Abstract: A system for establishing a direct network connection between a first and a second node over a data-packet-network includes a third network node having connection to the data-packet-network for providing an electronic interface accessible to the first node; a navigation agent directed by the third network node for navigating over the network to the second node to gather information; and at least one machine-readable instruction containing the instruction for directing and implementing the direct network connection. The electronic interface may be a Web page providing bill consolidation and payment services to a client operating the first node and wherein the connection established via the instruction enables transparent login payment of a bill at the second node, which may be a direct billing party interface of the client registered and listed on the Web page.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for populating and submitting electronic forms by proxy over a data-packet-network. The apparatus comprises a software application running on a system of network-connected servers that enables a user, connected in session with one of the servers, to navigate to a site containing an electronic form and obtain data about the site and about the form. The data obtained is used in conjunction with data about the user to construct a machine readable job order upon user request that may be executed for the purpose of automatic form population and submission to a host sponsoring the site. Upon acceptance of the submitted form, data used for passwords, log-in codes and user-names is returned to a data repository where it is entered along with specific site data as a new registered site item for a registering user such that future navigation to the site, auto log-in and data return may be performed automatically on behalf of the user.

Abstract: A system for establishing a direct network connection between a first and a second node over a data-packet-network includes a third network node having connection to the data-packet-network for providing an electronic interface accessible to the first node; a navigation agent directed by the third network node for navigating over the network to the second node to gather information; and at least one machine-readable instruction containing the instruction for directing and implementing the direct network connection. The electronic interface may be a Web page providing bill consolidation and payment services to a client operating the first node and wherein the connection established via the instruction enables transparent login payment of a bill at the second node, which may be a direct billing party interface of the client registered and listed on the Web page.

Abstract: A system for categorizing transactions includes a collection function gathering information concerning transactions, including at least date, description and amount of the transactions, for a particular person or enterprise, and a processing function categorizing individual ones of the collected transactions according to at least part of the transaction description. In preferred embodiments of the system a variety of categorization methods for collected information may be utilized including at least categorizing by providing individual categories according to category definition entered by a specific user or on behalf of an enterprise. Categorization may also be done for a first plurality of persons or enterprises according to category definition entered by a second plurality of persons or enterprises, or categories are developed from information taken from communication between users and the system. Probability algorithms may also be used in developing categories.

Abstract: A system for categorizing transactions includes a collection function gathering information concerning transactions, including at least date, description and amount of the transactions, for a particular person or enterprise, and a processing function categorizing individual ones of the collected transactions according to at least part of the transaction description.

Abstract: A system for establishing a direct network connection between a first and a second node over a data-packet-network includes a third network node having connection to the data-packet-network for providing an electronic interface accessible to the first node; a navigation agent directed by the third network node for navigating over the network to the second node to gather information; and at least one machine-readable instruction containing the instruction for directing and implementing the direct network connection. The electronic interface may be a Web page providing bill consolidation and payment services to a client operating the first node and wherein the connection established via the instruction enables transparent login payment of a bill at the second node, which may be a direct billing party interface of the client registered and listed on the Web page.

Abstract: A system for retrieving and disseminating information records from Internet sources includes a client device and an intermediary server system, including software, between the client device and the Internet. The system collects a record specific to a client from an individual one of said Internet sources in a first form in which the record is recorded at the Internet source, transforms the record from the first form to a second form specific to an application other than an Internet browser application, the application executable by the client device, and transmits the transformed record to the client device for display in the application other than an Internet browser application executable by the client device. In some cases the client device connects by a data link that is not Internet-compatible link. Data mining on the Internet specific to clients and client devices is taught, with aggregation services and synchronization for keeping a client up-to-date efficiently for changing data content.

Abstract: A system for retrieving and disseminating information records from Internet sources includes a client device and an intermediary server , including software, between the client device and the Internet. The collects a record specific to a client from an individual one of said Internet sources in a first form in which the record is recorded at the Internet source, transforms the record from the first form to a second form specific to an application other than an Internet browser application, the application executable by the client device, and transmits the transformed record to the client device for display in the application other than an Internet browser application executable by the client device. In some cases the client device connects by a data link that is not Internet-compatible link. Data mining on the Internet specific to clients and client devices is taught, with aggregation services and synchronization for keeping a client up-to-date efficiently for changing data content.

Abstract: A system for retrieving and disseminating information records from Internet sources includes a client device and an intermediary server system, including software, between the client device and the Internet. The system collects a record specific to a client from an individual one of said Internet sources in a first form in which the record is recorded at the Internet source, transforms the record from the first form to a second form specific to an application other than an Internet browser application, the application executable by the client device, and transmits the transformed record to the client device for display in the application other than an Internet browser application executable by the client device. In some cases the client device connects by a data link that is not Internet-compatible link. Data mining on the Internet specific to clients and client devices is taught, with aggregation services and synchronization for keeping a client up-to-date efficiently for changing data content.

Abstract: A system for retrieving and disseminating information records from Internet sources includes a client device and an intermediary server system, including software, between the client device and the Internet. The system collects a record specific to a client from an individual one of said Internet sources in a first form in which the record is recorded at the Internet source, transforms the record from the first form to a second form specific to an application other than an Internet browser application, the application executable by the client device, and transmits the transformed record to the client device for display in the application other than an Internet browser application executable by the client device. In some cases the client device connects by a data link that is not Internet-compatible link. Data mining on the Internet specific to clients and client devices is taught, with aggregation services and synchronization for keeping a client up-to-date efficiently for changing data content.

Abstract: A network-based software application for enabling remote authentication of a user during a network session has a server portion for serving session validation information and additional user information when queried, a client portion for configuring and submitting parameters constraining what and how data is to be shared with a querying entity or entities, and a distributed portion for distribution and application at various connected network nodes for enabling those nodes to recognize and interact with the server portion.

Abstract: A system and method authenticates a person requesting a service by soliciting an account identification from the person, using an automatic funds transfer protocol and the account identification to make a deposit in the account, entering a unique code in a field of the protocol that is retrievable from the account after the deposit is made, soliciting from the person, after the deposit has been made, the code entered into the field of the protocol, and matching the code returned by the person with the code entered into the field to make the deposit, a successful match authenticating the person. Transactions are also triggered by conditions in monitored accounts.

Abstract: A system for categorizing transactions includes a collection function gathering information concerning transactions, including at least date, description and amount of the transactions, for a particular person or enterprise, and a processing function categorizing individual ones of the collected transactions according to at least part of the transaction description.

Abstract: A system for establishing a direct network connection between a first and a second node over a data-packet-network includes a third network node having connection to the data-packet-network for providing an electronic interface accessible to the first node; a navigation agent directed by the third network node for navigating over the network to the second node to gather information; and at least one machine-readable instruction containing the instruction for directing and implementing the direct network connection. The electronic interface may be a Web page providing bill consolidation and payment services to a client operating the first node and wherein the connection established via the instruction enables transparent login payment of a bill at the second node, which may be a direct billing party interface of the client registered and listed on the Web page.

Abstract: A system for transacting in a network includes a service broker connected to the network, having access to necessary credentials, a service provider connected to the network, requiring credentials for transacting in regard to a client, and a client station connected to the network. A client using the client station sends a preliminary request for a transaction to the service broker, which initiates, at the appropriate time, the transaction for the client by a request to the service provider, accompanied by the appropriate credentials, and the service broker monitors the service provider after the write request for an acknowledgement of the request.

Abstract: A system for verifying communication established between a first and a second node over a data-packet-network includes a third network node accessible from the first node over the data-packet-network, the third node containing network location information of the second node and the network location information of at least one resource accessible there from; and a navigation agent directed by the third network node for navigating over the network to the second node and to the at least one resource to gather information. In a preferred embodiment, the information gathered includes indication of receipt of data sent from the first node at the second node and indication of confirmation or authorization to access services.

Abstract: A distributable software system is disclosed for collecting and aggregating data from a network and for providing compartmentalized and optimized data summaries to third parties. The system includes a data gathering layer for gathering the data; a data normalization layer for normalizing data types from multiple data sources; a data cleansing layer for correcting data inconsistencies; a data enrichment layer for rendering data analyzable; and an application interface layer for providing multiple interfaces to like multiple user applications. An enterprise utilizes the system to provide data aggregation and summary services to clients. In preferred embodiments, intelligence created from the activity is harnessed to provide and improve services and to enhance profitability of the enterprise.

Abstract: A distributable software system is disclosed for collecting and aggregating data from a network and for providing compartmentalized and optimized data summaries to third parties. The system includes a data gathering layer for gathering the data; a data normalization layer for normalizing data types from multiple data sources; a data cleansing layer for correcting data inconsistencies; a data enrichment layer for rendering data analyzable; and an application interface layer for providing multiple interfaces to like multiple user applications. An enterprise utilizes the system to provide data aggregation and summary services to clients. In preferred embodiments, intelligence created from the activity is harnessed to provide and improve services and to enhance profitability of the enterprise.

Abstract: A network-based software application for enabling remote authentication of a user during a network session has a server portion for serving session validation information and additional user information when queried, a client portion for configuring and submitting parameters constraining what and how data is to be shared with a querying entity or entities, and a distributed portion for distribution and application at various connected network nodes for enabling those nodes to recognize and interact with the server portion.

Abstract: A data-gathering and reporting system for collecting WEB summaries from the Internet for individual subscribers to a Portal subscription system has a plurality of gatherer servers each connected to the Internet, to an ascending hierarchy of work request distribution servers, and to a ascending hierarchy of collector servers. A work request generator at the top of the hierarchy of distribution servers generates work requests for collecting WEB summaries, and a filer server at the top of the hierarchy of collector servers writes data to a database. Work flow is by work requests from the work request generator down the hierarchy of distributor servers to the gatherer servers, where work requests are accomplished by gathering WEB summaries from Internet servers according to the work requests, and by data collected from the gatherer servers up the hierarchy of collector servers to the filing server.