Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods for enabling a group of people to share the cost of an event, such as a meal, the purchase of a gift, or the rental of a car. Embodiments of the invention provide the tools needed to enable a group to participate in a shared event or activity, where one of the participants pays for the event or activity using their payment device and the other members of the group pay their portion of the cost to the participant who made the payment. Embodiments of the invention provide an ecosystem where a person can pay for an event, goods, or services using a single payment device (such as a credit or debit card) and then settle the amounts owed to them by other members of a group using the tools provided by the invention.
Abstract: The MULTI-DIRECTIONAL WALLET CONNECTOR APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS (“W-CONNECTOR”) facilitates the enrollment of payment accounts in a consumer's virtual wallet. The consumer may be logged into their payment account issuer's web site and designate one or more payment accounts for enrollment in a virtual wallet. The issuer may then share account, billing and/or other relevant information with the virtual wallet provider to facilitate the enrollment of the designated payment accounts in the virtual wallet. The W-CONNECTOR may also be configured to facilitate the creation and funding of pre-paid accounts in a consumer's virtual wallet.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 13, 2013
Date of Patent:
May 31, 2016
Assignee:
Visa International Service Association
Inventors:
Thomas Purves, Shilpak Mahadkar, Tenni Theurer, Ayman Hammad
Abstract: In an example embodiment, an automated banking machine that is operable to detect signals corresponding to a plurality of service activities carried out on a transaction function device. Data representative of the plurality of service activities is stored in the transaction function device's data store.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 14, 2014
Date of Patent:
May 31, 2016
Assignee:
Diebold Self-Service Systems Division of Diebold, Incorporated
Inventors:
Timothy Crews, Grant Thornberry, Songtao Ma, Darla Rowland
Abstract: Disclosed is a golf coach box, including a batting box and an arch swing plane sliding rail. One end of the swing plane sliding rail is rotatably fixed to the batting box and the other end thereof is connected via a telescopic connecting mechanism to the batting box. The beneficial effect of the present application as compared with the prior art is: the batting box is additionally provided with the swing plane sliding rail, used to simulate a swing plane during batting, thereby having a function of guiding a user to swing correctly during a batting process.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 16, 2011
Date of Patent:
May 24, 2016
Assignee:
Shenzhen Lianrunda Container Management Service Co., LTD
Abstract: A pneumatic connector is provided. The pneumatic connector includes: a body having two ends; a first connecting structure at one end of the body; a second connecting structure at the other end of the body, wherein the first and second connecting structures are substantially in line with each other; and a third connecting structure located in between the first and second connecting structures at an angle that is not in line with the first and second connecting structures, wherein the first second and third connecting structures are fluidly connected to an interior of the body, wherein the first, second and third connecting structures are adapted to permit substantially leak free connections between pneumatic components. A method of creating an accessory connection for a bead seater is provided.
Abstract: A downhole casing expansion tool and a method of expanding casings using the same. The expansion tool includes an expansion module for expanding casings and a drive module for driving the expansion module. The diameter of the openhole can be kept consistent by the expansion tool, so that monohole well drilling and completion operations can be carried out. The expansion tool is particularly suitable for constructions in deep, ultra-deep and complex wells.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 18, 2013
Date of Patent:
May 24, 2016
Assignees:
CHINA PETROLEUM & CHEMICAL CORPORATION, DRILLING TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF SINOPEC OILFIELD SERVICE SHENGLI CORPORATION
Abstract: A method is provided that allows a computing device such as a scan tool, to operate two versions of a software. The scan tool can detect when a updated version is stored on a computer readable device and can automatically load the updated version to use, while allowing the previous version to remain on the scan tool for use at another time.
Abstract: Embodiments of the invention is directed to a dynamic network analytics system capable of receiving and analyzing queries sent in data messages from data requesters. The queries contain a request from the data requester as to a risk level associated with an interaction conducted by a user. The dynamic network analytics system can determine an optimized process for determining the risk level of the interaction, based on an analysis of past interactions by the user and past interactions by users similar to the user. The dynamic network analytics system can retrieve data from internal and external data sources to generate a response to the query. The dynamic network analytics system conducts the optimized process and uses the retrieved data to generate risk assessments and risk scores in response to the query from the data requester.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 5, 2012
Date of Patent:
May 24, 2016
Assignee:
VISA INTERNATIONAL SERVICE ASSOCIATION
Inventors:
Patrick Faith, Kevin P. Siegel, Theodore Harris, Craig O'Connell
Abstract: A combination gauge tool and a method of measuring are provided. The combination gauge tool includes a processing module having a sensor. The combination gauge tool includes at least two of a brake pad thickness gauge, a tire treads depth gauge, and a rotor thickness gauge each coupled to the processing module at one or more inputs of the sensor and configured to provide measurement data to the sensor.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 14, 2014
Date of Patent:
May 24, 2016
Assignee:
Bosch Automotive Service Solutions LLC
Inventors:
Simon M. Thorley, Darren Schumacher, Denny Hanson, Manokar Chinnadurai, Fred Kaleal, William Wittliff, III
Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for providing an account token to an external entity during the lifecycle of a payment transaction. In some embodiments, an external entity may be a merchant computer requesting authorization of a payment message. In other embodiments, the external entity may be a support computer providing a payment processing network or a merchant support functions.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 12, 2011
Date of Patent:
May 17, 2016
Assignee:
Visa International Service Association
Inventors:
Gourab Basu, Michael Mori, Ross Sakata, Steve Cracknell, Millie Yee, Mark Carlson, Patrick Stan, Surendra Keshan, Edward Katzin
Abstract: Embodiments of a system and method for singulating articles in an automatic stack feeder are disclosed. The automatic stack feeder may comprise a pressure sensor on a perforated drive belt assembly configured to sense the pressure exerted by a stack of articles. The sensed pressure may be used to control various portions of the automatic stack feeder, such as a belt or a paddle.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 12, 2013
Date of Patent:
May 17, 2016
Assignee:
United States Postal Service
Inventors:
John W. Brown, Edward F. Houston, Juan A. Roman, Leung M. Shiu, Riley H. Mayhall, William P. McConnell, Matthew G. Good, Robert E. Hume, Thomas A. Hillerich, Jr., Long K. Ha
Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for correcting a grammatical error in a text sequence. A first text sequence in a first language is received. The first text sequence is translated to a second language to provide a first translated text. The first text sequence is translated to a third language to provide a second translated text. The third language is different from the second language. The first translated text is translated to the first language to provide a first back translation. The second translated text is translated to the first language to provide a second back translation. A plurality of candidate text sequences that include features of the first back translation and the second back translation are determined. The plurality of candidate text sequences include alternative grammatical options for the first text sequence. The plurality of candidate text sequences are scored with the processing system.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 19, 2014
Date of Patent:
May 17, 2016
Assignee:
Educational Testing Service
Inventors:
Nitin Madnani, Joel Tetreault, Martin Chodorow
Abstract: A system that enables a fleet of vehicles to be maintained is provided. The disclosed system allows a fleet operator to review the history of the vehicles in the fleet along with vehicle sensor data to identify earmarks in the vehicle sensor data that are predictive of faults that the vehicles have experienced. The operator develops statistical algorithms that can detect an earmark in vehicle sensor data. The system then collects vehicle sensor data and applies the statistical algorithms the vehicle data to determine if a potential fault is going to occur in a vehicle. In response to determining that a potential fault is going to occur, the disclosed system automatically alerts the vehicle driver, automatically schedules a maintenance visit, automatically checks the fleet inventory for components required for a maintenance visit and orders unavailable components, and automatically dispatches the components to the mechanic.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 24, 2015
Date of Patent:
May 17, 2016
Assignee:
United Parcel Service of America, Inc.
Inventors:
John A. Olsen, III, Matthew S. Hendrix, Helen M. Bush, David L. Bradley
Abstract: Systems and methods of processing items. Items in a distribution network or process may be scanned at every handling point in the distribution network, and each scan is recorded in a central repository. The scan information can be used to generate real-time access to data, analytical tools, predictive tools, and tracking reports.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 19, 2014
Date of Patent:
May 10, 2016
Assignee:
The United States of America Postal Service
Inventors:
Stephen M. Dearing, Kuldip K. Goyal, Carla F. Sherry, Amy B. Cradic, C. Scot Atkins, Himesh A. Patel
Abstract: A method for calibrating strain transducers mounted to a power shovel may include the steps of: Calculating at least one member joint load for a known loading condition when at least one member of the power shovel is in a statically determinate configuration; determining a calculated shear force and a calculated normal force in the member of the power shovel based on the calculated member joint load; measuring a strain in the member; determining a measured shear force and a measured normal force for the member based on the measured strain; and determining a calibration constant from the calculated shear and normal forces and the measured shear and normal forces.
Abstract: A method of optimizing machine performance in a plurality of load cases. According to the present invention, a maximum load case, which involves application of a maximum force to at least one member of a machine, is determined for the machine. For each of a plurality of member joints of the machine, a maximum member joint load is determined for the maximum load case for the machine. The machine is then operated by applying a force to the at least one member of the machine in each of the plurality of load cases so as not to exceed the maximum member joint load while exceeding the maximum force during at least one of the plurality of load cases.
Abstract: A method for controlling an autonomous vehicle includes: Receiving data relating to a plurality of proposed vehicle locations; generating a simulated vehicle path based on the received data; determining a simulated vehicle orientation for at least one point on the simulated vehicle path; presenting at least the simulated vehicle orientation in a user-discernable form; receiving a user verification of the simulated vehicle orientation for at least one point on the simulated vehicle path; and producing approved vehicle control commands from the simulated vehicle path and simulated vehicle orientation, the approved vehicle control commands controlling the autonomous vehicle to follow the simulated vehicle path and the simulated vehicle orientation.
Abstract: Systems and methods to track locations of a mobile device as a function of time and extract routes traversed by the mobile device, frequencies of the routes, and travel time periods of the routes. The route information is organized as a route dictionary. In response to an indication of a recently completed route, the information of the recently completed route is used in the route dictionary to look up a most likely route for the next trip and the predicted time of the next trip. Location-based data items are selected based on the predicted route for the next trip, sorted based on closeness to the route and affinity to the user of the mobile device for transmission to the mobile device. Top selected data items are scheduled to be transmitted to the mobile device in a time window before the predicted time of the next trip to avoid distracting the user (e.g., from driving) while the user is on the trip.
Abstract: A method of determining a load on at least one member of a power shovel may include the steps of: sensing a strain in a boom of the power shovel; determining a plurality of member joint loads based on strain sensed in the boom; and determining the load on the at least one member of the power shovel from the plurality of member joint loads.
Abstract: A method comprising, at a reader, performing at least one transaction-based risk management process prior to energizing a contactless interface, initiating communication with a card utilized for a contactless transaction, receiving information associated with the card, terminating communication with the card, and authorizing the contactless transaction.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 15, 2014
Date of Patent:
May 3, 2016
Assignee:
Visa International Service Association
Inventors:
Trudy Hill, Jagdeep Singh Sahota, Christian Aabye, Kim R. Wagner, Anita Ochieano, Carole Oppenlander, William Chi Yuen Chan, Craig Allen Glendenning