Abstract: A point of sale card package, and method for manufacturing same, include an intermediate in the form of a sheet of paper material which is sequentially V-folded twice about a first and a second fold line, extending orthogonally to one another, to form four stacked panels defined by and connected at the fold lines, with a credit-card-like card disposed between two adjacent ones of the stacked panels, and the with separate portions of the peripheries of the stacked panels being adhesively joined together by a pressure sensitive adhesive.

Abstract: Methods and systems permit registration of a service provider and permit eligibility information to be provided to the service provider. Registration information is received over a financial network from a point-of-sale terminal. The registration information has an identifier associated with the point-of-sale terminal and an identification of the service provider. The identifier is associated with information identifying a device disposed at a location of the service provider in a database, permitting a communication path to the device to be established. A confirmation of registration of the point-of-sale terminal is transmitted to the device over the communication path.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided which make use of outbound calling systems to automate notification campaigns. Automated campaigns using outbound calling systems can provide a number of significant advantages over the traditional notification campaign, potentially resulting in faster, more efficient, more accurate, and more cost-effective notification campaigns.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for processing a transaction. An authorization request for the transaction is received over a financial network. The authorization request includes account information and transaction information specifying at least a transaction amount. A financial account is identified from the account information. A history of the financial account is analyzed to generate a prediction of a balance of the financial account at a specified future time. It is determined that the balance of the financial account at the specified future time will support the transaction for the transaction amount. An approval response is accordingly generated for the transaction.

Abstract: Methods and systems process a request for reimbursement of an expense incurred from a service provider by a customer. A first electronic packet having the reimbursement request is received at a coordination system. The reimbursement request includes an identification of the customer, an identification of a reimbursement-account provider, and a reimbursement amount. A second electronic packet is transmitted from the coordination system to a provider platform maintained by or on behalf of the reimbursement-account provider. The second electronic packet includes the identification of the customer, the reimbursement amount, and information related to a service provided for the customer by the service provider. A third electronic packet is received from the provider platform at the coordination system. The third electronic packet comprises an approval of the reimbursement request. Instructions are issued with the coordination system to effect payment for the service by the reimbursement-account provider.

Abstract: Methods are provided of processing a transaction between a consumer and a merchant with a disposable financial account. The disposable financial account is created automatically at a financial institution upon receipt of information provided by the consumer requesting creation of the account through an interface with the financial institution. The consumer is provided with information identifying the disposable financial account through the interface. An authorization request for the transaction is received from the merchant over a financial processing network. The authorization request includes the information identifying the disposable financial account and a transaction amount. An approval for the authorization request is returned to the merchant over the financial processing network based on financial parameters of the disposable financial account. Funds are transferred from the disposable financial account corresponding to the transaction amount to control of the merchant.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for coordinating a project-commitment process for an organization. An interface is provided to a computational system for coordinating communications among personnel of the organization. A request is received from a customer or an agent of the customer at the organization. The request includes specification of project parameters for a project. A series of communications within the organization are coordinated using the computational system to evaluate a capacity of the organization to implement the project in accordance with the project parameters. From the evaluated capacity, it is determined whether the organization may commit to performing the project on behalf of the customer.

Abstract: According to the invention, a system for verifying a steganogram is disclosed. Included in the system are a first system, a second system, a steganogram, and a steganogram preparer. The first system is coupled to an access device by way of a public network. The second system coupled to the first system. The steganogram is comprised of random data and encrypted information, which is randomly dispersed throughout the steganogram. The steganogram preparer provides the steganogram to the access device. The first system gathers a subset of the encrypted information from the access device. The second system receives the subset or a derivative of the subset and verifies that the subset or a derivative of the subset is from the steganogram.

Abstract: A printing system includes: a data storage device configured to store data representing a plurality of elements; a creation device configured to define at least one piece of printed material, the at least one piece of printed material including at least one of the plurality of elements; and a data processing device configured to read from the data storage device the data corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of elements in accordance with the at least one piece of printed material defined by the creation device and to generate data representing the at least one piece of printed material.

Abstract: According to the invention, a system for verifying a steganogram is disclosed. Included in the system are a first system, a second system, a steganogram, and a steganogram preparer. The first system is coupled to an access device by way of a public network. The second system coupled to the first system. The steganogram is comprised of random data and encrypted information, which is randomly dispersed throughout the steganogram. The steganogram preparer provides the steganogram to the access device. The first system gathers a subset of the encrypted information from the access device. The second system receives the subset or a derivative of the subset and verifies that the subset or a derivative of the subset is from the steganogram.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for generating a party static token to be used in combination with a party dynamic token for identifying a party to a host system. Identification information that identifies the party to the host system is received. Such identification information includes a host dynamic token and a host static token. A false host dynamic token that differs from the host dynamic token is generated. The host dynamic token and the false host dynamic token are encrypted. In addition, information that uniquely identifies the party dynamic token is encrypted. The party static token is produced from a combination of the encrypted host dynamic token, the encrypted false host dynamic token, and the encrypted information that uniquely identifies the party dynamic token.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for managing mail/bills from a central online location. Mail/bills are sent/forwarded to the central online location via electronically or traditional mailing service. Once the mail are received, they are sorted, and either discarded or stored in a database for further processing. The central online location further consolidates both electronic and paper formatted bills into an easily manageable and accessible manner. The subscriber can view the bills online and take appropriate action. Further, the subscriber saves time and money in not having to review unimportant mail because they are discarded in accordance with the subscriber's instructions.

Abstract: A system for processing a data file which includes versioned records of a fixed length, each record having one or more data fields and a reserve area for accommodating a change in the record format by creating a further field using a portion of the reserve area such that the length of the record is not changed. Additional records may be added to the record set to accommodate new or expanded data fields that exceed the fixed length of the records. Each record of the data file has a version number. The system includes an input vertical stack processor for transitioning previous versions of the records into a current version of the record for processing by an application processor. An output vertical stack processor creates outbound versioned records including the current version and all previous versions for each record of the data file.

Abstract: An Internet-based game for teaching personal values and financial responsibility to a child includes interactive game events, an adventure story activity with selectable story elements, a scoring system awarding a virtual collectible creature having artificial intelligence characteristics and characteristics mimicking a financial instrument, and indicia of account information.