Patents Examined by Samica L Norman
  • Patent number: 8364570
    Abstract: A method of consolidating certificate of deposits includes providing a consolidation button for the certificate of deposits to a user on a computing device and receiving a user selection of the consolidation button. The method also includes scheduling one or more of the certificate of deposits for consolidation responsive to the user selection of the consolidation button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventor: David Adrian Johnson
  • Patent number: 8359270
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for managing an account for an unidentified individual by communicating with the unidentified individual who is using a device to communicate which transmits an identifier associated with the origin of the communication, obtaining from the unidentified individual a group of characters associated with the unidentified individual's personal information, comparing the group of characters to a database including a plurality of personal information associated with a plurality of individuals, identifying from the plurality of individuals one individual whose plurality of personal information includes the group of characters associated with the unidentified individual, and managing an account for the identified individual in an account database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: BTM Investments LLC
    Inventors: Joseph A. Pence, Brad A. Benge, Spencer M. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 8355984
    Abstract: Systems, computer programs encoded on non-transitory memory, and computer-implemented methods to make available new credit or additional credit to demand deposit accounts, prepaid cards, and existing lines of credit of a customer based on expected tax refund amounts. The new or additional credit being, for example, based on a computerized estimate of the tax refund of the customer. The existing line of credit, for example, is adjusted based on the expected refund and/or actual tax refund determined to be available, which can serve as an additional source of repayment for the line of credit. One or more of several adjustments may then be made to an existing line of credit: the line of credit may be increased; fees reduced; or the terms of payment adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Metabank
    Inventors: Scott H. Galit, Trent Sorbe
  • Patent number: 8346640
    Abstract: A currency handling device such as a currency recycler, depository machine or a dispensing machine may provide users with the ability to access multiple accounts from the same device. Accordingly, a user may make deposits to or withdrawals from multiple accounts from a single device. The multiple accounts may, for example, correspond to different departments in a business or organization, allowing employees from different departments to use the same currency device to process transaction (e.g., change orders, deposits, etc.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Bank of America Corporation
    Inventors: William Thomas Sanders, Karren D. Grant, Amy Baker Folk, Daniel Christopher Bohen, Shane Anthony Johnson
  • Patent number: 8341068
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for generating and evaluating ideas within an organization through an idea market. It includes an automatic price-setting mechanism that modifies the share-price at the same instant that a trade is made, yet without the assistance of a market maker or a queue of orders. The instant price-setting is achieved by assuming a pre-defined relationship between the quantity of shares in the order and the average share price for that order. This relationship is the price-quantity function. The present invention also includes a mechanism of weighted parameters to modify the share-price in addition to pure supply and demand. The parameters can be adjusted over time in a neural network to optimize the relationship between the share price and the prediction of the actual idea value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: The Trustees of the Stevens Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Peter Koen, Gerrit Kamp
  • Patent number: 8332291
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for estimating the future and present value of credit accounts (FIG. 1). A plurality of profit driver segments (105) are established. A degree of belonging of the credit account to each of the plurality of profit driver segments (105) is determine by characterizing the credit account based upon it historical behavior (110). The probability of migration of the credit account from at least one profit driver segment (105) to at least one profit driver segment based upon historical behavior data is determined. The credit account can then be valued based upon the characterization of the credit account and the determined probability of migration. By examinating how accounts migrate between behavior segments over multiple periods, and analyzing the discounted cash flows associated with these migration patterns, a net present value may be calculated for each account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Argus Information and Advisory Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Nikolas Sulkowski, Leonard Laufer, Nana Banerjee
  • Patent number: 8311919
    Abstract: An example graphical interface and method for displaying risk related data are described. One example graphical interface includes a data structure comprising a plurality of data nodes and at least one risk data point associated with each node, and further comprises a display grid. The display grid includes one or more cells that are used for displaying selected data nodes and risk data points. Each cell may be associated with a single data node, and may include one or more identifiers corresponding to risk data points of the data node. In one example embodiment, the identifiers are aligned along a single axis, and risk related data corresponding to each identifier is aligned with respect to each corresponding identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Trading Technologies International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. West, Michael J. Burns
  • Patent number: 8306909
    Abstract: Apparatuses, computer media, and methods for analyzing credit and tax form data and determining a collections treatment type to collect revenue. A collections model is constructed to determine a collections score that is based on raw credit data and tax form data and is indicative of a debtor's propensity to pay an owed amount. The collections model includes score bands, each score band being associated with a range of credit scores. A collections score is determined from a scoring expression that is associated with a score band and that typically includes a subset of available raw credit data and tax form data. A collections treatment type is determined from a collections score. Each treatment type corresponds to a treatment action that is directed to the debtor. A collections model is constructed from historical tax data, in which score bands and scoring expressions are constructed for the collections model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited
    Inventor: Inder Preet Singh
  • Patent number: 8306892
    Abstract: An embodiment of a computer-implemented method of generating a financial index includes storing in a computer memory a regional weight for each of one or more regions, and, for each of the regions, a category weight for each of one or more categories of financial instruments issued from the region. At least one of the regional weights does not reflect a market capitalization of the respective region and may be based on, e.g., a gross domestic product for the region. The method also includes programmatically selecting one or more constituent financial instruments for the categories of financial instruments issued from the regions. In some implementations, the constituents do not include equity instruments. The method also includes programmatically calculating, for the categories and regions, subindices based at least in part on the constituent financial instruments, and determining the financial index based at least in part on the subindices, the category weights, and the regional weights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Pacific Investment Management Company LLC
    Inventors: William H. Gross, Ramin Toloui
  • Patent number: 8301526
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for maximizing retirement income using bridge annuities and deferred Social Security income. Financial information about a client is gathered, in addition to financial information about the client's spouse, if applicable. A variety of income scenarios are modeled using the financial information and a plurality of income models, each model including income from a bridge product and deferred Social Security income. Alternate funding approaches are projected using the financial information, and the modeled scenarios are compared to the alternate funding approaches to determine the optimal scenario for maximizing retirement income. The client can then purchase a bridge product in accordance with the optimal scenario.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: The Prudential Insurance Company of America
    Inventors: James I. Mahaney, Peter C. Carlson
  • Patent number: 8301536
    Abstract: Described are computer-based methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for guiding a user through a transaction to change a contribution configuration in a defined contribution plan. A request is received by an application from a client device. The application processes the request and plan data associated with a user is retrieved. User interface data is generated by the application and the data is transmitted to the client device. A user interface is displayed which initiates, reviews and executes a transaction to change a current contribution configuration to a suggested contribution configuration without requiring the user to enter any additional information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: FMR LLC
    Inventors: Susan L. Fulshaw, Jodi Vivian Leo, Jennifer Ann Lund, Michael Frank Tuccinard, Steven Edward Borowick, Fiona J. Tranquada, Jonathan Daniels Weinert, Ellen Beth Pedersen
  • Patent number: 8296227
    Abstract: Systems, computer programs encoded on non-transitory memory, and computer-implemented methods to make available new credit or additional credit to demand deposit accounts, prepaid cards, and existing lines of credit of a customer based on expected tax refund amounts. The new or additional credit being, for example, based on a computerized estimate of the tax refund of the customer. The existing line of credit, for example, is adjusted based on the expected refund and/or actual tax refund determined to be available, which can serve as an additional source of repayment for the line of credit. One or more of several adjustments may then be made to an existing line of credit: the line of credit may be increased; fees reduced; or the terms of payment adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Metabank
    Inventors: Scott H. Galit, Trent Sorbe
  • Patent number: 8275687
    Abstract: The invention relates to systems and methods that allocate different types of commissions to participants based on at least one factor contributing to the liquidity to the market in which an item trades. The commission may accordingly depend on the order in which trading commands are received from different participants and/or the sides the participants are on. The systems and methods receive trade commands from different participants on the item, match these trade commands, determine a commission or reward based on the added liquidity and allocate the commission or reward to certain participants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: BGC Partners, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard W. Lutnick, Michael Sweeting, Joseph Noviello
  • Patent number: 8271377
    Abstract: A market map interface displays market information and trader-related information associated with at least two tradable objects. In one embodiment, the at least two graphical interfaces may be linked, and a user may define one or more adjustment parameters to be used to adjust the view of information being displayed via the linked graphical interfaces. For instance, a user may initiate repositioning of one of the linked graphical interfaces, thus, effectively, causing other linked graphical interfaces to be repositioned according to the defined adjustment parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Trading Technologies International Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Kline, Michael J. Burns, Robert A. West
  • Patent number: 8271368
    Abstract: A method and system for electronically clearing financial instruments through a clearing system in which a per item cost of clearing instruments varies with the time of day. Files of items containing data scanned from financial instruments including an amount of each instrument may be received by a control system that may apply a rule to sort the items by determining whether the item be stored or forwarded for clearing. The rule may include a step of determining whether an amount of the instrument exceeds a predetermined value or meets a certain criteria, and if so, forwarding the instrument for clearing without storage. If the amount of the instrument does not exceed the first predetermined value or meet the criteria, the system may store the item for forwarding at a later time when the per item fee for clearing is lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Keycorp
    Inventors: Douglas Paul Davis, Edward Kwabena Obeng, David T. Reichard
  • Patent number: 8266059
    Abstract: A method includes receiving an authorization request for a purchase transaction, and determining whether the authorization request arose from proximity-reading a proximity payment device. The method further includes mapping a first account number included in the authorization request into a second account number associated with the first account number if it is determined that the authorization request arose from proximity-reading a proximity payment device and if the first account number is qualified for mapping. In addition, the method includes transmitting the authorization request to an issuer financial institution with the second account number substituted for the first account number in the authorization request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: MasterCard International, Inc.
    Inventors: Kris M. Horvath, Maurice David Liscia, Jean-Louis Rouquet
  • Patent number: 8255327
    Abstract: Techniques for processing on-line banking bill payment requests are provided. A bill payment request is received from an operator of an on-line banking bill payment web site. The operator may be a bank. The request is for payment of a bill using a portable consumer device. A transaction request is then generated for an issuer and sent to the issuer for authorization. The issuer then sends a response indicating whether the transaction request is approved or declined. Remittance information for a biller is generated if the transaction is approved. The remittance information is then forwarded to the operator of the on-line banking bill payment web site for forwarding to a user of the portable consumer device. Additionally, the remittance information is sent to an acquirer or cash management bank, which can forward the information to the biller associated with the bill payment request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Inventors: Lynn Kemper, Barbara Patterson, Kimberly Lawrence
  • Patent number: 8244625
    Abstract: A method of making payment. A request is received to effect payment between a buyer and a seller for a transaction having established terms. The terms include a payment amount and a settlement date. Messages are exchanged between the buyer and the seller that include an offer and acceptance of new terms for payment at other than the established terms. The new terms include an adjusted amount of payment to be made at a particular time after an event associated with the transaction. An electronic notification that the event has occurred is received, and the after the notification, payment between the buyer and seller is effected under the new terms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
    Inventors: Don Holm, Duc Lam, Xuan (Sunny) McRae
  • Patent number: 8239317
    Abstract: A system, method, and corresponding computer program product facilitates trading of a standardized contract. The terms of the contract may be such that it provides a payout from one party to the other based on the price, yield, level or other measure of an asset, basket, index, financial contract, other financial instrument or some economically significant variable observed at or around two specified times, both such times being after the time that the standardized contract is first available for trading. Alternatively, the terms of the contract may be such that it provides that one party has the right but not the obligation either to purchase or to sell some asset at a price which is determined at a first specified time, such right to be exercised at some time not later than the second specified time, both such times being after the time that the standardized contract is first available for trading. These and other related contracts are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Hodgson Global Enterprises Limited
    Inventor: Michael John Hodgson
  • Patent number: 8224748
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing a financial account. The disclosed systems and methods may include providing a financial account offer to a customer. The disclosed systems and methods may also include receiving en acceptance of the offer, providing the financial account, setting an account variable equal to a first account value, and monitoring the financial account. The monitoring may further comprise resetting the account variable equal to a second account value when a number of purchase transactions corresponding to a currently monitored time period are less than a threshold value. Furthermore, the account variable may be reset equal to a third account value when the number of purchase transactions corresponding to the currently monitored time period are greater than or equal to the threshold value and a number of purchase transactions corresponding to the previous time period were less than the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Capital One Financial Corporation
    Inventor: Nathan T. Czyzewski