Nick Thomas

A method and apparatus are disclosed that provide for automated financial resource allocation and accountability among various groups of budgeted accounts, which are overlaid on at least one actual account. The method provides for the user to establish the accounts to be budgeted. The user then establishes a preset spending allocation amount for each account. Each time the user makes a spending allocation for that particular account, the account reflects the amount spent and notifies the user… Show more

A method and apparatus are disclosed that provide for automated financial resource allocation and accountability among various groups of budgeted accounts, which are overlaid on at least one actual account. The method provides for the user to establish the accounts to be budgeted. The user then establishes a preset spending allocation amount for each account. Each time the user makes a spending allocation for that particular account, the account reflects the amount spent and notifies the user of the remaining amount allocated for that account during a given period. Thus, the user has a more accurate accounting of an established budget with respect to the established accounts, the resources allocated to each account, and the funds actually spent from each account. Show less

The present invention relates to an automated, mobile method for remotely managing the resources of a job-based business through real-time allocation of the resources among a set of user-defined virtual spending accounts. The method enables the user to establish two layers of virtual accounts. One layer comprises job accounts that represent individual jobs or projects. The other layer comprises allocation accounts that represent categories of transactions such as "materials," "labor,"… Show more

The present invention relates to an automated, mobile method for remotely managing the resources of a job-based business through real-time allocation of the resources among a set of user-defined virtual spending accounts. The method enables the user to establish two layers of virtual accounts. One layer comprises job accounts that represent individual jobs or projects. The other layer comprises allocation accounts that represent categories of transactions such as "materials," "labor," "facilities," and "insurance." The user uses these virtual accounts in conjunction with actual accounts to track the user's transactions in real time. The user may also use the present invention to create and remotely transmit purchase orders and invoices, keep a record of employees, enter employee time sheets, process payroll, and allocate and reconcile incoming and outgoing transactions between the various virtual accounts. Show less

A master-slave switch method for reversing roles between nodes in a network environment when the traditional role reversal functionality as defined by the network specification is not implemented within the node is presented. A data terminal which does not support the traditional master-slave switch functionality, progresses as far as establishing an asynchronous connectionless (ACL) connection. The LAN access point then request a role switch, when the reversal of roles fails, the connection is… Show more

A master-slave switch method for reversing roles between nodes in a network environment when the traditional role reversal functionality as defined by the network specification is not implemented within the node is presented. A data terminal which does not support the traditional master-slave switch functionality, progresses as far as establishing an asynchronous connectionless (ACL) connection. The LAN access point then request a role switch, when the reversal of roles fails, the connection is aborted with device addresses of the participating entities being stored. The LAN access point then initiates the reestablishment of the connection in a master role with the data terminal assuming a slave role after verification of the device address of the LAN access point. Show less

A method and system for effecting a security web upon multiple devices. In one embodiment of the invention, multiple devices are enabled to respond as authorized members of a security web such that each device acts as a co-monitoring device within the web. Further, each device transmits an identifiable RF signal at regular time intervals and is enabled to search for the transmitted RF signal from every other device within the security web. Next the invention determines a non-authorized loss of… Show more

A method and system for effecting a security web upon multiple devices. In one embodiment of the invention, multiple devices are enabled to respond as authorized members of a security web such that each device acts as a co-monitoring device within the web. Further, each device transmits an identifiable RF signal at regular time intervals and is enabled to search for the transmitted RF signal from every other device within the security web. Next the invention determines a non-authorized loss of proximity from the web of any of the devices of the web. Upon determining a non-authorized loss of proximity of any device, the invention provides for at least one of the devices of the web to initiate an event. Show less

Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems, methods and apparatus for the generation, transmission, storage and manipulation of electronic receipts which communicate itemized purchase transaction information. Preferred embodiments comprise wireless vendor devices and wireless purchaser devices which transmit electronic receipts at a point-of-sale for documentation of a purchase transaction. Further processing of the electronic receipt information may be performed with a purchaser… Show more

Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems, methods and apparatus for the generation, transmission, storage and manipulation of electronic receipts which communicate itemized purchase transaction information. Preferred embodiments comprise wireless vendor devices and wireless purchaser devices which transmit electronic receipts at a point-of-sale for documentation of a purchase transaction. Further processing of the electronic receipt information may be performed with a purchaser device or with a secondary computing device after subsequent receipt transmission to that secondary device. Show less

A method and apparatus for revising and minimizing renegotiations of a data transfer rate for wireless-capable modems transceiving data over a wireless communication channel via a wireless transceiver. When a wireless-capable modem presents a favorable signal-to-noise ratio resulting from a stationary or near stationary position, higher data transfer rates are employed for data exchange. When varying signal-to-noise ratios are detected designating mobility of the wireless-capable modem, then a… Show more

A method and apparatus for revising and minimizing renegotiations of a data transfer rate for wireless-capable modems transceiving data over a wireless communication channel via a wireless transceiver. When a wireless-capable modem presents a favorable signal-to-noise ratio resulting from a stationary or near stationary position, higher data transfer rates are employed for data exchange. When varying signal-to-noise ratios are detected designating mobility of the wireless-capable modem, then a reduced mobility data transfer rate is employed to provide a sustained data transfer rate for the duration of the mobility without oscillating between differing data transfer rates thereby incurring the significant renegotiation down-time due to fluctuating signal quality. The mobility detection and reduction in the data transfer rate to a more reliable level during mobility is performed automatically without user intervention. Show less

A reconfigurable communication interface system is provided comprising a reconfigurable communication interface device and a communication adapter cable. The reconfigurable communication interface device contains means to identify a valid communication adapter cable. After an attached communication adapter cable is recognized as valid, operational values are downloaded from outside the communication interface device and the communication interface device software is reconfigured. Operational… Show more

A reconfigurable communication interface system is provided comprising a reconfigurable communication interface device and a communication adapter cable. The reconfigurable communication interface device contains means to identify a valid communication adapter cable. After an attached communication adapter cable is recognized as valid, operational values are downloaded from outside the communication interface device and the communication interface device software is reconfigured. Operational values may be loaded from the communication adapter cable or from the host computer. Adapter cables for a wide variety of applications such as various telephone networks, various cellular telephones, Ethernet networks, PBX type networks, ISDN type networks, optical networks, or other LAN and WAN type networks are provided. Show less

Embodiments of the invention provide for improved early detection of fraud through user-defined monitoring of financial account information and communication of alerts and notifications of user-defined individualized potentially-fraudulent account activity to users. Embodiments of the invention permit an account fraud detection service provider to provide account monitoring services. The user may use the fraud detection service provider to monitor any number and type of financial accounts, and… Show more

Embodiments of the invention provide for improved early detection of fraud through user-defined monitoring of financial account information and communication of alerts and notifications of user-defined individualized potentially-fraudulent account activity to users. Embodiments of the invention permit an account fraud detection service provider to provide account monitoring services. The user may use the fraud detection service provider to monitor any number and type of financial accounts, and the user may define account notification rules or filters under which the user may choose to be notified of certain potentially-fraudulent account activities. The user may receive alerts and/or notifications of the user-selected account activities using a method selected by the user, and may therefore maintain awareness of account activities and be alerted of any troubling activity in a manner most convenient and effective for the user's needs. Show less

Systems and methods for detecting, reporting and repairing of damaged scripts used to obtain financial account information from financial institutions are described, along with systems and methods for improved communications to users of financial software of the status of repair efforts. The systems and methods provide for improved speed in repairing script errors. In some embodiments, the script errors may be detected and repaired before a user even notices and/or reports the script error. In… Show more

Systems and methods for detecting, reporting and repairing of damaged scripts used to obtain financial account information from financial institutions are described, along with systems and methods for improved communications to users of financial software of the status of repair efforts. The systems and methods provide for improved speed in repairing script errors. In some embodiments, the script errors may be detected and repaired before a user even notices and/or reports the script error. In addition, the systems and methods provide for automatic detection and prioritization of script errors in conjunction with enhanced response times to script errors reported by users of financial software. Benefits are provided to the user experience, as well as to the efficiency of and resources required of service providers to repair broken scripts. Show less