Patent Publication Number: US-9418381-B2

Title: Method and system for notifying customers of transaction opportunities

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The current application claims priority to provisional application No. 60/197,773 filed Apr. 14, 2000 entitled, “METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR NOTIFYING CUSTOMERS OF TRANSACTION OPPORTUNITIES,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to financial transaction notification systems and methods, generally. Particularly, this invention relates to systems and methods for collecting, monitoring, and comparing data to customer requests. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Prior to the current invention, available event notification systems included, for example, local desktop notification systems, such as e-mail alerts or instant messaging alerts which alert a user through a visual or audio signal that a new e-mail or instant message has arrived and is available for retrieval within the users local computer network. These alerts merely indicate that a message is available for viewing, the alerts do not provide the substance of the message. 
     Other event notification systems alert a user via, for example, an e-mail message, of the availability of certain information, solicited or unsolicited, on the Internet or World Wide Web through a specified Web site or universal resource locator (“URL”). An unsolicited notification includes, for example, the availability of an electronic greeting card (e.g., www.bluemountain.com). A solicited notification provides notification of the availability of information that was specifically requested by the user. For example, at www.realtor.com, a registered user can request notification of homes for sale according to pre-defined user parameters, e.g., location, price, number of bedrooms. When homes meeting the registered user&#39;s parameters are listed on the www.realtor.com Web site, the Web site sends an e-mail to the registered user indicating that there are homes available for sale fitting the user&#39;s parameters and providing the link to the Web site in the e-mail. These types of notification systems are limited to one method of notification, e-mail. Further, the notification system is not linked to any other type of user information, such as user financial information, e.g., bank accounts, credit accounts, investment accounts, that is constantly variable due to the actions of the user, i.e., the actions of the user do not result in a triggering of the alert. 
     Finally, there are notification systems available wherein a user&#39;s local computer is equipped with a data filter that receives and searches incoming data messages, e.g., e-mail messages, intended for the user, for predetermined event information. When the data filter identifies the predetermined event information, a local event indicator, e.g., audio and/or visual, is presented through the user&#39;s local computer indicating that a previously specified event has occurred. The user then has a specified amount of time, e.g., 10 seconds, to acknowledge the local event indicator by, for example, clicking on the provided visual alert, e.g., icon. If the user does not acknowledge the local event indicator within the specified amount of time, the user&#39;s computer establishes a connection with a server in order to remotely notify the user of the event through a notification method of the user&#39;s choice, such as, pager, telephone, or personal digital assistant (“PDA”). This notification system is limited to searching and retrieving local event information from user-intended messages, e.g., Web pages pushed to a users e-mail address. Further, the local events, though pre-defined and requested, are not triggered by user actions, such as financial transactions. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Consequently, there is a need in the art for a notification system that is directly linked to the actions of the user, in addition to the pre-defined parameters selected by the user, wherein such a system collects data independent of any electronic address of the user, i.e., information searched for the requested alert is not limited to messages directed to the user. Further, there is a need for a notification system wherein the requested alerts are triggered based on the values of private customer-specific financial information, such as bank account, credit card, or brokerage portfolio information. 
     Various embodiments of the present invention comprise a standalone notification system, including a notification server which generates electronic messages to registered customers upon their request or upon a host business request. A customer provides the system with his/her messaging identification (“ID”), e.g. e-mail address, GSM (global system for mobile communications) or other mobile phone numbers that are able to accept, e.g., short message service (“SMS”) messages, facsimile number, and/or telephone number. Customers can register with the host notification server without having any relationship, banking or otherwise, with the host. Customers can choose between different notification channels such as e-mail, SMS message, fax or pager. 
     Further embodiments of the present invention comprise a notification system, which allows host personnel, such as customer service representatives (“CSR”), to create and maintain customer requests on behalf of a customer. 
     The design of the notification system is geared toward scalability and performance. The notification system ensures a scalable architecture by using a stateless Web site and distributed architecture. The use of a stateless Web site results in increased available memory. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a notification system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a Web page according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view of Web page according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view of a Web page according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view of a Web page according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 6( a ) and 6( b )  are schematic views of a Web page according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic view of a Web page according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic view of a Web page according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic view of a Web page according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic view of a Web page according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic view of a Web page according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic view of a Web page according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 13  is a flowchart illustrating a typical process flow when using a notification system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The notification system embodied by the present invention is capable of multiple avenues of access to and from multiple parties. Further, the notification system utilizes multiple databases which are fed information via the multiple parties and/or via other servers and/or back office host systems, such as readable files which are updated by running an appropriate executable program. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, all live financial information comes from one or more host computers operated by the host financial institution. The information provided by these hosts is presented to the databases and the alert message generators included in the notification system in the form of a “host handoff file” (See  FIG. 1 ). This file represents a data dump from the host database of all information relevant to subscribers on the notification system. These host handoff files may be presented periodically (e.g., once a day) or they can be represented as a live real-time connection between the back office host processor(s) and the notification system. 
     In at least one embodiment of the present invention, a preferred medium for facilitating all of the customer configuration interactions described below is a public access network, such as the Internet or World Wide Web, due to such a network&#39;s far-reaching, efficient and expeditious characteristics for data transmission and presentment. A particularly effective method of displaying and generating data and information is through the use of Web sites and/or Web pages. While the specific schema illustrated in the tables printed below provide the necessary format for collecting and synthesizing data within the databases themselves, the requests for data which are made to or by the customers or CSRs are made through a more user-friendly and recognizable format such as a graphical user interface (“GUI”). 
     In at least one embodiment of the present invention, multiple Web sites are provided to facilitate data collection and presentation. The following, which are in no way intended to be limiting, represent Web sites and Web pages used in a preferred embodiment of the present invention: non-member customer (“NMC”) preference site; member customer (“MC”) preference site (e.g., CITIDIRECT® customer preference sub applications (“MiniApps”) and Transaction executors); CSR preference site; product information, rates and host messages maintenance site; notification reports site; system maintenance site; and database access security site. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention wherein a sponsoring financial institution or host (hereafter “host”) maintains the notification system, the host establishes a central Web site (e.g., homepage) as an advertising and explanatory mechanism as well as the conduit through which MCs, NMCs, and CSRs are able to access their respective login Web pages. The format of the Web sites and Web pages may be HTML, XML, or the like. Depending on which type of customer is attempting to gain access, the customer selects the appropriate link, which links them to a login Web page. Once presented with the selected Web page, the user may be further prompted to select between a “first-time user” and a “repeat user” login link. The difference between these two login links being the amount of information which needs to be entered prior to granting the user access to the preference sites. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the notification system  10  is comprised of a system of servers and databases which are accessed via the Internet, through various Web sites, such as a CITIALERT™ non-member Web site  12  and/or a CITIDIRECT® member Web site  14 , and a CITIALERT™ maintenance Web site  110 . Since the present invention, though affiliated with one or more hosts, does not require that the customers accessing or using the notification system actually have a financial relationship with any one of the controlling hosts, Web site  12  may be used by all customers, including non-member customer (“NMC”) (e.g., customers who do not have a relationship with the affiliated host or hosts) while Web site  14  provides access to the notification system  10  to member customers (“MC”) only. Web site  110  is used by employees of the hosting financial institution to configure the alert system. 
     Web sites  12 ,  14  and  110  feed information, directly and indirectly, to a number of sources. The Web sites  12  and  14  are sources of configuration information related to the specific configuration parameters for each customer (both member and non-member users). The Web site  110  feeds additional configuration information into the system. This Web site is only useable by host employees, and provides configuration information about the nature of the notifications; the text of the notifications; the manner of notification (email, SMS, etc.); and similar system wide configuration information. As discussed below, the invention also contemplates accessing external sources of information. One or more back office host processors  18  provide host handoff files to a host handoff files database  16  which include information that feeds into the customer preference database  24 , the alert message text database  26 , and the rates and information database  30 ; and which, in some cases, are processed directly by the alert message generators  32 . The information provided by MCs and NMCs to Web sites  12  and  14  is fed into a database containing customer preferences  24 . The information provided by the host&#39;s maintenance personnel to Web site  110  is fed into the same database containing customer preferences  24 , as well as the alert message text database  26  and, potentially, the rates and information database  30 . The host-handoff files  16  are fed to all of these databases. Finally, in an embodiment of the present invention, the system uses externally generated data from external sources  28 . These externally generated sources include Internet based sources, contracted sources via private lines or any other available sources. They feed information into the rates and information database  30 . The rates database contains information including, for example, interest rates and fees on loans and credit cards, interest rates on deposit accounts, foreign exchange rates, etc. The information database contains information including, for example, product information, corporate news, new products or services, etc. 
     Given the three databases, customer preference  24 , alert message  26 , and rates and information  30 ; as well as the information in the host handoff files database  16 , alert message generators  32  access the information therein, to form a rates and information alert message generator  34  and a host alert message generator  36 . These alert message generators  32 , generate the messages requested by the customers, which are stored in an alert message text database  26  prior to being sent to a customer selected alert message gateway  40 . As discussed below, these gateways may include but are not limited to e-mail  42 , HTML (hypertext mark-up language)  44 , pager  46 , CSR call  48 , mobile phone text messaging, G, Global System for Mobile Communications Service (“GSM”)  50 , and XML (extensible mark-up language)  52 , facsimile  54 , and short message service (“SMS”)  56 . Through these alert message gateways  40 , 
     requested information is transmitted to the customer  58 . 
     In embodiments of the present invention, multiple servers may be grouped according to the particular databases into which they are feeding data and information. While not explicitly depicted in the Figures, these servers or feeders are executables that are run through, for example, the system maintenance site, in order to continually update the databases within the notification system. For example, a customer profile server and a rates server both update the customer preference database  24 . Similarly, the same rates server and a host handoff server update the host handoff files database  16 . While not explicitly depicted in the Figures, the customer profile, rates, and host handoff servers are executables that are launched, for example, through the system maintenance server/site  110 . By way of example, prompted by the system maintenance server/site  110 , in a specific embodiment of the present invention, the servers read selected information from the up-to-date host handoff files, format the selected information according to a command program and update the aforementioned databases, respectively. Further in this specific embodiment, the customer profile server&#39;s functionality is to keep up to date customer profile and customer relationship data. As will be discussed further later in this disclosure, the customer profile server updates only host customer records, such that only MC and not NMC notification set-ups are affected by this server. The host handoff and rate servers functionalities are to import host generated events and to keep the rate related information up to date, respectively. 
     The alert message generators  32  contemplated by at least one embodiment of the present invention include, a rates and information alert message generator  34  and a host alert message generator  36 . Message generators are designed to analyze the customer&#39;s preferences against current rates, product information and host handoff data and create entries within the alert message text database  26 . 
     The rates and information message generator(s)  34  is an executable which has direct access to the customer preference database  24 , to rates and information database  30  and to alert message text database  26  through database access security server. These executables populate the alert message text database  26  with notification requests based on customer preference specification and rates and info content. Each request record indicates the customers preferred notification channel i.e., alert message gateway. The message generators create the actual message phrases taking into consideration the type of transaction they are reporting on. 
     The host alert message generator(s)  36  is an executable which has direct access to the customer preference database  24 , to host handoff files database  16  and to alert message text database  26  through the database access security server. These executables populate the alert message text database  26  with notification requests based on customer preference specification and host handoff results. Each request record indicates the customer&#39;s preferred notification channel. The message generators create the actual message phrases taking into consideration the type of transaction they are reporting on. The alert message gateways  40  are executables which extract the content from the alert message text database  26  based on the customer&#39;s preferred notification channel and forward them to the corresponding gateway. Forwarded messages are moved from a “work” table to an “audit” table within the same database. Specific alert message gateway agents will be written for each notification channel such as the FAX or the SMTP (simple mail transfer protocol) mail. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, a web-based product information, rates and host messages maintenance site is provided to update individual rates records, information records, host product records, and to report on statistical usage of the product database. This site is also used to enter the specific response messages sent to the customer for each event. 
     In preferred embodiments of the present invention, a web-based reports server/site  100  is used to generate MIS (management information system) and marketing reports on the customer preference database  24  and alert message text database  26 . The web-based system maintenance server site  110  is used to backup, archive, restore and report on statistical usage of all databases within the notification system  10 . This system maintenance server/site  110 , in addition to the configuration operations discussed above, is also used to launch and control different server executables and different alert message generators  32 . Finally, a web-based database access security server/site  120  is used to control access to databases and servers within the notification system  10 . This database access security server/site  120  gives a requesting server the proper database connection string, database login ID, and PASSWORD. The database access security server/site  120  has administrator privileges over all the databases. This server/site  120  solves the problem of hard coding the database login IDs into the operating system registry. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , MCs, NMCs, and CSRs may enter information through Web site  12 . In particular, Web site  12  prompts MCs to login by clicking on a first link  11 , Web site  12  prompts NMCs to login by clicking on a second link  13  and Web site  12  prompts CSRs to login by clicking on a third link  15 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , by clicking on the first link  11 , an MC is linked to the login Web page  17  for MCs, where the MC is directed to a first-time customer login link  19  and a repeat customer login link  21 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , selection of the repeat customer login link  21 , results in Web page  23 . Web page  23  prompts the MC for an ID name  25  and a PASSWORD  27 . MCs ID name  25  and PASSWORD  27  were established during a first-time login sequence, discussed below. 
     Again, referring to  FIG. 3 , an MC who is a first-time MC, selects first-time customer login link  19 . Referring to  FIG. 5 , selection of link  19  results in Web page  29  which prompts the first-time MC for various information, including, but not limited to, customer&#39;s LAST NAME  31 , customer&#39;s ACCOUNT NUMBER  33  (e.g., checking, savings with the host), personal identification number (“PIN”)  35 , customer selected ID name  37 , customer selected PASSWORD  39 , a repeat of the PASSWORD for verification  41 , and customer&#39;s E-MAIL ADDRESS  43 . Additionally, in an alternative embodiment discussed further below, the first-time customer login page also requests payment information (not shown). At least one embodiment of the present invention contemplates that a MC will have access to more types of notification requests than a NMC, due to the pre-established relationship with the host. As a result of this relationship, the MCs private financial information may be utilized in fulfilling a notification request. As such, at least one alternative embodiment requires a PIN previously generated by the host for the MC, which adds a level of protection to the private financial information (e.g., account numbers). 
     Further alternative embodiments require that the MC pay a host-determined fee depending on various factors, such as the number of notification requests, the type of notification requests, and/or the MC&#39;s current financial relationship with the host. In a particular alternate embodiment, the host requires a minimum cumulative balance of, for example, $10,000.00, including all of the MC&#39;s accounts with the host in order to avoid paying a fee for the notification service. In the case where the MC&#39;s balance is less than $10,000.00, the host charges the MC a flat monthly fee for using the notification service. These charges are assessed to, for example, the MC&#39;s credit card, wherein the MC provides credit card information during the registration process ( FIG. 5 ). One skilled in the art recognizes that alternative fee arrangements fall within the scope of this invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6( a ) , upon successful login by an MC, the MC is linked to MC preference site  70  which utilizes a MiniApp and Transaction Executors. Further, fill-in forms, similar to those used in, for example, the CITIDIRECT® home banking system are used to collect MC data such as content to be notified on  72 , preferred channel of contact  74 , and a preferred time for notification  76 . By way of example, the content to be notified on may include, but is not limited to information relating to the MCs checking, savings and portfolio values, interest rates, stock quotes, credit specials (e.g., special loans, low credit card rates) and other financial specials offered by the host. Specific account-notifications can include, but are not limited to, past-due-date reminders, overdrafts, credit limits, specific credit charges (e.g., single amount charges, location charges), credit fraud warnings (e.g., based on unfamiliar pattern of charges, location of charges, amount of charges) direct deposits (e.g., of salary, dividend, etc.), balance, credit card due dates, automatic bill payments, check clearing alert and ATM withdrawals. The preferred channel of contact may be selected from e-mail, HTML, pager, CSR, mobile phone text messaging, e.g., GSM, XML, facsimile, and SMS. The MC may request to be notified at specific times such as instantaneously (e.g., as soon as technologically possible when the requested event occurs), hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly. In alternative embodiments, the MC is able to select different notification times for different events. After making general notification selections via the MC preference site  70 , the MC is linked to other Web pages (not shown) via the “CONTINUE” icon where they are able to provide more specific request information (e.g. phone #, fax #, requested interest rate, requested account balance information, etc. . . . ). The Transaction Executors have direct access to the internal databases and servers of the host (e.g. CITIGOLD® server), subject of course to Database Access Security server restrictions (discussed below). MCs have more options to select from, which are not available to NMCs, through MC preference site  70 . Further, the MC preference site  70  is capable of generating reports  78 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6( b ) , in an embodiment of the present invention, when the MC clicks on the “CREATE REPORT” link  78 , the MC is directed to a separate “Report Parameters” Web page  200  for defining report parameters. The “Report Parameters” Web page  200  facilitates user-defined reports  205 , where the MC has the ability to define what type of report the MC would like to have created from the information contained in the notification system, as well as predetermined parameter reports  210 . Predetermined parameter reports  210  include, for example, today, daily, weekly, monthly notification reports which list all notifications sent during the current day for today and the immediate preceding specified time frame e.g., preceding day, preceding week, preceding month for daily, weekly, and monthly notification reports. Further, the predetermined parameter reports  210  show all methods by which the notifications were sent as well as a summary of the notification, e.g., “$1,000 deposited into account no. XYZ on MM/DD/YY.” User-defined reports  205  allow the user to specify parameters used to create the report from specific dates and date ranges to specific accounts, to specific notification methods through which the specified notifications were sent. Once the MC selects their desired report parameters or predetermined parameter report, clicking on the “GENERATE REPORT” button  215  results in a report which includes the desired parameters. 
     In an embodiment where a NMC enters the initial Web site  12 , the NMC selects link  13  which, referring to  FIG. 7 , links the NMC to the NMC login Web page  45  which prompts the NMC to select between a first time customer login link  47  and a repeat customer login link  49 . Additionally, Web page  45  may offer a link to the host&#39;s homepage  51 , in order to familiarize the NMC with the other services offered by the host, with a reminder that the notification system offers a wider range of services to MCs. Selection of repeat customer login link  49  links the NMC to the repeat customer login Web page  53 , as show in  FIG. 8 , where the NMC is prompted to enter previously selected ID name  55  and PASSWORD  57 . 
     Alternatively, referring to  FIG. 9 , when the NMC selects the first-time customer login link  47 , the NMC is linked to the first-time customer login Web page  59 , where the NMC is prompted to enter some or all of the following information including customer&#39;s FULL NAME  61 , customer&#39;s selected ID Name  63 , customer&#39;s selected PASSWORD  65 , repeat of PASSWORD for verification  67 , and customer&#39;s E-MAIL ADDRESS  69 . Referring to  FIG. 10 , upon successful login, the NMC is linked to a stateless NMC preference site  80  which uses an HTML form to collect customer data such as content to be notified on  82 , preferred channel of contact  84 , and preferred time for notification  86 . By way of example, the content to be notified on may include, but is not limited to information relating to interest rates, mortgage rates, stock quotes, credit specials (e.g., special loans, low credit card rates) and other financial specials offered by the host. The preferred channels of contact  84  and the preferred times for notification  86  are similar to those listed with reference to  74  and  76 . After making general notification selections via the NMC preference site  80 , the NMC is linked to other Web pages (not shown) via the “CONTINUE” icon where they are able to provide more specific request information (e.g. phone #, fax #, requested interest rate). This NMC preference site  80  does not generate any reports and financial account information is not accessible through this site. In an alternative embodiment, prior to gaining access to the NMC preference site  80 , the NMC is required to provide payment information in order for the host to charge the NMC for the notification service. In this embodiment, the NMC provides, e.g., credit card and billing information to the host. The host establishes a desired method and time for payment, e.g., flat monthly fee, fee based on number of alerts, fee based on type of alerts (see below). 
     In a further alternative embodiment, the host provides the NMC with the same alerts that are provided to the MC. In this alternative embodiment, the host uses either pre-established lines of communication, such as ATM lines, credit authorization lines, settlement lines (e.g., Automated Clearing House) and/or specifically negotiated and established lines of communication, in order to obtain the NMC&#39;s financial information from the NMC&#39;s financial institution. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the NMC&#39;s financial information is obtained through external sources  28  and stored in the rates and information database  30 . For example, a customer with a single checking account at Chase Manhattan signs onto the notification system hosted by CITIBANK and requests that the notification system alert the customer via SMS instantaneously when the customer&#39;s checking account balance is below $1,000.00. In this alternative embodiment, the NMC is provided with some or all of the notification options that are available to the MCs. In order to provide this alert, CITIBANK cannot use its internal sources. Consequently, referring to  FIG. 10 , when the customer selects the “CONTINUE” button, the customer will be queried for all identifying information necessary to complete the alert. In this example, the customer supplies information that identifies the customer and the customer&#39;s account to Chase Manhattan so that Chase Manhattan can release the customer&#39;s information to CITIBANK. This information includes, for example, the customer&#39;s CIN, the customer&#39;s checking account information, including account number, as well as Chase Manhattan&#39;s identifying information, such as bank routing number or bank identification number (“BIN”). Using this identifying information, CITIBANK establishes a standing request to Chase Manhattan to send the customer&#39;s checking account to CITIBANK whenever there is a change in, for example, the amount in the customer&#39;s checking account. When the updated checking account information is received at CITIBANK, the updated checking account information, e.g., balance, is compared to the customer&#39;s request and if the balance is below $1,000.00, the CITIBANK notification system formulates a notification message and sends the message to the customer using SMS. If the balance is at or above $1,000.00, no message is formulated and the notification system waits for the next update. 
     As with the MCs and the NMCs login, the CSRs are also able to access the notification system through the Web site  12 . A CSR selects the CSR login link  15  on Web site  12 . CSR login link  15  links the CSR to login Web page  71 , wherein the CSR is prompted to enter identification information, such as CSR Name  73  and CSR NUMBER  75 , as shown in  FIG. 11 . Unlike the login choices presented to the MCs and the NMCs in  FIGS. 3 and 6 , the CSR is not offered a first-time login link. The CSR must already have been assigned the appropriate identifiers prior to entering the login Web page in order to successfully login to the notification system  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , upon successful login, CSRs are linked to a CSR preference site  90 , where the CSR is able to create customer requests  92  and set notification channel options  94  and notification time options  98  on behalf of the customers, e.g., MCs and NMCs. CSRs enter the customer&#39;s Customer Identification Number (CIN)  96  in order to access previously entered customer information files or to create new files under this CIN. By way of example, the content to be notified on may include, but is not limited to information relating to the MCs checking, savings and portfolio values, interest rates, stock quotes, credit care charges (e.g., over a specified amount, made in a specified geographic region, made in a specific retail store) automatic bill payments (e.g., car loan, mortgage, school loans, telephone, utilities, insurance, and the like), ATM withdrawals, credit specials (e.g., special loans, low credit card rates) and other financial specials offered by the host. After making general notification selections via the CSR preference site  90 , the CSR is linked to other Web pages (not shown) via the “CONTINUE” icon where they are able to provide more specific request information (e.g. phone #, fax #, alert customer when home mortgage rates reach X %). 
     By way of example, in  FIG. 13  a method of practicing the invention begins with a customer entering an initial Web site (e.g., CITIALERT™ Web site) maintained by the host (e.g., CITIBANK™) (S 1 ). The Web site prompts the customer to select the icon which reflects the customer&#39;s status as either a MC or a NMC (S 2 ). If the customer selects the NMC icon, the NMC is linked to the NMC login Web page (S 3 ). The NMC login Web page queries the NMC as to whether or not this is their first login attempt (S 4 ). If this is the NMCs first login attempt, the NMC selects the appropriate icon, is linked to the first-time login Web page, and provides the requisite information (S 5 ). Assuming the NMC has logged in at some previous time, the NMC selects the repeat customer icon and enters the appropriate ID Name and PASSWORD (S 6 ). After logging in, the NMC is directed to the stateless NMC preference site where the NMC is prompted to select message and notification information (S 7 ). 
     If in response to (S 2 ) the customer selects the MC icon, the MC is linked to the MC login Web page (S 8 ). The MC login Web page queries the MC as to whether or not this is their first login attempt (S 9 ). If this is the MCs first login attempt, the MC selects the appropriate icon, is linked to the first-time login Web page, and provides the requisite information (S 10 ). Assuming the MC has logged in at some previous time, the MC selects the repeat customer icon and enters the appropriate ID Name and PASSWORD (S 11 ). After logging in, the MC is directed to the MC preference site (e.g., CITIDIRECT® site) where the MC is prompted to select message and notification information (S 12 ). 
     Within both the NMC preference site  80  and the MC preference site  70 , respectively, the customers are prompted to choose and provide information relating to a message they would like to receive and also to select the notification alert message gateway  40  through which they would like to be alerted of the message (S 13 ). This information is saved by the notification system  10  within the host-handoff files  16 , (S 14 ). The host-handoff files  16  are accessed by multiple servers (see  FIG. 1 ) and data therefrom is compiled into specific request and notification files (S 15 ). The specific requests are compared to continuously incoming information from internal and external sources (S 16 ). The notification system  10  ascertains if there is a match (S 17 ). If there is a match, the customer is notified according to the customer&#39;s request, through the customer&#39;s selected gateway (S 18 ). If there is no match, the request is compared to the next bit of incoming information (S 19 ), until the request is fulfilled. 
     The notification system  10  described above is capable of alerting customers in multiple transaction areas. In embodiments of the present invention, MCs enjoy a wider range of possible notification scenarios, due to their financial relationship with the host. For example, MCs may be alerted as to account balances, CD maturation, credit card payment being due, a check has bounced, foreign or domestic exchange has hit a target price, foreign exchange rates, domestic interest rates, etc. Either the MC or a CSR would enter the appropriate preference cite and proceed to enter the request. In an alternative embodiment, if the MC has a broker relationship with the host, an embodiment of the present invention contemplates a multiple alert scenario, wherein, for example, the MC requests notification when a particular stock hits a specified value. This is the first alert. The MC further instructs the host broker at the time of establishing the first alert, to buy X shares of the stock, using funds from a specified account, when the stock value reaches this specified value. The host broker sends a second alert notifying the MC that the transaction has been completed. Alternatively, after sending the first alert, instead if purchasing the stock automatically, the host broker is instructed by the MC to wait for a reply message from the MC prior to purchasing the stock. Although more restricted in the types of alerts that they may receive in certain embodiments, NMCs may still be alerted regarding for example, interest rates and stock prices. 
     In various embodiments of the present invention all of the customers of the notification system  10  create their own login IDs and PASSWORDS through a web application interface in order to access the notification system  10  via the Internet. Customer login IDs and PASSWORDS are subject to creation business rules and are checked for uniqueness. The web application login IDs are independent of any host ID such as host account numbers, or CINs in the case of MCs. The PASSWORDS are kept in encrypted format. In the case of NMCs, the ID and PASSWORD may only grant them limited access to the notification system  10 . In alternative embodiments, the MCs may have access to other levels or databases within the notification system due to their membership status. In order to access these databases, in addition to their self-created IDs and PASSWORDS, MCs are prompted to enter additional identifying information such as, account numbers or CINs. 
     In various preferred embodiments of the present invention, once the customers have created IDs and PASSWORDS, the notification system  10  offers multiple avenues for alerting or notifying the customers of financial opportunities to which they might wish to avail themselves. Referred to herein as alert message gateways  40 , these include but are not limited to electronic mail (“E-mail”)  42 , mobile phone text messaging, e.g., Global System for Mobile Communications Service (“GSM”)  50 , facsimile (“Fax”)  54 , extensible mark-up language (“XML”)  52 , hypertext mark-up language (“HTML”)  44 , pager service  46 , and short message service (“SMS”)  56 . Additionally, personal contact methods may also be chosen, such as person-to-person calls with CSRs  48 . In the event that a particular notification gateway  40  is not specifically selected, an embodiment of the present invention provides a default notification gateway, for example, the customer&#39;s e-mail address. In this embodiment, the e-mail address of the customer would be a required field that must be completed prior to enrollment into the notification system. 
     In various embodiments of the present invention, customers access the notification system  10  for any of a variety of reasons. Customers may choose to access the notification system  10  in order to add new or updated information to one or more of the available databases. In particular, customers may wish to choose or change their preferences for when and how they wish to be notified of transaction opportunities. Further, customer&#39;s may wish to check a log or report of the most recent notifications that they have received. For example, an embodiment of the present invention allows customers to check a report containing the last X (X=1, 2, 3 . . . n) notifications of which the customer was alerted via their chosen notification gateway  40 . Further as discussed with reference to  FIG. 6( b ) , the report may contain a more detailed account of the substance of the notification for the customer to review prior to acting or not acting based on the information contained in the notification. 
     Embodiments of the present invention allow host personnel or CSRs to access the notification system  10 , in addition to customers accessing the notification system. CSRs, including host telephone operators, are able to create or update customer records through, for example, a web application interface. These additions or updates may be added in response to a customer call, either after the call or simultaneous therewith. In an alternative embodiment, the CSR accesses the notification system  10  to enter customer record information that has been collected from other off-line sources, such as from customer paperwork that has been completed by the customer for host service enrollment, e.g. opening new accounts, applying for loans, etc. As previously discussed, the CSR&#39;s also have IDs and PASSWORDS to ensure the security of the customer records. Further, the embodiments of the present invention contemplate that the CSR web application interface be only available to CSRs. 
     In addition to adding or updating customer records directly into the Web site, an alternative embodiment enables the CSRs to access particular feeder databases or servers which are not part of the immediate Web site databases/servers and enter data thereto for later addition to the Web site databases/servers. In this embodiment, the files from the off-site databases or servers (hereafter “feeder servers”) are fed into the Web site databases/servers in response to an established execution program. These feeder servers are as numerous as is necessary in order to efficiently and accurately supply customer and other relevant information to the Web site databases/servers. The possible configurations are too numerous to mention but one skilled in the art will recognize the many variations which flow from the following embodiments. 
     The alert message text database  26  contains the notification requests based on the specified customer preferences. In addition to the substantive requests (e.g., notify me when each share of Microsoft® is $150) each request record stored in the alert message text database  26  indicates the customer&#39;s preferred notification channel (e.g., page me with the notification at the following number (zzz-zzz-zzzz). This database utilizes information gathered through the customer preference databases  24 . The formatted requests held in the alert message text database  26  are accessed and searched during the running of the execution program (e.g., CITIALERT™ software program), using information from the host handoff files as well as the rate and information databases. If an alert condition has been satisfied based on the up-to-date information, the alert message text database  26  initiates the procedure for notifying the customer that the request has been met. The following tables represent various schema followed for accessing and utilizing information from the alert message text database  26 . 
     The feeder servers, as well as the Web site databases/servers may be separated, depending on design parameters and the type of notification scenarios envisioned, into various types of categories. For example, the Web site databases/servers might include as shown in  FIG. 1 , customer preference database  24 , rates and information database  30 , alert message text database  26 , access database (not shown), and finally host-handoff files  16 . These lists of category types are not meant to be limiting, they are merely exemplary. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, the customer preference database  24  contains information about the customer, customer preference information, CSR information, notification method information, rates and information data, including prompt and response data, and display group information. Each type of information is represented in schema tables, such as those printed and described further with reference thereto below. The particular schema tables set forth below are merely exemplary and may include more or less information as determined by one skilled in the art for the type of notification system that is envisioned. 
     In certain embodiments of the present invention, the customer preference database  24  contains multiple data tables for storing and correctly logging in required data into the requisite datafields. In these certain embodiments, the customer preference database  24  is accessed and information is entered thereto by multiple entities, for multiple purposes. The following tables provide exemplary data schema formats for data storage within the customer preference database  24 . 
     Referring to TABLE 1, the exemplary “Customer from Customer Preferences Database” table includes, for example, an unique customer identifier used internally by the host, customer name, contact information (e.g., phone/fax number(s), e-mail address, GSM or other mobile phone text messaging numbers), CSR ID, customer type/host affiliation (e.g., MC or NMC), password(s), and login ID. The customer preference database retains all passwords, including customer passwords, in encrypted format. TABLE 1 contains a default notification method data field which ranks a customer&#39;s preference for notification methods, e.g., e-mail first, GSM second, facsimile third, in addition to data fields containing: the date for the last time a modification was made to a particular customer&#39;s notification record; an activation flag for indicating whether a message is to be sent for a particular notification subscription or not e.g., messages resulting from a particular notification subscription are held in queue; and an authentication cookie generated each time a customer retrieves their record to be updated. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Customer from Customer Preference Database 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Name 
                 Type 
                 Length 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 CustomerId 
                 Int 
                 4 
                 Internally generated Unique 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 identifier of the record. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (Primary key) 
               
               
                 CustomerType 
                 Char 
                 1 
                 “C” for CITIDIRECT or 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 CITIGOLD customers 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 “0” for non-Host customers 
               
               
                 LoginId 
                 Char 
                 22 
                 User created login ID for 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 non-CITIDIRECT customers. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Customer Identification Number 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (CIN) for CITIDIRECT 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 customers. 
               
               
                 Password 
                 Char 
                 10 
                 User created password for 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 non-CITIDIRECT customers. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Not used for CITIDIRECT 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 customers 
               
               
                 Name 
                 Char 
                 60 
                 Customer first name, last name 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 and title 
               
               
                 Email 
                 Char 
                 50 
                 E-mail address to receive alerts 
               
               
                 GSMNumber 
                 Char 
                 20 
                 GSM phone number to receive 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 alerts 
               
               
                 FaxNumber 
                 Char 
                 20 
                 Fax number to receive alerts 
               
               
                 DefaultNotification 
                 Char 
                 1 
                 “1” for E-mail 
               
               
                 Method 
                   
                   
                 “2” for GSM 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 “3” for FAX 
               
               
                 LastModifiedDate 
                 Time 
                 8 
                 Date when the Customer record 
               
               
                   
                 Stamp 
                   
                 was last updated. 
               
               
                 CSRId 
                 Int 
                 4 
                 Reference to CSRs table. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Customer&#39;s Account 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 representative. 
               
               
                 DayPhone 
                 Char 
                 20 
                 Customer&#39;s day time phone 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 number 
               
               
                 EveningPhone 
                 Char 
                 20 
                 Customer&#39;s evening time phone 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 number 
               
               
                 ActivationFlag 
                 Char 
                 1 
                 “Y” means alert messages will 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 be generated for this subscrip- 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 tion and Customer&#39;s will see this 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 prompt on their screen. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 “N” means alert messages will 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 not be generated for this sub- 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 scription and Customer&#39;s will 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 not see this prompt on their 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 screen. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 This flag is used when the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 customer does not want to 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 receive alerts yet he/she does 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 not want to clear the current 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 alert settings. 
               
               
                 AuthCookie 
                 Char 
                 40 
                 It&#39;s an application cookie gen- 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 erated each time customer 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 fetches his/her record for update. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 This value is compared upon 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 form submit. 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Referring to TABLE 2, the exemplary “Customer Request from Customer Preferences Database” table includes: customer ID (described above); identification of the processor type, e.g., rates and information or host type; reference ID, e.g., the alert to which the customer has subscribed which is dependent upon processor type; threshold flag; threshold value; notification method; notification limit; last notification date; and CIN for MCs, e.g., used to access MC information from host database. Customer requests are separated through this table according to the whether the customer&#39;s request requires that the internal host databases be accessed to fulfill the request, e.g., for various MC requests involving an MC&#39;s account(s) with the host, or requires that external databases be accessed to fulfill the request. This table includes a threshold flag data field for indicating whether a particular updated value is the same, greater, or lesser than a customer indicated threshold value (e.g., interest rates, stock quotes). The notification limit data field holds an indicator for how often or how many times a customer chooses to be notified of the same alert, e.g., no limit, no alert, a specified number. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Customer Requests from Customer Preference Database 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Name 
                 Type 
                 Length 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 CustomerId 
                 Int 
                 4 
                 Reference to a Customer record. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (Primary key part 1 of 3) 
               
               
                 Processor 
                 Char 
                 1 
                 “1” for Rates and Info type 
               
               
                 Type 
                   
                   
                 “2” for Host type 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 This field is required since the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 public information and data 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 obtained from the host are in 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 different database. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (Primary key part 2 of 3) 
               
               
                 ReferenceId 
                 Int 
                 4 
                 This field is used to identify which 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 alert the customer is subscribing to. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Reference to a 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 RatesAndInforPrompts record 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 when ProcessorType is “1” 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Reference to a HostInfoPrompts 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 record when ProcessorType is “2” 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (Primary key part 3 of 3) 
               
               
                 ThresholdFlag 
                 Char 
                 1 
                 For Rate type alerts it indicates 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 the comparison mode of the current 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 rate and the customer indicated 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 threshold value. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 “0” for any change 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 “1” if current rate is greater then 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 threshold value 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 “2” if current rate is less then 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 threshold value 
               
               
                 ThresholdValue 
                 Float 
                 8 
                 For Rate type alerts it is the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 customer target value 
               
               
                 Notification 
                 Char 
                 1 
                 The notification method for this 
               
               
                 Method 
                   
                   
                 alert. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 “0” use customer&#39;s default 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 notification method 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 “1” for E-mail 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 “2” for GSM 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 “3” for FAX 
               
               
                 Notification 
                 Int 
                 4 
                 Number of times to be notified. 
               
               
                 Limit 
                   
                   
                 “−1” for No limit. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 “0” for no alerts will be generated 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 A Positive number will generate an 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 alert and the number will be 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 decremented automatically. 
               
               
                 LastNotification 
                 Time 
                 8 
                 Last time an alert was generated. 
               
               
                 Date 
                 Stamp 
                   
                 This field is used by the Alert 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Message generator&#39;s to avoid 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 sending duplicate messages. 
               
               
                 CIN 
                 Char 
                 22 
                 Customer Identification Number 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (CIN) for CITIDIRECT customers. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 This field is duplicated here for 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 performance optimization (In ideal 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 DB design this field should be 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 obtained from Customers table 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Login field. 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Referring to TABLE 3, the exemplary “Customer Service Representative from Customer Preferences Database” table includes CSR ID which is an internally generated identifier unique to each CSR, name, phone number, e-mail, and a CSR manager&#39;s ID, which is the identifier for the CSR&#39;s manager. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 3 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Customer Service Representative from Customer Preference Database 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Name 
                 Type 
                 Length 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 CSRId 
                 Int 
                 4 
                 Internally generated Unique identifier of the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 record. (Primary key) 
               
               
                 Name 
                 Char 
                 60 
                 Customer Representative first name, last 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 name and title 
               
               
                 Email 
                 Char 
                 50 
                 E-mail address to receive copy of the alerts 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 sent to the their customers. 
               
               
                 Phone 
                 Char 
                 20 
                 Phone number 
               
               
                 ManagerId 
                 Int 
                 4 
                 Reference to a another CSR record which 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 represents this CSR&#39;s manager 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Referring to TABLE 4, the exemplary “Notification Methods from Customer Preferences Database” table includes the data fields for the type of notification methods that are available and the specifications for the text that appears for the heading of each notification method. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 4 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Notification Methods from Customer Preference Database 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Name 
                 Type 
                 Length 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 NotificationMethod 
                 Char 
                 1 
                 “1” for E-mail 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 “2” for GSM 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 “3” for FAX 
               
               
                 Heading 
                 Char 
                 20 
                 The textual phrase appearing on 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 different screens (Web sites). 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Referring to TABLE 5, the exemplary “Rates and Information Prompts from Customer Preferences Database” table includes data fields for: an unique internal identifier for a particular rates and information prompt; a display group identifier; the display order; rates and information types; prompt text; CSR notification; activation flag; start date; expiration date; current rate; last update date; and automatic feed identifier. 
     The display group identifier identifies the particular group of prompts to which this particular prompt belongs. Exemplary display groups include, for example, auto loans, Certificate of Deposit (“CD”) rates, mortgage rates, stock quotes, credit card rates, etc. The display order data field determines the order in which a particular prompt appears on the customer&#39;s notification screen. The rates and information type data field reflects whether the prompt is directed toward product information only or product information with the associated rates. For example, product information only is a list of available mortgage loans such as 30-year fixed, 30-year variable, 15-year fixed, and 15-year variable, while product information with associated rates would include the types of mortgage loans plus the current interest rates for each. The prompt data field dictates the format, e.g., length, type of the notification textual phrase. The CSR notification data field dictates whether or not the customer chooses to have a CSR be copied on an alert. CSR notification may be desirable, for example, where the customer desires that he be notified of alerts by a CSR directly. The start, expiration, and last update date data fields indicate the date on which the notification system should begin generating appropriate alert messages, the date after which the system will no longer generate alert messages, and the date on which the current rate and info prompt record was updated, respectfully. The current rate data field contains the current rate, e.g., interest rate, against which a customer&#39;s threshold rate is compared. Finally, the auto feed identifier data field is used by the feeder applications (discussed above) to identify matching records during the process of importing rates and information from sources. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 5 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Rates and Information Prompts from Customer Preference Database 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Name 
                 Type 
                 Length 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 RatesAndInfo 
                 Int 
                 4 
                 Internally generated Unique identifier 
               
               
                 PromptId 
                   
                   
                 of the record. (Primary key) 
               
               
                 Display 
                 Int 
                 4 
                 Reference to DisplayGroups record 
               
               
                 GroupId 
                   
                   
                 which represents this Product Prompt 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 grouping such as “Auto loans” or 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 “30 day CD rates” 
               
               
                 Display 
                 Int 
                 4 
                 The order in which this prompt will 
               
               
                 Order 
                   
                   
                 appear on the Customer&#39;s screen 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 within the DisplayGroup. 
               
               
                 RatesAndInfo 
                 Char 
                 1 
                 “I” for Product information only 
               
               
                 Type 
                   
                   
                 types 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 “R” for Product information with 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 associated rate 
               
               
                 Prompt 
                 Char 
                 100 
                 The textual phrase appearing on the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 different screen (Web sites) describ- 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 ing the alert. 
               
               
                 NotifyCSR 
                 Char 
                 1 
                 “Y” means when a message is sent to 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 the customer then a copy will also be 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 sent to the customer&#39;s CSR. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 “N” means do not send a copy to 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 CSR. 
               
               
                 Activation 
                 Char 
                 1 
                 “Y” means alert messages will be 
               
               
                 Flag 
                   
                   
                 generated for this subscription and 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Customer&#39;s will see this prompt on 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 their screen. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 “N” means alert messages will not be 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 generated for this subscription and 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Customer&#39;s will not see this prompt 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 on their screen. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 This flag is used when the prompt is 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 under construction or it is in the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 approval phrase. 
               
               
                 StartDate 
                 Time 
                 8 
                 The date from which the system will 
               
               
                   
                 Stamp 
                   
                 generate alert messages. This field 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 has no effect on Customer screens, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 which means that if the Activation 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Flag is “Y” then this prompt will 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 appear on the Customer screen 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 regardless of the StartDate field 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 value. 
               
               
                 Expiration 
                 Time 
                 8 
                 The date after which the system will 
               
               
                 Date 
                 Stamp 
                   
                 not generate alert messages. This 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 field has no effect on Customer 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 screens, which means that if the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 ActivationFlag is “Y” then this 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 prompt will appear on the Customer 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 screen regardless of the Expiration 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Date field value. 
               
               
                 CurrentRate 
                 Float 
                 8 
                 The current rate to which Customer 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 threshold targets are compared 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 against. This field is valid only if the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 RatesAndInfoType is “R”. 
               
               
                 LastUpdate 
                 Time 
                 8 
                 Last time this record or its 
               
               
                 Date 
                 Stamp 
                   
                 corresponding response was updated. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 This field is used by the Alert 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Message generator&#39;s to avoid sending 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 duplicate messages. 
               
               
                 AutoFeedId 
                 Char 
                 10 
                 This field is used by Feeder applica- 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 tions to identify matching records 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 during import process. 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Referring to TABLE 6, the exemplary “Rates and Information Responses from Customer Preference Database” table includes data fields for: an unique internal identifier for a particular rates and information response; the corresponding unique internal identifier for the particular rates and information prompt; notification method; subject; response detail; and activation flag. 
     The “Rates and Information Responses from Customer Preference Database” details the corresponding response information for the “Rates and Information Prompts from Customer Preference Database.” Consequently, the responses are assigned an identifier that is linked to the prompt identifier representing the prompt to which it is responding. The subject data field dictates the textual phrase that appears in the response message heading, e.g., such as the subject line in a standard e-mail message. The response detail data field dictates the textual phrase that appears in the body of the response message, e.g., such as the body of a standard e-mail message. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 6 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Rates and Information Responses from Customer Preference Database 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Name 
                 Type 
                 Length 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 RatesAndInfo 
                 Int 
                 4 
                 Internally generated Unique identifier of 
               
               
                 ResponseId 
                   
                   
                 the record. (Primary key) 
               
               
                 RatesAndInfo 
                 Int 
                 4 
                 Reference to a RateAndInfoPrompts 
               
               
                 PromptId 
                   
                   
                 record which represents the prompt 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (question) to this response. 
               
               
                 Notification 
                 Char 
                 1 
                 “0” for default response for all methods 
               
               
                 Method 
                   
                   
                 “1” for E-mail 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 “2” for GSM 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 “3” for FAX 
               
               
                 Subject 
                 Char 
                 100 
                 The textual phrase appearing on the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Response message heading. This is the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 same as standard E-mail subject text. 
               
               
                 Response 
                 Var 
                 1024 
                 The textual phrase appearing on the 
               
               
                 Detail 
                 Char 
                   
                 Response message body. This is the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 same as standard E-mail body text. 
               
               
                 Activation 
                 Char 
                 1 
                 “Y” means this response is ready to be 
               
               
                 Flag 
                   
                   
                 sent to customers. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 “N” means this response is not ready to 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 be sent to customers.. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 This flag is used when the response is 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 under construction or it is in the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 approval phrase. 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Referring to TABLE 7, the exemplary “Display Groups from Customer Preference Database” table includes data fields for: a display group identifier; heading; source database; and the display order. The source database indicates the database which stores the display groups, e.g., the customer preference database. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 7 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Display Groups from Customer Preference Database 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Name 
                 Type 
                 Length 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Display 
                 Int 
                 4 
                 Internally generated Unique identifier of 
               
               
                 GroupId 
                   
                   
                 the record. (Primary key) 
               
               
                 Heading 
                 Char 
                 80 
                 The textual phrase appearing on 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 different screens (Web sites). This field 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 represents the Product grouping such as 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 “Auto loans” or “30 day CD rates”. 
               
               
                 SourceDB 
                 Int 
                 4 
                 “1” for Customer Preference Database 
               
               
                 DisplayOrder 
                 Int 
                 4 
                 The order in which this product 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 grouping will appear on the Customer&#39;s 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 screen. 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     In an embodiment of the present invention, the rates and information database  30  contains promotional content such as current rates and upcoming specials. This database keeps generic notification options available to all customers. This database can also be used to broadcast critical messages to selected customers. For example, if a customer has indicated a specific price at which the customer wishes to purchase a specified amount of stock or has requested notification in the event of a particular amount of variation in a foreign exchange rate, the rates and information database contains this type of information. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, the alert message text database  26  is used to keep the content of the text of the alert messages (provided by the host handoff files database  16 ) in an efficient format. Only the latest handoff file content is retained in the alert message text database  26 . 
     Referring to TABLE 8, the exemplary “Host Information Prompts from Alert Message Text Database” table includes data fields for: an unique internal identifier for a particular host information prompt; a display group identifier; the display order; prompt text; CSR notification; activation flag; start date; expiration date; message code; last update date; and automatic feed identifier. 
     The majority of the data fields from TABLE 8 are described with reference to at least TABLE 5. Additionally, the message code is an action code that is set by the host and represents the host identified event which the customer has selected for alert purposes. This message code is used by the alert message generator to map host event records to host information prompt records. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 8 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Host Information Prompts from Alert Message Text Database 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Name 
                 Type 
                 Length 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 HostInfo 
                 Int 
                 4 
                 Internally generated Unique identifier 
               
               
                 PromptId 
                   
                   
                 of the record. (Primary key) 
               
               
                 Display 
                 Int 
                 4 
                 Reference to DisplayGroups record 
               
               
                 GroupId 
                   
                   
                 which represents this Product Prompt 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 grouping such as “Checking 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 accounts” or “Money Market 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Accounts” 
               
               
                 DisplayOrder 
                 Int 
                 4 
                 The order in which this prompt will 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 appear on the Customer&#39;s screen 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 within the DisplayGroup. 
               
               
                 Prompt 
                 Char 
                 100 
                 The textual phrase appearing on the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 different screen (Web sites) describ- 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 ing the alert. 
               
               
                 NotifyCSR 
                 Char 
                 1 
                 “Y” means when a message is sent to 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 the customer then a copy will also be 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 sent to the customer&#39;s CSR. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 “N” means do not send a copy to 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 CSR. 
               
               
                 Activation 
                 Char 
                 1 
                 “Y” means alert messages will be 
               
               
                 Flag 
                   
                   
                 generated for this subscription and 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Customer&#39;s will see this prompt on 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 their screen. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 “N” means alert messages will not be 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 generated for this subscription and 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Customer&#39;s will not see this prompt 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 on their screen. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 This flag is used when the prompt is 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 under construction or it is in the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 approval phrase. 
               
               
                 StartDate 
                 Time 
                 8 
                 The date from which the system will 
               
               
                   
                 Stamp 
                   
                 generate alert messages. This field 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 has no effect on Customer screens, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 which means that if the Activation 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Flag is “Y” then this prompt will 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 appear on the Customer screen 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 regardless of the StartDate field 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 value. 
               
               
                 ExpirationDate 
                 Time 
                 8 
                 The date after which the system will 
               
               
                   
                 Stamp 
                   
                 not generate alert messages. This 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 field has no effect on Customer 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 screens, which means that if the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 ActivationFlag is “Y” then this 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 prompt will appear on the Customer 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 screen regardless of the Expiration 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Date field value. 
               
               
                 MessageCode 
                 Float 
                 8 
                 The action code set by the Host, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 which represents this event. For 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 example “11111” means overdraft. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 The Message code is used by the host 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 alert message generator to map a 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 HostEvent record to HostInfoPrompt 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 record. 
               
               
                 LastUpdate 
                 Time 
                 8 
                 Last time this record or its 
               
               
                 Date 
                 Stamp 
                   
                 corresponding response was updated. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 This field is used by the Alert 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Message generator&#39;s to avoid sending 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 duplicate messages. 
               
               
                 AutoFeedId 
                 Char 
                 10 
                 This field is used by Feeder 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 applications to identify matching 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 records during import process. 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Referring to TABLE 9, the exemplary “Host Information Responses from Alert Message Text Database” table includes data fields for: an unique internal identifier for a particular rates and information response; the corresponding unique internal identifier for the particular rates and information prompt; notification method; subject; response detail; and activation flag. The description of these data fields is found with reference to TABLE 6. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 9 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Host Information Responses from Alert Message Text Database 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Name 
                 Type 
                 Length 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 HostInfo 
                 Int 
                 4 
                 Internally generated Unique identifier of 
               
               
                 ResponseId 
                   
                   
                 the record. (Primary key) 
               
               
                 HostInfo 
                 Int 
                 4 
                 Reference to a HostInfoPrompts record 
               
               
                 PromptId 
                   
                   
                 which represents the prompt (question) 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 to this response. 
               
               
                 Notification 
                 Char 
                 1 
                 “0” for default response for all methods 
               
               
                 Method 
                   
                   
                 “1” for E-mail 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 “2” for GSM 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 “3” for FAX 
               
               
                 Subject 
                 Char 
                 100 
                 The textual phrase appearing on the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Response message heading. This is the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 same as standard E-mail subject text. 
               
               
                 ResponseDetail 
                 Char 
                 1024 
                 The textual phrase appearing on the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Response message body. This is the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 same as standard E-mail body text. 
               
               
                 Activation 
                 Char 
                 1 
                 “Y” means this response is ready to be 
               
               
                 Flag 
                   
                   
                 sent to customers. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 “N” means this response is not ready to 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 be sent to customers.. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 This flag is used when the response is 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 under construction or it is in the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 approval phrase. 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Referring to TABLE 10, the exemplary “Host Event From Alert Message Text Database” table includes data fields for: an unique identifier for identifying a host event; account number; product type code; sub product code; currency code; CIN; message code; current value; as of date; last update date; and notes. 
     In addition to previously defined data fields, further data fields defined through TABLE 10 include identifiers for identifying a customer through the customer&#39;s relationship with the host. For example, account number, product type, sub product type, and currency code represent four (4) data fields that link a customer to the host. In a particular exemplary embodiment, a customer has a checking account, e.g., account number, with the host as well as a car loan, e.g., product type, wherein the car loan is a 5 year loan at an 8.0% fixed interest rate, e.g., sub product type, calculated in U.S. dollars, e.g., currency. The notes and as of date data fields are for information which is only merged with the response detail or the message text when messages are sent to the customers. For example, the notes data field is used to send account specific information such as current balance. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 10 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Host Event From Alert Message Text Database 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Name 
                 Type 
                 Length 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 HostEventId 
                 Int 
                 4 
                 Internally generated Unique identifier 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 of the record. (Primary key) 
               
               
                 Account 
                 Char 
                 22 
                 Account number. Part 1 of 4 to 
               
               
                 Number 
                   
                   
                 uniquely identify a relationship with 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Host. 
               
               
                 ProductType 
                 Char 
                 3 
                 Product type. Part 2 of 4 to uniquely 
               
               
                 Code 
                   
                   
                 identify a relationship with Host. 
               
               
                 SubProduct 
                 Char 
                 2 
                 Sub product type. Part 3 of 4 to 
               
               
                 TypeCode 
                   
                   
                 uniquely identify a relationship with 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Host. 
               
               
                 CurrencyCode 
                 Char 
                 3 
                 Currency Code. Part 4 of 4 to 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 uniquely identify a relationship with 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Host. 
               
               
                 CIN 
                 Char 
                 22 
                 Customer Identification Number. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 This field is used to identify the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 specific Customer request record. 
               
               
                 MessageCode 
                 Float 
                 8 
                 The action code set by the Host, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 which represents this event. For 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 example “11111” means overdraft. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 The Message code is used by the host 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 alert message generator to map a 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 HostEvent record to HostInfoPrompt 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 record. 
               
               
                 CurrentValue 
                 Float 
                 8 
                 The current value to which Customer 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 threshold targets are compared 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 against. For example if a customer 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 wants to be notified if his/her balance 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 is below certain amount. 
               
               
                 AsOfDate 
                 Time 
                 8 
                 This field is for information only 
               
               
                   
                 Stamp 
                   
                 which will be merged with the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Response Detail (body) when 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 messages are sent to the customers. 
               
               
                 LastUpdate 
                 Time 
                 8 
                 Last time this record or its 
               
               
                 Date 
                 Stamp 
                   
                 corresponding response was updated. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 This field is used by the Alert 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Message generator&#39;s to avoid sending 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 duplicate messages. 
               
               
                 Notes 
                 Char 
                 120 
                 The textual phrase, which will be 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 merged with the Response Detail 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (body) when messages are sent to the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 customers. This field can be used to 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 send account specific data such as 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 current balances. 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Referring to TABLE 11, the exemplary “Display Groups from Alert Message Text Database” table includes data fields for: a display group identifier; heading; source database; and the display order. The source database indicates the database which stores the display groups, e.g., the host handoff database. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 11 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Display Groups from Alert Message Text Database 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Name 
                 Type 
                 Length 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 DisplayGroupId 
                 Int 
                  4 
                 Internally generated Unique identifier 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 of the record. (Primary key) 
               
               
                 Heading 
                 Char 
                 80 
                 The textual phrase appearing on 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 different screens (Web sites). This 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 field represents the Product grouping 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 such as “Checking accounts” 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 or “CDs”. 
               
               
                 SourceDB 
                 Int 
                  4 
                 “2” for Host handoff database 
               
               
                 DisplayOrder 
                 Int 
                  4 
                 The order in which this product 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 grouping will appear on the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Customer&#39;s screen. 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Referring to TABLE 12, the exemplary “Alert Messages from Alert Message Text Database” table includes data fields for: an alert message identifier; customer ID; customer type; notification method; processor type; reference identifier; create date; sent date; subject; response detail; and CSR notification. 
     The alert messages are uniquely identified to the database through an identifier. In addition to previously defined data fields, in order to formulate specific alert messages the requesting customer is identified through a customer ID, the customers status as an MC or NMC is identified, the notification method is identified, the processor type is identified, and a reference ID is used to identify which alert the customer has selected. Further, the create and sent dates identify when the alert message was created and sent, respectively. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 12 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Alert Messages from Alert Message Text Database 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Name 
                 Type 
                 Length 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 AlertMessageId 
                 Int 
                 4 
                 Internally generated Unique 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 identifier of the record. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (Primary key) 
               
               
                 CustomerId 
                 Int 
                 4 
                 Reference to a Customer record. 
               
               
                 CustomerType 
                 Char 
                 1 
                 “C” for CITIDIRECT or 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 CITIGOLD customers “0” 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 for non-Host customers 
               
               
                 NotificationMethod 
                 Char 
                 1 
                 The notification method for 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 this alert. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 “0” use customer&#39;s 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 default notification method 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 “1” for E-mail 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 “2” for GSM 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 “3” for FAX 
               
               
                 ProcessorType 
                 Char 
                 1 
                 “1” for Rates and Info type 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 “2” for Host type 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 This field is required since the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 public information and data 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 obtained from the host are in 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 different database. 
               
               
                 ReferenceId 
                 Int 
                 4 
                 This field is used to identify 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 which alert the customer is 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 subscribing to. Reference to a 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 RatesAndInforPrompts record 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 when ProcessorType is “1” 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Reference to a HostInfoPrompts 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 record when ProcessorType is 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 “2” 
               
               
                 Createdate 
                 Time 
                 8 
                 Timestamp when this record is 
               
               
                   
                 Stamp 
                   
                 created 
               
               
                 SentDate 
                 Time 
                 8 
                 Timestamp when alert was sent 
               
               
                   
                 Stamp 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Subject 
                 Char 
                 100 
                 The textual phrase appearing on 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 the Response message heading. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 This is the same as standard 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 E-mail subject text. 
               
               
                 ResponseDetail 
                 Var 
                 1024 
                 The textual phrase appearing on 
               
               
                   
                 Char 
                   
                 the Response message body. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 This is the same as standard 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 E-mail body text. 
               
               
                 NotifyCSR 
                 Char 
                 1 
                 “Y” means when a message is 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 sent to the customer then a copy 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 will also be sent to the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 customer&#39;s CSR. “N” 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 means do not send a copy 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 to CSR. 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     In certain embodiments of the present invention, the access database is used to give database access to all other applications within the notification system. 
     Referring to TABLE 13, the exemplary “Access from Access Database” table includes data fields for: an access ID; login ID; password; last changes date; connection string; and password change interval. The access database gives a requesting database/server with an appropriate access identifier, the proper database connection string, database login ID, and password for the database that is sought to be accessed. The table also tracks password changes through the last changes date data field and contains the value for the time intervals at which the password is required to be changed for security reasons through the password change interval data field. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 13 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Access from Access Database 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Name 
                 Type 
                 Length 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 AccessId 
                 Int 
                 4 
                 Internally generated Unique 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 identifier of the record. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (Primary key) 
               
               
                 LoginId 
                 Char 
                 20 
                 Database login name 
               
               
                 Password 
                 Char 
                 20 
                 Database login password 
               
               
                 LastChangedDate 
                 Time 
                 8 
                 Last time the Login 
               
               
                   
                 Stamp 
                   
                 password was changed 
               
               
                 ConnectionString 
                 Char 
                 120 
                 Database connections string 
               
               
                 PasswordChangelnterval 
                 Int 
                 4 
                 Number of days when 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 a new password should be 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 generated for this login 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     In certain embodiments of the present invention, servers are either accessed or perform an accessing function in order to update one or more of the databases described above. In order to provide timely notifications to customers, it is necessary to ascertain and synthesize the most up to date information that is available. As was discussed previously, data may be collected from a variety of different sources and fed into a variety of different databases or files. The term “servers” is a generic term utilized to describe any and all sources of data and information which may be used to update the specific databases described above. These servers could be databases, servers, or direct data links, such as people, entering information in real-time or networks. 
     The tables and descriptions set forth herein are merely meant to be exemplary embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to be limiting. One skilled in the art recognizes the many variations and embodiments which fall within the scope of the invention.