Abstract: A method and system for processing a parameter for an item in an electronic order processing system is provided. The method has a first step of associating a calculation code with the item. The second step of the method is applying the calculation rule to the item to produce an amount. The third step of the method is providing the amount to an output device. Each operation within each of the first step, the second step and the third step may be modified and flow of execution amongst the first step, the second step and the third step remains the same.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for auctioning time and desktop space to product and service suppliers are provided. The apparatus and methods obtain bids from various product and service suppliers and determine which of the bids are the highest ranking bids. The particular product and service suppliers from which bids are obtained may be determined based on user preferences stored in a user profile, for example. Based on the ranking of the bids, commercial information from the product and/or service suppliers is presented to the user. Higher ranking bids are provided with larger display space on a user's client device display and are provided with a longer display time before cycling to the next lower ranking bid. In addition, multiple displays of commercial information may be provided at a same time with the size and duration of the displays being determined based on the ranking of the associated bid from the product/service supplier.

Abstract: A method and system for providing simultaneous online auctions includes automatically auctioning a first item and a second item during a common time period via an electronic auction system. Bids for both of the first item and the second item are automatically received at the electronic auction system during the common time period.

Abstract: A method of constructing a portfolio includes receiving target allocations for different types of assets, receiving a list of investments available for inclusion in the portfolio, and selecting investments from the list of investments based on a measure of the risk-adjusted excess return of selected investments and the target allocations.

Abstract: An exchangeable security, tradable on a securities exchange is issued at a share price that is a discount from the share price of an underlying security or basket of underlying securities. At or prior to maturity of the exchangeable security, a holder of the exchangeable security may exchange a share of the exchangeable security for a share of the underlying security or basket of underlying securities. The exchangeable security may also include a linked payment that is redeemable for the full amount of the payment on maturity of the exchangeable security. Alternatively, the exchangeable security may be issued at the share price of the underlying security with the linked payment. The invention provides methods for issue, trade and redemption as well as systems for issue, trade and redemption of the security.

Abstract: The present invention relates to analysis of trusts that have multiple beneficiaries whose interests mature in different time periods or under different conditions. In particular, we disclose automatic mapping of interests in one or more trusts, optionally subject to user confirmation, to long and short positions in financial or derivative interests that have expected payouts and costs that can be offset against underlying trust assets. The underlying assets and long and short positions in the mapped instruments can be attributed to various beneficiaries and subjected to various risk and investment analyses.

Abstract: A method of providing a user with education financing information, includes the acts of: maintaining an electronic site on a computer network to which the user may connect; sending data to the user over the network for presenting at least one electronic screen which contains financial award information concerning a potential student of an educational institution, the financial award information including a monetary award which may be used for the student to attend the educational institution; and sending data to the user over the network when requested for presenting at least one electronic screen which contains cost projection information, the cost projection information being a function of the award and including an amount of money required for the student to attend the educational institution.

Abstract: A method of providing a user with education financing information, includes the acts of: maintaining an electronic site on a computer network to which the user may connect; sending data to the user over the network for presenting at least one electronic screen which contains financial award information concerning a potential student of an educational institution, the financial award information including a monetary award which may be used for the student to attend the educational institution; and sending data to the user over the network when requested for presenting at least one electronic screen which contains cost projection information, the cost projection information being a function of the award and including an amount of money required for the student to attend the educational institution.

Abstract: A method for analysing data and determining the timing of buy/sell tips as an aid to making an investment decision tradable assets or securities including the steps of: (a) receiving data on a number of specified assets or securities, (b) determining the technical strength of each asset or security from recorded market characteristics of the security as a function of the volume trade of the security, the price at which the trade took place, and the direction of movement of the price, and ranking the technical strength of each asset or security, (c) selecting tradable asset or securities having a ranking or value of technical strength above a predetermined ranking or value, (d) determining the fundamental strength of those selected assets or securities based on one or more of a group of selected variables and ranking those selected assets or securities, based on the fundamental strength, and (e) selecting or facilitating the selection of securities which are suitable for purchasing and/or securities which are

Abstract: According to the invention, a method for a payor paying a merchant using a payment system is disclosed. In one step, account information is received that can be used for receiving funds using a money handler. The account information identifies an account of the payor. A token is generated that correlates to the account information. The token is sent to the merchant that uniquely identifies the payor and the merchant. The token, which corresponds to a payment, is received. It is authenticated that the token was presented by the merchant. The payment is transferred from the payor to the merchant with the payment system.

Abstract: Tools for trading and monitoring a commodity on an electronic exchange using a graphical user interface and a user input device. The tools will aid the trader in determining the status, trends in the market, and the trader's position in the market.

Abstract: A method and system for reducing the time it takes for a trader to place a trade when electronically trading on an exchange, thus increasing the likelihood that the trader will have orders filled at desirable prices and quantities. The “Mercury” display and trading method of the present invention ensure fast and accurate execution of trades by displaying market depth on a vertical or horizontal plane, which fluctuates logically up or down, left or right across the plane as the market prices fluctuates. This allows the trader to trade quickly and efficiently.

Abstract: A method of providing a user with education financing information, includes the acts of: maintaining an electronic site on a computer network to which the user may connect; sending data to the user over the network for presenting at least one electronic screen which contains financial award information concerning a potential student of an educational institution, the financial award information including a monetary award which may be used for the student to attend the educational institution; and sending data to the user over the network when requested for presenting at least one electronic screen which contains cost projection information, the cost projection information being a function of the award and including an amount of money required for the student to attend the educational institution.

Abstract: A method and system for authenticating users while conducting an auction via a computer system. The system can automatically authenticate users who have previously registered with the auction system and who have enabled automatic authentication. When a user is registered, the system may store authentication information in a cookie on the user's computer. When the user decides to perform a transaction (e.g., list item auction or place a bid for an item) that requires authentication, the system retrieves the stored authentication information. If automatic authentication is enabled, then the system allows the transaction to proceed without manual authentication. If, however, automatic authentication is not enabled or the system does not recognize the stored authentication information, then the system requests manual authentication. The use of automatic authentication allows a user to enter information relating to a transaction without manually entering any identification information.

Abstract: A billing system and method particularly well suited for use in telephony networks accounts for usage of standard network services, such as voice and data communication, and third-party services, such as paging and voicemail services, supportable by the network. Customer usage of network equipment and third-party equipment is also accounted for by such a telephony network billing system. Network and third-party usage and equipment charges incurred by a customer are advantageously integrated by the billing system into a single customer invoice.

Abstract: A method and system for electronic billing across unassociated electronic bill presentment networks is provided. Each network includes a billing service provider. A request to receive an electronic bill from a biller not associated with a first network is received by a first billing service provider. A request to determine a network with which the biller is associated is transmitted by the first billing service provider. In response to this determination request, information indicating that the biller is associated with a second network is received. An activation instruction to receive electronic bills is transmitted from the first billing service provider to a second billing service provider which is a part of the network with which the biller is associated.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for transacting credit derivatives. The methods and systems allow for the calculation of the final cash settlement prices for credit derivatives following a credit event, such as a corporate bankruptcy.

Abstract: To enable the payment of charges, for example those for mobile telephones, with cash there is provided an automated terminal for receiving payments including an input for currency notes, an acceptor for such currency notes and an input for information on an account for charges to which payment is required together with a control arrangement to record said account information and the value of acceptable currency notes fed in, to relate said information to said value as payment to said account and to hold said related information and value and acceptable currency notes available for retrieval. In this way a user need not have a bank account to make a payment to an account with a service provider.

Abstract: A method and system to protect, manage and control access to credit reports by the consumer. The company provides a website for the consumer to lock his credit report from being viewed without authorization. The report may be accessed via a previously assigned ID number and password. For a merchant to obtain the credit report, the consumer must grant access. The system eliminates manual intervention with access codes to lock or grant access to the report. Response to requests to access a report is instantaneous with the correct access code. Before a consumer subscribes, his is challenged to prove his identity. The verification method is based on his using a credit card to pay for the service that has the same name as the person in which they are attempting to subscribe to the service as. Address verification is provided by the credit card company. A credit report is then pulled from each of the credit reporting agencies, and the data used to further challenge the consumer's identity.

Abstract: Trading processes are operative to route orders from order rooms to market processes, which process the orders according to respective market methodologies. The order routing strategy can be embodied in a decision table having rules with conditions and actions to be taken when the conditions are true. Accordingly, order rooms can readily configure and reconfigure trading processes.