Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system that tracks progress on a plan. The system starts by receiving a one or more completed plan templates (which constitute plans) from a set of plan providers. The system then stores the plans in a plan database. Next, the system receives a request for a plan, for which the plan database contains one or more plans that can be used to fulfill the request. The system then provides a user interface (UI) to display the plans that fulfill the request. Next, the system receives a selection signal that selects a plan to fulfill the request. The system then displays the selected plan through the UI, which involves initially displaying projected progress on the plan at one or more intervals on a timeline.

Abstract: A process for providing a year-round tax monitor whereby baseline tax data and current year-to-date tax data for a user is obtained. Data representing current tax year directives made by the user, and/or data representing tax related choices made by the user in the current tax year to date, and/or data representing tax related events associated with the user in the current tax year to date is also obtained. Using the baseline tax data, and/or current year-to-date tax data, and/or the data representing current tax year directives made by the user, and/or the data representing tax related choices made by the user in the current tax year, and/or the data representing tax related events associated with the user for the current tax year, an estimate and/or projection of tax liability for the current tax year is calculated and a projected tax refund that will be owed to, or a tax liability that will owed by, the user for the current tax year is estimated.

Abstract: A method for automatic code generation that includes obtaining a parse tree, wherein the parse tree represents at least one instruction and wherein the instruction is in a natural language, and wherein the at least one instruction is free-form, determining a plurality of sentence subparts from the parse tree, creating at least one instantiated concept for each of the plurality of sentence subparts, inserting the instantiated concept in an instantiated concept map, traversing the instantiated concept map, wherein traversing the instantiated concept map includes for each instantiated concept in the instantiated concept map obtaining a code output rule according to the instantiated concept, and outputting code according to the code output rule be completed upon finalization of claims.

Abstract: An Operations Manager subsystem decouples the generation of operational events from an associated behavior triggered by those events. The Operations Manager subsystem allows changing the associated behavior without requiring rebuilds or recompilations of the source code. In addition, changes to policies are possible even at runtime in order to enable more agile debugging and better application supportability. The Operations Manger subsystem includes separate reporting and subscription services. The reporting services provide an API defining operational code for the generation of operational events. The subscription services include a file system and an API that support multiple user subscriptions to the various code operational events defining the behavior associated with those events.

Abstract: A method for financially monitoring an order that includes inserting an initial price of a product on an order form, displaying an initial projected profit indicator on the order form, wherein the initial projected profit indicator identifies an initial projected profit, and wherein the initial projected profit is calculated for the product using the initial price, and submitting the order form to initiate the order when the initial projected profit complies with a predefined regulation.

Abstract: A method for approving of a financial transaction, that includes receiving transaction information related to the financial transaction, wherein the transaction information comprises identification of a financial account controlled by a consumer and an amount of the financial transaction, accessing a policy for the financial account based on a context of the financial transaction, wherein the policy is defined by the consumer, triggering an approval request based on a determination that the amount is above a limit set by the policy, sending the approval request to a mobile device of the consumer, receiving an approval response based on the approval request from the mobile device of the consumer, and approving the transaction based on the approval response.

Abstract: A method of distributing pay includes obtaining payroll information associated with a payee, generating an electronic paycheck voucher based on the payroll information, wherein the electronic paycheck voucher is associated with a net pay of the payee, issuing the electronic paycheck voucher to the payee, and processing the electronic paycheck voucher to distribute the net pay based on a distribution preference defined by the payee.

Abstract: A system and method for completing a financial form including generating a navigation path by selecting a plurality of financial events, where the navigation path is used as a framework to complete the financial form, selecting a webinar event from the plurality of financial events in the navigation path, where the webinar event is one of the plurality of financial events associated with at least one webinar related to one of the plurality of financial events, and completing at least a portion of the financial form using the at least one webinar.

Abstract: A genetic algorithm determines a plan for payment of payment obligations in accounts payable of a finance account. The genetic algorithm operates to satisfy certain objectives, including maximizing or minimizing the total amount of payments of the payment obligations on a given day within the amount of cash available for the given day. A genome population including a number of vectors is generated. The genome population is modified using a genetic algorithm, until at least one vector represents an optimal bill payment plan for the payment obligations such that payment of each payment obligation in accordance with the vector most nearly satisfies one or more objectives.

Abstract: A system displays a filtered list of elements in response to receiving user input of a desired string associated with a list of elements. The system includes a user interface control, such as an edit control, for receiving the input, and determines whether elements matching the desired string exist in the list of elements. The system provides the ability to search internal strings of an element and various levels of a hierarchical list. If no matching elements exist, the system displays the entire list and provides an option to add a new element to the list.

Abstract: A method for providing audit support including displaying sample letter images, where each of the sample letter images is associated with one of a number of audit categories. The method further includes receiving a selection of one of the sample letter images from a user, in response to the selection, displaying a detailed sample letter image and a first confirmation question corresponding to the selected sample letter image, and receiving a first response to the first confirmation question from the user, where the first response confirms the user's selection. The method further includes displaying a first audit category description corresponding to the audit category associated with the user's selection, and displaying an action item list associated with the user's selection, where the action item list includes at least one action for the user to take to resolve the audit described by the first audit category description.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and apparatus for initiating an electronic funds transfer. The system includes a first mobile device, a payment engine, and a payment repository. The first mobile device includes functionality to display a notification of a sales transaction, obtain an authorization from the consumer to the electronic funds transfer based on the notification, instantiate a transfer entry form to obtain a transfer entry package, where the transfer entry package comprises the notification, a verification of the authorization, and consumer financial account information. The payment engine is operatively connected to the first mobile device and includes functionality to transmit the notification to the consumer of a sales transaction, generate the transfer entry form based on the authorization, and transmit the transfer entry package to a depository financial institution.

Abstract: System and method for accessing and displaying previous financial return information in financial return preparation programs. For example, historical tax return information for a taxable entity may be used in the preparation of a current tax return, and some of this information or data may be transferred into a current tax return electronic document, or used in the calculation of a value for a field in a current tax return document. Embodiments may provide a mechanism that enables the preparer to “jump” from a current financial return electronic document, or field on a current electronic document, that is being prepared using a current program to an electronic document prepared using a previous program, and that thus allows the preparer to directly view the source of transferred information or data. Embodiments may thus allow the preparer to identify the specific sources of transferred data or information.

Abstract: A method for extracting a consistent set of entity identifiers including associating each of a first plurality of entity identifiers with at least one of a first plurality of GroupIDs, associating each of a second plurality of entity identifiers with at least one of a second plurality of GroupIDs, combining the first plurality of entity identifiers with the second plurality of entity identifiers to generate a third plurality of entity identifiers, where each of the third plurality of entity identifiers is associated with at least one of a third plurality of GroupIDs, linking at least one of the third plurality of GroupIDs with at least one of the first plurality of GroupIDs based on the third plurality of entity identifiers and the first plurality of entity identifiers, removing a contaminated entity identifier from the third plurality of entity identifiers to extract the consistent set of entity identifiers.

Abstract: Automated tax return preparation is provided using a relationship-based interview process coupled with universal data import. Information is collected through a process called the interview, during which a taxpayer is asked various questions about her background and relationships with financial institutions. The taxpayer provides to the tax planning software a list of financial institutions with which the taxpayer has a relationship, and the tax software retrieves tax data directly from the financial institutions. The combination of the interview, universal data import, and existing stored data enables an automated tax return system to prepare tax returns in advance with minimal user assistance.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying a variable pricing model for a service includes a user device configured to send a request for the service, a processing server within a resource infrastructure, wherein the processing server is configured to receive the request from the user device, and a resource management module associated with the resource infrastructure and the processing server. The resource management module is configured to detect current system utilization of the resource infrastructure connected to the user device, calculate a current price of the service based on current system utilization, and forward the current price to the user device requesting the service.

Abstract: Embodiments of a system (such as a computer system), a method, and a computer-program product (e.g., software) for use with the computer system are described. These embodiments may be used to perform financial transactions over a network. In particular, the system allows customers to use personal PIN pads when conducting financial transactions (such as debit-card transactions) with multiple merchants and their associated acquirer processors (which assist the merchants in processing financial transactions), even though different groups of merchants and acquirer processors may use different encryption techniques. For a given financial transaction, this capability may be implemented by decrypting financial information associated with a personal PIN pad from a customer and re-encrypting it using a separate encryption technique of a merchant and the associated acquirer processor.

Abstract: The systems, methods and related software products which enable users to temporarily store and subsequently retrieve information are disclosed. The system includes a plurality of input devices, client computers (each having a user-specific personal finance application) and a web-site server with a database. The input devices, client computers and server are communicatively linked via a communication network so that a plurality of users can temporarily store and/or manipulate financial transaction information on the server from any of the input devices. Each user can also transmit financial profile information to the server. This information enables the server to replicate the unique profile characteristics for each of the finance applications. This, in turn, simplifies remote entry of information, subsequent download of that information and integration of such information into each user's personal finance application.

Abstract: A system and method for reconciling a payment to a merchant (e.g., from a credit card issuer or processor) with a set of credit card transactions corresponding to the payment. A reconciliation facilitator assigns unique transaction IDs to credit card transactions submitted by the merchant. The reconciliation facilitator issues authorization requests for some or all of the transactions, and also submits a settlement request for authorized transactions, wherein one or both types of requests include the unique transaction IDs of the associated transactions. When a set of transactions is settled, their unique IDs are received as part of the settlement data, and the reconciliation facilitator can identify the settled transactions to the merchant (e.g., through his accounting or point-of-sale software).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for managing a financial account. The method involves directing a primary transaction request to a holding account controlled by an account owner, evaluating the primary transaction request based on a selected rule to obtain an evaluation, routing the primary transaction request, based on the evaluation, from the holding account to the financial account of a plurality of financial accounts.