Abstract: A system for an Internet-based retail and investment platform includes a bank application and a retail market platform. All transactions between the bank application and the retail market platform utilize a system specific currency, which is issued by the bank. Customers open bank accounts with funds in the system specific currency and make payments for the purchase of goods and services offered through the retail market platform with the system specific currency. Goods and services are offered at a discounted price by the merchants that subscribe to the retail merchant. The discount is based on the difference between retail price and wholesale price. In return for the discount, the merchants receive access to value-added services. The discounts generate profits that are distributed to the system users as dividends.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for providing a remotely accessible web-based address book includes the following steps. First, a user registers with a web-server and sets up an account. The web-server is configured to generate, store and provide access services to web-based address books. Next, the user uploads personal address book information and contacts in the account. Next, the web-server generates a personal web-based address book for the user based on the address book information and contacts and then adds voice tags and text tags to each entry in the user's personal web-based address book. Next, the web-server cross-correlates and matches the uploaded names and contact information of the user's personal contacts with information in other users' profiles stored in a central directory database.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for providing a remotely accessible web-based address book includes the following steps. First, a user registers with a web-server and sets up an account. The web-server is configured to generate, store and provide access services to web-based address books. Next, the user uploads personal address book information and contacts in the account. Next, the web-server generates a personal web-based address book for the user based on the address book information and contacts and then adds voice tags and text tags to each entry in the user's personal web-based address book. Next, the web-server cross-correlates and matches the uploaded names and contact information of the user's personal contacts with information in other users' profiles stored in a central directory database.

Abstract: An online system and a method for a web-based people picture directory provides collaborative identification of people pictured in the directory. The method includes creating profile templates for each person on earth and storing these profile templates in a central database. Next, populating the profile templates with publicly available basic information and publishing the public profile information in the web-based people picture directory. Next, retrieving a first person's own profile template, uploading the first person's personal pictures and identifying and tagging images of other persons depicted in the first person's personal pictures. Next, cross-correlating and matching the identified images of the other persons depicted in the first person's uploaded personal pictures with profile templates corresponding to the other persons and when there is a match uploading the first person's pictures depicting the identified persons' images into the corresponding profile templates of the depicted persons.

Abstract: An online system and a method for a web-based social networking database that allows collaborative updating of the social network information. The method includes creating profile templates for each person within a group and storing these profile templates in a central database. Next, populating the profile templates with publicly available basic information and then publishing the public profile information in the web-based social network application. Users login into the social network application, update their profile information and upload their personal social network information. The system then cross-correlates and matches the social network information from the users' personal profiles to the social network information listed in other persons' profiles. The personal social network information includes names, contact information, pictures and stories of the users' personal contacts.

Abstract: An online system and a method for a web-based people directory provides for collaborative updating of the directory information. The method includes creating profile templates for each person on earth and storing these profile templates in a central database (202). Next, populating the profile templates with publicly available basic information (204) and publishing the public profile information in the web-based directory (206). Users login into the directory website and update their own or other person's profile information (208). The updated information is added to the person's published profile (210).

Abstract: An online system and a method for a web-based address book that allows collaborative updating and synchronization of the listed persons' contact information. The method includes creating profile templates for each person within a group and storing these profile templates in a central database. Next, populating the profile templates with publicly available basic information and then publishing the public profile information in the web-based address book. Users login into the address book website, update their own profile information and upload their personal address book. The system then cross-correlates and matches contact information retrieved from users' personal address books to the contact information listed in other persons' profiles.