Abstract: A system, program, and method which makes segment migration, the movement of individuals between segments over time, easily trackable, and provides a visualization that makes the results of the analyses useful. The preferred embodiment tracks which people are in which segment at each time period, then builds a file that gives, by person, a description of which segment(s) each person belonged to during each time period. From this table, a display is drawn which indicates in an intuitive manner the migration of members of different segments over time. These enhanced segmentation analyses allow the user to easily study and predict customer behaviors.

Abstract: A system and method for the purchase of used compact disks and other mass market removable media over the Internet is disclosed, in which the potential seller accesses the purchaser's website and identifies the CDs to be sold from a searchable database. The seller quantifies the condition of the CDs to be sold using a ranking criteria specified on the website. An offer price for each CD is computed based upon a percentage of the original list price, discounted by the stated CD condition. The seller is required to enter more than a specified minimum number of titles before receiving a quote price; the quote price is a total transaction amount only, with the individual CD prices not displayed to the potential seller.

Abstract: A computer system for supporting a plan of counterclaim insurance provided to professionals, optionally along with professional liability insurance, deters frivolous professional malpractice claims. The insurance plan pays expenses, for example, of counterclaims for malicious prosecution when a frivolous claim has been made and tried to a judgment for the accused professional, and an independent review concludes that the claim was frivolous. The names of covered professionals are posted on a publicly accessible database. If potential plaintiffs or their attorneys find a potential defendant's name on the database, they may be deterred from filing weaker claims that might be viewed as frivolous. Upon approval of an applicant for counterclaim insurance, the applicant's name is posted to a public database, which may be accessible through the Internet, including the World Wide Web, or alternatively through a dial-up facility.

Abstract: The present application teaches a device and method for adjusting the width, girth, and foot shape of an article of footwear. Lasting boards having different configurations and alternate positions for selectively affixing various portions of an upper can be used to adjust and customize the fit of an article of footwear for an individual wearer. The lasting board can also comprise a spring element which can provide improved cushioning, stability, running economy, and a long service life. Unlike the conventional foam materials presently being used by the footwear industry, the spring element is not substantially subject to compression set degradation and can provide a relatively long service life. The components of the article of footwear including the upper, insole, lasting board and/or spring element, and sole including possible midsole and outsole portions can be selected from a range of options, and can be easily removed and replaced, as desired.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for transforming scoreable transaction data into financial data features are disclosed. In one aspect, a computer-implemented method transforms transaction data into a financial data feature for assessing credit risks. The financial data feature is extracted from the transaction data. The method involves obtaining the transaction data from a data source, and performing a set of operations on the transaction data to transform the transaction data into the financial data feature. The set of operations is selected only from a predefined set of classes of operations which are interrelated by a predefined order of precedence. Each operation in the set of operations is performed in an order based on the predefined order of precedence of a class associated with each operator.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for facilitating a transaction between a buyer and one of a plurality of sellers via the Internet. Product information relating to a plurality of products meeting product criteria specified by the buyer is presented via the Internet. One of the plurality of sellers is associated with each of the products. A first bid from the buyer for a first one of the plurality of products is made available via the Internet to a first seller associated with the first product. A first bid response is presented via the Internet to the buyer according to response criteria specified by the first seller. Where the first bid response is an acceptance of the first bid, consummation of the transaction is facilitated. Where the first bid response is a counteroffer, further negotiation via the Internet between the buyer and the first seller is enabled.

Abstract: A financial communications network incorporating a data health monitor is provided that includes a plurality of data sources, a plurality of data collection system, a client site terminal and a network connecting these components. Each data collection system includes a processor for receiving and formatting financial data received from the data sources, wherein the formatted financial data has a data field including a first data source identifier identifying the data source of the formatted financial data and a first system identifier identifying the data collection system formatting the formatted financial data. The collection system also include a status code generator for generating and transmitting a status code, and a heartbeat signal generator for generating and periodical transmitting a heartbeat signal. Based on information in data fields, status codes, and heartbeat signal, client site terminals select a real-time or stale display mode for displaying the financial data.

Abstract: An Internet Web-based order entry and system administration system is provided for ordering and fulfilling a suite of Web enabled applications. The system includes a capability for enabling customers to order and administer via the Internet, service products running on back-end systems. The system further communicates with the/back-end systems for synchronizing data associated with the customers. The system also accepts and processes security requests from the front-end and back-end servers associated with the suite of Web enabled applications. The system is easily accessed and invoked from a generic, off-the-shelf Web browser and at the same time a system infrastructure is provided that enables the secure initiation of order entry and system administration to customers from any computer terminal having a browser located anywhere in the world.

Abstract: A virtual private network service provider is used to transfer data over a data network to a final destination, with third-party billing. The method comprises the steps of: prompting the user at a data terminal to select a destination, password, and call type; sending a set-up message to the data network; selecting a virtual private network provider through the data network; the virtual private network provider giving an encryption key to the user, and then prompting the user for a password and a user identification; encrypting the password, and sending the user identification and the encrypted password to the virtual private network provider; the virtual private network provider decrypting the encrypted password, and verifying the password; the virtual private network provider providing an authorization code; and the data terminal transferring the data through the data network to the final destination, using the authorization code.

Abstract: The Online Buyers Club System (OBCS) is a mechanism for the online purchasing of goods and services. The mechanism is targeted at user communities consisting of a large number of small-volume buyers (the “Buyers Club”). The primary function of the mechanism is to automatically aggregate the buying power of these buyers. The present invention provides a mechanism to promote competition among vendors as well as a mechanism to incent buyers to make a purchase.

Abstract: A method and system for cross-marketing products and services to customers of specific merchant web sites on the Internet by a merchant loyalty service provider web site on the Internet, provides a hyperlink to a merchant loyalty service provider web site from a merchant web site whereby customers can access the merchant loyalty service provider web site directly from the merchant web site. The merchant loyalty service provider web site makes to customers of the merchant customer loyalty benefit offers related to the business of said merchant web site, to build customer loyalty to the merchant web site.

Abstract: A product promotion display system comprises a server computer hosting a network of terminals, each terminal having a display for displaying advertisements and product promotion information to a customer. The server computer has access to a product promotion database containing data to be used in assembling advertisements and product promotion information to be displayed on one or more of the terminals. A product promotion software object executed by the server computer accesses the database in order to retrieve data therefrom to be used in assembling advertisements and product promotion information to be displayed on one or more of the terminals. A user interface connected to the terminals and to the promotion software object causes the assembled advertisements and product promotion information to be displayed on one or more of the terminals.

Abstract: A branch prediction unit apparatus and method uses an instruction buffer (20), a completion unit (24), and a branch prediction unit (BPU) (28). The instruction buffer (20) and/or the completion unit (24) contain a plurality of instruction entries that contain valid bits and stream identifier (SID) bits. The branch prediction unit contains a plurality of branch prediction buffers (28a-28c). The SID bits are used to associate the pending and executing instructions in the units (20 and 24) into instruction streams related to predicted branches located in the buffers (28a-28c). The SID bits as well as age bits associated with the buffers (28a-28c) are used to perform efficient branch prediction, branch resolution/retirement, and branch misprediction recovery.