Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a transaction authorization from a funds facilitation system for a transaction requested by a user to a merchant system such that the user is not required to input any user authentication information in excess of authentication information required by the merchant system are provided. A system and method can include receiving a transaction request from the merchant system containing a merchant ID, a merchant user ID, and a transaction amount. The system identifies a funds facilitation system user ID based on the merchant ID and the merchant user ID and determines satisfaction of a funds facilitation system user authentication requirement based on the merchant system having a trusted status with the funds facilitation system. A transaction authorization message or transaction denial message is provided to the merchant system based on account information associated with the user and the transaction amount.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a transaction authorization from a funds facilitation system for a transaction requested by a user to a merchant system such that the user is not required to input any user authentication information in excess of authentication information required by the merchant system are provided. A system and method can include receiving a transaction request from the merchant system containing a merchant ID, a merchant user ID, and a transaction amount. The system identifies a funds facilitation system user ID based on the merchant ID and the merchant user ID and determines satisfaction of a funds facilitation system user authentication requirement based on the merchant system having a trusted status with the funds facilitation system. A transaction authorization message or transaction denial message is provided to the merchant system based on account information associated with the user and the transaction amount.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a transaction authorization from a funds facilitation system for a transaction requested by a user to a merchant system such that the user is not required to input any user authentication information in excess of authentication information required by the merchant system are provided. A system and method can include receiving a transaction request from the merchant system containing a merchant ID, a merchant user ID, and a transaction amount. The system identifies a funds facilitation system user ID based on the merchant ID and the merchant user ID and determines satisfaction of a funds facilitation system user authentication requirement based on the merchant system having a trusted status with the funds facilitation system. A transaction authorization message or transaction denial message is provided to the merchant system based on account information associated with the user and the transaction amount.

Abstract: This relates to transferring funds from a payer to a payee in a electronic payment system. The electronic payment system includes a payment processor and an accounts database. The payment processor receives a payment request from the payer. The payment request includes information to identify the payee and a payment amount. An accounts database is accessed to determine if the accounts database includes an account associated with the payee. Based on a determination that the accounts database includes an account associated with the payee, an electronic message is sent from the payment processor to the payee, to notify the payee of the payment request. The accounts database is accessed to determine if the payee is identified as having a trusted relationship with the payer.

Abstract: An example funds facilitation system that facilitates transactions between a payer and payee includes a promotion processing system that facilitates the provision of promotions to account holders on the funds facilitation system. The party offering the promotion may be a merchant/payee that also has an account with the funds facilitation system. The promotion processing system applies promotion rules based on the identity of the merchant/payee and upon conditions placed on the promotion that identify a payer or a group of payers to receive the promotion. A user interface is provided for generating promotion rules and monitoring promotions. A user interface is also provided that displays unused promotion and gift codes and links to merchant/payee websites associated with the unused codes. The funds facilitation system can also provide authorization for purchases based on a condition, such as the age of the payer.

Abstract: This relates to transferring funds from a payer to a payee in a electronic payment system. The electronic payment system includes a payment processor and an accounts database. The payment processor receives a payment request from the payer. The payment request includes information to identify the payee and a payment amount. An accounts database is accessed to determine if the accounts database includes an account associated with the payee. Based on a determination that the accounts database includes an account associated with the payee, an electronic message is sent from the payment processor to the payee, to notify the payee of the payment request. The accounts database is accessed to determine if the payee is identified as having a trusted relationship with the payer.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing peer-to-peer and group financial management are provided herein. An example system includes a payment processor that executes software instructions for creating and managing electronic payment accounts and an accounts database to store account data from the payment processor. The payment processor may be configured to receive a payment request from a payer, the payment request including information to identify a payee and a payment amount. The payment processor may be further configured to determine if the accounts database includes an account associated with the payee, and based on a determination that the accounts database includes an account associated with the payee, send an electronic message to the payee that notifies the payee of the payment request.

Abstract: An example funds facilitation system that facilitates transactions between a payer and payee includes a promotion processing system that facilitates the provision of promotions to account holders on the funds facilitation system. The party offering the promotion may be a merchant/payee that also has an account with the funds facilitation system. The promotion processing system applies promotion rules based on the identity of the merchant/payee and upon conditions placed on the promotion that identify a payer or a group of payers to receive the promotion. A user interface is provided for generating promotion rules and monitoring promotions. A user interface is also provided that displays unused promotion and gift codes and links to merchant/payee websites associated with the unused codes. The funds facilitation system can also provide authorization for purchases based on a condition, such as the age of the payer.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing peer-to-peer and group financial management are provided herein. An example system includes a payment processor that executes software instructions for creating and managing electronic payment accounts and an accounts database to store account data from the payment processor. The payment processor may be configured to receive a payment request from a payer, the payment request including information to identify a payee and a payment amount. The payment processor may be further configured to determine if the accounts database includes an account associated with the payee, and based on a determination that the accounts database includes an account associated with the payee, send an electronic message to the payee that notifies the payee of the payment request.

Abstract: An example computer-implemented method of processing transactions in a funds facilitation system includes the steps of: receiving an electronic funding request to provide a payment for a transaction; identifying characteristics of the transaction based on information provided in the funding request; comparing the characteristics of the transaction with transaction rules stored in a rules database to determine at least one of: (a) a payment source for funding the funding request, and (b) an authentication procedure for authorizing the funding request. The selection of the authentication procedure is based at least in part on a stored trust level associated with a source of the electronic funding request. The receiving, identifying, and comparing steps are performed by software executable on one or more data processors. A funds facilitation system and memory structure are also included.

Abstract: A system and method for validating a relationship between a user and a user account at a financial institution includes a data communication device, a memory, a processor coupled to the memory, and an account validation module executable by the processor. The account validation module generates a verification identifier for storage in the memory and is provided to the user, and subsequently receives a user initiated financial transaction involving the user account at the financial institution. The received financial transaction includes a comparison identifier supplied by the user. The account validation module determines whether the comparison identifier corresponds to the verification identifier for purposes of validating the relationship between the user and the user account maintained at the financial institution.

Abstract: A system and method for validating a relationship between a user and a user account at a financial institution includes a data communication device, a memory, a processor coupled to the memory, and an account validation module executable by the processor. The account validation module generates a verification identifier for storage in the memory and is provided to the user, and subsequently receives a user initiated financial transaction involving the user account at the financial institution. The received financial transaction includes a comparison identifier supplied by the user. The account validation module determines whether the comparison identifier corresponds to the verification identifier for purposes of validating the relationship between the user and the user account maintained at the financial institution.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a transaction authorization from a funds facilitation system for a transaction requested by a user to a merchant system such that the user is not required to input any user authentication information in excess of authentication information required by the merchant system are provided. A system and method can include receiving a transaction request from the merchant system containing a merchant ID, a merchant user ID, and a transaction amount. The system identifies a funds facilitation system user ID based on the merchant ID and the merchant user ID and determines satisfaction of a funds facilitation system user authentication requirement based on the merchant system having a trusted status with the funds facilitation system. A transaction authorization message or transaction denial message is provided to the merchant system based on account information associated with the user and the transaction amount.

Abstract: Systems and methods for primary and sponsored accounts are provided. A system may include an account processor to execute software instructions for creating and managing electronic payment accounts and an accounts database to store account data from the account processor. The account processor may be configured to create a primary account and a sponsored account in the accounts database. The primary account may be associated with a primary account holder who has access to the primary account to add and remove funds. The sponsored account may be associated with both the primary account holder and a sponsored account holder, where the primary account holder has access to the sponsored account to transfer funds between the primary account and the sponsored account in order to add and remove funds from the sponsored account, and the sponsored account holder has access to the sponsored account for making transactions using funds in the sponsored account.

Abstract: A system and method for validating a relationship between a user and a user account at a financial institution includes a data communication device, a memory, a processor coupled to the memory, and an account validation module executable by the processor. The account validation module generates a verification identifier for storage in the memory and is provided to the user, and subsequently receives a user initiated financial transaction involving the user account at the financial institution. The received financial transaction includes a comparison identifier supplied by the user. The account validation module determines whether the comparison identifier corresponds to the verification identifier for purposes of validating the relationship between the user and the user account maintained at the financial institution.

Abstract: A system and process for providing a transaction infrastructure for matching user demand for a commodity such as energy across multiple sources and levels of distribution. A transaction hub is provided that normalizes transaction information across a plurality of distribution points. Scheduling and billing of users is managed at the hub, allowing fine and dynamic load balancing across multiple sources and levels.

Abstract: A technique for selectively inhibiting television receiving apparatus from displaying those television channels which are not authorized for viewing, such as unsubscribed television channels and channels with programs which satisfy predetermined content ratings criteria. Television channel information associated with television channels that are receivable by the television receiving apparatus, such as rating data representing the contents of the programs on the television channel, is obtained. A rating code representing the content ratings criteria of those channels which a viewer wishes to inhibit from being displayed also is obtained. When either channel up or channel down buttons are operated by the viewer, the rating data associated with the next television channel is compared with the rating code to determine if that television channel satisfies the predetermined content ratings criteria.

Abstract: A technique for selectively inhibiting television receiving apparatus from displaying those television programs which satisfy predetermined content ratings criteria. Television program information associated with television programs that are receivable by the television receiving apparatus during a selected time interval, such as channel data representing the channels on which the television programs are received and rating data representing the contents of those programs, is stored. A rating code representing the content ratings criteria of those programs which a viewer wishes to inhibit from being displayed also is stored. When a desired channel is selected by the viewer, the stored rating data associated with that channel is compared with the rating code to determine if the television program transmitted on that channel satisfies the predetermined content ratings criteria.

Abstract: An improved method of multiple-stage hydraulic fracturing of coal seams to improve the rate and total recovery of gas therefrom. In one aspect, the improvement comprises completing the well with 7-inch or larger casing and 31/2 inch or larger tubing. In another aspect, the stagewise fracturing is continued until the following quantity of 60-140 mesh proppants has been deposited in the formation:______________________________________ for 5 .ltoreq. h < 10, m .gtoreq. 500,000; for 10 .ltoreq. h < 15, m .gtoreq. 750,000; for 15 .ltoreq. h < 20, m .gtoreq. 1,000,000; for 20 .ltoreq. h < 25, m .gtoreq. 2,000,000; and for h .gtoreq. 25, m .gtoreq. 3,000,000; ______________________________________wherein h is the vertical thickness of the coal seam in feet and m is the minimum quantity of the fine proppants in pounds deposited therein.

Abstract: A method of hydraulically fracturing subterranean coal seams to improve the rate and total recovery of gas therefrom. The coal seam is fractured with acid and a proppant-laden fracing fluid in alternating injection stages. The initial injection stage of the fracturing fluid contains from about 0 to about 4 pounds of a spherical proppant having a particle size distribution substantially between 60 and 140 mesh. The subsequent fracing fluid injection stages are alternated with injection stages of a smaller volume of acid. The proppant loading in the fracing fluid is increased with each injection stage until the loading is from about 8 to about 12 pounds of proppant per gallon of fluid. The subsequent and terminal fracing fluid injection stages are with the higher proppant loading.