Patents Examined by William Rankins
  • Patent number: 8700518
    Abstract: A system and method automatically provides financial information to a client without requiring a service representative, increasing the efficiency and accuracy of a financial service transaction when compared to conventional systems, enabling a client to easily and efficiently provide information to the financial service provider, and enabling a financial service provider to easily and efficiently perform various financial services for a client automatically, including complex financial transactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Alan B. Nathan
  • Patent number: 8688571
    Abstract: Method and systems of registering participants for an event at an event site are disclosed. Identification data specific to a participant encoded on a first token object is read with a mobile computing device. A query is generated from the mobile computing device to a remote event registration system for prior registration data based upon at least a subset of the received identification data. The prior registration data is received on the mobile computing device. A first subset of the prior registration data is transmitted to a local event registration system, and a payment success indicator is received upon successful payment processing. Registrant identification data is generated by the local event registration system in response to recording the first subset of the prior registration data and the payment success indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: The Active Network, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Carroll, Peter De Tagyos, Josh Schlesser
  • Patent number: 8682780
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for conducting securities lending transactions using an electronic trading platform. In accordance with an implementation, the electronic trading platform receives, from a trader, information identifying initial terms of a transaction to lend or borrow shares of a security. The electronic trading platform may generate an instruction to broadcast the initial terms to one or more counterparties, and may subsequently facilitate negotiations between the trader and the one or more counterparties for terms of the transaction. The electronic trading platform may execute the transaction in accordance with the negotiated terms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: SL-x Technology UK Ltd.
    Inventors: Peter Ira Fenichel, Henry Donald Mlynarski, Nazaar Molokhia
  • Patent number: 8682792
    Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for processing payments for goods or services, including a payment processor that receives a payment request from a merchant for goods or services and that includes a mobile phone number or mobile phone account of a user, sends a payment authorization request text message to the mobile phone requesting payment authorization, and receives a payment authorization text message from the mobile phone authorizing or not authorizing the payment. If the payment is authorized, the payment processor pays the merchant and charges the mobile phone account for the payment. If the payment is not authorized or if the payment is not received within a predetermined period of time, the payment processor declines to pay the merchant for the goods or services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Net2Text Ltd
    Inventor: Karim Anwar Rammal
  • Patent number: 8682698
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for processing a first-time registration request for electronic access to a plurality of computerized insurance services. A network interface is configured to communicate with the plurality of computerized insurance services by interfacing with a plurality of disparate information platforms and communicating with a user computing device. A memory stores a portal module, a profile module, and a security module, each in the form of computer executable instructions, which, when executed by a processor, cause the system to receive a user identity, a first-time registration request of the user identity, and one or more secure information items associated with the user identity from the user computing device, determine a verification score for the user identity based on the one or more secure information items, and selectively register the user identity with a plurality of the computerized insurance services based on the verification score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Hartford Fire Insurance Company
    Inventors: Mark S. Cashman, Cornell N. Bogdan, James A Madison, Hugh J. Quinn
  • Patent number: 8682760
    Abstract: A computer-based automated savings method includes storing in a memory circuit, for each customer, customer profile data that identifies an account for accumulating automated savings, that identifies customer-specified types of financial transactions for automated savings participation, and that identifies a customer-specified saving algorithm for each of the different types of financial transactions. Notification data is received that is indicative of one of the customers having actively engaged in one of the types of financial transactions for automated savings participation. The customer's profile data in the memory circuit is accessed, the type of financial transaction being engaged in by the customer is compared with the customer-specified types of financial transactions, and therefrom it is determined whether the type of financial transaction qualifies for automated savings participation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: U.S. Bank National Association
    Inventors: Valerie Felice Cameo, Todd C. Moning, Jeffrey D. Phillips
  • Patent number: 8676706
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to systems, methods, and computer program products for maintaining an updated check register in connection with an online banking account of a payor that tracks pending check payments using check imaging technology. Some embodiments of the present invention provide a computer-implemented method including the following steps: receiving an image of at least a portion of a paper check, wherein the portion comprises an indication of an amount of money to be drawn on a financial account, processing the image to determine the amount, identifying the financial account, and recording the amount in connection with the financial account, wherein the recording step occurs prior to receiving any indication that the check has been presented for payment. In addition, the method may also include making the financial account with an indication of the pending payment available to be viewed by the payor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Bank of America Corporation
    Inventors: Alicia C. Jones, Zhongmin Agarwal, Mark D. Zanzot
  • Patent number: 8666756
    Abstract: A business and social media system is provided for establishing communication services between people in different countries. The system includes a core system module, the core system module including a server for maintaining information regarding a client and a means for establishing communications services between a client and another person. The system further includes external modules in communication with the core system module, the modules including a telephony termination module, a telephone module service module, an SMS module, a contact center module, a mobile application module, a web application module, a retail module, a bank module, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Inventors: Alejandro Salmon Rock, Manuel de Jesus Salmon Rock, Manuel de Jesus Salmon Salazar
  • Patent number: 8660952
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improved remote deposit support and troubleshooting are disclose. In remote deposit sessions, such as a remote check deposit transaction that uses images of the front and back of a check, various errors, conflicts and issues can occur with each step of the session. Embodiments of the present invention can include generating a unique identifier for a particular remote deposit session at or before a particular session or transaction begins and then create a record for each event or task of that session and associate it with the identifier. During a support or troubleshooting session, all transactions can records associated with a particular identifier can be retrieved from a data store and displayed to a user. Such a display can include a listing of various detailed specifics for each record and embedded controls to various tools for detecting, diagnosing, and correcting errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Ensenta, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Viera, Richard Klein, Jim Ballagh, Teddy Usman, Dmitri Boudtchenko, Crystal Carroll, Paulo dos Santos, Rajini Jagathesan, Chaitanya Mittipelli, Nhan Phan, Sharmila Pusarla
  • Patent number: 8655760
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing validating financial services data is provided. The financial services data is translated into a normalized format. The normalized financial services data is validated with one or more validations modules, and an alert is transmitted if any of the validations fail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: FMR LLC
    Inventors: Fintan O'Malley, Conor O'Sullivan, David Murphy, Thomas McGuire
  • Patent number: 8655765
    Abstract: The disclosed methods, systems, and computer program products meet the exchange-traded fund accommodation needs of retirement plan investors and Record Keepers and other market participants with several processes, including using a net asset value-based secondary market trading system for ETF shares, using existing Record Keeper systems to trade, process, and hold retirement account ETF positions in the same manner used for mutual fund transactions and positions, accommodating both dollar amount and share-denominated orders, and crossing offsetting exchange-traded fund trades whenever possible. The disclosed methods, systems, and computer program products provide Record Keepers with access to an automated process managed by one or more ETF service providers that aggregate ETF buy and sell orders to effect transactions in whole and fractional ETF shares at or relative to the fund's net asset value calculated on the day of the transaction or a later day.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Navigate Fund Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Gary L. Gastineau, Todd J. Broms
  • Patent number: 8655780
    Abstract: Receiving at a payment system a request associated with a first party to make a payment to a second party. Recommendations for utilizing the payment are evaluated based on a profile of the second party. The payment and a recommendation for utilization of the payment are sent to the second party. The recommendation that is sent is based on a profile of the second party and may include shopping at a physical store, shopping at an online store, ordering from a catalog, saving in an account, ordering a credit card, ordering a debit card. A transaction fee associated with the payment, and a portion of the fee to be paid by each party is calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: eBay, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Dale Fletcher
  • Patent number: 8650123
    Abstract: Entry level banking products that may be offered through traditional sales channels (e.g., retail banking locations, online, and the like) or alternative sales channels (co-placement or co-branded with a third-party), to new customers who traditionally do not rely on conventional or mainstream checking, savings, and/or credit account products are described herein. Aspects described herein provide predictable, low cost pricing, guardrails on spending, budget controls, and financial education, while offering a low cost solution to serve all markets of banking customers. Aspects may include a reloadable prepaid card, savings account or savings wallet, custom savings plan services, a contactless payment sticker, budget tools, online banking, online bill pay, convenience checks, and low monthly fees. A bundled package may be made available from banking centers (e.g., bank branches) based on a client needs assessment, as well as made available in prepackaged containers sold or distributed at merchants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Bank of America Corporation
    Inventors: Kimberly Belle Summerrow, Faith A. Tucker, John Franklin Tuders
  • Patent number: 8650051
    Abstract: Systems and methods for verifying insurance coverage are provided. A method may include registering data for one or more users, the data including information designating one or more insurance providers for the users. The method may further include transmitting, via a communications network, an insurance verification request to the designated insurance providers, the insurance verification indicating one or more insurance requirements for the user. The communications network may be the internet. A response to the insurance verification request from the designated insurance providers may be received via the communications network. The response may indicate whether insurance associated with the user complies with the one or more insurance requirements. One or more notifications regarding whether the insurance associated with the user complies with the one or more insurance requirements may be transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Coral Building Knowledge, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Smith Jones, Joseph Bradley Harper, Robert Frederick Motley, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8650105
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to comparison shopping and usage based service analysis for consumers, primarily for financial products. A consumer may not be aware of a provider's services, options, terms, conditions, costs, or how the service options change based on the consumer's particular usage characteristics. The disclosed comparison shopping method uses the consumer's actual or predicted service usage data. Service provider information is used to present the consumer with relevant alternative service offering options. Transaction data is gathered from a user's financial account and is analyzed for a savings opportunity indication. The analysis is used to match a savings opportunity from a database of savings opportunities, and the savings opportunity may be displayed in a statement of a user's financial account. Past responses to a savings opportunity indication may be gathered and analyzed. In one example, a savings opportunity is presented with a statement of the consumer's financial account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Truaxis, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramakrishna V. Satyavolu, Samir Kothari, Shehzad Daredia
  • Patent number: 8650050
    Abstract: Presenting benefits of an insurance related product includes obtaining a master hierarchical benefits tree comprising a plurality of hierarchical levels, each hierarchical level comprising a plurality of nodes, at least one node in one hierarchical level is preconfigured to be connected to at least one node in an adjacent hierarchical level, the preconfiguration being based at least in part on categorized objectives of an insurance company; receiving a user selection of at least some nodes in the master hierarchical benefits tree; determining a set of available nodes in a next hierarchical level based at least in part on the user selection; and generating a customized hierarchical benefits tree that is formed based at least in part on the user selection and the master hierarchical benefits tree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Guidewire Software, Inc.
    Inventor: Eugene Lee
  • Patent number: 8645245
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for optimizing amounts collected in an offset action where a creditor attaches funds from a debtor's deposits account to satisfy overdue debt payments. In operation, embodiments of the present invention leverage a deposits account's transaction history to detect a deposit pattern for the account and, based on the detected pattern, predict the date of the next large deposit to the attachable account. An offset associate, using the present invention, can then schedule the offset action to occur on the expected date of the next large deposit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Bank of America Corporation
    Inventors: Debashis Ghosh, Yanghong Shao, David Joa, Kurt Newman, Sudeshna Banerjee, Thayer Allison, Arun Pinto, Preston Wesley Ports, III, Mark Krein
  • Patent number: 8645169
    Abstract: A graphical representation is provided that displays a user's insurance coverage. Via the graphical representation, the user may request information about various aspects of the coverage and/or may request to chat or speak with a representative that specializes in a particular coverage area. The graphical representation may show how the user's insurance coverage compares to population groups and medians. A user may adjust the coverage on the graphical representation and be provided with a revised premium amount. The user may select this coverage to be implemented and the user's policy may be appropriately revised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventor: John Chandler Hopkins, III
  • Patent number: 8645268
    Abstract: Tax refunds are provided via a money transfer service. Merely by way of example, a taxpayer (or a tax preparer) might provide to the IRS an account number at a bank, as a target for a direct deposit refund related to a tax return. In an aspect, the account number might have a specific format that informs the bank that the refund is to be processed by the money transfer service, and in another aspect, the account number might include data that identifies the taxpayer to the money transfer service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: The Western Union Company
    Inventors: Patricia M. McKernan, Ramona Johnson, Christian J. Trujillo
  • Patent number: 8645265
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods for a card that allows a cardholder to set up auto-charge payment of dues and fees to a series of clubs, merchants or service providers. The card also may be used for other transactions that accept credit cards. The apparatus includes a database containing information of the associated clubs, merchants and service providers, so that applicants and cardholders can easily configure auto-charging for multiple business concerns in one sitting. The apparatus may process auto-charge transactions in an automated fashion without requiring a cardholder to submit payment authorization or the business concern to submit a charge for each payment. Inconvenience and administrative costs to the cardholder and the business concern are reduced. The system and method provide a competitive advantage to the associated business concerns to secure the initial account and then to maintain it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
    Inventors: Kevin Boyle, Marty Maistre