Patents Examined by Benjamin S Fields
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Patent number: 8019679Abstract: An improved money transfer system includes a rules database, a customer database, and a transaction processing system. The rules database includes information representative of transaction rules, at least some of which include an aggregation threshold. The customer database includes information representative of customers' transaction histories. The transaction processing system is connected to the rules database and customer database and includes point of entry ports, a customer identifier, a rules coordinator, an aggregation engine, and a transaction rules service. The point of entry ports receive transaction requests from points of entry and provide transaction responses to the points of entry. Based on information received in transaction requests, the customer identifier identifies customers and the rules coordinator determines applicable transaction rules. The aggregation engine determines aggregation values as a function of customers' transaction histories.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2007Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Moneygram International, Inc.Inventors: Shannon Lee Bennett, Diana Chauvin, Billy Joe Steiger, Jr., Dorilyn Lee Sletten, Peter Gore
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Patent number: 8015107Abstract: A system and method is provided to allow a consumer to interactively explore his credit score by submitting hypothetical values based on his actual credit data. The system uses the consumer's real credit data and the submitted hypothetical values to calculate a simulated credit score based on a simulator scorecard. The consumer may then observe the changes in the resultant scores. The system and the scorecard may utilize fewer data elements than a complete credit-worthiness scorecard and may instead focus on the key elements affecting a consumer's credit score. The system may be implemented in part on a web server or as a stand-alone application. The system may also update the score dynamically as the consumer adjusts the hypothetical values or may require the consumer to affirmatively submit the new hypothetical data.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2009Date of Patent: September 6, 2011Assignee: Experian Information Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Adam T. Kornegay, Joseph L. Greenwald, Constance A. Elliott
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Patent number: 8015086Abstract: A method and apparatus for calculating employee expenses is disclosed herein. One embodiment of the method may include transferring first data from a first computer to a second computer. The first data causes the second computer to display text, wherein a portion of the text is a first inquiry related to at least one expense item of the employee. Second data is transferred from the second computer to the first computer, wherein the second data is representative of a response to the first inquiry and wherein the second data is smaller than the first data. A second inquiry related to the at least one expense item based on the response to the first inquiry is then determined. Third data representative of the second inquiry is transmitted from the first computer to the second computer. A portion of the text is modified upon receipt of the third data by the second computer, wherein the modified portion of the text is related to the second inquiry.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2005Date of Patent: September 6, 2011Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Mark Greer, Gregory Thomas, James R. Bennett, Lyn Y. Chu, Stephanie L. Sharples
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Patent number: 8010433Abstract: A system for and method of administering payouts under an individual annuity contract is provided. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a computer system is provided which includes a memory for storing individual annuity contract data relating to a individual annuity contract which provides the contract owner with the option to withdraw principal from the annuity during the payout phase, and a processor programmed to process and issue principal payouts as selected by the annuitant.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2010Date of Patent: August 30, 2011Assignee: The Guardian Life Insurance Company of AmericaInventor: Charles Gordon Fisher, III
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Patent number: 8010432Abstract: Methods, systems, and products auction search terms in a search engine. Orders from customers are received, and a search term associated with the orders is determined. When an auction for the search term is conducted, an amount of a bid for the search term is determined and submitted to the auction for a position on a search result list for the search engine. A minimum level of traffic is then delivered to a customer website.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2009Date of Patent: August 30, 2011Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L. P.Inventors: Charles Stubbs, Laurie Scholl, Derek Talbot, Matthew Mulqueen, Bill Lott, W. Braxton Caswell, Jr., Neil Salvage
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Patent number: 7966206Abstract: An improved method for certifying that a manufacturing facility is capable of producing quality products of a particular type is disclosed. The improved method may comprise auditing the manufacturing facility against a process standard and issuing a certification to the process standard if the manufacturing facility passes the audit. This improved method is particularly suited to manufacturing facilities producing printed circuit assemblies and/or printed circuit boards. The method may further comprise auditing the manufacturing facility against an environmental compliance standard.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2006Date of Patent: June 21, 2011Inventor: Philip M. Zarrow
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Patent number: 7962390Abstract: A data mining device, method, and apparatus configured to associate customer exclusive data from a payment card or device after a financial transaction. A financial transaction processing system comprises a report distribution management system, a data relationship manager, and a customer exclusive data association database. The report distribution management system receives financial transaction data. The data relationship manager determines an issuer associated with the financial transaction data, queries a subscription database for subscription data associated with the issuer and a core database for the issuer processing parameters. The processing parameters are applied to the financial transaction data and the subscription data. A customer exclusive data association database is updated with the financial transaction data once the processing parameters are applied.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2008Date of Patent: June 14, 2011Assignee: Visa USA Inc.Inventors: Brian Maw, Ayman Hammad
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Patent number: 7937324Abstract: A system and method for using derived account identifiers. The derived account identifiers are associated with a single permanent account identifier. Each derived account identifier is associated with a communication channel or portable consumer device.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2008Date of Patent: May 3, 2011Assignee: Visa U.S.A. Inc.Inventor: Barbara Patterson
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Patent number: 7912786Abstract: An automated business process system and method for transferring money funds with a computer machine system that receives, processes and transmits account information data to effect money transfers from human sender's debit card accounts to human recipients debit card accounts.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2010Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: Integrated Technological Systems, Inc.Inventor: Stephen D. Battaglini
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Patent number: 7904372Abstract: Methods and systems for facilitating transactions between commercial banks and pooled depositor groups are disclosed. Employees of a control center determine interest rate return needs of pooled depositor groups, such as trust departments at commercial banks. The control center employees aggregate the funds to produce a stable funds source and communicate the availability of the stable funds source to commercial banks for core deposits. The commercial banks communicate cash needs to the control center. The control center sets an interest rate to be paid to the pooled depositor groups for use of the funds to at least the depositor groups' expected rate of return and below and the rate that commercial banks are willing to pay for the funds. The banks post master NOW accounts and the pooled depositor groups deposit funds in the master NOW accounts. The pooled depositor groups are allowed to access the funds in the master NOW accounts on a daily basis without penalty.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2003Date of Patent: March 8, 2011Assignee: Finistar, Inc.Inventors: Richard W. Whiting, Kim B. Winslow, Victor Briabrin, Tully M. Ryan
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Patent number: 7899748Abstract: The present invention is a mobile server wallet provider portal, system, method and apparatus. A MSWP portal can include a configuration for communicative coupling both to a plurality of MSWPs and also to a content proxy. A composite profile generator further can be included which can be configured to combine a plurality of MSWP profiles into a single, composite profile for routing payment messages in the proxy to the MSWP portal. Finally, the MSWP portal can include selection logic configured to process a user selection of one of the MSWPs to process a payment transaction received through the proxy. In a preferred aspect of the invention, the content proxy can be a wireless service proxy (WSP). In this regard, the WSP further can include a filter plug-in configured to route the payment messages to the portal when the payment messages match rules specified within the composite profile.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2004Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Mark E. Peters
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Patent number: 7895099Abstract: Methods and systems for facilitating transactions (200) between commercial banks and pooled depositor groups are disclosed. Employees of a control center determine interest rate return needs of pooled depositor groups (210), such as trust departments at commercial banks. The control center employees aggregate (204) the funds to produce a stable funds source and communicate the availability of the stable funds source to commercial banks for core deposits (210). The commercial banks communicate cash needs to the control center (202). The control center sets an interest rate (206) to be paid to the pooled depositor groups for use of the funds to at least the depositor groups'expected rate of return and below and the rate that commercial banks are willing to pay for the funds. The banks post master NOW accounts and the pooled depositor groups deposit funds in the master NOW accounts (212).Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2004Date of Patent: February 22, 2011Assignee: Finistar, Inc.Inventors: Richard W. Whiting, Kim B. Winslow, Victor Briabrin, Tully M. Ryan
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Patent number: 7890424Abstract: A method for adjusting a demand deposit account. The method may comprise the step of structuring the demand deposit account with at least a first balance tier and a second balance tier. The methods may also comprise the steps of monitoring a balance of the demand deposit account, and accruing interest to at least a portion of the balance of the demand deposit account at an interest rate if the balance falls within the second balance tier. The interest rate may be tied to an interest rate of an investment account.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2010Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.Inventors: Linda H Wakim, Alan Trivilino, Richard Claypoole
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Patent number: 7881998Abstract: The invention relates to a novel incentive and compensation plan for motivating and rewarding employees, and a computer system for implementing said plan. It is an object of the present invention to provide a stock-based incentive and compensation plan that rewards employees based on the performance of the company. The present invention provides methods and systems for providing an employee incentive and compensation plan, which include deferring a portion of an employee's compensation for a period of time. The financial performance of the employee's company is evaluated over the selected period of time, and the employee's total deferred compensation is converted into a number of units based on the amount deferred, the average share price of the company stock, and the financial performance of the company. The employee's units are valued based on the average share price of the company stock, and the total compensation is paid to participating employees as an incentive and compensation plan.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2005Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLCInventors: Brian Finn, Sean Brady, Susan Mink
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Patent number: 7882002Abstract: A system and method are provided for chart pattern recognition and analysis. In one embodiment, a graphical interface is provided to enable a trader to select a portion of a chart to be used in the chart pattern analysis. The pattern of the selected portion of the chart could then be used to find one or more similar chart patterns in a user-defined timeframe, such as any future time period or a time period in the past. When a reoccurring chart pattern is found in any future time period, an alert signal can be generated to alert a user of a possibility of the chart pattern reoccurrence. Alternatively, chart pattern matches can be found in a time period in the past, and a set of studies can be applied to the found matches to generate a set of reoccurring indicator values. The reoccurring indicator values can be used in combination with the chart pattern to detect any similar chart patterns in the future.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2010Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: Trading Technologies International, Inc.Inventors: Charles Monroe, Alvin F. Tanpoco
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Patent number: 7856387Abstract: A computer implemented method for facilitating a purchase transaction includes enabling a deposit account of an accountholder to be associated with another account of the accountholder that is provided by a provider of media to the accountholder. The account provided by the media provider corresponds to provision of media to the accountholder or is a financial account that is associated with a media account of the accountholder. Information indicative of the account provided by the provider of media is received during a purchase transaction. The purchase transaction is settled using funds from the deposit account.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2010Date of Patent: December 21, 2010Assignee: GoFigure Payments, LLCInventor: Devon A. Rolf
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Patent number: 7831491Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for communicating and processing market data. The market data may comprise quotes, orders, trades and/or statistics. A messaging structure allows for adding, re-ordering and/or expanding data, within the printable character set of any language. One or more delimiters are defined and used to delimit data elements within the message structure. The data is interpreted based on templates which may be disseminated prior to the sending of messages and used as an abstraction so that the meaning of data need not be conveyed in the message.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2004Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Assignee: Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc.Inventors: Ronald Newell, Vijay Menon, Fred Malabre, Joseph Lobraco, Jim Northey
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Patent number: 7809618Abstract: An educational tuition securities system is provided. An educational institution can securitize tuition or course credits into tuition shares. Tuition shares in an educational institution can be purchased for a student and redeemed for payment of tuition credits or education costs at the educational institution. Tuition shares for an educational institution can be traded for tuition shares of another institution. Redeemed tuition shares can be used to pay for undergraduate and graduate education costs, or could be redeemed for cash. The invention provides a mechanism for paying future education costs, as well as for investing in educational institutions.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2004Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Inventor: Diane Velona
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Patent number: 7809623Abstract: A system and method are provided for trading a tradeable object. One example apparatus includes a microprocessor, a graphical user comprising a first screen region having a plurality of locations in the first screen region, each location corresponding to a price level along a first axis and a time along a second axis. The apparatus also comprises a user input device for sending a command to initiate placement of a timed trade order, and an indicator being dynamically displayed in one of the plurality locations of the first screen region and corresponding to the timed order. In one example embodiment, the indicator dynamically moves over time relative to the second axis indicating a time until the order will be automatically sent to a computerized matching process.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2009Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Assignee: Trading Technologies International, Inc.Inventor: Simeon C. Peebler
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Patent number: 7805362Abstract: A method of assessing money-laundering risk of an individual includes gathering geographic information, personal information, and product information regarding the individual, determining a risk value of the geographic information, a risk value of the personal information, and a risk value of the product information, weighting each of the geographic information risk value, the personal information risk value, and the product information risk value, and summing the weighted risk values to yield a money-laundering risk score.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2006Date of Patent: September 28, 2010Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)Inventors: Daniel James Merrell, Susan Beth Van Horn