Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system and method for automatically generating a composite contract characterized by at least one parameter. A first subset of eligible component contracts is identified from a set of available component contracts wherein each of the available component contracts is characterized by at least one attribute. A second subset of component contracts is then selected from the first subset to generate the composite contract.

Abstract: A method of estimating a transit demand graph includes collecting conditional information that includes at least one condition that when satisfied converts at least one non-rider into a rider, generating a non-rider transit demand graph by satisfying one of the conditions, and generating a normalized transit demand graph from the non-rider transit demand graph and a rider transit demand graph. The riders use public transit and the non-riders do not use public transit. The non-rider transit demand graph shows the demand of the non-riders for a public transit route. The rider transit demand graph shows the demand of riders for the same public transit route.

Abstract: A method of providing demographic visitor information to a participating web site including registering a user with an information gathering system, wherein the information gathering system solicits personal information from the user and wherein the information gathering system maintains a profile for the registered user; detecting a visit of the registered user to a participating web site, wherein the participating web site is operated independently from the information gathering system; and providing a demographic information report to the participating web site, wherein the demographic information report is related to at least one registered user who has visited the participating web site.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems and methods providing payment into a pre-existing customer account with a provider of goods or services, the method facilitated between a customer, a provider of goods or services, and a processor. The method including steps such as receiving from the customer value, identifying information of the customer, and information sufficient to identify the provider and pre-existing account of the customer; accessing a payment platform of the provider; determining information required by the provider in order to provide payment into the customer account; communicating information required by the provider in order to provide payment into the customer account; and providing a value into the customer account.

Abstract: A system, method, and article of manufacture are provided for technology sharing during demand and supply planning in a network-based supply chain environment. Steps included are providing locator and mapping capabilities utilizing the network. Technology that includes streaming audio, stereo audio and video data is also shared utilizing the network. Encryption capabilities for the technology are also included. Further, searching capabilities are provided utilizing the network in addition to logging events and passive user profiling. The event logging includes logging network operations. User profile data is automatically received and stored. User profile data includes user identity, state, preferences and interests. User profile data is also automatically exported to an active profile manager which automatically adds additional user profile data. Additional user profile data includes information related to whether the user is a service provider or a manufacturer and the location of user.

Abstract: A system for supply chain management is provided. The system includes two or more manufacturer systems receiving order data, such as data identifying goods that have been ordered for each of two or more warehouses, and generating first and second shipment data, such as data identifying the actual amount of goods that were shipped. A warehouse system receives the order data, such as to allow a warehouse operator to make plans for accommodating the order, and the shipment data, such as to notify the warehouse operator of actual amounts of goods that have been shipped. An order controller system generates the order data and receives the shipment data, such as data identifying goods that are being shipped to the order controller system.

Abstract: Proactive demand shaping of configurable products with uncertain demand computes a lower bound and an upper bound on optimal profit by considering future demand distribution of one or more products, supply outlook of one or more components and customer behavior. The upper bound and the lower bound solutions are used to generate one or more rationing heuristics. Simulation may be used to determine a rationing policy to implement in practice.

Abstract: A plurality of banks of first deposit provide checking account activity data for both transit items (checks received for deposit that need to be cleared) and incoming returns (bounced checks) to a statistical model which determines from the data the likelihood that a check from a specific checking account will be returned. This data is used to populate a database of checking accounts to be used for making check risk decisions, such as check hold policy decisions, check acceptance decisions, and open to buy decisions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for providing and/or facilitating complete on-line payment services while protecting the privacy of the transaction participants. The comprehensive payment service is based upon a consolidated account used to store value acquired through on-line transactions. The invention provides private payment numbers for protecting the identities of the participants and includes processes for authenticating participants, authorizing transactions, and settling payments. Thus, the present invention enables merchants to effectively accept non-standard forms of payment without changing their current payment infrastructures and enables the provision of value for purchases at any network merchant using any source of value.

Abstract: A vehicle ordering system that recommends to a vehicle dealership a vehicle to order from a vehicle manufacturer based on past sales (at various sales time periods and taking into account sales at the dealership level versus sales at the district and/or region level), current inventory (including in stock and in route), anticipated but not yet finalized orders, dealership size and calculated metrics derived from and using those elements.

Abstract: A computer system for market segmentation analysis includes program instructions to be executed. The program instructions are configured to collect virtual universe data about avatars, entities, and objects in a virtual universe. The program instructions are configured to perform a market segmentation analysis on the virtual universe data, wherein the market segmentation analysis comprises a first segmentation across multiple segments of the avatars that is based on an amount of time and an amount of money spent in the virtual universe. The market segmentation analysis further comprises a second segmentation across multiple segments of the avatars that is based on whether activity of the avatars includes social activity and business activity in the virtual universe relative to a time of day. The program instructions are configured to receive, from users, consent allowing collection of the virtual universe data and to present a reward to the users for giving the consent.

Abstract: A system and method for operating a reward points accumulation and redemption program wherein a user earns rewards from a plurality of independent reward issuing entities, with each tracking the user's earned rewards. A trading server accumulates some or all of the user's earned rewards from the reward servers and credits the accumulated rewards into a single reward exchange account associated with the user. The user may then select an item for purchase with the accumulated rewards. The item is provided to the user in exchange for a subset or all of the rewards. Reward points may also be redeemed in exchange for services, such as the playing of a video game or Internet access.

Abstract: Implied prices and their quantities are computed. Markets are characterized by exhaustively computing one or more combinations of other related markets. Each combination when summed in a particular way results in the market under consideration. In a described embodiment, the number of market combinations found is an exhaustive list of market combinations such that the market under consideration can be fully and completely characterized, such that each combination provides implied market information about the market under consideration. Implied market information can include implied prices and their quantities, which are computed for each combination and used accordingly in displays or used by automated or semi-automated trading tools.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method involves facilitating interaction between members of a supply chain. A communication platform links to a plurality of hubs for electronic data transfer. The hubs are associated with the members of the supply chain. The method provides a standardized model for product decisions for each member of the supply chain. The method involves formulating a product plan by a first member of the supply chain. The product plan utilizes the standardized model and data available to the first member to generate a forecast under the product plan. The method transfers the product plan with shared data and forecast through a first hub associated with the first member and through the communication platform to a second hub associated with a second member of the supply chain. The communication platform controls the transfer of data so that the second member can evaluate the product plan and forecast under the standardized model.

Abstract: A system and method for operating a reward points accumulation and redemption program wherein a user earns rewards from a plurality of independent reward issuing entities, with each tracking the user's earned rewards. A trading server accumulates some or all of the user's earned rewards from the reward servers and credits the accumulated rewards into a single reward exchange account associated with the user. The user may then select an item for purchase with the accumulated rewards. The item is provided to the user in exchange for a subset or all of the rewards. Reward points may also be redeemed in exchange for services, such as the playing of a video game or Internet access.

Abstract: Methods and systems for opening an account with a financial institution. One method can include electronically storing at least one rule for opening an account with a financial institution. The method can also include electronically receiving account application information from a remote device over at least one network, wherein the account application information includes personal information of a customer requesting to open an account. In addition, the method can include generating at least one risk score based on the account application information and applying the at least one rule to the at least one risk score in order to determine a decision regarding the account application information and to determine at least one funding constraint associated with the account.

Abstract: A system and method for operating a reward points accumulation and redemption program wherein a user earns rewards from a plurality of independent reward issuing entities, with each tracking the user's earned rewards. A trading server accumulates some or all of the user's earned rewards from the reward servers and credits the accumulated points rewards into a single reward exchange account associated with the user. The user may then select an item for purchase with the accumulated rewards. The item is provided to the user in exchange for a subset or all of the rewards. Reward points may also be redeemed in exchange for services, such as the playing of a video game or Internet access.

Abstract: An electronic intermediary electronically receives information from a taxpayer or an authorized tax return preparer of the taxpayer. The received information may include information on a tax data provider and taxpayer identification information. The electronic intermediary connects automatically and electronically to the tax data provider based on the received information. The electronic intermediary collects automatically and electronically tax data from the tax data provider and processes automatically and electronically the collected tax data to obtain processed tax data. The electronic intermediary prepares automatically and electronically an electronic tax return by using the processed tax data.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to systems, methods, and computer program products for providing a market-dynamics network that assesses social and economic market dynamics in specific geographic regions. For example, the market-dynamics network collects transaction data from a large number of business-merchants across a large number of geographic locations and appends geographic-location identifiers to the collected transaction data. The market-dynamics network then aggregates transaction data in specific geographic regions and, based on the aggregated transaction data, assesses social and economic market dynamics in those geographic regions.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, system, and/or computer program product generate an optimal training policy and an optimal promotion policy to accommodate an upcoming project. Required new job positions are identified for an upcoming project. A skillset matrix, which describes a current skill level of each worker in a work unit, and a promotion matrix, which describes historical evaluations of how well each worker achieved predefined goals of past projects, are generated. The skillset matrix is utilized to create an optimal training policy that identifies which workers are in need of additional training in order to qualify for one or more of the identified new job positions, and the promotion matrix is utilized create an optimal promotion policy that identifies which workers will be candidates for being promoted into one or more of the identified said new job positions.