Abstract: Disclosed is a method for providing fraud protection and transaction tracing for gift card accounts through use of a public blockchain ledger. Digital gift cards are associated with tokens which are passed between user accounts. The users do not obtain direct access to the debit codes assigned to the gift cards and are instead provided with variable authentication codes for use in merchant purchases. The variable authentication code is used by a merchant to obtain a reference to an actual debit code held by a web server. Numerous types of transactions are published to the blockchain ledger including initial purchases, reserving/claiming of debit codes, transfers of tokens between accounts, and depleting of gift card value associated with a token. Transactions published to the blockchain occur substantially simultaneously with a merchant purchase such that users may look up gift card values at any time to be assured each gift card is valid.

Abstract: A system and method for automated patron identification and communication management, comprising a patron management server that receives location and ID information from a plurality of client devices via a network, directs a display manager, and retrieves patron information from a patron profile data store; a display manager that presents patron information for viewing; and a patron profile data store that stores and provides patron information.

Abstract: A system and method for constructing reverse e-commerce (Rev-eCom) webpages that allow consumers to easily evaluate products, construct offers, and complete purchases from merchants globally are provided. Such system and method utilize user preferences for language, currency, shipping method, etc., information contained on merchant website, and information from third party services in order to provide information from a merchant to the user in parameters that allow the user to properly evaluate the products and the actual costs in their currency that will be required to complete a purchase and delivery from a cross-border merchant. The customer may then make the offer to buy based on information from the constructed webpage. This allows the online user to be in full control of the logistic services he/she requires or prefers. The merchant then has the ability to receive a verified offer and to accept such offer made based on the user preferences.

Abstract: Methods and systems for planogram matching are described. The methods include capturing an image, processing the image to identify a product based on a symbolic identifier, receiving a planogram, identifying a region of a planogram based on a linear grouping, determining a geometrically consistent match between the product and a sample product included in the region of the planogram, and determining an alignment between the region of the planogram and a corresponding region of the image that includes the product. The methods may further include determining a location in the corresponding region that does not include an expected product based on the planogram.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for determining objective restaurant cost characteristics for one or more merchant restaurants. The method is implemented using a restaurant cost ratings (RCR) computing device. The method includes storing transaction data for a plurality of restaurant transactions. The method further includes receiving a request for one or more restaurant cost characteristics for one or more merchant restaurants. The method also includes determining the one or more restaurant cost characteristics for the one or more merchant restaurants based on the transaction data stored in the memory. The method further includes transmitting the one or more restaurant cost characteristics for the one or more merchant restaurants to a remote computing device.

Abstract: A method receives store inventory batch updates from a plurality of retail stores and divides each batch update into a stream of smaller messages, each smaller message referring only to a single product and including the identifier for the retail store, the identifier for the product, the quantity of the product on the sales floor of the retail store and the quantity of the product in the backroom of the retail store. The stream of smaller messages are applied to parallel processing such that a plurality of smaller messages can be processed at the same time, the parallel processing of each smaller message determining a quantity of the respective product that must be moved to the sales floor to satisfy at least one restocking rule given the quantities of the product on the sales floor in the smaller message and storing the quantity in a database.

Abstract: A method for facilitation of installments for an electronic transaction includes: receiving a transaction message for an electronic transaction including an account identifier, transaction identifier, transaction date, and transaction amount; storing a transaction record for the transaction including the transaction identifier, transaction amount, transaction date, and a due date based on the transaction date; receiving an installment request, the request including the transaction identifier and installment options; calculating installment terms based on the installment options, transaction amount, transaction date, and due date, wherein the installment terms and/or options including an installment amount and number of installments; generating a plurality of transaction records, each related to an installment including the transaction identifier, installment amount, and a payment date based on the due date and number of installments, the number of transaction records being equivalent to the number of installm

Abstract: A computer implemented method for reducing input performed in a commerce based application is provided. The method includes receiving a sequence of input values from an input device and associating the sequence of input values with an object in the application based on the sequence. A context of the application is determined. One or more tasks in the application are automatically performed based on the object, the context and the sequence of input values.

Abstract: A point-of-sale terminal differentiates dynamically among different data streams by processing data encoded with “sentinels” that bracket the beginning and end of the data and identify the type of data.

Abstract: A system for proximity-based patron discovery and group creation, comprising a patron management server that receives location and ID information from a plurality of client devices via a network, directs a patron interaction manager, groups client devices based on information similarities, and produces group information for a group; and a display manager that presents group information for review.

Abstract: A method of operating a point-of-sale (POS) system (1), the POS system comprising a POS terminal (3) having a software module (17, 21) thereon for enabling a retailer to process transactions within a transaction environment, and a peripheral device (5, 7) in communication with the POS terminal (3), the POS system (1) further comprising a driver software module (40) installed between the POS terminal (3) software module (17, 21) and the peripheral device (5, 7), the method comprising: receiving, at the driver software module (40), data sent between the software module (17, 21) and the peripheral device (5, 7) in communication with the POS terminal (3); communicating with a further device (44, 60, 64) in dependence on the data received at the driver software module (40); receiving modified data from the further device (44, 60, 64); and outputting the modified data.

Abstract: Introduced here is a technology for automatic notification of an invoice for a customer based on identification of a customer identifier included in transaction data received from a point-of-sale (POS) system of a particular merchant (“the invoice technology”). The notification can include a promotion to provide an incentive to the customer to pay the invoice. The notification can be presented on a display of the POS system. Alternatively, the notification can be presented in a receipt for the transaction conducted at the POS system, where that receipt can be transmitted for display at a user device of the customer. For example, the receipt can be in the form of an email message or a text message. Upon notification of the invoice, the customer can submit a payment for that invoice (“invoice payment”) in exchange for the promotion.

Abstract: Device and method for implementing a vehicle sharing reward program. The present invention provides for a cost-sharing plan where two or more constituencies share the rental cost associated with a user who rents a shared vehicle in a vehicle sharing program. This results in a reimbursement of the rental cost to the user. When enrolling in the vehicle sharing reward program, the user is given a health prescription to adhere to on any trip taken while using a shared vehicle. On a selected travel route, the user visits a vehicle sharing station, where the sharing station includes a kiosk that the user uses to check-in and upload relevant information such as distance traveled and locations visited. By complying with the health prescription issued to the user, the user can have its total rental cost reimbursed.

Abstract: A method of dynamically controlling an inventory comprises receiving, by a server, use quantity information for a first item of a plurality of items, updating an inventory store based on the use quantity information, comparing, by the server, the quantity information with a threshold amount for the first item of the plurality of items, generating, by the server, an order message for the first item based on the comparing, and receiving an additional quantity of the first item in response to the generating of the order message. The use quantity information comprises an amount of the first item used at an establishment, and the inventory store comprises quantity information for the plurality of items available at an establishment.

Abstract: A dynamic menu system comprises a server comprising a memory and a processor, a menu store, an inventory store, and at least one application stored in the memory. The menu store comprises a plurality of menu items associated with an establishment, and each menu item of the plurality of menu items comprises one or more ingredients. The inventory store comprises a record of an amount of the ingredients available at the establishment. The at least one application provides a first selection of the plurality of menu items to an electronic device, updates the inventory store to indicate that less than the certain amount of the first ingredient is available, and provides a second selection of the plurality of menu items to the electronic device. The second selection of the plurality of menu items does not include the first menu item.

Abstract: A memory device is interfaced to a SST; an identifier and, optionally, an invalid identifier list are received from the device. The invalid identifier list is updated to the SST when the invalid identifier list is a more recent version of a SST invalid identifier list. The identifier is invalidated when the identifier is matched in the invalid identifier list or when an expiration date associated with the identifier has expired. When the identifier is invalid, access to administrative features of the SST is denied; and when the identifier is valid access to the administrative features is granted.

Abstract: Methods and systems for documenting an inventory of items by accessing an inventory algorithm for creating an inventory list, adding two or more items to the inventory list, adding details about one or more of the items in the inventory list, identifying one or more real properties containing items in the inventory list, and linking one or more images with one or more of the items in the inventory list. The inventory can be created by providing a user with an access code to access the inventory list corresponding to the user, providing a reseller with access to the inventory algorithm for setting up a new user account and providing an authorized inventory professional with access to the inventory algorithm for creating the inventory list for the user.

Abstract: Systems and methods configured for monitoring and analyzing financial transactions on public distributed ledgers for suspicious and/or criminal activity are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may: access public third-party information for addresses involved in financial transactions; correlate a first portion of the public third-party information with transaction addresses; label the financial transactions and/or the addresses according to characteristics, such that individual ones of the addresses either have been labeled or are unlabeled; cluster the financial transactions and/or the addresses into a set of clusters that includes a first cluster; assign levels of risk for suspicious and/or criminal activity to the addresses and the financial transactions; and responsive to comparisons of levels of risk with a threshold, report transactions for suspicious and/or criminal activity.

Abstract: Devices, methods, and systems for improving the customer experience and simplifying the purchase of items are disclosed. In general the devices, methods, and systems allow a customer to speak a name or type of item, or scan a code (such as a barcode) of an item, and the item is automatically added to a shopping cart of the customer. For example, speech recognition and machine learning techniques may be used to process audio input and identify potential products relating to the input. When there is a high confidence that an identified product is the product the customer intended to purchase, the identified product is automatically added to the customer's shopping cart. When the confidence is not high enough, a list of potential products may be generated and added to the customer's shopping cart. The customer may then select the intended product right from the list in the shopping cart.

Abstract: Methods and a system for inter-device Self-Service Terminal (SST) interactions are provided. A customer causes a request for assistance to be communicated from a SST during a transaction. A device in proximity to the SST accepts the request. A message is selected by a clerk of the device and relayed to the SST for presentation during the transaction. In an embodiment, the device wirelessly receives the request from a second device that is also in proximity to the SST.