Product Recall Patents (Class 705/303)
  • Patent number: 11531964
    Abstract: The present embodiments relate to systems and methods for using a blockchain to record information related to the lifecycle of a vehicle associated with a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), or other vehicle identifier. For example, the VIN lifecycle process may be used to ensure the transferability of title, including when information relevant to transferability is not easily determinable, such as after a collision occurs. The systems and methods may include the reception of a mileage report corresponding to a vehicle and updating a blockchain to associate the vehicle with mileage information. The systems and methods described herein may allow for using a blockchain which gives the option for private information, and permissioned participants in the blockchain. In particular, the systems and methods allow for a distributed consensus amongst businesses, consumers, and authorities, as to the validity of information and transactions stored on the blockchain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: William J. Leise, Douglas A. Graff, Stacie A. McCullough, Shawn M. Call, Eric Bellas, Jaime Skaggs, Jacob J. Alt, Eric R. Moore, Vicki King
  • Patent number: 11429977
    Abstract: The invention relates to a customer initiated fraud management. With an embodiment of the present invention, customers may control card utilization through a mobile application. For example, customers may restrict the utilization on their cards when they do not need to use their cards as well as allow specific types of transactions on demand (e.g., PoS, Cash, card absent environment transactions, etc.). Also, an interactive user interface provides cardholders the ability to open utilization windows in specific countries and for specific utilization types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
    Inventor: Mohamed Ahmed Abdelwahab Elfeky
  • Patent number: 11248933
    Abstract: An appliance operation signal processing system comprises: an input for receiving an appliance operation signal, the appliance operation signal comprising information relating to operation of an appliance; an output for outputting information relating to a recall status of the appliance; and a processor configured to: monitor an input appliance operation signal for a change in magnitude; if a change is detected: identify a component event corresponding to the change; determine whether the component event is a designated sequence start component event; if the component event is determined to be a designated sequence start component event: extract one or more features from the input appliance operation signal between the sequence start component event and a sequence stop point; determine information relating to a recall status of the appliance by inputting the one or more features into a first algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Green Running Limited
    Inventors: Peter Gareth Davies, Conrad Spiteri
  • Patent number: 11201805
    Abstract: In embodiments, methods and systems for implementing an infrastructure management system that supports hardware failure remediation are provided. A determination is made that a failure of a hardware component has occurred. The hardware component is part of a hardware composite. A remediation attribute of the hardware composite is accessed. The remediation attribute indicates a minimum operational bar for the hardware composite. The minimum operational bar is based on health metrics or optional and required components of the hardware composite. The bar supports determining whether the hardware composite should operate in a degraded state. A determination is made that the hardware composite if operating without the hardware component that has failed meets the minimum operational bar for the hardware composite. Operation of the hardware composite in the degraded state is initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Ulrich Mueller, Jiwu Liu, Marwan E. Jubran, Aleksandr Mikhailovich Gershaft
  • Patent number: 10762511
    Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically determining recalled products from unstructured recall data. In exemplary embodiments, fuzzy logic is used to determine recalled products from unstructured recall data. In exemplary embodiments, natural language algorithms with an embedded data grammar dictionary are used to extract item identifiers and manufacturer name from unstructured recall data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Prodigo Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Dermot Pope, Marlin Doner, Michael DeLuca, Aaron Manuel
  • Patent number: 10164852
    Abstract: In embodiments, methods and systems for implementing an infrastructure management system that supports hardware failure remediation are provided. A determination is made that a failure of a hardware component has occurred. The hardware component is part of a hardware composite. A remediation attribute of the hardware composite is accessed. The remediation attribute indicates a minimum operational bar for the hardware composite. The minimum operational bar is based on health metrics or optional and required components of the hardware composite. The bar supports determining whether the hardware composite should operate in a degraded state. A determination is made that the hardware composite if operating without the hardware component that has failed meets the minimum operational bar for the hardware composite. Operation of the hardware composite in the degraded state is initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Ulrich Mueller, Jiwu Liu, Marwan E. Jubran, Aleksandr Mikhailovich Gershaft
  • Patent number: 9715806
    Abstract: A system receives body area network (BAN) data and calculates an end of life of a fall protection harness as a function of the BAN data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Hai D. Pham, Steve D. Huseth
  • Patent number: 9373100
    Abstract: A quality management system for products including a multiplicity of barcode indicators, each operative to provide a machine-readable indication of exceedance of at least one threshold by at least one product quality determining parameter, the at least one threshold being at least one of a time duration threshold and a combined temperature and time threshold, a barcode indicator reader operative to read the barcode indicators and to provide output indications and an indication interpreter operative to receive the output indications and to provide human sensible, product unit specific, product quality status outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Varcode Ltd.
    Inventors: Yaron Nemet, Ephraim Brand
  • Patent number: 9374496
    Abstract: A fill-in form providing device includes: a transmission section that transmits information of a user interface for a fill-in form to an image forming device in response to an acquisition request to acquire the user interface issued from the image forming device; a printing instruction section that instructs the image forming device to print a fill-in form associated with the user interface for the fill-in form, in response to a printing request to print the fill-in form based on an operation of the user interface for the fill-in form in the image forming device; a reception section that receives image data, which is generated through image reading based on the operation of the user interface for the fill-in form in the image forming device, and storage destination information; and a storage processing section that executes processing for storing the image data in the storage destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigeki Ishino, Takahiro Okayasu, Shinichiro Yamamoto, Teppei Aoki, Masamune Oshitani, Russell Neville
  • Publication number: 20150039438
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing targeted recall notifications are provided herein. During operation the system will determine a probability of a customer actually having purchased a recalled product. A notification of the recall will then be sent to the customer based on this probability, even if no direct evidence exists that the customer actually purchased the product. Because recall notifications will be provided to customers based on their probability of purchasing a recalled product, customers will be more likely to receive a recall notification on a product that they purchased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: Motorola Solutions, Inc
    Inventors: MICHAEL F KORUS, STEVEN L. ZIMMERMAN
  • Publication number: 20150032639
    Abstract: An approach for providing notifications on product recalls. The approach includes parsing a transaction history to determine a product acquired by a user. The approach also includes determining recall information associated with the product. The approach further includes presenting a notification to the user regarding the recall information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventor: Tanya D. CHERIFI
  • Publication number: 20140236844
    Abstract: A system for processing and managing product events is disclosed. The system may include one or memories storing instructions and one or more processors configured to execute the instructions to perform certain operations. The operations performed by the processors may include receiving a first product alert corresponding to a product event, wherein the product event is one of a recall event, a field correction event, or a repair instructions event, and receiving a second product alert. The operations may also include determining that the second product alert also corresponds to the product event, and responsive to determining that the second product alert also corresponds to the product event, generating an event data entry that represents the product event and includes the first product alert and the second product alert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Noblis, Inc.
    Inventors: Wen-Long Ronnie Shaw, Matthew Kendell Salter
  • Patent number: 8756124
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention may be used in various regulation-heavy industries, such as pharmaceutical, biomedical, construction, energy, heavy industry, and similar industries with large regulatory and/or safety considerations. The present invention describes a track-and-trace solution based on unique item-level QR codes printed on product packaging and encoding unique URLs to enable granular, item-level product management. In some embodiments of the invention, the information presented to users who access these unique URLs is tailored based on product usability information provided from authorized supply chain participants, the role of the user in the supply chain, and/or regulation required data comprising product safety data as required by regulations from a regulatory agency. Embodiments of the invention may be used for the purposes of item authentication, anti-counterfeiting measures, product recall management, and the efficient distribution of supplementary product information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: AgileQR, Inc.
    Inventors: Foster Joseph Sayers, III, Albert Ho, Charles Hyung Kim
  • Publication number: 20140129452
    Abstract: The PRODUCT RECALL PLATFORM APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS (“PR Platform”) transforms recall initiation request, product identifier and purchase processing request inputs via PR Platform components into recall notification message outputs. In some embodiments, the PR Platform receives a purchase processing request including a plurality of product identifiers and preselects product identifiers that qualify for purchase processing based on at least one purchase processing rule. The PR Platform facilitates querying of a product recall database to determine if the preselected product identifiers match recalled product identifiers in the product recall database. If at least one of the preselected product identifiers match the recalled product identifiers, the PR Platform retrieves a recall message associated with the at least one of the preselected product identifiers and notification preferences associated with the purchase processing request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: VISA U.S.A., INC.
    Inventors: EDWARD W. FORDYCE, III, NURTEKIN SAVAS
  • Patent number: 8635168
    Abstract: An electronic registration system facilitates authorized product returns. A retailer sales associate is prompted to enter individual product identification information such as an individual serial number. This individual product identification information is stored in a database, along with the date on which the product was sold and an appropriate UPC code, SKU number, or manufacturer code. A check digit algorithm may be used to verify the serial number prior to storage. A sales receipt may be imprinted with at least the date of the transaction and the serial number. When a product is returned, the retailer may cross-reference the serial number on the product with that on the receipt to verify the sales receipt. Otherwise, the database may be searched for sales information. A customer may also access a return authorization engine via the Internet to obtain return approval, an authorization number, return instructions, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Nintendo of America Inc.
    Inventors: Peter J. Junger, Cassandra B. Shoecraft, David G. Koon
  • Patent number: 8635179
    Abstract: Irregular food manufacturing detection by using conversion pattern in one aspect generates one or more rules associated with amount of resources used to manufacture a food product, collects data associated with a selected manufacturing process of the food product at a selected manufacturer and determines whether the collected data complies with the generated one or more rules. Irregularity may be identified if the collected data does not comply with the generated one or more rules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rong Zeng Cao, Wei Ding, Xiang Yang He, Shun Jiang, Juhnyoung Lee, Feng Li, Tie Liu, Chun Hua Tian, Feng Chun Wang, Hao Zhang
  • Patent number: 8612388
    Abstract: A file monitoring system tracks progress of data processing of a data file. Various applications and systems transmit status updates at one or more stages of processing to the file monitoring system. The file monitoring system monitors the status updates and generates reports displaying the status of the date file at the predetermined processing states. Reports include end to end status, files received and files delivered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Visa USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Prasanna Laxminarayanan
  • Publication number: 20130282593
    Abstract: A method and system for generating alerts are provided. The system includes a data warehouse configured to receive, for a plurality of financial transactions each using a financial payment card between a merchant and a customer, unique personal account numbers associated with each financial payment card, a transaction reference identifier, and a merchant identifier. The data warehouse is further configured to retrieve historical multi-party payment card transaction information for each personal account number. The system also includes an enterprise marketing platform configured to receive customer safety alert registration information from at least one of a merchant point of sale device, a web interface, and a mobile interface, and a customer contact server configured to receive safety alert information and corresponding customer information and to contact each corresponding customer in response to a safety alert affecting the customer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: Christopher John Merz, Kimberly Ann Purcell, Douglas Wilbur Van Horn, Joshua Joseph Baron, John Gioacchini, Maria Escobar
  • Publication number: 20130268445
    Abstract: A real-time process to automatically match medical device recall information to a healthcare provider's inventory and history to alert healthcare personnel of a recall associated with a medical device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Inventors: Peter Casady, Jim Sipe
  • Publication number: 20130254120
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system are disclosed that provide a tiered recall notification service via an information exchange platform. A user may register with the information exchange platform and may identify one or more consignees and consignors. A governmental or administrative authority may also be registered with the information exchange platform. One or more parties may generate a recall notification request in relation to a product. The recall notification request may be distributed to one or more of the parties. Progress reports may be generated to track the status of the recall until the recall matter has terminated or closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: FoodTrack, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. Waite
  • Patent number: 8533075
    Abstract: The present invention describes a biomedical track-and-trace solution based on unique item-level QR codes printed on product packaging and encoding unique URLs to enable granular, item-level product management. In some embodiments of the invention, the information presented to users who access these unique URLs is tailored based on the role of the user in the supply chain. Embodiments of the invention may be used for the purposes of item authentication, anti-counterfeiting measures, product recall management, and the efficient distribution of supplementary product information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: AgileQR, Inc.
    Inventors: Foster Joseph Sayers, III, Albert Ho, Charles Hyung Kim
  • Patent number: 8521654
    Abstract: One aspect of the present invention is an online method for advising a customer on service needs and facilitating the scheduling of a vehicle service appointment. The method can comprise receiving a service inquiry, receiving input information regarding potential service of the vehicle, transmitting an open appointments request to a dealer management system (DMS), receiving a plurality of open appointments from the DMS, causing display of the plurality of open appointments wherein one of the plurality of open appointments is selected as an appointment request, and transmitting the input information and the appointment request to the DMS to facilitate the scheduling of the vehicle service appointment. The last four steps outlined can be conducted in substantially real-time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: David John Ford, John Garfield Graham, Joseph Retzbach, Kenneth James McCaffrey, Nadine Ann Mooney
  • Publication number: 20130117187
    Abstract: A method of tracking consumer purchases from the safety first financial instrument and method of notifying consumer about product recall advisory based on the consumer purchase history tracked by the safety first financial instrument. When consumer purchases product using safety first financial instrument, the purchased product information is added to the consumer purchase database. The consumer is notified when a product recall notice is posted for the registered products in consumer database using multitude of communication channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Inventor: Kerry Small
  • Publication number: 20130103594
    Abstract: Providing an electronic itemized list of purchases made by a user, in one aspect, may include receiving data associated with the user and one or more purchases made by the user, storing the data in an itemized purchase database, enabling access to the data, and providing an itemized list of purchases based on the data in accordance with one or more query criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peter K. Malkin, Jacquelyn A. Martino, Juerg von Kaenel, Seetharami R. Seelam
  • Publication number: 20130036061
    Abstract: An approach to providing relevant product safety information. Product recall information is aggregated from Internet sources into a database of product recall information. Product identification is gathered from products in the consumer's possession. The product identification may be gathered by having a computing device communicate with the products and store the product information in a data structure such as a table in a database. The product identification for the products is compared with the product recall information, and the consumer is notified of product recall information that is associated with one or more of the products. A computer implementing the system may cause the products themselves to notify the consumer. The consumer may also be notified by text message or email. The consumer may also set a sensitivity indicator that specifies conditions to be met before the consumer receives a notification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eugenie L. Alexander, Arthur J. Bariska, JR., Matthew T. Cousens, Eileen S. Kovalchick, Joel L. Masser, Kevin D. McKenzie, Eileen P. Tedesco
  • Publication number: 20120323678
    Abstract: A system for determining customer identifiers (CIDs) associated with purchase of product items which are recalled includes a computer database management system (10, 20) and network (30). Consumers associated with the determined CIDs are notified of the recall of the products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: CATALINA MARKETING INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Richard B. Mansfield, JR.
  • Publication number: 20120323797
    Abstract: A system and method for back tracing a component used in manufacture is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne Hon FU, Daniel Ding
  • Publication number: 20120239581
    Abstract: A scalable method and system are provided for connecting, tracking and facilitating warranties, recalls, maintenance, repair and upgrade/replacement and purchase of new products within a community of large-scale, homogeneous building inventories (LSHBI) or units over a communications network. The method includes providing a database of electronic data at a computer site. The data includes building product data that uniquely identifies building products common to and contained within each housing unit in a community of subscribing building units. The electronic data also includes service provider data that identifies service providers for the building products and warranty data that identifies warranties and warranty dates for at least one of the building products and services provided by the service providers. The method further includes analyzing the electronic data to determine whether an action to facilitate the maintenance, repair or replacement of at least one building product is to be performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventor: Doyle W. Mosher
  • Publication number: 20120209780
    Abstract: A recall management system allows generating, tracking, and verifying product recalls. The system provides notifications of a product recall to affected and unaffected businesses in the supply chain, as well as notification of the public and government agencies that may be affected. Verification of received notifications and the quantity of product removed from supply in response to the recall allows for closure of recall activity. Recalls may be extended over time as additional products needing to be recalled from the particular supplier of the recalled product are identified. Product returns over time are added to the total product recovered and scorecards updated in real-time as the return information is tabulated. Affected businesses and government agencies have visibility to both recall message receipt and product recovered as a part of total product recalled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventors: Roger Hancock, John Bushland, Brian Denker, Jacque Istok
  • Patent number: 8244644
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, an apparatus, and computer usable program product for containing a defective product across a supply chain is provided. A data processing system receives a notice from a source supplier that a product is defective. The data processing system identifies an exposure level associated with the defective product, wherein the exposure level comprises a list of affected assemblies and a range of serial numbers associated with the affected assemblies. Responsive to identifying the exposure level, the data processing system notifies each supplier in the supply chain of the defective product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ivory Wellman Knipfer, Jeffrey George Komatsu, Jason Scott Lee, Matthew H. Zemke
  • Publication number: 20120185399
    Abstract: Methods for notifying customers of vehicle recall notices are disclosed, including a passive method where vehicles brought to a service station are processed, and an active method where mailings are generated to vehicle owners. Based upon the provided vehicle identification number in a repair order or in a customer list, a manufacturer recall database is queried with a recall campaign retrieval request. Vehicle recall notices are transmitted and received in response, with some vehicles being subject to outstanding recall campaigns identified therein. One or more corrective maintenance services are associated with the vehicle recall notices. An alert notification or the mailings to the customers including the recall notification are generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: Autovation, Inc.
    Inventor: David Draper
  • Publication number: 20120130909
    Abstract: Radio transponder encoded with serial number linked to a vehicle's VIN is installed in a vehicle prior to retail sale. When vehicle is brought in for service, the presence of vehicle at the service facility is detected, and checked against a database of recalls, recall repairs completed, state consumer protection Lemon Laws, and service history. This information is stored within a database that can be viewed via the Internet. Electronic alerts can be automatically generated indicating when vehicle is in service and which recall repairs are to be performed, and if Lemon Law limits being approached or exceeded. The system helps ensure that recall repairs are completed and the manufacturer can get involved before consumer remedies are triggered. The system allows lenders to conduct collateral floorchecks remotely and detect irregular business practices, and allows dealers to locate and manage inventory, conduct warranty repairs, and seek warranty reimbursements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: RV-ID, INC.
    Inventor: Jonathan Charles CORN
  • Publication number: 20120095861
    Abstract: Aggregating information includes configuring, by at least one processor, a user profile that indicates user preferences for aggregated information. The at least one processor monitors information sources including the World Wide Web, business websites of interest, and online social media, based on the user preferences. Data obtained from the information sources is presented, based on the monitoring, by the at least one processor, in accordance with a presentation format, as the aggregated information, based on the user preferences. The at least one processor triggers updating of the presented aggregated information based on a change to the data at least one of the information sources and a change to the user profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Junlan FENG, Srinivas BANGALORE, Michael James Robert JOHNSTON, Taniya MISHRA
  • Patent number: 8145574
    Abstract: A recall management system allows generating, tracking, and verifying product recalls. The system provides notifications of a product recall to affected and unaffected businesses in the supply chain, as well as notification of the public and government agencies that may be affected. Verification of received notifications and the quantity of product removed from supply in response to the recall allows for closure of recall activity. Recalls may be extended over time as additional products needing to be recalled from the particular supplier of the recalled product are identified. Product returns over time are added to the total product recovered and scorecards updated in real-time as the return information is tabulated. Affected businesses and government agencies have visibility to both recall message receipt and product recovered as a part of total product recalled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Bushland Hancock Enterprises LLC
    Inventors: Roger Hancock, John Bushland, Brian Denker, Jacque Istok
  • Patent number: 8131266
    Abstract: A system, method, and device for securely forwarding SMS messages in a communication system, for example in a communication system including an IMS network accessible to wireless devices via a radio access network. The communication system forwards SMS messages from a sending station to a receiving station via a network node. The network node, which may be an SMSC in an IMS network, is operable to determine whether the SMS message is encrypted and whether the intended recipient supports encryption, and then the network node selectively encrypts and decrypts received SMS messages prior to forwarding to the intended recipient; SMS messages received unencrypted are encrypted by the SMS message encrypter/decrypter if the intended recipient supports encryption, and SMS messages received encrypted are decrypted by the SMS message encrypter/decrypter if the intended recipient does not support SMS message encryption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Yigang Cai, Suzann Hua
  • Publication number: 20120054049
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a method for processing information about products in a stream of commerce. The method can include recording unique identifiers in association with products; receiving, from a manufacturer of the products over a communications network, manufacturing information about the products; storing, in an electronic database, the manufacturing information in association with the unique identifiers; receiving, from entities in the stream of commerce over the communications network, additional information about the products; storing, in the electronic database, the additional information associated with the unique identifiers; receiving, over the communications network from retailers selling the products, consumer information identifying consumers of the products; and storing, in the electronic database, the consumer information in association with the unique identifiers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: EPoST Systems, LLC.
    Inventor: Percy Randall Hayes
  • Publication number: 20120005105
    Abstract: A method for supply chain management using mobile devices with a server on an electronic data network includes receiving identifying information for a product transmitted from a mobile device via the network, the server being periodically updated with product recall data. The server queries a traceability server via the network for master data and event data related to the product using the identifying information. The server processes the recall data, master data, and event data to produce product data which is output to the mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Inventors: Steve Beier, Varun Bhagwan, James Funk, Arthur F. Kaufmann, Suzanna Khatchatrian, Timothy T. Liu, Justin Ormont, Heather M. Underwood
  • Patent number: 8073122
    Abstract: Email messages are recalled in accordance with restrictions attached to the message. Use of the message is limited per the restrictions. Example restrictions include printing restrictions, forwarding restrictions, exporting restrictions, copying restrictions, reading restrictions, and a expiration time of the message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey B. Kay, Frank D. Byrum, Steven Michael Clagg, Sara L. Manning
  • Publication number: 20110258065
    Abstract: The product recall platform apparatuses, methods and systems (“PR Platform”) transforms recall initiation request, product identifier and purchase processing request inputs via PR Platform components into recall notification message outputs. In some embodiments, the PR Platform receives a purchase processing request including a plurality of product identifiers and preselects product identifiers that qualify for purchase processing based on at least one purchase processing rule. The PR Platform facilitates querying of a product recall database to determine if the preselected product identifiers match recalled product identifiers in the product recall database. If at least one of the preselected product identifiers match the recalled product identifiers, the PR Platform retrieves a recall message associated with the at least one of the preselected product identifiers and notification preferences associated with the purchase processing request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Inventors: Edward W. Fordyce, III, Nurtekin Savas
  • Publication number: 20110173028
    Abstract: A method and system for managing inventory for an ancillary medical facility that can be integrated into existing electronic healthcare records systems or practice management systems. The invention enables clinician users to order medical supplies electronically and to track the entire supply chain of the inventory item from the vendor/manufacturer to the patient. In one embodiment, requisitions are automatically generated when an inventory supply falls to a critical volume or reorder point. The system of the invention provides reporting modules that allow clinician users to analyze cost, inventory usage and adjustment, and supply conflict.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: Eclipsys Practice Solutions, LLC
    Inventor: Travis Bond
  • Publication number: 20110145083
    Abstract: A system and method for providing digital receipts for purchase transactions are provided. The method includes the steps receiving information for a first credit card account for executing a transaction; retrieving a first customer record from a database using information from the first credit card account; charging an amount of the transaction to the first credit card account; and transmitting a receipt to a predetermined location of the customer. The predetermined location may be an e-mail address of the customer or a server residing on the network. By receiving digital receipts, a customer or end-user will be able to digitally store these receipts and view or print the receipts out when necessary. Furthermore, the customer will be able to manage the receipts with conventional software packages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: REAGAN INVENTIONS, LLC
    Inventor: Leigh M. Rothschild
  • Publication number: 20110119142
    Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments described herein relate to the field of electronic registration (ER) of purchased products and, more particularly, to improved electronic registration techniques purchase-side and/or return-side handling of recalled items. Certain exemplary embodiments on the purchase-side may help to filter-out products that have recalled been before they are purchased. Certain exemplary embodiments on the return-side may help enable recall return overrides, thus facilitating the acceptance of recalled products even though they might not qualify under an original return/warranty policy. Advantageously, more and more recalled products may be filtered out of circulation through the use of purchase-side and/or return-side recall watch list checking techniques of certain exemplary embodiments. Such purchase-side and/or return-side recall watch list checking may be performed together with or separate from electronic registration techniques in different exemplary embodiments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: NINTENDO OF AMERICA INC.
    Inventors: Maridee Joy MARAZ, Peter J. JUNGER
  • Publication number: 20110093401
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system are disclosed that provide a tiered recall notification service via an information exchange platform. A user may register with the information exchange platform and may identify one or more consignees and consignors. A governmental or administrative authority may also be registered with the information exchange platform. One or more parties may generate a recall notification request in relation to a product. The recall notification request may be distributed to one or more of the parties. Progress reports may be generated to track the status of the recall until the recall matter has terminated or closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: FOODTRACK, INC.
    Inventor: Robert J. Waite
  • Publication number: 20110093400
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system are disclosed that provide a tiered recall notification service via an information exchange platform. A user may register with the information exchange platform and may identify one or more consignees and consignors. A governmental or administrative authority may also be registered with the information exchange platform. One or more parties may generate a recall notification request in relation to a product. The recall notification request may be distributed to one or more of the parties. Progress reports may be generated to track the status of the recall until the recall matter has terminated or closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: FOODTRACK, INC.
    Inventor: Robert J. Waite
  • Publication number: 20100280963
    Abstract: Participating merchants send transaction data to a Product Recall Service (PRS). Each such transaction data received by the PRS from a merchant identifies a product purchased, an account holder making the purchase, the merchant from which the product was purchased, and an account issued to the account holder by an issuer upon which the transaction was conducted. When a supplier of the product to the merchant announces a recall of the product to the PRS, the PRS mines previously received transaction data, in conjunction with information obtained from transaction handler in a payment processing system, to send announcements to the account holders who conducted transactions to purchase the recalled product, and optionally to assign one or more globally unique identifiers that characterize and specify the product recall. Each account holder can use a web-enabled device to send information to, and receive information from, the PRS. The PRS communicates information received about the product recall to the supplier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Inventors: Edward W. Fordyce, III, Nurtekin Savas
  • Publication number: 20100262512
    Abstract: Aggregation, analysis, and presentation of IP-related information and other information are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: IP Street, Inc.
    Inventors: Lewis C. Lee, Daniel L. Hayes, Brian J. Pangrle
  • Publication number: 20100211509
    Abstract: A resource monitoring system that includes at least one resource monitoring device. The resource monitoring device is integrated in, connected to and/or interconnected to at least one resource consuming device. A remote monitoring location can optionally be provided to receive information from one or more resource monitoring device and to provide information concerning and/or related to at least one resource consuming device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventor: Richard B. Jacobs