Abstract: Transaction data is collected from POS terminals in order to generate transaction paths for account holders. The transaction paths link merchant locations where transactions are conducted. Common features of transaction paths, such as intersecting path locations, and transaction data associated with the merchant locations are used for marketing and other purposes.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for generating indexed sales data by aggregating point of sale (POS) datasets are aggregated from transactions at a plurality of POS terminals. The POS datasets for each transaction include a transaction amount, a merchant classifier, and a transaction time. An industry subset of the aggregated POS datasets is obtained for a given timeframe based on the merchant classifier. This industry subset comprises transactions for a given industry. A sales value is calculated for the industry subset, and a monthly fluctuation factor is applied to the sales value. Also, a normalization factor is applied to the sales value based on a percentage of the sales value relative to an overall market size to obtain the indexed sales value.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for generating indexed sales data by aggregating point of sale (POS) datasets are aggregated from transactions at a plurality of POS terminals. The POS datasets for each transaction include a transaction amount, a merchant classifier, and a transaction time. An industry subset of the aggregated POS datasets is obtained for a given timeframe based on the merchant classifier. This industry subset comprises transactions for a given industry. A sales value is calculated for the industry subset, and a monthly fluctuation factor is applied to the sales value. Also, a normalization factor is applied to the sales value based on a percentage of the sales value relative to an overall market size to obtain the indexed sales value.

Abstract: Transaction data is collected from POS terminals in order to generate transaction paths for account holders. The transaction paths link merchant locations where transactions are conducted. Common features of transaction paths, such as intersecting path locations, and transaction data associated with the merchant locations are used for marketing and other purposes.

Abstract: Transaction data is collected from POS terminals in order to generate transaction paths for account holders. The transaction paths link merchant locations where transactions are conducted. Common features of transaction paths, such as intersecting path locations, and transaction data associated with the merchant locations are used for marketing and other purposes.

Abstract: Transaction data is collected from POS terminals in order to generate transaction paths for account holders. The transaction paths link merchant locations where transactions are conducted. Common features of transaction paths, such as intersecting path locations, and transaction data associated with the merchant locations are used for marketing and other purposes.

Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for collecting point-of-sale (POS) data, and then using this data to determine the effectiveness of a given promotion. The transaction data includes a merchant identifier for each of the merchants and a transaction amount for each transaction involving the merchants. One of the merchants is a promotion merchant that is offering a promotion involving transactions made with the merchant. A portion of the transaction data is aggregated into control merchant aggregated data involving control merchants, where the control merchant aggregated data comprises transaction data obtained other than from the promotion merchant. A characteristic of the purchases is calculated, both for transactions involving the promotion merchant and for the control merchants.

Abstract: Transaction data is collected from POS terminals in order to generate transaction paths for account holders. The transaction paths link merchant locations where transactions are conducted. Common features of transaction paths, such as intersecting path locations, and transaction data associated with the merchant locations are used for marketing and other purposes.

Abstract: In one method, a request is received for a market trend report corresponding to a designated payment type over a designated timeframe. A payment type dataset is identified from aggregated POS data. The payment type dataset comprises POS datasets corresponding to the timeframe and to transactions categorized by payment type. Market trend data is generated as a function of the payment type dataset and is output as a report. The method may produce a variety of reports. For example, a report may display the percentage of transactions for each payment type in terms of numbers of transactions. A report may further show whether each payment type is increasing or decreasing in numbers of transactions over the timeframe.

Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for collecting point-of-sale (POS) data, and then using this data to determine the effectiveness of a given promotion. The transaction data includes a merchant identifier for each of the merchants and a transaction amount for each transaction involving the merchants. One of the merchants is a promotion merchant that is offering a promotion involving transactions made with the merchant. A portion of the transaction data is aggregated into control merchant aggregated data involving control merchants, where the control merchant aggregated data comprises transaction data obtained other than from the promotion merchant. A characteristic of the purchases is calculated, both for transactions involving the promotion merchant and for the control merchants.

Abstract: The invention provides the ability to evaluate transaction activity of customers following the redemption of a promotion, such as the redemption of a prepaid instrument, coupon, or the like. For example, the subsequent activity could be where customers shopped after redeeming a coupon. Examples of such reports that could be generated include the percentage of redeemers who returned to the same merchant or who went elsewhere. In some cases, customers could do both, or neither and the reports could indicate such activity. Further reports could show the amount spent for each return visit (both for those who return and go elsewhere), as well as the percentage who shop only with the merchant, and nowhere else.

Abstract: Transaction data is collected from POS terminals in order to generate transaction paths for account holders. The transaction paths link merchant locations where transactions are conducted. Common features of transaction paths, such as intersecting path locations, and transaction data associated with the merchant locations are used for marketing and other purposes.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a method for evaluating transaction data to determine point of location usage. This could be, for example, to determine where customers are mostly likely to shop before or after shopping at a given merchant. For instance, the method could show the percentage of customers that shop at certain types of stores during a time period right before or after shopping at the merchant's location. As another example, the method could be used to determine when a merchant's customer makes a purchase at the merchant's store, then makes a purchase at a competing merchant's store within a specified time.

Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for collecting point-of-sale (POS) data, and then using this data to determine the effectiveness of a given promotion. The transaction data includes a merchant identifier for each of the merchants and a transaction amount for each transaction involving the merchants. One of the merchants is a promotion merchant that is offering a promotion involving transactions made with the merchant. A portion of the transaction data is aggregated into control merchant aggregated data involving control merchants, where the control merchant aggregated data comprises transaction data obtained other than from the promotion merchant. A characteristic of the purchases is calculated, both for transactions involving the promotion merchant and for the control merchants.

Abstract: Methods and systems may be used to provide information regarding investment holdings using point-of-sale (POS) data. To do so, POS datasets are aggregated from a plurality of POS terminals. Market data sets are identified from the POS datasets corresponding to a given market. Market trend data is generated from the market dataset, and an investment holding is identified whose price is related to an aspect of the market trend data. An analysis of the market trend data is performed to determine an estimated future price of the investment holding.

Abstract: In one method, a request is received for a market trend report corresponding to a designated payment type over a designated timeframe. A payment type dataset is identified from aggregated POS data. The payment type dataset comprises POS datasets corresponding to the timeframe and to transactions categorized by payment type. Market trend data is generated as a function of the payment type dataset and is output as a report. The method may produce a variety of reports. For example, a report may display the percentage of transactions for each payment type in terms of numbers of transactions. A report may further show whether each payment type is increasing or decreasing in numbers of transactions over the timeframe.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for generating indexed sales data by aggregating point of sale (POS) datasets are aggregated from transactions at a plurality of POS terminals. The POS datasets for each transaction include a transaction amount, a merchant classifier, and a transaction time. An industry subset of the aggregated POS datasets is obtained for a given timeframe based on the merchant classifier. This industry subset comprises transactions for a given industry. A sales value is calculated for the industry subset, and a monthly fluctuation factor is applied to the sales value. Also, a normalization factor is applied to the sales value based on a percentage of the sales value relative to an overall market size to obtain the indexed sales value.

Abstract: The invention provides the ability to evaluate transaction activity of customers following the redemption of a promotion, such as the redemption of a prepaid instrument, coupon, or the like. For example, the subsequent activity could be where customers shopped after redeeming a coupon. Examples of such reports that could be generated include the percentage of redeemers who returned to the same merchant or who went elsewhere. In some cases, customers could do both, or neither and the reports could indicate such activity. Further reports could show the amount spent for each return visit (both for those who return and go elsewhere), as well as the percentage who shop only with the merchant, and nowhere else.

Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for collecting point-of-sale (POS) data, and then using this data to determine the effectiveness of a given promotion. The transaction data includes a merchant identifier for each of the merchants and a transaction amount for each transaction involving the merchants. One of the merchants is a promotion merchant that is offering a promotion involving transactions made with the merchant. A portion of the transaction data is aggregated into control merchant aggregated data involving control merchants, where the control merchant aggregated data comprises transaction data obtained other than from the promotion merchant. A characteristic of the purchases is calculated, both for transactions involving the promotion merchant and for the control merchants.

Abstract: A molding apparatus is configured with a distribution channel configured to deliver a blended feed composition directly into an article molding region such that a molded article is formed with gating on the bottom surface of the article. The article molding regions are formed into front sides of opposed “A” and “B” surface mold tools that, when moved into a mating relationship with one another, form closed molding cavities within which molded articles are generated from molding material feed. The article molding regions each generally have a body bounded by a perimeter that establishes an outer edge for an article molded in the one of the closed molding cavities. Additionally, the body of each article molding region of the “A” surface mold tool is adapted for molding a bottom surface for the composite article, and the body of the article molding region of the “B” surface mold tool is adapted for molding a top surface for the composite article.