Abstract: In embodiments, a message retriever accesses a plurality of messages and a message filter identifies, within the accessed messages, a set predictive messages. The risk/return-related messages are analyzed to identify associated return advisors. The return advisors are evaluated and ranked according to advisor scores, and risk/return-related decisions referenced in the messages are also identified, evaluated, and ranked. The ranked return advisors and decisions are used to facilitate assessment of future performance of an item or entity.

Abstract: An embodiment of a method of providing identity services includes: receiving identity data for an individual for which the identity provider has provided an identity; generating a transaction to store an identifier representing the identity data in a data structure on a blockchain of a distributed system; sending the transaction to at least one node of the distributed system; and generating an identity token incorporating the identifier representing the identity data. An embodiment of a method of verifying an identity includes: receiving data extracted from the identity token, wherein the extracted data includes an identifier representing the identity data; determining whether a data structure containing the extracted identifier representing the identity data is stored on a blockchain of a distributed system; and outputting an indication of a validity of an identity associated with the identity data based on the determination.

Abstract: Within the financial-services industry, there are online centers that allow brokers to match sellers with buyers of financial instruments based on indications of interest. To follow up on these indications of interest, users of such centers are now using proprietary instant-messaging (IM) systems, which allow them to instantaneously exchange text messages over the Internet with other users. The present inventor recognized that these communications are often inconvenient because the IM programs are isolated from the financial information. Accordingly, he devised systems, methods, and software that integrate IM and other communications-related functions into financial-data displays. Ultimately, one of more of these or other embodiments promise improved efficiency and convenience of online interactions not only for financial trading partners and others in the financial-services industry, but also for those in any private, public, and commercial domain where rapid or convenient online communication is desirable.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure relate to systems and methods for providing information about a sector and geographic focus of a company and enables user to identify the top product/brands of a company. Trademark records can be leveraged and combined with other sources of data, which can be presented to a user in an integrated graphical user interface, to facilitate combinatorial business intelligence for one or more companies. Analytical data associated with trademark records corresponding to the company included in the search can be generated to provide a ranked list of trademarked names/brands for the company and a combined or integrated view can be generated in a graphical user interface that includes the ranked list of the trademarked names/brands for the company and also includes the recent news or other information related to the trademark names/brands.

Abstract: Systems and techniques are disclosed for dynamically generating functions. The systems and techniques may be utilized to access and display information from a data store accessible to a spreadsheet-based application or program over a network. A web service is also provided that interprets data requests received from the spreadsheet-based application or program in one format, such as a natural language format, and translates the requests into syntactically correct functions with parameters for automatic execution by the spreadsheet-based application or program.