Patents Issued in May 2, 2017
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Patent number: 9639808Abstract: There is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute a process for attribute estimation. The process includes: extracting, for each user, feature quantities of plural pieces of image information that are associated with attributes of the user; integrating the extracted feature quantities for each user; and performing learning, input of the learning being an integrated feature quantity that has been obtained as a result of integration for each user, output of the learning being one attribute, and generating a learning model.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2014Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventors: Xiaojun Ma, Yukihiro Tsuboshita, Noriji Kato
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Patent number: 9639809Abstract: A computing device identifies outliers. Support vectors, Lagrange constants, a center threshold value, an upper control limit value, and a lower control limit value are received that define a normal operating condition of a system. The center threshold value, the upper control limit value, and the lower control limit value are computed from the vectors and the Lagrange constants. A first plurality of observation vectors is received for a predefined window length. A window threshold value and a window center vector are computed. A window distance value is computed between the window center vector and the support vectors. Based on comparisons between the computed values and the received values, the first plurality of observation vectors is identified as an outlier relative to the normal operating condition of the system. When the first plurality of observation vectors are identified as the outlier, an alert is output.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2016Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: SAS Institute Inc.Inventors: Deovrat Vijay Kakde, Sergiy Peredriy, Arin Chaudhuri, Anya M. McGuirk
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Patent number: 9639810Abstract: An information processing device performs data communication with a server through a predetermined network, and transmits a result of reviewing a review target to the server. The information processing device executes, in accordance with an operation of a user, execution processing of any review target which is selected from a plurality of review targets, and updates and stores an execution history of the review target. The information processing device extracts a reviewable review target from the plurality of review targets based on the stored execution history of each review target. The information processing device generates review information reviewing at least one extracted review target in accordance with an operation of the user, and transmits the review information to the server.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2007Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.Inventors: Satoru Iwata, Kiyoshi Mizuki, Kei Uramoto
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Patent number: 9639811Abstract: A method for identifying a simulated social media account history is provided. The method may include querying a social media identification information (“social media ID”) to determine whether the account history includes one or more parameters that indicate whether the social media ID is related to an automated entity or a human entity. The parameters may include at least one of less than a threshold number of friends on the account. The parameters may include more than a threshold frequency of historic ticket purchases per unit time. The parameters may also include disparate location of historic ticket purchases per unit time. The parameters may also include a historic record of less than a threshold reaction time to a plurality of ticket offers.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2016Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: SONGKICK.COM B.V.Inventors: Callum Merriman, Joshua C. Block
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Patent number: 9639812Abstract: A system and method for accommodating disrupted travelers utilizing scoring and optimization techniques.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2013Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: AMERICAN AIRLINES, INC.Inventors: Tuell Coleman Green, Ande Murali, Steven D. Leist, James Tullos Diamond
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Patent number: 9639813Abstract: A method and device determines an optimization solution for an optimization problem. The method includes receiving the optimization problem having cost functions and variables in which each of the cost functions has a predetermined relationship with select ones of the variables. The method includes generating a first message for each of the cost functions for each corresponding variable based upon the respective predetermined relationship and a second message for each of the variables for each corresponding cost function based upon the respective predetermined relationship. The method includes generating a disagreement variable for each corresponding pair of variables and cost functions measuring a disagreement value between the first and second beliefs. The method includes repeating steps (b), (c), and (d) until a consensus is formed between the first and second messages until the optimization solution is determined based upon the consensus.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2013Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.Inventors: Jonathan Yedidia, Nate Derbinsky, Jose Bento Ayres Pereira, Veit Elser
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Patent number: 9639814Abstract: Techniques are described for automatically selecting default dimensions of multidimensional data for publication. A computer-implemented system, for example, includes a data store having multidimensional data. The multidimensional data includes one or more data cubes having dimensions. The system further includes a publish module for accessing the data store and publishing the multidimensional data associated with the data cubes. The publish module selects a default dimension for publication for each of the data cubes based on attributes of the dimensions.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2008Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Michael Gould, Mark Antrobus, Thomas Legault
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Patent number: 9639815Abstract: Managing processes in an Enterprise Intelligence (‘EI’) assembly of an EI framework, including: for each executing EI assembly in the EI framework, in real time: tracking, by the process state transition manager, the present state of processes of each executing EI assembly; analyzing, by the process state transition manager, the present state; and storing, by the process state transition manager, results of the state analysis.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2011Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Francis X. Reddington, Neil Sahota
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Patent number: 9639816Abstract: A survey data structure is described that specifies how to administer a survey to each of a group of people. The data structure contains an entry that specifies text that poses a fabrication gauge question for which a percentage of the population who can accurately answer the fabrication gauge question affirmatively is known. The data structure further contains a plurality of entries that each specify text posing an unlikely question for which the percentage of the population who can accurately answer the unlikely question affirmatively is small. The data structure specifies how to conduct a survey that serves as a basis for determining which people to whom the survey is administered are responding truthfully to the survey.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2012Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: Lightspeed, LLCInventors: Mitchell Eggers, Eli Drake
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Patent number: 9639817Abstract: A method for remotely recording Web usage by a panelist includes receiving at a remote processor, a command from a local client to display a Web page; identifying the local client and the panelist operating the local client; accessing the Web page; rendering the Web page in a remote browser; sending an image of the Web page to a local browser of the local client; and recording Web usage metrics associated with a display of the image on the local browser.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2013Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: Google, Inc.Inventor: Simon Michael Rowe
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Patent number: 9639818Abstract: An event type generator may provide a training set for classifying documents with respect to an event type. The event type generator may include a request handler to receive the event type and at least one example document, a text analyzer to extract first entities from the at least one example document, and a result manager to execute a first search against an indexed corpus of documents, to obtain first search results, and further to receive at least one selected document from the first search results. The request handler may extract second entities from the at least one selected document, and execute a second search against the indexed corpus of documents, to obtain second search results. The event type generator may thus provide the at least one example document, the first search results, and the second search results as the training set.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2013Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: SAP SEInventor: Mohammad Shami
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Patent number: 9639819Abstract: A delivery server includes: an update unit configured to update a remaining gas amount on a basis of a gas usage obtained based on comparison between a plurality of sets of meter indication data when receiving a set of meter indication data, included in the plurality of sets of meter indication data, of a gas meter configured to detect the gas usage in a gas cylinder; a prediction unit configured to predict a prospective remaining gas amount on a basis of a change in a past gas usage obtained based on comparison between the past gas usages consumed in the gas cylinder; and a determination unit configured to determine a date on which the predicted remaining gas amount reaches a predetermined value as a delivery date of the gas cylinder.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2013Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: Nippon Gas Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shinji Wada, Shingo Dekamo
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Patent number: 9639820Abstract: Techniques are provided that produce a risk profile consisting of a risk score and trends of risk scores across devices and sensors in a machine-to-machine (M2M) or Internet of things (IOT) environment. For example, a device is assigned a risk score which is based on baseline factors such as expected network packets between two devices, normal network packets, access to critical devices, authorized access requests from one device to another device, normal communications to a device, and the critical ports of a device; access to and conflicts across physical, logical, and operational systems; historical and current usage of these systems, and anomalies from normal behavior patterns. Techniques encompass risk management by computing a risk score in a timely fashion in accordance with an architecture that enables achieving the required scaling necessitated by the huge number of devices in the machine-to-machine (M2M) or Internet of things (IOT) environment.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2016Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: Alert EnterpriseInventors: Subrat Narendra Singh, Srinivasa Kakkera, Kiu Li, Prathap Sakala
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Patent number: 9639821Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media. A method includes receiving virtual mail piece data and receiving a mail piece, the mail piece having machine-readable indicia on an exterior surface. The method includes decoding the indicia to produce a mail piece identifier and identifying a recipient of the mail piece using the mail piece identifier. The method includes retrieving subscription preferences from a recipient database according to the identified recipient. The method includes electronically sending a virtual mail piece to the recipient, the virtual mail piece corresponding to the mail piece, the virtual mail piece data, and the subscription preferences.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2012Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.Inventors: Stanley Wayne Sipe, Michael O. Norris
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Patent number: 9639822Abstract: A method and system of processing a mailing label through a postal service are provided. The method includes causing, by a computer system associated with a postage provider, a mailing label for mailing a mail piece to be generated, the mailing label including a tracking mark; receiving, by the computer system associated with the postage provider an indication that the tracking mark is detected when the mail piece is inducted in the mail stream or during transit of the mail piece in the mail stream; and creating, by the computer system associated with the postage provider, a record of a transaction for an amount of postage based on the received indication that the tracking mark is detected.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: PSI SYSTEMS, INC.Inventor: Harry T. Whitehouse
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Patent number: 9639823Abstract: An electric product which includes a recognition device obtaining information about a food item to be added to a storage compartment, and a display unit displaying information about a food item stored in the storage compartment. The electric product further includes a memory unit storing the information about the food item stored in the storage compartment, and a control unit controlling the display unit. The recognition device obtains information about a food item to be added. The control unit stores the information about the food to be added in the memory unit and displays the information about the food added to the memory unit on the display unit.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2013Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Hyoungjun Park, Jongmi Choi, Museung Kim, Yanghwan Kim
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Patent number: 9639824Abstract: Containers for an inventory system can be formed from a set of container segments bounded by container partitions. The container segments can be coupled end to end to one another and include receiving features for receiving partitions therein. A segment can separate from an adjacent segment in response to receiving a partition in a receiving feature at an end of one of the segments, or in response to interaction with decoupler distinct from the partition. Containers of differing lengths can be provided by using partitions to bound different numbers of interconnected segments.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2014Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Jeremiah David Brazeau
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Patent number: 9639825Abstract: In certain embodiments, a system receives a request sent by a device to authorize an operation. The system initiates display of an image encoding a challenge code to allow the device to capture the image and extract the challenge code. The device calculates a response using the challenge code and a seed, and sends the response to the system. In certain examples, the device may send the request over a first channel and the response over a second channel distinct from the first channel. In other examples, the device displays the response and a user inputs the response into a computing system to send to the system.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2011Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Gregory B. Roth, Nathan R. Fitch, Graeme D. Baer
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Patent number: 9639826Abstract: A method of controlling a mobile terminal including executing, via a controller of the mobile terminal, an application; displaying, via a display unit of the mobile terminal, a display screen including information output by the executing application; displaying, via the display unit, a memo writing window on the display screen including the information output by the executing application; receiving, via the controller, a memo written in the memo writing window; linking, via the controller, the written memo to the information displayed in the display screen when the memo was written in the memo writing window; storing, via a memory of the mobile terminal, the linked memo and information; and re-displaying the memo linked with the information on the display screen if the application is re-executed.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2011Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Ilbyoung Yi, Byoungkwon Lee
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Patent number: 9639827Abstract: In an example embodiment, a plurality of member profiles in a social networking service are obtained, each member profile identifying a member and listing one or more skills the corresponding member has explicitly added to the member profile, the one or more skills indicating a proficiency by the member in the corresponding skill. A members-skills matrix is formed with members on one axis of the matrix and skills on another axis of the matrix, wherein each cell in the matrix is assigned a first value if the corresponding member explicitly lists the corresponding skill in the corresponding member profile and a second value if the corresponding member does not explicitly list the corresponding skill in the corresponding member profile. The members-skills matrix is factorized into a members matrix and a skills matrix in k-dimensional latent space, and then the dot product of the members matrix and the skills matrix is computed.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2015Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: LinkedIn CorporationInventors: Jia Li, Dhruv Arya, Shakti Dhirendraji Sinha, Viet Thuc Ha, Deepak Agarwal
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Patent number: 9639828Abstract: Generally, embodiments of the invention are directed to methods, computer readable media, servers and systems for enabling merchants to use hosted order pages (HOPs) and/or silent order posts (SOPs) and thereby avoid handling payment information and the costs associated Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliance, while at the same time utilize third-party fraud detection screens and thereby avoid costs associated with fraudulent transactions.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2012Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: Visa International Service AssociationInventors: Lisa Anderson, Sonny Truong
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Patent number: 9639829Abstract: A method for making a location-based automatic payment includes receiving an automatic payment instruction that designates a payee account. The automatic payment instruction is associated with a payer account in a database. A payment location is received and associated with the automatic payment request in the database. A payer device that is associated with the payer account is determined to be in the payment location and, in response, a payment request is sent over a network to make a payment from the payer account to the payee account.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2012Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: PAYPAL, INC.Inventor: Frank Anthony Nuzzi
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Patent number: 9639830Abstract: Embodiments of systems, methods and devices for electronic bill presentment and payment are disclosed. Such embodiments include receiving one or more instructions from a biller at a remote computer server. Further, the remote computer server implements an electronic bill presentment and payment (EBPP) workflow configuration module and provisions, using the EBPP workflow configuration module, one or more configuration parameters for the biller based on the one or more received instructions. In addition, embodiments include configuring, dynamically an EBPP workflow based on the one or more received instructions and provisioned configuration parameters using the EBPP workflow configuration module. The configuring of the EBPP workflow includes generating a state machine implementing the EBPP workflow.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2014Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: Aliaswire, Inc.Inventors: Alexander Rodriguez, Hossein Mohsenzadeh
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Patent number: 9639831Abstract: A method (400, 500) and a system (100) of conducting transactions for acquisition of virtual items. The method can include receiving from a user (108) a request to acquire the virtual item. Responsive to an identity indicator (112) that is exclusively unique to an identity confirmation device (110) being communicated from the identity confirmation device, a determination can be made whether the identity indicator corresponds to the user. Responsive to determining that the identity indicator corresponds to the user, the virtual item can be provided to the user. The method also can include receiving from a user a request to acquire the virtual item, receiving from an identity confirmation device an identity indicator exclusively unique to the identity confirmation device, and communicating the request and the identity indicator from the client device to a server (104).Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2007Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: GOOGLE TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLCInventors: Charles P. Schultz, Jose C. Lacal, Von A. Mock, Arnold W. Pittler
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Patent number: 9639832Abstract: Techniques for implementing software licensing in a massive parallel processing environment on the basis of the actual use of licensed software instances are disclosed. In one embodiment, rather than using a license server or a node-locked license strategy, each use of a licensed software instance is monitored and correlated with a token. A store of tokens is maintained within the licensing system and a token is consumed after each instance successfully executes. Further, a disclosed embodiment also allows jobs that execute multiple software instances to complete execution, even if an adequate number of tokens does not exist for each remaining software instance. Once the license tokens are repurchased and replenished, any overage consumed from previous job executions may be reconciled. In this way, token-based licensing can be adapted to large scale computing environments that execute jobs of large and unpredictable sizes, while the cancellation of executing jobs may be avoided.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2012Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Jerrold M. Heyman, Michael L. Nelson, Andrew G. Tonkin
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Patent number: 9639833Abstract: A commodity sales data processing apparatus comprises a wireless communication section; an input section configured to input commodity specification information specifying a commodity; a determination unit configured to determine whether or not wireless communication with a portable terminal of a customer is established; and a communication unit configured to wirelessly transmit information for the display of settlement information based on the commodity specification information input from the input section on the portable terminal from the wireless communication section to the portable terminal on condition that the determination unit determines that wireless communication with the portable terminal is established.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2014Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Shota Konishi
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Patent number: 9639834Abstract: There are provided systems and methods for suspending and resuming transactions through wireless beacon communications. A merchant may set up a wireless beacon with employee devices. The beacons may connect to a user's device and assist the employee with determining and suspending a transaction for the user. Based on the connections between the user's device and a wireless beacon attached to an employee device, the employee device may receive an identifier for the user. The identifier may also be received from a previous check-in by the user. The employee or a user may scan one or more items that the user may wish to purchase. A transaction may be generated using the scan and may be associated with the user's identifier. Later the transaction may be recalled using the user's identifier or a transaction code identifying the transaction. Payment information for the user may also be associated with the transaction.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2016Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: PAYPAL, INC.Inventor: Mobeen Syed
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Patent number: 9639835Abstract: A method and system include receiving a payment authorization request that comprises payment data and a Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN) associated with a mobile device; verifying the MSISDN by comparing MSISDN to a subscriber database; generating a message to verify a payment transaction, after the MSISDN is validated; receiving the verification message at the mobile device; verifying the payment transaction by transmitting a mobile personal identification number (PIN) associated with the MSISDN in response to the verification message; generating an authorization message indicating the payment transaction is one of approved or declined; and transmitting the authorization message. Numerous other aspects are provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2016Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: MasterCard International IncorporatedInventors: Akshat Gupta, Ricardo Pareja
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Patent number: 9639836Abstract: Embodiments are directed to digital wallet management. Embodiments initiate presentation of a digital wallet management interface, comprising initiating presentation of at least one digital wallet; and initiating presentation of at least one representation of at least one payment credential and at least one indication of which of the at least one digital wallets are associated with each of the at least one payment credentials.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2016Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATIONInventors: Laura Corinne Bondesen, Jason P. Blackhurst, Scott Lee Harkey, William Blakely Belchee, Tammy L. Brunswig
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Patent number: 9639837Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus, processes, computer program code and means for conducting transactions are described which allow a first party to a transaction to identify a second party to a transaction.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2015Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: PAYPAL, INC.Inventor: Kevin Laracey
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Patent number: 9639838Abstract: Fraud risk is monitored in financial transactions. Biometric information is received over the communications interface configured to exchange data with multiple distinct financial institutions. The received biometric information is compared with a database of biometric information to identify an individual. A fraud-detection analysis is performed on the financial transaction information associated with the individual. The financial transaction information associated with the individual is identified as suspicious in accordance with a result of the fraud-detection analysis. The biometric parameters associated with the individual are designated as associated with suspicious financial activity.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2014Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: Early Warning Services, LLCInventors: Julie McNelley, Glen Sgambati, Sathish Anickode
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Patent number: 9639839Abstract: An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a first memory unit for storing a non-payment application, a first processor, a fingerprint sensing unit and a security element including a second memory unit and a second processor. The second memory unit stores a payment application and user fingerprint information. When the second processor executes the payment application, the fingerprint sensing unit captures a fingerprint image of a user's finger and the second processor transmits the fingerprint image to the first processor via a secure channel. The first processor calculates biometric characteristics of the fingerprint image to generate to-be-recognized fingerprint information which is transmitted to the second processor via the secure channel. When the second processor determines that the to-be-recognized fingerprint information matches the user fingerprint information, the second processor generates an authentication signal for a payment transaction.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2015Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: Egis Technology Inc.Inventors: Jung-Chien Lee, Chieh-Pin Su
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Patent number: 9639840Abstract: A payment settlement terminal device includes a housing that has a first surface having an operation display surface, a second surface at the opposite side of the operation display surface, and a step portion formed on one end side of the second surface in parallel with the end edge of one end side. A length of the housing in thickness direction in the one end side adjacent to the step portion is greater than a length of the housing in thickness direction in the other end side of the step portion, and a non-secure area not having tamper-resistance at the one end side of the housing and a secure area having the tamper-resistance at the other end side of the housing. A payment settlement terminal device is provided, in which the security can be ensured and the user can easily perform the payment settlement.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2015Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventor: Takeshi Ninomiya
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Patent number: 9639841Abstract: In one example, a method for promoting learned discourse in online forums includes posting forum content on a forum server and providing access to users to the content through an I/O module. The method further includes receiving a comment from a user and analyzing the comment from the user to produce an a priori score for the comment. A portable certificate of status is accepted from the user and used to produce a posteriori score for the comment. A system for promoting learned discourse in online forums is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2013Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Inventors: Stephen B. Heppe, Kenan G. Heppe
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Patent number: 9639842Abstract: A system and method for accommodating disrupted travelers utilizing scoring and optimization techniques.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2014Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: AMERICAN AIRLINES, INC.Inventors: Tuell Coleman Green, Murali Ande, Steven D. Leist, James Tullos Diamond
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Patent number: 9639843Abstract: A mobile computerized apparatus for use with a roadside assistance program to assist in identifying a service provider, such as a tow truck, is disclosed. The apparatus transmits relevant information to a remote server. The server in turn provides information about a plurality of service providers available to service the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2015Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: Allstate Insurance CompanyInventors: Tara Cavallaro Kozlowski, Ryan M. Briggs, Imran Iqbal
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Patent number: 9639844Abstract: A method and an apparatus of identifying a website user are disclosed herein.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2014Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: Alibaba Group Holding LimitedInventors: Guli Lin, Depin Chen, Zhiqiang Chen
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Patent number: 9639845Abstract: A system and method for increasing displaying time of online advertisements. Upon receiving a search request including one or more search terms, a search engine may identify a list of search results and display the search results on one side of a result page. The search engine may also obtain a list of advertisements and display the list of advertisements on the other side of the result page. When a user scrolls down to look at search results at a lower portion of the result page, the list of advertisements may be moved down, following the movement of the screen, so that at least a part of the list of advertisements may keep being displayed on the current screen. Since the online advertisements are visible to the user for a longer time, there are more opportunities for the online advertisements to get the user's attention, and consequently more opportunities for the user to click on an advertisement. As a result, the efficiency of online advertising may be improved.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2008Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.Inventor: Shan-Bin Chris Chan
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Patent number: 9639846Abstract: An arrangement for providing targeted content includes data repositories storing information from which targeted content may be selected. The data repositories store at least one contextual relationship graph. The arrangement also includes an input/output interface through which a request for targeted content is made. The arrangement further includes a controller that receives the request for targeted content and selects targeted content using the contextual relationship graph. The controller further provides the selected targeted content through the input/output interface.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2012Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: RICHRELEVANCE, INC.Inventors: Tyler Kohn, David Selinger, Michael James DeCourcey
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Patent number: 9639847Abstract: A system and a method for measuring and monitoring effectiveness of on-line advertising are provided. The system and method provide a code attached to, for example, an advertising banner of a company that may advertise goods and/or services of the company. The code provides a signal to a server when the banner is viewed on a computer of a user. Cookie data is transferred by the server to the computer of the user providing information related to viewing of the advertising banner. Surveys are further presented to users to obtain information related to the effectiveness of the advertising for both exposed users and control users.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2012Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: DYNAMICLOGIC, INC.Inventors: Nicholas W. Nyhan, Ronit Aviv
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Patent number: 9639848Abstract: Based on historical data describing product sales or other types of transactions, indicator scores may be calculated for users who have purchased, reviewed, or otherwise consumed products, the indicator scores based on subsequent diffusion of the products. Measured, current activities of the scored users with regard to another product may then be employed to develop a diffusion model that predicts the future sales of the other product over time. The diffusion model may be employed to determine product pricing, marketing, distribution, or acquisition.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2013Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey L. Belle, Patrick Ludvig Bajari, Jeffrey Paul Helbling, Kelly Christina Paulson, Ana Maria Mocanu, Vikram Sathyanarayana Anbazhagan
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Patent number: 9639849Abstract: A method of allocating shelves includes obtaining shopping paths of customers in a supermarket, classifying the plurality of customers into a plurality of customer classes based on the shopping paths of the plurality of customers, determining one or more shopping paths adopted by more customers in the plurality of customer classes as frequent shopping paths of a class of customers of the plurality of customer classes, calculating a see-buy rate of a commodity for each of the plurality of customer classes based on shopping lists and the frequent shopping paths of the plurality of customers, calculating a location for a set of commodities when total expected benefits for the set of commodities are maximized during a certain period of time. The total expected benefits include a sum of an expected benefit for each commodity in the set of commodities based on the see-buy rate and the frequent shopping paths.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2013Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Hong Bo Li, Wei Wang, Hong Wei Ding, Jin Dong
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Patent number: 9639850Abstract: Systems and associated methods for incentivizing content engagement are described. Embodiments provide a recommended feature application to offer premier/recommended content. This can take place at a variety of times, for example during the primary content selection interface display, as well as offering said content interactively as an overlay during the conclusion of a piece of content. Embodiments employ a weighted process for selecting a recommended feature based on one or more stored preference files. The recommended feature application can be utilized across titles.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2010Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey R. Ashbrook, Kyle Prestenback, Evan Acosta, Brian Kwan, David Jessen
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Patent number: 9639851Abstract: Multiple copies of the same coupon are delivered to a consumer simultaneously via different delivery channels. After one copy of the coupon has been presented in connection with a transaction and used, the coupon is marked as used with respect to all delivery channels for that consumer. Different copies of the coupon can have different coupon identifiers, for example when delivered through different channels. Consumers also can access such multichannel coupons without having to login each time they wish to access their coupons from multiple channels. In one implementation, each consumer has a user profile. A promotion is associated with that consumer's user profile. Each user profile also is associated with different channel identifiers representing communication channels to deliver instances of the promotion to the consumer. Each delivered instance of the promotion includes a coupon identifier associated with the promotion.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2016Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: CodeBroker, LLCInventors: Daniel Slavin, Pero Smrzlic
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Patent number: 9639852Abstract: Provided is a method and a GUI-based software application that acts as a wallet with network interconnectivity for enabling a user to securely and seamlessly conduct transactions with his or her online financial transaction program by means of a computer or a wireless handheld device without having to depend on an Internet browser.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2008Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: PAYPAL, INC.Inventors: Gak Wee Low, Salil Mody
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Patent number: 9639853Abstract: Devices, computer-implemented methods, and computer-readable media for a redemption header for merchant offers, such as online coupons, are provided. In some embodiments, an offers website may provide offers, such as online coupons, in a browser executing on a user device. When a user selects an online coupon, the browser is redirected to a merchant website associated with the online coupon and a coupon code value is copied to a clipboard. Additionally, a redemption header having the coupon code and instructions is added in the merchant webpage. A webpage element for the redemption header, such as an inline frame, is created in the merchant webpage and the redemption header is provided based on an offer identifier stored in a browser-accessible storage item such as a cookie.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: RetailMeNot, Inc.Inventors: Nicholas James Shiffert, Michael Paul Cravey, Jagjit Singh Bath
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Patent number: 9639854Abstract: A system with an associated method for preloading advertisements by a server to a user's device is disclosed. In response to inquiries made by members of a user group, the system presents advertisements to the members and keeps a record of these presentations. Next, the system identifies those advertisements which have been frequently presented to the members, and preloads the identified advertisements on the device of a user who belongs to the user group. Subsequently, upon receiving a specific inquiry from the user's device, the system determines a response to the specific inquiry. When the determined response contains one of the preloaded advertisements, the system sends an instruction to the user's device to present the preloaded advertisement to the user.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2014Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.Inventors: Sundar Balasubramanian, Michael McSherry, Eric Jun Fu, Daniel Hendrick, Deepankar Katyal, David J. Kay
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Patent number: 9639855Abstract: A system and with an associated method for preloading advertisements from a server to a user's device is disclosed. In response to inquiries made by members of a user group, user devices of the members present advertisements to the members and the server keeps a record of these presentations. Next, the server identifies those advertisements which have been frequently presented to the members, and preloads the identified advertisements to the device of a user who belongs to the user group. Subsequently, upon receiving a specific inquiry by the user's device, the server determines a response to the specific inquiry. When the determined response contains one of the preloaded advertisements, the server sends an instruction to the user's device to present the preloaded advertisement to the user.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2014Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.Inventors: Sundar Balasubramanian, Michael McSherry, Eric Jun Fu, Daniel Hendrick, Deepankar Katyal, David J. Kay
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Patent number: 9639856Abstract: A method, performed by a computer device, may include obtaining a viewing history, associated with a customer, from a set-top box associated with the customer, wherein the viewing history relates a particular television channel to a duration time associated with the particular television channel. The method may further include determining a keyword, associated with the customer, based on the obtained viewing history; calculating a keyword score for the keyword based on the obtained viewing history; selecting an advertisement, associated with the keyword, based on the calculated keyword score; and providing the selected advertisement to the set-top box associated with the customer, based on selecting the advertisement.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2015Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.Inventors: Anand N. Sankaran, Amitkumar Singh, Nishanth Madichetti, Jubish C. Parambath, Anil K. Guntupalli, Lisa A. Caputo, Govinda R. Yenda
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Patent number: 9639857Abstract: An approach is provided for presenting a user interface and associating one or more commenting information with on one or more content items detected in one or more media items. Further, a user may associate one or more commenting information related to a point of interest/object wherein one or more content items associated with the point of interest/object may be retrieved and aggregated with the one or more commenting information.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2011Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: Nokia Technologies OyInventors: Petri Matti Olavi Piippo, Jan Peter Erik Eskolin, Jussi Severi Uusitalo, Tero Juhani Hakala