Abstract: A system and a method for optimizing supply of rental vehicles, comprising receiving customer data associated with a plurality of customers from a plurality of sources; classifying the customers into a plurality of segments, based on said data, each segment being indicative of vehicle rental preferences of customers in the segment; determining whether any customers have already opted for a vehicle rental; determining the destination and source location of the customer and predicting likely vehicle demand for different vehicles based on said classification and said determination.

Abstract: Methods and devices for processing a payment transaction for a purchase carried out by a vehicle user with a merchant are provided. The method comprises a server (a) obtaining a vehicle ID, from a vehicle detection unit, upon a vehicle entering a premise of the merchant; (b) interrogating a database using the vehicle ID to obtain a device identifier associated with a communication device of the user; (c) transmitting the device identifier to a wallet server over a communication network; (d) receiving, upon authorization by the wallet server, over the communication network wallet information associated with a digital wallet of the user; (e) receiving, via the communication device, product information indicative of one or more product items ordered by the user; and (f) transmitting a transaction request to a payment network to cause a payment transaction in respect of the one or more products to be processed, said transaction request comprising the wallet information.

Abstract: Methods and systems for facilitating analysis of travel routes are provided. The method comprising: obtaining addendum data associated with electronic transactions conducted in relation to travel segments, the addendum data comprising a traveller identity, a time, a date, an originating location and a destination location of each of the travel segments; identifying, using an analysis module, travel segments having a time and/or date within a pre-determined period for each traveller identity based on the addendum data; determining, using the analysis module, at least one transit location for each of the traveller identities based on the identified travel segments, wherein the transit location is defined as a location that is both an originating location of one of the identified travel segments and a destination location of another of the identified travel segments; and determining, using the analysis module, a number of traveller identities associated with each transit location.

Abstract: An automated teller machine and a method thereof comprising a reading unit configured to receive identification data from an electronic payment device; a personalization unit configured to retrieve predefined details linked to said identification data, access one or more media items and determine a score for at least one media items, a user interface unit configured to receive input data from a user and display one or more selected media items; and a cash dispenser for dispensing a user-selected amount of currency; wherein the personalization unit is configured to select and play back to the user, via the user interface unit, one or more personalized media items based on said predefined details and/or score.

Abstract: Methods and servers are provided for processing payment using a generic gift card. The generic gift card is usable for payment across one or more participating merchants. One of the methods is performed at a server that administers usage of the generic gift card, the method comprises generating a unique code for identifying the generic gift card against which payment will be deducted for purchases made at a selected participating merchant; transmitting the unique code to the selected participating merchant; and calculating and subtracting the purchases made from a balance of the generic gift card in response to receiving from the selected participating merchant an indication of use of the unique code at the selected participating merchant.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer readable storage medium configured to the process, analyze, and model of large amounts of data resulting in improved functionality over a generic computer.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for monitoring the containment of an epidemic in relation to a location-based restriction using an anonymized database of spending records. The system measures the effectiveness of a restriction by analyzing the spending records of individuals in the population and identifies transaction trends that relate to the restriction and correlates them to the effectiveness of the restriction. Based on the identified transaction trends, the system calculates the effectiveness and analyzes the restrictions according to expected trends and models of epidemic spread by geography. The system utilizes the measured effectiveness and predictive analysis to generate notifications if the effectiveness does not meet prescribed requirements and to recommend corrective action.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for computing a price-sensitivity score for a product for sale is provided. The method comprises (a) receiving, by a transaction analysis component, transaction data comprising a purchase of the target product by a consumer; (b) receiving, by a product analysis component, a reference price-sensitivity score for a reference product for sale; (c) calculating, by the transaction analysis component, a correlation index using the transaction data; said correlation index being indicative a correlation between purchases of the target product and the reference product; and (d) calculating, by the product analysis component, the price-sensitivity score for the target product using the correlation index and the reference price-sensitivity score. Methods for computing a price-sensitivity rating of a consumer and a price-efficiency rating for a merchant are also provided. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also provided.

Abstract: A method and system for providing location-based user-personalized recommendations for goods, services and activities to a user of a mobile communication device using a recommendation-providing social media platform is provided. The method includes automatically checking in to the merchant location on the recommendation-providing social media platform in response to settling the transaction at the merchant and automatically checking in to a predefined area which includes the merchant location. Then, the method includes identifying ones of the other merchants at the other merchant locations for recommending to the user in response to user historic transaction data and presenting the user through the recommendation-providing social media platform with merchant information for the identified ones of the other merchants in the predefined area, the merchant information including a merchant location corresponding to each of the identified ones of the other merchants in the predefined area.

Abstract: A method and system for a merchant to provide a personalized shopping experience for a customer having an active mobile device while shopping is provided. The method includes providing a signal for generating a personalized welcome message on the active mobile device when the customer enters a defined shopping area of the merchant and providing identification of the customer and a location of the customer within the defined shopping area to sales personnel of the merchant so that the sales personnel can personally greet the customer. The method also includes providing at least one of personalized messages, customized coupons, and shopping recommendations to the active mobile device for presentation thereon in response to the merchant receiving an index of at least one of the customer's average spend and spend history.

Abstract: A method and system for point of sale (POS) transaction based individualized targeted marketing is provided. The method includes, for a point of sale (POS) transaction involving a POS merchant and a POS customer, pushing an advertisement to the POS customer for another merchant in response to the other merchant's distance from the POS merchant and additional parameters. The additional parameters may include historical transaction data for the POS customer, the probability of follow on purchase in a merchant type of services by the POS customer, and merchant ratings.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for customising a travel itinerary for an account holder is provided. The method comprises receiving current transaction data when settling a current travel transaction initiated by the account holder with a current merchant; retrieving a plurality of historical transaction data relating to a plurality of historical transactions settled for the account holder prior to the current travel transaction; identifying one or more of the plurality of historical transactions that relate to the current transaction data to recognize preferences of the account holder; and customising a travel itinerary based on the preferences of the account holder, the travel itinerary including at least one merchant with whom the account holder can initiate a future transaction.

Abstract: The method includes generating a token using a token generator, the token being associated with time data and a transaction modifier, and using an advertiser system in communication with the token generator to associate the token with an advertisement displayed at a time of display corresponding with the time data. A transaction is then established using a payment gateway upon receiving a transaction request, relating to the advertised content. The transaction is then executed, through the payment gateway, with initial payment credentials if the token is not supplied while establishing the transaction, and executing a transaction, through the payment gateway, with modified payment credentials if the token is supplied while establishing the transaction. A data tuple is the received and stored, at a data repository, the data tuple comprising a record of the transaction, the advertised content and at least one of the time data and the time of display.

Abstract: Disclosed in a method for determining a fruition score in relation to a poverty alleviation program. The method includes selecting a geographical region on the basis that the poverty alleviation program is implemented in the geographical region for at least part of an analysis period. A processor is then used to determine, from a first data set stored in a memory device, a plurality of first data subsets applicable to the geographical region for a first period of time, the first period of time being at a commencement of the analysis time period. The processor subsequently determines, from a second data set stored in the memory device, a plurality of second data subsets applicable to the geographical region for a second period of time, the second period of time being at an end of the analysis time period.

Abstract: A computerized method for operating a loyalty account is proposed in which a customer registers a payment card with a loyalty program of a merchant, and a loyalty account is associated with the payment card. When the customer uses the payment card to make a payment transaction involving the merchant, loyalty points are credited to the loyalty account. Thus, the payment process is a single-step process from the point of view of the customer. The customer presents the payment card to the merchant to make a payment in the conventional manner, and the rest of the process steps to credit loyalty points to the corresponding loyalty account are performed without the involvement of the customer. Conveniently, some of those steps can be performed by computing equipment of the payment network associated with the payment card, which arranges for loyalty points to be credited to a loyalty account associated with the payment card.

Abstract: A method is proposed for ranking merchants satisfying one or more selected criteria. The merchants are ranked according to an algorithm which calculates a respective score for each merchant as a function of (i) one or more transactional data values characterising previous commercial transactions involving the merchants, (ii) one or more rating values obtained from one of more social media sources and characterising properties of the merchants according to customer feedback, and (iii) pre-determined parameters which control the relative importance of the transactional data values and rating values in determining the scores.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for facilitating natural disaster relief planning, comprising: obtaining current payment-card transaction data after a natural disaster occurs; identifying distinct merchants whom payment-card holders have made payment-card transactions with after the natural disaster occurred based on the current payment-card transaction data; obtaining a location of each of the distinct merchants by referring to a database having stored thereon the location of each of the distinct merchants; and ranking each of the obtained locations based on the current payment-card transaction data, wherein natural disaster relief is provided at the obtained locations based on their ranking.

Abstract: Some implementations provide a method for managing data in a storage system that includes a persistent storage device and a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) cache device. The method includes: accessing a direct mapping between a logical address associated with data stored on the persistent storage device and a physical address on the NVRAM cache device; receiving, from a host computing device coupled to the storage system, a request to access a particular unit of data stored on the persistent storage device; using the direct mapping as a basis between the logical address associated with the data stored on the persistent storage device and the physical address on the NVRAM cache device to determine whether the particular unit of data being requested is present on the NVRAM cache device.

Abstract: Some implementations provide a method for managing data in a storage system that includes a persistent storage device and a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) cache device. The method includes: accessing a direct mapping between a logical address associated with data stored on the persistent storage device and a physical address on the NVRAM cache device; receiving, from a host computing device coupled to the storage system, a request to access a particular unit of data stored on the persistent storage device; using the direct mapping as a basis between the logical address associated with the data stored on the persistent storage device and the physical address on the NVRAM cache device to determine whether the particular unit of data being requested is present on the NVRAM cache device.

Abstract: Techniques for improving dirty page logging are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for memory logging comprising the steps of determining for one or more pages of memory if the pages of memory are likely to be modified in a subsequent epoch, performing a first operation on the pages of memory that are likely to be modified in a subsequent epoch, and performing a second operation on the pages of memory that are not likely to be modified in a subsequent epoch, wherein the first operation and the second operation are dissimilar.