Abstract: An automated banking machine (12) is operative to conduct transactions in response to HTML documents and TCP/IP messages exchanged with a local computer system (14) through an intranet (16), as well as in response to messages exchanged with foreign servers (20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 96) in a wide area network (18). The banking machine includes a computer (34) having a document handling portion (76, 80, 82) including one or more browsers. The document handling portion is operative to communicate through a proxy server (88), with a home HTTP server (90) in the intranet or the foreign servers in the wide area network. The computer further includes a device application portion (84) which interfaces with the document handling portion and dispatches messages to operate devices (36) in the automated banking machine. The devices include a sheet dispenser mechanism (42) which dispenses currency as well as other transaction function devices.

Abstract: A system for selecting products is described. The system includes a computer executing a process to retrieve a product aesthetic tag associated with a particular product type selected by a customer. The aesthetic tag contains values that represent aesthetic features of the product and a process to form a result tag that contains a value corresponding to how well aesthetic features of the product match to aesthetic preferences of the customer.

Abstract: A function in an application integrator system for business-to-business e-commerce automatically creates trading partner profiles during translation stages. The function is activated by an exception event auto-create flag for an interworking standard being set to auto-create. Also, each standard has interchange, functional group, and message templates. These templates are used to extract data from the inbound document and automatically populate a profile record for the sending trading partner.

Abstract: A billing method and billing system to determine usage fees which are charged to the user of a digital telecommunications network, whereby a usage fee charged for a connection is determined prior to establishing this connection from statistical characteristics of previous connections of the user, is described. Usage fees are determined from a dynamic client profile, derived from one or multiple random variables of previous connections of the user, which is stored in memory and rederived after each new customer connection. In a simple variant, the client profile contains a value proportional to the average price per connection or to the average duration of a connection of the user. The random variables used to derive the client profile include, for example, the connection duration, the time of day, the day of the week, and/or geographic characteristics of previous connections.

Abstract: Media which stores protected content is distributed to users without the need for payment at the time of media distribution. Payment can be performed at a later time in response to which content may be enabled, and/or users may selectively pay for, and receive enablement of, content such that only portions of content on given media may be accessible at a given time. Following the first enablement of content, access rights may be expanded or otherwise changed, e.g., in response to a second payment.

Abstract: According to the invention, a process for transferring funds between a payor and a payee in an online transaction is disclosed. In one step, information is received from the payor for debiting a bank account associated with the payor. Authorization is transmitted to the payee to request debits from the payor. The total of all debit requests does not exceed an amount that is authorized. A first request is received from the payee to debit the customer a first portion of the amount. A first debit is initiated from the bank account for the first portion of the amount. A second request is received from the payee to debit the payor a second portion of the amount. A second debit is initiated from the bank account for the second portion of the amount.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for gathering information from issuers of municipal securities and distributing information evenly to municipal disclosure repositories, regulatory bodies and the public. A central aspect of the present invention is a computer application, which can be implemented on a computer system that is attached to a network of computers and other communication devices, such as the Internet. Initially, the application accepts the full name description of a particular municipal security issue, together with a unique identifier assigned by CUSIP. The system grants a secured and encrypted user id and password to the issuer enabling the issuer to enter ongoing information about the issue. This information may include annual audits of the issuer, certain operating data, and any event notices deemed material by the issuer.

Abstract: Methods for providing an account rollover marketplace which includes providing a consumer interface with which consumers interact to pursue account rollovers, permitting each consumer to interact with the consumer interface to request to receive multiple rollover offers, and presenting multiple account rollover offers from different financial institutions to a particular one of the consumers in response to that consumer requesting rollover offers.

Abstract: There is provided a method for managing an investment portfolio. The method includes determining a feasible change in value of a first asset, and determining an allocation between the first asset and a second asset based on the feasible change in value of the first asset. The second asset appreciates over a holding period, and the allocation yields an expected minimum future value for the investment portfolio.

Abstract: An electronic scale integrally formed within the housing of a piece of office equipment increases a user's work space in a home or business environment. The piece of equipment may be a personal computer or one of its peripheral devices. A mailing system automatically computes postal and/or private carrier rates for items of mail based on weight signals derived from the electronic scale. Since the scale is integrated into the computer, all mailing tasks are performed at a user's desk using the least space possible. The system is performed in accordance with a computer program which steps a user through the postage-computing method using one or more interactive display screens.

Abstract: A system for determining a basket of financial instruments for hedging investment risk in actively managed exchange traded funds is described. The system uses a trusted computer system and includes a computer storage medium storing a computer program product. The product determines the basket of hedging instruments by extracting factor information from a portfolio of the actively managed exchange traded fund and determining factors that affect the price of the exchange traded fund. The program can select a portfolio of instruments with similar behavior with respect to the determined factors to produce a hedging portfolio that tracks the price of the exchange traded fund.

Abstract: A method of valuation of large groups of assets by partial full underwriting, partial sample underwriting and inferred values of the remainder using an iterative and adaptive supervised and unsupervised statistical evaluation of all assets and statistical inferences drawn from the evaluation and applied to generate the inferred asset values. Individual asset values are developed and listed in realtional tables so that individual asset values can be rapidly taken from the tables and quickly grouped in any desired or prescribed manner for bidding purposes. The assets are collected into a database, divided into categories by credit variable, subdivided by ratings as to those variables and then rated individually. The assets are then regrouped according to a bidding grouping and a collective valuations established by cumulating the individual valuations.

Abstract: A system for causing investment returns for individual investors in a fund to correspond to occurrence of selected events with respect to investment options selected by said individual investors, the system including instructions for: defining a plurality of said investment options each having a yield calculator, said calculator having a value related to occurrence of predefined events; selecting a nominal yield of said fund; allocating a portion of said nominal yield to each of said investment options ratably with respect to the portion of said value of each said yield calculator bears to all values of said yield calculators; calculating, on a periodic basis, a change in total value of assets owned by said fund and ratably allocating said change to investors in said fund; and periodically redetermining said values in each of said yield calculators by measuring occurrence of said predefined events during a selected measuring period.

Abstract: A system and method of retrieving shipment data uses destination information, as well as the carrier and level of service data models to retrieve the appropriate shipment data which complies with the selected parameters. The delivery commitment systems returns information concerning the number of days, the delivery, the latest time of delivery, whether the delivery is guaranteed based upon selected parameters concerning the origin and destination of the package. Carrier specific data can be stored in a common, carrier-independent form including an origin map, (optional) one or more destination maps, a service token map, a zone token map, and a delivery commitment matrix. Origins and destinations can be defined by five-digit ZIP codes and the service can be identified by a TokenID. Each origin can be mapped to a destination within the destination map, where each destination in the destination map is resolved to a service level index.

Abstract: A business process and computer system known as the “Target Pricing System” (TPS) that generates an optimum bid or value for a competitively bid good or service. The system is resident on one or more host processors in connection with one or more data stores, and includes a product model that defines list values for the bid using stored price data and costs the values using stored cost data, a competitor net price model that calculates an equivalent competitor net price for the value, and a market response model that calculates the probability of winning with the value as a function of price. The system further preferably includes an optimization model that computes the target price of an optimal value that maximizes expected contribution for the bid or value. The system alternately further includes a benefits model for calculating the benefits of using target pricing over a pre-existing approach, and strategic objects which each affect the target price.

Abstract: In a method and arrangement for controlling a dynamic scale, the conveying speed of a conveyor belt for items of mail in the dynamic operating mode is independent of the format of the pieces of mail. During dynamic weighing, a controller of the scale deactivates the normal speed regulation for a DC motor and an unregulated pulsed voltage is applied to the DC motor. By an interaction of the motor with a tensioning device for a defined setting of the conveyor belt tension and due to a vibration-damped structure of the conveying arrangement of the scale, the conveying speed changes dependent on the weight of the piece of mail in a measuring time range.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a delivery confirmation service to a mailer who uses a postage meter to pay the postage for mailing a mail piece. The mailer applies a shipping label containing an identification number on the mail piece to identify the mail piece and the mailer. The identification number is retrieved by the postage meter which sends the identification number to a data processing center or a meter refill data center for processing. Upon receiving the identification number, the data processing center sends a shipping file to the carrier. When the mail piece is delivered, a message regarding the delivery status of the mail piece is sent to the carrier by the mail deliverer. With the shipping file and the delivery status message, the carrier makes available the delivery status of the mail piece to the data processing center which stores the delivery status. Upon request, the data processing center communicates at least a portion of the delivery status to the mailer via a meter refill system.

Abstract: A software system and method is disclosed for creating analytical graphics such as bar charts and the like with greater flexibility in an object-oriented Window® environment. The software is particularly applicable to analyzing production data in semiconductor quality control. The user customizes the analytical tools by selecting production parameters from a dialog box, and creates flowcharts on the computer display representing the sequence of production variables and production functions previously selected. The software is set up with a macro recording function to remember the production keystrokes previously selected. The analytical sequence represented by the flowchart is automatically executed whenever it is selected by the user, or this sequence can be preprogrammed to run at specified intervals in the future.

Abstract: An auction service is provided that stimulates competition between energy suppliers (i.e., electric power or natural gas). A bidding moderator (Moderator) receives bids from the competing suppliers of the rate each is willing to charge to particular end users for estimated quantities of electric power or gas supply (separate auctions). Each supplier receives competing bids from the Moderator and has the opportunity to adjust its own bids down or up, depending on whether it wants to encourage or discourage additional energy delivery commitments in a particular geographic area or to a particular customer group. Each supplier's bids can also be changed to reflect each supplier's capacity utilization. Appropriate billing arrangements are also disclosed. The technology required to facilitate forward delivery transactions, in which a buyer and seller agree to the terms of a transaction today but schedule the delivery for a future time, would be helpful to end users, resellers and suppliers.