38th week of 2008 patent applcation highlights part 59 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20080228577 | Apparatus For Monitoring a Person Having an Interest to an Object, and Method Thereof - The invention relates to a method of monitoring a person having an interest to an object. The method comprising steps of: ( | 2008-09-18 |
20080228578 | Digital rights management and data license management - A system and method for the exchanging, distributing and managing digital content, along with providing users with the ability to sell and transfer digital rights of products or services purchased from other users, wherein the system and method are used to manage synchronization and the use of applications, web services and media in combination with different digital rights management (DRM) solutions to authenticate and authorize such transactions. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228579 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE PRESENTATION OF ADVERTISEMENTS - A system and method for the presentation of advertisements is present. According to one embodiment, a number of impressions of an advertisement message are presented over a computer network such as the Internet to a variety of viewer computers. Depending on the actions taken by the viewers (e.g., whether the Viewer selects the advertising message and accesses a web-link to the advertiser's web-site), bonus exposure (e.g., an additional number of impressions provided to the viewers) of the advertising message is given. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228580 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COMPENSATING ONLINE CONTENT CONTRIBUTORS AND EDITORS - A quantitative method of compensating contributors of digital content to an interactive online repository of digital content. The method includes receiving from a user a contribution of digital content. The method also includes assigning an initial point award to the user contribution an initial point award, imposing a vesting schedule on the initial point award, reviewing, by at least one of at least one editor and other users (peer review) of the digital content to determine ratings of the quality, suitability and appropriateness of the initial point award, vesting an increment of the point award, thereby making it available for conversion, converting, either by rule or upon user request of the points into things of value and withdrawing by the user of the things of value. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228581 | Method and System for a Natural Transition Between Advertisements Associated with Rich Media Content - A method includes receiving a plurality of a plurality of candidate segmentation points associated with a portion of rich media content, selecting a subset of the candidate segmentation points that meet one or more segmentation constraints, where the selected subset of segmentation points define a plurality of temporal segments of the rich media content, and providing the selected subset of segmentation points for association of a different one of a plurality of advertisements with each of the temporal segments. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228582 | LOYALTY PROGRAM FOR MERCHANT INVENTORY - Collaborative constituents collaborate to develop offers on selected inventory items of a merchant as part of a loyalty program within a transaction processing system. An inventory management system of the merchant includes an application rendering a hyperlink capable of transmitting a request to collaborate to a web server and to include information on the selected inventory item within the request. Upon establishing a connection with the web server, transmissions addressed to the collaborative constituents are formed and received from the collaborative constituents containing suggested parameters for the loyalty program. At least one remaining parameter for the loyalty program that a set of remaining collaborative constituents have agreed upon is determined. Another transmission addressed to each of the collaborative constituents in the set of remaining collaborative constituents is formed, the another transmission including the remaining parameters for the loyalty program. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228583 | Advertising management system and method with dynamic pricing - Method and system for enabling advertisers to deliver advertisements to consumers in which a plurality of tiers of available advertisements are defined, each tier containing a number of advertisements, a price for allocation of an advertisement in each tier is set wherein a lowest tier has the lowest price and the price increases to a maximum at a highest tier, and advertisements are allocated to advertisers based on availability starting from a lowest tier with unallocated advertisements and progressing to higher tiers. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228584 | Method of doing business associated with synthetic turf fields in exchange for rights to media/advertising permits and/or sites - The present invention comprises a method by which synthetic turf fields are sold to entities capable of granting permits for advertising billboards. The method generally comprises the steps of offering a synthetic turf field to an entity in at least partial exchange for an expedited granting of a billboard permit from the entity. After an agreement on the permit is reached, the turf will be installed. The seller and/or installer of the turf will then sell and/or lease rights under the permit to a third party in exchange for a monetary amount which at least partially covers the cost of the turf. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228585 | Methods and Apparatus for Presenting Personazlized Information to Consumers in a Retail Environment - Methods and apparatus are provided for presenting personalized information to consumers in a retail environment. A personalized price is determined for at least one product that is in physical proximity to the customer. The physical proximity may be determined, for example, by evaluating identifiers, such as RHD tags, associated with each customer and product. A personalized message can be also presented to a customer regarding at least one product that is in physical proximity to the customer. The personalized message can provide, for example, dietary or safety information relevant to the customer and at least one product in the proximity of the customer. The personalized information may be determined based on one or more personalized message rules. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228586 | Method for Automatically Determining a Fare for the Use of Chargeable Means of Transport Conveying Persons - Disclosed is a method for automatically determining a fare for utilizing chargeable means of transport conveying persons. According to said method, a credit which is established in a currency that is valid in a first currency zone and is used for automatically deducting the fare when utilizing a means of transport is allocated to a user terminal, a factor for converting the first currency into a second currency that is valid in a second currency zone is defined as soon as the user terminal is utilized in a second currency zone, and fares are automatically determined in the second currency, are converted into the first currency using the defined conversion factor, and are deducted from the credit established in the first currency as long as the user terminal is not utilized in another currency zone. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228587 | Sponsored listing recommendation engine - An online music system includes a music database configured to store musical selections and to store a user profile for respective users of the online music system, an advertiser account management system to store bid amounts from advertisers seeking to provide information to the users of the online music system and a user recommendation system coupled to the music database to present information about musical selections to respective users based on the stored user profile and the stored bid amounts. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228588 | E-Commerce System for the Purchasing Intermediation Type and Operating System for the Shopping-Mall Applied Thereof - The present invention relates to an electronic commerce system of a group-driven purchase broker type and a shopping mail operating system, wherein buyers can jointly purchase merchandise at a price lower than a regular price through a purchase broker group who negotiates prices with sellers, and sellers can make more profits owing to the increase of sales amount since a buyer does not individually purchase merchandise, but a plurality of buyers collectively purchase merchandise through the purchase broker group even though the sellers sell merchandise at a reduced price lower than the regular price. The electronic commerce system of the present invention comprises a shopping mall operating company; a sales client; a group client connected to the shopping mall operating company; a purchase client; and a wired/wireless communication network for connecting the shopping mall operating company, the sales client, the group client and the purchase client with one another. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228589 | Methods For Placing, Accepting, And Filling Orders For Products and Services - Methods and systems for ordering assays which detect SNPs or gene expression are provided. The methods use PCR and RT-PCR procedures. Collections of stock assays are assembled using pre- and post-manufacturing quality control procedures and made available to consumers via the Internet. In addition, custom assays are prepared upon order from the consumer and these assays are also prepared using pre- and post-manufacturing quality control procedures. The assays are then delivered to the consumer. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228590 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING AN ONLINE BOOK SYNOPSIS - A method and computer program product for providing an online book synopsis include providing an electronic book accessible by a user. A synopsis of one or more portions of the electronic book are generated. The synopsis is made accessible to the user. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228591 | Shopping system - When a merchandise identification code and a store identification code are received from mobile terminal, a merchandise server obtains merchandise information including the merchandise identification code from a merchandise information storage unit of a sales store specified by the store identification code. The merchandise server also obtains payment store information from a payment information storage unit of the sales store. The merchandise server generates an unused outstanding identification code and the merchandise server stores the merchandise information while relating the merchandise information to the outstanding identification code. The merchandise server sends back the outstanding identification code to the mobile terminal together with the payment store information. When a payment terminal makes a request for the outstanding identification code and merchandise information, the merchandise server transmits the merchandise information stored while related to the outstanding identification code to the payment terminal. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228592 | SERVICES FOR GENERATION OF ELECTRONIC MARKETPLACE LISTINGS USING PERSONAL PURCHASE HISTORIES OR OTHER INDICIA OF PRODUCT OWNERSHIP - An electronic marketplace system provides various features for assisting users in listing products for sale, locating the listings for a product, and performing related actions. A user wishing to sell a product can browse to an existing description of the product in an electronic catalog and then select an option to create a corresponding listing. If the user previously purchased the product via the system, the user may alternatively select the product from a personal purchase history. The system may also proactively send product-specific listing requests to those who have purchased or otherwise indicated ownership of specific products. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228593 | Automated sales support method & device - A system and method for notifying salespersons of customer communications including a target item is provided. Individual customers are mapped to one or more salespersons. Target items of interest to a salesperson are defined and a salesperson is associated with a customer. For each salesperson, on-line communication channels are monitored for the occurrence of a communications involving a customer associated with the salesperson and including a target item defined by the salesperson. When such an occurrence happens, a notification is directed to the salesperson. Salesperson access to the system and customer access to the on-line communication channels requires authorization. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228594 | Automated sales support method & Device - A system and method for notifying salespersons of customer communications including a target item is provided. Individual customers are mapped to one or more salespersons. Target items of interest to a salesperson are defined and a salesperson is associated with a customer. For each salesperson, on-line communication channels are monitored for the occurrence of a communications involving a customer associated with the salesperson and including a target item defined by the salesperson. When such an occurrence happens, a notification is directed to the salesperson. Salesperson access to the system and customer access to the on-line communication channels requires authorization. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228595 | SYSTEM FOR SUPPORTING ELECTRONIC COMMERCE IN SOCIAL NETWORKS - A method for offering a plurality of items for commerce, wherein each of the items in the plurality of items includes an item identifier usable to reference that item. The method includes storing a first item identifier for the at least one of the plurality of items in a first predetermined location in a computer memory; associating a first image with the at least one of the plurality of items; and assigning a first name to the first image based on the first predetermined location in the computer memory. The method also includes creating a first reference link having the first name assigned to the first image; and, deploying the first reference link. A system for performing the method is also disclosed. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228596 | Method and system for conducting a sale on the Internet with discounts as a function of time - The invention provides a method and website for displaying a product for sale at a starting price selected by the seller and adjusting the price downward in at least two percentage increments, wherein the percentages are preselected by the website to be applied at increments of time during a limited term of sale selected by the seller. Buyers can select a current price or a future discounted price. When a current price has been offered the offer is accepted and the sale is completed in a usual and customary manner. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228597 | Gift Exchange - One embodiment is a method that establishes at a website a group of individuals desiring to exchange gifts with each other to celebrate an event. The method receives at the website names and descriptions of gifts desired by each individual in the group and provides an interface to enable each individual to select one or more of the gifts to purchase for one of the individuals. Individuals are prevented from selecting a gift after the gift is previously selected by another individual. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228598 | Providing marketplace functionality in a business directory and/or social-network site - A business directory and/or social-network site with business-to-business, real-time e-commerce capability as well as business-to-consumers, real-time e-commerce capability. Other aspects include systems/methods for targeting users of the business directory and/or social-network site with advertising, which relates contextually to the interests and behavior of a user. Such advertisements are presented to the user on the user's private bulletin board. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228599 | Color Selection, Coordination, Purchase and Delivery System - A system embodied as a website including a first, second and third pluralities of display screens, the first enabling an at-home user to select a first color which coordinates with a second selected color, the second enabling the user to select for purchase one or more of a plurality of interior decorating-related items, and the third enabling the user to order and pay for one or more of (a) a paint sample of each of said first and second colors and (b) at least one of the interior decorating-related items. The order may be automatically transmitted to a fulfillment center for fulfillment and then delivered to the user. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228600 | Purchasing Systems - A system is provided in which a handheld computing device may be used to provide a user with shopping assistance services. A shopping assistance service may allow a user to obtain directory information for a shopping mall. A user may use the handheld computing device to handle shopping lists. The handheld computing device may display promotional material based on the shopping lists. The handheld computing device may be used to obtain information on products being sold in a store. Products may be purchased using wireless financial transactions. Reminders and other messages may be sent to the handheld computing device. The location of the handheld computing device may be monitored. Services may be provided to the user based on the location of the handheld computing device. The handheld computing device may communicate with communications equipment in retail establishments using a local wireless link. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228601 | Techniques for Reconstructing Supply Chain Networks Using Pair-Wise Correlation Analysis - Techniques for reconstructing networks are provided. In one aspect, a method for reconstructing a synthetic network, such as a synthetic biological network, is provided. In another aspect, a method for reconstructing a supply chain network is provided. Exemplary supply chain networks include supply chains for petroleum distribution. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228602 | CREDIT CARD LOST-AND-FOUND NOTIFICATION - A method, system, and computer-usable medium for sending a first notification message to a credit card agency alerting the credit card agency of a misplaced credit card, an identification of a credit card owner, and a location of the misplaced credit card; in response to receiving the first notification message, sending a second notification message to the credit card owner corresponding to the misplaced credit card; and in response to receiving the second notification message, specifying a procedure for returning the misplaced credit card to the credit card owner. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228603 | SYSTEMS AND MEDIA FOR MANAGING ELECTRONIC ASSET TAGS FOR ASSET DEVICES - Systems, methods, and media for managing electronic asset tags for asset devices are disclosed. Embodiments include a system having one or more asset devices in communication with a network where each asset device has an electronic asset tag, where the electronic asset tag has contents including an asset number associated with the asset device having the electronic asset tag. The system may also include an asset tag manager in communication with the network to access the contents of the electronic asset tags of the one or more asset devices. In a further embodiment, the asset tag manager may be adapted to modify the contents of the electronic asset tags of the one or more asset devices. In another further embodiment, the asset tag manager may be adapted to reload to an asset device the contents of the electronic asset tag of the asset device. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228604 | Methods and Systems For Dynamic Calculation of Safety Stock Quantity - A computer-implemented method and system for calculating a safety stock quantity for several warehouses within an availability check during a delivery process of goods, wherein the safety stock quantity is representative of a quantity of products which is protected by the availability check, wherein the safety stock quantity is a combination of a predetermined safety stock quantity and a calculated safety stock quantity and the calculated safety stock quantity being a combination of the predetermined safety stock quantity, a percentage of the predetermined safety stock quantity, an expected demand quantity and a percentage of the expected demand quantity and wherein the safety stock quantity is calculated within the availability check using the predetermined safety stock quantity, the percentage of the predetermined safety stock quantity, the expected demand quantity and the percentage of the expected demand quantity for the respective delivery process of goods. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228605 | Computer System and Method for Pricing Financial and Insurance Risks with Historically- Known or Computer-Generated Probability Distributions - The invention is a computer-implemented system and method, and a computer-readable medium for use with computer means, that enables portfolio managers to price, on a risk-adjusted basis, any traded or underwritten risk vehicle in finance and insurance that has a historically known or computer-generated probability distribution. More importantly, the invention provides a universal approach to pricing assets and liabilities traded on an exchange or over-the-counter market underwritten for direct risk-transfer, even if those assets and liabilities are grouped or segregated, or whose prospective outcomes may alternate between positive or negative values. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228606 | Determining commercial share of wallet - Commercial size of spending wallet (“SoSW”) is the total business spend of a business including cash but excluding bartered items. Commercial share of wallet (“SoW”) is the portion of the spending wallet that is captured by a particular financial company. Commercial SoW is a modeling approach that utilizes various data sources to provide outputs that describe a company's spend capacity. These outputs can be appended to data profiles of customers and prospects and can be utilized to support decisions involving prospecting, new account evaluation, and customer management across the lifecycle. Company financial statements are utilized to identify and calculate total business spend of a company that could be transacted using a commercial credit card. A spend-like regression model may then be developed to estimate annual commercial SoSW value for customers and prospects within a credit network. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228607 | Resolution of virtual world revocable transfers - A method and system provides transactions and arrangements in virtual world environments. A user can participate in transactions to acquire virtual property and related virtual rights. In some implementations, real-world and virtual parties can be involved in a possible future transfer or related transfer revocation or related transfer modification involving various types of virtual objects and virtual rights. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228608 | Order accounting system and order accounting method - To provide an order accounting system capable of swiftly performing accounting processing, and of allowing to understand an account state in real time, in the order accounting system, an order input terminal requests an ordering control device to send unsettled data which is account data for which account has not been settled and receives the unsettled data, performs accounting processing based on the unsettled data, and sends, after the accounting processing is performed, the account identification information included in the unsettled data to the ordering control device as settled account identification information. The ordering control device receives the settled account identification information to update the account data which is stored in the account data storage part and which corresponds to the settled account identification information by setting the account data to a settled state, detects, in response to a request for unsettled data from the order input terminal, the unsettled data from the account data storage part, and sends the detected unsettled data to the order input terminal. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228609 | Methods and Apparatus for Complementing User Entries Associated with Events of Interest Through Context - Data validation techniques are provided. For example, such techniques complement user entries associated with events of interest through context. In one aspect of the invention, a technique for processing one or more user entries associated with one or more events of interest includes the following steps/operations. Context associated with the one or more events of interest is obtained. At least a portion of the obtained context is associated with one or more user entries representing events of interest. At least a portion of the one or more user entries is evaluated, responsive to at least a portion of the context. An indication of the one or more events of interest is provided, responsive to the evaluation. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228610 | Interface Architecture of Subscriber Information Management Billing, Prepaid System for Mobile Network System, and Prepaid Method Using the Interface Architecture - Disclosed are an interface architecture of subscriber information management, billing, prepaid system for mobile network system, and a prepaid method using the interface architecture. The present invention is embodied by a Workflow engine classified as a business logic and a processing logic to access the interface rapidly for clients. The workflow engine is applicable to the subscriber information management and the billing through a voice subscriber, a data subscriber and contents provider. Interfacing is possible to apply changeable embodiment of system and adapt environment changes through a workflow engine. Therefore, the present invention provides a wireless portal platform to increase efficiency in subscribing procedures and using service. In addition, the present invention provides solution of obstacles on respective module between the prepaid billing client and the prepaid billing gateway, or between the prepaid billing gateway and the prepaid billing server. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228611 | System and method for providing extra lines of credit - A system and method for upgrading existing credit cards with additional lines of credit is disclosed. Credit information associated with customers holding credit cards issued by a credit card issuer are analyzed to determine a level of risk associated with each customer. One or more extra line of credit may be established for selected customers based on the determined level of risk associated with each customer. Each extra credit line may be exclusively associated with a selected set of vendors that have a partnership agreement with the credit card issuer. The credit card issuer may allow customers to select vendors to be associated with the extra credit line or may automatically choose vendors for selected customers. Customers with established extra credit lines may purchase goods and/or service directly from vendor sites or at the credit card issuer's web sites. Purchases at selected vendor sites may be automatically applied to a customer's newly established extra credit line. Additionally, a customer may choose to apply purchases to their extra credit lines or their primary line of credit | 2008-09-18 |
20080228612 | Simultaneous determination of enterprise value and cost of unlevered equity - The present invention consists of methods through which the value and the cost of unlevered equity of an enterprise can be determined simultaneously through numerical searches using the enterprise cash-flow forecast. These methods improve the accuracy of and simplify enterprise valuations. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228613 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR THE AUTHORIZATION OF AND PAYMENT FOR ELECTRIC CHARGING OF VEHICLES - Methods and systems provide power to a mobile recipient and allow the recipient to pay for the power obtained by having it charged to an account other than the account for the location at which the power is provided. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228614 | Consumer-driven system and method for promoting philanthropic giving/lending and social activism based on customer purchases - A consumer-driven system and method for promoting philanthropic giving/lending and social activism based on customer purchases. The system and method optimizes the choices on the part of the Customer in the selection of one or more Funding Options and allocation of Funding Points among one or more selected Funding Options. Feedback information concerning the progress of the funds permits the Customer to evaluate the effectiveness or success of the Funding Option; target feedback content to the Customers that have provided funds via the sponsoring entity; and/or prompt the donor/lendor for additional involvement or action concerning the Funding Option to promote continued engagement on the part of the Customer. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228615 | GRADUAL CONVERSION OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS - Embodiments describe a method and a system to link a secondary account to a primary account with an account management module associated with the primary account and to control access to funds in the secondary account with respect to a secondary account holder through the account management module. The secondary account includes a spending account and a savings account. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228616 | System And Method For Providing An Operator Interface For A Radar Display Of Market Data - A system for providing an operator interface having a radar display comprises a memory and a processor. The memory stores trader designated requirements. The processor generates a radar display comprising a trader requirements block that corresponds to the trader designated requirements. The processor receives market data and performs the following for each trader designated requirement: determines a probability of the market data satisfying a trader designated requirement, and displays a market data circle on the radar display, where a distance between the market data circle and the trader requirements block indicates the probability. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228617 | System and Method for Error Detection and Recovery in an Electronic Trading System - A system for error detection in a trading network comprises a memory operable to store a plurality of trader profiles, wherein a particular trader profile is associated with a particular trader. The particular trader profile comprises first contact data associated with a first client device and second contact data associated with a second client device. The memory is further operable to store at least one trading order associated with the particular trader. The system further comprises a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and operable to detect an alert associated with the first client device. In conjunction with detecting the alert, the processor is operable to determine a current status of the at least one trading order and to generate a status message regarding the determined status. The processor is further operable to transmit the status message to the second client device, wherein the transmission is based at least in part on the second contact data. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228618 | System And Method For Providing An Operator Interface For Displaying Market Data, Trader Options, And Trader Input - A system for providing an operator interface for displaying market data, trader options, and trader input includes a memory and a processor. The memory stores market data for a trading product, where the market data includes an inside market price for the trading product. The processor initiates display of a market data section of a tile, where the market data section comprises the market data. The processor initiates display of a trader input section of the tile, where the trader input section comprises options. The processor receives a selection of a bid-offer pair for the trading product from the options, and updates the trader input section to indicate the selected bid-offer pair. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228619 | APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR ALLOCATING SERVICE REQUESTS - An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for allocating service requests. A category module categorizes a service request for an information technology support service with a service category. The service request comprises a service requirement. An I/O module communicates the service request to a plurality of providers that are certified to provide the service category and receives bids from the providers. A selection module selects a bid according to a selection policy. A history module may store a history of bid prices and response times. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228620 | System And Method For Transfer Of Confirmation Data In A Distributed Electronic Trading System - According to one embodiment, a system for confirmation data transfer in a distributed trading network includes a memory and an account manager. The memory stores a confirmation address associated with a trading account. The account manager receives a trading order associated with the trading account and sends a confirmation message to the confirmation address, where the confirmation message indicates that the trading order has been received. The account manager receives a manage account request generated in response to the confirmation message, where the manage account request requests performance of a management operation on the trading account, and perform the management operation on the trading account. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228621 | System And Method For Transfer Of Dispute Data In A Distributed Electronic Trading System - A system for dispute data transfer in a distributed trading network includes a memory and a dispute manager. The memory stores information about a trading order associated with a client system. The dispute manager communicates a confirmation message to the client system, where the confirmation message provides an option to send a trading order dispute request that disputes processing of the trading order. The dispute manager receives a trading order dispute request generated in response to a selection of the option. The dispute manager obtains a decision that responds to the trading order dispute request and communicates the decision to the client system. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228622 | Reserve order in an electronic guaranteed entitlement environment - An enhanced system and method for handling, matching and executing reserve orders in an electronic options environment is disclosed. Market maker entitlements are integrated with the reserve order processing, so that the market maker is guaranteed an allocation of the trade if the market maker is at the NBBO when a marketable reserve order is received. Once posted to the order book, only the displayed size of a reserve order is eligible for preferential execution in a market maker entitlement process. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228623 | Discretionary order in an electronic guaranteed entitlement environment - An enhanced system and method for handling, matching and executing discretionary orders in an electronic options environment is disclosed. Market maker entitlements are integrated with the discretionary order processing, so that the market maker is guaranteed an allocation of the trade if the market maker is at the NBBO when an incoming discretionary order priced at or better than the NBBO is received. If the incoming discretionary order cannot execute at the NBBO using its display price, then it will use as much discretion as is required to participate in a market maker entitlement if the market maker is quoting at the NBBO, and to execute against the order book and route to away markets quotations at the NBBO. Once posted to the order book, only the display price of a discretionary order is eligible for preferential execution in a market maker entitlement process. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228624 | INTERACTIVE ONLINE FUNDING METHOD AND SYSTEM THEREOF - An interactive online funding method includes providing an interactive online funding platform, offering an interactive funding activity for a user to participate in the interactive online funding platform, by placing a bid, and comparing the bid price of the user with a threshold price set by the interactive online funding platform. When the bid price is greater than or equal to the threshold price, the method further includes utilizing the interactive online funding platform to perform settlement and liquidation to remit a loan amount to the user according to at least the bid price; when the bid price is lower than the threshold price, the method further includes utilizing the interactive online funding platform to perform settlement and liquidation to receive a deposit amount from the user according to the bid price. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228625 | PARTNER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A Partner Relationship Management System (“PRMS”) accessible for sellers and buyers located remotely, whereby the buyers' access privileges are based on their relationship with the sellers. The PRMS comprising a server connected to the Internet and a pricing configurator which includes at least, a buyer profile module residing on the server and storing information on a plurality of buyers, logistics data and a price converter. The information on each buyer includes at least a delivery destination, and a pricing factor. The pricing factor is unique to each buyer. The pricing configurator converts an origin offer price, such as a free-on-board price, to a delivered price, such as a cost-insurance-freight price by considering the information of the buyer profiles and the logistics data. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228626 | Auctions For Health Care Providers - In one aspect, there is provided a computer-implemented method. The method may include providing user interfaces to enable an auction between a provider of health care and an employer. A first auction may be initiated by a user interface associated with a provider of health care. The first auction may be initiated when profile information of the provider is received. A second auction may be initiated by a user interface associated with the employer, when the employer seeks a placement of the provider. The user interface associated with the employer may be used to make bids on at least one of the first auction and the second auction. Related systems, apparatus, methods, and/or articles are also described. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228627 | ELECTRONIC BARTERING SYSTEM - A computer system facilitates buying and selling securities. The computer system comprises a trading system for receiving and storing a plurality of portfolios. Each portfolio is associated with a respective trader. The computer system further comprises a plurality of client computers interfaced with the trading system. The trading system discovers a potential order match among the plurality of portfolios. The order match identifies a first trader, a security to trade and a condition for trading the security. The trading system determines a real time value associated with the order match, and the trading system notifies the first trader of the order match via one of the plurality of client computers. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228628 | REGISTRATION METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AN ENVIRONMENTAL COMMODITIES EXCHANGE - Some embodiments provide a method of registering various types of environmental conservation items such as products, projects, or technologies with sets of environmental conservation properties through an electronic interface. In some embodiments, the electronic interface allows registrants the ability to register an environmental conservation item using only a minimal set of identification data, where the identification data includes at least one parameter for identifying the item. The electronic interface facilitates the registration of the item by associating the set of environmental conservation properties to the item. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228629 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VALUATING ITEMS AS TRADABLE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMODITIES - Some embodiments qualify an item and a protocol associated with the item by determining an amount of environmental conservation that is related to the actual use or implementation of the item by a registrant. Some embodiments quantify the environmental conservation of an item by determining an amount of emissions reduction, energy savings, hazardous wastes or materials that are properly disposed of, or generated renewable energy associated from the qualified environmental conservation of the item. Some embodiments then valuate the quantified environmental conservation to issue a tradable credit. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228630 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VALUATING ITEMS AS TRADABLE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMODITIES - Some embodiments qualify an item and a protocol associated with the item by determining an amount of environmental conservation that is related to the actual use or implementation of the item by a registrant. Some embodiments quantify the environmental conservation of an item by determining an amount of emissions reduction, energy savings, hazardous wastes or materials that are properly disposed of, or generated renewable energy associated from the qualified environmental conservation of the item. Some embodiments then valuate the quantified environmental conservation to issue a tradable credit. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228631 | BUNDLING METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CREDITS OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL COMMODITIES EXCHANGE - Some embodiments perform buyer bundling to permit a buyer the ability to purchase only a portion or percentage of a credit by bundling several buyers into “buyer blocks”. Each buyer within a buyer block desires to offset its polluting activities, where the polluting activities of each buyer equates to only a fraction of the total pollution offsetting afforded by a single credit. In some such embodiments, the aggregate of all buyers in the buyer block exhausts the full pollution offsetting potential of the credit. Moreover, the cost for purchasing the credit is distributed amongst the buyers of the buyer block in proportion to their desired participation in the purchase of the credit. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228632 | TRADING METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AN ENVIRONMENTAL COMMODITIES EXCHANGE - Some embodiments provide a method of registering various types of environmental conservation items such as products, projects, or technologies with sets of environmental conservation properties through an electronic interface. In some embodiments, the electronic interface allows registrants the ability to register an environmental conservation item using only a minimal set of identification data, where the identification data includes at least one parameter for identifying the item. The electronic interface facilitates the registration of the item by associating the set of environmental conservation properties to the item. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228633 | Trading system and methods - The present invention is directed to a system and method that facilitates the more fully informed and efficient trading of items of value, including securities. According to the present invention, certain embodiments permit a customer to determine the merits of and to execute a trade from a single screen. One embodiment of the present invention provides a single option chain trading screen enabling a customer to view a matrix of all available options for a given security, including the various strike prices, expiration dates, and whether they are calls or puts. Another embodiment provides a customer with a single option chain trading screen allowing a customer to “hover” at or near various icons to obtain supplemental information without leaving the trading screen, and use a triple-action selection component to ultimately execute a trade. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228634 | Loan structure with tax benefits - The current invention is a system, method and program of making loans with tax benefits. Instead of a conventional loan note, or mortgage the financer takes a portion of equity in the company (this may, or may not hold real estate). This has the advantage of not being a formal 2 | 2008-09-18 |
20080228635 | Reducing risks related to check verification - Share of Wallet (“SOW”) is a modeling approach that utilizes various data sources to provide scores that describe a consumers spending capability, tradeline history including balance transfers, and balance information. Share of wallet scores can be used as a parameter for determining whether or not to accept and/or guarantee a check. The share of wallet can be used to calculate a risk value of a customer. For example, the scores can weight one or more factors related to the check writer and differentiate between a low-risk customer and a high-risk customer. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228636 | PURCHASING USING A PHYSICAL OBJECT - Using a user interface to allow payment for physical or virtual goods to be made through a physical object. A method may be practiced in a computing system including a user interface. The method includes detecting a payment physical object, and payment capabilities associated with the payment physical object. User input is received. The user input includes at least one of physically dragging a physical object to the detected physical object, or graphically dragging the physical or a virtual object to the detected payment physical object by dragging a graphical representation of the physical or the virtual object to the detected payment physical object. Payment for the physical or virtual object is facilitated using the payment capabilities associated with the payment physical object. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228637 | SPENDING AND SAVINGS SECONDARY LINKED ACCOUNTS - Embodiments describe a method and a system to link a secondary account to a primary account with an account management module associated with the primary account and to control access to funds in the secondary account with respect to a secondary account holder through the account management module. The secondary account includes a spending account and a savings account. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228638 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF CONTROLLING LINKED ACCOUNTS - Embodiments describe a method and a system to link a secondary account to a primary account and to control transfer of funds from an outside source to the secondary account. In an additional embodiment, the secondary account includes an dependent source portion controlled by an account management module and an independent source portion controlled only by a secondary account holder management module. In another additional embodiment, the account management module includes an account suspension feature to enable suspension of the secondary account. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228639 | System and Method for Providing Prepaid Language Interpretation Services - A method is provided. The method provides a user with a prepaid account with a predetermined number of units for language interpretation service. Further, the method provides a live language interpretation service, through a telephone call, to the user. In addition, the method deducts one or more units from the predetermined number of units in the prepaid account based on a duration of the telephone call in addition to any units deducted by a telephone service provider for telephone service based on the duration of the telephone call. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228640 | Method and system for a digital automated exchange - A method and system exchanges assets defined as digital automated equities which are objects instantiated with attributes of an asset. Digital automated equities are registered on a common system exchange as offeror mediary objects and matched by comparing their attributes. Capital exchange offer objects define desired matches by identifying a digital automated equity associated with an exchange offer, a exchange price for the exchange and one or more conditions associated with the exchange. A match use case compares attributes of capital exchange offers to determine matches based on the closeness of the capital exchange offers and a negotiate transaction use case supports communication between owners associated with close capital exchange offers to alter attributes in response to a match. Once a transaction is complete, a settle transaction use case exchanges the digital automated equities. Digital automated equities may include a variety of assets, including intellectual property such as patents and trademarks, business plans, stock and confidential information. Further, the present invention provides a secure format for exchange of confidential information in stages. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228641 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CREDIT CARD REIMBURSEMENTS FOR HEALTH CARE TRANSACTIONS - According to one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method and a system for reimbursing credit card transactions for health care services and/or products. An exemplary method and system may involve registering a user for reimbursement wherein the user identifies one or more payment mechanisms and one or more reimbursement methods; identifying a user transaction with the one or more payment mechanisms at a merchant wherein the user transaction comprises one or more purchases; receiving merchant data regarding the user transaction; determining reimbursement eligibility of the one or more purchases of the user transaction based at least in part on the merchant data; and reimbursing the user for eligible purchases via the one or more reimbursement methods. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228642 | System and Method for Payment Receipt Using 2D Code - A payment receipt system is provided. The payment receipt system comprises: a receipt management database for managing at least information on the payers who have to pay and the payment amount that the respective payers have to pay for a certain period; and a payee server including an information extracting part for extracting information including the information on the payers and the payment amount from the receipt management database, a code converting part for converting the extracted information into a two-dimensional (2D) code, a bill forming part for making out a bill for payment with the converted 2D code attached thereto, a bill transmitting part for transmitting the bill for payment to a receiver of the payer, and a controller receiving information on the payers who have completed a payment from a financial institution server. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228643 | System and method for payment of consumer purchases via vendor escrow accounts - A system and method for payment by a consumer of a purchase from one of a plurality of participating vendors. Each product or service for purchase is classified by a central office into a unique class. A single vendor is permitted for each class of product or service thereby guaranteeing a maximum return of investment. The consumer establishes a vendor escrow account, wherein each vendor escrow accounts is associated with a specific participating vendor. In advance of the purchase, a predetermined amount of funds, as specified by the consumer, is diverted from their paycheck into the vendor escrow account and prohibited thereafter from withdrawal by the consumer. Appropriate funds are debited from the vendor escrow account in payment for the purchase made by the consumer from the associated participating vendor. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228644 | PROVIDING METERED CAPACITY OF COMPUTER RESOURCES - An apparatus and method provides the capability of metering temporary capacity on demand in a computer system. A resource-time is specified, such as processor-days. The actual usage of the resource is monitored, and the customer is charged for only the actual usage of the resource. In this manner a customer may purchase a specified resource-time, and is only charged for the time that the resource is actually used. The preferred embodiments extend to metering temporary capacity on demand in a logically partitioned computer system. If a resource is shared, the actual usage of the resource is monitored, and the customer is only billed for actual usage that exceeds a predetermined non-zero threshold. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228645 | Methods, systems and articles of manufacture for managing penalty fees for financial accounts - Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed for providing a payment plan to credit card customers. A customer may be offered membership into a payment plan that allows the customer to pay past due penalty fees included in a balance associated With the customer's credit card account. Once a customer is member of the plan, a new segment is created for the customer's account. The penalty fees are removed from the balance and applied to a balance associated with the new segment. Thereafter, each time payment is received for the financial account, the payment may be applied in whole or part to the new segment's balance until it reaches zero. Subsequent payments are applied to the balance of the financial account. In one configuration, the financial account may not be charged any penalty fees while the customer is a member of the plan. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228646 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING A NON-CHANGING PAYMENT CARD ACCOUNT NUMBER - The present invention provides a method and system for managing a cardholder's payment card account having a non-changing account number associated with a payment card, the method comprising the steps of assigning a series of dynamic attributes to an account number, identifying the payment card account, and changing the dynamic attributes of the account number without changing the account number. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228647 | Method and computer-readable medium for managing an account balance - A method and computer-readable medium for managing an account balance of a user via remote connection to an account database system of a service provider are provided. According to the method, payment information is received from the user via the remote connection for a selected invoice of an account of the user. The payment information is outputted to an external payment service for settlement of payment, and, if the settlement is successful, authorization and settlement data are received from the external payment service and written to a payment file of the user. A transaction record is then written to an account transactions file of the service provider, thereby triggering execution of an accounting program for posting the authorization and settlement data to the user's account and to financial records of the service provider. The updated invoice information may then be outputted to the user. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228648 | SYSTEM FOR PERSONAL AUTHORIZATION CONTROL FOR CARD TRANSACTIONS - An authorization system allows for cardholder-provided parameters to a personal authorization subsystem. The parameters can be selected by the cardholder to limit the authorizations that would otherwise be granted on the card. The parameters can indicate limits by frequency, dollar amount, merchant, geographic location, time of day, combinations thereof, or the like. Authorization for a given transaction, even where authorized by an issuer and a network operator, might be denied based on self-constraints set by the cardholder. In some variations, messages are sent to the cardholder based on constraints set by the cardholder and transactions might be approved and messaged, or denied and messaged. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228649 | Method and apparatus for obtaining a protected application protected against unauthorized use by implementing a predetermined licensing model - There is provided a method for obtaining a protected application protected against unauthorized use by implementing a predetermined licensing model, said method comprising the steps of: adding a software product to said application, said software product providing the possibility of defining one of several different manners of realizing a functionality to be used for implementing the predetermined licensing model, and defining one of the several manners of realizing the functionality and an apparatus for obtaining a protected application protected against unauthorized use by implementing a predetermined licensing model, which apparatus adds a software product to said application, said software product providing the possibility of defining one of several different manners of realizing a functionality to be used for implementing the predetermined licensing model, and defines one of the several manners of realizing the functionality. Further, there is provided a software product, which is to be added to an application in order to obtain a protected application protected against unauthorized use by implementing a predetermined licensing model, said software product providing the possibility of defining one of several different manners of realizing a functionality to be used for implementing the predetermined licensing model and a method of distributing a software application, said method comprising the steps of: protecting the software application to be distributed by adding a software product to said software application, said software product providing the possibility of defining one of several different manners of realizing a functionality to be used for implementing a predetermined licensing model, and defining one of the several manners of realizing the functionality, sending the protected software application to the user. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228650 | SECURE COMMUNICATION AND REAL-TIME WATERMARKING USING MUTATING IDENTIFIERS - A method of watermarking using mutating identifiers includes generating a plurality of watermarked versions of a content item, obtaining a plurality of keys for the plurality of watermarked versions of a content item, assigning each one of the plurality of obtained keys to a single one of the plurality of watermarked versions of a content item, and associating a unique license with each one of the plurality of watermarked versions. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228651 | Public Key Crytography Method and System - A system is disclosed relating to the use of digital certificates to improve internet communications. In one embodiment digital certificates are used to facilitate payment for goods or services, where the digital certificate is designated as having a certain value. In a further embodiment digital certificates are used for reducing or preventing unsolicited emails or spam. In a still further embodiment digital certificates are used in a digital Lottery System. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228652 | INTERNET BUSINESS SECURITY METHOD - An internet business security method is disclosed. According to this method, first, a one-time password is generated based on a smart card that includes a chip to perform the processes of storing data, processing data and encoding/decoding data. Then, the one-time password is identified by the website. When the one-time password is correct, the smart card holder is permitted to login to the website for further trading. The trade object for this website is the smart card holder identity registered in the bank. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228653 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ENROLLING A TOKEN IN AN ONLINE AUTHENTICATION PROGRAM - An online transaction system configured to implement authentication methods that allow for strong multi-factor authentication in online environments. The authentication methods can be combined with strong security methods to further ensure that the authentication process is secure. Further, the strong multi-factor authentication can be implemented with zero adoption dependencies through the implementation of automated enrollment methods. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228654 | NETWORK INDEPENDENT LOCATION SERVICES - Techniques for supporting network independent location services (LCS) are described. In one design, a location center may communicate with a terminal to establish an account for the terminal with the location center for location services. The location center may establish the account for the terminal independent of a home network or a serving network for the terminal. During signup to establish the account, the location center may (i) provide address information for the location center, security information, and/or other information for the location center and (ii) receive public identity information and/or other information for the terminal. The location center may thereafter provide location services to the terminal based on the established account and without interacting with the home or serving network for the terminal. Techniques for supporting delivery of assistance data are also described. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228655 | Secure Payment Method and System on Network and Route Server - A payment system on network provides a platform based on the existing various transaction modes so that the current transaction modes can be operated on the secure payment platform which the present invention provides. The current transaction modes has the following kinds: a free process mode of the acquirer institution, a direct authentication mode of the card issuing institution, a secure input mode of the bank union and the other patent mode which the bank applies. The secure payment system can solve the technology disadvantage that the existing transaction flow is disorder and the resource is waste. The method of the present invention not only can be realized and its security is high, but also can achieve the less consumed time and the high transaction success using the existing private network. If the present invention has not received the transaction process result within the preset time, the acquirer subsystem puts forward a request for inquiring and notifies the inquired result of the merchant, thereby the difficulty of the following clear is reduced. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228656 | Method for implementing an enhanced auction via a communications network - A method of selectively implementing a live auction option in a conventional timed electronic auction. The host-server monitors bidding activity in a timed auction to detect an indication of competitive bidding. If competitive bidding is detected, a “live auction” is triggered. The client-users are provided information regarding how to participate in the live auction, which may be held immediately or at a set time in the future. Preferably, only those users who submitted a bid during the final stages of the timed auction will be allowed to participate. The live auction is not conducted by a human auctioneer. Rather, it is conducted by a software-implemented process. However, all bidders are given warnings when the auction is about to close and sufficient time to submit additional bids. These warnings can mimic a human auctioneer, such as web-posted “going once,” “going twice” calls. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228657 | Apparatus and process facilitating customer-driven sales of products having multiple configurations - The present invention provides an apparatus and process for facilitating customer-driven sales of products having multiple configurations, preferably automobiles and trucks. The apparatus is a computer network comprising a server with a product database thereon, an intermediary subsystem, and a seller subsystem. The server, intermediary subsystem, and seller subsystem function together and communicate with each other to allow an intermediary, on behalf of a customer, to configure a feasible product, transmit a request for quote (RFQ) to a target set of sellers in the customer's geographic area, receive quotes from the target sellers in response to the RFQ, and transmit the customer's acceptance of one of the quotes to the appropriate seller. The apparatus may also include a customer subsystem by which the customer may configure their own feasible product and transmit their feasible product information to the intermediary. The intermediary subsystem can optionally include a product database thereon which the intermediary can use to configure a feasible product without communicating with the server. The process allows an intermediary to configure a feasible product, transmit a request for quote (RFQ) to a target set of sellers in the customer's geographic area, receive quotes from the target sellers in response to the RFQ, and transmit the customer's acceptance of one of the quotes to the appropriate seller. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228658 | DEAL IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM - A method and system for identifying deals to facilitate travel planning is provided. In one embodiment, a deal identification system identifies deals on travel items and presents those deals to a person in a way that facilitates travel planning and travel shopping. The deal identification system may include an entity attributes service component that provides attributes of entities associated with the items. The deal identification system may also include a historical price service component that provides historical pricing information for the items. The deal identification system may also include a deal component that receives a criterion that defines a deal based on a combination of attributes of entities, historical pricing information, and current pricing information and identifies those items that match the criterion as deals. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228659 | Methods and vehicles for funding retained obligations - A method and vehicle for funding retained obligations in accordance with the principles of the present invention comprises pooling of investments from investors in an investment vehicle. No single investor's assets will be traced in any manner, including for purposes of measuring or allocating gain or loss. The investors share any gain or loss in accordance with their interest in the investment vehicle. The investment vehicle invests its assets with a preference for commercial paper of one or more interest holders of the investors; provided, that there is no requirement that the investment vehicle must buy a specific amount of any interest holders' commercial paper, or buy any interest holders' commercial paper at any specific time and the investment vehicle will not guarantee that a specific amount of contribution in the investment vehicle will equal a specific investment in commercial paper of an interest holder. The holding of commercial paper of any single interest holder does not make up a significant portion of the total investment of the investment vehicle. In one preferred embodiment, the method and vehicle for finding retained obligations in accordance with the present invention is directed to an investment vehicle for captive insurance companies, where the investment vehicle preferably invests in the commercial paper of a policyholder or the ultimate parent and/or subsidiaries and/or affiliates of a captive insurance company. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228660 | Methods and vehicles utilizing financial instruments for funding retained obligations - A method and vehicle for finding retained obligations in accordance with the principles of the present invention comprises pooling of investments from investors in an investment vehicle. No single investor's assets will be traced in any manner, including for purposes of measuring or allocating gain or loss. The investors share any gain or loss in accordance with their interest in the investment vehicle. The investment vehicle invests its assets with a preference for financial instruments of one or more interest holders of the investors; provided, that there is no requirement that the investment vehicle must buy a specific amount of any interest holders' financial instruments, or buy any interest holders' financial instruments at any specific time and the investment vehicle will not guarantee that a specific amount of contribution in the investment vehicle will equal a specific investment in financial instruments of an interest holder. The holding of financial instruments of any single interest holder does not make up a significant portion of the total investment of the investment vehicle. In one preferred embodiment, the method and vehicle for funding retained obligations in accordance with the present invention is directed to an investment vehicle for captive insurance companies, where the investment vehicle preferably invests in the financial instruments of a policyholder or the ultimate parent and/or subsidiaries and/or affiliates of a captive insurance company. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228661 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING FINANCIAL SERVICES - A new method and system for providing financial services is provided. These methods and systems can include providing banking and investment services to hedge fund money managers and other customers without the assistance or need for a prime broker. While employing the present invention a money manager may receive prime brokerage services from a bank or other financial service while at the same time be able to pursue investment opportunities with this bank or financial institution and other banks, institutions, and brokerages. The prime brokerage services that a money manger may receive can include accounting services, loan services, and cash management. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228662 | System and method for facilitating the funding and administration of a long term investment or retirement trust for yet-to-be-born individuals - The funding and administration of a long term investment and/or retirement trust for yet-to-be born individuals are facilitated by the present invention. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a system and method for the input of user variables specific to the requirements necessary for the real-time production of trust documents necessary and specific to the purpose of establishing a funded pre-retirement trust for a yet-to-be born individual. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228663 | Systems For Leveraging Capital And Associated Methods - A system, method and software product determines pool financing structure of a venture capital fund. Investment guidelines that specify initial investment parameters of companies that the venture capital fund intends to invest in and cash flow through the pool financing structure are input. Projected returns for equity investors and general partners of the venture capital fund are evaluated by modeling fund investments and cash flow through the pool financing structure over a range of economic conditions. The venture capital fund is modeled for rating agencies to determine levels of subordination, within the pool financing structure, necessary to achieve investment guide ratings. Optimal pool financing structure of the venture capital fund and optimal investment parameters of the companies based upon the economic conditions and the investment guide ratings are determined to maximize returns for the equity investors and general partners. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228664 | BUNDLING METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CREDITS OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL COMMODITIES EXCHANGE - Some embodiments of the invention provide a method of automatically bundling environmental conservation items with computed environmental conservation values into “credit blocks” so that the aggregate sum of the environmental conservation values of the items in a particular block is sufficient to issue a tradable environmental commodity, also referred to as a credit. In some such embodiments the various different items represent items with different forms of environmental conservation such as emissions reductions, energy savings, hazardous waste reductions, or generated renewable energy. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228665 | BUNDLING METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CREDITS OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL COMMODITIES EXCHANGE - Some embodiments of the invention provide a method of automatically bundling environmental conservation items with computed environmental conservation values into “credit blocks” so that the aggregate sum of the environmental conservation values of the items in a particular block is sufficient to issue a tradable environmental commodity. Some embodiments bundle all environmental conservation values associated with the registrations of a particular registrant. The registrant may then subsequently withdraw from his/her individually bundled environmental conservation in order to directly offset some polluting activity without having to purchase credits. Some embodiments provide distributed bundling by allocating a fractional portion of an environmental conservation value produced from a registered item to at least two separate entities. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228666 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF MEASURING INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE - Systems for measuring the performance of an investment portfolio over a specific time period include a report having indicia of a portfolio index value, the portfolio index value representing a hypothetical return on investment of a hypothetical portfolio for the specific time period calculated as a function of actual timing and actual amounts of actual deposits to and actual withdrawals from the investment portfolio during the specific time period and one or more benchmarks so that a recipient of the report can compare the hypothetical return on investment to an actual return on investment of the investment portfolio. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228667 | MULTI-COLOR BILLING PROCESS - Embodiments herein include a method that begins by receiving a print job for a customer from an intermediary program such as a print driver. The print job comprises instructions to print a document for the customer and includes, for example, data and print characteristics. The method then evaluates the colorspace of each page of the print job to determine whether any multi-color items are included within the print job. The method ignores classifications of the print job as either a multi-color print job (e.g., color print job) or a single color print job (e.g., black and white) from the print driver and, instead, classifies the print job as either a multi-color print job or a single color print job based only on whether the multi-color items are included within the print job. Then, the method provides the billing information for the customer to an appropriate entity that bills the customer. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228668 | SYSTEM FOR SETTING SPECIAL WHOLESALE PRICING FOR RESELLERS - A system for calculating a special wholesale pricing between a wholesaler and a reseller for a transaction between the reseller and an end-user. A wholesale discount pricing system is provided that comprises: a system for inputting a special pricing request from a reseller, wherein the special pricing request includes a product identifier and an end-user discount the reseller intends on applying to the transaction with the end-user; a product mapping system that maps the product identifier to a set of pricing parameters; and a calculation system that calculates the special wholesale pricing based on the set of pricing parameters and the inputted end-user discount. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228669 | Method of controlling the operation of an automated postage meter - Disclosed is an improved work-ahead method for efficiently operating a software-controlled, automated postage meter of the type used to print postage and other digital data on batches of mail that are run through the meter during successive jobs which originate from different accounts. The operator enters data relating to the parameters for a first job to be completed. After the meter is initialized and the meter overhead is encountered, the first batch of mail for the first job is run through the postage meter. As the first job is being executed and the first batch of mail is being imprinted with postage, the operator enters the data relating to the parameters for the next job. The operator then loads a second batch of mail for the next job into the postage meter. Provided that the first job has been completed, but without having to once again initialize the postage meter and encounter all of the meter overhead, the second batch of letters for the next job is now run through the meter. The postage meter is continuously readied to receive another batch of mail for a new job at the same time that the preceding job is being completed. Once the final job has been completed, meter information regarding all of the job transactions during the workday is retrieved, analyzed, displayed and saved. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228670 | Interacting with a user via a personal information manager user interface - Systems and techniques for interacting with a user via a personal information manager user interface. In another aspect, a system can include a recruiting server that provides services related to a recruiting process and manages data associated with the recruiting process, a personal information manager server that provides services related to management of a user's personal information, and a personal information manager user interface on one or more I/O devices. The personal information manager user interface can integrates, into a single display screen, personal information from the personal information manager server and the data associated with the recruiting process. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228671 | Facilitating Development of Documentation for Products Related to an Enterprise - Facilitating development of documentation for products related to an enterprise. In an embodiment, a computer implemented approach is enabled using which data is maintained indicating the respective roles that can be played by various users consistent with a desired development cycle for the development of documentation for products related to an enterprise. The computer-implemented approach then facilitates the users to perform their respective roles to ensure continued execution of the development cycle by appropriate communication to users having subsequent roles. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228672 | Sales process and form - A novel business method for selling automobiles includes a unique multiply form that includes three different data fields. The form is used in a paperwork tracking technique that comprises multiple sheets having a common data field in a pre-selected area. Each sheet includes other data fields that are unique to that particular form. Each sheet is stripped from the multi-ply form and forwarded to an appropriate department in an automobile dealership. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228673 | BUSINESS PRACTICES ALIGNMENT METHODS - A method to align and effectively apply business practices or culture within the business units in one or more business entities is provided. In the first phase, a practices charter defining future state business practices is developed. A practices charter is developed from an initial set of differing alternatives statements regarding future business practices, in view of a right-versus-right spectrum. A practices charter is an output of the reconciliation of differing alternatives statements in right-versus-right spectrums. In a second phase, a practices charter is applied to hypothetical issues to develop realistic outcome narratives describing hypothetical situations and dilemmas. In a third phase, discrepancies between outcome narratives and a current state of business practice are identified, and a prioritized action program is developed to address identified discrepancies. Finally, progress is evaluated by utilizing outcome narratives to identify achievements and to target areas needing further improvement and additional actions. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228674 | Floral easel - The present invention relates to an erectable and/or collapsible floral easel for holding a floral object, and more particularly but not by way of limitation, to an erectable or collapsible floral easel for holding a floral object. In one aspect, the present invention relates to a floral easel for holding and/or supporting a floral object. In yet another aspect, the present invention relates to methods of shipping a floral easel, methods of using a floral easel, methods of storing a floral easel, and methods of placing a floral object on a floral easel. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228675 | MULTI-TIERED CASCADING CRAWLING SYSTEM - Provided is a multi-tiered cascading crawling system for finding on a network information related to one or more predetermined topics or subtopics of interest. In general, embodiments of the present invention provide a system that operates in multiple “tiers,” where at least some of the output of one tier is used to comprise the input of the next tier. Each tier generally analyzes collections of documents on the network using successively more restrictive criteria about the subject matter of each collection and/or about which collections may be related to the one or more topics or subtopics. In general, only the final tier performs an exhaustive crawl of all of the documents of the collections that are identified by the system as being relevant to the topic or subtopic of interest. | 2008-09-18 |
20080228676 | Computing device, method of controlling the computing device, and computer readable medium recording a program - A computing device stores a Bayesian network ( | 2008-09-18 |