Patents by Inventor Christopher Eric Mullen

Christopher Eric Mullen has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230130316
    Abstract: A data controller computing device is configured to receive, from a voice-controlled (VC) computing device, a shared payment initialization request identifying a primary user payment account associated with the VC computing device. The DC computing device creates a shared payment account linked in a database to the primary user payment account. The DC computing device also receives secondary user information, and links in the database at least one secondary user payment account to the shared payment account. Additionally, the DC computing device transmits a shared payment account identifier to the VC computing device. The DC computing device receives, via a payment network, a transaction authorization request including the shared payment account identifier, a merchant identifier, and a transaction amount. The DC computing device applies respective portions of the transaction amount against each of the primary user account and the at least one secondary user payment account.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2022
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventors: Rick Unnerstall, Zhenni Hu, Brian Williams, Christopher Eric Mullen
  • Patent number: 11636493
    Abstract: A system and computer-implemented method for detecting and addressing billing fraud by an asserted provider of a good or service based on location data associated with card-based financial transactions by an asserted recipient and collected, stored, analyzed, and acted on by a payment card network to determine and respond to a likelihood of fraud. A computer stores locations of the recipient based on uses of a payment card over a time period, and determines a location of the provider based on location data associated with a card reader at a particular time at which the good or service was allegedly provided. The computer compares the two locations for the particular time and generates a fraud score based on a likelihood that the recipient was physically capable of being at the provider location at the particular time, and based on the score, may notify the recipient and decline the payment request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated
    Inventors: Emily Marie Thompson, Christopher Eric Mullen, Kyle Leslie, Richard B. Unnerstall, Brian A. Williams
  • Patent number: 11538012
    Abstract: A data controller computing device is configured to receive, from a voice-controlled (VC) computing device, a shared payment initialization request identifying a primary user payment account associated with the VC computing device. The DC computing device creates a shared payment account linked in a database to the primary user payment account. The DC computing device also receives secondary user information, and links in the database at least one secondary user payment account to the shared payment account. Additionally, the DC computing device transmits a shared payment account identifier to the VC computing device. The DC computing device receives, via a payment network, a transaction authorization request including the shared payment account identifier, a merchant identifier, and a transaction amount. The DC computing device applies respective portions of the transaction amount against each of the primary user account and the at least one secondary user payment account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: MASTERCARD INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Rick Unnerstall, Zhenni Hu, Brian Williams, Christopher Eric Mullen
  • Publication number: 20210398119
    Abstract: A payment processor computing device for performing an electronic transaction initiated by a vehicle is described. The payment processor computing device is configured to receive a registration secure token from a vehicle computing device, the registration secure token corresponding to a cardholder and including an account identifier, a vehicle identifier, and a biometric identifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Woods, Christopher Eric Mullen, Rick Unnerstall
  • Patent number: 11113690
    Abstract: A payment processor computing device for performing an electronic transaction initiated by a vehicle is described. The payment processor computing device is configured to receive a registration secure token from a vehicle computing device, the registration secure token corresponding to a cardholder and including an account identifier, a vehicle identifier, and a biometric identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: MASTERCARD INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Woods, Christopher Eric Mullen, Rick Unnerstall
  • Patent number: 11087539
    Abstract: An augmented reality (AR) system for generating AR-based profiles using an AR computing device and an AR display device is provided. The AR system is configured to detect a consumer computing device located at a predefined distance from the AR display device, and transmit an electronic request message to an electronic computer application stored on the consumer computing device. The AR system is also configured to receive an electronic response message from the consumer computing device, wherein the electronic response message includes AR consumer data, and retrieve, from a database, an AR-based profile associated with the consumer based on the AR consumer identifier. The AR system is further configured to transmit the AR-based profile in the form of AR data to the AR display device, and display the AR data on a display screen of the AR display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: MASTERCARD INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Rick Unnerstall, Ping X Chen, Brian Williams, Emily Marie Thompson, Ke Zhou, Zhenni Hu, Christopher Eric Mullen
  • Publication number: 20210217029
    Abstract: A system and computer-implemented method for detecting and addressing billing fraud by an asserted provider of a good or service based on location data associated with card-based financial transactions by an asserted recipient and collected, stored, analyzed, and acted on by a payment card network to determine and respond to a likelihood of fraud. A computer stores locations of the recipient based on uses of a payment card over a time period, and determines a location of the provider based on location data associated with a card reader at a particular time at which the good or service was allegedly provided. The computer compares the two locations for the particular time and generates a fraud score based on a likelihood that the recipient was physically capable of being at the provider location at the particular time, and based on the score, may notify the recipient and decline the payment request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Applicant: Mastercard International Incorporated
    Inventors: Emily Marie Thompson, Christopher Eric Mullen, Kyle Leslie, Richard B. Unnerstall, Brian A. Williams
  • Publication number: 20200258072
    Abstract: A data controller computing device is configured to receive, from a voice-controlled (VC) computing device, a shared payment initialization request identifying a primary user payment account associated with the VC computing device. The DC computing device creates a shared payment account linked in a database to the primary user payment account. The DC computing device also receives secondary user information, and links in the database at least one secondary user payment account to the shared payment account. Additionally, the DC computing device transmits a shared payment account identifier to the VC computing device. The DC computing device receives, via a payment network, a transaction authorization request including the shared payment account identifier, a merchant identifier, and a transaction amount. The DC computing device applies respective portions of the transaction amount against each of the primary user account and the at least one secondary user payment account.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: Rick Unnerstall, Zhenni Hu, Brian Williams, Christopher Eric Mullen
  • Patent number: 10713328
    Abstract: The disclosure updates website tags based on detected link changes. Link metadata based on a website is collected by an auto-tagger application. Previously collected link metadata associated with the website is accessed by the auto-tagger application. Upon detecting a link change between the collected link metadata and the accessed previously collected link metadata, the auto-tagger application identifies at least one auto-tagging rule associated with the detected link change. Tags of the website are updated by the auto-tagger application based on the identified at least one auto-tagging rule. Automatically detecting link changes and updating tags in response to the detected link changes enables consistent, accurate web analytics while reducing user effort required for website tag maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated
    Inventors: Brian Williams, Christopher Eric Mullen
  • Publication number: 20200066040
    Abstract: An augmented reality (AR) system for generating AR-based profiles using an AR computing device and an AR display device is provided. The AR system is configured to detect a consumer computing device located at a predefined distance from the AR display device, and transmit an electronic request message to an electronic computer application stored on the consumer computing device. The AR system is also configured to receive an electronic response message from the consumer computing device, wherein the electronic response message includes AR consumer data, and retrieve, from a database, an AR-based profile associated with the consumer based on the AR consumer identifier. The AR system is further configured to transmit the AR-based profile in the form of AR data to the AR display device, and display the AR data on a display screen of the AR display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Rick Unnerstall, Ping X Chen, Brian Williams, Emily Marie Thompson, Ke Zhou, Zhenni Hu, Christopher Eric Mullen
  • Publication number: 20200051137
    Abstract: A system, computer-readable media and computer-implemented method for geo-verification of consumer reviews. The method may be carried out by one or more processor(s) configured to execute instructions of a software application stored on the computer-readable media. The method may include receiving consumer location data and generating a first one-time code. The first one-time code and a seller location identifier may be stored in an entry of a review code database, the seller location identifier reflecting a location of a consumer corresponding to the consumer location data. A second one-time code and at least a portion of a review may be received, the at least a portion of the review including a seller location reference. The entry including the seller location identifier may be identified, the seller location identifier corresponding to the seller location reference. The first one-time code of the entry may be matched to the second one-time code.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Applicant: Mastercard International Incorporated
    Inventors: Brian A. Williams, Ping X. Chen, Richard B. Unnerstall, Christopher Eric Mullen, Emily Marie Thompson, Zhenni Hu
  • Publication number: 20200019954
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for facilitating a payment between merchants and consumers at a convention or other private, temporary event is implemented with a computer server programmed with pay application software. Profile information for at least one merchant and consumer, including identifying information and payment information, is received and stored in merchant and consumer portals. A purchase request identifying a product the consumer wishes to purchase is generated by an electronic device operated by the consumer while the consumer is attending the event. The purchase request is communicated to the server, which then retrieves transaction information related to the purchase request from the merchant and consumer portals. The pay application server then transmits the transaction information to a payment interchange, which transfers funds from the consumer to the merchant and sends payment confirmation back to the pay application server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Applicant: Mastercard International Incorporated
    Inventors: Juan Edward Black, Brian A. Williams, Christopher Eric Mullen, Richard B. Unnerstall
  • Publication number: 20190333104
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling categories of users based on network activity associated with the users at web browsers. One exemplary method includes transmitting, by a user feedback server (UFS), a web site to a user at a communication device and soliciting a feedback input associated with a prior network activity of the user. The UFS receives the feedback input from the user for a network object. The feedback input includes a unique identifier (ID) and a network object identifier associated with the network object. The unique ID is associated with at least one of the user and the communication device. The UFS transmits the feedback input (or portion thereof) to a host, whereby the host is permitted, based on the unique ID and the network object identifier, to adjust inclusion of the user and/or the communication device in one or more categories of users and/or communication devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Christopher Eric Mullen, Juan Edward Black, Brian Williams
  • Publication number: 20190197193
    Abstract: The disclosure updates website tags based on detected link changes. Link metadata based on a website is collected by an auto-tagger application. Previously collected link metadata associated with the website is accessed by the auto-tagger application. Upon detecting a link change between the collected link metadata and the accessed previously collected link metadata, the auto-tagger application identifies at least one auto-tagging rule associated with the detected link change. Tags of the website are updated by the auto-tagger application based on the identified at least one auto-tagging rule. Automatically detecting link changes and updating tags in response to the detected link changes enables consistent, accurate web analytics while reducing user effort required for website tag maintenance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Brian Williams, Christopher Eric Mullen
  • Patent number: 10089665
    Abstract: Examples of the disclosure enable a user to evaluate a credibility of a website and/or a merchant in a remote financial transaction. In some embodiments, a request for a score is received from a client device. The request includes usage data associated with the client device. A website and/or merchant is identified based on the usage data, and customer experience-related data associated with the website and/or the merchant are retrieved from one or more sources. A first score is generated at a score generator based on the retrieved customer experience-related data, and the first score is transmitted to the client device for presentation at the client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: MASTERCARD INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Bradley Kenneth Dickinson, Jason Hull, Christopher Eric Mullen, Kelly Elaine Atwood, Corey M Hively
  • Publication number: 20180181955
    Abstract: A payment processor computing device for performing an electronic transaction initiated by a vehicle is described. The payment processor computing device is configured to receive a registration secure token from a vehicle computing device, the registration secure token corresponding to a cardholder and including an account identifier, a vehicle identifier, and a biometric identifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Woods, Christopher Eric Mullen, Rick Unnerstall
  • Publication number: 20180158033
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for an automated waste collection system, the automated waste collection system in communication with a client device and a payment processor, including a vehicle device onboard a waste collection vehicle and comprising a vehicle transceiver, a first processor, and a first memory, a bin computing device mounted to a waste collection bin and comprising a bin transceiver, a second processor, and a second memory, and a geofence defined by location data. The vehicle device and said bin computing device are configured to communicate wirelessly with one another to verify, based on the geofence location data, a user account associated with a user that has requested a waste collection service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Woods, Christopher Eric Mullen, Rick Unnerstall
  • Publication number: 20170103438
    Abstract: Examples of the disclosure enable a user to evaluate a credibility of a website and/or a merchant in a remote financial transaction. In some embodiments, a request for a score is received from a client device. The request includes usage data associated with the client device. A website and/or merchant is identified based on the usage data, and customer experience-related data associated with the website and/or the merchant are retrieved from one or more sources. A first score is generated at a score generator based on the retrieved customer experience-related data, and the first score is transmitted to the client device for presentation at the client device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Inventors: Bradley Kenneth Dickinson, Jason Hull, Christopher Eric Mullen, Kelly Elaine Atwood, Corey M. Hively