( 19 ) United States
`( 12 ) Patent Application Publication ( 10 ) Pub . No . : US 2018 / 0374076 A1
`( 43 ) Pub . Date :
`Dec . 27 , 2018
`Wheeler
`
`US 20180374076A1
`
`( 54 ) PROXIMITY BASED INTERACTIONS VIA
`MOBILE DEVICES
`( 71 ) Applicant : Therman Wheeler , Flower Mound , TX
`( US )
`( 72 ) Inventor : Therman Wheeler , Flower Mound , TX
`( US )
`( 21 ) Appl . No . : 16 / 014 , 899
`( 22 ) Filed :
`Jun . 21 , 2018
`Related U . S . Application Data
`( 60 ) Provisional application No . 62 / 523 , 024 , filed on Jun .
`21 , 2017
`Publication Classification
`
`( 51 ) Int . Ci .
`G060 20 / 32
`G06Q 20 / 22
`G060 20 / 40
`G06Q 20 / 20
`G06Q 30 / 06
`
`( 2006 . 01 )
`( 2006 . 01 )
`( 2006 . 01 )
`( 2006 . 01 )
`( 2006 . 01 )
`
`( 52 ) U . S . CI .
`CPC . . . . . . . . . G06Q 20 / 3224 ( 2013 . 01 ) ; G06Q 20 / 22
`( 2013 . 01 ) ; G06Q 20 / 40145 ( 2013 . 01 ) ; G06Q
`30 / 0633 ( 2013 . 01 ) ; G06Q 20 / 325 ( 2013 . 01 ) ;
`G06Q 20 / 3278 ( 2013 . 01 ) ; G06Q 20 / 20
`( 2013 . 01 )
`
`( 57 )
`ABSTRACT
`Techniques are provided for performing automated opera
`tions to identify one or more computing devices associated
`with potential payees that are within a defined proximity of
`a user mobile device . Potential payees may include indi
`viduals and merchant point - of - sale computing systems . A
`processor - based computing system retrieves stored photo
`graphic and biographic information regarding the identified
`potential payees , and displays the retrieved photographic
`and biographic information for possible selection by a user
`of the mobile device . One or more payments from the user
`of the mobile device may be specified and initiated via the
`processor - based computing system to potential payees
`selected by the user , including for partial or full payment of
`a customer order of the user with a merchant associated with
`an identified point - of - sale computing system .
`
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`180
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`Mobile Payment Facilitation ( MPF ) System
`User manager
`Payment la vocation Manager
`Graphical User Interface ( GUI )
`Merchant Order manager
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`Petitioner Exhibit 1018-0001
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication
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`Dec . 27 , 2018 Sheet 1 of 7
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`US 2018 / 0374076 A1
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`Petitioner Exhibit 1018-0002
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication
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`Dec . 27 , 2018 Sheet 2 of 7
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`US 2018 / 0374076 A1
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`275a
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Dec . 27 , 2018 Sheet 3 of 7
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`US 2018 / 0374076 A1
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`Petitioner Exhibit 1018-0004
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication
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`Dec . 27 , 2018 Sheet 4 of 7
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`US 2018 / 0374076 A1
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`Petitioner Exhibit 1018-0005
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
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`Dec . 27 , 2018 Sheet 5 of 7
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`US 2018 / 0374076 A1
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`Fig . 3
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`
`Petitioner Exhibit 1018-0006
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Dec . 27 , 2018 Sheet 6 of 7
`
`Mobile Payment Facilitation
`system manager routine
`
`Identify potential payee
`devices within proximity
`of user mobile device
`
`FIG . 4
`
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`Optionally retrieve order
`associated with the user
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`potential payees to merchant
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`potential payees
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`determined appropriate potential
`payees
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`determined appropriate potential
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`
`Receive user selection
`of payment option
`
`Initiate payment from user
`to indicated payee based on
`selected payment option
`
`495
`Continue ?
`
`End
`
`Optionally perform
`housekeeping tasks
`495
`
`Petitioner Exhibit 1018-0007
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
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`Dec . 27 , 2018 Sheet 7 of 7
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`US 2018 / 0374076 A1
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`- 526
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`Petitioner Exhibit 1018-0008
`
`

`

`US 2018 / 0374076 A1
`
`Dec . 27 , 2018
`
`PROXIMITY BASED INTERACTIONS VIA
`MOBILE DEVICES
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`The following disclosure relates generally to tech
`[ 0001 ]
`niques for facilitating mobile interactions between identified
`users located within a geographic proximity .
`BACKGROUND
`[ 0002 ] Historically , payment of gratuities has typically
`involved monetary currency cash . A street musician or other
`busker places a hat on a street corner , and appreciative
`listeners deposit coins or paper bills within the hat ; a diner
`within a restaurant leaves a small collection of cash on the
`table as they exit after a meal ; etc . While the payment of
`certain cash - based gratuities still occurs , in modern indus
`trialized societies the role of cash has been deprecated to the
`extent that many individuals do not possess or carry much
`( or any ) monetary currency in ordinary circumstances . In
`limited scenarios and with respect to certain transactions ,
`gratuities may be paid using some mechanism other than
`cash ( e . g . , a credit card ) , such as via a specific line item
`when paying a larger customer bill from a restaurant or other
`merchant . However , many scenarios in which gratuities are
`desirable are unrelated to such transactions , and may there
`fore simply be omitted or overlooked for lack of readily
`available monetary currency . Furthermore , particular indi
`viduals may avoid paying gratuities even when cash is
`available to do so , such as if they feel that “ tipping "
`is
`somehow awkward or undesirably patronizing .
`[ 0003 ] Furthermore , particular disadvantages arise even in
`those circumstances for which gratuities may be paid using
`a mechanism other than cash . For example , there may be a
`lengthy delay between ordering or finishing a meal and
`receiving the bill , in which case the service provided by the
`waiter or waitress may be retroactively viewed unfavorably
`by the diner even if such service was otherwise exemplary .
`[ 0004 ]
`Thus , there is a need for new techniques to allow
`the payment of gratuities , merchant orders , donations , or
`other payments using instruments or devices readily avail
`able in a modernized society , such as a “ smart phone ” or
`other mobile computing device .
`BRIEF SUMMARY
`[ 0005 ] Techniques are provided herein for processor
`based computing systems to perform automated operations
`for identifying one or more computing devices associated
`with potential payees ( including individuals and merchant
`point - of - sale computing systems , that are within a defined
`proximity of a user mobile device . A processor - based com
`puting system retrieves stored photographic and / or bio
`graphic information regarding the identified potential pay
`ees , and displays the retrieved photographic and / or
`biographic information for possible selection by a user of the
`mobile device . One or more payments from the user of the
`mobile device may be specified and initiated via the pro
`cessor - based computing system to potential payees selected
`by the user , including for partial or full payment of a
`customer order of the user with a merchant associated with
`an identified point - of - sale computing system .
`[ 0006 ]
`A computer - implemented method may be summa
`rized as including identifying each of a number of mobile
`devices in a proximity of a first mobile device that is
`
`logically associated with a potential payor ; for each of at
`least some of the identified mobile devices in the proximity
`of the first mobile device that is logically associated with the
`potential payor , causing a presentation of a photographic
`representation of a respective potential payee that is logi
`cally associated with the respective identified mobile device ,
`the presentation via a display of the mobile device that is
`logically associated with the potential payee ; and in
`response to an input received via a user interface of the first
`mobile device , causing a crediting of an account associated
`with a selected one of the potential payees . Causing the
`crediting of the account associated with the selected one
`potential payee may include causing a crediting of multiple
`accounts associated with the selected one potential payee in
`accordance with defined preferences of the selected one
`potential payee .
`[ 0007 ]
`The computer - implemented method may further
`include receiving information from
`the potential payor
`specifying a payment amount for the crediting of the account
`associated with the selected one potential payee .
`[ 0008 ] Causing the crediting of the account associated
`with the selected one potential payee may include causing a
`corresponding debiting of an account associated with the
`potential payor .
`[ 0009 ]
`The computer - implemented method may further
`include identifying a point - of - sale terminal associated with
`a merchant that is within the proximity of the first mobile
`device , and providing an indication to the potential payor via
`the first mobile device of an order of the potential payor that
`is associated with the merchant , wherein causing a crediting
`of an account associated with the selected one of the
`potential payees includes causing a crediting of an account
`associated with the merchant for at least a portion of the
`associated order . Causing the presentation of the photo
`graphic representation of the respective potential payee
`logically associated with one of the identified mobile
`devices may include causing the one identified mobile
`device to further display biographic information associated
`with the respective potential payee . The biographic infor
`mation associated with the respective potential payee may
`have been supplied by the respective potential payee . The
`respective potential payee logically associated with one of
`the identified mobile devices may be a service provider
`associated with one or more services for the potential payor .
`[ 0010 ]
`A non - transitory computer - readable medium hav
`ing stored contents that , when executed , cause one or more
`processors of one or more configured computing devices to
`perform a method , may be summarized as including receiv
`ing , by the one or more processors , an indication that a
`mobile device of a user is within a defined proximity of one
`or more identified potential payees ; determining , by the one
`or more processors and based at least in part on information
`associated with the user and with the one or more identified
`potential payees , at least one appropriate potential payee of
`the identified potential payees to which payment may be
`provided by the user ; providing to the user , by the one or
`more processors and based at least in part on the determining
`of the at least one appropriate potential payee , one or more
`payment options for providing payment from the user to the
`at least one appropriate potential payee , each of the one or
`more provided payment options including a display to the
`user of a respective image associated with each of the at least
`one appropriate potential payees ; and initiating , by the one
`or more processors and responsive to a selection by the user
`
`Petitioner Exhibit 1018-0009
`
`

`

`US 2018 / 0374076 A1
`
`Dec . 27 , 2018
`
`of at least one of the one or more provided payment options ,
`payment from the user to one or more selected payees of the
`at least one appropriate potential payees .
`[ 0011 ] The one or more identified potential payees may
`include a point - of - sale terminal associated with a merchant ,
`providing one or more payment options to the user may
`further include providing an indication of an order associ
`ated with the user , and initiating the payment from the user
`may include initiating payment to the point - of - sale terminal
`for at least a portion of the associated order . Providing the
`indication of the order associated with the user may include
`providing an itemized listing of charges included in the
`order .
`[ 0012 ] . The one or more identified potential payees may
`further include a service provider associated with the mer
`chant , and the providing of the indication of the associated
`order may be based at least in part on an identification of the
`user by the associated service provider . The providing of the
`indication of the associated order may be based at least in
`part on information transmitted between the mobile device
`of the user and a wireless receiver communicatively coupled
`to the point - of - sale terminal . The information transmitted
`between the mobile device and the wireless receiver may be
`transmitted via one of a group that may include a Wi - Fi
`connection , a Bluetooth connection , and a near - field com
`munication ( NFC ) connection . The indicated order may be
`further associated with one or more additional parties , and
`providing the one or more payment options to the user may
`include providing an indication of one or more potential
`payors that include the one or more additional parties .
`[ 0013 ] The method may further include receiving a selec
`tion from the user of at least one of the one or more
`additional parties and responsive to the selection of the at
`least one additional parties , initiating a request for a partial
`payment of the indicated order from each of the selected at
`least one additional parties .
`[ 0014 ]
`The method may further include receiving an indi
`cation from the user that at least one of the one or more
`additional parties are not included in the indicated one or
`more potential payors and , responsive to the indication from
`the user , causing the mobile device to display user interface
`elements to enable the at least one additional party to register
`as a potential payor . The user interface elements may include
`one or more of a group that may include a computer
`readable code , a web address , and an input field . The one or
`more identified potential payees may include a point - of - sale
`( POS ) terminal associated with a merchant , one or more
`other of the identified potential payees may also be associ
`ated with the merchant , and providing the one or more
`payment options to the user may include providing at least
`one payment option that includes initiating a payment to
`each of both the point - of - sale terminal and at least one of the
`other identified potential payees . The user associated with
`the mobile device may be a first user having a first type , one
`or more of the identified potential payees may be users
`having a distinct second type , and determining the at least
`one appropriate potential payee may include determining ,
`based at least in part on the first user being of the first type ,
`that the one or more users of the distinct second type are
`appropriate potential payees with respect to the first user .
`The initiating of the payment from the user to the one or
`more selected payees may include initiating a notification to
`each of the one or more selected payees of the initiated
`payment . Receiving the indication that the mobile device is
`
`within the defined proximity may be based at least in part on
`the mobile device entering a defined geographic area asso
`ciated with at least one of the one or more identified
`potential payees .
`[ 0015 ] Providing the one or more payment options to the
`user may further include providing biographical information
`regarding the at least one of the appropriate potential payees .
`Initiating payment from the user to the one or more selected
`payees may include initiating a third - party payment service
`via the mobile device of the user . The one or more proces
`sors may be housed within the mobile device of the user , and
`at least some of the method may be performed via an
`application that is associated with a payment service execut
`ing on the mobile device . The method may be performed by
`one or more remote servers that may include the one or more
`processors .
`[ 0016 ]
`A system may be summarized as including one or
`more hardware processors ; one or more memories storing
`software instructions that , when executed by at least one of
`the one or more hardware processors , perform a method , the
`method including : receiving an indication that a mobile
`device of a user is within a defined proximity of one or more
`identified potential payees ; determining , based at least in
`part on information associated with the user and with the one
`or more identified potential payees , at least one appropriate
`potential payee of the identified potential payees to which
`payment may be provided by the user ; providing to the user ,
`based at least in part on the determining of the at least one
`appropriate potential payee , one or more payment options
`for providing payment from the user to the at least one
`appropriate potential payee , each of the one or more pro
`vided payment options including a display to the user of a
`respective image associated with each of the at least one
`appropriate potential payees ; and responsive to a selection
`by the user of at least one of the one or more provided
`payment options , initiating payment from the user to one or
`more selected payees of the at least one appropriate potential
`payees .
`[ 0017 ]
`A computer - implemented method may be summa
`rized as , via a set of instructions executing on a first mobile
`device , identifying a second mobile device of a potential
`payee ; generating , via the set of instructions , payment
`information regarding a payment to the potential payee ;
`providing the payment information , over a network , to
`a
`server ; receiving , from the server over the network , refer
`ence information useable to identify the payment at a time
`in the future ; and providing , to the second mobile device
`over an ad hoc network connection , the reference informa
`tion .
`[ 0018 ]
`A further computer - implemented method may be
`summarized as , at a mobile device , receiving one or more
`communications , over an ad hoc connection to a second
`mobile device , including reference information useable to
`execute a transfer of funds initiated on the second mobile
`device and a uniform resource identifier ; obtaining , via a
`network , a set of instructions using the uniform resource
`identifier ; and transmitting , via the set of instructions , a
`request to execute the transfer of funds , the request including
`the reference information .
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`[ 0019 ]
`In the drawings , identical reference numbers iden
`tify similar elements or acts . The sizes and relative positions
`of elements in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to
`
`Petitioner Exhibit 1018-0010
`
`

`

`US 2018 / 0374076 A1
`
`Dec . 27 , 2018
`
`scale . For example , the shapes of various elements and
`angles are not drawn to scale , and some of these elements are
`enlarged and positioned to improve drawing legibility . Fur
`ther , the particular shapes of the elements as drawn , are not
`intended to convey any information regarding the actual
`shape of the particular elements , and have been solely
`selected for ease of recognition in the drawings .
`0020 ]
`FIG . 1 is a schematic diagram depicting a net
`worked environment that includes a plurality of computing
`systems in accordance with an embodiment of the present
`disclosure .
`[ 0021 ] FIGS . 2A - F are sequential screen shots illustrating
`examples of providing a Mobile Payment Facilitation sys
`tem via various graphical user interfaces displayed on an
`exemplary computing system of an individual user in accor
`dance with an embodiment of the present disclosure .
`[ 0022 ] FIG . 3 is a block diagram illustrating component
`level functionality provided by a plurality of electronic
`circuits that , when in combined operation , are suitable for
`performing and configured to perform at least some of the
`techniques described in the present disclosure .
`[ 0023 ] FIG . 4 is a flow diagram that depicts a process flow
`for a Mobile Payment Facilitation manager routine in accor
`dance with an embodiment of the present disclosure .
`100241 FIG . 5 is a schematic diagram that illustrates a
`networked environment in which payment to a payee is
`facilitated in accordance with an embodiment of the present
`disclosure .
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`[ 0025 ] The present disclosure relates generally to tech
`niques for one or more processor - based computing systems
`to identify one or more computing devices associated with
`potential payees that are within a defined proximity of a user
`mobile device . The present disclosure further relates to
`techniques for one or more processor - based computing
`systems to retrieve photographic and biographic information
`regarding the identified potential payees ; to display retrieved
`photographic and biographic information regarding such
`potential payees for possible selection by a user of the
`mobile device ; and to initiate one or more payments from the
`user of the mobile device to potential payees selected by the
`user . Some or all of the techniques described herein may be
`performed locally or remotely via automated operations of
`an embodiment of a Mobile Payment Facilitation ( “ MPF ” )
`system , as discussed in greater detail below .
`[ 0026 ] As an example scenario , assume that a user Helen
`of a mobile device is out for an evening of dining and
`entertainment . Exiting her vehicle , Helen executes an
`embodiment of an MPF application on her mobile device ,
`which displays a user selectable photographic representation
`and possibly additional information regarding the valet now
`parking her car . She selects the valet ' s displayed user
`selectable photographic representation , enters “ $ 5 . 00 ” in a
`text box provided by the MPF application , and selects a
`graphical control of the application to initiate payment of the
`specified gratuity to the valet directly . The valet receives a
`notification on his own mobile device indicating that a
`gratuity of $ 5 has been credited to his checking account , and
`displaying a photographic representation of Helen .
`00271 Proceeding towards the restaurant , Helen passes a
`pair of musicians , one with a guitar and the other singing
`beautifully . As she is listening , she receives a notification
`from the MPF application on her mobile device that one or
`
`more potential payees have been identified in her immediate
`area . She taps on the notification and is presented with a
`listing of nearby potential payees that includes a photo
`graphic representation of each of the two musicians , along
`with brief biographical information indicating that they are
`students at a local university and that 20 % of all money
`received by the musicians via the MPF application is des
`ignated towards tuition . She selects the entries presented for
`both student musicians , enters a tip amount , and selects the
`provided control in order for the MPF application to transfer
`that amount to each student . In some implementations , the
`presented photographic representations may be user select
`able . Alternatively or additionally , other user selectable
`information ( e . g . , name , nickname , biographical informa
`tion ) or user selectable icon may be presented along with the
`photographic representation .
`10028 ] At the restaurant , Helen joins two friends and is
`seated at a table near the window . They enjoy the meal
`immensely , and the waiter is both attentive and quick . Helen
`again consults the MPF application executing on her mobile
`device , and is presented with a listing of nearby potential
`payees that includes a photographic representation of one of
`her two friends , as well as a photograph is representation of
`her waiter and an indication that he works at the restaurant .
`Upon Helen selecting the waiter ' s entry by tapping on his
`photographic representation , the MPF application displays
`an itemized listing of the table ' s order . By selecting a control
`element inviting her to split the bill , the MPF application
`again displays a listing of nearby potential payees , but which
`now excludes those identified as service providers associ
`ated with the restaurant itself . Helen selects the entry cor
`responding to her friend Brian , and further indicates to the
`MPF application that one or more other parties associated
`with the table ' s order are not listed . In response , the MPF
`application displays two - dimensional machine - readable
`symbol ( e . g . , QR Code symbol ) . Helen ' s friend Sam , who
`has never interacted with the MPF system before , scans the
`machine - readable symbol with a camera of her own mobile
`device , which then displays a registration screen for the
`MPF system .
`[ 0029 ] .
`In a few moments , the listing of proximate poten
`tial payees on Helen ' s mobile device is updated by the MPF
`system to include new user Sam . Helen then selects the
`entries displayed corresponding to her two friends Brian and
`Sam , indicates a percentage tip to include for the waiter , and
`selects the control presented by the MPF application to
`initiate payments from each of the three friends in order to
`split the bill . Brian and Sam each affirm the payment via a
`notification presented by the MPF system on their own
`respective mobile devices . The MPF system initiates a first
`payment to the restaurant ' s point - of - sale terminal for the
`itemized order and a second payment to an account of the
`waiter according to the percentage tip specified by Helen .
`The waiter and restaurant point - of - sale terminal each receive
`a notification that the table ' s order has been paid , and Helen ,
`Brian and Sam exit the restaurant without waiting for a
`receipt , which has already been sent to their respective
`electronic addresses by the MPF system .
`[ 0030 ]
`In the following description , certain specific details
`are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of
`various disclosed embodiments . However , one skilled in the
`relevant art will recognize that embodiments may be prac
`ticed without one or more of these specific details , or with
`other methods , components , materials , etc . In
`other
`
`Petitioner Exhibit 1018-0011
`
`

`

`US 2018 / 0374076 A1
`
`Dec . 27 , 2018
`
`instances , well - known structures associated with particular
`computing systems have not been shown or described in
`detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring descriptions of the
`embodiments .
`[ 0031 ] Unless the context requires otherwise , throughout
`the specification and claims that follow , the word " com
`prise ” and variations thereof , such as , “ comprises ” and
`" comprising ” are to be construed in an open , inclusive sense ,
`that is as “ including , but not limited to . ”
`[ 0032 ] Reference throughout this specification to " one
`embodiment ” or “ an embodiment ” means that a particular
`feature , structure or characteristic described in connection
`with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment .
`Thus , the appearances of the phrases " in one embodiment ”
`or “ in an embodiment ” in various places throughout this
`specification are not necessarily all referring to the same
`embodiment . Furthermore , the particular features , struc
`tures , or characteristics may be combined in any suitable
`manner in one or more embodiments .
`10033 ]
`The headings and Abstract of the Disclosure pro
`vided herein are for convenience only and do not interpret
`the scope or meaning of the embodiments .
`[ 0034 ] As used herein ( i . e . , in this specification and the
`appended claims ) , the singular forms “ a , " " an , ” and “ the ”
`include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates
`otherwise . It should also be noted that the term
`“ or ” is
`generally employed in its broadest sense , that is , as meaning
`" and / or ” unless the content clearly dictates otherwise .
`[ 0035 ] As used herein , a “ transaction ” may include any
`commercial transaction , financial transaction , legal transac
`tion , or other transaction . A " customer ” may include any
`individual or entity capable of initiating a commercial