Patents Issued in September 4, 2014
  • Publication number: 20140249866
    Abstract: An automated waiting line transaction management system that provides patrons/users the option of queuing up and waiting in the standard attraction line at a venue or obtaining an ID unit that can be used for purchasing a pass to bypass the normal line. The venue administrator sets pass prices for each attraction on a real time basis either manually or through a venue algorithm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Inventors: Robert Popkey, Michael Rzeznik
  • Publication number: 20140249867
    Abstract: Systems and methods for assigning a user to a physical location. User data that includes characteristics of a user is acquired. The user is matched with an attendee based on the user characteristics and attendee characteristics of the attendee. A physical location is determined based on a location that the attendee matched to the user will occupy. A notification including an identification of the physical location, an identification of the attendee, and the attendee characteristics are sent to the user. Input is received that indicates whether the user wants to obtain a right to occupy the physical location and if the input indicates that the user wants to obtain the right to occupy the physical location, then the right to occupy the physical location is obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: TERMINAL-0, INC.
    Inventors: Aqeel Zaman, Sacha Amar Dario Singh, Phyllis Mary McCulloch, Sanjiv S. Dhawan
  • Publication number: 20140249868
    Abstract: Computer-related methods, apparatus, and/or articles of manufacture to permit/facilitate the creation, marketing, and/or distribution of options to purchase tickets or obtain refunds to a particular future event, particularly an elimination format competition, when the chosen competitor's qualification for such a game is currently uncertain, but where the uncertainty will be resolved prior to the commencement of the particular future event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: The Ticket RESERVE, Inc.
    Inventor: Sanjay P. Muralidhar
  • Publication number: 20140249869
    Abstract: A user interface for presenting travel itineraries to a user includes a first field to render a representation of a first segment of the itinerary including a location of departure and a location of arrival for the first segment, and a second field to render a text-based alert that includes notification information of the first segment of the itinerary, wherein the text-based alert is emphasized to bring the text-based alert to the attention of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Rodney S. Daughtrey
  • Publication number: 20140249870
    Abstract: System and methods for prioritizing and processing updated inventory information for event listings are described. In one embodiment, a network-based system may receive updated ticket information from a seller for multiple event listings, categorized the updated ticket information from the seller by event, prioritize event categorizing comprising updated ticket information in accordance with a prioritization policy, and process a prioritized event category comprising updated ticket information for a particular event listing out-of-order with respect to one or more other event categories comprising previously received updated ticket information for other event listings. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: STUBHUB, INC.
    Inventors: Charles Fineman, Mats G. Nilsson
  • Publication number: 20140249871
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method (100) for managing vehicles offered for rental in a site, termed the rental site, comprising a plurality of vehicles, said method comprising the following steps: —identification (102) of a user with the aid of at least one identification datum, and —selection (120) of a vehicle from among said plurality of vehicles as a function of at least one predetermined criterion, termed the attribution criterion, and of data (D) relating to each of the vehicles of said plurality. The invention also relates to a method of reserving a vehicle implementing the method of management according to the invention. The invention also relates to a management and reservation system implementing the method according to the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: BLUECARSHARING
    Inventors: Clement Lambrinos, Yousra Chebbi, Aymeric Augustin, Raphael Barrois, Sylvain Geron, Antoine Geron, Francis Aaron
  • Publication number: 20140249872
    Abstract: A method for customer-based outcome prediction that includes receiving recordings of interactions with customers in a customer group, analyzing the recordings of the interactions to generate interaction data, and building a predictive model using the interaction data, the predictive model identifying a variable relevant to predicting a likelihood of an identified outcome occurring in association with future interactions with customers in the customer group. The method also includes receiving a recording of a current interaction with a first customer, the first customer being in the customer group and analyzing the recording of the current interaction with the first customer to generate current interaction data. Further, the method includes adding the current interaction data to a first customer profile associated with the first customer and applying the predictive model to the first customer profile to predict the likelihood of the identified outcome occurring in association with the current interaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: Mattersight Corporation
    Inventors: Alain STEPHAN, Douglas BROWN, Christopher DANSON, David GUSTAFSON
  • Publication number: 20140249873
    Abstract: A method for customer-based outcome prediction that includes receiving recordings of interactions with customers in a customer group, analyzing the recordings of the interactions to generate interaction data, and building a predictive model using the interaction data, the predictive model identifying a variable relevant to predicting a likelihood of an identified outcome occurring in association with future interactions with customers in the customer group. The method also includes receiving a recording of a current interaction with a first customer, the first customer being in the customer group and analyzing the recording of the current interaction with the first customer to generate current interaction data. Further, the method includes adding the current interaction data to a first customer profile associated with the first customer and applying the predictive model to the first customer profile to predict the likelihood of the identified outcome occurring in association with the current interaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: Mattersight Corporation
    Inventors: Alain STEPHAN, Douglas BROWN, Christopher DANSON, David GUSTAFSON
  • Publication number: 20140249874
    Abstract: A farm work support method executed by a computer includes calculating a forecast harvest date of a first cultivation of crops based on result values of a weather condition from a start date of the first cultivation to a current day stored in a storage unit, and forecast values of the weather condition after the current day stored in the storage unit, and calculating a forecast harvest date of a second cultivation of crops based on the forecast values after the current day stored in the storage unit; and determining the current day as a start date of the second cultivation if an interval between the forecast harvest date of the first cultivation and the forecast harvest date of the second cultivation has the number of days greater than or equal to a predetermined number of days.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Masafumi ASAI
  • Publication number: 20140249875
    Abstract: A method, system and/or computer program product for managing condition action rules comprises: a treated case modeler for building a family of cases that make some rules applicable; a conflict detector for iteratively building and testing subsets of cases of the family searching for cases with conflicting decisions in order to locate a subset of cases that all have conflicting decisions. The conflict detector is further adapted for eliminating subsets of cases that have all non-conflicting decisions. The conflict detector is further adapted for distinguishing conflicting decisions from unrelated decisions and thus avoids the reporting of false conflicts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ulrich M. Junker, Olivier M. D. Lhomme
  • Publication number: 20140249876
    Abstract: Techniques for managing one or more buildings, including collecting historical building data, real-time building data, historical exogenous data, and real-time exogenous data and receiving the collected data at an adaptive stochastic controller. The adaptive stochastic controller can generate at least one predicted condition with a predictive model. The adaptive stochastic controller can generate one or more executable recommendations based on at least the predicted conditions and one or more performance measurements corresponding to the executable recommendations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Inventors: Leon L. Wu, Albert Boulanger, Roger N. Anderson, Eugene M. Boniberger, Arthur A. Kressner, John J. Gilbert
  • Publication number: 20140249877
    Abstract: This Application relates to a system, method and computer software code for the timely and accurate self management by workers and employees of their own reporting of task related statistical data and information to their contractors and employers. This is a labour and service management system utilizing a “cloud based” server, and a portable “Smartphone” computing device that is in continual communication with the server by way of the wireless facility of the telecom service provider to the individual worker/employee, the effect of which system is that each worker or employee has his or her own individual mobile GPS enabled “punch clock” device. Both the server and the Smartphone contain computer readable software code. Additionally, this system supports custom interfaces between the contractor/employer and the worker/employee, and a wealth of management information in custom report formats.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Inventor: Hugh Hull
  • Publication number: 20140249878
    Abstract: Systems, methods and/or services that allocate and schedules appointments based on supply and demand. In an example, a method is implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code tangibly embodied on a computer readable storage medium having programming instructions operable to: gather information of a plurality of suppliers from one or more external sources, prior to a registration process for scheduling an appointment request from a consumer; validate the gathered information of the plurality of suppliers; receive a request from the consumer for scheduling of an appointment with one or more of the plurality of suppliers which meet consumer criteria; enable swapping, purchasing and auctioning of appointments; enable virtual visits and virtual visit queues for on demand virtual appointments; provide system agnostic calendar integration, and provide available suppliers to the consumer based on the consumer criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: OpenMed, Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron KAUFMAN
  • Publication number: 20140249879
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a system and method configured for hosting a network for facilitating interaction between members of certain socioeconomic and/or interest groups. The system comprises a categorizing module for categorizing individuals according to certain criteria to form a plurality of groups of members, wherein admittance to each group is regulated based on an authority specializing in the specific characteristic of that group, a governing module for establishing a set of rules governing from which groups members are authorized to interact with one other, and an administrator module for administrating said rules, the administrator governing connectivity between members in said groups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Inventor: Mark Oleynik
  • Publication number: 20140249880
    Abstract: In one aspect, the invention is a computer program product residing on a computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon. The instructions when executed by the processor, cause that processor to schedule a network-based media event; and to invite an attendee to attend the network-based media event. Other aspects of the invention includes a process and a method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: Intell Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Sirota, Don Johnson, Sudheer Tumuluru
  • Publication number: 20140249881
    Abstract: A computerized estimating tool that is used to create needs-assessment estimates, a multi-year budget, and an operational calendar for a proposed insect-control spray campaign presents a user with an electronic questionnaire that asks the user to input workforce data and has a field that, when clicked by the user, opens a worksheet in which the user provides demographic information on individual villages or communities to be covered by the proposed campaign, including the proportion of households in each community that or rural or urban. The tool has a program that retrieves the input data and other data stored in memory, calculates both a budget and an operational calendar for the proposed campaign, and generates a printable, narrative-form needs-assessment report.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: H.D. HUDSON MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventor: Manuel Lluberas
  • Publication number: 20140249882
    Abstract: A method or system of optimally scheduling projects with resource constraints and stochastic task durations. This is a new framework in order to solve real world problems of uncertainties and computational dilemma in project scheduling and management. This new framework is devised with a constraint programming (CP) procedure as an approximate dynamic programming (ADP) to reduce the size of domain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Inventor: Haitao Li
  • Publication number: 20140249883
    Abstract: Store intelligence—in-store analytics (“in-store analytics”) techniques are provided that, by combining analytics with experience, improve the shopping, managing, monitoring, etc., experience of an end user. In-store analytics can be integrated with workflow for optimizing and assisting prioritizing operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Inventors: Nelson A. CICCHITTO, Christopher W. ARNOLD, Anthony R. T. SIMMONS
  • Publication number: 20140249884
    Abstract: A production management system is configured to dynamically controlling inventory of a semiconductor product to prevent overstock and stockout. The production management system includes a production planning module including components containing data of demand forecast, and customer order. The production management system further includes a dynamic inventory control module including a dynamic inventory control simulation module and an inventory management system, wherein the dynamic inventory control simulation module is configured to adjust a target inventory if a current inventory is beyond a threshold multiplied by the target inventory for M number of review cycles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Andy HONG, Edwin D. LIOU, Chiapin WEN, Winston TSAI, Chih-Sheng SHIH
  • Publication number: 20140249885
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to systems and methods for providing a custom search based on search input entered by a user, shopping history of the user, retailer identifications, and products to be promoted by the retailers. The system may leverage a combination of retailer and user information to customize search results for the user. The system facilitates a search platform where retailers may provide items being promoted such that promoted items may feature prominently in search results and/or be included in search results while non-promoted items may be featured less prominently n search results and/or be excluded from the search results. In this manner, the retailer may more successfully drive sales of promoted items. Users may benefit from use of the search platform by receiving relevant results that are customized for the user and include items that are being promoted so that the user is made aware of relevant promotions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: Catalina Marketing Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. GREENFIELD, Terrance Snyder, Don Irion
  • Publication number: 20140249886
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method and system for determining probable exposure to a visual display at a particular location. The invention involves receiving object data associated with at least one object proximate, or in viewing proximity, to the visual display; and processing the received object data to determine a probable demographic profile associated with the object, wherein the determined probable demographic profiles are used to determine the exposure to the visual display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Inventor: Steven Mark Levinsohn
  • Publication number: 20140249887
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a monitoring system for monitoring customers within a retailing premises. The monitoring system includes a data processing arrangement, and a wireless communication network coupled in communication with the data processing arrangement. The customers are provided with corresponding wireless devices. Each wireless device is identified by an associated identification code (ID). The wireless devices communicate with the wireless communication network, and thereby enable the data processing arrangement to monitor and record routes of the customers using these wireless devices within the retailing premises.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: RAPIDBLUE SOLUTIONS OY
    Inventor: RapidBlue Solutions Oy
  • Publication number: 20140249888
    Abstract: A system and method is provided that provides an early indication of consensus of opinion among a number of users regarding an event or observation indicated by a user. Such an opinion may be interesting to an information consumer, who may be interested in determining the outcome of the consensus relating to the event or observation, or may otherwise desire to perform surveillance or survey of a particular issue or subject. Such recognition of early events or observations may be useful where initial observations, if provided early, allow resulting decisions to be made much earlier. The opinion may, for instance, be used as an early indicator of problem with a product, company, etc. that would permit an information consumer to perform an action at a much earlier point than if he/she relied on traditional sources of information. Thus, such opinion information may be invaluable as a tool for monitoring events.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: SERMO, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Palestrant, Graham S. Gardner
  • Publication number: 20140249889
    Abstract: The following disclosure relates generally to techniques for generating useful content based on user interactions, such as by enabling users to submit questions to and otherwise interact with an answer-providing service. In some situations, one or more interfaces are provided to allow users to specify a variety of types of questions for the answer-providing service, such as via a GUI and/or using a messaging interface based on email or other types of electronic messages. When communications occur via electronic messages, the answer-providing service may in some situations generate and include unique tracking identifiers in electronic messages sent to users, so that the users can reply back to the messages in order to provide a command to the answer-providing service that includes a tracking identifier previously sent to the user and thus verify that the command is sent by someone with access to the electronic messages of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph C. Park, Kian Fai Leong
  • Publication number: 20140249890
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method of strategic learning and, in particular, to a system and method that allows evaluation to occur in real-time, shifts evaluation from the researcher to the program manager, and provides a feedback loop regarding evaluation findings. In one embodiment, the method comprises steps of: 1) learning preparation, wherein a team is established to implement a model, 2) roadmap development, wherein tangible outcomes are created and identified, 3) focused learning, wherein a plurality of outcomes from step 2) are identified and then considered critical, 4) systematic data collection wherein one asks how to collect data that is meaningful, and 5) strategies improvement, wherein data collection is used to change strategy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: The Center for Systems Integration d/b/a Spark Policy Institute
    Inventor: Jewlya Lynn
  • Publication number: 20140249891
    Abstract: A method and system for capturing and analyzing human behavior data is disclosed. The present disclosure describes a method and system for a plurality of people, wherein each person wears a badge. The badge transmits data collected from a plurality of sensors from the badge to a base station. The data is sent from the base station to a server, which aggregates the data from a plurality of base stations, and then analyzes and processes the data to create raw human behavior data. From the raw human behavior data and plurality of metrics is calculated, which can be displayed on a computer screen according to whichever metrics a user wishes to view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: Sociometric Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Olguin Olguin, Tuomas Jaanu, Derek Heyman, Benjamin Waber
  • Publication number: 20140249892
    Abstract: Integrated management environmental sustainability system and method that includes a server (4) connected to a plurality of work stations (1, 1?, 1?), at least one per company integrated in the system; each of the work stations including means for entering data (2) and its submittal to the server (4) via a WLAN (3); and where said server (4) also includes a first means for accessing (100) the application on the server; a second means for administering (200) the application on the server, configured for managing the administrative data upon which the application is based; a third means for inventorying (300), configured for defining parameters and requests, and a fourth means for companies (400), where the sources and their emissions are contained as well as the means for calculating them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: SIMOSA I.T., S.A.
    Inventors: Alvaro Lobato Moreno, Fernando Martinez Salcedo, José Maria Moriña Diaz, Carlos Sanchez Perez, José Pablo Soriano Canela, Cristina Cuesta Delgado, José Manuel Delgado Rufino, Pablo Collazo Sanchez, Carlos Bousoño Crespo
  • Publication number: 20140249893
    Abstract: Embodiments of agricultural performance information systems are presented and disclosed herein. Other examples and related methods are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: MachineryLink, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert McClure, Jay Lang, Landon Morris, William C. Mayes
  • Publication number: 20140249894
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring compliance status are described herein. System performance data for multiple time-ordered reference periods is determined. A compliance status for each reference period is determined based on the system performance data. For each reference period, it is determined whether the reference period is a historical reference period or a current reference period. A set of selected historical reference periods to display is determined. A graphical visualization of the set of selected historical reference periods is generated using a set of nested graphical objects. Each graphical object in the set of nested graphical objects represents a compliance status of a historical reference period of the set of selected historical reference periods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Inventor: Jean-Charles Picard
  • Publication number: 20140249895
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve systems and methods for engaging in votes and/or voting related activities. According to various aspects, a voting poll may be generated including one or more voting questions and/or prompts that enable users to provide voting responses. Any received votes may be transmitted to a vote management system which applies the vote to one or more of the voting questions included within the voting poll. Once a vote has been received, the vote management system may maintain the integrity of a vote by prohibiting double votes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Inventors: Todd Kenneth Anderson, Michael Arthur Domer
  • Publication number: 20140249896
    Abstract: Tracking the use of at least one destination location is disclosed. Initially, five or more first images are received from a first camera. A first static characteristic, a second static characteristic, a first dynamic characteristic, and a second dynamic characteristic of the first vehicle are determined based the five or more first images. The second static characteristic is determined to be approximately equal to the first static characteristic. The second dynamic characteristic is determined to be approximately equal to the first dynamic characteristic. In response, it is determined that the first vehicle is traversing a portion of a roadway. Then, it is determined that the first vehicle is stopped within the at least one destination location at a first time. It is then determined that the first vehicle left the at least one destination location at a second time that is after the first time. Finally, the first time and the second time are indicated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Inventors: Steven David Nerayoff, Thompson S. Wong
  • Publication number: 20140249897
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for facilitating collaboration amongst individuals working on a coordinated campaign toward certain goals. In furtherance of these goals, the individual team members use technical resources provided by specialized tools, which are also sometimes referred to as applications or products. As the campaign progresses, these applications generate a large volume of data, some of which may be useful to teams other than those which were originally responsible for producing the data. In certain embodiments a campaign manager platform is used to facilitate data sharing and collaboration amongst the various teams that comprise a campaign. In such embodiments the individual team members interact not only with the applications specifically adapted for their team, but also with the campaign manager, which provides a medium for exchanging data and ideas with other teams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: ADOBE SYSTEMS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Adobe Systems Incorporated
  • Publication number: 20140249898
    Abstract: A manufacture, comprising a non-transitory non-volatile computer-readable storage device that can include computer-readable code for managing a sponsorship transaction and interpretable by a processor to cause a computing system to perform a process that can include including presenting to a user a human-readable representation of a plurality of objectives, receiving from the user a designated business objective, storing, in a first data record of a database, the designated business objective, presenting to the user a human-readable representation of a plurality of criteria, receiving from the user a designated criteria, storing, in the database, the designated criteria in a second data record, based on receiving the designated business objective and the designated criteria, matching a property, and presenting to the user a human-readable representation of the property.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Inventor: Meredith Leigh Ostoich
  • Publication number: 20140249899
    Abstract: A system, computer program product and a method of applying rewards to fees in qualifying accounts of a financial institution are provided. The system, computer program product and method ensure that one or more reward accounts of a single account holder or “household” of account holders at the financial institution are qualified to receive a reward, are entitled to receive income other than the reward amount, that the account holder of the account is enrolled to receive one or more service for a service fees from the financial institution and that the fees are entitled to be automatically offset against income earned by the reward accounts during the predetermined cycle. If so, the system, computer program product and method deduct the fees from the sum of earned reward amount and the income other than the reward amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: BANCVUE, LTD.
    Inventors: Gabriel Michael Krajicek, Gregory Michael Corlin, Diane R. Christensen
  • Publication number: 20140249900
    Abstract: An affiliate system according to the embodiment acquires an introduction request including information on a product or service that a user of a first terminal decides to introduce to a user of a second terminal among products or services purchased or used by the user of the first terminal, selects from among users of respective second terminals, the user of the second terminal who is associated with the user of the first terminal and who visits a purchase site or use site of the product or service specified in the introduction request, and notifies introduction information corresponding to the introduction request to the second terminal of the selected user. If the user of the second terminal purchases or uses the product or service on the basis of the introduction information, a reward is provided to the user of the first terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: YAHOO JAPAN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideo OZAWA, Takeshi SEKIGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20140249901
    Abstract: A customer selects a payment source and authorizes payment by sending Short Message Service (SMS) text messages or secure hypertext transfer protocol (HTTPS) requests from the customer's mobile phone or device. A SMS payment software-plugin is installed on a Point-Of-Sale (POS) terminal and launches a price match search and can fetch customer rewards. When a customer requests to pay by SMS, the plugin is activated and the customer's mobile phone number and zip code or POS PIN are entered on the POS terminal. The POS terminal sends a request to a SMS payment system, which sends SMS text messages to the customer's mobile device. The details are discussed. The application on marketplace based on circle of friends and family is also discussed, which connects the people to schools or universities, to support them financially, through Koincloud marketplace.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Inventors: Bahman Qawami, Hossein Abar, Don Kadish, Don McAllister
  • Publication number: 20140249902
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for providing a follow-up survey for purchases made at a merchant entity. A customer can make a purchase at a merchant entity, such as a restaurant, and a system can coordinate and store data about the customer using a purchasing account. When the customer visits a website or application associated with the merchant entity, the system can determine if an offer to take a survey exists for the customer. If an offer exists, the system can prompt the customer to take the survey to receive a discount on future purchases made at the merchant entity. Once the customer completes the survey, the system monitors future purchases by the customer and applies the discount appropriately the next time the customer uses the purchasing account at the merchant entity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: GiftYa LLC
    Inventors: Thomas M. Isaacson, Ryan C. DURHAM, Adam LUDWIG, Patrick LEDBETTER
  • Publication number: 20140249903
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a different system and methods which is offered to consumers and merchants. It describes the affordability it provide by reducing the numbers of touch points required for consumers to recognize a discount through the redemption of coupons. Along with a system accessible by merchants for entering products on coupons for savings to consumers. It details the critical components required for a seamless and transparent method to enter, view, select, collect, and redeem multiple coupon offers in a single scan or swipe of a mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Inventor: GERALD K. PRESTON
  • Publication number: 20140249904
    Abstract: The invention is directed to systems and methods for using a virtual gift card having an associated value, operable on a mobile device having a processor and memory, the mobile device linked to a virtual gift card manager, the method including: identifying a geographic identifier for the mobile device; matching the geographic identifier with at least one virtual gift card stored on the mobile device; determining an amount of value associated with the at least one virtual gift card; identifying any offers or promotions redeemable with the amount of value; displaying the at least one virtual gift card, the amount of value, and any offers or promotions on the mobile device; and selectively enabling a transaction utilizing the virtual gift card, the transaction based at least in part on the any offers or promotions, the transaction including a manipulation of value associated with the at least one virtual gift card.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: e2interactive, Inc. d/b/a e2Interactive, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Nelsen, Phil M. Chakiris
  • Publication number: 20140249905
    Abstract: The invention refers to a method for handling electronic coupons, particularly in the retail and/or service industry, whereby a mobile terminal device, particularly a mobile phone or smartphone is used to pay cashless for one or several products and/or services—products—at a pay terminal, whereby the data to execute the payment process/the payment are preferably transmitted wirelessly between the mobile terminal device and the payment terminal via near field communication (NFC), whereby a receipt with regard to the paid products is transmitted to the mobile terminal device, whereby using the receipt information on the receipt the mobile terminal device preferably sends a request to the central database, whereby the database processes the request, whereby the database provides an electronic coupon for a coupon product depending on the receipt information transmitted in the request and whereby the electronic coupon is automatically redeemed when paying for the coupon product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Inventor: Oliver C. Mehler
  • Publication number: 20140249906
    Abstract: Fulfilling a pre-order for a collection of media items in an online store and enforcing one or more pricing schemes which adjust the price charged for the collection of media items purchased as a pre-order.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Farman A. Syed, Tara Uyeyama, David Neumann, Alan Yu, Mike H. Schrag, David Makower, Taylor Gerard Carrigan, Timothy Lester Parthemore, Tracy Pirnack, Jill Harwell, Jay Liepis, Jonathan B. Leffert, Elizabeth Trumbull, Jonathan M. Lee, Mufaddal Y. Khumri
  • Publication number: 20140249907
    Abstract: There is provided a center server and a store terminal to enhance the targeting accuracy in providing services. The center server gives a unique ID to a member application, sends it to a particular mobile information terminal and manages it as authentication information about a member who is the user of the mobile information terminal. In response to purchases of a particular article by the member, the store terminal inputs the ID from the mobile information terminal and inputs purchase information about the article the member purchases. The center server then acquires attribute information about a member identified by the ID. Then, by checking the purchase information, the attribute information and service information set in association with attribute information about the member and kinds of articles and stored in particular storage means, information about a service to be provided for the member is identified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Holdings Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi INOUE, Akira TADA, Yohei TAKABE, Satoru WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20140249908
    Abstract: A method and system for the creation of coupons at a centralized server and distribution to multiple users is shown. The coupons are received at mobile devices and are redeemed at participating retail locations, which connect to an administration server that employs both an online and offline authentication process to ensure users are attempting to redeem valid coupon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Inventors: John STAINES, Graydon Jefferies BUTLER, James Gordon Patrick CUNNINGHAM
  • Publication number: 20140249909
    Abstract: An electronic receipt system includes an electronic receipt collective management unit which associates a code of a consumer with electronic receipt information including information concerning a payment made by the consumer in different stores, a reception unit which receives an input a search condition pertaining to an electronic receipt, a search unit which searches the electronic receipt collective management unit based on the search condition, and an output unit which outputs a result of search acquired by the search unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi GOTANDA, Keiichi HASEGAWA, Satoru ISHIHARA, Etsuroh KAWAMURA
  • Publication number: 20140249910
    Abstract: A transaction aggregator aggregates a plurality of transaction account charges for a user transaction account. The transaction charges are received from merchants for acquisitions made by a user. The user is offered an option to make at least a partial payment to the user transaction account by redeeming rewards from at least one user reward account associated with a rewards issuer. A reward redemption instruction is received from the user, the reward redemption instruction designating the redemption of rewards from at least one user reward account. The user reward account(s) designated by the user is caused to redeem the rewards by decreasing the rewards in the user reward account and conveying corresponding consideration to the transaction aggregator. A credit is provided on the user transaction account for an amount corresponding to the value of the rewards decreased in the user reward account(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: SIGNATURE SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventor: Richard Postrel
  • Publication number: 20140249911
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for facilitating collaboration amongst individuals working on a coordinated campaign toward certain goals. In furtherance of these goals, the individual team members use technical resources provided by specialized tools, which are also sometimes referred to as applications or products. As the campaign progresses, these applications generate a large volume of data, some of which may be useful to teams other than those which were originally responsible for producing the data. In certain embodiments a campaign manager platform is used to facilitate data sharing and collaboration amongst the various teams that comprise a campaign. In such embodiments the individual team members interact not only with the applications specifically adapted for their team, but also with the campaign manager, which provides a medium for exchanging data and ideas with other teams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: ADOBE SYSTEMS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Adobe Systems Incorporated
  • Publication number: 20140249912
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for facilitating collaboration amongst individuals working on a coordinated campaign toward certain goals. In furtherance of these goals, the individual team members use technical resources provided by specialized tools, which are also sometimes referred to as applications or products. As the campaign progresses, these applications generate a large volume of data, some of which may be useful to teams other than those which were originally responsible for producing the data. In certain embodiments a campaign manager platform is used to facilitate data sharing and collaboration amongst the various teams that comprise a campaign. In such embodiments the individual team members interact not only with the applications specifically adapted for their team, but also with the campaign manager, which provides a medium for exchanging data and ideas with other teams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: ADOBE SYSTEMS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Adobe Systems Incorporated
  • Publication number: 20140249913
    Abstract: An information management center transmits advertisement information to a vehicle. The vehicle displays a predetermined advertisement on a body display part based on the transmitted advertisement information. After a predetermined time has passed since the display of the advertisement by the body display part ended, the information management center acquires the results information about change of the sales results of an advertised good which is an object of a predetermined advertisement from the store existing within a predetermined distance from a location of the body display part through a network. The information management center returns remuneration to a user of the vehicle which permitted use of the body display part, when a sales volume, for example, is increasing based on the acquired results information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masato Endo
  • Publication number: 20140249914
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for optimally allocating an online advertising budget for a search engine marketing (SEM) campaign among a fixed set of keywords.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Pavel Berkhin, Usama M. Fayyad, Scott Gaffney, Bassel Ojjeh, Rajesh Girish Parekh, Andrew Tomkins
  • Publication number: 20140249915
    Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments disclosed herein relate to systems and/or methods for distributing advertisements from a central advertisement network to one or more peripheral devices at a location via a local advertisement server. In certain exemplary embodiments, the local advertisement server within a location receives advertisements from the central advertisement network and rebroadcasts them to peripheral devices within that location. Advertising information may be tracked and reported, e.g., for accounting, revenue-sharing, and/or other purposes in certain exemplary embodiments. Thus, in certain exemplary embodiments, the distribution of advertisements is provided to peripherals via a non-web- and non-PC-dependent network. Moreover, in certain exemplary embodiments, reporting and advertising related communications are substantially bi-directional regardless of device type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: TouchTunes Music Corporation
    Inventors: Dominique DION, Michael TOOKER, Francois GUY, Mounir KHENFIR