Abstract: A method and apparatus for real time testing of automated valuation using various indicators of accuracy. These indicators are then weighted according to their value as indicators of accuracy using individualized weighting factors or an equation. A ranking is then computed based upon the factors and their weights. This method is preformed continuously, so as to achieve real-time or periodically updated automated valuation model accuracy rankings.

Abstract: A unique monitoring system and method is provided that involves monitoring user activity in order to facilitate managing and optimizing the utilization of various system resources. In particular, the system can monitor user activity, detect when users need assistance with their specific activities, and identify at least one other user that can assist them. Assistance can be in the form of answering questions, providing guidance to the user as the user completes the activity, or completing the activity such as in the case of taking on an assigned activity. In addition, the system can aggregate activity data across users and/or devices. As a result, problems with activity templates or activities themselves can be more readily identified, user performance can be readily compared, and users can communicate and exchange information regarding similar activity experiences. Furthermore, synchronicity and time-sensitive scheduling of activities between users can be facilitated and improved overall.

Abstract: A learning model is built on a combination of advertiser, publisher and user data. The learning model can be applied to all advertisers in an advertising system. The learning model provides predicted conversion rates for a given advertisement (“ad”) appearing on different publisher networks. A predicted conversion rate represents the probability that a click on a given ad appearing on a given publisher will lead to a conversion. The predicted conversion rates are used to generate a multiplier. The multiplier is used to automatically adjust the advertiser's bid (e.g., maximum cost-per-click (CPC)) for the given ad prior to an auction for the ad. Adjusting the advertiser's bid equalizes a cost-per-conversion among the publishers for the ad.

Abstract: Systems and methods to process overhead imagery received from overhead image sources are described herein. Examples include accessing an aerial image including a property, determining an owner of the property, determining whether the owner of the property is eligible to be a member of a financial institution, determining whether the owner of the property has property insurance with the financial institution for the property type of the property in the aerial image, and presenting an offer for insurance to insure the property in the aerial image when the owner is determined to be eligible for the financial institution and does not already have insurance with the financial institution. Examples include accessing an aerial image of properties, determining damage estimates, and reserving resources to repair the properties based on the damage estimates.

Abstract: Consumer, merchant, and transactional data from a closed loop network and external sources may be leveraged to increase demand of a merchant's inventory during normally low-demand periods. Extensive data mining is used to determine the excess merchant inventory and demand patterns at different times and different locations for merchants and groups of merchants. Similar data mining is used to analyze cardmember demand patterns to identify the cardmember preferences regarding when and where they which to purchase goods and/or services. Cardmembers may also be grouped based on their demand patterns. Using pricing as a lever, cardholders with specific preferences are targeted to shift the demand from peak periods and locations to non-peak periods and locations, and to increase the non-peak demand by location as well as time period. Higher precision may be obtained using product level transaction data from point-of-sale terminals used by merchants wherever applicable.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are provided for performance management. A member within an entity is selected and a performance assessment of the member is conducted. The information collected from the performance assessment is stored in a database. A self-assessment by the member is conducted and the information from the self-assessment is also stored in the database. An appraisal of the member is conducted using the data from both the performance assessment and the self-assessment and the information obtained from the appraisal is stored.

Abstract: A mirror system includes an image sensor coupled to a mirror, and gathers consumer shopping preferences for merchandise items. During operation, the system gathers one or more sequential images, from the image sensor, of a consumer wearing a first wearable merchandise item in front of the image sensor. Next, the system identifies in the one or more sequential images a first merchandise item being worn by the consumer. Then, the system determines a demographic group associated with the consumer, and detects behavior patterns for the consumer, wherein the behavior pattern indicates an interest level of the consumer for the identified merchandise item. The system then determines a mapping between the identified consumer demographic group and an interest level for the identified merchandise item, and produces a model which encodes the mapping.

Abstract: A system, according to one embodiment, includes a hybrid account provided by an issuer to a user, the hybrid account having a balance, the balance being either positive, zero, or negative; and a financial instrument including a hybrid card, the hybrid card providing access to the hybrid account, in which transactions using the hybrid card provide interchange income to the issuer, the issuer charges interest to the hybrid account when the balance is negative, and the issuer pays interest to the hybrid account when the balance is positive.

Abstract: Methods and system for enabling safe and efficient money transfer between a sender and a beneficiary are provided. The method includes communicating with a beneficiary's mobile device to ascertain the beneficiary's current geo-location. Based on the geo-location and funds at hand, one or more receiving agents are selected to fulfill the transfer. The beneficiary is offered a choice of agents and the selected agent is provided with the money transfer details to complete the transfer.

Abstract: A system and method to optimize the yield of a restaurant having perishable inventory is described. Through a card company, a restaurant can market incentives to make reservations during an off-peak time to enrolled card members. Offer marketing is based on stated customer preferences, and conducted via, for example, a website, email, or text message. Reservations are made, for example, via a centralized booking service. The incentive is fulfilled to the card member in a coupon-less manner. The card company receives a commission from the participating restaurant for every such sale.

Abstract: A Monte Carlo simulation engine configured to perform a primary beneficiary test to determine whether a variable interest entity holder is a primary beneficiary of a financial instrument. The engine includes a cash flow engine configured to generate a set of default/prepayment curves representing one or more discrete cash flow scenarios for one or more loans for the financial instrument, the default/prepayment curves representative of systemic risk associated with the financial instrument. The engine further includes an idiosyncratic risk module configured to convert the set of default/prepayment curves defined by the cash flow engine into a number of occurrences, which, at an aggregated level, mimic the default/prepayment curve from a systemic risk model.

Abstract: A system and computer-implemented method for grouping medical records implements a multi-level analysis of the records. The level of analysis for each record is determined based upon the time proximity of each record to the defining medical procedure or service (anchor procedure) to be analyzed. Once an anchor procedure is identified, claim records are processed to determine whether any of the records should be grouped with the anchor procedure into a procedure episode group (PEG). First, the date of service for each claim record is identified to determine whether the claim record falls within time window. The claim records falling within the window then are assessed to determine whether each claim record is sufficiently related to the anchor procedure (for example, by determining whether the diagnostic, procedure, or episode treatment group coding of each claim record is associated with the anchor procedure).

Abstract: A computer-automated system analyzes payment options by acquiring usage information from a resource utilization measurement monitor executing in a system and accessing current financial information relating to a plurality of payment options from a financial database. Financial effect is evaluated for the plurality of payment options that result for the acquired usage information.

Abstract: This document describes tools capable of auditing and/or determining reductions to card-issuer interchange fees charged for credit-card transactions. The tools may do so automatically and with user interaction for large amounts of transactions.

Abstract: A video demographics analysis system selects a training set of videos to use to correlate viewer demographics and video content data. The video demographics analysis system extracts demographic data from viewer profiles related to videos in the training set and creates a set of demographic distributions, and also extracts video data from videos in the training set. The video demographics analysis system correlates the viewer demographics with the video data of videos viewed by that viewer. Using the prediction model produced by the machine learning process, a new video about which there is no a priori knowledge can be associated with a predicted demographic distribution specifying probabilities of the video appealing to different types of people within a given demographic category, such as people of different ages within an age demographic category.

Abstract: A computer program product is provided for automatically fulfilling currency exchange requests received at a processor for a plurality of different currencies that are received from a plurality of different customers. Each request is a request to exchange an amount of funds of a source currency for funds of a target currency, or a request to receive an amount of funds of a target currency by exchanging source currency. At least some of the requests are fulfilled by automatically matching requests of one or more customers with requests of one or more other customers who have requested an exchange of the converse target and source currencies in an amount of currency sufficient to match a first portion of the requests, and by using amounts of currency in different currency types that are not received from the customers to fulfill a second portion of the requests.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for an asset backed purchase card. The present invention includes a house account comprising one or more assets, each of the one or more assets having a substantially continually updated spot purchase price. The invention receives funds from a consumer in exchange for a portion of the one or more assets from the house account based on an internal spot price of the asset, increasing a balance in a purchase account of the consumer. The purchase account is debited by selling a quantity of the asset backing the purchase account balance to the house account based on the internal spot price of the asset in response to a transaction based on a purchase card purchase by the consumer.

Abstract: Methods and systems for anti money laundering screening are provided. A risk score and a first validation code is determined based on information related to a funds transfer transaction. The first validation code is associated with the risk score. Thereafter, a second validation code is calculated and compared with the first validation code. The risk score and the validation score are included in a payment authorization message sent to a payment processing network. The payment processing network extracts the validation code and communicates the payment authorization message including the risk score to a receiving financial institution. The receiving financial entity accepts or denies the incoming funds transfer based on the risk score included in the payment authorization message.

Abstract: A method for one of approving and denying a credit offering to a borrower is disclosed. The method includes calculating a probability of default rating of the borrower and calculating a loss given default rating for the borrower. The method also includes integrating the probability of default rating and the loss given default rating with other information relating to the credit offering to produce a credit memorandum and automatically outputting the credit memorandum to a user so that the user can recommend one of approval and denial of the credit offering.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, systems and methods for facilitating financial transactions over a network include communicating with a financial institution over the network, wherein the financial institution includes a first user account related to a user. The systems and methods include receiving a fund transfer request from the financial institution on behalf of the user and establishing a second user account related to the user based on user information passed with the fund transfer request. The systems and methods include processing the fund transfer request by linking the first user account to the second user account based on the user information passed with the fund transfer request, receiving funds from the financial institution associated with the first user account, and depositing the received funds in the second user account on behalf of the user.