Abstract: A system and method for opening and tracking trouble tickets over the public Internet. A customer service management system provides information included within a customer profile record to a Web enabled infrastructure which is accessible by a remote customer workstation having a web browser and Internet access. The customer profile information is used to prepopulate data fields in dialogs used to open a trouble ticket. Once a trouble ticket is opened, the customer workstation tracks the existing trouble tickets through a browser based graphical user interface. The graphical user interface provides current and historical status reports of the actions taken to resolve a network event and the service organizations responsible for resolving the network event.

Abstract: A data processing system receives a continuous stream of real time transactional data regarding market transactions of fixed income securities. The incoming data is qualified and then used to determine the term structure of interest rates based on price information. The system provides linear interpolation techniques to complete an operative data set. This set is updated with current trade data, with term structure shifting using pivot points from newly qualified data. An index value for a pre-select portfolio of securities is then calculated and expressed in terms of price relative to par, yield to maturity and duration.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method using front-end network gateways and search criteria entered at a remote computer terminal to conduct a search of multiple financial products for efficient quoting at a remote location. The method includes the steps of providing at least one data input screen with signals communicated from a digital computer to the remote terminal connected by a communications system, the at least one data input screen at the terminal soliciting entry of financial product selection criteria, receiving the selection criteria from the terminal over the communications system at the digital computer, and using the front-end network gateways, data accessible by the digital computer representing the multiple financial products, and the selection criteria entered at the terminal to provide a quote at the terminal for a financial product identified from the multiple financial products.

Abstract: An electronic Personal Information Manager (PIM) including a calendar/scheduling system with an EarthTime™ module is described. In operation, the system tracks different types of times: “local” time, “home” time, and “remote” time. Home time is the time zone of where the user typically spends most of his or her time; this is usually the time zone for the user's home office. Local time is the time for the locality where the user is located physically at any particular instance in time. “Remote” time represents the time zones of the other individuals (i.e., other than the user). The system may show events and appointments in the user's own “local” time (or other user-selected type of time), regardless of where the user is presently located. Using these three types of time (i.e.

Abstract: Complex data protocols, such as the financial protocols OFX and Gold, generate data streams in which some elements may not have a one-to-one mapping between protocols, some elements may have only conditional mapping between protocols, and some elements may not supply fields or parameters under a first protocol which are required under the second protocol. Executable code and/or data structures for data conversion between such complex protocols are automatically generated. An exhaustive definition of each protocol in machine readable format is obtained, complex mapping rules between elements are broken into atomic operations and procedures which are definable and encapsulated, and a structured flow for element conversion between protocols is defined.

Abstract: A method for permitting the electronic delivery of digital content. Metadata is acquired which has been previously associated with content. Promotional metadata is extracted for use with a electronic store. At least one of the metadata is altered to create offer data. And at least one of the metadata is altered to create transaction data. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a computer readable medium is described to carry out the above method.

Abstract: A uniform service platform is provided for medical diagnostic systems. The platform includes modality interface modules which may be adapted for various system modalities, including magnetic resonance imaging modalities, computed tomography modalities, x-ray modalities, and so forth. A server coordinates the exchange of operational parameter data between the systems and external circuitry, such as a remote service facility. A browser displays user-viewable pages for viewing, requesting and receiving service information. A communications module permits the exchange of service data between a system on which the platform is installed and remote circuitry. The platform may further include a subscription module for verifying subscription and access rights, such as for security purposes. Certain portions of the platform, including the user-viewable pages and modality interface components may be specifically tailored or adapted to the modality of a system on which the platform is installed.

Abstract: A method and system for conducting electronic online auctions between a plurality of potential bidders using differential index bidding is disclosed. The originator of the auction specifies one or more indexes as the basis for establishing a competitive price point. The index can be a published market index, or a proprietary price array developed by the buyer. The bidders specify bids as a percentage or absolute amount off of the one or more indexes. The originator of the auction compares the submitted bids and provides feedback to the bidders.

Abstract: An electronic shopping system, providing for customer recognition using wireless identification and visual data transmission to point-of-sale terminals and other terminal types located in a commercial establishment. A customer's visual image is taken as a customer enters the establishment and, that customer's identification number is obtained from a customer identification card, if the customer possesses such a card. The visual image data is bundled with the customer's demographic profile data, transaction history data and the customer's current accrued store loyalty or incentive points into a customer data record. The customer data record is forwarded to point-of-sale terminals, store workstations, mobile terminals, or other I/O devices capable of displaying multiple customer records.

Abstract: The present invention relates to storing and manipulating customer purchasing information, particularly purchasing information by credit cards, debit cards, checks, and the like. A hierarchical organizational structure is created comprising a plurality of categories and sub-categories. The customer purchase information may then be retrieved according to user created links to generate customer preference information. The customer preference information may be stored in a customer account, thereby allowing targeted offers to be made to customers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for generation of strategies of investment in publicly traded stocks and a method of choosing the strategy with capital gain greater than traditional buy and hold strategy. The system and method is capable of generating thousands of investment strategies finding the best strategy delivering the optimal capital gain. The visualization method gives investor ability to analysis dynamics and stability of chosen strategy versus time with the speed of animation. Using Ad the system on a PC with 200-300 MZ CPU the user can analyze 20-40 different views for 5-10 seconds, which otherwise with the traditional technique takes more then 10,000 plots.

Abstract: The invention is in the field of using a computer to select corporate stocks for investment. A user is connected to the Internet. The user connects to the portfolio management program (PMP) host computer through the Internet. The user reviews certain strategies and their historic performance. The information is transmitted across the Internet to the user. The information transmitted includes such information as historic performance, sample holdings, modeling how the particular strategy and its holding has performed in the past. The user, after making appropriate reviews, makes a decision to purchase the names of the stocks in that portfolio. The owner of the PMP host computer collects a payment for this service. Now the user sees a list of stocks provided by the PMP host computer. If the user can then make the decision whether to accept or reject any individual stock in the generated list.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a transaction network that facilitates and simplifies purchase transactions between any number of customers and any number of merchants. The transaction network is primarily utilized in the sale and purchase of digital content via a network such as the Internet. The transaction network registers and authenticates customer purchase activities and maintains customer account data including payment information. Once registered, a customer will generally not register again for further purchase activities at participating merchant sites. Additionally, the transaction network provides a single, central authentication mechanism for all participating merchant sites using a single customer identifier and password. Further, the transaction network accumulates purchase information across all of the merchant sites and the ultimate payment processing of those purchase transactions.

Abstract: The system provides an automated, centralized back-end payroll service with a full-featured web-based payroll system. Both aspects of the system have access to a central database, which includes, for example: profile information on employers and employees; timesheet, salary and hourly wage data; overtime data; employee benefit data; and information regarding third-party providers and miscellaneous payees. The full-featured payroll system functionality is implemented in a manner that provides employers and employees (to the extent security policies permit) with a robust, data-driven user interface via a standard web browser. The central database provides the system's back-end (server-side) payroll service functionality with constant access to the data.

Abstract: In an automated exchange system a method and a device which automatically checks the corresponding price in other exchange's order books is provided the exchange only allows a match if a better price cannot be found elsewhere. In a preferred embodiment the order is automatically transferred to the exchange having the better price if this is the case, and the order is further processed at that exchange the method and device provides means so that investors will not have to worry about getting a better price elsewhere, when entering bids into an automated exchange.

Abstract: A taxonomy of characteristics for products and services is linked via indexing keys to a companion dictionary of terms and to electronic files containing characteristics data on offered products and services. The taxonomy is structured into domains of form, fit, function, and administrative data and permits identification of products and services that can be independent of prior knowledge of the type of product or service or the source of the product or service. In operation, a system user selects required characteristics from the taxonomy and sets values of the fundamental units of measure or identification for each selected characteristic. The system uses the associated indexing keys to locate and display a plurality of available products and services that satisfy those requirements.

Abstract: A method for automating legal documents particularly for institutional and commercial loans includes the steps of providing in a database a plurality of provisions, including a plurality of standard clauses for each provision, and at least one optional clause associated with each standard clause, and a lender ranking value for each optional clause; selecting either the standard clause or the associated optional clause for each provision; allocating a borrower ranking value to each selected optional clause; comparing the associated lender ranking value to the borrower ranking value for each selected optional clause for determining which of the standard clauses will be retained and which of the selected optional clauses associated with the standard clause will be accepted to replace the standard clause; and generating a loan document having each of the accepted selected optional clauses and each of the retained standard clauses.

Abstract: A data processing system is disclosed that can be used to conduct a modified auction. A minimum value is determined for an item to be auctioned. Potential bidders are provided the opportunity to buy the rights to bid on the item. When the total proceeds from selling the rights to bid on the item become equal to or greater than the minimum value for the item, an auction is performed for the item. In one embodiment, only those entities that purchased the rights to bid may participate in the auction, and the auction is designed to prevent the auction price from becoming too high.

Abstract: A system and method for analyzing and originating a contractual option arrangement for transacting a deposit liabilities base of a financial institution at predetermined prices and time periods.

Abstract: A system and method for management of resources estimated to be required to develop a product and distribution of resources allocated for the development of the product. A hierarchy of projects required for completion of the product is defined in a database, estimates of resource requirements are associated with the respective projects, and project-level target allocations of resources are associated with the respective projects. The project-level target allocations of resources are automatically summed for a calculated total target allocation of resources, and the calculated total target allocation of resources is associated with the product. An actual total target allocation of resources is assigned to the product, and the hierarchy of projects, associated estimates of resource requirements, project-level target allocations, the calculated total target allocation, and the actual target allocation of resources for the product are interactively displayed.