Patents by Inventor Mark Carlson

Mark Carlson 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: 20160323711
    Abstract: Selection of offers, locations or merchants based on their distances from a portion of a user's route and their affinity for the user is disclosed. A route employed by a user for travelling to a destination is obtained and segmented at identified vertices. Locations that are proximate to the route segments are determined. The proximate locations are further analyzed to obtain their specific distances from a selected portion such as the user's origin or destination or any route segment. Location based services are associated with those proximate locations that are closest to the selected portion on the user's route or those with the better utility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Joseph Spears, Mark Carlson, Patrick Stan
  • Patent number: 9485253
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to human challenge response test delivery systems and methods. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention are directed to secure human challenge response test delivery services of configurable difficulty for user devices. One embodiment of the present invention is directed to methods and systems for implementing a familiar and dynamic human challenge response test challenge repository created from transaction data. The dynamic human challenge response test challenge repository may be created by a server computer receiving a plurality of transaction data. Challenge items may be extracted from the transaction data using an extraction algorithm. Furthermore, in some embodiments a challenge message may be sent to a requestor, a verification request may be received, and the verification request may be compared to the challenge message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: VISA INTERNATIONAL SERVICE ASSOCIATION
    Inventors: Mark Carlson, Shalini Mayor
  • Publication number: 20160314464
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to determining the location of an enrolled account holder using a mobile device, such as a mobile phone, that is associated with the cardholder's transaction account in a location-based system (LBS). The mobile device is used to determine the approximate location of the account holder at the time of the transaction, for example, by using cellular tower triangulation. Location data, such as geographic coordinates, may be combined with transaction data. The combination of transaction data and location data can be used to generate heat maps showing transaction, spending, and fraud patterns, among other data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Mark Carlson, Surendra Keshan
  • Patent number: 9477967
    Abstract: In one aspect, a computing apparatus is configured to represent offer rules based on requirements for the detection of predefined types of events and actions scheduled to be performed in response to the detection of each occurrence of the events. The events are independent from each other in processing and are linked via prerequisite conditions and/or ineligibility conditions to formulate the requirements of an offer campaign. In one embodiment, the ineligibility of a user, participating in the offer campaign, to meet the requirements of a first event leads to the monitoring of a second event that has a prerequisite condition formulated based on the ineligibility of the user to meet the requirements of the first event; and the second event provides an alternative path within the offer campaign when the user cannot meet the requirements of the first event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: VISA INTERNATIONAL SERVICE ASSOCIATION
    Inventors: Joseph Spears, Mark Carlson, Patrick Stan
  • Publication number: 20160307180
    Abstract: A first embodiment of the present invention relates to systems and methods for determining a priority for a set of alert triggers and performing additional processing based on the determined priority. In some embodiments, additional processing may include generating and sending of alert messages. In other embodiments, additional processing may further include determining that the generating and sending of alert messages are to be delayed until a later time. In yet other embodiments, additional processing may include determining that no alert message is to be generated and sent. A second embodiment of the present invention relates to systems and methods for dynamically selecting a delivery channel and generating an alert message for the selected delivery channel. In some embodiments, the alert message may be formatted based on the selected delivery channel. According to one embodiment, the alert message may be generated based on a compact protocol format.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Ayman Hammad, Mark Carlson
  • Patent number: 9466075
    Abstract: In one aspect, a computing apparatus is configured to represent offer rules based on requirements for the detection of predefined types of events, and actions scheduled to be performed in response to the detection of each occurrence of the events. The events are processed independently from each other and are linked via prerequisite conditions to formulate the requirements of an offer campaign. In one embodiment, the requirements for the detection of the events are specified based on predetermined types of events, including a first type for an event specified for interaction with a first user when the first user performs an action as a result of a referral from a second user, and a second type for an event specified for interaction with the second user in response to the first user performing the action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: VISA INTERNATIONAL SERVICE ASSOCIATION
    Inventors: Mark Carlson, Joseph Spears, Patrick Stan
  • Patent number: 9460436
    Abstract: A system includes a transaction handler configured to split a transaction, initiated between an acquirer processor representing a merchant and an issuer processor representing an account holder, into separate transactions with the issuer processor and at least one sponsor processor that is configured to provide the benefit of offers to applicable transactions. A portal is configured to notify the account holder of the award/redemption of the benefit of an offer using a communication channel separate from the transaction terminal that initiates and approves the transaction between the account holder and the merchant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: VISA INTERNATIONAL SERVICE ASSOCIATION
    Inventors: Joseph Bjorn Ovick, Mark Carlson, Ryan Hagey, Margaret Reid, Patrick Stan, Patrick Wright, Krishna Prasad Koganti, Glenn Powell, Phillip Lyle Kumnick
  • Patent number: 9449327
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclosed herein include systems and methods for sending merchant alert messages. The merchant can specify criteria indicating the types of customers for which he desires to receive alerts. Merchant alert messages can be sent based on characteristics of a customer, including the customer's proximity to the merchant. The merchant can use the alert message to provide better service to the customer or prevent the customer from engaging in transactions, depending on the contents of the merchant alert message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Visa International Service Association
    Inventors: Mark Carlson, Patrick Stan, Patrick Faith, Ayman Hammad, Ben Rewis
  • Publication number: 20160267941
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a photography method that is enabled with the feature of autographing a photograph at a mobile terminal and can be implemented on any communication device that has hardware components that can perform wireless and wired communication, such as multi-purpose pocket computers and personal multimedia devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventor: Mark Carlson
  • Patent number: 9443253
    Abstract: In one aspect, a computing apparatus is configured to allow merchants to initiate offers in an offer campaign based on a spending pattern specified by the merchant, such as the lack of transactions in a predetermined period of time of the day, in a recent time period, and/or in a particular merchant category. The offer campaign can be adjusted between offer delivery/announcement and fulfillment for a limited time period. The benefit of a further purchase may be announced via a message scheduled to be transmitted in response to an event identifying the arrival of a particular time instance, in response to a qualification notification of a transaction satisfying the requirements of a purchase event required in the offer campaign, or in response to the detection of a required spending pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: VISA INTERNATIONAL SERVICE ASSOCIATION
    Inventors: Mark Carlson, Patrick Stan
  • Patent number: 9439036
    Abstract: Selection of offers, locations or merchants based on their distances from a portion of a user's route and their affinity for the user is disclosed. A route employed by a user for travelling to a destination is obtained and segmented at identified vertices. Locations that are proximate to the route segments are determined. The proximate locations are further analyzed to obtain their specific distances from a selected portion such as the user's origin or destination or any route segment. Location based services are associated with those proximate locations that are closest to the selected portion on the user's route or those with the better utility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: VISA INTERNATIONAL SERVICE ASSOCIATION
    Inventors: Joseph Spears, Mark Carlson, Patrick Stan
  • Patent number: 9426659
    Abstract: Systems and methods for service activation using algorithmically defined keys are disclosed. A consumer who has a relationship with a first party may wish to enroll in a service provided by a third party. The first party can maintain control of such enrollments through the use of algorithmically defined keys. The algorithmically defined keys also allow the third party service provider to verify data provided by the consumer as matching data stored by the first party. The verification provides for data synchronization without requiring the third party to have access to the first parties data systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Inventors: Ashwin Raj, John Tullis, Mark Carlson, Patrick Faith, Shalini Mayor, Joseph Mirizzi, Lauren White, Olivier Brand, Mike Lindelsee
  • Publication number: 20160224976
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for providing an account token to an external entity during the lifecycle of a payment transaction. In some embodiments, an external entity may be a merchant computer requesting authorization of a payment message. In other embodiments, the external entity may be a support computer providing a payment processing network or a merchant support functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventors: Gourab Basu, Michael Mori, Ross Sakata, Steve Cracknell, Millie Yee, Mark Carlson, Patrick Stan, Surendra Keshan, Edward Katzin
  • Patent number: 9406057
    Abstract: A first embodiment of the present invention relates to systems and methods for determining a priority for a set of alert triggers and performing additional processing based on the determined priority. In some embodiments, additional processing may include generating and sending of alert messages. In other embodiments, additional processing may further include determining that the generating and sending of alert messages are to be delayed until a later time. In yet other embodiments, additional processing may include determining that no alert message is to be generated and sent. A second embodiment of the present invention relates to systems and methods for dynamically selecting a delivery channel and generating an alert message for the selected delivery channel. In some embodiments, the alert message may be formatted based on the selected delivery channel. According to one embodiment, the alert message may be generated based on a compact protocol format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Visa International Service Association
    Inventors: Ayman Hammad, Mark Carlson
  • Publication number: 20160218556
    Abstract: In embodiments, a mobile device includes a primary battery as a power source to power components of the mobile device, and includes a secondary battery as an additional power source to power the components of the mobile device. A sensor is implemented to detect moisture proximate a battery connection of the secondary battery, where the detected moisture indicates an impending secondary battery disconnect event due to the secondary battery shorting out. A battery controller is implemented to receive a sensor input of the detected moisture from the sensor. The battery controller can then switch from the secondary battery to the primary battery as the power source based on the detected moisture proximate the battery connection of the secondary battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventors: Jiri Slaby, Mark Carlson
  • Publication number: 20160183092
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling access to an online account are described. An access control message including an action to be performed on an online account can be sent from a mobile device to a server. The server may identify the mobile device based on identifying information in the access control message. Upon identifying the mobile device, the server may determine whether the user has authority to initiate the action to be performed on the online account. Upon determining that a user of the mobile device does have authority to initiate the indicated action, the action indicated in the access control message may be taken with respect to the online account.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventor: Mark Carlson
  • Patent number: 9342832
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for providing an account token to an external entity during the lifecycle of a payment transaction. In some embodiments, an external entity may be a merchant computer requesting authorization of a payment message. In other embodiments, the external entity may be a support computer providing a payment processing network or a merchant support functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Visa International Service Association
    Inventors: Gourab Basu, Michael Mori, Ross Sakata, Steve Cracknell, Millie Yee, Mark Carlson, Patrick Stan, Surendra Keshan, Edward Katzin
  • Patent number: 9325833
    Abstract: A method and system are presented for sorting alert and offer messages on a mobile device. One embodiment of the invention is directed to a method including receiving alert messages at a mobile device where each alert message contains transaction data associated with a transaction conducted with a merchant. Upon receiving the alert messages, the mobile device receives alert message sorting criteria from a user associated with the mobile device, sorts the alert messages according to the received offer sorting criteria, and displays the sorted alert messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Visa International Service Association
    Inventors: Mark Carlson, Dan Bebenita, Surendra Keshan, Patrick Stan
  • Patent number: 9317672
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling access to an online account are described. An access control message including an action to be performed on an online account can be sent from a mobile device to a server. A user verification query message can be sent to the mobile device. A user verification response message can be received from the mobile device. The user verification response message can include verification information that is different from login information for the online account. The user verification response message can be verified by comparing the verification information to stored information. If the user verification response message is successfully verified, the action indicated in the access control message can be performed on the online account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: VISA INTERNATIONAL SERVICE ASSOCIATION
    Inventor: Mark Carlson
  • Patent number: 9280764
    Abstract: A gateway service platform is disclosed that provides access to a payment processing system via an open network such as the internet. The gateway service platform also provides access to service systems that provide a variety of services and applications offered by or affiliated with the payment processing system. The gateway service platform allows the payment processing system to reach users and to facilitate transactions on a wide variety of devices that may not otherwise be able to connect to payment processing system. Other devices, such as payment terminal devices, can also interact with a payment processing system through the gateway service platform using the same network and protocol. Embodiments of the invention allow devices on these open networks to connect with the payment processing system without having to change the existing infrastructure of the payment processing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Visa International Service Association
    Inventors: Patrick Faith, Mark Carlson, Krishna Prasad Koganti