Patents Examined by Murali Dega
  • Patent number: 9037481
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, an insurance business process may have a series of business process actions. Moreover, point of service customer interaction data associated with the insurance business process may be received along with external third-party information associated with a context of the insurance business process. Based on the external third-party data, the point of service customer interaction data may be systematically analyzed to identify a trend. The trend may be analytically mapped to a first business process action in the insurance business process. An indication of a recommended change to the first business process action may then be output based at least in part on the identified trend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: HARTFORD FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Jessica L. Conley, Anne T. Ciaralli, Linda F. Hibbert, Thomas B. Haworth
  • Patent number: 8996420
    Abstract: A method of obtaining radio content from a remote electronic device for a user electronic device includes transmitting a request for radio media content to a first remote electronic device via a network. Radio media content that includes a plurality of media data files is received via the network. The received plurality of media data files are stored in a storage device of the user electronic device. A radio playlist that defines a rendering sequence for the plurality of media data files is requested. In response to the request for the radio playlist, the radio playlist is received. The radio playlist is processed in the user electronic device to enable the stored plurality of media data files to be rendered on the user electronic device in accordance with the radio playlist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Joshua D. Hug
  • Patent number: 8972300
    Abstract: A transmission device including: copy unit that extracts part or all of partial contents, as tracking information, from a content, and copies the extracted tracking information, thereby generating pieces of tracking information; candidate information obtaining unit that obtains pieces of candidate information respectively corresponding to the pieces of tracking information; evidence information obtaining unit that obtains evidence information generated dependently on a piece of candidate information selected by the reception device from among the pieces of candidate information; hash generating unit that generates hash values respectively in accordance with the pieces of candidate information; embed unit that embeds the hash values respectively into the pieces of tracking information, and embeds the evidence information into each piece of tracking information; and transmit unit that transmits each piece of tracking information in which a hash value and the evidence information have been embedded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masao Nonaka, Toshihisa Nakano, Yuichi Futa, Motoji Ohmori, Kazukuni Kobara, Ryo Nojima, Hideki Imai
  • Patent number: 8930276
    Abstract: A method performs processing of biometric information to create multiple templates. This allows biometric systems to be flexible and interact with a plurality of vendors' technologies. Specifically, a biometric sample is captured from a sensor and transmitted to a processing component. The biometric sample is then processed by a first algorithm to yield a biometric template and the template is stored and associated with a record identifier. The biometric sample is also processed by a second algorithm to yield a second template. The second template is stored and associated with the record identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Fusionarc, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Thieme, Samir Nanavati, Rajkumar Nanavati, Mcken Mak
  • Patent number: 8930278
    Abstract: A method and system for allowing the purchaser of an on-demand entertainment session of predetermined time duration to reaccess that portion of the session not used. On-demand passenger entertainment services in airline flights often offer services, such as movies, of a predetermined time duration which time is longer than the time of flight. The method and system disclosed allows purchasers to gain access on another flight to the unused portion of the services, such as, the unseen portion of a movie, terminated at the end of the initial flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne M. Delia, Edward E. Kelley, Franco Motika
  • Patent number: 8799166
    Abstract: Providing digital content is disclosed. An indication that one or more arbitrarily selected downloadable items of third party prerecorded digital content are to be given as a gift is received. A request to deliver the one or more arbitrarily selected downloadable items of third party prerecorded digital content to a recipient of the gift is processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas K. Burkholder, David L. Neumann, Debra Ameerally
  • Patent number: 8793147
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes novel systems and methods for a customer to receive information and/or purchase a product or service while interacting with multiple vendors through a single contact/agency. The customer is able to communicate with the agency through a variety of communication modes. The agency adapts the customer's input as necessary to meet the requirements of the vendors and the agency returns information to the customer so that the customer can conveniently interact with the multiple vendors. The systems and methods allow for the customer to stop and restart the process at various points using any of the communication modes. The agency has the ability to present the customer with prospecting, sales, service, upgrades, cross-sells, and other pre- and post-purchase services at the single point-of-contact agency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Branch Banking and Trust
    Inventors: Brandon H. Bradshaw, Kenneth Gray Nester, II, Gregory Velett
  • Patent number: 8788430
    Abstract: An information processor transmits and receives electronic information via a network, and includes an electronic information encrypting unit which encrypts the electronic information. A storage unit stores the electronic information and the encrypted electronic information data encrypted by the electronic information encrypting unit. An electronic credit generating unit generates a letter of credit to erase the electronic information from the storage unit and to transmit the encrypted electronic information data to the other information processor. An electronic information communicating unit transmits and receives the encrypted electronic information data and the electronic letter of credit to and from the other information processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Kenji Ishii
  • Patent number: 8788427
    Abstract: The limiting of data exposure in authenticated multi-system transactions is disclosed. A client system authenticates and requests secured data and unsecured data with an initial system. The initial system transmits to an external system a token request that corresponds to the request for the secured data. A token is generated and passed to the initial system, which relays the same to the client system. The client system uses the token to access the secured data on the external system, while also retrieving the unsecured data on the initial system. The initial system thus does not have access to the secured data, while the request therefor is known.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Active Network, LLC
    Inventor: Doug Johnson
  • Patent number: 8788318
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and systems for consolidating, distributing and integrating issuer information for a voting entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Broadbridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Niebanck
  • Patent number: 8788422
    Abstract: There are methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for service improvement techniques for a transportation service provider using mobile devices. In one aspect there is received user-entered data for at least one field present in a provided electronic form. The form includes a link that, when activated, establishes a voice channel between the passenger and a customer representative and provides a unique identifier associated with the user-entered data that enables a customer representative to retrieve the user-entered data. In another aspect, there is a graphical representation that is transmitted to a customer or a driver to facilitate execution of a reservation of a transportation service to be provided to the customer by the driver. In another aspect, there is a location range received from a wireless handheld device associated with a driver and data received from the driver indicative of a more accurate location within the location range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: FMR LLC
    Inventors: Boris Kalinichenko, Joseph Ferra
  • Patent number: 8725651
    Abstract: A system and method for providing private demand-driven pricing for fixed cost digital goods are described. An encrypted price of identically-priced digital goods is additively perturbed. The digital goods are stored in a database by a seller system and an approximate revenue maximizing price for the digital goods has not been realized. A purchasing decision about one of the digital goods based upon the additively-perturbed price is sent to the seller system without revealing the particular digital good. A conditionally disclosed symmetric key is received in return under which the digital goods in the database have been encrypted. The purchaser system and seller system engage in symmetric private information retrieval on the database. The purchaser system decrypts the digital good purchased with the symmetric key. The seller system privately updates the encrypted price of the digital goods to close on the approximate revenue maximizing price whenever a purchase is made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Jessica Nicola Staddon, Lea Kissner
  • Patent number: 8712915
    Abstract: A system and method for providing private demand-driven pricing for fixed cost digital goods are described. Symmetric private information retrieval is engaged on a table that includes public key encryptions of prices for digital goods stored in a database by a seller system, wherein a desired marginal pricing level has not been realized. The price of one digital good is decrypted with a private key for pricing by a purchaser system. A purchasing decision based upon the decrypted price is sent to the seller system without revealing the particular digital good being purchased. A conditionally disclosed symmetric key for goods is received under which the digital goods in the database have been encrypted. Symmetric private information retrieval is engaged on the database and the digital good purchased with the symmetric key is decrypted. The encrypted prices of the digital goods are privately updated based upon the desired marginal pricing level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center, Inc.
    Inventors: Jessica Nicola Staddon, Lea Kissner
  • Patent number: 8706641
    Abstract: A system for providing real-time risk mitigation for an authorization system. The system receives authorization requests from multiple merchants (or their respective acquirers) and processes such requests. Each processed request is then forwarded to its corresponding issuer for further authorization. Each processed request includes an authorization message. The authorization message can include a risk score, a number of reason codes, and a number of condition codes. The use of the risk score, reason codes and condition codes allows issuers to make better informed decisions with respect to providing authorizations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Visa U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Belva J. Bruesewitz, Nancy Hilgers, Patrick Faith, Kevin Siegel, Xiaoli Li, Kris Koganti, Craig O'Connell
  • Patent number: 8688587
    Abstract: Disclosed is a content recording apparatus having recording devices A and B and first and second encrypting units that are provided for the respective recording devices. When receiving stream data representing content from an input unit, a rate changing unit operates so as to input streams of data in parallel to the respective encrypting units. The first encrypting unit encrypts the stream data with an encryption key generated from the IDs of the recording device A and of a recording medium a. The second encrypting unit encrypts the stream data with an encryption key generated from the IDs of the recording device B and of a recording medium b. Each of the recording devices A and B records the content encrypted by a corresponding one of the first and second encrypting units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Miki Shimizu, Hiromichi Shimada
  • Patent number: 8688584
    Abstract: An illustrative method provides security of software resident on electronic gaming machines (EGMs) that permit wagering on games. A determination is made if all software files stored on a partition of a nonvolatile storage device resident in an EGM are authenticated image type files prior to any attempt to execute any of the software files. Further processing by the EGM of all of the software files is terminated upon the determination that one of the software files is not an authenticated image type file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventor: Ranjan Dasgupta
  • Patent number: 8671058
    Abstract: Methods and Systems for generating a Completely Automated Public Tests to tell Computer and Humans Apart (CAPTCHA) provide a computational puzzle according to a received request. The computational puzzle, which may be for example, a jigsaw puzzle, maze puzzle, composite image of matching and non matching shapes or other type of puzzle, is configured to have a correct solution that is expected to be determinable by a human rather than a computer. For example, the computational puzzle is generated from a plurality of individually randomly generated puzzle features, such as puzzle surface image, image color gradient, puzzle component shape, or other puzzle features. A determination is made as to whether a human as opposed to a machine solved the computational puzzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Inventor: Gary Isaacs
  • Patent number: 8660963
    Abstract: The present invention can reliably prevent the contents of a recording medium from being illegally copied but allow them to be copied only for the purpose of personal use. The invention takes out title identifying information and medium identifying information of a DVD loaded on a hard-disk-containing DVD player and transmits those pieces of information to management server along with the apparatus identifying information of the hard-disk-containing DVD player so as to enquire about copying prohibition flag for a copying operation and control copying of the recorded contents of the DVD according to the copying prohibition flag. Thus, the invention prohibits copying when the management server judges that copying of the contents of the DVD by means of the hard-disk-containing DVD player is illegal, whereas it allows copying when the management server judges that copying of the contents of the DVD by means of the hard-disk-containing DVD player is for the purpose of personal use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Hirai, Satoshi Kitani
  • Patent number: 8655786
    Abstract: This document describes tools capable of authorizing or enabling authorization of multiple payment transactions without requiring that a buyer or seller authorize each transaction separately. The tools may do so by enabling a buyer or seller to select aggregate constraints, such as a total price or number of transactions. Based on these selected constraints, the tools may authorize every payment transaction that meets the aggregate constraints without requiring the buyer to authorize every transaction separately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Raghu Lakkapragada, Jeyandran Venugopal, Jeffrey Gordon Lawson
  • Patent number: 8560456
    Abstract: Facilitating the purchase and sale of private data between anonymous entities based on the use of encryption and a centralized on-line entity to exchange the private data in a secure environment. The seeker of private data, such as consumer information, transmits an encrypted query to the centralized exchange entity. The query submission includes legal representations stating the legally permissible purpose for seeking the information. The centralized exchange entity compares the encrypted query to an encrypted data index collected from at least one data provider, to determine if the query matches any private data held by a data provider. The comparison is conducted within a secure, search component to ensure the privacy of all data and all parties to the transaction. The exchange entity facilitates the anonymous exchange between the data purchaser and the data provider. A payment invoice can be generated and electronically presented by maintainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Credigy Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jason S. Williams