Avoiding Fraud Patents (Class 705/14.26)
  • Patent number: 10915916
    Abstract: Devices, computer-implemented methods, and computer-readable media for the redemption of merchant offers, such as online coupons, are provided. In some embodiments, online coupons may be provided in a native application of a mobile user device. When a user selects to use an online coupon, a coupon code box having a coupon code associated with the selected coupon may visually move from a first location to a second location of the native application, and a merchant website may be displayed in the native application. Additionally, in some embodiments, a user may drag-and-drop a coupon code box to an input field of a merchant webpage. Movement of a visual copy of the coupon code box may be animated along the drag path. Upon a drop of the coupon code box, a value of the coupon code may be entered into the input field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: RETAILMENOT, INC.
    Inventors: John Newman Faith, Jagjit Singh Bath, Eithan Zilkha, Cameron Kent Savage, David John Reese, James Damon Trim
  • Patent number: 10909565
    Abstract: A mobile wallet system includes an account module comprising a physical memory database to store account information associated with a plurality of transaction devices issued to a consumer, a location module comprising a location device to determine location information of the consumer, a reward program module comprising a physical memory database to store reward information of a plurality of reward programs associated with the plurality of transaction devices, a payment method module executed on a computer processor to determine a transaction device of the plurality of transaction devices that maximizes a reward for the consumer based at least in part on the account information, the location information and the reward information, and a processing module executed on a computer processor to use the determined transaction device to complete a transaction to purchase products or services in order to maximize rewards for the consumer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: TracFone Wireless, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Collart
  • Patent number: 10901801
    Abstract: A system performs distributed monitoring of network computers for dynamically updating assignment of tasks. The network computers are assigned tasks to perform. The network computers include monitoring software that automatically monitors performance in the background to identify functions performed (other than the assigned tasks). New tasks are configured for the network computers based on the functions performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Inventor: Gunnar Lovelace
  • Patent number: 10891603
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include a mobile client device for providing real-time manufacturer-based financing. In one embodiment, the mobile device is configured to receive a product code associated with a manufacturer product offered for sale at a merchant location. The mobile device may further provide the product code to a financial service provider system configured to create a manufacturer-based financial service account associated with the product manufacturer. Further, the mobile device may provide, to the financial service provider system, information associated with a received account application, where the financial service provider system may create the manufacturer-based financial service account based on the received information and the product code. The mobile device may also receive a purchase code for purchasing the product using the manufacturer-based financial service account, provide it at the merchant POS location, and receive a confirmation of product purchase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Capital One Services, LLC
    Inventors: Tobias D. Russell, Drew Jacobs, Luke A. Hammock
  • Patent number: 10891663
    Abstract: Information associated with a content provider within an online system can be acquired. The information can include data about interactions performed by the content provider. A machine learning model can be applied to the information. A metric indicating a predicted likelihood that the content provider will perform an action related to a content item when the content provider is presented with a coupon for the content item can be determined. It can be determined that the metric satisfies specified threshold criteria. An opportunity to present the coupon to the content provider can be detected. The coupon and a communication can be provided to the content provider at the opportunity. The communication can encourage the content provider to perform the action related to the content item. An instruction to execute the action can be acquired from the content provider. The content item can be provided to users of the online system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Joseph Moniz, Yizhaq Ezra, Catherine Corinne Dennig, Yuan Xia
  • Patent number: 10887311
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a method performed at a computer acting as a third-party system for requesting for a usage permission. The third-party system receives download information sent by means of a page of a first application, the download information at least including a download identifier, and the download identifier being used for indicating a first device identifier of a first device running the first application, a first account logging into the first application, and a second application identifier of a downloaded second application. After authenticating the download information, the third-party system requests a server of the first application to configure the usage permission for the first account in response to an authentication result and return such configuration to the first application running at the first device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Cong Li, Ying Lai, Jianbo Cao, Chuntao Xiao
  • Patent number: 10885567
    Abstract: A consumer may enter a physical merchant location. A reverse bidding system determines a confidence score that the consumer will make a non-fraudulent purchase of a product. The reverse bidding system performs an online price comparison. The reverse bidding system may transmit an offer to the consumer to purchase the product at the physical merchant location for a discounted price.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: AMERICAN EXPRESS TRAVEL RELATED SERVICES COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Subhajit Bhattacherjee, Asish Soudhamma
  • Patent number: 10887376
    Abstract: An electronic system includes: a control unit configured to: generate a media content for presenting on a device including a subcontent based on a content template, which includes a configurable element, determine a user information for identifying the device within a context, and update the subcontent with the configurable element, which is adjusted based on the media content and the context, and a communication interface, coupled to the control unit, configured to communicate the subcontent for presenting on the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wook Jin Chung, Mansoor Malik, Pirooz Chubak, Yunchan Paik, Mohsin Amjed
  • Patent number: 10877707
    Abstract: A method of providing a gift voucher issuing service includes receiving, by an operation server, gift voucher issuance information from a computing device, generating, by the operation server, a reception date of the gift voucher issuance information as a gift voucher issuance date, generating, by the operation server, a use registration number on the basis of the gift voucher issuance information, generating, by the operation server, gift voucher printing information including the gift voucher issuance information, the gift voucher issuance date, and the use registration number and transmitting the gift voucher printing information to the computing device, receiving, by a printing apparatus, the gift voucher printing information transmitted from the computing device and ticketing an invalid gift voucher by printing the gift voucher issuance information, the gift voucher issuance date, and the use registration number on a gift voucher sheet on which a printing paper management number for managing a gift vouch
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignees: O2WORKS CO., LTD., HANASIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin Gon Kim, Jun Seo Kim
  • Patent number: 10853799
    Abstract: A system and method for leveraging email to complete a checkout for registered and unregistered customers of the e-commerce system are disclosed. The system and method include receiving, by an email payment gateway, an email message comprising a customer email address and a token. The token includes transaction information for a transaction from a third party vendor. The system and method further include determining a registration status of a customer based on the customer email address, wherein the registration status is one of a registered customer of the e-commerce system or an unregistered customer of the e-commerce system. The system and method further include decoding the token and sending an email message to the customer email address based on the registration status and the decoded token.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: SWOOP IP HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: James Kassemi, Nora Zulick
  • Patent number: 10846555
    Abstract: A method, a device, and a non-transitory storage medium each provide an object recognition service that identifies an object within an image or a video. An object is identified according to a general classification based on a domain-based inference model, and is subsequently further identified according to a sub-classification of the general classification based on another domain-based inference model. The domain-based inference models are hierarchical. The object recognition of the object may be used in support of end user services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Luis M. Tomotaki, William F. Copeland, Gina L. Otts, Saravanan Mallesan, Natasha Avinash Shah
  • Patent number: 10846729
    Abstract: A system for validating, redeeming, and financially settling coupons is described. The system includes a real time network through which a Point-of-Sale (POS) device communicates with an Intelligent Clearing Network (ICN) server. The ICN server is configured to run a real time application while in communication with the POS device, wherein the POS device transmits coupon data elements read at the POS device and other consumer transaction information including universal product codes purchased, and transaction details to the ICN server via the network. The ICN server validates the coupon data elements and provides the POS device information in order to redeem coupons. Apparatus and computer readable media are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: INTELLIGENT CLEARING NETWORK, INC.
    Inventors: Richard B. Thibedeau, Brian Schulte, Michael Skelton, Gary Oakley, Jon Robertson
  • Patent number: 10846810
    Abstract: Some aspects of the present embodiments enable users of audio/video (A/V) recording and communication devices to report video footage to one or more reward providers. The reward provider may then review the reported video footage, determine whether a crime may have been committed, determine an amount of a reward to be offered, and post a reward offer through one or more outlets. The present embodiments may help in reducing crimes by publicizing criminal events and incentivizing members of the public to come forward with information that can be used to help identify and apprehend criminal perpetrators and/or to solve crimes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James Siminoff, August Cziment
  • Patent number: 10832247
    Abstract: A system for operating a payment network with a blockchain-based ledger may prepare a request to complete a transaction from an account associated with a payer digital wallet for entry on the blockchain. The request may include an amount and payee address associated with a payee digital wallet. The system may also send the request to the blockchain using a blockchain interface. The system may approve or decline the request. The system may further adjust a balance of the payer a balance of the payee to reflect approval of the request. The adjustment may include writing the transaction to the blockchain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: AMERICAN EXPRESS TRAVEL RELATED SERVICES COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Sastry Durvasula, Andras Ferenczi, Upendra Mardikar, Keshav Narsipur, Vishnuvajhala Subrahmanyam, Sathish B. Muthukrishnan
  • Patent number: 10769694
    Abstract: Systems and methods including one or more processors and one or more non-transitory computer-readable media having computing instructions that are configured to run on the one or more processors and perform acts of receiving a test set comprising potential candidate items for substitution for a target item, determining association scores for each of the potential candidate items in the test set, determining one or more semantic similarity features of the potential candidate items in the test set, determining one or more image similarity features of the potential candidate items in the test set, and creating a substitutive probability model by determining a relative contribution of each of the association scores, the semantic similarity features and the image similarity features to a substitutive probability for the potential candidate items in the test set, with reference to a baseline set of the potential candidate items. Additional embodiments are disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: WALMART APOLLO, LLC
    Inventors: Zhao Zhao, Wei Shen, Chenxi Liu
  • Patent number: 10769680
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method of providing a brand sponsorship environment includes providing a computer-implemented platform establishing a sponsorship junction involving, in case 1, a set of trigger-monitorable activities defined by a set of sponsoring brands or, in case 2, a subset of the trigger-monitorable activities defined by the set of sponsoring brands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Xperiel, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Hertel, Philipp Hertel, Marc Tedder
  • Patent number: 10740830
    Abstract: A method and system for providing multiple authorization request messages for multiple products offered by respectively different merchants in a single order are disclosed. If one of the authorization request messages is declined, then an order interrupt message may be sent to the consumer. In order interrupt message may indicate that the single order is canceled, even though authorization request messages for the purchase of other products in the order are approved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Visa International Service Association
    Inventor: Lance Weber
  • Patent number: 10740803
    Abstract: A system receives event information describing an event performed by a user with a content provider. The system identifies a property associated with the content provider whose aggregation conditions are satisfied by the event. The system selects an aggregator to which to send the information based on the user. The selected aggregator stores an event entry in its aggregator store with the event information and an indication of the property. The aggregator determines an aggregate value of the user for the property based on event entries in the aggregator store associated with the user and the property. The system provides a content item associated with the content provider to the user based on audience conditions of the property being satisfied by the aggregate value. The system also determines a removal time for each event entry and schedules an aggregation event for updating the user's aggregate value at removal time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Loren William Abrams, Jinfu Leng, David Paul Capel
  • Patent number: 10726437
    Abstract: Computer systems and methods for interfacing with a third party website, comprising determining that a webpage of the third party website is being output in an interface of a web browser, and in response, generating an interface element that at least partially overlaps the webpage in the interface. The interface element includes a user-selectable graphical trigger that, when selected, causes digital codes to be automatically input into a data entry interface identified in the webpage, thereby triggering the third party website to receive each of the digital codes and to return a respective response. Based on monitoring the respective response to each of the digital codes, a particular digital code is identified that causes a greatest change in a numerical value displayed in the webpage. The particular digital code is applied to obtain a resulting numerical value that is displayed in the webpage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: HONEY SCIENCE LLC
    Inventors: Ryan David Hudson, George Ruan
  • Patent number: 10719844
    Abstract: A service processing method, a device, a terminal and a server are provided. In some embodiments, the method includes: obtaining an operator identifier, when a coupon verification operation is detected on a service page of a public service account; invoking a code reading interface of an internet application to which the public service account belongs, to obtain a code of a coupon to be verified; generating a coupon verification service request based on the operator identifier and the code of the coupon; sending the coupon verification service request to a server, to cause the server to process a coupon verification service based on the operator identifier and the code of the coupon and return a process result to the terminal; and outputting the process result on the service page of the public service account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Yuxuan Du, Mingyu Li, Zhenyu Xu, Jun Qin, Zhihao Liu
  • Patent number: 10719843
    Abstract: Computer systems and methods for interacting with a webpage of a third party website to change a numerical value displayed in the webpage, comprising receiving digital codes and storing the digital codes in a local memory of a user device. When the webpage is output in a web browser interface, an interface element comprising a graphical trigger is generated and displayed in the web browser interface. In response to receiving a user selection of the graphical trigger, each of the digital codes are submitted to the third party website by simulating user entry of each digital code in the webpage. Based on the respective results of submitting the digital codes to the third party website, a particular digital code is identified that causes a greatest change in the numerical value. The particular digital code is then applied to obtain a resulting numerical value that is displayed in the webpage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: HONEY SCIENCE LLC
    Inventors: Ryan David Hudson, George Ruan
  • Patent number: 10719841
    Abstract: A problem that a load on an affiliate server increases when an affiliate reward is divided among a plurality of people is solved. When a user purchases a commodity or receives service in an EC site, an affiliate reward dividing apparatus adds a full amount of a reward to one of a poster database and an introducer database on the basis of a dividing ratio stored in an affiliate database. A computation of referring to a dividing ratio for each reward and dividing a reward, and a process of accumulating a divided reward in each data base is not necessary, so that a load on a system can be lessened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: RAKUTEN, INC.
    Inventor: Atsushi Torii
  • Patent number: 10713705
    Abstract: An information handling system includes gift selection circuitry, buying circuitry, and a graphical user interface. The gift selection circuitry includes a selection processing device, and a delivery processing device. The selection processing device receives, from a user, a request to add a list of items to a cart. The delivery processing device provides a secure link to a designated individual after the list of items is added to the cart. The graphical user interface displays the items in the cart as a list of available items in response to the secure link being selected by the designated individual. The buying circuitry confirms an order of a first item after selection of the first item from the list of available items, and sends a notification of completion of the transaction to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Dell Products, L.P.
    Inventors: Sundar Dasar, Muninder “Raja” Arram, Harikrishnan G. Nair
  • Patent number: 10699283
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of free delivery to create a new system, method, and apparatus for delivering hard copy advertising and marketing materials to a consumer, and/or configured as a system, method, and apparatus for uploading, listening, and downloading of music. The data in the present invention may be exchanged using unique data encoding unstructured and untagged text message protocols to form a text message body that can be used to transmit and receive semi-structured, or structured text message bodies, which optionally may also use various, widely used Markup Languages. In addition, the present invention may include a coupon exchange system, method, and apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Inventor: Jack L. Marovets
  • Patent number: 10685368
    Abstract: Systems and methods for invoking functions to cause a change in a displayed price provided for output in a third party website, comprising receiving data corresponding to one or more codes each associated with a respective promotion. In response to determining that a webpage of the third party website output in a web browser is associated with initiating a payment process with the third party website, an interface element is generated and presented in another interface of the web browser. When a user selection of the interface element is received, each of the codes is applied to a data entry interface in the webpage, and based on the respective outcomes of applying each of the codes, a particular code that results in a greatest change in the displayed price is identified. The particular code is then applied to obtain a resulting price that is displayed in the webpage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: HONEY SCIENCE LLC
    Inventors: Ryan David Hudson, George Ruan
  • Patent number: 10685649
    Abstract: Embodiments of this disclosure disclose a method and apparatus for providing a voice service. An embodiment of the method comprises: analyzing, in response to receiving first voice request information sent by an intelligent voice device containing a display, the first voice request information to determine a user demand; determining an alternative operation associated with the user demand based on a configured optional operation set; generating prompt information for guiding a user to execute the alternative operation; and pushing the prompt information to the intelligent voice device containing the display to enable the intelligent voice device to show the prompt information on the display. The embodiment realizes a user demand based differential operation prompt, and improves the efficiency of the voice service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: BAIDU ONLINE NETWORK TECHNOLOGY (BEIJING) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Guang Lu, Xiajun Luo, Shiquan Ye, Jue Huang, Miaochang Zhang
  • Patent number: 10673987
    Abstract: Displaying a user interface to harvest feedback information pertaining to transactions facilitated by a computerized transaction facility includes the display of multiple feedback windows, or other distinct areas, within a user interface displayed on a display device. Each feedback window includes transaction identifier information that identifies a respective transaction. Each feedback window also includes a feedback input that receives feedback information, pertaining to an associated transaction identified by the transaction information. The feedback input is displayed, within each feedback window, to indicate an association with the respective transaction information. Accordingly, feedback input for multiple transactions may conveniently be inputted through a single user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: PAYPAL, INC.
    Inventors: Daniele Levy, Steve Grove, Dheeraj Singh Mohnia, Alex Dai-Shun Poon
  • Patent number: 10645530
    Abstract: A method for searching out an object in a building or group of buildings stores positions of objects in relation to wireless communication base stations. Relative lateral and vertical positions of an electronic device are calculated according to strengths of wireless signals received by the wireless communication base stations from the electronic device and by reference to sensors. Actual distance between the electronic device and the object is determined to be more or less than a preset distance and orientation is also determined. Information as to an object within the preset distance can be transmitted to the electronic device. A server executing the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Chiun Mai Communication Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Sung-Chieh Chang, Huang-Mu Chen, Liang-Chih Chi
  • Patent number: 10636058
    Abstract: A system and associated method for assisting a user to efficiently query for product information and promotional information available from electronic commerce websites over the Internet includes a sub-server for searching the electronic commerce websites, a controlling server, and a local database. The method involves determining whether product information related to a user query is cached in a local database and if the requested information is not cached, searching the electronic commerce websites for the requested information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Tensilrus Capital NV LLC
    Inventor: Mark Nair
  • Patent number: 10631068
    Abstract: A method of an attribution server is disclosed. The method includes determining that one or more request(s) is received through the computer network from a first device based on accessing first data related to renderings of a first content on the first device, and determining rendering of a second content on a second device based on accessing second data related to renderings of content on the second device. The method also includes determining that the first content and the second content are related, determining likely association of the first device and the second device with a same user, and determining that the same user is likely to have rendered the second content on the second device based on exposure thereof to the first content on the first device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: FREE STREAM MEDIA CORP.
    Inventors: Ashwin Navin, David Harrison
  • Patent number: 10630693
    Abstract: Provided is adaptive authentication that utilizes relational analysis, sentiment analysis, or both relational analysis and sentiment analysis to facilitate an authentication procedure. The relational analysis evaluates a transactional profile and a behavioral profile of the user. The sentiment analysis evaluates available user information that is obtained from various forms of Internet activity related to the user. A level of authentication is selectively modified based on a result of the relational analysis and/or the sentiment analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.
    Inventor: Sridhar Kotamraju
  • Patent number: 10600080
    Abstract: A real-time messaging platform allows advertiser accounts to pay to insert candidate messages into the message streams requested by account holders. To accommodate multiple advertisers, the messaging platform controls an auction process that determines which candidate messages are selected for inclusion in a requested account holder's message stream. Selection is based on a bid for the candidate message, the message stream that is requested, and a variety of other factors that vary depending upon the implementation. The process for selection of candidate messages generally includes the following steps, though any given step may be omitted or combined into another step in a different implementation: targeting, filtering, prediction, ranking, and selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Twitter, Inc.
    Inventors: Reid Andersen, Parag Agrawal, Utkarsh Srivastava, Hyun Duk Kim
  • Patent number: 10597186
    Abstract: A printer assembly (30) for applying labels (36) on produce P being transported on a conveyance system (24). The printer assembly receives labels (36) mounted on a substrate tape (34) from a label supply (32) and prints content on the labels pertaining to the produce being transported. An accumulator (42), together with the printer (40), are mounted on a chassis (60). The accumulator receives labels from the printer, temporarily stores a variable number of the printed labels and supplies the stored labels as needed to an applicator (44). The applicator removes the labels from the substrate tape and applies the labels on the produce as the produce is being transported by the conveyance system. The accumulator accommodates the difference in the operational speeds of the printer relative to the applicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: John Bean Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Clint P. Arrington
  • Patent number: 10592897
    Abstract: A method for leveraging email to complete an online transaction from a third party vendor, the method comprising: storing customer information, the customer information including a customer name, customer email address, customer shipping address, and customer billing information. The method further comprises receiving an authorization request from an application programming interface associated with a third party vendor requesting access to a portion of the customer information and receiving confirmation from a customer to allow the third party vendor to access the portion of the customer information. The method further comprising transmitting an access code to the third party vendor and receiving a request message from the third party vendor, wherein the request message comprises the access code, and wherein the request message requests an authorization token. The method may further comprise confirming the received access code and transmitting an authorization token to the third party vendor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: SWOOP IP HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: James Kassemi, Lawrence Glen Holcomb, Dave Walz-Burkett, John P. Killoran, Jr., Nora Zulick, Mike Cassio
  • Patent number: 10586250
    Abstract: A host may provide a crowd-source price program. Participants in the crowd-source price program are incentivized to participate by rewards offered by the host. A participant acquires commercial information related to goods, services, or both being offered by a merchant and provides the host with the commercial information. The commercial information may include a purchase price for goods, services, or both being offered by the merchant and may include an identifier corresponding to the goods, the services, or both. The host may validate the commercial information, generate a reward, and provide the reward to the participant. The reward may be an offer for goods, services, or both offered by the host. The participant may accept the reward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory R. Spils, Paul Springer, Brian Jeffrey Saltzman
  • Patent number: 10579694
    Abstract: Content items, such as e-books, audio files, video files, and the like, may be tagged as associated with a location based on observing the locations at which users access the content items. A rich set of tag data may be gathered by additionally observing such things as the date and time when users access the content items as well as allowing the users to tag the content items with comments or ratings. A fine granularity of tagging may be achieved by associating the tags with specific portions of the content items. Content recommendations based on the tags may be provided to other users when those users are in approximately the same location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan A. Jenkins, John Rauser, William Alexander Strand
  • Patent number: 10547392
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method and apparatus for transmitting an image. The method includes converting, by a first device, an image to be transmitted into a number of sets of feature data according to a preset conversion rule; performing, by the first device, music composition according to preset music composition rules to obtain a music in accordance with musical tone rules through making each set of the number of sets of feature data correspond to one musical element; and playing, by the first device, the music to a second device. An image transmission manner utilizing a sound wave that is hearable to the human ear may be implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chengqi Zhou, Hong Wang
  • Patent number: 10546352
    Abstract: One variation of a method for selectively advertising items in an image includes: loading an image to a social feed; receiving a first tag and a second tag including identification of a first item and a second item visible in the image, respectively; based on the first tag and the second tag, correlating the first item with a first product and the second item with the second product; based on the first product and the second product, sourcing a first link to a first electronic storefront and a second link to a second electronic storefront that facilitate purchase of the first product and the second product, respectively; and selectively displaying a first visual cue of the first link and a second visual cue of the second link to a first user and to a second user, respectively, according to demographics of the first user and the second user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Systrom, Amy Cole
  • Patent number: 10540660
    Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for bidding on search engine marketing keywords at a search engine. The system comprises a bid management system, which is configured to bid on keywords at a search engine, configured to determine a keyword for evaluation and one or more measures for the keyword. The measures are dependent on social media content hosted by one or more social media platforms. The bid management system uses the social media measures to determine a level of popularity for the keyword based at least in part on the one or more measures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Adobe Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin G. Smith, William Brandon George
  • Patent number: 10540693
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide advertising that is aware of coupon states and user states. An advertisement to be presented to a user is determined. One of multiple versions of the advertisement is generated based at least in part on a state associated with the user and/or a state associated with a digital coupon for an item. One or more of the versions present the digital coupon. Data encoding the generated version of the advertisement is sent to a client associated with the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Eric S. Monsowitz, Michal Jonathan Geller, Brandon R. I. Chang
  • Patent number: 10535052
    Abstract: Transaction data is collected from POS terminals in order to generate transaction paths for account holders. The transaction paths link merchant locations where transactions are conducted. Common features of transaction paths, such as intersecting path locations, and transaction data associated with the merchant locations are used for marketing and other purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: First Data Corporation
    Inventors: Silvio Tavares, Susan Fahy, Dennis Carlson
  • Patent number: 10460294
    Abstract: Techniques of detecting errors on a transaction channel. As described herein, nodes that perform actions of a transaction channel automatically generate reception records that memorialize receptions by the nodes of transaction items that represent financial transactions. These reception records can be analyzed to determine whether a node that performs an action in the transaction channel failed to receive a transaction item within an expected time. If a node that performs an action in the transaction channel failed to receive a transaction item within the expected time, an error remediation process may be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
    Inventors: Robert Scot Thomas, Alan W. Hecht, Ryan Lindstrom
  • Patent number: 10445757
    Abstract: Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for providing, storing, redeeming, and managing promotions. A promotion service can be called to save, manage, or redeem promotions. The promotion service can be called to generate or provide promotions based upon contextual information. The promotion service also can be accessed to save promotions as well as to view or redeem saved promotions. In some implementations, the promotions can be stored in a promotion locker or other data storage device that is accessible to the promotion service. Promotions can be redeemed at a point of sale such as a web site or a physical retailer. In one contemplated embodiment, a user accesses the promotion service via a smart phone, and a bar code or other information associated with the promotion is displayed on the smart phone in response to a user request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Reuben Klein, Sreenivasa Gorti, Karen Mullis
  • Patent number: 10438188
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus, methods, and non-transitory media for programmatically grouping consumers are discussed herein. Some embodiments may include a system configured to provide to shared promotion redemptions. The system may include a merchant device with processing circuitry configured to associate multiple consumer accounts with a point-of-sale order. Based on receiving redemption data from a consumer device associated with one of the consumer accounts, the system may be further configured to allow the consumer device to share a selected promotion. For example, the system may determine payment share amounts for each consumer account based on a transaction price of the point-of-sale order and the redemption value of the promotion selected for shared redemption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Groupon, Inc.
    Inventors: Rishi R. Arora, Alan Deitch, Geoffrey Hubert Woo, Mahmudul Arefin Din, Robert James Skillington, Michael Y. Chen, Tihomir Tsankov Georgiev
  • Patent number: 10431228
    Abstract: A robust digital fingerprint of a file ensures that one able to produce the robust digital fingerprint has possession of the file. A client obtains information that is unpredictable to the client and uses that information to modify the file and generate a robust digital fingerprint from the modified file. A server, with access to the same unpredictable information, verifies the generated robust digital fingerprint. An algorithm for generating the robust digital fingerprint has a property that different representations of the same content will produce matching digital fingerprints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Thibault Candebat
  • Patent number: 10430811
    Abstract: Provided are a method and system for automatically generating context-based survey questions predicated on the customers' actual purchase experience with the merchant, thus eliminating for the customer the need to respond to obvious, redundant, and even irrelevant questions, and providing to the merchant customer feedback directly bound to the actual purchase event and correlating data. Purchase information is stored at the time of purchase and the customer is given an identifier for the purchase. Then, at the customer's convenience, either at the point of sale or through a networked computer, the customer can provide responses to questions that are selectively and automatically generated based on the items purchased, or other definable attributes associated with the sale, and based upon configurable preferences of the merchant. Survey questions are displayed and feedback responses are stored, analyzed and associated with purchase information in real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: AFTERWORDS, INC.
    Inventors: Steven A. Roberts, Drew Peloubet
  • Patent number: 10423975
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for determining, by a coupon distributor, a value for a coupon of a product or service that will be provided by a coupon provider. The coupon provider provides, to the coupon distributor, one or both of a budget value that indicates an amount the coupon provider is willing to pay the coupon distributor for distributing the coupon, and a redemption rate that indicates one or more target redemption rates. The coupon provider uses a coupon value equation to calculate the coupon value based on a budget value and a redemption rate. The coupon provider might estimate that no coupon value will allow the coupon provider to stay within the budget and ensure that the actual redemption rate will be close to a particular redemption rate, which may or may not be specified by the coupon distributor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: QUOTIENT TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventors: Deepak Goel, Kavel Patel, Sajjit Thampy
  • Patent number: 10397660
    Abstract: Provided is a broadcasting receiving apparatus and a control method thereof capable of receiving recommendation information, the control method of a broadcasting receiving apparatus receiving recommendation information about a broadcasting program; comparing a time of confirming the recommendation information and a broadcasting time of a recommended program included in the recommendation information; and supplying a function of the broadcasting receiving apparatus for using the recommendation information to correspond to a comparison result. Accordingly, a broadcasting receiving apparatus and a control method thereof capable of supplying a broadcasting service having an improved user convenience is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin-ho Yim, Seung-chul Shin, Hee-jeong Bae, Kyoung-nyo Hwangbo
  • Patent number: 10380611
    Abstract: Provided are a method and system for automatically generating context-based survey questions predicated on the customers' actual purchase experience with the merchant, thus eliminating for the customer the need to respond to obvious, redundant, and even irrelevant questions, and providing to the merchant customer feedback directly bound to the actual purchase event and correlating data. Purchase information is stored at the time of purchase and the customer is given an identifier for the purchase. Then, at the customer's convenience, either at the point of sale or through a networked computer, the customer can provide responses to questions that are selectively and automatically generated based on the items purchased, or other definable attributes associated with the sale, and based upon configurable preferences of the merchant. Survey questions are displayed and feedback responses are stored, analyzed and associated with purchase information in real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: AFTERWORDS, INC.
    Inventors: Steven A. Roberts, Drew Peloubet
  • Patent number: 10360577
    Abstract: Coupons are electronically delivered by a coupon generating subsystem to a plurality of mobile devices via gaming sessions experienced on the mobile devices. A memory of the coupon generating subsystem stores a set of rules associated with delivery of the coupons from the coupon generating subsystem to the mobile devices, wherein the set of rules include a payout table that determines the value of coupons that are delivered. A gaming session is initiated on one of the mobile devices when the mobile device is within a broadcast range of the coupon generating subsystem. The gaming session uses a random number generator and a central processing unit of the coupon generating subsystem to generate a result for the game of chance using the payout table in the memory. The result determines the value of a coupon to be electronically delivered via the coupon generating subsystem to the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Tapcentive, Inc.
    Inventors: Gavin Shenker, David Wentker, Mike Lindelsee, Gabriel Wachob