Abstract: A financial advisory system is provided. According to one aspect of the present invention, return scenarios for optimized portfolio allocations are simulated interactively to facilitate financial product selection. Return scenarios for each asset class of a plurality of asset classes are generated based upon estimated future scenarios of one or more economic factors. A mapping from each financial product of an available set of financial products onto one or more asset classes of the plurality of asset classes is created by determining exposures of the available set of financial products to each asset class of the plurality of asset classes. In this way, the expected returns and correlations of a plurality of financial products are generated and used to produce optimized portfolios of financial products. Return scenarios are simulated for one or more portfolios including combinations of financial products from the available set of financial products based upon the mapping.

Abstract: An automated travel planning system (10) is provided. The system (10) includes a database (12) which stores information relating to each individual traveler and business entity customer of a travel agency and also information relating to the travel agency itself. This information may include, for example, data concerning the frequent flyer/renter programs in which a traveler participates, smoking and seating preferences for a traveler, preferred travel vendors of a business entity, restrictions on fare classes (e.g., business or coach classes only) imposed by a business entity on its employees, and promotions available to a travel agency. When travel request information is received from a specific customer (individual and/or business entity) of the travel agency, the system automatically retrieves information relating to the customer from the database and also information relating to the travel agency.

Abstract: An effective and efficient system for recovering tax revenue. One implementation is to recover tax revenue currently not being recovered by storing data in a database indicating interstate sales transactions on which a seller does not collect a designated tax, such as a sales tax. This database is part of a computer network which organizes and stores the data in the database and automatically sends out tax due notices to purchasers when data in the database indicates that an interstate sale has taken place and no designated tax has been collected from the purchaser by the seller. This database can also be updated to reflect payment of the tax indicated in the tax due notice, and can automatically remit appropriate revenues to a revenue agency when the tax due notice has been paid.

Abstract: An object oriented framework mechanism for fulfillment requirements management provides an infrastructure that embodies the steps necessary to manage and coordinate information throughout a given fulfillment requirements process, such as coordinating product information from the marketing of products to the ordering of products to the production of products. Certain core functions are provided by the framework, which interact with extensible functions provided by the framework consumer. The architecture of the framework allows a user to determine the conditions and parameters that apply to the specific environment while allowing a programmer to interact with the framework with an interface that is consistent regardless of the specific combination of parameters specified in the fulfillment requirements manager. The extensible functions allow new fulfillment requirements environments to be easily implemented using the framework.

Abstract: A terminating polymorphic type inference program analysis helps to better optimize, understand, and/or browse computer programs. The analysis represents parameter values for each function call in the program with separate types and modifies the types to comply with typing constraints. The analysis also determines whether a potential non-terminating loop has been entered. If so, the analysis modifies the types such that the types comply with the typing constraints and such that the type inference analysis will terminate. In this manner, the analysis will generate a usable finite set of types for programs regardless of whether the principal typing for the program is infinite in size.

Abstract: A method and system for generically tracking an entity in a specific domain. The system includes a generic application interface for receiving and processing tracking data regarding a tracked item. The generic application interface is configured for user modification so that the interface may be customized for a specific tracking requirement.A tracking engine is provided for abstracting the tracking data provided by the generic application interface to a set of generic object models. Each instantiated object comprising the generic object models encapsulates the tracking data pertaining to a tracked item. A tracking router is also provided for communicating at least one of the instantiated objects to a tracking station at a location for processing in accordance with an anticipated physical flow of the objects through a domain. As a result, instantiated object can be processed by the tracking engine independently of the specific tracking data contained therein.

Abstract: A data processing system for selectively determining an appropriate balance of credit parameters associated with the issuance of Reverse Equity Mortgage financing. The system manages the risk associated with the credit by structuring a concurrent single premium deferred annuity to provide future cash flows starting at a system determined date corresponding to actuarially determined requirements of the borrower. The data processing system accepts inputs of the critical data required to perform the calculations and provides a detailed assessment of the proper level of credit and blend of annuity payments for the borrower, thereby solving the principal problem associated with RM products. Thereafter, the system provides the management for the plural current and past accounts associated with the client-based attributes for each lending opportunity.

Abstract: A customer (80) can request and receive a financial service through any of a number of channels (82,83,84,85,86,87), each connected to channel-specific hardware, respectively a digital telephone (92), an ATM (93), a branch office (94), a branch sales office (99), a self service sales terminal (95), a home banking PC (96) and an interactive television (97). Each service channel is connected through an integrated channel manager (100) to business operations means including a transaction processing host computer (112), a cheque processor (113), a relationship database manager (114), a financial call center (115), and an external financial database (111).

Abstract: A price change verification system and method for an electronic price label (EPL) system which verifies that price changes have been implemented by associated EPLs. A storage medium contains a record associated with the EPL. The record includes a price change time and a new price for the EPL. An EPL computer sends a price change message containing the new price to the EPL at a time substantially equal to the price change time. The EPL computer additionally verifies that the EPL is displaying the new price by reading the record to determine the price change time, obtaining a currently displayed price from the EPL, and comparing the currently displayed price to the new price.

Abstract: A computer system comprising a control program stored in a memory recommends an intravenous device for infusion therapy based on input entered by a user. The control program includes an execution program for interacting with the user to elicit responses and to provide output to the user. The user inputs parameters to the prompts of the execution program to provide the control program with information regarding the infusion and the patient. The control program further includes a logic engine which applies rules to user entered parameters to determine additional infusion characteristics and to thereby weigh various intravenous devices. Based on the assigned weights, the logic engine returns with a recommended intravenous device which is then displayed by the execution program to the user.

Abstract: A mail generation system and method includes means for processing data to generate mail piece information and first secure processing means for securely storing and encrypting mail piece information generated by the data processing means. Means are coupled to the data processing means for physically preparing mail pieces related to the generated mail piece information and for generating information related to the physical preparation of the mail. Second secure processing means securely store and encrypted information generated by the mail preparing means. Means sort the mail pieces and generate information related to the sorting and packaging of the mail pieces. Third secure processing means securely store and encrypt information generated by the mail sorting and packaging means. A part of the software program used to generate the mail piece information can be securely stored. Mail piece information to verify that the software program was employed to generate the mail piece information is encrypted.

Abstract: A microphone array input type speech recognition scheme capable of realizing a high precision sound source position or direction estimation by a small amount of calculations, and thereby realizing a high precision speech recognition. A band-pass waveform, which is a waveform for each frequency bandwidth, is obtained from input signals of the microphone array, and a band-pass power of the sound source is directly obtained from the band-pass waveform. Then, the obtained band-pass power is used as the speech parameter. It is also possible to realize the sound source estimation and the band-pass power estimation at high precision while further reducing an amount of calculations, by utilizing a sound source position search processing in which a low resolution position estimation and a high resolution position estimation are combined.

Abstract: A system that allows a third party, such as a postage meter manufacturer or PSD manufacturer, to collate data, process the data and report localized delivery delays on a nationalized basis. The foregoing is accomplished by connecting a scanner and control software to a digital postage meter or PSD processor that would read incoming digitally metered mail. Instead of printing an indicia, the scanner would read the already existing indicia and other information on the mail piece and then extract the sender data fields that are contained in the indicia or on the mail piece. The extracted mail data would be periodically uploaded to a data center. The data center would compare the extracted data with mail sender data that has previously been uploaded from sending meters and processors to determine unexpected delivery delays in the delivery network.

Abstract: A system and method are described in which a drug distribution center operates a computer software drug inventory management program in electronic communication with a health care provider computer software program for drug distribution to patients. The system and method preferably incorporate low unit dose measure drug packaging including bar codes. The bar codes may be scanned into either software program for automatically tracking such information as drug lot numbers and expiration dates.

Abstract: A customer (80) can request and receive a financial service through any of a number of channels (82,83,84,85,86,87), each connected to channel-specific hardware, respectively a digital telephone (92), an ATM (93), a branch office (94), a branch sales office (99), a self service sales terminal (95), a home banking PC (96) and an interactive television (97). Each service channel is connected through an integrated channel manager (100) to business operations means including a transaction processing host computer (112), a cheque processor (113), a relationship database manager (114), a financial call center (115), and an external financial database (111).

Abstract: A system and method for differentiating customers according to their worth to the casino. Customer information is accumulated at each affiliated casino through one or more LAN-based management systems, updated to a central patron database (CPDB) that is coupled to each casino LAN through a WAN, and made available to each affiliated casino property as needed. Customer accounts are automatically activated and provided with data from the CPDB when a customer from one casino property first visits an affiliated casino property. Customer accounts are updated with status information based on the customer's worth to the casino. Customer accounts are updated with new activity data whenever a management system associated with the casino receives customer data from input devices, such as card readers, workstations, and dumb terminals, located at various venues throughout the casino. Customers are awarded points, based on their tracked activity at all affiliated casino properties.

Abstract: The apparatus and method of the invention relate to data entry and menu selection. Applications include: (a) data entry for ideographic languages, including Chinese, Japanese and Korean; (b) fast food ordering; (c) correction of documents generated by optical character recognition; and (d) computer access and speech synthesis by persons temporarily or permanently lacking normal motor capabilities. In a preferred embodiment, each option of a menu is associated respectively with a selectable region displayed adjacent an edge of a display, forming a perimeter menu and leaving a region in the center of the perimeter menu for the output of an application program. Selectable regions may be on the display, outside the display, or both.

Abstract: An automated system for managing the assets and liabilities of Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation (NQDC) plans. This system uses information from money managers, insurance and annuity carriers, plan sponsors and plan participants to track and report the assets and liabilities of NQDC plans on a daily basis. The system interfaces with fund managers and insurance and annuity carriers via modem links and with plan sponsors and participants via modem, fax or automated voice response units. The system calculates the value of the liabilities of the plan, the value of the assets of the plan and produces a report comparing the status of each on a daily basis. The system reviews the balance and levels that the sponsor has provided and determines whether changes in asset allocation are required. If changes are required, the system either provides the relevant information to the plan sponsor or directly to the asset manager, whether it be a mutual fund, insurance policy, or annuity that needs adjustment.

Abstract: Disclosed is a health-care information management system that utilizes modular and reusable software objects to allow for user configuration. The disclosed information management system allows for the creation by the user software objects representative of specific events and resources which will occur or be utilized during the provision of health-care to patients. These user configured software modules then allow the user to track the provision of health-care, the utilization of resources during the provision of health-care, the allocation of resources to perform medical procedures and identify opportunities for enhancing efficiencies in the provision of health-care services. In on embodiment of the invention described, the system allows for the user to create, manage and maintain software modules representing specific clinical pathways to be performed in a health-care institution.

Abstract: An automated system for enabling consumers to respond to publicly broadcast information includes a content identification processor and an order processor. The content identification processor is configured to identify the content of publicly broadcast information in response to receipt of data specifying the publicly broadcast information. The order processor receives from a consumer an order comprising data specifying information publicly broadcast over a non-interactive medium, communicates the data to the content identification processor, receives an identification of the content of the publicly broadcast information from the content identification processor, and causes action desired by the consumer to be initiated based on the content of the publicly broadcast information. A consumer transmitter device is configured to transmit an order to an order processor at the initiative of a consumer upon receipt by the consumer of publicly broadcast information of interest to the consumer.