Patents Examined by Marissa Liu
  • Patent number: 8131616
    Abstract: A method for controlling access to a system of finite resources with excess demand employs a two stage admission process. Subscribers are first admitted based on an initial bid price and resource availability. The market price is determined by the highest bid price among the rejected arrivals in the current batch. Admitted subscribers are then given the option to secure continued access to the resource by accepting a fee-based reservation. The fee for the reservation is determined in a manner which is fair to the reserving subscriber, as well as all other subscribers, in that the reservation fee is priced to provide access at a cost which prevents arbitraging opportunities. If the current market price exceeds a non-reserved subscriber's bid price, that non-reserved subscriber is displaced. If the current market price exceeds a reserved subscriber's bid price, that reserved subscriber's reservation is activated and access to the resource continues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventors: Nemo Semret, Aurel Lazar
  • Patent number: 8131637
    Abstract: A predictive model for use in providing an equity release (reverse mortgage) financial product is disclosed. In at least some embodiments, a plurality of representative loans are created, wherein each loan can be characterized by a borrower type and a mortality table. A plurality of joint interest rate and house price scenarios are also created. Each of the representative loans can be run through each of the joint interest rate and house price scenarios to measure profitability metrics. The model can also be used to determine loan-to-value (LTV) ratios based on considerations including borrower age, loan volume sensitivity, a determined profit-maximizing LTV ratio, and geographic market considerations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Bank of America Corporation
    Inventors: David H. Rupp, Colin D. McCormick, Cherie A. Arruda, Lisa D. Curry, Michael Teichman
  • Patent number: 8010423
    Abstract: An opportunity server searches for potential vehicle repair transaction providers by receiving a signal from a mobile system indicating a need for a transaction with a business entity responsive to an on-board diagnostic detection of a real-time fault condition resulting in recording of a Diagnostic Trouble Code; automatically issuing requests for bids for the transaction to provider parties located in a first potential geographic point for repair service indicating estimated times of arrival at each geographic point; receiving offers from the provider parties; automatically coalescing the offers by screening to meet user preferences, and modifying and organizing into a format for uniform presentation to a user; presenting the coalesced offers to an operator of the mobile system; and automatically performing enterprise resource planning for a user-selected business transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William Kress Bodin, Bryan William Clark, Albert Chung-Chee Kwok, John Richard Del Pizzo, Jr., Wojciech T. Stryjewski, David Patrick Huff, Derral Charles Thorson, Michael Karasick
  • Patent number: 7953656
    Abstract: A system for generating a display of at least one side of a market includes a computer system having one or more computers. The displayed side of the market includes one or more offers from one or more market participants. Each offer includes an offered price and an offered quantity. The computer system receives market data reflecting the one or more offers and generates a display of the received market data. The display includes a price axis, a quantity axis, and one or more offer bars. Each offer bar represents one or more offers including equal offered prices. Placement of an offer bar along the price axis represents the equal offered prices for the one or more offers represented by the offer bar. The height of an offer bar relative to the quantity axis represents the aggregate offered quantity for the one or more offers represented by the offer bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: i2 Technologies US, Inc.
    Inventor: Manoel Tenorio
  • Patent number: 7949598
    Abstract: A system for generating a display of at least one side of a market includes a computer system having one or more computers. The displayed side of the market includes one or more offers from one or more market participants. Each offer includes an offered price and an offered quantity. The computer system receives market data reflecting the one or more offers and generates a display of the received market data. The display includes a price axis, a quantity axis, and one or more offer bars. Each offer bar represents one or more offers including equal offered prices. Placement of an offer bar along the price axis represents the equal offered prices for the one or more offers represented by the offer bar. The height of an offer bar relative to the quantity axis represents the aggregate offered quantity for the one or more offers represented by the offer bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: i2 Technologies US, Inc.
    Inventor: Manoel Tenorio
  • Patent number: 7949599
    Abstract: A trading system matches a passive order to buy or sell an item at a price with an aggressive order to hit or lift the item at that price. A workup is initiated during which other parties can submit additional orders at the passive order price. A further order may be submitted during workup with a better price. If the amount at the better price equals or exceeds a threshold value and it can be traded at the better price, the workup is terminated and a new workup initiated at the better price.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: ICAP Services North America LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Cleaves, Atul Bhatia
  • Patent number: 7925559
    Abstract: A computer system includes a data storage module. The data storage module receives, stores, and provides access to data related to long term disability claims. A proactive referral model component is coupled to the data storage module, and determines whether to refer a current claim to an investigation unit. The proactive referral model is based on at least two of the following variables: (a) a variable that indicates that the claimant's diagnosis has changed; (b) a variable that indicates that the current claim in question was brought under any-occupation coverage; (c) a variable that reflects a market segment for a policy under which the current claim in question was brought; (d) a variable that has a value based on a state in which the claimant resides; and (e) a variable that represents an amount of experience of a claims handler who handled the current claim in question.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Hartford Fire Insurance Company
    Inventor: Timothy J. Scully
  • Patent number: 7925584
    Abstract: A system and method of managing a construction payment process involving a plurality of participants associated with the construction project and at least one document to be transferred between at least two participants of the plurality participants during the course of the construction project. One method can include assigning at least one enforcement action to the at least one document wherein the enforcement action is automatically effected if the document is not transferred between the at least two participants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Textura Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. Allin, Charles C. Cherry, William H. Eichhorn
  • Patent number: 7921051
    Abstract: A system in an electronic securities market includes a configurable look-up table that has assignment entries that assign each of a plurality of securities to one or more securities processors in the system. Whenever an order is received that involves a specific security, a security look-up process accesses the configurable look-up table to determine which securities processor the specific security is assigned to. Once determined, a messaging process, which is responsive to the security look-up process, sends the received security order to the securities processor to which the specific security is assigned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: The Nasdaq OMX Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Stuart Richard Serkin, Robert Miller, Timothy Vincent, Edward A. Perrault
  • Patent number: 7917427
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for managing collateral allocation and substitution in general collateral repurchase agreements. In a preferred embodiment, an intermediary computer system facilitates the execution of anonymous general collateral repurchase agreements between buyers and sellers. The intermediary system manages initial collateral allocations and substitutions in accordance with systematic and impartial rules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: ICAP Services North America LLC
    Inventors: David R. Fitzpatrick, William Riggio
  • Patent number: 7899721
    Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are provided for e-commerce. In use, a plurality of suppliers are registered. In addition, goods-related information from customers is received, where the goods-related information is associated with goods. Access to the goods-related information by the suppliers is allowed utilizing a network. Further, offers relating to the goods from the suppliers are received utilizing the network, and the customers are informed of the offers. Still yet, a guarantee is provided to the customers regarding a qualification of at least one supplier with respect to a provision or fulfillment of the offer received therefrom. Such guarantee is provided as a function the at least one supplier or at least one action thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Accenture Global Services GmbH
    Inventor: Michel K. Bowman-Amuah
  • Patent number: 7899738
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for processing mass quote messages and generating market data. A mass quote message is received and individual orders are parsed and processed. Individual market data messages are stored in a market data message buffer. After all orders are processed, the contents of the market data message buffer is distributed as a single market data message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Inc.
    Inventors: Nimesh V Patel, Joe Lobraco
  • Patent number: 7895098
    Abstract: A system and method for quantifying the working capital benefit of pooling a number of separate cash accounts. The average (mean) cash balance of the pooled account is determined to be the sum of the means of each of the individual accounts. Similarly, the standard deviation of the pooled account is determined to be the square root of the sum of the squares of the standard deviations of the individual accounts. Accordingly, the minimum cash level of the pooled account is 2.3 times the square root of the sum of the squares of the standard deviations of the individual accounts. In order to determine the benefit of pooling, the present invention determines the difference between the minimum aggregate cash required by the separate companies and the minimum cash required in the pooled account. If pooling is to be beneficial, from a working capital perspective, the minimum cash required in the pooled account will be significantly less than the aggregate cash required by the separate companies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
    Inventor: Mark L. Beard
  • Patent number: 7890404
    Abstract: The invention presented comprises a system and method for executing a cash payment via a computer network. A payor computing device communicates over a computer network with payee computing devices via a P2P server. The P2P server is operative to receive a payment request from the payor computing device and process the payment by debiting a financial instrument specified by a payor utilizing the payor computing device. The payment request is transmitted from the P2P server to a cash payment server operative to receive the payment request and translate the request into the native format of an ATM control server, the native format of the P2P server and ATM control server not being interoperable. The ATM control server is operative to generate a PIN code, which is transmitted along with the received payment instructions to an ATM. The ATM receives the payment instructions and dispenses the payment upon receipt of the PIN code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Catherine L. Amann, Arthur Barnett, Jaromir G. Divilek, Garling Lee, Eric T. Nissenbaum
  • Patent number: 7882004
    Abstract: A system and method for managing a construction payment process. One method embodying the invention can include creating an electronically-executed first request for payment on behalf of a first participant in a construction project, transmitting the first request for payment to a second participant in the construction project, creating an electronically-executed second request for payment based on the first request for payment, transmitting the second request for payment to a payment source in the construction project, directing transmitting a payment to the second participant from the payment source, and directly transmitting a payment to the first participant from the payment source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Textura Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. Allin, Charles C. Cherry, William H. Eichhorn, Howard L. Niden, Richard P. Pedersen, Jr., Matthew R. Bagley
  • Patent number: 7882017
    Abstract: An anonymous trading system comprises an interconnected network of broking noted arranged in cliques which receive buy and sell orders from trader terminals via connected trading engines and which match persistent orders, executed deals and distribute price information to trader terminals. Where two orders are matched, a proposed deal message is sent by the matching broker. If another broker has processed an event which makes the matched quote unavailable the match fails and rematch may occur. Rematch may be attempted by an intermediate broker provided it owns one side of the match, or it received both sides of the match from brokers in different cliques. The intermediate broker attempts to match with the next available quote in the queue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: EBS Group Limited
    Inventors: Edward R. Howorka, Neena Jain, Steven Iaccheo, Vladimir Neyman, James Shu
  • Patent number: 7877308
    Abstract: A system and method directed to improving efforts to plan for investor life goals. The method combines unique approaches of assessing investor risk tolerance using utility theory and investor preferences using conjoint analysis, Analytic Hierarchy Process (“AHP”), or the like in combination with existing industry financial projection methods using linear projections, Monte Carlo simulation, or the like. Further, the method improves upon existing financial projection approaches with the addition of regression techniques to streamline adjustments to the plan objectives, resources, and constraints. The method includes a means of determining an optimal combination of attribute preferences that have an acceptable probability of achieving plan goals while maximizing investor satisfaction as measured by total utility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Klein Decisions, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Padgette, Timothy D. Paulin
  • Patent number: 7877264
    Abstract: Intelligent Trust Management provides a centralized security facility that gives system components a flexible mechanism for implementing security policies. System components such as applications create a request describing an action that needs to be checked against an appropriate security policy. The request is given to a trust system that determines which policy object applies to the request, and may pass request arguments to the policy. The policy objects include executable code that uses any arguments along with dynamically obtained variable information to make a decision. The decision is returned to the system component, which then operates accordingly. Policy objects may maintain state and interface with the user independent of the system component in order to obtain information to make their decisions. Policy objects may call other policy objects and/or mathematically combine the results of other policy objects to make a decision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Barbara L. Fox, Brian A. LaMacchia
  • Patent number: 7873530
    Abstract: An apparatus including a calculator to determine an optimal solution to a stochastic linear programming problem or a stochastic mixed-ineteger linear programming problem with conditional value at risk constraints (CVaRs). The optimal solution is determined by generating a sequence of solutions that converge to the optimal solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Pu Huang, Dharmashankar Subramanian
  • Patent number: 7860764
    Abstract: A system is provided for leasing motor vehicles to credit challenged consumers or consumers that do not qualify for conventional financing. The system utilizes a short term prepaid lease in combination with a device utilizing microprocessor technology installed in the motor vehicle to encourage payment. The consumer pays in advance to use the motor vehicle for a predetermined lease period. If the consumer does not make the prepayment, the device installed in the vehicle prevents the vehicle from operating. The system is used to make a determination as to the amount of a weekly payment a credit challenged consumer (“Consumer”) can afford. Using the weekly payment amount, the system then extrapolates the value of a vehicle appropriate for the Consumer's payment ability. Once the lease has been executed, a predetermined operating time is loaded into the device, which is connected to the vehicle's ignition system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Inventors: Blaise Alexander, Joan M. Falls, Les Puglia, Matthew Yeager