Abstract: Methods are provided for detecting price manipulation in assets by receiving data indicating returns on an asset, generating a histogram of returns data, determining a first area under a curve of the histogram in a first interval, determining a second area under the curve of the histogram in a second interval; and calculating a bias ratio which comprises a ratio based on the first area and the second area.

Abstract: The invention provides methods, systems, and computer readable media of performing account acquisitions while associating pending transactions with applications for such accounts. One embodiment includes obtaining transaction information for preliminary transaction(s) by which a customer orders goods and/or services, proposing one or more additional transactions relating to goods and/or services to the customer, along with new accounts to pay for such preliminary or additional transactions, and associating the preliminary or additional transactions is with the new account application as pending transactions. Finally, the method can include requesting approval of the new application, with the transaction for goods/services associated with the application in a pending status.

Abstract: One exemplary aspect comprises: (a) receiving data describing an executed trading order in a market traded security and related trade execution data; (b) estimating a price of the market traded security if the executed trading order had not been executed, based in part on the data describing the executed trading order; and (c) transmitting the impact-free price estimate. At least one other aspect comprises: (a) receiving data describing a potential trading order and related market data; (b) calculating an impact-free price estimate which estimates an execution price of the potential trading order if the potential trading order were to be executed without market impact, wherein the impact-free price estimate is based in part on the data describing the potential trading order; and (c) transmitting data sufficient to describe the impact-free price estimate.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of facilitating contact between a consumer and a requesting entity, with the method comprising the following steps. During an interaction with the consumer, the method of the invention obtains contact information and index information from the consumer. The method then evaluates whether the consumer meets a selection criterion specified by the requesting entity using the indexing information. A data store entry associated with the consumer can be updated with the contact information. The contact information is then referred to the requesting entity thereby providing the requesting entity with up-to-date contact information.

Abstract: A method of assessing a market price of a benchmark grade of a commodity includes artificially injecting additional volumes of the benchmark grade into the marketplace to thereby increase the market activity upon which the assessment is based. By increasing the market activity upon which the benchmark assessment is based, problems associated with having a small number of market events for assessing the benchmark price, such as price volatility, may be avoided. Additional volumes of the benchmark grade may be artificially injected into the marketplace by including, in the assessment of the benchmark price, observations of market events involving one or more alternative, non-benchmark grades of the commodity.

Abstract: A distributed asset allocation processing system performs a computerized method for allocating subscriber assets. The system configures predetermined investment allocation paths that relate asset allocation models to trigger events. The system then selects a predetermined path based on a subscriber's risk tolerance. At each trigger event along the predetermined path, the system automatically rebalances the subscriber's assets according to an asset allocation model corresponding to the trigger event.

Abstract: A method of adding a value to a customer account is provided. A request to add a value to a customer account of a customer is received from a point of sale terminal. The request may comprise value identification data associated with the value and account identification data associated with the customer account. The customer account identification data may be entered at the point of sale. The request may be associated with a purchase of the value. The value may be caused to be added to the customer account. During subsequent value purchase transactions, additional value may be added to the account.

Abstract: A method for determining the theoretical value of a Model Option contract.

Abstract: A distributed asset allocation processing system performs a computerized method for allocating subscriber assets. The system configures predetermined investment allocation paths that relate asset allocation models to trigger events. The system then selects a predetermined path based on a subscriber's risk tolerance. At each trigger event along the predetermined path, the system automatically rebalances the subscriber's assets according to an asset allocation model corresponding to the trigger event.

Abstract: Transaction processing of online transactions at merchant sites determines the likelihood that such transactions are fraudulent, accounting for unreliable fields of a transaction order, which fields do not reliably identify a purchaser. A scoring server using statistical model uses multiple profiles associated with key fields, along with weights to indicate the degree to which the profiles identify the purchaser of the transaction.

Abstract: Described are a method, computer program product, and system for risk management using readily available, gridded hazard data to estimate and obtain a risk analysis parameter (e.g., expected repair cost) for use in risk management, such as in seismic risk management. The method includes calculating economic risk for buildings in terms of an expected annualized loss (EAL). EAL is the product of a scenario loss estimate called probable frequent loss (PFL) and an economic hazard coefficient (H). H can be created using readily available gridded hazard data produced by the U.S. Geological Survey. The method also includes a technique for calculating shaking intensity, sEBE, which is needed for determining PFL. Incorporated into a system, the system can be utilized by engineering consultants (or others interested in risk management) via the Internet, or on any other computer readable medium.

Abstract: A linked account instrument is used to access funds in an existing demand deposit account held at a financial institution. Merchant or other transactions are first processed against a demand deposit account via an electronic authorization network. If the demand deposit account does not have sufficient funds, the transactions may be processed as a credit charge against a designated credit account. The demand deposit account may subsequently be swept at predetermined times in search of funds to defray the overdraft. If adequate funds are present, they will be withdrawn from the demand deposit account, and the credit account will be cleared. Otherwise, the instrument holder's daily purchasing abilities may be temporarily suspended until the credit account is settled. The processing of overdraft amounts may be on a FIFO, smallest-first or other basis.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method, computer program product, and system for risk management. The present invention includes calculating a statistic of loss per unit time, the statistic being a product of a site loss parameter and a loss given a loss-basis event. The site loss parameter is a site casualty parameter and/or a site economic parameter, while the loss-basis event is a casualty-basis event and/or an economic-basis event, non-limiting examples of which include an earthquake, flooding, wind, and blast pressure.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for estimating bidder valuation. A probability that a bid of a first bidder in an auction is not greater than a first value is determined, wherein a second bidder has a valuation in the auction equal to a second value. A rate at which the probability changes is determined. The ratio of the probability to the rate of change is determined. The ratio is added to the rival bid to determine an estimate of the first bidder's valuation.

Abstract: A method for providing a person with a secure retirement program employs a computerized system to allocate assets owned by a person towards purchase of retirement benefits. The system selects at least one desired retirement benefit from a group of available retirement benefits. A user may specify a conversion period for allocating the assets to the selected benefits during this conversion period. The system allocates portions of the assets towards purchasing a fraction of the selected benefits at selected intervals within the conversion period. Thereafter, the system calculates benefit payments corresponding to the selected retirement benefits to the person during and after the conversion period, wherein the benefit payments during the conversion period are from contributions made from the assets and the purchased benefits, and the benefit payments after the conversion period are provided by the purchased benefits.

Abstract: A method and system are presented for making temporary changes to business logic implemented in a software program. In the preferred embodiment, business logic is stored in rules that are associated together in a series of tests. Changes to the business logic are stored in overrides, which contain one or more instructions for altering the rules. These instructions can either add or delete a business rule, or can create a new test that contains multiple business rules. The overrides themselves are grouped together into negotiations. Since the changes to the rule set are stored in overrides, no changes are made to the base rule set. Thus, updates to the base rule set are immediately effective in implementations using one or more overrides. When an evaluation is conducted in situations requiring a variation from the standard business process, the base rule set is still utilized as a starting point.

Abstract: A method facilitating secure financial transactions using email is presented comprising the steps of receiving bill data at a server implementing the method, and generating an email message to a recipient with information including at least a portion of the received bill data. The amount of bill data included in the email message is based, at least in part, on the email address of the recipient.

Abstract: A computer-implemented automated decision support system for designing an auction for a given item includes a structure extractor that estimates unknown elements of market structure of the auction based on auction characteristics data extracted from historical auctions for similar items and a bidding model matching the extracted auction characteristics data. The decision support system also includes a bidding behavior predictor that predicts bidding behaviors of bidders in the auction based on the estimated unknown elements of market structure and characteristics of the auction. In addition, the system includes an optimizer that employs an evaluation criterion to generate an evaluation of the auction based on (1) the estimated unknown elements of market structure and (2) the predicted bidding behavior of bidders. A method of providing an automated auction analysis is also described.

Abstract: A computer-implemented marketplace (16) for providing financial transaction services to participants (12, 14, 60, 62) in connection with commercial transactions involving the participants (12, 14, 60, 62) includes a database (22). The database (22) contains registration information for types of transactions available to participants (12, 14, 60, 62) and participation criteria for each participant (12, 14, 60, 62) that specifies types of transactions in which the participant (12, 14, 60, 62) is willing to participate. Processes (24) provide associated financial transaction services for the participants (12, 14, 60, 62) in connection with ongoing transactions involving the participants (12, 14, 60, 62).

Abstract: A system manages resources among groups of workers that are connected to one another through a network. The system maintains the security of the resources and improves the operations of the groups. Each group manages the rights to use resources such as windows, objects, and data belonging to the group. Each group is allowed to use only resources whose rights to use are allocated to the group. The groups may exchange the resources among them through a job monitor (2). The job monitor automatically handles the rights to use the resources among the groups according to the working conditions of the groups, procedures, and a job definition form (11). The groups independently and cooperatively carry out jobs. The system employs telephones and pagers to access the members of the groups if they are absent from predetermined locations, to improve the operations of each group.