Abstract: Mobile payments and processing data related to electronic transactions. A near field communication connection is established between a mobile communication device of a consumer that serves as a mobile wallet and an electronic payment device of a merchant. Authorization data is shared between the mobile communication device and the electronic payment device without providing electronic payment instrument (e.g. credit card) data to the merchant. Authorization data is transmitted from the mobile communication device to a cloud computer or resource that serves as a cloud wallet and hosts respective data of respective electronic payment instruments of respective consumers, and from the electronic payment device a payment processor computer. The payment processor computer presents the authorization data to the cloud wallet, and in response, the cloud wallet transmits the credit card data to the payment processor computer, which processes the transaction.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for an inventory monitor are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the disclosed method involves predicting a number of inventory items on a future date based at least in part upon a number of the inventory items on the current date and a rate of consumption of the inventory items, which is determined based on prior sales of the inventory items. The method also involves determining a price trend of the inventory items. In addition, the method involves determining whether to purchase the inventory items on the current date based at least in part upon the predicted number of inventory items, a rate of consumption of the inventory items, and a price trend of the inventory items. Further, the method involves displaying to the user an indicator of whether to purchase the inventory items on the current date or on a later date.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for analyzing behavior of Internet forum participants. Various embodiments comprise receiving or retrieving information or data of a particular post of interest and other information or data relating to the first post or the Internet forum; analyzing the data or information received or retrieved to determine the behavior of the user who initiated or created the post; determining whether the particular post is of interest; and determining user behavior patterns. Some embodiments may also comprise determining or identifying one or more actions for the behavior of the user or determining or predicting likely effects of the particular post on the Internet forum. In some embodiments, the method or the system presents a report or recommendation to a moderation team for review, approval, or decision.

Abstract: Systems, computer-implemented methods and computer program products for directing a consumer to a source offering for sale a specific item previously purchased by the consumer. Electronic receipt data generated for a consumer purchase of a specifically identified item is generated by a merchant transaction processing device, and an electronic representation of a receipt is generated based on that data. The electronic representation identifies the specific item and includes an input element or button that can be selected, clicked on, executed or activated by a consumer to allow the consumer to be directed to a website of a merchant who offers the same item for sale and from which the consumer can buy the same item again.

Abstract: A pre-paid debit or credit card account, and an associated pre-paid debit or credit card, is provided to a consumer for use with one or more check conversion stations. The check conversion stations include a card reader for obtaining user account data associated with the consumer's pre-paid debit or credit card account from the pre-paid debit or credit card and a paper check scanner for obtaining check data from a paper check provided by the consumer. At least part of the user account data and the check data is then subjected to analysis, verification, and/or approval of a transfer of at least part of the funds indicated by the check data to the balance of the pre-paid debit or credit card.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for analyzing behavior of Internet forum participants. Various embodiments comprise receiving or retrieving information or data of a particular post of interest and other information or data relating to the first post or the Internet forum; analyzing the data or information received or retrieved to determine the behavior of the user who initiated or created the post; determining whether the particular post is of interest; and determining user behavior patterns. Some embodiments may also comprise determining or identifying one or more actions for the behavior of the user or determining or predicting likely effects of the particular post on the Internet forum. In some embodiments, the method or the system presents a report or recommendation to a moderation team for review, approval, or decision.

Abstract: Refund issuing stations that can be accessed by users/taxpayers include a user interface for obtaining user ID data associated with users/taxpayers and a card/cash dispenser for providing the users/taxpayers with a prepaid tax refund debit or credit card, or currency, based on user tax and/or refund data provided by a financial management system used to prepare user's tax returns and tax related documents, and/or file the user's tax returns.

Abstract: Transaction or receipt data, e.g., data of a receipt document, is encoded as a two-dimensional machine readable representation, such as a QR CODE. Certain receipt data is encoded as segments of a QR CODE. An image of the QR CODE is acquired using a camera of a mobile communication device or computer or other image capture device. The QR CODE image is decoded to determine the receipt data, and fields of an electronic receipt summary can be populated with decoded data.

Abstract: A technique for modifying a user experience associated with a software product is described. During this modification technique, behavioral metrics that are associated with a user's emotional state are collected while the user is using the software product. For example, the behavioral metrics may include: usage patterns, user gestures and/or user tactile inputs. Furthermore, using the collected behavioral metrics, the user's emotional state is determined. Then, the user experience is modified based on the determined emotional state.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for an inventory story monitor are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the disclosed method involves predicting a number of inventory items on a future date based at least in part upon a number of the inventory items on the current date and a rate of consumption of the inventory items, which is determined based on prior sales of the inventory items. The method also involves determining a price trend of the inventory items. In addition, the method involves determining whether to purchase the inventory items on the current date based at least in part upon the predicted number of inventory items, a rate of consumption of the inventory items, and a price trend of the inventory items. Further, the method involves displaying to the user an indicator of whether to purchase the inventory items on the current date or on a later date.

Abstract: A method for populating forms based on a user interview. The method includes generating, using a computer processor, binary questions according to a first rule, receiving answers to the binary questions from the user, adjusting, using the computer processor, a binary question based on answers according to a second rule during the user interview, and identifying, using the computer processor, forms from a forms library based on the answers according to a third rule. The method also includes presenting based on the answers, data entry fields of forms to the user in a unified format, where related data entry fields are grouped together to form data entry menus in the unified format, receiving data from the user for the data entry fields, populating a portion of the forms to generate populated forms based on the data, and storing the populated forms in a repository on behalf of the user.

Abstract: Transaction or receipt data, e.g., data of a receipt document, is encoded as a two-dimensional machine readable representation, such as a QR CODE. Certain receipt data is encoded as segments of a QR CODE. An image of the QR CODE is acquired using a camera of a mobile communication device or computer or other image capture device. The QR CODE image is decoded to determine the receipt data, and fields of an electronic receipt summary can be populated with decoded data.

Abstract: A method and system for determining business expenditures with vendors and automatically generating and submitting required forms whereby vendor identification data and/or contact information is obtained. Data representing current vendor reporting requirements and/or contact information for any associated reporting agency is obtained and stored along with data representing one or more associated reporting forms. Financial transaction data associated with a business is then obtained and analyzed using the current vendor reporting requirement data to identify/match one or more vendors used by the business that are subject to the reporting requirement.

Abstract: Identifying missed electronic check-ins and crediting missed check-ins to members of a social network by utilizing transaction data from an intermediate computer other than a computer of the social network. Missed check-ins are identified using transaction data resulting from an activity of the member at a check-in location, e.g., when the member purchased an item from a merchant at a check-in location or made a call from the location. Transaction data is sent from a computer that stores the data to the social network computer that manages check-ins. Transaction location is compared with check-in locations to determine whether the member should receive credit for the missed check-in, which may count towards rewards or benefits of the social network even though the member is not currently at the check-in location since the missed check-in is validated by a trusted source of transaction data.

Abstract: A mileage tracking system tracks trip data for a user over time, based on trip data provided by the user. The system provides the user with results of the tracking for a specified time period (e.g., a tax year), and the results may be estimated based on the trip data provided by the user as well as trip data provided by other users. The trip data is typically provided by mobile communication devices transmitting the data to a system server, in response to commands entered into the mobile communication devices.

Abstract: Systems, computer-implemented methods and computer program products for directing a consumer to a source offering for sale a specific item previously purchased by the consumer. Electronic receipt data generated for a consumer purchase of a specifically identified item is generated by a merchant transaction processing device, and an electronic representation of a receipt is generated based on that data. The electronic representation identifies the specific item and includes an input element or button that can be selected, clicked on, executed or activated by a consumer to allow the consumer to be directed to a website of a merchant who offers the same item for sale and from which the consumer can buy the same item again.

Abstract: A method to track a money order transaction, including receiving, from a mobile device, a request to send the money order to a recipient, initiating, by a computer server in response to the request, a first transaction to transfer a money order amount from a funding account of the payer to a third party account held at a bank, initiating, in response to completing the first transaction, a second transaction to generate the money order by the bank, receiving, from the bank, an indication that the money order amount is paid out by the bank as a result of the recipient cashing the money order, and sending, in response to the indication, a message alerting the payer that the recipient has cashed the money order.

Abstract: Tax data, e.g., Form W2 data, is encoded as a two-dimensional machine readable representation, such as a QR CODE. Certain tax data is encoded as segments of a QR CODE, and a tax form generated by an employer or payroll processing service and provided to an employee or user includes the QR CODE representing certain W-2 or other tax data. An image of the QR CODE is acquired using a camera of a mobile communication device or computer or other image capture device. When using a Smartphone, a tax preparation application executing on the Smartphone decodes the QR CODE image to determine the tax data, and populates fields of an electronic tax return with decoded data, thus allowing a consumer to prepare an electronic tax return using a mobile communication device.

Abstract: A method for user authentication involves initiating an authentication process, receiving images associated with the authentication process, selecting an image from the images to generate a selection; and obtaining authentication based on the selection, where the image is associated with the authentication process and sent prior to initiating the authentication process.

Abstract: Mobile payments and processing data related to electronic transactions. A near field communication connection is established between a mobile communication device of a consumer that serves as a mobile wallet and an electronic payment device of a merchant. Authorization data is shared between the mobile communication device and the electronic payment device without providing electronic payment instrument (e.g. credit card) data to the merchant. Authorization data is transmitted from the mobile communication device to a cloud computer or resource that serves as a cloud wallet and hosts respective data of respective electronic payment instruments of respective consumers, and from the electronic payment device a payment processor computer. The payment processor computer presents the authorization data to the cloud wallet, and in response, the cloud wallet transmits the credit card data to the payment processor computer, which processes the transaction.