Abstract: A system for performing a point-of-sale (POS) transaction. The system includes a POS device configured to receive an item order input specifying an item that is listed in a pre-determined inventory list of a merchant, receive a hands-free confirmation that the item is to be purchased by a customer, and prompt, in response to the hands-free confirmation, the customer to select a payment method, and a wearable device worn by the merchant and configured to obtain the hands-free confirmation from the merchant for sending to the POS device, and obtain, in response to the prompting, information associated with a payment credential of the consumer for sending to the POS device, where the POS transaction is performed based on the payment credential.

Abstract: Computer systems for escrowing of selected data of an online tax return preparation application for use in executing models such as predictive models to generate tax return topic rankings, which are provided to the online tax return application and displayed to a user and are personalized in that they reflect or are based on actual tax return data of the user. Escrow system components may operate independently of the online application such that small portions of a very large amount of tax return preparation data can be retrieved (e.g., periodically) from a data store maintained by the online application, and this retrieved data is cached or stored to a different data store and analyzed relative to an escrow contract specifying types of data required to trigger model execution. Upon satisfying escrow contract requirements, a corresponding model is executed, and a topic ranking is generated and provided to the online application.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that manages synchronization between a profile store and a source of truth that is used to update the profile store via a real-time link. During operation, the system obtains a first set of attributes from a profile for an entity in the profile store. Next, the system obtains a second set of attributes for the entity from the source of truth. The system then compares the first and second sets of attributes to detect and correct mismatches between the first and second sets of attributes, wherein the corrected mismatches improve subsequent use of the profile in the profile store by the set of remote offerings. Finally, the system varies a rate of comparing the first and second sets of attributes for the mismatches based on one or more execution conditions associated with the source of truth.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for automatically modifying computer parameters as an incentive for complying with data policies. During operation, the system receives, at a computing system, a data policy definition, wherein the data policy definition comprises: one or more metrics associated with data usage, and one or more desired vectors associated with the one or more metrics. Next, the system receives, at the computing system, usage statistics for data, wherein the usage statistics comprise the one or more metrics for one or more clients. The system then analyzes the usage statistics to determine, at the computing system, a first score indicating how a first client in the one or more clients is performing compared to the one or more desired vectors for the one or more metrics. Finally, the system automatically modifies a parameter of the computing system associated with the first client based on the first score.

Abstract: A system to configure a software solution involves a system that includes (i) a configuration service executing on a computer processor and configured to select, based on a user attribute of a user, a configurable user interface from multiple configurable user interfaces of the software solution, and select, based on the user attribute of the user, a configurable workflow from multiple configurable workflows of the software solution, (ii) a computer server configured to perform a pre-determined task by at least receiving, via the configurable user interface, a user input, and executing, based on user input and according to the configurable workflow, multiple functional engines of the software solution, and (iii) a data repository configured to store the multiple configurable user interfaces and the multiple configurable workflows.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a system that provides a selective encryption technique that encrypts all of the fields in a profile, and selectively enables consumers of the profile information to decrypt specific fields in the profiles. This is accomplished by encrypting each field in the profile using a randomly generated symmetric key, and then encrypting the symmetric key for each field with public keys belonging to individuals who are authorized to access each field. These encrypted public keys are stored in a header of the profile to enable individuals to use their corresponding private keys to decrypt symmetric keys for the specific fields that they are authorized to access.

Abstract: A method and system uses a probabilistic topic model to identify topics that are relevant search query terms received by a customer support system from a user, according to one embodiment. The probabilistic topic model identifies topics that are relevant to the search query terms at least partially based on the context around the receipt of the search query terms, according to one embodiment. By identifying relevant topics at least partially based on the context around the receipt of the search query terms, a likelihood of inaccurately identifying a relevant topic is reduced, according to one embodiment.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that manages synchronization between a profile store and a source of truth that is used to update the profile store via a real-time link. During operation, the system obtains a first set of attributes from a profile for an entity in the profile store and a second set of attributes for the entity from the source of truth. The system then compares the first and second sets of attributes for mismatches between the first and second sets of attributes. When a mismatch between the first and second sets of attributes is found, the system corrects the mismatch by modifying the first set of attributes in the profile store with one or more values from the second set of attributes to improve subsequent use of the profile in the profile store by the set of remote offerings.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of acquiring tax data for use in tax preparation application includes acquiring an image of at least one document containing tax data therein with an imaging device. A computer extracts one or more features from the acquired image of the at least one document and compares the extracted one or more features to a database containing a plurality of different tax forms. The database may include a textual database and/or geometric database. The computer identifies a tax form corresponding to the at least one document from the plurality of different tax forms based at least in part on a confidence level associated with the comparison of the extracted one or more features to the database. At least a portion of the tax data from the acquired image is transferred into corresponding fields of the tax preparation application.

Abstract: Individuals using a data management system are provided the capability to make corrections to default values presented in a simulation of at least part of a webpage including default data indicating the layout of the webpage, and/or one or more identified data fields determined by heuristic analysis and/or from data collected from other individuals/users. These contributing individual corrections are then transformed into contributing individual originated parser scripts associated with the webpage. The contributing individual originated parser scripts are then implemented and/or applied to the webpage for all individuals, including the contributing individual.

Abstract: Pre-defined unlock codes are generated that are associated with defined access related error codes. When an access issue is encountered, the pre-defined unlock code associated with the received error code is provided to the blocked user. When the blocked user provides the pre-defined unlock code associated with the received error code, the user is provided access to the software application on a temporary basis. Therefore, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a technical solution to the long standing technical problem in the workflow application environment of users of a software application getting stuck and blocked from making progress with their workflows due to access and/or critical issues, without the need for applying a permanent data fix, releasing a patch, or developing, releasing, and/or installing a new application version, at least until a long-term solution can be formulated and implemented.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates geolocation of a user. The system includes a server and an electronic device. First, the server receives a location of the user from an electronic device of the user and determines a window around the location. Next, the server transmits the window and one or more geofences within the window to the electronic device. The electronic device then obtains one or more precision buffers associated with one or more levels of accuracy for detecting the location of the user near the one or more geofences. Finally, the electronic device facilitates use of the one or more geofences by varying a geolocation technique for tracking the location of the user based on the one or more precision buffers.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a system for using Augmented Reality (AR) to facilitate displaying business graphics. The system receives at a computer system a video stream including an image of a marker, the marker being a physical object that is manipulated by the user and is recognizable by the computer system. The system recognizes the marker and receives from the user a selection of a business graphic. Next, the system renders the business graphic over the image of the marker in the video stream such that the image of the marker is obscured by the business graphic. The system then recognizes a manipulation of the marker indicated by a change in the image of the marker in the video stream. Next, the system performs an action on the business graphic that corresponds to the manipulation of the marker. Finally, the system displays the video stream to the user.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products for item categorization. A mobile communication device such as a smartphone is utilized by a consumer to acquire an image or video of a barcode or other machine readable indicia associated with an item. The image or video is processed to identify read or scan the barcode to determine corresponding numerical data or a code, which is used to identify the specific item selected by the consumer for purchase from a merchant. The identified specific item (or image or video or associated data) is transmitted from the mobile communication device to a computer hosting a financial management system, which categorizes the item and update or generates financial reports or summaries reflecting the recent categorization data. Reports or summaries such as category or item-based budget reports can be transmitted to and displayed on a screen of the mobile communication device.

Abstract: Error occurrence/recurrence rates from multiple users of a software system are monitored. In one embodiment, log error data and context data associated with a critical issue is provided to a server side repository. When it is detected that a threshold number of users of a software application are facing the same critical issue a community portal is updated with a facility for users to post their solutions, i.e., workarounds, and/or observations, and/or comments, associated with the specific critical issue/error. In one embodiment, the posted solutions are rated and/or monitored, and if the rating for a given solution receives a rating above a threshold rating value, then data suggesting the solution, and/or implementing the solution, is pushed to users who continue to encounter the same critical issue, in one embodiment, using an action message framework, until a permanent fix is applied.

Abstract: During a data-entry technique, a subset of desired information is determined based on an attribute of the user (such as an identifier). For example, the subset of the information may be associated with at least a field in a document, and the remainder of the information may be associated with at least a second field. This second field may be: empty, related to the subset of the information, and/or redundant with the subset of the information. Using the determined subset of the information, the data-entry process may be simplified. In particular, a user may only have to provide the subset of the information, instead of all the information.

Abstract: A system and method for managing website scripts includes operations which provide for user contributed website scripts for use by consumer users and computing systems providing services on their behalf. User contributed website scripts are used to periodically gather user data. Following receipt of a user contributed website script, validation operations are performed in order to ensure that the user contributed website script operates properly. Once an initial determination is made that the website script operates properly, award points are awarded to the contributing user, and contribution points are assigned. If performance of the user contributed website script fails after initial acceptance, the number of contribution points associated with the user contributed website script is reduced. If the number of contribution points associated with a user contributed website script falls below a predetermined threshold, the user contributed website script is rendered unavailable for use.

Abstract: A method for sharing templates for use with a financial management application (FMA) includes receiving, from each of multiple financial professionals, a company profile including a chart of accounts for a business operating within a commercial industry and at a geographic location, generating profile templates including, for each profile, a template including the commercial industry, the geographic location, and a redacted chart of accounts of the profile, receiving, from each of the financial professionals, a request to publicly share the template corresponding to the profile, receiving, from a small business representative, a profile creation request specifying a first commercial industry and a first geographic location, identifying a first template, and providing, in response to the profile creation request, the first template to the representative, where the representative uses the first template to create a first profile for the business.

Abstract: During a financial transaction, a customer provides a token that identifies the customer to a peripheral device (which is other than a credit-authorization terminal or a magnetic-stripe reader) coupled to the point-of-sale terminal. Then, a unified point-of-sale service object executing on the point-of-sale terminal, which is a driver for a virtual peripheral device, performs one or more operations based on at least the token to obtain financial information associated with the customer. After providing the financial information and transaction information associated with the financial transaction to a financial institution specified in the financial information, the point-of-sale terminal receives a confirmation from the financial institution that the financial transaction has been completed. For example, the confirmation may be received via a credit-authorization-terminal service object that is a driver for the credit-authorization terminal.

Abstract: A listing of data is displayed in a tablet swiping calculator function display with the listing of data including two or more numerical data entries. A capability to select at least one mathematical operation is provided through the tablet swiping calculator function display along with the capability to select at least two of the two or more numerical data entries through the tablet swiping calculator function display. When the at least two of the two or more numerical data entries are selected, the selected mathematical operation is automatically performed on the selected numerical data entries and the results are displayed on the tablet swiping calculator function display.