Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for enabling a customer to sample content and select content for purchasing while the customer is in a retail store. Advantageously, the customer may be given one or more options for the delivery of the content.

Abstract: The present invention contemplates a variety of improved methods and systems for providing an experience platform, as well as sentio or experience codecs, and experience agents for supporting the experience platform. The experience platform may be provided by a service provider to enable an experience provider to compose and direct a participant experience. The service provider monetizes the experience by charging the experience provider and/or the participants for services. The participant experience can involve one or more experience participants. The experience provider can create an experience with a variety of dimensions and features. As will be appreciated, the following description provides one paradigm for understanding the multi-dimensional experience available to the participants. There are many suitable ways of describing, characterizing and implementing the experience platform contemplated herein.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining an image to be compared at the time of use which is intended for comparing biometric information at the time of use of a user, obtaining posture information at the time of use which indicates a posture when biometric information at the time of use of the user is shot, performing personal authentication for the user by comparing the image to be compared at the time of use with a preregistered image to be compared at the time of registration of the user, and inputting an operation instruction corresponding to operation information preregistered in association with posture information at the time of registration which is determined to match, by comparing the posture information at the time of use with a plurality of pieces of preregistered posture information at the time of registration of the user.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing dividends to customers are disclosed. The system includes a database for storing data and a business logic processor for determining a dividend to provide to a customer. The stored data includes eligibility criteria for membership in one of a plurality of group dividend plans, data about customers assigned to the plans, and premium payments associated with the customers. The business logic processor receives eligibility data related to a customer's eligibility for assignment to a group dividend plan. The business logic processor uses the received data to identify a dividend group plan that a customer is eligible to join and assigns the customer to the identified plan. Finally, the business logic processor calculates a dividend to provide to the customer based on the assigned plan.

Abstract: A system is provided for administering a destination fund having a guarantee wrapper. The guarantee provides an income stream for life to one or more investors. The destination fund has a selected mix of equities and fixed income investments to provide for enhanced returns throughout retirement for the investor. The destination fund additionally provides income stream flexibility throughout the lifetime of the investor. Administration of a destination fund having a guarantee wrapper may include initiating a guarantee payment process if a value of the destination fund falls below a threshold.

Abstract: A system for managing merchant payment transaction processing accounts is provided. The system includes a merchant initialization system that receives merchant account data from a user, such as to provide a quote to the merchant for payment processing. A transaction pricing system receives the merchant account data and provides transaction pricing data for payment transaction processing in response to the merchant account information. User access to one or more merchant account pricing algorithms that are used generate the merchant account pricing data in response to the merchant account data is restricted to a predetermined set of users, so as to prevent unauthorized users from obtaining access to the merchant account pricing algorithms.

Abstract: System and method for a second credit card issuer to provide transactional credit to a credit cardholder of a first credit card issuer, when the cardholder's account with the first issuer is in good standing and has an available credit balance equal to, or greater than, a proposed financial transaction with a merchant who does not accept the credit card of the first issuer, but does accept the credit card of the second issuer. The second issuer may charge a convenience fee to the customer, merchant, first credit card issuer, or any combination of them, for providing the transactional credit. Additionally, the second issuer may provide transactional credit to a customer to complete a financial transaction, via a reactivated credit card account of the second issuer, when the customer has a closed credit card account of the second credit card issuer that was closed in good standing.

Abstract: As individuals increasingly engage in different types of transactions they face a growing threat from, possibly among other things, identity theft, financial fraud, information misuse, etc. and the serious consequences or repercussions of same. Leveraging the ubiquitous nature of wireless devices and the popularity of (SMS, MMS, etc.) messaging, an infrastructure that enhances the security of the different types of transactions within which a wireless device user may participate. The infrastructure may optionally leverage the capabilities of a centrally-located Messaging Inter-Carrier Vendor.

Abstract: A method begins with a payment entity device receiving an accounts payable data file from a client entity processing module. The method continues with the payment entity device determining a method of payment for an account payable of the accounts payable data file in accordance with a payables profile. The method continues with the payment entity device initiating a first type of payment for the account payable when the method of payment is a first type; initiating a second type of payment for the account payable, when the method of payment is a second type, or initiating a third type of payment for the account payable when the method of payment is a third type.

Abstract: A system and method for distributing incentives via mobile devices is described. One embodiment, a computer-server-based method, receives a request from a merchant to generate an incentive which incentive is funded and initiated by the merchant, receives the incentive, associates the incentive with a recipient's phone number, and transmits a notification of the incentive to a mobile device associated with the recipient's phone number, the computer server acting as a server-side wallet for the incentive, the incentive being usable, through interaction with the computer server, by the recipient for the purchase of goods or services from the merchant associated with the incentive.

Abstract: A computer-readable medium, computer-implemented method, and financial close management system are provided that manage a schedule. A schedule is a core object of the financial close management system, and is an expression of a template. Managing a schedule can include creating a new schedule, modifying an existing schedule, deleting an existing schedule, duplicating an existing schedule, validating an existing schedule, creating a template from an existing schedule, setting a status of an existing schedule, and importing and exporting an existing schedule. In addition, managing a schedule can include defining task type parameters that can be set during scheduling and setting task parameters of a schedule at a schedule level rather than a task level.

Abstract: In various embodiments, an apparatus includes a processor and a memory. The memory is communicatively coupled to the processor. The memory stores software instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive a trading order for a particular quantity of a trading product. The trading order specifies that a first portion of the particular quantity is a displayed quantity and that a second portion of the particular quantity is a reserved quantity. The trading order specifies at least one of a decay rule, a decay interval, a decay rate, decay quantity, and one or more conditions. The software instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to cause the reserved quantity to decay based at least in part on at least one of the decay rule, the decay interval, the decay rate, and the decay quantity, and one or more conditions.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for cross promoting real objects in a real world and virtual objects in a virtual world. A redemption code is received from a first participant in the virtual world. A virtual object corresponding to the redemption code is provided to the first participant. A request for information regarding the real object is received from a second participant of the virtual world and via the virtual object. Upon receiving the request via the virtual object, information regarding the real object is provided to the second participant and via the virtual object.

Abstract: A program for identifying and automatically acting on statistical arbitrage opportunities between related equities and contracts. The present invention describes an improved technique to perform statistical-pairs arbitraging in a dynamic marketplace with less risk than prior art approaches. The present invention employs an array of recent data and performance ratios involving bid and ask prices for correlated items, such as stocks.

Abstract: A multi-account payment consolidation system and process, including a central computer system operatively coupled to a payment terminal through a network connection. A plurality of external financial accounts are registered and associated with a user. At least one user-defined customized rule-set for processing a payment associated with the user is stored. A request to initiate payment of a transaction is received from the payment terminal. The payment is automatically processed in accordance with the customized rule-set by accessing the external financial accounts, wherein the customized rule-set directs at least a rule that the payment of the transaction be apportioned between more than one of the external financial accounts.

Abstract: A computerized system and method of calculating a discount index value for a supplier can include receiving information related to a plurality of discount leverage factors for the supplier, calculating a discount index value for the supplier based on the information related to the discount leverage factors, receiving information related to an actual discount event for the supplier, recalculating the discount index value for the supplier based on the discount leverage factors and the information related to actual discount events, and displaying the discount index value for the supplier. The system and method can also include placing the discount index value on a discount index scale, defining a plurality of discount leverage regions on the discount index scale, and attributing a leverage value to the supplier based on the proximity of the discount index value to one of the discount leverage regions.

Abstract: A method of displaying geohazard information to a user includes providing a computer having a processor and receiving a search query from the user. The method also includes accessing, using the processor, a real estate database, determining, using the processor, a plurality of homes in the real estate database matching the search query, and displaying information related to the plurality of homes to the user. The method further includes accessing, using the processor, a geohazard database, determining, using the processor, one or more geohazards for one or more of the plurality of homes, and displaying information related to the one or more geohazards to the user.

Abstract: An Internet-coupled transaction service has a link to a computer appliance coupled to a merchant site, the computer appliance operated by a person who has selected one or more products or services to purchase at the merchant site, and who has selected, through the merchant site, the transaction service to arrange payment, and software executing from a computer-readable medium accessible to the service. The transaction service, via the software verifies the identity of the person, determines a credit worthiness for the person, and the score being sufficient, arranges payment to be made to the merchant on behalf of the person, and arranges repayment terms with the person for the payment to the merchant.

Abstract: A loan portfolio manager system is provided to predict and prioritize loans at risk of default and foreclosure. The loan portfolio manager system may analyze the loans at risk to determine which of the loans are at risk and also candidates for modification. The loan portfolio manager system may generate recommended modification solutions for those at risk loans by applying configurable criteria and data analytics. The loan portfolio manager system may monitor and report on the health of loan portfolios, borrowers, and on success of loan modifications. The loan portfolio manager system may facilitate loan modification business process outsourcing through campaign management and buyer contact/interaction capabilities.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing dividends to customers are disclosed. The system includes a database for storing data and a business logic processor for determining a dividend to provide to a customer. The stored data includes eligibility criteria for membership in one of a plurality of group dividend plans, data about customers assigned to the plans, and premium payments associated with the customers. The business logic processor receives eligibility data related to a customer's eligibility for assignment to a group dividend plan. The business logic processor uses the received data to identify a dividend group plan that a customer is eligible to join and assigns the customer to the identified plan. Finally, the business logic processor calculates a dividend to provide to the customer based on the assigned plan.