Abstract: A method and system automatically harmonizes access to a given software application program via different access devices. Through use of the method and system, a financial institution can provide access to a given application (such as, for example, automatic bill payment services) to customers using different access devices such web browsers, screen phones and personal computers. A single application program is all that needs to be written and maintained by the financial institution. Also, the method and system enables financial institutions to “leverage” existing programs because now the institution can automatically “project” its existing stock of program services unto new access devices—devices which may not have even existed at the time the program was created. By receiving information from the user via the user's access device, including information identifying the type of device being used and the application program the user wishes to access, the present invention solves these problems.

Abstract: Methods and systems for secure user authentication utilizes OTP generation and validation techniques in which the shared secret for generating the OTP is not stored in the user's mobile device but instead is dynamically synthesized based on a PIN that activates the OTP generation and the personalized OTP data. The client software has no knowledge of what the correct PIN should be and always generates a normal looking OTP based on whatever PIN is entered, and the only way to learn whether or not the OTP is correct is to submit it during user login. By limiting the number of failed login attempts before the account is locked, brute-force attacks via the online channel will fail, and further, brute-force attacks to uncover the correct PIN for generating the correct OTP offline will also fail even if a hacker steals the user's mobile device and extracts the data inside for offline hacking, because there is nothing on the client that contains the PIN or encrypted by the PIN.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system for managing transaction card accounts involves enabling a transaction card account by a card issuer for use with pre-defined categories of providers of goods/services and goods/services sold and issuing a transaction card and establishing an associated pre-qualified category card account. Upon receiving data for a transaction with the transaction card at a transaction terminal by a processing platform of the card issuer via a card association processing network, the category of the provider and goods/services is interrogated to determine whether or not the transaction can be posted on the pre-qualified category card account of the cardholder, and the transaction is approved and posted to the pre-qualified category card account if the transaction falls within the pre-qualified category of the cardholder.

Abstract: A system and method for issuing letters of credit. The system and method issue a first letter of credit from a second party to a third party, and issue at least one second letter of credit from the third party to at least one fourth party. The system and method also provide a credit facility from the second party to a first party, the credit facility associated with the first and second letters of credit. The system and method also transfer credit risk from the credit facility to at least one fifth party under a participation agreement.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for electronically delivering banking services to end clients and, more particularly, using Internet based technologies as a means of exposing those services. The solution to this problem set forth in this invention is the creation of a common electronic delivery infrastructure and application deployment environment, exposing an institution's entire portfolio of corporate banking services to its clients at a number of different locations at any time.

Abstract: A system and method whereby an unregistered, anonymous user at an organization's website makes a submission/inquiry and is able to access a secure response containing private information without pre-registering or establishing an account with the organization. A response to the user is made via an unsecured e-mail notification that provides the user with an HTTPS link to an authentication page. The user then enters his/her user identification, for example, the user email address and password which was associated with the original submission/inquiry. Once the email address and password is authenticated, the secure response message is displayed on the user's web browser in SSL. Each response is provided on a per-submission basis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a solution for treating a surface of a substrate for use in a semiconductor device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a liquid rinse formulation for use in semiconductor processing, wherein the liquid formulation contains: i. a surface passivation agent; and ii. an oxygen scavenger, wherein the pH of the rinse formulation is 8.0 or greater.

Abstract: Digital receipts for electronic data and computer-implemented methods and systems for creating such digital receipts involve, for example, generating a visual representation of the electronic data in a pre-defined format that visually represents the data without requiring that the represented data be embedded in the format, computing a mathematical representation of the electronic data and associating the mathematical representation of the electronic data with the visual representation of the electronic data, and receiving a user's digital signature on the associated visual and mathematical representations of the electronic data to evidence the user's approval of the represented electronic data.

Abstract: Securities, methods for raising capital using such securities, and systems for managing such securities are provided. The securities provide protection in bankruptcy to investors for a portion of deferred distributions earned by the investor on the security. The security may also provide a call protection period with limitations on capital replacement, and optional and/or mandatory deferral of distributions.

Abstract: A method and system for trading long and short inventory positions in securities for participants involves systematically obtaining long and short position information from each participant, processing the information in accordance with participant-controlled parameters, matching the participants' short positions to other participants' long positions and feeding the resultant activity back to each participant in the form of system-generated repo and reverse repo trades, while maintaining the anonymity of the participants. Another aspect enables trading baskets of serial overnight trades, each of which is treated as an independent overnight repo/reverse trade for financial reporting purposes, with corresponding notional amount, that involves, for example, cancellation of a basket trade and creating in its place a series of overnight trades corresponding to the basket trade.

Abstract: A method and system provides for scanning a check and/or cash to create an electronic image of the front and the back of the check and/or cash. The image is then processed and transmitted electronically to a central location. The image may be recreated into a paper form at the central location, resembling the original paper check or cash, including a machine-readable regeneration of the MICR code line data captured from the original instrument. Paperless processing of checks and cash is thus provided, including local voiding and storage of the check without requiring immediate pickup, while still allowing the transaction to be process.

Abstract: A library of jobs is created, with the jobs performing predetermined functions. The jobs include a termination indication, which is success or failure. Input file formats of known file types are determined and a job stream to process the input files is constructed of the jobs linked according to the termination success or failure of the preceding job.

Abstract: A LIN network comprises a transmit driver for communicating on a single communication bus. A slope control module is operably coupled to a supply voltage and arranged to identify a voltage transition, and in response thereto and via control of the transmit driver selectively apply one of: a first voltage transition mode comprising a constant DV/DT slope transition, or a second voltage transition mode comprising a fixed time transition.

Abstract: In a system and method for managing risk of fluctuation on company share prices, a financial institution sells a put to a company on a specified number of shares of stock of the company, the put including a strike price that is a predetermined percentage less than a market price of the shares of stock of the company. The financial institution also purchases a call from the company on the specified number of shares of stock of the company, the call including a strike price that is a predetermined percentage greater than the market price of the shares of stock of the company.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a web trading system and method for performing financial transactions securely over a public data network, such as the Internet, using a web browser as the user interface. The financial transactions are offered, for example, by a financial institution to its customers at the institution's web site. They include transactions such as foreign currency exchange, currency and money market trades, and warrant trades. The web trading system and method provide secure communication protocol between the Internet user interface and a virtual private network (VPN) of a financial institution to enable implementation of trading applications by the financial institution's application servers across the VPN.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods and systems for managing consumer transactional accounts provides a temporary line of credit with an installment option that a consumer can use for specific occasions or life events. The account remains open for only a limited period of time during which interest does not accrue. Thereafter, the account automatically expires, interest begins to accrue on the amount charged on the account, and an invoice is sent to the consumer with a number of payment options.

Abstract: A global customer activated terminal (CAT) that primarily serves traveling customers who require access to their accounts when they are away from their home financial institution and beyond their local regional financial area is provided. The system provides applications that permit users to access their accounts and utilize account profiles and transaction journals within a generic global system approach, and each transaction set provides access to the user's full account profile. The traveling customer is also provided with access to all their accounts linked (as they would locally) to a specific card. The hardware employed in the system supports encryption key downloading, personal identification number (PIN) unscrambling and PIN encryption, so that security is instituted at the hardware level. To provide the maximum flexibility at each regional level for product and services offered, regional front end processors (FEPs) and Hosts (small financial systems) are the arbitrators of each transaction . . .

Abstract: A method for updating web pages on a web server without republishing the web pages involves providing on a production database server a live version of one or more business data tables containing information used to populate web pages on a production web server and storing in a quality assurance database server a quality assurance version of the business data tables that can be used to populate pages on a quality assurance web server. A maker at a business workstation can access the quality assurance database server from time to time and enter a change to data on the quality assurance version of the business data tables.

Abstract: A method and system for trading long and short inventory positions in securities for participants involves systematically obtaining long and short position information from each participant, processing the information in accordance with participant-controlled parameters, matching the participants' short positions to other participants' long positions and feeding the resultant activity back to each participant in the form of system-generated repo and reverse repo trades, while maintaining the anonymity of the participants. Another aspect enables trading baskets of serial overnight trades, each of which is treated as an independent overnight repo/reverse trade for financial reporting purposes, with corresponding notional amount, that involves, for example, cancellation of a basket trade and creating in its place a series of overnight trades corresponding to the basket trade.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for offering a novel mandatorily convertible securities (e.g., DECS) by using a third party entity (either a corporate entity or a newly-formed independent trust) to: 1) issue and sell novel DECS to market investors; 2) obtain from a first entity shares of common stock in a second entity, or rights to receive such shares in the future, to satisfy the mandatory conversion requirement of the DECS; 3) sell or retain the rights to any residual value obtained after satisfying the obligation to DECS investors; and 4) use the proceeds from such sale or retained value to fund a portion of the DECS coupon.

Abstract: A system for processing a semiconductor substrate during fabrication of semiconductor devices provides a plurality of semiconductor substrate processing stations in a physically integrated system, as well as a semiconductor substrate transport system for transporting a semiconductor substrate between the respective processing stations. In particular, the processing system according to the present invention favors the use of liquid phase process steps, particularly deposition process steps, instead of gas or vapor phase processing. Even more particularly, the system contemplates deposition of a metallic barrier layer 30 on the semiconductor substrate in liquid phase.

Abstract: A system and method for performing an on-line transaction, such as making a payment, with a single-use payment instrument makes use of computer hardware and software, such as the computing device of a customer, the customer's bank's home banking server, the bank's card authorization server, a vendor's website server, and the vendor's credit card acquirer, coupled to one another over a network. The customer is issued a single use payment instrument through the bank, the bank debits an account nominated by the customer for the requested value of the payment instrument and may also specify an expiry for the payment instrument. The customer is able to nominate a particular source of funds for each transaction from among various accounts of the customer. The payment instrument settles and clears through existing credit card payment mechanisms without a need for special accommodation with the Internet vendor.

Abstract: The present invention provides secure, high-volume, processing methods and systems for multiple financial instruments that combine collateral matching to identify matched and unmatched financial transactions and consolidated mark to market valuations for all parties to a matched financial transaction.

Abstract: A method and system of matching an investor's objectives for portfolio investment return and risk with an assessment of a range of expected returns and risks that are likely to be generated by investment portfolios consisting at least in part of alternative asset classes that involves, for example, selecting available historical data for a plurality of alternative asset classes, unsmoothing the historical data based at least in part on historical data for traditional asset classes related to the respective alternative asset classes, and correcting the historical data for the alternative asset classes for an impact of survivorship and selection biases.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods and systems for management of real-time and historical data for multiple call centers in which real-time and historical data are received electronically from a plurality of call center sites and displayed simultaneously for each of the plurality of call center sites on a single display screen in a separate call center site column for each call center and integrated and displayed for all of the plurality of call center sites in a separate division column on the single display screen.

Abstract: A method, the method includes providing data; retrieving interleaving command information from a two dimensional array of interleaving command information; wherein the two dimensional array includes multiple interleaving command information rows, each row includes interleaving commands associated with multiple TDM time slots; and determining, in response to the retrieved interleaving command information, whether to provide data from a first data source or from a second data source.

Abstract: A method and system for obtaining ATM device services utilizes a service provider framework in which data is received by an ATM application that indicates there is a need for the performance of an ATM device function. The ATM application issues a request to an XFS manager to get the ATM device service by making a sub-routine call to the XFS manager to get the ATM device service from a service provider. The XFS manager translates the sub-routine call as an entry point into the service provider for processing by the service provider, and a request object associated with the request is instantiated. The service provider is implemented by instantiating an instance of the service provider framework XFS service provider base class and one or more instances of the service provider framework request objects required to process the request. After processing the request, the service provider returns a result to the ATM application.

Abstract: A quantitative model combines a one-dimensional risk-assessment approach with expert knowledge to enable calculation of a probability or likelihood of exploitation of a threat to an information system asset without referring to actuarial information. A numerical value is established for one or more threats of attack on the information system asset based on expert knowledge without reference to actuarial data, and likewise, based on expert knowledge without reference to actuarial data, a numerical value is established for each of one or more access and privilege components of one or more vulnerabilities to attack on the information system asset. A security risk level for the information system asset is computed based upon the numerical values for threat and the access and privilege components for vulnerability so established.

Abstract: A method for executing a DMA task, the method includes receiving a request to execute a DMA task; the method characterized by including: defining inter-buffer jumping points at substantially an end of one or more dimensions of each multidimensional buffer out of a plurality of multidimensional buffers; and executing multiple DMA sub-tasks, wherein the executing includes jumping between buffers at the inter-buffer jumping points. A device hat includes at least one memory unit and a DMA controller adapted to access the memory unit; the device is characterized by being adapted to implement multidimensional buffers within the at least one memory unit; wherein the DMA controller is adapted to execute multiple DMA sub-tasks, wherein the execution comprises jumping between buffers at inter-buffer jumping points; and wherein the inter-buffer jumping points are defined at substantially an end of one or more dimensions of each multidimensional buffer out of a plurality of multidimensional buffers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for devising and implementing automated artificial neural networks to predict market performance and direction movements of the U.S. Treasury market, mortgage option-adjusted spreads (OAS), interest rate swap spreads, and U.S. Dollar/Mexican Peso exchange rate. The methods and systems of the present invention employ techniques used in actual neural networks naturally occurring in biological organisms to develop artificial neural network models for predicting movements in the financial market that are capable of extracting in a very consistent fashion non-linear relationships among input variables of the models that are readily apparent to the human traders.

Abstract: An electronic device comprises a processing unit operably coupled to a buffer random access memory, in turn operably coupled to a non-volatile memory configured to emulate an electrically erasable programmable read only memory. The processing unit is arranged to transfer data between the buffer RAM and the non-volatile memory at a first clock frequency. A second RAM is operably coupled between the processing unit and the non-volatile memory and the processing unit sets a Tag bit in the second RAM to identify an address in the buffer RAM that is being written to or read from by the processing unit.

Abstract: An arrangement and method for discontinuous software FDD monitoring during TDD call allows removal of a conventional external notch filter in a dual mode WCDMA and PCS/DCS handset. The WCDMA RX frame is allowed to have a few slots corrupted by the PCS/DCS transmitter noise during DCS transmission, and a scheme is used to recover the required information by not considering the corrupted slots. Due to the fact that during WCDMA FDD RX monitoring, the processing required is performed in stages, and since the information that is measured during a WCDMA frame is repeated in every frame, the scheme of the invention is based on the idea that if a given slot is corrupted in a WCDMA frame, in the next WCDMA frame the slot will be no more corrupted due to the difference in timing between the PCS/DCS transmitter protocol and the WCDMA timing protocol.

Abstract: A delivery system and method allow a financial institution to provide financial services to a plurality of remote devices, such as personal computers, personal data assistants, and screen phones. In addition to providing services to these remote devices, the system and method provide services to automatic teller machines (ATMs), external service providers, and internally within the financial institution to staff terminals and to the individual branches of the financial institution. The delivery of financial services is not limited to any particular network but rather may be provided through dial-in access, Internet access, on-line service provider access, or other types of delivery networks. The system is comprised of a set of re-usable global components which are modular and are organized into services sets.

Abstract: A method and system for combining multiple access points and utilizing certificates as an access method to a system from multiple access points enables use of a certificate that is stored within a smart card to access a host system through a browser, such that when the user accesses the application on the server, the application requires that the card and certificate be present for authentication of the individual user, and concurrently allows an external system to access applications on a host server using a certificate stored on the external system for authenticating itself to the host server. A certificate for certificate-based authentication is created and distributed to a choice of storage methods, such as a microcomputer of an integrated chip card, a computer disk of a computing device disposed in a secure environment, or a Hardware Security Module (HSM) associated with the computing device.

Abstract: A system for open electronic commerce having a customer trusted agent securely communicating with a first money module, and a merchant trusted agent securely communicating with a second money module. Both trusted agents are capable of establishing a first cryptographically secure session, and both money modules are capable of establishing a second cryptographically secure session. The merchant trusted agent transfers electronic merchandise to the customer trusted agent, and the first money module transfers electronic money to the second money module. The money modules inform their trusted agents of the successful completion of payment, and the customer may use the purchased electronic merchandise.

Abstract: A method and system for escrow service for web-based transactions is web-accessible and accepts registrations from exchanges and/or portal partners. The completion of registration and transactions is allowed to entitled users who access the system via the web. The system maintains an internal banking engine to act as a deal manager, messaging service and accounts sub-ledger and escrows funds entrusted to it. The transaction process is composed of a number of transaction statuses, and reporting of those statuses to users is accomplished online and via web query. The system supports several methods of payment, such as credit cards, authorized Automated Clearing House (ACH) or equivalent direct debit/credit and wire transfer payments, and all funds movements are electronic. The system supports transaction level detail through its banking engine accounts; funds movements from its currency accounts, and escrows funds to currency based escrow accounts.

Abstract: A method and system for centralized automated reconciliation of investment manager and related custody accounts makes use of computer hardware and software in a service bureau environment to receive information and records electronically from fund managers and custodian banks in different formats, to reformat the files for inputting to the system, and to perform the reconciliation process in a uniform manner. The system also allows one or both of fund managers and custodians to establish matching rules, to view the results of the matching process, to track the investigation process for unmatched records, and to manually match unmatched records.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for providing unified authentication services in an Application Service Provider (ASP) setting to a registered end-user of one or more online (or web) applications. The system includes client side components, a user management component coupled to the client side components and server side components coupled to the user management component. The client side components include an authentication control component that manages the process of capturing a user-determined policy for a first account and user credentials. This allows the user to define the level of protection to access the first account. This includes, but is not limited to, accounts/applications that have been configured specifically for used with the system and particular user credentials and accounts that have been subsequently set up but configured to use the same user credentials.

Abstract: A method for managing workflow for an application, including obtaining an application adapter associated with the application, wherein the application adapter specifies a sub-task, monitoring the application to obtain a state, and performing an action associated with the sub-task, if the state is associated with the sub-task.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems for promoting banking services to non-customers at an automated teller machine (ATM) through an incentive system. Non-customers who enroll in the incentive system are awarded points based on ATM use, viewing of advertisements at an ATM, and other factors. When a pre-determined number of points is accumulated by the non-customer, the non-customer is provided with an award (e.g., a convenience fee for use of the ATM is forgiven). In addition, use of networked ATMs by the non-customer is tracked in order to provide tailored awards and advertisements.

Abstract: A system and method for performing an on-line transaction, such as making a payment, with a single-use payment instrument makes use of computer hardware and software, such as the computing device of a customer, the customer's bank's home banking server, the bank's card authorization server, a vendor's website server, and the vendor's credit card acquirer, coupled to one another over a network. The customer is issued a single use payment instrument through the bank, the bank debits an account nominated by the customer for the requested value of the payment instrument and may also specify an expiry for the payment instrument. The customer is able to nominate a particular source of funds for each transaction from among various accounts of the customer. The payment instrument settles and clears through existing credit card payment mechanisms without a need for special accommodation with the Internet vendor.

Abstract: A method and system of managing a mortgage rebate transaction card account in which a transaction card provider computes a mortgage rebate amount based on the amount of charges incurred against the account and periodically arranges for application of the mortgage rebate amount against a mortgage loan balance for the cardholder. The account is provided by the transaction card provider in connection with either a pre-existing mortgage loan of the cardholder or a prospective mortgage loan of the cardholder. Further, the account can be provided in connection with a mortgage loan from any mortgage lender regardless of the existence or non-existence of an affiliation or association between the transaction card provider and the mortgage lender.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for electronically delivering banking services to end clients and, more particularly, using Internet based technologies as a means of exposing those services. The solution to this problem set forth in this invention is the creation of a common electronic delivery infrastructure and application deployment environment, exposing an institution's entire portfolio of corporate banking services to its clients at a number of different locations at any time.

Abstract: A method and system for automated settlement and on-line debiting of a financial transaction, such as an emergency-cash transaction, is provided. A bank customer enters a foreign-branch bank and indicates a need for emergency cash. The customer is given a telephone by which the customer communicates with an interactive-voice response system in the customer's language. The system bridges the customer with the customer's home bank, which approves the requested emergency cash. A network in communication with the voice response system and with the issuer automatically initiates an on-line debiting of an account of the customer. The network also initiates and carries out settlement between the acquirer and the issuer by way of settlement accounts.

Abstract: A multi-chip package includes a package substrate. First and second semiconductor die are formed on the package substrate. The first and the second semiconductor die are configured to communicate with each other via a high-speed serial communications protocol.

Abstract: A method and system for purchased-based segmentation of potential customers employs the use of actual, observed purchases instead of presumptions and correlations to improve the accuracy of segmentation and involves collecting empirical data for a client on actual purchasing behavior of a group of customers and applying statistical modeling techniques to the empirical purchasing behavior data to identify segments or clusters of the customers that exhibit similar purchasing propensity characteristics. Thereafter, the segments or clusters are further differentiated from one another according to other factors having a tendency to directly affect actual purchasing behavior of the customers within the segments or clusters, and potential customers are then identified according to a correlation with the segments or clusters for customized marketing.

Abstract: A method and system for awarding rebates based on credit card usage to a consumer credit card holder is provided. A rebate tally is accrued based on a percentage of eligible purchases made by the consumer card holder. The rebate is earned when the consumer card holder makes a qualifying purchase, which may be, for example, an automobile sold by any manufacturer. The rebate program disclosed does not associate the rebate earned with any particular manufacturer. The rebate is paid directly by the credit card issuer to the credit card holder.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product that utilizes measurements for the authentication of users to enterprise resources. The system includes an authentication server that stores the engine and collections of data required by the system to authenticate users. The collections of data include templates, policies, groups, device IDs, user IDs, computer IDs and application IDs. In the present invention, it is the policies that determine the way or method in which a user is to be authenticated by the system. The pre-defined polices include an OR policy, an AND policy, a CONTINGENT policy, a RANDOM policy and a THRESHOLD policy, a multi-user policy, a multi-location policy, a multi-template policy, a user dependent policy, a location restriction policy, and a computer/device specific policy.