Abstract: For each quote entered into a computerized anonymous trading system, the system determines if it is waiting to be “hit” (would be matched with the first hit of a predetermined size) at a substantial number of trading floors, and if so, notifies the trader originating the quote. The substantial number of floors is preferably expressed as greater than a predetermined percentage of the available trading partners with whom credit has been established on a bilateral basis, and is preferably greater than 25%. In an alternate embodiment, the system provides a graphical display to the market maker originating a particular quote indicating how many trading floors are poised to hit that particular quote, and/or a numeric display indicating a price that would be Hittable by a predetermined number or percentage of available trading partners.

Abstract: A point of service third party adjudicated payment system and method which provides for the creation of an adjudicated settlement transaction at a point of service which designates the portion of the service to be paid by the third party payor and the portion to be paid by the customer. The system includes a point of service terminal which accepts a payment system access card, such as a credit card, debit card, or purchase card, for payment for a purchase of a service and/or product by a customer, where at least part of the purchase is reimbursable by a third party payor. The point of service terminal creates a purchase transaction which is adjudicated by an adjudication engine substantially in real-time (at the time of service or in a purchase transaction processing batch) to determine a first portion of the purchase which is to be paid by the third party payor and a second portion of the purchase which is to be paid by the customer.

Abstract: A system and method for efficiently processing check or other non-cash financial instrument-initiated is disclosed. The method includes the steps of accepting a check from a person initiating a non-cash financial transaction at a point of identification terminal. The checking account number is input into the point of identification terminal and is communicated to a remote database site, having stored therein a database of digital photographic images of authorized users of checking accounts. The database is searched and any digital photographic images associated with the transmitted account number are retrieved and transmitted to the point of identification terminal where they are displaying on a display means and a comparison is made between the images and the physical appearance of the person tendering the check.

Abstract: A security system and method by which customers may be readily identified prior to cashing of checks, other cash-out transactions, or other business transactions, wherein each customer is issued an individualized customer identification card having at least a personalized multidigit customer identification number encoded thereon and, optionally, also encoded with additional personal data identifying the customer. To cash a check or conduct another form of business transaction, whether at an attended customer service station or at an automated machine, the encoded data on the identification card is read and the customer is required to input the personalized identification number assigned to the card. The transaction is not approved unless the customer correctly inputs the assigned identification number. In contemplated embodiments, the encoded data along with data regarding the transaction requested by the customer, e.g.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for efficient handling of product returns to reduce associated costs. A computer system at a regional product return center scans a returned product for identifying information, accesses a manufacturer return approval computer system through the internet or the like, and then submits the identifying information to the manufacturer for return approval. The manufacturer computer system utilizes the identifying information to access an electronic registration database to determine whether the returned product satisfies applicable return criteria. If so, the product is approved for return to the manufacturer. The regional product return center preferably scans a plurality of returned products in a single session. In response to the product identifying information submitted by the regional product return center, the manufacturer provides a list of approved returns and unapproved returns, along with a return authorization number for the batch of approved returns.

Abstract: A mutual credit server apparatus sends credit information about a seller to an inquiring buyer on a computer. Stored is a direct confidence degree about a seller from the point of view of each of a plurality of buyers. The direct confidence degree is determined by each buyer based on direct trade history. Also stored is a buyer confidence degree about each of the plurality of buyers from the point of view of each buyer. The buyer confidence degree is determined by each buyer based upon trade information from the other buyers. When a confidence inquiry is made about a seller by a buyer, a processing section calculates a total confidence degree about the seller and calculates a buyer confidence degree about each of the other buyers, each calculation being made from the viewpoint of the inquiring buyer.

Abstract: A recommendation service is disclosed which uses collaborative filtering techniques to recommend books to users of a Web site. The Web site includes a catalog of the various titles that can be purchased via the site. The recommendation service includes a database of titles that have previously been rated and that can therefore be recommended by the service using collaborative filtering methods. At least initially, the titles and title categories (genres) that are included within this database (and thus included within the service) are respective subsets of the titles and categories included within the catalog. As users browse the site to read about the various titles contained within the catalog, the users are presented with the option of rating specific titles, including titles that are not currently included within the service. The ratings information obtained from this process is used to automatically add new titles and categories to the service.

Abstract: A computer system including a processor and a storage device storing a computer program product for rebalancing a capitalization weighted stock index are described. The computer program includes instructions for causing a computer to classify stocks in the index as a Large Individual Stock if a stock has a capitalization weight above or equal to a first threshold or as a Small Individual Stock if the stock has a capitalization weight below the first threshold. The computer program causes the computer to scale down the Large Individual Stocks by an excess capitalization weight of the large stocks and distribute an aggregated excess capitalization weight of the Large Individual Stocks over the capitalization weights of the Small Individual Stocks. An iterative redistribution of excess capitalization over all Small Individual Stocks can be used to provided for less than proportional distribution of excess capitalization to very small capitalized stocks.