Patents Examined by H. Rojas
  • Patent number: 8412572
    Abstract: A method for representing and managing an inventory of overlapping multi-dimensional items such as advertising or ad impressions. The method uses an inventory management module to generate unique segment identifiers for sets of inventory items by processing descriptions of the sets of impressions including defining criteria. The method includes processing the unique segment identifiers to create a representation of the inventory as a plurality of inventory regions, which may include non-overlapping regions that correspond to inventory items in a single set of the inventory and also include overlapping regions that correspond to inventory items in two or more of the sets (e.g., items that match two or more sets of defining criteria or attributes). Availability and selection of inventory is determined using the information on inventory regions to control effects of cannibalization, such as by implementing logically necessary allocation to only cannibalize a region on a limited or forced basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Yieldex, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Douglas Cosman
  • Patent number: 8392248
    Abstract: A method for representing and managing an inventory of overlapping multi-dimensional items such as advertising or ad impressions. The method uses an inventory management module to generate unique segment identifiers for sets of inventory items by processing descriptions of the sets of impressions including defining criteria. The method includes processing the unique segment identifiers to create a representation of the inventory as a plurality of inventory regions, which may include non-overlapping regions that correspond to inventory items in a single set of the inventory and also include overlapping regions that correspond to inventory items in two or more of the sets (e.g., items that match two or more sets of defining criteria or attributes). Availability and selection of inventory is determined using the information on inventory regions to control effects of cannibalization, such as by implementing logically necessary allocation to only cannibalize a region on a limited or forced basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Yieldex, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Douglas Cosman
  • Patent number: 8365679
    Abstract: A seed spacing monitoring system is used In an agricultural seeder for planting seeds. The agricultural seeder has a furrow opener, a seed meter for metering seed to be dispensed in the furrow, and a furrow closer to cover the seed in the furrow. The seed spacing monitoring system includes a detector supported to detect seeds in the furrow prior to the seeds being covered. The detector provides a plurality of seed presence signals, with each seed presence signal being indicative of a respective seed present in the furrow. A speed sensor is associated with the seeder and provides a speed signal indicating a ground speed of the seeder. An electrical processor receives the plurality of seed presence signals and the speed signal. The electrical processor determines a seed spacing, dependent upon the seed presence signals and the speed signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Donald K. Landphair, James Z. Liu
  • Patent number: 8341082
    Abstract: A user may log into a system containing data pertaining to a jointly owned funding account of which he is a co-owner. The user may view information directed to the jointly owned funding account, such as his bills and bills associated with other co-owners. The user may pay bills or schedule payments of bills from the funding account. A co-owner of the funding account may set up an account with a biller and enable other co-owners of the funding account to use this information, thereby providing the other co-owners with the same or similar functionality when they log into the system using their own login information. The information that the co-owner may set up with a biller may be ported over to the information maintained by the system that is directed to the other co-owners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventors: Jeff Dennes, Charles R. Bear
  • Patent number: 8326530
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a three-dimensional map data storage unit for storing three-dimensional map data for use in projecting a three-dimensional space on a map onto a plane, a location information storage unit for storing location information including a type of geographical objects at points spaced at predetermined intervals on the map represented by the three-dimensional map data with the location information in association with the respective point, a geographical object information storage unit for storing geographical object information, the geographical object information including a position of a geographical object on the map and display information relating to the geographic object, and a placement position setting unit for setting a display information placement position indicating a position of a sign pointing to the display information on the map based on the location information present within a predetermined area of the position of the geographical object indicated by the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporationj
    Inventors: Atsushi Asai, Junpei Ito
  • Patent number: 8311892
    Abstract: A method for using electronic product identification devices to track product sales and enable sales transactions to be registered in an electronic registration (ER) system without causing privacy or security concerns for the purchasers. RF-ID devices are placed on products being sold and include detailed information about the products. When the products are purchased, the detailed information is loaded into an ER database and all but a limited amount of information is removed from the RF-ID device. The limited information is sufficient to enable the detailed information to be located in the ER database by authorized individuals in connection with a return transaction or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Nintendo of America Inc.
    Inventor: Peter J. Junger
  • Patent number: 8224718
    Abstract: A method for managing inventory information that includes displaying the inventory information in a graphical user interface of a mobile device, and adding an item as part of the inventory information, using the mobile device, where adding the item includes adding descriptive metadata about the item to the inventory information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Intuit Inc.
    Inventors: Steven A. Sholtis, Terry F. LeClair, Richard W. Ihrie, James R. Del Favero
  • Patent number: 8019662
    Abstract: The inventive subject matter relates to the field of electronic inventory control and tracking. In particular, the present invention relates to controlling and tracking livestock inventory items throughout the supply chain, from the birth of an animal to the sale of an animal product to the consumer. The inventive subject matter permits the development of animal product brands and/or marks, and provides a higher degree of source knowledge and producer accountability than has previously been available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Inventor: Michael T. Lucas
  • Patent number: 8010417
    Abstract: A system and process for establishing prices for products on line and for allowing acquisition of those products from retailers that honor such prices. The system and process involve a customer having a credit card account, a computer terminal configured to access a network, and a central authority coupled to the computer terminal via the network. The central authority maintains information about a product and a corresponding price. The price is established by the central authority and the central authority is configured to communicate the information about the product and the price to the customer via the network. Also involved is a credit card processor that is coupled to the central authority. The credit card processor is configured to query the information maintained by the central authority and to receive the price from the central authority. A retailer is involved and includes a point-of-sale system coupled to the central authority and to the credit card processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Walker Digital, LLC
    Inventors: Jay S. Walker, James A. Jorasch, Andrew S. Van Luchene
  • Patent number: 7941351
    Abstract: A method for providing payroll services to an employer includes obtaining employee data for an employee of the employer, wherein the employee data is used by a payroll system, obtaining employer tax data of the employer, wherein the employer tax data is used by the payroll system, and managing a payroll and taxes of the employer using the payroll system, wherein managing the payroll of the employer comprises issuing a direct deposit paycheck by the payroll system based on the employee data and employer tax data, wherein managing the payroll of the employer and taxes of the employer is provided by the payroll system without cost to the employer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Intuit Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Rosenfeld, Terry Hicks, Roy Goldman, Kevin M. Reeth, II
  • Patent number: 7917413
    Abstract: A system and method for billing for network usage for broadcast transmission to broadcast message receiving devices located within a broadcast target area includes validating the broadcast message record for transmission over a broadcast transmission network and generating a validated broadcast message record as a function of the validating. The method also includes determining a density of broadcast receiving devices associated with the broadcast transmission network in the broadcast target area, calculating an area for message broadcast transmission within the broadcast target area served by the broadcast transmission network, and determining a length of the broadcast message contained within the validated broadcast message record.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Envisionit LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Weiser, Mark Andrew Wood, Kevin Russell Preston
  • Patent number: 7840439
    Abstract: A method for using electronic product identification devices to track product sales and enable sales transactions to be registered in an electronic registration (ER) system without causing privacy or security concerns for the purchasers. RF-ID devices are placed on products being sold and include detailed information about the products. When the products are purchased, the detailed information is loaded into an ER database and all but a limited amount of information is removed from the RF-ID device. The limited information is sufficient to enable the detailed information to be located in the ER database by authorized individuals in connection with a return transaction or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Nintendo of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter J. Junger
  • Patent number: 7822653
    Abstract: Accounting data is classified to facilitate transaction processing and management. According to an example embodiment, data based rules are implemented for classifying transaction-related data into accounting categories. Accounting information is processed as a function of the data based rules and accordingly automatically classified. This approach involves, for example, the identification of particular data based rules to apply to the accounting information, applying the rules and processing the information accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Syncada LLC
    Inventors: Dean W. Hahn-Carlson, Elizabeth A. Beck, David A. Suits
  • Patent number: 7797252
    Abstract: A service plan product providing a tangible representation of a service plan includes a support backer and a tag removably coupled with the backer. The tag includes service plan account identification means corresponding to a service plan account stored in a database and plan administrator contact indicia. The tag is configured to be removed from the backer and applied to a primary product for which the service plan is provided, and wherein only the service plan account identification means is required for the service plan administrator to access the database to identify details regarding the service plan account. Related systems and methods are also disclosed and provide additional advantages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Rosskamm, Joseph Brenny, Steven Orzel, Stephen L. Eastman