Including Timing (i.e., Limited Awarding Or Usage Time Constraint) Patents (Class 705/14.35)
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Patent number: 10528966Abstract: Systems and methods to deliver dynamic context sensitive offers to incent user behavior are discussed. For example, a method to deliver a dynamic context sensitive offer can include operations for generating a dynamic offer, delivering the dynamic offer, receiving data associated with a user, updating a context input with data associated with the user, and adjusting the value of the dynamic offer. Generating the dynamic offer includes associating a rule for manipulating the value of the dynamic offer based on a context input. Updating the context input of the rule includes extracting context information from the data associated with the user. Adjusting the value of the dynamic offer can be based on reevaluation of the rule with the updated context input.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2011Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: eBay Inc.Inventors: Arik Keller, Dane Howard, Michael Lenahan, Ben Mitchell
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Patent number: 10515120Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for identifying an influencer from a pool of people based on past interactions with one or more items. A similarity score is calculated for each of a plurality of items. An affinity score is determined for each person in the pool of people for each of the plurality of items. A similar item affinity score is calculated for each person based on the similarity score for each item and the affinity score for that item. The influencer is identified based on the similar item affinity scores for each person in the pool of people. The influencer is granted a permission to perform a particular action related to the particular item based on being identified as the influencer.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2016Date of Patent: December 24, 2019Assignee: IPAR, LLCInventors: Joseph L. Spears, Jeffrey D. Brandstetter
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Patent number: 10482488Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a loyalty and rewards system that implements a user incentive program using smart card technology are provided. A loyalty system allows a user to systematically search, identify, store, and redeem electronic coupons and rebates associated with products from a large number of providers and manufactures. The loyalty system also integrates the activities associated with the user incentive program (e.g., coupon collection, storage, and redemption, etc.), with existing payment methods (e.g., charging a credit card, etc.) using smart card technology. Thus, the loyalty system allows the user to obtain savings and otherwise participate in the user incentive program without adding time consuming and tedious processing that is normally associated with coupon and rebate programs.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2015Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: TARGET BRANDS, INC.Inventors: Shannon L. Warner, Marc R. Black, Lisa Mellas, James L. Mazour, Rajkumar Viswanathan, Michael D. Salters, Glenda L. Berg, Ann Elizabeth Bailey, Michael T. Greeder
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Patent number: 10467673Abstract: A query handling system includes a product information database and a linguistic pipeline module. The pipeline module receives a query, determines that the query includes a first query term associated with a first product, wherein the first product is identified by a first product code, substitutes the first product code for the first query term in a first intermediate query, and searches the product information database based upon the first product code.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2016Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: Dell Products, LPInventor: Jagdish U. Yadav
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Patent number: 10430774Abstract: Multiple different non-financial loyalty currencies held by different issuers are used by a consumer as financial tender for a transaction with a merchant. Each issuer pays to a primary issuer the financial currency value of the non-financial loyalty currencies being held in return for a corresponding reduction of the balance of non-financial loyalty currency. For each reduced balance, the primary issuer adds an equivalent primary loyalty currency to a primary loyalty account for the consumer. The primary issuer pays the merchant for the transaction in financial currency and makes an equivalent reduction in the balance of the primary loyalty currency. The financial value of each loyalty currency may be dependent upon its use in a transaction with a competitor of a merchant supplying loyalty currency to the consumer.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2017Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: Visa International Service AssociationInventors: Diane C. Salmon, Meara Day, Leigh Amaro
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Patent number: 10430824Abstract: In a promotion offering system, a promotion offering may be presented to a consumer on more than one occasion. The previous presentation of the promotion to the consumer may affect a subsequent presentation of the same promotion to the same consumer. The present invention provides an apparatus and method for analyzing the effect a previous presentation of a promotion may have on a consumer when the promotion is presented to the consumer at a subsequent time.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: GROUPON, INC.Inventors: Michalis Potamias, Amit Aggarwal, Xiaolei Li, David Thacker, Kevin Chang
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Patent number: 10417667Abstract: A system and method allows a user to define books of pictures and customizable text, and HTML code is generated from such definition to allow the books to be displayed on a browser. Based on the user's book definitions or viewers activities, the individual's interests, moods and/or emotions may be identified and ads may be identified and displayed to such person that correspond to such interests, moods or emotions.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2013Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignee: Groupon, Inc.Inventors: Val Agostino, Axel Albin-Lax, Sinclair H. Hitchings, Travis Neilson
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Patent number: 10417664Abstract: An online system receives a discount offer from a merchant and displays the offer to a user before the offer's start time. The online system also defines one or more triggering conditions and sends a notification to remind the user about the discount offer when a triggering condition is satisfied. One of the triggering conditions can be based on whether the user has accessed a web page provided by the merchant. The merchant system provides a web page that sends an indication to the online system when the user accesses the web page. After receiving the indication, the online system sends a notification about the discount offer to the user. Sending the notification in this manner has the effect of reminding the user of the discount offer after the user has already expressed an interest in the merchant and its products by viewing the merchant web page.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2017Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignee: Facebook, Inc.Inventors: Dan Barak, John Stephen Ketchpaw
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Patent number: 10410256Abstract: Techniques for generating offers to a plurality of target customers are disclosed. Each offer has an associated score value for each target customer. The techniques, including an iterative process, assign to the target customers based on the score value assigned to, and a current value to, the respective target customer. The assigned offers may then be generated and delivered to the respective target customers.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2015Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: WALMART APOLLO, LLCInventors: Mindi Yuan, Wei Shen, Yannis Pavlidis, Jun Li
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Patent number: 10395266Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for providing benefits based on MO service, and there is provided a benefit providing system based on MO service, the system including: a service apparatus for identifying, if an event participation message including a Message Oriented (MO) identification is received, broadcast contents corresponding to the MO identification, setting recommended benefit information based on the identified broadcast contents or corresponding user information, and creating a response message including a service connection address capable of connecting to the set recommended benefit information.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2015Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: SK PLANET CO., LTD.Inventors: Jee Hyuk An, Se Kyu Maeng
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Patent number: 10382910Abstract: An electronic certificate system facilitates the secure application of certificates against wireless data transfers with a distributer system by a device user. A certificate enabled device carried by the user stores electronic certificates in memory. When the distributer system detects a certificate enabled device within a proximity radio frequency field, the distributer system queries and obtains applicable certificates for the user from the certificate enabled device carried by the user, applies the certificates to a data transfer, and securely communicates the resulting data transfer metadata back to the certificate enabled device.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2016Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: Accenture Global Services LimitedInventors: Giovanni D'Angelo, Piergiorgio Rettaroli, Salvatore Gifuni, Fabio Mungo
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Patent number: 10366417Abstract: An online system receives a discount offer from a merchant and displays the offers to users. Some of the discount offers provide for a discount that becomes valid when the discount offer is displayed to the user and remains valid for an offer duration. To implement these discount offers, a timestamp representing the time at which the discount offer is displayed is recorded and encoded. The encoded timestamp is provided to the merchant system when the user makes a purchase. The merchant extracts the recorded timestamp from the encoded timestamp and compares the recorded timestamp to the time of the purchase. If the time elapsed between the timestamp and the purchase is less than the offer duration, then the merchant system applies the discount to the purchase.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2017Date of Patent: July 30, 2019Assignee: Facebook, Inc.Inventors: Dan Barak, John Stephen Ketchpaw
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Patent number: 10311458Abstract: A computer-implemented method for generating coupons is provided. The method comprises receiving a request for a coupon from a publisher; responsive to the request selectively generating a coupon, said coupon comprising: (a) a unique coupon id; (b) code associated with a clipping button which when executed on a customer device configured to display the coupon together with media content and an ad unit associated with the media content, causes the customer device to send a clipping notification message including the coupon id to the coupon server system upon selection of the clipping button by a customer; sending the coupon to the publisher for displaying with said media content on the customer device; receiving the coupon clipping notification message from the customer device upon selection of the clipping button by the customer; and creating an association between the coupon id in the coupon clipping notification and the customer.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2014Date of Patent: June 4, 2019Assignee: Aintu Inc.Inventor: Arthur Vaysman
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Patent number: 10269032Abstract: An electronic system may include communications devices and an electronic promotional offer server that includes a promotional offer memory to store promotional offers and a promotional offer processor to send a listing of promotional offers to the communications devices based upon the promotional offers. Each communications device may include a portable housing and a controller coupled to communications circuitry, an input device, and a display. The controller may be configured to display the listing of promotional offers on the display, cooperate with the input device to permit user selection of promotional offers from the listing thereof, and transmit the selected promotional offers to the electronic promotional offer server. The promotional offer processor may determine if the selected promotional offer is currently unavailable, and, when so, send a consolation promotional offer to the communications device.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2015Date of Patent: April 23, 2019Assignee: CAROLINA COUPON CLEARING, INC.Inventors: Jeffrey Sandgren, Richard Polhemus
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Patent number: 10229436Abstract: An entity such as a social networking system generates a dynamically customized user-specific advertisement using an advertisement template and user information from an advertiser. A request is received for an advertisement to display to a user, and the social networking system retrieves an advertisement template that includes one or more functions. The social networking system also retrieves user information to evaluate a value of a function contained in the advertisement. The advertiser can obscure the meaning of personal information from the social networking system, so that when the template and the value of each function are used to generate a dynamically customized user-specific advertisement for display to the user, the advertisement is obscured in some aspect from the social networking system. In this way, the advertiser may communicate with the user without disclosing all of the details of the communication to the social networking system that serves the advertisement.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2012Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: Facebook, Inc.Inventors: Peng Fan, Brian Rosenthal, Himanshu Baweja
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Patent number: 10229437Abstract: An entity such as a social networking system generates a dynamically customized user-specific advertisement using an advertisement template and user information. A request is received for an advertisement to display to a user, and the social networking system retrieves an advertisement template that includes one or more functions. The social networking system also retrieves user information to evaluate a value of a function contained in the advertisement. The user information is provided by both a first and second party (e.g., the advertiser and the social networking system), where the meaning of the information provided by each party is obscured from the other party. The template and the value of each function are used to generate a dynamically customized user-specific advertisement for display to the user, where both parties have provided user information that is obscured in some manner from the other party, allowing for a more personalized advertisement.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2012Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: Facebook, Inc.Inventors: Peng Fan, Brian Rosenthal, Himanshu Baweja
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Patent number: 10229435Abstract: An entity such as a social networking system generates a dynamically customized user-specific advertisement using an advertisement template and user information from an advertiser. A request is received for an advertisement to display to a user, and the social networking system retrieves an advertisement template (e.g., provided by an advertiser) that includes one or more functions. The social networking system also retrieves user information that can be used to evaluate a value of a function contained in the advertisement. The template and the value of each function are then used to generate a dynamically customized user-specific advertisement for display to the user. These advertisements can be shown to a user while keeping confidential at least some aspect of the user's personal information from the social networking system and/or the advertiser.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2012Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: Facebook, Inc.Inventors: Peng Fan, Brian Rosenthal, Himanshu Baweja
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Patent number: 10198742Abstract: Electronic correspondence that includes one or more promotions may be generated for presenting to a consumer. In order to determine whether to present the electronic correspondence to the consumer, the promotions included in the electronic correspondences may be analyzed in terms of a probability the consumer will accept the promotions, a relevance level between the promotions and attributes of the consumer, a relevance level between the promotions and the consumer, a relevance level between the promotions and a set of goals or rules, among other similar terms. After the analysis, a determination may be made whether to send the electronic correspondence to the consumer. Similarly, the analysis may compare multiple electronic correspondences, and determine, based on the comparison, which of the multiple electronic correspondences to send to the consumer.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: February 5, 2019Assignee: GROUPON, INC.Inventors: Amit Aggarwal, David Thacker
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Patent number: 10192232Abstract: An electronic couponing technique includes transferring coupon information, which may include a coupon ID (identification) to a first portable terminal and storing same therein. The portable terminal displays a representation of the transferred coupon information on a display thereof. The stored coupon information may be transferred from the portable terminal to another terminal for redemption. The stored coupon information may also be transferred from the portable terminal to another portable terminal. Various schemes may be used to transfer the coupon information including a Bluetooth low-range radio link or an optical bar code scanner scanning an optical bar code or an infrared link or a wireless link from the portable terminal. The Internet or wireless LAN (Local Area Network) may also be used in transferring the coupon information to and from the various terminals.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2016Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: Nokia Technologies OyInventor: Jussi Rissanen
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Patent number: 10085119Abstract: Provided is a service providing system and method.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2017Date of Patent: September 25, 2018Assignee: SAMSUNG SDS CO., LTD.Inventor: Tae-Hwan Jeong
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Patent number: 10009851Abstract: An apparatus is provided which comprises: a battery to selectively power the apparatus; a first circuitry to estimate a first travel time to travel from a start location to an end location via a first route; and a second circuitry to (i) determine that a charge of the battery is likely to be exhausted prior to a user is to reach the end location via the first route, if the apparatus is to operate in a first mode of operation, and (ii) display the first route as an infeasible route.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2016Date of Patent: June 26, 2018Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Yann Puech, Yan Bertrand, Arnaud Devreese
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Patent number: 10003840Abstract: Described herein are techniques for streaming digital media content, such as music, video, or television content. In accordance with an embodiment, the system includes support for watch-now functionality. A media play logic at a media device controls playback of media content and advertisements as received from a media server, and can be configured for regular media play, or extended media play. Periodically, for example when input is received from a user to skip to a next media option for playback, the user can be prompted to watch an advertisement, in return for extended media play. Upon receiving an election by the user to watch the advertisement in return for extended media play, the media application plays the advertisement, and configures the media play logic for an extended period of advertisement-free media play.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2014Date of Patent: June 19, 2018Assignee: SPOTIFY ABInventors: Jason Richman, Will Meyer, Ed Chen, Alex Sarkesian, Colin McLeod, Samwoo E
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Patent number: 9972001Abstract: Methods and apparatus for recovering a transaction cost in connection with a transaction between a customer and a merchant are provided. The transaction cost may be recovered from a transaction that originates at a merchant location associated with a merchant category code. The transaction cost may be recovered from a low-value purchase. A recovery amount associated with the low-value purchase may include a fixed amount. The recovery amount associated with the low-value purchase may include a percentage of the acceptance cost. The recovery amount may be shared among two or more transaction participant. The recovery amount may be dynamically adjusted. Methods and apparatus may include providing adequate notice of changes in the recovery amount. The transaction cost may be recovered utilizing central control over network of merchant locations.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2015Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: Bank of America CorporationInventors: Matthew D. Murphy, Scott A. Weigman
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Patent number: 9965770Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein may be directed to the intelligent distribution, redemption, and tracking of coupons. Modernized couponing processes described herein may provide meaningful synergy between three different parties, namely the shopper, the retailer, and the product supplier. For example, while shopping at a retailer, a shopper may use their device to scan a barcode of a product that they wish to purchase. Based on the scanned barcode, relevant coupon offers associated are identified and presented to the shopper on the user device. The shopper may then select one or more coupon offers to be redeemed at the point of sale.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2017Date of Patent: May 8, 2018Assignee: CLIPCART CORP.Inventors: Nancy Mason-Gugenheim, Jessica Ramirez-Gugenheim
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Patent number: 9940602Abstract: Systems and methods including techniques for allowing users of an electronic marketplace to create “Giveaways” on the electronic marketplace are described. For example, a user (“host”) can purchase a certain number of items using the electronic marketplace, and set parameters for others to redeem or claim those items. The electronic marketplace charges the host for the items and other estimated costs, reserves the requested number of items, and sets up a redemption site through which other individuals can claim the items according to the parameter(s) set by the host. The electronic marketplace may validate winners of the giveaways by confirming user identities, addresses, etc., using their own user database. When items are claimed, actual costs, such as shipping, taxes, etc., may be calculated, and the electronic marketplace can send a refund to the host for any overcharges, as well as any unclaimed items.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2014Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Michael David Messenger, Vishal Shantilal Mamania
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Patent number: 9922368Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for auctioning gift cards on the secondary market. The system can receive a prepaid debit account for resale from an owner and determine a face value for the prepaid debit account. The system can establish a floor price and offer the prepaid debit account for sale via an auction, starting at an initial price above the floor price and up to and including the face value, and can decrement the sale price at regular time intervals. The system can end the auction when a purchaser purchases the prepaid debit account at the decremented price. However, if no purchaser purchases the prepaid debit account before the decremented price is below the floor price, the system can purchase the prepaid debit account from the owner for the floor price. The system can store the prepaid debit account in an inventory for resale.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2016Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: GIFTCODES.COM, LLCInventors: Jason Wolfe, Shawn D. Allen
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Patent number: 9906825Abstract: A method and system for planning and running video-on-demand (VOD) advertising includes a planner for planning advertising campaigns and an ad selector for running selected advertisements from selected ones of the campaigns. The campaigns are associated with household demographic classifications, video content category categories, household geographic locations, and/or video viewing times. In response to a viewer requesting a video, the selector selects the campaigns corresponding to the demographic classification associated with the viewer, the content category of the requested video, the geographic location associated with the viewer, and/or the viewing time at which the requested video is viewed. The demographic classification is determined by using an identifier of the viewer's set-top-box. The selector may select the campaigns corresponding to the content categories of the requested video. The content categories are determined by using an identifier associated with the requested video.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2015Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLCInventor: Neville A. Black
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Patent number: 9871752Abstract: A computer implemented method and a personal communication system (PCS) for generating and delivering a personalized communication based on a time condition. The PCS configures a preliminary time condition and determines an optimal time condition from the preliminary time condition, a sender configured time condition, and a recipient configured time condition. The PCS detects a sender's attempt to generate and send the personalized communication based on media content received from a sender device. The PCS times the composition of the personalized communication, generates a timing verification report that verifies whether the optimal time condition is met, and performs an action based on the verification. The action includes rendering a notification to the sender device for instructing the sender to continue composing the personalized communication until the optimal time condition is met, or generating and delivering the personalized communication to recipient devices when the optimal time condition is met.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2014Date of Patent: January 16, 2018Assignee: LETT.RS LLCInventors: Drew Charles Bartkiewicz, Blake Daniel Bartkiewicz
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Patent number: 9866570Abstract: An on-vehicle communication system, performing message authentication using transmitter and receiver codes that are message authentication codes respectively generated by a communication data transmitter and receiver, includes a first ECU, connected to an on-vehicle network, configured to have, among mutually different first and second encryption keys, only the first one and verify, by using the receiver code generated using the first one, the transmitter code assigned to the communication data received; a second ECU, connected to the on-vehicle network, configured to have at least the first one and transmit communication data to which the transmitter code generated using the first one is assigned; and a third ECU connected to the on-vehicle network and a network outside a vehicle, configured to have only the second one among the first and second ones and generate the transmitter or receiver codes using the second one when making communication over the on-vehicle network.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2015Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Masaaki Ichihara
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Patent number: 9824371Abstract: A system can determine that a mobile device, located at a physical place of business transmits a first electronic communication for redemption of an electronic offer at the physical place of business. The system can further detect a second electronic communication transmitted from the mobile device, which indicates a first identifier. The first identifier can be associated with a verifier of the electronic offer (e.g., a staff member) at the physical place of business. The system can further determine, based on analysis of the first identifier, a second identifier (e.g., contact data, a telephone number, etc.), that corresponds to the verifier, without providing the second identifier to the mobile device. The system can further electronically transmit, utilizing the second identifier, a third electronic communication that indicates information about the redemption of the electronic offer.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2015Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: Groupon, Inc.Inventors: James F. Kramer, Paul C. Ning
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Patent number: 9799160Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for providing a service to a player using a player device. A indication of a player identifier which corresponds to a player of a gaming device is received. A player device is provided to the player. A service to provide the player is determined based on a gaming activity of the player, and the service is then provided to the player using the player device.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2015Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: IGTInventors: Jay S. Walker, James A. Jorasch, Russell P. Sammon, Thomas M. Sparico
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Patent number: 9721238Abstract: Multiple different non-financial loyalty currencies held by different issuers are used by a consumer as financial tender for a transaction with a merchant. Each issuer pays to a primary issuer the financial currency value of the non-financial loyalty currencies being held in return for a corresponding reduction of the balance of non-financial loyalty currency. For each reduced balance, the primary issuer adds an equivalent primary loyalty currency to a primary loyalty account for the consumer. The primary issuer pays the merchant for the transaction in financial currency and makes an equivalent reduction in the balance of the primary loyalty currency. The financial value of each loyalty currency may be dependent upon its use in a transaction with a competitor of a merchant supplying loyalty currency to the consumer.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2010Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: VISA U.S.A. INC.Inventors: Diane Salmon, Meara Day Dey, Leigh Amaro
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Patent number: 9619824Abstract: Ads delivered to mobile devices by virtue of a mobile app executing on the device are displayed on the device screen outside the confines or borders of the mobile app. This enables app developers to display ads through their apps to app users wherein the ads are displayed outside the confines of the actual app as displayed on the device. That is, the ad may be displayed as what may be characterized as a ‘regular non-app generated’ ad, such as on the device's home or lock screen (display areas not normally associated with an app). In this manner, clutter is decreased within mobile apps that would otherwise be caused by the ads. Consequently, advertisers are more likely to pay higher rates thereby generating more revenue for app developers or related entities.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2014Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: ADENDA MEDIA INC.Inventor: Francis George Doumet
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Patent number: 9514483Abstract: A system is disclosed for allowing a merchant to create offers for distribution via multiple distribution channels. The distribution channels may include social media networks and location based services. The method may include receiving offer parameters for generating the offer, generating offer data based on the offer parameters and merchant transaction data, and determining data subsets of the offer data for distribution through multiple electronic distribution channels. The systems and methods may include associating a transaction account of the account holder with the offer, monitoring a transaction of the transaction account, comparing with a criterion governing the offer, and generating a report for the merchant. The report may include various metrics of the offer, such as return on investment, tracking information on the number of repeat customers and new customers during an offer period, and may occur approximately real-time with the transaction.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2013Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: AMERICAN EXPRESS TRAVEL RELATED SERVICES COMPANY, INC.Inventors: Mara K. Chomsky, David M. Greenspan, Randi Schochet, Elizabeth K. Vakil
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Patent number: 9495696Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for processing transactions and associated dated. In one exemplary implementation, there is provided a method for processing information associated with transactions involving a product, wherein the product may comprise an experience, a physical product, and/or a digital product. Moreover, illustrative methods may include performing processing associated with a plurality of subroutines, such as a first subroutine for handling an experience, a second subroutine for handling a physical and/or a digital product, and/or one more additional subroutines associated with fulfillment.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2015Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: Traina Interactive Corp.Inventors: Trevor Dow Traina, Joseph Peter Vierra, Jennifer Chih-Ting Chen, Mitchell Paul Galbraith
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Patent number: 9489681Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for distributing coupons by a retailer. The coupons distributed in the invention are “third-party” coupons, that is, coupons for goods or services that are unrelated to those of the retailer and offered by a third-party retailer. For example, if the coupons are being distributed by a supermarket, then the coupons may be for tools at a home-improvement store or for tax services by an accountant. The distribution methods of the invention increases the revenue of a retailer. More specifically, a consumer is presented a coupon when the value of the transaction exceeds a threshold. In a number of embodiments, the threshold is the average sale per transaction of the retailer. Accordingly, consumers will be motivated to increase spending so that coupons can be earned. The methods and apparatus of the invention are equally applicable to both “brick and mortar” and “click and mortar” retailing.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2003Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Inventor: Paul R. Barous
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Patent number: 9460433Abstract: A system, methods, and apparatuses are provided for valuation and exchange of stored value assets, information of value, and the transfer of value to or among individuals. The exchanged assets may be of a similar nature, e.g., music files exchanged for other music files, and exchange or trade of information such as rewards value or a restaurant coupon. The exchanged assets may also be other dissimilar assets exchanged between individuals and/or entities. The exchange may be initiated in numerous ways such as after completing a review, exchanging or trading a gift card, a prepaid card, a reward card, a coupon, a ticket, a pass, and/or the like when in proximity to a specific location or a location of some type or category, and/or exchanging or trading of other assets between individuals based on one or more constraints such as time, location, need, desire for the assets, and/or proximity.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2015Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: Proctor Consulting LLPInventors: James A. Proctor, Jr., Maria Elena Tripoli, James Arthur Proctor, III
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Patent number: 9372939Abstract: An Internet service is configured to provide information to a user of the service in ranked order according to demographic profile information about the user provided by the user. Such information might include advertising information and/or search results (e.g., rendered as hyperlinks) to search queries posed by the user. The information may be returned in a ranked order according to reward credits offered by advertisers and/or content providers associated with the advertising information and/or web sites represented by the search results. A process for verifying whether or not an Internet operation (e.g., sending an e-mail message or accessing a web site) is being attempted by a human being or an automated process may be incorporated with the service by using a quiz process that requires user interaction.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2013Date of Patent: June 21, 2016Assignee: Google Inc.Inventors: Stanley T. Lim, John Galen Giddings
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Patent number: 9373119Abstract: A machine-implemented method includes determining when a particular promotional offer which is associated with a payment account of a particular consumer should be released to the particular consumer, and then transmitting a first message indicating the particular promotional offer to a device of the particular consumer. The first message indicates the merchant and the terms of the offer, which may include a specific time period during which the offer is valid. The method further includes detecting that the particular consumer has accepted the offer and, in response, automatically transmitting a second message to trigger a transfer of funds to an account of the consumer. The method can further include, in response to detecting that the consumer has accepted the offer, automatically and immediately transmitting a message to the consumer to confirm the transfer of funds to the account of the consumer, so as to provide feedback to the consumer.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2008Date of Patent: June 21, 2016Assignee: Monitise Americas, Inc.Inventors: Joseph H. Salesky, Peter Madams
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Patent number: 9311654Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes capturing an image by a mobile computing device and determining a geographic location and a direction of the mobile computing device while capturing the image. The method includes generating a display that includes the image and that identifies the locations of merchants that have at least one offer available for a user of the mobile device based on the geographic location and the direction of the mobile computing device and generating the at least one offer based on the past transactions of the user.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2013Date of Patent: April 12, 2016Assignee: Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.Inventors: Stephen M. Ellis, Michael J. Kennedy, Ashish Bhoopen Kurani, Melissa Lowry, Uma Meyyappan, Bipin Sahni, Nikolai Stroke
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Patent number: 9110916Abstract: A duplicate lead removal system comprises a matching engine, a vendor duplicates database, and a conflict engine. The matching engine is configured to determine at least one vendor to receive a lead. The vendor duplicates database is configured to store duplicate lead information that is at least partly created by and received from vendors outside of the duplicate lead removal system. The conflict engine is configured to compare information that is at least derived from the lead with information stored in the vendor duplicates database in order to determine if the lead is a duplicate lead for the vendor such that the system can prevent transmission of duplicate leads to the vendor.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2014Date of Patent: August 18, 2015Assignee: LOWER MY BILLS, INC.Inventors: Stephen Semprevivo, Matt Wells
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Publication number: 20150134439Abstract: A technique is disclosed for generating an interactive digital receipt on a user device, where the receipt offers an engagement platform for merchants and customers to interact on a continuous basis. The interactive digital receipt is generated in response to an occurrence of a particular financial transaction. The receipt includes a plurality of time-based interactive components to enable the merchant and the customer to interact with one another. In one embodiment, the time-based interactive components include a gratuity component to allow adding of a gratuity amount after the occurrence of the transaction. The gratuity component is associated with a timeframe that defines a time period for which the customer may submit the gratuity amount. The time period can range from a limited time period to an unlimited time period.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2013Publication date: May 14, 2015Applicant: Square, Inc.Inventors: David W. Maxwell, Lauren A. Myrick, Daniel G. Becker, Tyler James Lettau
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Publication number: 20150120422Abstract: Systems and methods for creating a presentation of purchase incentives to a shopper. A presentation to present to a shopper is created. A depiction of a store layout is depicted on the presentation, where the store layout depicts a plurality of areas with each area being associated with a respective set of associated items within a plurality of items offered for purchase. A respective depiction is depicted, on the presentation of the store layout, for each of at least one purchase incentive. Each purchase incentive has a respective associated item within a plurality of items offered for purchase. The respective depiction is graphically linked to a respective area that is associated with the respective associated item.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2014Publication date: April 30, 2015Inventors: Ajay Ashok DESHPANDE, Kimberly D. HENDRIX, Herbert Scott Mc FADDIN, Chandrasekhar NARAYANASWAMI
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Publication number: 20150120430Abstract: An electronic method for providing electronic coupons to a user comprises receiving a user input of a parking request into a parking application running on a user's mobile device, the parking request being associated with a parking period. The method also comprises providing access to one or more electronic coupons via the parking application running on the mobile device in response to the parking request, enabling the user to redeem the one or more electronic coupons via the parking application, and expiring the one or more electronic coupons with the parking application so that the one or more electronic coupons are no longer redeemable via the parking application if the one or more electronic coupons are not redeemed within the parking period.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2014Publication date: April 30, 2015Inventor: Michael Eli Silberberg
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Patent number: 9020852Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for an appliance system. The system includes an appliance, and a processor connected to the appliance such that the processor places the appliance in one of an enabled state and a disabled state. The processor is configured to track usage of the appliance and to place the appliance in a disabled state when the usage of the appliance exceeds a threshold amount. The system also includes a data receiving device configured to receive a code, wherein upon receipt of a valid code, the processor is configured to adjust the threshold amount to allow additional usage of the appliance.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2013Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: D.Light Design, Inc.Inventor: Douglas Ricket
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Publication number: 20150100398Abstract: A method for dynamic coupon pricing includes steps of: receiving an indication of a trigger event regarding a value of a coupon; receiving an identification of the coupon; calculating a real-time value of the coupon by automatically updating the stated value of the coupon according to coupon price parameters; and providing the real-time value of the coupon.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2013Publication date: April 9, 2015Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Chandrasekhar Narayanaswami, Alan G. Cole
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Patent number: 9002730Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 11, 2012Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Inventor: Richard Postrel
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Patent number: 8996401Abstract: Methods, systems and computer readable medium storing computer executable programs for tracking customer response to a coupon are disclosed. A coupon is issued. A first determination is made regarding whether the coupon has been selected for viewing by a customer. A first state is assigned to the coupon based on the first determination. A second determination is made regarding whether the coupon has been redeemed by the customer. A second state is assigned to the coupon based on the second determination.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2007Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Jun Li, Ismail Ari, Elsa Durante
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Publication number: 20150046247Abstract: A notification of requirements to earn a reduced-ad reward is provided to a user of an ad-associated computer application (app). Actions of the user are monitored to determine whether or not requirements to earn the reduced-ad reward are satisfied by the user. Upon determining that requirements to earn the reduced-ad reward are satisfied by the user, the reduced-ad reward is provided to the user of the ad-associated app. The reduced-ad reward is a specified amount of time in which the user can execute a reduced-ad version of the ad-associated app without monetary cost to the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2013Publication date: February 12, 2015Applicant: Zynga Inc.Inventor: Vishwanath Rajappa
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Patent number: RE46092Abstract: The computer-based method and system shares revenue with a content provider and registered users. A web page has supplied electronic content and ads with displays and hyperlinks to a corresponding advertiser designated web site. Associated sales referral fees are tracked based upon user click throughs. The content provider is incentivized because the system shares the associated sales referral fees with him based upon factors such as frequency of posting content, quality rankings by users, gross value referral fees, and page user-visitors. Registered user-visitors are incentivized by providing each with N quality ranking tokens and by sharing the referral fees with users who post tokens on content. The QA ranking formula accounts for the quantity of posted tokens, the sequential order of posting, the number of user-visitors, and the referral fee to the content provider. The fees are paid to debit card, credit card, or cell phone account payment processors.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2014Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Inventor: Daniel Redlich