Abstract: A system (10) for carrying out transactions between a customer at a customer station (14, 21, 202, 204) and a service provider at a service provider station (12, 194), includes transferring items through transaction devices such as pneumatic carrier delivery and receiving device (21, 200) and a deal drawer (20, 208). The customer at the customer station provides inputs corresponding to a financial account through input devices on the body which is stored in the memory (82, 158) on the body. After transfer to the service provider station, data in the memory is output to a charge device (56) which is operative to assess a charge to the customer's account responsive to data output from the memory. Vehicle sensors (230, 234) sense a vehicle adjacent the respective transaction device. At least one computer calculates at least one time value corresponding to each vehicle and stores the at least one time value and other data values concerning the respective transaction.

Abstract: A network device coalesces data received from an exchange, and provides a user with the opportunity to receive fewer, but up-to-date, data updates from an exchange when duplicate prices become available or a large volume of prices becomes available suddenly. Accordingly, the trader can be assured of receiving non-duplicated prices that are fed at a rate that is cohesive with that trader's connection speed. The present invention is designed to conserve on bandwidth thereby increasing the likelihood that bandwidth will be available to receive desirable market information.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for communicating and processing market data. The market data may comprise quotes, orders, trades and/or statistics. A messaging structure allows for adding, re-ordering and/or expanding data, within the printable character set of any language. One or more delimiters are defined and used to delimit data elements within the message structure. The data is interpreted based on templates which may be disseminated prior to the sending of messages and used as an abstraction so that the meaning of data need not be conveyed in the message.

Abstract: A system and method for collecting and processing user data over a network relating to a given advertisement. The invention displays advertisements on a given web page to a user running a web browser application on a client. In response to a user action such as clicking on the advertisement or moving the mouse cursor over the advertisement, a form is displayed to the user for input of data. The user may then input data into the form, and receive a new advertisement in the same location as the old advertisement upon completing the form. At no point is the user redirected to a new web page, nor does a new web page “pop up” over or under the current web page. The user inputted data is checked for accuracy and completeness, and may either be sent to the advertiser immediately or stored for future transmission. This data collection, processing, and delivery is all handled by the real-time communication within the original web page context.

Abstract: A method of processing delinquency items associated with taxes on properties may include receiving preferences from two or more lenders. Delinquency items may be automatically processed according to the preferences of each lender for their respective loans. The preferences may include business rules for whether to process a delinquency item. A lender preference may include specific criteria for a determination process (e.g., criteria for when to act on delinquencies with respect to particular states).

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for calendar-based coverage monitoring are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method includes receiving a coverage rule defining at least one covering entity for performing an activity for a covered entity and at least one period of time during which the multiple covering entities is to perform the activity. Individual calendars for the at least one covering entity are monitored and a change in one of the calendars is detected. It is then determined whether the change causes the coverage rule to be violated, and in response to determining that the change causes the coverage rule to be violated, a notification indicating violation of the coverage rule is automatically generated.

Abstract: A method for processing payment for a purchase transaction includes enabling the provision of a first payments account to an accountholder and enabling a second payments account of the accountholder to be associated with the first payments account. A limit on the number of times the first payment account can be used for making purchase transactions within a determined time period is established. During a purchase transaction being made by the accountholder using the first account, information indicative of the first account and the purchase transaction is received. It is determined whether the limit on the number of times the first account has been used by the accountholder within the determined time period has been reached. When the limit on the number of times the account can be used in the time period has been reached, the second account of the accountholder is used for the purchase transaction.

Abstract: A workflow management system is disclosed that is suitable to manage a workflow including plural hierarchically-classified tasks and especially for cooperative work spread over different organizations. The workflow management system includes a task receiving unit to receive designation of a task to be delegated, a delegatee receiving unit to receive designation of a delegatee, an acceptance receiving unit to receive acceptance of a delegation from the delegatee, a first processor that allows a delegator to hide a delegated task and a subordinate task, and allows the delegator to confirm status of the designated task, and a second processor that allows the delegator and the delegatee to refer to other tasks relevant to the delegated task.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention are directed to methods and systems for assigning credit to the external and intermediate inputs of an enterprise-level system or other aggregate process with one or more global outputs that is composed of a number of interconnected local processes. Assigning credit is a mechanism for evaluating the impact of a particular variable, e.g., an input to one of the local processes, on the final output of the aggregate process. In certain embodiments of the invention, credit is assigned to the local inputs of each local process in two steps. First, for each local input, a local credit assignment is obtained. For chained outputs, credit assignment data is provided as calculated for the later stage processes to which the outputs are chained. Second, a global credit assignment is derived for the local inputs from the local credit assignment and the credit assignment information from later stage processes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for assessing viability and marketability of an asset are provided. In exemplary embodiments, an asset assessment system receives disclosure information for the asset. The disclosure information comprises information indicating at least one taxonomy segment associated with the asset. An attribute grade may then determined based on the disclosure information, while a market grade may be determined based on market data for the at least one taxonomy segment. A final grade based on the attribute grade and the market grade is then calculated. This final grade provides an indication of the viability and marketability of the asset. The final grade may then be output.

Abstract: A method of managing all personal financial accounts is accomplished by providing an electronically accessible repository containing financial asset and liability account information. The repository may be electronically accessed by various access channels for reviewing the status of any account in the repository, transferring an external account into the repository, creating a new account in the repository, transferring account adjustments into and out of the repository, making account adjustments within the repository, closing or deleting an account within the repository, presenting a bill to the repository, and paying a bill from one or more accounts in the repository.

Abstract: In one aspect, a system includes a processor configured to determine or receive a candidate to succeed an asset in control in response to a level of user intervention selected by a user from a plurality of levels of user intervention, determine if the candidate is available and determine if the candidate is qualified. The processor is also configured to designate the candidate as successor to succeed the asset in control if the candidate is available and qualified.

Abstract: A transaction process system (10) provides for data transactions between parties. In a credit card transaction, the parties are the merchant (20), acquiring bank (24), card association (34), issuing bank (14), and cardholder (12). A transaction processing center (30) is positioned between the acquiring bank and the card association. The transaction processing center provides data processing channels for message-based processing (72) and filed-based processing (76). The file-based processing uses an incoming queue (80) and outgoing queue (84) to simplify the interface. The transaction processing center also provides for currency conversions and account reconciliation on a per transaction basis. The transaction processing center uses a scheduler (160) to efficiently manage the data processing resources and an account reconciliation processor (200) to identify discrepancies and initiate corrective action.

Abstract: A method of selecting potential hires for progression through a hiring process is provided. The method comprises selecting at least one performance indicator for a position, obtaining the at least one performance indicator for a plurality of incumbents in the position, and placing each incumbent in the plurality of incumbents along a performance continuum according to their performance indicator. The method also comprises surveying incumbents from at least both halves of the performance continuum, generating an ideal profile for the position based upon the incumbent survey and the at least one performance indicator of the incumbents, using a survey to generate a candidate profile of a potential hire, comparing the candidate profile of the potential hire with the ideal profile for the position to determine a result for the potential hire, and determining whether to progress the potential hire to a next stage in the hiring process based upon the result.

Abstract: Method and system are disclosed for conducting a commercial transaction requiring a monetary loan online. The method/system allows a consumer or borrower to access a lending institution over a network connection and apply for a monetary loan online. The loan application is processed in real time and the borrower is notified of the type of loan, loan amount, interest rate, etc., that he/she is qualified for. Upon acceptance of the loan terms, the borrower is provided with a personal identification number (PIN) and a unique lender transaction ID that serves as confirmation of the loan. The lender transaction ID may then be taken to a suitable seller and used to conduct the transaction. The seller simply accesses the lending institution over a network connection, enters the lender transaction ID, the borrower's PIN, and other transaction-related information, and the lending institution automatically sends the appropriate payment to the seller.

Abstract: A system for compiling and presenting data collection instruments associated with a plurality of stakeholder relationship causality models, managing data collection processes, conducting statistical tests, variable analytics and impacts calculations, and generating action plans and reports associated with a plurality of stakeholder experiences, stakeholder attitudes and stakeholder behavioral intentions for use in assessing the state of stakeholder relationships and planning for performance optimization, the system comprising: a) a user interface software module, b) a stakeholder model library, c) a variables database, d) a stakeholder profile database, e) an action plan library, f) a reports library, g) a language conversion engine, h) a stakeholder survey software module, i) a variable analytics software module, j) an impact calculation software module, k) an action plan generation software module, and l) a report generation software module.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for dynamically producing and managing events are disclosed. In various embodiments, an event sequence generator is used to generate a production schedule or script that includes content elements and event milestones. Methods of generating a production schedule and a promotion schedule are also disclosed. The production schedule and reports based on the event can be produced and accessed remotely.

Abstract: A method and system for performing monetary transactions across multiple source accounts. The method includes the steps of: determining whether a multi-source transaction is desired or required to complete a monetary transaction; selecting the specific source accounts to be accessed and debited to perform the monetary transaction; determining the amount of funds to be withdrawn from each of the source accounts; and communicating with the source accounts to (i) access the funds and (ii) determine whether adequate funds exist in each of the source accounts to perform the monetary transaction. When summed, the funds accessed from the multi-source accounts equal the total required to perform the monetary transaction. The final steps for completing the monetary transaction include approving the monetary transaction and transferring funds from the multiple source accounts to a single destination account.

Abstract: Architecture for providing feedback to a viewer and/or contributor on fashion and other personal appearance decisions that the contributor desires. The contributor uploads self images for viewing and rating (or voting) by viewers who choose provide an opinion on different fashion and/or cosmetic looks of the contributor. The contributor takes images show the contributor presented with a number (e.g., two) of different fashion choices. The snapshots can then be processed for upload to a website or other accessible location by one or more viewers. The viewers can cast a vote for one of the images by selecting the desired image, in response to which the viewer and/or contributor will be presented with overall statistics for that set of images as to how other viewers voted, as well as a next set of photos depicting the user in a different fashion and/or cosmetic choice. This process can continue until terminated.

Abstract: A system and method for using derived account identifiers. The derived account identifiers are associated with a single permanent account identifier. Each derived account identifier is associated with a communication channel or portable consumer device.