Abstract: A method and system for providing status indication to a control panel displayed on a user's computer screen at all times which allows the user to sign on and off independently of any specific secure function, and utilizes both graphics and text to clearly indicate the current status of a secure connection. Additionally, entitlements or privileges associated with the secure connection and a count down of the remaining period of time during which the status of the secure connection will be in effect, are also displayed. A user may extend the effective time of the secure connection, or cancel the secure session and unequivocally sign off from all related services with a single click of the button.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a digital graphic signature system and methods for use in electronic commerce. The system comprises a document portion, including information relating to the document being executed, and a signature portion. The document portion and the signature portion may be encrypted and merged into a single object readily identifiable to an individual. The terminology “digital graphic signature” or “digigraphic signature” is utilized herein to describe the merged object. The digital graphic signature system of the present invention may be advantageously utilized in electronic transactions, including transactions over the internet and network systems. The digital graphic signature system of the present invention may also be advantageously utilized in conjunction with information banking and virtual wallets. Also disclosed is a digital graphic signet for transmitting a private communication.

Abstract: The present invention permits ISO-7816 smart cards and their non-smart card supporting devices to be connected and to interact over networks, such as networks based on Internet Protocol (IP), broadband, and wide area networks (WAN) using the T=1 protocol, similarly to if these devices were connected locally. Broadly, the invention takes a node address in a small T=1 embedded terminal and maps each address into a network address or a Universal Resource Locator (URL), such that different components of the terminal that are T=1 addressable are able to exist throughout for example, an IP network. The advantages offered by the invention include security and speed, resulting in increased ease of use and application development and increased autonomy for the smart card itself.

Abstract: A system and method to allow mirroring of data into a recovery site in real time so that as data is written to disk in a primary data center location, it is concurrently copied to disk at a recovery site, thereby eliminating the use of separate magnetic media for that purpose. Real-time mirroring of data is provided to a separate facility which is connected to a first mainframe data center through appropriate communications circuits. The secondary data center operations are kept current with the primary data center's operations so that in the event of a system failure, operations of the data center can be recovered in an expedited manner.

Abstract: A method and system for managing transaction card data provides distributed services for use of a transaction card, such as a smart card, on board a ship when shipboard communication with a centralized host system is unavailable. Aspects of the centralized land-based system, such as card issuance, card management, and issuer host authentication are migrated to the shipboard environment, and an on board issuance system, a distributed card management system, and a local monitoring and administration system are introduced to the shipboard environment. When the ship leaves port, an instance of the central system database data for the on board ship personnel is hosted on board the ship and stored in the distributed card management system database.

Abstract: A method and system for managing a transaction card account includes a dual function transaction card with primary and secondary transaction card functions that is issued to a cardmember in connection with the account. The cardmember is allowed to incur charges on the account with the dual function transaction card, and statements are periodically issued to the cardmember on the account for a balance payable that is based on the primary function of the transaction card. The cardmember is allowed to elect the secondary function of the dual function transaction card, and such an election is made, a new balance is computed on the account in response to the election and the cardmember is notified of the new balance and a new minimum due for the account.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a transmission for cars, preferably with driving of the front wheels, comprising an engine (2), a gearbox (8), a final gear (20), first link mechanisms (16A, 16B) which connect each axle shaft (12A, 12B) to said final gear (20), second link mechanisms (18A, 18B) which connect the other end of each of said axle shafts (12A, 12B) to its driving wheel (6) and preferably an intermediate transmission (4) between the engine and the gearbox (8), said final gear comprising two planetary gears (20A, 20B) which give an exchange gear reduction of between 1.2:1 and 10:1.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method of transferring a call signal including call-related data received from a communications system between a host and at least one remote agent terminal connected through a network, where the host can access at least one application database for storing and retrieving information associated with each service that each agent terminal is to handle, and each agent terminal can access the at least one application database computer system for storing and retrieving information associated with each service that each agent terminal is to handle, the method comprising the steps of: (a) at the host (i) transferring initial information contained in an ANI field associated with the call signal into the at least one application database, (ii) associating that initial information contained in the ANI field with other information regarding the source of the call signal, and (iii) replacing the initial information contained in the ANI field associated with the call signal with

Abstract: A method, system, and device for deploying an oil spill containment boom at the side of a ship, barge, or other steel structure. Each end of the boom is connected to its own device that is configured to attach to a generally vertical surface of a steel-hulled ship. Attachment occurs through the use of magnetic force. Instead of encircling the entire ship with a boom, the device permits the establishment of specific containment areas around the ship. The device engages and disengage the side of the ship through the use of a cam and lever assembly to counter the magnetic force.

Abstract: A system and method for authenticating a smart card user at a reader device makes use of an application on a smart card microprocessor on which information fields relating to biometric information for the user and a table of pre-defined probability of occurrence values for user authentication is stored. The smart card and a biometric sample for the user is presented to the reader device, and an application associated with the reader device automatically authenticates the user based on a match level between the stored biometric information and the presented biometric sample according to a desired probability of occurrence value from the stored table. Alternatively, the user is automatically authenticated by an application on the smart card microprocessor.

Abstract: Module builder including holding chamber, wheeled frame towable behind a harvester; compaction chamber, compaction devices, forming chamber, door assembly. The compaction chamber having compaction surface oriented between and substantially perpendicular to compaction chamber sidewalls. Compaction surface is nominally vertical and translatable through the compaction chamber at vertical and near-vertical. The compaction chamber is situated to receive material from the holding chamber. Compaction devices are coupled to the compaction surface, and operative to translate it in a substantially horizontal direction through the compaction chamber at vertical and near vertical. The forming chamber is aligned with the compaction chamber trailing edge. The forming chamber door assembly includes a substantially vertical door frame at least spanning the forming chamber trailing edge, and is movable toward and away from the forming chamber along the wheeled frame.

Abstract: To provide a paintwork coating composition that is harmless to the environments and humans and enables a paintwork to be fully coated by the application of only a small quantity of coating composition and also provide a coating cloth that provides a smooth rubbing work in the coating process and can develop a good water-repellent property and a good antifouling property, water dispersion comprising polytetrafluoroethylene and perfluoropolyether is prepared as the coating composition, and also the coating composition is impregnated in a cloth having a basis weight of (unit representing mass per unit area of fabric, a gram number per square meter) 30-300 g/m2 and a density of 0.02-0.3 g/cm3 under load condition of 1.961 KPa.

Abstract: To provide an exhaust gas purifying catalyst that can develop good catalytic activity even in high-temperature endurance and also produce excellent low-temperature property, a coating layer having an outside layer and an inside layer is formed on a catalyst carrier, the outside layer being made to contain a noble metal previously supported on a heat-resisting oxide and a cerium complex oxide, and the inside layer being made to contain a heat-resisting oxide on which no noble metal is supported.

Abstract: This invention describes a method and system for automated assistance with investment decisionmaking. In particular, the invention relates to assisting retail customers with setting investment objectives, modifying those objectives, and making investments, based on the customer's profile, portfolio, and investment preferences. The invention also comprises a system and method for providing a tutorial aspect intended to assist an account representative, through interactive visual aids, with explaining or questions by a user using the investment decisionmaking method and system. The invention also comprises a method and system for system administration of the investment decisionmaking system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for actuating optical elements steer a beam in two degrees of freedom in order to efficiently align the beam between a selected input and output. These systems include actuator configurations that have piezoelectric and electromagnetic components, servo control systems, and optical cross connect configurations. The actuable optical elements include reflective surfaces (e.g., mirrors), prisms, lenses, and optical fibers.

Abstract: A dimethyl ether reforming catalyst that can reform dimethyl ether to produce a mixed gas of higher concentration of hydrogen and a fuel cell device using the dimethyl ether reforming catalyst. In the dimethyl ether reforming catalyst, copper, or copper and at least one transition metal except the copper is supported on a solid acid. A mixed gas obtained by a reforming device using the dimethyl ether reforming catalyst is fed to the fuel cell as a fuel gas.

Abstract: A method and system of co-branding an electronic payment platform, such as an electronic wallet, makes use of computer hardware and software including, for example, one or more electronic wallet related servers controlled by a financial institution, which can be coupled over the Internet to a user's personal computer and merchant's website server. The electronic wallet is co-branded, for example, with the brand of the financial institution and the brand or brands of one or more cooperating merchants. The co-branded electronic payment platform makes use of a payment mechanism related, for example, to a credit card account of the user or digital payment tokens pre-allocated for the user. The user is given an incentive award for use of the co-branded electronic payment platform which is stored for the user and redeemable on one or more of the cooperating merchants.