Patents Examined by Denisse Ortiz Roman
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Patent number: 9904436Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention further provide systems and methods for allowing users in an online consultation system to create, edit and follow information feeds related to a subject matter category, topic, person or a combination thereof.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2013Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignee: PEARL.COM LLCInventors: Ashkan Gholam Zadeh, Gann Bierner
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Patent number: 9898724Abstract: A method and an apparatus for using a device to determine an item, such as, for example, a card based on an interaction environment, such as, for example, a settlement environment, are provided. The method by which a device determines a card to be used in a settlement includes: acquiring a card use history of a card, which is stored in the device; acquiring information which relates to a settlement environment of the device; determining a card to be used in the settlement, based on the acquired information relating to the settlement environment and the acquired card use history; and providing settlement information which relates to the determined card to a point of sale (POS) terminal.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2013Date of Patent: February 20, 2018Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Yeon-hee Roh, Eun-young Lim, Young-shil Jang, Jae-woo Ko
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Patent number: 9865014Abstract: A customer terminal of a “self-scanning shopping” system, which is configured to store at least one shopping session in a non volatile memory, includes a main processor, a product code reader, a location for non volatile storage of an open shopping session indicator and/or an identifier, either direct or indirect, of a shopping session, and a supervisor circuit. In a working operating state, the main processor periodically sends a heartbeat to the supervisor circuit. The supervisor circuit commands a reset of the main processor when, from the lack of receipt of the heartbeat, it detects a non working operating state of the main processor. The main processor, upon reset, checks whether there is an open shopping session based on the contents of said memory location and in the affirmative case restores said shopping session.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2012Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: DATALOGIC IP TECH S.R.L.Inventors: Sandro Codato, Paolo Mazzocato, Marco Lizza
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Patent number: 9848091Abstract: Charging systems and associated methods are disclosed that provide interim billing for a session in an IMS network. The charging system includes a charging data system that receives accounting messages from network elements serving the session in the IMS network, and generates partial CDRs for each network element based on the accounting messages. The charging data system also sets an aggregation/correlation timer. Responsive to an expiration of the aggregation/correlation timer, the charging data system aggregates the partial CDRs for each network element to generate an aggregated CDR for each network element. The charging system further includes a charging gateway system that, in further response to the expiration of the aggregation/correlation timer, correlates the aggregated CDRs to generate an interim consolidated CDR for the session, and transmits the interim consolidated CDR to a billing system. The billing system may then provide interim billing for the session based on the interim consolidated CDR.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2009Date of Patent: December 19, 2017Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc.Inventors: Yigang Cai, Ranjan Sharma, Shengqiang Wang
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Patent number: 9842327Abstract: A retail store communications network, a point of transaction (POT) terminal and methods of using the same according to embodiments of the application can include a hand held and/or stationary optical reader for reading a bar code symbol of an item and generating a decoded out bar code data message. The network is configured so that the POT terminal can use linked or identified mobile devices by way of wireless communication, to provide a sequenced order of identified customers at the POT terminal among a plurality of discoverable wireless devices.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2010Date of Patent: December 12, 2017Assignee: HAND HELD PRODUCTS, INC.Inventors: Xiaoxun Zhu, HongJian Jin, Guoxiang Lv, Junchi Yu
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Patent number: 9811804Abstract: A system and method for tracking fiber along a textile supply chain aids in product tracking and can verify fiber source/origin. However, verifying the fiber origin and type in a textile product purchased at a retail location back to the bale is complicated by the nature of textile processes along the supply chain. The system as described in the present application addresses complications, such as contamination/cross-contamination, and is used to track fiber from bales of fiber processed into a textile product throughout a sequence of textile operations. The system captures, for each textile operation, a) input information, b) output information, and c) equipment information related to the equipment used in the textile operation. The output information is associated with the input information of a subsequent textile operation, thereby associating the input information and output information, for each textile operation, with the fiber information for the bales of fiber.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2016Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: Welspun India LimitedInventors: Dipali Goenka, Vipin Gandhi
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Patent number: 9799001Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a social network. The methods involve: creating a relationship between a first entity and a second entity; setting authorization which indicates that a user of said first entity is authorized to view inventory data of said second entity; receiving a request to view first inventory data of said first entity and second inventory data of said second entity by said user; and determining whether said user is authorized to view said second inventory data. If said user is authorized: querying a first remote inventory management system of said first entity for said first inventory data and a second remote inventory management system of said second entity for said second inventory data; receiving said first and second inventory data; generating an aggregate view comprising said first and second inventory data; and providing content of said aggregate view to a client computing device of said first entity.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2015Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Erik J. Burckart, Andrew Ivory, John F. Schumacher, Aaron K. Shook
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Patent number: 9799017Abstract: Data stores that are to be configured as members of a storage group on behalf of a client are identified. The client indicates one or more types of cross-data-store operations to be performed. A transaction manager that makes acceptance decisions for write requests directed to the members based at least partly on contents of a log is instantiated, and respective write transformers are set up for at least some of the types of cross-data-store operations. During a particular time period, the workload at the storage group is monitored, and the number and types of cross-data-store operations is determined. The results of the monitoring are used to determine a billing amount for the client based on a selected pricing policy.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2014Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Allan Henry Vermeulen, Omer Ahmed Zaki
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Patent number: 9767428Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs that facilitate verification of activity in an environment of predefined activity orchestration. Activity is captured on image capture devices in the environment of predefined activity orchestration. The activity is verified to be consistent with the predefined activity orchestration. An event is generated based upon whether the activity is consistent with the predefined activity orchestration.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2012Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Edward M. Bacco, David K. Hiatt
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Patent number: 9760876Abstract: Technology is described for flexibly pricing cloud computing services. In some examples, the technology may receive at a cloud service provider a first set of information from an Internet service provider that provides an Internet service. The first set of information may relate to expected user behavior of a representative user of the Internet service provider. The technology may identify one or more computing resources employed by the Internet service provided by the Internet service provider and analyze the first set of information to determine a cycle. The cycle is a function of the computing resources expected to be employed by the representative user of the Internet service provider. The technology may compute a service fee for each instance of the cycle and allocates the service fee to the Internet service provider.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2013Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Assignee: EMPIRE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT LLCInventors: Junwei Cao, Wei Chen
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Patent number: 9760857Abstract: A computer-implemented method is disclosed herein. The method includes the step of receiving, at a processing device of a commerce server, at least a video signal from a head mountable unit worn by a consumer in a retail store. The method also includes the step of identifying, with the processing device, an indication of depleted stock in the retail store in response to the video signal received from the head mountable unit. The method also includes the step of transmitting, with the processing device, a restock signal in response to the identifying step.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2015Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Assignee: WAL-MART STORES, INC.Inventors: Stuart Argue, Anthony Emile Marcar
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Patent number: 9754249Abstract: A data processing apparatus includes a first interface to which a device which reads data is connected, a second interface to which a terminal apparatus is connected, an identification information transmission unit that transmits identification information to the terminal apparatus, and a control unit that when the data read by the device is input to the first interface, determines an association of the device and the terminal apparatus based on a correspondence of the read data and the identification information transmitted to the terminal apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2013Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Kazuhiro Takasu, Koichiro Tsutsumi
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Patent number: 9741031Abstract: A portable device includes a data capture unit and a wireless communication circuit in communication with a control circuit. The data capture unit is configured to receive product information from a product identifier. The wireless communication circuit is configured to communicate with a vendor server storing an electronic catalog that includes a product associated with the product information.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2008Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.Inventor: Siddharth Pandey
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Patent number: 9734495Abstract: Mobile commerce authentication and authorization systems enable currently existing point-of-sale devices that are neither structurally nor systemically altered to conduct financial transactions with a customer using an access terminal across a wireless communications system. The point-of-sale devices receive an input from a payment instrument replacement, which identifies the transaction to the point-of-sale device as a transaction including an access terminal. Authentication of the user of the access terminal is achieved at least by application of position and/or location determinable features of the access terminal, the position and/or location of a point-of-sale device of a vendor or merchant where the customer seeks to purchase goods or services, and the payment sum entered on the point-of-sale device. A payment matching server may assist in processing the location data and the payment sum amount across communications network.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2010Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Gregory Gordon Rose, Craig B. Lauer, Joan T. Waltman
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Patent number: 9715673Abstract: A system and a method for managing replacement of consumables, the system including an installed base of equipment assemblies, an installed base of consumables, the consumables including recyclable gas purifiers having a limited lifetime and being used in combination with a said equipment assembly. The system includes a server for registering the consumables and having a module for calculating a replacement advice with respect to the consumable that has been registered in the server. A web portal provides a provider or an end user access to the server via the internet. Various data relating to the end user, its equipment assemblies and its consumables may be inputted via the web portal and the replacement advice that is associated with the registered consumables may be outputted via the web portal.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2012Date of Patent: July 25, 2017Assignee: SCIENTIFIC GLASS TECHNOLOGY SINGAPORE PTE LTD.Inventors: Adriaan Frans van der Maas, Martinus van der Maas, Marinus Frans van der Maas
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Patent number: 9715794Abstract: A POS system comprises a checkout means for carrying out a payment operation, a cash drawer which includes a storage compartment for storing money, wherein in an open condition of the cash drawer the storage compartment is open for an access and in a closed condition of the cash drawer the storage compartment is closed, a control means for controlling the cash drawer, wherein the control means is formed to generate a control signal for opening the cash drawer, and a sensor means for generating an opening signal which indicates whether the cash drawer is in its open condition. The control means is formed to evaluate whether or not an opening signal is preceded by a control signal with a predetermined time interval, in order to detect a manipulation process during opening and/or closing the cash drawer on the basis of the evaluation.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2014Date of Patent: July 25, 2017Assignee: WINCOR NIXDORF INTERNATIONAL GMBHInventor: Kai Jungclaus
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Patent number: 9704152Abstract: A method includes providing a first payment account that is issued by a first financial institution and enables an accountholder thereof to make payments at merchants via a closed-loop payments network corresponding to the first financial institution and mobile person-to-person payments using the payment account. The method includes enabling a second payment account that is issued by a second financial institution to be electronically linked to the first payment account and used as a source of funds. The method includes providing a mobile operating system and enabling a plurality of merchant-specific payment accounts to be associated with a mobile communications device having the operating system. The method includes determining whether a merchant-specific payment account that is accepted only by a particular merchant is available to the accountholder via the mobile communications device and receiving a fee when the first payment account is used for a purchase.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2017Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: GoFigure Payments, LLCInventor: Devon A. Rolf
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Patent number: 9704163Abstract: A secondary entity can purchase a gift card from a card holder. The secondary entity can extract complete information including identification and access information from the gift card and store this information on a database. The physical artifact of the gift card can then be optionally discarded or recycled. This information including the credit value can then be sold independent of the physical artifact (e.g., original gift card object) within the secondary market. When sold, the specific information for the original gift card is extracted from the database and programmed into a new artifact (i.e., blank gift card), which may be at a different location as the original gift card. For example, the credit value can be made accessible from a different physical artifact, which can be physically conveyed to a value purchaser. This different physical artifact can be utilized in the same manner as the original gift card.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2011Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Inventor: Hossein Kasmai
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Patent number: 9633348Abstract: A method includes providing a first payment account that is issued by a first financial institution and enables an accountholder thereof to make payments at merchants via a closed-loop payments network corresponding to the first financial institution and mobile person-to-person payments using the payment account. The method includes enabling a second payment account that is issued by a second financial institution to be electronically linked to the first payment account and used as a source of funds. The method includes providing a mobile operating system and enabling a plurality of merchant-specific payment accounts to be associated with a mobile communications device having the operating system. The method includes determining whether a merchant-specific payment account that is accepted only by a particular merchant is available to the accountholder via the mobile communications device and receiving a fee when the first payment account is used for a purchase.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2015Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: GoFigure Payments, LLCInventor: Devon A. Rolf
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Patent number: 9615264Abstract: A method for providing unequal allocation of rights among agents while operating according to fair principles, comprising assigning a hierarchal rank to each agent; providing a synthetic economic value to a first set of agents at the a high level of the hierarchy; allocating portions of the synthetic economic value by the first set of agents to a second set of agents at respectively different hierarchal rank than the first set of agents; and conducting an auction amongst agents using the synthetic economic value as the currency. A method for allocation among agents, comprising assigning a wealth generation function for generating future wealth to each of a plurality of agents, communicating subjective market information between agents, and transferring wealth generated by the secure wealth generation function between agents in consideration of a market transaction. The method may further comprise the step of transferring at least a portion of the wealth generation function between agents.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2012Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Inventor: Steven M. Hoffberg