Patents by Inventor Peter Ciurea

Peter Ciurea 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).

  • Patent number: 8364552
    Abstract: Systems and methods of conducting a payment transaction using a mobile phone having a camera. The systems and methods receive an image of a merchant access device and optionally location data from a mobile device of a user engaged in the transaction. The systems and methods also receive transaction information associated with the transaction and account information associated with an account of the user. The systems and methods use the information to authorize or decline the transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Visa International Service Association
    Inventor: Peter Ciurea
  • Publication number: 20120191525
    Abstract: A communications system for financial transactions, such as payment transactions made via credit accounts, debit accounts, prepaid accounts, bank accounts, stored value accounts and the like, is enhanced and/or used to support reward transactions. Thus, the reward communications can be processed as transactions over the communications system in a way similar to and/or together with credit/debit transactions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: VISA INTERNATIONAL SERVICE ASSOCIATION
    Inventors: Shantnu Singh, Michael Dreyer, Peter Ciurea, James Alan VonDerheide, Edward W. Fordyce, III
  • Publication number: 20120030047
    Abstract: The PAYMENT TOKENIZATION APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS (“PT”) transform payment token-based purchase orders via PT components into multi-issuer purchase payment funds transfers. In one embodiment, the PT obtains a token arbitration request including unique source-neutral universally-resolvable payment token information from a merchant for processing a purchase order from a user. The PT queries a token database for issuer information on an issuer using the payment token information, and obtains the issuer information. The PT also determines that the user should be queried for payment options based on the issuer information, generates a payment options request, and provides the payment options request to a mobile device of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventors: Jacob Fuentes, Matthew Dill, Greg Trifiletti, Peter Ciurea, Ayman Hammad
  • Publication number: 20110302022
    Abstract: In one aspect, a computing apparatus is configured to facilitate the identification of a transaction resulting from an activity occurring in a substantially separate context or environment, such as an offline transaction in a “brick and mortar” retail store resulting from an online advertisement or an online search. The computing apparatus may match information about the activity and information about the transaction to correlate the online activity and the offline transaction. The matching process may involve the use of an offer for a discount, an incentive, a rebate, a reward, reward points, cash back, a gift, etc. The offer is to be provided in the advertisement associated with an online activity and redeemed in a payment transaction, processed via the transaction handler, to correlate the advertisement and the transaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: VISA U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Edward W. Fordyce, III, Michelle Eng Winters, Kevin Paul Siegel, Leigh Amaro, Charles Raymond Byce, Nurtekin Savas, Peter Ciurea, James Alan VonDerheide, Diane C. Salmon
  • Publication number: 20110282748
    Abstract: The APPARATUS, METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR USING A PERSONALIZED DATA REPOSITORY (“PDR”) transform merchant promotional offer inputs and individual user or consumer transaction inputs into targeted promotional offer outputs, which are distributed to individual user or consumers. In one embodiment the method includes a personalized data repository processor-implemented method that includes receiving, over a communications network, communication messages associated with a user's mobile communication device, whereby the communication messages associated with the user's mobile communication device are aggregated and packaged, upon authorization, from the mobile communication device. Merchant promotional offer information corresponding to promotional goods information or promotional services information is received over the communications network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventor: Peter Ciurea
  • Publication number: 20110258075
    Abstract: Systems and methods of conducting a payment transaction using a mobile phone having a camera. The systems and methods receive an image of a merchant access device and optionally location data from a mobile device of a user engaged in the transaction. The systems and methods also receive transaction information associated with the transaction and account information associated with an account of the user. The systems and methods use the information to authorize or decline the transaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Inventor: Peter Ciurea
  • Publication number: 20110258118
    Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for improved authentication and risk analysis processes using search engine technology. In one potential implementation, an authorization request message is received at a payment processing network as part of a transaction between a user and a merchant. The payment processing network analyzes risk based on a search history associated with the user involved in the transaction with the merchant. A response to the authentication request is made based in part on the risk associated with the user search history. In further embodiments, a user registers with a search engine as part of a service for improved authentication, where the user accepts privacy settings allowing storage of search and transaction data by a search engine server. The search engine server passes search and transaction data to a risk analysis server for creation of risk parameters which may be used to authenticate transactions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Inventor: Peter Ciurea
  • Publication number: 20110251950
    Abstract: A first method comprises receiving at a computer apparatus an authorization request message comprising a first merchant identifier. The request message may also comprise an account identifier associated with an account and a first transaction amount for a first transaction conducted with a first merchant. The first method further comprises determining, by the computer apparatus, if an account comprises merchant specific currency associated with the first merchant that may be used to conduct the first transaction. It may then be determined if there is sufficient merchant specific currency associated with the first merchant in the account to pay for the first transaction amount. If there is insufficient merchant specific currency associated with the first merchant to pay for the first transaction amount, then non-specific currency in the account is applied automatically to a remainder of the first transaction amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventor: Peter Ciurea
  • Publication number: 20110047072
    Abstract: In one aspect, a computing apparatus includes: a transaction handler to process transactions; a data warehouse to store transaction data recording the transactions processed at the transaction handler; and a portal to receive a request from a client device over a network, the request including user data identifying at least one user. The client device has activity data recording activities of the user, and has the capability to determine from the activity data a first value for a first propensity score of the user. The computing apparatus further includes a score evaluator coupled to the data warehouse and the portal to determine a second value for the first propensity score based on transaction data recording payment transactions of the at least one user identified by the user data. The portal is configured to provide information based on the second value in response to the request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: VISA U.S.A. INC.
    Inventor: Peter Ciurea
  • Publication number: 20110035278
    Abstract: In one aspect, a computing apparatus is configured to facilitate the identification of a transaction resulting from an activity occurring in a substantially separate context or environment, such as an offline transaction in a “brick and mortar” retail store resulting from an online advertisement or an online search. The computing apparatus may match information about the activity and information about the transaction to correlate the online activity and the offline transaction. The matching process may involve the use of an offer for a discount, an incentive, a rebate, a reward, reward points, cash back, a gift, etc. The offer is to be provided in the advertisement associated with an online activity and redeemed in a payment transaction, processed via the transaction handler, to correlate the advertisement and the transaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: VISA U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Edward W. Fordyce, III, Michelle Eng Winters, Kevin Paul Siegel, Leigh Amaro, Charles Raymond Byce, Nurtekin Savas, Peter Ciurea, James Alan VonDerheide, Diane C. Salmon
  • Publication number: 20100114760
    Abstract: A single point of access and an integrated user experience for a set of tools are provided for a payment processing system that includes a transaction handler in communication with issuers and acquirers for the processing of payments from the issuers to the acquirers. The tools include: (i) commercial reporting; (ii) expense management; and (iii) account program management tools that are used by (a) issuers who issue the accounts for the cards to account holders and by (b) the account holders. Multiples services are integrated as relevant to specific audiences through an entitlement process, where a single point access is allowed. Applications, which can be developed and/or hosted independently, are accessible through a common interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventors: Raj Sundarasen, Ramki Rosanuru, Srini Reddi, Sharon North, Heide Ulrich, Peter Ciurea, Karteek Patel, Sarah Suarez, Alistair Duncan, Pat Stan, Tim Ural
  • Publication number: 20080201226
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods involving mobile coupons. In one embodiment, an indication of a prior purchase transaction over a payment processing network, serves as a trigger to generate and disseminate a mobile coupon for a subsequent transaction. By generating and promulgating the coupon within a limited time of the first transaction, the recipient is disposed to be receptive based upon his or her current shopping status and also possibly geographic location. According to another embodiment, information from a mobile coupon may be presented from the consumer to a merchant in a contactless manner, utilizing an antenna of a portable device operated by a consumer. Coupon information may be communicated to the merchant with the payment information, or prior to or subsequent to transmission of the payment information to the merchant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Inventors: Mark Carlson, Peter Ciurea
  • Publication number: 20080167991
    Abstract: A system and a method for using a portable consumer device such as a mobile phone are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method according to the present invention comprises referencing data regarding an individual consumer stored as part of a payment processing network to generate an electronic coupon targeted to the individual consumer. The electronic coupon is transmitted to a mobile device of the individual consumer over a communications network, and purchase transaction utilizing the electronic coupon is processed over the payment processing network. In certain embodiments, the electronic coupon may be generated based upon temporal and/or geographic information of a prior purchase transaction conducted using the payment processing network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: Visa U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Carlson, Peter Ciurea
  • Publication number: 20070083465
    Abstract: A method for automatic bill payment is disclosed. The method includes providing for an automatic bill payment process for a user of a portable consumer device, where the automatic bill payment process automatically pays periodic bills of the user at predetermined times. The method also includes providing for an automatic reminder process, where the automatic reminder process automatically sends reminders to the user of the portable consumer device prior to the automatic payment of the bills at the predetermined time intervals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Applicant: Visa U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Ciurea, Christopher Aguas, Peter Mendiara
  • Publication number: 20070055597
    Abstract: A method and system for generating customized categories for financial transaction reports associated with portable consumer devices is disclosed. In one embodiment, a financial transaction reporting system is configured to track and output a user's financial transactions associated with the user's portable consumer device for both credit and debit transactions. The system and method automatically assigns financial transactions associated with their credit and/or debit cards with a transaction category such as business, travel, meals and entertainment, etc. based on predefined and/or user-defined merchant categorization codes. The user on a server is provided with the capability to customize the merchant categorization codes and the content of reports derived from the user's financial transactions. The user may customize the report content to specific transaction categories, sub-categories, and time periods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Publication date: March 8, 2007
    Applicant: Visa U.S.A.
    Inventors: Karteek Patel, Peter Ciurea, Sarah Suarez