Abstract: The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for enforcing software licenses for resource libraries such as an application program interface (API), a toolkit, a framework, a runtime library, a dynamic link library (DLL), an applet (e.g. a Java or ActiveX applet), or any other reusable resource. The present invention allows the resource library to be selectively used only by authorized end user software programs. The present invention can be used to enforce a “per-program” licensing scheme for a resource library whereby the resource library is licensed only for use with particular software programs. In one embodiment, a license text string and a corresponding license key are embedded in a program that has been licensed to use a resource library. The license text string and the license key are supplied, for example, by a resource library vendor to a program developer who wants to use the resource library with an end user program being developed.

Abstract: The present invention is an insurance estimating system that presents a number of advances over the prior art. The invention enables an insurance estimator to quickly and accurately estimate damage to various parts of a vehicle. The invention allows the estimator to analyze damage to various “layers” of a vehicle. If damage to an outer layer of a vehicle is visible, the insurance estimator will quickly perform a damage estimate using the catastrophe or drill in and drill out features of the invention. Nevertheless, the estimator will be reminded to also look for damage in lower layers of the vehicle that are not readily visible. Conversely, an estimator may begin estimating damage to a vehicle by focusing on the interior of a vehicle which has significant interior damage. The invention then reminds the estimator not to overlook slight damage to outer layers of the vehicle.

Abstract: A system and method for managing a plurality of stock option accounts each for a plurality of participants. The system invokes a particular option plan defined in the system that governs the transaction choices available to each participants The governing option plans are defined by the sponsoring company in terms of grant, vest and expiration date for the option contracts, and are defined in the system via a database of option holding information for each participant and an axiomatic rule system defining the criteria under which a given participant can exercise given options under the particular plan. The system implements the plans for multiple client companies providing several distinct modes for option exercise by the participant.

Abstract: A method of collecting subscriber specified information supports retrieval of information to analyze Internet and/or electronic commerce data over or from the World Wide Web for service providers using a computer. The method includes the steps of providing a customer with a questionnaire and/or forms to collect customer specific data, collecting the customer specific data, and parsing the customer specific data into environmental data and business data. The method also includes the steps of determining information source requirements (representing predetermined requirements) and optional decision support requirements (representing customer specified requirements), responsive to one or both of the environmental data and the business data, and determining core business rules and core data sources responsive to the information source requirements.

Abstract: A workflow management method in a workflow system including a workflow server and tables for holding processes includes storing in a table a plurality of definition information sets for individually defining workflows for a plurality of processes included in a job for processing a plurality of works to be circulated, wherein the plurality of definition information sets each have a process ID, a process name, and a user role ID, and at least one of the plurality of definition information set has predetermined data for connecting processing defined by another definition information set in the user role ID, and storing in a table a work management information set created for each of the plurality of works subjected to processing by the job, the work management information set having a process ID, a process name, a user role ID, and a flag representative of whether or not workflow processing corresponding to processing of each work has been terminated.

Abstract: The financial transaction processing system includes at least one financial server connected through a public network to a number of users associated with client computers. Each user accesses the financial server through a web browser. The web browser is provided with the capabilities to generate encryption keys, to encrypt and decrypt HTML forms, and to digitally sign and timestamp HTML forms. The financial server transfers web pages including HTML forms representing financial transactions. The HTML forms contain extensions that specify the format of an incoming format and the format of a returned form. An HTML form can be transmitted in an encrypted format, in a format including a user's digital signature and timestamp, and in an encrypted format that contains the user's digital signature and timestamp. The financial server tracks each processed transaction through an audit trail including the user's account, the user's digital signature, the timestamp of the transaction, and the text of the transaction.

Abstract: A collaborative Internet data mining system for facilitating a group effort from a plurality of guides to the Internet, by automatically processing the information provided by the guides and thereby create a branded or uniform look and feel to the web sites supported by the plurality of guides.

Abstract: A data copyright management system is provided, in which a primary user edits a received data and supplies the edited data to a secondary user. The copyright management system comprises a database and a key control center, and uses a primary copyright label, a primary use permit key including a first crypt key, a secondary use permit key, a third crypt key, and a copyright management program. The primary user decrypts the copyrighted primary data, which is encrypted using the first crypt key and supplied, to plaintext using a primary use permit key obtained from the key control center and utilizes it. If the copyrighted primary data is stored in a primary user device, it is re-encrypted using the primary use permit key. The primary user receives a secondary use permit key for editing the copyrighted primary data from the key control center and edits the copyrighted primary data. The data being edited is encrypted using the secondary use permit key and is stored.

Abstract: A system is provided for continuous intraday final settlement of payment orders among a plurality of financial-institution participants. The system includes a central controlling agent, including a central computer operable to communicate electronically with satellite computer stations of the plurality of participants to receive payment orders therefrom, and to control release of payments among the plurality of participants; and means for storing a plurality of prefunded balances in a prefunded balance account, each balance representing the right of one of the participants to payment from the prefunded balance account and containing an initial prefunded balance for each participant at the start of each business day.

Abstract: A system for restricting access to transmitted programming content is disclosed, which transmits the encryption key used to encrypt the program to the customer with the encrypted programming content. A set-top terminal or similar mechanism restricts access to the transmitted multimedia information using stored decryption keys. The set-top terminal preferably receives one or more package keys, S.sub.J, periodically from the service provider, each corresponding to a package of programs that the customer is entitled to for a given period. Each program is preferably encrypted by the head-end server prior to transmission using a program key, K.sub.P, which may be unique to the program. Header information is transmitted with the encrypted program to the customers, containing a package pair for each package to which the program belongs. A package pair preferably includes an identifier of the package, as well as the program key, K.sub.P, encrypted by the corresponding package key, S.sub.J.

Abstract: A telecommunications system and method is disclosed for providing a substantially immediate electronic receipt after a consumer has made a purchase. When a consumer makes a purchase, the sales terminal, which is attached with a short message/e-mail sending capable terminal, can generate and route a short message along with the detailed purchase information to a transport address or alias address associated with the consumer via a Gatekeeper for the Internet for the area that the sales terminal is located in. Upon receipt of the short message, the Gatekeeper can then convert the alias address to the transport address, if the alias address is given and the consumer does not want the short message sent to the alias address, and forward the short message through the Internet to that transport address (or alias address) as an Internet Protocol datagram for storage and retrieval of the short message by the consumer either immediately or at a later time.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing account security which includes a receiver for receiving one of a limitation and a restriction on usage of an electronic money account, wherein the one of a limitation and a restriction are received from an account holder, a memory device for storing the one of a limitation and a restriction, and a processor for processing a transaction on the electronic money account in conjunction with the one of a limitation and a restriction. The processor generates a first signal which contains information for one of approving and disapproving the transaction.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for creating an investment report. A database of stock information is screened based upon buyback ratio and prices/sales ratio selection criteria. The buyback ratio represents the percentage of stocks repurchased by a company during a given period that resulted in a net decrease in outstanding shares. The method and system use the criteria to identify companies with a highest buyback ratio and with the lowest price/sale ratio. The resulting list of stocks are ranked and output in an investment report that provides superior return over conventional investment techniques.

Abstract: A valet for a electronic card is provided through which a user may track and tally transactions via speed nodes that relate to predetermined spending categories and that permit the user to assign budget amounts to each such category. The valet may include means for securing a card, a balance reader, data processing means, memory, data transfer means, and security means.

Abstract: An fully integrated on-line frequency award program is disclosed. A user may access the program on-line and may browse a product catalog for shopping. The user may electronically place an order, upon which the program automatically checks the user's credit and electronically issues a purchase order to the supplying company. The program also calculates award points, updates the award account of enrolled users, and communicates that number of awarded points to the user. Enrolled users may browse through an award catalog and electronically redeem an amount of awarded points towards an award. The program then electronically places an award redeeming order with the fulfillment house and updates the user's award account.

Abstract: Patient flow is automatically tracked through a medical clinic and data is acquired from the automated patient flow tracking. A file is associated with a patient including a patient identification indicator when the patient enters the facility and placement of the file in a receptacle along with the identification is detected by sensors in a receptacle located of at first service location. Removal of the file from the receptacle when a first service provider commences service is further detected. Placement of the file in a second receptacle is detected upon completion of the service. One receptacle may be a physician receptacle and the other may be a nurse receptacle. A patient visit data record is generated based upon the detected movement of the file including determining treatment time and waiting time based on marking the time of events when the file is removed and replaced in respective receptacles.

Abstract: A self-service deposit terminal (10) for bank notes is arranged to validate the notes. If any notes are deemed invalid then either the invalid notes are diverted from going to a collection means (42) for valid notes, or else the whole deposit is diverted. The diverted notes are bound together, reference details are printed on the bound notes, and the bundle is deposited in a rejection bin (74). The bundle is later compared with the deposit details printed out on a journal printer (72) to identify the user. The total value of the deposit can then be added to the user's account.

Abstract: The vehicular data exchange system of the present invention includes a plurality of computer terminals and a processor. Each of the computer terminals include an input device for inputting the vehicular data and a display device for visually displaying the inputted vehicular data which include vehicular characteristics data units and vehicular financial data units. The processor controls the vehicular data whereby the vehicular characteristics data units inputted into a first one of the computer terminals are transmitted to a plurality of other ones of the computer terminals for display on respective ones of the display devices associated with the other ones of the computer terminals.