Awarding Of A Frequent Usage Incentive Independent Of The Monetary Value Of A Good Or Service Purchased, Or Distance Traveled Patents (Class 705/14.31)
  • Patent number: 11948210
    Abstract: Implementations of the disclosed subject matter may provide a method of retrieving a data record including historic utility bill statements of a customer, determining a historic energy usage rate of the customer based on the retrieved data record, and determining whether the customer is eligible to subscribe to a community solar energy generating system based on geographic location of the community solar energy generating system, the determined historic energy usage rate of the customer, and the customer's geographic location. The method may determine an allocation of energy produced by the community solar energy generating system when the eligible customer is enrolled in a subscription to the community solar energy generating system. The method may generate a customer data record for the user based on credits for the allocation of energy of the community solar energy generating system and receiving energy from another energy generating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: ARCADIA POWER, INC.
    Inventors: Katherine Theiss, Lindsey Maddox, Jake Yesbeck, Daniel Parker, Angela He, Joel Gamoran, Matthew Bailey
  • Patent number: 11810094
    Abstract: Described are a system, method, and computer program product for providing instant credit to a customer at a point-of-sale. The method includes receiving a transaction approval request including a full transaction amount for a transaction at the point-of-sale. The method further includes communicating a credit approval request based on the transaction approval request to an issuer system and, in response to receiving a message from the issuer system including a decline or an approval of less than the full transaction amount, determining customer data used to evaluate an extension of credit to the customer. The method further includes communicating the customer data to a third party credit provider system and receiving a credit approval message from the third party credit provider system including a credit transaction amount to fulfill the full transaction amount. The method further includes communicating a transaction approval message including the full transaction amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Visa International Service Association
    Inventors: Anindya Mukherjee, Rajib Maitra
  • Patent number: 11734779
    Abstract: Implementations of the disclosed subject matter may provide a method of retrieving a data record including historic utility bill statements of a customer, determining a historic energy usage rate of the customer based on the retrieved data record, and determining whether the customer is eligible to subscribe to a community solar energy generating system based on geographic location of the community solar energy generating system, the determined historic energy usage rate of the customer, and the customer's geographic location. The method may determine an allocation of energy produced by the community solar energy generating system when the eligible customer is enrolled in a subscription to the community solar energy generating system. The method may generate a customer data record for the user based on credits for the allocation of energy of the community solar energy generating system and receiving energy from another energy generating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Arcadia Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Katherine Theiss, Lindsey Maddox, Jake Yesbeck, Daniel Parker, Angela He, Joel Gamoran, Matthew Bailey
  • Patent number: 11599898
    Abstract: A shopper valuation system may include a user device associated with a given shopper, and a shopper valuation server. The server may obtain historical purchase data associated with shoppers at a given retailer, apply a machine learning algorithm to determine a corresponding shopper value for each of the shoppers, and obtain historical purchase data associated with the given shopper at the given retailer. The server may apply the algorithm to determine a shopper value for the given shopper based upon the historical purchase data for the shoppers and, the corresponding shopper values for the shoppers, and update the machine learning algorithm based upon the shopper value for the given shopper. The server may also communicate a notification to the user device soliciting the given shopper to enroll in a retailer loyalty program for payment to the given shopper of the shopper value for the given shopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: INMAR CLEARING, INC.
    Inventors: Alise Raak, Sylvain Mansier
  • Patent number: 11392976
    Abstract: A method and a system for facilitating reuse or recycling of a packing bag are provided. A server links one or more details of the packing bag with a user identifier of a user based on an issuance of the packing bag to the user. The packing bag is associated with an identity tag that stores the one or more details of the packing bag. The server detects an occurrence of a first event associated with the packing bag. The first event corresponds to the reuse of the packing bag by the user or submission of the packing bag by the user for recycling. Based on the detection of the first event, the server credits one or more reward points to a reward point account that is associated with the user identifier of the user. The reward points credited to the reward point account are redeemable by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: MASTERCARD INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Naveen Kumar Gupta, Ajay Sinha, Bhargav Jagdishchandra Modi
  • Patent number: 11055693
    Abstract: The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer readable media for issuing and redeeming co-branded electronic certificates. In one example, a method includes receiving, via near field communication (NFC), a co-branded electronic certificate and an electronic payment card to conduct a wireless purchase transaction for at least one good or service. The method further includes determining whether qualification information contained in the co-branded electronic certificate matches at least a portion of the account number associated with the electronic payment card used to conduct the wireless purchase transaction. The method also includes applying the co-branded electronic certificate to conduct the purchase transaction if the qualification information matches the at least a portion of the account number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: MASTERCARD INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Mohammad Khan
  • Patent number: 11017397
    Abstract: Methods and systems described in this disclosure generally relate to presentation of electronic offers that are viewable on financial instruments (e.g., credit cards and debit cards) by users. More specifically, various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods and systems for embedding information pertaining to the electronic offers on a financial instrument of a user. The information can be displayed on a screen or using flashing lights included inside or on the surface of the financial instrument. These offers can be provided by merchants or by banks and financial institutions associated with the financial instrument. In some embodiments, the financial instrument communicates with a mobile application running on a user's mobile device via wireless communication methods to receive offer-related information provided by the mobile application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: UNITED SERVICES AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION (USAA)
    Inventors: Matthew Nolte, Marcus Lee Willard, Raquel Alexis Low, Michelle Leib, Emily Krebs, Bryan Osterkamp
  • Patent number: 11004127
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and method for analyzing customer communications to provide better customer service including generating customer related data from communications of a customer by at least one sensing device located in a venue, transmitting the generated customer related data to an analysis engine, determining based on an analysis of the customer related data a customer experience, identifying at least one suggestion to provide better customer service including the identification of a representative of the venue that the analysis engine has determined can assist the customer, and receiving the at least one suggestion including an indication that the representative should assist the customer from the analysis engine by a computing device associated with the representative of the venue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Marco A. Deluca, Timothy M. Francis, Leho Nigul, Brian W. Thomson
  • Patent number: 10997593
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for managing a merchant's set of terms and conditions that are applicable to a payment vehicle transaction. When a chargeback for the payment vehicle transaction is initiated and disputed, the applicable set of terms and conditions can be transmitted to an issuer financial institution on behalf of the merchant as part of the dispute process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Worldpay, LLC
    Inventors: Stefan K. Karaivanov, Thomas E. Rafferty
  • Patent number: 10984399
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic commerce system integrated with a social networking system. In some aspects, a user of the social networking system may claim a merchant offer by scanning a visual code identifying the offer. Later, the user may make a purchase at the merchant using the social network application. The social network application may apply the offer to the purchase transaction, and authorize a payment based on application of the offer to the purchase. One or more features of the social networking system may also be associated with the offer, such that these features become available to the user within the social network system upon use of the offer as part of the purchase transaction. For example, in some aspects, additional image filters may be made available within the social network system as a result of redemption of an offer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventor: Krish Jayaram
  • Patent number: 10972964
    Abstract: A communication device, including: a communicator that communicates with a terminal that broadcasts an advertisement and broadcasts to a scanner terminal that receives data from the terminal; and a controller that controls the communicator to transmit, to the terminal, data that is included in an advertisement that is scheduled to be broadcast by the terminal and transmission information regarding the advertisement and cause the communicator to broadcast the transmission information that is intended to cause the scanner terminal to receive the advertisement that is broadcast by the terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Takahashi, Takahiro Tomida, Tsutomu Terazaki
  • Patent number: 10956924
    Abstract: In one aspect, a computer implemented method is provided for the provision, on a computing apparatus, of a user interface configured via a portal to permit a merchant to define an offer campaign. The offer has a plurality of milestones required to be met in order to provide a benefit to a user. The computing apparatus may be further configured to associate the offer with a user, detect the progress of the user toward the milestone, and transmit a message to the user regarding the user's progress toward the milestone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Visa International Service Association
    Inventors: Mark Carlson, Patrick Stan
  • Patent number: 10878043
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for identifying data representations across multiple network assets and generating content responsive to the representations. A method includes receiving a set of queries comprising a first set of keywords and identifying a set of results within a first database where the set of results includes a set of publications with an identification and a title. The method generates an association between the first set of keywords and the identifications and titles of the set of publications. The method generates a first association among keywords of the first set of keywords based on user activity received in response to identifying the set of results. The method identifies a second set of keywords based on the first set of keywords and associates the second set of keywords with the first set of keywords within the first database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Suman Voleti, Nishith Parikh, Neeraj Garg, Sathishkumar Veeraraghavan
  • Patent number: 10628903
    Abstract: A computer system operates to monitor an activity of a service provider to detect a first milestone that coincides with a service state of the service provider being changed to an unmatched state. The computer system tallies a value of a counter over a time interval during which the service provider is in an unmatched state. The computer system determines a credit value for the service provider based on at least one of the tallied value or a value associated with a detected tally milestone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Dor Levi
  • Patent number: 10540674
    Abstract: The principles and embodiments of the invention relate to systems and computer-implemented methods for administering financial product accounts that provide reward benefits. An attribution rate on an investment in a financial account can be generated as benefit rewards received from the use of credit cards in a credit card account. The method can comprise issuing credit cards to customers, and receiving invested funds into corresponding financial accounts for each customer, wherein the financial accounts are configured by the computer-implemented method as a saving vehicle selected by the customers for investment. The computer-implemented administration system can comprise a credit or debit card provided to a person having an account, a first computer system having communication hardware for receiving credit or debit card data over a network, and a non-transitory computer readable media having an account database configured to record monetary values in the account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: GROUP ONE THOUSAND ONE, LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey S. Lange
  • 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: 10460248
    Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for using a selected cohort of content consumers to rate a media object is provided by identifying a media object, determining a first value, where the first value is equal to a number of content consumers who belong to a cohort and who have played the media object, determining a second value. The second value is equal to a total number of content consumers who played the media object. A rating is computed using the first value and the second value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: SPOTIFY AB
    Inventors: Daniel E. Stowell, Stuart Mershon, Glenn P. McDonald, Kurt Jacobson
  • Patent number: 10387077
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a memory pool application implements composite arrays via a memory pool that includes a first slab and a second slab. First, the memory pool application assigns the first slab and the second slab to a composite array. The memory pool application then modifies a final data word included in the first slab to store a first portion of a specified value and a leading data word included in the second slab to store a second portion of the specified value. The memory pool application copies the second data word to a duplicate data word included in the first slab. Subsequently, the memory pool application performs an unaligned read operation on the first slab based on a specified offset to retrieve a first word stored in memory and extracts the specified value from the first word based on the specified offset and a specified number of bits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: NETFLIX, INC.
    Inventor: John Andrew Koszewnik
  • Patent number: 10069982
    Abstract: A content distribution server according to an embodiment includes a storage unit that stores: store codes corresponding to stores that are targets of distribution, device codes corresponding to receipt issuing devices in each respective store, print specifications corresponding to each receipt issuing device, and additional information items, each including print specifications required for printing the respective additional information. A control unit identifies at least one additional information item for transmitting to one or more of the stores having one or more receipt issuing devices with corresponding print specifications that match the print specifications of the at least one additional information item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Toshiba TEC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keiichi Hasegawa, Naoki Nishiyama, Yasuhiro Arai, Tohru Okada
  • Patent number: 9893767
    Abstract: A control method for a battery storage apparatus including a battery pack includes (a) receiving an identifier for identification of an external battery pack via a near field communicator provided in the battery storage apparatus when the external battery pack is present within a communication range of the near field communicator and (b) outputting a piece of association data, in which the identifier and a piece of apparatus information on the battery storage apparatus are associated with each other, to a server apparatus via a communicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shoichi Toya
  • Patent number: 9852459
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and method for analyzing customer communications to provide better customer service including generating customer related data from communications of a customer by at least one sensing device located in a venue, transmitting the generated customer related data to an analysis engine, determining based on an analysis of the customer related data a customer experience, identifying at least one suggestion to provide better customer service including the identification of a representative of the venue that the analysis engine has determined can assist the customer, and receiving the at least one suggestion including an indication that the representative should assist the customer from the analysis engine by a computing device associated with the representative of the venue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Marco A. Deluca, Timothy M. Francis, Leho Nigul, Brian W. Thomson
  • Patent number: 9766841
    Abstract: A transmission apparatus transmits an e-mail having a content attached thereto to a mail address destination of a printer. A server having a function of a mail server acquires a thumbnail image of a content acquired from the received e-mail and printing setting information and transmits the thumbnail image and the printing setting information to a terminal. A receiver confirms details of the content and printing setting details on the terminal, and then transmits a printing request notification from the terminal to the server. The server transmits printing data converted from the content and causes the printer to print the content. After the printing data is transmitted, the server performs a process of giving points according to the printing of the content to a user of the reception apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeyoshi Miyazawa, Takefumi Ogasawara
  • Patent number: 9619820
    Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for interfacing a decision engine and a marketing engine in order to provide vendor-related data in response to decision-related data is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the system and method may include providing a decision engine on a user-accessible network; interfacing a marketing engine with the decision engine on the network; receiving a plurality of user inputs with the decision engine; processing decision-related data with the decision engine in accordance with the plurality of user inputs; sharing the decision-related data with the marketing engine; processing the decision-related data with the marketing engine; and transmitting vendor-related data via the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: DSIDE Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Rawdon W. Kellogg
  • Patent number: 9449050
    Abstract: A method, system, and non-transitory computer readable medium for identifying a relevant conversation. The method can include: identifying a conversation graph including identifiers of messages posted by a set of authoring accounts; identifying a relevance score for each authoring account; applying, by a computer processor, a first relevance filter to the conversation graph in order to modify the set of relevance scores; applying, by the computer processor and after applying the first relevance filter, a second relevance filter to the conversation graph in order to further modify the set of relevance scores; selecting, based on the set of relevance scores and after applying the second relevance filter, a subset of messages of the conversation graph for inclusion in the relevant conversation; and providing at least a portion of the relevant conversation to a client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Twitter, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcel Molina, Ross Cohen, Kyle Maxwell, Stuart Hood, Cara Meverden, Coleen Baik
  • Patent number: 9274575
    Abstract: In an information processing apparatus, a communication unit communicates with notifying apparatuses that store position information thereof and notifies, in a case in which a communication is made with first terminals that are held by respective users, identification information of the first terminals and the position information, and in a case in which a communication is made with a second terminal that is mounted on a screen, identification information of the second terminal and the position information. A control unit obtains an estimated value of distances between the screen and the users, from distances between the second terminal and each of the first terminals, based on the position information received from the notifying apparatuses, and determines a lamp power to be set to a projection apparatus that projects video on the screen, based on the estimated value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Ayako Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20150120427
    Abstract: Embodiments that relate to rewarding a contributor for a contribution to a digital media distribution system are disclosed. For example, in one disclosed embodiment data indicating an interaction by a selected participant with the contribution is received. Using the data, a value is assigned to the interaction. Based on the value assigned to the interaction, an incentive is allocated to the contributor, where the incentive comprises a suppression of advertisements that would otherwise be delivered to the contributor. A delivery of the advertisements to the contributor is suppressed according to the allocated incentive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Mike Hayton
  • Patent number: 9002730
    Abstract: Providing a purchase incentive to a mobile device based for example the user's location, predicted route of travel, and prior transactions. A tracking server computer determines a number of locations of a mobile device as it travels along a route and an associated timeframe when it is at each of the locations. The tracking server computer records the locations and associated timeframes in a location log and analyzes the location log to predict a subsequent location and associated timeframe that the mobile device will be at that location. The tracking server computer then determines a merchant proximate to the predicted subsequent location of the mobile device and generates a purchase incentive for use at the merchant and delivers the purchase incentive to the mobile device. In the alternative, the incentive may be generated by a merchant computer or the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Inventor: Richard Postrel
  • Publication number: 20150019320
    Abstract: A method and system for determining a default account in a mobile wallet of a portable computing device while providing an incentive to establish a default account in the mobile wallet includes receiving a confirmation that the mobile wallet exists in the portable computing device, such as a mobile phone. Communications may be established with the mobile wallet over a communications network so that it can be determined which financial account in the mobile wallet is the default account. Subsequently, a reward may be transmitted over the communications network if a default account matches an account of a financial service provider that is trying to determine their financial account in the mobile wallet is the default account. According to one embodiment, determining which financial account in the mobile wallet is the default account may include transmitting a request for a payment over the communications network to the portable computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: JOSE MENENDEZ, SHRIRAM GANESH
  • Publication number: 20140344045
    Abstract: A method, computer program product, and system for monitoring and rewarding athletic performance and use of a product worn by a person, thereby motivating use of the product and promoting customer loyalty. The present invention includes and system and method for measuring, tracking, and recording use of the product, preferably related to the athletic performance of an athlete, using a portable, remote device; transferring that data from the remote device to a common location, such as an Internet web site service; calculating, assigning, and tracking rewards based on the level of use determined from the data; and allowing the user to redeem his or her rewards or compare his or her performance level with other athletes using other remote devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Albert Y.S. Shum, Allan M. Schrock
  • Publication number: 20140337115
    Abstract: Systems and methods of tracking and rewarding users of any of a variety of content hosting systems, such as search engines. In one embodiment, a method of rewarding a user of a search engine includes receiving secure identification information identifying a user, retrieving user account information using the secure identification information, receiving a search query associated with the user account information, crediting the user account with a reward that is directly related to providing the search query, and returning search results in response to the received search query.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventor: Mazen A. Skaf
  • Publication number: 20140310087
    Abstract: Methods and systems for processing report information are provided herein. An exemplary method can be implemented by a computer system. The method can include receiving a reporting from an informer. The informer can submit report information including at least a user identification (ID) of a reported person. It can be determined whether the reporting is valid, according to the user ID of the reported person. When the reporting is valid, the reported person can be punished according to a preset punishment strategy. First feedback information indicating a valid reporting can be sent to the informer, and second feedback information indicating reasons for punishing can be sent to the reported person. When the reporting is invalid, third feedback information indicating an invalid reporting can be sent to the informer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: DEXIN SU, YI TANG
  • Publication number: 20140310088
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a computer-implemented method for reducing funding burden on a credit issuer by offering an early payment rewards program to qualified card holders. The method may include identifying card holders having a payment history illustrating payment of an entire credit balance each month, determining whether each of the identified card holders generates an account-related fee total not exceeding a pre-selected threshold, and selecting the card holders having a history of payment of the entire credit balance each month and generating account-related fees not exceeding the pre-selected threshold. The method may further include offering the early payment rewards program to the selected card holders, wherein upon enrollment in the early payment rewards program the selected card holders receive rewards for early payment behavior.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventors: Jayanta Das, Mahesh Subramanian
  • Publication number: 20140297389
    Abstract: The goal of this proposal is to increase the income and profit of companies, by offering a company brand “Loyalty points card” that represents a new point system of purchasing goods. By rewarding customers with loyalty points, companies will develop brand loyalty in participating customers. Also, this system will give customers the opportunity to create sale days of their choice and consequently help save money on purchasing new items by surrendering used items in exchange for loyalty points that are equivalence rate to dollar value in a specific store, brand, or company.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: Lyudmyla Nikolaevna Brown, Margaryta Lvovna Seliverstova
  • Publication number: 20140289035
    Abstract: A server or Internet service provider computer selects a soliciting merchant and an outputting merchant based on various factors. In one embodiment, the soliciting merchant is selected is its activity rate (e.g. sales rate) is low. The outputting merchant provides offers for bonuses to customers on behalf of the soliciting merchant. The bonus is provided to the customer in exchange for consummating a transaction with the soliciting merchant. Thus, the soliciting merchant benefits from the increased patronage such offers encourage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventors: Jay S. Walker, Andrew S. Van Luchene, Daniel E. Tedesco, Magdalena M. Fincham, James A. Jorasch
  • Publication number: 20140289034
    Abstract: A computer server system provides an online community for customers of a business entity. A first level feedback module provides visual feedback to each user in a user interface for the online community, which quantifies each user's interaction with the community. A notification module sends an electronic message to a user when the user's interaction is below a predefined threshold rate. A second level feedback module calculates second level metrics that quantify other users' evaluations of postings to the online community by a first user. Visual feedback of the second level metrics is provided. A third level feedback module awards a designated achievement badge to users whose interaction metrics exceed predefined threshold values, and displays the achievement badge in the user interface. The system promotes a high level of user participation in the online community and thereby contributes to a low cost of technical support provided by the business entity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventor: Michael Wu
  • Publication number: 20140278895
    Abstract: A network-based security system and method for blocking and/or limiting access to a user's electronic computing device (e.g. tablet) until the user answers one or more test questions correctly. The user has the option of selecting the Content (e.g. topic); the Format (e.g. True/False); and the Quantity (e.g. amount of access earned) for each test. The Quantity may be: Open Access with unlimited time constraints, Timed Access with set periods of time to use the device, and Cumulative Access to earn credit points that may be saved for future device access. The entire device may be blocked, or particular functions (e.g. Internet) or software (e.g. games) on the device. The system analyzes the user's test results and trends in test performance and electronically transmits a report to a third party to enable the party to monitor the progress and/or deficiencies of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Edulock, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick M. Grimes, Linda S. Grimes, Cody M. Grimes
  • Publication number: 20140257961
    Abstract: A system for managing an account includes a tag element representing a value, a mobile device adapted to determine the value when being located in proximity of the tag element, and adapted to access a network, and a server adapted to communicate with the mobile device via the network and adapted to access to a database, the database being adapted to store the account, the account being related to the mobile device (102) and to the tag element; wherein the mobile device is further adapted to communicate the determined value to the server, and wherein the server is further adapted to add the communicated value to the account.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Klaus ZIMMERMANN, Aurel Bordewieck
  • Publication number: 20140257962
    Abstract: An indication that a user has elected to receive interactive multimedia on a device is received. An interactive multimedia is selected. The selected interactive multimedia is customized and the customized interactive multimedia is provided to the device. The customized interactive multimedia causes the customized interactive multimedia to be consumed by the user. Additionally, a donation amount can be calculated to donate to a charitable cause based on revenue generated by an advertisement provided to a user. An incentive is determined for the user based on the revenue generated by the advertisement. A determination is made of whether the user donated a portion of the incentive. Upon determining that the user donated a portion of the incentive, a loyalty credit is calculated based on the portion of the incentive. The loyalty credit is associated with a loyalty program that rewards the user for a charitable action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: UMEWIN, PBC
    Inventors: Pablo Franzetti, Franco Gai, Pedro Morris
  • Publication number: 20140244373
    Abstract: A mobile loyalty system for preventing fraudulent redemption of a reward is disclosed which comprises a mobile communication device having a screen and configured to run a mobile application for obtaining a code representative of a visit to a merchant, the mobile application for transmitting information associated with obtaining the code representative of the visit to the merchant and for receiving information associated with a reward to be redeemed at the merchant, the screen for displaying the reward to be redeemed and a motion element for preventing fraudulent redemption of the reward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventor: David Laiderman
  • Patent number: 8807427
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an account is established for non-negotiable credits provided by an entity to one or more users. Interactions that earn a quantity of non-negotiable credits are detected. The quantity of non-negotiable credits from the interactions is added to the account. In absence of a conversion operation that converts the non-negotiable credits to in-game funds, a commerce partner does not accept the non-negotiable credits for in-game purchases for a computer game. The computer game is owned or controlled by the commerce partner. A quantity of the non-negotiable credits is subtracted from the account. The subtracted quantity of non-negotiable credits corresponds to a quantity of entity independent funds resulting from the conversion operation that converts the non-negotiable credits to a quantity of the in-game funds in accordance with agreement terms established by the commerce partner and the entity. The commerce partner is compensated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Inventors: Sean I. McGhie, Brian K. Buchheit
  • Publication number: 20140222543
    Abstract: A use history that at least associates a use subject identifier for identifying a user or a terminal device a user has used with a used item identifier, which is an item identifier for identifying an item used by a user, based on use information is stored in a use history storage section. Based on the use history, a degree of similarity between two item identifiers is calculated and using the degree of similarity, associated data causing a base item identifier, which is an item identifier of a base item, and an associated item identifier, which is an item identifier of an associated item similar to the base item to correspond to each other is created. A change value to change a point value managed for each use subject identifier is calculated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: JVC KENWOOD CORPORATION
    Inventors: Konosuke MATSUSHITA, Ichiro SHISHIDO
  • Patent number: 8789752
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an account is established for in-game credits provided by an entity to one or more users. The entity owns or controls a computer game. One or more users play the computer game to earn at least a portion of the in-game credits. Game play occurrences are detected that earn a quantity of in-game credits, which are added to an account maintained by the entity. A quantity of the in-game credits are subtracted from the account, as a result of a conversion operation. The conversion operation converts the in-game credits to a quantity of negotiable or entity independent funds in accordance with agreement terms established between a commerce partner and the entity. The commerce partner is compensated for granting the negotiable or entity independent funds for the in-game credits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Inventors: Sean I. McGhie, Brian K. Buchheit
  • Publication number: 20140207555
    Abstract: A content server receives content articles from the content providers and data about the users' browsing pattern from a web browser. The server determines whether a user is eligible to receive a content article based on credit generating activities performed by the user. The server selects content articles for the user based on the user's online activities, and communicates the selected content article to the user if the user is eligible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Inventor: Eric Vishria
  • Patent number: 8768764
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is described that includes an incentive application for providing incentives to a visitor of a site. The incentive application is both portable onto other sites and is customizable on each site to the information provided on the site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Bunchball Inc.
    Inventor: Rajat Paharia
  • Patent number: 8763901
    Abstract: A graphical user interface includes a conversion option to convert quantities of loyalty points of a loyalty program of an entity into different loyalty points of a different loyalty program of a commerce partner. The different loyalty points are accepted by a commerce partner as at least partial payment for commerce partner services provided by the commerce partner as part of the different loyalty program. The commerce partner does not accept the loyalty points as payment for commerce partner services, at least without requiring the loyalty points be first converted to different loyalty points. Responsive to a received selection of the conversion option, a computer presents within a user interface a quantity of available different loyalty points for use as payment for the commerce partner services. The quantity of available different loyalty points results from converting the subset of loyalty points into the quantity of available different loyalty points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Inventors: Sean I. McGhie, Brian K. Buchheit
  • Patent number: 8725562
    Abstract: A method of providing a keyword advertisement and a system for executing the method are provided. The method of providing the keyword advertisement includes: generating and maintaining an advertiser history ranking by using an advertiser keyword purchase history; and ordering the keyword advertisement display with respect to a user keyword by using the advertiser history ranking. In this instance, the advertiser keyword purchase history includes mapping information between an advertiser and a keyword purchased by the advertiser for each advertisement group or for each advertisement campaign.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: NHN Business Platform Corporation
    Inventors: Ki Ho Song, Minuk Kim, Byounghak Kim
  • Publication number: 20140122212
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer-readable media are described for facilitating management of vendor offers. In one embodiment, a loyalty card, or portion thereof, is presented, the loyalty card having a plurality of loyalty portions associated with a vendor that indicate loyalty of a user based on interaction with the vendor. Subsequently, an indication to fulfill one of the loyalty portions provided on the loyalty card is received. Upon fulfilling one of the loyalty portions, an indication that one of the loyalty portions is completed is provided. In one embodiment, the vendor is a school or a non-profit organization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Inventors: SID T. SHUGART, DAWNUA M. DAWSON, CECILIO WEBB
  • Publication number: 20140100938
    Abstract: Aspects herein describe methods, systems, and apparatuses to provide and administer an affinity/loyalty program that credits affinity points to users based on where each user purchases a particular item (e.g., goods and services). The system may determine the amount of affinity points to award by comparing the geographic location of manufacture of the item purchased by the user with the geographic location where the user purchased the item. The user may be awarded more points the closer the location of purchase is to the location of manufacture. For example, the user may be awarded three points if the location of purchase is within the same city as the location of manufacture. On the other hand, the user may only be awarded two points if the location of purchase is within the same state (but not within the same city) as the location of manufacture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Inventor: Philippe Caland
  • Patent number: 8684265
    Abstract: A set of Web pages are provided for a Web site for a different loyalty program of a commerce partner. Non-negotiable credits are identified that are earned by a member as part of a loyalty program of an entity. During a Web session involving the member and the Web site, a request is received to transfer or convert a quantity of the non-negotiable credits to entity independent funds. The entity independent funds are different loyalty points of the different loyalty program. During the Web session at least a subset of the non-negotiable credits are transferred or converted into entity independent funds that the commerce partner accepts for commerce partner goods or services. The commerce partner goods or services are available for member purchase via the Web site. Non-negotiable credits are not accepted for the commerce partner goods or services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Inventors: Sean I. McGhie, Brian K. Buchheit
  • Publication number: 20140058811
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring and rewarding a user's participation in an incentivized activity is constructed and arranged to verify that the user is engaging in the incentivized activity as a condition for awarding an incentive. The system may be configured to verify whether the user is engaging in the incentivized activity at all, or to monitor the quality of the user's participation in the incentivized activity. The incentivized activity could be any online activity, activity that occurs on an interactive television system or activity that occurs on a mobile device such as a smart phone or tablet computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: PRODEGE, LLC
    Inventors: Yosef Gorowitz, Scott Dudelson, Ron Leshem, Levy Lieberman, Shmuel Pinson, Connor Morozow, Menachem Pinson