Abstract: An integrated system for the administration of insurance companies is disclosed which includes a personal computer, a network and one or more file servers. The system further includes software for performing a plurality of functions which are interconnected and automatic. Manually entered data is verified, integrated into the database and the appropriate functions performed. A built-in audit system allows all transactions to be retrieved and all communications to be documented. The system further includes an automatic system for profiling the program to the needs of an individual insurance company so that all transactions correspond to the desired features and parameters selected by the user.

Abstract: A networked system for remotely assessing and monitoring psychological conditions. The system includes a server and a remote interface for entering in the server prompts, such as queries and instructions, to be responded to by the individual. The server is preferably a web server and the remote clinician interface is preferably a personal computer connected to the server via the Internet. The system also includes a remotely programmable patient apparatus connected to the server via a communication link, preferably the Internet. The patient apparatus interacts with the individual in accordance with a script received from the server. The server includes a script generator for generating the script from the set of prompts entered through the remote interface. The script is received and executed by the patient apparatus to communicate the prompts to the individual, to receive responses to the prompts, and to transmit the responses from the patient apparatus to the server.

Abstract: A method and system for electronic distribution and redemption of coupons on a computer network. The method includes the steps of: providing an electronic coupon in the form of a machine readable computer file; permitting a user of a client machine to receive the computer file via the computer network when the user accesses a selected coupon distribution web site; storing the computer file on the client machine; and authorizing a benefit when the computer file is received by a selected coupon redemption web site via the computer network. The method can further include the steps of transmitting the computer file from the coupon redemption web site to the centralized computer facility; and verifying the authenticity of the computer file prior to authorizing the benefit.

Abstract: A system is described whereby a telemarketer may reward a customer during the telemarketing call, thereby providing the customer with an incentive to listen to the telephone sales presentation. An invitation is communicated to a consumer regarding an opportunity to receive a sales presentation in exchange for a value. The invention includes a controller including a CPU and a memory device; the memory device contains the sales presentation and contains a program for delivering the sales presentation to the consumer. The invention also includes an apparatus for communicating the sales presentation to the consumer in response to the consumer accepting the invitation. The program is further adapted to initiate a transfer of the value to the consumer in response to the consumer receiving the sales presentation.

Abstract: An information aggregation and synthesization system and process. The present invention provides aggregation and packaging of structured or unstructured information from disparate sources such as those available on a network such as the Internet. A network compatible/addressable interface device is operated by a user. The network interface device communicates with local datastores or network accessible datastores via an addressing scheme such as Uniform Resource Locator addresses (URLs) utilized by the Internet. Data passing between the network interface device and the datastores is accessed, polled, and retrieved through an intermediary gateway system. Such aggregated information is then synthesized, customized, personalized and localized to meet the information resource requests specified by the user via the network interface device.

Abstract: A system and process for issuing a security deposit guarantee includes and involves a data storage system storing information about a credit card account having an account owner, and an agreement between the account owner and another party. Also included and involved is a data processing system coupled to the data storage system that is operative to receive a request to issue a security deposit guarantee of a specified value, to issue the security deposit guarantee in accordance with agreement between the account owner and the other party, and to update the credit card account based on the security deposit guarantee. The system and process also manage a claim that subsequently may be made against the security deposit guarantee by the other party.

Abstract: A system and method is described that enables a health care provider to monitor and manage a health condition of a patient. The system includes a health care provider apparatus operated by a health care provider and a remotely programmable patient apparatus that is operated by a patient. The health care provider develops a script program using the health care provider apparatus and then sends the script program to a remotely programmable patient apparatus through a communication network such as the World Wide Web. The script program is a computer-executable patient protocol that provides information to the patient about the patient's health condition and that interactively monitors the patient health condition by asking the patient questions and by receiving answers to those questions. The answers to these health related questions are then forwarded as patient data from the remotely programmable patient apparatus to the health care provider apparatus through the communication network.

Abstract: A method and search engine for classifying a source publishing a document on a portion of a network, includes steps of electronically receiving a document, based on the document, determining a source which published the document, and assigning a code to the document based on whether data associated with the document published by the source matches with data contained in a database. An intelligent geographic- and business topic-specific resource discovery system facilitates local commerce on the World-Wide Web and also reduces search time by accurately isolating information for end-users. Distinguishing and classifying business pages on the Web by business categories using Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes is achieved through an automatic iterative process.

Abstract: The present invention is a system of integrated, computer-based processes for monolingual information development and multilingual translation. An interactive text editor enforces lexical and grammatical constraints on a natural language subset used by the authors to create their text, which they help disambiguate to ensure translatability. The resulting translatable source language text undergoes machine translation into any one of a set of target languages, without the translated text requiring any postediting.

Abstract: Methods for accessing product information data and detecting pirated copies of a serialized software program include transmitting a data request query related to a selected product from a remote computer to a main computer, identifying a subset of product data related to the selected product stored in the memory of the main computer based on the data request query, transmitting textual data from the subset of product data from the main computer to the remote computer, transmitting only updated graphics data from the main computer to the remote computer, and combining the textual data received from the main computer with graphics data stored in the memory of the remote computer to provide complete product information data related to the selected product. The methods also include storing a program serial number, the remote revision level corresponding to the program serial number, and a validation code for a remote program corresponding to the serial number.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for providing and managing a customized reward offer to an affinity group sponsor based on the aggregate performance of members of the group. The apparatus includes a processor configured to accesses historical aggregate data associated with the affinity group. The processor is further configured to determine a performance target associated with the affinity group. The processor is also configured to determine aggregate performance data based on the historical data and determine a performance target based on the aggregate performance data.

Abstract: A POS terminal determines an upsell to offer in exchange for the change due to a customer in connection with a purchase. The point-of-sale terminal preferably maintains a database of at least one upsell price and a corresponding upsell to offer a customer in exchange for the change due to him. If the customer accepts the upsell, the cashier so indicates by pressing a selection button on the POS terminal. The required payment amount for the customer to pay is then set equal to the rounded price, rather than the purchase price. Thus, the customer receives the upsell in exchange for the coins due to him, and the coins need not be exchanged between the customer and the POS terminal.

Abstract: A store controller stores a series of prices for a product and respective effective periods during which the prices are effective. A customer submits an offer to buy the product at an "offer price" that is one of the series of prices. The offer also has an offer period that elapses when the respective effective period of the product price elapses. The offer period thereby defines a period during which the offer is effective and after which the offer cannot be accepted. Each offer further specifies (i) a customer identifier for identifying the customer, and (ii) funds or a payment identifier for specifying an account from which funds (typically the offer price) may be collected if the offer is accepted. The store controller then determines whether to accept the offer. If the offer is accepted, the store controller (i) initiates use of the payment identifier, if any, to collect the funds, and (ii) uses the customer identifier to identify the customer as having paid for the product.

Abstract: A system is described for facilitating a syndicated sale of an insurance policy. The system employs a processor and a storage device connected to the processor, and a data receiving device and data output device connected to the processor. The processor executes a program to receive information relating to the insurance policy, and to transmit for electronic viewing by a potential buyer an invitation to offer to buy a share in the underwriting of the insurance policy. The share has associated therewith a risk cost assessable to the buyer if payment is made on a claim under the insurance policy. The processor receives offers to underwrite the share of the insurance policy; each offer includes information identifying collateral against which the risk cost may be charged in the event of payment on a claim. The transmission of the invitation and the offer to buy a share may advantageously be made on the Internet.

Abstract: An improved system for consumer payors to save and donate whenever they use cash at a point of sale terminal, write a check, use an ATM machine, or use a credit or debit card. The POS system is a network composed of subscriber/payors, neutral merchant/collectors, a central clearinghouse, and provider accounts. The Rounder system is a network composed of subscriber/payors, payees, account managers, and provider services. The systems together provide subscriber/payors with a seamless way to save/donate every time they spend.

Abstract: An occasion database and a date converter are provided in a device which allows a user to retrieve restored occasion information, whether the occasion occurs in the Gregorian calendar or a non-Gregorian calendar. A formula is stored for each occasion to allow its date to be calculated for any given year. The date converter converts between Gregorian and non-Gregorian dates. Conversions from one non-Gregorian calendar to another non-Gregorian calendar may also be performed. An intelligent agent executes date sensitive tasks by using at least one calendar and date calculation module for providing date information necessary to execute the date sensitive tasks. The tasks may be executed at a future time and on a periodic basis. Periodic tasks may be associated with occasions that occur in the Gregorian or non-Gregorian calendar.

Abstract: A collectible conditional purchase offer (CPO) management system is disclosed for receiving and processing individual CPOs from buyers for one or more collectibles, such as coins, stamps, art prints, comic books, baseball cards, jewelry, or other used or secondary market goods. The collectible CPO management system processes each received CPO to determine whether one or more sellers are willing to accent a given collectible CPO. If a seller accepts a given CPO, and ultimately delivers goods complying with the buyer's CPO, the buyer is bound on behalf of the accepting seller, to form a legally binding contract. The CPO is guaranteed, for example, by a general-purpose account, such as a credit or debit account. Once a CPO is accepted by a seller, but before completing the transaction, the goods are preferably forwarded to a dealer/authenticator for evaluation.

Abstract: A method is described of managing a plurality of tasks to be carried out by a plurality of personnel, each of the tasks having identified task details relevant thereto, in which the method includes: identifying task personnel who will be directly involved in carrying out each task; allocating sole responsibility for each task to a task controller, and transferring task details to and/or between task personnel and controllers such that task details relevant to a task are provided to and accessible by only the task controller and the task personnel for the task; wherein recommendations for modifying task details relevant to a task can only be made by task personnel for the task, and wherein a task or task details for a task can only be modified by the task controller for the task and/or an administrator, the method utilizes a data processing assembly operable under the control of program means embodied on a machine-readable storage medium that provides a task management system for coordinating the plurality of

Abstract: A data processing system and method is disclosed for implementing and control of a financial instrument which is issued for a limited period of time. The instrument is based on an underlying basket of stocks optimally selected to track an established capital market and its price also reflects accrued investment income and maintenance expenses. The data processing system receives input from the capital market and periodically evaluates the performance of the financial instrument, reporting its price to customers. Also disclosed is a data processing system for administering an investment group of such instruments designed to track the performance of several domestic and foreign markets, estimate their return and provide current price information to customers.

Abstract: A system for communicating with a card distribution center for selecting, ordering, and sending social expression cards using a personal computer. The user can enter names and addresses of card recipients into the system wherein the information is maintained in a database. The system displays digitized images of the cards on a display screen which are retrieved from a card database. From the cards displayed, the user can select cards for designated recipients and enter personalized messages and a digitized signature. The user may then send the order to a card distribution center, which processes the order, retrieves and prints the selected card images, including any user messages or user signature, and mails the cards to designated recipients or customers. The system maintains a database of all recipients, addresses, associated occasions and dates, card preferences, relationships and order history.