Abstract: Electronic currency consists of data in a form suitable to be stored in a user's data storage medium, comprising information on the data value, identification of each specific set of data or data point, and authentication information suitable to verify that said data has been generated by a specific Currency Issuing Authority (CIA). A method and a system for effecting currency transactions between two users over the Internet or other communication network are also described.

Abstract: Electronic currency consists of data in a form suitable to be stored in a user's data storage medium, comprising information on the data value, identification of each specific set of data or data point, and authentication information suitable to verify that said data has been generated by a specific Currency Issuing Authority (CIA). A method and a system for effecting currency transactions between two users over the Internet or other communication network are also described.

Abstract: Electronic currency consists of data in a form suitable to be stored in a user's data storage medium, comprising information on the data value, identification of each specific set of data or data point, and authentication information suitable to verify that said data has been generated by a specific Currency Issuing Authority (CIA). A method and a system for effecting currency transactions between two users over the Internet or other communication network are also described.

Abstract: Digital cash token protocols use a combination of blind digital signatures and pseudonym authentication with at least two pairs of public and private keys. A user is provided with one master pair of private and public keys and as many pseudonym pairs of private and public keys as desired. The resulting digital cash token based hybrid protocols combine the advantages of blind digital signature and pseudonym authentication. Blind digital signatures based on the master pair of keys are used to withdraw digital cash from the user's bank account under the user's real identity. A pseudonym pair of keys is used for converting digital cash into digital cash tokens by a digital cash issuer. All pseudonyms can be used for spending the digital cash tokens. These protocols ensure anonymity when withdrawing digital cash from the user's account under the user's real identity in addition to providing pseudonym authentication when spending digital cash tokens under a pseudonym.

Abstract: A consumer-based bill management and payment system is configured to receive, analyze, manage and pay electronic billing statements received from the biller over the Internet. The system includes a notification manager that detects when the electronic bill arrives and notifies the consumer. The bill is stored in memory with other unpaid electronic bills. According to another aspect of the invention, the system has a cashflow analyzer that enables the consumer to coordinate the unpaid electronic bills according to different payment schedules for a bill payment cycle (e.g., a month). The goal of the manipulation is to permit the consumer to analyze how the different payment schedules affect the consumer's cashflow with an aim toward minimizing overdraft during the bill payment cycle. The cashflow analyzer can automatically compute an optimized payment schedule that minimizes overdraft of the consumer's account, while maximizing the balance to generate the most interest.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of enabling a computer network transaction for a product being purchased by a buyer from a seller by generating a once-only transaction feature associated with the transaction, by providing the transaction identification feature to a transaction acquirer, together with a buyer identification feature which identifies the buyer to the transaction acquirer, and by providing the once-only identification feature to the seller, such that the seller may provide the transaction identification feature to the transaction acquirer and the transaction acquirer can match the transaction identification feature received from the seller with the transaction identification feature they have been provided with and, if they match, can enable settlement of the transaction.

Abstract: A service providing system for improving convenience of users by quickly executing a membership registration process in a system in which plural shops and groups jointly administrate its members. In the system, an external reading/writing unit stores a write data table in which provider-side data is correlated with information notification level, a portable information terminal enables the user to select the information notification level in accordance to a control of a portable terminal-side application and writes user-side data correlated with the information notification level selected by the user in the notification data table and the information notification level selected by the user to a non-contact IC. The external reading/writing unit reads the user-side data and the information notification level out of the non-contact IC, stores the user-side data and writes the provider-side data correlated with the information notification level in the write data table to the non-contact IC.

Abstract: A method of doing business is disclosed that transforms a biometric used by a user in a transaction. The transformation creates a distorted biometric. The distorted biometric is used to identify the user to another party without requiring the user to provide actual physical or behavioral characteristics about himself to the other party.

Abstract: A bi-currency debt contract system for making secure debts and including guidelines and an associated procedure particularly adaptable for issuing debt of a hard or stabilized currency, such as but not limited to US dollars, to a debtor entity which utilizes the debt proceeds in a secondary economy historically characterized by unstable monetary conditions. A debt issuer entity makes a stable currency debt at a first interest rate, based on a currently available debt rate of the stable currency. An amortization schedule to satisfy the loan is established and is characterized by a portion of the debt being paid at a second interest rate commonly associated with the debt rate of the local currency of the secondary economy, which is significantly greater than the first interest rate. A remainder or second portion of the debt is amortized at the first interest rate on which the debt was also based.

Abstract: A consumer-based bill management and payment system is configured to receive, analyze, manage and pay electronic billing statements received from the biller over the Internet. The system includes a notification manager that detects when the electronic bill arrives and notifies the consumer. The bill is stored in memory with other unpaid electronic bills. According to another aspect of the invention, the system has a cashflow analyzer that enables the consumer to coordinate the unpaid electronic bills according to different payment schedules for a bill payment cycle (e.g., a month). The goal of the manipulation is to permit the consumer to analyze how the different payment schedules affect the consumer's cashflow with an aim toward minimizing overdraft during the bill payment cycle. The cashflow analyzer can automatically compute an optimized payment schedule that minimizes overdraft of the consumer's account, while maximizing the balance to generate the most interest.

Abstract: A processing system for charge request data issued from a charge requesting organization performs collective processing of the request data without generating payment slips. This system includes filter means for extracting a contractor number of a charge paying organization from a contractor code of the requesting organization included in the request data, the contractor code of the requesting organization includes the contractor number of the paying organization and other management data formatted within the contractor number of the paying organization, the other management data include a charge request amount for each day of payment and for each account of the paying organization. This system also includes request data processing means for preparing request data for each day of payment including the contractor number of the paying organization and the charge request amount for each account of the paying organization, each type of charge, each requesting organization and each contractor.

Abstract: A conditional purchase offer (CPO) management system for receiving and processing CPOs for packages of component goods or services. The package CPO management system preferably deconstructs an overall package CPO into component CPOs which are individually offered to sellers. If each component CPO of a given package CPO is accepted, the package CPO management system binds the buyer, on behalf of each of the accepting sellers, to purchase the entire package. An offer price for each component CPO is preferably calculated by initially determining the total market price of the package based on the market price of each individual component good or service within the package. The package CPO management system then calculates an offer price for each component CPO based on the total price offered by the buyer for the entire package (as adjusted by a reserved margin, if appropriate) multiplied by the ratio of the market price of the respective component CPO to the total market price of the package.

Abstract: An electronic point-of-sale (PoS) system comprises a network with a number of PoS terminals and a PoS server computer attached to it. The PoS terminals and the PoS server interact over the network to perform conventional PoS transactions. Additionally, each of the PoS terminals monitors its own operation for predetermined security-related events (such as refunds or voids). Upon detection of such an event, the PoS terminal sends an alert message and data over the network to a control computer (which may be the PoS server computer, or may be a separate computer). The control computer responds to the alert message by activating a video camera and recorder to record a view of the PoS terminal, along with the data.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for electronically delivering banking services to end clients and, more particularly, using Internet based technologies as a means of exposing those services. The solution to this problem set forth in this invention is the creation of a common electronic delivery infrastructure and application deployment environment, exposing an institution's entire portfolio of corporate banking services to its clients at a number of different locations at any time.

Abstract: A consumer-based bill management and payment system is configured to receive, analyze, manage and pay electronic billing statements received from the biller over the Internet. The system includes a notification manager that detects when the electronic bill arrives and notifies the consumer. The bill is stored in memory with other unpaid electronic bills. According to another aspect of the invention, the system has a cashflow analyzer that enables the consumer to coordinate the unpaid electronic bills according to different payment schedules for a bill payment cycle (e.g., a month). The goal of the manipulation is to permit the consumer to analyze how the different payment schedules affect the consumer's cashflow with an aim toward minimizing overdraft during the bill payment cycle. The cashflow analyzer can automatically compute an optimized payment schedule that minimizes overdraft of the consumer's account, while maximizing the balance to generate the most interest.

Abstract: A method for currency management and tracking utilizing a unique standardized cassette for the transportation of note bundles and loading of note bundles into currency processing apparatus, the cassette having an accompanying smart card on which data regarding the individual note history of each note contained therein and distributed therefrom is recorded. The invention further provides for the uploading of data stored on cassette smart cards to a central data bank, thus allowing for the management and statistical modeling of the currency pool.

Abstract: A hot docking system and method for managing and detecting hot docking of bus cards. The hot docking system detects the load impedance at the power pins of the bus connector to determine whether a card has been inserted. When insertion is detected, bus activity on the connector is ceased until the card is completely inserted which is indicated by signals present on card detect pins which are mechanically shorter that the bus signal pins and thereby provide this insertion signal after all other connections are complete. The power supply pins are mechanically longer than the bus signal pins thereby providing an early indication that a card has been inserted. On removal of the card, the card detect pins disconnect before the bus signal pins or the power supply pins, signaling the system to halt bus activity but maintain power on the connector until the card is completely removed.

Abstract: In a value box in an electronic money system with a high reliability which is excellent in usage efficiency and maintenance, a front door and a rear door are provided before and after a main body portion and an indicator is provided to show operating states of a door locking key and a whole value box, particularly, a state in which a trouble or the like has occurred in the value box and a maintenance is necessary is provided for the front door. A communication line for transmitting information regarding power source lines and electronic money for a number of IC card readers/writers provided in the main body is connected to the rear door. The front door can be opened by hinges. A number of IC card readers/writers are enclosed in the main body portion. IC card inserting slots of IC cards for those IC card readers/writers are arranged and provided in the front surface of the main body portion at two upper and lower stages.

Abstract: An electronic money system has an IC card for electronic money having a memory for maintaining money deposit and money debit information and another memory, such as an EPROM, for storing transaction data, including detailed information of transactions, such as the content of a typical receipt received from a retail store. The transaction information can be used at a later time in a personal computer so that an electronic record of household expenses can be maintained The transaction data that is stored includes the product name, price of the product, quantity of the product purchased and similar details of the transaction. The IC card memory can record the name and telephone number of a retail store where the card has been used or a network address can be recorded in the memory for use by a customer to access electronic direct-mail information by using a PC.

Abstract: A device for providing product information to customers of a retail establishment. The device is a hand-held unit which contains a detector which identifies a product located nearby. The identification can be accomplished through scanning a bar code affixed to the product. Once the product is identified, the device retrieves descriptive information about the product from memory, and displays the information to the customer.

Abstract: A software product, computer implemented method, and system provide an integrated user interface having three simultaneously displayed items of information, including a list of transaction instructions, a list of uncleared transactions, and a list of cleared transactions. The simultaneous display, and interaction between the lists, provides for integration of various tasks separately associated with personal finance software products and with online banking products. Two account balances are also simultaneously displayed, a balance for cleared transactions, and a separate balance based on both cleared and uncleared transactions. The two balances provide the user with a complete view of the status of their account and available funds. The software product and system supports online bill payment, electronic funds transfer, and checkbook transactions, without requiring navigation through multiple, separate user interfaces for different modules of the product.

Abstract: An integrated financial system that includes a single customer account that permits a customer to perform various financial transactions. The account includes at least banking components and brokerage components. A consistent user interface means is provided to allow a customer to access the account from a different sources including at least an automatic teller machine, a phone and a personal teller transaction. The account is flexible enough to include a variety of other components such as a credit card component, a line of credit component, a secured credit component and a money market component. A system and method for opening a single integrated account for a customer in a single session is also described.

Abstract: A system and method automatically enters financial transactions such as credit card transactions into a financial account stored in a computer. A financial statement incorporating the transactions is provided in an electronic form understood by the computer, such as a computer data file, for updating the financial account. For a credit card account, the electronic statement includes one or more credit card transactions such as purchases. Before accepting the electronic statement, the process verifies that the electronic form of the statement has not been altered since its creation and therefore correctly reflects transactions in the original statement. In the process of entering the transactions, they are tracked by automatically assigning them to expense categories. First the process determines from the electronic statement if a payee for a transaction is of record in the computer and, if so, assigns the transaction to a category already associated with the payee.

Abstract: An interactive voice response system provides voice prompts that supply information to a user, request data from the user, and present the user with a plurality of selectable options. The user can first select one or more options by providing one or more letters of the alphabet corresponding to one or more of the selectable options. If the letter or letters that are provided correspond to more than one selectable option, the user further selects one of the options from among the selectable options corresponding to the one or more letters.

Abstract: A terminal is provided for allowing a user to conduct remote purchase payment and remote bill payment transactions with a remote host computer. In one embodiment, the terminal includes a QWERTY alphabetic keyboard (14), a numeric keypad (16), a magnetic card reader (54), a display (12), a printer (52), a modem (338), an earphone 402, a microphone 404, and a cellular phone 408 all integral to the terminal. A controller is included for operating the terminal and communicating with the remote host computer system via the modem, the controller coupled to the QWERTY alphabetic keyboard (14), the numeric keyboard (16), the magnetic card reader (54), the display (12), the printer (52), and the modem (338).

Abstract: A complete system for the purchasing of goods or information over a computer network is presented. Merchant computers on the network maintain databases of digital advertisements that are accessed by buyer computers. In response to user inquiries, buyer computers retrieve and display digital advertisements from merchant computers. A digital advertisement can further include a program that is interpreted by a buyer's computer. The buyer computers include a means for a user to purchase the product described by a digital advertisement. If a user has not specified a means of payment at the time of purchase, it can be requested after a purchase transaction is initiated. A network payment system performs payment order authorization in a network with untrusted switching, transmission, and host components. Payment orders are backed by accounts in an external financial system network, and the payment system obtains account authorizations from this external network in real-time.

Abstract: A new and improved tax collection system and method collects and remits taxes in real time at point-of-sale locations. The system includes a group of point-of-sale terminals at merchant point-of-sale facilities that receive and store tax collection information under merchant control. A bank computer at a merchant bank accesses the stored tax collection information and wire transfers the collected sums periodically to at least one computer at a tax authority bank. For credit or debit transactions, a service computer receives the tax collection information daily from certain ones of the point-of-sale terminals, and wire transfers the credited or debited taxes to the tax authority bank computer.

Abstract: An automatic donation system for a sales establishment includes an entry arrangement for entering the price of a product into a cash register and for entering the amount of cash being paid and a calculator for determining the excess cash payment. A card reader keypad receives a card number for accessing data including charity accounts concerning the card, and a computer apportions at least a part of the excess cash payment among said accounts, and then prints out the amounts entered.

Abstract: A method for segment of one marketing to a customer utilizes an automated teller machine (ATM). The ATM dispenses to the customer a receipt containing a transaction record, a promotion, and a telephone number for redeeming the promotion by the customer. When the customer calls the telephone number, a telephonic survey is conducted and includes questions relating to products and services offered by a marketeer. Answers to the survey questions are stored in a customer profile in a computer database, and the promotion is sent to the customer. The customer profile is used to generate a segment of one target message specific to the customer which offers a specific product or service from the marketeer based on the stored customer profile. The target message is then sent to the specific customer to complete the segment of one marketing.

Abstract: A dispenser produces negotiable money orders, traveler's checks, and the like at remote locations and prints the check amount on the check while also printing summary data of a day's activities on a blank check form, eliminating the need for a separate printer and paper supply. The dispenser prints the check amount using print icons that form a part of each character in the check amount, but are not as large as a complete character or as small as a dot print element. The check forms are connected together by perforation ties, and the dispenser feeds the forms to the printer such that the force with which the dispenser holds the forms is greater than the force needed to tear apart the forms, thus reducing the risk of unauthorized pulling of blank forms from the dispenser.

Abstract: The technical field of the invention generally concerns electronic mail systems. The present invention provides an ATM or POS system having a terminal (22, 24, 26, 28 or 34) and processor (18 or 36) which are connected to an ATM or POS data communications network. The network also includes a store and forward message switch (52) which stores user messages for remote retrieval and use as an electronic mail system (10) on a data communications network (42). Messages can be stored or retrieved through standard ATM or POS terminals, through a service bureau, through touch tone telephones (84) or via modems (76). Messages can be retrieved remotely and sent to a facsimile machine (82), a remote paging device, computer (72) or the like. Message information may include payment of user bills, completion of user financial transactions and transmission of information from a variety of databases. Such message information may be generated and transmitted by the system at times predetermined by the user.

Abstract: An improved monetary system using electronic media to exchange economic value securely and reliably.

Abstract: An improved monetary system using electronic media to exchange economic value securely and reliably.

Abstract: A transaction protection system is provided that permits non-related third parties to offer an impartial, readily accessible standardized service that will protect and encompass any moneys that are tendered by an individual or business entity to a transaction in relation to a second business or entity. Delivery of payment will occur upon a future condition being met automatically whereby the system both performs an escrowing function, a payment function and a notifying function automatically. The transaction processing system acts as a temporary depository control in the flow of the moneys from parties in a transaction ensuring that sufficient balances are available for the transaction and assuring that payment is made only upon satisfaction of the conditions set by the parties to the transaction. The system is implemented by means of either an integrated credit/debit system, deposit slips and forms or through conventional checks combined with either credit card or deposit slips.

Abstract: A point of sale terminal is disclosed that provides all of the usual point of sale terminal functions, but that is entirely field portable. Data pertinent to each purchase can be input to the terminal via a keyboard assembly, a touch-screen display or a signature-capture screen assembly, or via an antenna and radio link from an associated bar code scanner. Data may be communicated at any time to a remote host computer, also via a separate antenna and radio link. The communication links with the host computer and the bar code scanner operate independently and simultaneously, using mutually compatible modulation schemes such as a spread spectrum scheme for the host computer link and a narrowband or spread spectrum scheme for the bar code scanner link. The terminal thereby functions as a portable repeater or node in a data communications network.

Abstract: It is the object of this invention to provide a terminal and system to allow debit and credit card holders the ability to conveniently perform various transactions from their home or office. The terminal is a single device, which has an alphabetic QWERTY keyboard, a numeric touch tone type keypad, miscellaneous other keys, a magnetic card reader, a display, a printer, a modem, and a serial port. The terminal firmware supports various financial transactions including: purchase payment, bill payment, and settlement review. The terminal supports initialization, encryption, transaction generation, transaction transmission and data reception from a host system and receipt printing. A local data base including a transaction log and a profile list are maintained in the terminal memory. The transaction log stores purchase payment information and is stored as a stack and the profile list has entries for each specific bill pay account.

Abstract: A computer-controlled funds processing and remittance processing system, for use by individual, business and other bank customers. The system eliminates the problems associated with batch processing of remittances and remittance advices in lockbox systems. Each participating bank receives, from each participating customer, identifying information regarding bills that are to be paid for that customer with the automated system. After initially collecting all necessary data regarding a participating customer's bills, the bank produces a paper form, which is manually completed by the customer, on a periodic basis. The customer manually inserts the amount to be paid for each bill being processed by the system, opposite pre-printed indicia indicating the identity of the payee. The resulting customer payment instruction document is delivered to the bank, and is optically scanned, to read the specific amounts to be paid for the respective bills.

Abstract: An automated cash saving system including multiple remote cash saving machines for automatically receiving deposited cash in small amounts from multiple depositors, for automatically counting the cash deposited by each of the depositors, and for attributing the value of accounted cash to individual savings accounts identified by the depositors, and for electronically encoding the values and the accounts to which the cash is attributed; transmitters to multiple remote transmitters associated with the multiple remote cash saving machines for sending the electronically encoded information to a central processor for decoding, an automatic processor in the central processor wherein the identified accounts, the lock box at the multiple remote cash savings machines for holding deposited cash until it can be physically collected, and an authorization letter generating device associated with the central processor for obtaining the depositor's authorization to purchase preselected instruments on his behalf upon reachin

Abstract: A transaction processing apparatus includes a transaction processing terminal for registering data related to transaction processing, an external memory connected to the transaction processing terminal for collecting and storing the data related to transaction processing registered by the transaction processing terminal and a monitoring terminal connected to the external memory for periodically accessing and monitoring the external memory. The transaction processing terminal inhibits data transmission to the external memory when transmission of the data related to transaction processing to the external memory goes defective. The monitoring terminal transmits a signal for releasing the inhibition of data transmission to the transaction processing terminal when the data transmission between the transaction processing terminal and the external memory goes defective and then the data transmission is restored to a normal state.

Abstract: A practical system and method for the remote distribution of financial services (e.g., home banking and bill-paying) involves distributing portable terminals to a user base. The terminals include a multi-line display, keys "pointer to" lines on the display, and additional keys. Contact is established between the terminals and a central computer operated by a service provider, preferably over a dial-up telephone line and a packet data network. Information exchange between the central computer and the terminal solicits information from the terminal user related to requested financial services (e.g., for billpaying, the user provides payee selection and amount and his bank account PIN number). The central computer then transmits a message over a conventional ATM network debiting the user's bank account in real time, and may pay the specified payees the specified amount electronically or in other ways as appropriate. Payments and transfers may be scheduled in advance or on a periodic basis.

Abstract: The portable automated teller machine disclosed by the present invention is a low-cost, pocket-size data terminal which can securely exchange information with a host bank computer. It is battery powered, operates without the need for direct connection to a telephone line and couples to the host bank computer via the telephone handset of any public or private telephone station. It allows its user to securely access bank and bank accounts and to securely effect either inter-account transfers or bill payments. Security is assured by assigning a PIN to each individual user and prestoring it therein, by assigning a machine identity number to each machine and storing it therein, and by providing encrypted data communication. It has prestored therein the individuals account numbers and the phone numbers and other parametrs needed for communication to the corresponding host computer bank.

Abstract: The portable automated teller machine disclosed by the present invention is a low-cost, pocket-size data terminal which can securely exchange information with a host bank computer. It is battery powered, operates without the need for direct connection to a telephone line and couples to the host bank computer via the telephone handset of any public or private telephone station. It allows its user to securely access bank and bank accounts and to securely effect either inter-account transfers or bill payments. Security is assured by assigning a PIN to each individual user and prestoring it therein, by assigning a machine identity number to each machine and storing it therein, and by providing encrypted data communication. It has prestored therein the individuals account numbers and the phone numbers and other parameters needed for communication to the corresponding host computer bank.

Abstract: A transaction processing system which includes apparatus for accepting a precontract including the amount of payment/deposit and delivery time of payment/deposit, cash counting apparatus for counting cash, a payment/deposit processing apparatus to be manipulated by the user at the time of payment/deposit on the basis of the user's precontact, delivery apparatus for delivering a medium such as cash and bonds precontracted by the user, transfer apparatus for transferring the medium for the payment/deposit precontract between the cash counting apparatus and the delivery apparatus, and control apparatus for activating the system on the basis of the precontract data of the user. A payment/deposit precontract from a user is accepted via a public telephone line or a data communication network, a medium delivered to the delivery apparatus is prepared in view of other payment precontracts and the time of the visit of the user to the transaction processing system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronic funds transfer system that assures that funds to be electronically transferred are actually present to be transferred. This is accomplished by sending both the debit side and the credit side of the transaction as described in automated clearing house records to a payor's financial institution or data processor and comparing both records to assure the funds are present before releasing the funds to a payee. The release of funds to a payee is accomplished by the sending of a credit by an automated clearing house record to a payee's financial institution or data processor or by the printing and mailing of a check if the payee is not a member of the automated clearing house.