Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for conducting secure monetary transactions over a communications network is provided. The invention facilitates secure monetary and financial transactions over the Internet and other public networks for various purposes, including automated payments associated with purchasing goods or services online. Different implementation methods may be utilized, including systems based on proxy and psuedo-credit-card models. In each case, communications protocols are provided between a consumer, merchant web site, payment processor and a service provider, enabling online transactions to proceed in a secure manner. The invention utilizes a physical medium to provide consumers, merchants, and financial institutions with a secure system to conduct electronic commerce transaction. The preferred medium assumes the form of a miniature recordable CD-ROM that contains cryptographic data representing one-time monetary and/or transactional details.

Abstract: Web-sites www.proximityservices.com, www.accessservices.com, www.vendingmachineservices.com, www.vehicleservices.com, www. meterservices.com, www.picopay.com, www.tollservices.com, for all the proximity service systems world wide are disclosed wherein customers can sign up for proximity services such as toll gate services at any toll gate in the world that has signed up to provide the service to customers, parking meter services etc. and the proximity systems owners are guaranteed their payments. In the preferred embodiment all transactions are approved at the local POS (toll gate, parking meter, checkout station, parking lot, pay phone, ATM, gas station, etc.) using a service provider identification number (SPIN) issued to the service provider owner each month for example. The local approved transactions are guaranteed by the web-site owners and the customers each have unique SPIN numbers that expire periodically such as each month.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed which relate to seeking auction bids via interface surfaces printed with information and coded data. The coded data, encoded visibly or invisibly, may be queried by an appropriate sensing device. The sensing device communicates with a computer system. Together, the interface surfaces, sensing device and computer system are capable of effecting auction listing transactions over a network.

Abstract: A method and system thereof for establishing legal rights and limitations regarding the use of electronically distributed intellectual property (e.g., a “digital rights framework”). The intellectual property is modeled and offered for different types of distribution (e.g., for sale, rent, etc.). In response to a request for access to and use of the intellectual property, the legal rights and limitations associated with the type of distribution requested are provided. For example, a hypertext reference can be used to invoke the legal rights and limitations associated with the type of distribution. An agreement to these legal rights and limitations is reached and executed, and stored for subsequent reference and use. The digital rights framework provides a method and system for processing information encoded in a standardized and extensible format (e.g.

Abstract: A mobile communication device (104) loads an application bundle (200), which includes a software application (202) and an indication of a time limited license (206). To enforce the time limited license, the mobile communication device, upon attempting to invoke the application code (310), obtains a secure time reading (312). It is contemplated that a secure time server (116) may be used to facilitate license enforcement. Once the secure time reading is obtained, the mobile communication device compares the time with the license period, and executes the code only if the time reading is within the license period.

Abstract: An electronic book reader has a processor, a display surface, and access to a memory card upon which is stored a digitally-formatted creative work such as a book. In addition, the reader has access to a plurality of precompiled condensed content descriptions of respective books that are subject to copy restrictions. Before reading a given book, the reader creates a condensed content description of the book and compares it to the stored descriptions to determine whether the book is subject to copy restrictions. If it is, the reader checks for a valid license before allowing the user to read the book.

Abstract: A bi-currency debt contract system for making secure debts and including guidelines and an associated procedure particularly adaptable for issuing debt of a hard or stabilized currency, such as but not limited to US dollars, to a debtor entity which utilizes the debt proceeds in a secondary economy historically characterized by unstable monetary conditions. A debt issuer entity makes a stable currency debt at a first interest rate, based on a currently available debt rate of the stable currency. An amortization schedule to satisfy the loan is established and is characterized by a portion of the debt being paid at a second interest rate commonly associated with the debt rate of the local currency of the secondary economy, which is significantly greater than the first interest rate. A remainder or second portion of the debt is amortized at the first interest rate on which the debt was also based.

Abstract: A media information distribution and recording system for distributing media information from a central apparatus to terminal apparatus through a network and for recording the media information on a detachable recording medium in the terminal apparatus, wherein the terminal apparatus serves not only as a transmitting terminal apparatus, but also as a receiving terminal apparatus, is proposed, together with the terminal apparatus, a media information recording apparatus for use in this system, and a recording medium which stores a program that controls the operation of a computer for use in this system as well as in the media information recording apparatus.

Abstract: A secure manipulation archiving retrieval and transmission system for electronic multi media commerce, includes: a plurality of client devices having image communication capability; an image processing center, including an application server(s), and an image archiving and storage database containing multimedia files and associated meta data; a host server connected to client devices by a communication network, and to the image processing center through an electronic security mechanism, the host server providing the client devices indirect access to the image processing center through the electronic security mechanism, whereby the client devices are prevented from interacting directly with the image processing center to provide multiple levels of security to the image processing center; a commercial photo network including a plurality of image capture devices and image output devices connected by a communication network; an image clearinghouse connected to the commercial photo network for temporarily receiving

Abstract: A contents managing method of regulating a number of copied contents storable on a storage medium includes giving a predetermined number of copyable contents for each content, recording the copied contents on the storage medium upon reception of an instruction for copy recording on the storage medium when there is a remainder in the number of copyable contents, decrementing the number of copyable contents by “1” every time one copied content is recorded on the storage medium at a time of recording, and incrementing the number of copyable contents by “1” every time one copied content is erased from the storage medium upon reception of an instruction to erase the copied contents from the storage medium.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for preventing an unauthorized computer system from using copied software or data. An identification code provided by a client computer is combined with a pre-determined number provided by the source of software or data to be copied to generate at least one unique encryption key. Prior to each use the encrypted program re-derives the original encryption key, which includes the identification code of the client computer, to decrypt the critical files prior to use. The identification code may be a unique identifier associated with the client computer such as a network identifier or a processor ID provided by the client computer.

Abstract: A process for implementing a market neutral relative value strategy to provide up-to-the-minute equity trading recommendations includes selecting pairtrades, each having both high correlation coefficient and high de-trended correlation coefficient. The de-trended coefficient is determined for a time interval selected such that a starting price of one of the stocks of a pairtrade is substantially equal its ending price. The process further includes calculating an optimal financial hedge ratio by determining regression slopes of the stocks in each selected pairtrade with respect to one another. The selected pairs are further compared with a plurality of templates to select only valid pairtrades whose amplitude and number of crosses through and deviations from the regression line match at least one of the templates. Applying a modified LaGrange-Urenbeck process to determine the optimal cut-loss and profit taking boundaries further optimizes each of the valid pairtrades.

Abstract: An asset/account activation device and method are provided. According to a first preferred method, an asset may be activated by a point of sale device utilizing multiple security mechanisms. Activation codes are sent by secure electronic transmission from an activation host to the activation device. Upon execution of the asset purchase, the activation device dispenses the activation code. Prior thereto, a physical representation of the asset, in the form of a card or the like, has printed thereon an asset ID. To activate the asset, the asset owner contacts a processing device wherein the activation code and asset ID are compared based on time constraints, retailer location constraints and other constraints. Other security checks may be incorporated to include velocity checks. The apparatus of the invention includes an activation host, an activation device, a processing device or VRU, and an activation database.

Abstract: In a system in which a user obtains documents, a method of controlling what is supplied to the user, the method including providing one or more user accounts for the user and providing the or each user account with a separate first threshold, periodically determining the balance in the user account or accounts; and if the balance in the respective user account is below the first threshold, instituting modification of documents supplied or restrictions on what documents are supplied or both.

Abstract: A consumable article includes a consumable item and a memory device. The memory device is organized to represent currency. Use of the consumable item causes the memory device to be reorganized. The consumable article is used in an apparatus that has a control circuit that can update the memory device to modify the amount of currency when the apparatus consumes the consumable item. The apparatus optionally includes a network interface coupled to the control circuit that interfaces to a clearinghouse for reconciling the amount of currency and use of the consumable item.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for reducing costs associated with making a plurality of food products incompatible in a single food product-making facility by a plurality of food product makers. A plurality of discrete food product-making plants are provided configured for use by the plurality of food product makers. A common area facility includes facilities sharable by the plurality of food product makers using and occupying the plurality of food product making plants. The plurality of food product making plants and common area facility are operated cooperatively by sharing use and costs associated with use of the common area facility by and among the plurality of food product makers.

Abstract: A voice recording/reproducing apparatus in accordance with the present invention includes a recording medium, a recording unit, a playback unit, and a reproduction manipulating unit. The recording unit records by voice the items of a schedule for each day on the recording medium. The playback unit reproduces by voice the items of a schedule for each day which are recorded on the recording medium. The playback manipulating unit is used to designate a day of a year for which a schedule must be played back, and to instruct the playback unit to play back the items of the schedule for the designated day. The recording unit can record a plurality of schedule items as the items of a schedule for each day. All the schedule items for the designated day are played back responsive to one manipulation performed on the playback manipulating unit.