Abstract: A computerized method and system buying and selling in a marketplace denominated in multiple currencies. A best bid or best offer can be determined according to pecuniary advantage based upon a selected currency. An amount required to become a best bid or best offer within a set of defined currencies is also included. Some embodiments include a network of computers permitting access to a multi-currency marketplace. Prices in the multi-currency marketplace can be ranked according to a particular currency selected by a market participant.

Abstract: An online system for identifying and pricing a mortgage loan that meets a predetermined business objective of a mortgage market participant includes a business objective database and an underwriting engine coupled to the business objective database. The business objective database is configured to store a set of loan characteristics for at least one business objective of the mortgage market participant. The underwriting engine is configured to receive loan application data for a borrower via an online network. The underwriting engine is also configured to provide an underwriting approval status for the mortgage loan, to identify if the mortgage loan is a business objective mortgage loan by comparing the loan application data to the set of loan characteristics for the at least one business objective and, if the mortgage loan is a business objective mortgage loan, to determine a business objective pricing component for the mortgage loan.

Abstract: A method of and system for auctioning off commercial (CM) frame for on-air content and a method of and system for automatically sending on-air content. A broadcast station presents as an auctioneer a CM frame for sale and a lowest sale price to tenderers via a communication network. On the basis of the supplied information, each tenderer sends an auction application price for the CM frame to the auctioneer via the communication network. The auctioneer determines a successful tenderer for the CM frame on the basis of the highest auction application prices presented by the tenderers. The CM frame successfully tendered by this network auction is automatically registered in a broadcast sales information system along with CM content information to be incorporated in the CM frame. A content sending system takes the registered CM content from a CM bank at a predetermined broadcast time for automatic transmission and broadcasting.

Abstract: An electronic market for trading of securities includes a plurality of client stations for entering quotes for securities and a server process that receives quotes from the clients, aggregates the quotes and causes a total of all aggregated quotes to be displayed for a plurality of price levels on the client systems. The market uses a graphical user that depicts aggregated quotes in an aggregate window a plurality of price levels of a product traded in the market. The market also includes processes to handle lock/cross market conditions, match-off of order flow and provides a central quote/order collector that interfaces to disparate order delivery systems to minimize dual liability of market makers.

Abstract: A system and method for providing automated confirmation of transactions involving financial instruments by receiving transaction information from the transacting parties, storing the information until the transaction information is matched, and communicating the matched transaction information to the corresponding parties to confirm the terms of that transaction.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a linear spread in an electronic trading environment are described. According to one example embodiment, a trading system can receive market information associated to a trading strategy, known as a spread. The trader may also define a market volatility parameter to utilize in the calculation of a linear spread price axis. The received market information and a divide spread algorithm are also used to determine the linear spread price axis. The trading application determines a linear spread price axis, at which price levels are separated by consistent linear tick increments. The linear spread price axis allows for more efficient and effective trading in the electronic trading environment especially when certain tradeable objects are traded or when certain spread algorithms, like the divide spread algorithm, are utilized.

Abstract: A method and device for valuation of financial derivatives, wherein a value of a derivative is computed by a determination of an expectation. Input parameters are communicated by an input unit to a computer, such as at least one processor, to establish an integrand as a function of the input parameters. A multivariate integration domain is computed. A sparse grid method is used to determine integration points and integration weights as a function of the input parameters. The integrand is integrated with an integration domain at the integration points to determine integrand values. One or more expectation parameters are computed by combining the integrand values and the integration weights. A value of the derivative is communicated through an output unit, for example to a display monitor or another display device.

Abstract: Tools for implementing employee stock plans including stock options, restricted stock awards and/or and stock purchase plans are provided. A system is provided that comprises volatile data storage for storing participant information pursuant to a data transfer from a non-volatile database of a third party administrative system; an interface system for interacting with a participant regarding a requested transaction and enabling the participant to select a response pertaining to the employee stock plan; a trading system for conducting individual participant transactions on a public exchange, a communication system that connects a participant to the system; and an updating system that updates the participant information in the volatile data storage according to the selections and transactions made by the participant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for providing and billing Internet services that allow a user to select a service profile among a plurality of service profiles. The present invention assigns a service telephone number to each of the service profiles, such that each service profile is uniquely identified by its service telephone number. When the user selects and logs on to one of the service profiles, the present invention checks whether the user has subscribed for being billed on a user telephone number through a telephone network operator, and, if this is the case, the present invention allows access to the selected service profile. When access is allowed, the present invention creates a call detail record including the user telephone number as calling number and the service telephone number of the selected service profile as called number. The present invention then transmits the call detail record to a billing system of the telephone network operator.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a cost savings analysis system includes one or more software components. The software components collectively receive from a user one or more first inputs specifying a cost savings goal and one or more second inputs specifying a technique for generating a baseline price. The software components collectively access historical transaction data within one or more databases needed to generate a baseline price according to the specified technique, generate the baseline price, determine a variation between the generated baseline price and an actual price for each of one or more transactions corresponding to the specified cost savings goal, and compare the determined variations for the one or more transactions with the specified cost savings goal to conduct a baseline cost savings analysis.

Abstract: A system and method for mediating a providing selling information over a network is provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus which provides for a referral program where a financial institution, such as a broker dealer, can refer customers to an independent financial advisor, under an on-going referral fee sharing agreement. The on-going referral fee sharing agreement provides that the financial advisor will pay the referring financial institution an on-going referral fee based on the asset management fee that the advisor charges. These referral fees are processed automatically and the transfers are done electronically, allowing the referral program to be implemented efficiently and effectively.

Abstract: A method is provided for calculating a price of a financial instrument that includes obtaining parameters of the financial instrument from a financial database of transactions and determining the price based on a projection using the parameters. The method may further include selecting a model for determining the price and determining the price using the model and the parameters. The method may further include selecting at least one further model for calculating the price and determining the price using the at least one further model and the parameters. A system is provided for calculating a price of a financial instrument comprising parameters for the financial instrument and a processor in electronic communication with the financial database and adapted to calculate the price of the financial instrument based on a projection and the parameters. A computer program is provided that is stored on a memory and configured to be executed by a computer.

Abstract: A method of registering a credit card user's credit card information by a credit card management organization. A card user accesses the card management computer system in a computer network. The method provides a user interface whereby the user grants authorization to the card management organization to obtain the card user's credit report from a credit reporting bureau. The method further transmits a request for the user's credit report to a credit reporting bureau and automatically downloads the user's credit report when received. The method further parses the credit report to determine a card issuer for each card on the credit report using a database of card issuer aliases. The method then fully or partially automatically registers each card with the user's account in the card management association and then presents the opportunity to the user to review and edit each card.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for automatically adjusting individual components of account processing for credit card accounts or other financial accounts based on characteristics and behavior of individual account holders. A first data store holds account data for financial accounts, including the account processing methods and associated method overrides applied to each financial account as well as account history information. A second data store holds decision rules for determining whether to apply a method override to the financial account based on the account history information. A decision engine retrieves the decision rules from the second data store and the account history information from the first data store, then determines, based on the decision rules and the account history information, whether a method override should be applied to the financial account. The decision engine then applies the method override to the financial account.

Abstract: This invention relates to the methods of coordinating product and service demonstrations. An event coordinator directs event operators to conduct a product or service demonstration event. The event coordinator provides event operators with cards, such as debit cards, credit cards, or smart cards, to purchase items needed for the demonstration. The event operator contacts a card administration system to activate the card. The card administration system verifies that the provided card ID and event ID are valid, and associates an authorized budget of the demonstration event with the card. The event operator then purchases items with the card, and conducts demonstrations.

Abstract: A method of participating by a purchaser in a plurality of negotiations for purchasable items, where an item may be a good or a service, in order to obtain one of a plurality of alternative collections of complementary purchasable items, comprising maintaining a probabilistic model of said negotiations and making bids or offers to increase the probability of success in negotiations for purchasable items in one of said alternative collections determined from current states of said negotiations and said probabilistic model as providing a largest expectation of value to the purchaser.

Abstract: A method and system for performing a batch auction whereby a series of orders, according to a variety of predetermined order types, are generated by qualified market participants and communicated to an auction system. The auction system takes into account each order and its impact upon relative supply and demand to determine by a preset algorithm a price and share transaction quantity. Trades are executed at the price, and a portion of the transaction quantity is allocated to each investor on a fair basis dependent upon their initial orders. In embodiments of the present invention, the auction system uses a computer system or network designed to automatically perform one or more steps of the above method. Such a system is preferably connected to one or more ECNs such that non-executed shares can be automatically sent to outside sources for execution.

Abstract: A system and method that determines when fraudulent activity, such as relates to a credit card, etc., may be imminent. The system and method of the invention allows for warning a credit issuer of probable fraudulent activity at an early stage. Probable fraudulent activity is determined by: receiving at a receiving center an authorization request from a user for a dollar amount; and determining, using a fraud test, if the authorization request is likely to be indicative of fraudulent activity.

Abstract: An order processing system includes an order structure in which an order includes multiple objects representing items being purchased, shipping methods, payment parameters, and other parts of an order. The order can include one or more of each of the types of objects. Items in the order can be divided among shipping methods and payment mechanisms using a relationship model to describe the relationships between the different types of objects. Shipping methods and payment mechanisms also can be related. The order may be represented as an order object, which represents the order and can be related to particular shipping methods and payment mechanisms. Relationship objects describe the relationships between objects. Relationship objects can use different relationship types to characterize the extent of the specified relationship.