Abstract: A method and system are provided which enables automotive dealers to use a standard PC and Internet-type browser software package to enter credit/loan application data over the Internet. Such data can then be automatically distributed via the Internet to designated financial institutes or loan service providers for processing. The system also receives responses back from the service providers and displays these responses to the requesting dealer. To accommodate financial institutions which have not been provided with prearranged access, the system provides automatic enablement of facsimile transmission to dealer-chosen banks and credit unions. In addition, other information which facilitates the automotive credit process, such as completion of standard department of motor vehicles forms, insurance forms, etc.

Abstract: An Internet billing method comprises establishing an agreement between an Internet access provider and a customer, and an agreement between the Internet access provider and a vendor, wherein the Internet access provider agrees with the customer and the vendor to bill the customer and remit to the vendor for products and services purchased over the Internet by the customer from the vendor. The provider creates access to the Internet for the customer. When the customer orders a product or service over the Internet from a vendor, transactional information transmitted between the customer and the vendor is also transmitted to the provider. The provider then bills the transaction amount to the customer and remits a portion of the transaction amount to the vendor, keeping the differential as a fee for providing the service. As a result of this method, there is no need for any customer account numbers or vendor account numbers to be transmitted over the Internet, thereby maintaining the security of that information.

Abstract: The data processing system and method implements an investment account structure establishing and providing an increasing income financial product. Each subscriber invests in a financial contractual product or program. Each subscriber designates at least a primary beneficiary. The primary beneficiary is assigned, along with a number of demographically similar beneficiaries, to a certain contract group. The financial product contract is funded with principal payments, premiums or other contributions paid by subscribers. Income is provided according to the contractual terms or parameters to surviving primary beneficiaries of the same assigned contract group on an increasing, survivorship basis until (a) all the initial primary beneficiaries die; or (b) the contract expires based upon the expiration of pre-established time periods. When the contract expires, the designated secondary beneficiaries receive their pro rata share of the principal from the contract group.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making credit card transactions which includes utilizing a facsimile machine for transmitting credit card information and purchase amount to an information processing center. The information processing center receives and converts the received information into an electronic format, and then accesses credit card account information via the Internet. A final disposition of the purchase is then transmitted to the merchant via facsimile which is either approval or disapproval of the transaction.

Abstract: A computer-based electronic document and/or paper-based document management application program. The program provides an efficient way to automatically import, index, categorize, store, search, retrieve, manipulate and archive electronic documents. The program is also capable of managing documents regardless of document type or document format.

Abstract: A hidden image game piece and a method by which a hidden image game piece is produced. A first pattern of colored ink is deposited on a transparent or highly translucent substrate at 110-180 density, forming the image which is to be hidden. Then a second pattern of colored ink, of a different color than first pattern's ink, is deposited upon the substrate on top of the first pattern, at 90-170 density. When the game piece is flooded with additive light of the same color as the second pattern's ink, the previously concealed image, composed of the first pattern's ink, becomes perceptible. Because a transparent or highly translucent substrate is used for the game piece, and because the density of the ink application is controlled within specific ranges, this game piece may he used with a computer monitor, or with other low-intensity sources of additive light.

Abstract: A system and method for a beneficiary of Social Security payments or other retirement payments to access present value of future benefits to meet current financial and other objectives is provided. A financial institution is designated to be a direct depository and a disbursement agent for disbursing, at the direction of the beneficiary predetermined portions of retirement payments to a funding source or asset or service provider in exchange for access to capital or the acquisition of an asset or service by the beneficiary in an amount or having a value at least in part based on present value of a designated portion of future retirement payments. In the event of the premature termination of the beneficiary's participation in the program, the funding source or asset or service provider may seek reimbursement of a specified amount relating to the capital or asset or service it made available to the beneficiary, but not from subsequent retirement payments.

Abstract: An organizational structure of an enterprise is defined in a performance evaluation system by storing a plurality of user-defined levels. A user-defined hierarchy is stored for the levels. A plurality of user-defined members are also stored. Each member is associated with a level. The performance evaluation system is operable to generate the organizational structure of the enterprise based on the user-defined levels, hierarchy, and members.

Abstract: A data processing method for administering an annuity product having a guarantee of lifetime payments. The method includes establishing a charge for the guarantee of lifetime payments, determining an initial benefit payment and paying the initial payment to a beneficiary, determining a subsequent periodic payment, periodically determining an account value, and periodically paying the subsequent payment and reporting the account value to the beneficiary. A death benefit or cash surrender benefit may be provided, and either or both may be related to the account value. In certain embodiments, the account value is determined throughout the period between periodic reports to the beneficiary, and may be accessed upon demand by the beneficiary.

Abstract: In a method for providing proxy-based online Dutch auction services, an auction server or manager receives bid messages from a set of auction participants during the course of an auction. Each bid message may include a participant ID, a quantity requested value, a current proxy value indicating a maximum amount that the participant corresponding to the participant ID is willing to pay, and a partial quantity acceptance flag. The auction manager ranks or prioritizes bids in accordance with participants' current proxy values; determines current auction winners and losers and allocates offered items accordingly; determines a new current bid amount; and automatically adjusts participant bid values in accordance with participants the new current bid amount as well as the participants' current proxy values and status as winners or losers.

Abstract: A Web-based buyer-driven system of commerce efficiently and inexpensively connects buyers and sellers. In general, the system includes a Web site globally accessible by potential buyers and sellers. Potential buyers post descriptions of products and services they desire on the Web site. Interested sellers of those products and services can access the descriptions posted by the buyers and selectively post responses to buyers. The responses preferably include information identifying the seller and describing the product or service offered by the seller. The system determines if the potential buyer retrieves a response directed to him from a potential seller and, if so, it charges that potential seller a small fee.

Abstract: Pump and cannula systems inserted through the right side and/or left side of the heart provide protection against collapse of the heart chambers and veins and arteries and provide supplemental blood flow through same to enable beating heart bypass surgery on all vessels of the heart, including lateral and posterior vessels. The invention eliminates the use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) machines. The invention further provides stents adapted for protecting from vein, artery, atrium and/or ventricle collapse during beating heart bypass surgery.

Abstract: A communication system for transmitting accounting instructions has central and decentralized devices. Accounting instructions input by individual users at the decentralized devices are checked for authenticity and retransmitted to the central devices to be processed. According to the invention, the communication system has at least virtually networked devices, means of an independent second communication system (2) with stationary devices (21, 22/1, 22/2) and portable communication transmitters (23) which communicate therewith in an encrypted manner. The stationary devices (21, 22/1, 22/2) of the second communication system (2) may be at least temporarily connected to the central devices (11) of the first communication system (1). Accounting instructions given by individual users with the portable communication transmitters (23) of the second communication system (2) can be previously authenticated in one of the central devices (11) of the first communication system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to storing and manipulating customer purchasing information, particularly purchasing information by credit cards, debit cards, checks, and the like. A hierarchical organizational structure is created comprising a plurality of categories and sub-categories. The customer purchase information may then be retrieved according to user created links to generate customer preference information. The customer preference information may be stored in a customer account, thereby allowing targeted offers to be made to customers.

Abstract: A resuscitation apparatus includes a fluid pathway in fluid communication with a source of medical fluid, an interface unit for attaching the fluid pathway to the cardiovascular system of a mammal suffering from impaired blood flow in order to establish an artificial circulation in the mammal utilizing the medical fluid, and heat exchange apparatus that provides intense cooling to quickly chill the medical fluid a sufficient amount to slow a metabolic rate of an organ of a mammal into which the medical fluid is introduced.

Abstract: The invention is in the field of using a computer to select corporate stocks for investment. A user is connected to the Internet. The user connects to the portfolio management program (PMP) host computer through the Internet. The user reviews certain strategies and their historic performance. The information is transmitted across the Internet to the user. The information transmitted includes such information as historic performance, sample holdings, modeling how the particular strategy and its holding has performed in the past. The user, after making appropriate reviews, makes a decision to purchase the names of the stocks in that portfolio. The owner of the PMP host computer collects a payment for this service. Now the user sees a list of stocks provided by the PMP host computer. If the user can then make the decision whether to accept or reject any individual stock in the generated list.

Abstract: Method and system for estimating real estate property values based on repeat sales model. The method estimates the price index using property value data from refinance transactions, as well as from purchase transactions. In so estimating, the method compensates for the transaction bias arising from using data from refinance transactions, which may exhibit incentive and selection biases. The property at issue may be estimated based on the so-computed price index. The price index and/or the bias component may be estimated using nonparametric functions.

Abstract: A system and method for management of resources estimated to be required to develop a product and distribution of resources allocated for the development of the product. A hierarchy of projects required for completion of the product is defined in a database, estimates of resource requirements are associated with the respective projects, and project-level target allocations of resources are associated with the respective projects. The project-level target allocations of resources are automatically summed for a calculated total target allocation of resources, and the calculated total target allocation of resources is associated with the product. An actual total target allocation of resources is assigned to the product, and the hierarchy of projects, associated estimates of resource requirements, project-level target allocations, the calculated total target allocation, and the actual target allocation of resources for the product are interactively displayed.

Abstract: A method is provided for centrally tracking transactions in an electronic billing system. The system includes multiple different billing entities, multiple different financial institute entities and multiple different user entities. Each of the multiple different billing entities is associated with a respective portion of the multiple different user entities and each of the multiple different financial institute entities is associated with a respective portion of the multiple different user entities. A message is received from any of the multiple different financial institute entities indicating a request from any of the multiple different user entities associated with the applicable financial institute entity to view billing information. The receipt of the request to view the billing information is logged in a database as first event information.

Abstract: A remittance payment method and system which receives a payor's account number with a payee, transforming it into an altered account number according to alteration rules previously stored in a merchant's database.