Abstract: A method of measuring the quality of a surface of a substrate is described. The method includes the steps of obtaining a digital image of a portion of a surface of the substrate using an image obtaining apparatus; and measuring one or more physical characteristics of the obtained digital image so as to provide an indication of the quality of the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: The invention provides a credit card or credit card services provided by a credit card entity to a cardholder that provides at least one health reminder sent to or accessed by the cardholder of the credit card and related credit card customer services, wherein the health related information provided by the health reminder is not related to the financial or account information related to the use of the credit card.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods, systems and transaction cards or identification systems, using transaction network comprising proprietary card network, EFT, ACH, or ATM, for end user management of a global financial account by manual or automatic prepaying, prepaying, paying or unpaying, debiting or crediting, or readjustment or presetting, using parameters relating to portions of paid or unpaid financial transactions or account balance amounts in multiple credit, cash or other existing, or end user created, financial accounts or sub-accounts in said global financial account that is optionally subject to financial account issuer transaction or readjustment fees from end users and merchants, including optional use for financial transactions as a credit transaction card requiring merchant credit card interchange or other fees, and optional end user fees, as additional revenue to the global account issuer.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems are provided that enables at least one debit for a financial transaction and account management features using at least two financial accounts from which such debits and/or credits can be made from said at least two financial accounts using preset financial account parameters including, but not limited to, at least one ratio, an amount threshold, a remainder threshold, a minimum available account balance, a maximum available account balance, a minimum debit amount, a range of debit amounts, a maximum debit amount, a qualitative or quantitative aspect of at least one said financial accounts, or any combination thereof, and/or other parameters, such as, but not limited to at least one threshold amount and/or remainder amount.

Abstract: An automated data processing systems and associated method for detecting and reporting the erroneous processing and adjudication of heath care claims and resulting payments made to a heath care provider by one or more third parties, such as medical insurance companies. A rules engine applies business logic to compare an electronic representation of a claim, an electronic representation of a payment and an associated explanation of benefits, with an electronic representation of contractual terms to determine any discrepancies between the electronic representation of the claim and the electronic representation of the payment and the explanation of benefits in relation to the electronic representation of the contractual terms. Any discrepancies uncovered by this comparison are reported to the user.