbell, Cornell Juliano, David M. Parsons
  • Patent number: 8781971
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enforcing software licenses for resource libraries such as an application program interface (API), a toolkit, a framework, a runtime library, a dynamic link library (DLL), an applet (e.g., a Java or ActiveX applet), or any other reusable resource. The resource library can be used by authorized end user software programs. A “per-program” licensing scheme for a resource library can allow a resource library to be licensed only for use with particular software programs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald Blaine Garst, Jr., Bertrand Serlet
  • Patent number: 8751404
    Abstract: For solving the problem that multiple Universal Serial Bus (USB) Keys are required to be taken to realize multiple network payments in the conventional art, the provides a method and a mobile terminal for realizing network payment. The method includes: a mobile terminal selects a network payment system which is needed to implement current network payment from a plurality of network payment systems according to an instruction input by a user; when the user is confirmed to be a legal user according to the digital certificate, the mobile terminal logs on the selected network payment system and implements the network payment. The selects a network payment system which is needed to implement the current network payment from a plurality of network payment systems, thus it is not needed to take multiple USB Keys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: ZTE Corporation
    Inventor: Yingbo Deng
  • Patent number: 8712920
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for effectuating bilateral buyer-driven commerce. The present invention allows prospective buyers of goods and services to communicate a binding purchase offer globally to potential sellers, for sellers conveniently to search for relevant buyer purchase offers, and for sellers potentially to bind a buyer to a contract based on the buyer's purchase offer. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus of the present invention includes a controller which receives binding purchase offers from prospective buyers. The controller makes purchase offers available globally to potential sellers. Potential sellers then have the option to accept a purchase offer and thus bind the corresponding buyer to a contract. The method and apparatus of the present invention have applications on the Internet as well as conventional communications systems such as voice telephony.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Priceline.com Incorporated
    Inventors: Jay S. Walker, Bruce Schneier, James Jorasch
  • Patent number: 8694436
    Abstract: A method for transmitting data between a mobile communication device and a server. The method includes running a mobile application on the mobile communication device. The mobile application is hosted on the mobile communication device through the server as a Software as a Service (SaaS). The method further includes transmitting data associated with the mobile application between the mobile communication device and the server, in which transmission of the data between the mobile communication device and the server is monitored through the server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Michelle Fisher
    Inventor: Michelle Fisher
  • Patent number: 8694434
    Abstract: An automated way for a software customer to upgrade a hardware device and to recover his software license is provided. A software license can be automatically transferred from one hardware device to another hardware device. Software is unregistered from one hardware device by locking the software. When the user unregisters software from a hardware device, a passcode is transmitted to an unregister system. When the unregister system receives the passcode from the user, a license count is incremented. Software is registered on a new hardware device by generating a new unlock code. The unlock code is generated using the passcode and a fingerprint that identifies the new hardware device. The new hardware device receives the unlock code and attempts to match the fingerprint to unlock the software.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Inventor: Victor B. Kley
  • Patent number: 8655715
    Abstract: A system and method provide content review, distribution, ranking and access and automate creation and performance of contests among sets of content-based contestants. The system and method provide customizable interactive, ongoing, multi-level, multi-round contests with expert review of and filtered submission of content-based contestants. Among other advantages, providers may use the system and method to obtain expert and consumer review and ranking of their content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: OpusOne Corp.
    Inventor: Iman Foroutan
  • Patent number: 8639602
    Abstract: A system for managing funds transfer and banking that facilitates mobile funds transfers, mobile deposits, mobile withdrawal of funds by a user. These operations are conducted with the help of one or more agents, as necessary. The system for managing funds transfer and banking comprises a server to which a user can connect using a first mobile device or a computer/laptop. The server receives a funds transfer request from a first mobile device communicatively coupled to the server and it communicates a first one-time-use token to the first mobile device. The first mobile device is used by a sender of funds in a funds transfer operation. The sender approaches an agent who can facilitate funds transfer, for example by accepting cash/money from the sender and initiating funds transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Inventor: Bindu Rama Rao
  • Patent number: 8620815
    Abstract: A user retains access to a document previously generated or received by an institution system and stored in encrypted form in storage of the institution system or another entity associated with the institution system. However, the institution system does not have access to the document (in readable form) after an expiration of an amount of time. The document is encrypted in such a manner that only the user can decrypt the document, but the institution system cannot decrypt it. In this manner, the institution system may meet business or regulatory requirements or policies directed to discarding (i.e., purging) the document after a predetermined amount of time, but can still provide secure storage of the document in encrypted form to the user independent of the business or regulatory requirements or policies that mandate purging the document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventors: Dale Alan Wagner-Krankel, Wayne Maurice Hartman
  • Patent number: 8620824
    Abstract: A method and system of encrypting a Personal Identification Number (PIN) using a portable payment device includes a portable payment device in communication with a network and a payment processor, and may be configured to receive a first encryption key from the payment processor, to receive a PIN, to encrypt the PIN using the first key, and to provide the encrypted PIN to the payment processor in a form useable to process a payment authorization message or transaction request. The first key may be protected by cryptographic camouflaging using a password. The password may be received by the device and used to decamouflage the first key, and the decamouflaged first key may be used to encrypt the PIN. In one configuration, the first key may be a symmetric key, such that a PIN encrypted by the first key may be of a standard format usable in existing payment systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: CA, Inc.
    Inventor: James Donald Reno
  • Patent number: 8606717
    Abstract: A network based distribution system and method is disclosed for exchanging capacity between subscribers for distribution of playable media items, such as movies in a digital format. The system allows subscribers to exchange capacity directly between themselves, and/or to have such exchange performed automatically on their behalf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Media Queue, LLC
    Inventor: John Nicholas Gross