Patents Examined by William Rankins
-
Patent number: 8635146Abstract: The sports share trading system provides a web site in which users, using real money, trade equitable shares of athletes in a closed market. Rookie sports cards are tokens representing the shares of stock in the athletes and are traded as financial instruments via the web site. Users who buy cards, i.e., shares of stock, and keep them in the market are eligible for bonuses and guaranteed buy-backs if they choose. A Hall-of-Fame guaranteed buy back rewards users owning shares representing athletes who reach predetermined performance levels designated as “Hall of Fame Tiers”. The buy-back offers are at a predetermined, published, guaranteed price, representing a conditionally guaranteed future value of all purchases. The self-contained trading platform web site is accessible by a variety of web-enabled devices.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2011Date of Patent: January 21, 2014Inventor: Justin D. Baggott
-
Patent number: 8630944Abstract: Embodiments of the invention enable an organization to nominate itself to receive proceeds from consumer recycling activity. For example, some embodiments enable an organization to request that an account be established to which proceeds from recycling activity are to be directed. Upon the account being established, the organization may be provided with a set of receptacles (e.g., beverage container collection bags), which the organization may hand out to potential donors. Each receptacle may include an identifier that allows the account to be identified. Donors may collect recyclable beverage containers in his/her receptacle over time, and bring the receptacle to a return center when it becomes full, at a designated time (e.g., to meet a suggested deadline set by the organization), or at any other suitable time. The recyclable containers in the receptacle may be processed, and a value to be provided in exchange for the containers may be determined.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2011Date of Patent: January 14, 2014Assignee: Count & Crush Systems, LLCInventors: George A. Mayo, George Clayton Kyle, Jr.
-
Patent number: 8630936Abstract: A method of managing trading is provided. In a market for a particular type of instrument, buy orders and sell orders are received from a plurality of traders. Each buy order has an associated bid price and each sell order has an associated offer price. A determination is made of whether the particular trading order is an outlying trading order by determining whether the particular trading order differs from at least one comparison price by more than a threshold value. If it is determined that the particular trading order is an outlying trading order, a restrictive action is taken regarding the outlying trading order. For example, if a trader subsequently submits another trading order that would trade with the outlying trading order, an alert message may be sent to the trader and the subsequent trading order may be prevented from trading with the outlying trading order at least temporarily.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2012Date of Patent: January 14, 2014Assignee: BGC Partners, Inc.Inventors: Joseph C. Noviello, Michael Sweeting, Howard W. Lutnick
-
Patent number: 8612329Abstract: In accordance with the principles of the present invention, an electronic trading interface and method for displaying trading data are provided. Reported trade prices are received. The largest volume for a trading price is determined. The largest volume for a trading price is normalized to establish a highest volume number. In one embodiment, the highest volume number is established by dividing the largest volume for a trading price by an adjusted percentage of itself. The remaining volumes for trading prices are normalized by the same method used to establish the highest volume number. The normalized volumes for trading prices are displayed. Thus, a trader is able to read volume earlier and clearer, thus providing an economic opportunity outside the singularity of the present. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interprete or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2010Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Inventors: J. Peter Steidlmayer, William D. Cunningham
-
Patent number: 8606687Abstract: A type of multi-laterally traded contract may designate a primary currency and a secondary currency. The primary currency may be used for settlement and/or other payment obligations in connection with instances of the contract type. Under certain conditions, however, authorization may be given for settlement and/or payment of at least some obligations using an equivalent amount of the secondary currency.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2011Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Inc.Inventors: Richard Co, Steven Youngren, Lori Aldinger, John Labuszewski
-
Patent number: 8606708Abstract: Systems, methods and articles of manufacture for a computerize method of providing financial management to a user by integrating financial data from a plurality of sources such as online financial services. The system analyzes the financial data from a plurality of sources together to determine financial transactions beneficial to the user, and executes the financial transactions. The system may also analyze a user's transactional history among multiple accounts to identify and predict recommended financial transactions to the user. This provides an integrated solution for linking and coordinating multiple online banking services which previously had no operational link.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2010Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: Intuit Inc.Inventors: Matthew J. Homier, Craig A. Heath, Thomas E. Hurlbutt, Jose M. Resendiz
-
Patent number: 8600857Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 8, 2011Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: Truaxis, Inc.Inventors: Ramakrishna V. Satyavolu, Samir Kothari, Shehzad Daredia
-
Patent number: 8595101Abstract: Systems and methods for tracking consumer data are provided. The method includes accessing a plurality of attributes, calculating the plurality of attributes for a first time period for a plurality of consumer accounts, calculating the same plurality of attributes at a first subsequent time period for the same plurality of consumer accounts, comparing output values of the plurality of attributes from the first subsequent period with the first time period, and if the output value meets a specified threshold of change, then storing migrated attribute information and outputting the consumer account with the plurality of attributes and the migrated attribute information. The system includes a processor, a memory in electronic communication with the processor, and a data migration attribute tracking module.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2009Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: Exerian Information Solutions, Inc.Inventors: David Francis Daukas, Christopher R. Shakespeare
-
Patent number: 8595045Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media provide for providing future job information. According to embodiments, a method for providing future job information is provided. According to the method, a number of non-dispatched jobs within a future time frame for a plurality of buckets and a plurality of turfs is determined. A numeric indicator indicating the number of non-dispatched jobs associated with at least one turf and at least one bucket is displayed.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2013Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.Inventors: Robert Ingman, Robert Cole, Richard Miller
-
Patent number: 8595135Abstract: A system and method of payment of an end-user account with a service provider includes a computer system that makes payments to service providers on behalf of end-users and that is operable to exchange information with a terminal at the point of sale or a web-enabled computer system operated by the end-user and with the computer system of the service provider. In one embodiment, the computer system of an intermediary receives and fulfills a request to make a payment on an end user's account with a service provider. In another preferred embodiment, a payment router together with an issuing/sponsoring bank and a processor, as implemented by their computer systems, facilitate payment transactions in which the router transacts at least thousands of payments for at least hundreds of payors with at least dozens of payees using at least one open system card association network, preferably in a day.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2012Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Inventor: Randy J. Templeton
-
Patent number: 8589296Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, in which a method includes attributing a value to a pre-paid payment instrument, determining an expiration time associated with the pre-paid payment instrument, and automatically return an un-used portion of value associated with the pre-paid payment instrument at the expiration time to the purchaser.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: CashStar, Inc.Inventor: Steven R. Boal
-
Patent number: 8583458Abstract: The present invention relates to a dynamic system and a corresponding method for automated checking and transmitting of damage reports and damage claims in multi-level damage coverage systems. The dynamic system comprises decentralized, cellular capturing units with assigned areas for capturing damage records, a central unit being bidirectionally connected via a network to the capturing units. The central unit comprises a filter module for selecting first and second damage records based on assigned threshold values, an analysis module for detecting and eliminating first damage records wrongly captured by means of the capturing units, and a regulator module for dynamic adjustment of the threshold values assigned to the respective areas based on the filtered first damage records. Finally, the filtered first damage records, without wrongly captured first damage records, are transmitted to the processing device and are released for multi-level damage coverage, by means of the central unit.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2005Date of Patent: November 12, 2013Assignee: Swiss Reinsurance Company Ltd.Inventors: Manuel Bolano, Loraine Van Eeden, Arnold Glogg
-
Patent number: 8583527Abstract: Systems and methods which determines the likelihood that a calling (or in some cases the called) user will pay for a particular auxiliary service are described. A system of an embodiment considers the user's credit risk and his/her propensity to pay, when deciding if the user is eligible for a particular auxiliary service. A methodology used for determining propensity to pay for an auxiliary service according to embodiments is independent from a determination of propensity to pay for a basic calling service. Thus, the criteria used, and the weight given to each criteria, for determining eligibility for auxiliary services can be different from the criteria and criteria weight used for basic communication connections.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2012Date of Patent: November 12, 2013Assignee: Securus Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Michelle L. Polozola, Stuart Rosenfield, Richard Falcone
-
Patent number: 8571954Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method comprises receiving a request to aggregate data associated with a customer. The method determines a first identifier associated with the customer that identifies the customer and a second identifier that identifies a household associated with the customer. Data associated with the second identifier is aggregated and communicated in response to the request.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2010Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: Bank of America CorporationInventors: Michael J. Leary, Brian David King, Jeffrey Roger Walls, Keith Carlascio, Scott D'Allaird, William Anthony Nobili, Diana L. Imrie
-
Patent number: 8571970Abstract: An electronic trading system is described herein. More specifically, the electronic trading system may relate to the substantially simultaneous trading of cash instruments and their related futures contracts for interest-rate related instruments. The electronic trading system may also be used to allow a user (such as a market maker or other suitable participant) to gauge his chance of success at completing both sides of a basis trade within a preferably pre-determined or pre-set interval, while knowing in advance the specific weighting algorithm that will be applied to the basis trade. The electronic trading system may also be used to allow a user to predetermine the exact weighting algorithm to be used on such a basis trade, and to adjust those preferences where necessary or desired.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2012Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: BGC Partners, Inc.Inventors: Richard P. Goodman, Michael Sweeting
-
Patent number: 8566202Abstract: A system and method for distributing and providing access to media and for extending such access to a desktop environment is described. A media player in a webpage or in a desktop environment may reference a centralized location to access a playlist of media files. The playlist itself may reference remotely-located media files that may be streamed to the media player. The media player may be distributed in multiple environments, and updates to the playlist may be automatically distributed to all instances where the playlist is referenced due to the centralized reference in the media player. The embodiments of the media player may also be used in advertising as a mechanism for increasing user contact with an advertising entity and as a mechanism for distributing announcements and information by the advertiser.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2012Date of Patent: October 22, 2013Assignee: Media Forum, Inc.Inventors: Anthony Zito, Brandon Hoff, Scott C. Lemon
-
Patent number: 8560447Abstract: Systems, method and articles of manufacture for identifying an account of an account holder, user or payor to be utilized for an electronic bill payment to a payee. An online bill payment system or separate program receives account data of the payor from payor accounts at financial institution that will process the electronic bill payment and from another financial institution at which the payor has an account. Data of accounts hosted by the other financial institution is received from a financial management system. Data such as account balances and transactions is analyzed to determine estimated balances of the accounts on a payment data and to generate account rankings or scores. Account selection is based at least in part upon the scores, and the selected account is presented to the payor and may then be used for the electronic bill payment, or the payor may select a different account.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2011Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: Intuit Inc.Inventors: Shailesh J. Hinghole, LennaRani Chittineni, Suresh R. Rao
-
Patent number: 8538872Abstract: Account shadowing is provided such that when a charge is made on a first credit card (e.g., a high interest rate credit card) of a user, a transfer of funds is made from a second credit card (e.g., a low interest rate credit card) of the user to pay the charge made to the first credit card. This may transfer the balance from a user's high interest rate credit card to a user's low interest rate credit card. In this manner, the user may receive the reward incentives of a high interest rate credit card while using a low interest rate credit card to satisfy balances due.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2012Date of Patent: September 17, 2013Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)Inventors: Teddy Joseph Edmond Voutour, Charles Lee Oakes, III
-
Patent number: 8538878Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems for processing bills electronically. Generally, a bill is created for a customer using billing information and master data from a biller and master data from a customer. Billing information is received from the biller by a first processing module having access to the master data of the biller. The first processing module generates a bill using the billing information and the master data of the biller. A second processing module having access to the master data of the customer provides customer data to the first processing module. The bill is transformed into a format specified in the master data of the customer by the first processing module if the format of the generated bill is not the format specified in the master data of the customer. The generated or transformed bill is transferred to the second processing module by the first processing module.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2012Date of Patent: September 17, 2013Assignee: SAP AGInventors: Beat Meier, Peter Goedtler
-
Patent number: 8538880Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method of debt recovery is provided. The method includes providing a device to a consumer owing a debt to a creditor. The device has a utility that becomes available to the consumer after being activated by the creditor. The method also includes indicating to the consumer that the utility of the device will be activated if the consumer contacts the creditor.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2010Date of Patent: September 17, 2013Assignee: Capital One Financial CorporationInventors: Daniel J. Welker, Anthony P. Reynolds, John F. Magnuson, James A. Haworth, Sow A. Kobayashi, Oren Knishinsky