Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for providing and/or facilitating complete on-line payment services while protecting the privacy of the transaction participants. The comprehensive payment service is based upon a consolidated account used to store value acquired through on-line transactions. The invention provides private payment numbers for protecting the identities of the participants and includes processes for authenticating participants, authorizing transactions, and settling payments. Thus, the present invention enables merchants to effectively accept non-standard forms of payment without changing their current payment infrastructures and enables the provision of value for purchases at any network merchant using any source of value.

Abstract: A queue management system for e.g. supermarket checkouts uses counting devices located at checkouts and optimally entrances/exits in conjunction with P.O.S. information to produce a schedule of how many checkouts are needed to avoid queue length exceeding preset limits. The system includes a dynamic learning system which can optimise calculated schedules on the basis of historical data.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and related tools for assisting users in analyzing and identifying various constraints that limit the impact of business growth strategies, and for helping those users identify, research, and/or implement strategies in light of identified constraints. More particularly, disclosed are information management methods and electronic computing tools for enabling managers to utilize accumulated information to identify and address constraints that otherwise limit innovation and growth of their business ventures.

Abstract: A loyalty reward point system that utilizes the pre-existing infrastructure of network such as a credit card network. A user makes a purchase at a merchant using a token such as a credit card. As part of the purchase transaction, the user is awarded reward points from the merchant based on the purchase, which are stored in an account associated with the merchant and the user by the issuing bank. The reward account is maintained on the issuing bank server on behalf of the merchant and the user, and the number of reward points in the user's account for that merchant is increased accordingly.

Abstract: A system that enables users to generate and manage forecasts through an integrated software tool. Forecast administrators are enabled to create forecast series data that define a forecast's structure and provide search criteria that is used in generating forecasts. These data also define who may participate in creating forecasts, and their relative position in an organization's hierarchy. Users are also enabled to enter a variety of forecast data that are stored by the system. Various forecast data are then retrieved corresponding to the user, applicable subordinates, and parameters defined by the forecast series. Users may then fine-tune their forecasts and submit their forecasts to their managers. The managers are enabled to adjust and roll up their subordinate's forecasts to produce their own forecasts. This process may be recursively applied while moving up through various layers of management defined by the organization's hierarchy.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for maintaining compact descriptions of the behavior of customers in a database of information relating to customer transactions. Of all possible variables that might be used to characterize customer transactions, a limited number are selected on the basis of discriminating power to define customer profiles. Customers are classified according to distinguishing features of their profiles. A new customer can be initially assigned to a particular class based on data characterizing his first few transactions.

Abstract: A method of issuing a purchase card is provided. The method includes the steps of presenting a purchaser with the opportunity to buy the purchase card, determining whether the purchaser has sufficient funds to pay for the purchase card, creating a purchase card account for a recipient designated by the purchaser, and issuing the purchase card. The purchase card may also be issued in connection with another credit card, for example as a rebate for purchases on the credit card. The purchase card may also be converted to a credit card.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for performing free-time searches that exploit information of the type used with electronic calendars. By leveraging advanced calendaring system information and using location, other context information such as corporate policy, legal constraints, and technology constraints, and user-specific preferences to provide a complete picture of a person's availability, the functionality (and therefore the value) of scheduling systems in increased, resulting in an ability to schedule meetings with more accuracy and less rework. Various allowable participation types for meeting invitees may be specified, and each invitee's availability is determined accordingly. Location-sensitive travel times (including optional user-specific travel time adjustments) are used in preferred embodiments when in-person participation is required.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a flexible credit facility that can delay the processing of financial transactions, including biometrically-initiated financial transactions, is disclosed. Delays in payment processing are determined by considering various factors that can depend on the merchant, the consumer, or the transaction itself. In one embodiment, after a financial transaction has been delayed for a determined period of time, it is then submitted to a financial network such as the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network.

Abstract: A loyalty reward point system that utilizes the pre-existing infrastructure of network such as a credit card network. A user makes a purchase at a merchant using a token such as a credit card. As part of the purchase transaction, the user is awarded reward points from the merchant based on the purchase, which are stored in an account associated with the merchant and the user by the acquiring bank. The reward account is maintained on the acquiring bank server on behalf of the merchant and the user, and the number of reward points in the user's account for that merchant is increased accordingly.

Abstract: A market indicator process, residing on a server, predicts an opening index price of a security index including at least two discrete securities. A trade monitoring process monitors at least a portion of the trading of the discrete securities that occur outside of a regular trading session. A closing price variation calculation process, responsive to the trade monitoring process, calculates the predicated opening index price of the security index for the beginning of the next regular trading session with respect to a closing index price of the security index at the end of the previous regular trading session. The index prices are indicative of the cumulative value of the discrete securities.

Abstract: A system, method, software, and portfolios for managing risk in markets relating to a commodity delivered over a network are described, in which a market participant constructs portfolios of preferably liquid price risk instruments in proportions that eliminate the Spatial Price Risk for the market participant's underlying position. Techniques are also disclosed for constructing and evaluating new price risk instruments and other sets of positions, as well as identifying arbitrage opportunities in those markets.

Abstract: This invention provides for a method of (or apparatus for) facilitating the delivery of advice to consumers using a server unit which can store and display the names and characteristics of experts and then rapidly assist in connecting the expert and consumer for real-time communication. The server can also have the ability to receive keywords from the consumer, match those keywords to one or more experts, and tell the consumer how to contact an expert.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for canceling feedback in a network-based transaction facility are described. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a request to cancel feedback pertaining to a transaction in a network-based transaction facility from a first party to the transaction, determining whether feedback cancellation criteria are satisfied, and canceling the feedback pertaining to the transaction if the feedback cancellation criteria are satisfied.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for automatically managing a price of a product in a vending machine. The method and apparatus is disclosed for implementing dynamic price adjustments at various times including after stocking, after a sale of a product and at periodic intervals. The method generally includes the steps of updating inventory data, including a quantity of a product, accessing price management data associated with the product, and determining the price of the product. According to the method and apparatus of the present invention, the determined price of the product is based on the price management data and the inventory data. The determined price is then stored in a memory of the apparatus and displayed for customers. The apparatus may be a vending machine, a processing module within the vending machine, or an external module remotely transmitting the dynamically adjusted price to a vending machine.

Abstract: A system for deploying to a client accounting installation a general procurement and accounts payable application specifically configured for the client by an enterprise includes a database server for (1) maintaining on a storage device a database of templates describing procedures for assessing, preparing, developing, deploying and supporting the application, and for (2) serving these templates to team members operating web-enabled terminals for coordinating, recording and tracking team activities with respect to the application while generating a description for adapting a front end server and an accounting system server to the requirements of the client.

Abstract: A system and method for creating an index value for evaluating market center execution quality. This can include a summation of at least two derived values selected from: an execution speed of a predetermined order of covered security orders that were executed at a market center; price improvement of a predetermined order of covered security orders that were executed at a market center; percentage of covered security orders that were executed at a market center at a quoted value or a better value; a percentage of covered security orders that were executed at outside the quoted value; and effective spread, which is as twice the difference between the securities execution price and the midpoint of a consolidated best bid or offer at the time of a securities order receipt. The index value can be utilized to compare market center executions provided in public data versus that provided by private data.

Abstract: A computer system and method is disclosed for collecting resource rate information associated with a plurality of resource profiles and providing resource rate statistical data for a specific resource profile via a web-based interface. Each resource profile is defined from hierarchical profile selections to identify a job category, and each job category has one or more skills associated therewith. A database maintains the resource profiles and associated resource rate information. The resource rate information is collected from a variety of sources, including business entities that interface with the database to upload actual resource rate information (e.g., actual salaries, wage rates and other compensation information) for one or more resource profiles associated with the business entity.

Abstract: A system and method for operating a reward points accumulation and redemption program wherein a user earns rewards from a plurality of reward issuing entities, with each tracking the user's earned rewards. A trading server accumulates some or all of the user's earned rewards from of the reward servers and credits the accumulated rewards into a single reward exchange account associated with the user. The user may then select an item for purchase with the accumulated rewards. The item is provided to the user in exchange for a subset or all of the rewards. Reward points may also be redeemed in exchange for services, such as the playing of a video game or Internet access.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for education planning. One method embodiment includes collecting information associated with a cost of obtaining an education and information associated with funding the cost, determining an amount to be financed by using the information associated with the cost and the information associated with funding the cost, and providing a payment plan for financing the amount to be financed, the payment plan including a levelized payment (L) to be made at a number of intervals for a repayment term, wherein the levelized payment is determined by using a net present value (V) associated with more than one funding event over the course of an education program.