Abstract: The present invention includes a system and method of electronically executing transactions with a preprogrammed main computer having data and image storage and retrieval equipment. A plurality of electronic images of works of art which are for sale are created by at least one listing dealer and stored on the storage equipment associated with the main computer. Data is input about each stored image and input data is associated with each corresponding stored image. Search criteria are input through intelligent terminals for selecting at least one of the stored electronic images for review. Selected images and corresponding data are communicated to the intelligent terminals and at least a portion of the selected electronic images are displayed. A reservation on at least one of the displayed electronic images can be made to prevent the completion of a sale transaction involving the artwork corresponding to the selected reserved electronic image.

Abstract: Existing software proposals for electronic payments can be divided into "on-line" schemes which require participation of a trusted party (the bank) in every transaction and are secure against overspending, and "off-line" schemes which do not require a third party and guarantee only that overspending is detected when vendors submit their transaction records to the bank (usually at the end of the day). A new "hybrid" scheme is proposed which combines the advantages of both "on-line" and "off-line" electronic payment schemes. It allows for control of overspending at a cost of only a modest increase in communication compared to the off-line schemes. The protocol is based on probabilistic polling. During each transaction, with some small probability, the vendor forwards information about this transaction to the bank. This enables the bank to maintain an accurate approximation of a customer's spending.

Abstract: An electronic promotion system apparatus and method provide promotions across a computer network. The promotion system includes a shopper browser communicating with a merchant server. A shopper places an order using the shopper browser. The order is received by the merchant server. A purchasing pipeline executing in the merchant server process the order. The purchasing pipeline includes a promotion component. The promotion component determines the eligibility of the shopper for each one of multiple promotions using information stored in a promotion table. Furthermore, the eligibility of each item on the shopper order to trigger each one of the multiple promotions is determined. Additionally, the eligibility of each item on the shopper order to receive an award is determined. The awards are then applied appropriately. Each item may be used to trigger only one promotion where awards were granted. Furthermore, each item may only receive one award.

Abstract: Techniques for optimizing decision making apparatus by instrumenting the apparatus and running it on test data which has the characteristics of the data upon which the decision making apparatus is to be used. The information provided by the instruments is then used to reorder the application of the criteria used by the decision making apparatus to the data. The techniques are applied in rule-based system which employs a decision network to evaluate the rules. The decision network is instrumented and the rule-based system is run on the test data. The results returned by the instrumentation are used to determine how to rearrange condition elements in the rules so that the flow of data through the decision network is minimized. The condition elements are then rearranged in that fashion and the modified rule-based system is employed on real data.

Abstract: Dynamic advertising scheduling, display, and tracking for the world wide web. The invention includes at least one template web page that has conventional HTML codes defining the format and content of the web page. Special "ad tags" are used to indicate the characteristics of an ad that can be displayed on a web page at the position of the ad tag. A request to view a page is sent to a server-resident parser. The parser accesses the template for the requested page, parses the conventional HTML codes, and provides such codes to the user. In addition, the parser "expands" each ad tag to standard HTML code that defines the characteristics of an ad. During expansion of ad tags, the parser determines from each ad tag the type of ad that can be inserted at the page position of the ad tag; a bin identifier defining which ads can be associated with the ad tag; a page identifier of the page associated with the ad tag; and various optional flags and codes.

Abstract: An electronic cash register with a learning function for registering items of articles on sale in a chit file and performing a transaction settlement processing by computing a total amount of registered items on the basis of data stored in the chit file. As structural constituent factors of the chit file, there are set in the electronic cash register a maximum customer number per chit, a maximum number of items for registration per chit and a maximum number of chit files capable of being disposed by the cash register through manipulation of corresponding keys. The cash register includes a unit for generating chit file suited for configuration of a shop where the cash register is used, and a unit for setting control information for issuing the chit file, provisional closing of the file, recalling thereof, issuance of a bill.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a store level marketing system and a unique printer to be used in the system. The store level marketing system includes an activation device for initiating use of the system and for providing the system with information about the consumer using it, a network interface or computer for selecting a series of offers/discounts to be printed on a piece of paper, and a printer for printing a paper document containing the selected offers/discounts. The system further includes a checkout station which communicates with the network interface or the computer to provide it with information about the purchases made by the consumer. In a preferred embodiment, the printer is a thermal printer provided with a mechanism for substantially eliminating any curl in the paper being fed into the printer. The curl eliminating mechanism includes a tube which is pressed against the paper to impart a reverse curl to the paper which is opposite to the natural curl of the paper.

Abstract: A system and method for managing and providing customer account information within a telecommunications system include and involve a data storage system for storing a link record corresponding to a customer account managed by an account management system maintained within the telecommunications system, and a processor that is coupled to the data storage system. The processor is operative to receive a message containing a process request related to the customer account from a requesting system, to convert the message into a process object, to retrieve the link record from the data storage system in accordance with the process object, to generate a response message including the link record, and to submit the response message to the requesting system.

Abstract: A computer implemented system for inter-domain analysis is disclosed. The system includes a domain engine (234), associated with a first supply chain entity, having a local model representing a supply chain activity of the first supply chain entity. The domain engine (234) operable to generate a model agent (240) that represents a partial replica of the local model. The system also includes another domain engine (236), associated with a second supply chain entity, having a local model representing a supply chain activity of the second supply chain entity. The other domain engine is operable to generate a model agent representing a partial replica of the local model. The domain engines (234 and 236) further operate to expand the respective local models using the remote model agents (240) to accomplish local inter-domain analysis. In one embodiment, the model agents (240) can be data model agents, object model agents and behavior model agents.

Abstract: The following procedures describe the use of cellular telephones and other analog or digital wireless communication devices to conduct transactions and activities. These procedures effectively allow such devices to function as an electronic wallet, a wireless PIN pad, and a contactless Smart Card.

Abstract: Computer network method and apparatus provides targeting of appropriate audience based on psychographic or behavioral profiles of end users. The psychographic profile is formed by recording computer activity and viewing habits of the end user. Content of categories of interest and display format in each category are revealed by the psychographic profile, based on user viewing of agate information. Using the profile (with or without additional user demographics), advertisements are displayed to appropriately selected users. Based on regression analysis of recorded responses of a first set of users viewing the advertisements, the target user profile is refined. Viewing by and regression analysis of recorded responses of subsequent sets of users continually auto-targets and customizes ads for the optimal end user audience.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a system and method for proactively monitoring risk exposure. In this invention, risk related information is received at an input knowledge source. A shared database stores the risk related information received at the input knowledge source. A plurality of domain knowledge sources formulates a decision on how the risk related information in the shared database affects a predetermined risk category. An output knowledge source generates a risk related report in response to the decisions formulated by each of the plurality of domain knowledge sources. A risk analytics router routes the risk related information in the input knowledge source to the shared database, the risk related information in the shared database to at least one of the domain knowledge sources, the decisions formulated from the domain knowledge sources to the shared database, and the decisions from the shared database to the output knowledge source.

Abstract: A digital computer produces data corresponding to results of different financial plans. Contribution data corresponding to contributions to an account created under the plan are entered into the digital computer. The digital computer produces data representing after tax cost of interest for cash value loan amounts corresponding to cumulative cash values of an insurance contract issued based on the contribution. Then, the digital computer outputs data representing investment income derived from the cash value loan amounts less after tax cost of interest to a display device.

Abstract: An improved system for "regenerating" or adding funds to a prepaid, remote memory account. The system includes a service provider network or host computer system including an account database of prepaid accounts. An integrated transaction card is issued to a consumer. One side of the card shows a prepaid telephone card for accessing the host computer system and an authorization code that allows access to the account database. The other side of the integrated transaction card is a transaction instrument, such as a prepaid transaction card, credit card, debit card, or the like. Information relating to the transaction instrument is stored at the host system so that a consumer may transfer funds from the transaction instrument to the prepaid phone card without the host system having to prompt the consumer for the necessary transfer information.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel methods and memory storage devices for generating a report that contains medical counseling information which is specific to a patient. The medical information is dependent upon the diagnostic analysis of a biological sample from the patient. A relational database management system is used that stores a plurality of diagnostic codes and archived textual and graphical information specific for each diagnostic code. By inputting a diagnostic code specific for the results of the diagnostic analysis, a report is compiled from retrieved archived textual and graphical information specific for the entered diagnostic code. The archived information provides counseling and descriptive information useful for the patient.

Abstract: An account processing method and system for providing specific pre-authorization parameters for categories of transactions that would otherwise be completely denied authorization using only general authorization parameters. Upon establishment of an account, certain categories of transactions are specified as needing specific authorization prior to approving the transaction as requested by a merchant. An account issuer provides a service to account members that permits an account manager to independently specify the parametric conditions under which to approve a transaction within such categories. The account manager may also specify a transaction identifier such as a purchase order, work order or insurance claim number to associate with the required transaction parameters.

Abstract: A portable computer system manages data conveniently for a user. The system has a processor, a program storage device coupled to the processor, an input recognizer adapted to receive data from the user, and a computer readable code embodied in the program storage device for storing and processing the data.

Abstract: A computer system (11, 12, 13) and method for managing data used in conducting clinical studies concerning subjects at a plurality of participating, geographically distributed clinical sites, each participating clinical site having a computer (17, 18, 19) for inputting, transmitting and receiving data over the Internet (15). An Internet network server computer (13) is interfaced to a database host computer (11) through a private network (12). The system (11, 12, 17, 18, 19) communicates data over the Internet (15, 16) to determine patient eligibility, randomization and initial prescriptions, which can then be adjusted by the physician online. The final prescription is printed out for signature and sent electronically to a distribution center (55). Study data is maintained in a database in the host computer (11) behind a firewall provided in the Internet server computer (13).

Abstract: An apparatus and method which use client information to automatically select and present financial products appropriate for the client. The apparatus according to one aspect includes an input device for inputting client information, financial product information, ancillary data, and decision criteria; a storage device for storing the inputted items; decision making logic circuitry for using the inputted items to select a subset of the financial products; and an output device for preparing a client communication which identifies the subset of the financial products. The output device incorporates a portion of the client information and a portion of the financial products information into the client communication.

Abstract: A novel data processing system manages and implements a new form of security designated the "Proxy Asset". Proxy Assets provide sophisticated risk management capabilities without the complexities associated with other types of risk management investment vehicles. The Proxy Asset is made possible by the enhanced processing capabilities of the Proxy Asset data processor which creates, tracks, manages, and governs asset accounts for participating investors.