Abstract: A computing device receives first information about a customer. The computing device outputs second information to at least first and second loan sources. The second information includes at least a portion of the first information. From the first and second loan sources, the computing device receives submissions of respective first and second bids for providing a loan to the customer for purchase of an item. The computing device identifies at least one of the first and second bids as being most favorable. To the customer, the computing device outputs third information about the identified bid, including an identity of at least one of the loan sources that submitted the identified bid.

Abstract: A computer system for tracking the lot numbers of pharmaceuticals that are administered to patients. The system includes a plurality of remote systems, each typically at a different hospital. Each remote system associates the lot numbers of pharmaceuticals that are administered to patients with information relating to the patients that receive the pharmaceuticals, and includes a remote communication system for sending the associations to a host system. The host system receives the associations from the remote systems, stores them, and consults the associations to identify recipients that need to be notified in connection with a lot number that needs to be tracked. The host system also includes a notification system for automatically issuing recall notices.

Abstract: A computer based system, computer program product, and method for managing geographically distributed assets. A computer based system, computer program product, and method are provided for managing geographically distributed electric power transmission assets. Mapping, routing, and asset location information is managed and combined with real time Global Positioning System (GPS) location information to alarm field maintenance and inspection crews prior to inadvertent entry into restricted areas, such as environmentally protected or otherwise restricted lands. Detailed information is maintained on the electric power transmission assets providing management insight into past performance, as well as predictive information as to future costs and performance.

Abstract: A solar cell-bearing roof includes a roof base member provided on a partition wall which partitions a building into an indoor portion and an outdoor portion, a solar cell module provided on the roof base member, and electric wiring with one end portion being electrically connected with the solar cell module. The end portion of the electric wiring is drawn to the outside from between the roof base member and the solar cell module and at an outdoor-sided position than an indoor side face of the partition wall.

Abstract: Ordering information required for recurring purchase of frequently purchased items, such as an HTML order form and item and pricing information, is cached within a customer's data processing system separately from the browser cache. The item and pricing information includes an associated validity period and is incrementally updated as necessary. Orders may thus be assembled on the customer's data processing system with little or no communication with the retailer's server, then transmitted to the retailer's server for processing when complete, reducing network traffic and server loading for the recurring transactions.

Abstract: The method allows for analyzing the profitability of each of two or more freight loads hauled by a freight-hauling vehicle while the vehicle travels through a round trip from a home location to a terminating location. The total cost associated with all of the freight loads carried during the round trip are apportioned among each of the freight loads based on the revenue contribution of the load, the total revenue from the round trip, the actual cost associated with the load, and the total cost of the round trip. A computer-readable medium is encoded with a plurality of processor-executable instruction sequences for analyzing the profitability of each of two or more freight loads hauled by a freight-hauling vehicle while the vehicle travels through a round trip from a home location to a terminating location.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products are provided for anonymously buying and selling regulated goods, such as agricultural chemicals, via auctions conducted over a computer network. A seller of regulated goods submits a request to the Web site of an intermediary to list the regulated goods for sale. The intermediary verifies that the seller is authorized to sell the regulated goods using information about the seller maintained by the intermediary. The intermediary also verifies that a bidder is authorized to purchase the regulated goods using information about the bidder maintained by the intermediary. The intermediary initiates delivery of the regulated goods from the seller to winning bidder(s) and initiates a transfer of funds from winning bidder(s) to a seller.

Abstract: In a method of controlling the flow and balance of goods and related information from point of origin to point of consumption in a logistics system, customer and customer's customer product information including product balance data and outflow dement data are received from a customer by a supplier. Based on the customer product information and delivery agreement data between the supplier and the customer, a demand time for refilling of a customer storage is determined and stored by the supplier, and based on the customer product information, the delivery agreement data, and the demand time, delivery time and customer demand quantity data for customer storage are determined and stored by the supplier. A delivery suggestion is created, and a delivery corresponding to the delivery suggestion is executed.

Abstract: An electronic shopping system facilitates purchase transactions via a wireless telephone. A purchase transaction program is downloaded from the seller's server to a purchaser's wireless telephone via a program loader contained within the purchaser's wireless telephone. The purchase transaction program is stored in a program memory of the purchaser's wireless telephone. The purchase transaction program is used by the purchaser to facilitate the selection of items to be purchased, as well as payment therefor. An external bar code reader is attached to the wireless telephone to facilitate the selection of items to be purchased and is controlled via the downloaded purchase transaction program.

Abstract: A system for communication, storage, retrieval and delivery of information between the system and participating institutions and sites includes institution, warehouse and central servers sequentially receiving data from the participating institutions. The institution server is provided with an index stored in the institution server and constantly updated upon receiving new information. The central server has a long-term storage accessible from the warehouse server to provide the requested information to the participating institutions if this information is not found on either of the institution or warehouse servers.

Abstract: A method of performing computer-based on-line commerce in which a client computer issues a group of interrelated commercial requests and each one of a plurality of server computers is available to service at least one of said requests, said method, performed by an intelligent agent, comprising steps of: receiving the group of interrelated commercial requests from said client computer; and finding servers which will satisfy said group of requests using client preference levels indicating for each request at least one preferred value which the client would like the agent to use in finding a server to satisfy that request; characterized in that said finding step also uses a client significance level indicating for a corresponding request the relative significance of this request in comparison to the other requests in the group.

Abstract: A system and method for selectively generating provider application forms required to be submitted to health care provider organizations by physicians and related health care professionals. Physician credentialing profiles containing physician credentialing information are stored into a system database together with a plurality of different provider application formats associated with particular application forms which are completed selected data extracted from the common information contained in the stored physician credentialing profiles. The method automatically inputs a subset of physician credentialing information required by a particular selected provider application format into the provider application form associated with that format and generates the particular provider application form.

Abstract: In a system for processing store interventions in a network of self-checkout terminals, self-checkout terminals monitor the self-checkout activities performed to determine whether an issue has arisen requiring intervention by store personnel. Detected issues are prioritized and placed into an issues log. A remote authorization station connected into the network accesses the issues log to review and resolve the issues that have arisen in priority order. Further, where it is determined that an issue has arisen at a self-checkout terminal that cannot be resolved at that terminal, the transaction is suspended and then resumed at a personnel-operated terminal.

Abstract: A communication link is established between a first processor and a receiving processor located at a central data repository. Tax return information in electronic form are then downloaded to the central data repository. The electronic tax information is then converted into a new standard electronic document having a standard format. The new standard electronic document is then sent into a first database where it is sorted and stored with the other standard electronic documents. A first copy of the standard electronic document is then sent through a filtering process in which all the data fields containing identifiable data such as names, social security codes, identification numbers, and street address are removed creating an electronic data mining document. The electronic data mining document is then sent to a second database where the data mining document is sorted and stored with other electronic data mining documents.

Abstract: A customer document management system, which includes customer information store on a mainframe computer, said customer information being updateable from multiple sources. A data consolidator operates on the customer information to compile customer documents, including data reconfiguration into a customer document output database and multiple format output devices driven from the customer document output database.

Abstract: A stackable, vehicle-shaped, pushcart designed for transporting small children and cargo that can be stacked with a plurality of other pushcarts in a small confined space. The pushcart includes a lightweight frame assembly, an upward extending handle assembly, and a pivoting vehicle-shaped body. The vehicle-shaped body is disposed horizontally over the frame assembly and pivots upward on its rear section around a support member. The frame assembly is designed to be horizontally stacked with longitudinally aligned adjacent pushcarts when the body is disposed vertically. The frame assembly includes two front caster wheels and two rear large diameter wheels. The vehicle-shaped body includes a fully extending floor and has a unique outer shape thereby enabling the body to be vertically aligned so that the pushcart can be slid together and horizontally stacked in a compact manner with other similar pushcarts.

Abstract: An electronic shopping system facilitates purchase transactions via a wireless videophone. A purchase transaction program is downloaded from the seller's server to a purchaser's wireless videophone via a program loader contained within the purchaser's wireless videophone. The purchase transaction program is stored in a program memory and is used by the purchaser to facilitate the selection of items to be purchased, as well as payment therefor. An integral digital camera is attached to the wireless telephone to facilitate the selection of items to be purchased and is controlled via the downloaded purchase transaction program to function as a bar code or product icon image capture device. Character or pattern recognition software translates the bar or icon code image into an appropriate item identifier.

Abstract: A component suction method including feeding components (8) accommodated in component storage spaces (9c) of a tape base (9a) to a predetermined position, lowering a nozzle (7) capable of sucking the components supplied to the predetermined position, stopping the nozzle (7) at a predetermined distance from an upper surface of the tape base, pushing an undersurface of the component up when the nozzle is at a bottom dead center position or a position adjacent to the center, vacuum-sucking the component by the nozzle at the bottom dead center position or at the position adjacent to the center, and moving the component sucked by the nozzle to a predetermined position of a board after the vacuum-sucking.

Abstract: A method for tracking critical wheel alignment variables begins by assembling a plurality of vehicles and performing a wheel alignment on each of these vehicles. To insure that wheel alignment is being performed properly, approximately two percent the vehicles are audited after production to verify correct wheel alignment. A plurality of significant wheel alignment characteristics for the audited vehicles are automatically collected and transferred to a database. These characteristics are then plotted and reviewed on a weekly basis to identify any negative trends. If a negative trend is identified, then a corrective action to correct this negative trend is implemented.

Abstract: A ship chartering system is implemented on a computer or telecommunications network, such as the Internet, and is meant to supplement or replace services offered by current shipping brokers. The system allows a charterer to locate acceptable ships, receive bids from ship owners, and negotiate contract terms for their cargo. Ship owners are able to update their ship positions and cargo capabilities, add new ships to a database of available ships, and bid on the transportation of cargo entered by a charterer in an open market solicitation. In a preferred embodiment, both charterers and ship owners must subscribe to the system in order to access and participate in it.