Patents Examined by Sterrett
  • Patent number: 10387817
    Abstract: The system and method described herein may be used to make a binary determination of whether to initiate an in-trip audit of self-scans in a self-checkout system. For example, the system may receive one or more audit parameters that are used to calculate an audit score. The audit score may be compared to a predefined audit threshold to determine, during a shopping trip, whether to initiate the in-trip audit. After or in combination with making the binary determination, the system may make a probabilistic determination of whether to initiate an audit based on historical audit points associated with the shopper. The audit points are incremented or decremented based on prior audits and other characteristics of the shopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Catalina Marketing Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Kellstrand, Satish Gopalakrishnan, Jason Carney
  • Patent number: 10387847
    Abstract: Supervisors, managers, enterprises, organizers, etc. must ensure appropriate staffing by employees and/or volunteers to achieve their goals for each event, activity etc. at each location. However, unplanned absent individuals impact this ability and can absorb significant time and effort to overcome by re-allocating existing present individuals or seeking replacements at short or even no notice. Accordingly, each individual addressing this seeks the ability to establish communications to individuals or group of individuals rapidly, with low complexity and management overhead, knowing that those identified meet their requirements without searching/reviewing personnel profiles etc. Further, such individuals seek the ability to dynamically view and address problems within their domain of responsibility irrespective of where they are in relation to the event etc. Such issues can be addressed through the methods and systems according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Initlive Inc.
    Inventors: Deborah Pinard, Melissa Pinard, Scott Bamford
  • Patent number: 10380603
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for enhancing customer's satisfaction with his/her shopping experience. Facial motion measurements defined in a model for facial expression recognition are utilized. Features from a magnitude of the facial motion measurements defined in the model are identified. A Bayes classifier is utilized to capture dependences among the features used to recommend a better sales approach to the sales professional, or, alternatively, assign a better sales professional to approach the customer thereby enhancing the customer's shopping experience by reducing the possibility of an unpleasant shopping experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Travis M. Grigsby, Sunil Kumar Mishra, Viswanath Srikanth
  • Patent number: 10373084
    Abstract: A computer network including a server computer, a first computer implementing a first software tool having a first function and a second software tool having a second function, and a second computer implementing the first software tool and the second software tool. The server computer is configured to gather first data regarding use of the first software tool; gather second data regarding use of the second software tool; and based on the first data and the second data, link activities of the first user and the second user to a performance goal for any one of the first user, the second user, a team including at least the first user or the second user, or an organization to which the first user and the second user belong. In executing the third program code, a communications link between the server computer and the first computer or the second computer is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: ADP, LLC
    Inventors: Agatha Kurjanowicz, Lohit J. Sarma, Masheed Michael Ahadi, Zachary Skolnik, Alain Brown, Omar Scott, Jason A. Lovelace, Matthew Paul Herman
  • Patent number: 10366359
    Abstract: Automatically extracting and completing tasks associated with a communication is provided. In some examples, an application, such as a task management application, may generate nodes based on properties extracted from a communication, generate tasks based on the nodes, and construct a graph based on the nodes and the tasks. The task management application may also perform a prioritization of the tasks within the graph based on the properties of the nodes, order the tasks within the graph based on the prioritization of the tasks, and provide a task management interface to present the tasks within the graph. The task management application may also transmit the tasks within the graph to a task extraction engine of the task management application in response to a modification input executed on the graph.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Manolis Platakis, Ievgeniia Zhovtobriukh, Christos Makris, Olivia Ifrim, Daniela Lepri
  • Patent number: 10346779
    Abstract: Systems, methods and computer-readable media for incident queue assignment and prioritization are disclosed. An incident handling system may receive a request for a next highest priority incident. An incident requiring resolution may be identified. The incident may be associated with an incident queue based at least in part on a queue assignment rule. The incident queue may comprise one or more incidents. The incident queue may be processed based at least in part on a prioritization rule to identify, from the one or more incidents associated with the incident queue, the next highest priority incident. The incident handling system may transmit the next highest priority incident associated with the incident queue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Fiserv, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Lee Kleehammer, Michael Fisher Loyd, David Keith Johnson
  • Patent number: 10339542
    Abstract: Store intelligence—in-store analytics (“in-store analytics”) techniques are provided that, by combining analytics with experience, improve the shopping, managing, monitoring, etc., experience of an end user. In-store analytics can be integrated with workflow for optimizing and assisting prioritizing operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Avatier Corporation
    Inventors: Nelson A. Cicchitto, Christopher W. Arnold, Anthony R. T. Simmons
  • Patent number: 10339504
    Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamically responding to requests for information, derived from one or more data sources, relating to at least one event participant. A notification of a scheduled event is received at a server. The notification identities a plurality of individuals invited to attend or participate in an event. Data attributes relating to the event participants are retrieved from one or more data sources and stored. The data attributes can include personal attributes, professional attributes, and social interaction attributes. Before, during or after an event, requests are received and processed to provide event participants and other interested parties access to contextual information relating event participants to one another, the identities of event participants possessing one or more attributes, and lists of attributes for one or more known event participants. The requests can include images and sound recordings captured during the event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Avaya Inc.
    Inventor: Reinhard Klemm
  • Patent number: 10325272
    Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention, a method is described for reducing bias by data fusion of a household panel data and a loyalty card data. In embodiments, a method is provided for receiving a consumer panel dataset in a data fusion facility, receiving a consumer point-of-sale dataset in a data fusion facility, receiving a dimension dataset in a data fusion facility, fusing the datasets received in the data fusion facility into a new panel dataset based at least in part on an encryption key, estimating a consumer behavior using a first model based on the consumer panel dataset, estimating a consumer behavior using a second model based only on those consumers present in both the consumer panel dataset and the consumer point-of-sale dataset, and refining the first model based at least on the results of the second model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Information Resources, Inc.
    Inventors: Herbert Dennis Hunt, John Randall West, Marshall Ashby Gibbs, Jr., Bradley Michael Griglione, Gregory David Neil Hudson, Andrea Basilico, Arvid C. Johnson, Cheryl G. Bergeon, Craig Joseph Chapa, Alberto Agostinelli, Jay Alan Yusko, Trevor Mason
  • Patent number: 10318901
    Abstract: Systems and methods of the present disclosure facilitate managing a business. In some embodiments, the system includes a product data module and a plurality of business process modules executing on at least one processor of a server. The product data module may be configured to store at least one product description. Responsive to a first user, the system may associate a product class with a first description. Responsive to a second user, the system may associate a first product description with a first of the business process modules. The system may be configured to select a second business process module based on the product class and update the second business process module with the first product description.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Connectwise, LLC
    Inventors: Arnold Bellini, III, Linda Brotherton, Robert Isaacs
  • Patent number: 10311450
    Abstract: In a method for managing customer feedback, the method includes: receiving, by a processor, an answer to a survey question, wherein the answer to the survey question is associated with a customer; transmitting, by the processor, a notification to a first electronic device, in response to the answer to the survey question having a value less than a threshold value; receiving, by the processor, a reply communication via a first communication medium from the first electronic device, wherein the reply communication comprises an instruction to contact the customer; and initiating a connection, by the processor, between the first electronic device and a second electronic device associated with the customer in a second communication medium different from the first communication medium in response to the receiving of the reply communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Inventors: Cris Bjelajac, David Sudbey, John Tallarico, Marc Verschoor
  • Patent number: 10311455
    Abstract: A computer program product and method for sales forecasting and adjusting a sales forecast for an enterprise in a configurable region having one or more clusters of stores. The method includes periodically receiving a sales forecast for an enterprise over a configurable period of time, periodically receiving actual sales information, sales anomalies and anticipated events within the at least one of the clusters of stores over a computer network, determining positive and negative deviations from the anticipated sales of the sales forecast based on the sales information, determining whether one or more trends are occurring or have occurred using a pre-defined mathematical expression based on the sales information, the positive and negative deviations, and the sales anomalies, adjusting the anticipated sales of the sales forecast based on the sales anomalies, the trends and the anticipated events, and outputting the adjusted sales forecast to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: One Network Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Ranjit Notani, Greg Brady, Sivakoumar Arumugam
  • Patent number: 10291133
    Abstract: A switching power supply device having a synchronous rectifier IC on a secondary side, responds to an anomaly on a primary side based on detecting an occurrence of the anomaly on the secondary side. When a secondary side synchronous rectifier IC detects an anomaly, a current is output from the anomaly-time current output terminal of the secondary side synchronous rectifier IC. By the output current flowing through a resistance, a voltage at an output voltage detection point is raised to increase a current through the cathode of a shunt regulator. In so doing, a current flowing through a photodiode of a photocoupler also increases, and the FB terminal voltage of a switching control IC connected to a primary side phototransistor decreases. The primary side switching control IC operates to minimize output power, reduces a secondary side output voltage, or stops an operation of the switching power supply device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jun Yabuzaki
  • Patent number: 10262281
    Abstract: A decentralized ordering system allows a customer to track order status from a centralized order status system by providing a single, easily remembered identifier (such as a telephone number) without having to log in and without having to specify which local system is handling the customer's order. The central system communicates with each local system to obtain order status information. The central communication function handles all login and authentication requirements on the local systems, if necessary, and reformats the order status data, if necessary, to a common format for storage at the central location. The system also may notify the customer, via telephone, text message, instant message or electronic mail, whenever the order status changes or when the order status changes to a predetermined condition (such as “out for delivery”).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Domino's IP Holder LLC
    Inventors: James G. Vitek, David W. Haubenstricker, Eric R. Sweetland, Timothy J. Wise
  • Patent number: 10255583
    Abstract: Nested hierarchies can be efficiently analyzed by normalizing a portion of the hierarchy as defined by a limiting factor for the hierarchy. In a project hierarchy wherein each project contains a task hierarchy, each task hierarchy can be normalized. Further, the projects can be assigned to levels such that data for each level can be indexed, partitioned, or otherwise differentiated. The data then can be efficiently rolled up by level using the partially normalized hierarchy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventor: Shane Robert Vermette
  • Patent number: 10248917
    Abstract: Systems and methods for developing and utilizing a contactability profile are disclosed. Contact information may be managed by receiving activity data associated with an entity, processing the received activity data, generating at least one contactability profile associated with the entity based upon a result of the processing, and storing the generated contactability profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: CAPITAL ONE SERVICES, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Paul Reynolds, Daniel J. Welker
  • Patent number: 10224716
    Abstract: Embodiments herein provide an ACsDC converter for generating an ACsDC signal in which AC or DC source can be used to generate the ACsDC signal. The structure of the ACsDC converter consists of three stages, viz., input, isolation, and output. At the input stage, a DC voltage is converted to two AC voltages using power electronic converters. The isolation stage consists of transformers for isolating load and source terminals. The secondary voltages of the isolation transformers are used for obtaining the AC and DC components of the ACsDC signal. At the output stage, the AC component of the output voltage is obtained by using an AC-DC converter and a DC-AC converter. The magnitude, phase, and frequency of the AC component can be controlled. The magnitude of the DC component is controlled using a modulation technique. The AC and the DC component can be combined to obtain the ACsDC signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY BOMBAY
    Inventors: Venkat Nag Someswar Rao Jakka, Anshuman Shukla, Shrikrishna Vyankatesh Kulkarni
  • Patent number: 10192256
    Abstract: The method of processing an analysis cycle to determine interest merchants may include selecting a seed merchant relevant to a topic interest, identifying consumers that have completed a transaction with the seed merchant to generate a list of identified consumers, determining merchants visited by the identified consumers, scoring all the merchants based on network connectivity, activity, and merchant over-index, updating the seed merchant in response to the list of scored merchants relative to a scoring threshold, and scoring the list of identified consumers based on the number of distinct merchants in transaction and over-indexing. Additionally, the method may further comprise producing a list of updated interest merchants and a list of updated identified consumers, where the updated interest merchants and the updated identified consumers are relevant to the topic interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: AMERICAN EXPRESS TRAVEL RELATED SERVICES COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Ching-nu Chang, Lee Chau, Terrence Fischer, Anthony Harry Mavromatis
  • Patent number: 10192356
    Abstract: A governance, risk management, and compliance (GRC) computer system is provided that includes at least one processor, a user input device, and a storage system that stores meta-model. The meta-model includes at least one process element, a plurality of dynamic risk elements, and a plurality of dynamic control elements. The risk meta-model is loaded from the storage system. Input is accepted from the user input device for creating a new dynamic risk model based on the loaded extended risk meta-model. At least one process element is added to the new dynamic risk model based on user provided input and the extended risk meta-model. A first dynamic risk element is added from the plurality of dynamic risk elements based on user provided input. A risk type of the first dynamic risk element is determined based on user provided input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: BWISE B.V.
    Inventors: Luc Brandts, Erik M. M. Voorbraak, Gerrit Hendrik Smit
  • Patent number: 10181106
    Abstract: System and methods are disclosed associated with processing information and/or initiating workflow in a CRM, Sales Force Automation, time and expense reporting system or professional services provider management system, including aggregating, analyzing and/or otherwise processing data related to real world events. According to some embodiments, event data is classified and event data requiring user input is determined, notifications to provide user input for the event data may be transmitted, and/or various features of follow-on workflow or launching follow-on workflow may be initiated, facilitated or provided. Various implementations also relate to classification, splitting events, merging events, time extensions/exceptions for processing events, processing of corollary events and the provision of chronologically organized historical records of interactions between groups of users and individuals or companies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Inventors: Eli Borodow, Imed Yahmadi, Ali Aljane, Eric Baranes, Andrew Borodow