Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media provide a time-limited monetary value to a member of an organization, using a member card or member icon, which may be issued by other than a bank or brokerage institution. In embodiments, the monetary value may be restricted to a single transaction and a maximum amount. In other embodiments, purchases of authorized goods and services may be controlled by corresponding product codes. A password or biometric may be used to authenticate the intended purchaser to the organization and/or merchant.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer readable media are disclosed for prioritizing tasks associated with a group of first users based on number of times the first users have monitored the status of a task. In addition to the general system, systems, methods and computer readable media for task prioritizing, the tasks may be prioritized based on the number of first users associated with a task, the importance of each first user associated with a task, and the way the task was identified.

Abstract: A person stores funds in a lower interest checking account and a higher interest savings account of a banking institution. For each of a plurality of cycles, funds are received at the beginning of the cycle from an amount of income (‘INC’) of the person. An amount at least equal to a total amount of regularly recurring bills of the person that have a generally fixed amount (‘FIX’) is deposited into a bills account of the person, and at least a portion of a remainder of INC is deposited into the checking account. During the cycle, the person pays the regularly recurring bills from the bills account and other bills from the checking account. At the end of the cycle, a final amount left in the checking account above a floor value (‘FLO’) is transferred to the savings account. Thus, excess funds are not allowed to accumulate in the checking account.

Abstract: Images of a plurality of checks to be presented for payment may be captured through the use of a check sleeve. The check sleeve includes check-holding mechanism to hold one or more checks in place in the sleeve, and contains various types of markings or other features that allow an image of the sleeve to be oriented, and to allow the portion of the image that represents a check to be distinguished from portions of the image that do not represent a check. One or more algorithms may be used to distinguish check from non-check portions of the image, and to orient the image. The check sleeves may have one or more barcodes imprinted thereon, which may encode various types of information.

Abstract: Images from checks may be compared with each other to detect a twice-deposited or represented check. An image of a check may be parsed into regions or tiles, for example. In an implementation, values for regions or tiles over a predetermined area (e.g., an area from a character in the magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) line at the bottom of the check to the dollar sign symbol) may be compared. In an implementation, a virtual overlay of two check images may be performed and a correlation may be determined.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer-usable medium are disclosed for providing routing-based insurance. A telematics device exchanges information related to a user's traversal of a route with a routing-based insurance system. The telematics device determines the current location and destination of the user, which it provides to the routing-based insurance system, for processing to determine available route segments between the two locations. A set of risk score data is generated for each of the available route segments, which in turn is used to generate a set of risk score differential data. Route advisement data, comprising routing instructions and the set of risk score differential data for the route segment, is generated and provided to the telematics device. A route segment is selected by the user and then traversed. The set of risk score differential data associated with the traversed route segment is determined and associated with the user's insurance policy.

Abstract: Automobile accident claims initiation systems and methods are described. An insured driver may initiate a claim by operating a mobile device. The system provides automated inquiries to the driver through the mobile device. The driver provides responses to the inquiries using the mobile device. The driver may provide images and audio data, as well as personal information and information on the parties and vehicles involved in the accident. The system may automatically arrange for services such as a rental car or a tow truck. The system may provide claim information, such as a claim number to the driver by transmitting information to the mobile device.

Abstract: The described embodiments contemplate a system, method and computer-readable medium with computer-executable instructions for accident notification. The novel system includes subsystems for testing an automobile, or a part of an automobile, and comparing the result of the test with a baseline result. The test may use various detectors, including radio frequency identification tags embedded in the paint of an automobile, magnetic variances caused by metal deformation, or electrical changes in a circuit. The test may be used for various purposes, including determining that an accident has occurred, verifying the authenticity of a repair part, or for processing an insurance claim.

Abstract: A social network for shopping may be provided in which a user may provide a listing of an item they would like and the identity of a seller the item may be retrieved from. Another user may agree to pick up the item from the seller and deliver the item, perhaps for a small fee. The listing of the item may be posted on a website, sent to other users by a web feed such as RSS, sent by a text message, instant message, email, or communicated in any other manner to one or more users, etc. Alternatively, a user may post the identity of a seller that they are going to and ask if any users would like any items picked up from the seller and delivered to them, perhaps for a small fee.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer-usable medium are disclosed for providing information relating to damage incurred by a vehicle in an accident. A first plurality of markers with a first set of identifiers is embedded in a coating applied to a component of a first vehicle and a second plurality of markers with a second set of identifiers is embedded in a coating applied to a component of a second vehicle. Markers from the first vehicle are transferred to the second vehicle upon impact during an accident. The transferred markers are read by a marker reader and then processed to determine the identity of the first vehicle.

Abstract: A system for object tracking may comprise at least one subsystem that couples an electronic signal emitting and receiving device to an object to be tracked, at least one subsystem that assigns an identifier to the object, at least one subsystem that registers the identifier of the object with a second object, and at least one subsystem that establishes electronic communication between the object to be tracked and the second object via the electronic signal emitting and receiving device. Also a system for object tracking may comprise at least one subsystem that detects at a first object an electronic signal from a second object, and at least one subsystem that emits an electronic alert beacon from the first object when said first object is determined to be out of range of the second object.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a method, system, and computer-readable storage medium with instructions for recommending locations to a user. Preferred criteria may be selected by the user, for example, or a third party, and provide objective or subjective information that the user is seeking in a location. Embodiments may include compiling objective information with the location and comparing the objective information to preferred criteria. A user's profile may be compared to an other person's profile, where the other person's profile is associated to the location. A location may be recommended to the user if the objective information correlates to the preferred criteria and if the other person's profile correlates to the user's profile. Subjective information associated with the location may be provided to the user along with the recommended location. Furthermore, a location may be recommended to the user if the subjective information correlates to the preferred criteria.

Abstract: A shell device with minimal software and/or hardware resources can download from a server configuration information and/or user data in order to allow the shell device to communicate with other computing devices (whether cell phones, personal digital assistants, laptops, and the like). Various security features can also be used herein, including a shell device password and a server network access password. In another aspect, any time code and/or data is downloaded from the server to the shell device, such code and/or data resides on the shell device during the time of a communication between the server and the shell device; thereafter, it can be deleted, thereby returning the shell device to its minimalistic resource state. When the shell device contacts the server again and attempts to establish another communication, such code and/or data can be downloaded anew, and after the communication it can be deleted again.

Abstract: A system for object tracking may comprise at least one subsystem that couples an electronic signal emitting and receiving device to an object to be tracked, at least one subsystem that assigns an identifier to the object, at least one subsystem that registers the identifier of the object with a second object, and at least one subsystem that establishes electronic communication between the object to be tracked and the second object via the electronic signal emitting and receiving device. Also a system for object tracking may comprise at least one subsystem that detects at a first object an electronic signal from a second object, and at least one subsystem that emits an electronic alert beacon from the first object when said first object is determined to be out of range of the second object.

Abstract: When the deposit of a negotiable instrument, such as a check, is done electronically by using a digital image of the negotiable instrument rather than the negotiable instrument itself, during the process, at least two negotiable instruments may exist: the physical negotiable instrument and the digital image of the negotiable instrument. To change the physical negotiable instrument to a non-negotiable instrument, a bank or other financial institution may send a transmission to modify the appearance of the negotiable instrument, thus effectively “voiding” the physical negotiable instrument. The negotiable instrument may have various inks or mechanisms that facilitate the modification of the appearance through the application of a stimulus, such as heat or light. The financial institution may cause the application of the stimulus to modify the appearance of the negotiable instrument.

Abstract: A shell device with minimal software and/or hardware resources can download from a server configuration information and/or user data in order to allow the shell device to communicate with other computing devices (whether cell phones, personal digital assistants, laptops, and the like). Various security features can also be used herein, including a shell device password and a server network access password. In another aspect, any time code and/or data is downloaded from the server to the shell device, such code and/or data resides on the shell device during the time of a communication between the server and the shell device; thereafter, it can be deleted, thereby returning the shell device to its minimalistic resource state. When the shell device contacts the server again and attempts to establish another communication, such code and/or data can be downloaded anew, and after the communication it can be deleted again.

Abstract: Automobile accident claims initiation systems and methods are described. An insured driver may initiate a claim by operating a mobile device. The system provides automated inquiries to the driver through the mobile device. The driver provides responses to the inquiries using the mobile device. The driver may provide images and audio data, as well as personal information and information on the parties and vehicles involved in the accident. The system may automatically arrange for services such as a rental car or a tow truck. The system may provide claim information, such as a claim number to the driver by transmitting information to the mobile device.

Abstract: When the deposit of a negotiable instrument, such as a check, is done electronically by using a digital image of the negotiable instrument rather than the negotiable instrument itself, during the process, at least two negotiable instruments may exist: the physical negotiable instrument and the digital image of the negotiable instrument. To change the physical negotiable instrument to a non-negotiable instrument, a bank or other financial institution may send a transmission to modify the appearance of the negotiable instrument, thus effectively “voiding” the physical negotiable instrument. The negotiable instrument may have various inks or mechanisms that facilitate the modification of the appearance through the application of a stimulus, such as heat or light. The financial institution may cause the application of the stimulus to modify the appearance of the negotiable instrument.

Abstract: When the deposit of a negotiable instrument, such as a check, is done electronically by using a digital image of the negotiable instrument rather than the negotiable instrument itself, during the process, at least two negotiable instruments may exist: the physical negotiable instrument and the digital image of the negotiable instrument. To change the physical negotiable instrument to a non-negotiable instrument, a bank or other financial institution may send a transmission to modify the appearance of the negotiable instrument, thus effectively “voiding” the physical negotiable instrument. The negotiable instrument may have various inks or mechanisms that facilitate the modification of the appearance through the application of a stimulus, such as heat or light. The financial institution may cause the application of the stimulus to modify the appearance of the negotiable instrument.

Abstract: When the deposit of a negotiable instrument, such as a check, is done electronically by using a digital image of the negotiable instrument rather than the negotiable instrument itself, during the process, at least two negotiable instruments may exist: the physical negotiable instrument and the digital image of the negotiable instrument. To change the physical negotiable instrument to a non-negotiable instrument, a bank or other financial institution may send a transmission to modify the appearance of the negotiable instrument, thus effectively “voiding” the physical negotiable instrument. The negotiable instrument may have various inks or mechanisms that facilitate the modification of the appearance through the application of a stimulus, such as heat or light. The financial institution may cause the application of the stimulus to modify the appearance of the negotiable instrument.