Abstract: Product data information to be stored in a product database is defined by setting essential items necessary to define products with respect to their essential parts, and setting optional items necessary to define optional products deriving from standards product defined by their essential items. A product definition section produces product data information on standard products based on the set essential items, and produces product data information on optional products based on the set optional items. This product data information is transferred from an electronic shop client to an electronic mall server to be stored into the product database through a product registering section.

Abstract: An economy comprises a relation among agents, goods and services. Each good and service in the economy consists of combinations of more primitive goods and services. Goods and services can be complements or substitutes to other goods and services. Complements are sets of goods or services which are used jointly to produce a given other goods or services. In contrast, substitutes are sets of goods or services which might substitute for one another in a given production technology or consumption good. Complementary goods and services must be used together to create value in the economy. Most goods and services create value in the economy via positive functional interactions with their complements and via competition with their substitutes.

Abstract: A system for electronic commerce (10) having personal agents (12 and 13) that represent consumers and providers in a virtual marketplace (28). Consumer personal agents conceal the identity of the consumer and are capable of creating decision agents (14) that shop for products and assist consumers in comparing and ranking products. Provider personal agents are capable of creating demand agents (16) that quantify demand and target specific consumers without learning the identity of the consumers. Based on data generated by the activities of the decision agents and on preference data maintained by consumer personal agents, provider personal agents can quantify current, historical, and future demand, simulate demand, and target specific consumers for advertising and other messages. Provider personal agents can cooperate with consumer personal agents to collect data about reasons for sales and lost sales and to offer consideration payments to consumers.

Abstract: Secure transmission of data is provided between a plurality of computer systems over a public communication system, such as the Internet. Secure transmission of data is provided from a customer computer system to a merchant computer system, and for the further secure transmission of payment information regarding a payment instrument from the merchant computer system to a payment gateway computer system. The payment gateway system evaluates the payment information and returns a level of authorization of credit via a secure transmission to the merchant which is communicated to the customer by the merchant. The merchant can then determine whether to accept the payment instrument tendered or deny credit and require another payment instrument. An architecture that provides support for additional message types that are not SET compliant is provided by a preferred embodiment of the invention. A server communicating bidirectionally with a gateway is disclosed.

Abstract: A Quality Center for a Virtual Sales and Service Center. The Quality Center is responsible for monitoring the "customer experience" across the telephone customer access resource. The Quality Center assists in managing the business of operating multiple call centers as a single Virtual Sales and Service Center and presents the business in a professional, informative and impressive manner. The Quality Center includes a forecasting system for predicting contact volume for a plurality of physical locations forming a Virtual Sales and Service Center, a monitor for monitoring contact traffic for the Virtual Sales and Service Center, a controller for controlling network routing based upon the call volume predictions and the contact traffic monitoring and a processor for providing an interface between the forecasting system, the monitor and the controller and for servicing requests and response therebetween.

Abstract: A method for order verification, the first step of which involves providing a computer processor having both data storage and computing capability. The second step involves storing data as to a weight for each of a plurality of items offered for sale in the computer processor. The third step involves inputting into the computer processor selected items that make up a customer order from the plurality of items stored in data and computing a projected total weight for the customer order. The fourth step involves assembling the selected items that make up the customer order and placing the customer order onto a weigh scale. The fifth step involves comparing an actual weight of the customer order with the projected total weight to verify the order.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing health care transactions through a common interface in a distributed computing environment using specialized remote procedure calls. The distributed computing environment includes a user interface tier for collecting user inputs and presenting transaction outputs, a data access tier for data storage and retrieval of health care transaction information, a transaction logic tier for applying a predetermined set of transaction procedures to user inputs and health care transaction information resulting in transaction output, an electronic network connecting the user interface tier, data access tier and transaction logic tier to each other and a communication interface for exchanging health care transaction information among the tiers. The communication interface includes an interface definition language generating transaction-specific communication codes whereby data is exchanged through a common interface structure regardless of the origin of the data.

Abstract: A system including a set of software based Explorers, and a computer assisted methodology support the development of new medical interventions for diseases. The system includes Explorer modules for discovering proposed interventions, designing clinical trials, performing pharmacoeconomic analysis, and illustrating disease progression for various patients over time including creating disease progression tutorials for patients. The Explorers support a bottom-up or data driven methodology that enables a user, such as medical researcher, to mine data sources of clinical, biologic, expert or other types of data to discover, test, evaluate, and understand a proposed intervention and its impact on disease progression in different patient types. A Target Discovery Explorer assists the user in identifying leverage points in disease progression in relationship to various patient attributes and interventions, thereby identifying a proposed intervention for the desease.

Abstract: A system and method for performing an on-line ATM/POS transaction utilizing checking or savings account funds over a public access network is disclosed. The invention comprises creating an electronic financial transaction instruction comprising card information and security information that are encrypted for secure transmission over the public access network. The card information identifies a checking or savings account number of a purchaser. The security information identifies a personal identification number associated with the identified account number that authorizes the use of the account number in an on-line ATM/POS transaction. The financial transaction instruction is decrypted by a financial institution and reformatted to form a transaction request suitable for transmission over an on-line ATM/POS transaction system. The transaction request is then processed like a typical ATM or merchant POS on-line ATM/POS transaction.

Abstract: A method for incorporating psychological effects into a demand model for pricing. First the original demand model is modified to include a mechanism to convert actual prices into perceived prices, thus causing the demand model to predict higher demand for certain prices. The user specifies the function that converts from real prices to perceived prices. This modified demand function is then fitted to a sales history to yield the parameters appropriate to its particular form. Also, the demand model can be modified to account for promotional effects. The user defines a visibility model, which gives the relative increase in demand for an item caused by a promotion, and the cost of the promotion. The demand model is modified to include the effect of increased demand based on the visibility, and a profit model is modified to account for the added cost due to the added visibility. The profit model is then optimized with respect to both prices and promotions.

Abstract: A computer-implemented process simulation method or tool that uses a software engine that calculates resources required to complete a project based upon contents of user-defined benefit-trade matrices associated with substeps of the project and design requirement priority values and a sample design whose process is to be simulated. Design requirement priority values and the sample design are input. Each substep is defined using a benefit-trade matrix that comprises a multiple variable lookup table that embodies history data relating to the substep. Each matrix includes relative weights of schedule, cost and risk elements for the substep and user-input rating values corresponding to the importance of each element. A logical equation is defined for each substep that computes the time required to complete the project, required resources for the project, and cost of the project based upon data input thereto.

Abstract: A workflow sequence specified by a process definition is managed by a workflow management system which enacts each segment in the order specified by that process definition. Role-based access control (RBAC) is used to define membership of individuals in groups, i.e., to assign individuals to roles, and to then activate the roles with respect to the process at appropriate points in the sequence. Any individual belonging to the active role can perform the next step in the business process. Changes in the duties and responsibilities of individuals as they change job assignments are greatly simplified, as their role memberships are simply reassigned; the workflow process is unaffected.

Abstract: A computer program product stores computer instructions therein for instructing a computer to perform a process of administering or assisting in the administration of resources of a customer for the benefit of a beneficiary. The program product includes a recording medium readable by the computer, and computer instructions stored thereon instructing the computer to perform the process. The instructions and the process include receiving a request from the customer to administer the resources in accordance with predetermined criteria, and storing customer related data associated with the customer. The instructions and process also include determining a predetermined period of time based on an age of the beneficiary at which withdrawals do not incur a tax penalty, and administering the resources in an annuity investment growing tax deferred in accordance with withdrawal criteria, and preventing withdrawal of the resources responsive to the withdrawal criteria.

Abstract: A conditional purchase offer (CPO) management system is disclosed for receiving CPOs from one or more customers, such as airline passengers, and for evaluating the received CPOs against a number of CPO rules defined by a plurality of sellers, such as airlines, to determine whether any seller is willing to accept a given CPO. A CPO is a binding offer containing one or more conditions submitted by a customer for purchase of an item, such as airline travel, at a customer-definied price. A CPO rule is a set of restrictions defined by a given seller, such as an airline, to define a combination of restrictions for which the seller is willing to accept a predefined price. The CPO rules may be securely stored by one or more servers. The CPO management system permits a seller to correct for forecasting errors, if necessary, or other competitive forces which have produced excess capacity, by providing inventory for sale to CPO customers.

Abstract: A delivery managing system for managing delivery of goods from a distribution center through an agent to a receiver is disclosed. A client provides at least schedule information of the receiver. A distribution server provides at least delivery schedule information and manages delivery of the goods. An agent server manages the commission on the goods by the agent. A data transmission network interconnects the client, the agent server and the distribution server. A means for determining the date and time for delivery of the delivery goods is provided, as well as for deciding the agent to be used, between said client and said distribution server. Also, a means for notifying of arrival and/or departure of the goods to and/or from the agent to at least one of the distribution server and said client is disclosed.

Abstract: An improved, automated teller machine (ATM) for enhanced telephony access is provided. The ATM provides for conventional financial transactions with financial institutions as well as the purchase of prepaid calling cards for telephony services. In the latter regard, the improved ATM is operable to receive a prepaid calling card purchase transaction request input by a customer and to transmit a message to a transaction service network for authorization of such transaction. Pursuant to authorization, the ATM is operable to automatically initiate a call to a telephony network to establish a prepaid calling card account. In particular, the ATM is operable to call a predetermined station number corresponding with a prepaid calling card service provider. Such predetermined number may correspond with an AIN-capable switch that allows the ATM to interface with a service control point maintained by the prepaid calling card service provider within the telephony network.

Abstract: A management librarian for shipping carriers is configured to access a registry containing carrier identifiers corresponding to the carriers and module identifier corresponding to carrier rate modules. The carrier rate modules contain item rating instructions arranged to rate the item for a respective carrier from among the carriers. The carrier management librarian is also configured to load into the executable space of a client application a selected carrier rate module corresponding to the selected carrier based on module identifiers accessed in the registry. An entry point for the item rating instructions is identified, based on an associated module identifier corresponding to the selected carrier.

Abstract: A point of sale tax reporting and automatic collection system including a smart tax register located at a retailer location. The retailer smart register processes consumer transactions and calculates the amount of sales tax due the retailer by the consumer for each transaction. Following the transaction, the consumer requests and is give a tax paid receipt. After the sales tax is paid to the retailer by the consumer, the register either immediately or periodically forwards the amount of the transaction and the amount of sales tax collected by the retailer to a computer and memory located at a remote location (e.g. state government taxing authority). The computer and memory receive and store the retailer's transaction and sales tax information, and report same to the Internal Revenue Service at least once a year.

Abstract: A method executed by a computer under the control of a program includes the steps of storing financial portfolio data in the computer. The financial portfolio data includes data on a loan representing a liability of a specified entity. A horizon date is selected for the loan. A distribution function is then designated to characterize the probability of different market values for the specified entity at the horizon date. A horizon default point threshold is then adjusted at the horizon date until the area bound by the distribution function, the horizon date, and the horizon default point threshold is equal to a horizon date cumulative default rate for the specified entity. A maturity date is also defined for the loan. A final default point threshold is then determined at the maturity date so that an expected default rate from the horizon date to the maturity date is equal to a maturity date cumulative default rate, less the horizon date cumulative default rate.

Abstract: An automated product pricing system including a physical store system, a virtual store system, and a control system. The physical and virtual store systems are capable of transmitting sales data indicative of the number of sales of identified respective products. The control system is adapted to receive the sales data from the physical store system and the virtual store system. In response thereto, the control system generates price change data including a changed price of an identified product based on the sales data received from at least one of the physical and virtual store systems. The price change data is then transmitted by the control system to at least one of the physical and virtual store systems to thereby change the price of the identified product.