Abstract: Physical components that share common attributes in a software product are combined into logical groupings. A product matrix also lists logical groupings that are included into each software product listed in the product matrix. A compatibility matrix indicates whether any two logical groupings listed in the product matrix are compatible. When a new product is provided for an installation, the compatibility matrix is consulted to determine whether any two logical groupings of the new product and installed product are compatible. An installation can proceed or be terminated based on the compatibility determination.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that enters items into a gift registry. During operation, the system photographically captures images of items at stores containing the items. Moreover, the images include a set of barcodes identifying the items. Next, the system obtains a set of product codes for the one or more items from the barcodes in the images. Finally, the system enters the one or more items in the gift registry using the product codes.

Abstract: A method for healthcare collaboration that includes granting access, across a network, to a portion of a personal health history (PHH) account associated with a patient, wherein access is granted to a healthcare provider and controlled by the patient, submitting healthcare data to the portion of the PHH account based on a health service received by the patient from the healthcare provider, and transfer the healthcare data for review.

Abstract: A technique for conducting a transaction via a network is described. In this technique, in response to receiving transaction information associated with the transaction via the network from a network browser in a computer, a computer system provides an encrypted version of the received transaction information via the network to an application that executes in the computer, which facilitates a comparison of the received transaction information with original transaction information provided by a user to the computer. Note that this application is separate from the network browser, and the communication with the application via the network is independent of the network browser. Moreover, if the received transaction information matches the original transaction information, the computer system receives approval for the transaction from the computer via the network.

Abstract: In general, the invention relates to a method for performing search engine optimizations using a financial application configured to manage a number of products. The method includes obtaining product data from the financial application, where the product data is associated with a first product of the number of products. The method further includes processing the product data to obtain optimization data, where the optimization data is configured to increase web traffic of a web page associated with the first product. The method further includes sending the optimization data to the financial application, where the web page is updated based on the optimization data.

Abstract: A method of populating at least one form involving selecting a current completion option based on a previous completion option, obtaining a first completion process based on the current completion option, and populating the at least one form using the first completion process, wherein a format of the first completion process is determined by the selected current completion option.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for capturing, tracking and managing a transaction of a user at an advanced Point-of-Sale (POS) register. The method steps include obtaining transaction data of the transaction from the POS register using a mobile device and managing POS-based expenditures of the user using the transaction data including a transaction amount, a payment type of the transaction, and relevant bank or credit card account information for the method of payment used by the user. Managing POS-based expenditures may include generating a real-time balance of the account based on the transaction data and presenting the real-time balance of the account to the mobile device.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that provides gift registry services to a user. During operation, the system enrolls a business with a registry system and identifies a first set of items offered for sale by the business. Next, the system populates the registry system with the first set of items. Finally, the system presents the first set of items to the user for inclusion in a gift registry associated with the user.

Abstract: In various embodiments, sellers and buyers may interact with a price determination application and/or electronic marketplace to buy/sell items for tax deductions to increase the tax deduction benefit for the sellers and buyers. For example, donating an item may have a tax benefit to a seller that is less than the tax benefit to a higher income bracket buyer. The electronic marketplace may facilitate a sale of the items to the buyer who may then donate the items for the tax benefit. In some embodiments, an item distribution service may sell items from multiple sellers to buyers according to a calculated price/distribution to increase the tax benefit to the sellers/buyers. In some embodiments, the items may not be delivered to the buyer by the seller, but may instead be routed to a charitable organization for donation in the buyer's name after ownership is transferred to the buyer.

Abstract: A method for importing data from a document to a repository, involving selecting data from a document, mapping the selected data to a pre-defined field in the repository using a context menu, wherein the context menu is dynamically created using a map file for mapping data associated with the document to a plurality of pre-defined fields in the repository, and importing the selected data from the document to the repository using the map file.

Abstract: A method for categorizing financial transactions, that includes identifying a vendor of the first financial transaction. An attempt is made to categorize the transaction on a first categorization level complying with a first categorization scheme, then a second categorization level that complies with a second categorization scheme, and then a third categorization level that complies with a third categorization scheme. The first categorization scheme differs from the second categorization scheme. When the transaction cannot be categorized on a previous categorization level, the attempt is made for the next level and the second categorization level. The transaction is categorized on the third level. The method further includes displaying the vendor category.

Abstract: System and method for accessing and displaying information related to information flow and relationships among various electronic tax or financial documents presented by tax programs or other types of financial return preparation programs. A mechanism or mechanisms may enable users to view information related to the flow of information among electronic documents in a tax program starting at the level of a field or a document, or alternatively starting at a high-level outline view or summary of the tax preparation process or a portion thereof. These mechanism(s) may enable a preparer or other user to access graphical and/or textual displays of information related to values in fields of electronic tax or financial documents presented by tax programs and in other types of financial return preparation programs and of the relationships among fields and documents in the tax or financial return preparation process.

Abstract: A method for identifying a geographic condition zone, involving receiving a request for claim data, obtaining the claim data associated with a plurality of users, wherein the claim data comprises location data, filtering the claim data using a predefined condition to obtain filtered claim data, mapping the filtered claim data and the location data to appropriate locations in a geographic context to obtain mapped filtered claim data, and transmitting the geographic context comprising the mapped filtered claim data.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a system and method for providing consumers marketing devices based on their use of supplementary income includes obtaining consumer financial data associated with a given “consumer” from one or more sources. At least part of the consumer financial data is then analyzed to determine if the given consumer typically receives supplementary income and, if so, how the consumer typically treats any supplementary income received. A supplementary income profile is then created for the given consumer. Data representing the supplementary income profile for the given consumer is then stored and at least part of the data representing the supplementary income profile for the given consumer is provided to one or more product marketers. One or more product marketers then provide a marketing device to the given consumer.

Abstract: A method for contextually representing errors during data entry, including obtaining an expandable and collapsible tree (ECT) having a first node and a second node corresponding to multiple tasks for data entry; displaying a portion of the ECT including the second node, where the first node stems from the second node; presenting a record, corresponding to a task represented by the first node, including a data field for entry of data; receiving a data entry error for input to the data field of the record, where the data entry error is inconsistent with a predetermined range of acceptable data; and displaying, on the ECT and in association with the second node, an error indicium indicative of the data entry error while allowing further progression through the multiple tasks.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that facilitates parking usage. During operation, the system receives a parking reservation request from a user and obtains a set of available parking spaces based on the parking reservation request. Next, the system provides the available parking spaces to the user and obtains, from the user, a selection of a parking space from the available parking spaces. Finally, the system reserves the parking space for the user.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a menu item identification service may provide a system user with information on acceptable restaurant menu items based on ingredients the system user prefers or is trying to avoid. The menu item identification service may receive information on ingredients the system user prefers or wants to avoid and information on a restaurant of interest to the system user. The menu item identification service may use a database to identify menu items of the restaurant and their associated ingredients. The menu item identification service may present the system user with menu items the restaurant offers that have preferred ingredients and/or do not have ingredients to avoid or that have limited quantities of the ingredient. Menu items with the ingredients to avoid may be shown along with avoidance indicators. The system user may then use this information to select a menu item and/or restaurant.

Abstract: A method and system for providing family health history data includes a process for providing family health history data whereby, all, or part of, a family member's health data is obtained from, but not limited to, any of the following sources: the family member and/or agents of the family member; one or more other family members, one or more healthcare providers; one or more healthcare insurance plan providers; one or more healthcare benefit program administrators; one or more financial institutions; and/or any other source of a family member's health data. All, or part of, the family member's health data is then provided to other family members, healthcare providers for family members, state and/or private agencies, and/or any other party as designated by the family member, and on a selective access basis, as designated by the family member, for use as family health history data by the designated parties.

Abstract: A method for obtaining healthcare that includes submitting biometric identification data to a Personal Health History (PHH) account that includes a PHH for a patient, permitting a healthcare provider to obtain the biometric identification data, wherein the healthcare provider accesses the PHH account with the biometric identification data to obtain the PHH, and receiving a treatment for a health condition of the patient, wherein the treatment is administered by the healthcare provider accessing the PHH.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for time incremented purchase price discounting includes a process for time incremented purchase price discounting whereby a seller offers a product for sale on a seller website at an initial purchase price and then the product purchase price is automatically discounted by a predetermined amount at predetermined increments of time until either, the product is sold, or a seller determined minimum product purchase price is reached.