Abstract: A system and method for a shipping alliance application are described. The system accesses orders from an online marketplace application. A group of buyers based on unfulfilled orders of buyers within a buyer predefined distance of each other is identified. A group of sellers based on unfulfilled orders of sellers within a seller predefined distance of each other is identified. A buyer local entity associated with the group of buyers is identified. A seller local entity associated with the group of sellers is identified. The system generates a request to a common seller of the group buyers to combine items from the unfulfilled orders into a single flat fee shipment to the buyer local entity, or a request to group of buyers to ship items from the unfulfilled orders to the seller local entity.

Abstract: A system or method is provided to implement event notifications in real time. In particular, a possible event occurrence, such as a spontaneous or unannounced musical concert, is detected based on a user's interactions with the user's communication device, such as the user's video or audio recording of an event or communication regarding an event, such as texting, tweeting, online posting, social network comments, and etc. An event notification may be generated based on the possible occurrence of this event. The user's communication device may broadcast this event notification via Bluetooth or Near-Field Communication (NFC) to other nearby communication devices. As such, users of the nearby communication devices may be notified of the occurrence of the event. In another embodiment, a communication device may receive various event notifications broadcasted from nearby communication devices. Relevant notifications may be selected and presented to the user based on a user's preferences.

Abstract: A system and method are provided to collect a user's coupons or discount vouchers. In particular, coupons or discount vouchers may be collected by scanning the paper coupon or discount vouchers. Further, digital coupons or discount vouchers may be collected by searching through a user's communication history, including electronic mails, text messages, browsing history, and the like. The collected coupons or discount vouchers are stored in a depository. The system may search the depository for coupons or discount vouchers that are applicable to a purchase that is about to be made or has been made. The system may redeem the applicable coupons or discount vouchers for the purchase.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, a group of local trusted devices is formed based, at least in part, on locations of a plurality of devices. Then a payment tree is presented in a user interface of a first device in the group of local trusted devices, the payment tree including a graphical representation of relationships between devices in the group and permitting selection, by a user of the first device, of one or more devices in the group to share in paying a bill received from a device outside the group. A bill may then be generated from the first device to each selected device in the payment tree, the bill indicating a payment amount reflecting a portion of the bill received from the device outside the group.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a flexible spending account (FSA) include receiving, from a user, user information and a purchase request to make a purchase from a merchant. A payment is then made for at least a portion of the purchase by transferring funds over the network from a user FSA to a merchant account. Payment detail information such as, for example, a receipt, is then received over the network from the merchant in response to making the payment. The payment detail information is then sent over the network to an FSA provider that provides the user FSA. If the FSA provider analyzes the payment detail information and determines that the payment made using the user FSA includes an item that is an unqualified expense, funds from a user secondary account may be transferred to the user FSA to reimburse the user FSA.

Abstract: Methods and systems for facilitating bill payment are described. A user is able to take a picture of a paper bill and have it paid. A service provider receives the image of the bill and recognizes it as a bill payment image. Relevant payment details such as the customer account number, payment amount, and the payee are extracted from the bill. The service provider determines whether these payment details are correct based on a user calendar or a location of a user device. The service provider can display these payment details to the user, and receive authorization to make the payment.

Abstract: When a consumer selects and checks out merchandise at a point of sale of a merchant, price matching is automatically performed for the selected merchandise and the merchant has the opportunity to price match competitors' prices. The price of the merchandise is automatically adjusted based on the merchant's price matching policy. Thus, the customer may receive the benefit of price matching automatically during the checkout process. Further, prices offered at the merchant and at the competitors are continuously monitored for a period of time after purchase. When lower prices are found during the period of time, the purchase price is automatically adjusted and the amount difference between the purchase price and the lower price is automatically refunded to the customer's payment account.

Abstract: A system according to an embodiment comprises one or more processors; and one or more memories adapted to store a plurality of machine-readable instructions which when executed by the processor(s) are adapted to cause the system to: receive, from a user device of a user, user input search information in connection with one or more desired items of interest to the user; determine one or more service providers or entities offering the one or more desired items based on a location of the user device; and generate comparative data for the one or more service providers or entities that provide the desired item(s) based on historical data of the one or more service providers or entities and the received user input search information.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a payment include determining that a conductive payment device has been positioned immediately adjacent a touch sensitive payment receiving device. A plurality of conductive identification elements that are communicated from the conductive payment device to the touch sensitive payment receiving device are detected and the relative positions of at least some of the plurality of conductive identification elements are determined. User payment account information is then retrieved using the determined relative positions of the at least some of the plurality of conductive identification elements. A payment request is then sent over a network to make a payment using the user payment account information.

Abstract: Techniques for locating and identifying mobile devices are described. According to various embodiments, an ambient sound signal may be detected using a microphone of a mobile device. Thereafter, it may be determined that the ambient sound signal corresponds to a predefined user query for assistance in locating the mobile device. For the, a predefined response sound corresponding to the predefined user query may be emitted, using a speaker of the mobile device.

Abstract: According to various embodiments, a first group of potential buyers of a product item is identified, and an item listing for sale of the product item is posted on a marketplace website, wherein the item listing being viewable by the first group of potential buyers. Thereafter, if it is determined that the product item has been purchased by at least one member of the first group within a predetermined time interval, the item listing is closed. On the other hand, if it is determined that the product item has not been purchased by at least one member of the first group within the predetermined time interval, a second group of potential buyers may be identified. Thereafter, the item listing may be modified to generate a modified item listing being viewable by both the first and second groups of potential buyers.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for concealing information regarding products purchased as gifts for others, such as the intended gift recipient. Often, opportunities exist for a gift recipient to inadvertently or intentionally obtain information regarding a gift to be given or already given to them. For example, such information can be readily available via sources such as social media and other websites, as well from account statements. Such information can be omitted from websites, account statements, and the like, at least until such a time that the user wants for the information to be available.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for providing purchase recommendations and a budget to a user. The purchase recommendations can be for discretionary products for the user or for gifts for others. The purchase recommendations and the budget can be based upon the amount of discretionary money available for the user to make such purchases and for whom the purchases are to be made. The purchase recommendations and the budget can be further based upon purchase histories, wish lists, and calendars.

Abstract: Systems and methods of returning location and/or event results using information social media content are provided. One or more social networking servers are accessed to retrieve social media content. One or more items within the social media content are then identified. These items may then be categorized. Information about the categories of the one or more items are stored in a database storing information about locations or events. A search query for a location or event may be received, and results for the search query may be selected by accessing the database and utilizing the information about locations or events as well as the information about the categories of the one or more items. The results may then be returned to a user device for display.

Abstract: Systems and methods for customizing a user experience are described. The methods include automatically collecting identifying characteristic information for a current user, comparing the identifying characteristic information to stored user profiles for known users, identifying the current user as a known user, retrieving user preferences for the known user, and presenting the user preferences.