Abstract: A payment account is administered with access restrictions using a payment system. Once the payment account is established, a consumer can request a payment of funds from the payment account to enter into a transaction. The transaction is identified, and account restrictions based on characteristics of the transaction are accessed. Payment is effected according to parameters of the transaction and subject to the account restrictions. The system and method have applications in casino gambling, use restrictions relating to Government subsidies, personal budgets and spending behavior, etc.

Abstract: A system and method for qualifying a participant over a global network for an auction or other e-commerce transaction helps to significantly reduce or eliminate Internet commerce fraud. An auction site, for example, enlists the system to maintain funding accounts for prospective participants. When a bid is placed or a transaction is entered, the funds are reserved in the funding account including funds for a deposit if required. In the case of an auction, in the event that a bidder is not the high bidder, the reserved funds are released. At completion of the transaction, the funds may be transferred from the funding account to the seller, and the holds are released. A balance in the funding account can be established according to funds deposited in the account in an interest-bearing account or via a line of credit issued from a bank card issuing company or the like.

Abstract: A system and method for qualifying a participant over a global network for an auction or other e-commerce transaction helps to significantly reduce or eliminate Internet commerce fraud. An auction site, for example, enlists the system to maintain funding accounts for prospective participants. When a bid is placed or a transaction is entered, the funds are reserved in the funding account including funds for a deposit if required. In the case of an auction, in the event that a bidder is not the high bidder, the reserved funds are released. At completion of the transaction, the funds may be transferred from the funding account to the seller, and the holds are released. A balance in the funding account can be established according to funds deposited in the account in an interest-bearing account or via a line of credit issued from a bank card issuing company or the like.

Abstract: Real estate settlements can be facilitated using dedicated deposit accounts so that last-minute adjustments can be avoided, and funds in the transaction can be readily transferred. A settlement manager provides estimates for funds required from at least one of a buyer and a seller based on terms of the real estate settlement and communicates hold requests. Funds are held based on the estimates provided by the settlement manager, where held funds remain in the respective deposit accounts but are otherwise unavailable. The settlement manager determines final settlement amounts, and the settlement manager initiates a transaction to transfer the final settlement amounts according to parameters of the real estate settlement. Subsequently, the computer system releases any remaining held funds in the respective deposit accounts.

Abstract: A system and method for qualifying a participant over a global network for an auction or other e-commerce transaction helps to significantly reduce or eliminate Internet commerce fraud. An auction site, for example, enlists the system to maintain funding accounts for prospective participants. When a bid is placed or a transaction is entered, the funds are reserved in the funding account including funds for a deposit if required. In the case of an auction, in the event that a bidder is not the high bidder, the reserved funds are released. At completion of the transaction, the funds may be transferred from the funding account to the seller, and the holds are released. A balance in the funding account can be established according to funds deposited in the account in an interest-bearing account or via a line of credit issued from a bank card issuing company or the like.

Abstract: In transactions between a consumer and a merchant where a merchant requires a deposit for participation, a method and system are provided for intermediating the transaction. The system enables a consumer to secure the required deposit amount for the transaction with funds deposited in one of a bank account or a special deposit account. Fees are generated based on a percentage of the deposit amount secured with the deposited funds and/or by providing an interest rate on funds deposited in the special deposit account with a fixed spread from a bank interest rate. The system assures merchants that deposit funds have been reserved for a particular transaction, and enables consumers to participate in such transactions without requiring an actual transfer of funds.

Abstract: In transactions between a consumer and a merchant where a merchant requires a deposit for participation, a method and system are provided for intermediating the transaction (10). The system enables a consumer to secure the required deposit amount for the transaction with funds deposited in one of a bank account (14) or a special deposit account (16). Fees are generated based on a percentage of the deposit amount secured with the deposited funds and/or by providing an interest rate on funds deposited in the special deposit account (16) with a fixed spread from a bank interest rate. The system assures merchants that deposit funds have been reserved for a particular transaction, and enables consumers to participate in such transactions without requiring an actual transfer of funds.

Abstract: A system and method for qualifying a bidder over a global network for an auction helps to significantly reduce or eliminate commerce fraud. An auction site, for example, enlists the system to maintain bidder funding accounts for prospective bidders. When a bid is placed, the funds are reserved in the bidder's bidder funding account including funds for a deposit if required. In the event that a bidder is not the high bidder, the reserved funds are released. At completion of the auction, the funds may be transferred from the winning bidder's bidder funding account to the seller, and the bid holds are released. A balance in the bidder funding account can be established according to funds deposited in the account in an interest-bearing account or via a line of credit issued from a bank card issuing company or the like.

Abstract: A system and method for qualifying a bidder over a global network for an auction helps to significantly reduce or eliminate commerce fraud. An auction site, for example, enlists the system to maintain bidder funding accounts for prospective bidders. When a bid is placed, the funds are reserved in the bidder's bidder funding account including funds for a deposit if required. In the event that a bidder is not the high bidder, the reserved funds are released. At completion of the auction, the funds may be transferred from the winning bidder's bidder funding account to the seller, and the bid holds are released. A balance in the bidder funding account can be established according to funds deposited in the account in an interest-bearing account or via a line of credit issued from a bank card issuing company or the like.

Abstract: An airline distress system is provided for an airplane. The airplane includes a pilot cockpit and a transponder for transmitting signals to an air traffic controller. The airline distress system includes an auxiliary transponder (10) that transmits auxiliary signals to the air traffic controller. The auxiliary transponder is preferably disposed outside of the pilot cockpit and inaccessible to airplane crew and passengers. In one embodiment, a sensor (16) is operatively coupled with the cockpit door, and a switch (20) communicates with the sensor (16) and the auxiliary transponder (10). The auxiliary transponder (10) is configured to be automatically activated by the switch (20) according to a signal from the sensor that the cockpit door has been opened.

Abstract: A system facilitates processing of funds between a transferor and a transferee, where at least the transferor has a transferor deposit sub-account administered via a depository administrator. The transferor accesses the depository administrator via a global network. The transferor can request a transfer or hold of funds in the transferor deposit sub-account to or for the benefit of the transferee. If the transferee does not have a transferee deposit sub-account administered via the depository administrator, the transferee is provided an opportunity to establish the transferee deposit sub-account. Subsequently, the depository administrator processes the funds between the transferor deposit sub-account and the transferee deposit sub-account. With the addition of automated teller machine access to respective customer deposit sub-accounts, users can more easily deposit or withdraw funds from their own account or effect a transfer of funds to another account via Internet access.

Abstract: A system and method for qualifying a participant over a global network for an auction or other e-commerce transaction helps to significantly reduce or eliminate Internet commerce fraud. An auction site, for example, enlists the system to maintain funding accounts for prospective participants. When a bid is placed or a transaction is entered, the funds are reserved in the funding account including funds for a deposit if required. In the case of an auction, in the event that a bidder is not the high bidder, the reserved funds are released. At completion of the transaction, the funds may be transferred from the funding account to the seller, and the holds are released. A balance in the funding account can be established according to funds deposited in the account in an interest-bearing account or via a line of credit issued from a bank card issuing company or the like. The system may be conveniently used for managing accounts with providers of irregular use products and services in real time.

Abstract: An airline distress system is provided for an airplane. The airplane includes a pilot cockpit and a transponder for transmitting signals to an air traffic controller. The airline distress system includes an auxiliary transponder (10) that transmits auxiliary signals to the air traffic controller. The auxiliary transponder is preferably disposed outside of the pilot cockpit and inaccessible to airplane crew and passengers. In one embodiment, a sensor (16) is operatively coupled with the cockpit door, and a switch (20) communicates with the sensor (16) and the auxiliary transponder (10). The auxiliary transponder (10) is configured to be automatically activated by the switch (20) according to a signal from the sensor that the cockpit door has been opened.

Abstract: In transactions between a consumer and a merchant where a merchant requires a deposit for participation, a method and system are provided for intermediating the transaction (10). The system enables a consumer to secure the required deposit amount for the transaction with funds deposited in one of a bank account (14) or a special deposit account (16). Fees are generated based on a percentage of the deposit amount secured with the deposited funds and/or by providing an interest rate on funds deposited in the special deposit account (16) with a fixed spread from a bank interest rate. The system assures merchants that deposit funds have been reserved for a particular transaction, and enables consumers to participate in such transactions without requiring an actual transfer of funds.

Abstract: A system and method for qualifying a bidder over a global network for an auction helps to significantly reduce or eliminate Internet commerce fraud. An auction site, for example, enlists the system to maintain bidder funding accounts for prospective bidders. When a bid is placed, the funds are reserved in the bidder's bidder funding account including funds for a deposit if required. In the event that a bidder is not the high bidder, the reserved funds are released. At completion of the auction, the funds may be transferred from the winning bidder's bidder funding account to the seller, and the bid holds are released. A balance in the bidder funding account can be established according to funds deposited in the account in an interest-bearing account or via a line of credit issued from a bank card issuing company or the like.