Abstract: A vision system (10) for a vehicle (14) includes a light source (46) that generates an illumination beam (20). A receiver (62) generates a first image signal and a second image signal. The first image signal is generated in response to a reflected portion of the illumination beam (20). A controller is coupled to the light source (46) and the receiver (62). The controller generates an image in response to the first image signal and the second image signal.

Abstract: A method of creating, registering and marketing to the public fixed income beneficial interests entitling the owners to fractional ownership of a pool of assets that pay income. The method involves selecting and acquiring from the secondary market the pool of assets, forming a trust to hold the pool of assets, creating beneficial interests in the trust, smoothing the flow of income from the assets, registering the beneficial interests for sale to the public pursuant the Securities Act of 1983, and marketing the interests. The assets can be selected to provide substantially constant payments and to return substantially par value at maturity. An automated system useful in implementing the method is described.

Abstract: A system for archive integrity management and related methods are disclosed. The invention includes one or more integrity manager applications, each of which monitor the integrity of an aspect of a data archive. Some integrity manager applications monitor the integrity of processes executed by the archive system, and other integrity manager applications monitor the integrity of communication paths in the archive system. A file input integrity manager application monitors the integrity of a plurality of processes associated with storing a new data file in the archive. A business content integrity manager application determines what documents are required for a transaction and monitors whether all of the required documents have been received by the archive system. Further, an event integrity manager application executes predetermined events triggered by characteristics of documents stored in the archive system and ensures that all events have been properly executed.

Abstract: As an alternative to bill payments made with paper checks, customers are provided with “Sign-to-Pay” payment coupons along with their bills. A customer elects to pay the bill either by check or by returning the “Sign-to-Pay” payment coupon. The coupon will not contain the customer's checking account information. However, the payment amount indicated on the coupon will subsequently be deducted from the customer's checking account. Preferably, bill payments will be made through the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network which is an efficient and less expensive alternative to the traditional check clearing process.

Abstract: A system and method for conducting financial transactions in an isolated economic environment. The present invention includes a non-isolated financial account system based in a non-isolated environment which maintains accounts for users. A self-sufficient financial account system in the isolated economic environment maintains a representation of the account. The account in the non-isolated financial account system and the self-sufficient financial account system are synchronized using the asynchronous connection. When the asynchronous connection is not available, the self-sufficient financial account system funds the representation of the account in anticipation of a funding of the account in the non-isolated financial account system, such as a regular direct deposit of a payroll check.

Abstract: A system and method for processing partially unstructured data relating to a financial security. The system and method resolve first- and second-identifying data from the partially unstructured data and determine whether a security is defined by the first-identifying data and the second-identifying data. Additionally, the system and method resolve trade information relating to the security identifier from the partially unstructured data. If a security is defined by the resolved identifying data, a security identifier representing the defined security, along with the trade information relating to the defined security, are output.

Abstract: An asset-backed investment instrument that increases deferred tax liabilities for an investor and, therefore, is attractive to any investor that benefits from deferred tax liabilities, such as certain insurance companies. Ownership of an asset underlying the investment instrument is transferred to an investing entity. The transferred asset is leased from the investing entity for a predetermined period. The lease may include a like-kind exchange feature to lengthen the predetermined period of the lease and to allow the accrued deferred tax liabilities to remain outstanding for a longer period of time. The lease may also include a Terminal Rental Adjustment Clause to remove the risk of a change in an estimated residual value from the investing entity.

Abstract: Data to be archived may be stored in a data storage system in a compressed format that allows the compressed data to be accessible without decompression. Along with the data, supporting information is stored in the data storage system. The supporting information may include a location of the data in the storage system and at least one of a schema associated with the data and application information The application information may include a name and version number of an application used to access the data. One or more queries used to access the data may be stored in the storage system or elsewhere. Query attributes also may be stored in the storage system or elsewhere. Query attributes may include a location of a stored query and at least one of data, data formats, and database schemas compatible with a query.

Abstract: Data items are represented by trees and stored in a database, the collection of data items defining a forest. Queries and masks are also represented by trees. A method for navigating the forest of data items is disclosed in the context of a graphical user interface. A set of operations on trees are defined such that the data items can be queried on the basis of structure as well as node values. That is, the query can include a specification of the relationship between nodes in a tree, as well as the data in the nodes themselves. Exemplary implementations of such operations are disclosed in the context of a database update procedure. Additionally disclosed are methods for efficiently storing and processing the forest of data items.

Abstract: A job processing framework according to the present invention allows an application to be developed independent of any particular service. Tasks performed by the application are broken up into smaller units of work, or “jobs,” which are each bound to a particular service at execution, or “deployment.” The binding occurs via a “deployer” comprising a configuration source. The configuration source includes instructions that bind particular jobs with a particular service. Therefore, if improved services are developed subsequent to the application, only the configuration source needs to be updated, not the application. Accordingly, significant time and expense is saved by allowing applications to be developed independent of particular services.

Abstract: A system and method for imaging and capturing information from checks and documents contained in a lockbox remittance. A computer workstation is used to generate and print a header sheet that includes information identifying the check. The header sheet is appended to the front of the documents and the document are imaged using a scanner. Identifying information from each of the documents is used to create a data record for each document. In parallel to the scanning of the documents, the checks are scanned and images are created for each of the checks. Additionally, identifying information from each of the checks (e.g., the check number, the amount, etc.) is manually input into a database, thus creating a data record for each check.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software that enable a remote host computer in receipt of a client transmission to reject subsequent redundant or duplicate transmissions from the client. The invention provides systems, methods, and software for attaching unique identifiers to transmissions sent to a client by a host computer. Upon sending the transmission with the attached unique identifier to the client, the host computer stores the unique identifier. The invention further provides methods, systems, and software for attaching the same unique identifier received by the client from the host computer to the particular client transmission that is responsive to the particular host computer transmission. Comparison of the unique identifier attached to the client transmission with stored unique identifiers allows the host computer to reject redundant transmissions.

Abstract: Method of facilitating resolution of a dispute between a buyer and a seller in an electronic payment system. An electronic payment system is also described. An invoice is received from the seller and is electronically routed to the individuals in the buyer's organization. Indications that the invoice is disputed, corrections to the invoice, comments for the seller regarding the invoice and comments for other individuals in the buyer's organization are received from a set of two or more individuals in the buyer's organization. An indication that the invoice is disputed, corrections to the invoice and comments for the seller are forwarded to the seller without forwarding the comments for other individuals in the buyer's organization. A response to the buyer's indication that the invoice is disputed is received from the seller. The response includes an acceptance of changes suggested by the buyer or an indication that the seller disputes the changes suggested by the buyer.

Abstract: The present invention involves methods and systems for managing successful completion of a network of processes. The network of processes can be represented as a graph. In this representation, the nodes of the graph represent the processes, and the edges of the graph represent events associated with the processes. Processing starts at the root node, and is based on the result of an initially unknown graph. When an event is to be produced or consumed, a message to that effect is transmitted to a component called a Q-Manager. Using the messages, which are received in event order, the Q-Manager keeps track of the state of the graph, and determines when successful completion of the processing has occurred. Once this occurs, the Q-Manager sends a notification indicating completion of the network.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems for managing call reports. A call report message and information identifying a client matter are received via a wireless network, a distribution list is determined by applying a set of visibility rules, and the call report is created. Access to the call report is based on the distribution list. The visibility rules are rules that encapsulate the various legal and ethical requirements for allowing access to a client matter. The visibility rules may be created using a suitable script language, and be adjusted from time to time.

Abstract: According to the inventive method, a network, including its software environment, is suspended in a manner that completely preserves the previous running environment and frees the network to perform other tasks for a period of time, and then to resume the original test as if it had never been interrupted. The method suspends a computer network that is running a test of a first software environment. It suspends the first software environment by a software suspension and then runs a second software environment on the computer network. At the completion of the run of the second software environment, the first software environment can be resumed, as if it had not been interrupted. A sequence of steps allows for the orderly shutdown and persists the entire network's operating state at the time of suspension.

Abstract: A system and a method for comparing Extensible Markup Language (XML) documents includes providing two XML documents as XML objects to a comparison tool and providing a list of XML items to be either included or excluded from the comparison. The comparison tool provides an application program interface (API), which allows it to be plugged into any application. The adaptability of the comparison tool to any application and the ability to exclude items from the comparison, or limit the comparison to specific items, provide for a flexible tool that improves performance for a user.

Abstract: A system and method that provides a cross-platform queue viewer for use in a distributed processing system comprising a plurality of operational platforms that cooperate to perform various functions and tasks. The queues may be, for example, message queues in a distributed operating environment. A web browser is in communication with an application server. The web browser provides the application server with information regarding a query request. The application server communicates this request to one or more message servers. The message server communicates queue information responsive to the query back to the application server. The application server processes this information into a form that is easily understood by the requester.

Abstract: A hub-and-spoke communication arrangement is provided, in which the “hub” includes a server computer system. The “spokes” are other computers that act as message originators and/or destinations. All internal-to-external messages, and vice versa, are routed through the server computer system to reduce the number of proprietary connections needed between the internal and external entities. In addition, the server computer system provides protocol conversion, message payload conversion, encryption conversion, message broadcast, and/or message archival functionality, so that the “spoke” computers need not be concerned with providing such functionality on their own.

Abstract: A method that provides access to Privileged Accounts to users with Privileged Account access permission. A message is sent to a Privileged Accounts manager when a user logs into a Privileged Account. The user must enter a reason for access. All keystrokes are logged. At the conclusion of the user session, the log file is closed and another message is sent to the Privileged Accounts manager. The log file may be sent to the manager at this time or saved for a batch transfer periodically.