Abstract: A hook, fishhook, or fishing spear with at least one barb fixed to the hook, fishhook, or fishing spear with an epoxy that disbonds upon the application of an electric current. Components of the barb and the hook, fishhook, or fishing spear form a loop of electrically conductive material that carries a current induced by the application of a magnetic field generated by a magnetic field generator external to the hook, fishhook, or fishing spear. A current may be generated to disband the barb from the hook, fishhook, or fishing spear in order to facilitate the removal of the hook, fishhook, or fishing spear from an impaled fish.

Abstract: Electronic gaming methods and systems comprising an electronic computer system operating electronic gaming software and optionally operating a data analytics engine which can be accessed by players using computing devices are disclosed. During the players' gaming sessions provided by the electronic gaming software, the electronic gaming system will present an “Investment Wager” to the players to induce them to move some or all their funds remaining in their gaming accounts to one or more investment accounts. The Investment Wager is implemented and designed based upon findings from behavioral economics, including loss aversion, the priming effect and the framing effect. The entity managing the electronic gaming system can act as the manager of the investment accounts, thereby yielding a potential revenue stream to the entity/manager.

Abstract: Electronic gambling methods and systems comprising an electronic computer system operating electronic gambling software and a data analytics engine that can be accessed by players using computing devices are disclosed. During the players' gambling sessions provided by the electronic gambling software, the electronic gambling system will present an “Investment Wager” to the players to induce them to move some or all their funds remaining in their gambling accounts to one or more investment accounts. The Investment Wager is implemented and designed based upon findings from behavioral economics, including loss aversion, the priming effect and the framing effect. The entity managing the electronic gambling system can act as the manager of the investment accounts, thereby yielding a potential revenue stream to the entity/manager.

Abstract: Electronic gambling methods and systems comprising an electronic computer system operating electronic gambling software and optionally operating a data analytics engine which can be accessed by players using computing devices are disclosed. During the players' gambling sessions provided by the electronic gambling software, the electronic gambling system will present an “Investment Wager” to the players to induce them to move some or all their funds remaining in their gambling accounts to one or more investment accounts. The Investment Wager is implemented and designed based upon findings from behavioral economics, including loss aversion, the priming effect and the framing effect. The entity managing the electronic gambling system can act as the manager of the investment accounts, thereby yielding a potential revenue stream to the entity/manager.

Abstract: A firearm improvement taking the form of a mechanical dynamo installed in an automatic firearm. Several components either replace certain parts of the firearm or are added to the firearm. In conjunction with the operation of the firearm, the components generate electric energy which is then stored in a capacitor, battery, or other element for the storage of electric energy, or supply power to a battery recharging unit attached to the firearm. The electric energy contained in the storage component, or used to recharge the batteries placed in the recharging unit, may be used at a later time as a back-up power supply for electronic components attached to or incorporated into the firearm, such as red-dot or reflex sights, laser sighting equipment, or night vision equipment.

Abstract: A firearm improvement taking the form of a mechanical dynamo installed in an automatic firearm. Several components either replace certain parts of the firearm or are added to the firearm. In conjunction with the operation of the firearm, the components generate electric energy which is then stored in a capacitor, battery, or other element for the storage of electric energy, or supply power to a battery recharging unit attached to the firearm. The electric energy contained in the storage component, or used to recharge the batteries placed in the recharging unit, may be used at a later time as a back-up power supply for electronic components attached to or incorporated into the firearm, such as red-dot or reflex sights, laser sighting equipment, or night vision equipment.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to allow for multifactor authentication of customers seeking to enter into “cash back” transactions at a merchant's point of sale. In an illustrative implementation, a user presents a prepaid payment card at a point of sale and requests a “cash back” transaction, the merchant thereupon verifying the customer has sufficient value to complete the transaction. The merchant then requests an authentication code from the user who then requests the authentication code from an outside party. The authentication code is delivered to the customer's mobile phone via a text message. The customer offers the authentication code to the merchant, who then allows the transaction to proceed if the authentication code is confirmed.

Abstract: A shotgun which allows its operator to fire modified ammunition rounds as either slug rounds or rounds of shot. The shotgun is modified by the addition of components creating an electric circuit in the shotgun. The modified ammunition rounds contain a modified slug round formed by a plurality of shot pellets held together by an epoxy which disbonds upon the application of an electric current. The operator of the shotgun may choose which type of round to fire by operating a selector switch component installed in the shotgun. The shotgun may include a modification to its trigger in which the trigger acts as the switching mechanism to disbond the epoxy binding the shot pellets in the modified slug round.

Abstract: A shotgun which allows its operator to fire modified ammunition rounds as either slug rounds or rounds of shot. The shotgun is modified by the addition of components creating an electric circuit in the shotgun. The modified ammunition rounds contain a modified slug round formed by a plurality of shot pellets held together by an epoxy which disbonds upon the application of an electric current. The operator of the shotgun may choose which type of round to fire by operating a selector switch component installed in the shotgun. The shotgun may include a modification to its trigger in which the trigger acts as the switching mechanism to disbond the epoxy binding the shot pellets in the modified slug round.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to allow for multifactor authentication of automatic teller machines (ATM) transactions and transactions at a merchant's point of sale. In an illustrative implementation, a secondary PIN request is delivered to participating users, and/or a one-time use, randomly generated secondary PIN to a customer's mobile phone via a text message when the customer initiates a transaction at an ATM. The customer then replies with a text message to the secondary PIN request with the customer's PIN or inputs the secondary PIN into the ATM before the transaction may proceed. In an illustrative implementation, the customer's mobile phone is allowed to be used as a mobile PIN terminal for various payments devices used at a merchant's point of sale system. Also, an additional level of customer authentication using the ubiquitous mobile phone can be allowed, thereby increasing the security of ATM transactions and non-cash payments.

Abstract: Individuals asked to present two forms of picture identification face a problem as individuals usually only have one form of picture ID, that form of identification generally being a state-issued driver's license. The disclosed invention is a system and method for a party, generally a Customer or Patron, to establish proof of identification to another party, generally a Merchant or Agent, via a mobile phone using the mobile communications networks. The invention thereby provides the Merchant or Agent with an additional capability to verify the identity of Customers, including verification of the date of birth of the Customer. In a preferred embodiment, the invention uses the Short Message Service (“SMS”) and Multimedia Messaging Service (“MMS”) features available on mobile phones, or other wireless communication devices, to establish the identity of a Customer after communicating a request for such identification to a government administered identification database system.