Abstract: A method for electronic messaging of trade data involves receiving trade data having an unknown format in an electronic message, where trade data includes individual trade data elements, processing the electronic message to resolve the unknown format into a known format, parsing trade data using the known format to obtain individual trade data elements, and storing individual trade data elements in a trade data repository.

Abstract: In various embodiments, an application may automatically track the amount of time a user spends performing activities on one or more computer applications. The tracked time may be used, for example, to bill a client for the activities performed. To automatically track time for a user, a time tracking application may monitor a user's activities and store time tracking entries with the types of activities performed and the time spent performing the activities. These activity types may be correlated against billing codes.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a calculation system may be used by a merchant to determine a merchant fee associated with a credit card transaction. The calculation system may consider various characteristics for the transaction to determine merchant fees associated with the transaction. For example, the calculation system may consider the relative security of the transaction, the length of time the transaction has been in an open batch, whether the credit card information is swiped or keyed in, whether address information for the transaction was verified, etc. The calculation system may analyze credit card transactions in real time and/or may analyze past merchant fee statements to determine the merchant fees associated with one or more past transactions. In some embodiments, the calculation system may be used by a card processor to analyze data from a merchant to determine a competitive rate/fee to offer the merchant.

Abstract: A method and system for providing relevant search results using financial data includes a process for providing relevant search results using financial data whereby a user's financial transaction data is obtained from one or more sources. A user then initiates a network search using one or more network search parameters such as one or more keywords and/or phrases. The scope of the one or more network search parameters, and therefore the scope of the network search, are then determined and/or modified based, at least in part, on the user's financial data.

Abstract: A system that generates multiple documents using a template document and a data source. During operation, the system receives the data source, which includes parent records, child records, and metadata which describes the data stored in the parent and child records. Next, the system receives the template document which includes tables. The system then generates a flat data source from the data source, wherein the flat data source includes column names for the tables in the template document. Next, the system generates an intermediate document using the template document by concatenating multiple replicas of the template document to obtain an initial version of the intermediate document and by using the flat data source to populate the column names in the tables within the initial version of the intermediate document. The system then generates a final document by using the child records to populate rows in the tables within the intermediate document.

Abstract: A method for switching vendors, including sending an invitation to a user to rate a first vendor in response to the user designating the first vendor as a payee, receiving a rating assigned to the first vendor, determining a second vendor as an alternative to the first vendor based on the rating being below a predefined threshold, sending information associated with the second vendor to the user, receiving a request from the user to switch from the first vendor to the second vendor, sending a cancellation notice to the first vendor in response to receiving the request, transmitting user information to a computer of the second vendor for setting up a new account, and charging the second vendor a fee for sending the information associated with the second vendor to the user.

Abstract: In various embodiments, user support in computer software applications may be provided on the basis of user interaction histories. Critical points may be defined throughout the applications and the user interaction histories at these critical points may be stored and indexed for future retrieval. User interaction histories at these critical points may also be scored to determine, for example, whether the system should intervene. In some embodiments, when providing user support, an entity may access the user interaction history (e.g., using the index). The user interaction history may assist the entity in determining how to assist the system user at their current point in the application. In some embodiments, user support may be not limited to assisting the system user with a problem. For example, user support may include presenting a promotion or advertisement to the system user based on the user interaction history.

Abstract: Help information for a software application is provided based on a user help knowledge base. The user help knowledge base includes a user help profile indicating help information previously selected by the user. Examples of data tracked for the previously selected help information include the application context in which it selected, a presentation mode in which it was presented, at least one associated help topic, and a help content format. The user help knowledge base can further comprise a user profile maintained by the software application. Based on the information in the user help knowledge base, as well as the current context of the application and/or user data entered, the help module selects help information pertinent to the user and the current context of the application. A presentation mode, for example a video mode, an audio mode or a display mode, is selected for the help information as well based on the user help knowledge base.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that uses middleware to transmit data from a first system to a second system. During operation, centralized middleware receives a request from a user to transmit the data from the first system to the second system, wherein the centralized middleware comprises a set of middleware agents which interact with the user on behalf of a set of associated middleware. Upon receiving the request, the centralized middleware uses a middleware agent to transform the data from a first data format associated with the first system to a second data format associated with the second system. The centralized middleware then sends the transformed data to the second system. In this way, the centralized middleware hides the technical details of how the data is manipulated from the user.

Abstract: A method for account tracking that includes receiving a request to generate a report for a business entity, wherein the request specifies a tag associated with the business entity, identifying a plurality of transaction records based on the tag to obtain a plurality of identified transaction records for the business entity, assigning a business category from a plurality of business categories to at least one of the plurality of identified transaction records not associated with one of the plurality of business categories, and generating the report for the business entity by grouping the plurality of identified transaction records according to the plurality of business categories.

Abstract: A software application displays user interfaces for functionality of the software application. A user interface element is displayed on a user interface for the software application. A configuration screen for user configuration of the software application is displayed in response to a user command indicating selection of said user interface element. The configuration screen includes content corresponding to a state of the software application when the user command is received. The configuration screen may include content based on entered data in the user interface or on a data entry point of the user at the time of selecting the user interface element. The user interface element is displayed in a location on a plurality of user interface screens that is substantially identical for each screen. The configuration screen may include user preferences.

Abstract: Methods are provided for creating a composite program module within a computing ecosystem. The ecosystem comprises physical and/or virtual computing resources of a company, department or other organization. When a user discovers a grouping of modules that is useful to him, the ecosystem or his workspace allows him to create a composite module that comprises the group of modules. He can then access their combined functionality by activating just the composite module, in which case all the modules are automatically opened, without having to activate each one individually. Further, the ecosystem may suggest complementary program modules to a user based on his pattern of activity with one or more other modules. A composite program module may be created to include a suggested complementary module, or just modules discovered independently by the user.

Abstract: A method for determining paid taxes including obtaining a total price of a purchase following a transaction involving the purchase, determining a tax jurisdiction associated with the first purchase, determining a tax rate based on the tax jurisdiction, extracting a paid tax from the total price based on the tax rate, calculating a tax sum based on the paid tax, and completing a section of a form using the tax sum.

Abstract: An order fulfillment tool may indicate fulfillability information for a plurality of open orders and receive user input specifying one or more orders for potential fulfillment. In response, the order fulfillment tool may indicate revised fulfillability information for orders not specified for potential fulfillment according to the effects on a current inventory if the specified orders were fulfilled. The order fulfillment tool may also recommend orders for potential fulfillment according to user-specified order fulfillment criteria and indicate revised fulfillability information for orders not recommended for potential fulfillment. Such an order fulfillment tool may also receive user input specifying fulfillment levels for individual items of orders and update fulfillability information for other orders according to the effect of the individual fulfillment levels.

Abstract: A system that tracks financial transactions for a user is presented. During operation, the system receives an electronic message which includes one or more parameters for a financial transaction. The system parses the electronic message to extract the one or more parameters for the financial transaction. The system determines a source address for the electronic message. Next, the system determines whether the source address is associated with a user account. If so, the system associates the one or more parameters for the financial transaction with the user account.

Abstract: An automated system prepares a new tax return for a user based on information associated with the user's return from a previous year. The system uses the tax return from the previous year to obtain taxpayer data and to identify sources of current data. It retrieves current year information from the sources and uses it together with data from the previous year return to prepare a new tax return with minimal user assistance. In an embodiment, the system determines the likely accuracy of a new tax return generated based on the previous year tax return, and prepares the new tax return only if the likely accuracy is above a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A method for delivering a plurality of purchase cards includes obtaining the various purchase cards from various retailers and loading the various purchase cards into multiple purchase card feeders, wherein one or more of the multiple purchase card feeders is associated with the various purchase cards from each of the various retailers, verifying the various purchase cards associated with a user to obtain verified purchase cards, where verifying occurs while each of the various purchase cards are located on a conveyor leading from the multiple purchase card feeders to a carrier sheet, placing the verified purchase cards from the various retailers on the carrier sheet, where the carrier sheet corresponds to the user receiving the verified purchase cards, and shipping the verified purchase cards to the user.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for facilitating communication between users. The method involves capturing a dialogue between the users; analyzing the dialogue to determine a usage pattern; selecting a communication tool, based on the usage pattern, that is suitable for a communication subsequent to the dialogue; informing the plurality of users of the communication tool suitable for the communication subsequent to the dialogue; and generating a summary of the communication subsequent to the dialogue.

Abstract: A method for delivering a plurality of purchase cards includes obtaining the plurality of purchase cards from a retailer and loading the plurality of purchase cards into a plurality of purchase card feeders, activating and verifying each of the plurality of purchase cards associated with a user to obtain activated purchase cards, where activating and verifying occurs while each of the plurality of purchase cards are located on a conveyor leading from the plurality of purchase card feeders to a carrier sheet, placing the activated purchase cards on the carrier sheet, wherein the carrier sheet corresponds to the user receiving the activated purchase cards, and shipping the activated purchase cards to the user.

Abstract: A system and method for displaying contextual, user-contributed help information in a software application are disclosed. The software application may display a series of user interface screens that guide a user through a process. For each of at least a subset of the screens, the software application may be operable to display contextual help information for the screen, where the contextual help information includes information that has been contributed by other users of the software application. The software application may also enable the user to contribute new help information related to various ones of the screens, e.g., so that the new help information is subsequently viewable by other users of the software application.