I claim:
1. A method for conducting an electronic transaction between a first party and a second party, comprising:
receiving payment instructions electronically from the first party by a third party;
determining whether the first party has an existing checking account and credit card account with the third party;
carrying out the instructions, the instructions directed at satisfying an obligation to the second party by the first party by debiting directly from the first party’s existing checking account or credit card account, or a newly established account; and
integrating financial services in satisfying the obligation of the first party to the second party.
2. The method for conducting the electronic transaction of claim 1, wherein the second party receives payment via an automated teller machine (ATM).
3. The method for conducting the electronic transaction of claim 1, wherein the first party and second party individually select their preferred method of payment in terms of timeliness of payment, guarantees, or fees.
4. The method for conducting the electronic transaction of claim 1, wherein the electronic transaction occurs via the Internet.
5. The method for conducting the electronic transaction of claim 1, wherein the third party is a bank.
6. The method for conducting the electronic transaction of claim 1, wherein the first party establishes a relationship with the third party, by providing the third party information regarding a preexisting account with a separate institution used by the first party.
7. The method for conducting the electronic transaction of claim 6, wherein the separate institution accepts an electronic debit.
8. The method for conducting the electronic transaction of claim 7, wherein the third party debits the preexisting account via Automated Clearing House (ACH) debit.
9. The method for conducting the electronic transaction of claim 1, wherein the first party makes payment into an account by using a credit card and the third party acts as a merchant.
10. The method for conducting the electronic transaction of claim 9, wherein the transaction is on-us.
11. The method for conducting the electronic transaction of claim 10, wherein the credit card association fees are passed on to the second party.
12. The method for conducting the electronic transaction of claim 11, further comprising:
waiting to ensure funds are available to the third party prior to releasing any funds to the second party.
13. The method for conducting the electronic transaction of claim 1, wherein the first party establishes a line of credit with the third party.
14. The method for conducting the electronic transaction of claim 13, wherein the third party has experience with the first party and is willing to assume a risk.
15. The method for conducting the electronic transaction of claim 1, wherein the first party and the second party have accounts with the third party, further comprising:
transferring funds internally from the account of the first party to the account of the second party.
16. The method for conducting the electronic transaction of claim 15 wherein one of the accounts of the second party is a direct deposit account.
17. The method for conducting the electronic transaction of claim 15, wherein one of the accounts of the second party is a credit card account.
18. The method for conducting the electronic transaction of claim 1, wherein the financial services includes an overdraft protection.
19. The method for conducting the electronic transaction of claim 1, wherein the financial services includes insurance coverage.
20. The method for conducting the electronic transaction of claim 19, wherein the insurance coverage is insurance on purchased items.
21. The method for conducting the electronic transaction of claim 1, wherein the financial services includes an escrow service.
22. The method for conducting the electronic transaction of claim 21, wherein the escrow service includes withholding a transfer of funds to the second party until delivery conditions are met.
23. The method for conducting the electronic transaction of claim 1, wherein the financial services includes account information protection.
24. The method for conducting the electronic transaction of claim 23, wherein the first and second party do not have access to the other party’s account information.
25. The method for conducting the electronic transaction of claim 1, further comprising:
placing a payment to the second party into a holding account.
26. The method for conducting the electronic transaction of claim 25, wherein the second party is notified of the payment via email.
27. The method for conducting the electronic transaction of claim 26, wherein the second party is provided an access code to retrieve funds from the holding account from an automated teller machine (ATM).
28. A system for conducting an electronic transaction between a first party and a second party, comprising:
a server configured to receive instructions electronically from the first party to a third party;
a database configured to store information regarding whether the first party has an existing checking account and credit card account with the third party;
wherein the instructions are directed at satisfying an obligation to the second party by the first party by debiting directly from the first party’s existing checking account or credit card account, or a newly established account; and
a database configured to store information integrating financial services in satisfying the obligation of the first party to the second party.
29. The system for conducting the electronic transaction of claim 28, further comprising:
an automated teller machine for the second party to retrieve a payment from the first party.
30. The system for conducting the electronic transaction of claim 28 wherein the electronic transaction occurs via the Internet.
31. The system for conducting the electronic transaction of claim 28 wherein the first party and second party individually select their preferred method of payment in terms of timeliness of payment, guarantees, or fees.
32. The system for conducting the electronic transaction of claim 28, wherein the second party is notified of a payment via email.
33. The system for conducting the electronic transaction of claim 28, wherein the first party makes payment into an account by using a credit card and the third party acts as a merchant.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method for estimating maximum available write power of an optical storage drive comprising the steps of
generating a beam of laser light from a laser light source having a power level (P),
measuring a first parameter of the laser light source,
measuring a second parameter of the beam of the laser light that is generated,
using the measured first parameter and the measured second parameter to estimate the maximum available write power of the optical storage drive.
2. A method for estimating maximum available write power of an optical storage drive as claimed in claim 1, the method comprising measuring laser current of the laser light source as the first parameter.
3. A method for estimating maximum available write power of an optical storage drive as claimed in claim 1, the method comprising measuring the electrical power of the laser light source as the first parameter.
4. A method for estimating maximum available write power of an optical storage drive as claimed in claim 1, the method comprising measuring the temperature of the laser light source as the first parameter.
5. A method for estimating maximum available write power of an optical storage drive as claimed in claim 1, the method comprising measuring the power level (P) of the beam of the laser light as the second parameter.
6. A method for estimating maximum available write power of an optical storage drive as claimed in claim 1, the method comprising retracting the objective lens before generating the beam of laser light.
7. A method for estimating maximum available write power of an optical storage drive as claimed in claim 1, the method comprising storing the estimated maximum available write power in storage means.
8. A method for estimating maximum available write power of an optical storage drive as claimed in claim 7, wherein the storage means comprises an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory.
9. A method for estimating maximum available write power of an optical storage drive as claimed in claim 7, wherein the storage means comprises a flash memory.
10. A method for estimating maximum available write power of an optical storage drive as claimed in claim 7, wherein the storage means comprises a bar code sticker.
11. A method for estimating maximum available write power of an optical storage drive as claimed in claim 7, the method comprising using the stored estimated maximum available write power to operate the optical storage drive up to the estimated maximum available write power.
12. A method for estimating maximum available write power of an optical storage drive as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method is performed during initial start up of the optical storage drive.
13. Use of a method as claimed in claim 1 during manufacturing of an optical storage drive.
14. A system for estimating maximum available write power of an optical storage drive comprising an optical head comprising a laser light source for generating a beam of laser light, the system comprising
a first measurement means arranged to measure a first parameter of the laser light source,
a second measurement means arranged to measure a second parameter of the beam of laser light,
an estimation means arranged to estimate maximum available write power of the optical storage drive using the measured first parameter and the measured second parameter.
15. A system for estimating maximum available write power of an optical storage drive as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first measurement means is arranged to measure laser current of the laser light source as the first parameter.
16. A system for estimating maximum available write power of an optical storage drive as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first measurement means is arranged to measure the electrical power of the laser light source as the first parameter.
17. A system for estimating maximum available write power of an optical storage drive as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first measurement means is arranged to measure the temperature of the laser light source as the first parameter.
18. A system for estimating maximum available write power of an optical storage drive as claimed in claim 14, wherein the second measurement means is arranged to measure the power level (P) of the beam of the laser light as the second parameter.
19. A system for estimating maximum available write power of an optical storage drive as claimed in claim 14, the system further comprising a retracting means arranged to retract the objective lens before generating the beam of laser light.
20. A system for estimating maximum available write power of an optical storage drive as claimed in claim 14, the system further comprising a storage means arranged to store the estimated maximum available write power.
21. A system for estimating maximum available write power of an optical storage drive as claimed in claim 20, wherein the storage means comprises an Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory.
22. A system for estimating maximum available write power of an optical storage drive as claimed in claim 20, wherein the storage means comprises an flash memory.
23. A system for estimating maximum available write power of an optical storage drive as claimed in claim 20, wherein the storage means comprises an barcode sticker.
24. An optical storage drive comprising a system for estimating maximum available write power as claimed claim 14.