Abstract: A system and method for effecting a transaction between a person and a provider of goods or services over a network are provided. The method includes establishing, from a communication device, a communication link over the network with the provider, entering into the communication device information pertinent to effecting the transaction and activating in conjunction with effecting the transaction a biometric device to generate a unique identification trait (UIT) associated with the person. The method further includes, in response this activating, automatically transmitting from the communication device over the network to the provider both the information and a signal corresponding to the UIT. This signal may be a coded or uncoded signal verifying the person's identity. A communication device for performing this method also is provided.

Abstract: A method of conducting a transaction between a user of a remote communications device and a second party includes: creating a transaction data structure based on input from the user that defines the transaction; creating a deferred transaction data structure, corresponding to the transaction data structure that defines a deferred transaction, when establishing communication between the remote communications device and the second party is delayed; storing the deferred transaction data structure in a memory; establishing communication between the remote communications device and the second party; and transmitting the deferred transaction data structure to the second party when the communication between the remote communications device and the second party is established.

Abstract: A system and method for performing financial transaction clearing, settlement, and fraud prevention in real time over a network. The invention uses intelligent agents and component based objects in an interactive network to allow secure financial transactions to be conducted.

Abstract: A system and method to manage and control access to content and transactions for use by a transaction device are described in detail below. In addition, authorization for an account to request content or conduct transactions may be confirmed locally within the transaction device. Further, setting levels of access and account management for each account can be performed locally within the transaction device. In one embodiment, access is requested from a secure entity. The access to the secure entity is granted if authentication information identifying a user requesting the access is provided to the secure entity. In one embodiment, a control parameter is stored on a local device; content is requested from the local device; and the content is locally compared with the control parameter on the local device to determine whether requesting the content is allowed.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system in which a limited function access device interacts with a multifunctional portable base station are disclosed.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and a system that prevents an unscrupulous person from stealing the identity of another party and using the stolen identity to obtain a transaction device such as a biometric device that is configured to access, for example, a line of credit. In one aspect, a first biometric data of a party is registered (or stored) in a suitable manner with a trusted entity. The first biometric data may be fingerprint data, iris data, retinal data, voice data, or other suitable biometric information associated with a party. The trusted entity, for example, may be the party's bank. A second biometric data (e.g., fingerprint data) is obtained from a person seeking financial credit. The person is prevented from registering a second biometric data (e.g., fingerprint data of the unscrupulous person) that does not match the first biometric data (e.g., fingerprint data of the originally registered individual). This prevents the unscrupulous person from stealing the identity of another party.

Abstract: An intelligent agent is configured to determine whether a product or a service satisfies preferences established by a party. The intelligent agent is also configured to use personal data associated with the party such as a historical purchase activity, a potential future purchase activity, or information related to a group to which the party is a member in order to customize a price for the product or the service. The intelligent agent, dispatched from a client to a server, customizes the price for the product or the service based upon the personal data associated with the party or a pricing policy of the supplier. The product or the service is purchased without disclosing the identity of the party.

Abstract: An agent based electronic commerce system and method for automatically populating a device such as a digital wallet with bank, credit or other consumer information. The system includes a data-transaction device that is capable of directly or indirectly connecting with a transaction and information processing clearing house. The transaction and information processing clearing house serves as an information repository as well as facilitating information gathering for selected user accounts. The user can automatically populate numerous devices in various locations with updated information without intervention. In one embodiment the user can conduct electronic commerce transactions automatically or singly with a financial processing mechanism associated with the transaction and information processing clearing house.

Abstract: A system and method for conducting electronic commerce transactions in which the electronic receipt and use of incentives is facilitated. By way of example, and not of limitation, the transactions are executed through a transaction clearing house mechanism and at least a portion of the exchange units associated with said transaction may be transacted to or from an escrow account that is associated with the transaction clearing house mechanism. An exchange rate mechanism automatically provides for the conversion of units of exchange that differ between the user and vendor. The system provides for the automatic, no-click, payment of invoices and bills, in addition to automatic purchases according to user preferences. Incentive programs are facilitated within the system between the user and vendor communities while preferably maintaining user anonymity.

Abstract: A navigation system for a hierarchy of objects displayed by a computing system are rapidly navigated first by an automatic explosion module for exploding a displayed node of the hierarchy in response to a first characteristic stroke by a pointer control device while the pointer is within the boundary of the displayed node. In addition, an implosion module implodes nodes branching from a displayed node of the hierarchy in response to a second characteristic stroke by the pointer control device while the pointer is within the boundary of the displayed node. The first characteristic stroke by the pointer control device is movement of the pointer controlled by the pointer control device within the boundaries of the displayed node. The second characteristic stroke by the pointer control device is a mouse click while the pointer is within the boundaries of the displayed node or object. A keystroke module sets the level of further explosion of the node when the displayed node is exploded by the explosion module.

Abstract: Fees due from transactions in electronic commerce are processed by building a transaction information database with transaction event objects based on events in each transaction. After retrieving fee rules from a fee rule database, a determining step detects if the fee rule applies to information in a transaction event object. Then, if the fee rule applies, a calculating step calculates the fee based on the fee rule and the information in the transaction event object. A fee object for a recipient entity is created based on the fee calculated by said calculating step and is stored in a payment database. An accumulating step sums the payments for a recipient entity from the fee objects in the payment database. The fee rules are general fee rules and specific fee rules. The general fee rules are applied to information in a transaction event object, and a calculating step calculates a general fee based on the general fee rule and the information in the transaction event object.