Abstract: Electronic transaction data sets are processed for a multitude of disparate transactions using a plurality of autonomous payment networks. A software-programmed computer type system receives and processes point-of-sale transaction data to select one of the payment networks associated with a participant ID (e.g., for a buyer or seller) in the transaction data. The system includes a plurality of network-specific interface modules, each associated with a specific payment network for interfacing therewith. For point-of-sale transaction data, the interface module corresponding to the selected payment network communicates payment data to the selected payment network to effect electronic payment for the point-of-sale transaction data.

Abstract: Electronic transaction data sets are processed for a multitude of disparate transactions using a plurality of autonomous payment networks. Consistent with one example system, a software-programmed computer type system receives and processes point-of-sale transaction data to select one of the payment networks associated with a participant ID (e.g., for a buyer or seller) in the transaction data. The system includes a plurality of network-specific interface modules, each associated with a specific payment network for interfacing therewith. For point-of-sale transaction data, the interface module corresponding to the selected payment network communicates payment data to the selected payment network to effect electronic payment for the point-of-sale transaction data.

Abstract: Tax data, e.g., Form W2 data, is encoded as a two-dimensional machine readable representation, such as a QR CODE. Certain tax data is encoded as segments of a QR CODE, and a tax form generated by an employer or payroll processing service and provided to an employee or user includes the QR CODE representing certain W-2 or other tax data. An image of the QR CODE is acquired using a camera of a mobile communication device or computer or other image capture device. When using a Smartphone, a tax preparation application executing on the Smartphone decodes the QR CODE image to determine the tax data, and populates fields of an electronic tax return with decoded data, thus allowing a consumer to prepare an electronic tax return using a mobile communication device.

Abstract: Systems and methods according to these exemplary embodiments provide techniques for facilitating the selection of a billing gateway (120, 504) by an end user device (10, 20, 30) when an end user (10, 20, 30) orders content for the end user device or another device as desired.

Abstract: Systems and methods for handling point-of-sale transactions using a mobile device are provided herein. In one embodiment, a method for providing payment via a mobile device in a transaction for a good or service can include receiving a selection on the mobile device of a transaction account from which to fund payment in a transaction for a good or service. The method can further include generating and sending a notification to a network processing system (NPS). The notification can identify the selected transaction account. The NPS can be configured to associate the selected transaction account with an NPS account for one or more future transactions. The method can further include sending a customer identifier to a point-of-sale (POS) system via a short-range communications medium to complete the transaction. In another embodiment, methods for handling payment in a mobile e-commerce network are provided.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a system, method, or computer program product for dynamically determining an appropriate payment account for a transaction. Embodiments of the invention allow a user to receive a transaction request and subsequently the transaction is applied to the appropriate payment account. Applying the transaction to the appropriate payment account is based on the type of transaction, the payment accounts available to the user, financial institution considerations, financial plans of the user, customer plans of the user, etc. This invention allows a user to make a purchase at a point-of-sale and have confidence that the transaction will be implemented to the payment account that provides the best promotional benefits for the customer based on the customer's individual needs.

Abstract: Credit card transaction authorization is performed using ad-hoc, short-range wireless links to obtain item identification information from items that include ad-hoc short range wireless link transmitters and that are carried by a user who is associated with a prospective credit card transaction. Authorization information for the prospective credit card transaction is generated based on the item identification information that was obtained. Location information for a wireless terminal that is associated with the user and/or Internet Protocol (IP) address information for a transaction terminal that is associated with the transaction may also be used. Related systems, devices and computer program products are also described.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention are directed to a two phase payment link and authorization method and system for mobile devices. A method for payment and authorization according to an embodiment includes: requesting and receiving, at a mobile device, a transaction identifier from a payment service; displaying the transaction identifier on a display of the mobile device, wherein the transaction identifier is in a machine readable format; scanning the transaction identifier at a point of sale system; sending the transaction identifier and transaction information associated with items to be purchased from the point of sale system to the payment service; creating, at the payment service, a logical link between the mobile device and the point of sale system, based on the transaction identifier; and sending the transaction information from the payment system to the mobile device.

Abstract: Communication between a first issue tracking system and a second issue tracking system is provided. An integration platform is configured to translate an issue tracking ticket from a form recognizable by the first issue tracking system, which can be a component of a customer network, into a form recognizable by the second issue tracking system, which can be a component of a service provider network. A gateway server is provided to control communications between the integration platform and the issue tracking system of the service provider network.

Abstract: The disclosed systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer programs embodied on computer-readable media may enable a shipping carrier to determine the utilization of a trailer in a delivery network by receiving and aggregating disparate types and sources of shipping information, including, for example, package billing data from a customer order, scan data from the loading and unloading of packages transported by the trailer, dimensional data received from dimensional scans of packages at carrier shipping hubs, and/or trailer data including the volume of the trailer. Utilization may be determined for each trailer in a carrier delivery network or for a subset of trailers in the network. The determined utilizations may be used to determine the parameters for an optimized delivery network, which may include the addition, elimination, and/or modification of the delivery schedule.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses enable generation of an executed workload electronic record. The executed workload record indicates data related to one or more performance metrics by which performance of a work task is evaluated. One such performance metric is an expected time for completion of the task. Performance of the task can be monitored to determine an actual completion time for the task to compare against an expected completion time. The executed workload record can be used for evaluation of workers. Executed workload records provide centralized, aggregatable information for evaluation purposes.

Abstract: Tracking and management data for distribution of informational, legal, or contractual notices and tracking associated response, or non-response, is disclosed. The system generates and links tracking data for both the distribution and the response, generates indicators that include the tracking data, and encodes the indicators so that the indicators are detectable as they traverse various events and locations throughout the lifecycle. A detailed audit trail of each event in the distribution and response lifecycle is constructed using data matching methods and various statistics regarding the lifecycle, such that the response habits of notice recipients are formulated.

Abstract: A financial reporting system for reading, organizing and manipulating any accounting data and producing financial reports that may be customized to the preferences of the user. In one embodiment there is an organizational data structure for accounting data, including a trial balance data structure having a plurality of trial balance data structure elements containing accounts of the accounting data, wherein the trial balance data structure elements are linked by a distinct doubly linked list of trial balance data structure elements pointers, further comprising sub-lists of trial balance data structure elements pointers to group the accounts of the accounting data into financial statement items.

Abstract: Methods and devices allow a handheld order unit to be used with a cash handling device. A handheld order unit may be used by a staff person to enter order information, to display an amount due for the meal or other transaction, to facilitate payment, to print receipts, and to communicate information about the transaction to a cash handling device. The cash handling device may identify the handheld order unit and the assigned user for the unit and determine what financial documents need to be inserted by the user for reconciliation purposes.

Abstract: Computer-implemented systems and methods for use in processing a paint batch. As an example, a system and method can include an input software mechanism for receiving input data related to the paint batch. Volatile organic compound software instructions are configured to determine an addition amount of solvent to add to the paint batch. The addition amount of solvent is determined based upon the input related to the paint batch and upon pre-specified criteria.

Abstract: A system and a method for aggregating and transmitting process metadata of a heterogeneous production system, the production system including a plurality of process devices to manufacture a product, the method comprising the steps of sending a user request from a communication device to a central unit, generating a metadata profile based on the user request at the central unit, accessing at least one of the plurality of the process devices of the process via an aggregation module of the central unit by using standardized control signals that were generated upon a user request, the aggregation module having access to the process devices, locating and authenticating the manufactured product in the process by the aggregation module based on authentication data; capturing process-specific data specific to the manufactured and authenticated product from the process at the aggregation module based on standardized control signals; transmitting the process-specific data from the aggregation module to the central unit

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for capacity management of draining-state platforms providing network-accessible resources are disclosed. A system includes computing platforms configurable to host a plurality of resource instances, and a resource manager. The resource manager determines that a particular computing platform is in a draining state, wherein, in accordance with its designation as being in the draining state, the particular platform is currently hosting at least one uninterruptible resource instance and is temporarily unavailable to launch additional uninterruptible resource instances. In response to (a) a determination that the particular computing platform in the draining state has sufficient available computing capacity for at least one resource instance and (b) an instance activation request from a client, the resource manager launches an interruptible resource instance on the particular computing platform.

Abstract: Systems and methods for analyzing legal service providers and unit or ratio costs are provided. Billing data from legal services providers is analyzed to identify common tasks based on task codes. The common tasks are then analyzed to determine a unit cost or ratio cost for the tasks or a ratio cost for the tasks compared to the total costs for a matter. Analysis constraints are applied to the billing data to generate a cost model, which can be output in a variety of different graphical formats. This output, which identifying at least some of the total matter costs on a unit cost or ratio cost basis, allows for comparison of legal services provided by a number of different legal services providers. It also allows for comparing price quotes from a number of legal services providers against each other and against historical cost information.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for determining when installation of additional self-service financial transaction devices (SSFTDs) may be desired at a site to improve end-to-end user experience. The system may collect and store transaction-level data, session-level data, user wait time data, and/or other data, and use an enhanced SSFTD user wait time model to identify recommendations and other statistical outputs. The SSFTD may include hardware and software to assist in measuring and collecting various useful readings.

Abstract: This relates to transferring funds from a payer to a payee in a electronic payment system. The electronic payment system includes a payment processor and an accounts database. The payment processor receives a payment request from the payer. The payment request includes information to identify the payee and a payment amount. An accounts database is accessed to determine if the accounts database includes an account associated with the payee. Based on a determination that the accounts database includes an account associated with the payee, an electronic message is sent from the payment processor to the payee, to notify the payee of the payment request. The accounts database is accessed to determine if the payee is identified as having a trusted relationship with the payer.