Patents Examined by Nathan C Uber
  • Patent number: 8078492
    Abstract: A method, system, and program for providing consumer healthy habits incentives are provided. A consumable item, consumed by an individual, is detected. A health factor is detected for the consumable item. An electronic incentive is selected for the individual according to the health factor, such that the individual is encouraged to consume a healthy selection of consumable items. An electronic incentive may be further specified according to the individual health history, exercise history and consumption history of an individual.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Wayne Brown, Rabindranath Dutta, Michael A. Paolini, Newton James Smith, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8069083
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for a pay-per-action (PPA) advertising model. An advertiser reports actions and pays an advertising provider for each action that is reported. The payment may be based on the rate at which the actions are reported. The action rate may be updated based on each reported action, which may modify the payment for that action and may modify the payment for previous actions. A one-time premium may be charged to advertisers and a minimum action rate may be established to encourage advertisers to accurately report actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Mohammad Mahdian, Kerem Tomak
  • Patent number: 7917388
    Abstract: An interactive marketing communication and transaction services platform for managing personalized customer relationships. The platform facilitates communication and transactions between consumers, retailers and manufacturers, by helping suppliers customize product/service offerings, presentations and advertising messages to reflect individual consumers' needs, while providing portals with premium advertising messages for personal interactive info/news/entertainment services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Inventor: Ramon van der Riet
  • Patent number: 7797191
    Abstract: This invention relates to the methods of coordinating and tracking product and service demonstrations. An event coordinator directs event operators to conduct a product or service demonstration event. The event coordinator provides event operators with cards, such as debit cards, credit cards, or smart cards, to purchase items needed for the demonstration. The event operator contacts a card administration system to activate the card. The card administration system verifies that the provided card ID and event ID are valid, and associates an authorized budget of the demonstration event with the card. The event operator then purchases items with the card, and conducts demonstrations. Event data is provided to the parties involved in the demonstration such as a product manufacturer or service provider, the event coordinator, a staffing agency, the event operator, and a retail store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Mass Connections, Inc.
    Inventors: Sandra Cotten, Caroline Nakken