Abstract: An evaluation is generated in a performance evaluation system by defining a plurality of questions. A plurality of performance areas are defined and each associated with at least one of the questions. In response to a request for an evaluation including a performance area, questions associated with the performance area are included in the evaluation.

Abstract: An automated system and method of computing rates to be charged for insurance coverage equivalent to that provided by a standard workers' compensation policy includes coordinating a workers' compensation insurance policy with an employers liability insurance policy to provide the coverage of a standard workers' compensation policy; determining one set of rates for insuring employees in pre-determined employment classifications for the workers' compensation policy and another set of rates for insuring the employees in other pre-determined employment classifications for said employers liability coverage; entering the sets of rates in a memory accessible by a digital computer; computing with the digital computer a first number, representing the amount of premium to be paid for workers' compensation coverage, by multiplying an employer's payroll for the employees in a one of the pre-determined employment classifications times a corresponding rate from the one set of rates, and comput

Abstract: The present invention relates to a universal advertising and payment system for networking, monitoring and controlling electronic commerce and vending equipment. The system can effectuate electronic commerce and interactive advertising at the point of sale. Vending equipment includes copiers, phones, facsimile machines, printers, data-ports, laptop print stations, notebook computers, palmtop computers (PALM PILOT), microfiche devices, projectors, scanners, cameras, modems, communication access, personal computers (PC), PC terminals (NET PC), and network computers (NC). Vending equipment can be networked to each other through a first network, programmable and accessible by a PC, server, point of sale (POS) system, property or management information system (PMS/MIS), and networked to a second network. The first network and second network can be the same network.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a universal advertising and payment system and method for networking, monitoring and effectuating electronic commerce and controlling vending equipment. The system can effectuate electronic commerce and interactive advertising at the point of sale. Vending equipment can include vending access to the Internet, business application software, e-commerce, and e-business in a hotel room. In addition, vending equipment includes copiers, phones, facsimile machines, printers, data-ports, laptop print stations, notebook computers, palmtop computers (PALM PILOT), microfiche devices, projectors, scanners, cameras, modems, communication access, cellular phones, personal data assistants (PDA's), pagers, vending machines, personal computers (PC), PC terminals (NET PC), and network computers (NC).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a public, private, or cellular phone with access to the Internet for the purposes of transacting e-mail, e-commerce, and e-business and for communicating voice and data. In addition the present invention relates to a universal advertising and payment system and method for networking, monitoring and effectuating e-mail, e-commerce, and e-business and controlling vending equipment and applications. The system can effectuate electronic commerce and interactive advertising at the point of sale in this instance at a public, private or cellular phone. Vending equipment includes copiers, phones (public, private, cellular), facsimile machines, printers, data-ports, laptop print stations, notebook computers, palmtop computers (PALM PILOT), microfiche devices, projectors, scanners, cameras, modems, communication access, personal data assistants (PDA's), pagers, and other vending machines, personal computers (PC), PC terminals (NET PC), and network computers (NC).

Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling access to data of a business object via an attribute dictionary. The attribute dictionary, which stores attribute names and values, is dispatched over a network. A helper facade is provided for interfacing a business object and the attribute dictionary. Next, it is verified that a current user is authorized to either set or get one of the attribute values upon a request which includes the attribute name that corresponds to the attribute value. The helper facade is called to set, get, or update one of the attribute values based on the corresponding attribute name, wherein the helper facade shields the attribute dictionary from the application code of the business object. The attribute value in the attribute dictionary is obtained or updated if the verification is successful, and a dirty flag is set in the attribute dictionary and an indicator is broadcast upon the attribute value being updated.

Abstract: A computer-implemented rules based decision management system which is cross-platform, cross-industry and cross-function. The decision management system has a software architecture which includes a common code layer, a processing platform layer and a data architecture layer. The common code layer includes a common code kernel simultaneously operable on first and second hardware platforms which are different from each other, and provides software processing to interpret and apply the strategies. The processing platform layer includes a first software module supporting a processing mode for the first hardware platform, and a second software module supporting a processing mode for the second hardware platform. The data architecture layer includes a first data module supporting data storage and access by the first software module, and a second data module supporting data storage and access by the second software module.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a wireless network system and method for allowing digital devices to connect to a wireless network for the purpose of data communicating, e-mail, e-commerce, and e-business by way of an electronic commerce terminal. An electronic commerce terminal can be referred to as a pervasive computing device. In addition, the present invention relates to a universal advertising and payment system and method for networking, monitoring and effectuating e-mail, e-commerce, and e-business and controlling vending equipment and applications. The system can effectuate electronic commerce and interactive advertising at the point of sale.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a universal advertising and payment system and method for networking, monitoring and effectuating electronic commerce and controlling vending equipment. The system can effectuate electronic commerce and interactive advertising at the point of sale. Vending equipment includes copiers, phones, facsimile machines, printers, data-ports, laptop print stations, notebook computers, palmtop computers (PALM PILOT), microfiche devices, projectors, scanners, cameras, modems, communication access, cellular phones, personal data assistants (PDA's), pagers, vending machines personal computers (PC), PC terminals (NET PC), and network computers (NC). Vending equipment can be networked to each other through a first network, programmable and accessible by a PC, server, point of sale (POS) system, property or management information system (PMS/MIS), and networked to a second network. The first network and second network can be the same network.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a universal advertising and payment system and method for networking, monitoring, collecting data, selling goods and services, controlling interactive advertising, controlling and effectuating electronic commerce and controlling vending equipment including gas pumps and service stations. In addition the present invention relates to a universal advertising and payment system and method for networking, monitoring and effectuating e-mail, e-commerce, and e-business and controlling vending equipment and applications. The system can effectuate electronic commerce and interactive advertising at the point of sale.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a processing method for nullifying transaction processing fees incurred by a merchant, for processing a wide variety of credit card, e-commerce, and e-business type transactions. In addition the present invention relates to a universal advertising and payment system and method for networking, monitoring and effectuating e-mail, e-commerce, and e-business and controlling vending equipment and applications. The system can effectuate electronic commerce and interactive advertising at the point of sale. Vending equipment includes copiers, phones (public, private, cellular), facsimile machines, printers, data-ports, laptop print stations, notebook computers, palmtop computers (PALM PILOT), microfiche devices, projectors, scanners, cameras, modems, communication access, personal data assistants (PDA's), pagers, and other vending machines, personal computers (PC), PC terminals (NET PC), and network computers (NC).

Abstract: When a regularly and periodically occurring schedule is inputted along with a period and condition of occurrence for a plurality of arbitrary users, a schedule of a corresponding date is automatically generated for the plurality of users. A common routine schedule number is correlated to the generated schedules and a common sum schedule number is associated to each date. The schedules thus registered can be corrected/deleted individually and in a group.

Abstract: An on-line method and apparatus for collecting demographic information from a user of a home WWW site and for dynamically selecting questions to present to the user. A plurality of sponsor symbols are displayed for the user on the home WWW site. Each of the sponsor symbol corresponds to an entity that has paid an owner of the home WWW site for the right to be presented to the user on the site. A signal is received at the home WWW site from the user indicating a selection of one of the sponsor symbols by the user. In response to the selected sponsor symbol, a first set of one or more prize symbols are displayed for the user on the home WWW site. Each prize symbol corresponds to a prize that the user can register to win at no cost to the user. A further signal is then received at the home WWW site from the user indicating a selection of a prize symbol from the first set of prize symbols by the user.

Abstract: A system and method for operating a reward points accumulation and redemption program wherein a user earns reward points from a plurality of independent reward points issuing entities, with each tracking the user's earned reward points in a user reward point account stored on a rewards server (such as a frequent flyer account or a credit card loyalty account). On selective request by the user, a trading server accumulates some or all of the user's earned reward points from the reward servers and credits the accumulated points into a single reward exchange account associated with the user. The user may then select an item for purchase with the accumulated reward points. The item is provided to the user in exchange for a subset or all of the reward points.

Abstract: A method for sending and receiving information between a vehicle data processing system and a resource data system via a wireless communication system is provided wherein the vehicle data processing system comprises a vehicle computer for generating an intelligent software agent and operating a data engine for processing information and identifying needed information. Information needed by the data engine is identified which is available from the resource data system. The intelligent software agent is generated within the vehicle computer based on the needed information wherein the intelligent software agent comprises software routines which collect an information packet when propagated to the resource data system. The intelligent software agent is transmitted to the resource data system via the wireless communication system. The software routines are executed within the resource data system to produce the information packet.

Abstract: A computer method and apparatus for automatic execution of software applications where the software applications are launched from a business terminology oriented workspace built using a business solutions framework. The framework includes the ability to define a workspace consisting of users, user types, business categories, business activities and business tasks. The workspace is presented by displaying associated business activities and the business tasks using business-oriented language and organization. A hierarchy of business categories, business activities and business tasks is also displayed in the workspace.

Abstract: An advertising method and system to disseminate information concerning multiple products includes a database containing the information and provides a perceivable stimulus to a consumer positioned proximate to site, with the site being remotely disposed with respect to the database. To disseminate the information, a set of software modules are employed which implement a set of functionalities intended to provide centralized management, remote distribution, and the stimulus. The stimulus is provided by playback of digitally encoded information which may include a stimulus that is either auditory, visual, olfactory, tactile or any combination thereof. The stimulus may be provided by a dedicated multimedia kiosk which includes a monitor, digital processor having a sound card and an input device, such as a keyboard or a mouse. In addition, the stimulus may be provided using products advertised for sell in the retail store where the consumer is located or in conjunction with a kiosk.

Abstract: The notification system identifies media content based on personal preferences of individual users and provides notification of identified media content to the users. In one embodiment, the system (100) includes a number of user nodes (102, 104 and 106) that communicate with a registration site (110) and a notification site (112) via the internet (108). The notification site (112) includes a media content database (120) and a processor (118) running contents election logic. The processor (118) accesses the media content database (120) in order to identify content that may be of interest to particular users of the user nodes (102, 104 and 106). In this regard, content for a particular user may be identified by matching interest information obtained from the registration site (110) with the content information of the media content database (120).

Abstract: A system and method of controlling a computer network to obtain information needed to render risk evaluative decisions from vendors in real time. The information may be obtained for agents preparing insurance applications or for an automated application processing system. Agents or automated application processing systems require access to an external vendor to obtain information about a customer, such as car accident or credit records. The request for data must be formatted to be read by the vendor system, which sends the responding data in real time. This responding data is forwarded to the requesting party for further processing of the application.

Abstract: A system and method for forecasting future retail performance are described herein. The system includes a storage device that stores a sales history database, a weather history database, and a weather forecast database. An analyzer determines the extent to which past retail performance of a plurality of products at a plurality of locations was affected by weather using the sales history database and the weather history database. A configurator, coupled to the analyzer, estimates expected future retail performance of the products at the stores for a plurality of future time periods using the weather forecast database and results produced by the analyzer. A graphical user interface, coupled to the analyzer and the configurator, enables users to view and manipulate results produced by the analyzer and the configurator to thereby forecast future retail performance of the products at the locations.