Other

Square, Inc.

Block, Inc.

Potenco, Inc.

John Lewis

Stephen Karl Touset

Claudia J Ng

Colin Bulthaup

Saul Thomas Griffith

Dan Goldwater

Michael Lin

Eric Jamesson Wilhelm

Corwin Hardham

Brian Warshawsky

George Homsy

Mitch Heinrich

William D Abbema

Michael Stratton

Wiliam D Abbema

Michael O'Hara

Alexander W Odawa

Benji Rappoport

An entity computing device associated with a service provider can temporarily provision access to a functionality associated with the service provider to user computing devices operated by users associated with the entity. In an example, the entity computing device can receive, via an application, information from instances of the application executing on the user computing devices. Based on the information, the entity computing device can provision to a user computing device access to a functionality associated with the application. The access can enable the user computing device to independently implement the functionality via an instance of the application. Data corresponding to the usage of the functionality can be received by the entity computing device from the user computing device and can be sent by the entity computing device to the service provider to update database(s) associated with the functionality.

Provisioning temporary functionality to user devices

In some examples, a payment service system receives an indication of an initiation of a transaction at a merchant device, the indication including transaction information indicative of a payment instrument associated with the transaction. The payment service system transmits, to a mobile device, a request for the mobile device to monitor for one or more signals of other devices within a proximity of the mobile device. The payment service system receives, from the mobile device, information related to monitoring for the one or more signals of other devices within the proximity of the mobile device. The payment service system determines whether the received information related to the monitoring for the one or more signals of other devices satisfies a threshold for a presence indication. The payment service system performs at least one action based at least on whether the threshold for the presence indication is satisfied.

Detecting device presence indication

A computing device of an entity associated with a service provider receives information from instances of an application executing on user devices associated with the entity. The application is provided to the entity by the service provider. The entity device determines a user characteristic based on the information and provisions temporary access to a service functionality associated with a service that benefits the entity to the user device based on the user characteristic. The entity device may receive first data from the user device corresponding to the use of the service functionality. The entity device may generate aggregated data by aggregating the first data with second data received from another personal device being operated by another user and may send the aggregated data to the service provider to update databases storing third data associated with the service functionality.

In some examples, a system may receive, from a merchant device, an indication of a transaction between a merchant and a customer, including transaction information associated with the transaction. The system may further receive, from the merchant device, a signal from a customer device associated with the customer and received by the merchant device. Based on the transaction information, the system may determine a previous signal previously received from the customer device, and at least one previous parameter associated with the previous signal. The system determines at least one parameter associated with the received signal and determines a presence indication based on comparing the previous parameter and the determined parameter. For example, the presence indication may be indicative of the customer device being physically present at or near a geographical location of the merchant device. Based on the presence indication, the system may send an instruction to process the transaction.

Techniques for temporarily providing access to a functionality associated with a service to one or more personal devices corresponding to one or more users is described. In an example, an entity device may provision temporary access to a functionality associated with a service that benefits the entity to a personal device operated by a user. The personal device may utilize the functionality to perform a task, such as inventory data collection. The entity device may determine an occurrence of an event, and based at least in part on the occurrence of the event, may terminate the provisioning of the temporary access to the functionality. The entity device may receive data, such as inventory data, from the personal device and may send the data to a payment processing system.

Introduced here is a technology that enables fraud detection and protection in financial transactions using a communication signal identification mechanism. The technology eliminates the uncertainties as to the authenticity of a payment card and/or a customer involved in a transaction. In at least some embodiments, methods and systems are disclosed for facilitating communication with one or more personal computing devices physically present at a merchant's POS device to establish customer presence and/or card presence. The personal computing devices can include a smartphone, a wearable electronic device, or any electronic device capable of communication with other devices. The personal computing devices can also include a payment card in the form of a smartcard with embedded BLE or any other smart chip (e.g., GPS, Wi-Fi, 4G, etc.). In some embodiments, methods and systems are disclosed for applying context-based restrictions on the payment card to assist in protection against fraud.

Fraud protection based on presence indication

Introduced here is a technology that enables fraud detection and protection in financial transactions using a communication signal identification mechanism. The technology eliminates the uncertainties as to the authenticity of a payment card and/or a customer involved in a financial transaction, such as a payment transaction. In at least some embodiments, methods and systems are disclosed for facilitating establishment of a card presence through communication with a payment card being used in a transaction instantiated on a merchant's POS device. The payment card can be in the form of a smartcard with embedded BLE or any other smart chip (e.g., GPS, Wi-Fi, 4G, LTE, etc.) capable of transmitting a communication signal that contains identifying information, which can be used to establish the card presence.

Fraud protection in payment card transactions

Introduced here is a technology that enables effective fraud detection and protection in financial transactions by use of a communication signal capability associated with payment cards. The technology eliminates the uncertainty inherent in card transactions as to the authenticity of a payment card. In various embodiments, methods and systems are disclosed for placing context-based restrictions on the payment card to assist in eliminating the uncertainty in card transactions. The payment card can include any electronic card having an embedded smart chip (e.g., BLE, WiFi, GPRS, 4G, LTE, etc.). The context-based restrictions can include a geographical restriction, a timing restriction, a purchase amount restriction, a merchant-category-code restriction, a particular merchant restriction, or a proximity restriction. The context-based restrictions can be placed on the payment card through communication with a computing device (e.g., smartphone, computing tablet, laptop, desktop, etc.).

Context-based restrictions on payment cards

An electric power generation system is disclosed. The electric power generation system comprises a string configured to be pulled. The electric power generation system further comprises a bobbin configured to rotate when the string is unwound from the bobbin. The electric power generation system further comprises an electric power generator having a rotor. The rotor is configured to rotate such that the ratio of number of rotations of the rotor and the bobbin is 1:1 when the string is being pulled.

Gearless human power generation

Synchronous control for an output of a generator is disclosed. A desired output level at the output of the generator is received. An off time to achieve the desired output level is determined. A timing for the off time is determined. One or more coil outputs are caused to switch off for the off time at the determined timing for the off time. The one or more coil outputs contribute to the output of the generator in the event that the one or more coil outputs are switched on.

Synchronous control for generator output

A method of coupling a mechanical power source through an electrical power generator to an electrical load is disclosed. A characteristic of an electrical output is measured from the electrical power generator produced during a power generation cycle during which there is a coupling of the mechanical power source through the electrical power generator to the electrical load. The coupling of the mechanical power source is adjusted through the electrical power generator to the electrical load during a subsequent power generation cycle based at least in part on the measured characteristic of the electrical output.

Electrical power generator with adaptive coupling

A composite conduit suitable for transporting corrosive and/or erosive fluids including gases, liquids or slurries, is formed by positioning a tube formed of a material having desirable corrosion and/or erosion resistant properties within a pipe formed of a commonly weldable material such that one end of the tube is aligned with one end of the pipe. The tube has an outer diameter slightly less than the inner diameter of the pipe. The tube is affixed to the pipe by connecting the aligned ends thereof, and the pipe is compressed in a reducing operation so that the inner diameter of the pipe is reduced to a diameter that is less than or equal to the outer diameter of the tube. Adjacent, end-to-end sections of the composite conduit are connected using a coupling that employs a cylindrical body formed of the same material as the tubes of the conduits. The coupling body has an outer diameter that is slightly less than the inner diameter of the tubes of the conduits, and preferably an inner diameter that varies to form a taper at each end of the body. The body further contains a circumferential recess intermediate the ends of the body, and a ring formed of the same material as the tubes of the conduits. The ring is positioned within the recess of the body and has a circumferential stop means for limiting movement of the ends of the body within the respective ends of the conduits by the ends of the conduits abutting the stop means. At least one circumferential seal is positioned intermediate the recess and each of the tapered ends of the body for sealing the interconnected conduits. An insulator is preferably positioned in the recess between the ring and the coupling body for inhibiting the transfer of heat produced by welding the ends of the conduits together, although the insulator is not essential in all embodiments.

Weldable conduit method of forming

An adjustable pipe connector for joining ends of lined pipe where corrosive or erosive gases, fluids or slurries may flow to provide a continuous corrosion barrier between the ends of adjacent pipe liners. The connector provides a telescoping arrangement of sleeves that may be adjusted in length to meet the needs of the pipes being welded. The connector also provides heat shielded weld points for welding to the pipe ends to ensure that the integrity of the pipe coatings is maintained.

Adjustable pipe connector

A corrosion resistant sleeve joining abutted ends of lined pipe where corrosive or erosive gases, fluids or slurries may flow to provide a continuous corrosion barrier between the ends of adjacent pipe liners. The sleeve is preferably a cylindrical member having sufficient length to allow disposition of a protective material, such as biocide, corrosion inhibitor, or combination thereof between the sleeve and the pipe surrounding the sleeve. The elongated cylindrical section may provide a double set of O-rings separated by a distance that would allow an annular recess to be placed between them for disposing a protective material. The protective material is preferably soluble with any fluid material that is to be transported through the pipe and blends with any fluid that permeates the outer most O-ring and comes into contact with the protective material. The protective material preferably blends with the fluid prior to penetration of the inner O-ring and thereby prevents damage to the metal pipe in the area between the adjacent liners.

Growing community of inventors

San Francisco, CA, United States of America

John Lewis