Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for performing data collection of insurance related submitted data provided by an applicant for insurance on a submitted form. The system may comprise a data input portion that inputs the submitted form so that the submitted data on the submitted form is available to a data entry operator; and a data collector tool, which processes entered data that is entered by the data entry operator, onto an internal electronic form, based on the submitted data submitted by the applicant.

Abstract: A system for at least a partial underwriting of insurance policies is described. based on the similarity to previous insurance applications, a decision on the current request for underwriting may be made. this decision-making process represents an analogical approach to the placement of an insurance application to an underwriting category, whereby a given insurance application request is compared to previous requests.

Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for processing sales leads. Illustratively, the invention provides a method of assigning sales leads in a network environment, the sales leads relating to persons interested in effecting a purchase, the method comprising: obtaining a lead, the lead including lead information relating to a person interested in effecting a purchase; loading the lead into a lead processing portion; determining if the lead is auto-assignable; assigning the lead to a sales agent; and outputting the lead information over the network environment to a lead distribution portion, so as to be accessible to the sales agent.

Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for processing sales leads. Illustratively, the invention provides a method for validating a new sales lead from an agent employed in a sales lead processing entity, the method comprising: inputting new sales lead information representing a new sales lead from an agent using an agent computer interface; transmitting the new sales lead information to a lead processing portion, the lead processing portion having a leads memory portion, the leads memory portion storing existing sales lead information relating to existing sales leads; comparing the new sales lead information with the existing sales lead information; determining if there is a match between the new sales lead information and any of the existing sales lead information; and tagging the new sales lead information as a duplicate lead based on a determination that there is a match between the new sales lead information and any of the existing sales lead information.

Abstract: A risk classification technique that exploits the existing risk structure of the decision problem in order to produce risk categorizations for new candidates is described. The technique makes use of a set of candidates for which risk categories have already been assigned (in the case of insurance underwriting, for example, this would pertain to the premium class assigned to an application). Using this set of labeled candidates, the technique produces two subsets for each risk category: the Pareto-best subset and the Pareto-worst subset by using Dominance. These two subsets can be seen as representing the least risky and the most risky candidates within a given risk category. If there are a sufficient number of candidates in these two subsets, then the candidates in these two subsets can be seen as samples from the two hypothetical risk surfaces in the feature space that bound the risk category from above and below respectively.

Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for processing sales leads. Illustratively, the invention provides a method for distributing sales leads, the method comprising: inputting a sales lead, having lead information, to a lead processing portion; performing a decisioning process relating to assignment of the sales lead, the decisioning process determining the recipient of the sales lead for working the sales lead, wherein at least a call center is included in the decisioning process as a possible recipient; and outputting information regarding the sales lead from the lead processing portion to the recipient of the sales lead for access and working of the sales lead by the recipient.

Abstract: A process and a system for providing a user with a plurality of periodic retirement income payments is disclosed. The process comprises the steps of receiving an input including two of a retirement date, a minimum retirement income amount and a defined premium payment amount for payment over a plurality of preset payment intervals. The process also includes the steps of calculating the other one of the retirement date, the minimum retirement income amount and the defined premium payment amount for an accumulation period defined by the retirement date and a current age of the user; receiving a premium payment amount from the user during the accumulation period; investing the received premium payment amount in an account in a manner consistent with one or more predefined objectives during the accumulation period to realize a retirement income amount.

Abstract: A method and system for fusing a collection of classifiers used for an automated insurance underwriting system and/or its quality assurance is described. Specifically, the outputs of a collection of classifiers are fused. The fusion of the data will typically result in some amount of consensus and some amount of conflict among the classifiers. The consensus will be measured and used to estimate a degree of confidence in the fused decisions. Based on the decision and degree of confidence of the fusion and the decision and degree of confidence of the production decision engine, a comparison module may then be used to identify cases for audit, cases for augmenting the training/test sets for re-tuning production decision engine, cases for review, or may simply trigger a record of its occurrence for tracking purposes. The fusion can compensate for the potential correlation among the classifiers.

Abstract: A system and method for providing an investor the ability to purchase an option or pay a fee to exchange a future value of an asset or a portfolio of assets, regardless of future performance or value, for at least one annuity outcome on a future date, where the outcome of such option is contingent on (1) a payment of the fee, and/or (2) maintaining the asset or portfolio of assets in accordance with at least one guideline or benchmark required for the delivery of the annuity outcome, the method comprising: determining a delivery of the annuity outcome based on an assessment of an underwritten strategy associated with an asset or portfolio of assets; and determining a fee payment amount or a series of fee payment amounts and at least one guideline required for the delivery of the annuity outcome.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for reliable and customer-friendly delivery of documents. One method of the present invention include the steps of: producing document data for printing documents; accepting requests to print selected documents; determining whether a selected document is accepted for electronic delivery or for non-electronic delivery; printing documents accepted for non-electronic delivery; and electronically delivering documents accepted for electronic delivery.

Abstract: A method and system for storing data entered by a user in a remote relational database involves saving data as a plurality of software components at a server; converting the plurality of software components into a first string and a second string wherein the first string comprises a markup language format that substantially mimics the software components and the second string comprises a serialized string format of the plurality of software components; compressing the first string and the second string; transmitting the compressed first string and the compressed second string to a receiving server; and storing the compressed first string and the compressed second string in a relational database.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for monitoring information delivered through an electronic delivery system. One method for monitoring electronically delivering documents is provided which includes the steps of: creating log files for storing selected data related to selected electronic document preparation events; forwarding the log files to a central database for storage; and providing access to the log files for retrieval and analysis.

Abstract: A system and method for providing an investor the ability to purchase an option to exchange a future value of an asset or a portfolio of assets, regardless of future performance or value, for at least one non-cash settlement instrument outcome on a future date, where the outcome of such option is contingent on (1) a payment of an option fee, and/or (2) maintaining the portfolio of assets in accordance with at least one guideline or benchmark required for the delivery of the guarantee outcome other than cash. The method comprising the steps of determining delivery of a non-cash guaranteed outcome based on an assessment of an underwriting strategy associated with an asset or portfolio of assets; and determining an option payment amount and at least one guideline required for the delivery of the non-cash guaranteed outcome.

Abstract: The invention includes a system and method for tracking errors, the system residing on a user's desktop communicating with a central database over a network. The system comprises an error log including error recording tools for enabling the user to record an error; error resolution tools for enabling the user to resolve the error; and error follow-up tools for enabling a user to follow up on resolved errors; error reporting tools for enabling a user to generate error reports from the user's desktop; and communication tools for enabling the user to transmit logged errors to the central database and to receive reports generate from errors logged in the central database.

Abstract: The invention relates to a risk based testing method. The risk based testing method comprises defining a process or system to be tested, identifying a plurality of risks associated with the process or system, quantifying each of the risks with a risk value, defining a test plan for the process or system, the test plan including a number of test cases, wherein testing of the test cases is prioritized based on the risk value, and executing the test plan. The invention also relates an article of manufacture. The article of manufacture comprises a computer useable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for testing a process or a system.

Abstract: The method and system of the invention provides a technique for transferring files from a first location to a second location using the File Transfer Protocol (FTP). That is, the invention provides a method of transferring files using FTP from a first memory associated with a first processing portion to a second processing portion, the method comprising placing a file in the first memory; determining the destination of the file based on configuration parameters associated with the first memory, the destination of the file being the second processing portion; and attempting to establish a connection between the first processing portion and the second processing portion in order to transfer the file from the first memory to the second processing portion.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a specialized learning curriculum to users over a computer network. At least one server computer associated with a education content provider hosts a learning center web site that solicits and receives personal information from users relating to the users' interest preferences and demographic information. Using this information, the server computer generates a specialized learning curriculum based upon each user's selected interests and other information. The curriculum may include articles, on-line courses, on-line workshops, interactive games and user activities, and interactive calculation tools provided by both the education content provider and third party content providers. Upon curriculum creation, the user may select content items for subsequent display and evaluation. The system also provides a variety of additional features such as an internal message service, a reminder service, a news service, and a notes service.

Abstract: A system and process for managing the migrating enhancements into a production software system is described. Enhancements are first migrated to a model system. After any issues are identified and addressed, the enhancements are migrated to the production software system. An electronic change management process is provided for assisting a developer in providing information about an enhancement to a change manager. An assurance tool of migration strategies is provided for tracking changes and avoiding conflicts between the enhancement and the model and production software systems. Information gathered in the change management may be used for providing an objective evaluation of developers of enhancements.

Abstract: A system for providing a network service includes at least first and second data centers containing the same functionality and data content. The first data center designates a first group of resources as active, and another group of resources as standby resources. In a similar, but reciprocal, manner, the second data center designates a first group of resources as active, and another group of resources as standby resources. Users coupled to the first and second data centers may access active resources located in both the first and second data centers. In the event of a partial or complete failure of data center resources, the standby resources are activated and used to service user requests. In one embodiment, the data centers include a three-tier structure including a web access tier, an application logic tier, and a database management tier.

Abstract: A system and method for use in compliance management is disclosed. Various compliance requirements and issues may be identified for business process and products. The individuals or entities responsible for the business processes and products are identified. Action plans based on compliance requirements and issues may be created. The action plans may be forward to the appropriate individuals or entities, and the results of the action plans monitored to determine whether compliance requirements and issues are being appropriately addressed.