Patents Assigned to American Express Travel Related Services Company
  • System and method for facilitating a financial transaction with a dynamically generated identifier
    Patent number: 8195517
    Abstract: Instead of a PIN which is associated with an account and provides access to an account, a dynamically generated card identifier (dynamic CID) is used to verify that the consumer currently possesses the transaction card at the time of purchase and/or is the true card owner. At the time of purchase, a token generates a dynamic CID, which changes with each transaction. A consumer enters the dynamic CID into a pre-existing CID field in an electronic order form. The merchant then sends the dynamic CID to a card authorization system within an authorization request. The card authorization system issues a response to a merchant system via a pre-existing authorization message indicating that the transaction card and dynamic CID have been validated, thereby adjusting the fraud risk associated with the transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Glade Raymond Erikson
  • Transaction card
    Patent number: 8191788
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing an opaque, transparent or translucent transaction card having multiple features, such as a holographic foil, integrated circuit chip, silver magnetic stripe with text on the magnetic stripe, opacity gradient, an invisible optically recognizable compound, a translucent signature field such that the signature on back of the card is visible from the front of the card and an active thru date on the front of the card. The invisible optically recognizable compound is preferably an infrared ink comprising an infrared phthalocyanine dye, an infrared phosphor, and a quantum dot energy transfer compound. The infrared ink can be detected by a sensor found in an ATM or card assembly line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Lisa Ann Morrill-Webb, William J. Faenza, Jr.
  • System and method for setting up a pre-authorization record
    Patent number: 8195574
    Abstract: A computer-assisted method includes hardware, software and telecommunications components that cooperatively achieve the technical effect of an improved electronic purchasing transaction system. In various embodiments of the invention, at least one master account is established for a client. A pool of limited use account identifiers or secondary account identifiers, that are separate and distinct from the master account, is associated with the master account by a purchasing system or account management system. Each of the limited use account identifiers may be used by the client to purchase items from merchants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Hans D. Buehler, Jonathan B. Wells
  • Fee allocator system and method
    Patent number: 8195538
    Abstract: A system is provided for automatically billing a designated account for fees associated with the costs of tickets and other similar services. Passenger Record Number data and similar data is provided through a Computerized Reservation System and an accounting system to a Fee Allocator program which automatically interprets the data, determines appropriate fees based on the data and a user profile, and bills the fees to an appropriate account based on the user profile. Billing data provided to the account also facilitates the process of reconciling the fees to the travel ticket costs. Enhanced descriptive billing statements can be created simplifying the process of reconciling fees to the travel ticket costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Lisa Steury, John Berkley, Frank Scarpaci, Corinna Cooke, Bill Rozenwaser, Corbett Bloom
  • System and method for dynamic security provisioning of computing resources
    Patent number: 8195820
    Abstract: The present invention facilitates the dynamic provisioning of computing and data assets in a commodity computing environment. The invention provides a system and method for dynamically provisioning and de-provisioning computing resources based on multi-dimensional decision criteria. By employing specialized computing components configured to assess an asset and requestor of an asset, a provisioning engine is able to transform the input from the computing components into a specific configuration of computing resource provisioning and security controls. According to the rules and policies applying to a security domain, the provisioning engine may dynamically allocate computing resources in a manner that is both safe and efficient for the asset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Merkow, James F. Petrone
  • System and method for immediate issuance of transaction cards
    Patent number: 8191778
    Abstract: A system and method for substantially immediate issuance of transaction cards includes at least one unassigned transaction card including a storage medium having a card number encoded thereupon. The system also includes a computing system configured to receive application information from an applicant that has been provided said unassigned transaction card, and to activate the unassigned transaction card so that access to monetary funds is extended to the applicant through said unassigned transaction card, upon an evaluation of said application information indicating that the applicant has been approved for access to the monetary funds. The unassigned transaction card bears no visible marking presenting information concerning the applicant and encodes no information concerning said applicant upon the storage medium of said unassigned transaction card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason J. Hogg, Patrick Graf
  • Rapid caching and data delivery system and method
    Patent number: 8195603
    Abstract: The initial systems analysis of a new data source fully defines each data element and also designs, tests and encodes complete data integration instructions for each data element. A metadata cache stores the data element definition and data element integration instructions. The metadata cache enables a comprehensive view of data elements in an enterprise data architecture. When data is requested that includes data elements defined in a metadata cache, the metadata cache and associated software modules automatically generate database elements to fully integrate the requested data elements into existing databases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Eddie J. Alvarez, Stephen K. Dantu, Sastry VSM Durvasula, Marat S. Khalfin, Deep Thomas
  • System and method for presenting a competitive comparison of a recommended or custom card
    Patent number: 8195551
    Abstract: A system, computer product and method for presenting a competitive comparison of a recommended financial transaction instrument. A set of questions is presented to a consumer in order to determine psychographic characteristics of the consumer. At least one subset of questions is presented based on answers to the set of questions, the at least one subset of questions relating more specifically to available benefits. A tailored financial transaction instrument is recommended having benefits which are based on answers to the at least one subset of questions. At least one similar competitive financial transaction instrument is presented to the consumer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Rachel Moore, Scott Brooks, Natalie Azam
  • Determining commercial share of wallet
    Patent number: 8195550
    Abstract: Commercial size of spending wallet (“SoSW”) is the total business spend of a business including cash but excluding bartered items. Commercial share of wallet (“SoW”) is the portion of the spending wallet that is captured by a particular financial company. Commercial SoW is a modeling approach that utilizes various data sources to provide outputs that describe a company's spend capacity. These outputs can be appended to data profiles of customers and prospects and can be utilized to support decisions involving prospecting, new account evaluation, and customer management across the lifecycle. Company financial statements are utilized to identify and calculate total business spend of a company that could be transacted using a commercial credit card. A spend-like regression model may then be developed to estimate annual commercial SoSW value for customers and prospects within a credit network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Kathleen Haggerty, Charles Christopher Lyon, Robert E. Phelan, Jon Kevin Ruterman, Geraldine A. Turner, Chao M. Yuan, Arnab Biswas
  • Content management application for an interactive environment
    Patent number: 8195787
    Abstract: The content management application is an intranet application which provides a process for implementing changes to an internet website of a company by providing the company the ability to define and enforce a common style of page layout. The application can be accessed via a desktop browser and multiple users may access the application for multiple reasons at the same time. The application also dynamically generates new page designs and new component design with various people assigned to groups or teams enabling the continuous creation and processing of content. Once the content is created and reviewed, it is then launched onto the company's internet site for viewing by the internet users accessing the company's web page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrea Bimson, Jin Chyang, Meena Gopakumar, Lorraine Miranda, Biswajit Sarkar, Shashikant Rao, Kaustubh Kunte
  • SPEAKER RECOGNITION IN A MULTI-SPEAKER ENVIRONMENT AND COMPARISON OF SEVERAL VOICE PRINTS TO MANY
    Publication number: 20120134478
    Abstract: One-to-many comparisons of callers' voice prints with known voice prints to identify any matches between them. When a customer communicates with a particular entity, such as a customer service center, the system makes a recording of the real-time call including both the customers and agent's voices. The system segments the recording to extract at least a portion of the customer's voice to create a customer voice print, and it formats the segmented voice print for network transmission to a server. The server compares the customer's voice print with multiple known voice prints to determine any matches, meaning that the customer's voice print and one of the known voice prints are likely from the same person. The identification of any matches can be used for a variety of purposes, such as determining whether to authorize a transaction requested by the customer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Vicki Broman, Vernon Marshall, Seshasayee Bellamkonda, Marcel Leyva, Cynthia Hanson
  • System and method for evaluation decision sciences of simulation models
    Patent number: 8190410
    Abstract: A system and method for viewing models and model variables within a sophisticated modeling environment is disclosed. The system provides varying levels of insight into a modeling infrastructure to help the user understand model and model variable dependencies, usage, distribution, and/or the like. (original) The method includes storing model and model variable data within a relational database system, receiving a request from a user interfacing with the system via a web interface, extracting search criteria and presentation preferences from the request, formulating and executing one or more queries on the database to retrieve the required data, formatting the data in accordance with the request, and retuning the data to the requesting user in the form of a web page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Manisha Jain, Michael Shamai Oralevich, Sandeep K. Sacheti, Deep Thomas, Donald Robert McGimpsey
  • System and method for transferring a line of credit balance to a cash account
    Patent number: 8190517
    Abstract: The present invention provides an automated system configured to facilitate transfers of cash value from one or more lines of credit to one or more deposit accounts or payment systems. An automated system ensures that requested funds are available in a customer's one or more lines of credit and electronically deposits the requested funds into one or more designated deposit accounts or payment systems. An automated system provides a means for customers to manage lines of credit, setup transfer transactions, define rules governing transfers and view transactional history. The automated system, in network connection with the lending organization's backend systems, may authenticate customer identities and credit accounts as well as insure that the requested funds are available for transfer into a deposit account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas C Baker, Diane M. Derocher, Lawrence Stanton Hoffman, Bruno Jimenez, Yogesh R. More, Pauline Raffaele, Andrea M. Saporito, Jennifer Lynne Wybraniec
  • Metal-containing transaction card and method of making the same
    Patent number: 8186582
    Abstract: A method of creating a single transaction card is disclosed and comprises embossing the single transaction card within a pocket to form embossed characters on a first surface of the single transaction card, filling the pocket with a fill panel to provide a substantially flush surface on a second surface of the single transaction card, wherein a third surface of the fill panel is in uniform, direct contact with an interior of the pocket. Another method is disclosed for machining a face pocket within a single transaction card and disposing a microchip therein. In various embodiments, a single transaction card is comprised of a continuous metal layer, such as, for example, titanium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Stevan Varga, Lisa Ann Morrill Webb
  • Systems, methods and computer program products for offering consumer loans having customized terms for each customer
    Patent number: 8190511
    Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products take into account the amount, term, and type of consumer loan, as well as data relating to a customer's credit score, debt burden, and collateral, if any. The invention then calculates an expected probability of default for a loan to that customer, and calculate loan terms that will deliver a minimum return on equity (e.g., 18%) given the lender's capital structure and funding rates. These loan terms are then offered to the customer. The customized loan terms include annual percentage rate of the loan, or a yearly fee or loan amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Ericksen
  • Transaction card
    Patent number: 8186598
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a transparent or translucent transaction card having multiple features. An optically recognizable compound may be associated with a portion of the card for blocking infrared radiation and may comprise an infrared ink having nanocrystalline indium tin oxide particles. Moreover, a portion of the transaction card may include a second optically recognizable compound disposed thereon. The second optically recognizable compound may comprise an infrared phthalocyanine dye, an infrared phosphor, and a quantum dot energy transfer compound. The infrared ink may be detected by a sensor found in an ATM or card assembly line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Faenza, Jr.
  • Non pre-approved channel filtering for card acquisition
    Patent number: 8190470
    Abstract: Information can be shared across a pre-approved (PA) channel and a non pre-approved (NPA) channel to reduce unnecessary offers of a transactional instrument or transactional instrument upgrade to prospects. All prospects listed in the NPA channel that have been evaluated in the PA channel may be removed from a NPA offeree list. This may be done by matching the NPA prospect list with a list of prospects who have been evaluated in the PA channel. The list of prospects evaluated in the PA channel may include, for example, prospects who were pre-approved for an offer as well as prospects who were considered for a pre-approved offer but who were denied the offer. Prospects in the NPA channel that are removed from the NPA offer list may be dropped from further NPA processing, as such prospects are either unprofitable or do not meet a transactional account company's standards for credit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company
    Inventors: Atul K. Srivastava, Yanyan Guo, Michael A. Vapenik
  • Method and apparatus for collaborative filtering of card member transactions
    Patent number: 8190478
    Abstract: The disclosed system allows a credit or charge card issuer to provide its card members with a list of merchants, products, services, vacation destinations or other offerings that might be of interest based on the purchases of similar card members. In one instance, this process looks at all card members that made purchases at a merchant and then it identifies all other merchants in the same category where those card members also made purchases. The associated merchants are ranked based on largest number of shared card members and the top results may be shared with card members or merchants in order to enhance promotions, card use and marketing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Herman, Greg M. Keeley, Vernon Marshall, Paula S. Schwalje, Brian J. Yasz
  • SERVICING ATTRIBUTES ON A MOBILE DEVICE
    Publication number: 20120129514
    Abstract: Enabling remote customer service and maintenance using a visual identifier is disclosed. In response to a user enrolling in a service capability associated with a mobile device, the process utilizes a visual identifier to associate the service capability with the customer account, the service and the mobile device. The system allocates a visual identifier for each service capability and enables customer service agents to identify the service capability and mobile device, verify the user and retrieve information for the service interaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Blayn W. Beenau, Williams J. Gray, Jeffrey D. Langus, David P. Whittington
  • SYSTEM, METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR ISSUING AUTOMATIC PAYMENTS LINKED TRANSACTION ACCOUNT
    Publication number: 20120130786
    Abstract: An enrolling system verifies an enrollee, counter-offers a second transaction account in response to a decline of a first account, wherein the second transaction account includes more restrictions than a first transaction account, associates an enrollee's main and overdraft account, and issues a transaction account. Enrolling in the second transaction account may include enrolling in a second transaction account automatic payment program; and/or associating a demand deposit account to the second transaction account. The method may also include relaxing use restrictions of the transaction account based upon at least one of: receiving payment of a pre-selected amount, receiving payments over a pre-selected period, and receiving payment on or before a pre-selected date.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Vernon Marshall