Abstract: A server system for multi-level vending of any electronically transferable product through a communications network directly to a customer's computer. This server system (herein called a Sales Support Server) integrates the collection of a payment via the network and the automatic distribution of the product with the calculation of commissions using a multi-level marketing commission structure and the distribution of commissions and fees via the network. The preferred configuration includes a client application (herein called a Sales App) which runs as a plug-in to a network browser on the customer's computer and which provides a purchase request and registration data to a Sales Support Server and performs the installation of the product on the customer's computer. The Sales Support Server acquires the payment, transfers the product, calculates and pays the commissions, and adds the purchaser's registration information to the multi-level sales database for the product.

Abstract: Product data information to be stored in a product database is defined by setting essential items necessary to define products with respect to their essential parts, and setting optional items necessary to define optional products deriving from standards product defined by their essential items. A product definition section produces product data information on standard products based on the set essential items, and produces product data information on optional products based on the set optional items. This product data information is transferred from an electronic shop client to an electronic mall server to be stored into the product database through a product registering section.

Abstract: A method for order verification, the first step of which involves providing a computer processor having both data storage and computing capability. The second step involves storing data as to a weight for each of a plurality of items offered for sale in the computer processor. The third step involves inputting into the computer processor selected items that make up a customer order from the plurality of items stored in data and computing a projected total weight for the customer order. The fourth step involves assembling the selected items that make up the customer order and placing the customer order onto a weigh scale. The fifth step involves comparing an actual weight of the customer order with the projected total weight to verify the order.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a smartcard system are provided which securely and conveniently integrate important travel-related applications. In one embodiment, a smartcard system includes a cardholder identification application and various additional applications useful in particular travel contexts; for example, airline, hotel, rental car, and payment-related applications. Furthermore, memory space and security features within specific applications provide partnering organizations (e.g., airlines, hotel chains, and rental car agencies) the ability to construct custom and secure file structures.

Abstract: A method for enabling users over a network or over the WWW to interact with an interactive sales representative system for providing sales guidance. The system offers the user products, services, or ideas (the "products") according to parameters collected from the user. The system guides the customer to retrieve the desired products. If the system does not have a product matched to the customer requirements, preferably it will operate a mechanism for suggesting alternatives which are the closest to the customer requirements. The system will execute various sales tools and techniques to help and assist the customer and to convince the customer to purchase a product. By guiding the customer to the target product, the system will shorten the search cycle for the customer as well as find better matched products. The system will provide market advisory, suggest, recommend, discuss (in written form and optionally voice form), comment, advise the customer regarding the products.

Abstract: A method and system of conveying information to a user in specified content displayed in an interactive graphical environment. The information comprises a predetermined message defined by message parameters to create an image and stored in a message memory. The content includes predetermined specifications for assimilating said message. The method comprises the steps of retrieving the specified content from a content memory then identifying the predetermined specifications from the content for substituting a portion of the content into a transformed representation of the predetermined message. After retrieving and identifying, the predetermined message is obtained from the message memory and transformed into a scaled message according to the specifications to substitute the message into the content portion and define a modified environment.

Abstract: A system that facilitates the coupling of a plurality of clients to one or more merchants utilizing a network to conduct commerce over the network is disclosed. When a client initiates a connection with a merchant, the merchant responds to the request for connection by transmitting one or more messages back to the client to determine a particular payment processing which entails determining a suitable payment instrument, a payment protocol and standard message formats for conducting the electronic commerce. The payment protocol comprises a message format, a protocol associated with the message format and a weight associated with each of the items associated with the payment processing. The weight is provided by both the client and the merchant to facilitate dynamic negotiation of a mutually acceptable payment processing. The negotiation results in the exchange of standard message formats that the client and the merchant are equipped to process efficiently and securely.

Abstract: A method for networked exchange comprises 8 steps. Those steps are (1) specifying a mode of operations for an exchange; (2) identifying a commodity for the exchange; (3) listing information about the commodity; (4) accessing of the listing by a potential purchaser; (5) accessing the network-based exchange by the potential purchaser; (6) processing information generated by the potential purchaser, the information comprising a negotiation; (7) concluding the negotiation; and, (8) clearing the concluded negotiation.

Abstract: A method for intelligently planning is provided, comprising the steps of receiving a plurality of tasks that a user needs to perform, each task having an earliest start time, a latest stop time, a duration for completing the event and a reward value for completing the event, the tasks including a fixed task having the duration being equal to the time period between the earliest start time and the latest stop time and a floating task having a duration that is less than the time period between the earliest start time and the latest stop time, arranging said fixed task into a plan for the user based on the earliest start time, duration and reward of the fixed task, determining an actual start time for the floating task within the time period between the earliest start time and the latest stop time based on the earliest start time and duration of the fixed task, and arranging said floating task into the plan for the user based on the selected actual start time and the reward of the floating task.

Abstract: An online gift-presentation system in which, when a server system transmits encoded gift-contents and gift-presentation data thereof to a client as a gift-presenter and a client as a gift-receiver sends a request for decoding using the gift-presentation data to the server system, the server system transmits a decoding key for decoding the encoded gift-contents to the client as a gift-receiver.

Abstract: A method of assisting the carrying out of a research process is implemented with the aid of specialized computer software. The software defines a sequence of predetermined research process steps. In a first step, predetermined prompts are generated which guide the researcher to enter data corresponding to the results of a literature survey, to set up a database which is used by subsequent steps. In a second step, prompts are generated to guide the researcher to enter proposal data, and selected data is retrieved from the database to include in a written proposal to a sponsor. The proposal data and the selected reference data from the first database are combined in a second database, which is used as the basis for the next step in the process. In the next step, the software generates prompts to assist the researcher in entering research results which are also stored in the second database in a predetermined format.

Abstract: A computer-based tracking system and method for coordinating work done on a project and payment therefor. After a project has been partitioned by an architect, jobs are specified in terms of to which region or subregion each entry corresponds. The (sub)contractors submit monthly Application and Certificate for Payment requests which are organized by the system to enable all the work in a particular region to be consolidated listed on a reviewer's card for ease of verification. Updates to the requests are made and authorized forms are generated to enable payment of the requests, thereby saving time and effort to perform manual correlation of subcontractor requests with a given area in a project. Requests also need not be monthly and may be made at any period, potentially varying. Other possible periods are quarterly, twice a month, or once every two months.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system for negotiating the purchase of goods and/or services by customers utilizes a simulated human merchant having predefined behavioral attributes. An algorithm representing behavioral attributes of a simulated human merchant is used to receive customer input data relating to particular goods and/or services desired to be purchased. The customer input data is processed to generate merchant responses to the customer input data, and the sale of goods and/or services are agreed to at a particular price as a result of processing of customer replies to merchant responses according to the algorithm.

Abstract: The invention provides a workflow support system and a method of the same that enables to refer to and to trace the history and progress state of the control information, as to a workflow transferring into a different system and an atypical task. The data base contains a task control information for executing a workflow, and the conversion unit converts a task information into a task sheet being an electronic document, which is stored in the document data base or the open document server. The task control information contains a relation between the tasks and a pointer indicating a storage location of a task sheet corresponding to the task, and the pointer is contained also in the task sheet. The task sheets are linked by this pointer. Tracing this pointer makes it possible to refer to the task sheets of the tasks involved, to grasp the progress state, and further to trace the task sheets involved.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and article of manufacture for implementing a financial system. The financial system comprises a computer for storing a database describing operations of a financial institution.

Abstract: A method for using a digital electrical apparatus to electrically process signals in generating output for insurance documentation, the method including the steps of: in a digital electrical computer apparatus comprising a digital computer having a processor, the processor electrically connected to a memory device for storing and retrieving operations including machine-readable signals in the memory device, to an input device for receiving input data and converting the input data into input electrical data, to a visual display unit for converting output electrical data into output having a visual presentation, to a printer for converting the output electrical data into printed documentation, wherein the processor is programmed to control the apparatus to receive the input data and to produce the output data by steps including: defining a plurality of patient categories; and for each of the categories, determining a periodic duration-specific insurance benefit amount for long-term care patients; the method fur

Abstract: A system and method for scheduling and controlling delivery of advertising in a communications network and a communications network and remote computer program employing the system or the method. The system includes: (1) a time allocation controller that allocates time available in a particular advertising region in a display device of a remote computer between at least two advertisements as a function of one of a desired user frequency, a desired time frequency, or a desired geometry, for each of the at least two advertisements and (2) data communication controller, coupled to the time allocation controller, that delivers the at least two advertisements to said remote computer for display in the advertising region according to the allocating of the time.

Abstract: In a computer system provided with a checkpoint facility, an accounting record indicating a charge payable as a result of a normal process and an accounting record indicating a charge payable as a result of a checkpoint process are output separately.When a file is accessed, a determination is made as to whether the access occurs subsequent to the checkpoint process and whether the accessed file has not been saved. If it is determined that the access occurs subsequent to the checkpoint process and the accessed file has not been saved, the accessed file is appended to the saved information.

Abstract: A system for transmitting, storing, retransmitting and receiving a plurality of electronic medical images, which permits diagnostic readings by physicians during irregularly occurring periods of down time, where each of the electronic medical images contains an indicia, e.g., bid price, of the priority attached to it by a patient, includes first through fourth computer systems.

Abstract: A method suitable for use in a physical distribution network. The method comprises the steps of using a distribution resource planning (DRP) logic for providing estimates of at least one of projected future on-hand inventory and replenishment requirements; and, incorporating within the DRP logic an uncertainty of future demand for estimating at least one of future replenishment requirements and inventory levels in the physical distribution network.