Abstract: Methods and systems for routing payment transactions electronically involve interrogating by computer logic each payment transaction received by a payments interface processor to identify a payment destination and a payment source and to determine, according to pre-defined parameters, whether the payment transaction is eligible for processing via an internal payment transaction processor of the financial institution that minimizes processing costs. Eligible payment transactions may be routed, for example, to an internal debit or credit card processor or ACH processor, and ineligible payment transactions may be routed to external card processing networks.

Abstract: Techniques for soliciting and receiving bids for goods or services necessary to satisfy a spot need of a buyer are disclosed. A request to procure goods or services is received. At least one aspect associated with the request is a requirement that the requested goods or services be available for immediate delivery. Potential bidders are electronically notified. An auction is conducted. One or more winning bidders are selected in accordance with received bids.

Abstract: A graphical interface and method are provided for selectively displaying market information corresponding to a plurality of tradeable objects. According to one example method, a scanning feature is provided in relation to a number of tradeable object indicators. Upon detecting a predefined movement of a user input device in relation to the plurality of indicators, a graphical interface dynamically displays market information corresponding to the tradeable objects as a predefined movement of the user input device is detected in relation to the tradeable object indicators.

Abstract: A method and system for building an Internet portal provides a portal toolkit platform consisting at least in part of a portal application server and a web server associated with the portal toolkit platform that is accessible by at least one end user. A business is allowed to access the portal application server and fill one or more content management templates from a selection of content management templates governing content elements to be presented to end users via the website server. When an end user accesses the website server, content governed by the template is presented for the end user by the portal application server via the web server. The business can populate a database with content and populate the web server, for example, with a set of images, HTML files, and other assets such as PDF files and build an Internet portal on top of the toolkit as an approach to integrating transaction systems.

Abstract: The present invention relates to various methods, software programs, and systems for managing one or more liabilities. More particularly, certain embodiments of the present invention relate to methods, software programs, and systems for managing debt in the form of at least one credit issued by a borrower.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a system for managing financial risk associated with weather-based service contracts, and more specifically, to a system based on the purchase of weather derivatives to select, manage, minimize, and redistribute financial burdens associated with costs incurred from the payment of services related to greater than average weather-based events. An option contract having a tick price, and an associated premium at a fixed strike price is selected at a desired coverage, in one embodiment, the desired coverage is associated with a payout with the associated tick price that covers the base price of performing the service for a nominal weather condition, the premium of buying the option, and the price of performing the services for exceptional weather precipitations of a three standard deviation from the nominal value. If a hedge trader offers this service rather than a service provider, the desired coverage will also cover the a commission for the trade.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for improving clarity of disclosure materials provided to investors, by enabling securities issuers, intermediaries and/or other entities to create and disseminate clear and concise summary-level information on individual securities to investors to enable informed investment decisions. The information may include a summary version of the full statutory prospectus (a “summary prospectus”). A summary prospectus may include a concise, “plain English” synopsis and/or representation of certain information contained in the full statutory prospectus, such as a security's investment objectives and strategies, costs, risks and/or other information.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to a computer system and method for integrating insurance policy underwriting. In one aspect it integrates the older legacy insurance policy generating systems to on line systems where users access the system through browsers. The computer system to perform the process of underwriting, rating, quoting, binding, and booking an insurance policy includes browsers, data bases, processors and a dispatcher that parses the information to select an insurance process. Suitable software programs review messages received from users to determine if certain messages are less than a prescribed limit. If a message is greater than the limit, then the message is parsed into a header information and one or more data fields whereby the header information is provided to a legacy processor and to policy generation software for further creation of policy related information and documentation.

Abstract: The present invention is a new business method that intends to reduce the risk, help, and protect the economic security of the foreign families who are dependants from the income that come from the foreign workers inside the U.S.A. territory. The invention helps by offering protection through a life insurance by combining the Money Transmission Service and the Life Insurance Service. The invention cares for both the worker residing inside the U.S.A. territory and the family members inside foreign territory.

Abstract: A dynamic computer system assists users in selecting insurance coverage types and levels appropriate for their present financial circumstances. The computer system includes a graphical user interface (GUI) with dynamic sliders representative of a user's financial data. The system accesses third party data to validate and enrich coverage determinations.

Abstract: An electronic trading system and method are described in which credit risk associated with a transaction is captured as a price adjustment on a trade-by-trade basis. In one preferred embodiment, a “request for quote” (RFQ) trading model is presented in which each dealer receiving an RFQ determines a base price as well as an additional credit risk adjustment amount by which the base price should be modified to account for credit risk. In other preferred embodiments, an exchange trading model is presented in which traders submit buy and sell orders whose prices are appropriately adjusted for presentation to each potential counterparty to account for credit risk associated with potential transactions. System designs are also presented to address the technical challenge of permitting each trading participant to apply its own credit risk algorithms and methodologies while avoiding their disclosure to other trading participants.

Abstract: An online merchant system provides a merchandise trade-in program that includes advance payment for items traded-in by qualified customers. When a request to trade-in an item is received from a customer, a determination is made as to whether an advance payment can be made for the item. If an advance payment can be made for the item, an advance payment for the total estimated trade-in value of the item is made to the customer. The advance payment may be made prior to shipment of the item to the merchant or when the merchant is notified that the item has been shipped. When the item is received by the merchant, the customer is debited if the actual value of the item is less than the advance payment and credited if the actual value of the item is more than the advance payment.

Abstract: A computerized method (10) is provided which improves data security in electronic transactions in an insecure network (12). This is accomplished when the method (10) operates on a user (18) which has established a commercial relationship with a trusted third party broker (22), and merchants (20a-20d). The method utilizes network links (14, 24) between (a) the trusted third party broker and the user and (b) the trusted third party broker and the merchants. Protocols are selected to operate between each network link, the selection being made, at least in part, on the basis of the computer resources which may be expected to be available in each network link.

Abstract: A system for determining the capacity of a geographic area to support a specific product by identifying an index of variables associated with potential buyers in the geographic area. The system includes a data gathering component and a processing component. The data gathering component obtains a profile about the product and additional information about similar products from several of sources. The additional information includes identified characteristics of potential buyers. The processing component processes the data by identifying variables that characterize potential buyer, assigns a score to each variable, assigns the variables to the index, determines a formula for the index, executes the formula against information associated with the geographic area, divides the geographic area into sub-groups and analyzes each sub-group to determine the capacity of the geographic area to support the product.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for assessing market conditions, or for analyzing of other parameters that appear to fluctuate randomly, compare the changing conditions to the changes that would be predicted by Brownian Motion. When the changes exceed those predicted by Brownian Motion, a trend is considered to exist and can be expected to continue, and when the changes are less than those predicted by Brownian Motion, then a congestion condition exists. When enough measurements are taken, the length of the trend or congestion can be predicted. In one embodiment, the computation necessary to analyze the data on the condition being monitored is distributed among computers of subscribers to a monitoring service based on the method.

Abstract: A method for commodity sourcing management or commodity management includes identifying a plurality of divisions of commoditization. A plurality of sourcing options for at least one of the divisions of commoditization are identified, as well as a plurality of financial instruments. The method includes correlating the plurality of divisions of commoditization, the sourcing options and the financial instruments so that they are commonly commensurable for analysis.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for facilitating and monitoring player financial and player tracking/reward transactions, including the tracking of player losses, are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes at least one server and a plurality of gaming machines and/or a game generator for transmitting game information to a remote game play location. The server has a memory containing data files corresponding to players. The data files contain information such as credits or monies in an account which belong to the player and which may be used by the player to play games. The data files also contain player tracking information, such as points awarded to a player based upon their game play and/or information regarding player expenditures or deductions, such as amounts wagered by a player.

Abstract: According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a method is provided to determine (at a server) an initial first insurance rate for Provider A and a first insurance rate for Provider B. Both the initial first insurance rate for Provider A and the first insurance rate for Provider B correspond to a first insurance type. The initial first insurance rate for Provider A is adjusted A according to a first adjustment rule to form an adjusted first insurance rate for Provider A. A lower of the adjusted first insurance rate for Provider A or the first insurance rate for Provider B is selected. The adjusted first insurance rate for Provider A may be greater than the initial first insurance rate for Provider A and less than the first insurance rate for Provider B. An application fee for the adjusted first insurance rate for Provider A may be greater than an application fee for the initial first insurance rate for Provider A.

Abstract: A trading application can receive price and quantity information for tradable objects. The trading application can compute implied price and quantity information for spreads of the tradable objects. Direct and indirect price and quantity information for the spreads can be displayed in a manner that shows the relationship with each other and with the price and quantity information for the tradable objects.

Abstract: Methods and systems for routing payment transactions electronically involve interrogating by computer logic each payment transaction received by a payments interface processor to identify a payment destination and a payment source and to determine, according to pre-defined parameters, whether the payment transaction is eligible for processing via an internal payment transaction processor of the financial institution that minimizes processing costs. Eligible payment transactions may be routed, for example, to an internal debit or credit card processor or ACH processor, and ineligible payment transactions may be routed to external card processing networks.