Abstract: Systems and methods facilitate information sharing among a plurality of member institutions. Each member is associated with a member number and a corresponding member profile. A member contributes its data relating to small business entities to an exchange repository upon becoming a member, and thereafter on a periodic basis. Each member is eligible to query against the exchange repository. However, a response to a member's inquiry is determined by a reciprocity due to the inquiring member. If a member contributes comprehensive information regarding small business entities in its portfolio, then the member receives comprehensive information relating to a small business entity that becomes a subject of its inquiry. If a member contributes minimal information regarding the small business entities in its portfolio, the member receives minimal information relating to a small business entity that becomes a subject of its inquiry, regardless of the amount of information available in the exchange repository.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 29, 2001
Date of Patent:
May 19, 2009
Assignee:
Equifax, Inc.
Inventors:
Patrick A. Aliffi, Barbara Jo Ellison, Nader Mir, Frank D. Brewer, Jr.
Abstract: This invention relates to a method, devices and system for distributing rights to a digital content and for accessing said digital content. Further, the invention relates to a voucher structure defining rights to said digital content. Still further, the invention relates to a digital content structure adapted for arranging the distribution of rights to the digital content.
Abstract: A method on an end user system for creating additional copies onto at least one computer readable medium such as CDs, DVDs, ZipDisks™, tape, Flash memory, and RAM. The method comprising the steps of: receiving encrypted content with associated usage conditions and a first hash value; receiving a selection from an end user to create at least one copy of the encrypted content onto at least one computer readable medium; sending a request to an online electronic store of the encrypted content selected to be copied; receiving from the electronic store a description of the content selected to be copied along with a second hash value; and determining if the first hash value received is identical to the second hash value and if the first hash and the second hash value is identical authorizing the creating additional copies onto at least one computer readable medium.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 11, 2005
Date of Patent:
February 3, 2009
Assignee:
International Business Machines Corporation
Inventors:
Richard L. Spagna, Marco M. Hurtado, Paul R. Rettig, Ting Zhao
Abstract: The present invention offers an electronic money system and electronic money terminal that allow the user who uses an installment payment plan to decide the installment amount each time he/she pays it. Instead of debiting the amount data equivalent to consumption from an information card 50, the present invention accumulates the amount data equivalent to consumption as data on the transaction history of installment payments, receives part or all of the accumulated installment balance as an installment amount, subtracts the received installment amount from the installment balance to determine a new balance, and thereby allows the user to pay any part of the installment balance as an installment amount.