Showing papers on "Database transaction published in 2000"

Automobile personal computer systems

Abstract: An automobile personal computer system is provided. A user of the system may wirelessly interact with merchants, communications facilities, information providers, computers at the home or office, and other entities. Such interactions may involve local wireless links and remote wireless links. Wireless communications may involve satellite transmissions, cellular transmissions, short-range wireless transmissions, etc. Products may be purchased using voice commands or by interacting with displays in the automobile. The automobile's location and functions may be monitored and controlled. Location information and other information particular to the user may be used to target promotions to the user. The user may obtain information on the goods or services available at a merchant while driving and may initiate a purchase transaction for those goods or services.

System and method for pre-authorization of individual account remote transactions

Abstract: An account processing method and system for providing specific pre-authorization parameters for transactions that require specific pre-authorization by a network user specifying conformity parameters within which any requested transaction parameters must comply in order to enable the requested transaction to be approved. Upon establishment of an account, transaction types by standard industrial code (SIC) are specified as needing specific authorization prior to approving the transaction as requested by a merchant. An account issuer provides a service to account members that permits network user to independently specify the parametric conditions under which to approve a transaction within such categories. Once a transaction is approved, the pre-authorization is spent and requires individual pre-authorization of each transaction, thereby minimizing misuse of an account number by merchants or others that come into possession of the network user's account number.

System and method for electronically exchanging value among distributed users

Abstract: A system and method are provided for facilitating a value exchange transaction involving multiple parties. The system may comprise a synchronization server for exchanging transaction details with client devices, a communication server for registering new users, a financial server for interacting with external financial institutions, and a security server for ensuring the security of value exchange transactions. In one method, a first party initiates a transaction on a client (e.g., a mobile computing device) by selecting or inputting an identifier (which may be pre-existing, such as a telephone number) of another party and a value to be exchanged. The transaction may be conducted while the parties' client devices are electronically connected or may be conducted by one user on one device. Transactions are communicated to a system server during a synchronization between a party's client device and a system server. When the transaction is submitted to the system, if the second party is not a registered user of the system he or she is invited to register and complete the transaction.

System and method for conducting web-based financial transactions in capital markets

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method that enables users, such as institutional investors and financial institutions, to interactively engage in capital market transactions, including the trading of Over-the-Counter financial products, via the Internet (including the World Wide Web). The system includes a variety of servers, applications, and interfaces that enable users to interactively communicate and trade financial instruments among one another. Interactive communications supported by the system include: requesting price quotes, monitoring and reviewing quote requests, issuing price quotes, monitoring and reviewing price quotes, negotiation between users, acceptance of price quotes, reporting, portfolio management, analysis of financial information and market data, and communications among users via an automated processor. Such automated communications enable connectivity with users' internal, back-end systems to execute automated, straight-through processing, including transaction pricing, payment scheduling and journaling, derivatives trading, trade confirmation, and trade settlement.

Routing methods and systems for increasing payment transaction volume and profitability

Abstract: Customers often have access to multiple payment methods for any given transaction. In one embodiment of the invention, a merchant obtains information regarding multiple payment methods from a customer, and sends said information to a transaction evaluator. Via computer networks, the transaction evaluator sends information about the transaction to the issuers of one or more of the payment methods. The issuers perform a cost/benefit analysis of the transactions and respond with a description of the terms under which they are willing to process the transaction. Based on the issuer response, the transaction evaluator selects one of the payment methods. By enabling participating issuers to select favorable transactions and avoid unprofitable ones, the invention can thus improve issuer profitability by directing profitable transactions to participating issuers while directing unprofitable transactions away from participating issuers or to alternate transaction methods that are more profitable or less costly.

Automated system for conditional order transactions in securities or other items in commerce

Abstract: An apparatus and method of automatically and anonymously buying and selling positions in fungible properties between subscribers. The specific embodiment described in the disclosure relates to the buying and selling of securities or contracts where the offer to purchase or sell the property may be conditioned upon factors such as the ability to purchase or sell other property or the actual purchase or sale of other property. Specifically, the system described includes methods by which the system will sort and display the information available on each order, methods by which the system will match buy and sell order and attempt to use other markets to effect the execution of transactions without violating conditions set by the subscriber, methods by which the apparatus will execute transaction and report prices to third parties such that the user is satisfied and short sales are reported as prescribed by the rules and regulations of the appropriate regulatory body governing each subscriber in the associated transaction. A communication system is described which allows subscribers to communicate anonymously for the purpose of effecting transactions in such property under such conditions.

Exception handling in workflow management systems

Abstract: Fault tolerance is a key requirement in process support systems (PSS), a class of distributed computing middleware encompassing applications such as workflow management systems and process centered software engineering environments. A PSS controls the flow of work between programs and users in networked environments based on a "metaprogram" (the process). The resulting applications are characterized by a high degree of distribution and a high degree of heterogeneity (properties that make fault tolerance both highly desirable and difficult to achieve). We present a solution for implementing more reliable processes by using exception handling, as it is used in programming languages, and atomicity, as it is known from the transaction concept in database management systems. We describe the mechanism incorporating both transactions and exceptions and present a validation technique allowing to assess the correctness of process specifications.

Don't Be Lazy, Be Consistent: Postgres-R, A New Way to Implement Database Replication

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Vehicle mounted remote transaction interface system

Abstract: A vehicle mounted remote transaction interface system for communicating with a remote transaction unit for transactions such as a bank transaction with a bank teller unit or a drive-through point-of-sale transaction with a drive-through point-of-sale system for the purchase of food, beverages or other goods. The interface system includes a transmitter and an input device. The transmitter is mounted to a vehicular rearview mirror assembly. The input device is in communication with the transmitter and provides input to the transmitter which modulates the signals from the input device and transmits the modulated signal for communicating with the remote transaction unit in order to engage in a transaction such as with a remote bank teller unit or machine. The input device may, for example, include one or more buttons, a display area, and/or credit/debit card reader.

Asynchronous transcription object management system

Abstract: Described herein is a system for executing distributed transactions. A coordinator and one or more participants cooperate to execute a distributed transaction, the distributed transaction including for each participant a transaction executed by the participant. To manage the transaction, the coordinator and the participant communicate over a network using, for example, a stateless protocol. Before each participant commits the transaction, the participants determine that the coordinator has committed the transaction. The coordinator commits the transaction after receiving acknowledgment from all the participants that they will commit the transaction. To determine whether the coordinator has committed the transaction, a participant transmits a message to the coordinator to acknowledge that it will commit the distributed transaction. The participant commits its respective transaction if it receives an acknowledgement from the coordinator. For the particular transaction being executed by a participant, the participant prevents other transactions from modifying a data item affected by the particular transaction. The participant will prevent such modifications until termination criteria for the particular transaction is satisfied, in which case the participant terminates the transaction.

When Does Vertical Coordination Improve Industrial Purchasing Relationships

Abstract: Vertically coordinated ties are purportedly effective responses to the uncertainties of fast-changing purchasing environments Building on transaction costs arguments and related work in marketing, the authors analyze vertical coordination as a response to external uncertainty and show that its effectiveness is highly contingent on the magnitude of the safeguarding problem present Indeed, its beneficial effects can be overwhelmed by the consequential increase in trading hazards The authors use survey data from a sample of 161 industrial buyers to test the hypotheses When specific investments are modest, greater vertical coordination diminishes transaction difficulties in adapting to high environmental uncertainty Conversely, vertical coordination increases transaction difficulties when firms adapt to high environmental uncertainty and specific investments are substantial The authors discuss the importance of these results for transaction cost theory and develop the results into a managerial

System And Methods For Servicing Electronic Transactions

Abstract: A service transaction provider (10) for administering a plurality of accounts for a client, includes a computer (12), having a processor, a data storage medium, and a network port (14a). The storage medium is configured to store the clients' personal information, account information, and transactional information. The processor configured to create a database of client's personal information, account information, and transactional information; designate as confidential a predetermined first portion of the database client information; designate as non-confidential a predetermined second portion of the database of client information; and provide the client with access to the first and second portions of the database of client information via the network port.

Database replication techniques: a three parameter classification

Abstract: Data replication is an increasingly important topic as databases are more and more deployed over clusters of workstations. One of the challenges in database replication is to introduce replication without severely affecting performance. Because of this difficulty, current database products use lazy replication, which is very efficient but can compromise consistency. As an alternative, eager replication guarantees consistency but most existing protocols have a prohibitive cost. In order to clarify the current state of the art and open up new avenues for research, this paper analyses existing eager techniques using three key parameters (server architecture, server interaction and transaction termination). In our analysis, we distinguish eight classes of eager replication protocols and, for each category, discuss its requirements, capabilities and cost. The contribution lies in showing when eager replication is feasible and in spelling out the different aspects a database replication protocol must account for.

Transaction Cost and Resource-Based Explanations of Joint Ventures: A Comparison and Synthesis

Abstract: Transaction cost theory has been the dominant theoretical lens used in the study of joint ventures. The purpose of this paper is to explain the formation of joint ventures from the resource-based perspective and to compare this perspective with transaction cost theory. By focusing on the cost aspect of a transaction, the transaction cost logic explains joint ventures in terms of market failure for intermediate inputs, asset specificity, and high uncertainty over specifying and monitoring performance. Putting more emphasis on the benefit side of a transaction, resource-based theory regards joint ventures as a means of exploiting and developing a firm's resources. The transaction cost and resource-based explanations are, to a certain extent, complementary. Taking the stance of theoretical pluralism, an attempt is made to synthesize the two theories into a more comprehensive perspective which takes both costs and benefits into account.

Non-cash transaction incentive and commission distribution system

Abstract: An electronic fund transfer system is disclosed wherein commissions for point-of-sale purchase transactions are determined and distributed to members of an organizational network for promoting use of a non-cash payment device that is tangible for effecting purchase transactions. Purchase data is electronically transmitted from the point-of-sale to an automated clearing house for effecting fund transfers to prepare the purchase, and also to a commission management system. The commission management system maintains an electronic database reflecting the structure of the organizational network, and further determines the distribution of purchase commissions according to a predetermined schedule of proportions relating to the position and business volume of each member of the network. The commission management system further comprises a payment processor for effecting commission payments to the members or to a designated sponsor on a scheduled basis.

Systems, methods and devices for trusted transactions

Abstract: The invention discloses a system for enhancing trust in transactions, most particularly in remote transactions between a plurality of transactional parties, for instance a seller and buyer(s) of goods and/or services over a public computer network such as the internet. Trust is disclosed to be a multivalent commodity, in that the trust that is to be enhanced relates to information about the subject matter of the transactions (e.g., the suitability of the goods and services sold), the bona fides of the supplier of the goods and services, the appropriateness of a pricing structure for a particular transaction or series of transactions, a quantum of additional transactional value that may be imparted to the transactional relationship, security of information exchange, etc. An important contributor to trust for such aspects of the transaction is disclosed to be the use of highly-secure steganographic computer processing means for data identification, authentication, and transmission, such that confidence in the transaction components is enhanced. By providing an integrated multivalent system for enhancing trust across a variety of categories (for a variety of transaction species, including those in which the need for trust is greater on the part of one party than of another, as well as those in which both require substantial trust enhancement), the invention reduces barriers to forming and optimizing transactional relationships.

Database load balancing for multi-tier computer systems

Abstract: A load balancing method and system for a transaction computer system having multiple database servers for at least one database, wherein database servers cooperate to provide a unified view of the data in the database. The method includes the steps of establishing connections to said multiple database servers for communicating with said database servers; and assigning transactions to respective ones of said multiple database servers to balance respective loads of said multiple database servers. Assigning each new transaction includes the steps of determining possible assignments of that new transaction to one or more of said multiple database servers, each said possible assignment to one of said multiple database servers being based on a load balancing scheme to balance respective loads of said multiple database servers; and assigning that new transaction to one of said multiple database servers as a function of said possible assignments of that new transaction, to balance respective loads of said multiple database servers.

Transaction costs and contractual incompleteness: the case of Électricité de France

Abstract: This paper explores the incompleteness of inter-firm contracts through the lens of recent developments in transaction cost economics. We built a non-truncated contract database representing all the relationships of Electricite de France (EDF) with its coal-carriers over the period 1977–1997. We tested and corroborated most propositions derived from transaction cost theory relating contractual incompleteness to transaction characteristics, even when we considered the complete set of the theory’s propositions by endogeneizing the asset specificity at stake in transactions. To our knowledge, this kind of test has never been conducted before.

Reputation Systems: Facilitating Trust in Internet Interactions

Abstract: The Internet has created vast new opportunities to interact with strangers. The interactions can be fun, informative, even profitable. But they also involve risks. Is the advice from a self-proclaimed expert at expertcentral.com reliable? Will an unknown dot-com site or eBay seller ship with appropriate packaging, and will the product be as described? Before the Internet, such questions were answered, in part, through reputations. Vendors provided references, Better Business Bureaus tallied complaints, and past personal experience and person-to-person gossip told you whom you could rely upon and whom you could not. And a businessman’s standing in the community, e.g., his role at church, served as a valuable hostage. Internet services operate on a vastly larger scale than Main Street and permit virtually anonymous interactions. Nevertheless, reputation systems are playing a major role. Systems are emerging that respect anonymity and operate on the Internet’s scale. A reputation system collects, distributes, and aggregates feedback about participants’ past behavior. Though few of the producers or consumers of the ratings know each other, these systems help people decide whom to trust, encourage trustworthy behavior, and deter participation by those who are unskilled or dishonest. For example, consider eBay, the largest person-to-person online auction site, with more than 4 million auctions open at a time. eBay offers no warranty for its auctions; it only serves as a listing service while the buyers and the sellers assume all the risks associated with transactions. There are fraudulent transactions to be sure. Nonetheless, the overall rate of successful transactions remains astonishingly high for a market as “ripe with the possibility of largescale fraud and deceit” as is eBay [ref. Kollock]. eBay attributes its high rate of successful transactions to its reputation system, the Feedback Forum. After a transaction is completed, the buyer and seller have the opportunity to rate each other (1, 0, or -1) and leave comments (“Good transaction. Nice person to do business with! Would highly recommend.”). Each participant has his running total of feedback points attached visibly to

Flow designer for establishing and maintaining assignment and strategy process maps

Abstract: A system, method and carrier medium for modeling a Financial Service Organization (FSO) business in a computer software program and for storing the model of the FSO business in a database. An object-oriented business model representing the FSO may be created and stored in a business model database. The one or more business objects included in the business model may be configured to describe various products, methods, functions and properties associated with an FSO. A process map business object may describe a process workflow. The process workflow may identify a sequence of tasks to be performed by an FSO production system to process an FSO transaction. The sequence of tasks associated with an FSO transaction may be consistent with pre-defined business logic for the transaction. Selecting a task object from a plurality of task objects and transferring the task object to a process map display representing the process map business object may create the process workflow. Additional task objects may be transferred and connected to the transferred task objects in a manner consistent with the business logic. An FSO production system, which may be configured to process FSO transactions, may access the database to request data associated with a particular FSO transaction. On receiving the requested data from the business model database, the FSO production system may complete the processing of the FSO transaction.

Method for allowing a user to customize use of a payment card that generates a different payment card number for multiple transactions

Abstract: A user can customize use of a payment card, which can be an electronic card, by selecting either a first or a second user key as a selected user key. The selected user key is entered into a card number generator that uses it and a user sequence number to generate a user payment card number that differs for each transaction through use of an algorithm. Multiple payment card transactions can be handled differently depending upon which user key is chosen as the selected user key. Different user keys can be used for different accounts, different types of transactions, or to classify the transactions. A user can receive one bill, or multiple bills. Different levels of privacy can be accorded to transactions that use different user keys. A user may pay the issuer for increased security, or the user may be paid by the issuer to allow transaction data to be distributed to third parties.

E-commerce trust metrics and models

Abstract: Traditional models of trust between vendors and buyers fall short of requirements for an electronic marketplace, where anonymous transactions cross territorial and legal boundaries as well as traditional value-chain structures. Alternative quantifications of trust may offer better evaluations of transaction risk in this environment. This article introduces a notion of quantifiable trust and then develops models that can use these metrics to verify e-commerce transactions in ways that might be able to satisfy the requirements of mutual trust. The article uses two examples in illustrating these concepts: one for an e-commerce printing enterprise and the other for Internet stock trading.

Secure networked transaction system

Abstract: A method and system for approving a transaction between a customer and a merchant including the steps of transmitting a transaction request from a customer to a merchant; transmitting a verification request from the merchant to a verification entity, the verification request comprising first data; the customer device transmitting second data to the verification entity; and the verification entity performing a verification step by using the first data and the second data to verify if the transaction should be approved.

Automatic payment system for a plurality of remote merchants

Abstract: An automated payment system for a plurality of remote merchants includes a clearinghouse server, a plurality of customer tags and a plurality of local merchant systems. The clearinghouse system includes a customer database and merchant database. A customer joining the clearinghouse service is provided with a customer tag, such as an RFID transponder, which stores a tag identification number. Each remote merchant includes a local merchant system which includes a reader, point-of-sale system, a customer database and a transaction database. The reader is adapted to automatically retrieve the tag identification number from a customer tag when the customer tag is within an associated reading area, such as a stopping location of drive-through lane or a short-term parking stall. The customer's order is entered and processed on the point-of-sale system which is adapted to handle both standard cash transactions and authorized cashless transactions. The authorization database includes tag identification numbers for each tag of a customer authorized to use the automated payment system. A search is conducted in the authorization database for the tag identification number retrieved by the reader, and if found, the point-of-sale system is authorized to process a cashless transaction for the associated customer.

Virtual Communities of Transaction: The Role of Personalization in Electronic Commerce

Abstract: Bringing communities of buyers and sellers together in the arena of electronic commerce stimulates three major potentials: the building of trust, the collection and effective use of community knowledge and the economic impacts of accumulated buying power. In this context, we introduce the concept of Virtual Communities of Transaction and review important personalization approaches which we may utilize in their design: collaborative filtering, data mining, and techniques to optimize the user interface and the underlying product offerings. The key contributions of this paper are the elaboration of Virtual Communities, the presentation of a categorization scheme for different types of communities, the identification of classes of member profiles, and the innovative concept of community products. We conclude with the case of the Amazon.com Recommendation Center to illustrate key design ideas and discuss an evolutionary application, the Participatory Product Catalogue.

Bidirectional database replication scheme for controlling ping-ponging

Abstract: Transaction ping-pong is selectively prevented in a bidirectional database replication system (28). The system (28) has a plurality of nodes (30, 40) connected via communication media in a topology. Each node (30, 40) includes a database (32, 42) and a transaction transmitter or collector (36, 50) which sends transactions posted to the database to a database at one or more other nodes for replication in the databases of the one or more other nodes. All transactions to be posted to databases in remote nodes that were sent by a local node are detected, and the database at the local node is inhibited from posting selective transactions which were detected as being originally sent by the local node.

Automatic broker tools and techniques

Abstract: The invention provides sampling, escrowing, and other tools and techniques for facilitating transactions that involve digital goods. Transactions may be of the goods-for-payment type, or they may be barter transactions that exchange goods for goods. Digital goods may be escrowed with an automatic broker. The broker may also create and distribute samples of the goods, which are created by techniques such as distorting or burdening part or all of a copy of the goods. In some cases the broker may accept and act on approval or disapproval notices from the parties to a transaction, to cancel or complete a transaction. In other cases, the broker's participation is limited to providing and/or authenticating samples.

Method and system for executing financial transactions via a communication medium

Abstract: A web-based method and system that facilitates business transactions, including the raising of capital in global financial markets via the Internet is described. Users of the system design, structure, analyze and execute business transactions over the Internet. Users of the system described include issuers, financial institutions, intermediaries, other professional advisors (law firms, accounting firms, translation agencies, etc.) and end investors. A security means controls access to the system and restricts access to the system to only qualified users. Users of the system design and diagram a transaction structure, assign corresponding attributes to the structure design. The structure design and corresponding attributes are stored in a database. The transaction is posted as a notice or interest onto the system, wherein a user maintains the posting. A database of user and transaction information is compiled and maintained. The user profile is compared with the posted transactions to identify transactions of interest to a user. The transaction information is communicated to the user. The transaction is executed, including issuing new securities or buying or selling previously issued securities through an auction or trade process. The system provides users direct access to its community, which includes, but is not limited to, issuers, investors, intermediaries, and advisors such as law firms, consultancy firms, accounting firms, and translation agents.

A system for detecting counterfeit financial card fraud

Abstract: Counterfeit financial card fraud is detected on the premise that the fraudulent activity will reflect itself in clustered groups of suspicious transactions (124). A system for detecting financial card fraud uses a computer database (104) comprising financial card transaction data reported from a plurality of financial institutions (102). The transactions are scored by assigning weights to individual transactions to identify suspicious transactions. The geographic region where the transaction took place as well as the time of the transactions are recorded. An event building process then identifies cards involved in suspicious transactions in a same region during a common time period to determine clustered groups of suspicious activity suggesting an organized counterfeit card operation which would otherwise be impossible for the individual financial institutions to detect.

Method and system for performing money transfer transactions

Abstract: A method of performing a send money transfer transaction through a financial services institution includes storing transaction details on a data base, wherein the transaction details include a desired amount of money to be sent; establishing a code that corresponds to the transaction details stored on the data base; entering the code into an electronic transaction fulfillment device in communication with the data base to retrieve the transaction details from the data base; and determining a collect amount based on the transaction details. A system for performing a send money transfer transaction is also disclosed.