Abstract: A method and system for tracking and providing an audit trail for off-line smart card transactions includes storing information representing a monetary transaction in a permanent memo on an smart card microprocessor and holding the transaction amount in escrow until the stored information is transmitted from the smart card, for example, at an on-line terminal, to a host on-line system for logging to a tracking system. The monetary transaction includes a transaction with an off-line device, such as another smart card. The escrowed transaction amount represents, for example, a load transaction to one of the smart cards and an unload transaction to other smart card. Once the memo is deleted from the respective smart cards, the load values of the respective smart cards are incremented or decremented by the transaction amount. Alternatively, the smart cards may be provided with a card-to-card key, in which case, a permanent memo is stored only on the receiving smart card.

Abstract: A system and method for opening and tracking trouble tickets over the public Internet. A customer service management system provides information included within a customer profile record to a Web enabled infrastructure which is accessible by a remote customer workstation having a web browser and Internet access. The customer profile information is used to prepopulate data fields in dialogs used to open a trouble ticket. Once a trouble ticket is opened, the customer workstation tracks the existing trouble tickets through a browser based graphical user interface. The graphical user interface provides current and historical status reports of the actions taken to resolve a network event and the service organizations responsible for resolving the network event.

Abstract: A method is provided for processing debit transactions at the lowest cost available. The method is comprised of the following steps: providing a merchant identification number and an account number BIN file to a debit processing center; matching the merchant identification number against at least one merchant database at the debit processing center; providing a merchant network list from the at least one merchant database based upon the match of the merchant identification number; providing a customer network list from the at least one merchant database based upon the match of customer identification number; creating a merchant-customer network list by matching at least one common element from the merchant network list and the customer network list. Next the system determines the validity for each common element of the merchant-customer network list and eliminates each invalid common element from the merchant-customer network list.

Abstract: A system and method for managing a company payroll is disclosed. The system and method provide for issuing an employee an identifier. The employee may access the account at a remote payroll distribution device by disclosing the identifier. The remote payroll distribution device enables the employee to withdraw a sum of money up to the total amount of money in the account, as well as print tax withholding information as typically displayed on a check stub. Other features include printing checks for payment to various establishments which effectively eliminates the need for bank checks.

Abstract: A data processing system receives a continuous stream of real time transactional data regarding market transactions of fixed income securities. The incoming data is qualified and then used to determine the term structure of interest rates based on price information. The system provides linear interpolation techniques to complete an operative data set. This set is updated with current trade data, with term structure shifting using pivot points from newly qualified data. An index value for a pre-select portfolio of securities is then calculated and expressed in terms of price relative to par, yield to maturity and duration.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method using front-end network gateways and search criteria entered at a remote computer terminal to conduct a search of multiple financial products for efficient quoting at a remote location. The method includes the steps of providing at least one data input screen with signals communicated from a digital computer to the remote terminal connected by a communications system, the at least one data input screen at the terminal soliciting entry of financial product selection criteria, receiving the selection criteria from the terminal over the communications system at the digital computer, and using the front-end network gateways, data accessible by the digital computer representing the multiple financial products, and the selection criteria entered at the terminal to provide a quote at the terminal for a financial product identified from the multiple financial products.

Abstract: Cashless transactions are performed by transmitting information identifying a purchaser of a product without identifying a payment account for the purchaser. The transmitted identifying information is received at a central processing point and processed to determine if the purchaser is a registered purchaser. A notice confirming registration, which may take the form of a purchase authorization, is transmitted from the central processing point if the purchaser is determined to be registered. The transmitted notice is received at the point of purchase and a bill is generated for the purchased product responsive to receipt of the notice.

Abstract: The present invention provides a smooth ending system for an auction on the Internet. The system randomly selects an end time for the auction by picking an auction duration from a probability distribution, so that bidders have no preferences over the time of bidding. At any given time, assuming that the auction is still in process, there is a fixed probability, independent of the time that has elapsed since the beginning of the auction, that the auction will end within the next time unit.

Abstract: An electronic Personal Information Manager (PIM) including a calendar/scheduling system with an EarthTime™ module is described. In operation, the system tracks different types of times: “local” time, “home” time, and “remote” time. Home time is the time zone of where the user typically spends most of his or her time; this is usually the time zone for the user's home office. Local time is the time for the locality where the user is located physically at any particular instance in time. “Remote” time represents the time zones of the other individuals (i.e., other than the user). The system may show events and appointments in the user's own “local” time (or other user-selected type of time), regardless of where the user is presently located. Using these three types of time (i.e.

Abstract: A method for reducing risk including the steps of holding by a seller a liability having a future value S1 and determining the present value P1 of the liability in accordance with the future value S1. The method also calls for buying the liability by a buyer entity for a value P2 greater than the present value P1, thereby providing a first net gain holding the liability by the buyer entity for a period of time and discharging the liability at the end of the period of time for a value S1 that is less than the future value S2 thereby providing a second net gain. The present value P2 is determined according to the present value P1 and according to a time t years prior to the time at which the value of the liability reaches S1. The present value P2 is determined according to the value S2 and the future value S1 is known at the time of the determining of the present value P1. The first net gain is a net gain for the seller and the second net gain is a net gain for the buyer entity.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for interacting with a user of a trading computer includes forming a number of ticker pages, simultaneously displaying ticker page selection elements, and displaying one of the ticker pages based on an input identifying one of the page selection elements. Each ticker page includes trade order information for a negotiable item (such as a stock or other equity) and each ticker page selection element is associated with one of the ticker pages. A trading computer includes a screen that can operate as both an output display and an input digitizer and a processor coupled to the screen and to a memory. The memory includes instructions for causing the processor to form and display ticker pages on the screen. Each ticker page includes trade order information for a different negotiable item. A currently displayed ticker page may be determined based on a selection of a ticker page selection elements.

Abstract: Complex data protocols, such as the financial protocols OFX and Gold, generate data streams in which some elements may not have a one-to-one mapping between protocols, some elements may have only conditional mapping between protocols, and some elements may not supply fields or parameters under a first protocol which are required under the second protocol. Executable code and/or data structures for data conversion between such complex protocols are automatically generated. An exhaustive definition of each protocol in machine readable format is obtained, complex mapping rules between elements are broken into atomic operations and procedures which are definable and encapsulated, and a structured flow for element conversion between protocols is defined.

Abstract: A method for permitting the electronic delivery of digital content. Metadata is acquired which has been previously associated with content. Promotional metadata is extracted for use with a electronic store. At least one of the metadata is altered to create offer data. And at least one of the metadata is altered to create transaction data. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a computer readable medium is described to carry out the above method.

Abstract: A uniform service platform is provided for medical diagnostic systems. The platform includes modality interface modules which may be adapted for various system modalities, including magnetic resonance imaging modalities, computed tomography modalities, x-ray modalities, and so forth. A server coordinates the exchange of operational parameter data between the systems and external circuitry, such as a remote service facility. A browser displays user-viewable pages for viewing, requesting and receiving service information. A communications module permits the exchange of service data between a system on which the platform is installed and remote circuitry. The platform may further include a subscription module for verifying subscription and access rights, such as for security purposes. Certain portions of the platform, including the user-viewable pages and modality interface components may be specifically tailored or adapted to the modality of a system on which the platform is installed.

Abstract: A method and system for conducting electronic online auctions between a plurality of potential bidders using differential index bidding is disclosed. The originator of the auction specifies one or more indexes as the basis for establishing a competitive price point. The index can be a published market index, or a proprietary price array developed by the buyer. The bidders specify bids as a percentage or absolute amount off of the one or more indexes. The originator of the auction compares the submitted bids and provides feedback to the bidders.

Abstract: An electronic shopping system, providing for customer recognition using wireless identification and visual data transmission to point-of-sale terminals and other terminal types located in a commercial establishment. A customer's visual image is taken as a customer enters the establishment and, that customer's identification number is obtained from a customer identification card, if the customer possesses such a card. The visual image data is bundled with the customer's demographic profile data, transaction history data and the customer's current accrued store loyalty or incentive points into a customer data record. The customer data record is forwarded to point-of-sale terminals, store workstations, mobile terminals, or other I/O devices capable of displaying multiple customer records.

Abstract: The present invention relates to storing and manipulating customer purchasing information, particularly purchasing information by credit cards, debit cards, checks, and the like. A hierarchical organizational structure is created comprising a plurality of categories and sub-categories. The customer purchase information may then be retrieved according to user created links to generate customer preference information. The customer preference information may be stored in a customer account, thereby allowing targeted offers to be made to customers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for generation of strategies of investment in publicly traded stocks and a method of choosing the strategy with capital gain greater than traditional buy and hold strategy. The system and method is capable of generating thousands of investment strategies finding the best strategy delivering the optimal capital gain. The visualization method gives investor ability to analysis dynamics and stability of chosen strategy versus time with the speed of animation. Using Ad the system on a PC with 200-300 MZ CPU the user can analyze 20-40 different views for 5-10 seconds, which otherwise with the traditional technique takes more then 10,000 plots.

Abstract: The invention is in the field of using a computer to select corporate stocks for investment. A user is connected to the Internet. The user connects to the portfolio management program (PMP) host computer through the Internet. The user reviews certain strategies and their historic performance. The information is transmitted across the Internet to the user. The information transmitted includes such information as historic performance, sample holdings, modeling how the particular strategy and its holding has performed in the past. The user, after making appropriate reviews, makes a decision to purchase the names of the stocks in that portfolio. The owner of the PMP host computer collects a payment for this service. Now the user sees a list of stocks provided by the PMP host computer. If the user can then make the decision whether to accept or reject any individual stock in the generated list.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a transaction network that facilitates and simplifies purchase transactions between any number of customers and any number of merchants. The transaction network is primarily utilized in the sale and purchase of digital content via a network such as the Internet. The transaction network registers and authenticates customer purchase activities and maintains customer account data including payment information. Once registered, a customer will generally not register again for further purchase activities at participating merchant sites. Additionally, the transaction network provides a single, central authentication mechanism for all participating merchant sites using a single customer identifier and password. Further, the transaction network accumulates purchase information across all of the merchant sites and the ultimate payment processing of those purchase transactions.