Abstract: A system that authorizes a financial transaction is presented. During operation, the system receives a request to authorize accounts associated with one or more financial instruments to be used to fulfill the financial transaction. Next, the system determines a transaction location at which the financial transaction is being performed. The system then determines whether the accounts are authorized to be used at the transaction location. If so, the system authorizes the accounts to be used to fulfill the financial transaction.

Abstract: In general, the invention relates to a method for facilitating usage of a product. The method includes obtaining a usage level of a first edition of the product by the user, determining an inactivity level of the user based on the usage level, suggesting a second edition of the product to the user based on the inactivity level and facilitating use of the second edition of the product by the user, where the first edition of the product includes at least one additional feature as compared to the second edition of the product.

Abstract: A system that tracks parameters associated with a redemption certificate is presented. During operation, the system receives parameters associated with the redemption certificate. The system then determines whether the parameters indicate that a specified event has occurred. If so, the system performs a specified action for the specified event.

Abstract: A system that performs a financial transaction on behalf of a user is presented. During operation, the system receives parameters for the financial transaction. Next, the system analyzes the parameters to determine financial benefits of using one or more subsets of financial sources from a set of financial sources associated with the user to fulfill the financial transaction. The system then selects a subset of financial sources which substantially maximizes the financial benefits for the user. Next, the system uses the selected subset of financial sources to fulfill the financial transaction on behalf of the user.

Abstract: A system that facilitates using information about a financial transaction to augment information in a representation of a social network. During operation, the system receives parameters for a financial transaction involving a number of entities. Next, the system determines one or more associations between the entities and the parameters. The system then uses the determined associations to augment information about entities in the representation of the social network.