Abstract: Methods and systems for facilitating an agreement to purchase multiple units of a product are presented herein. The agreement may specify, for example, a period of time during which purchases of the multiple units of the product are to be made and a minimum and/or maximum number of transactions in which the purchases of the multiple units of the product are to be made. In some embodiments a unit of a product may be purchased by a customer in a brick-and-mortar retail establishment, wherein the customer takes possession of the product at the retail establishment. In other embodiments a unit of a product may be purchased remotely and delivered to a customer associated with the agreement in response to a request by the customer.

Abstract: A method by which a coupon having a variable benefit is provided includes generating a coupon having a variable benefit, wherein a duplicate of the coupon is transmitted from one recipient to another recipient, receiving an indication that a first recipient has performed a qualifying action, such as receiving, registering for and/or redeeming the coupon offer from a second recipient of the coupon, and changing a benefit of the coupon retained by the second recipient after the indication is received. A system includes a controller operable to compute a benefit of the coupon according to benefit variation conditions.

Abstract: Methods and systems for facilitating an agreement to purchase multiple units of a product are presented herein. The agreement may specify, for example, a period of time during which purchases of the multiple units of the product are to be made and a minimum and/or maximum number of transactions in which the purchases of the multiple units of the product are to be made. In some embodiments a unit of a product may be purchased by a customer in a brick-and-mortar retail establishment, wherein the customer takes possession of the product at the retail establishment. In other embodiments a unit of a product may be purchased remotely and delivered to a customer associated with the agreement in response to a request by the customer.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides various novel concepts to a video game environment. The disclosed invention enables a game environment that progresses in discrete time frames such as eras or ages. Under certain controlled situations, play may return to previous eras via temporary time travel to alter or change the outcome of a previous era in an effort to ultimately improve the outcome of the current game environment.

Abstract: According to some embodiments of the present invention, methods and apparatus are described for providing a supplementary product offer. In one embodiment, a method is provided for measuring an activity rate of a point-of-sale terminal and providing a supplementary product offer in accordance with the activity rate of the point-of-sale terminal. For example, the activity rate may be based on the number of completed transactions per time, the number of items purchased through the point-of-sale terminal per time, the number of upsells accepted by customers per time, the number of customers in a store or the number of customers in the vicinity of the point-of-sale terminal.

Abstract: In various embodiments a casino has the flexibility to download games from a central controller to the gaming devices on the casino floor. The success of various games is periodically monitored. If a game is successful, as measured by its profitability or by some other success metric, then the game may be downloaded automatically to additional gaming devices. If a game is unsuccessful, then the game may be replaced on a gaming device with a new download. In this way, the types and quantities of different games present on a casino floor may be varied in real time based on their popularity.

Abstract: Products and processes are provided in which information is received about a post for an item to be sold. The information may include, e.g., the class and type of item being sold, the reputation of a seller, a floor price below which the item will not be sold, a condition of the item and peripherals included with the item. Based on the received information, a posting payment amount is determined.

Abstract: In various embodiments a casino has the flexibility to download games from a central controller to the gaming devices on the casino floor. The success of various games is periodically monitored. If a game is successful, as measured by its profitability or by some other success metric, then the game may be downloaded automatically to additional gaming devices. If a game is unsuccessful, then the game may be replaced on a gaming device with a new download. In this way, the types and quantities of different games present on a casino floor may be varied in real time based on their popularity.

Abstract: In various embodiments a casino has the flexibility to download games from a central controller to the gaming devices on the casino floor. The success of various games is periodically monitored. If a game is successful, as measured by its profitability or by some other success metric, then the game may be downloaded automatically to additional gaming devices. If a game is unsuccessful, then the game may be replaced on a gaming device with a new download. In this way, the types and quantities of different games present on a casino floor may be varied in real time based on their popularity.

Abstract: A document priority queuing system is described wherein a document that is received for processing is assigned a position in a queue and a fee can be paid to change the documents position in the queue. Also provided are mechanisms for ensuring fairness to documents provided by applicants who are unable or unwilling to pay priority processing fees.

Abstract: Products and processes are provided in which information is received about a post for an item to be sold. The information may include, e.g., the class and type of item being sold, the reputation of a seller, a floor price below which the item will not be sold, a condition of the item and peripherals included with the item. Based on the received information, a posting payment amount is determined.

Abstract: A POS terminal provided in accordance with the present invention receives the items in a purchase. Typically, each item will have a bar code that is scanned by a bar code scanner, and the POS terminal in turn receives, from the bar code scanner, signals representative of the items. The POS terminal then determines an upsell based on the items, and a rounded price that the customer may pay for both the items and the upsell. The rounded price may be determined by rounding up the purchase price to a predetermined multiple, such as to the next higher dollar amount. The customer is provided with an offer to exchange the items and the upsell(s) for the rounded price, and the customer in turn responds to the offer. If the response indicates acceptance of the offer, the items and the upsell are exchanged for the rounded price. If necessary, the POS terminal makes appropriate adjustments to stored indications of available quantities of items to reflect that the items and upsell(s) have been sold.

Abstract: A system and method for a supplier to offer multiple products to a first person and multiple pre-owned products to a second person is disclosed.

Abstract: A system wherein software developers can develop modules compatible for use with a patent application drafting tool (PDT) is described. The PDT and modules may or may not be part of a open source system. Various fee systems are also described wherein the owner or provider of the PDT and software developers may or may not share revenue. A peer (or other) review system may be implemented to identify modules that are performing well and those that are performing poorly.

Abstract: A patent figure drafting tool is described. The patent figure drafting tool includes a database of drawings which can be used alone, or in combination with each other or other drawings, to create patent figures. The tool may further include exemplary descriptions of the drawings, which may be automatically included in a draft patent application. The tool may further include an auto numbering program configured to auto number drawings and/or descriptions of the drawings.

Abstract: A virtual environment in which players are able to enter into financial transactions which result in a financial obligation such as a debt. If a player defaults on a debt, the debts may then be sold or otherwise transferred to a virtual collection agency, which may be able to mete out a consequence to the defaulting player. Alternatively, the consequence may be meted out by the game server or other entity.

Abstract: Virtual environments in which player avatars can be altered based on events that occur in a video game, metaverse or virtual environment. One event is the failure to fulfill an obligation in a virtual contract. Avatars who fail to fulfill such obligations may have their appearance, voice, or smell altered, or may be followed by one or more non player character avatars.

Abstract: A database, such as a patent database, including a plurality of electronic documents, such as patents and patent applications, is described. End users are able to access the database and submit prior art that they believe invalidates patent documents in the database. End users may also submit commentary explaining their reasons for submitting the prior art. The system may be configured to reward end users who have a history of submitting prior art that invalidates patent documents and/or to penalize end users who have a history of submitting prior art that does not invalidate or is not relevant to the identified application.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a lexicon tool including a database that includes a plurality of terms which may be words, phrases, paragraphs, documents, photographs, etc, and at least one definition for each term. Each definition is associated with a subject matter identifier that aids in determining how the definitions are presented to an end user.

Abstract: Improved methods and systems for searching, retrieving, and displaying information regarding patent applications and issued patents that may be related by inventors or assignees are described. The methods and systems may similarly incorporate and display potentially related non patent literature.