Abstract: A computer system communicates with sponsors, mobile wireless devices, and wireless service providers to present incentives to wireless device users for accepting offers to interact with sponsor content. The incentive offers provide mobile wireless device accounts with credits that are paid by the sponsors. The system generates ACH messages to obtain payment for the credits and transfers the money to the wireless service providers for partial payment of wireless service charges.

Abstract: A merchant/vendor portal enables potential business partners to establish business relationships and settle accounts in an on-line environment. The portal includes an open network interface, a registrant database in which data associated with a portal registrant are stored, a distribution contract manager for presenting to a registered merchant a distribution contract associated with a registered vendor and for verifying acceptance of the distribution contract by the registered merchant, and a transaction manager for managing transactions in accordance with the accepted distribution contracts.

Abstract: A merchant/seller portal enables sellers of auction items on Internet auction sites to obtain cash payments from buyers identified only by their buyer pseudonyms. The portal includes an open network interface, a seller database in which data associated with a seller are stored, a buyer manager for verifying auction purchase data received from a merchant terminal, an auction site manager for verifying auction transaction data with an auction site server, and an auction payment manager for communicating data messages with an auction payment server to transfer funds for a verified auction transaction.

Abstract: An open network system transacts communication over on open network. The system includes an input device associated with a non-standard I/O device for obtaining communication transaction data and a client program for generating a communication transaction message in an extended open network protocol with the communication transaction data.

Abstract: An open network system supports input/output (I/O) operations for non-standard I/O devices coupled to an open network. The system includes a server coupled to a plurality of I/O devices through an open network, at least some of the I/O devices being non-standard I/O devices. The non-standard I/O devices communicate with a client program that processes extended open network protocol statements. The extended open network protocol statements communicated between the server and the non-standard I/O devices are processed by the server and the client program to support I/O operations between the non-standard I/O devices and the server or application programs coupled to the server.

Abstract: An automated teller machine (ATM) implements financial transactions over the Internet. The ATM includes a computer and at least one non-standard I/O device coupled to the computer. The computer of the ATM interprets extended open network protocol statements to control the non-standard I/O device for purposes of implementing a financial transaction.

Abstract: An open network system for supporting input/output (I/O) operations for non-standard I/O devices are disclosed. The system includes a server coupled to a plurality of I/O devices through an open network and an extended open system protocol that supports communication with devices that are not personal computers (PCs). These devices include magnetic stripe readers, check readers, smart card readers, credit card terminals, screen phone terminals, PIN pads, printers, and the like. The extended open network protocol includes tags which identify device and input operations and attributes which identify the location, data exchange method, and data variable names for the retrieval, acquisition, and submission of data between the server and I/O devices. Preferably, the open network protocol is implemented in a Hyper Text Transport Protocol (HTTP).

Abstract: An open network system for supporting input/output (I/O) operations for non-standard I/O devices are disclosed. The system includes a server coupled to a plurality of I/O devices through an open network and an extended open system protocol that supports communication with devices that are not personal computers (PCs). These devices include magnetic stripe readers, check readers, smart card readers, credit card terminals, screen phone terminals, PIN pads, printers, and the like. The extended open network protocol includes tags which identify device and input operations and attributes which identify the location, data exchange method, and data variable names for the retrieval, acquisition, and submission of data between the server and I/O devices. Preferably, the open network protocol is implemented in a Hyper Text Transport Protocol (HTTP).

Abstract: An open network system for supporting input/output (I/O) operations for non-standard I/O devices are disclosed. The system includes a server coupled to a plurality of I/O devices through an open network and an extended open system protocol that supports communication with devices that are not personal computers (PCs). These devices include magnetic stripe readers, check readers, smart card readers, credit card terminals, screen phone terminals, PIN pads, printers, and the like. The extended open network protocol includes tags which identify device and input operations and attributes which identify the location, data exchange method, and data variable names for the retrieval, acquisition, and submission of data between the server and I/O devices. Preferably, the open network protocol is implemented in a Hyper Text Transport Protocol (HTTP).

Abstract: An open network system for supporting input/output (I/O) operations for non-standard I/O devices are disclosed. The system includes a server coupled to a plurality of I/O device through an open network and an extended open system protocol that supports communication with devices that are not personal computers (PCs). These devices include magnetic stripe readers, check readers, smart card readers, credit card terminals, screen phone terminals, PIN pads, printers, and the like. The extended open network protocol includes tags which identify device and input operations and attributes which identify the location, data exchange method, and data variable names for the retrieval, acquisition, and submission of data between the server and I/O devices. Preferably, the open network protocol is implemented in a Hyper Text Transport Protocol (HTTP).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coupling multiple computer peripherals to a computer system through a single I/O port is disclosed. The inventive apparatus includes an interface device having a first connector for coupling to the I/O interface of a computer system, a second connector for coupling a first computer peripheral to the I/O port and a third connector for coupling a second computer peripheral to the I/O port so that both peripherals are simultaneously coupled to the I/O port. Within the housing of the preferred embodiment of the interface device, control and data lines for receiving data associated with the I/O interface are coupled from the first connector to the third connector and control and data lines for transmitting data associated with the I/O interface are coupled from the first connector to the second connector. By separating the transmit and data functions of the I/O interface so they may be routed to separate connectors, computer peripherals of difference types, i.e.

Abstract: An open network system for supporting input/output (I/O) operations for non-standard I/O devices are disclosed. The system includes a server coupled to a plurality of I/O devices through an open network and an extended open system protocol that supports communication with devices that are not personal computers (PCs). These devices include magnetic stripe readers, check readers, smart card readers, credit card terminals, screen phone terminals, PIN pads, printers, and the like. The extended open network protocol includes tags which identify device and input operations and attributes which identify the location, data exchange method, and data variable names for the retrieval, acquisition, and submission of data between the server and I/O devices. Preferably, the open network protocol is implemented in a Hyper Text Transport Protocol (HTTP).

Abstract: An open network system for supporting input/output (I/0) operations for non-standard I/O devices are disclosed. The system includes a server coupled to a plurality of I/O devices through an open network and an extended open system protocol that supports communication with devices that are not personal computers (PCs). These devices include magnetic stripe readers, check readers, smart card readers, credit card terminals, screen phone terminals, PIN pads, printers, and the like. The extended open network protocol includes tags which identify device and input operations and attributes which identify the location, data exchange method, and data variable names for the retrieval, acquisition, and submission of data between the server and I/O devices. Preferably, the open network protocol is implemented in a Hyper Text Transport Protocol (HTTP).

Abstract: An open network system for supporting input/output (I/O) operations for non-standard I/O devices are disclosed. The system includes a server coupled to a plurality of I/O devices through an open network and an extended open system protocol that supports communication with devices that are not personal computers (PCs). These devices include magnetic stripe readers, check readers, smart card readers, credit card terminals, screen phone terminals, PIN pads, printers, and the like. The extended open network protocol includes tags which identify device and input operations and attributes which identify the location, data exchange method, and data variable names for the retrieval, acquisition, and submission of data between the server and I/O devices. Preferably, the open network protocol is implemented in a Hyper Text Transport Protocol (HTTP).

Abstract: A serial communication apparatus for directing data from a plurality of data input devices to a single data output device comprising a plurality of serial input connectors, a serial output connector, and logic and driver circuitry. The logic and driver circuitry automatically regulate the conditions under which a data input device transmits data to the data output device. In the illustrated embodiment of four data input devices, when all are idle, any of them may transmit data to the output device. If one data input device attempts to transmit data while the another data input device is transmitting data, then the logic and driver circuitry causes the second input device to pause until the first input device data transmission is complete. If both input devices attempt simultaneous data transmission, the logic and driver circuitry resolves the contest and allows only one data input device to transmit to the output device at a time.