Abstract: An automated product pricing system including a physical store system, a virtual store system, and a control system. The physical and virtual store systems are capable of transmitting sales data indicative of the number of sales of identified respective products. The control system is adapted to receive the sales data from the physical store system and the virtual store system. In response thereto, the control system generates price change data including a changed price of an identified product based on the sales data received from at least one of the physical and virtual store systems. The price change data is then transmitted by the control system to at least one of the physical and virtual store systems to thereby change the price of the identified product.

Abstract: Prepaid printing services are obtained and provided using remote and host computers. A card or diskette for printing services is purchased and using a remote computer, the host computer is accessed by e-mail or the like. Application software and printer drivers are downloaded from the host to the remote, and the prepaid printing services are actually installed as a print option on the print menu of the remote computer. Document composition and printing to fulfill the printing services request can be by any conventional techniques, and debiting and invoicing are typically practiced simultaneously with document shipment.

Abstract: A method for transmitting credit card numbers in a secure manner through an electronic medium such as the Internet. Credit card numbers typically consist of a string of 10-20 digits, with the exact number of digits depending upon the provider of the credit card. The security is provided by transmitting the credit card number in a plurality of different transmissions, each transmission containing at least one digit of the credit card number, but fewer than all of the digits of the credit card number. Preferably, the user selects the number of digits from the credit card number to send with each transmission. Thus, the entire credit card number can only be determined by receiving all of the transmissions from the user, thereby significantly increasing the difficulty of intercepting the credit card number.

Abstract: A method and system for administering a loyalty marketing program (i.e., frequent buyer program) by using a government-issued identification card, such as a driver's license, as the frequent buyer redemption card. The data encoded onto the card may include a driver's license number, as the person's name and birth date. This information is used to tap into third party databases to gather further identification or demographic information about consumers. Incentives can be awarded in an efficient, personalized, and timely manner. Cost-effective and customer friendly administration of frequent-buyer incentive programs for marketing of goods and services is achieved.

Abstract: An object oriented framework mechanism provides a straightforward and convenient way to implement an electronic catalog by providing an infrastructure that embodies the steps necessary for a framework consumer to define an electronic catalog by extending the framework to fit a particular electronic catalog environment. The electronic catalog framework includes core classes and extensible classes that allow a framework consumer to implement a desired electronic catalog. The core classes and class relationships define the core function of the framework mechanism. Extensible classes include a catalog class, a content page class, a table of contents page class, an index page class, a content list page class, a cover class, and a jacket class. These extensible classes are extended by a framework consumer to implement a desired electronic catalog environment.

Abstract: A system and process for use by a financial institution to facilitate relationship pricing in connection with a single account that includes a plurality of account components, including a checking component, a savings component and a investment component. The system includes software engines operated on specially programmed general purpose computers. The engines are sub-systems that generate input and drive another sub-system or the product processors. The overall function of the engines is to, among other things, allow pricing to be determined based on a customer's total individual or household relationship to the financial institution. The preferred system includes a rate engine, a pricing engine, a linkage engine, a balance engine, and a cycle engine.

Abstract: A register terminal is connected through a communications link to a kitchen video controller. The register terminal receives setting data for display control functions, and picture formats for the kitchen video controller display. The register terminal provides setting destination information related to the product item selected by a purchaser, and sets a display number on the kitchen video controller in response to the destination information. A customer's order is searched at the register terminal, for product items related to the destination information. Display data is forwarded to the kitchen video controller which displays the information to personnel servicing the order, following which the customer's orders can be erased. In one particular display mode, the controller can display the average sales numbers for specified product items, and for a given time range which includes a present time as well as immediately preceding and immediately time ranges for the day.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for distributing, generating, and redeeming discount Virtual Coupons.TM., rebate or gift certificates or the like which may be used on conjunction with a frequency card program or the like. Virtual Coupons.TM. may be distributed electronically, for example, in the form of a diskette or CD-ROM software. Software on the diskette or CD-ROM may prompt a consumer to call a 1-800 number for a validation number or code. During the phone call, telemarketing personnel may request consumer demographic and or identification information which may be entered into a centralized database. Once the software is validated, a consumer may print out a list selected Virtual Coupons.TM. displayed on a Graphical User Interface (GUI). When a product is purchased, the UPC code of the product may be compared electronically with a list of Virtual Coupons.TM. authorized for a particular consumer. An appropriate coupon discount may then be applied and the Virtual Coupon.TM. may be considered "redeemed".

Abstract: An apparatus for installation in a retail setting for selling fuel and other products ordered by a customer interacting with an operator. A video control system interfaces an external audio/video signal source with an audio/video signal source from an other product ordering apparatus operator. The external audio/video source transmits advertising and promotional materials to a video display located on a card reader equipped fuel dispenser. Additionally, customers can signal and communicate through audio/video signals with the operator to order other merchandise. Total transaction costs for fuel and non-fuel products is provided and paid for at the fuel dispenser.

Abstract: A proactive planning methodology and system. The invention reconceptualizes current (delimited) calendar-based planning approaches, where planning is done at fixed or arbitrary times, in favor of a proactive planning methodology which can use information about real time changes in input data used for planning, for determining when a revised plan should be generated. The proactive planning methodology may determine, inter alia, that immediate planning is necessary, or it may schedule the generation of a new plan at some time in the future.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying and communicating the availability of additional products to at least one customer of a financial institution is disclosed. A processor analyses data about the customer and identifies characteristics indicative of financial products compatible with the customer's financial needs. The customer's files are appropriately electronically tagged and representatives of the financial institution are alerted of the marketing opportunity and, in turn, communicate the availability of the product to said customer. The representative may be a teller, branch manager, telemarketer or direct mail supervisor. Reporting of tagging is also provided.

Abstract: An improved system for space management in retail stores is described. The space management system includes price display labels mounted on rails along the edges of shelves in a store. A communications link between the computer and the labels permits the computer to address each label by a logical address and to determine the physical location of each label to within a resolution of typically four feet. The system prepares price audit lists and adjacency audit lists that permit economical use of the time of store personnel during the audit. The lists are generated in such a way that the items on a particular list are physically contiguous; thus once the correct general area has been located by the auditor little additional time need be spent locating the individual items. In performing an audit of product facings, the user is able to use the display hardware, including the pushbutton on each label, as a data collection system for product facing information.

Abstract: An ATM operation supporting system for managing the number of bills in a plurality of ATMs. The system includes a mobile cart, a counting section, and a control section. The mobile cart has a handling mechanism capable of installing a bill cassette into each ATM and removing the bill cassette from each ATM. The mobile travels to each ATM and installs and removes the bill cassette using the handling mechanism, thereby performing bill replenishment/collection operation for each ATM. The counting section counts the number of bills stored in the bill cassette which is directly or indirectly loaded onto the mobile cart by a clerk in charge. The control section controls the bill replenishment/collection operation performed by the mobile cart such that the numbers of bills in the ATMs are balanced. The ATM operation supporting system can manage the number of bills in an ATM, thereby realizing efficient utilization of cash as well as easing the operational burden on a clerk in charge.

Abstract: A system for customizing content and presentation of content for computer users is disclosed. The system monitors and records a user's navigational choices to determine the user's needs and preferences for subsequent computer displays. Displays are customized in accordance with the user's needs and preferences. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an electronic marketing and shopping system accessible via the WWW is described. The shopping environment--including the opportunities presented to the shopper (content) and the appearance of the displays (presentation of content)--is customized according to the shopper's preferences. The functions of data collection and display customization are performed automatically by the electronic shopping system. To customize the environment, various attributes of Web pages or other displays provided by participating merchants are modified as they are accessed by shoppers using the system.

Abstract: An improved securities analysis system includes a data conversion device for converting both technical and fundamental data about a security into a unified format for analysis by an analysis process engine. The analysis process engine processes the disparate data in accordance with a set of rules and the results are forwarded to a display for viewing or used in further analysis.

Abstract: A decision-making method suitable for production planning in an uncertain demand environment. To this end, the method comprises combining an implosion technology with a scenario-based analysis, thus manifesting, a sui generis capability which preserves the advantages and benefits of each of its subsumed aspects.

Abstract: A variable margin pricing system and method that generates retail prices based on customer price sensitivity. Products are grouped into pools from a first pool for most price sensitive products to a last pool for least price sensitive products. A logical relationship between margins and the customer price sensitivity is determined for the products. Based on this logical relationship and each product's pool assignment, the system and method calculate each product's margin and corresponding retail price. The method is also used to generate retail price labels having retail prices based on customer price sensitivity for the products to which the labels are to be affixed or located proximate.

Abstract: Improved assistance is provided to an operator to balance an out-of-proof transaction at a balancing workstation of an image-based financial document processing system used to process transaction items including debit and credit items. A number of suspect tests are invoked. The suspect tests have been previously arranged in an order which is based upon at least one characteristic data collected over a previous time period. The invoked suspect tests are applied to the debit items and the credit items in the particular order to improve assistance to the operator to balance the out-of-proof transaction.

Abstract: A computer implemented system awards promotional incentives. A participant in the awards system calls or connects to an interactive platform for registering and/or redeeming credits preferably described in uniquely identified certificates. In a telephone environment, the interactive platform is connected to a toll free telephone number where a participant's call is handled by a computer controlled voice response unit. In a computer network environment, a computer user connects to the interactive platform over the network. The participant receives awards credits based on the unique identification of certificates. Award credits for a participant are accumulated in a stored record associated with the participant until redeemed. Award credits can also be acquired as an instant winner based on a random or algorithmic selection of callers to receive such credits. Awards include electronic prizes such as free long distance telephone time, electronic cash and/or service credits.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing paint product related information to customers and recording customer telephone calls includes work stations (10, 23) having a memory device (18) storing a plurality of paint product information and a plurality of customer information, an input device (12) for generating a customer request for information signal related to a selected one of the paint products, a display device (14) for visually displaying information and graphic displays in response to display signals, a computer (13) responsive to the customer request for information signal for selecting from the customer information caller information related to a customer associated with the customer request and generating a first display signal to the display device (14) to visually display a call log graphic display (43) including the caller information (44), and being responsive to the customer request for information signal for selecting a portion of the paint product information related to advice to be given to the customer