Abstract: The present invention provides a financial instrument of an entity and a related business method. The financial instrument includes: a conventional investment instrument; a premium and/or penalty feature added to the conventional investment instrument; and a dividend feature added to the conventional investment instrument. The premium feature is characterized by an upfront fee paid by the purchaser of at least one share of the financial instrument. The penalty feature is characterized by a penalty assessed against the holder of at least one share of the financial instrument who sells the at least one share on a date of sale that proceeds an extinguish date associated with the financial instrument. The dividend feature is characterized by a dividend adapted to be distributed, on a date subsequent to the date of sale, to all Holders of Record of the financial instrument on the date of sale.

Abstract: A method is provided for developing an architecture model for a system-of-systems (SoS) that includes n system levels L1 . . . Ln, each of which includes at least one component of the SoS. For at least i>1, each system level Li includes at least one component of level Li-1. The method includes developing an architecture model for at least one level of the SoS. For at least i>1, the level Li-1 architecture model can be developed by developing a functional architecture model for level Li-1, and thereafter transforming the level Li-1 functional architecture model into a physical architecture model for level Li-1. The functional architecture model includes a functional and a logical structure for level Li-1. And as such, the functional architecture model is developed based upon a concurrent functional and logical decomposition of a functional architecture model developed for level Li.

Abstract: A financial instrument of an entity and a related business method. The financial instrument includes: a conventional investment instrument; a penalty feature added to the conventional investment instrument; and a dividend feature added to the conventional investment instrument. The penalty feature is characterized by a penalty assessed against a holder of at least one share of the financial instrument who sells the at least one share on a date of sale that precedes an extinguish date associated with the financial instrument. The dividend feature is characterized by a dividend adapted to be distributed, on a date subsequent to the date of sale, to all Holders of Record of the financial instrument on the date of sale. The dividend is derived from the penalty. The financial instrument is adapted to be acquired by a plurality of investors.