Patents Issued in January 14, 2020
  • Patent number: 10535050
    Abstract: Transaction account holders are able to attach additional data to a transaction in concert with the transaction being initiated, prior to the merchant posting the transaction. Transaction account holders do not have to wait and/or opt for an external service provider to assist with the compiling and/or attaching of data at a later point in time (e.g., after the merchant posts the transaction). Transaction account holders may upload and access electronic receipts associated with a transaction authorization almost immediately after the sale and/or authorization of the transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: AMERICAN EXPRESS TRAVEL RELATED SERVICES COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: David Alan Dillard, Ravikanth Erramilli, David Ibrahim, Barbara Lynn Shcolnik-Bateman, Shashidhar Karkada Srinivasa
  • Patent number: 10535052
    Abstract: Transaction data is collected from POS terminals in order to generate transaction paths for account holders. The transaction paths link merchant locations where transactions are conducted. Common features of transaction paths, such as intersecting path locations, and transaction data associated with the merchant locations are used for marketing and other purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: First Data Corporation
    Inventors: Silvio Tavares, Susan Fahy, Dennis Carlson
  • Patent number: 10535053
    Abstract: A retail shopping facility having at least one public entrance, a customer service area, a product display area, and at least one point-of-sale (POS) station also has at least one scanner configured to remotely and uniquely identify a product previously purchased from the product display area as that product re-enters the retail shopping facility via the public entrance with a customer. That scanner provides corresponding identifying information regarding that returning product to a control circuit that in turn uses that information to automatically process an exchange transaction of the returning product for a substitute product in the product display area such that the exchange transaction occurs without the customer engaging either the customer service area or one of the POS stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce W. Wilkinson, Starla C. Morgan, Todd D. Mattingly
  • Patent number: 10535054
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes receiving an indication of a payment transaction between a customer and a merchant by a payment processing system via a mobile point-of-sale (POS) terminal and generating as part of the payment transaction, an interactive digital receipt to be sent to a mobile device associated with the customer. The interactive digital receipt includes an indication of a payment amount associated with the payment transaction and an offer to finance the payment amount and is transmitted by the payment processing system to the mobile device associated with the customer, the receipt having an interactive finance payment component that allows the customer to accept the offer to finance the payment amount. The method further includes receiving an acceptance of the offer to finance the payment amount via the interactive receipt, and receiving repayment from the customer according to repayment terms included in the offer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: SQUARE, INC.
    Inventor: Garrett Sptizer
  • Patent number: 10535055
    Abstract: A collaborative betting platform is structured around a server (1) in communication with client devices (4) via the Internet (3), the server (1) configured to facilitate specific electronic betting transactions, and more particularly allowing electronic betting selections registered by primary bettors (110) to be conditionally processed on behalf of secondary bettors (120). Such facilitation of electronic betting selections is contingent upon recording a credit note against an account of a secondary bettor (120), which has the effect of reserving funds in the account of the secondary bettor (120). The amount of the credit note is representative of a minimum stake amount which the secondary bettor (120) is requested to commit to bet by accepting a back bet offer based upon a betting selection registered by a primary bettor (110).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Exciting Holdings Pty Limited
    Inventor: Damian Deguara
  • Patent number: 10535056
    Abstract: A method for identifying a funds transfer opportunity in an electronic media accessed by a mobile device may include monitoring the electronic media for the funds transfer opportunity, identifying the funds transfer opportunity in the electronic media, and outputting indication for the funds transfer opportunity in the electronic media. The method may further include receiving confirmation to instantiate a funds transfer based on the indicated funds transfer opportunity on the mobile device and instantiating the funds transfer based on the received confirmation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: The Western Union Company
    Inventor: Craig Brooks
  • Patent number: 10535057
    Abstract: In response to detecting that a battery level of a first computing device is below a threshold level, a computer system determines that a second computing device is within a threshold distance of the first computing device. In response to the determining that the second computing device is within the threshold distance of the first computing device, the computer system creates a reference identifier (ID) and transmits information corresponding to the reference ID to the second computing device. In response to detecting a usage of the information corresponding to the reference ID by the second computing device, the computer system transmits a request for authentication information. In response to determining that authentication is successful, the computer system transmits a payment from an account associated with a user of the first computing device to an account associated with a recipient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: PayPal, Inc.
    Inventor: Jigar Rajnikant Gosalia
  • Patent number: 10535058
    Abstract: A mobile device is used to initiate and execute a transaction between a customer and a merchant. A mobile device is used to initiate a point of sale transaction, wherein a merchant ID is sent to a payment processing server. Responsive to receiving a communication from the mobile device, the payment processing server requests transaction information from the merchant, wherein the merchant is identified based on the provided merchant ID. The merchant can provide transaction information such as the total sale amount to the payment processing server. The payment processing server can authenticate the customer and initiate a purchase transaction with the appropriate financial institutions associated with the customer and the merchant. The payment processing server can send a confirmation of the executed transaction to the merchant and the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: MOBILE EQUITY CORP.
    Inventor: Marwan Monir Afana
  • Patent number: 10535059
    Abstract: A retail store is comprised of a retail space having billboard paper with images of items and item codes for purchasing the items. The retail store further includes a pick area where physical items of the store are located. A device operated by a user scans the item codes and the item codes are communicated to a server for item information and item pricing. As item identifiers are moved to a cart depicted on the device by the user, the server communicates the item details to a display device in the pick area where corresponding items are picked for a transaction of the user in real time. When the user checks out and pays for the items in the cart, the user retrieves the bagged items for the transaction from a pickup drive-thru accessible from an external area of the retail store where the pick area is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventor: John Coker Goodwin, III
  • Patent number: 10535060
    Abstract: A method for processing a financial transaction includes: storing, in a database, a plurality of wallet data entries, wherein each wallet data entry includes at least a mobile device identifier and payment details associated with at least one payment account; receiving, by a receiving device, an authorization request for a financial transaction, wherein the authorization request includes at least a mobile device identifier and transaction data; transmitting, to a mobile computing device associated with the mobile device identifier, at least the transaction data; receiving, from the mobile computing device, an indication of a payment account for funding of the financial transaction; identifying, in the database, payment details associated with the indicated payment account in a wallet data entry including the mobile device identifier included in the authorization request; and transmitting, to an issuer associated with the indicated payment account, at least the payment details and the transaction data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: MASTERCARD INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Yigit Caglayan, Kemal Uyan
  • Patent number: 10535062
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture to securely share data stored in a blockchain. A contactless card may receive a request to provide a data element from a device. An applet of the contactless card may encrypt the data element and a wallet address. The applet may generate a signature for the request, and transmit, to a mobile device, the signature and the encrypted data. The mobile device may transmit, to a verification service, the signature and encrypted data. The verification service may verify the signature based on a public key. A node in a blockchain may generate a block in the blockchain, the block comprising indications of the verification of the signature, the requested data element, and the wallet address. An encrypted data element corresponding to the data element may be decrypted using a public key. The device may receive the decrypted data element from the wallet address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: CAPITAL ONE SERVICES, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Rule, Rajko Ilincic, Kaitlin Newman
  • Patent number: 10535063
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are certain embodiments of systems and methods for standardizing a plurality of digital wallet credits, into one digital wallet system. Expenditures of merchant issued credit stored in digital wallets are supported by tokenization of assets. Assets are encoded and represented by currencies tracked on public ledgers. Data is mined from the public ledger, decoded, and presented to users with a unified interface which allows users to view balances at any time of all digital wallets in their possession.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: First Data Corporation
    Inventors: Vinodan K. Lingham, Mark Levitt, Krisan Ramesh Nichani, Guillaume P. Lebleu
  • Patent number: 10535064
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for processing and settling financial transactions. An example method comprises receiving a transaction from an originator. The transaction comprises information associated with an identification of an initiating user or the account. The method comprises determining the actual account number, transmitting a financial services transaction request comprising the actual account number to a financial institution, receiving a response, and transmitting a response back to the originator. Another method comprises receiving, from a user device, a request to associate a financial account with a user account. The method comprises generating and sending an association message to a payment network and receiving a key associated with the financial account for use in initiating financial transactions. Another method comprises utilizing such a key to generate and process a transaction request. Other systems, methods, and media are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: PayNet Payments Network, LLC
    Inventors: Peter Gordon, Neil Marcous, Robert Woodbury
  • Patent number: 10535065
    Abstract: A system for bankcard payments, wherein payments are peer-to-peer transactions between the cardholder and merchant without participation from any third party. The system uses standard bankcards and supports both debit and credit card payments. For authorization of payments the system uses a special, global, distributed, append-only, and secure public bankcard ledger. The entries in the ledger are virtual accounts used for bankcard payments, organized into account chains. The system provides security, privacy, anonymity, and untraceability for cardholders and their transactions. The system allows for various users of the system to participate in transactions using preexisting payment systems. In one embodiment, specially designed mobile software modules and an innovative payment protocol all for transactions to be made between users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Inventor: Sead Muftic
  • Patent number: 10535066
    Abstract: In transactions between a consumer and a merchant (or other third party) using services of a payment provider (e.g., credit card company, or financial services provider), methods and systems are provided for enabling any third party to accept chip and PIN payment and payment provider services using a payment provider device that is enabled using the third party's own application (referred to herein as “app”) and not the app of the payment provider. Enabling a merchant to accept chip and PIN payments usually requires the merchant to certify (accredit) their application (e.g., a point-of-sale (POS) system) end to end with the payment providers (e.g., Visa, MasterCard). A software development kit (SDK) modification to the application allows the merchant to accept chip and PIN cards the without the need to certify the application. The SDK includes the functionality that needs to be certified, and certifies it once with a service provider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: PAYPAL, INC.
    Inventors: Sivanne Goldfarb, Narik Patel, Michael Voege, Ali Minaei Moghadam, Satish Govindarajan
  • Patent number: 10535067
    Abstract: An authorization request for a payment transaction is obtained, from a given one of a plurality of billers, over a payment network having a standard clearing and settlement time period. Via the payment network, a special incremental payments approval authorization request response to the authorization request for the payment transaction is passed, indicating that the given one of the plurality of billers will be paid in connection with the payment transaction in a plurality of incremental payments made in time increments over a selected time period following the authorization request, optionally regardless of whether funds are available for an account associated with the payment transaction. The selected time period is longer than the standard clearing and settlement time period. The payment transaction is not settled until expiration of the selected time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: MASTERCARD INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Antonia Stroeh, John Doherty, Alexis Suberville, Holliday Haynes, Stephen Parento, Wayne Molitor, Peter J. Flor
  • Patent number: 10535068
    Abstract: A dynamic transaction card may be paired with a user application executed on a user device card to facilitate multi-factor authentication of a user by utilizing the dynamic transaction card as a physical token. Various communication technologies may be utilized to create a connection between the dynamic transaction card and the user device application which may include wireless connections and physical connections. Validation information stored in a passive tag on the dynamic transaction card may be received by the user device application, which may evaluate the connection between the dynamic transaction card and the user device, log in credentials of the user, and user information stored in a digital security delivery storage to authenticate the user. This unique pairing of the dynamic transaction card and user device application may automatically facilitate a secure multi-factor authentication by utilizing the dynamic transaction card as a physical token.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: CAPITAL ONE SERVICES, LLC
    Inventors: Tyler Locke, Kevin Kelly
  • Patent number: 10535069
    Abstract: A block for an order is received during processing of the order, wherein a reason for the block for the order is associated with the block for the order. A set of actions is identified based on the reason for the block for the order in response to receiving the block for the order. The set of actions is executed with respect to the order in response to identifying the set of actions based on the reason for the block for the order, wherein the set of actions comprises a stage at which processing for the order ceases, restarts, and executes recovery actions, as specified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yumman Chan, Lev Mirlas, Viswanath Srikanth
  • Patent number: 10535070
    Abstract: To assist in patent searching a description includes a consumer purchasing behavior profiling system having aspects including consumer profiles formed and updated based on a variety of data. Advertisers access to send targeted advertising messages to the consumers. Aspects include advertising information together with incentive level and mix being correlated with the consumer profile to produce a measure of the applicability of the ad to that consumer and the probability of converting that consumer. Other aspects include determining the mix of ad information, incentive level and type, and product offering that will be required to convert an ad viewer to a buyer. Aspects focus on using wireless devices with consumers. Other aspects reside in methods of using electronic coupons distribution and redemption to collect additional data points necessary to understand the consumer's purchasing decision process and factors that influence the purchasing decision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: TransX Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Hung Tran
  • Patent number: 10535071
    Abstract: A third-party company may assist other companies in providing customer support to their customers. The third-party company may provide software to a computer of a customer service representative to present a user interface to assist the customer service representative in responding to customer requests. Third-party company may also send update data to the computer of the customer service representative to cause a portion of the user interface to be updated, where the update data is determined using an intent of a message received from a customer. A message received from the customer may be processed to determine the intent of the message, a template may be obtained using the intent, and the update data may be generated by rendering the selected template. The update data may then be transmitted to the computer of the customer service representative to cause a portion of the user interface to be updated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: ASAPP, INC.
    Inventors: Vicky Sehrawat, Jason Shaev, Punyashloka Biswal, Brian Dillmann, Joseph Hackman, Shawn Henry, Gustavo Sapoznik
  • Patent number: 10535072
    Abstract: A method, system and computer-readable storage medium provide for managing stranded assets of a customer service call center. The system includes an interface component that identifies an opportunity event of an established customer service session initiated by a user that is in a waiting queue for a customer service representative. The system includes an ingestion component that ingests one or more characteristics of the opportunity event that characterize at least one of: (i) the identity of the user; (ii) subject of the established customer service session; and (iii) situational context of the user. The system includes a correlation component that correlates the one or more ingested characteristics and an estimated duration of the waiting queue with at least one transaction-related content item. The system includes a publishing component that publishes a selected transaction-related content item via the established customer service session to the user while in the waiting queue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.
    Inventors: Vincent Le Chevalier, Abhijit Rao
  • Patent number: 10535073
    Abstract: A server apparatus for accurately collecting responses of questionnaires with regard to a target object including a plurality of scenes is provided. An operation signal for obtaining a time when response operation is performed is received from a terminal device. A time and each scene of the target object is associated in scene information, and a scene of the target object is identified as being a target of the response of the questionnaire, based on the scene information and the obtained time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Rakuten, Inc.
    Inventors: Shingo Terui, Saki Azuma
  • Patent number: 10535074
    Abstract: A method for indexing economic impact of weather events is described. The method includes storing transaction data regarding payment transactions made by customers in a geographic area, receiving weather information regarding weather events in a time period, identifying transaction data related to the weather information, calculating an index value that indicates the economic impacts of the weather events based on the identified transaction data and the weather information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: MASTERCARD INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Nadine Davey-Rogers
  • Patent number: 10535075
    Abstract: The rewards program system and method provide an efficient and effective way for customers to enroll in rewards programs, and accrue and redeem rewards at participating merchants. The system generates promotions, analyzes transaction data to identify whether a customer used a promotion, issued by the system (e.g., promotions provider), with a merchant. When the customer redeems a promotion, the system accrues reward amounts in a customer account, and allows the customer to redeem accrued rewards amounts. The system generates credit card profiles and customer profiles, and offers customers subsequent promotions based on the transaction data and/or the customer's customer profile. The system issues the customer subsequent promotions when the amount credited to the rewards account satisfies a redemption threshold. The subsequent promotions may be redeemable at merchants that have promotions issued by the promotion provider, including the merchant where the promotion was used that resulted in the credited amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: GROUPON, INC.
    Inventors: Gaston L'Huillier, Michael Mac-Vicar, Cristian Sepulveda, Francisco Larrain
  • Patent number: 10535076
    Abstract: A deal program life cycle system and method is disclosed. The deal program life cycle may oversee the issuance of deals from a deal program to consumers over the life cycle of the deal program. One or more aspects of the deal program may change during different periods of the life cycle of the deal program. For example, the deal program may include deal features, a number of units for deals, and relevance features for the deal program. The deal features, number of units of deals, and/or relevance features for the deal program may change during the different periods of the life cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: GROUPON, INC.
    Inventors: David Thacker, David Hoover, Anthony Caliendo, Ruslan Gilfanov, Amit Aggarwal
  • Patent number: 10535077
    Abstract: A method for enabling a value-added transaction involving a vehicle and a merchant via a mobile device is disclosed. Merchant information may be broadcasted from a merchant terminal. Vehicle specific data may be received at the merchant terminal identifying the vehicle in response to the broadcasted merchant information. Transaction data may be provided to the mobile device to initiate an intended transaction. Payment data may be received from the mobile device at the merchant terminal in response to the provided transaction data. Before completing the intended transaction, a value-added transaction offer may be provided to the mobile device. In response to the provided value-added transaction offer, an acceptance of the value-added transaction offer may be received. The intended transaction and the value-added transaction offer may be completed as a single transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: VISA INTERNATIONAL SERVICE ASSOCIATION
    Inventors: Martin Enriquez, Chandra Srivastava, Joseph Bjorn Ovick
  • Patent number: 10535078
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, determining a coverage area associated with an advertising display device, monitoring presence and motion of a plurality of communication devices with respect to the coverage area to determine a viewing time and a trajectory within the coverage area for each communication device, and associating each device with a user profile that comprises demographic data and preference data. Each user profile is assigned weighting factors based the viewing time and the trajectory for the associated device, thereby generating a weighted user profile for each of a plurality of users. The weighted user profiles are then aggregated to generate a time-dependent audience profile for the coverage area that is associated with an item of advertising content at the advertising display device. The audience profile is analyzed; a new item of advertising content can be selected and displayed. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignees: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P., AT&T MOBILITY II LLC
    Inventors: Biren Parekh, Ravishankar Doejode, Sheldon Kent Meredith
  • Patent number: 10535079
    Abstract: In various example embodiments, systems and methods to provide proximity recommendations are provided. In example embodiments, data representing prioritized recommendations for a user is received. The data representing the prioritized recommendations is used to generated a composite visual representation by embedding select prioritized recommendations into a visual representation. The composite visual representation presents a higher prioritized recommendation in a more spatially prominent manner than a lower prioritized recommendation. The composite visual representation is then presented to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Yankovich, Ryan Melcher
  • Patent number: 10535080
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for dynamically managing advertiser affiliate links for online marketing. A global redirect server accepts a visitor's web browser request for a product or non-product webpage associated with an affiliate network advertiser URL, and returns a corresponding product or non-product webpage to the visitor that is corrected for the visitor's geographic region if such a webpage exists, or returns the originally requested webpage if it does not. The server determines the visitor's geographic region based upon request metadata, and can generate a corrected webpage that affords analytic and commission tracking even if no corresponding affiliate network exists in the determined geographic region. The server includes a database for locating products within the determined geographic region that are comparable to the product of the product webpage request, in the event that the exact product is not available in the geographic region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: REWARDSTYLE, INC.
    Inventors: Forrest Jordan, Baxter Box
  • Patent number: 10535081
    Abstract: This disclosure generally covers systems and methods that schedule posts of one or more images, videos, or other digital content items through an account of a social networking system in a way that optimizes user engagement. In particular, certain embodiments of the disclosed systems and methods determine when to post digital content items by calculating data-driven user engagement scores and updating those scores with data tracked by the social networking system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Rui Andre Augusto Ferreira, Daniel Bernhardt, Victor Lassance Oliveira E Silva, Ian Douglas Hegerty
  • Patent number: 10535082
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are directed to methods and systems for selecting targets for an advertisement campaign. A method may comprise adjusting one or more slider axes that control selection methods, wherein the selection methods may comprise using target demographic data, target behavioral data, filtering criteria, and/or ranking criteria. Then, an analysis application may complete analysis using the input adjustments to determine a selection of potential targets. The analysis application may be operable to complete multiple methods of analysis (or selection), wherein the user may have input and/or control over the use of the methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Ryan K. Hannebaum, Kenneth L. Jones, Christa L. Minks-Brown
  • Patent number: 10535083
    Abstract: Provided is a process, including: obtaining a coupon issued by a merchant, the coupon being redeemable in-store, at a physical location of the merchant; obtaining one or more merchant location identifiers, the coupon only being redeemable at one or more merchant locations identified by the one or more merchant location identifiers; sending the coupon and the merchant location identifiers to publishers for presentation to consumers by the publishers on user devices of the consumers; and receiving indications from the user devices of the consumers that the consumers interacted with the coupon, the indications indicating a consumer selection of an in-store redemption option.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: RetailMeNot, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Thomas Georgoff, Brian Keith Showers, Scott Jason Throndson
  • Patent number: 10535084
    Abstract: According to at least one aspect, a method for providing content items augmented with format elements includes receiving a request for a content item and generating a plurality of augmented content items based on a plurality of original content items and a plurality of format elements. In a first stage a first content item associated with a first original content item is selected based on normalized auction scores of the content items. In a second stage, a set of content items associated with the first original content item is identified. Selection scores for the content items in the identified set are computed based on respective normalization parameters. A second content item is selected from the identified set based on the selection scores and a bid amount. The second content item is then provided for display to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Aranyak Mehta, Omkar Muralidharan, Bartholomew Furrow, Christopher Davis Monkman
  • Patent number: 10535085
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method, computer program product, and computing system for receiving a social platform inquiry from a client; analyzing a current responsibility score associated with the client; recommending one or more social platforms based, at least in part, upon the current responsibility score; and predicting an updated responsibility score for the client based, at least in part, upon the one or more social platforms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Givewith LLC
    Inventor: Paul A. Polizzotto
  • Patent number: 10535086
    Abstract: Consistent with some embodiments of the present invention, an online marketplace service includes am embedded marketplace service that enables third-party merchants to quickly and easily leverage the online marketplace to offer marketplace functionality via their respective online retail stores. Each third-party merchant can configure the embedded marketplace service to meet its needs. For instance, with a user interface presenting various configuration options, the third-party merchant can select a variety of seller-specific, item-specific, or product-specific aspects that must be satisfied to have item listings or product listings qualify for presentation via the merchant's online retail store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventor: Srinivasan Raman
  • Patent number: 10535087
    Abstract: Embodiments for enabling ownership, trade, and marketplace for named geographic locations are provided. Embodiments provide a marketplace for ownership of named location-specifiers. Each named location-specifier corresponds to a latitude/longitude coordinate of a location. Embodiments provide an ownership registry for the named location-specifiers, provide a registry of named location-specifiers that retrieves data based on a user's request for location data related to the named location-specifiers, provide a location data store that stores current location data corresponding to the named location-specifiers, provide a future location data store that stores updated location data and future location data corresponding to the named location-specifiers, and provide a requesting system that allows the user to request location data corresponding to a named location-specifier or to conduct a search related to one or more of the named location-specifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: BSM Technologies Ltd.
    Inventor: Bjorn Aannestad
  • Patent number: 10535088
    Abstract: An apparatus for pricing offers of healthcare services includes an application server providing a pricing tool, and a service pricing information database and a cost adjustment information database that are accessible by the application server. The pricing tool is operable to receive an indication of a healthcare service set that is respectively associated with a service detail information record included in the service pricing information database, determine a base physician fee for a primary service of the indicated healthcare service set based on base pricing metrics for the primary service included in the service detail information record, receive an indication specifying a location for performing the primary service, calculate an adjusted physician fee for the primary service based on cost adjustment metrics for a geographic zone that corresponds to the specified location, and provide a recommended price for the indicated healthcare service set based on the calculated adjusted physician fee.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: MDSave Shared Services Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Ketchel, III, Ani Osborne
  • Patent number: 10535089
    Abstract: Systems, methods and media for managing digital rights in three-dimensional (3D) printing are provided. In one example, a registration of digital rights in a first 3D object is received from a first user and via a portal. The registration includes a certification device. The registration including the certification device is published in an online environment, and the first 3D object is made available for replication by second users via the portal. A request for access to the digital rights in the first 3D object is received from a second user for 3D printing of the first 3D object. Permission is granted under the digital rights in the first 3D object to the second user for printing the first 3D object. Instructions are electronically transmitted to a 3D printer to print the first 3D object, and the 3D printer prints the first 3D object based on the instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Dane Glasgow, Matthew Bret MacLaurin, Corinne Elizabeth Sherman-Stewart, David Ramadge
  • Patent number: 10535090
    Abstract: To improve user interaction with a venue, a venue management system is associated with the venue and maintains information associated with users and with vendors associated with the venue. The venue management system receives orders for products or services from users and communicates the received orders to vendors associated with the venue to be fulfilled. The venue management system dynamically modifies communication of orders to various vendors associated with the venue for fulfillment to expedite order fulfillment. To modify communication of orders to vendors, the venue management system accounts for times for different vendors to fulfill orders, delivery times from vendors to users, resources used to fulfill orders by various vendors, and distances between various vendors and users placing orders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: VenueNext, Inc.
    Inventors: Matt Thompson, John M. Paul
  • Patent number: 10535091
    Abstract: In a server serving as an information distribution apparatus and an information communication terminal, contents are managed by using content identifiers (content IDs) managed as IDs conforming to a rule of uniformity. Particularly, in the information communication terminal, a content ripped from a recording medium and stored in storage means is also managed by using a content identifier acquired from the information distribution apparatus. In this way, contents stored in the storage means can be managed by using content IDs each managed as an ID common to the information communication terminal and the information distribution apparatus. In communication between the information communication terminal and the information distribution apparatus, a content identifier conforming to a rule of uniformity identifies a content to which the content identifier is assigned so that the terminal is capable of downloading the content as well as acquiring additional information relevant to the content from the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Izuru Tanaka, Hiraku Inoue
  • Patent number: 10535092
    Abstract: A computer system is provided that includes a paired list of data transaction requests on which a matching process is performed. There are multiple different types of data transaction requests that are stored in the paired list including data transaction requests with midpoint attributes and data transaction requests with discretion attributes. The computer system may determine how the multiple different types of data transaction requests may be match against each other. Two matching processes can be used to determine if a match exists between the first and second sides of the paired list. Matches that are determined at private values are not disseminated to third-parties via public market data feeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: NASDAQ, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Noviello, Steven Cooper, Leo Golubovsky, Chung-Sin Wang, Jonathan Wakefield
  • Patent number: 10535093
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and apparatus for detecting when an online session is compromised. A plurality of device fingerprints may be collected from a user computer that is associated with a designated Session ID. A server may include pages that are delivered to a user for viewing in a browser at which time device fingerprints and Session ID information are collected. By collecting device fingerprints and session information at several locations among the pages delivered by the server throughout an online session, and not only one time or at log-in, a comparison between the fingerprints in association with a Session ID can identify the likelihood of session tampering and man-in-the middle attacks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: The 41st Parameter, Inc.
    Inventor: Ori Eisen
  • Patent number: 10535094
    Abstract: A lighting system (10), in particular a shelf lighting system, is used for locating products (40, 41, 42). Said lighting system comprises at least two lamp units (24-31), each of which (24-31) or a defined group of which (24-31) is assigned to a different space, especially a shelf surface. The lighting system (10) further comprises a control unit for controlling the lamp units (24-31), to each of which (24-31) or to each defined group of which (24-31) a different lamp address is assigned. The lamp address is linked to a product association that is unambiguously associated with a product (40, 41, 42) located in the assigned space. The lighting system (10) also comprises a user interface (54) used for displaying the product associate and for selecting, by means of the displayed product association, the lamp unit (24-31) or defined group of lamp units (24-31) to be controlled. The invention further relates to a corresponding method for providing a lighting system (10) and locating a product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: ZUMTOBEL LIGHTING GMBH
    Inventors: Rene Joppi, Gregor Mayr
  • Patent number: 10535095
    Abstract: An electronic gifting system includes a first computing device that receives voucher information associated with an electronic voucher (e-voucher) to be given to a recipient from a second computing device. The voucher is redeemable for a specified product or service provided by a merchant. The first computing device also receives user-supplied content related to the recipient, and generates the e-voucher in accordance with the voucher information and the user-supplied content. Thereafter, the first computing device displays the generated e-voucher on a recipient computing device in which the e-voucher including imagery that is associated with the specified product or service and the user-supplied content. At least one of the generated e-voucher or an environment in which the e-voucher is displayed is manipulated according to information obtained from one or more sensors configured on the recipient computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Gift Card Impressions, LLC
    Inventors: Brett R. Glass, Dominique Michelle Pierron O'Hara, Karl Joseph Geisler
  • Patent number: 10535096
    Abstract: A software-based interactive collection book for mobile devices provides the users a way to connect their customers to products while the products are still being developed. This will allow a user to engage with their customers earlier to drive more sales. This will result in their products being more successful in the market at the time of launch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Centric Software, Inc.
    Inventors: Humberto Roa, Chris Groves, Ronald S. Watson, Ravi Rangan, James Horne
  • Patent number: 10535097
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for facilitating media playback in online auctions. A method may include detecting an indication of an auction event associated with an online vehicle auction for a first vehicle. The method may also include determining current auction information associated with the online vehicle auction. The method may further include determining auction event information associated with the auction event. Additionally, the method may include identifying, based at least in part on the current auction information and the auction event information, one or more media files for playback on a bidder device. The method may also include transmitting, to the bidder device in response to the indication of the auction event, the one or more media files for playback on the bidder device according to a determined sequence, which may result in acoustic output of one or more auctioneer phrases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Manheim Investments, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark William Humble, Trevor Enge
  • Patent number: 10535098
    Abstract: A system and method of performing a value-advance money transfer comprising: receiving a money transfer request; determining whether an account associated with a sender of funds includes a sufficient amount of funds to cover a money transfer request; providing an amount of funds from a money transfer provider to the account associated with the sender to cover the money transfer request; making the amount of funds available to the sender for use in the money transfer; and executing a money transfer from the account to the control of the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: The Western Union Company
    Inventors: Kurt Bulawa, Michele Demark, Michael Michelsen, Dave Owen
  • Patent number: 10535099
    Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a computer system for providing a centralized trading service to one or more trading party sites, the system comprising: a) a service data centre comprising: i) a trading computer arranged to process and communicate trading data and to generate trading ticket data in respect of confirmed trades on the basis of trading data: ii) a data store accessible to the trading computer for temporarily storing trading ticket data records; and b) one or more trading party sites each comprising at least one user terminal running a hypermedia browser application, each trading party site being located remotely from the data centre, and being arranged to communicate with the trading computer over a packet-switched communications network: the system being arranged to present, to users of the terminals, hypermedia user interface components comprising trading data received from the trading computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Refinitiv US Organization LLC
    Inventors: Diederik Kohnhorst, Steven Grigg, David Alun Rowles
  • Patent number: 10535100
    Abstract: The disclosure details implementations of apparatuses, methods, and systems directed to facilitating an entity sponsoring a trust. The sponsoring entity contributes a pool of assets (e.g., a pool of real property mortgages) to fund the trust. The system facilitates the creation of one or more classes of certificates that represent a portion of the assets held in the trust. For example, if the trust is funded by mortgages, the certificates will represent rights to different portions of principal and/or interest payments generated by the mortgages held as the asset pool. The sponsoring entity can use the system to sell all or some of the certificates to unrelated parties and to create a market in the certificates. Further, in an implementation, the sponsoring entity may also use the system to facilitate an ongoing certificate exchange program implementing a series of certificate exchange applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
    Inventors: Christopher John Creed, David Jonathan Rosenblum
  • Patent number: 10535101
    Abstract: A computer system for processing data related to last survivor life insurance policies includes a processor configured to process data related to a last survivor policy on two or more insureds, associated single life policies on the two or more insureds, and one or more ancillary benefits. The processing of data may include generation of illustrations, processing of applications, underwriting of applications, and generation of policy documents, employing common data for the last survivor policy and the one or more associated single life policies. The ancillary benefits may include payments based on a medical condition of an insured, payments based on longevity of an insured, and payments based on disability of an insured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: The Prudential Insurance Company of America
    Inventors: Shawn P. Hilario, Edwin C. Barron