SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TIME TRACKING
Granted: July 23, 2009
Application Number:
20090187922
A method for tracking time, including obtaining a plurality of tasks; identify a first open event and a first close event associated with a first file; identifying a start idle event and an end idle event associated with the first file after identifying the first open event; generating a first open event time stamp for the first open event, a first close event time stamp for the first close event, a start idle event time stamp for the start idle event, and an end idle event time stamp…
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PERFORMING A CARD-PRESENT TRANSACTION USING IMAGE CAPTURE ON A PORTABLE DEVICE
Granted: July 9, 2009
Application Number:
20090173784
Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that processes a financial transaction involving a portable device and a transaction server. During operation, the system obtains transaction data associated with the financial transaction that includes a transaction amount, credit card information, and an image of a credit card. The system then sends the transaction data to the transaction server using the portable device. Next, the system verifies a card-present transaction…
OPEN PLATFORM FOR MANAGING AN AGENT NETWORK
Granted: May 14, 2009
Application Number:
20090125618
Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system for managing software agents. This system enables a user to configure agents and to specify wiring relationships between the agents and other system components. This system also includes a hub component, which is configured to route communications to and from the agents in accordance with user-specified wiring relationships.
Method and apparatus for improving data entry for a form
Granted: April 30, 2009
Application Number:
20090109455
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that improves data entry for a form with one or more fields. During operation, the system displays both a printed representation of the form as well as an enhanced representation of the form that displays an enhanced view of the form's fields. When the system detects a user action related to a field displayed in one of the representations, the system adjusts the display of the field in the other representation (or in both…
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ASSESSING FINANCIAL RISK ASSOCIATED WITH A BUSINESS ENTITY
Granted: April 30, 2009
Application Number:
20090112649
A method for assessing financial risk associated with a business entity involves recording usage data associated with a consumer business software, where the usage data describes consumer behavior associated with the consumer business software, and where the consumer business software is associated with a business entity. The method further involves generating a financial risk assessment associated with the business entity based on the usage data, and determining an approval status based…
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING KEYWORDS FOR AN ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN
Granted: April 30, 2009
Application Number:
20090112688
A system that for determines keywords to be used in an online advertising campaign for a merchant is presented. During operation, the system sends a request on behalf of the merchant to a user, wherein the request asks the user to search for a product or service offered by the merchant. In response to the request, the system monitors keywords that are used by the user to search for the product or service. Next, the system receives from the user an indication that a subset of the keywords…
TECHNIQUE FOR REDUCING PHISHING
Granted: April 30, 2009
Application Number:
20090112745
Embodiments of a system that performs authentication during a financial transaction are described. During operation, this system asks a prospective customer a subset of questions from a set of questions, where the subset of questions has a probability of being different from those asked while previously or subsequently asking questions of the prospective customer or another prospective customer. Next, the system receives answers to the subset of questions from the prospective customer,…
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING AND VERIFYING A TRANSFER OF FINANCIAL SETTINGS
Granted: April 30, 2009
Application Number:
20090112746
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that monitors and verifies a transfer of financial settings. During operation, the system receives a request to transfer a set of financial settings from an initial account to a destination account. In response to the transfer request, the system transfers the financial settings and then monitors the initial account following the transfer to determine whether any subsequent transactions occur. If so, the system analyzes each…
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING A COLLABORATIVE SEARCH PROCEDURE
Granted: April 30, 2009
Application Number:
20090112807
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates intelligent query operations by using a collaborative search procedure which employs tribal knowledge from a group of like-minded individuals. During operation, the system receives a search query from the user. The system then processes the query using the tribal knowledge obtained from like-minded individuals to produce a results list for the user. For example, this tribal knowledge can include the browsing…
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING A LOCATION-BASED, DISTRIBUTED TO-DO LIST
Granted: April 30, 2009
Application Number:
20090113428
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates a location-based, distributed to-do list. During operation, the system receives a request at a task-management system to create a task, wherein the request specifies a location for the task and an assignee for the task. In response to the request, the system creates the task. Next, the system receives a status update at the task management system, wherein the status update indicates a location of the assignee.…
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SELECTING A DOCTOR BASED ON AN OBSERVED EXPERIENCE LEVEL
Granted: February 12, 2009
Application Number:
20090043801
Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that facilitates the selection of a doctor based on an observed experience level with a condition or a procedure. During operation, the system receives from a user a selection criteria for selecting of a doctor. The system also receives from the user a medical profile for the user. Next, the system receives from a third-party a plurality of doctors' profiles. Then, the system ranks the plurality of doctors' profiles into a ranked…
AUTOMATED POLLING SYSTEM
Granted: February 5, 2009
Application Number:
20090037248
Embodiments of the present invention provide a polling system. The system starts by receiving responses to a poll from one or more poll respondents. The system then uses information in a database to determine the reliability of the responses. Next, the system aggregates the poll responses. The system then displays the aggregated poll responses
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC RECOGNITION AND CATEGORIZATION OF TRANSACTIONS
Granted: February 5, 2009
Application Number:
20090037461
A method for categorization of transactions, the method including receiving a request for a transaction from a user of a plurality of users, determining an availability of an object association for an object name of an object of the transaction, wherein the object association is a preferred object association of the user, selecting a collaborative object association for the object name when the preferred object association of the user is not available, wherein the collaborative object…
USING AN INTERACTIVITY OBJECT TO FACILITATE WEB-BASED AGGREGATION
Granted: January 22, 2009
Application Number:
20090024694
Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that uses an interactivity object to facilitate interactivity during automated web site accesses. During operation, the system examines a web page on the web site to determine a data type for an interactivity request associated with the web page. Next, the system creates an interactivity object, which includes the interactivity request along with the determined data type for the interactivity request. Finally, the system sends…
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SUGGESTING AN EDITION OF PRODUCT SOFTWARE
Granted: January 22, 2009
Application Number:
20090024712
In general, the invention relates to a method for facilitating usage of a product. The method includes obtaining a usage level of a first edition of the product by the user, determining an inactivity level of the user based on the usage level, suggesting a second edition of the product to the user based on the inactivity level and facilitating use of the second edition of the product by the user, where the first edition of the product includes at least one additional feature as compared…
Method and system for health care data transfer
Granted: October 30, 2008
Application Number:
20080270180
A method for transferring health care data between a consumer health care application and a plurality of health care information sources. The method includes requesting a first portion of health care data corresponding to a consumer from a first health care information source of the plurality of health care information sources, receiving the first portion of health care data from the first health care information source, storing the first portion of health care data in a health care data…
FACILITATING DYNAMIC CONFIGURATION OF SOFTWARE PRODUCTS
Granted: October 30, 2008
Application Number:
20080270310
Embodiments of a system that provides access to at least a portion of a software product are described. During operation, this system receives purchase information from a first location, where the purchase information includes information about purchased software features to which a user purchased access and where the purchased software features are provided by a first subset of modules in the software product. Next, the system receives an access request from a second location from which…
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPORTING DATA FROM AN APPLICATION INTO A SECOND APPLICATION
Granted: October 30, 2008
Application Number:
20080270950
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that automatically acquires data from an application and imports the data into a second application. During operation, the system receives at a data-acquisition tool a command from a user to acquire data from the application. In response to the command, the system overlays a semi-transparent layer over at least a portion of a display which is generated by the application, so that the data within the display is still visible to the…
ANALYZING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN AUTHORIZATION AND INSTALLATION INFORMATION FOR A SOFTWARE PRODUCT
Granted: February 21, 2008
Application Number:
20080046308
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that analyzes relationships between authorization and installation information for a software product. During operation, the system receives a set of authorization information that is associated with a transaction for a software product from a point of sale system at a retail location. The system also receives installation information for the software product from a computer system. The system determines whether the authorization…
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USING RETAIL AUTHORIZATION TO REDUCE THE INITIAL VALUE OF A SOFTWARE PRODUCT
Granted: February 21, 2008
Application Number:
20080046376
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for using retail authorization to reduce the initial value of a software product. During operation, the system receives an initial bill for an un-activated version of the software product. Because this un-activated version is not fully functional, it has a lower value than a functional version of the software product, and hence the initial bill charges for a lower initial cost. During the sale of an un-activated version of the…
