Abstract: Methods and apparatus for pooling credit and business information are disclosed. A disclosed apparatus includes an input and a data processing facility structured to process credit information received at the input from one of a plurality of unrelated users. The apparatus also includes a data storage device structured to store the processed credit information received from the plurality of unrelated users and a search engine responsive to a request from a requestor for credit information to search the data storage device for responsive credit information. The apparatus further includes an output for outputting the responsive credit information to the requester. The apparatus may also include an accounting facility cooperating with the search engine to charge a search fee to the requester of the responsive credit information without disclosing lender identification information associated with the credit information.

Abstract: A feedback loop for the assessment of a user interface of a communications network is based on feature units for analysis and comparison. These units are subset collections that are grouped together to perform a particular task or function. When, these units can be objectively and quantitatively assessed, and compared among various user interfaces. The quantification, assessment, market testing and comparison informs the feedback loop to reveal ways in which a user interface can be improved so as to benefit a company's ability to effectively communicate with its customers. A Constant Sum Scale question is used to support the comparison among user interface features, and is also applicable in a wide variety of contexts.

Abstract: A methods and systems for addressing parallel scheduling problem where a directed acyclic graph (dag) modeling t tasks and their dependencies needs to be executed on n unreliable workers. The methods and systems determine how workers get assigned to tasks (possibly in parallel and redundantly) throughout execution, so as to minimize expected completion time. Disclosed is a polynomial time method for the problem restricted to the case when dag width is at most a constant and the number of workers is also at most a constant.

Abstract: A system, method, and processor-readable medium are provided for quantitatively evaluating risk associated with nanotechnology. An insurance company computing system obtains nanomaterial-related data from a variety of sources, including nanomaterial sensors such as differential mobility analyzers located on-site at an insured facility. The insurance computing system uses the obtained data and a computerized model to compute a risk score that is used in evaluating the insurability of the facility or the operating entity. An insurance policy or modifications to an existing insurance premium are subsequently produced based on the computed risk score.

Abstract: A gateway server, point of sale device and protocol are provided for processing financial transactions. A public network interface is configured to couple to a public network and communicate financial authorization requests. The financial authorization requests can include, for example, transaction specific data, a merchant store or location invariant and a supplemental header. A gateway processor processes the financial transaction authorization requests and couples to a financial network interface configured to couple to at least one financial network. The gateway provides a response to the point of sale device based upon data received from the financial network and the authorization request.

Abstract: The present invention provides exemplary bill paying service methods and systems. One such bill paying service method (1000) includes enrolling a subscriber (Step 1010) who is a debtor to a first creditor and who has authorized debits to be taken from a designated account. The designated account is adapted to periodically receive a payroll deposit on a first regular schedule that is over time in excess of a minimum payment on a first debt owed by the debtor to the first creditor. The designated account is periodically debited, and any funds obtained are used to credit a custody account (Step 1012). The first creditor is paid (Step 1016), on behalf of the debtor and from the custody account, on a second regular schedule that differs from the first regular schedule. Paying the first creditor occurs in an amount calculated for an accelerated repayment of the first debt (Step 1014).

Abstract: A system, method, software, and portfolios for managing risk in markets relating to a commodity delivered over a network are described, in which a market participant constructs portfolios of preferably liquid price risk instruments in proportions that eliminate the Spatial Price Risk for the market participant's underlying position. Techniques are also disclosed for constructing and evaluating new price risk instruments and other sets of positions, as well as identifying arbitrage opportunities in those markets.

Abstract: A system and method for creating an index value for evaluating market center execution quality. This can include a summation of at least two derived values selected from: an execution speed of a predetermined order of covered security orders that were executed at a market center; price improvement of a predetermined order of covered security orders that were executed at a market center; percentage of covered security orders that were executed at a market center at a quoted value or a better value; a percentage of covered security orders that were executed at outside the quoted value; and effective spread, which is as twice the difference between the securities execution price and the midpoint of a consolidated best bid or offer at the time of a securities order receipt. The index value can be utilized to compare market center executions provided in public data versus that provided by private data.

Abstract: A business method is disclosed of increasing the probability of timely receiving payment for financing renewable energy consumer premises equipment (CPE) by a consumer for power generation at a consumer premises, the renewable energy CPE adapted to deliver power onto a power grid. The method comprises creating an agreement between a consumer and an entity financing renewable energy CPE, wherein creating the agreement includes creating a provision that allows the entity to control power at the consumer premises if a default of the agreement by the consumer occurs.

Abstract: A system for evaluating risk associated with a mortgage loan includes an automated underwriting engine configured to calculate a first risk indication and a second risk indication for the mortgage loan. The first risk indication is based on mortgage loan application data received for the mortgage loan, and further based on at least one of interest rate risk and collateral risk associated with the mortgage loan. The second risk indication represents a probability of an adverse event associated with the mortgage loan. The probability of the adverse event is determined based on the mortgage loan application data. The system also includes user interface logic configure to provide a user interface, and further configured to provide the first risk indication to a lender in the form of an underwriting recommendation for the mortgage loan, and to provide the second risk indication to the lender in a form which is useable by the lender to manage the risk associated with the mortgage loan.

Abstract: An account management system has been developed that enables customer or client-related information to be stored, viewed and manipulated in a manner that reflects the relationship among different customers. The account management system includes an account data structure that defines accounts and relates customers to accounts so that the accounts include a group of related customers. In addition, a method of managing an underwriting account for an insurance policy has been developed. In particular, a method comprises the steps of establishing a plurality of participants; assigning each participant of the plurality of participants to an account; establishing business rules at an account level; and providing an underwriting decision for an account based upon the business rules.

Abstract: Tools for trading and monitoring a commodity on an electronic exchange using a graphical user interface and a user input device. The tools will aid the trader in determining the status, trends in the market, and the trader's position in the market.

Abstract: A system, method, and processor-readable medium are provided for quantitatively evaluating risk associated with nanotechnology. An insurance company computing system obtains nanomaterial-related data from a variety of sources, including nanomaterial sensors such as differential mobility analyzers located on-site at an insured facility. The insurance computing system uses the obtained data and a computerized model to compute a risk score that is used in evaluating the insurability of the facility or the operating entity. An insurance policy or modifications to an existing insurance premium are subsequently produced based on the computed risk score.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system and method for automatically generating a composite contract characterized by at least one parameter. A first subset of eligible component contracts is identified from a set of available component contracts wherein each of the available component contracts is characterized by at least one attribute. A second subset of component contracts is then selected from the first subset to generate the composite contract.

Abstract: Systems and methods utilizing a portal on a single computer platform for improving risk assessment and business reporting are disclosed. The portal integrates at least two financial information resources such as, for example, an electronic credit report (eCR) database, an electronic know your customer (eKYC) database, a client business management information system, and a customer profitability system large area network. The eCR database includes a link to an exposure database, a credit rating database, and/or an intelligence database. The eKYC database includes an anti-money laundering scoring module, and/or a standard KYC form or an enhanced KYC form.

Abstract: A credit derivative trading system comprises a credit derivative authority configured to receive defined positions for credit derivatives and update a plurality of trade clients in real-time whenever there is movement in the market for a particular credit derivative.

Abstract: A system and method for allocating principal payments by creating Capped NAS/AS securities classes, Both scheduled and unscheduled principal prepayments are redirected, subject to a maximum percentage, or cap, as determined by formula. The formula is a novel payment priority rule that redistributes risks related to the borrower's prepayment option through prioritization of the cash flows among the NAS/AS Classes, allowing for the efficient creation of classes with more and less WAL stability to meet specific investor's needs.

Abstract: The invention concerns a system enabling remote security certificate holders of a company to take decisions concerning security operations proposed by the company. The system uses a computer communication network and distinguishes between registered owners and bearer securities holder. In the case of a registered owner, an identification code generated by a centralizing unit is returned by the holder to the centralizing unit directly and in parallel via a depository. In the case of a bearer securities holder, an identification key generated by a collecting agent is transmitted directly and in parallel via a depository. The holder transmits his identifiers and his decisions to the collecting agent who forwards them partly, in parallel, via the depository to a centralizing unit. The centralizing unit compares the codes or identification keys for the purpose of executing the decisions of the holders.

Abstract: A system for connecting transaction services to an ATM (10, 500) that includes a network (20). A user interface service (12) and a lookup service (22) are in operative connection with the network. Transaction services such as a printer service (16), card reader service (18), and cash dispenser service (14) are also in operative connection with the network. These transaction services are operative to register with the lookup service and to upload a service proxy to the lookup service. The user interface service is operative to locate transaction services on the network by invoking a remote lookup method on the lookup service. The lookup service is operative to return service proxies that match the type of service that is required. The user interface service is further operative to invoke methods of the service proxies that remotely control the functionality of the transaction services on the network.

Abstract: Mortgage fraud detection systems and methods are provided. A fraud detection system can generally comprise a database operator, a database manager, one or more users, and a database. Database components can be implemented as hardware, software, or a combination of both. A fraud detection method can generally comprise providing a database for maintaining a plurality of records. Data records can be continually received by a database in batchwise or single submission protocols. Records can be compared to determine whether they contain common data in one or more predetermined fields. If records contain common data in one or more predetermined fields, records can be examined for inconsistencies in one or more other data fields. Discovered inconsistencies and magnitudes of inconsistencies can be warning signs of fraud. Results of comparisons can be reported to system users to enable such users to investigate additional circumstances. Other embodiments and features are also claimed and described in the application.