Abstract: Assimilating data and applying reasoning mechanisms for matching a vehicle buyer's credit history, vehicle details, and vehicle deal structure details, to the purchasing guidelines of the most suitable finance sources is described. The system aids the dealership agent in quickly locating the finance sources that best fit the specific criteria of the customer, the vehicle, and the proposed financial structure of the deal. The system also enables the finance sources to increase the quality of the fit of those applications reviewed for potential contract purchase, to see the specific details that are integral in making purchasing decisions in advance of reviewing the entire application, to actively manage the risk level of its auto finance portfolio, and to automate its purchasing decisions. The system allows the vehicle buyer, vehicle dealership, and finance source to match on a near instantaneous basis, thereby reducing the time involved in the vehicle sales process to a fraction of its current burden.

Abstract: The present invention provides an automated system configured to facilitate transfers of cash value from one or more lines of credit to one or more deposit accounts or payment systems. An automated system ensures that requested funds are available in a customer's one or more lines of credit and electronically deposits the requested funds into one or more designated deposit accounts or payment systems. An automated system provides a means for customers to manage lines of credit, setup transfer transactions, define rules governing transfers and view transactional history. The automated system, in network connection with the lending organization's backend systems, may authenticate customer identities and credit accounts as well as insure that the requested funds are available for transfer into a deposit account.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for multiple client/user and capital market funded participating interest in qualifying trust. Methods include establishing a legal trust that holds assets and issues obligations that grant participation rights in its assets. The legal trust can be a legal qualifying trust. The legal qualifying trust can grant participation rights to multiple beneficiaries or participants.

Abstract: A system and method is provided to accept and settle transaction payments for an unbanked consumer. A consumer initiates a transaction with a merchant, and the merchant may transmit transaction information to a central processing unit using an initiating processing unit. The central processing unit may generate a unique transaction identifier or the merchant may generate the unique transaction identifier which complies with the systems rules and notifies the central processing unit of the transaction information and unique transaction identifier. The system may provide the merchant and consumer the nearest payment processing unit. At the payment processing unit, the consumer presents the unique transaction identifier, which is transmitted to the central processing unit for validation. The consumer may also validate the transaction information. The consumer makes payment at the payment processing unit, and the payment information is transmitted to the central processing unit.

Abstract: A method and system for managing legal fees and minimizing costs of an organization involves periodically receiving case budget information consisting at least in part of identification, billing rate, and hours for each person projected to work on a legal project for the organization. The case budget information is received by internal counsel for the organization from external counsel via entry of the information on a template provided by internal counsel and uploaded to an internal matter management system of the organization if approved by internal counsel. At the end of each billing cycle, current bill data from external counsel is also uploaded to the internal matter management system of the organization, and the current bill data is compared with the case budget information. A report is generated flagging any discrepancies between the current bill data and the case budget information.

Abstract: Techniques and systems provide real-time return processing before a retailer receives a returned item, such as during a return process where the retailer (seller) and customer (buyer) are separated from one another (e.g., electronic commerce, etc.). The retailer may collect information about the order and items to be returned from the remotely located customer. The retailer may optionally confirm an identity of the customer such as by verifying the original payment type and/or payment instrument number. The customer may provide collateral in exchange for the real-time return of a refund or an exchange. The retailer may then provide shipping details, calculate the refund (if applicable), and finalize processing. If the retailer does not receive the item in the allotted time for the return (e.g., for ground transport, etc.), then the retailer may charge the customer a value of the item using the collateral.

Abstract: A system and method for estimating portfolio risk using an infinitely divisible distribution is provided. A time series comprising a plurality of risk factors applicable over at least one time horizon, a portfolio comprising a plurality of financial assets, and one or more risk adjusted return points for the financial assets are stored. The financial assets are associated with the risk factors. The parameters of one or more risk factors such as financial returns series are estimated based on an infinitely divisible tempered stable distribution model exhibiting leptokurtic behavior. Scenarios are generated for the model. One of Value at Risk, Average Value at Risk, and their derivatives are then determined.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and apparatuses for implementing, in connection with a HELOC account, a loan management tool. In some embodiments, the method includes: storing information relating to a loan account associated with a borrower, segmenting the loan account into one or more spend categories, and allocating purchases and payments, or portions thereof, made by the borrower to at least one of the one or more spend categories. In addition, the method may further include receiving from the borrower an input and calculating, based on the input, an output, wherein the output comprises at least one of the anticipated payoff date, the monthly payment amount, and the total saved interest.

Abstract: A method for issuing and managing debit gift cards and facilitating the processing of gift card payments through a debit process. The method involves associating a gift card with a purchaser and transferring any unused residual balance to the purchaser following card expiration or other triggering event.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and apparatuses for implementing, in connection with a loan account, a loan management tool. In some embodiments, the method includes: storing information relating to a loan account associated with a borrower in a storage device, wherein a first interest rate is associated with the loan account, segmenting the loan account into at least a first spend category, and associating a second interest rate with the first spend category, wherein the second interest rate is different from the first interest rate. The method may also include receiving a payment comprising a first portion based on the first interest rate and a second portion based on the second interest rate, and applying a first portion of the payment to reducing a balance of the first spend category. The systems and methods of the present invention are used in connection with a HELOC account.

Abstract: Described are methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for multi-authoring within a benefits content management the system. Relationships are defined between content elements of the benefits content system. A first request is received to change a first content element of the benefits content system. Other content elements of the benefits content system having a relationship to the first content element are identified. A user interface is provided on a computing device to enable a user associated with the first request to control access by other users attempting to change one or more of the other content elements having a relationship to the first element while the user associated with the first request is changing the first content element.

Abstract: In a computerized system and method for scheduling medical procedures implemented by a number of medical apparatuses in a clinic or hospital, an exam or therapy is scheduled using a particular medical apparatus with a set time duration, and the exam or therapy is conducted and the actual time duration occupied by the medical apparatus to conduct the exam or therapy is recorded. The time durations for each medical procedure conducted by each medical apparatus are entered into and stored in a statistical data base. A scheduling computer has access to this statistical data base, and the next exam or therapy for the same apparatus is then scheduled using a time duration that is statistically updated based on the statistical compilation in the data base.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to facilitate the sharing of account features. In one aspect, a system includes a transaction handler to process transactions and a data warehouse to record the transactions and store account data identifying account features of separate accounts, such as a second account having a feature and a first account without this feature. Account holders of the first and second accounts are in a same household and thus, in accordance with a set of rules, eligible to share the account features. A portal is configured to receive a request identifying the first account and to determine whether a transaction initiated in the first account and qualified for a benefit of the account feature is entitled to the benefit; and if so, a notification engine is to transmit a notification message to an account holder of the first account.

Abstract: A system and method for regulating a proposed transaction between a first party and a seller is provided. The method includes providing a transaction intermediary machine (TIM) on a network that is associated with a transactional limitations database storing in relation to each of a plurality of unique identifiers at least one criterion that has been established by a second party, and concerning one or more transactional limitations imposed by the second party on the first party. A request for approval (RFA) is received from the seller at the TIM having a unique identifier provided by the first party and details concerning the proposed transaction between the first party and the seller. Then, the RFA is compared with the criteria, completion of the proposed transaction is approved and a payment to the seller is also approved, and personal identification information is provided from the TIM to the seller.

Abstract: In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a system for facilitating financial transactions over a network includes a first component adapted to communicate with a merchant via a merchant device over the network and a second component adapted to receive a merchant transaction request from the merchant via the merchant device over the network, determine a format of the merchant transaction request, translate the format into a recognizable format, and process the merchant transaction request based on information passed with the merchant transaction request. In one aspect, the merchant transaction request includes information related to a financial transaction between the merchant and a customer purchasing an item from the merchant. In another aspect, format translation provides the capability to easily switch transaction service providers without incurring important integration costs.

Abstract: A computerized system (10) and method for displaying a security trading environment (150) is disclose. The system (10) includes a client system (14) that is in communication with a server system (12) and a display system (20). The server system (12) provides information relating to securities to the client system (14) and routes trade executions. The display system (20) displays security information and accepting input from a user to initiate trade executions in a trading window (152), displays security information in a chart format in a chart window (160), displays security information relating to a group of securities in a watchlist window (162), displays security information relating to securities in which the user has positions in an account detail window (164), displays news relating to securities in a news window (166) and displays information relating to trade executions in a messages window (172).

Abstract: A loan transaction for a pre-paid card is approved for a borrower so that release of the loan proceeds is pending an activation of a pre-paid card. A financial institution computer converts loan data to be compatible with a prepaid card processor. The prepaid card processor activates a pre-paid card account responsive to an activation request on behalf of the borrower. The financial institution computer releases the pending loan proceeds to the pre-paid card processor so that the loan proceeds are released to the borrower and are immediately available to thereby convert the pre-paid card into a loan delivery apparatus.

Abstract: A variable resolution grid provides a mechanism for focusing specific concentrations of risk exposure on a geographical grid to determine projected loss caused by a particular catastrophe. The geographic grid provides a stable base map by using latitudes and longitudes to define the grid points and cells. Each cell is assigned a geographic identifier or geocode that identifies the location of the cell and its associated resolution. The resolution of the grid may be varied depending in part, on the resolution of any available of hazard data.

Abstract: Systems and methods to authenticate and process requests received via social networking websites. In one aspect, a system includes a data storage facility to store data associating a first phone number of a user with an identification of the user in a social networking website; and an interchange coupled with the data storage facility. The interchange includes a common format processor and a plurality of converters to interface with a plurality of controllers of mobile communications. The converters communicate with the controllers in different formats and with the common format processor in a common format. The common format processor receives a request including the identification of the user, identifies the first phone number of the user based on the data stored on the data storage facility, and uses the converters to communicate with a mobile phone at the first phone number to confirm the request.

Abstract: A payment device, method, and apparatus configured to determine the form factor of the payment device used in a financial transaction, without requiring a different primary account number for each payment device form factor.