Abstract: A method for updating a software program, including: determining a context of the user while the user is using the software program; subscribing to an update service associated with the context of the user; obtaining at least one update related to the context of the user, where at least one update is supplied by the update service; and updating the software program based on at least one update.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 31, 2007
Date of Patent:
November 18, 2014
Assignee:
Intuit Inc.
Inventors:
Jefrey O. Pfeiffer, Michael Joe Rainwater
Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that accesses information using multiple hierarchies. During operation, the system receives a specifier for a first location in a first hierarchy and a specifier for a second location in a second hierarchy. Next, the system retrieves information, if such information exists, from an intersection between the first location in the first hierarchy and the second location in the second hierarchy. Finally, the system presents the retrieved information to a user.
Abstract: A method and system for validating a form, that includes providing, to a client, the form comprising a primary token, receiving, in response to the client loading the page form, a request for a secondary token, providing the secondary token in response to receiving the request, and receiving the form comprising the primary token and a secondary token from a client. The method further includes validating the form, where validating the form includes obtaining a first primary token hash from the secondary token, applying a first hash function to the primary token to obtain a second primary token hash, and determining that the first primary token hash and the second primary token hash match. The method further includes accepting the form upon validating the form.
Abstract: Computer-implemented methods, articles of manufacture and systems for identifying an on-line bank account utilized for business purposes. A computer processor receives or determines a name of on-line bank account entered by an account holder. The account name is tokenized or parsed into name segments, which are analyzed using a first or local set of rules that is applied to each individual segment to tag or assign a score to each individual segment, and a second or global set of rules are applied to multiple name segments or groups of segments. Scores generated by application of the first and second rule sets are used to determine whether the customer uses the account identified by the account name for business purposes.
Abstract: Embodiments of a system (such as a computer system), a method, and a computer-program product (e.g., software) for use with the computer system are described. These embodiments may be used to test software that includes instructions for a graphical user interface with objects that receive values in associated fields. In particular, during testing, the system identifies the objects and associated expected values in the software, tests the software based on the identified objects and the expected values, and generates a flow file which includes the testing operations and corresponding results. Moreover, during the testing, the system may generate a compliance document which includes the testing operations and the results.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 22, 2009
Date of Patent:
November 4, 2014
Assignee:
Intuit Inc.
Inventors:
Michael S. Bridges, Sr., Dennis Keith Fischer
Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for identifying search keywords for searching for an online information resource are disclosed. The method involves receiving a request, from a business, for search keywords relating to the content of the business's online information resource. The method further involves generating a post including a link to a search keyword recommendation page; and publishing, using a social network application, the post to a newsfeed in a social network. Additionally, the method involves receiving, from social network users, a plurality of search keywords relating to the online information resource's content. In addition, the method involves ranking the received search keywords; and presenting, to the business, the most popular search keywords.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 31, 2012
Date of Patent:
October 28, 2014
Assignee:
Intuit Inc.
Inventors:
Jeremy G. Vandehey, Saravanan Coimbatore
Abstract: A method and system for prioritizing commercial communications based on location data whereby a merchant is identified and a priority communication source location database is created for, and/or associated with, the merchant. Then when a communication from a source party is received from a source party communication system the source location of the source party communication system, and/or the source party, is determined from location data. The location data representing the determined source location of the source party communication system, and/or the source party, is then used to search the priority communication source location database and if the source location of the source party communication system matches data indicating priority source locations in the priority communication source location database, if so, the communication is processed on a priority basis.
Abstract: Refund issuing stations that can be accessed by users/taxpayers include a user interface for obtaining user ID data associated with users/taxpayers and a card/cash dispenser for providing the users/taxpayers with a prepaid tax refund debit or credit card, or currency, based on user tax and/or refund data provided by a financial management system used to prepare user's tax returns and tax related documents, and/or file the user's tax returns.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 28, 2011
Date of Patent:
October 21, 2014
Assignee:
Intuit Inc.
Inventors:
Bennett R. Blank, Roy Matthew Rosin, Richard Preece, Christopher Womack
Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates use of an application. During operation, the system obtains a visual annotation of a user interface for the application, in which the visual annotation corresponds to a user issue with the user interface. Next, the system uses the visual annotation to update a spatial map of user issues with the user interface. Finally, the system uses the visual annotation and the spatial map to facilitate use of the application by an end user.
Abstract: Systems and methods for assessing transaction risk. A consumer tenders a transaction card to a merchant to purchase a good or service. A payment device of the merchant, such as a merchant's payment terminal or mobile communication device, is used to process the payment utilizing a risk assessment system. Card data received by the payment device is sent to the risk assessment system, which processes card data and generates an indicator representing the risk associated with accepting payment using the card. The indicator is sent to the payment device to provide the merchant input regarding risk associated with using the card (e.g., likelihood of fraud or chargeback) in a seamless manner. If the risk level is too high, the merchant may reject the card. The risk indicator may be based on different types of data from different sources, e.g., data from a first source related to the credit history of the consumer and data from a second source related to the identity of the consumer.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 18, 2013
Date of Patent:
October 14, 2014
Assignee:
Intuit Inc.
Inventors:
Eric F. Kowalchyk, See Yew Mo, Jimmy M. Lu, Satish Buddhavarapu, Michael J. Power, Janos Z. Mako
Abstract: Transaction or receipt data, e.g., data of a receipt document, is encoded as a two-dimensional machine readable representation, such as a QR CODE. Certain receipt data is encoded as segments of a QR CODE. An image of the QR CODE is acquired using a camera of a mobile communication device or computer or other image capture device. The QR CODE image is decoded to determine the receipt data, and fields of an electronic receipt summary can be populated with decoded data.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 15, 2013
Date of Patent:
October 14, 2014
Assignee:
Intuit Inc.
Inventors:
Jonathan A. Lieberman, Ryan M. Steckler, Bennett R. Blank, Ronald J. Char, Justin C. Marr
Abstract: Audio-visual synchronization using retrieval of visual data through a network to enhance the content presented to the user and to provide the user with a more meaningful and engaging audio-visual experience. An audio player such as an electronic book reader or stereo plays an audio file. The audio file, whether in analog form as played through a speaker or in digital form, is provided to a controller, which scans the audio file to detect a trigger or cue identifying visual data stored in a data store or database that is local or accessible through a network. The controller accesses the data store or database, downloads the pre-determined visual data, and controls the audio player and display such that playing of audio data and display of the retrieved visual data are synchronized with each other.
Abstract: A system that controls access to program assets, such as software programs or modules, is described. During operation, this system associates a first license code with a first group of program assets and associates a first master code with the first license code, where the first group of program assets includes one or more program assets associated with a first provider, and the first license code identifies the first master code. Then, the system provides the first license code, the first master code, and a pre-defined function to the first provider, and hosts the first group of program assets on a website. Note that the first master code and the pre-defined function allow the first provider to generate a first validation code for a customer. Moreover, the first validation code and the first license code, at least in part, allow the customer to access the first group of program assets hosted on the website, thereby facilitating independent marketing of the first group of program assets by the first provider.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 28, 2007
Date of Patent:
October 7, 2014
Assignee:
Intuit Inc.
Inventors:
Michael A. Scalora, Jason A. Hunter, Kent S. Russell, Mark R. Tyler
Abstract: A customization technique that provides a customized user interface in software to a user based on user behaviors while using the user interface during one or more sessions is described. In this customization technique, a usage pattern of the user is determined from the user behaviors, and a user-specific customization of the user interface is generated based on the determined usage pattern. Note that determining the usage pattern may involve generating a directed graph in which vertices correspond to visual components in the user interface and edges between vertices correspond to user behaviors. Then, the user interface in a current release of the software is customized based on the user-specific customization. For example, the customized user interface may include: only a subset of the visual components; a different order of the visual components; and/or a visual component associated with a set of operations.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 25, 2009
Date of Patent:
October 7, 2014
Assignee:
Intuit Inc.
Inventors:
Amritanshu Thakur, Arthur J. Correa, Holly Scatamacchia
Abstract: Digital images of account related items, such as credit cards, membership cards, ATM cards, checks, etc., are captured. The digital image of the account related items is then converted into electronic account data that is used to auto-fill add account information data fields of add account forms and semi-automatically add the accounts associated with the account related items to a data management system.
Abstract: A file management system provides one or more virtual file listing displays through which a user can select and access files and an improved password vault created through the file management system. When files listed in the one or more virtual file listing displays are selected for access, the appropriate parent data processing application(s), and/or version(s) of the appropriate parent data processing application(s), is/are identified by the file management system and the appropriate parent data processing application(s) is/are opened/launched automatically through the file management system. The individual passwords associated with the selected files are then automatically provided to the appropriate parent data processing application(s) by the password vault, and/or through the file management system. The file management system, and improved password vault, are then used to automatically perform file processing functions, such as batch processing of files and/or file restoration.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 26, 2011
Date of Patent:
October 7, 2014
Assignee:
Intuit Inc.
Inventors:
Aravinth Venu, Victoria Dolginsky, Bruce Wobbe
Abstract: A method for sending a message using a platform comprises: receiving, by the platform, a request comprising at least one target, a time, and a content, the time is identifying when the message will be delivered. The method further comprises identifying a time zone of the target, calculating, by the processor, when the time will occur in the time zone of the target to determine a delay, storing the request and the delay, determining that the delay has expired, generating the message for the at least one target wherein a payload in the message is based on the content, and sending, in response to determining, the message to the target.
Abstract: An appointment tracking and dynamic modification system is provided that is associated with an appointment scheduling application. A registered attending client/customer is assigned an appointment with a service provider and appointment data associated with the assigned appointment, including data indicating the location of the appointment and the time of the appointment, is obtained. The physical location and/or status of the registered attending client/customer, and/or service provider, is then monitored to calculate an estimated arrival time, and/or availability, of the registered attending client/customer, and/or service provider, at the appointment time and location.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 23, 2012
Date of Patent:
September 30, 2014
Assignee:
Intuit Inc.
Inventors:
Sridhar Jagannathan, Stoyan P. Kenderov, Eran Arbel
Abstract: A method for searching using a touchscreen including: receiving, from a user, multiple search criteria; receiving, using the touchscreen, a gesture input from the user; selecting a search preference corresponding to the gesture input; obtaining multiple modified search criteria by modifying the plurality of search criteria based on the search preference; and generating multiple search results based on the multiple modified search criteria and a data repository.
Abstract: A method and system for providing a SMS-based interactive information search and distribution system whereby a series of linked, refined, and evolving root topic and root topic related information searches are performed in association with a thread of SMS text messages and automated SMS text message responses including search parameters and highlighted keywords to provide the user with a fully interactive information search and distribution system using a SMS communication channel, and within the constraints of the SMS protocols.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 27, 2011
Date of Patent:
September 30, 2014
Assignee:
Intuit Inc.
Inventors:
Kashinath Kakarla, Vishnu Nanda, Anup P. Mutalik, Sagar Dutta