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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7711658 | Method and apparatus for dynamically managing vending machine inventory prices The present invention is a method and apparatus for automatically managing a price of a product in a vending machine. The method and apparatus is disclosed for implementing dynamic price adjustments at various times including after stocking, after a sale of a produc... | 05/04/2010 |
| 7695358 | Method and apparatus for team play of slot machines A method of operating slot machines permits a machine to be identified as available for team play. Upon being identified for team play, the machine is grouped with other slot machines and subject to bonus conditions dependent on the team play. Bonus conditions typic... | 04/13/2010 |
| 7690989 | System and method for awarding prizes in a local edition of an online game According to some embodiments of the present invention a system and method are provided that allow a player of a game to receive at least one prize. The method may include receiving information about at least one merchant, enabling play of a game by a player, determ... | 04/06/2010 |
| 7682240 | Systems and methods wherein a lottery number combination is associated with a limited number of occurrences Systems and methods are provided to facilitate lottery ticket transactions. A request to purchase a lottery ticket is received, the lottery ticket being associated with a lottery number combination, such as a limited number of lottery tickets or a limited number of ... | 03/23/2010 |
| 7627498 | System and method for utilizing redemption information A system to determine offers and/or to determine the acceptability of offers based on received information relating to product redemption at a third party. According to one embodiment, the system includes arrangement for a customer to redeem a product from a third p... | 12/01/2009 |
| 7613631 | Method and apparatus for managing subscriptions A subscription system allows a customer to establish a subscription to a product with one or more retailers (e.g., by establishing the subscription through a controller or central system). In one embodiment, a subscription is established by receiving a request to es... | 11/03/2009 |
| 7606729 | Method and apparatus for facilitating the play of fractional lottery tickets utilizing point-of-sale terminals A store controller determines a monetary value, such as an amount of spare change due to a customer, and allocates a portion of a lottery ticket for the customer. The portion is based on the monetary value, and may be, for example, equal to the monetary value, or ma... | 10/20/2009 |
| 7605840 | Internet surveillance system and method A system and method are disclosed for a central server to manage remote monitoring tasks performed by users of a data network. An exemplary method comprises: receiving a request from a user of a user device to monitor a remote location; determining a remote location... | 10/20/2009 |
| 7602416 | Internet surveillance system and method A system and method are disclosed for a central server to manage remote monitoring tasks performed by users of a data network. An exemplary method comprises: receiving a request from a user of a user device to monitor a remote location; determining a remote location... | 10/13/2009 |
| 7596260 | System for image analysis in a network that is structured with multiple layers and differentially weighted neurons Disclosed herein are systems and methods for facilitating the usage of an online workforce to remotely monitor security-sensitive sites and report potential security breaches. In some embodiments, cameras are configured to monitor critical civilian infrastruc... | 09/29/2009 |
| 7587334 | Method and system for processing supplementary product sales at a point-of-sale terminal A POS terminal determines an upsell to offer in exchange for the change due to a customer in connection with a purchase. The point-of-sale terminal preferably maintains a database of at least one upsell price and a corresponding upsell to offer a customer in exchang... | 09/08/2009 |
| 7587333 | Method and apparatus for vending products A method and apparatus is disclosed for advancing the sale of vending machine products. The invention enables selling products without revealing the identity of the product. By concealing the identity of the products from a consumer prior to receiving payment, the p... | 09/08/2009 |
| 7582012 | Methods and apparatus for lottery game play aggregation According to one embodiment, a player may accumulate occurrences of a bonus symbol over at least two outcomes. The player may be allowed a bonus if a running count of the occurrences is at least equal to a predetermined number. According to another embodiment, a pla... | 09/01/2009 |
| 7547251 | System and method for performing lottery ticket transactions utilizing point-of-sale terminals A system and method for performing integrated lottery ticket and merchandise transactions using a point-of-sale terminal that generates a single sales receipt containing all pertinent lottery ticket and merchandise transaction information. The lottery tickets genera... | 06/16/2009 |
| 7533810 | Game presentation in a retail establishment A game presentation such as a virtual slot machine is displayed by a display device associated with a point of sale (POS) terminal. The game presentation includes images of products for which product identifying codes are entered at the POS terminal. The game presen... | 05/19/2009 |
| 7523045 | Method and apparatus for a cryptographically assisted commercial network system designed to facilitate and support expert-based commerce The present invention is an expert matching method and apparatus for managing communications between an expert having particular qualifications and an end user seeking a solution to an expert request. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus of the present invention... | 04/21/2009 |
| 7509268 | Method and apparatus for selling subscriptions to periodicals in a retail environment A system comprises a point-of-sale (POS) terminal, a POS controller, a retail subscription system. The POS terminal allows a cashier to enter subscription sales data into the POS controller. The POS controller maintains databases on available subscriptions and produ... | 03/24/2009 |
| 7496537 | User-generated traveler's checks A system and method for issuing traveler's checks at a user's home or business using the purchaser's own computer system to allow the user to obtain traveler's checks at any time, in any denominations and without having to travel to an issuer location. User informat... | 02/24/2009 |
| 7493267 | Method and apparatus for compensating participation in marketing research A method for gathering marketing information from a player including transmitting a marketing question to a player proximate in space to a compensation dispensing machine, receiving a response to the marketing question from the player, and transmitting a signal to t... | 02/17/2009 |
| 7484172 | System and method for providing a customized index with hyper-footnotes According to some embodiments, a method may include providing a periodical index customized for a subscriber. The method may comprise, for example, determining first data corresponding to content of at least one issue of a periodical, determining customized index da... | 01/27/2009 |
| 7473177 | Method and apparatus for providing credits for game play Systems and methods are provided for offering a voucher which is redeemable for credits at a casino. The voucher may be redeemed for a first value of credits. One is charged a second value for the voucher, in which the second value is less than the first value. If t... | 01/06/2009 |
| 7467745 | Billing statement customer acquisition system A customer acquisition system is disclosed that allows an offeror service provider to acquire new customers by making acquisition offers to customers through the billing statements of other businesses (“billing statement issuers”). An “acquisition offer” is ... | 12/23/2008 |
| 7454381 | Method and apparatus for providing and processing installment plans at a terminal A central controller receives from a POS terminal a purchase price and a financial account identifier. The financial account identifier specifies a financial account, such as a credit card account. The central controller, in turn, generates one or more installment p... | 11/18/2008 |
| 7454776 | System and method for supplying supplemental audio information for broadcast television programs An apparatus, method, and program for providing supplemental information related to a broadcast television program. Through a telephone or electronic network interface, a caller can request specific supplemental information related to one or more characters within t... | 11/18/2008 |
| 7452270 | Systems and methods for presenting an outcome amount via a total number of events Systems and methods are provided for operating a gaming system. In one embodiment, an outcome amount associated with a total number of events is determined. For example, a total payout amount associated with a number of randomly generated outcomes may be determined.... | 11/18/2008 |
| 7430521 | System and method for managing customized reward offers In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, a method is provided for managing reward offers. A first performance target that is associated with a financial account is determined. Transaction data that is associated with the financial account is rec... | 09/30/2008 |
| 7427233 | Method and apparatus for setting game parameters The present invention allows gaming devices to set or modify game parameters through the use of random events such as spinning slot machine reels or random number generators. In some embodiments, game parameters may be established with various initial values, and th... | 09/23/2008 |
| 7426268 | System and method for call routing and enabling interaction between callers with calls positioned in a queue According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, a method and apparatus are provided for enabling a caller on hold to listen to one or more ongoing calls. The method includes receiving an incoming call, determining a subject category and at least one k... | 09/16/2008 |
| 7416486 | Method and apparatus for providing insurance policies for gambling losses A method according to some embodiments of the present invention provides for a game server to receive policy requirements of a user for a gambling loss insurance policy from a terminal. The game server determines a premium amount based on the policy requirements of ... | 08/26/2008 |
| 7416186 | Methods and system for facilitating a secondary card game According to an embodiment, a player of a game (e.g., video poker) wagers on a game in which a first set of cards represents a bonus hand having a high value (e.g., royal, straight). The player is also dealt a second set of cards. In one embodiment, an indication of... | 08/26/2008 |
| 7415425 | Systems and methods wherein a security deposit facilitates a transaction in which a benefit is applied in exchange for performance of a task Systems and methods are provided wherein a security deposit is used to facilitate a transaction with a customer. It is arranged for a benefit to be applied to the transaction in exchange for a future performance of a task by the customer. For example, a subsidy prov... | 08/19/2008 |
| 7406438 | System and method for tracking and establishing a progressive discount based upon a customer's visits to a retail establishment In accordance with one described embodiment, methods, systems, and apparatus are provided for determining a progressive discount for a customer. In one example, a customer is provided with a discount that is incremented if the customer visits at least once in a pre-... | 07/29/2008 |
| 7390264 | Method and system to incorporate game play into product transactions A method for providing a product is described in which a selection of a product is received from a customer, a game is selected by the customer, the customer provides his credit card number, the customer plays the game and an outcome is determined. If the customer w... | 06/24/2008 |
| 7387571 | Method and apparatus for linked play gaming The invention includes a system and method for providing linked play via gaming and other devices. In some embodiments, a casino server registers a group for linked play and a group objective and format are established. The linked play commences according to the gro... | 06/17/2008 |
| 7387569 | Method and apparatus for operating lotteries and for generating and processing lottery entries In accordance with some embodiments, methods, media, and apparatus are described for facilitating play of a lottery game. An indication of a lottery entry is received, the lottery entry being active in at least a first lottery drawing. An indication is received that... | 06/17/2008 |
| 7383200 | Method and apparatus for collecting and categorizing data at a terminal A method and system for collecting and categorizing survey data includes receiving customer information from a customer. A query is identified based at least in part on the customer information. The query is output for presentation to the customer. In one embodiment... | 06/03/2008 |
| 7366675 | Methods and apparatus for increasing, monitoring and/or rewarding a party's compliance with a schedule for taking medicines Methods and apparatus are provided for increasing and/or for monitoring a party's compliance with a schedule for taking medicines. In a first embodiment, a method is provided that includes receiving information regarding whether at least two medicine containers were... | 04/29/2008 |
| 7364510 | Apparatus and method for facilitating team play of slot machines A method for team play of slot machines, including determining a first result corresponding to a first player on a team, determining a second result corresponding to a second player, determining whether the second player is on the team, and determining a result base... | 04/29/2008 |
| 7362862 | Methods and apparatus for awarding prizes based on authentication of computer generated outcomes using coupons The present invention provides authentication of computer generated game or test results (“outcomes”), and a system by which persons who play games or take tests on a game or testing computer, respectively, may submit the outcomes of the games or tests to a cent... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7353080 | Products and processes for controlling access to vending machine products An embodiment of the invention includes receiving a request to purchase a product from a vending machine. At least one question to be output is determined, and the determined question is output. An interface is provided which that permits at least one answer ... | 04/01/2008 |
