Abstract: In certain embodiments of systems and methods for conducting payment transactions between a payer and a payee, the payer selects one or more payment sources from various funding sources and accounts available to the payer, and instructs a payment broker's server to perform payment authorization and/or payment routing and clearing services on the payer's behalf. The payment broker's server notifies the payer and/or the payee of the payment authorization status and, if approved, instructs the funding source to send the payment to or for the payee without divulging the payer-selected funding source or account to the payee.

Abstract: In certain embodiments of systems and methods for conducting payment transactions between a payer and a payee, the payer selects one or more payment sources from various funding sources and accounts available to the payer, and instructs a payment broker's server to perform payment authorization and/or payment routing and clearing services on the payer's behalf. The payment broker's server notifies the payer and/or the payee of the payment authorization status and, if approved, instructs the funding source to send the payment to or for the payee without divulging the payer-selected funding source or account to the payee.

Abstract: A shareable utility that provides quality information to users in a given subject area. The utility maintains a quality database of information on the subject area on a local computing device. The quality database has links to objects of interest residing on the Internet and on the local device. All of the information in the quality database has been recommended for inclusion by an expert in the field. The present utility provides for dual searching of the local computing device and the Internet. A primary screen with multiple secondary windows is used as the starting point. The primary screen is designed to provide structure and direction to the search, but may also be customized to include a user/predefined template representing a broad level of interest. Subsequent display screens are used to display more detailed levels of interest in the given subject area. The present utility is well suited for applications in education, and knowledge transfer applications (e.g.