Abstract: There is provided a method and system to communicate information. The system receives a first query that contains at least one constraint and retrieves a first plurality of data items from a database based on the first query. Next the system generating a first distribution based on the first plurality of data items, the first distribution utilizing a first plurality of domains used to identify data items. Next the system generates a second distribution based on a plurality of requests to view a second plurality of data items. Next the system generates a third distribution based on the first distribution and the second distribution. Finally the system generates interface information, to be communicated to a user, based on the third distribution.

Abstract: A method for authenticating a financial transaction at a point of sale (POS) includes storing an application program in a first secure element of a mobile phone. The application is configured to generate instruction codes to effect the financial transaction upon verification of a user's identity. The user's credentials are stored in a second SE of the phone, which is operable to verify the user's identity from a biometric trait of the user input to the phone and to generate data authenticating the financial transaction in response to the verification of the user's identity. At the POS, the user invokes the application and then inputs a biometric trait to the phone. The second SE verifies the user's identity, and upon verification, generates data authenticating the transaction. The financial transaction data, including the instruction codes and the authenticating data, are then transmitted from the phone to the POS.

Abstract: Transactions using, for example, Near Field Communication (NFC), Bluetooth, online, or other applications, may pose a risk of fraud or identity theft. According to an embodiment, a method of evaluating transaction information in view of potential fraud and/or risk includes receiving transaction information at a remote location. The method also includes correlating the received transaction information with user data maintained at the remote location. The method further includes generating a score and/or risk or fraud data based on the correlating. Such transactions may be facilitated by a payment service provider. Related methods, devices, and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for secure Short Message Service (SMS) communications. According to an embodiment, a method of providing secure Short Message Service (SMS) communications comprises requesting that SMS data to be sent from a client device to a remote location be encrypted. The method also comprises encrypting the SMS data by processing the SMS data with a Message Authentication Code (MAC) and a timestamp and/or counter along with second factor authentication information. The method further comprises sending the encrypted SMS data to the remote location by a secure SMS application via a regular SMS channel of the client device.

Abstract: A method and system enables a user and/or an on-line site to be authenticated by comparing a received password with an expected password, transmitting a new password if the received and expected passwords match, and authenticating a communication if the new password matches what is expected by the on-line site. The initially received password may be distorted, such as with CAPTCHA.

Abstract: A system and method for providing product research help to a consumer doing internet shopping. A consumer helper application for internet commerce has been designed to integrate the techniques that are currently used by many internet consumers into a single application program. For example, the consumer helper application allows a user to take notes, store web site links, store web site annotations, obtain collaborative input, and perform other tasks commonly used by web site consumers. The consumer helper application stores all of the information gathered in a single place. Information provided by other consumers may be shared using the consumer helper application. The consumer helper application will suggest specific items for a consumer to purchase based up on the information gathered by the consumer into the consumer helper application.

Abstract: Methods and system for interface data utilization are described. In one embodiment, source interface data may be provided from a provider. The source interface data may be capable of being used to provide a source user interface for a networked resource associated with the provider. A user request may be received through the source user interface. A service call may be provided over a network to an application based on the receiving of the user request. The application may be associated with an application manager. Response data may be received over the network from the application based on the service call. Target interface data may be rendered based on the response data. The target interface data may be provided from the provider.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating clientless form-filling over a network include a first component adapted to communicate with a user via a client device over the network and a service provider via a service provider device over the network and a second component adapted to receive a request to fill a form from the user via the client device over the network and provide the service provider device with information related to the user over the network to fill the form as requested by the user.

Abstract: A system and method for context and community based customization for a user experience is disclosed. The apparatus in an example embodiment includes a user experience customizer to gather context information, automatically produce user experience customization selections based on the context information, collect user activity feedback from a community of users, and use the user activity feedback to adjust the user experience customizer to automatically produce user experience customization selections likely favored by a user based on a correlation of the user activity feedback with the context information.

Abstract: A method and system to automate software testing using sniffer side and browser side recording and a toolbar interface are described. In one embodiment, a system tests programming code associated with a website and creates a first test case. In another embodiment, the system includes a testing device having a test interface to enable a user to initiate a first test case and to store a first HTML representation and a first XML representation of encrypted web pages viewed during the first test case. In another embodiment, the system includes a sniffer server that operates as a proxy server for the website and stores a second HTML representation and a second XML representation of unencrypted web pages viewed during the first test case. The system may include a hosting server that hosts the website and receives the first and the second HTML and XML representations from the testing device and the sniffer server when the test case is terminated via the test interface.

Abstract: A method for facilitating commerce at an internet-based auction is disclosed. The method includes authorizing a first participant to post an item for auction at an internet auction site. A communication handler program executes on a host computer and receives information from the first participant about an item to be auctioned. The received information includes a designation of a category selected from a list of categories, under which the item is to be auctioned. The received information is processed into a presentation format with a database-to-presentation format formatting program. The presentation format includes an indication of the category of the item to be auctioned. The presentation formatted information is presented to a plurality of internet participants. The host computer then receives at least one bid for the auctioned item from at least one of the internet participants.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for pool-based identity generation and use for service access is disclosed. The method in an example embodiment includes seeding an identity generator with a private key; retrieving independently verifiable data corresponding to a service consumer; using the independently verifiable data to create signed assertions corresponding to the service consumer; generating a non-portable identity document associated with the service consumer, the identity document including the signed assertions; signing the identity document with the private key; and conveying the signed identity document to the service consumer via a secure link.

Abstract: Methods and system for balance account utilization are described. In one embodiment, a balance account may be linked to a credit card account of a user. A determination of whether there is an amount due for the credit card account may be made. A determination of whether at least a minimum payment has been received for the amount due by a due date may be made. Funds from the balance account may be accessed based on the linking and a failure to receive at least the minimum payment by the due date. A balance payment may be processed on the due date for the credit card account with the funds from the balance account.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting fraud when facilitating a payment transaction over a global wide area network. The method comprises receiving a sale information, receiving a payment information from a buyer, and analyzing a transaction information for fraud. If the analyzing indicates fraud, an enhanced transaction information is communicated to a human for fraud analysis. In one embodiment, the method comprises performing rule-based analyses to determine whether the transaction appears to be fraudulent. Rule-based analyses may include suspect data rules and velocity rules. Velocity rules generally determine whether there has been excessive activity that may lead to a conclusion that the transaction may be fraudulent. Suspect data rules are used to determine whether the billing, shipping, selling addresses, telephone numbers, and account numbers, and other data are in a syntactically correct format and whether they exist.

Abstract: Methods and system for installment payment utilization are described. In one embodiment, a revolving balance of a credit instrument associated with a user may be accessed. The revolving balance may be at a revolving balance interest rate. An installment balance may be designated for the credit instrument. The installment balance may be associated with a payment schedule and a payment amount and be at a different interest rate than the revolving balance interest rate. The credit instrument may be updated responsive to the designation of the installment balance.

Abstract: A method and system to protect users against potentially fraudulent activities associated with spoof web sites are described. According to one aspect of the present invention, the URL of a document downloaded via a web browser client is compared to the URLs in a list of URLs for known spoof sites. If the URL for the downloaded document is found in the list of URLs for known spoof sites, a security indicator is displayed to the user to indicate to the user that the downloaded document is associated with a known spoof site. According to another aspect of the invention, a security server maintains a master black list and periodically communicates updates of the master black list to the local list of a client security application.

Abstract: A computerized method and system for keeping popular advertisements active are provided. Example embodiments may include identifying one or more expiring online content from a plurality of online contents. A popularity of the one or more expiring online content may be determined; and an expiration date of the one or more expiring online content may be extended based on the popularity.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for identification of near duplicate user-generated content in a networked system are disclosed. The apparatus in an example embodiment includes a data receiver to receive a first instance of user-generated content; a tokenizer to tokenize the first instance into a set of words, create a set of portions from the tokenized first instance, and assign weight to each portion of the set of portions; a magnitude calculator to calculate a magnitude for the first instance based on the weight of each portion; a resemblance score calculator to search a data store for a second instance with at least one portion in common with the first instance and calculate a resemblance score between the first instance and the second instance; and an account linker to link accounts associated with each of the first instance and the second instance.

Abstract: Embodiments of computer implemented methods and systems for visualization of data are described. One example embodiment includes receiving authentication data related to a user, establishing an identity of the user based on the user authentication data, and receiving profile data associated with the user in response to the establishing of the identity of the user. The example embodiment may further include receiving transaction data associated with the user, selectively aggregating the profile data with the transaction data as aggregated user data, visualizing the aggregated user data as a data visualization, the data visualization being a composition of visual media corresponding to the aggregated data, and providing an address to the data visualization such that the data visualization may be referred to in other applications.

Abstract: Methods and system for sharing searches are described. In one embodiment, one or more search terms of a search request may be stored. The storage of the one or more search terms may be associated with an originating user. A sharing request may be received for the search request. The sharing request may be associated with a requesting user. The search request may be associated with the requesting user.