Claims
- 1. A method for analyzing sales transaction data corresponding to sales transactions carried out between a plurality of payors and a plurality of merchants, the method comprising:
collecting sales transaction data, the sales transaction data relating to a transaction between a payor and at least one of the plurality of merchants; normalizing the collected sales transaction data from the plurality of payors to create normalized data; scaling the normalized data to create financial information corresponding to a predetermined metric; and providing the financial information to a user.
- 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the financial information is used to make predictions about general econometric parameters.
- 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the financial information is used to make predictions about actual supplies of commodities.
- 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the financial information is used to make revenue predictions for one of the plurality of merchants.
- 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the financial information is used to make earnings predictions for one of the plurality of merchants.
- 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the financial information is used to make stock-price predictions for one of the plurality of merchants.
- 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the financial information is used to predict interest rates.
- 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the financial information comprises a credit score indicating the creditworthiness of a merchant, and wherein the providing the financial information to a user further comprises:
providing the credit score to a potential creditor of the merchant.
- 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the normalizing further comprises:
processing the collected data based on a total number of payors utilizing the services of the payment system operator.
- 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the normalizing further comprises:
processing the collected data based on a total dollar amount of outstanding transactions owed to a creditor within the payment system.
- 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the normalizing further comprises:
processing the collected data based on a total number of transactions by payors using the payment system.
- 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the normalizing further comprises:
processing the collected data based on demographic information of payors using the payment system.
- 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the normalizing further comprises:
processing the collected data based on historical revenue of the merchant.
- 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the financial information comprises a credit score indicating the creditworthiness of a merchant, and wherein the providing the financial information to a user further comprises:
providing the credit score to a potential creditor of the merchant.
- 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the scaling further comprises:
applying a linear regression analysis to the normalized data.
- 16. The method of claim 1, wherein the scaling further comprises:
applying a neural network analysis to the normalized data.
- 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the applying a neural network analysis to the normalized data further comprises:
applying pattern recognition within the neural network analysis.
- 18. A method for providing financial information to a user based on transactions between a plurality of payors and a plurality of merchants, the method comprising:
registering the user as a licensed user; collecting data when each payor uses a payment system to transact with at least one of the plurality of merchants; analyzing the collected data to generate financial information; and providing the financial information to the licensed user.
- 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the financial information is used to make predictions about general econometric parameters.
- 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the financial information is used to make predictions about actual supplies of commodities.
- 21. The method of claim 18, wherein the financial information is used to make revenue predictions for the at least one merchant.
- 22. The method of claim 18, wherein the financial information is used to make earnings predictions for the at least one merchant.
- 23. The method of claim 18, wherein the financial information is used to make stock-price predictions for the at least one merchant.
- 24. The method of claim 18, wherein the financial information is used to predict interest rates.
- 25. The method of claim 18, wherein the financial information comprises a credit score indicating the creditworthiness of the at least one merchant, and wherein the providing the financial information to the licensed user further comprises:
providing the credit score to a potential creditor of the at least one merchant.
- 26. The method of claim 18, wherein the analyzing further comprises:
processing the collected data based on a total number of payors utilizing the services of a payment system operator.
- 27. The method of claim 18, wherein the analyzing further comprises:
processing the collected data based on a total dollar amount of outstanding transactions owed to a creditor within the payment system.
- 28. The method of claim 18, wherein the analyzing further comprises:
processing the collected data based on a total number of transactions by payors using the payment system.
- 29. The method of claim 18, wherein the analyzing further comprises:
processing the collected data based on demographic information of payors using the payment system.
- 30. The method of claim 18, wherein the analyzing further comprises:
processing the collected data based on historical revenue of the merchant.
- 31. The method of claim 30, wherein the financial information comprises a credit score indicating the creditworthiness of a merchant, and wherein the providing the financial information to a user further comprises:
providing the credit score to a potential creditor of the merchant.
- 32. The method of claim 18, wherein the registering further comprises:
receiving a user preference indicating how the user prefers to receive the financial information.
- 33. The method of claim 18, wherein the providing further comprises:
sending the financial information to the licensed user via a direct data feed.
- 34. The method of claim 18, wherein the providing further comprises:
sending the financial information to the licensed user via electronic mail.
- 35. The method of claim 18, wherein the providing further comprises:
making the information available to the licensed user via the Internet.
- 36. The method of claim 18, wherein the providing further comprises:
making the information available to the licensed user via conventional mail or courier.
- 37. The method of claim 18, wherein the providing further comprises:
making the information available to the licensed user via facsimile.
- 38. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for causing a computer to perform a method for analyzing sales transaction data corresponding to sales transactions carried out between a plurality of payors and a plurality of merchants, the method comprising:
collecting sales transaction data, the sales transaction data relating to a transaction between a payor and at least one of the plurality of merchants; normalizing the collected sales transaction data from the plurality of payors to create normalized data; scaling the normalized data to create financial information corresponding to a predetermined metric; and providing the financial information to a user.
- 39. A computer-readable medium according to claim 38, wherein the financial information is used to make predictions about general econometric parameters.
- 40. A computer-readable medium according to claim 38, wherein the financial information is used to make predictions about actual supplies of commodities.
- 41. A computer-readable medium according to claim 38, wherein the financial information is used to make revenue predictions for one of the plurality of merchants.
- 42. A computer-readable medium according to claim 38, wherein the financial information is used to make earnings predictions for one of the plurality of merchants.
- 43. A computer-readable medium according to claim 38, wherein the financial information is used to make stock-price predictions for one of the plurality of merchants.
- 44. A computer-readable medium according to claim 38, wherein the financial information is used to predict interest rates.
- 45. A computer-readable medium according to claim 38, wherein the financial information comprises a credit score indicating the creditworthiness of a merchant, and wherein the providing the financial information to a user further comprises:
providing the credit score to a potential creditor of the merchant.
- 46. A computer-readable medium according to claim 38, wherein the normalizing further comprises:
processing the collected data based on a total number of payors utilizing the services of the payment system operator.
- 47. A computer-readable medium according to claim 38, wherein the normalizing further comprises:
processing the collected data based on a total dollar amount of outstanding transactions owed to a creditor within the payment system.
- 48. A computer-readable medium according to claim 38, wherein the normalizing further comprises:
processing the collected data based on a total number of transactions by payors using the payment system.
- 49. A computer-readable medium according to claim 38, wherein the normalizing further comprises:
processing the collected data based on demographic information of payors using the payment system.
- 50. A computer-readable medium according to claim 38, wherein the normalizing further comprises:
processing the collected data based on historical revenue of the merchant.
- 51. A computer-readable medium according to claim 50, wherein the financial information comprises a credit score indicating the creditworthiness of a merchant, and wherein the providing the financial information to a user further comprises:
providing the credit score to a potential creditor of the merchant.
- 52. A computer-readable medium according to claim 38, wherein the scaling further comprises:
applying a linear regression analysis to the normalized data.
- 53. A computer-readable medium according to claim 38, wherein the scaling further comprises:
applying a neural network analysis to the normalized data.
- 54. A computer-readable medium according to claim 53, wherein the applying a neural network analysis to the normalized data further comprises:
applying pattern recognition within the neural network analysis.
- 55. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for causing a computer to perform a method for providing financial information to a user based on transactions between a plurality of payors and a plurality of merchants, the method comprising:
registering the user as a licensed user; collecting data when each payor uses a payment system to transact with at least one of the plurality of merchants; analyzing the collected data to generate financial information; and providing the financial information to the licensed user.
- 56. A computer-readable medium according to claim 55, wherein the financial information is used to make predictions about general econometric parameters.
- 57. A computer-readable medium according to claim 55, wherein the financial information is used to make predictions about actual supplies of commodities.
- 58. A computer-readable medium according to claim 55, wherein the financial information is used to make revenue predictions for the at least one merchant.
- 59. A computer-readable medium according to claim 55, wherein the financial information is used to make earnings predictions for the at least one merchant.
- 60. A computer-readable medium according to claim 55, wherein the financial information is used to make stock-price predictions for the at least one merchant.
- 61. A computer-readable medium according to claim 55, wherein the financial information is used to predict interest rates.
- 62. A computer-readable medium according to claim 55, wherein the financial information comprises a credit score indicating the creditworthiness of the at least one merchant, and wherein the providing the financial information to the licensed user further comprises:
providing the credit score to a potential creditor of the at least one merchant.
- 63. A computer-readable medium according to claim 55, wherein the analyzing further comprises:
processing the collected data based on a total number of payors utilizing the services of a payment system operator.
- 64. A computer-readable medium according to claim 55, wherein the analyzing further comprises:
processing the collected data based on a total dollar amount of outstanding transactions owed to a creditor within the payment system.
- 65. A computer-readable medium according to claim 55, wherein the analyzing further comprises:
processing the collected data based on a total number of transactions by payors using the payment system.
- 66. A computer-readable medium according to claim 55, wherein the analyzing further comprises:
processing the collected data based on demographic information of payors using the payment system.
- 67. A computer-readable medium according to claim 55, wherein the analyzing further comprises:
processing the collected data based on historical revenue of the merchant.
- 68. A computer-readable medium according to claim 67, wherein the financial information comprises a credit score indicating the creditworthiness of a merchant, and wherein the providing the financial information to a user further comprises:
providing the credit score to a potential creditor of the merchant.
- 69. A computer-readable medium according to claim 55, wherein the registering further comprises:
receiving a user preference indicating how the user prefers to receive the financial information.
- 70. A computer-readable medium according to claim 55, wherein the providing further comprises:
sending the financial information to the licensed user via a direct data feed.
- 71. A computer-readable medium according to claim 55, wherein the providing further comprises:
sending the financial information to the licensed user via electronic mail.
- 72. A computer-readable medium according to claim 55, wherein the providing further comprises:
making the information available to the licensed user via the Internet.
- 73. A computer-readable medium according to claim 55, wherein the providing further comprises:
making the information available to the licensed user via conventional mail or courier.
- 74. A computer-readable medium according to claim 55, wherein the providing further comprises:
making the information available to the licensed user via facsimile.
- 75. A system for analyzing sales transaction data corresponding to sales transactions carried out between a plurality of payors and a plurality of merchants, the apparatus comprising:
a processing unit; an input/output device coupled to the processing unit; a storage device in communication with the processing unit, the storage device including, program code for collecting sales transaction data, the sales transaction data relating to a transaction between a payor and at least one of the plurality of merchants; program code for normalizing the collected sales transaction data from the plurality of payors to create normalized data; program code for scaling the normalized data to create financial information corresponding to a predetermined metric; and program code for providing the financial information to a user.
- 76. The system of claim 75, wherein the financial information is used to make predictions about general econometric parameters.
- 77. The system of claim 75, wherein the financial information is used to make predictions about actual supplies of commodities.
- 78. The system of claim 75, wherein the financial information is used to make revenue predictions for one of the plurality of merchants.
- 79. The system of claim 75, wherein the financial information is used to make earnings predictions for one of the plurality of merchants.
- 80. The system of claim 75, wherein the financial information is used to make stock-price predictions for one of the plurality of merchants.
- 81. The system of claim 75, wherein the financial information is used to predict interest rates.
- 82. The system of claim 75, wherein the financial information comprises a credit score indicating the creditworthiness of a merchant, and wherein the program code for providing the financial information to a user further comprises:
program code for providing the credit score to a potential creditor of the merchant.
- 83. The system of claim 75, wherein the program code for normalizing further comprises:
program code for processing the collected data based on a total number of payors utilizing the services of the payment system operator.
- 84. The system of claim 75, wherein the program code for normalizing further comprises:
program code for processing the collected data based on a total dollar amount of outstanding transactions owed to a creditor within the payment system.
- 85. The system of claim 75, wherein the program code for normalizing further comprises:
program code for processing the collected data based on a total number of transactions by payors using the payment system.
- 86. The system of claim 75, wherein the program code for normalizing further comprises:
program code for processing the collected data based on demographic information of payors using the payment system.
- 87. The system of claim 75, wherein the program code for normalizing further comprises:
program code for processing the collected data based on historical revenue of the merchant.
- 88. The system of claim 87, wherein the financial information comprises a credit score indicating the creditworthiness of a merchant, and wherein the program code for providing the financial information to a user further comprises:
program code for providing the credit score to a potential creditor of the merchant.
- 89. The system of claim 75, wherein the program code for scaling further comprises:
program code for applying a linear regression analysis to the normalized data.
- 90. The system of claim 75, wherein the program code for scaling further comprises:
applying a neural network analysis to the normalized data.
- 91. The system of claim 90, wherein the program code for applying a neural network analysis to the normalized data further comprises:
program code for applying pattern recognition within the neural network analysis.
- 92. A method comprising:
collecting credit card transaction records corresponding to transactions between a plurality of cardholders and a plurality of merchants; normalizing the collected credit card records to create normalized sales data; scaling the normalized sales data to create scaled sales data; applying an econometric model to the scaled sales data to generate financial information corresponding to the econometric model; and providing the financial information to a user.
- 93. The method of claim 92, wherein the step of applying an econometric model to the scaled sales data further comprises the step of:
applying a revenue prediction model to the scaled sales data to generate a revenue prediction for a merchant in the plurality of merchants.
- 94. The method of claim 92, wherein the generated financial information comprises a credit score indicating the creditworthiness of a merchant in the plurality of merchants, and wherein the step of providing the financial information to a user further comprises:
providing the credit score to a potential creditor of the merchant.
- 95. A computer system adapted to provide financial information to a user, the computer system having a processing unit capable of executing program code, and the computer system comprising:
an input/output device coupled to the processing unit; a storage device in communication with the processing unit, the storage device including,
program code for collecting credit card transaction records corresponding to transactions between a plurality of cardholders and a plurality of merchants; program code for normalizing the collected credit card records to create normalized sales data; program code for scaling the normalized sales data to create scaled sales data; program code for applying an econometric model to the scaled sales data to generate financial information corresponding to the econometric model; and program code for providing the financial information to a user.
- 96. A computer system according to claim 95, wherein the program code for applying an econometric model to the scaled sales data further comprises:
program code for applying a revenue prediction model to the scaled sales data to generate a revenue prediction for a merchant in the plurality of merchants.
- 97. A computer system according to claim 95, wherein the generated financial information comprises a credit score indicating the creditworthiness of a merchant in the plurality of merchants, and wherein the program code for providing the financial information to a user further comprises:
program code for providing the credit score to a potential creditor of the merchant.
RELATED APPLICATION DATA
[0001] The present application is related to and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/183,757, filed on Feb. 22, 2000, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60183757 |
Feb 2000 |
US |