Abstract: Provisioning and management of virtual machines and shared processor pools to process the virtual machines is provided. Shared processor pool(s) of processing units are established on server(s) of a cluster. The shared processor pool(s) are to process virtual machines to execute an application for which licensing cost is determined based on a number of processing units used to process the virtual machines executing the application. Provision of the virtual machines into the shared processor pool(s) and assignment of the processing units to the shared processor pool(s) is managed, which controls the number of processing units dedicated to processing the virtual machines executing the application, to thereby control licensing costs of executing the application. The managing can provision at least two virtual machines for different tenants into a common shared processor pool of the one or more shared processor pools.

Abstract: A method for distributing content. The method distributes a single media storage structure to a device (e.g., a computer, portable player, etc.). The media storage structure includes first and second pieces of encrypted content. Based on whether the device is allowed to access the first piece of content, the second piece of content, or both, the method provides the device with a set of keys for decrypting the pieces of the content that the device is able to access. The provided set of keys might include one or more keys for decrypting only one of the two encrypted pieces of content. Alternatively, it might include one or more keys for decrypting both encrypted pieces of content. For instance, the selected set of keys might include a first key for decrypting the first encrypted piece and a second key for decrypting the second encrypted piece.

Abstract: A platform for obtaining digital items provides consumers access to digital item from multiple sources such as other consumers, libraries, rental services, and stores. The platform may be implemented as a cloud-based system accessible over the Internet. The platform transforms digital items into different formats when needed for compatibility with a computing device of the end consumer and transfers digital rights management (DRM) restrictions across different DRM schema. Consumers may store personal information in association with a digital item for later re-association with other copies of the same digital item. Consumers may also comment on a digital item and the platform may make those comments available to other consumers that have accessed the same digital item. The platform may also mediate instant messaging between consumers that are both associated with the same digital item. Computing devices of the consumers may receive widgets from the platform that provide additional functionality.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally relate to mobile payments. For example, an application running on a phone can verify a passcode of a consumer. An indication of whether the passcode was verified and a time associated with when the passcode was verified is then sent to a mobile gateway. Later, when a user conducts one or more transactions, a payment processing network can use the indication sent to the mobile gateway to determine whether a the one or more transactions were conducted within a time window, which can be used to authorize the one or more transactions.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for generating a verifiable download authorization code. A computing device obtains a transaction identifier that corresponds to an acquisition of a digital product by a user. The computing device generates a download authorization code based at least in part on the transaction identifier.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include methods and systems for providing tokenized transaction accounts. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method is provided that may include generating, by one or more processors, a first tokenized transaction account from a first transaction account associated with a first user. The method may also include providing the first tokenized transaction account to a client device associated with the first user for storage in the client device and use in transactions. The method may also include updating the first tokenized transaction account based on one or more conditions and providing the updated first tokenized transaction account to the client device for storage and use in a subsequent transaction.

Abstract: A payment system utilizes an IC identification card to identify a user, finds and verifies a bank account of the user. The payment system uses an IC identification card reader to read user identity information which includes a user identification card number. The system encrypts user identity information using a first encryption key and encrypts the user-entered bank account password using a bank encryption key corresponding to a participating bank, and sends the encrypted information to an intermediary platform, which sends a bank transaction request including user identity information, bank account password and transaction amount to the participating bank subsystem. The participating bank subsystem conducts the requested bank transaction with a user bank account, which is determined according to the user identification card number either by the intermediary platform or by the participating bank subsystem based on a mapping relationship between the user identity information and bank accounts.

Abstract: In a method and a system for data transmission, authentication data and an electronic key may be generated, with the electronic key being stored as assigned to the authentication data. Data may be encrypted, such as by a central communications device, into encrypted data, using at least part of the electronic key. Based on reception of the authentication data from a communications terminal, at least a portion of the electronic key and the encrypted data may be transmitted from the central communications device to the communications terminal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and a system for data transmission. Authentication data and an electronic key are generated, whereby the electronic key is stored as assigned to the authentication data. At least part of the electronic key is transmitted by means of an authentication module of the central module to a communications terminal. Asynchronously to that, data are encrypted into encrypted data by means of an encryption module and by means of at least part of the electronic key. The encrypted data are transmitted between a central module and a communications terminal. The encrypted data are decrypted by means of a decryption module and by means of at least part of the electronic key.

Abstract: Issuers of electronic payment instruments can bid or submit competing offers to consumers in real-time during a transaction to influence consumers selecting their electronic payment instruments to complete a pending electronic transaction. Requests for bids, issuer responses with offers or proposed terms (e.g., annual percentage rate, miles, points, cash back, etc.), analysis of competing issuer offers, and selection of an electronic payment instrument based on the offer analysis occur in real-time such as while the consumer is at an electronic payment device of a merchant. An electronic payment instrument may be selected for the consumer, e.g., the instrument associated with an offer that confers the greatest benefit to the consumer compared to other offers, or the offer data can be presented to the consumer such as in the form of a ranking or list so that the consumer can select the electronic payment to be utilized to complete the transaction.

Abstract: A method of identifying target video content is provided. The method includes accessing content metadata of a video content item at a content storage. The method also includes determining at least one content signature based on the video content item and determining whether the video content item includes target content based at least partially on the content signature and the content metadata.

Abstract: A system and a method for using a portable consumer device such as a mobile phone are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method according to the present invention comprises referencing data regarding an individual consumer stored as part of a payment processing network to generate an electronic coupon targeted to the individual consumer. The electronic coupon is transmitted to a mobile device of the individual consumer over a communications network, and purchase transaction utilizing the electronic coupon is processed over the payment processing network. In certain embodiments, the electronic coupon may be generated based upon temporal and/or geographic information of a prior purchase transaction conducted using the payment processing network.

Abstract: A method of providing a digital ticket allowing access to at least one digital object comprising the following steps: following a selection by a first user of at least one digital object, a step of submission of a request to a management server to obtain a digital ticket comprising a unique identification code, a first step of generation of said digital ticket, a first step of transmission of said digital ticket to the first user, and a step of activation of the digital ticket.

Abstract: An apparatus and system for casting votes electronically comprises both a host server and a plurality of voting machines at various remote locations. First “user identifying information” for a plurality of potential users who are registered to use the system is pre-stored in memory, either at the host server or at a voting machine, or both. Second “user identifying information” is entered by a user of the voting machine at the time the user wishes to vote. A display on the voting machine presents to the user voting information concerning at least one voting matter for which the user is to make a voting selection. A processor in either the host server or the voting machine, or both, compares the second user identifying information entered by the user of the voting machine with the first user identifying information, if any, previously stored in memory.

Abstract: A system that facilitates direct communication of a transaction between an automation controller and a business system comprises a request analyzer that receives a request for data relating to the automation controller and locates a transaction definition within the automation controller based upon the request. A subscribing component subscribes the business system to the automation controller based at least in part upon the located transaction definition.

Abstract: A Master device (e.g., a SIM card) is configured with information regarding one or more Slave devices (e.g., SIM cards) that are associated with the Master device. The Master device is installed in a user device that receives content files and access and usage rights from a content provider. The Master device identifies one or more Slave devices that are associated with the Master device and transmits content files and the rights data to the Slave devices. A user device in which a Slave device is installed receives the content files and rights data sent by the Master device. The Slave device extracts a key from the rights data and provides the key to a decryption component of the user device, which uses the key to decrypt the content file.

Abstract: A mesh grid protection system is provided. The protection system includes a plurality of grid lines forming a mesh grid proximate to operational logic. The protection system also includes tamper-detection logic coupled to the plurality of grid lines and configured to toggle a polarity of a signal on at least one grid line at each clock cycle and to detect attempts to access the operational logic by comparing a reference signal driving a first end of a grid line to a signal at the opposite end of the grid line.

Abstract: A system includes a control server, a data package server, a home storage device, and a set-top box. The control server is configured to provide information related to a data package. The data package server is configured to provide the data package. The home storage device is configured to receive the data package as a multicast from the data package server. Additionally, the home storage device is configured to store the data package in a storage. The set-top box is configured to receive information related to the data package from the control server and retrieve the data package from the home storage device.

Abstract: An object-oriented synchronization pattern for synchronizing a mobile application and a corresponding enterprise application is provided herein. The synchronization pattern uses service invocations to convey application state differential from the mobile device to the enterprise server and object-based database synchronization for conveying application state differential from the enterprise to the mobile device. Service invocations may be conveyed in batch or individually separately and using a variety of service types.

Abstract: A system for providing product data collection, monitoring, and tracking contains a memory and a processor configured by the memory to perform the steps of: receiving product information and a scannable code; creating and assigning a unique product identifier to the received product information and associated scannable code; receiving customer registration information; creating and assigning a unique customer identifier to the received customer information; associating the unique product identifier with the unique customer identifier; and after receiving the scannable code from a remote device, providing the remote device with access to the received product information. The collected structured and/or unstructured data is secured during transit.