Abstract: Various systems and methods that may relate to referral and/or delivery services are described. Some embodiments may include receiving from a user on a remote device an order for delivery of a plurality of items. Each item comprises an unique identifier. Embodiments also may include determining a location of the user; identifying at least two providers located within a radius of the user, in which each provider is capable of delivering the requested items; computing for each provider a total cost of delivery of the requested items; receive a request for a first provider to deliver the requested item; and facilitate delivery of the items.

Abstract: This specification describes technologies relating to user interfaces for mobile devices. In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods that include the actions of receiving a touch input to access an application management interface on a mobile device; presenting an application management interface; receiving one or more inputs within the application management interface including an input to install a particular application; installing the selected application; and presenting the installed application.

Abstract: A system for tracking a product from origin to destination is disclosed. The system includes a probe that comprises two plates, a power source and a processor. The power source is controlled by the processor to produce an oscillating output at the plates. Using the oscillating voltage, the probe interrogates a device through capacitive coupling. The device includes a control unit, a memory unit, and first and second materials physically associated with the device for communication using capacitive coupling. Information associated with the device is transferred from the device to the probe through capacitive coupling between the first and second materials and the first and second plates, respectively.

Abstract: Association of personal, financial, and/or business-related identification information with a mobile communication device (MCD) is provided for herein. For example, an MCD can be associated with a financial account and can further include an identification component that verifies an identity of a user of the MCD. Identity can be verified by biometric analysis (e.g., finger/thumb print scan), username and password, optical feature scan, or a combination thereof or of like mechanisms, for instance. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter provides a mechanism to verify identification of a user of an MCD and incorporate user ID into remote data exchange, including remote financial transactions, with one or more networked devices.

Abstract: Techniques to custom define transaction sessions are provided. A plugin-based architecture is provided having tasks as units of atomic work that are bound to orchestrators. The orchestrators form plug-in transaction sessions. Specific instances of plugin transaction sessions are deployed and processed from network-based machines, such as but not limited to kiosks.

Abstract: A system and method for optimizing the utilization of inventory space for articles dispensable from an article dispensing machine is provided. A subset of articles in the article dispensing machine may be targeted for removal for various purposes. Based on a list of the subset of articles, the article dispensing machine may move the subset of articles from a storage unit to a predetermined area, such as a merchandising zone of the storage unit or a separate article removal bin. The subset of articles may be removed from the predetermined area, followed by loading of new articles to the predetermined area.

Abstract: A host computer is coupled to a source of item-level transaction data and a consumer computing device such as a Smartphone. A purchase program determines respective purchase intervals of respective items purchased by consumer from respective merchants using respective item-level electronic transaction data representing prior purchases of respective items by consumer. A shopping list program receives a location of consumer and/or data of an electronic calendar of consumer at host computer, identifies at least one merchant within a pre-determined distance of the received location and/or at which consumer has time to shop as determined from received calendar or schedule data, generates at least one electronic shopping list comprising at least one item previously purchased by consumer from the at least one merchant, and transmits the electronic shopping list from the host computer through a network to a computing apparatus of consumer.

Abstract: Embodiments of a computer system that determines a time history are described. During operation, the computer system receives a single command which accesses information associated with the time history, wherein the command is received from a user, and the information is to be used by financial software. Then, the computer system generates multiple queries corresponding to the time history, where the multiple queries access multiple data sources. Next, the computer system executes the multiple queries to obtain the time history.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining data from a portable electronic device in which the data regards information obtained using the portable electronic regarding the transaction, and information obtained using the portable electronic regarding at least one of a physical location of the portable electronic device when obtaining the information regarding the transaction and the time of the day when obtaining the information regarding the transaction, and processing the transaction based on the data regarding the information regarding the transaction and the at least one of the information regarding the physical location of the portable electronic device when obtaining the information regarding the transaction and the time of the day when obtaining the information regarding the transaction. The method may be employed in a point-of-sale transaction for the purchase of products at checkout.

Abstract: A method and system for identifying and discouraging predatory and uncompetitive sales practices includes identifying at least one base cost for at least one product, determining at least one current cost for the at least one product from at least one retailer displaying or selling products and services through online or mobile channels, and determining if the at least one product sold by the at least one retailer displaying or selling products and services through online or mobile channels is a loss-leader based at least partially on the at least one base cost and the at least one current cost. At least one of the at least one product may be automatically purchased from the at least one retailer displaying or selling products and services through online or mobile channels if the at least one product sold by the at least one retailer is determined to be a loss-leader. A system for implementing the aforementioned method includes appropriately communicatively connected hardware components.

Abstract: Functionality is disclosed herein for charging for the use of software products based upon billable units defined by a software provider. The software product identifies the occurrences of the billable units as the software product is executing. The software product also sends billing data to a billing service identifying an occurrence of a billable unit, or billable units, such that an invoice may be created that charges for use of the software product based, at least in part, on the occurrence of the billable units.

Abstract: Systems, methods, processes, computer program code and means for conducting a payment transaction are provided which include activating a payment application of a mobile device, generating, using the payment application, an optical image representing payment account information associated with the payment application, said payment account information including at least one of a payment account number, an expiry date of the payment account number, and a dynamic verification code generated by the payment application; and presenting the optical image to a merchant transaction terminal for scanning to conduct the payment transaction.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, for a payment card reader comprising: a frame, where the frame includes a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface, a second side surface of the side surfaces on an opposite side of the frame from the first side surface, the first side surface including a groove configured to receive a swipe of a magnetic stripe card, the second side surface including a slot configured to receive insertion of a chip card; a magnetic stripe reader interface; a chip card reader interface; circuitry configured to direct signals from the magnetic stripe reader interface and the chip card reader interface to a microcontroller in the card reader; and circuitry configured to communicate wirelessly between the card reader and a computing device.

Abstract: Adapting a tax preparation program to a user of the tax preparation program. Data related to a user of the tax preparation program is received at a computer, and a processing element compares received data to profile criteria to select a profile, which may be a pre-defined profile or a dynamically generated profile. A first template corresponding to the selected profile is selected and includes a first collection of forms or screens selected from available forms or screens of the tax preparation program. The first template screens or forms are displayed to the user who prepares an electronic tax return using the first template. The manner in which the user interacts with or changes the first template may be used to generate a modified or second template, which may be used to prepare a current or future electronic tax return and may be provided to other users having similar profiles.

Abstract: A technique for effecting electronic commerce using a data network is described. The data network includes a plurality of subsystems which, together, form an integrated system for receiving customer orders for selected items via a data network, fulfilling the customer orders, and delivering the ordered products to the customers. Moreover, according to a specific embodiment, the integrated nature of the system architecture of the present invention allows the on-line merchant to provide a guarantee to the customer that the ordered items will be available to be delivered to the customer at the specified delivery date, time, and location.

Abstract: A method for assigning a planogram to a new fixture on a floor plan includes receiving an indication of which planogram to relocate and an indication of a target fixture that the planogram will be relocated upon. The computer-implemented method further includes determining where on the target fixture the selected planogram will be place and causing databases storing assignment data to be updated to reflect the new location. Once the databases are updated to reflect the relocation, the contents of the database are analyzed by a display device running a store layout application to depict the relocated planogram on the target fixture.

Abstract: Systems and related methods facilitating interactions between a merchant device, a central system and a consumer device are discussed herein. Wallet identifying data may be used to secure messages between the consumer device and the merchant device over a wireless link. For example, the merchant device may include circuitry configured to wirelessly receive the wallet identifying data from a consumer device and to transmit the wallet identifying data to the central system. In response, consumer identifying data associated with the wallet identifying data may be received by the merchant device from the central system. In some embodiments, the consumer identifying data may be associated with a unit of location, such as a dine-in location at a restaurant, to facilitate consumer service.

Abstract: This invention relates to systems and methods for authenticating transactions using a mobile device based primarily on the introduction of a layer of middleware and wherein the Payment Networks, Merchants, Issuing Banks, Credit Reporting Bureaus, Insurance Companies, Healthcare Providers may customize the implementation of the services based on individual strategy and consumer preferences.

Abstract: This application generally relates to systems and methods for authenticating a bulk quantity of a consumable product with a corresponding product. More specifically, the invention associates a bulk quantity of the consumable product with a product parameter such as a consumption rate of the consumable product within the corresponding product; provides and authorizes a key and/or reader with the bulk quantity and consumption rate data to a specific corresponding product wherein the bulk quantity and consumption rate data are correlated to a maximum consumption quantity value; monitoring consumption of the consumable product within the corresponding product until the maximum consumption quantity value is reached; and providing an event output to the corresponding product when the maximum consumption quantity value is realized.

Abstract: Before executing a job, a printer performs an estimation of a billing amount with use of a simplified billing table, and if the estimated billing amount exceeds a balance, execution of the job is cancelled, and if within the balance, the job is executed. After the job is finished, the printer judges whether the estimated billing amount is correct according to detailed job information and a detailed billing table. If an error exists, the printer corrects the error and performs the correct billing.