Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including systems and computer program products, for a services architecture design that provides enterprise services having supplier relationship management functionality at the level of an enterprise application. The design includes a set of service operations, process components, and optionally deployment units. Suitable business objects are also described.

Abstract: A system assesses consumer experience by evaluating neuro-response measurements for a consumer exposed to products, services, offerings, and stimulus. Examples of neuro-response measurements include Electroencephalography (EEG), Galvanic Skin Response (GSR), Electrocardiograms (EKG), Electrooculography (EOG), eye tracking, and facial emotion encoding measurements. Components of a consumer experience are analyzed to assess neuro-response measurements specific to each component. In many instances, neuro-response data is combined with other data and analyzed to determine total consumer experience.

Abstract: A system evaluates stimulus materials such as videos, imagery, web pages, text, etc., in order to determine resonance and priming levels for various products and services at different temporal and spatial locations including advertisement breaks in the stimulus materials. The stimulus materials are tagged with resonance and priming level information to allow intelligent selection of suitable advertisement content for insertion at various locations in the stimulus materials. Response data such as survey data and/or neuro-response data including Event Related Potential (ERP), Electroencephalography (EEG), Galvanic Skin Response (GSR), Electrocardiograms (EKG), Electrooculography (EOG), eye tracking, and facial emotion encoding data may be used to determine resonance and priming levels.

Abstract: A system performs stimulus targeting using neuro-physiological and neuro-behavioral data. Subjects are exposed to stimulus material such as marketing and entertainment materials and data is collected using mechanisms such as Electroencephalography (EEG), Galvanic Skin Response (GSR), Electrocardiograms (EKG), Electrooculography (EOG), eye tracking, and facial emotion encoding. Neuro-physiological and neuro-behavioral data collected is analyzed to select targeted stimulus materials. The targeted stimulus materials are provided to particular subjects for a variety of purposes.

Abstract: Scheduling operations such as asynchronous file system operations in a network storage system is accomplished by applying a bid-price online auction methodology, in which bid (willingness-to-pay) values and price (cost) values are dynamically set by storage clients and a storage server, respectively, based on utilization of computing resources. The system provides a framework for adaptively scheduling asynchronous file system operations, managing multiple key resources of the distributed file system, including network bandwidth, server I/O, server CPU, and client and server memory utilization. The system can accelerate, defer, or cancel asynchronous requests to improve application-perceived performance. Congestion pricing via online auctions can be employed to coordinate the use of system resources by clients, so clients can detect shortages and adapt their resource usage.

Abstract: A method, program product and system, the comprising: one or more computers, configured for accessing databases comprising: aggregated deposit account information for a plurality of FDIC-insured interest-bearing aggregated deposit accounts held in depository institutions participating in program, and client account information; obtaining via an internet interface transfer data; allocating first amount to and/or from one depository institution, comprising: selecting sub-set of aggregated deposit accounts to deposit or to withdraw funds, while avoiding withdrawing funds for a respective sub-period one or more of other aggregated deposit accounts based on criteria; allocating funds to an aggregated deposit account held in one or more other depository institutions; allocating second fund amount from client accounts among the aggregated deposit accounts to substantially match the first amount; generating data for instructions to transfer funds to or from the sub-set of depository institutions.

Abstract: A neuro-informatics repository system is provided to allow efficient generation, management, and access to central nervous system, autonomic nervous system, effector data, and behavioral data obtained from subjects exposed to stimulus material. Data collected using multiple modalities such as Electroencephalography (EEG), Electrooculography (EOG), Galvanic Skin Response (GSR), Event Related Potential (ERP), surveys, etc., is stored using a variety of data models to allow efficient querying, report generation, analysis and/or visualization.

Abstract: A system evaluates and selects temporal and spatial locations for introduction of stimulus material. Video streams, physical locations, print advertisements, store shelves, images, commercials, etc. are analyzed to identify locations for introducing stimulus material, such as messages, brand images, products, media, marketing and/or other sales materials. The system analyzes neuro-response measurements from subjects exposed to stimulus material in different temporal and spatial locations. Examples of neuro-response measurements include Electroencephalography (EEG), Galvanic Skin Response (GSR), Electrocardiograms (EKG), Electrooculography (EOG), eye tracking, and facial emotion encoding measurements. Neuro-response measurements are analyzed to select temporal and spatial locations for introduction of stimulus material.

Abstract: A method is provided that gathers information from a user regarding a desired educational institution and sources for financing an education at the educational institution. The method further estimates a future income and compares the income with the obligations that arise from financing the education. This comparison is subsequently classified according to a risk profile.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for facilitating the management of a financial instrument includes determining an account balance for a financial account. The financial account includes an investment portfolio and a springing guarantee of an income base for a retirement income. The retirement income includes periodic monetary transfers to be commenced at a target retirement date. Each periodic monetary transfer has a respective value based on the income base. The springing guarantee of the income base may be activated on an activation date. The account balance is stored in memory of the data processing system. The stored account balance is periodically updated based at least in part on market performance of the investment portfolio. Using a computing system, the activation date is determined based at least in part on the target retirement date and the income base is determined. A respective value is outputted for each one of the periodic monetary transfers.

Abstract: As banking transactions are processed by a bank teller, all of the relevant information with respect to the transaction (e.g., dollar amount) is captured in an electronic file. Each of the electronic files from the various branches of the bank are forwarded to a central back office processing center where the electronic files are combined into a single Transaction Repository. At the end of the branch day, all of the paper associated with the transactions is forwarded from the branches to the back office processing center. The paper transactions are imaged in the conventional manner and the Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) data is read from the paper. The present invention then automatically correlates the images and MICR data captured from the paper with the complete transaction record contained in the Transaction Repository. Most of the conventional back office processing can now be performed without the need to perform character recognition and without the need for excess human intervention.

Abstract: Methods and systems for engaging in enhanced parimutuel wagering and gaming. In one embodiment, different types of bets can be offered and processed in the same betting pool on an underlying event, such as a horse or dog race, a sporting event or a lottery, and the premiums and payouts of these different types of bets can be determined in the same betting pool, by configuring an equivalent combination of fundamental bets for each type of bet, and performing a demand-based valuation of each of the fundamental bets in the equivalent combination. In another embodiment, bettors can place bets in the betting pool with limit odds on the selected outcome of the underlying event. The bets with limit odds are not filled in whole or in part, unless the final odds on the selected outcome of the underlying event are equal to or greater than the limit odds.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method performed by the computing system comprises steps of: (a) receiving an identifier concerning an investor's ownership or management of a brokerage account or a security; (b) validating by the computing system the investor by querying a record database using the identifier to obtain an information from an investment account associated with the investor; (c) extracting by the computing system the information; (d) populating by the computing system a profile for the investor with the extracted information and electronically storing the extracted information to a computer readable medium in a profile database, wherein the extracted information comprises the investor's positional information; (e) providing by the computing system a capability to the investor, wherein the capability allows the investor to electronically perform one or more activities; and (f) generating by the computing system a representation of a quantity of a security owned or managed by the investor from the investor's

Abstract: An electronic trading system and associated methods that provide for anonymous pricing data while ensuring the integrity of the system by preventing it from being used for price discovery information only. Methods are included to police the dealers requesting price information and clear rules are implemented to reward the dealer offering the best price. Dealers request price information by submitting an open (not anonymous) request to a broker for a price on an amount of a security or financial instrument, referred to herein as a “Price-For-Call,” which results in an anonymous RFQ being sent to a group of other dealers. If more than one dealer in the group responds with a price, only the best price (bid or offer or both) is returned to the requesting dealer and only the dealer offering the best price is rewarded with knowledge of the price information by virtue of the fact that his price traded.

Abstract: An electronic trading system and associated methods that provide for anonymous pricing data while ensuring the integrity of the system by preventing it from being used for price discovery information only. Methods are included to police the dealers requesting price information and clear rules are implemented to reward the dealer offering the best price. Dealers request price information by submitting an open (not anonymous) request to a broker for a price on an amount of a security or financial instrument, referred to herein as a “Price-For-Call,” which results in an anonymous RFQ being sent to a group of other dealers. If more than one dealer in the group responds with a price, only the best price (bid or offer or both) is returned to the requesting dealer and only the dealer offering the best price is rewarded with knowledge of the price information by virtue of the fact that his price traded.

Abstract: A method and system for administering a consumable composition may comprise one or more of the following (a) dispensing a dose of a consumable composition according to a programmed dosing schedule; and (b) communicating an aspect of the consumable composition to a system associated with a monitoring entity. The method may comprise one or more of the following steps: (a) dispensing a dose of a consumable composition according to a programmed dosing schedule; and (b) controlling the functionality of a device according to an aspect of the consumable composition.

Abstract: A method of analyzing customer behavior, where customers are engaged in customer-to-customer transactions in a third-party network, includes a transformation of data representing the customer-to-customer transactions from a data representation to a network representation, and then analyzing the network representation. The network representation includes a set of nodes and a set of links where each node represents a customer and each link represents a transaction between two of the customers.

Abstract: A cardholder-initiated financial transaction using a cardholder controlled input device in communication with a payment card network and a database is disclosed. The cardholder uses a payment card issued to the cardholder by an issuer bank. An exemplary method includes the steps of storing merchant data within the database including data identifying the merchants registered to utilize the card network and receiving from the input device transaction data relating to the financial transaction. The transaction data includes an authorization request and merchant identifying data that identifies the merchant involved in the transaction. The method further includes determining that the identified merchant is registered to utilize the card network by comparing the transaction data with the merchant data stored in the database, forwarding the authorization request to the issuer bank, receiving a response to the request from the issuer bank, and automatically forwarding the response to the input device.

Abstract: A computer process for determining an insurance premium comprises: validating username/passwords; receiving payroll data asynchronously or scheduled in real time; extracting payroll data required for premium determination; detecting the presence or absence of fraud related to the payroll data; applying state jurisdictional inclusion and exclusion rules applicable to workers' compensation premiums; transferring premium to a billing system for debiting the customer account. The structural elements to the system are: a payroll system configured with an accounting/bookkeeping software where regular payroll data resides; a utility that permits reading payroll accounts residing in the accounting/bookkeeping software; an Internet connection having a browser; a filter to allow extraction of payroll data exclusive of other payroll deductions; a rules engine customized to a particular remote payroll system that includes a mechanism to separate different occupations and a billing system.

Abstract: Bankruptcy relief calculator. A calculation program can make a relatively objective determination as to whether to file for relief from a bankruptcy stay relative to a particular account and associated collateral. Using historical statistics on bankruptcy filings as well as information about the collateral and depreciation of the collateral, the calculator can make an estimate of depreciation saved by the filing and compare that estimate to the cost of a filing. The calculator can then produce a recommendation as to whether to file for relief or to wait for the bankruptcy to be discharged in its normal course. The invention can be implemented via a stand-alone computing system or such a system interconnected with other platforms or data stores by a network, such as a corporate intranet, a local area network, or the Internet.