Abstract: An intermittent risk exposure liability insurance method comprising the steps of: establishing an Internet business site enabled for communication with insurers and insureds through Internet service providers; enrolling the insureds in intermittent risk exposure liability insurance policies, the policies providing for a variable insurance premium rate depending upon an intermittent use of an insured article; logging start and completion times of each intermittent use of the insured article on the Internet business site by the insured; verifying start and completion times of use of the insured article in accordance with the logged start and completion times; and applying and billing premium insurance rates in accordance with the verified and logged start and completion times of use.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for real time testing of automated valuation models using various indicators of accuracy. These indicators are then weighted according to their value as indicators of accuracy using individualized weighting factors or an equation. A ranking is then computed based upon the factors and their weights. This method is preformed continuously, so as to achieve real-time or periodically updated automated valuation model accuracy rankings.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are disclosed for volume and stress testing bank/credit processing systems. In one implementation, the example system can be configured to include at least one subsystem configured to generate a plurality of data packages. In this example each data package of the plurality can include one of a plurality of simulated financial transactions. The example system can be configured to include at least one subsystem configured to transmit the plurality of data packages to a target database operable to perform at least one of the simulated financial transactions included in one of the plurality of data packages. In this example, the example system can also be configured to include at least one subsystem configured to monitor performance characteristics of the target database as it processes the plurality of data packages.

Abstract: A video downloading and scrubbing system for use with a web-based video editing system is provided. The downloading and scrubbing system includes: a scrubbing subsystem configured to: receive a user request for a portion of a video at a particular time index; create a data stream beginning containing video data relating to that time index in the video; and transmit the data; and a preview subsystem configured to provide a preview of video data to the user prior to the user completing the download of the video.

Abstract: A convertible financial instrument provides incentives to holders to keep the instruments outstanding so that issuers maintain flexibility and control over the maturity date of the instrument and the manner in which it is settled. The instrument may provide issuers with the ability to deduct an amount for tax purposes that approximates the true economic cost of the financial instrument. The instrument may contain a provision calling for contingent payments (which may include, for example, contingent interest, preferred distributions, contingent principal, dividends, and other pay-outs) to the holder in some circumstances, which may be based on formulae calculations. For example, this may occur when the trading value of the convertible instrument exceeds a pre-determined value such as, for example, a certain percentage of the accreted value of the convertible instrument, or, for example, another circumstance that may trigger a contingent payment may be when the price of another financial instrument (e.g.

Abstract: A computerized accounting system is described herein. At least a portion of the accounting system may have a service oriented architecture. The accounting system may include an accounting service that is capable of storing versioned accounting policies. The various accounting policies may be used to process accounting data to determine the effect of the various accounting policies on the financial results. Also, the accounting system may include an event processing framework which, in one embodiment, may be used to amortize loans, securities and/or guaranty fee items.

Abstract: A method for assessing the performance of a company is provided. The method may include receiving financial data about the company and determining a future value of the company. Next, the future value is decomposed into a plurality of future value components, where the plurality of future value components includes an economy component that defines an implied amount of growth of the company attributable to the growth of the economy in general. Finally, the method may include displaying at least one of the future value components to advise a user of the performance of the company relative to the economy in general.

Abstract: A facility procuring information about a distinguished property from its owner that is usable to refine an automatic valuation of the distinguished property is described. The facility displays information about the distinguished property used in the automatic valuation of the distinguished property. The facility obtains user input from the owner adjusting at least one aspect of information about the distinguished property used in the automatic valuation of the distinguished property. The facility then displays to the owner a refined valuation of the distinguished property that is based on the adjustment of the obtained user input.

Abstract: An intelligent electronic subrogation network (“ESN”) automates intra-organization workflow, inter-organization workflow and collaboration for insurance subrogation. This ESN is facilitated by a novel system architecture and process that includes an inter-organizational workflow management system, an inter-organizational transaction processing system, and a unique mechanism for optimizing and enriching web-based user interaction within any such system.

Abstract: Centralized process context and information context are provided for a computer system having an enterprise service architecture platform. The process context is a centrally accessible object storing and providing status data generated during performance of a process flow. The process context permits firm personnel to review performance of the process flow, for example, to determine its status and to identify any business exceptions that may have occurred therein. The information context caches information generated during performance of the process flow. It provides data on which to assess firm performance parameters, for example, time elapsed during performance of each process step and it provides a detailed set of information describing the process business activity. The process context and information context support higher-level monitoring functions.

Abstract: A system and method for administrating a fee structure for a fund class of shares is disclosed. The invention includes issuing shares in a newly created Q class within a mutual fund, providing a right of accumulation benefit having a discounted front end sales load for a larger of said total share investment, not charging a front end sales charge, converting a percentage of the purchased Q shares to A shares each year such that principal and dividends are withdrawn from the A class without a contingent deferred sales charge, charging a contingent deferred sales charge upon early redemption of the purchased shares which is based upon an amount of the redemption and declines each year, reinvesting dividends into the A shares at net asset value and compensating financial intermediaries similar to A shares.

Abstract: A merchandise presentation method includes: a step of preparing a standard value relating to work data, which specifies work performed by a user; a step of obtaining actual work data, which specifies the work actually performed by each user with respect to the work; a step of comparing the actual work data with the standard value; a step of selecting any one of a plurality of merchandise or a combination thereof, based on the comparison result; a step of calculating increasing profit by using at least one of the selected merchandise; and a step of presenting to the user the content of at least one of the selected merchandise and the increasing profit.

Abstract: Auction prices for a quantity of items, the quantity of which is not determined prior to auction, are equilibrated among bidders to reflect supply and demand for the items. For example, in auctioning Internet advertising opportunities, the first available opportunities are auctioned to a high bidder. Later in the course of the auction period, once the high bidder's budget has been exhausted, the price for advertising opportunities is reduced. The difference in price paid by the high bidder and the reduced price for the quantity of advertising opportunities purchased is credited to the high bidder's account. Once the high bidder's account regains a level sufficient to acquire additional advertising opportunities, the high bidder may continue to acquire advertising opportunities. Other bidders similarly are credited the difference between prices previously paid and the current price. An equilibrium price is reached based on the recursive adjustment of prices paid by the bidders.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel insurance product that provides an accelerated death benefit to the insured individual. The insurance product contains a lifeaccess accelerated benefit feature that allows the insured individual to file a claim and receive benefits under a life insurance product if the insured individual becomes chronically or terminally ill.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer are disclosed for managing a financial transaction associated with a financial account, wherein the transaction would cause an outstanding balance of the financial account to exceed a credit limit. The method comprises determining a merchant type for a merchant which is a party to the transaction. A merchant credit risk associated with the determined merchant type is determined. The merchant credit risk is compared to a threshold value defining an acceptable credit risk. The transaction is approved based on the comparison of the merchant credit risk with the threshold value.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for handling insurance requests, such as new coverage applications, renewal applications, and insurance quote requests. The system includes at least two computerized predictive models whose outputs each serve as inputs to the other. A business logic module is included in the system to process insurance requests with the predictive models to determine one or more sets of recommended policy parameters for the user and to output the determination to the user via a user interface. In various embodiments, the predictive models also output workflow components (such as underwriting workflow components) and price components (such as premium prices) corresponding to output suggested sets of coverage parameters.

Abstract: Computer implemented methods are provided for managing and optimizing the profitability of a plurality of physicians in a healthcare practice participating in an insurance network. Exemplary computer implemented methods can include, for example, comparing via one or more computers current ancillary medical procedures used by each of the plurality of physicians with one or more preferred ancillary medical procedures of the insurance network to thereby identify at least one of the plurality of physicians in the healthcare practice who engages in ancillary medical procedures that are not preferred by the insurance network. Such exemplary computer implemented methods can also include, for example, modifying the ancillary medical cost management behavior of the at least one of the plurality of physicians and distributing a predetermined percentage of savings attributed to the modified ancillary medical cost management behavior of the at least one of the plurality of physicians.

Abstract: A method for electronic transaction settlement includes a customer providing an account identifier and contact information to a merchant, the merchant contacting a settlement house and transmitting the account identifier and a transaction amount, the settlement house contacting the customer, preferably via a mobile communication device. The customer then chooses a payment method such as a credit card and the settlement house contacts a credit provider for authorization. If the settlement house receives an authorization, the settlement house transmits it to the client, who approves the amount. The settlement house then completes the transaction with the credit provider and the merchant's bank.

Abstract: An electronic communication system associated with a settlement house for settling an electronic transaction between a customer and a merchant. The communication system is configured to receive through a first electronic communication path a first account identifier of a first account associated with the customer and a transaction amount from the merchant, contact the customer through a second electronic communication path to allow the customer to select a payment method, and send through a third electronic communication path the transaction amount and a second account identifier of a second account associated with the customer to a financial services provider associated with the payment method.

Abstract: The specification and drawing figures describe and illustrate a point-of-sale payment system. The point-of-sale payment system includes a mobile wireless communications instrument having at least one data processor. The data processor is capable of automatically selecting a payment instrument for transmitting a payment sum across a mobile wireless communications network and, if necessary, a credit network. The point-of-sale payment system may also include a data transmission subsystem for receipt, storage, processing, and transmittal of data across the wireless communications network and/or the data transmission subsystem.