Abstract: The present invention comprises a system for surveying and reporting of wage and benefit information, as well as other competitive economic data, to subscriber companies in a manner that permits flexibility in the statistical analysis performed on the data as well as the manner of reporting. A user is able to select which competitors will be used for comparison based on the date on which the survey data was entered for each competitor, and based on the facilities and personnel that a particular competitor may have in common with the user. Where the data entered is job salary and benefit data, users also have the flexibility to request reports by cross-industry occupation so that the data is not limited solely to the particular industry in question even if that industry competes with others for the same types of employees.

Abstract: This invention provides methods and systems for the efficient securitization and risk management of life settlement contracts. The advantages of the present invention include the ability to create securities derived from diverse pools of life insurance related obligations by managing, disaggregating, and recombining the risks of the underlying life insurance obligations into newly created securities of high credit quality termed Collateralized Life Settlement Obligations (“CLSO”), which can then be offered for sale or as collateral for repurchase (repo) transactions thereby facilitating an efficient and low-cost source of capital for acquiring the underlying life insurance related obligations.

Abstract: An investment system that includes a revolving asset pool for holding income-bearing assets. A manager is responsible for actively managing the asset pool by purchasing and selling assets in the pool. A tax-advantaged entity such as an LLC or a partnership owns the assets in the asset pool such that income (less costs) generated by the asset pool is all paid to the investors. The manager actively manages the assets in the asset pool by ensuring that the assets are performing adequately and by reinvesting paid principal in additional assets. A portion of the capital contributed and a portion of the income generated from the assets create reserves to pay losses on the revolving asset pool with the remainder distributed to the investors. Optionally, an insurer/financial guarantor enhances the credit quality of the assets in the revolving asset pool such that the securities backed by the assets have a minimum investment grade.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is provided for valuing and hedging payoffs that are determined by an underlying non-marketed variable that moves randomly [200]. The value assigned is that which is obtained by projecting the instantaneous return of the future payoff onto the span of marketed assets. An explicit method is provided for determining this value by determining a suitable market representative [210]. In a continuous-time embodiment, the methodology is based on an extended Black-Scholes equation [220] that accounts for the correlation between the underlying non-tradable asset and marketed assets. Once this extended equation is solved [210], the value of the payoff, the optimal hedging strategy [240], and the residual risk of the optimal hedge can be determined [250]. In alternate embodiments, the same value is determined as the discounted expected value of the payoff, using risk-neutral probabilities for the non-marketed variable.

Abstract: An automated portfolio manager system enables an investor or portfolio manager to quickly adjust the underlying risk of the entire portfolio without modifying the underlying investments in the portfolio. A user interface enables the user to adjust the risk (e.g., beta) of a portfolio of investments without adding or deleting investments from the portfolio by purchasing more or less of the entire portfolio on margin, thereby increasing or decreasing the riskiness of the portfolio. A predetermined portfolio of investments is provided to all investors. Each investor's desired risk/reward characteristic for his or her portfolio is accommodated by determining an appropriate amount of the predetermined portfolio to purchase on margin or an appropriate amount of the user's funds to place in cash reserves (or other less risky investment) to modify an actual risk/reward characteristic of the portfolio so that it matches the investor's desired risk/reward characteristic without changing the underlying investments.

Abstract: Market data is recorded from a real live exchange. The recording data can be played back in real time or delayed, in any manner, to simulate the recorded market. Moreover, one or more users can participate in the simulated market just as if they were participating in a real-live market. The system provides a realistic trading environment without the associated risks of trading in a live-market such as losing money and the cost of making trades. The system may be used for training purposes and for purposes of testing and analyzing various trading strategies. Software developers and testers may also the realistic environment to develop trading products or applications. Additionally, the system provides a means for demonstrating trading application products.

Abstract: A computerized method for exchanging products or services is provided. A first entity referred to as marketmaker specifies one or more terms for a product. The terms comprise product name, grade, quantity range, product's origin (whether it is subject to customs duty or not), delivery point, payment term and a price. One or more offers to sell a product are received from a seller. The offer to sell comprises of the following terms: Product Name, grade, product specifications, origin, producer, quantity, delivery point, delivery period, payment term, invited parties, limitations for buyer counters and price. If the price of any particular sell offer is higher than the price specified by the marketmaker for that particular offer, the offer is rejected and cannot be posted on the Exchange. In response to the offer to sell, one or more counter offers to buy from one or more buyers for the product are received.

Abstract: A system and method for receiving streamed, real time quotes with respect to financial instruments. The system applies a spreadsheet based investment strategy to the real time quotes, generating electronic orders based on the results of the investment strategy analysis and transmitting the orders for real time execution. The system generates a unique order identifier that allows users to actively track the status of orders in real time. This unique order identifiers can be shared with other users so that other trading strategies can be developed to execute upon the successful execution of the order (e.g., hedging).

Abstract: A method and system for financing publicly traded companies. According to one embodiment, a client provides collateral for receiving financing. Such collateral includes, on one hand, pledged assets, for example, accounts receivable, equipment, inventory real estate and the like, and on the other hand, stock. The stock is transferred to an entity, such as a limited liability company (LLC). The stock may be liquidated throughout the term of the financing or upon default by the client. If the client defaults, the cash and stock are provided to the lending party; where the LLC is majority owned by the client and the client does not default, at the end of the term, the client has a funded financing company in the form of the LLC.

Abstract: A method for conducting an auction in which bidders are encouraged to make more aggressive bids than they might otherwise make because they know that such bids will result in an ancillary advantage to themselves. The auction variables are those aspects of the auction that become the contract terms of the contract. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, a relationship between a first auction variable and a second auction variable is defined and published, and the relationship is such that changes in the first auction variable in a direction favorable to the auction solicitor result in changes in the second auction variable in a direction favorable to bidders. This positive feedback mechanism encourages bidders to make more aggressive bids than they might otherwise make.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed which relate to submitting auction bids via interface surfaces printed with information and coded data. The coded data, encoded visibly or invisibly, may be queried by an appropriate sensing device. The sensing device communicates with a computer system. Together, the interface surfaces, sensing device and computer system are capable of effecting auction bid transactions over a network.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with embodiments of the present invention perform a fraud detection process that organizes collected documents into one of a set of categories based on selected variables and information included in the documents. Each category of documents has one or more category types, which in turn, are associated with at least one variable that is further associated with certain threshold limits. The fraud detection process identifies one or more category types that are indicative of fraud based on an analysis of threshold violations for each variable in each category type. Based on the results of the analysis, and possibly filtering logic, selected documents are extracted from the identified category types and targeted for fraud analysis that may include validating the information included in each extracted document.

Abstract: A method of refinancing a mortgage loan is provided. The method of refinancing a mortgage loan comprises pre-approving a customer for refinancing of a mortgage loan. This customer is sent a pre-screened offer. The offer comprises materials setting forth the terms of the refinanced mortgage loan, materials providing all required pre-acceptance disclosures, and instructions describing how the customer may accept the offer. Upon receiving an indication of acceptance of the offer from the customer, a closing package is sent to the customer to be executed by the customer. The execution of the closing package by the customer creates a refinancing loan agreement. Also provided is a closing package for a mortgage loan comprising closing documents and a format and instructions providing specific guidance to the customer for completion and execution of the closing documents.

Abstract: An affiliated store terminal obtains a security code and a card holder's attribution information of a credit card, such as a card holder's attribution information consists of a date of birth, lower four figures of a home telephone number, a last name and a first name of a card holder. An authorization request transmitted from the affiliated terminal is transmitted to a card company apparatus, and further transmitted to a card issuing company apparatus through an intermediary center apparatus. The card company apparatus executes an authorization process and return a result of the authorization process to the affiliated store terminal through the intermediary center apparatus and the previous card company apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed is a computer-implemented method for automatic remote coding of a debtor credit card account database with bankruptcy filing information comprising, at a local data processing location, the steps of collecting bankruptcy filing reports from courts located within the various jurisdictions for which the method provides coverage, extracting unique debtor identifying data from the bankruptcy filing reports, and generating a database query designed to identify database records which match the unique debtor identifying data; the step of establishing an electronic connection between the local data processing location and a remote credit database storage location, the electronic connection being suitable for two-way transmission of data between the local data processing location and the remote credit database storage location; the step of executing, from the local data processing location, the database query against a debtor credit database housed at the remote credit database storage location and identifyi

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for processing transactions between a vendor and a purchaser. A payment system is provided in communication with the vendor, a financial institution that holds a vendor account on behalf of the vendor, and a financial institution that holds a purchaser account on behalf of the purchaser. The payment system collects funds from the purchaser account and holds them in a vendor account, distributing funds for individual partial shipments as they are made by the vendor.

Abstract: In a payment validation system, a mobile phone or other communications terminal associated with a particular user is used. A vending node communicates with a validation platform which either returns a telephone number to be displayed for the user to call or which calls the alleged users phone or terminal for confirmation.

Abstract: A method of integrating presentment and payment of bills is provided. Bill information, representing a first bill of a first payee, but not a second bill of a second payee, for a payor is transmitted from the service provider to the payor via the communications network. A first payment instruction to pay the first bill based on the transmitted bill information, and a second payment instruction to pay the second bill which was not transmitted to the payor by the service provuder, are received at the service provider via the communications network. Payment of the first bill to the first payee is initiated by the service provider based on the received first payment instruction. Payment of the second bill to the second payee is initiated by the service provider based upon the second payment instruction.

Abstract: A service provider activates, for a subscriber, a first biller for electronic presentment of bills and a second biller for electronic bill payments by receiving, from the subscriber, information identifying the first and the second of a plurality of billers, as well as subscriber information associated with the subscriber. The service provider transmits to the first biller a request for verification of validity of the received subscriber information, and receives a verification of validity responsive to the transmitted verification request. Based on the received verification of validity, the service provider activates electronic presentment of bills of the first biller for the subscriber. On the other hand, the service provider activates only electronic bill payment of the second biller for the subscriber, without any verification from the second biller of the validity of the received subscriber information.

Abstract: A system for delivering and paying subscriber bills associated with a plurality of billers includes a server computer and at least one subscriber computer connected to a communications network. The server computer transmits bill presentment information representing one or more bills for a subscriber, each of the one or more bills having an associated biller, via the network. A subscriber computer includes a communications port for receiving the transmitted bill presentment information representing the one or more bills for the subscriber, and a display for displaying the received bill presentment information. An input device is also provided for selecting at least one of the one or more bills represented by the displayed bill presentment information. The subscriber computer additionally has a processor for causing the communications port to transmit a payment record for the selected at least one bill, to the server computer via the network, responsive to the selection.

Abstract: A service provider activates subscribers for electronic presentment of bills and for electronic payments by receiving, from a first subscriber, information identifying a first of a plurality of billers and information that the first biller associates with the first subscriber. The service provider also receives, from a second subscriber, information identifying a second of the plurality of billers and information that the second biller associates with the second subscriber. The service provider transmits to the first biller a request for verification of validity of the received information which the first biller associates with the first subscriber, and receives a verification of validity responsive to the transmitted verification request. Based on the received verification of validity, the service provider activates the first subscriber for electronic presentment of bills of the first biller.

Abstract: A web service interface defined for a billing service, comprising a plurality of application programming interfaces, where each application programming interface is associated with a billing function provided by the billing service, where each of the application programming interfaces can be implemented such that the billing function associated therewith is performed after a web service invocation that commands performance of that billing function is received by the web service interface. The web service interface is used to provide the billing service as a web service to computing applications in a distributed network environment.

Abstract: A method of issuing a purchase card is provided. The method includes the steps of presenting a purchaser with the opportunity to buy the purchase card, determining whether the purchaser has sufficient funds to pay for the purchase card, creating a purchase card account for a recipient designated by the purchaser, and issuing the purchase card. The purchase card may also be issued in connection with another credit card, for example as a rebate for purchases on the credit card. The purchase card may also be converted to a credit card.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cash handling apparatus and a method in which, during one transaction, banknotes are both paid in and paid out again.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed which relate to online banking via interface surfaces printed with information and coded data. The coded data, encoded visibly or invisibly, may be queried by an appropriate sensing device. The sensing device communicates with a computer system. Together, the interface surfaces, sensing device and computer system are capable of effecting banking transactions over a network.

Abstract: A system for authenticating individuals traveling to and from various destinations at various times. Personal identity and travel privilege verification are coordinated for several modes of transportation, including aircraft, boats, buses, cars and trains. Travel privileges are considered to be the ability to leave the current location, travel to the desired location, travel at specific times, and use specific forms of transportation. The system specifically provides operator privilege verification, allowing individuals to receive vehicle operator privileges. These privileges are evaluated upon the individual's application, and are periodically updated at the discretion of the controlling institution. The system provides for verification of vehicle operator privileges while the vehicle is in transit, and an apparatus for docking the secure authentication apparatus within the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for secure distribution of digital content (108), the method including the steps of dividing a unit of digital content into at least first and second portions (200), storing the first portion on a first computerized apparatus, digitally watermarking the second portion, and combining the first portion and the digitally watermarked second portion, thereby forming a watermarked (106) version of the digital content.

Abstract: Method for providing database content usage. The database content can be a digital work having one or more rights associated therewith. The method can be effected within a system having at least one repository configured to enforce use of the content in accordance with the one or more usage rights. A usage right is associated with database content, the usage right specifying rights for the usage of database content and usage fees for exercise of such usage. The database content is provided in accordance with the usage right, and the usage fees are reported as a transaction.

Abstract: The present invention is related to online access to content services. More specifically, a method and system for controlled access to content services (2) where a terminal user (1) can be allowed (b2) or refused (b1) access to a content service (2) and the use thereof are disclosed. The invention provides a solution to enable controlled online access from a terminal user (1) to a content service (2) wherein no time-consuming registration steps, which are also annoying to the customer, or time-consuming billing steps have to be performed, only one terminal (5) is needed by the user (1) and only one connection needs to be active at the time. The invention is particularly useful for mobile terminal users, like i-mode site customers, to get comfortable access to chargeable Internet services using a payment gateway accessible through the packet-switched GPRS network and a voice response system accessible through the circuit-switched GSM network.

Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, an account creation/management (ACM) tool is provided to manage and administer administrator and user account creation and management for an application. In one embodiment, the ACM tool is equipped to facilitate administrators of service operators, service providers, and service consumer organizations to jointly administer and manage the creation and empowerment of corresponding service provider and service consumer organization administrator as well as user accounts. In one embodiment, users may have one or more roles, including administrator role(s), and administrator accounts are user accounts of users having such roles. In one embodiment, the ACM tool is also equipped to facilitate the logical creation of the organizations. In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, a function offering creation/management (FCM) tool is provided to create, manage, and administer access to function offerings and services of the application.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the present invention enables a sender of a financial message adhering to a field delimited communication protocol to use an entry in a specified field of the protocol to communicate a coded message having a meaning outside the publicly-known meaning within the protocol. In an exemplary embodiment, a sender of a Financial Information Exchange (FIX) message uses the order quantity field (“tag 38”) to communicate coded instructions to the message receiver on how to interpret the contents of the order message.

Abstract: An automated cost estimation process includes a unit cost determination process for determining a per-unit multiplier for a client computational bandwidth requirement. The client computational bandwidth requirement, which is obtained from a client, is indicative of the client's anticipated system load. An analysis process determines a total computational cost based on the per-unit multiplier and the client computational bandwidth requirement.

Abstract: A method participated in by a mailer, a recipient, a postage vendor (PV), and a postal service. The mailer sends an outgoing mailpiece to the recipient, who in turn assembles and mails a reply mailpiece (possibly, but not necessarily to the mailer). The reply mailpiece includes one or more components (reply component(s)) from the outgoing mailpiece, and may further include components provided by the recipient, for example a check. The outgoing mailpiece may include an outgoing envelope, in which are located a reply envelope and other inserted materials. The reply components thus include the reply envelope, and typically at least a portion of the inserted materials. The reply mailpiece bears visible indications of a reply address, a reply destination code signifying at least part of the reply address, and a mailpiece identification (MI) code uniquely identifying the reply mailpiece.

Abstract: A mail production system is described, the system comprising a mail finishing system for converting documents into finished items of mail ready for hand-over to a postal service, and a secure accounting system for generating accounting data relating to the items of mail produced by the mail finishing system, wherein the secure accounting system is able to generate signals to control operation of the mail finishing system. Specifically the secure accounting system is able to delay or stop operation of the mail finishing system. A corresponding method of producing mail is also described.

Abstract: An arrangement for controlling the printing in a mail-processing device has a print data controller for pixel data editing while printing with a print head. The print data controller is composed of a pixel data-editing unit and a circuit including a DMA controller, an address generator and a printer controller. The DMA controller allows access to the binary pixel data stored in the pixel memory in order to make the data available to the pixel data-editing unit in data strings. The address generator generates addresses that are supplied to the pixel data-editing unit for the selection of the binary pixel data from an intermediately stored data string and for grouping in the required sequence. The printer controller drives the pixel data-editing unit in order to supply the binary pixel data in groups to a driver unit for the print head.

Abstract: A physics based neural network (PBNN) comprising a plurality of nodes each node comprising structure for receiving at least one input, and a transfer function for converting the at least one input into an output forming one of the at least one inputs to another one of the plurality of nodes, at least one training node set comprising the at least one input to one of the plurality of nodes, at least one input node set comprising the at least one input to the plurality of nodes, and a training algorithm for adjusting each of the plurality of nodes, wherein at least one of the transfer functions is different from at least one other of the transfer functions and wherein at least one of the plurality of nodes is a PBNN.

Abstract: A physics based neural network (PBNN) for validating data in a physical system comprising a plurality of input nodes each receiving at least one input comprising an average measurement of a component and a standard deviation measurement of a component of the physical system and comprising a transfer function for converting the at least one input into an output, a plurality of intermediate nodes each receiving at least one output from at least one of the plurality of input nodes and comprising a transfer function embedded with knowledge of the physical system for converting the at least one output into an intermediate output, and a plurality of output nodes each receiving at least one intermediate outputs from the plurality of intermediate nodes and comprising a transfer function for outputting the average measurement of a component when the transfer function evaluates to a value greater than zero wherein the PBNN is trained with a predetermined data set.

Abstract: A PBNN for isolating faults in a plurality of components forming a physical system comprising a plurality of input nodes each input node comprising a plurality of inputs comprising a measurement of the physical system, and an input transfer function comprising a hyperplane representation of at least one fault for converting the at least one input into a first layer output, a plurality of hidden layer nodes each receiving at least one first layer output and comprising a hidden transfer function for converting the at least one of at least one first layer output into a hidden layer output comprising a root sum square of a plurality of distances of at least one of the at least one first layer outputs, and a plurality of output nodes each receiving at least one of the at least one hidden layer outputs and comprising an output transfer function for converting the at least one hidden layer outputs into an output.

Abstract: A method and system for collecting and reviewing data related to web services receives service criteria from a service requester, selects candidate services that match the service criteria, invokes the selected candidate services, and aggregates results provided by the candidate services. In conjunction with aggregating results, the method and system builds service result objects conforming to a composite schema constructed from the various result schemas. To increase the utility of the aggregated results, metadata such as an invocation timestamp are also attached to each service result object. Result values are inspected and enumerated within a results table that may be used to determine which service result objects contain a particular result value.

Abstract: An information distribution system may be used to communicate information from a central server to a number of repository systems, which may store and further distribute the information to clients. Users may make requests for the central server to distribute particular information to repository systems and further to clients. The central server may batch requests for redundant information over a time period and may and distribute the requested information at off-peak communication traffic times. The repository systems, as well as the clients, may provide to a user a central catalog listing information that is both local and available from the central server upon request. The central catalog may include categorizations organized to provide users with an easily readable interface. For example, the central catalog may include seasonal, employee, corporate news and advertising categories into which informational content may be organized.

Abstract: A container object data structure for storing metadata associated with multiple queues is provided for processing data elements in first-in, first-out fashion. In one embodiment, the container object is implemented in a database environment providing statement syntax for creating data objects, such as tables and views, to implement user schema. Queue metadata can comprise one or more pointers for data element access and control during one or more queue operations, such as an enqueue, dequeue, or update operation.

Abstract: Methods and systems for enriching information streams with supplemental content are disclosed. A contextual publisher may eavesdrop on an information distribution service, such as a news wire, and detect the presence of particular messages having subject matter in which the contextual publisher has expertise. The contextual publisher may thus generate content that is supplemental to the messages, and forward this supplemental content to the original recipients of the messages. In this way, users may receive timely information about topics in which they have a current interest.

Abstract: A method and system for information distribution are described. A central document repository for an organization is provided and a document is stored at the document repository. A directive, a compliance level and a tier are associated with the document. Feedback associated with the document is received from a community. The document is approved and a status indicator associated with the document is updated based on the approval.

Abstract: An enterprise business planning system includes a database having a relational data area and a transactional data area, and a server to store within the transactional data area contribution data received from a set of enterprise contributors. The server publishes the contribution data from the transactional data area to the relational data area. The transactional data area may include a set of contribution slots and a set of aggregations slots hierarchically related in accordance with an enterprise model. The relational area includes a set of related tables defined in accordance with the model. The transactional data area supports real-time interaction with the enterprise contributors, while the relational data area allows detailed statistical analysis and report generation.

Abstract: A file system or other system that manages information entities includes a subsystem to store one or more tokens, as well as a token action log to associate each token with a customizable set of one or more actions, where each token is to trigger the associated set of one or more actions in response to accompanying a file-system/information entity that experiences an event. The file system also includes a token log manager, which initiates the appropriate actions corresponding to file-system entities that experience an event.

Abstract: A method of storing on a remote storage device protocol information for a drug for administration via a peristaltic pump is disclosed. A communications path between the peristaltic pump and the remote storage device is provided. The protocol information for the drug is entered into the peristaltic pump. The protocol information is transferred from the peristaltic pump to the remote storage device. The protocol information for the drug is stored on the remote storage device. History information may be retrieved from the peristaltic pump. A user request is received requesting retrieval of history information from the peristaltic pump. A pump request is formatted to retrieve history information. The pump request to receive history information is transmitted to the peristaltic pump. The history information is received from the peristaltic pump. The history information can be displayed and/or stored.

Abstract: A system and method for developing, assessing testing and implementing plans and procedures for managing crisis events and providing continuity to business operations in cases of business interruption. Such business interruption can occur due to a variety of reasons including physical facility emergency. The continuity in business operations relates at least to real estate, and critical business resources such as computers, databases and applications. The system includes a core repository that manages, monitors and measures all core continuity processes across an institution (e.g., a corporation). Once an emergency had been identified, the system links the continuity plans to crisis team initiatives across the corporation. The system provides an executive level ‘state of health’ reporting facility to enable executives (managers) to assess the state of the business and the execution of the continuity plans in real time.

Abstract: A telemetry dictionary database includes a component for receiving spreadsheet workbooks of telemetry data over a web-based interface from other computer devices. Another component routes the spreadsheet workbooks to a specified directory on the host processing device. A process then checks the received spreadsheet workbooks for errors, and if no errors are detected the spreadsheet workbooks are routed to another directory to await initiation of a remote database loading process. The loading process first converts the spreadsheet workbooks to comma separated value (CSV) files. Next, a network connection with the computer system that hosts the telemetry dictionary database is established and the CSV files are ported to the computer system that hosts the telemetry dictionary database. This is followed by a remote initiation of a database loading program.

Abstract: Text searching is achieved by techniques including phrase frequency analysis and phrase-co-occurrence analysis. In many cases, factor matrix analysis is also advantageously applied to select high technical content phrases to be analyzed for possible inclusion within a new query. The described techniques may be used to retrieve data, determine levels of emphasis within a collection of data, determine the desirability of conflating search terms, detect symmetry or asymmetry between two text elements within a collection of documents, generate a taxonomy of documents within a collection, and perform literature-based problem solving. (This abstract is intended only to aid those searching patents, and is not intended to limit the disclosure of claims in any manner.

Abstract: A mechanism controls concurrency among database transactions through the use of serial ordering relations. The ordering relations are computed dynamically in response to patterns of use. An embodiment of the present invention serializes a transaction that accesses a resource before a transaction that modifies the resource, even if the accessor starts after the modifier starts or commits after the modifier commits. A method of concurrency control for a database transaction in a distributed database system stores an intended use of a database system resource by the database transaction in a serialization graph. A serialization ordering is asserted between the database transaction and other database transactions based on the intended use of the database system resource by the database transaction. The serialization ordering is then communicated to a node in the distributed database system that needs to know the serialization ordering to perform concurrency control.