Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm George T. Marcou
  • Patent number: 6601761
    Abstract: A method and system of co-branding an electronic payment platform, such as an electronic wallet, makes use of computer hardware and software including, for example, one or more electronic wallet related servers controlled by a financial institution, which can be coupled over the Internet to a user's personal computer and merchant's website server. The electronic wallet is co-branded, for example, with the brand of the financial institution and the brand or brands of one or more cooperating merchants. The co-branded electronic payment platform makes use of a payment mechanism related, for example, to a credit card account of the user or digital payment tokens pre-allocated for the user. The user is given an incentive award for use of the co-branded electronic payment platform which is stored for the user and redeemable on one or more of the cooperating merchants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Citibank, N.A.
    Inventor: Thomas Katis
  • Patent number: 6587857
    Abstract: A system and method for preparing and integrating operational data received from nodes on a network prior to loading the data onto a data warehouse. Operational data received from nodes on a network is transformed to produce an output file of integrated data records which are audited to ensure data contained in the records has not already been loaded to the data warehouse in a previous operation. Data previously loaded onto the data warehouse is compared with current operational data to be loaded to determine whether the status of any nodes in the network has changed. The audited integrated operational data and data indicating which nodes, if any, have changed status since the previous upload of data are provided with unique identification numbers and uploaded to the data warehouse. In a preferred embodiment, the data concerns transactions occurring on, and the status of, components in customer activated terminals or transactions occurring on home banking servers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Citicorp Development Center, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Carothers, Lin-Chen Shih, Simon Khilkevich
  • Patent number: 6574605
    Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for strategic services enterprise workload management and more particularly to an automated method and system for enterprise workload management that enables an organization such as a financial institution to route any channel service to customer service representatives at any capable service site. Thus, the invention enables an organization to provide service to its customers at any time and by any communications or service channel a customer, chooses, wherein the enterprise workload management knows all work in process for a customer so that when a customer is identified, that customer will be routed to the first available agent that can best satisfy both the customer's intent and the organization's intent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Citibank, N.A.
    Inventors: Barbara Sanders, Curtis Robb, Jet Gau
  • Patent number: 6560341
    Abstract: A system for enhancing sound signals at a relatively high sonic level power input and a comparatively low signal power level output which are relatively adjusted so that the signal is enhanced when reproduced. The input includes a capacitor for creating a reverberation effect in the signal and an adjustable power level varying device for causing a second harmonic effect in the signal. When the system is used in a multichannel sound system, a low pass filter is connected between channels for causing a phantom center channel effect in the sound signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Inventor: Jan R Coyle
  • Patent number: 6553581
    Abstract: The object of this invention is to provide a toilet and an odor exhausting apparatus for such toilets, designed to quickly suck odor from the toilet bowl to a chimney pot installed on the rooftop during defecation or urination so as to quickly expel the odor into the atmosphere outside a house. In the apparatus, the seat (3) has a cavity (1d), a plurality of odor suction ports (1f), a tubular hinge joint (2) and an odor outlet port (1e). A connection pipe (6), having an inlet port (6a), is set within the hinge joint (2). A seat cover (8) is coupled to the connection pipe (6) through a toothed engagement. A tubular shaft (7), having an inlet port (7a), is rotatably set within the connection pipe (6), and communicates with the atmosphere outside the house through a pipeline (12). When the cover (8) is closed, the port (7a) is closed by the sidewall of the connection pipe (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Inventor: Doo-gyun Lee
  • Patent number: 6552850
    Abstract: The present invention provides a device, method, and system for secure viewing and use of banking and other electronic access devices. The present invention comprises a computer/video display system that includes a computer with a conventional screen that displays a polarized screen image and a polarized partition that allows viewing of the screen by the user positioned in front of the display, while preventing viewing by secondary observers. The present invention operates in conjunction with a standard liquid crystal display (LCD), using the intact polarizer of the LCD. The present invention is intended to be used in conjunction with an automatic teller machine/customer access terminal (ATM/CAT) or personal computer (PC) to allow privacy of information displayed to the ATM/CAT or PC user, without preventing observation of the ATM/CAT or PC user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Citicorp Development Center, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward Dudasik
  • Patent number: 6548199
    Abstract: A fuel cell device that is designed to circulate cooling water with simplified and compact construction, without any need of a pump for circulating the cooling water, so as to reduce electric power loss. A fuel cell and a radiator are connected through a closed line via an inflow-side cooling pipe and an outflow-side cooling pipe and also the radiator is disposed under the wing of an air spoiler spaced above the fuel cell and open to outside air. With this arrangement, while the fuel cell generates electric power, the cooling water of decreased density flowing out of the fuel cell is allowed to rise through the outflow-side cooling pipe to feed it to the radiator and the cooling water of increased density that was cooled down by heat exchanging the cooling water and outside air is allowed to lower through the inflow-side cooling pipe to feed it to the fuel cell again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirohisa Tanaka, Hiroshi Munetoki
  • Patent number: 6547846
    Abstract: The invention relates to a steel with a high wear resistance, high hardness and good notched bar impact strength, useful for the manufacture of products, in the use of which at least some of the features are desirable, preferably for the manufacture of tools intended to be used at temperatures up to at least 500 ° C. The steel is produced powder-metallurgically and consists in percent by weight essentially of 0.55-0.65 C, 0.7-1.5 Si, 0.1-1.0 Mn, 3.5-4.5 Cr, 1.5-2.5 Mo, 1.5-2.5 W, 1.2-1.8 V, 0-0.2 Nb, balance iron and impurities in normal amounts. After hardening and tempering the steel contains 1.5-2.5 percent by volume of MC carbides, in which M consists essentially only of vanadium, the carbides being evenly distributed in the steel matrix. The invention also relates to use of the steel, manufacture and products manufactured from the steel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Erasteel Kloster Aktiebolag
    Inventor: Leif Westin
  • Patent number: 6537626
    Abstract: Glass containers specifically for the storage of pharmaceutical or diagnostic solutions whose surface which comes into contact with the solutions is coated with a layer of oxides and/or nitrides of the elements Si, Ti, Ta, Al or mixtures thereof applied by means of a plasma CVD process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Schott Glaswerke
    Inventors: Michael Spallek, Marten Walther, Manfred Lohmeyer, Martin Heming
  • Patent number: 6527171
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a system and method for assisting a visually impaired individual in performing a financial transaction at an automated teller machine, comprising initiating a visually impaired transaction session through a preset event at the automated teller machine; wherein the automated teller machine comprises a touch screen display for displaying operation instructions to a customer and for receiving input from a customer; an output jack for providing signals which can be converted to audible sounds by means of a headset; a bill dispensing mechanism for dispensing a bank not corresponding to a specified amount; a receipt issuing unit for printing a transaction content and for issuing a receipt on which the transaction content is printed; and a controller connected to the card reader, the touch screen display, the output jack, the bill dispensing unit, and the receipt issuing unit, the controller providing signals to the output jack corresponding to information provided on the touch scre
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Citicorp Development Center Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Brooks, Edward M. R. Dudasik, Stephen M. Gryte, Michael L. Sears
  • Patent number: 6510983
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a system and method enabling value stored in an advanced technology memory on a transaction card to be utilized in a magnetic stripe transaction with the card. The invention provides a special transaction number that is encrypted and recorded on the magnetic stripe of the card. The special transaction number comprises the value to be transferred or transaction amount, a personal identification number (“PIN”), and an account number. The special transaction number is recorded in a non-discretionary data field. Further, an indicator character may also be recorded on the magnetic stripe to alert a host system of a financial institution of the existence of the special transaction number. Thus, the special transaction number is read during a magnetic stripe transaction and the value represented by the special transaction number may be utilized to perform the transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Citicorp Development Center, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Horowitz, Joseph C. Kawan, Henry Lichstein
  • Patent number: 6508397
    Abstract: An enhanced-security automated bank teller machine/customer activated teller (ATM/CAT). The ATM/CAT includes a multi-level security system. The first line of defense is access control to the service area behind the ATM/CAT through the use of an electronic lock on the service area door with an emergency override, which is only operable during non-curfew hours. The second line of defense is a passive infrared (PIR) detector in the service area, and lights and a loudspeaker to deter theft. The third line of defense is an impact sensor panel covering the security chest, which can be cheaply replaced. The fourth line of defense is the steel or composite material security chest and boltwork, which locks so that the door cannot open if the hinge is removed. Furthermore, the location of the lock, the latching bars, and the hinges cannot be ascertained from the outside of the security chest. The fifth line of defense is a glass plate to jam the boltwork closed if an attacker drills through the chest door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Citicorp Development Center, Inc.
    Inventor: Cuong D. Do
  • Patent number: 6507025
    Abstract: A system for detecting and graphically displaying a contents of a fast-moving target object comprises: a radiation source, having a position such that at least a portion of radiation emitted from the radiation source passes through the fast-moving target object, the fast-moving target object having a variable velocity and acceleration while maintaining a substantially constant distance from the radiation source and being selected from the group consisting of: a vehicle, a cargo container and a railroad car; a velocity measuring device configured to measure the variable velocity of the fast-moving target object; a detector array comprising a plurality of photon detectors, having a position such that at least some of the at least a portion of the radiation passing through the target object is received thereby, the detector array having a variable count time according to the variable velocity and a grid unit size; a counter circuit coupled to the detector array for discretely counting a number of photons enterin
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Science Applications International Corporation
    Inventors: Victor V. Verbinski, Kenneth H. Valentine, Eric Ackermann, Victor J. Orphan, Jeff Adams
  • Patent number: 6502746
    Abstract: A device, system and method for extracting deposited items from a secure enclosure, such as the envelope bin of an ATM/CAT safe, makes use, for example, of computer hardware and software applications, as well as one or more secure access devices, card devices, transponder devices, input devices, control mechanisms, transport bins, and transport devices, to modify or field retrofit an existing ATM/CAT to enable removal of items without opening the safe door. The modified ATM/CAT enables a service person, for example, to enter a retrieval request, which is received by a control device, and the control device automatically opens an access port of shutter of the ATM/CAT safe and automatically activates a transport mechanism to transport items out of the safe to be received by the service person or a secured access bin docked, for example, with the access port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Citicorp Development Center, Inc.
    Inventors: Cuong D. Do, Edward M. R. Dudasik, Michael L. Sears, Xuan S. Bui
  • Patent number: 6474029
    Abstract: A roadway or fence comprises a series of panels linked together by means of flexible joints. A series of the panels is prevented from separating into discrete panels by means of a compression rod. Lengths of the panels thus connected are secured to further such lengths using a coupling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: L. H. Woodhouse & Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Peter Cook, Gordon Partridge, Anthony Richard Marsh
  • Patent number: 6469667
    Abstract: System and method for improving the interference resistance of an radio frequency (RF) antenna system through passive prescreening of the RF energy incident upon the antenna. The invention physically partitions the RF environment into two or more sectors with respect to the direction of arrival of incident energy. The power level of the RF frequencies of interest incident upon each sector is determined such that whenever the power level exceeds a given threshold, the received signal from energy incident on that sector is modified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Science Applications International Corporation
    Inventors: Cordell Fox, Kevin Wing, Robert A. Murphy, David C. Priester
  • Patent number: 6466900
    Abstract: A method and system is provided for making a database stored upon a computer readable medium for use as a computerized multilingual phrase database in a runtime application environment. A database of all application phrases is created in one language with variable place holders reserved in the application phrases for each variable in the phrases. Translations of the created application phrases are created and stored in at least a second phrase database. The first and second phrase databases are exported in a form that can be used in a runtime environment by an application for which the first database and the second database were created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Citicorp Development Center, Inc.
    Inventors: George Lissauer, Victor Che Kwong, Jack Hsiung, Reid Kneeland, Dilip Parekh
  • Patent number: 6464135
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a system and method for assisting a visually impaired individual in performing a financial transaction at an automated teller machine, comprising initiating a visually impaired transaction session through a preset event at the automated teller machine; wherein the automated teller machine comprises a touch screen display for displaying operation instructions to a customer and for receiving input from a customer; an output jack for providing signals which can be converted to audible sounds by means of a headset; a bill dispensing mechanism for dispensing a bank not corresponding to a specified amount; a receipt issuing unit for printing a transaction content and for issuing a receipt on which the transaction content is printed; and a controller connected to the card reader, the touch screen display, the output jack, the bill dispensing unit, and the receipt issuing unit, the controller providing signals to the output jack corresponding to information provided on the touch scre
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Citicorp Development Center, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert E. Cohen, Michael L. Grandcolas, Stephen M. Gryte, Teresa A. Petach, Michael L. Sears
  • Patent number: 6457352
    Abstract: The subject matter of the invention is a rolldynamometer for motor vehicles comprising at least one running roll or drum (9) for one wheel (2) of one axis of the vehicle (1) to be examined, respectively, at least one electric motor (9) for directly driving and slowing down the running rolls (3), the stator housing (9a) of said electric motor (9) being borne in a support frame (6) in a pendulum fashion and supported on said support frame via force meters (20), and a control unit to which a running simulator for adjusting specific vehicle data and for simulating selected running conditions is allocated. For increasing the accuracy of the measurements, according to the invention, the stator housing (9a) of the driving motor (9) is borne in a lubrication oil free bearing arrangement in the support frame (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Maha Maschinenbau Haldenwang GmbH & Co. KG.
    Inventor: Anton Knestel
  • Patent number: D471204
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Citicorp Development Center, Inc.
    Inventors: Marylou Dowd, Jennifer Strauss Vos