Abstract: One embodiment of the invention is a method for providing a financial instrument that includes determining an initial account balance associated with a financial instrument, establishing a first guarantee of a protected value, the protected value including at least an amount based upon the initial account balance growing at a minimum positive growth rate, establishing a second guarantee that a beneficiary may receive a transfer of an amount of money, and establishing an agreement to allow at least a portion of the account balance to be transferred from one or more selected investments to one or more alternative investments in response to a triggering event.

Abstract: A method and system for utilizing the desktop environment of the image processing system's user interface as a system status indicator is provided. In one embodiment, a fault code is received from one or more machine sensors at an image processing unit of an image processing system. The fault code is used to determine a corresponding machine state and desktop environment color indicator via a look-up table stored in a database. As a result, an appropriate signal is sent to a user interface of the image processing system to display on a desktop environment of the user interface a particular color and operation representing the corresponding machine state. In this way, it is not necessary for the image processing system to include hardware associated with one or more warning lights and thus costs are reduced. In addition, spare parts relating to the light hardware will not need to be stocked.

Abstract: A method and system for utilizing the desktop environment of the image processing system's user interface as a system status indicator is provided. In one embodiment, a fault code is received from one or more machine sensors at an image processing unit of an image processing system. The fault code is used to determine a corresponding machine state and desktop environment color indicator via a look-up table stored in a database. As a result, an appropriate signal is sent to a user interface of the image processing system to display on a desktop environment of the user interface a particular color and operation representing the corresponding machine state. In this way, it is not necessary for the image processing system to include hardware associated with one or more warning lights and thus costs are reduced. In addition, spare parts relating to the light hardware will not need to be stocked.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention is a method for providing a financial instrument including determining a current account balance for a financial account, calculating a liability ratio for the financial account, and determining whether to transfer at least a portion of the account balance from a variable sub-account to a low-risk sub-account based on the liability ratio.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention is a method for providing a financial instrument including determining a current account balance for a financial account and on a first periodic basis: determining a specified percentage of the value of the financial account, determine the greater of a particular limit and the highest value of the financial account multiplied by the specified percentage on a second periodic basis, and in response to a determination that the highest value of the financial account multiplied by the specified percentage on the second periodic basis is greater than the particular limit, stepping-up the particular limit to equal the highest value of the financial account multiplied by the specified percentage on the second periodic basis.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention is a method for providing a financial instrument including determining a current account balance for a financial account, calculating a liability ratio for the financial account, and determining whether to transfer at least a portion of the account balance from a variable sub-account to a low-risk sub-account based on the liability ratio.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention is a method for providing a financial instrument including determining a current account balance for a financial account, calculating a liability ratio for the financial account, and determining whether to transfer at least a portion of the account balance from a variable sub-account to a low-risk sub-account based on the liability ratio.

Abstract: A method for providing a financial instrument includes determining an initial account balance associated with a financial instrument based upon an initial deposit amount, wherein the financial instrument includes an account with an account balance that changes over time. The method further includes establishing a first guarantee of a protected value, the protected value including at least an amount based upon the initial account balance growing at a minimum growth rate for a defined period of time or until one or more defined events occur, whichever is sooner; and establishing a second guarantee that a beneficiary may periodically receive a transfer of an amount of money for the life of a designated party, wherein the amount comprises a percentage of the protected value at the time of a particular event, provided that the amount may vary based upon withdrawals from the account in excess of a first particular limit.

Abstract: A method for providing a financial instrument includes determining an initial account balance associated with a financial instrument based upon an initial deposit amount, wherein the financial instrument includes an account with an account balance that changes over time. The method further includes establishing a first guarantee of a protected value, the protected value including at least an amount based upon the initial account balance growing at a minimum growth rate for a defined period of time or until one or more defined events occur, whichever is sooner; and establishing a second guarantee that a beneficiary may periodically receive a transfer of an amount of money for the life of a designated party, wherein the amount comprises a percentage of the protected value at the time of a particular event, provided that the amount may vary based upon withdrawals from the account in excess of a first particular limit.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention is a method for providing a financial instrument including determining a current account balance for a financial account, calculating a liability ratio for the financial account, and determining whether to transfer at least a portion of the account balance from a variable sub-account to a low-risk sub-account based on the liability ratio.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention is a method for providing a financial instrument including determining a current account balance for a financial account and on a first periodic basis: determining a specified percentage of the value of the financial account, determine the greater of a particular limit and the highest value of the financial account multiplied by the specified percentage on a second periodic basis, and in response to a determination that the highest value of the financial account multiplied by the specified percentage on the second periodic basis is greater than the particular limit, stepping-up the particular limit to equal the highest value of the financial account multiplied by the specified percentage on the second periodic basis.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention is a method for providing a financial instrument that includes determining an initial account balance associated with a financial instrument, establishing a first guarantee of a protected value, the protected value including at least an amount based upon the initial account balance growing at a minimum positive growth rate, establishing a second guarantee that a beneficiary may receive a transfer of an amount of money, and establishing an agreement to allow at least a portion of the account balance to be transferred from one or more selected investments to one or more alternative investments in response to a triggering event.