Rebate After Completed Purchase (i.e., Post Transaction Award) Patents (Class 705/14.34)
  • Patent number: 11928657
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for facilitating shopping for products that have been liked to a social media network. A product can be seen on a merchant's website, for example. The product can be liked by user to the social media website. When the same or a different user subsequently sees the liked product on the social media website, the same or different user can purchase the product from the social media website. Thus, the user is not required to visit the merchant's website to perform the purchase transaction. Upon completion of the purchase, the user can be allowed to leave feedback to rate the item according to a predefined scale, which can be visible to all those who view the item, as exhibited by a vendor on the social media platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: PAYPAL, INC.
    Inventor: Elango Israel Gabriel Jesudian
  • Patent number: 11922447
    Abstract: A method comprising receiving, by a payment service system (PSS), a first biometric dataset produced by a wearable device of a user having a user account with the PSS associated with a respective wellness profile; training a machine learning model that uses as input user behavior and outputs a reward offer associated with behavior that improves a wellness score; determining, using the model, the reward offer for the user with a merchant; presenting the reward offer, wherein activation of the reward offer causes an association with the user account; receiving, from the mobile device, an indication that the user has activated the reward offer via a transaction with the merchant; obtaining a second biometric dataset at a time that is based on activation of the reward offer; and updating the user's wellness profile based on a comparison of the two biometric datasets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Block, Inc.
    Inventor: Emily Chiu
  • Patent number: 11910067
    Abstract: A content providing system is provided that includes a client terminal and a server, and provides content based on a use state of the client terminal. The client terminal includes a client control unit and a display unit. The server includes a client terminal management unit, a content recording unit, a content management unit, a content distribution control unit, and a distribution condition management unit. The client control unit secures a content frame based on a distribution condition notified from the distribution condition management unit, and transmits a distribution request of the content to the content distribution control unit. The content distribution control unit extracts and distributes the content from the content recording unit, and the client control unit displays the content distributed by the content distribution control unit on the display unit within the content frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: NEC NETWORKS & SYSTEM INTEGRATION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Osamu Kikuchi, Yasuaki Tsunemi, Yukiko Einaga, Tomonori Kaizaki, Makoto Kawamura, Satoshi Kobayashi, Tomomi Abe, Xuan Han, Ryuki Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 11897358
    Abstract: Systems and methods for tracking and managing the transfer of renewable energy and credits associated with the renewable energy are disclosed, particularly in the context of a V2G framework. A server may receive information about an electric vehicle's charging and discharging states. When the electric vehicle is known to have obtained a charge from a renewable source, the transfer of any energy associated with that charge to a recipient may also trigger the transfer of renewable energy credits (RECs) to the recipient. The server maintains an accounting of the movement of RECs, and may also facilitate compensation to electric vehicle owners for their return of clean energy to a third party.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Robert M. Uyeki
  • Patent number: 11887147
    Abstract: In some examples, a graphical user interface (GUI) presented via a mobile application includes a first user interface element representative of a payment instrument of a user, and one or more second user interface elements. Each second user interface element is representative of a respective reward offer associated with a respective merchant, and the respective reward offer is selectable via interaction with the corresponding second user interface element. The second user interface elements are presented in a scrollable carousel that is presented separately from, and proximate to, the first user interface element. Based at least on receiving, via the GUI, a selection of one of the second user interface elements, a corresponding respective reward offer from a respective merchant is associated with the payment instrument of the user, and the corresponding respective reward offer is redeemable in association with a transaction involving the payment instrument and the respective merchant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: BLOCK, INC.
    Inventors: Brandon Jacoby, Owen Jennings, Ali Hussain
  • Patent number: 11769149
    Abstract: Techniques are described for managing ghost account(s) for user(s). A ghost account may be created with a ghost account number that is a digitally provisioned payment card number linked to a backend account of a user. The ghost account number may be used to conduct transactions in situations where the user may otherwise use their backend account number. One more constraints governing the use of the ghost account may be specified by the user and/or the backend account management service. For example, the user may request a ghost account to be used only to make payments to a particular merchant or service. As another example, the user may request a ghost account to be useable for a particular period of time and/or a particular number of uses. Transactions initiated through the ghost account may be completed using the backend account that is linked to the ghost account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventors: Jeffrey Walton Easley, Lee Adams, Juan Pablo Sandoval
  • Patent number: 11651444
    Abstract: The present application describes a system of managing electronic receipts including a point-of-sale system, a unique identifier detection mechanism, and a server. The point-of-sale system is configured to register a plurality of goods and/or services, comprising a transaction receipt. The unique identifier detection mechanism detects a first unique identifier and a second unique identifier. The server is in communication with the point-of-sale system and includes a processor configured to register the payment of the transaction receipt as a function of the first unique identifier and a memory device is configured to store a database with a plurality of receipt-data storage locations. In response to the approval the payment, the point-of-sale system forwards the second unique identifier and the transaction receipt to the server and stores the transaction receipt within the receipt-data storage location associated with the second unique identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Inventor: Michael H. Freeman
  • Patent number: 11605097
    Abstract: A network access point may control access by limiting time of access to users, and by granting additional access time in exchange for certain user behavior, such as viewing advertisements. Other rewards may be granted as well, such as changes to the user's network access quality, or access to restricted content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Billy Edison Stephens, Kam-Cheong Anthony Tsoi
  • Patent number: 11507951
    Abstract: A system that automates the clearing and settlement of electronic coupons (E-Coupons) by leveraging existing technologies and enabling E-Coupon redemption at any merchant having electronic funds transfer (EFT) capabilities, such as credit/debit card acceptance. The system reduces opportunities for fraud, reduces or eliminates the need for manual clearinghouse counting and sorting of coupons, and provides an electronic audit trail for coupon redemption, tying a specific purchase to a specific coupon. After registering and selecting coupons, consumers then use an E-Coupon card or account access device at a merchant's point-of-sale (POS) terminal. E-Coupon values are deducted from the consumer's final amount due. Both consumer package goods manufacturers (CPGs) and merchants may be charged a fee. Expired coupons are automatically removed from the account and their value refunded to the CPGs. Reports on redeemed coupons and consumer profiles can be generated and provided to CPGs or merchants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Fidelity Information Services, LLC
    Inventors: Vicki L. James, Jeffrey Jay Erdmann
  • Patent number: 11250475
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for efficiently allocating resources among participants. Methods can include receiving valuation data specifying, for each of a plurality of entities, a respective valuation for each of a plurality of resource subsets, each resource subset comprising a different combination of one or more resources of a plurality of resources. After receiving valuation data, assigning each resource in the plurality of resources to a respective entity of the plurality of entities based on the valuations and generating, for each particular entity, a respective input representation that is derived from valuations of every other entity in the plurality of entities other than the particular entity. The input representation for each particular entity is processed using a neural network to generate a rule for the particular entity and a payment based on the rule output for the entities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: DeepMind Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Andrea Tacchetti, Daniel Joseph Strouse, Marta Garnelo Abellanas, Thore Kurt Hartwig Graepel, Yoram Bachrach
  • Patent number: 11250495
    Abstract: A product purchase system may include a product retrieval robot at a physical store and sensors within the physical store and configured to obtain product identifying data for a given product for purchase in the physical store by a given user. The given product for purchase may be placed by the given user into a physical shopping cart. The system may also include a product purchase server configured to identify the given product for purchase based upon the product identifying data, and determine an add-on product associated with the given product for purchase and located in the physical store. The product retrieval robot may be configured to cooperate with the product purchase server to retrieve the add-on product from the physical store and deliver the add-on product to the physical shopping cart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: INMAR CLEARING, INC.
    Inventors: Jacob Bowman, Melissa Bube, Joel Corra, Jason Eudy
  • Patent number: 11244336
    Abstract: A device may receive, from a user device, credentials for a transaction account associated with a user. The device may provide, to a merchant device, authorization information enabling access to an indication of an incentive status associated with the user and the transaction account, wherein the incentive status indicates whether an incentive is available for the user. The device may receive, from the merchant device, an incentive status request including the authorization information. The device may determine that the authorization information is valid and is associated with the transaction account. The device may determine a current incentive status for the incentive, wherein the current incentive status is based on a satisfaction of a condition associated with the transaction account. The device may provide, to the merchant device, the indication of the current incentive status for the incentive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Capital One Services, LLC
    Inventors: Abdelkader M'Hamed Benkreira, Michael Mossoba, Joshua Edwards, Matthew Carson
  • Patent number: 11238463
    Abstract: A computer-implemented systems and methods for online customer assistance are disclosed. The computer-implemented system comprises a user interface, a memory storing instructions, and at least one processor. The at least one processor may be configured to execute instructions to receive a request for assistance from a customer via the user interface, identify at least one last-ordered product, and aggregate customer specific information, one or more previously-ordered products, and the customer specific information that may include product delivery information. Furthermore, the at least one processor may be configured to execute instructions to determine an action pattern of the customer for the at least one last-ordered product, assigning a priority to the order for the at least one last-ordered product or previously-ordered products, determine a response to the customer based on the priority of the order, and provide the response to the request from the customer device via the user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Coupang Corp.
    Inventors: Yoon Seok Pea, Gi Yong Gil, Jae Young Park, Seung Hee Han
  • Patent number: 11232500
    Abstract: A system includes a memory and a processor configured to receive at least one seller parameter including a minimum value associated with a sale of property and acceptable purchase conditions for instant sale of the property; maintain the at least one seller parameter confidential; generate a user interface for displaying a property listing that includes a timeline display, and for entering a binding offer with at least one buyer condition; receive a binding offer from a buyer that includes an offer price and the at least one buyer condition; evaluate the offer against the at least one seller parameter to determine an accepted status for offers meeting the minimum value and the acceptable purchase conditions for instant sale of the property; responsive to the offer having the accepted status, instantly binding the seller and buyer to complete the sale without further interaction; and communicate sale information to the buyer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Inventor: Donald Van Dyne
  • Patent number: 11232456
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention relate to an electronic device and method for controlling electronic payment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junho Hyun, Dongho Jang
  • Patent number: 11195193
    Abstract: A method includes generating a control set, based on input received via a user interface, the control set comprising at least a first product of a product category type. The method further includes generating a test set, based on input received via the user interface, the test set comprising at least a second product of the product category type other than the first product in the control set. The method further includes changing a feature of the second product in the test set, the feature being visible on a web page via the internet, while maintaining the feature of the first product in the control set. The method further includes measuring competitor or consumer responses to the changing. The method further includes generating a recommendation based on the measured competitor or consumer responses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Home Depot Product Authority, LLC
    Inventors: Xingchu Liu, Lukas Bouvrie
  • Patent number: 11182444
    Abstract: An example method comprises registering an account of a first user, receiving first and second requests to store user generated content and first and second user generated content by the first user, the first and second user generated content being associated with at least the first user, the first request including an uploading user identifier, one or more categorical identifiers, and a first domain identifier, associating the first user generated content with an account of the first user and the first domain identifier, associating the second user generated content with the second domain identifier, receiving, from a searching user at a domain, a search request including a search criteria and a third domain identifier, if the third domain identifier is associated with the first domain identifier, determining the first user generated content to provide to the searching user based on the search criteria, and providing the first user generated content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Relola, Inc.
    Inventors: Heather L. Sittig, Graham Golder
  • Patent number: 11176265
    Abstract: Current data archiving and storage solutions seek to store data in the most accessible manner possible, often foregoing security for sake of user convenience. The technology, system, and methods proposed in this document seek to protect data in a highly resilient, secure manner, suitable for extremely long-term periods of time without loss of data integrity. The proposed solution includes methods for storing digital data, validating the integrity of the data on both sides of the transmission, encryption with keys that only the user has access to, splitting files into obfuscated slices for increased security, and determining the most effective storage location according to a novel cost metric. Data is reduced to ephemeral “ghost” files that remain faithful copies of the original data files, capable of being perceived by a user device, but never resident upon the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Inventors: Christopher Evans, Janine Darling, Paul Twomey
  • Patent number: 11145003
    Abstract: The present application describes a system of managing electronic receipts including a point-of-sale system, a unique identifier detection mechanism, and a server. The point-of-sale system is configured to register a plurality of goods and/or services, comprising a transaction receipt. The unique identifier detection mechanism detects a first unique identifier and a second unique identifier. The server is in communication with the point-of-sale system and includes a processor configured to register the payment of the transaction receipt as a function of the first unique identifier and a memory device is configured to store a database with a plurality of receipt-data storage locations. In response to the approval the payment, the point-of-sale system forwards the second unique identifier and the transaction receipt to the server and stores the transaction receipt within the receipt-data storage location associated with the second unique identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Inventor: Michael H. Freeman
  • Patent number: 11068865
    Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for processing an electronic payment that is initiated in response to a primary financial transaction between a first entity and a second entity. A computer is configured to receive electronic digital information relating to a primary financial transaction between the first entity and the second entity. A non-transitory computer readable electronic storage medium in operable communication with said computer is configured to store at least one customizable business rule associated with the electronic digital information, wherein the at least one customizable business rule includes a merchant loyalty reward. A transaction processor is in operable communication with at least one of the computer and electronic storage medium that is configured to determine all products purchased by the first entity from the electronic digital information; and determine, based on the electronic digital information, whether the merchant loyalty reward business rule applies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: QUERCUS (BVI) LIMITED
    Inventor: Aly Karim
  • Patent number: 10990997
    Abstract: A system for processing a digital promotion may include a mobile wireless communications device and a digital promotion server. The digital promotion server may be configured to operate a messenger bot to communicate a digital promotion for a given product to the mobile wireless communications device. The digital promotion may be redeemable at a redemption location. The digital promotion server may be configured to obtain an image of a guest check associated with a purchase transaction at the redemption location, and determine whether the given product is indicated on the image of the guest check, and when so, cooperate with the redemption location to redeem the digital promotion for the given product during the purchase transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: INMAR CLEARING, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffery Hayes, Lee Lovett, Nathanael Georgeson, O'Ryan McEntire, Samuel May, Tyler Lenderman, Zackary Smith, Ryan Halper
  • Patent number: 10963872
    Abstract: Techniques are described for managing ghost account(s) for user(s). A ghost account may be created with a ghost account number that is a digitally provisioned payment card number linked to a backend account of a user. The ghost account number may be used to conduct transactions in situations where the user may otherwise use their backend account number. One more constraints governing the use of the ghost account may be specified by the user and/or the backend account management service. For example, the user may request a ghost account to be used only to make payments to a particular merchant or service. As another example, the user may request a ghost account to be useable for a particular period of time and/or a particular number of uses. Transactions initiated through the ghost account may be completed using the backend account that is linked to the ghost account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventors: Jeffrey Walton Easley, Lee Adams, Juan Pablo Sandoval
  • Patent number: 10943317
    Abstract: Systems and methods for multi-mode communication management are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method comprises presenting real estate listings regarding properties to buyers. Accounts may be created for buyers and real estate agents. Communications from different communication types between one or more buyers and one or more real estate agents regarding any of the real estate listings may be captured. Metadata corresponding to each of the communications may be captured. The communications and the metadata may be stored. A request including identification of a particular real estate agent, a particular buyer, and a particular property may be received. Particular communications may be retrieved in response to the request, the particular communications corresponding to the particular real estate agent, the particular buyer, and the particular property. The particular communications may be provided to the particular real estate agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Relola Inc.
    Inventors: Heather Sittig Jackson, Kristen Policy, Graham Golder
  • Patent number: 10937015
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, in which a method includes attributing a value to a pre-paid payment instrument, determining an expiration time associated with the pre-paid payment instrument, and automatically return an un-used portion of value associated with the pre-paid payment instrument at the expiration time to the purchaser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: CASHSTAR, INC.
    Inventor: Steven R. Boal
  • Patent number: 10867274
    Abstract: In one aspect, a computer readable memory medium comprising program instructions for graphically developing a connectivity driver is provided. The computer readable memory medium is a non-transitory medium. The program instructions are executable by a processor to generate a purchase order for a laboratory item, transmit the purchase order to a remote computer in order to communicate the purchase order to a vendor, receive an advance shipping notice generated in response to the purchase order, receive item information stored in an RFID tag of a tagged item received at the delivery location, and check the item information against the advance shipping notice in order to verify that the tagged item is the same as the ordered laboratory item. The purchase order specifies a delivery location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventors: John Curtis Jones, Patrick P. Fritchie, Steve Kotlinski, Jay Brian Sailer, Pathik H. Soni, Erich Iwen, Ronald R. Hohs, William B. Williams
  • Patent number: 10839373
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for an electronic funds transfer, the method including obtaining a virtual payment account having access to a plurality of electronic payment mediums capable of being utilized in an electronic funds transfer. Obtaining, using an electronic payment management system, information related to the electronic fund and determining by the electronic payment management system based on the information related to the electronic fund a selected electronic payment medium from the plurality of electronic payment mediums for being the source of electronic funds for the electronic funds transfer. Based on the selection, recommending the selected electronic payment medium to a user for presentation to an electronic terminal for engaging in the electronic funds transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sergio E. Ascencio Rios, Natalie N. Brooks Powell, Yuk L. Chan, Apurv R. Johar, Heidi Lagares-Greenblatt
  • Patent number: 10769600
    Abstract: An embodiment of a computer implemented method for transferring cryptocurrency amounts includes receiving, by a processing device, a request to transfer an amount of a cryptocurrency from a first storage location. The method also includes, in response to the request, automatically generating a credit value and a debit value as a related pair, each of the credit value and the debit value having an identifier that relates the credit value and the debit value to the amount of the cryptocurrency, one of the credit value and the debit value being a positive value and another of the credit value and the debit value being a negative value, and transferring the amount of the cryptocurrency by the transaction module from a wallet connected to the transaction module to a second storage location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chang Chen, Ke Wei Sun
  • Patent number: 10685370
    Abstract: The systems, methods, and computer program products (collectively “systems”) described herein are generally configured to monitor actions in digital channels. More specifically, the systems are capable of creating reservations for items and initiating payments for the items based on actions or information received from the digital channel. The systems are capable of syncing transaction accounts with various digital channels. Moreover, the systems are capable of initiating or completing transaction based on user information. The systems may also be capable of providing rewards based on activities or accomplishments in the digital channels. Moreover, the systems may be capable of verifying activities based on transaction information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Morris, Stephanie Schultz, Ilias Tsangaris, David Wolf, Michael Yu
  • Patent number: 10672020
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer program products for classifying merchants. In one embodiment a method is provided comprising providing, a first promotion specifying a redemption and a charge monetary values, the redemption monetary value being specified by redemption parameters of the first promotion and a value indicative of a total amount of funds purchased in response to accepting an instance of the first promotion, wherein the funds purchased can be redeemed for offerings of one or more merchants specified by the promotion, the charge monetary value being a monetary value charged for accepting the first promotion, and providing a first classification classifying the first promotion as a promotion having a redemption monetary value that may be used to purchase offerings of the one or more merchants over the course of multiple transactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Groupon, Inc.
    Inventors: Dylan C. Reynolds, Alan Deitch
  • Patent number: 10630652
    Abstract: Current data archiving and storage solutions seek to store data in the most accessible manner possible, often foregoing security for sake of user convenience. The technology, system, and methods proposed in this document seek to protect data in a highly resilient, secure manner, suitable for extremely long-term periods of time without loss of data integrity. The proposed solution includes methods for storing digital data, validating the integrity of the data on both sides of the transmission, encryption with keys that only the user has access to, splitting files into obfuscated slices for increased security, and determining the most effective storage location according to a novel cost metric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Inventors: Janine Darling, Christopher Evans, Paul Twomey
  • Patent number: 10579621
    Abstract: Systems and methods, and other embodiments, for processing in-store events regarding the location of a mobile device user are presented. Data regarding a plurality of physical stores is maintained, where the data comprises, for each of the plurality of physical stores, a web site comprising a plurality of web pages, each web page corresponding to a location with the physical store. While a mobile device user is within a physical store, in-store events regarding the mobile device user are repeatedly received. A corresponding implicit request for a web page corresponding to location information of the in-store events is generated and supplemental content from the web page, returned in response to the implicit request, is presented to the mobile device user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Vaidyaraman Sambasivam, Nagendra Kolluru, Jie Liu
  • Patent number: 10552860
    Abstract: The present disclosure is related to discounting a price of commodities to a consumer based on purchases made by the consumer with a financial card. A consumer registers with a reward program by providing information associated with a financial card to a reward program provider. The reward program provider may validate the financial card with a financial card provider (e.g., a card association), and, in response to a successful validation of the financial card, may receive, from the financial card provider, a token that may be used to identify purchases made by the consumer using the financial card, and the reward program provider may delete the financial information provided by the consumer during the registration process. The reward program provider may receive information that includes the token and indicates purchases made by the consumer and is used to determine rewards earned by the consumer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Excentus Corporation
    Inventor: Brandon Logsdon
  • Patent number: 10515350
    Abstract: A method, mobile device, and non-transitory computer readable medium for transmitting information. The method includes determining, by a mobile device, a distance between the mobile device and another device in response to a request for the mobile device to transmit the information. The method also includes determining, by the mobile device, whether the distance between the mobile device and the other device is within a threshold distance. Additionally, the method includes transmitting, by the mobile device, the information to the other device after determining that the distance between the mobile device and the other device is within the threshold distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Muralidhar Kattimani, Bulent Kasman, Simon Gibbs, Jasvinder Singh, Anthony Liot
  • Patent number: 10510091
    Abstract: A method of providing digital coupons to a user includes comparing a first plurality of codes with a second plurality of codes to identify one or more matching codes. The first plurality of codes are associated with products offered at a discount by a retailer, and the second plurality of codes are associated with products having a manufacturer discount associated therewith. A listing of one or more products associated with the respective one or more matching codes is displayed along with a digital coupon for each respective product. Each digital coupon has a combined value of the retailer discount and the manufacturer discount, and each digital coupon is user-selectable for placement in a digital wallet. In response to user selection, a digital coupon is placed within the digital wallet and is available for redemption at a location of the retailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: INMAR CLEARING, INC.
    Inventor: Katherine Lesley
  • Patent number: 10496995
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and devices for facilitating payment transactions using an application program interface. In particular, the systems and methods allow payment providers to integrate with a social network and facilitates payment transactions by providing instructions to the payment providers based on the payment providers being integrated with the social network. For example, one or more embodiments identify a payment provider associated with a payment account of a user requesting to initiate a payment transaction. One or more embodiments then determine instructions to send to the payment provider based on transaction information and then send the instructions to the payment provider to cause the payment provider to process the transaction according to the transaction information. Additionally, one or more embodiments cause payment providers to communicate with each other for processing payment transactions involving users of the social network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Patrick Hurley, Sohil Maru
  • Patent number: 10410277
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for alerting an individual is described. A determination as to whether an individual is within a sensing area of a first device is made. The first device may be configured to provide information about a product on a shelf on which the first device is attached. In response to determining that the individual is within the sensing area, a determination as to whether to notify an occurrence of the determination that the individual is within the sensing area of the first device to at least one second device is made. In response to determining to notify, a notification may be transmitted to the at least one second device that the individual is within the sensing area of the first device. An alert may be triggered at the at least one second device based upon the transmitted notification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: RTC Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Eugene Bynum, Bradley Thomas Johnson
  • Patent number: 10387906
    Abstract: A financial institution can provide a best price guarantee to debit or credit card account holders. By providing a consolidated system including automatic price monitoring of purchased products and automatic claim form generation upon identifying a lower price, the consumer is relieved of the burden typically associated with conventional price matching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Citicorp Credit Services, Inc. (USA)
    Inventors: Neeraj Sharma, Ateesh Tankha, Anthony Merola, Michael Ying
  • Patent number: 10354267
    Abstract: In one aspect, a computing apparatus is configured to allow merchants to initiate offers in an offer campaign based on a spending pattern specified by the merchant, such as the lack of transactions in a predetermined period of time of the day, in a recent time period, and/or in a particular merchant category. The offer campaign can be adjusted between offer delivery/announcement and fulfillment for a limited time period. The benefit of a further purchase may be announced via a message scheduled to be transmitted in response to an event identifying the arrival of a particular time instance, in response to a qualification notification of a transaction satisfying the requirements of a purchase event required in the offer campaign, or in response to the detection of a required spending pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Visa International Service Association
    Inventors: Mark Carlson, Patrick Stan
  • Patent number: 10332214
    Abstract: The present application describes a system of managing electronic receipts including a point-of-sale system, a unique identifier detection mechanism, and a server. The point-of-sale system is configured to register a plurality of goods and/or services, comprising a transaction receipt. The unique identifier detection mechanism detects a first unique identifier and a second unique identifier. The server is in communication with the point-of-sale system and includes a processor configured to register the payment of the transaction receipt as a function of the first unique identifier and a memory device is configured to store a database with a plurality of receipt-data storage locations. In response to the approval the payment, the point-of-sale system forwards the second unique identifier and the transaction receipt to the server and stores the transaction receipt within the receipt-data storage location associated with the second unique identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Inventor: Michael H. Freeman
  • Patent number: 10181129
    Abstract: A method and a system are provided for identifying optimal rewards programs. The method involves retrieving from one or more databases a first set of information comprising payment card holder transaction information including at least purchasing activities and optionally payment activities attributable to the payment card holder, and retrieving from one or more databases a second set of information comprising a plurality of rewards programs. One or more predictive behavioral spend profiles are generated based on the first set of information. The one or more predictive behavioral spend profiles and the second set of information are then analyzed to identify one or more correlations between the one or more predictive behavioral spend profiles and the plurality of rewards programs. Targeted information, based on the one or more correlations, is provided to one or more entities (e.g., payment card holder or merchant).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: MASTERCARD INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Kenny Unser, Serge Bernard, Nikhil Malgatti
  • Patent number: 10163122
    Abstract: The systems, methods, and computer program products (collectively “systems”) described herein are generally configured to monitor actions in digital channels. More specifically, the systems are capable of creating reservations for items and initiating payments for the items based on actions or information received from the digital channel. The systems are capable of syncing transaction accounts with various digital channels. Moreover, the systems are capable of initiating or completing transaction based on user information. The systems may also be capable of providing rewards based on activities or accomplishments in the digital channels. Moreover, the systems may be capable of verifying activities based on transaction information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: AMERICAN EXPRESS TRAVEL RELATED SERVICES COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Morris, Stephanie Schultz, Ilias Tsangaris, David Wolf, Michael Yu
  • Patent number: 10102558
    Abstract: Methods and systems for improving a shopping experience are described. A customer brings items of clothing to try on in a dressing room. The customer's exact location is provided to the store clerk with the assistance of a beacon located in the dressing room. The store clerk also knows the exact items the customer has brought into the dressing room because a reader in the dressing room reads tags associated with the items. The customer may be provided with information on suggested products, such as alternative or complementary items to the items the customer selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: PAYPAL, INC.
    Inventor: Dennis Warren Koo Tze Mew
  • Patent number: 10069905
    Abstract: A method uses web servers to promulgate information from one server to another, instead of promulgating the information by the user to each server individually. A first server receives a first request for promulgating web-information from a user, locally promulgates the web-information, and sends a second request to at least one second website server to instruct the second website server to locally promulgate the web-information. The selection of the second server is done according to a preset configuration file which includes a relationship mapping between the first website server and the second website server. The relationship mapping may provide the user information related to the second website server based on the user information related to the first website server. The present disclosure further discloses a communication apparatus and a communication system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Alibaba Group Holding Limited
    Inventors: Kaili Lv, Jian Deng, Bingyang Hua, Zengguang Liu, Chaofeng Meng, Jie Su, Jun Tang, Zheng Zhang
  • Patent number: 9940655
    Abstract: An image processing method includes partitioning an image under test to form a plurality of contiguous image segments having similar image properties, deriving feature data from a subset including one or more of the image segments, and comparing the feature data from the subset of image segments with feature data derived from respective image segments of one or more other images so as to detect a similarity between the image under test and the one or more other images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: SONY EUROPE LIMITED
    Inventors: Mikael Carl Lang, Robert Mark Stefan Porter, Paul Edward Prayle, Ratna Beresford, Jonathan Richard Thorpe, Michael John Williams
  • Patent number: 9928530
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, computer program product, and system for catalog digitization. A method including receiving observed information including physical attributes of a plurality of products, assigning an importance to each physical attribute, organizing the products into product categories based on the physical attributes and their corresponding importance, determining a product profile for of the products based on the product category of each of the products and a likelihood of any two attributes being observed together with respect to each of the products, identifying a match between two products based on a similarity between the physical attributes of the two products and their corresponding importance, and a comparison between the product profiles of the two products, preparing a product description based on a combination of the physical attributes of the two matching products, and creating a digital product catalog comprising the product description.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Nagesha Rao Krishnan, Anbumunee Ponniah, Soumya Prasada, Sudhanshu S. Sar
  • Patent number: 9836695
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to supporting a decision making process. The method generates a graph that represents a decision making process. The graph comprises a plurality of nodes and a plurality of edges connecting the nodes. The nodes represent local decisions contributing to a global decision of the decision making process. Each node is associated with one or more parameters used for modeling the local decision. Each edge is associated with one or more parameters used for defining a relationship between two nodes. The method simulates the graph based at least in part on the parameters of the nodes and edges to derive an output global decision of the decision making process. The method receives a change to at least one of the parameters of the graph from a user and simulates the graph based at least in part on the at least one changed parameter to determine that the output global decision changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: James R. Kozloski, Michael P. Perrone, Clifford A. Pickover, Valentina Salapura
  • Patent number: 9804774
    Abstract: Techniques for managing screen input information associated with configurable gestures may be provided. For example, configuration information associated with a performable gesture and an operation may be received from an application. An association between the gesture, the operation and the application may be stored such that the operation is performed when the gesture is detected as having been performed. The operation may be global or application-specific. In some embodiments, a user is able to update a particular association. For example, the user may update a gesture associated with an operation, or the user may update an operation associated with a particular gesture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald L. Kaufman, Rexford Jay Tibbens, James Arthur Wilson, Pirasenna Thiyagarajan
  • Patent number: 9747376
    Abstract: There are provided methods and systems to identify an item based on data associated with the item. Information is received that is descriptive of an item to be listed on an information storage and retrieval platform. The information is associated with an aspect-value pair, which is an aspect of the item and a value of the aspect. An expression of an interest of a user in the item is received. The expression is associated with the aspect-value pair. In response to the associating of the expression with the aspect-value pair, the item is identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Josh Loftus, Venkat Sundaranatha, Louis Marcel Gino Monier, Jean-Michel Leon, Aditya Arora, Benjamin David Foster, Seema Shah
  • Patent number: 9633362
    Abstract: The systems, methods, and computer program products (collectively “systems”) described herein are generally configured to monitor actions in digital channels. More specifically, the systems are capable of creating reservations for items and initiating payments for the items based on actions or information received from the digital channel. The systems are capable of syncing transaction accounts with various digital channels. Moreover, the systems are capable of initiating or completing transaction based on user information. The systems may also be capable of providing rewards based on activities or accomplishments in the digital channels. Moreover, the systems may be capable of verifying activities based on transaction information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: AMERICAN EXPRESS TRAVEL RELATED SERVICES COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Morris, Stephanie Schultz, Ilias Tsangaris, David Wolf, Michael Yu
  • Patent number: 9582792
    Abstract: The system to facilitate purchase and dispense fuel from a dispensing site using a mobile device employs a site connector computer that administers a site database and provides a secure connection to the point-of-sale system. The site database stores site-specific information about the dispensing site including the site location and pump identifying information from which the number of pumps at the dispensing site may be ascertained. A mobile app server communicates with the mobile device and issues queries to the site database to obtain the pump identifying information. The mobile app server communicates the pump identifying information to the mobile device for use in making a pump selection. After pump selection by the user, the mobile app server issues a fuel purchase instruction that includes the pump selection identifier to a financial processing computer network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Rodney A. Bonk, Devin F. Miller, Bryant Russell, Stephen P. Bown