Abstract: A computer implemented method of underwriting profitability analysis delivers the analytic process to a wide cross section of insurance decision makers. The underwriting profitability analysis system leverages an existing investment in databases and improves underwriting business processes. Data mining techniques are applied to historical policy and claims to extract rules that describe policy holders with homogeneous claim frequency and severity characteristics. These rule sets are used to classify policy holders into distinct risk groups, each with its own set of characteristics, including pure premium. Breaking up a book of business into segments allows identification of sub-populations of policy holders that distinctly deviate from the expected normal pure premium. This identification allow the insurance business analysts to interactively adjust eligibility criteria and examine altered characteristics of the covered segments until satisfactory.

Abstract: A system and process for distributing a product in accordance with a subscription purchase agreement that includes the establishment by a customer of an account with a seller of a product, the assignment of a customer identification number to the account maintained by a customer, the receipt of a credit card number corresponding to the customer, and the receipt of a request from the customer to purchase the product from the seller. The request includes a set of purchase terms and conditions related to the product. Also, the set of purchase terms and conditions are recorded for the customer. The set of purchase terms and conditions indicate a purchase price for the product. A customer's credit card or other account may be assessed a penalty in the event that the customer does not honor the purchase terms and conditions.

Abstract: A computer program stored in a storage medium and a computer-implemented method for scheduling appointments for an office or business includes program code for displaying screen displays on a computer monitor, including a day view screen display (18) with a plurality of thermometer-style schedules (43) having a vertical bar graph (44) opposite a daily appointment file (45) having multiple rows for entering appointment data. A horizontal scroll bar (48) allows the schedules to be displayed over a distance that is wider than a display area on the screen. The vertical bar graph (44) includes color-coded bars (47) to signify the status of appointments as: i) prior to check-in, ii) after check-in and iii) canceled appointments. In a "day view" schedules are arranged by selecting a group from a group list (24). The appointments can be predetermined as to type and duration, and a scheduler can refer to a list (63) of such pre-configured appointments (65) in scheduling patients.

Abstract: An interactive computer request processing system. In the preferred embodiment, the request processing system utilizes telephone and computer equipment to accept refill requests for patient prescriptions. The system receives information from a patient and performs prescription inquiries to a databank to determine patient information such as the status of prescriptions. The system remains operational whether or not interactive communications can be achieved with the databank. If communications are not available, the system stores the patient information. Therefore, the system always appears to the caller to be fully operational regardless of whether interactive communications are available. When communications are re-established, the databank and prescription inquiries are conducted, whereby the system validates or invalidates requests based on specified criteria.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the heart of a patient. The system is comprised of a remote station having a device for generating an electrocardiogram of the patient, a device for detecting predetermined cardiological events in the patient in communication with the generating device and a transmitter for transmitting the electrocardiogram. The system also is comprised of a central station in continuous communication with the transmitter for receiving the transmitted electrocardiogram when a predetermined cardiological event occurs. There is also a database in communication with the central station for storing patient data and providing patient data to the central station. Additionally, there is a display device in communication with the central station and the database for displaying the patient data and the transmitted electrocardiogram. A method of monitoring the heart of a patient. The method includes the first step of taking an electrocardiogram of a patient at a remote station.

Abstract: A system for communicating with a card distribution center for selecting, ordering, and sending social expression cards using a personal computer. The user can enter names and addresses of card recipients into the system wherein the information is maintained in a database. The system displays digitized images of the cards on a display screen which are retrieved from a card database. From the cards displayed, the user can select cards for designated recipients and enter personalized messages and a digitized signature. The user may then send the order to a card distribution center, which processes the order, retrieves and prints the selected card images, including any user messages or user signature, and mails the cards to designated recipients or customers. The system maintains a database of all recipients, addresses, associated occasions and dates, card preferences, relationships and order history.

Abstract: A computer system is programmed for setting and reporting product delivery dates. The invention includes a step of maintaining a customer preferences database having delivery and reporting preferences for individual customers. The preferences include preferred early and late delivery limits, preferred performance measurement species, and desired advance delivery times. The invention further includes a step of creating a customer order entry for a particular customer. The customer order entry includes a customer-requested delivery date supplied by the customer. A customer-preferred ship date is calculated for the customer order entry based at least in part upon the customer-requested delivery date and at least in part upon the particular customer's specified desired advance delivery time. The customer order entry is then routed to an order scheduler.

Abstract: A system and method for remotely monitoring a patient and for training the patient to comply with a treatment plan for a health condition. A patient computing device collects data relating to the patient's health condition and transmits the data to a clinician computer via a communication network. The data is analyzed in the clinician computer to determine an educational need of the patient for treating the health condition. An educational program corresponding to the patient's educational need is selected and a pointer to the educational program is embedded in an electronic message to the patient. The educational program is started on the patient computing device by selecting the embedded pointer in the electronic message. As the patient works with the educational program, new data relating to the patient's health condition is collected in the patient computing device and transmitted to the clinician computer for analysis.

Abstract: A method for providing secure credit card transactions over the Internet generates a personal charge number from a user account number by inserting a user key into the user account number in accordance with an algorithm that uses a user insertion key and a permutation variable. After the personal charge number is used, the permutation variable is changed, and a new personal charge number is generated. A money source repository verifies the validity of the personal charge number by using the personal charge number and a user identifier to access a file with the user account number, the user key and the user insertion key, taking into account which permutation variable is valid at a given point in time. Alternatively, the money source repository could generate a string of valid personal charge numbers for a user which are sequentially accessed according to usage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring a physical process comprising a plurality of interacting attributes where the attributes are components of the physical process. The method and apparatus locates defective attributes and defective interactions between interacting attributes within the physical process. The apparatus comprises a processor, and input member and a hierarchical data structure. Data concerning the attributes of the physical process are input and organized into the hierarchical data structure. A response variable and a variation in the response variable for each population in the hierarchical data structure is determined, and used to identify defects in the physical process.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for finding and serving consumer product-related information over the Internet to consumers in retail shopping environments, as well as at home and work, and on the road. The system includes Internet information servers which store information pertaining to Universal Product Number (e.g. UPC number) preassigned to each consumer product registered with the system, along with a list of Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) that point to the location of one or more information resources on the Internet, e.g. World Wide Web-sites, which related to such registered consumer products. Upon entering the UPC number into the system using a conventional Internet browser program running on any computing platform or system, the menu of URLs associated with the entered UPC number is automatically displayed for user selection.

Abstract: A data processing system and method is disclosed for implementing and control of a financial debt instrument which is issued for a limited period of time and is traded as a listed security. The debt instrument is based on an underlying basket of stocks optimally selected to track an established capital market and its price also reflects accrued investment income and maintenance expenses. The data processing system receives input from the capital market and periodically evaluates the performance of the financial debt instrument, reporting its price to customers. Also disclosed is a data processing system for administering an investment group of such debt instruments designed to track the performance of several domestic and foreign markets, estimate their return and provide current price information to customers.

Abstract: A cash settlement machine is disclosed comprising a graphics display, operator interface panels, and a controller coupling the operator interface panels to the graphics display. To provide the cash settlement machine with total flexibility in operation, the operator interface panels which provide input signals to the controller include a mechanical keyboard with fixed keys and a touch screen device mounted over the graphics display which shows display keys. The controller includes a graphics generator for displaying the display keys, memory for storing instructions associated with a plurality of operational modes accessed though the display keys, and means for executing those instructions. Preferably, the plurality of modes includes a basic operating mode, a help mode, a directory mode, a diagnostic mode, a reports mode, a screen format mode, and a set-up mode.

Abstract: A modular system for diagnostic assessment of psychological conditions which employs a compact microprocessor-based unit such as a video game. In accordance with the invention, the microprocessor-based unit is programmed to produce a video display that prompts a patient or user to interactively operate one or more switches. Information recorded during an interactive diagnostic assessment procedure is analyzed to provide a doctor or other health care professional with information that is helpful to determine whether clinical therapy and/or medication may be required. The disclosed embodiment of the invention relates to diagnostic assessment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Attention Deficit Disorder with a game-like video display being used to obtain a measure of various neuropsychologic indicia of attention.

Abstract: Portable transaction terminal apparatus adapted for use in eating and drinking establishments. A terminal housing has a generally rectangular shape and a size slightly larger in length and width to corresponding dimensions of a restaurant guest check. A folio-type cover is mounted to a left side portion of the terminal housing by a hinge arrangement and thereby adapted to swing between open and closed cover positions, the cover corresponding in length and width to the terminal housing so as to completely cover a top face of the terminal housing in the closed cover position and to lie flat against a surface in the open cover position. A data entry keypad and an alphanumeric display are carried on the top face of the terminal housing. A card reader module is mounted in the terminal housing for accepting and reading a transaction data card selected for use by a guest of the establishment for payment of the amount of the guest check.

Abstract: A system and process are described for effecting the expedited submission into the payment system for collection of funds represented by financial instruments that are received by a payee at an item capture facility remote from the payee's depository bank in which the submission of the instruments into the payment system is coordinated with the payee's internal accounting process and the register of the deposit of the instruments with an account at the instruments payee's bank.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatic credit evaluation and loan processing is disclosed. The apparatus includes a central processing unit which has capabilities for communicating with off-site remote access terminals. The central processing unit also includes facsimile transmission capabilities as well as capabilities for communicating with credit bureau computers. Mass storage capabilities are included for storing program modules executable on the central processing unit and for maintaining databases. Program modules are provided for remote access security, credit bureau information processing, credit scoring, message display, and facsimile generation. In operation, the central processing unit is accessed from a remote terminal, loan application information is entered into the remote terminal, credit bureau information is accessed by the apparatus, credit scoring is performed, and a loan application is approved or declined.

Abstract: An electronic storage and computing system wherein raw point of sale data is transformed into a predefined standardized configuration from which object values representing select business activities are derived and compared to predefined reference values for the selected activities. The system includes an electronic storage device for storing raw point of sale data, a data interpreter for transforming the raw data into a predefined standardized configuration, and a processor for deriving object values from the transformed data according to a set of mathematical/relational functions, the object values being representative of selected business activities, and comparing the object values to predefined reference values for the selected business activities. The data interpreter operates according to a set of control programs to selectively transfer point of sale data from a set of raw databases into a set of standard databases having a predefined standardized configuration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of computerized intelligent agents to facilitate the integration of networked performance of financial transactions with computerized methods of financial accounting. Incorporated into this combined financial transaction/financial accounting system are intelligent agents that automatically analyze the system information to provide users with financial advice. This invention permits the automated performance on-line of a wide variety of financial transactions and integrates these transactions with computerized financial accounting. All of this information is collated and analyzed automatically by intelligent agents, which generate user-specific financial reports, profiles, and advice, and under appropriate conditions take action.

Abstract: A bill pay system wherein participating consumers pay bills to participating billers through a payment network operating according to preset rules. The participating consumers receive bills from participating billers (paper/mail bills, e-mail notices, implied bills for automatic debits) which indicate an amount, and a unique biller identification number. To authorize a remittance, a consumer transmits to its participating bank a bill pay order indicating a payment date, a payment amount, the consumer's account number with the biller, a source of funds and the biller's biller identification number, either directly or by reference to static data containing those data elements. Bank C then submits a payment message to a payment network, and the payment network, which assigns the biller reference numbers, forwards the payment message to the biller's bank.