56155 results about "Operations research" patented technology

A system, method, and computer program product for online advertising, including computing and dynamically updating a cost-per-click (CPC) value of an advertisement for an advertisement traffic source based on a variable; and automatically uploading and distributing the advertisement to the traffic source. The variable includes price, advertisement traffic source, and / or advertiser variableS. Further embodiments include dynamically updating an advertisement listing that has a cost-per-acquisition (CPA)-based value with associated CPC or cost-per-1000 (CPM) values; and distributing the advertisement listing to an advertisement distribution network that serves the listing based on the CPC or CPM values. The distribution network includes CPC-based, CPA-based, and / or CPM-based distribution networks. Further embodiments include determining a CPC value for a CPA-based advertisement; and placing the advertisement on an advertising network at the determined CPC based on a ratio of an expected number of conversions at a CPA value divided by a number of clicks at the CPC.

CCRM is a business method and computer software system, to be used by Enterprises selling portfolios of products / services, aiming to optimize the expected value of transactions (or contracts) with consumers or business customers. At a transaction level, CCRM estimates the probability of choice of potential offers by the customer. These offers may be presented alone with possible variation of their attributes (such as price), or in combinations / sets, or in sequences. CCRM calculates the probability of consequent conversion and realization of the sale. Probabilities of choice and conversion are forecasted based on a disaggregated customer choice model, taking into account customer characteristics and stated preferences as well as product / service attributes such as price. Offers are then scored and ranked by expected value based on their revenue, cost and choice probability. Finally, CCRM recommends which offer(s) to present to the customer, at which price(s) and in which display / sequence order, to maximize a business objective function such as the expected value of the transaction / contract.

A seamless ledger-based wagering system is provided wherein a secure, flexible and automated database method and apparatus is used for retrieving information and accounting for wagers in an electronic wagering format. The accounting system can be a ledger wherein funds are accounted for by a financial structure (e.g., financial institution such as a bank, credit union, savings and loan, deposit account, and the like) so that funds may be transferred through an intermediate transaction (e.g., the electronic wager entered onto the account) on the ledger and committed to payment at the ultimate target of the transfer (e.g., the pari-mutuel site, and ancillary recipients of wagering monies, such as horseman's associations, totalisator companies, automated machine lessors, track association, governmental agencies and the like). As the financial records from the financial structure never ‘sees’ the wagering facility in the transaction, transferring funds or guaranteeing funds to the intermediate transaction on a ledger, the entire transaction is in compliance with state and national regulations prohibiting or limiting or rendering illegal the availability of funds in the wagering transaction or transferring funds into a wagering account.

A method and system for statistics-based individualized advertising over a network in which an advertiser provides to a content distributor one or more constraints defining the characteristics of desired target users and the manner by which the advertisement is to be delivered. The content distributor determines an estimated price based on statistics computed based on target users selected and the advertising periods allocated based on the constraints and individualized content delivery.

A method of monitoring a computer network by collecting resource data from a plurality of network nodes, analyzing the resource data to generate historical performance data, and reporting the historical performance data to another network node. The network nodes can be servers operating on different platforms, and resource data is gathered using separate programs having different application programming interfaces for the respective platforms. The analysis can generate daily, weekly, and monthly historical performance data, based on a variety of resources including CPU utilization, memory availability, I / O usage, and permanent storage capacity. The report may be constructed using a plurality of documents related by hypertext links. The hypertext links can be color-coded in response to at least one performance parameter in the historical performance data surpassing an associated threshold. An action list can also be created in response to such an event.

Systems and methods are provided that involve a player to a significant degree with an advertisement and its accompanying product or service. One setting of the system and method may be a network application that is adjunct to an online simulation such as an MMO game. The system and method may be implemented in either or both, or in video games that are embodied in just one of these. The system and method provide a convenient way to tie advertising to game content. By use of advertisements, the user (through the player character) can become aware of and can access in-game items, player character attribute modifications, and rewards. Such advertisements may be banner advertisements or any other type of advertising. By taking advantage of the offers presented in the advertisements, a user of the network application may obtain items for their own use or for that of a corresponding MMO character.

An electronic exchange system network includes a trader site having an automated trading system capable of submitting orders and / or quotes to an exchange site. The automated trading system determines whether an order or quote should be submitted based on, for example, the current market price of an option and theoretical buy and sell prices. The theoretical buy and sell prices are derived from, among other things, the current market price of the security underlying the option. The theoretical buy and sell prices are calculated when underlying factors that contribute to the theoretical prices change. Computation times of the theoretical prices may be reduced by using precalculated values and / or using interpolation and extrapolation. Other techniques may be used in addition or in the alternative to speed automatic decision-making. In addition, a system of checks may be conducted to ensure accurate and safe automated trading. The automated trading system may be capable of automatically submitting orders in connection with the underlying security in order to hedge part of the delta risk associated with the automated option trades.

A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for demonstrating e-commerce capabilities on a network via a simulation. Data connectivity is provided over a network between a simulated user, a simulated product distributor, a simulated product vendor, and a simulated financial service provider. An electronic catalog is displayed over a network that shows a product for sale by the simulated product vendor. The simulated user is shown browsing the electronic catalog on the network. Further, a consultation over the network, relating to the product for sale shown in the electronic catalog, is depicted between the simulated user and the simulated product distributor. Selection of the product by the simulated user is illustrated. The simulated user is portrayed to authorize payment alter an on-line review of an account of the user.

A system and method for operating a reward points accumulation and redemption program wherein a user earns reward points from a plurality of independent reward points issuing entities, with each tracking the user's earned reward points in a user reward point account stored on a multi-function card (such as a frequent flyer account or a credit card loyalty account). The multi-function card is adapted to aggregate some or all of the user's earned reward points from the reward accounts and credit the aggregated points into a single reward exchange account on the multi-function card. The user may then select an item for purchase with the accumulated reward points from the multi-function card. The item is provided to the user in exchange for a subset or all of the reward points from the multi-function card.

Systems and methods are described for redeeming rewards at a merchant's point-of-sale. The reward redemption takes place in real time and can be accomplished without the active participation of the merchant. A single credit card with no additional information may be used with a single swipe from the consumer to access both credit and rewards accounts, such that a single authorization request is made to encompass both rewards and credit. Merchants can be fully compensated for transactions by the issuer despite the customer's choice to redeem rewards.

Provided are a method, system, and program for managing multiple resources in a system at a service level, including at least one host, network, and a storage space comprised of at least one storage system that each host is capable of accessing over the network. A plurality of service level parameters are measured and monitored indicating a state of the resources in the system. A determination is made of values for the service level parameters and whether the service level parameter values satisfy predetermined service level thresholds. Indication is made as to whether the service level parameter values satisfy the predetermined service thresholds. A determination is made of a modification to one or more resource deployments or configurations if the value for the service level parameter for the resource does not satisfy the predetermined service level thresholds.

The present invention involves spending loyalty points over a computerized network to facilitate a transaction. With this system, a loyalty program participant is able to use an existing transaction card to purchase an item over a computerized network, while at the same time offsetting the cost of that transaction by converting loyalty points to a currency value credit and having the credit applied to the participant's financial transaction account. Currency credit from converted loyalty points may also be applied to stored value cards, online digital wallet accounts and the like. Further, currency credit may also be applied to other accounts to effect a gift or donation.

Systems and methods are disclosed for receiving inputs at a portable computer used by personal typically operating a delivery vehicle providing delivery services, where the inputs potentially impact completion of a pre-established dispatch plan according to certain delivery criteria. The inputs include modifications to the manifest, updates regarding weather or traffic conditions, or other factors impacting the remaining deliveries. The inputs are examined to determine if modification of the original dispatch plan are warranted, and if so, a signal is generated triggering the processing of the original dispatch plan to produce an updated dispatch plan meeting the certain delivery criteria. The certain delivery criteria may involve commitments for completing deliveries by certain time frames.

In some embodiments, systems, methods, and / or articles of manufacture may determine a rewards group comprising at least a first member and a second member, determine a reward that the group may earn in exchange for completing purchases at a retailer or for performing a task. Embodiments may further comprise determining, based at least partially on a count of group members and a value of the reward, purchasing or task completion conditions the group must satisfy in order to earn the reward. Some embodiments may comprise providing the conditions to the group, determining an acceptance of the conditions by the group, and registering the group for the reward. According to some embodiments, the reward may be provided to the group (or portions thereof) upon a determination that the conditions are satisfied (or at least partially satisfied).

Selection of a suitable call-center agent (106-108) to handle a call is based on which available suitable agent's handling of the call will tend to optimize call wait times. When a call needing a particular skill becomes available (200), all skills of agents in the agent queue (131-139) corresponding to the particular skill are determined (202, 204). The agent queues corresponding to the determined skills are checked (206) to determine which ones identify only one agent. For each available agent having the particular skill, the number of agent queues which identify this agent as their only agent is computed (208). The available agent having the lowest computed number is selected (210) to handle the call. This minimizes the number of skills that will be left without an available agent to handle subsequent calls, and thus tends to maximize the probability that a next call will also have a suitable agent already available and not have to wait for one to become available, thereby optimizing call wait times.

A method and system for providing incentive programs over a computer network is provided in which a host may provide sponsoring companies with the capability to buy prepackaged or self-built incentive programs, offer such incentive programs to consumers, provide sponsoring companies and retailers with the capability to associate prizes with incentive programs, provide sponsoring companies, retailers and consumers with convenient fulfillment of prizes, and store and manipulate databases regarding all of the foregoing.

Multiple secure transactions are provided through use of a method that uses customer one-time unique purchase order numbers (“Coupons”) generated by an algorithm that uses a permutated user key and a user insertion key as input variables. A user key (such as a Personal Identification Number, or “PIN”) is combined with a permutation variable that is correlated with a customer sequence number to create the permutated user key. A random number generator is used to generate the user insertion key correlated with the customer sequence number. The algorithm can insert the permutated user key into a user account number through use of the user insertion key. A Coupon is validated by confirming that it is contained in a set of money source Coupons generated by a money source using the user key and a random number generator that is synchronized with the random number used to generate Coupons. Once a Coupon is validated, the matching money source Coupon and all earlier generated money source Coupons are deleted from the set, and a new set is generated. If a preselected number of Coupons are not validated for a chosen entity, an invalid user account number will be set. Coupons can be used for credit card or bank card transactions, and they can be generated without changing fixed digits of traditional twenty digit account numbers.

The present invention provides a system and method for facilitating a transaction using a secondary transaction number that is associated with a cardholder's primary account. The cardholder provides the secondary transaction number, often with limited-use conditions associated therewith, to a merchant to facilitate a more secure and confident transaction.

A loyalty reward point system that utilizes the pre-existing infrastructure of network such as a credit card network. A user makes a purchase at a merchant using a token such as a credit card. As part of the purchase transaction, the user is awarded reward points from the merchant based on the purchase, which are stored in an account associated with the merchant and the user by the acquiring bank. The reward account is maintained on the acquiring bank server on behalf of the merchant and the user, and the number of reward points in the user's account for that merchant is increased accordingly. The user may redeem the reward points earned from the transaction with the merchant at a later time, or may redeem the points with another merchant in the same marketing cluster, or may aggregate those reward points with those of other merchants into a reward point exchange account, and then redeem the aggregated reward points for goods or services from any approved merchant on the network, depending on the configuration of the system.

The invention provides systems and methods for facilitating the sale of commodity-like goods / services. The commodity-like goods / services at which the invention is directed, are of a type that are relatively indistinguishable from one brand, identity and / or outlet to another in end-use functionality and features. These types of goods / services are many times sold at retail under various brands or identities at multiple locations, to the final end user. Such goods / services may also or separately be of a type that are repeatedly purchased at intervals, and / or for which the price varies between purchases, from outlet to outlet or brand to brand. The goods / services may also be of a character such that they are not deliverable to the consumer, but require the consumer to travel to the retailer outlet. The system and methods also provide information relating to the consumers and competitors of a retailer of such goods / services. The invention establishes methods and procedures to define, organize, collect, distribute, and maintain information that can be used by the owner of a business selling commodity-like goods / services as well as by its customers. This information may include, but is not limited to, name brand of the product, location of the retailer, price of the product, other related goods / services available and their prices, and promotions. These processes may be performed and implemented on a computer network that is accessible in real time via a suitable communication device, such as a computer, wireless communication device, telephone or the like. A database of such information is created, allowing the consumer and other retailers to query the database using various search criteria. The consumer has the opportunity to obtain information about retailers of commodity-like goods / services that meet the consumer's requirements, and pricing may be guaranteed by the retailer.

A secure method of conducting an electronic transaction over a public communications network is provided which utilizes a pseudo-expiration date in the expiration date field of an authorization request. One of the preferred methods comprises:generating a per-card key associated with an account number;generating a message authentication code using the per-card key;converting the message authentication code into a pseudo expiration date;generating an authorization request for the transaction, the request having an expiration date field containing the pseudo expiration date; andverifying the message authentication code based on the pseudo expiration date.Another embodiment of the invention includes a method of conducting an electronic transaction over a public communications network, with a payment account number having an associated pseudo account number, comprising:(a) providing the pseudo account number with a control field indicating one of a plurality of key-generation processes to be used to generate an authentication key;(b) generating an authentication key associated with the pseudo account number using one of the plurality of key-generation processes indicated in the control field of the pseudo account number;(c) using the authentication key to generate a message authentication code specific to the transaction;(d) generating an authorization request message including the message authentication code and the pseudo account number; and(e) verifying the message authentication code using the indicated key-generation process and the authentication key.

A transaction routing method in a contact center has steps for (a) identifying an initiator of a received transaction; (b) gathering information about the initiator of the transaction; (c) determining agents available to receive and service the transaction, and gathering information about the agents; (d) using the gathered information, determining a product or promotion; (e) forming combinations among the available agents, the initiator, and the products; (f) determining potential profit contribution or probability for individual ones of the combinations formed in step (e); and (g) selecting an agent to service the transaction based on the potential profitability determined in step (f).

An online auction system comprising a preliminary bidding portion and a virtual auction portion is disclosed herein. The preliminary bidding portion allows bidders to access auction items and input bids during a preestablished extended period of time. After the preliminary bidding portion concludes, the virtual auction portion provides bidders the opportunity to input bids on each item consecutively and individually from the preliminary auction portion in a manner similar to a conventional live auction. During the virtual auction portion, bidders are provided with a countdown to encourage further bidding before the previous bid becomes final. After each new bid is inputted, the countdown is reinitiated. The countdown is reinitiated until no new bids are input. An alert system notifies bidders that a particular item of interest is about to be offered for bid as part of the virtual auction portion. The system also provides bidders means for inputting proxy bids.

A disclosed gaming machine has a memory storing a list of one or more prizes, a prize display for viewing prize information, and a prize selection mechanism that allows a user playing a game on the gaming machine to select one or more prizes specific to one or more outcomes of the game played on the gaming machine. One or more gaming machines may be connected in a “prize distribution network” to a “prize server.” The prize server may include an interface for providing prize information to the gaming machines connected in the prize distribution network and a memory storing the prize information as groups of prizes for separate display on the gaming machines. With the prize server and prize distribution network, the prizes available as an award on each gaming machine in the prize distribution network may be easily changed.

An auction service is provided that stimulates competition between energy suppliers (i.e., electric power or natural gas). A bidding moderator (Moderator) receives bids from the competing suppliers of the rate each is willing to charge to particular end users for estimated quantities of electric power or gas supply (separate auctions). Each supplier receives competing bids from the Moderator and has the opportunity to adjust its own bids down or up, depending on whether it wants to encourage or discourage additional energy delivery commitments in a particular geographic area or to a particular customer group. Each supplier's bids can also be changed to reflect each supplier's capacity utilization. Appropriate billing arrangements are also disclosed.

Methods, systems and computer readable code for travel planning are provided. According to some embodiments, a travel planning engine schedules a plurality of activities within one or more time intervals and generates a travel plan, where each activity is associated with a physical location and optional time parameters. Alternatively or additionally, the travel planning is implemented by receiving manual travel planning directives through a user interface. According to some embodiments, the activities are scheduled so as to satisfy specific constraints and / or travel benefit parameters. According to some embodiments, the travel plan includes information about traveling between relevant locations. Some embodiments of the present invention include a method of comparing and / or presenting a plurality of travel options, wherein each travel option is associated with a respective mode of transportation. Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system, method or computer readable code for customizing a travel itinerary for a traveler. Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system, method or computer readable code for presenting information about pricing of at least three targeted travel services on a single screen including a plurality of distinct bundling combinations.