Abstract: A system and method are described that allow TV viewers to play a game wherein a bidder submitting a lowest unique bid wins an auction article or its cash equivalent.

Abstract: An auction is conducted by obtaining, from a buyer, information associated with a product to be purchased using an auction, where the buyer purchases the product from a winning bidder. The obtained information associated with the product is made available to at least a first bidder and a second bidder. A first bid that includes a first price and a first non-price information is received from the first bidder. A second bid that includes a second price and a second non-price information is received, from the second bidder. Non-price information is associated with (1) a description of a particular product a given bidder will provide in the event the given bidder wins the auction and/or (2) delivery of a product by the given bidder in the event the given bidder wins the auction. A first comparison value is generated based at least in part on the first price and the first non-price information. A second comparison value is generated based at least in part on the second price and the second non-price information.

Abstract: An image of at least one object (14) is captured. An object class selection is received from a menu (70) of a plurality of object classes. At least one task menu specific to the object class selection is provided. A task selection is received from the at least one task menu. A task associated with the at least one object (14) is facilitated based on the image and the task selection.

Abstract: Providing computer-based systems and methods for analyzing historical performance of financial securities and identifying trades in those securities based on the securities' current position as compared to this historical performance. These computer-based systems and computer-implemented methods include identifying stock pairs to include in a trading portfolio, based on a measure of the pair's relative performance, such as a modified Sharpe Ratio. The value of the stocks in each stock pair in the portfolio is assessed and deviations determined. This assessment can occur daily or at a longer or shorter time step. Stocks are bought or sold based on the current price of the stock as compared to historical performance. The present invention preferably employs a large number of stock pairs in the trading portfolio. This use of a large number of pairs results in a plurality of stocks being in more than one stock pair.

Abstract: Users of a simulator gain skills for investing using a simulator. The simulator simulates a business system that conducts a market transaction. The simulator selects a set of factors from a plurality of sets; selects a current factor from the selected set; and determines a price in accordance with the current factor. The simulator further updates a financial position of the user of the simulator in response to a transaction; and performs the transaction in accordance with the price and an input from the user. The input from the user corresponds in content to an input to the business system. Consequently, the user develops skill in specifying market transactions to be conducted by reviewing changes in the user's financial position. The simulator may include a simulated competitor having a financial position affected by transactions according to a strategy of the competitor selected from a set of stored strategies.

Abstract: A trading screen displays market information, such as working orders, buy and sell orders, and other items of interest, in association with values on a value axis. Each item of interest is therefore displayed in relation to the value axis to provide a trader with an intuitive display of the market. In one embodiment, a user can select a location associated with a particular value on the trading screen and upon an selection, for example, by a click of the mouse button, the value axis is repositioned so that the selected value is moved to a predefined location. During which, market information is moved to new locations that are associated with their respective values on the value axis.

Abstract: A method for assigning a value to a debt is disclosed. The method includes entering, into a digital computer, bankruptcy data associated with a bankruptcy proceeding after a debtor has filed for bankruptcy. The bankruptcy data may include priority claim data associated with priority claims, non-precedence claim data associated with non-precedence claims, and bankruptcy plan data. After the bankruptcy data are obtained, the digital computer determines a present value associated with at least one non-precedence claim in the non-precedence claims.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed which allows the aggregation of the demands of various buyers, providing an incentive for suppliers to bid to supply those demands in an auction. The system and method operates by scanning a database which contains a listing of goods or services sought by various people or entities. Thereafter, similar goods or services are grouped together and presented to various vendors. The vendors are given the opportunity to bid on the group of similar goods or services. Such a bid may vary from the originally purchased goods or services as long as the bid is within a predetermined range. The vendor which presents the optimum bid within a predetermined period of time is selected as the provider of the goods or services and proceeds to supply the goods or services at the bid upon amount.

Abstract: A securities analysis tool and method that allows a user to quickly and easily identify securities or stocks with the highest speed change per unit time and acceleration, or rate of change of speed, relative to other securities or stocks. More specifically, a human-machine interface includes speed and acceleration indicators that allow a user to visualize for one or more securities: the price speed, which is the percentage change per unit time; the price acceleration, which is the rate of change of price speed; the accumulation speed, which is the percentage change per time unit greater than zero; the accumulation acceleration, which is the rate of change of accumulation speed; the distribution speed, which is the percentage change per unit time less than zero; and the distribution acceleration, which is the rate of change of accumulation speed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a means and a method for operator support in a network comprising a number of domains and pieces of equipment and wherein agreements (SLAs) are established between the network operator and customers. It comprises means for selecting the relevant domains, means for selecting one of at least two modes, of which a first mode comprises a planning mode including a flow of actions, a second mode comprises an on-line mode including a flow of actions/events, wherein the on-line mode comprises a presentation sub-mode, and wherein during on-line presentation mode, and for a selected domain and time period, the income from generated traffic is calculated by collecting and calculating means, reduced by possible penalties for non satisfactory fulfillment of agreements, if any, and SW, HW and FW investments. It also comprises means for presenting the results of the calculations, e.g.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for increasing the return from a pool of loans for a company involved in the guarantee and securitization of such loans. In one exemplary embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises creating a plurality of sub-pools in which to place loans from the pool of loans; determining, using one or more processors, an external value assessment for one or more loans from the pool and an internal value assessment for the one or more loans; identifying a difference between the external and internal value assessments; and selecting a sub-pool from the plurality of sub-pools to place the one or more loans based upon the identified difference.

Abstract: A data distribution system and method are described herein to improve the distribution of market information to subscribing client devices. Market information updates are provided to subscribing devices over a communication link every time a change in the market occurs. If a bandwidth limitation is reached on the communication link, the preferred embodiments switch to a second mode of transmission such that the market information updates are provided only at predetermined intervals. The preferred embodiment monitors the bandwidth consumption to determine what mode of transmission to apply, and in response, it can dynamically change between modes of transmission. By dynamically adjusting the mode of transmission to comport with the current network bandwidth, the preferred embodiments may provide a network friendly, data intensive, and fast response market information feed.

Abstract: A financial computer program includes an icon representing a financial circumstance within the financial computer program, where the icon is selectable by a user to indicate the financial circumstance relevant to the user and manipulatable by the user to support a financial operation, data associated with the icon, and a software module configured to perform the financial operation at least partly dependent on the data associated with the icon.

Abstract: An auction result prediction system predicts auction results. The system may determine item, seller, or auction characteristics from prior or pending auctions. The system also obtains item characteristics of an item for which a result prediction is sought, either by a buyer or by a seller. A price predictor in the system accepts the auction and item characteristics and predicts an auction result based on the characteristics. The system also determines insurance parameters for insuring online auctions, and the insurance parameters may be based on predicted auction results. An insurance policy reflecting the insurance parameters may be offered to an online auction buyer, seller, or other market participant. The insurance policy may insure, for example, that an item for sale will obtain at least a price specified by the insurance policy.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for goal orientated computing system implemented financial management using projected balances includes a process for goal orientated financial management using projected balances whereby a user defines financial goals and then automatic payment rules based on projected account balance data are created to help accomplish those goals.

Abstract: In an automated exchange system, a separate virtual instrument is used in the matching process of the system. The virtual instrument guarantees that both a derivative instrument and its underlying instrument are traded together. The underlying instrument, i.e. the instrument in which derivative instruments are traded, is then preferably displayed together with the virtual instruments. The underlying instrument is presented with a price. The matching of the virtual instrument can take place in a matching module of the automated exchange system. After a trade in a virtual instrument is matched in the matching process of the system, the match is reported to a subsequent deal capture module where the corresponding different trades or deals of the virtual instrument are formed. The trades or deals formed in the deal capture module do not need to be matched because the number of instruments and the price can be deduced from the information relating to the virtual instrument.

Abstract: In a marketplace, offers are processed that are intended to be associated with other offers in a pool. The offers specify conditions for acceptance. Improvable offers are received that are capable of being associated with offers having more favorable specifications than initial offers associated with the improvable offers. Nonimprovable offers that have more favorable specifications than initial offers associated with improvable offers are identified. The identified nonimprovable offers are associated with corresponding improvable offers. Straddles, which comprise a set of offers and a limit on the associations, may span multiple pools. Information about the marketplace may be obtained from data generated by the operation of the marketplace.

Abstract: Systems and methods for configurable trading interfaces that allow a trader to quickly and easily submit trading commands to a trading system are provided. Using these systems and methods, a trader can using various trading interfaces to initiate trading commands, configure various display features and default command settings, and control a level of command entry verification that is provided to protect against inadvertent entry of incorrect trading commands.

Abstract: A distributed trading system for handling a plurality of order requests, each order request comprising parameters under which a participant will buy and/or sell a futures contract. A validator component is coupled to a messaging bus and has a first interface for receiving order request and an interface generating a validated order message on the messaging bus related to validated orders, wherein the validator implements processes for validating the order requests. A risk allocation value (RAV) component is coupled to the messaging bus and has an interface for receiving validated order messages from the validator, wherein the RAV component implements processes for evaluating risk associated with an order should that order be completed. A match engine is coupled to the messaging bus and has an interface for receiving validated order messages from the RAV component, wherein the match engine implements processes for matching orders based on the order-specified criteria.

Abstract: An information aggregation and synthesization system and process. The present invention provides aggregation and packaging of structured or unstructured information from disparate sources such as those available on a network such as the Internet. A network compatible/addressable interface device is operated by a user. The network interface device communicates with local datastores or network accessible datastores via an addressing scheme such as Uniform Resource Locator addresses (URLs) utilized by the Internet. Data passing between the network interface device and the datastores is accessed, polled, and retrieved through an intermediary gateway system. Such aggregated information is then synthesized, customized, personalized and localized to meet the information resource requests specified by the user via the network interface device.