Abstract: A system and method uses customer information collected by a sponsoring organization, such as a hotel, to request and pre-approve a line of credit for a customer with an issuing bank prior to the anticipated arrival of the customer at the facilities of the sponsoring organization. In one embodiment, the anticipated arrival of a potential customer is identified when the customer makes a reservation for future services or registers for attendance at a future event. Preferably, the credit card is instantly issued to the customer and activated by the sponsoring organization on behalf of the customer as part of a chargeable event while the customer is at the facilities of the sponsoring organization. The sponsoring organization may opt to offer the issuing bank a guarantee of coverage over the line of credit extended by the issuing bank. Also, customers may choose the incentive benefits they wish to receive from using the line of credit.

Abstract: A method of reporting suspense transaction detail to acquiring banks includes compiling financial transaction information to a database. The information in the database is then routed to a server operable with the World Wide Web. The financial transaction information from the server is then accessed at a client station operable with the World Wide Web.

Abstract: A sales data processing system wherein an upper limit value, a lower limit value, and a tax amount are entered into a tax amount list. The upper limit value and the lower limit value define a predetermined range of sales amounts, and the tax amount is determined based on a sales amount defined within the predetermined range. Difference values are calculated between a presently entered one of the upper and lower limit values and a previously entered one of the upper and lower limit values, and the calculated difference values are stored in accordance with a calculation order. A first difference value series not having regularity is judged, and a second difference value series having regularity repeated in a predetermined pattern from a series of the stored difference values is also judged.

Abstract: A system and method for integrating a business transaction processing system, a process control system, and a laboratory system provides a computer integrated manufacturing environment. The manufacturing execution system receives work orders from the business transaction processing system and obtains enrichment data to enhance the work orders. The manufacturing execution system uses the enrichment data and rules contained in a plant model database to generate setpoints based on the received work orders. A subset of the work order data is provided to the laboratory system to direct sample testing. The setpoints include detailed information required by the process control system to manufacture the product specified by the work order. The setpoints are transmitted to the process control system for manufacture of the required materials.

Abstract: A radio frequency audio distortion measurement system for a motor vehicle radio. The system includes a generator that generates test RF signals and transmits the signals to the motor vehicle radio through a wireless communication link. The system includes a controller coupled to the generator that controls the transmission of the RF signals to the radio. The system also includes a distortion analyzer coupled to the RF receiver and the controller that senses and analyzes the audio distortion caused by motor vehicle system components, such as motor vehicle electrical and electronic system components, in response to commands output from the controller. The system of the present invention thereby provides an objective way of analyzing audio distortion caused by radiated conducted and/or coupled interference from electrical and electronic systems in a controlled test environment.

Abstract: A postage metering system includes a plurality of computers operatively connected as part of a computer network and operating as client computers on the computer network. At least one postal security device (PSD) is coupled to at least one of the client computers (local client computer). The PSD includes unique identification the ability to store postal value and generate digital signatures. The client computers function as a postage metering network wherein a client computer other than the local client computer (remote client computer) requests evidence of postage payment from the PSD for concluding a postage metering transaction. The local client computer functions as a meter server and the remote client computer functions as a meter client on the postage metering network. The remote client computer initiates a postage metering transaction in the PSD by sending a request for evidence of postage payment to the local client computer.

Abstract: A system and method for selecting and presenting personally targeted entities such as advertising, coupons, products and information content, based on tracking observed behavior on a user-by-user basis and utilizing an adaptive vector space representation for both information and behavior. The system matches users to entities in a manner that improves with increased operation and observation of user behavior. User behavior and entities (ads, coupons, products) and information (text) are all represented as content vectors in a unified vector space. The system is based on an information representation called content vectors that utilizes a constrained self organization learning technique to learn the relationships between symbols (typically words in unstructured text). Users and entities are each represented as content vectors.

Abstract: An improvement in computer automated stock exchange trading whereby a graphic user interface with a mouse and display is used to select parameters such as share symbol, price selection, order size, and transaction type, as well as other indicators to launch a trading order to the order entry system of a stock exchange computer. Further improvements include a programmed interface by which data on a group of shares may be read from a spreadsheet formulated into an order and launched automatically or in response to a signal from an operator so as to trade an index or basket of shares substantially instantaneously.

Abstract: A cellular phone case provided with a sound collecting means for collecting the sound from a hearing portion of a cellular phone. The sound collecting means comprises a cover having an sound collecting portion being protrudly formed to surround an ear and a first opening being formed at the bottom of the sound collecting portion, the interior of the sound collection portion being empty, a cushion member positioned in the interior of the sound collecting portion, and a base sheet having a second opening therein being formed substantially coincide with the first opening to encircle the hearing portion of the cellular phone, said base sheet being attached at the bottom of the cover and the edge thereof being attached to the cellular phone case.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically adjusting charges billed to an organization by a service provider, so as to create an invoice of rebill charges. An organizational hierarchy, comprising a list of elements of an organization, is displayed on a display device. Services that have been provided to a selected element by one or more service providers are associated with the selected element. The billed charges for the services are then adjusted, so as to calculate the rebill charges.Adjustment of the billed charges is effected by applying reprice parameters and miscellaneous charges. The reprice parameters are used to adjust the billed charge by a desired percentage, by a fixed rate per time, or by a fixed charge per service. The miscellaneous charges are in addition to the billed charges. After adjustment of the billed charges, an invoice is generated based on the rebill charge.

Abstract: The pricing module of the present invention provides a single module that models both fixed-income securities and equity securities into the future in an arbitrage-free model. Because the modeling includes both fixed-income securities and equity securities that are modeled based on common input state variables and does not allow arbitrage conditions between the fixed-income securities and the equity securities (as well as no arbitrage within a security class), the present invention provides an improved pricing module as compared to those in the prior art.

Abstract: A mall server with a product search function, in which each product category has a particular effective period during which it is presented to customers as a selectable search key. In a virtual shopping mall system, customers can conduct a search for a set of products by designating a particular product category as a search key. As part of a mall server, a category master table stores a plurality of product categories accompanied by information on their respective effective periods, and a product master table stores information on various online products along with their respective category definitions. Based on the category master table, a product search screen generation unit produces product search screen data containing a set of categories whose effective periods include the present date. Receiving the product search screen data from the mall server, the customer terminal displays a product search screen including a category selection menu to provide the customer with a list of selectable categories.

Abstract: A system for facilitating customer payments to creditors from a remote site includes computer systems located at respective agent, service provider and creditor sites. The service provider or host computer system is in selective communication with the agent and creditor computer systems and processes transaction information. A customer typically visits an agent site (e.g., a retail establishment) and tenders payment, preferably manually, in response to receiving a billing statement from a creditor. The payment transaction is entered into the agent system wherein information for all payment transactions at that agent site is maintained in a transaction file. The agent system generates a receipt for the customer at the completion of the transaction.

Abstract: An itinerary preparing system capable of easily preparing a complete travel plan that efficiently incorporates desired visiting places. A user inputs from a terminal an intended travel time of a trip together with visiting place information. Based on the visiting place information, a calculating section for calculating an expected consumption time in an information center calculates an expected consumption time for transportation to reach a visiting place or an expected length of stay thereat. An excess/shortage determining section compares the intended travel time with the total expected consumption time of the trip, and adjusts the intended travel time or the total consumption time based on the comparison result. Consequently, an itinerary preparing section makes a travel plan and transmits it to the terminal via an I/O section. When the received itinerary is approved at the terminal, the information center revises the itinerary by filling in free time of the itinerary.

Abstract: A system and method for targeting and distributing advertisements over a distributed information network includes a client application that displays targeted advertisements on a subscriber's computer and a server that manages an advertisement database and provides advertisements to the subscriber's computer. Advertisements are specifically targeted to the subscriber based on a personal profile provided by the subscriber. The client application periodically accesses the server over a distributed information network to download the targeted advertisements. The client application preferably displays the downloaded advertisements in an advertising window that is continuously displayed on the subscriber's computer and that is sensitive to mouse and/or keyboard activity, even if other applications are running concurrently on the subscriber's computer. Thus, the probability that a subscriber will view an advertisement that is specifically for the subscriber is relatively high.

Abstract: A system and method for automated aircraft boarding uses an iris recognition system for check-in and boarding. The passenger is enrolled once and assigned an account number. The passenger thereafter makes reservations using that account number. On arrival at the airport, the passenger is identified using an iris recognition system and automatically checked in for the flight, without the use of cards or other identification. Entry to the aircraft at the gate may also be provided with an iris recognition station. In one preferred embodiment, baggage check and baggage reconciliation are also performed using iris recognition. In its preferred embodiment, the disclosed system and method enhances customer convenience by eliminating tickets, boarding passes, and identification steps, while improving aircraft security.

Abstract: An automated system (10) is provided for identifying alternate low-cost travel arrangements. The system (10) obtains inventory information specifying the rates and/or availability of a plurality of travel arrangements, from one or more computer reservation systems. The inventory information is stored in a database (14) along with one or more portfolios of information (relating to a travel agency and each business entity customer of the travel agency) that can be used to discount the listed rates of the travel arrangements. In response to travel request information received from a customer, the system (10) automatically retrieves the inventory and/or discount information from the database (14) and determines a plurality of low-cost alternate travel arrangements that are available to the customer Consequently, a travel agent using the system (10) does not have to spend time manually identifying alternate low-cost travel arrangements.

Abstract: A multi-desktop computer system for a bank or other financial institution includes a plurality of functional desktop routines, each desktop operating on an identical "platform" of object-oriented routines. This "platform" of common object-oriented routines for use by each of the desktops, substantially reduces the design requirements of the desktops in that they only have to be designed to conform to the command structures of the object-oriented routines, and they do not have to be designed to any specific mainframe message structure or protocol. All of the functional desktops may be compiled together, along with the "platform" of object-oriented routines, to form one integral program, where a particular desktop will be activated, depending upon its need. The system enables a user to move between desktops, depending upon the need to activate a particular desktop. The system includes a system database that allows the desktops to share information with one another, such as customer information.

Abstract: Mobile radio telephone service is provided to a plurality of members of a subscriber group. Members of the subscriber group, which may comprise, for example, members of a family or employees of a small business, share a single subscription to the mobile radio telephone network which subscription limits the number of traffic channels which can be simultaneously occupied by the members. The group subscription avoids each of the individual members having to have a separate mobile radio system subscription and at the same time allows the network operator to spread subscriber traffic over a larger period of time during the day.

Abstract: Rights management information is used at least in part in a matching, narrowcasting, classifying and/or selecting process. A matching and classification utility system comprising a kind of Commerce Utility System is used to perform the matching, narrowcasting, classifying and/or selecting. The matching and classification utility system may match, narrowcast, classify and/or select people and/or things, non-limiting examples of which include software objects. The Matching and Classification Utility system may use any pre-existing classification schemes, including at least some rights management information and/or other qualitative and/or parameter data indicating and/or defining classes, classification systems, class hierarchies, category schemes, class assignments, category assignments, and/or class membership.