Abstract: Apparatus and methods for authorizing an exchange between a customer and a services provider. The apparatus may include an electronic processor that is configured to: (1) calculate a reference event profile; and (2) determine a difference between a prospective transaction profile and the reference event profile. The prospective transaction profile may be based on the initiation of a prospective transaction by an individual whose identity has not been verified. The reference event profile may be based on a plurality of customer events that correspond to one or many different customers. The apparatus may include an output device that is configured to output authentication test information that corresponds to the difference. The authentication test information may support a revised prospective transaction profile that is more similar to the reference event profile than is the initial prospective event profile.

Abstract: A system maintains online functionality during an outage. The system includes a processing device configured for receiving a request for online interaction via a network from a client system and identifying a primary interaction system configured to respond to the request. The processing device is also configured for determining the primary interaction system is incapable of providing the online interaction associated with the request, identifying an alternative interaction system configured to respond to the request, and initiating an online interaction between the client system and the alternative interactive system. In some embodiments, the primary interaction system is incapable of providing website content, and the processing device initiates an exchange of alternative website content.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for the execution of a transaction between a customer and a merchant using a virtual purchasing instrument. The apparatus and methods may involve receiving from the customer a request to pay funds or draw credit from an account based on the customer's electronic presentation of the virtual purchasing instrument to the merchant.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software for implementing location-based authentication of both online and mobile web-based transactions. This implementation may involve verifying whether a mobile device (such as a cellular telephone) is proximate to a computer from which the transaction is being performed. Depending upon the location of the mobile device, further transactions may be approved or rejected. In further implementations, the transactions may be made from the mobile device itself. In this case, the location of the mobile device compared with one or more pre-stored locations may affect whether further transactions from the mobile device are approved or rejected.

Abstract: An electronic funds transfer authentication system and method facilitates the verification and authentication of a user and if authenticated allows the user to perform an action in an online system, such as an electronic funds transfer. The user-entered data is validated, and then the action (e.g., electronic funds transfer) is validated using credit/debit card information. Using a unique combination of security measures and procedures, the risk associated with various types of action and fund transfers is reduced, thereby enabling a financial institution to protect its customers' accounts with a greater degree of certainty.

Abstract: A system maintains online functionality during an outage. The system includes a processing device configured for receiving a request for online interaction via a network from a client system and identifying a primary interaction system configured to respond to the request. The processing device is also configured for determining the primary interaction system is incapable of providing the online interaction associated with the request, identifying an alternative interaction system configured to respond to the request, and initiating an online interaction between the client system and the alternative interactive system. In some embodiments, the primary interaction system is incapable of providing website content, and the processing device initiates an exchange of alternative website content.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to a system and method for enrolling a user into an authentication system. In some embodiments of the invention, a user completes a first portion of the enrollment or setup process using a first computer environment, but is not permitted to complete the enrollment or setup process from the first computer environment. The system permits the user to complete the enrollment or setup process only from a second computer environment different from the first computer environment. In one embodiment, the second computer environment is any computer environment outside of the first computer environment.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to a system and method for enrolling a user into an authentication system. In some embodiments of the invention, a user completes a first portion of the enrollment or setup process using a first computer environment, but is not permitted to complete the enrollment or setup process from the first computer environment. The system permits the user to complete the enrollment or setup process only from a second computer environment different from the first computer environment. In one embodiment, the second computer environment is any computer environment outside of the first computer environment.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software for implementing location-based authentication of both online and mobile web-based transactions. This implementation may involve verifying whether a mobile device (such as a cellular telephone) is proximate to a computer from which the transaction is being performed. Depending upon the location of the mobile device, further transactions may be approved or rejected. In further implementations, the transactions may be made from the mobile device itself. In this case, the location of the mobile device compared with one or more pre-stored locations may affect whether further transactions from the mobile device are approved or rejected.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software for implementing location-based authentication of both online and mobile web-based transactions. This implementation may involve verifying whether a mobile device (such as a cellular telephone) is proximate to a computer from which the transaction is being performed. Depending upon the location of the mobile device, further transactions may be approved or rejected. In further implementations, the transactions may be made from the mobile device itself. In this case, the location of the mobile device compared with one or more pre-stored locations may affect whether further transactions from the mobile device are approved or rejected.

Abstract: An alignment apparatus is disclosed for aligning weighed batches or elongated objects, such as French-Fried potato strips. The batch of objects is weighed in a scale and discharged onto a moving conveyor belt which separates the objects and projects such objects from the conveyor into a vibrated alignment container including a first container means having a curved deflector wall and a second container means with a gated discharge outlet. The objects impact a vertically-curved rear deflector wall of the first alignment container means in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto and may fall into contact with a straight front deflector wall so that they are aligned substantially parallel to such rear wall when they fall into the supply inlet of a second container means. The second container means if a rectangular tube having a gate at its discharge outlet which is normally closed.

Abstract: An alignment apparatus is disclosed for aligning weighed batches of elongated objects, such as French-fried potato strips. The batch of objects is weighed in a scale and discharged onto a moving conveyor belt which separates the objects and projects such objects from the conveyor into a vibrated alignment container. The objects impact a vertically-curved rear deflector wall of the alignment container in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto and may fall into contact with a straight front deflector wall so that they are aligned substantially parallel to such rear wall when they are discharged from such container. The objects fall freely by gravity through a drop tube from such alignment container for further separation and alignment into a packaging machine which packages the weighed batch of aligned objects.

Abstract: With the method and apparatus of the present invention, a plurality of elongated articles such as french fry potatoes are separated into a plurality of groups of articles which are weighed. The weighed groups are selectively combined into a batch of articles of predetermined weight by selectively dumping scale buckets containing such groups into a common collector container to provide such weighed batch. The articles of such weighed batch are then discharged from such common collector container into one of a plurality of alignment systems mounted on a rotating common support. Each alignment system includes three vibrating conveyor stages which prealign the articles and feed such articles into an alignment container where they are aligned so that their longitudinal axes are substantially parallel in such container.

Abstract: A plurality of elongated articles such as french fried potato strips are aligned with their longitudinal axes substantially parallel and packaged in such aligned condition by the apparatus and method of the invention. The articles are prealigned by a vibrating conveyor having longitudinal partitions dividing it into four tracks, so that the longitudinal axes of such articles are substantially parallel to their direction of travel which forms acute angle of about 45.degree. with the front wall of an alignment container into which the articles are fed. The alignment container is vibrated at a different frequency than the vibrating conveyor in order to settle and to further align the elongated articles with their longitudinal axes substantially parallel to the front wall of such container.