Abstract: A system includes a transaction handler, a data warehouse storing data associating offers and consumer accounts, a transaction handler coupled with the data warehouse, and a transaction terminal configured to submit authorization requests to the transaction handler via an acquirer processor. After receiving account information identifying a consumer account for a payment transaction, the transaction terminal generates a first authorization request identifying the consumer account. The transaction handler identifies offer information relevant to the payment transaction and provides an authorization response containing the offer information, prior to communication with an issuer processor for the payment transaction. In response to the offer information provided in the authorization response, the transaction terminal modifies the first authorization request to generate a second authorization request, in response to which the transaction handler communicates with the issuer processor for the payment transaction.

Abstract: A system includes a transaction handler configured to split a transaction, initiated between an acquirer processor representing a merchant and an issuer processor representing an account holder, into separate transactions with the issuer processor and at least one sponsor processor that is configured to provide the benefit of offers to applicable transactions. A portal is configured to notify the account holder of the award/redemption of the benefit of an offer using a communication channel separate from the transaction terminal that initiates and approves the transaction between the account holder and the merchant.

Abstract: A system, configured to integrate the processing of transactions and offers applicable to the transactions, includes: a data warehouse storing an offer in association with a financial payment account; a gateway configured to receive an authorization request that is transmitted from a transaction terminal without going through an acquirer processor, the gateway coupled with the data warehouse to determine whether the offer is applicable to the authorization request and if so, apply a benefit of the offer to the authorization request; and a transaction handler coupled with the gateway to process the authorization request submitted from the gateway, provide an authorization response corresponding to the authorization request, and communicate with the acquirer processor to credit funds according to the authorization request to a merchant account associated with the transaction terminal.

Abstract: To automate the redemption of offer benefits, data associating offers and payment accounts is stored in the data warehouse of a first transaction handler. If a payment account to which an offer is associated is in the payment processing network of a second transaction handler separate from the first transaction handler, the system uses a payment processor that is in both the payment processing network of the first transaction handler and the payment processing network of the second transaction handler to communicate with the first transaction handler to detect the authorization request in the payment account that satisfies the benefit redemption requirements of the respective offer and apply the offer benefit to the transaction when the authorization request is detected.

Abstract: A system includes a transaction terminal that is configured to examine an authorization response for an indicator, which, when set, causes the transaction terminal to communicate with a portal to obtain content relevant to the receipt for the transaction approved by the authorization response. The content may identify the benefit of an offer applied to the transaction, which is not reflected in the authorization response. The content may direct the user to select an option regarding the delivery of the receipt. Options presented for selection include suppression of the printing of the paper receipt in favor of an electronic receipt transmitted to a communication reference of the user, printing a mini paper receipt in addition to transmitting an electronic receipt, and/or printing the full paper receipt at the transaction terminal.

Abstract: A system includes a transaction handler configured to split a transaction, initiated between an acquirer processor representing a merchant and an issuer processor representing an account holder, into separate transactions with the issuer processor and at least one sponsor processor that is configured to provide the benefit of offers to applicable transactions. A portal is configured to notify the account holder of the award/redemption of the benefit of an offer using a communication channel separate from the transaction terminal that initiates and approves the transaction between the account holder and the merchant.

Abstract: A system loads, authenticates and uses a virtual smart card for payment of goods and/or services purchased on-line over the Internet. An online purchase and load (OPAL) server includes a virtual smart card data base that has a record of information for each smart card that it represents for a user at the behest of an issuer. The server includes a smart card emulator that emulates a smart card by using the card data base and a hardware security module. The emulator interacts with a pseudo card reader module in the server that imitates a physical card reader. The server also includes a client code module that interacts with the pseudo card reader and a remote payment or load server. A pass-through client terminal presents a user interface and passes information between the OPAL server and a merchant server, and between the OPAL server and a bank server.

Abstract: A system loads, authenticates and uses a virtual smart card for payment of goods and/or services purchased on-line over the Internet. An online purchase and load (OPAL) server includes a virtual smart card data base that has a record of information for each smart card that it represents for a user at the behest of an issuer. The server includes a smart card emulator that emulates a smart card by using the card data base and a hardware security module. The emulator interacts with a pseudo card reader module in the server that imitates a physical card reader. The server also includes a client code module that interacts with the pseudo card reader and a remote payment or load server. A pass-through client terminal presents a user interface and passes information between the OPAL server and a merchant server, and between the OPAL server and a bank server.

Abstract: A system loads, authenticates and uses a virtual smart card for payment of goods and/or services purchased on-line over the Internet. An online purchase and load (OPAL) server includes a virtual smart card data base that has a record of information for each smart card that it represents for a user at the behest of an issuer. The server includes a smart card emulator that emulates a smart card by using the card data base and a hardware security module. The emulator interacts with a pseudo card reader module in the server that imitates a physical card reader. The server also includes a client code module that interacts with the pseudo card reader and a remote payment or load server. A pass-through client terminal presents a user interface and passes information between the OPAL server and a merchant server, and between the OPAL server and a bank server. The Internet provides the routing functionality between the client terminal and the various servers. A merchant advertises goods on a web site.

Abstract: A system loads, authenticates and uses a virtual smart card for payment of goods and/or services purchased on-line over the Internet. An online purchase and load (OPAL) server includes a virtual smart card data base that has a record of information for each smart card that it represents for a user at the behest of an issuer. The server includes a smart card emulator that emulates a smart card by using the card data base and a hardware security module. The emulator interacts with a pseudo card reader module in the server that imitates a physical card reader. The server also includes a client code module that interacts with the pseudo card reader and a remote payment or load server. A pass-through client terminal presents a user interface and passes information between the OPAL server and a merchant server, and between the OPAL server and a bank server. The Internet provides the routing functionality between the client terminal and the various servers. A merchant advertises goods on a web site.

Abstract: A system loads, authenticates and uses a virtual smart card for payment of goods and/or services purchased on-line over the Internet. An online purchase and load (OPAL) server includes a virtual smart card data base that has a record of information for each smart card that it represents for a user at the behest of an issuer. The server includes a smart card emulator that emulates a smart card by using the card data base and a hardware security module. The emulator interacts with a pseudo card reader module in the server that imitates a physical card reader. The server also includes a client code module that interacts with the pseudo card reader and a remote payment or load server. A pass-through client terminal presents a user interface and passes information between the OPAL server and a merchant server, and between the OPAL server and a bank server. The Internet provides the routing functionality between the client terminal and the various servers. A merchant advertises goods on a web site.

Abstract: A vacuum pickup tool (10) is effective to carry balls (18) arranged in a desired pattern. The vacuum pickup tool (10) includes a manifold (12) that includes a carrier plate (22) that has a plurality of manifold bores (28) arranged in a pattern. The manifold (12) defines a vacuum chamber (20) that reduces gas pressure in the manifold (12) to allow the manifold bores (28) to retain a ball (18). The manifold (12) further includes a retaining plate (14) that overlies the carrier plate (22) and includes a plurality of retaining plate bores (30) arranged in a pattern such that each retaining plate bore (30) registers with a corresponding manifold bore (28). The retaining plate (14) is effective to secure a stencil (16) formed of a gas-impermeable sheet against the carrier plate (22) to prevent gas flow between a manifold bore (28) and a corresponding retaining plate bore (30).

Abstract: Referring to FIG. 1, a method for making an improved electrode 15 having a gold coating 9 for use in the anode compartment 12 of a REDOX cell 10 is described. The anode fluid utilizes a chromic/chromous couple.The flow chart FIG. 2 illustrates the method wherein a carbon felt is soaked in methanol, rinsed in water, dried and then heated in KOH after which it is again washed in deionized water and dried.The felt is then moistened with a methanol-water solution containing chloroauric acid and is stored in a dark place while still in contact with the gold-containing solution.After all the gold-containing solution is absorbed by the felt, the latter is dried by heat and then heat-treated at a substantially greater temperature. The felt is now suitable for use as an electrode and is wetted with water or up to 2 molar HCl prior to installation in a REDOX cell.The two curves on the far right of FIG. 3 illustrate the low hydrogen evolution of the improved electrode.

Abstract: A nickel plaque which may be coated with a suitable metal or compound to make an electrode for a fuel cell or battery is fabricated by directing nickel sensitizer, catalyst and plating solutions through a porous plastic substrate in the order named and at prescribed temperatures and flow rates. A boride compound dissolved in the plating solution decreases the electrical resistance of the plaque. Certain substrates may require treatment in an alkali solution to dissolve filler materials thereby increasing porosity to a required 65%.

Abstract: Zirconium carbide is used as a catalyst in a REDOX cell for the oxidation of chromous ions to chromic ions and for the reduction of chromic ions to chromous ions. The zirconium carbide is coated on an inert electronically conductive electrode which is present in the anode fluid of the cell.