Patents Examined by Ella Colbert
  • Patent number: 8612342
    Abstract: To notify a person of the availability of electronic billing information, billing information associated with bills of a biller for its customers is stored in a first data store, and identify information identifying unregistered persons having billing information stored in the first data store, is stored in a second data store. Registration information identifying a person who is currently unregistered is received via a wide area network. The received registration information is compared with the identity information stored in the second data store. Based on the comparison, it is determined if the received registration information identifies a customer of the biller. If so, a notice of the availability of the stored billing information of the biller is transmitted to the person via the wide area network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: CheckFree Corporation
    Inventor: Ravi Ganesan
  • Patent number: 8600893
    Abstract: As banking transactions are processed by a bank teller, all of the relevant information with respect to the transaction (e.g., dollar amount) is captured in an electronic file. Each of the electronic files from the various branches of the bank are forwarded to a central back office processing center where the electronic files are combined into a single Transaction Repository. At the end of the branch day, all of the paper associated with the transactions is forwarded from the branches to the back office processing center. The paper transactions are imaged in the conventional manner and the Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) data is read from the paper. The present invention then automatically correlates the images and MICR data captured from the paper with the complete transaction record contained in the Transaction Repository. Most of the conventional back office processing can now be performed without the need to perform character recognition and without the need for excess human intervention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association
    Inventors: Louis Riehl, George Anderson
  • Patent number: 8595130
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and apparatuses for providing, processing, and/or servicing a mortgage loan having one or more exercisable options. For example, in some embodiments, a method is provided that includes storing, in a non-transitory computer-readable medium, one or more terms of an exercisable option, where the option is incorporated into a mortgage loan, where exercising the option results in one or more terms of the mortgage loan being modified, and where one or more terms of the option are based at least partially on a non-mortgage relationship between a borrower associated with the mortgage loan and a lender associated with the mortgage loan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Bank of America Corporation
    Inventors: Shane A. Johnson, Lisa D. Curry, Pamela Marguerite Howard, Michael J. Kelly
  • Patent number: 8589282
    Abstract: A legal process management system facilitates simultaneous dynamic dialogs between legal process managers and networked attorneys and contractors providing services in connection with security interest enforcement actions. The legal process managers submit queries and deadlines selected to timely guide the attorneys and contractors through the requirements of the security interest enforcement actions. The attorneys and contractors submit responsive answers revealing the status of their enforcement actions. The legal process management system allows the monitored attorneys to share in the information provided by the monitored contractors. The legal process management system further includes mechanisms for reminding the attorneys and contractors about impending deadlines. The system also allows the attorneys and contractors to be assessed on their success in complying with the queries and deadlines submitted by the legal process managers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: OneDemand.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Jackson, Paul Jackson, Scott Jackson
  • Patent number: 8583554
    Abstract: The present invention provides embodiments of a dependent payment device, such as a credit card, for allowing a primary customer to control and monitor the transactions made by a dependent customer who is authorized to use the account of the primary customer. The primary customer can control the maximum limit that the dependent customer can spend on the dependent card up to the maximum amount that the financial institution has approved for the primary customer. The primary customer can also block/approve purchases that the dependent customer can make at store or on products by adding MCCs, store names, store types, UPCs, or other product or store identifiers to a list of blocked/approved transactions. The primary customer can set monetary and time limits on the amount and frequency of the transactions the dependent customer can make at stores or on products that have been blocked/approved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Bank of America Corporation
    Inventors: Kathleen Lisa Dooley Maley, Erik Stephen Ross
  • Patent number: 8577702
    Abstract: A computer-aided method of computing coverage benefit costs for a retirement plan having respective accounts for individuals, the method including the steps of converting input plan contribution data for at least one of said accounts of said retirement plan into corresponding input digital electrical signals, manipulating the input digital electrical signals in computing the coverage benefit costs for the at least one of said accounts according to said retirement plan, and producing output at an output device. The output including the computed coverage benefit costs for the at least one of said accounts of said retirement plan. The method is suitable for IRS Sec. 401, 408, 457, in cases such as an IRA, ROTH IRA, individual social security accounts of whatever country may be at issue, and the like. Input plan contribution data can include data such as FICA tax, Federal Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance tax data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: CyArch, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew B. Schoen, Wayne F. Perg, Jean-Philippe Khodara
  • Patent number: 8577793
    Abstract: Online multi-variable/multi-party auctions coordinate homeowners, mortgage holders, and investors to refinance homes with underwater mortgages, being initiated by homeowner/mortgage holder registration within the website. Registration triggers email invitations with access to personalized bidding platforms. Auctioning comprises bidding for a new total loan amount equaling/exceeding current fair market values, and/or matching interest rate bids by investors, who may risk share therein, with homeowner monthly payment bids. Auction completion requires homeowner, lien holder(s), and investor(s) acceptance, resulting in mutual rescission of original loan agreement(s). Electronic closings create Time-Out Mortgages, which are recorded, and Home Certificates—a hybrid security being a combination promissory note (with additional benefits) and agreement for sharing a “Deferred Recapture Amount,” being a difference between the new principal loan amount and prior total home lien amounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Inventors: Ira R. Hecht, Steven D. Kravitz
  • Patent number: 8571982
    Abstract: A multi-stage filtering process and system for fraud detection is disclosed. The multi-stage filtering process allows for the ability to dynamically increase/decrease server capacity, as well as application capacity to support fraud detection activities. The system monitors the queues of the transactions being made using various channels, and responds by adjusting the server and application resources needed for performing pre-filtering on the transactions in the queues. The invention allows for the fraud detection systems to maintain the capacity necessary to examine, at some level, if one or more of the transactions being processed by a financial institution are potentially fraudulent. The capacity can be changed during times of high and low volumes, thus allowing the allocation of resources based on transaction volume, which reduces the computing, energy, labor, etc. costs associated with fraud detection systems without losing the ability to detect almost all of the fraudulent transactions occurring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Bank of America Corporation
    Inventors: Somnath Choudhuri, Daniel Bodalski, Matthew Hoke, Sethu V. Iyer, Charles Pigg
  • Patent number: 8571969
    Abstract: A computer implemented method and system is disclosed for receiving contingent commitment facility information associated with establishing a contingent commitment facility includes CCF criteria for participation in the contingent commitment facility. The method and system may include determining one or more potential participants in the contingent commitment facility who meet CCF criteria associated with the contingent commitment facility and may send to devices associated with the one or more potential participants, invitations to participate in the contingent commitment facility. Contingent commitment information associated with a potential participant and the contingent commitment facility may be received and status of contingencies in the contingent commitment facility may be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Inventor: Marc Michael Groz
  • Patent number: 8571973
    Abstract: An electronic closing platform facilitates provision of a variety of closing services for lenders, closing agents, borrowers or other parties to closing transactions. Electronic quality control procedures are invoked for closing data and documents whether they are in electronic or paper form. The platform is independently accessible and therefore accommodates data sharing between mortgage industry participants. Electronic signature capabilities, including a batch signing functionality, and tamper evident sealing after signing accommodate improved processing and system integrity. Additional features include registry filing, an electronic vault for storing electronic documents, and electronic recording.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: CoreLogic Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Charlotte Haberaecker, J. Harvey Trimble, Jr., Mark A. Oliphant
  • Patent number: 8571986
    Abstract: The present invention provides embodiments of a dependent payment device, such as a credit card, for allowing a primary customer to control and monitor the transactions made by a dependent customer who is authorized to use the account of the primary customer. The primary customer can control the maximum limit that the dependent customer can spend on the dependent card up to the maximum amount that the financial institution has approved for the primary customer. The primary customer can also block/approve purchases that the dependent customer can make at store or on products by adding MCCs, store names, store types, UPCs, or other product or store identifiers to a list of blocked/approved transactions. The primary customer can set monetary and time limits on the amount and frequency of the transactions the dependent customer can make at stores or on products that have been blocked/approved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Bank of America Corporation
    Inventors: Kathleen Lisa Dooley Maley, Erik Stephen Ross
  • Patent number: 8566126
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods to process vehicle or driver behavior data are described herein. In some examples, the behavior data is used by a premium calculating engine to derive a premium for a vehicle insurance policy using the data. The behavior data may be associated with a single driver, or may be associated with all drivers of a vehicle without regard to the actual drivers, in some examples. Data received from the vehicle may also include vehicle performance data, in further examples. Additionally, a method of underwriting a dynamic vehicle insurance policy is described, in one example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
    Inventor: John Chandler Hopkins, III
  • Patent number: 8566199
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, a central controller receives a selection signal indicative of acceptance of an installment plan offer for a purchase. The central controller determines an installment charge amount to include in at least two bills for a financial account. Thereafter, bills may be generated that reflect installment charges to be paid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Walker Digital, LLC
    Inventors: Jay S. Walker, James A. Jorasch, Andrew S. Van Luchene
  • Patent number: 8566230
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, a central controller receives a selection signal indicative of acceptance of an installment plan option for a transaction. The central controller determines an installment charge amount to include in at least two bills for a financial account. Thereafter, bills may be generated that reflect installment charges to be paid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Walker Digital, LLC
    Inventors: Jay S. Walker, James A. Jorasch, Andrew S. Van Luchene
  • Patent number: 8566218
    Abstract: A method of order allocation is disclosed. The method includes receiving an incoming order, establishing an inner market representing a first portion of an order book which may be defined as a function of an inner market parameter, designating the first portion of the order book as a priority and allocating the first portion of the received incoming order based on the priority, establishing an outer market that represents a second portion of the order book that includes the remainder of the order book not represented by the inner market of the order book, assigning the received incoming order to one of the inner or outer markets as a function of the inner market parameter, allocating a first portion of the incoming order to the inner market utilizing a first-in, first-out (FIFO) algorithm, and allocating a second portion, in excess of the first portion, of the incoming order to the outer market using a pro-rata algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew P. Czupek, Bryan T. Durkin, Thomas G. McCabe, Brian M. Wolf, Donald M. Cuba, Jonathan G. Kronstein, Troy C. Kane
  • Patent number: 8566197
    Abstract: A system and method for providing socially enabled rewards through a user financial instrument includes gathering transaction data from a user's financial account and analyzing the transaction data for a savings opportunity indication. A savings opportunity from a database of savings opportunities is matched to the user based on the savings opportunity indication, wherein the savings opportunity can be shared with other users or a social network. The savings opportunity is displayed in association with a statement of a user's financial account and the user is allowed to share the savings opportunity, wherein sharing causes a shared savings opportunity to be generated. A second user, one who received the shared savings opportunity, can redeem the shared savings opportunity. The sharing and redemption of the shared savings opportunity is tracked, such as to improve targeting users who are influential based on the number of redemptions of the shared savings opportunity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Truaxis, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramakrishna Satyavolu, Samir Kothari, Shehzad Daredia
  • Patent number: 8566216
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention are directed to a computer-implemented trading exposure management method and system for centrally managing trading exposures within an industry. The method may include receiving a client request for additional exposure capacity above a predetermined client exposure limit with respect to a particular counterparty and selecting a third party with available exposure capacity with respect to the particular counterparty. The method may additionally include transferring at least a portion of the selected third party's available exposure capacity with respect to the particular counterparty to the client.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
    Inventors: Gerald F. Topitzer, Cassio A. Calil, Ramaswamy S. Variankaval
  • Patent number: 8566214
    Abstract: A method, computer program product, and apparatus for providing reverse auction services are provided. A reverse auction request for transportation or a reverse auction request for delivery is received from a communications device. Geographical location information of an origination location and a destination location for the reverse auction request for transportation or delivery is received from the communications device. The reverse auction request for transportation or delivery is transmitted. Bids to the reverse auction request for transportation or delivery are received. The bids to the request for transportation or delivery are transmitted to the communications device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Craig Cavanaugh, Ben Balsley
  • Patent number: 8566239
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and machine-readable media are disclosed for utilizing mobile electronic devices in various types of financial transactions. According to one embodiment, a method of providing a plurality of mobile commerce functions can comprise receiving a communication related to a function of a mobile wallet application of a mobile device. One or more of a plurality of acquirer systems for handling of the communication can be identified based on the function of the mobile wallet application to which the communication relates. The communication can be routed to the identified one or more acquirer systems for handling of the communication. In some cases, a reply to the communication can be received from at least one of the identified one or more acquirer systems and the reply can be sent to a recipient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: First Data Corporation
    Inventors: Steven E. Arthur, Christopher L. Toomer, Sarah Owen, Theodore VanDeburg
  • Patent number: 8566278
    Abstract: The invention is a hierarchical backup system. The interconnected network computing devices are put into groups of backup cells. A backup cell has a manager software agent responsible maintaining and initiating a backup regime for the network computing devices in the backup cell. The backups are directed to backup devices within the backup cell. Several backup cells can be defined. A manager software agent for a particular cell may be placed into contact with the manager software agent of another cell, by which information about the cells may be passed back and forth. Additionally, one of the software agents may be given administrative control over another software agent with which it is in communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: CommVault Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John Crescenti, Srinivas Kavuri, David Alan Oshinsky, Anand Prahlad