Abstract: Option orders are processed by receiving an option order, the option order including information identifying a customer, and information identifying a desired option. One of a plurality of option exchanges is selected to complete the option order, the selecting based on information identifying the customer and the desired option. In some embodiments, a routing rule is selected based on the information identifying a customer.

Abstract: A pre-paid card, referred to as an Internet card, in accordance with the invention can be used to make anonymous payments over the Internet for services and products, e.g., to pay for Internet access and/or product purchases. The Card is purchased, e.g., with cash, from a card retailer, e.g., a convenience store. In some embodiments the card includes security information which is hidden from the retailer but can be viewed by the purchaser, e.g., after performing a tear off or scratch off operation to reveal the security information. The security information can be used to authorize a transaction to be charged against the card without the need to reveal any personal information and without the risk of the retailer making unauthorized purchases since the security information is hidden from the retailer. By avoiding the need for personal information privacy is maintained and the risk of identity theft avoided.

Abstract: A learning model is built on a combination of advertiser, publisher and user data. The learning model can be applied to all advertisers in an advertising system. The learning model provides predicted conversion rates for a given advertisement (“ad”) appearing on different publisher networks. A predicted conversion rate represents the probability that a click on a given ad appearing on a given publisher will lead to a conversion. The predicted conversion rates are used to generate a multiplier. The multiplier is used to automatically adjust the advertiser's bid (e.g., maximum cost-per-click (CPC)) for the given ad prior to an auction for the ad. Adjusting the advertiser's bid equalizes a cost-per-conversion among the publishers for the ad.

Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein are directed to automatically making an initial claim assignment. The systems include information collection subsystems, skills assessment subsystems and assignment recommendation subsystems that provide a customer service representative with a recommendation for the best-suited available claim handler. The customer service representative may accept or override the recommendation in making the claim handler assignment. The determination of the best-suited available claim handler is made by correlating these skills required for handling a particular claim, the skills of the claim handlers, and an algorithm takes into account the claim handler's current loss assignment count, number of hours spent, and future availability.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus, computer program code and means for generating quality data associated with an option limit order are provided. In some embodiments, an option limit order is received, the option limit order including information identifying a customer, information identifying a desired option, and information that indicates a limit price for said option limit order. A substantially real time feed of option market date is received and the option market data is used in real time to identify at least one of a trade-through and a trade-at transaction relevant to the option limit order. Alerts may be generated based on the identified trade-through or trade-at transaction. Trade-at or trade-through data may be tabulated and analyzed to evaluate option limit order trading activity. Analysis to generate trade-at or trade-through data may be performed on a batch processing basis relying entirely or in part on data received in real time or on a batch basis.

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating, coordinating and managing the operation of a competitive marketplace via the Internet. The system and method collect bids for market services from a plurality of customers, calculators a clearing piece for the market service and calculates settlement information based on the clearing piece calculated and the bids collected.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of providing advertising to a client includes establishing a billing experience between a client and a provider, providing advertising opportunities to the client on at least one of a continual basis and a periodic basis, evaluating a credit risk associated with the client at least one of periodically and upon occurrence of an event, and modifying the billing experience automatically based on the credit risk associated with the client.

Abstract: The present invention discloses systems and methods for intelligently providing and charging for services on a network. A Service Controller aggregates usage history for a subscriber using a service on a network. An IICR consolidates the information into a subscriber profile and links the subscriber profile to community profiles or “segmentation” profiles. The Service Controller then seeks patterns in the subscriber profile, and adjusts the level of service for the subscriber based on said patterns. Services are dynamically provisioned and de-provisioned in real-time based on the subscriber's usage of the services, along with demographics and network conditions. Additionally, the subscriber is charged for the services based on his real-time use of the services and based on the Quality of Service (QoS) actually delivered.

Abstract: An improved claim mediation process includes an automated feature permitting a software package to act as the mediator based upon a predetermined rule set. Open offers are made by both sides, but kept secret from the opposing party are criteria by which the offer can be adjusted and still be acceptable to that party. The system takes into account the open offers and the confidential adjustment criteria and, if possible according to the predetermined rule set, calculates and displays a settlement amount.

Abstract: Enabling innovative merchant transaction pricing capability, while improving pricing process efficiency, is disclosed. When a merchant submits financial transaction account records to a payment processor for payment, the payment processor utilizes granular transaction data to calculate complex merchant transaction pricing rules. The system accesses individual transaction data, aggregate transaction data, transaction history, customer data, merchant data and product data to enable flexible, innovative and dynamic pricing capabilities that increase revenue and increase customer satisfaction.

Abstract: An opportunity server searches for potential vehicle repair transaction providers by receiving a signal from a mobile system indicating a need for a transaction with a business entity responsive to an on-board diagnostic detection of a real-time fault condition resulting in recording of a Diagnostic Trouble Code; automatically issuing requests for bids for the transaction to provider parties located in a first potential geographic point for repair service indicating estimated times of arrival at each geographic point; receiving offers from the provider parties; automatically coalescing the offers by screening to meet user preferences, and modifying and organizing into a format for uniform presentation to a user; presenting the coalesced offers to an operator of the mobile system; and automatically performing enterprise resource planning for a user-selected business transaction.

Abstract: A method and system for analyzing an organization's investment in human capital resources is provided to assist in improving the organization's overall financial performance. The method includes receiving inputted data retrieved from common accounting records regularly maintained in connection with operation of the organization. Further, the present invention provides a novel approach particularly relevant for precise analysis of people-intensive organizations, such as service-providing organizations. The approach involves calculation of values for newly defined HCP, ROHS and PS metrics. Aggregation of the metric values into a single index value metric facilitates benchmarking of an organization against itself and others. A report is provided that identifies factors most responsible for influencing the overall index, which assists the organization's management in determining how to implement change in the organization that will improve the metrics and thus the overall profitability of the organization.

Abstract: A method is used in a system that includes a financial service provider coordinating accounts issued by an issuer to cardholders requesting credit from merchants. The method can be performed by a merchant sending a transmission to its acquirer including a request for a transaction against one account to which the merchant receives a denial or prior to receiving such a denial. The merchant then requests information from the financial service provider who responds by sending the requested information, upon which the merchant determines whether to extend the credit. When the method is performed by a financial service provider, in response to the denial received by one merchant or prior to such denial, the financial service provider receives a transmission from the merchant including a request for information about the account. In response, the financial service provider sends the merchant the requested information.

Abstract: A Home Resale Price Protection Plan provides a payment to a homeowner should the homeowner have to sell his or her house at a loss. In exchange for an upfront fee, the homeowner would receive a payment for the lesser of their actual loss or the loss calculated by multiplying their original purchase price by the proportional drop in an appropriate housing price index.

Abstract: A computer system, method and computer readable media for processing historical vehicle replacement part database queries is disclosed. The system can include a data preprocessing unit, a database server coupled to the data preprocessing unit, a web server and an application server programmed to connect operatively to the database server and to the web server. The application server can be programmed to generate dynamic content including a user interface adapted to receive user input and to output result data based upon a database query result, a subrogation claim accuracy verification result and an independent subrogation claim value.

Abstract: A method of providing an account is provided. The method includes receiving identification information associated with a user during a communication session. The method further includes communicating a request for credit information. The request includes at least a portion of the identification information. The method further includes receiving the requested credit information, and for each of a plurality of different types of accounts, determining whether to approve that type of account based at least in part on the received credit information. The method further includes communicating an indication of at least a portion of the approved types of accounts, and receiving a selection of at least one of the approved types of accounts. The method further includes opening at least one of the selected types of accounts and providing access to at least one of the opened accounts during the communication session.

Abstract: The invention includes a system and process that employs contractual bargaining with agent-based computational methods for the dynamic allocation, optimization, and pricing of contingent rights and obligations between multiple counterparties with overlapping interests. The processes employ a dynamic and endogenous hierarchy or tiering of binding incentive compatible contingent strategies, which may include optimal liquidation policies for matched assets and liabilities based upon stochastic volume/price schedule related to statistically non-stationary supply/demand elasticities and order-flow, as well as variations in market microstructure. The invention includes a dynamic open system with distributed stochastic control of strategic interactions among dynamic optimizing agents across random states, wherein the actions of any one affects the joint costs and benefits for all the agents.

Abstract: A system can have a plurality of participating entities including a plurality of receivers and a plurality of originators. A data file indicative of an account restructuring of a given one of the receivers can be obtained. The data file specifies at least one old account number associated with the receiver and at least one new account number associated with the receiver. The data is placed in a conversion data structure in a format to facilitate account number conversion. Remittance data, including the old or new account number of the receiver, is obtained from a given one of the participating entities, and is routed in accordance with the old or new account number in the remittance data, and the data structure.

Abstract: Methods and systems process multiple trade orders subject to investment account restrictions. The restrictions are associated with the holding of one or more securities or with a cash position in an investment account. Each received order to perform an investment account management action is processed to determine whether performance of the action violates any stored restriction. The investment account is updated to reflect the result of executing the orders that did not violate any stored restriction. All received orders that are found to be in violation of a restriction are then processed again to determine whether performance of the action now violates any stored restriction. This technique allows for approving for execution as many trade orders subject to restrictions as possible.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods and systems for analyzing claims related to a warranty. Statistical analysis is performed in order to examine claim counts with respect to a time period (e.g., production period, claim period, etc.). A claim issue is detected based upon the statistical analysis with respect to the time period.