446 results about "Brick and mortar" patented technology

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention a retailer may receive a request from a group of customers for a reward the group desires to earn by making purchases at the retailer. In response to such a request the retailer determines purchasing conditions the group must satisfy in order to earn the reward. The purchasing conditions may be determined based on, for example, a value of the reward (e.g., a cost of the reward to the retailer), a number of customers in the group, and / or a time by which the group desires to earn the reward. The purchasing conditions may be determined such that the retailer realizes at least a predetermined profit after the cost of providing the reward is considered. The methods of the present invention may be implemented at an online and / or brick-and-mortar retailer.

End-to-end communication between a UICC and a remote node on a network without requiring implementation of special purpose protocols at the remote node. The UICC operates to transmit a command using a first protocol from the UICC to the terminal to request the terminal to open a data channel to the network. The wireless terminal operates to, in response to the request to open a data channel, attempt to open a channel to the network. Upon indication that a data channel has successfully been opened: the UICC operates to transmit datagrams of a second protocol to the wireless terminal using the first protocol. The wireless terminal operates to receive the datagrams from the UICC and to transmit the datagrams received from the UICC to the network using the second protocol. The wireless terminal operates to receive datagrams of the second protocol from the remote entity and to transmit the datagrams from the remote entity to the UICC using the first protocol.

A quality of service (QoS) station is disclosed containing a point coordinator (PC) for a basic service set (BSS) in a wireless LAN. The PC station includes a QoS management entity (QME) and an admission control entity (ACE). The QME receives at least one end-to-end QoS message that characterizes a user application, such as a voice call, a video call, a data call and a multimedia call. The at least one end-to-end QoS message includes at least one QoS parameter set that is expressed at layer 3 and higher of an ISO / IEC basic reference model of Open Systems interconnection (OSI) (ISO / IEC 7498-1) and is to be passed down to layer 2 of the PC-station for enabling QoS traffic transport of the application. The ACE performs an admission control decision relating to the application based on the at least one end-to-end QoS message characterizing the application. The ACE reserves a resource based on a QoS parameter set contained in the end-to-end QoS message. The ACE can be part of the QME and can include a resource control module that performs at least one admission control decision based on resource permission, and a policy control module that performs at least one admission control decision based on policy permission.

Systems and methods for providing product recommendations to a customer are described. One embodiment includes receiving a request for a product recommendation for a customer, and generating the product recommendation based on a purchase history for the customer. In some embodiments, the purchase history includes data associated with in-store purchases from one or more brick and mortar stores and data associated with online purchases from one or more online stores.

This invention relates to a method and system as a branded club product (goods and services) discounting membership, universal discount card technology, hardware infrastructure, operational and software corporate team amalgamation, seller and buyer critical mass, essential implementation and real-time operational approach to integrate internet e-commerce with in-store commerce in physical store locations, at the point of sale (POS) checkout at store registers, of initially hundreds and eventually thousands of sellers, electronically and operationally, launching and igniting a whole new generation of advertising, buying and selling.

A first device is used to initiate and direct a rights-management transaction, such as content licensing, acquisition, or activation, on behalf of a second device. The first device may, for example, be a desktop computer, laptop computer, or electronic kiosk at a bricks-and-mortar store. The second device may, for example, be a handheld computer that is cradled to establish communicative connectivity with the first device. A user interacts with the first device to initiate a transaction on behalf of the second device. The first device then obtains the information from the second device that is necessary to perform the transaction on behalf of the second device, communicates with a server, and provides the result of the server communication to the first device. Thus, the first device acts as a proxy for the second device.

A secure embedded system that uses cryptographic and biometric signal processing acceleration is described. In one embodiment, the secure embedded system is configured as a wireless pay-point protocol for brick-and-mortar and e-commerce applications in which biometric information is localized and does not require transmission of biometric data for authentication. In one embodiment, a key-generation function uses a dynamic key generator and static biometric components. In one embodiment, an embedded system design methodology provides hardware and software acceleration transparency.

A system and a method for constructing a shopping list for purchasing a collection or basket of goods according to a plurality of weighted parameters, preferably with comparison to both “bricks and mortar” stores and also virtual stores (collectively termed suppliers). Preferably the weighted parameters include the ability to prefer friendlier products, such as products which are organic, environmentally friendly, ethical or a combination thereof. Optionally, the user could determine that certain goods could only be purchased from one or more outlets and / or from a particular type of outlet. Optionally and preferably, the optimization includes determining whether to purchase a larger amount of a product in order to enjoy price savings for that product. According to other preferred embodiments, the user may optionally choose to divide a basket of products between a plurality of suppliers, rather than optimizing the basket at a single supplier.

This invention relates to a method and system as a branded club product (goods and services) discounting membership, universal discount card technology, hardware infrastructure, operational and software corporate team amalgamation, seller and buyer critical mass, essential implementation and real-time operational approach to integrate interne e-commerce with in-store commerce in physical store locations, at the point of sale (POS) checkout at store registers, of initially hundreds and eventually thousands of sellers, electronically and operationally, launching and igniting a whole new generation of advertising, buying and selling.

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention a retailer may receive a request from a group of customers for a reward the group desires to earn by making purchases at the retailer. In response to such a request the retailer determines purchasing conditions the group must satisfy in order to earn the reward. The purchasing conditions may be determined based on, for example, a value of the reward (e.g., a cost of the reward to the retailer), a number of customers in the group, and / or a time by which the group desires to earn the reward. The purchasing conditions may be determined such that the retailer realizes at least a predetermined profit after the cost of providing the reward is considered. The methods of the present invention may be implemented at an online and / or brick-and-mortar retailer.

Disclosed is a method for IMSI privacy protection of a mobile communication system. A function entity includes UE, an access and mobility management function (AMF), a trusted UDM / AUSF, a trusted SMF and a trusted UPF. The UE is used for executing IMSI change behavior and initiating a network attachment request and completes a new security context negotiation based on a new IMSI at the same time. The AMF is used for replacing IMSI information and its associated GUTI information in a CP mode or a UP mode, and completes the secure context negotiation again based on the new IMSI. The UDM / AUSF is used for generating new IMSI information for UE. The SMF is used for notifying the trusted UPF to generate inband IMSI change control information under the UP mode. According to the invention, the difficulty of an attacker tracing a specific user or deriving real identity of the user is increased, the requirement for legal monitoring in the world is not violated, and at the same time, no consumption of an additional IMSI identification space is introduced.

The systems and methods described herein allow greater access to a banking platform via a mobile device. The customer can initiate a financial transaction using a mobile device, a bank can inform the customer of the nearest financial transaction terminal to perform that service, and the customer can complete that financial transaction at the financial transaction terminal using the mobile device as a user interface. While conventional systems may use a mobile device to transmit payment information at a point of sale terminal of a brick-and-mortar merchant, the embodiments described herein can allow a customer to conduct a transaction at a financial transaction terminal using the mobile device to initiate a transaction at a location away from a financial transaction terminal, to locate the nearest financial transaction terminal providing the required services, and as a user interface while communicating with the financial transaction terminal.

The systems and methods described herein allow greater access to a banking platform via a mobile device. The customer can initiate a financial transaction using a mobile device, a bank can inform the customer of the nearest financial transaction terminal to perform that service, and the customer can complete that financial transaction at the financial transaction terminal using the mobile device as a user interface. While conventional systems may use a mobile device to transmit payment information at a point of sale terminal of a brick-and-mortar merchant, the embodiments described herein can allow a customer to conduct a transaction at a financial transaction terminal using the mobile device to initiate a transaction at a location away from a financial transaction terminal, to locate the nearest financial transaction terminal providing the required services, and as a user interface while communicating with the financial transaction terminal.

Techniques for improved interaction between online retailers and traditional brick-and-mortar retailers that provide patron-accessible networks are disclosed. The location and / or the fact that any given purchase was made from a particular retailer's patron-accessible network can be tracked for various purposes. The invention can facilitate partnering between online retailers (i.e., online stores) and traditional ‘brick-and-mortar’ business establishments. As an example, the invention can be used to track and give credit for online purchases at an online retailer that are facilitated by a brick-and-mortar retailer.

This invention relates to the electronic commerce area and more particularly the b2b2c (business to business to consumer) segment. A system and method is provided which offers to online retailers (brick & mortar and pureplay) as well as manufacturers, a physical point of sales to promote & sell their products and services. This system and method will allow for a variety of business transactions: information collection and processing, product returns, sales of goods, sales of electronic information and other internet related services.

The invention relates to a method providing a multicast or broadcast service to (the user of) a mobile terminal via a radio access network of a mobile communication system. The multicast or broadcast service is associated to a plurality of bearers for providing the multicast or broadcast service: Further, the invention relates to a mobile terminal for providing a multicast or broadcast service to a user, and to a network entity for providing a multicast or broadcast service to a mobile terminal via a radio access network of a mobile communication system. To enable the correct reception of the broadcast or multicast service at the mobile terminal, the invention proposes to, provide the mobile terminal with information on the individual (layered / alternative / complementary) bearers' relationships. The bearers' relationships are provided in service description information for the multicast or broadcast service which indicates the bearers associated to the multicast or broadcast service and predetermined bearer combinations among the plurality of bearers.

A centralized transaction system including a server communicating with client workstations and remote devices. The system includes a server communicating with a terminal, a remote device, and a workstation. Both customers and vendors access the server through a workstation to set up and maintain information on the server and to access historical information relating to transactions. The system is suitable for both on-line transactions and brick-and-mortar store transactions, including convenience transactions. A customer possesses an identification code that is presented to a vendor for a transaction. The vendor sends the identification code to a server, which sends an authentication code to a remote device in possession of the customer. The customer causes the authentication code to be sent to the server, which authenticates the customer for the transaction. The server applies deals previously saved by the customer and the transaction is completed with the server providing previously saved payment information.

A method and system for advertising on the internet includes a storage medium that contains a key associated with at least one characteristic of a potential customer. The storage medium is distributed in the bricks-and-mortar world to the potential customer. The system further includes a communication link to the internet, and the key is communicated over the communication link to a website on the internet. An advertisement database that is connected to the website displays a set of advertisements stored in the advertisement database on the website to the potential customer based on the characteristics of the potential customer associated with the key. A selection device that is integrated into the website evaluates the key and selects the set of advertisements to be displayed based on predefined criteria.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to the generation and presentation of merchant insights to a brick-and-mortar merchant. More specifically, one or more embodiments of the present disclosure relate to detecting and identifying users visiting a merchant's retail location, determining product preferences of the identified users that relate to the merchant, and providing merchant insights to the merchant based on the determined product preferences.

A method is disclosed for delivering a short message from an external short message entity (ESME) to a wireless device. The method comprises transmitting a message from a message source device such as an external short message entity to a gateway, the message being associated with a service type. A routing determination is made based on the service type associated with the message. The message is then routed to one of a plurality of message centers according to the routing method chosen. The method may be used with a gateway system that implements a standard interface to a message complex of a wireless system. The interface enables all ESMEs to communicate with the message complex using a consistent standard interface. The system used to implement the method of the present invention comprises a short message point-to-point gateway, a message complex, a home location register and a mobile switching center. The external short message entity connects to the short message point-to-point gateway and requests delivery of a message to a wireless device, and the short message point-to-point gateway routes the request to an appropriate message center.

Methods and systems for intelligent vehicle fleets are disclosed. An intelligent vehicle may function as a mobile office reducing the need for users to perform work functions in a brick-and-mortar building. Methods or systems consistent with the invention may manage vehicle fleets, or provide intelligent vehicle subsystems, or acquire address information using an intelligent vehicle. A method to manage vehicle fleets may include receiving at a remote computer communicated maintenance data from information collection devices installed in the intelligent vehicle.

Methods and apparatus are disclosed provide various enhancements and / or improvements to the conventional shopping process used by brick-and-mortar stores. In some embodiments, a customer may use a mobile computing device, such as a smart phone, to select and pay for items in a brick-and-mortar store. Such shopping process may permit the customer to purchase numerous items without the using of shopping basket or a wheeled shopping cart. The shopping process may further permit the customer to pay for items and leave the store with such items without waiting in a checkout line.

Embodiments of the invention provide a nexus between a user's presence within or proximate to a brick and mortar store outside of an explicit user transaction within the store, that is based solely upon the user's presence within the store, and not on any affirmative actions taken by the user by maintaining location awareness of the user and by communicating this awareness in real time, as the user moves from location to location, to brick and mortar stores at or near to the user's location. In this way, embodiments of the invention link the user's virtual presence, for example via the Internet, and all of the user-related information that is available for data mining, for example using big data techniques, to the user's physical presence at a physical location to create an enhanced user experience within the physical location in real time.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling a specific service in a network congestion state in a wireless communication system. Particularly, the method for controlling a service by a base station in a wireless communication system according to the present invention comprises: a step of receiving a paging message from a mobility management entity (MME) when a certain terminal generates a downlink packet; a step of checking the setup state of the core network domain included in the paging message; and a paging processing step of, if the core network domain is set as a packet-based voice call service, processing the paging message as a priority.

An interactive shopping system, apparatus and methods are provided for use at a brick-and-mortar merchant location. The interactive shopping system includes a basket for holding items selected by a shopper, and a unique identifier for the basket. An input device is associated with said basket to obtain information regarding specific items as they are placed in the basket. A point of sale system is associated with the input device to collect information obtained from the input device, associate that information with the unique identifier for the basket, and complete a purchase transaction for all items located in the basket at checkout.

The present invention presents a method for providing the location information of a mobile station(MS) by selectively using a DBM-based method and a TCP / IP-based method on a global positioning system(GPS) in a mobile telecommunication network constituted of a client server, a mobile positioning center(MPC), a home location register(HLR), and a position determination Entity(PDE). By selectively using a DBM-based method or a TCP / IP-based method according to the type of requested service, the present invention enables to reduce the time required for obtaining the accurate location. Moreover, it can provide the requested location based service(LBS) on an MS even when the MS is on-line or on stand-by mode.

A communication system supports multicall capabilities. Described herein are methods and techniques for exchanging the multicall capabilities of different entities, e.g., RNCs, MSCs, and terminals, such that the handling of call requests is efficient and backwardly compatible. Multicall capabilities of different entities is forwarded to a limit calculation device. The limit calculation device determines a bearer limit for a set of entities, which limit it transmitted back to at least some of the entities which forwarded their capability information. The bearer limit is used to selectively setup subsequent calls.

A method for obtaining a secure key is provided. The method includes sending an Access Safety Management Entity Key (KASME) to a gateway after finishing authentication and security process by a Mobility Management Entity (MME) in a core network; and computing, by the gateway, a Next Hop (NH) according to the KASME. The method provides a method for ensuring a working of a secure key chain when a handover process is terminated at a Hybrid Evolved NodeB Gateway (HeNB GW). Thus, key information cannot be lost when the handover process is terminated at the HeNB GW, and an impact of the handover process on a core network is reduced, and the efficiency of a User Equipment (UE) handover is improved.

An illustrative implementation of the technology includes three primary components: a desktop application, a mobile phone application, and connections to retailer inventory and pricing APIs (e.g., for Walmart and / or Best Buy). The experience begins with the consumer going to an online retailer's website (e.g., Amazon) to search for a product. The desktop application automatically searches for product matches using the APIs of affiliated retailers. If matches and near-matches of the product are found, the product name, model, price, and local availability at affiliate locations is shown. With a mobile phone camera-scan of the product page, relevant information is transferred to the consumer's phone. From there, the consumer can interact with the options on the mobile phone to be directed to the nearby brick and mortar store of choice carrying that product at the price they want. Along the way, the retailer can present offers and additional product information directly to the consumer. A great variety of other technologies and arrangements are also detailed.