Abstract: An entity (hereafter “aggregator”) acts as a repository to which sellers submit descriptive information about a product or service available for sale, and business rules (collectively called “product package”) to be used in selling the product or service to buyers. Sellers submit their product packages in a predetermined format (e.g., as a XML file) where individual information within each package are identified by descriptors (e.g., XML tags). The aggregator compiles the product packages from one or more sellers into a catalog that is distributed to buyers as an online catalog, an electronic catalog on a multimedia disk, or a paper catalog. The aggregator customizes the content of the catalog for different buyers and areas of distribution according to the business rules for the products. The catalog can include legally binding offers with words of commitment to sell and specific terms generated from the business rules.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, a signal encoded with a plurality of characters (“transaction identifier”) identifies a transaction between a buyer and a seller. The transaction identifier includes a first string of characters that identifies the buyer and a second string of characters that identifies a product. In one embodiment, the transaction identifier further includes a third string that identifies at least one of the following: the seller; the delivery method; the issuer of the transaction identifier; the expiration date of the transaction identifier; the creation date of the transaction identifier; and the maximum number of times the transaction identifier can be used. In another embodiment, the transaction identifier is created before the buyer is aware of the transaction.

Abstract: Sellers send information on to-be-sold items (products or services) to an entity (“aggregator”) that compiles the information into an online or offline catalog for distribution to buyers. The buyers purchase the items by sending orders and payments to a financial institution (“clearinghouse”) that sends a portion of the payments to the aggregator for generating the sales and another portion to the seller for sale of their item. The clearinghouse also sends the order to the seller, or a fulfiller retained by the seller, to deliver the sold item to the buyer.

Abstract: For coupling to a high speed logic device, a monolithic IC regulator is provided which is fully compensated for temperature and for variations in supply voltage. The temperature compensation is accomplished by the proper matching of resistances and current densities in transistor-diode circuitry and the compensation for variations in voltage supply is accomplished by coupling a feedback amplifier section to the regulator, the resistances and diodes of which are carefully matched to the resistances of the regulator so that the feedback amplifier section, being dependent only on such matching, is responsive over large fluctuations of supply current.

Abstract: For coupling to a high speed logic device, a monolithic IC voltage regulator is provided which is fully compensated for variations in temperature and supply voltage. The temperature compensation is accomplished by the proper matching of resistances and current densities in shunt transistor - transistor circuitry and the compensation for variations in voltage supply is accomplished by pairs of transistors with matched current densities and high current gains (Beta) which effectively and functionally eliminates the feedback shunt transistor as a device for supplying constant base emitter voltage for the regulator output regardless of fluctuations in supply voltage thus eliminating the need to maintain current therethrough constant.