Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing having a treatment surface, a light source disposed adjacent the treatment surface and configured to emit dynamic photonic energy, a thermal element disposed adjacent the treatment surface and configured to emit dynamic thermal kinetic energy, and a controller disposed in the housing, the controller in communication with the light source and the thermal element to vary a plurality of parameters of the light source and the thermal element to control the characteristics of the dynamic photonic energy and the dynamic thermal kinetic energy emitted thereby. The treatment surface can also house a variety of sensors that can capture a variety of physical and chemical data, which is integrated with a malleable energy composition and delivery system that co-ordinates with the treatment progress.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing having a treatment surface, a light source disposed adjacent the treatment surface and configured to emit dynamic photonic energy, a thermal element disposed adjacent the treatment surface and configured to emit dynamic thermal kinetic energy, and a controller disposed in the housing, the controller in communication with the light source and the thermal element to vary a plurality of parameters of the light source and the thermal element to control the characteristics of the dynamic photonic energy and the dynamic thermal kinetic energy emitted thereby. The treatment surface can also house a variety of sensors that can capture a variety of physical and chemical data, which is integrated with a malleable energy composition and delivery system that co-ordinates with the treatment progress.

Abstract: A method is provided for rewarding purchasers of prepaid debit cards and card reload packs by providing incentives based on the purchasers' buying history and user profile.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing having a treatment surface, a light source disposed adjacent the treatment surface and configured to emit dynamic photonic energy, a thermal element disposed adjacent the treatment surface and configured to emit dynamic thermal kinetic energy, and a controller disposed in the housing, the controller in communication with the light source and the thermal element to vary a plurality of parameters of the light source and the thermal element to control the characteristics of the dynamic photonic energy and the dynamic thermal kinetic energy emitted thereby. The treatment surface can also house a variety of sensors that can capture a variety of physical and chemical data, which is integrated with a malleable energy composition and delivery system that co-ordinates with the treatment progress.

Abstract: The system includes a first and second computer systems and a purchase card associated with a major credit card organization. The card does not include information about any prospective card holder and is provided with a card number so that when activated, has an initial monetary value. The first computer system, located at a purchase outlet, is configured to transmit the card number over a communication network to the second computer system to activate the account, without requiring information from any person acquiring the card. The activated card is usable at retail establishments that accept credit cards. A method includes the steps of authorizing distribution of a plurality of non-activated purchase cards to purchase card outlets and authorizing activation of the purchase card account without requiring information from any person acquiring the card.

Abstract: A method is provided for transacting an anonymous purchase over the Internet. The method comprises the steps of: (a) acquiring intermediary credit account information (22) from a purchasing intermediary (35, 112); (b) providing transactional purchase information (24), including the intermediary credit account information, to a retailer (16, 128), where the transactional purchase information is provided by the purchaser (134) using a first computing device of a computer-implemented purchasing system (12); and (c) transacting a purchase (26) between the purchaser and the retailer (16, 126) using the intermediary credit account information, thereby maintaining the anonymity of the purchaser (134). A method is also provided for the inexpensive sale of cash cards (40) to a retail outlet (126) and for funding the cash cards (40) upon purchase by a consumer (134). The cash cards (40) are not funded until cash or credit through other credit cards is received from the consumer (134).

Abstract: A measurement device includes a housing, a sensor disposed in the housing to measure a force exerted on the housing and generate a signal representing the force exerted on the housing, and a digital display for receiving the signal from the sensor and presenting a visual output to a user based upon the force exerted on the housing.

Abstract: The system includes a first and second computer systems and a purchase card associated with a major credit card organization. The card does not include information about any prospective card holder and is provided with a card number so that when activated, has an initial monetary value. The first computer system, located at a purchase outlet, is configured to transmit the card number over a communication network to the second computer system to activate the account, without requiring information from any person acquiring the card. The activated card is usable at retail establishments that accept credit cards. A method includes the steps of authorizing distribution of a plurality of non-activated purchase cards to purchase card outlets and authorizing activation of the purchase card account without requiring information from any person acquiring the card.

Abstract: A method is provided for transacting a purchase between a buyer and a seller over the Internet. The method comprises the steps of: (a) offering an item for sale through the use of a purchase transaction manager, where the purchase transaction manager resides on a computing device interconnected to the Internet; (b) providing credit account information from the seller of the item to the purchase transaction manager; (c) receiving at least one acceptable bid on the item from a potential buyer, where each acceptable bid includes credit account information for the potential buyer; (d) determining a winning bid on the item, thereby identifying a buyer for the item; and (e) transacting a purchase between the buyer and the seller using the credit account information from the buyer and the seller.

Abstract: A database is provided for maintaining card loading merchant information including a merchant security rating as well as a cardholder information and card activity data. A fraud detection program is run at the time of a loading event or an ATM withdrawal event in order to determine whether or not the transaction would exceed security limits which varies a function of the loading merchant security rating.

Abstract: A method is provided for transacting a purchase using a non-personalized purchase card which is distributed to a number of purchase card outlet each purchase card being a bearer instrument having a non-personalized card holder name without any perspective card holder data thereon. The card is sold at the purchase card outlet and the purchase cardholder can use the card to make a purchase at an unrelated retailer with the transaction cleared over a network connection using a software implemented application that transmits the card issuer without transmitting any user specific information.

Abstract: A method is provided for transacting an anonymous purchase over the Internet. The method comprises the steps of: (a) acquiring intermediary credit account information (22) from a purchasing intermediary (35, 112); (b) providing transactional purchase information (24), including the intermediary credit account information, to a retailer (16, 128), where the transactional purchase information is provided by the purchaser (134) using a first computing device of a computer-implemented purchasing system (12); and (c) transacting a purchase (26) between the purchaser and the retailer (16, 126) using the intermediary credit account information, thereby maintaining the anonymity of the purchaser (134). A method is also provided for the inexpensive sale of cash cards (40) to a retail outlet (126) and for funding the cash cards (40) upon purchase by a consumer (134). The cash cards (40) are not funded until cash or credit through other credit cards is received from the consumer (134).

Abstract: A method is provided for transacting an anonymous purchase over the Internet. The method comprises the steps of: (a) acquiring intermediary credit account information from a purchasing intermediary; (b) providing transactional purchase information, including the intermediary credit account information, to a retailer, where the transactional purchase information is provided by the purchaser using a first computing device of a computer-implemented purchasing system; and (c) transacting a purchase between the purchaser and the retailer using the intermediary credit account information, thereby maintaining the anonymity of the purchaser.

Abstract: A method is provided for transacting an anonymous purchase over the Internet. The method comprises the steps of: (a) acquiring intermediary credit account information from a purchasing intermediary; (b) providing transactional purchase information, including the intermediary credit account information, to a retailer, where the transactional purchase information is provided by the purchaser using a first computing device of a computer-implemented purchasing system; and (c) transacting a purchase between the purchaser and the retailer using the intermediary credit account information, thereby maintaining the anonymity of the purchaser.

Abstract: A method is provided for transacting an anonymous purchase over the Internet. The method comprises the steps of: (a) acquiring intermediary credit account information (22) from a purchasing intermediary (35, 112); (b) providing transactional purchase information (24), including the intermediary credit account information, to a retailer (16, 128), where the transactional purchase information is provided by the purchaser (134) using a first computing device of a computer-implemented purchasing system (12); and (c) transacting a purchase (26) between the purchaser and the retailer (16, 126) using the intermediary credit account information, thereby maintaining the anonymity of the purchaser (134) . A method is also provided for the inexpensive sale of cash cards (40) to a retail outlet (126) and for funding the cash cards (40) upon purchase by a consumer (134). The cash cards (40) are not funded until cash or credit through other credit cards is received from the consumer (134).