Abstract: A market indicator process, residing on a server, predicts an opening index price of a security index including at least two discrete securities. A trade monitoring process monitors at least a portion of the trading of the discrete securities that occur outside of a regular trading session. A closing price variation calculation process, responsive to the trade monitoring process, calculates the predicated opening index price of the security index for the beginning of the next regular trading session with respect to a closing index price of the security index at the end of the previous regular trading session. The index prices are indicative of the cumulative value of the discrete securities.

Abstract: A method for the auctioning of a multiple number of substantially similar items to a number of individual bidders including the following steps. Providing an indication of the number of substantially similar items available for auction, the minimum selling price for each item and a closing time for the auction. Receiving Individual bids from the bidders above the minimum and with each bid recorded and tabulated. At the closing time of the auction, comparing the number of bids with the number of available items and if more than the available items then the excess lowest bids are discarded and if less than the available items then all the bids are counted to provide a number of winning bids equal to or less than the available items.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a computerized business method for determining the fairness of a purchase of an item relative to previous purchases of the item by other buyers. The method comprises comparing an offer for an item to a fairness indicator determined through analyses of a plurality of sets of sales contract terms controlling a plurality of previous purchases of the item by a group of previous buyers, with each of the sets of sales contract terms controlling a previous purchase.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel options-based financial instruments, and a related system and method that automates market trading of the novel instruments. The invention protects positions against short-term market movements by inducing users on the opposite sides of a transaction to trade in equal or near equal dollar volumes. The system includes an automated price quotation capability for the instruments, that operates at computer speeds, without human intervention—specialists and market makers are not necessary. Through the use of feedback techniques, the system induces traders on the opposite sides of a transaction to trade in near equal numbers of round lots, minimizing the system's financial exposure from unbalanced trading. The system also fully automates the trading of the financial instruments themselves, plus the attendant functions (inventory control, billing, reporting, etc.), so that users may interact with the system on-line, without human intervention.

Abstract: A distributed computer system that enables end users to evaluate a broker's trade settlement performance by market and across multiple markets in terms of how many of the broker's trades failed. Trades are defined as having failed when the actual settle date exceeds the date on which the trade should have settled. The system analyzes trade settlement statistics about each broker within the context of a selected broker peer group, and ranks and compares a broker's settlement performance relative to the peer group. The system also ranks the brokers based on a set of metrics relative to the selected peer group. A broker's peer group is defined in terms of the broker's relative size within the trade universe as determined by trade count.

Abstract: A system for supporting trade transactions includes a server, a supplier client and a buyer client interconnected by a network. The server forecasts future quantity of sales by the buyer on a per-product basis based upon performance of sales to a customer by the buyer with regard to each product of a plurality of types and, based upon the forecast future sales quantity of every product, decides types of products and quantities thereof that the supplier is to export to the buyer. The forecast future sales quantity of every product and the decided types of products and quantities thereof to be exported are displayed on a display screen of the supplier client and/or buyer client.

Abstract: An item for use in a game can be easily and appropriately dealt. When an item to be purchased is selected from an auction item list on the screen of the user terminal, and when a bid price which can be paid for the item is determined, the current bid price (old bid price) of the highest bidder is read. The read old bid price is compared with the new bid price, and it is determined whether the new bid price is the highest. If it is the highest price, then the player save data is read, and it is determined whether there is enough money to pay the bid price. If there is enough money to pay the bid price, the amount corresponding to the bid price is subtracted from the player save data.

Abstract: A system and method for providing starter credit card products to selected customers of a credit card issuer is disclosed. Methods, systems and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention enable a credit card issuer to identify a group of customers that may not eligible to obtain standard credit card products offered by the credit card issuer. The credit card issuer may rank these customers and present offers for starter credit card accounts with adjusted account parameters tailored to these customers. The credit card issuer monitors the activities of each starter card account during a trial period to determine whether each respective account has met predetermined criteria. Based on the results of the monitor process, the credit card issuer may adjust the parameters associated with each starter credit card account.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for explaining credit scores, for example in connection with a credit score explanation service, in which consumers can identify the sources of information used to establish their credit score, supply their credit report and credit score information in connection with their application for credit-related products and services, such as loans, and determine the effect on their credit score and cost for credit-related products and services based upon various hypothetical changes in their credit behavior.

Abstract: A process for facilitating financial transactions between individuals residing in different locations. Independent sender agents and independent receiver agents handle the transactions, working through an intermediary and one or more financial institutions. An intermediary is established to function as a clearing house, guarantor, auctioneer, and/or tracker of the transaction. Information regarding the transactions are sent through a data network, such as via telephone or the Internet. The funds are sent through one or more financial mediums, such as by bank wires, ATM cards, smart cards, store credits, or similar financial vehicles. Thereby, the process functions to provide fast, safe, and economical monetary remittances.

Abstract: An Internet banking center (center) is established which mediates between fund transfer utilizing business enterprises and a fund transfer dealing financial institution system, and fund transfer fee databases of customers and a beneficiary's account database in which a beneficiary's account fee for each of customers is stored are held in the Internet banking system. The remote maintenance of the fund transfer fee databases is carried out from the financial institution side, while with respect to the beneficiary's account database, each of customers maintains a part thereof associated with himself/herself.

Abstract: A transfer request is initiated by the owner of a target account at a device connected to a target server. The transfer request is transferred via a network to a source server for the source account from which the funds are to be transferred. Information in the transferee-initiated transfer request is then available to the transferor to fully define the transaction.

Abstract: A center apparatus includes recording units connected to a remitter terminal and financial agency apparatuses. The center apparatus receives the remittance information containing the customer identification information, a remittance amount desired to be remitted by the remitter, a receipt date which is a time limit date of payment and a remittee account and extracts an account possessed by the remitter from the customer data recording unit on the basis of the customer identification information, extracting transmission processing methods capable of making remittance to the remittee account from the extracted account until the receipt date on the basis of the transmission term stored in the term recording unit, selecting to provide one of the extracted transmission processing methods on the basis of the charge stored in the charge recording unit.

Abstract: A user-wearable electronic wireless transaction apparatus is disclosed. The user-wearable electronic wireless transaction apparatus comprises a housing which houses a wireless communication device, one or more electronic circuits, a power source, a display device and a biometric data reading device. While enabled as a timepiece or performing other functions suitable to a user-wearable apparatus, the apparatus can establish wireless communication with a counterpart communication apparatus in order to conduct a transaction. The biometric data reading device can read the user's applicable biometric data and then transmit a user identity validation and the wireless communication device can transmit user authorization for the transaction.

Abstract: An electronic analog of a checkbook provides for instantaneously drafting and transmission of checks and drafts. A user is authenticated by a biometric characteristic or the like. Payees and electronic routing information is stored in a database and used with data input to the device to formulate an electronic draft or check. The electronic check can be transferred to a financial institution via the Internet or other data network to route funds to a payee without having to generate a paper instrument. An alternative embodiment enables checks to be printed directly from the digital checkbook when electronic funds transfers are not possible.

Abstract: In an account transaction such as an ATM transaction, a server in communication with an ATM stores a copy of the account balance. Before processing the transaction, the server reads the balance from memory and determines whether the account contains sufficient funds for the transaction. In order to prevent overdrawing of the account, the server makes any balance update predicated on the fact that the current balance in the account database is the same as the balance of the local copy of the account. If the account balance stored in the database is not the same, the server rolls back the request and updates the account balance stored in the local copy. This process continues until either the account balance is updated or the transaction is aborted.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to an access terminal maintained by a service provider and connected to a global communications network for furnishing telecommunications and automated teller machine (ATM) services to a customer, where the access terminal comprises a microcontroller for executing preprogrammed instructions and generating directives, a payment acceptor electrically connected and responsive to the microcontroller for accepting payment from the customer to pay for access to the services, a multimedia user interface electrically connected and responsive to the microcontroller for enabling exchange of information between the customer and the access terminal during access to the services upon accepting payment from the customer, the multimedia user interface including an ATM interface in one mode of operation for executing an ATM/POS financial transaction by the customer via the global communications network, and a network interface device electrically connected and responsive to the mic

Abstract: A storage device (10) for storing valuable media is described. The device has a rotary storage compartment (14) for storing media items (100) in a fixed order. The items are held in place by one or two tapes (16 and/or 18) wound around the rotary storage compartment. The device includes a memory (16 and/or 18) for storing the order in which the items are stored and details of transactions associated with the stored items, so that each stored item can be linked to a transaction. In a preferred embodiment, one of the tapes (16 or 18) serves as the memory so that transaction details for a stored media item (100) can be read as the stored media item (100) is dispensed from the storage device (10).

Abstract: According to the present invention, an automatic transaction apparatus, which provides usability commensurate with capabilities of a user, comprises: notification means for notifying the user of the contents of an operation; operating means for receiving an instruction from the user; detection means for detecting the operating state of the user; control means for controlling the usability of the operating means based on the operating state detected by the detection means; and reading/recording means for reading the operating state and control parameters from the memory of the card, or writing them thereto.

Abstract: An automatic money receiving and paying machine permits the user to deposit and withdraw money of a plurality of currencies in a plurality of accounts for improving convenience. An ATM can read a plurality of candidate accounts with which the user can deposit and withdraw money by a magnetic card which records a plurality of account numbers. The ATM communicates with a host computer to present the user with information such as an interest rate, the balance and the like for each candidate account. Conversion rates are presented to the user with the foregoing information to assist the user to deposit or withdraw money of a currency unit which is different from that designated to a candidate account. The user can select an account and a currency unit using the presented information for determination.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and apparatus for ensuring secured dialog between a card holder and a card provider via a network is provided. The system facilitates real-time communicate between a card provider virtual agent and a card holder using a card holder interface operating via a network. In a typical arrangement, the card holder requests completion of a transaction from a merchant system via a network. The upon receiving notification that the transaction request has been denied by the card provider system, the card holder is provided real-time access to the card provider virtual agent. The virtual agent may then send a transaction approval code to the card provider system overriding any transaction denial and permitting the card holder to resubmit the transaction request to the merchant system for subsequent approval.

Abstract: Method for paying an amount electronically, in particular a relatively large amount or a series of very small amounts for use of an application made available by a service provider in a data network, in particular the Internet, by a customer to a trader by involving a payment system server of a payment system provider, the payment being carried out by transmitting a confirmation message from a customer terminal via a mobile telephone network using USSD.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for issuance of biometrically secured online credit or other payment transactions without tokens or cards. A buyer supplies a registration biometric sample which is used to generate a registration biometric template. The registration biometric template is stored and used to authenticate financial transactions. As part of a registration process, a buyer may be verified using a series of questions generated from public and non-public information to which the buyer knows the answer but an impersonator may not. In subsequent financial transactions, the buyer supplies a verification biometric sample used to generate a verification biometric template. The verification and registration biometric templates are compared to determine if a requested financial transaction should be authorized. The kinds of biometric samples used may be keystroke-scans, face-scans, voice-scans, or fingerprint-scans.

Abstract: A SAM receives a secure container in which content data encrypted with content key data, the encrypted content key data, and UCP data designating a handling policy of the content data are stored, and determines at least one of the purchase mode and the usage mode of the content data based on the UCP data. The SAM serves as a slave for a host CPU, and is also provided with a common memory shared with the host CPU.

Abstract: A method includes maintaining in a first server unique references to content received from primary servers, maintaining an index containing the unique references to the content, and notifying a secondary server when updated content has been added to the server.

Abstract: A material distribution apparatus, comprising a material server including a data introduction processor operable to introduce data into material to be distributed with the effect that the introduced data is at least difficult to perceive in the material, and a material impairment processor operable to introduce a reversible impairment into the material. A communications network distributes the impaired material to at least one client processor which includes an impairment reversing processor operable to reverse the impairment of the material to produce client restored material.

Abstract: An image commercial transactions system and method, an image transfer system and method, an image distribution system and method, and a display device and method are disclosed. A reception dealer accepts the transfer of an image recorded on a recording medium in a predetermined format with a handling condition intrinsic to the image, and transfers the image with the handling condition, and an advertisement, in digital data format, and a charge accounting dealer effects an electronic charge accounting transaction for the transfer of data of the image with the handling condition and the advertisement. Accordingly, a forwarding request user is helpful in making public the advertisement by having the data of the advertisement along with the data of the image forwarded, instead of the reception dealer, whereby a transfer fee for the data of image can be made lower. Consequently, it is possible to enhance the usability for the transfer significantly.

Abstract: A method, computer program, and data processing system for accepting Internet access charges for a user examining a particular website is disclosed. The present invention enables businesses, organizations, and individuals to entice users that must pay for Internet access time to browse their websites freely without concern for cost.

Abstract: A system for the selection and subsequent receipt of audio signals over a common carrier such as the Internet or a telephone line by a user. The audio signals are a musical composition and may be received in real time and listened to while being received, or they may be compressed, as desired. Various methods whereby the user can subscribe to the system are disclosed. Apparatus disposed at the location of the user allows for the receipt and subsequent listening of the musical composition. A transceiver and figurine which are adapted to respectively transmit and receive the audio signal, are disclosed. The audio signal file is transmitted by the transceiver to the figurine, which receives it and which is also adapted to play the musical composition, such as to a child in a crib.

Abstract: Rights management information is used at least in part in a matching, narrowcasting, classifying and/or selecting process. A matching and classification utility system comprising a kind of Commerce Utility System is used to perform the matching, narrowcasting, classifying and/or selecting. The matching and classification utility system may match, narrowcast, classify and/or select people and/or things, non-limiting examples of which include software objects. The Matching and Classification Utility system may use any pre-existing classification schemes, including at least some rights management information and/or other qualitative and/or parameter data indicating and/or defining classes, classification systems, class hierarchies, category schemes, class assignments, category assignments, and/or class membership.

Abstract: The operating and other procedures of an optical disk application system of the type for which a network is used are simplified. Optical disks have auxiliary data recording areas, where different IDs for individual disks, and/or cipher keys and/or decoding keys for ciphers are recorded in advance in a factory. By using the IDs to release the soft ciphers, using the cipher keys when sending the ciphers, and using the decoding keys when receiving the ciphers, user authorization procedures are simplified.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for supporting the blocking of credit or bank cards of a card user, and a blocking server, a device and a bank server to execute the method. A card-individual blocking code is stored in a storage medium. Upon a control command from the card user, the blocking code is read from the storage medium and a card-individual blocking code is sent over a communications network to a central blocking server. The received blocking code is verified by the central blocking server. Upon positive verification, the blocking server prompts the blocking of the credit or bank card related to the blocking code.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, signals and media for conducting a cardholder transaction are disclosed. One such method involves authorizing a transaction to proceed in response to receiving an identification of an adjudicator confirming that computer readable information retrieved from a card matches a feature of a bearer of the card while the information is being presented to the adjudicator.

Abstract: “SHIFT”, is a radically different Credit Card Internet Security System that converts the current “Vendor Take From” system, to a “Cardholder Pay To” system, where purchases are made over the Internet, but where payments for the purchase are made with the use of the “SHIFT” Unit by the Cardholder over the Cardholder's home telephone line.

Abstract: A prepaid card terminal connected via a global communications network to a remote central server adapted to store and maintain account data associated with a prepaid card where the prepaid card terminal comprises a microcontroller for executing preprogrammed instructions and generating directives, input means electrically connected and responsive to the microcontroller for enabling a customer to input information including prepayment amount in connection with the prepaid card and generating an information signal to the microcontroller, a currency acceptor electrically connected and responsive to the microcontroller for accepting currency from the customer to pay the prepayment amount, and generating a currency accepted signal to the microcontroller upon paying the prepayment amount, output means electrically connected and responsive to the microcontroller for prompting the customer to input the information, and a network interface device electrically connected and responsive to the microcontroller for interfa

Abstract: An integrated reliability and financial planning system. The system uses contemporary and historical information on product warranty events, shipments and installed base to determine expected events over time. Based upon the expected event rate and warranty structure, the warranty cost for a product is predicted over the warranty life of the product. The resources required for service and support of the product are determined, and accruals and de-accruals for warranty expenses are planned for automatically, The system also provides for the examination of alternative scenarios to determine the impact of warranty structural changes and event rate changes.

Abstract: A method for pricing a product by a wholesaler. The method comprises providing a master database of product information to a distributor, receiving a selection of products from the distributor, wherein the distributor chooses the selection from the master database and provides a variable margin amount for the products to the wholesaler. The wholesaler associates a customer category with the variable margin amounts, and then assigns the customer category to one of the products. Finally, the wholesaler calculates a variable price for the products, based on provided variable margin amount and transmits the calculated variable price for the products to the distributor.

Abstract: A business management method with interactions between a direct electrical energy supplier, a plurality of indirect energy suppliers, and a plurality of customer energy consumers, the direct electrical energy supplier being the direct supplier of electricity to the customer energy consumers, and the indirect energy suppliers being indirect suppliers of the customer energy consumers by supplying the direct electrical energy supplier, comprises the steps of: the consumers providing respective electricity load profiles to the direct electrical energy supplier; the direct electrical energy supplier aggregating the respective projected electricity load profiles; the direct electrical energy supplier, in a low asking electrical energy price situation, generating economically advantageous specials for the situation taking account of the projected electricity load profiles; the direct electrical energy supplier deciding which ones of the specials to offer to which consumers, taking account of the projected electricit

Abstract: A technique for clustering input data includes receiving data and reading a sample of the received data having a predetermined window length. The technique further includes checking the read sample of data for uncertainty and/or robustness and determining the clustering approach to be used to cluster the received data based on the outcome of the checking.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for controlling an electrical device using a bio-signal measured when a user moves his/her face, and method thereof. The apparatus according to the present invention comprises a bio-signal detection unit for detecting the bio-signal generated when the user firmly shuts his/her mouth and when the user moves his/her head; a bio-signal amplification unit for amplifying the amount of the bio-signal detected in the bio-signal detection unit; an A/D converter for converting the amplified bio-signal into the bio-signal of a digital mode; a control unit for analyzing the bio-signal of the digital mode to determine a corresponding command of the user and then generating a determined command of the user; and a transmission unit for transmitting the determined command to the electrical device via infrared rays.

Abstract: A system (50) for earning functional usage patterns of a user of the system (50) and for planning a best sequences of events suitable for a particular user in a particular context is disclosed. Information relating to user decisions, such as the context during which the decision was made and the actual user decision, is gathered by the DTV-agent (36) and delivered to the active avatar agent (37). The learning module (39) operates to identify all generalisation patterns from a number of instances. Method (500) then determines which particular decision is most appropriate by comparing the generalisation patterns with the current context for which a decision must be made. Clusters of such behaviour patterns are formed with each cluster having the same number of matched attributes. A decision selecting process then selects a decision which is most appropriate to the current context from the behaviour patterns.

Abstract: A system for information management comprises a look-up unit (4), in which are stored particulars about a plurality of regions (5′), each of which represents an area on at least one imaginary surface (5) and is allocated an address. A user unit (2) records electronically information which comprises one or more positions on the imaginary surface (5) and sends all or parts of the recorded information to the look-up unit (4). When the look-up unit (4) receives the recorded information, it identifies, based on the position content of the recorded information, a region (5′) on the imaginary surface (5) and sends the address which is allocated to the identified region to the user unit (2).

Abstract: A system and method for normalizing encoded text data such as Unicode which is extensible without use of character definition tables through the use of metadata tagging. First, metadata characters, which have no effect on the interpretation of the raw text data, are used to express higher order protocols of encoded two text strings. Next, meta normal form conversion is performed on one or both of two strings to be compared, if both strings are not already in the same meta normal form. Finally, content equivalence determination is performed in which the characters in each string are compared to each other. If a string contains a metadata character, that character is ignored for purposes of equivalence comparison. The remaining characters represent the pure content of the string, e.g. characters without any particular glyph representation.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a method for affinity free restart of a resource manager in a multi-system environment. The method begins when a restart request is received from a first resource manager on a first system in the multi-system environment. The first resource manager is associated with an incomplete transaction. Next, a distributed transaction unit of recovery structure is built for the incomplete transaction. Then, the distributed transaction unit of recovery structure is sent to a transaction manager for restart processing. The restart process includes restarting the first resource manager on the first system. The restart process also includes restarting a second resource manager on a second system in the multi-system environment if the incomplete transaction is associated with the second resource manager.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a method for performing in-line text expansion. A program on a user system requests a data file from a server system. The data file is received and stored by the user system and then displayed. Displaying the data file includes reading a record from the data file and then displaying the header data on the user system screen. Additionally, if the display body flag for the record is set to “ON”, the body data contained in the record is also displayed on the user system screen. Each record in the data file is displayed in this manner. The user screen can also be updated in response to the user selecting particular fields on the screen. The first case is when the user selects header data for a particular record and the body display flag is set to “ON.” In response to the user selection the method will remove the associated body data from the screen and set the body display flag to “OFF.

Abstract: The instant invention provides for a system and method for asynchronously sharing, backing up, and distributing data based on immutable entries. The system which is layered upon an existing operating system automatically stores, queues and distributes requested data among users.

Abstract: An apparatus adapted to generate contract documents includes a plurality of computing platforms; a plurality of memory storage devices coupled to the computing platforms, the plurality of memory devices including a first memory storage device storing a database of items, a second memory storage device storing rules corresponding to each item, a third memory storage device storing rules corresponding to each requester, a fourth memory storage device storing a database of generated documents, and a secure memory storage device; a plurality of networks coupled to the plurality of computing platforms, the computing platforms capable of receiving and transmitting requests for the items by requesters over the plurality of networks, the computing platforms being programmed to: process requests of items by at least one requester by determining if at least one of the items requested is stored in the first memory storage device, retrieving rules corresponding to the at least one requestor stored in the third memory sto

Abstract: A method and a system for making a production plan are proposed, for allowing a request from a client to be analyzed in real time, and the production plan to be constructed in response to manufactured or semi-manufactured products at a production line, so as to implement production according to the production plan and allow a production condition to be effectively controlled and managed. Moreover, the method and system for making a production plan allow a production cycle and human resources to be effectively controlled and adjusted respectively, so that sale, purchase and manufacture departments can realize the latest production and export conditions according to the production plan. In addition, in the use of the method and system for making a production plan, the manufactured products can be effectively controlled in stock and exportation.

Abstract: A method and system for mining a document containing dirty text. Dirty text is removed or replaced and the document is processed using a variety of text mining techniques. In one embodiment, dirty text removal and replacement occurs in two stages. In the first stage, a general cleaning occurs on all documents without regard to what domain they belong to or the mining task to be performed. In the second stage, document cleaning is more specific to the anomalies of the domain and the mining task to be performed. In the third stage, the document is processed using a variety of data mining techniques according to the mining task. In one embodiment, the present invention scores and ranks sentences in a document according to their relevance, extracts the highest ranked sentences, and presents a summary. The present invention allows users to leverage existing domain knowledge and can be customized according the domain and task requirements.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method of improved report generation. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a computer-implemented report generation system that generally includes a first generator and a second generator. The first generator is operably linked through a first interface to one or more associated first type components which invokes first type components to generate a report element of the first type. Likewise, the second generator is operably linked through a second interface to one or more associated second type components which invokes second type components to generate a report element of a second type. The first and second type generators each invoke at least one component in response to processing first and second type included component sections that identify the at least one first and second type components to be invoked.