Patents Issued in June 12, 2018
  • Patent number: 9996820
    Abstract: Described in detail herein are methods and systems for detecting missing or miss positioned labels. The system can include a portable scanning device to scan machine-readable elements included on labels at a first and second location. The portable scanning device can detect the acceleration and the cumulative change between the first and second location. The portable scanning device or a computing system can determine the distance between the first and second location based on the acceleration data. The computing system can place a data point on a map of an estimated location of the location of the first scan and the location of the second scan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholaus Adam Jones, Matthew Allen Jones
  • Patent number: 9996821
    Abstract: In some embodiments, methods and systems of managing products at a retail sales facility include scanning a product in a stocking cart at the retail sales facility using a hand-held electronic device including a processor. At least two of the following three functions may be performed based on the scanning of the product. First, the stocking cart may be audited by comparing scanned data to data contained in an inventory management database. Second, a determination of whether the item is on a pick list may be made, which may include determining a demand for the scanned product to arrive at a decision whether to store the product in the stock room or place it on a shelf on the sales floor. Third, if the item is to be stored in the stock room, a determination of whether identical items are stored in bins in the stock room may be made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholaus A. Jones, Marc A. Fletter, Matthew A. Jones, Daniel R. Shields, Robert J. Taylor
  • Patent number: 9996822
    Abstract: A candidate assessment system reviews gaming data from a plurality of players to determine how well those players fit a particular job opening. The system uses one or more interpretation metrics to derive skill sets for each player by analyzing game attribute data from game scenarios played by the player. Each interpretation metric is generally unique, allowing the candidate assessment engine to derive a player's skill sets in markedly different ways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: MERCER (US) INC.
    Inventors: Patty Pei-yi Sung, Barbara Marder, Jonathan Meyers, Aikaterini Rodriguez, Kevin Lin
  • Patent number: 9996823
    Abstract: A mobile device includes a client application configured to process and display a push notification specifying an appointment reminder originating from a server acting as an appointment manager. The client displays a menu of available options for conducting additional appointment-related transactions, such as confirmation, rescheduling, or cancellation of the appointment. Based on the user selection, the client conducts a user-interactive transaction with the server to complete the requested appointment service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: West Corporation
    Inventors: James K. Boutcher, Michael T. Mateer
  • Patent number: 9996825
    Abstract: Payment transactions may be initiated by entering payment information, such as an amount, source, and recipient, through a graphical user interface (GUI) of an electronic device. The electronic device may transmit the payment information to a payment processor, such as a third party provider, bank, or the like, that may subsequently transmit an authorization request to an electronic device associated with the recipient. In certain embodiments, the recipient may identify a payment account and transmit the account information with the authorization to the payment processor. Upon receiving the authorization, the payment processor may transmit recipient identification information to the payor's electronic device. The payor may then confirm the identity of the payment recipient and confirm payment. Upon receiving the confirmation, the payment processor may process the payment. In other embodiments, certain authorizations and/or confirmations may be omitted, allowing more instantaneous payments to occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Brandon J. Casey, Erik Cressall, Dylan Ryder-Loomis
  • Patent number: 9996826
    Abstract: A system and method for facilitating a value exchange transaction. A first party initiates the transaction by selecting or providing an identifier of another party and the value to be exchanged. The second party may be identified by a pre-existing identifier such as an electronic mail address, telephone number, etc. The system informs the second party of the transaction (e.g., using the specified pre-existing identifier). If the second party is not a registered user of the system, he or she is invited to register and complete the transaction. The system may comprise a synchronization server for exchanging transaction details with users' devices, a communication server for registering new users and/or conducting transactions online and a financial server for interacting with external financial institutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: PAYPAL, INC.
    Inventors: Max Levchin, Luke Paul Nosek, Peter Thiel, Scott Alan Banister
  • Patent number: 9996827
    Abstract: A parking request text message is transmitted from a user mobile phone to a billing server and is forwarded to a parking server. The parking server makes a charge API call to the billing server, including a custom text, an amount to be billed and a msisdn of the mobile phone. The billing server charges an account at a carrier server corresponding to the msisdn, receives a charge confirmation from the carrier server, transmits a billing result to the parking server, and sends a confirmation text message to the user mobile phone with the custom text. The parking server updates a parking data structure to indicate that parking has been allotted based on a parking identification in the parking request text message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Boku, Inc.
    Inventors: Katherine Ann Corner, Wellington W. Sculley, Oliver J. McCarthy-Foecke, Chia-ling Sung, John Ly, Samantha Elena Nebrich
  • Patent number: 9996828
    Abstract: An approach is provided for indirectly connecting a customer's mobile smart device to computers located at a business when the customer is making a purchase at the business. The customer's mobile smart device and the business's computers communicate over the Internet with a customer interaction manager executing on an Internet server. This provides an easy to use interface for the customer and allows the customer to receive information and send requests to the business without having to wait for personnel working at the business to be available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Taylor Drake Morgan, Azhar Bande-ali, Brett S. Taylor, Michael Cain Finley, Charles Howard Mallory, Curtis Patrick Quinn Evans, James Lee Fortuna, Brian Jerel Ollison, Kevin Andrew Patterson, Sherry Shirah Spreter, David Allen Turner
  • Patent number: 9996829
    Abstract: Techniques for enabling transactions via a payment processing service for a merchant that is currently located outside of a particular region that the merchant utilizes the payment processing service for processing card-present transactions is described. A server associated with the payment processing service may receive, from a point-of-sale (POS) system, first payment data to satisfy a cost of a transaction between a customer and the merchant and may determine that the POS system is currently located outside of a region where the merchant utilizes the payment processing service to perform card-present transactions. The server may extract a portion of the first payment data, the portion of the first payment data corresponding to information required for a card-not-present transaction and may facilitate, based at least in part on the portion of the first payment data, a card-not-present transaction, instead of a card-present transaction, to authorize the cost of the transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Square, Inc.
    Inventors: Rehman Baig, Marc Hernandez, Timothy Yip
  • Patent number: 9996830
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer-readable storage medium configured to split a payment card transaction into separate channels with a merchant bill message and cardholder payment message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated
    Inventors: Jason Jay Lacoss-Arnold, Joan L. Rohlfing
  • Patent number: 9996831
    Abstract: Embodiments of systems, methods, and devices are disclosed for enabling wireless mobile devices to be automatically detected and used as fare media on vehicles in a transit and/or transportation system. Embodiments include detecting a wireless mobile device and utilizing a unique identifier of the wireless mobile device to track a transit user's entry to and exit from a transit vehicle. Embodiments further include causing the wireless mobile device to display a fare payment indicator, allowing the transit user to use the wireless mobile device to show proof of payment if so solicited by a fare inspector. A corresponding fare can be calculated and paid for in a variety of ways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: CUBIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Philip B. Dixon, Walter C. Bonneau, Jr., Kay Paetzold, Raymond L. deKozan, Timothy Cook, Pradip Mistry
  • Patent number: 9996832
    Abstract: Method and device for processing a payment are disclosed. The method is performed at a user device and includes: receiving a user instruction for starting a payment through a pre-set payment platform; selecting a respective loading process from a plurality of loading processes for invoking a payment application, wherein: the plurality of loading processes include two or more of: (1) a first loading process for invoking the payment application immediately in a foreground process, (2) a second loading process for simulating at least one payment interface of the payment application in the purchase application before loading the payment application in the user device, and (3) a third loading process for completing the payment using simulated payment interfaces of the payment application without loading the payment application in the user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Wei Mao, Yuewei Chen, Xing Liang, Bin Zhang, Qiang Lu, Deyuan Li, Zhonghua Lai, Zhenyu Xu
  • Patent number: 9996833
    Abstract: There is provided a mobile subscriber unit for a financial transaction token. The subscriber unit interfaces with a financial token or card that is in communication with the subscriber unit. The financial token or card has an onboard energy source so that the card token may operate away from proximity to a merchant terminal (e.g.; a POS terminal). In one implementation, the onboard power storage device includes a rechargeable battery or capacitor such as a thin-film capacitor that stores sufficient energy to power the subscriber unit's onboard electronics and/or the electronics of a financial token in communication with the subscriber unit. The subscriber unit may be a component of another consumer device such as a computing device, communications device, an item of clothing, an item of jewelry, a cell phone, a PDA, an identification card, a money holder, a wallet, a purse, a briefcase, or a personal organizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: VISA U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Patrick L. Faith, Ayman Hammad
  • Patent number: 9996834
    Abstract: A chargeback settlement processing (CSP) computer system for determining a gain or loss in a chargeback transaction is provided, that includes a memory device and a processor in communication with the memory device. The processor is programmed to transmit to a payment card network for settlement at least one chargeback transaction file corresponding to at least one received chargeback transaction, associated with an original transaction settled using a first currency exchange rate. The at least one chargeback transaction file includes a unique file identifier. A reconciliation message received from the payment card network includes at least one settlement amount, determined at a second currency exchange rate, for the at least one chargeback transaction and the unique file identifier. The at least one chargeback transaction file is matched to the at least one settlement amount, using the unique file identifier, to determine whether a net gain or a net loss occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: MASTERCARD INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Michael Scott Powell, Jeanne Bernadette Moore, Ricky Eugene Barton
  • Patent number: 9996835
    Abstract: Systems and methods for interoperable network token processing are provided. A network token system provides a platform that can be leveraged by external entities (e.g., third party wallets, e-commerce merchants, payment enablers/payment service providers, etc.) or internal payment processing network systems that have the need to use the tokens to facilitate payment transactions. A token registry vault can provide interfaces for various token requestors (e.g., mobile device, issuers, merchants, mobile wallet providers, etc.), merchants, acquirers, issuers, and payment processing network systems to request generation, use and management of tokens. The network token system further provides services such as card registration, token generation, token issuance, token authentication and activation, token exchange, and token life-cycle management.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Visa International Service Association
    Inventors: Matthew Dill, Prasanna L. Narayan, Glenn Powell, John Sheets, Andrew Carpenter
  • Patent number: 9996836
    Abstract: Disclosed are an IC chip for preventing identification key leak and an authorization method thereof. An IC chip capable of performing a financial function includes: a PIN supply unit for supplying a PIN used for authorization when performing a financial function using the IC chip; and a blocking unit for physically blocking the gap between the PIN supply unit and an input-output interface when the PIN is supplied to the outside through the input-output interface at an initial access of the IC chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: ICTK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dong Kyue Kim, Byong Deok Choi, Dong Hyun Kim, Sang Seon Park, Kwang Hyun Jee
  • Patent number: 9996837
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods and systems for performing a secure authentication process by leveraging the historical transaction data associated with an issuer. The historical transaction data stored at a fraud detection system may include the types of frequency of past authentication processes performed by the issuer, allowing for a determination of the likelihood of an authentication challenge process being applied to a current transaction. A merchant may define merchant rules that define what authentication process, if any, should then be applied to the current transaction based on the likelihood of an authentication challenge process being applied to the current transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: VISA INTERNATIONAL SERVICE ASSOCIATION
    Inventors: Cory Siddens, Craig O'Connell, Scott Boding
  • Patent number: 9996838
    Abstract: The CLOUD SERVICE FACILITATOR APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS (“CSF”) transforms user purchase requests, refund requests, and product/service replacement requests via CSF components into transaction records, refunds, and replacement products/services outputs. The CSF may receive a consumer purchase request for a cloud service from a merchant. In response to the request, the CSF may generate a unique record key for the purchase and may transmit the unique record key to the merchant. The CSF may further receive additional transaction information and the unique record key from the merchant. In response to the received information and the unique key, the CSF may provide additional service to the merchant or the consumer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: VISA INTERNATIONAL SERVICE ASSOCIATION
    Inventors: Theodore David Harris, Patrick Faith
  • Patent number: 9996839
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for collecting data at a merchant's point of return for use in processing a merchandise return transaction that is being requested by a customer. In various embodiments, the data may be collected using a wide variety of data collection technologies and may be used in conjunction with stored data, including data collected from other merchants, by a return authorization system to make a determination whether to accept or deny the requested merchandise return and whether to provide a coupon to the customer. The data may additionally or alternatively be used to determine whether to issue a warning to the customer about limitations on future return transactions presented by the customer. Examples of data categories that may be collected include, but are not limited to, information about: the merchant, the customer, the requested transaction, the merchandise being returned, one or more receipts, a clerk processing the transaction, and other general applicable information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: The Retail Equation, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S. Hammond, Mark R. Hilinski, David B. Speights, Kenny C. Vu, James D. Holland, Peter L. Bradshaw
  • Patent number: 9996840
    Abstract: An item can be authenticated based on a first, second, third, and fourth identifier, wherein the identifiers are incorporated into various parts of product packaging. In some embodiments, the first, second, and fourth identifiers can be a QR code, a bar code, a serial number, any RFID tag, or a combination thereof, and the third identifier can be an image type, for example, a type of animal, and image location, for example, a quadrant. The identifiers can be scanned or inputted manually by a user. When the four identifiers are authenticated, the product is deemed to be authentic, whereas when the four identifiers are not authenticated, the product is deemed to be counterfeit. In some implementations, a user can authenticate the items using a smart phone, smart phone app, tablet, tablet app, website, web-based application, and/or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Covectra, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen M. Wood, Richard Smith, Terrence P. O'Neill, Ronald Guido
  • Patent number: 9996841
    Abstract: A method for tracking procedures performed on personal protection equipment (PPE) and actions of individuals includes the following steps. An article of PPE configured with a smart tag is provided to an individual prior to performance of a task. After the individual performs the task, the article of PPE is processed. Information is retrieved from the smart tag during at least one of: before, during and after processing the article of PPE. After the performance of the task, the individual's data is read and the individual enters into a designated area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Luca D. Farioli Brioschi, Luis V. Ramirez Chaidez, Lawrence J. Ptasienski, Mark T. Anderson, Michael E. Hamerly
  • Patent number: 9996842
    Abstract: A method for tracking procedures performed on personal protection equipment (PPE) and actions of individuals includes the following steps. An article of PPE configured with a smart tag is provided to an individual prior to performance of a task. After the individual performs the task, the article of PPE is processed. Information is retrieved from the smart tag during at least one of: before, during and after processing the article of PPE. After the performance of the task, the individual's data is read and the individual enters into a designated area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Luca D. Farioli Brioschi, Luis V. Ramirez Chaidez, Lawrence J. Ptasienski, Mark T. Anderson, Michael E. Hamerly
  • Patent number: 9996843
    Abstract: A method and system for reading a security seal having a unique far-field pattern are described. Periodic nano-structure is generated on the surface of a substrate having spacings of hundreds of nanometers, or smaller, and affixed on a product, or generated directly onto the product. A laser beam having a wavelength longer than the periodic spacings directed onto at least a portion of the surface of the substrate at a chosen angle of incidence and a selected azimuthal angle relative to a chosen direction produces a unique far-field pattern that may be imaged by a digital image detector disposed at a chosen distance from the illuminated region, compared with a stored reference, and validated. The nanoscale sub-wavelength patterns can be printed using extreme ultraviolet light and read with readily available visible or ultraviolet light. The security seal contains a pattern that is invisible to the eye and to an optical microscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignees: Colorado State University Research Foundation, XUV Lasers, Inc.
    Inventors: Mario C. Marconi, Carmen S. Menoni, Jorge J. Rocca
  • Patent number: 9996844
    Abstract: Particular embodiments of the invention are directed to generating marketing-based age range products based at least on inferred data regarding the age of various network users. The age range products may be used for age-targeted online marketing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Excalibur IP, LLC
    Inventors: Shu-Yao Chien, Linda S. Lee
  • Patent number: 9996845
    Abstract: In one implementation, a computer-implemented method includes receiving at a server a request from an advertiser to target an ad to users of a computer-implemented social network, the request comprising data representing characteristics of the users that the advertiser desires to target. The method further includes ranking the users based on how similar the users' characteristics are to the received characteristics and an influence score for each user that indicates how influential the user is within the social network. The method also includes scoring the advertiser's request based on a bid from the advertiser for an opportunity to display the ad to one or more of the users and assigning the opportunity to display the ad to the one or more users based on a correlation between a score of the advertiser's request and one or more rankings of the one or more users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Dong Zhang, Edward Y. Chang
  • Patent number: 9996846
    Abstract: Approaches are provided for tracking and measuring the influence of social networking members on groups of friends to engage in electronic commerce. An approach includes receiving unique identifier information and activity information for a user that referred a social media link to one or more other users. The approach further includes generating a reference identifier for the referrer of the social media link to the one or more other users. The approach further includes embedding the generated reference identifier into the social media link. The generated reference identifier includes a concatenation of the unique identifier information, the activity information, and information pertaining to referrals of the social media link prior to the referrer to the one or more other users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gregory J. Boss, Rick A. Hamilton, II, Luis C. Cruz Huertas, Edgar A. Zamora Duran
  • Patent number: 9996847
    Abstract: Embodiments are presented for controlling usage of a communications device, whereby for a given number of messages generated from the device the operator (e.g., a child, person, etc.) has to successfully answer a question before a further batch of messages can be sent. The number of messages that can be sent before a question is to be answered can be configured by a parent. Further, a modifiable data store can be utilized to store questions, from which questions for presentation on the communication device can be sourced. The questions can relate to subject matter the child is studying at school, a standardized test, trivia, provided by a third party.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Inventors: Anthony Sargin, Brian Asquith
  • Patent number: 9996848
    Abstract: There is provided a scheme of communicating reward data from a first application running on a data processing device (100) to a second application on the data processing device (100) for use by the second application. The method comprises the first application obtaining a reward value in response to a user of the first application completing a predetermined task in the first application. In response to a request from the user to claim a reward, the first application generates and transmits: an instruction to place the second application into an interactive state; and reward data, which is generated on the basis of the reward value, for use by the second application in the interactive state. The passing of the reward value from the first application to the second application occurs within the data processing device (100), with no communication between the data processing device (100) and the backend server (200) via the Internet (400) taking place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Outfit7 Limited
    Inventor: Samo Login
  • Patent number: 9996849
    Abstract: A method and system for customizing a mobile application running on a mobile communication device of a user. In one implementation, the method includes providing the mobile application to the mobile communication device of the user, the mobile application having a generic platform; determining a special interest group (SIG) that is affiliated with the user; and customizing the generic platform of the mobile application based on information specific to the special interest group (SIG) that is affiliated with the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Inventor: Michelle Fisher
  • Patent number: 9996850
    Abstract: The safe pixel is code embedded in a web page that is executed when the web page is accessed by a user agent. When the safe pixel is executed, the safe pixel collects information about the device and invokes the execution of one or more abuse detection functions. Each abuse detection function implements a different technique for estimating the likelihood of abusive behavior being the cause of the safe pixel being executed. The safe pixel transmits in a reporting message the local information and the results of the abuse detection function executions to a traffic server. The traffic server analyzes the reporting message to make a determination of the validity of the action that caused the safe pixel being executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Rocket Fuel Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Jared Benisch, Mark Charles Torrance, Aleksei Statkevich
  • Patent number: 9996851
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for distributing content items are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes accessing a scaling factor value and accessing a first page value range specifying at least a high page value and a low page value. A determination is made that a first ranking of content items based on the high page value does not match a second ranking of the content items that is based on the low page value. In response to determining that the first ranking does not match the second ranking, an updated first ranking and an updated second ranking are determined based on a second page value range. A determination is made that the updated first ranking matches the updated second ranking. Content items are distributed based on the updated first ranking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Hummel, Randolph P. McAfee
  • Patent number: 9996852
    Abstract: A system and method for measuring the efficiency of social media campaigns. The system collects searchable activity data of members of a social network and processes this data locally to extract interaction data happening on the profile page of the social media campaign on the social network. The interaction data is then weighed in accordance with its type. The system may also determine a reach of the campaign and a responsiveness score of a user. The system may also determine an effort score representing a monetary value of the profile page based on the volume of contribution by the owners of the social media campaign. The efficiency score may then be determined based on a relationship between the number of interactions, the weight associated with each interaction, the reach, the responsiveness score, and the effort score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: ENGAGEMENT LABS INC./LABORATOIRES ENGAGEMENT INC.
    Inventors: Paul Allard, Tom Liacas, Cédric de Saint Léger
  • Patent number: 9996853
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for selecting an engaging ad campaign among advertising campaigns having different types of bid strategies. In one embodiment, an advertising system designed for selecting relevant and engaging ad campaigns for delivering to a device of a user includes an adaptive decision unit having filter logic for filtering eligible ad campaigns, a storage medium to store instructions of the system, and processing logic coupled to the storage medium. The processing logic is configured to execute the instructions of the system to receive and process an ad request from the device upon initiation of a software application on the device, filter eligible ad campaigns, convert each bid strategy of the filtered ad campaigns into an effective cost-per-mille (CPM) strategy, compare effective CPM strategies for the filtered ad campaigns, and select an ad campaign based on the comparison of the effective CPM strategies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Vungle, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond Myers, Daniel Kang, Hammond Guerin
  • Patent number: 9996854
    Abstract: The invention provides in some aspects a system for display of context-aware content that includes a server storing context-sensitive data, a player that is persistently or, at least intermittently, coupled to the server, and that is likewise coupled to a plurality of output devices—such as, for example, electronic shelf labels, personal digital assistants, mobile phones, and LCD, LED or other fixed displays. The player responds to the context of each of the plurality of output devices by obtaining from the server data germane to that context, storing that data or content germane to that context generated from that data, and driving that content to that output device for presentation thereon, wherein the player concurrently drives different content to at least two of said output devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: AERVA, INC.
    Inventors: David Crow, Sanjay Manandhar
  • Patent number: 9996855
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed to determine a consumer classification segment. A disclosed example method involves generating, with a processor, a list of consumer classification segments based on geographic indicators associated with a mobile device, associating, with the processor, the mobile device with a first consumer classification segment of the list of consumer classification segments if the geographic indicators were retrieved while a first application was executed, and associating, with the processor, the mobile device with a second consumer classification segment of the list of consumer classification segments if the geographic indicators were retrieved while a second application was executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Laura Cochran, David R. Miller, Jeff Stevens, Mark Nelson
  • Patent number: 9996856
    Abstract: A system and method for electronically providing targeted marketing to a targeted individual is disclosed. An plurality of individuals prescreened to be targeted with targeted marketing is created but such individuals are anonymous to the offerer of the targeting marketing until the offerer is provided with an indication that each targeted individual has been authenticated and is among those that have been prescreened to receive the offer, at which time the offerer may electronically provide and fulfill the offer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: TRANS UNION LLC
    Inventors: Steven M. Chaouki, Tammy P. Mitchell, Clifton H. Burns, Sandra L. Bulmash
  • Patent number: 9996857
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for providing a variable data publication, wherein such publication is built as a custom publication for a particular user or group of users that includes editorial content or advertising that is based upon the intent of such user or group of users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: DOW JONES & COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph B. Vincent, Larry L. Hoffman, Paul L. Cousineau
  • Patent number: 9996858
    Abstract: An adaptive bidder for networked advertising. A bid request is received from an exchange over a network. Each bid request represents the opportunity to bid on an advertising opportunity. A processing time limit is determined based at least in part on a network latency measurement, an exchange reported timeout and a bid response buffer. The network latency measurement may be required to meet a freshness standard. The bid response buffer represents the time allotted for the adaptive bidding system to generate a response based on one or more partial results. The exchange reported timeout value can be included in the bid request, and can vary from bid request to bid request. The execution of one or more tasks is initiated by the adaptive bidding system, and each task can make a partial result available. In some cases, a partial result is a cumulative result. A response is determined from one or more partial results which are available before the processing time limit expires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Quantcast Corporation
    Inventors: Crispin Edward Harold Flowerday, Faraaz Aejaz Sareshwala, Damian John Reeves
  • Patent number: 9996859
    Abstract: Provided herein are systems, methods and computer readable media for programmatically generating and/or revising promotion offers for a merchant based on one or more merchant self-service indicators. In providing such functionality, the system can be configured to, for example, facilitate registration and verification of merchant identities, determine promotion content and parameters based on merchant self-service indicators, and monitor and analyze promotion offers for merchants with similar merchant self-service indicators. The system may determine the relative successfulness of a promotion offer for a merchant and/or category of merchant. In some embodiments, the system may be further configured to revise the promotion offer programmatically and/or upon receiving the merchant's approval of the programmatically generated proposed edits to the promotion offer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Groupon, Inc.
    Inventors: Tanya Koshy, Matias Arenas, Gaston L'Huillier, Francisco Larrain, Lori E. Kaplan, Ricardo Zilleruelo, Kavita Kochar, Amit Koren, Stephen Wooten, Karan Kaushik, Nathaniel B. Scholl, Seth Harris, Jason A. Crawford, Rodrigo Duenas, Latife Genc-Kaya, Kamson Lai, Aviv Eyal, Deepika Misra, Natalia Corominas, Mechie Nkengla, Mathew Van Orden
  • Patent number: 9996860
    Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are provided for promoting a service using a gifting model. For example, a gifting model, for a service (e.g., a multimedia content service that provides movies, music, apps, etc.), may specify what types of online users are eligible to be promoters and/or what online promotional gifts are available for promoters to gift to online recipient users. In an example, one or more online promotional gifts (e.g., a television show, a song, etc.) of the multimedia content service are exposed to an online user. A gift request is received from the online user. The gift request may specify an online recipient user and a selected online promotional gift (e.g., an action movie). The online promotional gift is provided to the online recipient user. In this way, online users may promote a service by providing promotional gifts, such as for free, to online recipient users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Jose Saura
  • Patent number: 9996861
    Abstract: A system and method for user identification and personalization based on automotive identifiers are described. Image data of a vehicle is received from an image capture device. Vehicle identification information is extracted from the image data. A data record associated with a user is retrieved using the vehicle identification information. A personalized communication for the user is generated based on the retrieved data record. The personalized communication may be transmitted to a device. The personalized communication may comprise a recommendation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: PAYPAL, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Joseph Ryan, Christopher Dennis Boncimino
  • Patent number: 9996862
    Abstract: An e-commerce system includes a mobile device and a server. The mobile device produces or is configured to respond to an indicator of a product or service. The mobile device sends a first message to the server in response to the indicator. The mobile device receives a second message in response to the sent first message. The mobile device receives a user input based on the received second message. The mobile device sends a third message to a server in response to the user input. A user of the mobile device is provided the product or service based on the sent third message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: @PAY IP HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventor: John P. Killoran
  • Patent number: 9996863
    Abstract: A request for shopping is placed from inside a procurement system. Intelligent agents are launched to retrieve information from catalog sources web-enabled over the internet or within the intranet. Retrieved catalog information is aggregated and associated with other data items. Business rules are applied to make decisions on what part of aggregated information will be rendered to a User. Sorting/multi-level refining operations are enabled. The User selects one or more catalog results, whereupon an XML shopping cart is created and submitted to the procurement system through published interfaces. The procurement system is enabled to place an order on supplier web-enabled transaction systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Vinimaya, Inc.
    Inventor: Vaidhyanathan Venkiteswaran
  • Patent number: 9996864
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to methods, systems, devices and computer-readable media. In embodiments of the invention, a user is authenticated using an authentication process that is capable of authenticating a user using an inline authentication form that can authenticate a consumer without transferring a session maintained by a merchant. The inline authentication form is used if the components of the authentication system are capable of supporting an inline authentication form. If the components of the system cannot support an inline authentication form, a different authentication process is used. In one embodiment, an inline authentication form is presented to the user asynchronously. This inline authentication form may be presented within an iFrame embedded in a merchant's checkout page after verifying that the components to be used during the authentication can support the inline authentication form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: VISA INTERNATIONAL SERVICE ASSOCIATION
    Inventors: Ben Dominguez, Douglas Fisher, Julie Chan
  • Patent number: 9996865
    Abstract: A system and method provides a user of a network-based commerce system drag and drop functionality that allows a user to purchase goods from a network-based transaction system through the use of links and images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Mengerink, Kiran Reddy
  • Patent number: 9996866
    Abstract: Methods and systems for improving a shopping experience are described. When a shopper walks into a store, the shopper's mobile device transmits a signal with the shopper's shopping preferences and shopper profile. Any items that are within a certain distance of the mobile device and satisfy at least one of the shopper's preferences may light up to indicate that the item matches something the shopper is looking for. In addition, the price of the item based on the shopper profile for that shopper is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: PAYPAL, INC.
    Inventors: Timothy Conrad Nichols, Geoffrey W. Chatterton, Michael Charles Todasco
  • Patent number: 9996867
    Abstract: Systems and methods of the present invention provide for one or more server computers communicatively coupled to a network and configured to: receive a request for a product or service; determine a geographic region associated with the request; search a first data regarding websites available only to the hosting provider as host of the websites and a second data regarding websites available to the public via the Internet; determine, based on the first data and the second data, which of the websites are most relevant to the request; and return an information about one or more of the websites responsive to the request, wherein each of the websites has a physical location within the geographic region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Go Daddy Operating Company, LLC
    Inventor: Rajatish Mukherjee
  • Patent number: 9996868
    Abstract: A method for providing a content gift to a gift-receiving terminal is provided. The method includes a gift server communicating with the gift-receiving terminal over a wireless communication link to determine what content is owned by the gift-receiving terminal. The method further includes the gift server generating catalog data including at least one content gift targeted for the gift receiving terminal. Further included in the method is the gift server wirelessly transmitting the catalog data to a gift-giving terminal. Additionally, the method includes the gift server receiving a selection of a content gift from the gift-giving terminal over a wireless communication link. Further included is the gift server facilitating delivery of the selected content gift to the gift-receiving terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: QUALOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Gerald Charles Horel, Brian Minear, Phil Tien Nguyen, Jaiteerth Patwari
  • Patent number: 9996869
    Abstract: A method and system for providing personal shopping assistance via a computing device includes hosting a database of information regarding a customer, hosting a database of information regarding a personal shopper, and associating the customer with the personal shopper. The personal shopper is provided the ability to recommend at least one of a product or a service relevant to the customer and receiving an indication of the purchase of the recommended product or service by the customer. An incentive system may provide a reward to the personal shopper based upon the purchased product or service, including a commission or other reward. The system may be implemented on a desktop and/or mobile device as desired to provide flexibility in implementation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: SEARS BRANDS, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Leena Munjal, Eddie Lampert, Eric Jaffe
  • Patent number: 9996870
    Abstract: According to one aspect, the disclosed subject matter describes herein a method that includes detecting a fallout condition associated with a communication of orders directed to a network target in an order and service management (OSM) system, identifying a plurality of failed orders corresponding to the fallout condition, and generating a job control order that designates a remedial operation to be applied to each of the plurality of failed orders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: ORACLE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian Dueck, Sandra Rolanda Leung, Xuan Ju