Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080201213 | Products And Processes For A Membership For A Customer Of A Vending Machine - In a disclosed embodiment of the invention, a customer of a vending machine is provided with an offer to establish a membership at a vending machine. After receiving an acceptance of the offer, a membership identifier is determined. The membership identifier is stored in association with the term of the membership. | 08-21-2008 |
20080201214 | Methods, Systems and Computer Program Products that Use Measured Location Data to Identify Sources that Fraudulently Activate Internet Advertisements - Methods of detecting potential click fraud are provided in which information relating to a click on an Internet advertisement is received. A measured location of a source of the click is also received. The source of the click may be identified as potentially fraudulent based at least in part on the received information and the measured location of the source. Methods of identifying potentially fraudulent activations of Internet advertisements and related systems and computer program products are also provided. | 08-21-2008 |
20080201215 | MOBILE ADVERTISEMENT METHODS AND SYSTEMS - A method of displaying an advertisement on a vehicle comprising the steps of detecting a user's wireless transmission, receiving information pertaining to an advertisement from a user via a wireless interface, activating an electronic paper screen by supplying power to the screen, displaying the advertisement on the electronic paper screen and removing the power to the electronic paper screen such that the advertisement may still be displayed on the electronic paper screen after the power is removed. | 08-21-2008 |
20080201216 | Target advertising to a specific user offered through an intermediary ISP, Server or Wireless Network - A method for targeting advertisings to users through an ISP by supplying related content to the user visited webpage, websites, user profile, previously viewed content, user surfing history and wireless node's demography data. Furthermore, an Indexing Server working in harmony with the ISP as to provided related contents to the user and based on user's previously viewed contents, user's surfing history and user's profile. As well, a wireless node having means to provide to a user additional contents and based on the wireless node's contents choice. | 08-21-2008 |
20080201217 | Method of providing value estimates and facilitating product trade-in - A method for providing a value estimate and facilitating the trade-in of used golf equipment is described. The method includes the steps of providing an online database of value estimates for at least one product and offering payment at least equal to the value estimate for said product. The methods of payment can be cash or a gift certificate that can be used at authorized on-line or retail stores. The value estimates can be based on current market data. | 08-21-2008 |
20080201218 | Methods of dynamically creating personalized internet advertisements based on content - Advertising is used to generate awareness of commercial Internet web sites. To greatly simplify the marketing of a commercial Internet web site, the automatic creation of an advertising campaign would be desirable. A method of automatically creating an Internet web site may be performed by first crawling through the Internet web site to identify products and services offered by the Internet web site. Information about the identified products and services is stored. The system then creates advertisements for the identified products and services. The advertisements may include images, text, a link to the web page where the product or service was found, and keywords associated with the product or service. The automatically created advertisements may then be placed into an advertisement pool for use with advertising supported web sites. The automatic Internet advertisement campaign creations system of the present invention may be used to create free trial advertisement campaigns for potential advertising clients. | 08-21-2008 |
20080201219 | Query classification and selection of associated advertising information - A system and method to facilitate classification of search queries and selection of associated advertising information over a network are described. A search query received from a user over a network is processed to retrieve a predetermined number of query results. The predetermined number of query results is further classified to select one or more categories associated with the query results. Finally, advertising information is selected based on the one or more selected categories for further display to the user in connection with the query results. | 08-21-2008 |
20080201220 | Methods of dynamically creating personalized internet advertisements based on advertiser input - The World Wide Web portion of the Internet is largely supported by advertising. To deliver the most effective advertising, a system for dynamically creating customized advertisements is introduced. The behavior and any demographic information known about web viewers is used to select an advertising template that will be used to create an advertisement. The advertisement template comprises an incomplete advertisement with certain missing information along with identifiers for functions that may be used to complete the advertisement. In one embodiment, the functions may specify how the advertiser associated with the advertisement template may be contacted with the demographic information known about the user in order to fill in the missing portions of advertisement template. For example, the advertisement may concern flights to Hawaii and the advertiser may fill in the price of a flight to Hawaii based upon being provided with the user's location. The complete advertisement may then be displayed to the user. | 08-21-2008 |
20080201221 | Apparatus, method, and computer program product providing enhanced document management - The exemplary embodiments of the invention, as further described herein, provide apparatus, methods and computer program products that, for example, address the notification issue that can occur in extensible markup language (XML) document management (XDM) when a new entry is added to a Shared List document that is referred to from a Shared Group document. One non-limiting, exemplary method includes: in response to a user being added to a shared uniform resource identifier (URI) list, determining that the shared URI list is referred to by a shared group document; determining whether a group associated with the shared group document uses an automatic group advertisement feature; and, in response to determining that the group uses an automatic group advertisement feature, sending a group advertisement directly to the user. | 08-21-2008 |
20080201222 | Blog advertising - Blog advertisement selection and placement is driven by the analysis of different facets, which are defined as why-facet, how-facet, who-facet and what-facet. The objective of defining such facets and their labels is to be able to better classify and distinguish information from blogs with the goal to use these different facets to better target advertisements on blogs. A model of features is built and maintained that classifies information from blogs along the defined facets. The features, including non-keywords and keywords, are extracted from a set of blogs of at least one blogosphere. Non-keywords are related to the blog information and keywords, and assist the keywords in the classification of the different facets/labels. An advertising campaign is defined in terms of the defined facets. The model and the defined advertising campaign will then be able to determine and/or predict placement of an advertisement in a blog or blog page. | 08-21-2008 |
20080201223 | PRODUCTS AND PROCESSES FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION SERVICES - Methods and system are provided herewith for providing information services. A data service in according with the methods and systems disclosed herein may provide content for the data service and/or may provide content to subscribers via the service and the content provider may provide a credit or other benefit to the content provider. | 08-21-2008 |
20080201224 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING REWARDS - Methods, systems, apparatus, computer program code and means for processing reward transactions are provided including receiving, from a point of interaction associated with a merchant, an authorization request message identifying a requested purchase transaction, the authorization request message including data identifying a payment account identifier and a purchase amount. Authorizing the purchase transaction, and receiving, from the merchant, merchant reward data associated with the purchase transaction, and updating a pooled rewards database entry associated with the consumer. | 08-21-2008 |
20080201225 | Consumption Profile for Mobile Media - In embodiments, the present invention provides a method and system for delivery of content on a mobile media platform, providing a consumption profile, and delivering content to a mobile device, wherein content delivery is based at least in part on the consumption profile. Further, in embodiments, the present invention provides a consumption profile for a mobile media platform comprising a device profile, a user profile, a network profile, an encoding profile, and a content profile. | 08-21-2008 |
20080201226 | MOBILE COUPON METHOD AND PORTABLE CONSUMER DEVICE FOR UTILIZING SAME - Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods involving mobile coupons. In one embodiment, an indication of a prior purchase transaction over a payment processing network, serves as a trigger to generate and disseminate a mobile coupon for a subsequent transaction. By generating and promulgating the coupon within a limited time of the first transaction, the recipient is disposed to be receptive based upon his or her current shopping status and also possibly geographic location. According to another embodiment, information from a mobile coupon may be presented from the consumer to a merchant in a contactless manner, utilizing an antenna of a portable device operated by a consumer. Coupon information may be communicated to the merchant with the payment information, or prior to or subsequent to transmission of the payment information to the merchant. | 08-21-2008 |
20080201227 | Interactive, Internet-based, trip planning, travel resource, travel community, virtual travel, travel-based education, travel-related gaming and virtual/live tour system, methods, and processes, emphasizing a user's ability to tailor complete travel, trip, route, game and touring choices to unique user-specified personal interests, preferences, and special requirements for self and companions - Interactive, Internet-based, Trip Planning, Travel Resource, Travel Community, Virtual Travel, Travel-based Education, Travel-related Gaming and Virtual/Live Tour System, Methods, and Processes, emphasizing a user's ability to tailor complete travel, trip, route, and touring choices to unique, user-specified personal interests, preferences, and special requirements for self and companions throughout a particular trip or for gaming or virtual (including live, passive, interactive, individual, group, and scheduled, reserved or on-demand) tours, and including methods and processes related to scheduling games, tours, site visits and other travel-events, making related reservations and obtaining confirmations and e-tickets, and on-line banking services to process ticket, membership and merchandise payments and advertising, reservation and ticket and merchandise transactions for vendors. | 08-21-2008 |
20080201228 | Methods and systems to schedule a transaction - A system to assist sellers create automated sales for products and services the seller has made available for purchase. The embodiments include receiving sales information that includes data item information that identifies a plurality of data items that are offered for purchase by a seller on a network-based marketplace. The system provides means for scheduling a sale based on the sale information, the sale to begin at a first time and end at a second time, the first time associated with a reduction of a plurality of prices to a plurality of discounted prices. The plurality of prices respectively associated with the plurality of data items. The plurality of discounted prices respectively associated with the plurality of data items and the second time associated with a restoration of the plurality of prices for the plurality of data items. | 08-21-2008 |
20080201229 | System and Method for Providing a Representation - A system and web-based representation is provided. The representation may be used to supplement an application to an institution, be used as an application to an institution or be a portion of such an application. The representation features multimedia, including, for example, but not limited to video, audio, or textual representations of an applicant. Applicants may be applying, for example, to college, private school, graduate school, vocational/technical school, or schools for specialized studies including but not limited to performing or fine arts. Profit models based on this representation are also described. The information or computer instructions (for example, embedded code) uploaded by an applicant is stored in at least one database that is incorporated in a system used to populate one or multiple web pages for the applicant. For example, the one or more databases may be stored in memory operatively connected to a server. This content may be viewed by admissions professionals. | 08-21-2008 |
20080201230 | Internet-based method of and system for equity ownership optimization within a financial and retail marketplace - A system and method(s) for “loading” coupons, discounts, rebates, offers and other incentives onto purchase/payment vehicles by a consumer, who may or may no be an equity stake holder in a company with which various “loaded” offers are associated. Furthermore, the system and method(s) of the present invention allow a consumer to design his/her purchase/payment vehicle by pre-defining various desired purchase/payment vehicle attributes for inclusion in the consumer's purchase/payment vehicle. The consumer-designed purchase/payment vehicles will allow a consumer to discern and “load” various offers from companies in which the consumer holds an equity stakeholder interest, thereby allowing the consumer to purchase goods and services from those companies helping those companies' fortunes and, thus potentially increasing the value of the consumer's equity stake holdings. | 08-21-2008 |
20080201231 | System and Method for Tracking User Activity in an Incentive Award System - A method of efficiently detecting a visit to a web site participating in an incentive award program, wherein the visit is detected at an information gathering system and wherein the information gathering system provides the incentive award program, the method including receiving a request message from a user including an award identifier, wherein the award identifier is associated with a predefined user activity and wherein the user sends the request message by activating a hyperlink presented on the participating web site during the visit; identifying a desired destination based on the request message received from the user, wherein the hyperlink advertises the desired destination to the user and wherein the desired destination is distinct from an address of the information gathering system at which the request message is received; and sending a redirect message to the user, wherein the redirect message includes an Internet address of the desired destination. | 08-21-2008 |
20080201232 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL BUYERS - A method by which potential buyers are identified includes receiving a description of an item a potential buyer intends to purchase within a particular time, determining a reward for the potential buyer based on intent data, providing the reward to the potential buyer and applying a penalty to a financial account of the potential buyer if the potential buyer does not purchase the item within the particular time period. The system includes a controller coupled to at least one input device with the controller operable to compute a reward offer. The controller includes circuitry, or software, configured to compute and apply a penalty if the potential buyer does not purchase the item within the particular time period. | 08-21-2008 |
20080208682 | Revenue Generation and Sharing for Content Sharing Services - Generating advertising revenue for a content sharing service is provided herein. Content received from content contributors at a content sharing service is parsed to identify items for which affiliate advertising links may be provided. Affiliate advertising links are then added to the content based on the identified items. The affiliate advertising links include an affiliate ID associated with the content sharing service such that advertising revenue generated via the affiliate advertising links is attributed to the content sharing service. | 08-28-2008 |
20080208683 | PROVIDING PREFERRED TREATMENT BASED ON PREFERRED CONDUCT - A method, system and computer program product for encouraging a virtual world user to perform a conduct are disclosed. According an embodiment, a method for encouraging a virtual world user to perform a conduct comprises: monitoring the virtual world user with respect to the conduct; and providing an infrastructural treatment to the virtual world user based on an amount of the conduct performed by the virtual world user. | 08-28-2008 |
20080208684 | INVOCATION OF ADVERTISEMENTS IN A VIRTUAL UNIVERSE (VU) - The present invention provides an approach to invoke advertisement(s) in a VU. Specifically, an advertisement is virtually associated with a user of the virtual space. The advertisement will then be visually referenced in the VU, and optionally distinguished/highlighted (e.g., using visual effects such as colors, icons, flashing icons, etc.). The advertisement will be invoked in response to a trigger occurring in the VU user in the). Once invoked, an action associated with the advertisement will be executed. The present invention can also allow for advertising user to be compensated for allowing their asset(s) to be associated with advertisement(s). Such compensation can be in the form of credits associated with the VU being provided to the advertising user and/or compensation to be provided to the user outside of the VU (e.g., in the real world in the form of money, gift certificates, goods and/or services, etc.). | 08-28-2008 |
20080208685 | ADVERTISEMENT PLANNING AND PAYMENT IN A VIRTUAL UNIVERSE (VU) - the present invention provides an approach for planning and paying for advertisements in a VU. Specifically, under the present invention, it is first determined which sections of a region of the VU (referred to herein as “portions” or the VU), and which avatars are most viewed. This data is the analyzed to plan and place advertisements. Once advertisements are placed, users coupled be compensated based on the frequency, time, etc. that associated advertisements are viewed. | 08-28-2008 |
20080208686 | Method and system for computer-implemented marketing by a small number of advertisers doing business in a single market - In a class of embodiments, a method of computer-implemented marketing including the steps of providing a web page that includes distinct advertising space for each of N advertisers doing business in a single market but not for any other advertiser, where 1≦N≦8 and the advertising space for each of the N advertisers includes advertising content for said each of the N advertisers, and sending the web page over a computer network. In preferred embodiments, N is equal to six and the advertisers are realtors. Typically, the advertising space is provided in return for consideration from each of the advertisers. Other aspects are processors programmed to perform one or more individual steps of any embodiment of the method and systems including at least one such programmed processor. | 08-28-2008 |
20080208687 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING CONSOLIDATED CARD DELIVERY FOR A PLURALITY OF ADVERTISERS - This invention relates generally to advertising, and more specifically, to systems and methods for providing consolidated card delivery for a plurality of advertisers. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a website, the website being a software application accessible over a wide-area-network; accepting a first request through the website from a first advertiser to create a first card; accepting a second request through the website from a second advertiser to create a second card, the first and second advertisers each providing payment and demographic information; the first and second requests comprising card details, positioning selections, target distribution dates, and target consumers for the first and second cards; creating the first and second cards using a card manufacturer and a graphic designer to conform to the first and second requests; preparing a publication comprising the created first and second cards when the first and second requests include a similar target distribution date and target consumer, the created first and second cards being removably attached, the created first and second cards being positioned according to the positioning selections from the first and second requests; and distributing the publication to the target consumer via mail on the target distribution date, wherein the target consumer can use any of the first and second card for value with the first and second advertiser, respectively. | 08-28-2008 |
20080208688 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR HANDLING OF MOBILE DISCOUNT CERTIFICATES USING MOBILE DEVICES - Embodiments of the invention provide methods and systems for handling of mobile discount certificates, including integrating databases of consumer information, product information, discount certificate information, and other useful data with the ubiquitous personal communications networks accessible by the modern consumer. According to one embodiment, a method for handling mobile discount certificates can comprise enrolling a plurality of participants in a mobile discount certificate program. For example, the participants can comprise an issuer of the mobile discount certificates and a customer. A program participant profile can be built for each of the participants. One or more mobile discount certificates can be created based on the program participant profiles and can be communicated to the customer. | 08-28-2008 |
20080208689 | Prepaid Financial Account Up-Front Incentives Management System and Method - A system and method for providing an incentive to holders of financial accounts, e.g., prepaid account holders, to engage in certain activities with those accounts. Account holders may be provided an up-front incentive based on a commitment to engage in certain account activities in the future, such as to refrain from using a prepaid account for at least an agreed upon time period or to maintain a specified minimum balance for an agreed upon time period. If the account holder fails to satisfy his commitment, at least a portion of the value of the incentive may be charged to the prepaid customer account. Rewards provided to an account holder to encourage particular account activities may include merchandise rewards, discounts and rebates or entries into a lottery type drawing for prizes. | 08-28-2008 |
20080208690 | ADVERTISEMENT SYSTEM USING MASH-UP MAP AND METHOD THEREOF - A map advertisement system and method by using a mash-up map advertisement is provided, which can operate various advertisement cost billing policies. The map advertisement system includes an advertisement management unit for generating an advertisement layer and an identifier of the advertisement layer based on advertisement information including geographic location information received from an advertiser terminal; a base map providing unit for providing a base map layer capable of providing geographical information through on-line; and a mash-up map advertisement unit for generating mash-up map data by mixing the advertisement layer with the base map layer based on the geographic location information, wherein the advertisement layer identifier includes at least one information element related to an advertisement exposure on the advertisement layer. | 08-28-2008 |
20080208691 | SERVER, ADVERTISEMENT DISTRIBUTION METHOD, AND PROGRAM - According to the present invention, there is provided a server managing community service on network signed up by specific user. The server including a community management part managing at least one community and a category of the community generated in community service on network signed up by specific user, the community management part storing and managing content posted on the community, a user management part holding profile information of each user signed up with the community service, a mail creating part creating an e-mail distributed to the user registered in the user management part, an advertisement management part selecting an advertisement based on at least one of the category of the community, introduction introducing the community, and the user profile information, the advertisement management part inserting the selected advertisement into the e-mail created by the mail creating part, and a mail distribution part distributing the e-mail. | 08-28-2008 |
20080208692 | SPONSORED CONTENT CREATION AND DISTRIBUTION - Users create custom media presentations by combining licensed content and sponsored content as selected by the user. | 08-28-2008 |
20080208693 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF FACILITATING A PURCHASE BETWEEN A BUYER AND A SELLER - A computerized system and/or method of facilitating a purchase between a buyer and a seller, comprising: a computer storing personal information from a buyer; the computer utilizing the information to assign an account identifier to the buyer, the account identifier not including the personal information of the buyer; the computer allowing the buyer to use the account identifier to process payment for a purchase from a seller, such that the seller does not obtain the personal information of the buyer; and the computer crediting the at least one buyer with at least one reward for using the at least one account identifier if the at least one buyer utilizes the at least one account identifier to make the at least one purchase. | 08-28-2008 |
20080208694 | CONCESSION TRAY - A concession tray that selectively supports a plurality of concessions or light-weight items in a substantially horizontal position relative to a stadium seat. Generally, the concession tray comprises a supporting tray portion, a transitional mechanism, and/or a coupling mechanism. The tray portion comprises a substantially planar surface configured to support light-weight items when in the horizontal position. The transitional mechanism allows the concession tray to be pivotally moved between a substantially vertical stowed position and the substantially horizontal use position. The coupling mechanism is configured to mount or selectively couple the concession tray to a supporting object, such as a one or more stadium seats. The concession tray may incorporate advertising thereon as a means to generate revenue for a stadium, theater, or arena in which it resides. | 08-28-2008 |
20080208695 | System and method for improved retail sales - A system for facilitating retail sales includes a kiosk located in a retail establishment, and maintained and operated by a third party, apart from the retail establishment. The kiosk couples with at least one vendor having one or more items for sale and displays the one or more items for sale on a interactive screen. The kiosk receives input from the third party and the retail establishment regarding the price one or more items for sale. The kiosk receives input, through the interactive screen, from a user desiring to purchase at least one item for sale from the vendor, where the transaction is handled by the third party operating the kiosk with delivery of a portion of the profits from the sale are delivered to the retail establishment by the third party. | 08-28-2008 |
20080215421 | Distributing a location based advertising campaign - A method for distributing a location based advertising campaign to a plurality of location based advertising networks is disclosed. A proposed location based advertising creative is received for approval. The proposed location based advertising creative is automatically distributed. Responses from the plurality of location based advertising networks are monitored. The proposed location based advertising creative is determined to have become an approved location based advertising creative. The approved location based advertising creative is automatically distributed to the plurality of location based advertising networks for execution of the location based advertising campaign. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215422 | Coordinating a location based advertising campaign - A method of automatically assigning a set of privileges to a team member in a distribution of location based advertising is disclosed. A process for the distribution of location based advertising is defined, wherein the process includes at least a client portion of the process, a media agency portion of the process, a buying service portion of the process and a creative agency portion of the process. A set of privileges associated with a portion of the process for the distribution of location based advertising is defined. A team member associated with the portion of the process for the distribution of location based advertising is defined. The set of privileges associated with the portion of the process for the distribution of location based advertising is automatically assigned to the team member associated with the portion of the process for the distribution of location based advertising. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215423 | Method for Exchanging Mileage for Game Money and Method and Apparatus for Game Service in an Airplane - Disclosed is a method for exchanging mileage for game money and a game service method and system in an airplane using the above method. More particularly, disclosed is a method for a passenger of an airplane to exchange his/her own mileage for a game money to be used in the airplane, and a game service method and system in an airplane that allows a passenger, having exchanged mileage for a game money to be used in the airplane, to enjoy game along or together with other passengers in the airplane using the above game money through each client terminal installed to each seat in the airplane and connected to an in-flight game server by a local area network. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215424 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ADVERTISEMENT AND EVENT PROMOTION - The present invention is directed to a system and methods for targeted advertisement and event promotion. The system comprises a web-based application which enables event promoters to create, execute and manage event promotional campaigns using advertisements, targeted promotional messages, target user search tools, session tracking tools, campaign analytical tools, event pricing tools, reporting tools, embedded calendar applications and other tools and services provided by the system. The system combines these tools to enable promoters to communicate with and market events to highly targeted audiences utilizing a wide array of communication tools. Furthermore, each promotional or advertisement campaign enriches and grows promoter's target user list thus continually enlarging the overall group of trusted and targeted system users. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215425 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR ADVERTISEMENT AND EVENT PROMOTION - The present invention is directed to a system and methods for targeted advertisement and event promotion. The system comprises a web-based application which enables event promoters to create, execute and manage event promotional campaigns using advertisements, targeted promotional messages, target user search tools, session tracking tools, campaign analytical tools, event pricing tools, reporting tools, embedded calendar applications and other tools and services provided by the system. The system combines these tools to enable promoters to communicate with and market events to highly targeted audiences utilizing a wide array of communication tools. Furthermore, each promotional or advertisement campaign enriches and grows promoter's target user list thus continually enlarging the overall group of trusted and targeted system users. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215426 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR ADVERTISEMENT AND EVENT PROMOTION - The present invention is directed to a system and methods for targeted advertisement and event promotion. The system comprises a web-based application which enables event promoters to create, execute and manage event promotional campaigns using advertisements, targeted promotional messages, target user search tools, session tracking tools, campaign analytical tools, event pricing tools, reporting tools, embedded calendar applications and other tools and services provided by the system. The system combines these tools to enable promoters to communicate with and market events to highly targeted audiences utilizing a wide array of communication tools. Furthermore, each promotional or advertisement campaign enriches and grows promoter's target user list thus continually enlarging the overall group of trusted and targeted system users. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215427 | PRODUCT INFORMATION PROVIDER SYSTEM AND METHOD - A shelf reader reads a product unique ID of an IC tag attached to a product on a shelf. In accordance with the reading result, a shelf terminal detects whether the product is taken out from the shelf or not, and forwards the detection result to a product information management server together with the product unique ID. In the product information management server, a related product information extraction section refers to a related product information database, and extracts any related product information including the type of the product taken out from the shelf. This related product information indicates a combination of a plurality of products that are considered preferable to purchase together. An advertisement information creation section creates advertisement information based on thus extracted related product information. The resulting advertisement information is forwarded to the shelf terminal, and then is displayed by an output section of the shelf terminal. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215428 | INTERACTIVE MOBILE ADVERTISEMENT BANNERS - In embodiments, the present invention provides a method and system for associating an interactive element with a sponsored content, presenting the sponsored content to a mobile communication facility based at least in part on a relevancy to a mobile subscriber characteristic associated with the mobile communication facility, and allowing a user of the mobile communication facility to engage the interactive element within the sponsored content. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215429 | USING A MOBILE COMMUNICATION FACILITY FOR OFFLINE AD SEARCHING - In embodiments, the present invention provides a method and system for receiving a search keyword from an offline advertisement, entering the search keyword in a mobile communication facility search facility, and presenting content relating to the offline advertisement to the mobile communication facility based at least in part on the search keyword and a relevancy to a criterion associated with the mobile communication facility. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215430 | CREDIT DERIVATIVE TRADING PLATFORM - A credit derivative trading platform comprises a credit derivative authority configured to create contracts and allow market participants to trade credit derivative contracts in real-time. One or more credit sponsors provide credit to the market participants on the platform. One or more liquidity sponsors may provide a predetermined level of price support on the platform. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215431 | CO-BRANDED INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER AND RETAILER INTERNET SERVICE SITE WITH RETAILER-OFFERED INCENTIVES FOR MEMBER USE - A system and method for a retailer to sell merchandise over the Internet in affiliation with an Internet service provider. The co-branded Internet site is accessible through the Internet service site of the Internet service provider. The co-branded Internet site includes designations of both the retailer and the Internet service provider. The co-branded Internet site including one or more links to the Internet shopping site of the retailer. Client software for accessing the co-branded Internet site is distributed at retailer locations. Members of the co-branded Internet site are provided with incentives to access and shop on the Internet shopping site of the retailer through the co-branded Internet site. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215432 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SERVING A MESSAGE IN CONJUNCTION WITH AN ADVERTISEMENT FOR DISPLAY ON A WORLD WIDE WEB PAGE - A method and apparatus for serving at least one message in conjunction with an advertisement for display on a World Wide Web page. The advertisement and message may be thematically related and displayed close to each other on the Web page. The advertisement and message may form all or part of a rich media file that is called when the Web page is served to a user device for display on the user device. The message may be tailored to include information specific to a user viewing the Web page, message and advertisement to direct the user's attention to the advertisement or otherwise enhance the advertisement. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215433 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SERVING A MESSAGE IN CONJUNCTION WITH AN ADVERTISEMENT FOR DISPLAY ON A WORLD WIDE WEB PAGE - A method and apparatus for serving at least one message in conjunction with an advertisement for display on a World Wide Web page. The advertisement and message may be thematically related and displayed close to each other on the Web page. The advertisement and message may form all or part of a rich media file that is called when the Web page is served to a user device for display on the user device. The message may be tailored to include information specific to a user viewing the Web page, message and advertisement to direct the user's attention to the advertisement or otherwise enhance the advertisement. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215434 | Real world interaction with virtual world privileges - A method and system provides arrangements creating a relationship between a real-world entity and a virtual world environment. A participant or player can participate in various virtual world entertainment, educational, and transactional activities. Feedback may be provided and records kept regarding the virtual world activities and transactions. The participant or player may have an opportunity of engaging in real-world activities and transactions in order to obtain a promotional virtual world premium or privilege. In some implementations, multiple players at different locations can be involved in the virtual world and real-world activities and transactions that involve and may be affected by the virtual world premium or privilege. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215435 | Map-based guide system and method - Provided is a computer system and methods for a map-based guide. A method includes but is not limited to receiving a request for the map-based guide; determining a location associated with the request; preparing a route in accordance with the location associated with the request and in accordance with at least one of a profit-motive and/or a goodwill factor; and transmitting the map-based guide. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215436 | System for delivering advertisements to wireless communication devices - An advertising system and method for a communication system that delivers advertisements to subscribers based on the respective subscriber data. The advertisers, through the provider of the system, have advertisements selected and delivered to the subscriber based on the subscriber data. The advertiser pays for advertisement delivery such that the provider can offer reduced rates or free communication services to the subscribers. The provider is capable through the system to update the subscriber data in real time including personal profile, purchase history, financial condition, and location. The provider through the system is capable of establishing advertisement delivery priority by evaluating the subscriber data in real time just prior to triggering advertisement delivery. The advertisement can be delivered in place of ring tones, at the end of the conversation, and while waiting for the other party to answer. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215437 | System, apparatus and method for advertising using a data storage device - A system, method, and apparatus for downloading advertisements, storing advertisements on a storage device, selecting advertisements for presentation, and presenting selected advertisements. In some embodiments of the invention, advertisements may be dynamically associated and presented in coordination with content according to predefined parameters, stored information, and other criteria. Advertisement credits may be allocated in exchange for advertisement consumption. Advertisements and other information may be exchanged with remote servers. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215438 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRONIC COUPONS - A system for displaying an advertisement from an advertisement database on a client computer on a network including a processing circuit configured to receive a display request for an advertisement, to determine an advertisement display limit and a number of times the advertisement has been displayed. The processing circuit is also configured to provide access to display the advertisement based on the advertisement display limit and the number of times the advertisement has been displayed. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215439 | Systems and Methods for Advancing Collections on Unpaid Debts - Systems and methods for advancing collections on unpaid debts. Incentives that provide monetary and/or non-monetary rewards are utilized to encourage, promote, enable, and/or facilitate a collection of one or more unpaid accounts. A book of vouchers may be purchased for a letter-writing service, wherein the cost of the book is subtracted from monies collected. Rewards are allocated for providing unpaid accounts to a debt collection service. The eligibility for the receipt of rewards may require certification in accordance with the present invention. Collections are advanced in accordance with the present invention due to the incentives that encourage and promote collection efforts. Furthermore, improved relationships exist among entities involved in collecting the unpaid debts because of the increased incentives. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215440 | REFILLABLE PACKAGE FOR CONSUMABLE PRODUCTS - A refillable container is provided for dispensing a plurality of consumable products. The container may comprise a reclosable container and a refill package. The reclosable container may comprise a lid connected to a body defining a container interior. The refill package may comprise a tray and a removable closure. The tray may be configured to fit and lock inside the container interior. There may be at least one gripping portion defined along an interior of the tray. The gripping portion may be so constructed and arranged to enable a user to disengage the tray from the container body. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215441 | Interactive Hospitality System - A hospitality system has at least one database for storing guest preferences regarding environment variables, for storing a national and/or regional origin or personal attributes of the guest. According to embodiments, advanced evacuation systems and entertainment systems are provided which fit the guest's preferences and origin. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215442 | System and method for enhanced directory assistance including commercial features - A method for enhanced commercial activities to a mobile device user includes providing a user with an application for use on a mobile wireless device and receiving an incoming communication from the wireless device via the application at an enhanced services platform of a directory assistance center. Stored account information, associated with the user is retrieved and a coded information is received from the wireless device, where the coded information is generated by the application based on input uploaded onto the wireless device by the user obtained from any one of the group selected from a product advertisement, a product price tag and digital image of a product. The coded information is parsed at the enhanced services platform, options are retrieved related to a product corresponding to the coded information and the user is provided with options relating to the product. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215443 | Motion sensor arrangement for point-of-purchase device - A motion sensor arrangement is presented for dispenser capable point-of-purchase devices. The invention includes one or more motion sensors and a power management circuit facilitating activation of visual and motion display elements and/or a dispensing mechanism. Motion sensors are attached to a shelf-mountable display unit and capable of determining the presence of a person within the vicinity of the device. Power management circuit communicates with the motion sensors and display elements, examples including light emitting diodes and motorized drive devices. The power management circuit activates one or more display elements to communicate queues to a person within visual range of the point-of-purchase device. The dispensing mechanism ejects a coupon or product information sheet when a person is sensed within the vicinity of the point-of-purchase device. The power management circuit causes display elements and dispensing mechanism to operate in different power modes based at least in part on the determination of the presence of a person by one or more motion sensors. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215444 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COMMISSION ALLOCATION - The invention relates to systems and methods that allocate different types of commissions to participants based on at least one factor contributing to the liquidity to the market in which an item trades. The commission may accordingly depend on the order in which trading commands are received from different participants and/or the sides the participants are on. The systems and methods receive trade commands from different participants on the item, match these trade commands, determine a commission or reward based on the added liquidity and allocate the commission or reward to certain participants. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215445 | CUSTOMER SERVICE MARKETING - Customer service marketing is disclosed. After a customer communication is received and the customer is assigned to a service agent, service request information may be received from the service agent after the service request information is obtained by the service agent from the customer. A service response information may be provided to the service agent. A plurality of current offers may be obtained. A compendium score for each of the current offers may be prepared. At least one of the current offers may be selected to be provided to the customer based on the compendium scores. Cue information may be provided to a service agent based on the selected offer. The customer may be transferred to a specialist to facilitate the customer's purchase of a product or service described in the selected offer. | 09-04-2008 |
20080221979 | System and Method for Generating, Producing, and Distributing Advertising Materials - The present invention is a method for generating, producing, and distributing advertising materials. The present invention utilizes an Internet web site that allows a user to upload a testimonial and then use the testimonial in combination with pre-designed templates to generate posters, brochures, websites, and other advertising articles. The present invention utilizes an Internet web site that allows a user to upload his businesses information such as logos, address, names, and telephone numbers once and then uploads testimonials and then use the testimonials in combination with pre-designed templates to generate posters, brochures, magazines, flyers, email, websites, video and other advertising articles. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221980 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE ELECTRONIC GENERATION AND DELIVERY OF COUPONS - The present invention relates to electronic coupon generation and delivery. Within the invention UPCs are obtained for predetermined products in addition to registration information from a potential customer, the registration information being received in response to a request for registration information that is associated with the predetermined product. A request is transmitted from the potential customer to print out a hard copy of a coupon that is associated with the predetermined product, and thereafter an identifier is created for the potential customer. The potential customer's identifier is associated with the UPC of the predetermined product. In the event that a request to print out a coupon is fulfilled, the coupon image is transmitted to the potential customer's computing system, wherein the coupon image is masked from display to the potential customer, and a hard copy of the coupon image is printed out at the potential customer's printing device. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221981 | SHIELD BIASING FOR MR DEVICES - A magnetic data storage system according to one embodiment includes a head having a reader, the reader further comprising a shield, a sensor, and leads coupled to the sensor; a charge clamp circuit electrically coupling the shield to the leads; and a bias circuit for passing a bias current through the sensor via the leads; wherein the bias circuit maintains a potential of the shields at about a ground potential. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221982 | Systems and methods for advertising - Disclosed are systems and methods for selecting and placing advertisements via one or more advertising agents and/or advertising mediums. In one aspect of the present invention, the advertising agents are retail merchants who utilize a common card processing service and the advertisements are text, logos, coupons, or the like printed on the face of a card receipt. In another aspect, the rights to print such card receipt advertisements at particular retail advertising agent locations are auctioned to potential advertisers via an Internet-based auction system. Auctions may be segmented based upon criteria such as area code, zip code, industry of product to be advertised, amount of card charge for receipt upon which the advertisement shall be printed, etc. In another aspect, the Internet-based system transmits the winning advertisements to the retail merchants in the form of an advertisement data string appended to an authorization data string. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221983 | Network information distribution system and a method of advertising and search for supply and demand of products/goods/services in any geographical location - The proposed system and method embodiments allow placing advertisements and searching for items within a network (Internet, intranets, etc.), particularly encompass server advertiser and consumer programs associated with database means, provide for multi-language, multi-currency, multi-items entry, multi-location, geographical-category and catalog-category resolution, multi-parameters setting, and other types of support. The method may include combinations of a normalized category suggestion, user feedback category/listing suggestion, custom-made category creation, and regular keyword search modes for placement and search phases. The user feedback suggestion is provided by the system memorizing previous user-approved linkages between entered keyterms and respective categories or listings, and then proposing them to current users entering similar keyterms. The normalized category suggestion is generated by the system storing records preferably based on a normalized data hierarchy. The custom-made categories may be converted into relational, object-relational, or object-oriented database records. Such modes facilitate placement and search for users of different skills levels. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221984 | User-managed coupons in a geo-spatial environment - A method, apparatus, and system of user-managed coupons in a geo-spatial environment are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes automatically applying a location meta-data to a coupon when a user provides the coupon to a geo-spatial environment based on a geographic marker of the user, storing the coupon in a library of coupons, searching the library of coupons based on the location meta-data based on a user request and flagging certain coupons in the library of coupons as being expired based on a user response. The method may further include providing an incentive to the user who provides the coupon to the geo-spatial environment in exchange of providing the coupon and/or in exchange of sharing a content meta-data that tags and identifies a source, duration, a value, and/or a description of the coupon. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221985 | Video advertiser-broker subsidizing VoIP calls - A system and method for an on-line web-based advertiser-broker to subsidize calls of a plurality of VOIP operators' subscribers by showing them video advertisements from a catalogue of advertisements provided by a plurality of advertisers. The advertisement is shown by the advertiser-broker and then the call is transferred to the VoIP operator for call completion. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221986 | Consumer-choice, incentive based, alternative payment method and advertising system - Disclosed is a consumer-choice, incentive based, alternative payment method and advertising system. The system and method provides a highly efficient and effective means for advertisers to deliver video or other advertisements to a demographically and psychographically desirable audience. The system and method enables users to convert their time spent viewing and/or listening to user-selected advertisements at their convenience into payment rewards (e.g., credits) that may be exchanged for goods and services. Users may exchange these rewards for predetermined or not yet identified goods or services. Furthermore, the system and method tracks, logs, and reports user usage and related statistics. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221987 | System and method for contextual advertisement and merchandizing based on an automatically generated user demographic profile - A computer-implemented system and method for keyword extraction and contextual advertisement generation based on user demographic profile are disclosed. The system in an example embodiment includes a category extraction service to associate product or service category information in an item group related to a host site, and a user demographic profile generator to obtain user interaction information related to a host site, to generate a user demographic profile for each item group, and to identify at least one other item group to which a particular user demographic profile relates. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221988 | Wireless Network - An 802.11 wireless network is disclosed which operates as an asymmetric two-hop cellular network. Relaying from one wireless node ( | 09-11-2008 |
20080221989 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING SPONSORED CONTENT ON AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A method and system for providing sponsored content on an electronic device are provided. One implementation involves, in the electronic device, providing sponsored content to a user of the device based on information locally available to the device, and generating an indication of said providing sponsored content for enabling distribution of at least a portion of compensation from a sponsor of the sponsored content to a manufacturer of the device for said providing sponsored content. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221990 | Estimating the spend capacity of consumer households - The spend capacity of a consumer typically increases as the number of consumers in the household increases, since the consumer can draw on the spending power of other consumers in the household. The size of wallet of the household is thus a better indicator of the consumer's spend capacity than an individual size of wallet. All consumers in a given household can be aggregated based on, for example, their address of record. Duplicate tradelines within each household are removed from consideration in a size of wallet estimate. A spend capacity is then estimated for each tradeline using calculations derived from a consumer behavior model. The spend capacities for all tradelines in the household are combined to determine a household size of wallet. Each consumer in the household is then tagged with the household size of wallet, rather than their individual size of wallet. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221991 | Method of Staging Product - A method for staging product includes the steps of placing a storage structure at a site of a product retailer, providing storage use rights to a product vendor and marketing advertising space on the storage structure. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221992 | Business to Business Marketing System - A method and apparatus are provided for marketing products. The method includes the steps of a first vendor contracting with a second vendor under a contract whereby the first vendor pays a commission to the second vendor in exchange for referrals of customers by the second vendor to the first vendor where the first vendor sells products that are complementary to products sold by the second vendor, the first vendor selling a product to a customer of the second vendor, a tracking program calculating a commission payable on the product and the first vendor paying the commission to the first vendor in accordance with the contract. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221993 | CAROUSEL ADVERTISING SYSTEM - Advertising system that adheres printed indicia to surfaces are described. The advertising system can contain a substrate containing the printed indicia layer and an adhesive layer. A protective layer, formed of a substantially clear or transparent material, can be used protect an exterior surface of the substrate. The printed indicia may be coated, screen printed, transfer laminated, etc., to the underlying surface to which the advertising system is attached, as can the protective layer and the adhesive layer when present. The advertising system can be used on non-durable surfaces, as well as surfaces which are exposed to extreme conditions and/or continuous wear have. The advertising system can also be used with moving and non-moving, vertical and horizontal surfaces. The advertising systems also allow application and removal of advertisements quickly and effectively without removing, mechanically altering, or damaging the surfaces to which they are applied. Other embodiments are described. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221994 | MULTI-LEVEL MARKETING SYSTEM - A multi-level marketing system includes a holding company and a multi-level marketing company operated by the holding company, wherein the multi-level marketing company provides a product and/or service. A distributor buys the product and/or service from the multi-level marketing company, and one or more individuals purchase the product and/or service from one of the distributors. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221995 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ASSOCIATING RICH CONTENT WITH A RICH MEDIA CONTENT - A method and system for associating one or more rich contents with a rich media content. According to the method a user plays a rich media content which includes an embedded calling script. Upon playing of the rich media content, the calling script is executed. Thereafter, one or more rich contents are associated with the rich media content based on the execution of the calling script. After associating of one or more rich contents, the one or more rich contents are played along with the rich media content. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221996 | Non-intrusive advertising using a mobile terminal - Methods and apparatus useful for non-intrusive advertising on a mobile wireless communications terminal are disclosed. A method may include storing, according to a timed schedule, a plurality of files containing data representative of a plurality of advertising images in a memory of the mobile wireless communications terminal; and selecting, upon occurrence of a predefined event, one of the plurality of files for display as wallpaper on a display screen of the mobile wireless communications terminal. A method may include waiting for an occurrence of a event; determining, upon the occurrence of the event, if a contraindicated condition is present in the mobile wireless communications terminal, and if the contraindicated condition is not present: performing a first set of actions, but if the contraindicated condition is present: waiting for another occurrence of the predefined event. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221997 | Method for the delivery and redemption of merchant coupon codes - Disclosed is a process by which merchants are able to provide discount offers, such as coupons, incentives, or tokens to consumers. Discount offers are arranged on a web site (or delivered other wise by RF) by category and users are able to pick and choose the offers in which in which they are interested for storage in a personal coupon folder. Merchants are able to bid for placement within each category and are also able to slot their offers in specific users' personal folders. Discount offers are wirelessly delivered from the users' personal folders to a wireless receiving device, where they can be transferred to a display device for direct scanning at the point-of-sale. The display device according to this invention has the capability to communicate directly with the receiving device and to display the coupon UPCs via a scannable media. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221998 | PARTICIPANT INTERACTION WITH ENTERTAINMENT IN REAL AND VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS - A system of interaction between an electronic theme park experience and live theme park interaction and activity earns rewards. The interaction permits for rewards earned in the electronic theme park experience to be redeemed in the live theme park experience and vice versa. The electronic theme park and live activity are interactive in real or delayed time through an Internet connection. Activities on one or both of the live and electronic formats are designed to drive increased player visiting of the live and/or electronic versions. The Virtual Magic Kingdom in some embodiments includes a virtual version of one or more of theme parks such as the “Magic Kingdom” portion of Disney, Inc.'s theme parks. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221999 | System for Issuing Short Life Coupons or Other Promotional Devices - An improved short life coupon system which allows a television viewer to select discount or promotional coupons while viewing a television commercial. Coupon information relating to the commercial is sent to a central station which also contains up-to-date point-of-sale information. This information is analyzed by the central station so that the coupon can be specifically designed to satisfy the viewer and maximize sales. | 09-11-2008 |
20080222000 | Systems and Media for Awarding Credits Based on Provided Usage Information - Systems and media for awarding credits based on provided usage information are disclosed. More particularly, hardware and/or software for collecting and disseminating usage information related to electronic documents and for awarding usage credits to users in exchange for providing usage information are disclosed. Embodiments include receiving an indication of the usage of an electronic document by a user and aggregating the received usage indication for the document with usage indications relating to other users. Embodiments may also include creating document utilization information for the electronic document based on the aggregated usage indications and awarding usage credit to the user based on the user's providing statistics on the usage of the electronic document. Further embodiments may include transmitting an indication of the awarded usage credit to the user and receiving a request to use the usage credits, | 09-11-2008 |
20080228563 | REDEMPTION OF REWARD UNITS FOR TRANSACTIONAL ACCOUNTS - Reward units accrued for use of a transactional account to pay for purchases are redeemed to cover any cost associated with activities initiated by an account holder where reward units are applicable to those activities. The redemption occurs as an automatic process in response to the account holder initiating the activity and without requiring the account holder to request that redemption occur. Accordingly, the account holder is not required to recall that reward units are applicable for the activity and is not required to request that the reward units be applied to cover any cost associated with the activity. | 09-18-2008 |
20080228564 | Weighted-Parameter Auction - Techniques are described to provide a weighted auction, an example of which is to auction an opportunity to cause output of an advertisement in time-shifted content by a client. Bids may be selected to win the opportunity based at least in part on a plurality of weighted-auction parameters included in the plurality of bids. | 09-18-2008 |
20080228565 | Centralized Discount Searching - According to the invention, a system for providing a coupon to a user is disclosed. The system may include a host computer system and a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium may include instructions for receiving a characteristic information set from a plurality of businesses, where each characteristic information set includes at least one characteristic of a business; receiving a coupon set from each of the businesses, where each coupon set includes at least one coupon for a product or service; receiving a search request from a user interface, where the search request includes a characteristic or an identifier, and where the identifier represents a product or a service; selecting a first coupon from a first coupon set based on a comparison of at least some portion of the search request and at least some portion of the characteristic information sets or coupon sets; and transmitting the first coupon. | 09-18-2008 |
20080228566 | PROCESSING COUPONS WITH PAYMENTS - Systems and methods that combine coupon processing with payment processing (e.g., a credit/debit card transaction). Payment processing entities can function as the coupon clearinghouse between coupon issuers and merchants. Accordingly, processing costs can be mitigated as coupons are no longer processed separately from other tenders, (e.g., coupons can be processed same manner electronic transactions related to payments are processed, and by the same service provider. | 09-18-2008 |
20080228567 | ONLINE COUPON WALLET - Systems and methods that electronically redeem coupons via an online storage component, which stores coupon data for a consumer and regardless of which issuer has issued the coupon. Such online storage medium can store coupons online (e.g., in a single location) without being tied to a particular service, and can readily provide redemption (e.g., an automatic redemption). The consumer and other retail entities (e.g., coupon issuers, merchants, and the like) can populate the online storage medium periodically, or in response to predetermined events (e.g., physical location of consumer, associated demographics, and the like.) | 09-18-2008 |
20080228568 | DELIVERY OF COUPONS THROUGH ADVERTISEMENT - Systems and methods that supply associations between advertisements—and—relevance of coupons for customers. Accordingly, the customer is empowered to interact with an advertising system, and the coupons obtained are considered desirable by the customer (e.g., non-spam). The advertisement system includes a presentation component (which presents advertisement to customers); a contextualization component (which analyzes context of purchase related to the advertisement such as location, profile, and basket of the customer), and a dispenser component (which dispenses the coupons based on customer initiation—e.g., pressing a button). | 09-18-2008 |
20080228569 | Process for visually displaying information on products and services in waiting rooms - A process for visually displaying items of information of interest to individuals in attendance in offices offering personal services who are delayed in receiving such services. | 09-18-2008 |
20080228570 | Method of offering savings on pet-related products and services via club memberships while earning money toward a higher education - A method of offering and selling club memberships is provided, which includes generally the steps of providing a club that may offer its members discounts on pet-related products and/or services, registering/engaging individuals (e.g., pre-college age youth) to promote the club to prospective members, and crediting money to a financial savings/investment account in the name of respective pre-college age youth when individuals solicited by the respective pre-college age youth join and become members of the club. In one form, the club includes a web-based club having a club website accessible via the Internet which members can access to receive discounts on pet-related products and/or services. Additionally, club members receive a predetermined discount off of veterinary services as a benefit of becoming a member. The amount of the discount may depend on the level of membership purchased. | 09-18-2008 |
20080228571 | Automated recommendation of targeting criteria - A system and method to facilitate automated recommendation of targeting criteria are described. Targeting data associated with an advertiser entity and one or more competitor entities of the advertiser entity within a specified industry is retrieved. A set of criteria to target advertisements to a plurality of consumers of the advertiser entity based on the retrieved targeting data is further determined. Finally, presentation of the advertisements to the targeted consumers is facilitated based on the selected set of criteria. | 09-18-2008 |
20080228572 | METHOD OF DISTRIBUTION OF ADVERTISEMENT AND INFORMATIONAL IMAGES - The method for distributing advertisement information images includes steps of: loading an advertisement information image into a subscriber's cellular phone; demonstrating the advertisement information image at the cellular phone; viewing the advertisement information image; and compensating the user's expenses arisen from using the cellular phone. The subscriber fills up a questionnaire, on which basis the advertiser selects subscribers for distributing his/her advertisement information image, as which to the cellular phone subscriber is sent the advertisement information image for which the subscriber has subscribed when filling up the questionnaire. The step of loading said advertisement information image to the cellular phone subscriber being carried out with his/her consent and according to the media plan of the advertiser till receiving to the cellular phone an incoming/outgoing call, or incoming/outgoing SMS and/or MMS message. The step of demonstrating said advertisement information image being carried out at the time of the incoming/outgoing call or incoming/outgoing SMS and/or MMS message. The step of viewing said advertisement information image being carried out by the subscriber till the time of the call reply, and/or at the time of the call termination, and/or till the time of the SMS and MMS message view and reply. The advertisement information image is on the mobile phone screen during entire continuance of the conversation or until the call release and/or the SMS and MMS message reply. The step of compensating the user's expenses being carried out by means of receiving monetary reward to the user's account for every demonstration of the advertisement information image. When receiving a new SMS and/or MMS message at the time of viewing the advertisement information image, on the phone screen emerges a notification not impeding to view the advertisement information and meaning the fact of receiving the new SMS or MMS message for the subscriber or a new advertisement information image. The advertisement information image presented on the mobile phone screen is accompanied with corresponding voice or musical or sound accompaniment being a part of the advertisement information image. The advertisement information image coming to the subscriber's mobile phone screen is scaled in accordance with the size of the mobile phone screen. The monetary reward received to the subscriber's account could be used by him/her for paying the communication service and/or any other services, and/or cashed by the subscriber. | 09-18-2008 |
20080228573 | Fundraising Method and System - The present disclosure describes a fund raising method and system wherein a provider produces discount cards containing information such as the manufacturer ID, the family code, and the value code. The information may appear on the card in the form of a bar code, a magnetic strip or by any other commonly recognized means. Representatives of an organization sell the discount cards to interested parties. When those parties present the discount cards at an enrolled retailer at the time of check-out, the card is read by the reader which is in communication with the retailer's payment system. The holder is then credited a pre-specified percentage of the sale at the time of sale and a percentage of the sale is set aside by the retailer. On a periodic basis, the amount set aside by the retailer is paid to the provider whereupon the provider pays a pre-specified portion of that amount to the organization. | 09-18-2008 |
20080228574 | System And Method For Conveying Content Changes Over A Network - A system and method that includes receiving data representative of a change in volume of network content related to a ticker from a reference volume; and displaying in a user interface a visual element associated with the ticker, wherein the appearance of the visual element depends upon the change in volume. | 09-18-2008 |
20080228575 | Universal advertising model utilizing digital linkage technology "U AD" - A system and method of providing a linking module to link an identifier to media content in order to create embedded advertising content. A system enabler receives a registration of the identifier and further provides embedded advertising content to be transmitted to a client. The system enabler further provides an extraction module to extract the identifier from the embedded advertising content to allow a client interaction with an advertising experience. The client interactions with an advertising experience are tracked by the system enabler to result in tracked client interactions. After receiving the tracked client interactions, the system enabler compares the tracked client interactions to compensable action items to update an account. | 09-18-2008 |
20080228576 | AD PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATION FOR RICH MEDIA CONTENT - In one embodiment, a method for optimizing advertisement performance is provided. In one embodiment, advertisements may be clustered together into different buckets of advertisements. Rich media content may also be clustered together. A performance model may then be generated that is based on previous performance of ads with content. The performance data may be used to predict which ads may provide the best performance when shown with a target piece of content that is going to be displayed. Particular embodiments use performance data for advertisements in an ad bucket to determine which ad bucket out of multiple ad buckets may provide the best performance for a content bucket that includes the target content. The ad bucket includes a plurality of ads and the method determines which ad should be displayed with the target content. In one embodiment, performance data is used to determine which ad to display. | 09-18-2008 |
20080228577 | Apparatus For Monitoring a Person Having an Interest to an Object, and Method Thereof - The invention relates to a method of monitoring a person having an interest to an object. The method comprising steps of: ( | 09-18-2008 |
20080228578 | Digital rights management and data license management - A system and method for the exchanging, distributing and managing digital content, along with providing users with the ability to sell and transfer digital rights of products or services purchased from other users, wherein the system and method are used to manage synchronization and the use of applications, web services and media in combination with different digital rights management (DRM) solutions to authenticate and authorize such transactions. | 09-18-2008 |
20080228579 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE PRESENTATION OF ADVERTISEMENTS - A system and method for the presentation of advertisements is present. According to one embodiment, a number of impressions of an advertisement message are presented over a computer network such as the Internet to a variety of viewer computers. Depending on the actions taken by the viewers (e.g., whether the Viewer selects the advertising message and accesses a web-link to the advertiser's web-site), bonus exposure (e.g., an additional number of impressions provided to the viewers) of the advertising message is given. | 09-18-2008 |
20080228580 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COMPENSATING ONLINE CONTENT CONTRIBUTORS AND EDITORS - A quantitative method of compensating contributors of digital content to an interactive online repository of digital content. The method includes receiving from a user a contribution of digital content. The method also includes assigning an initial point award to the user contribution an initial point award, imposing a vesting schedule on the initial point award, reviewing, by at least one of at least one editor and other users (peer review) of the digital content to determine ratings of the quality, suitability and appropriateness of the initial point award, vesting an increment of the point award, thereby making it available for conversion, converting, either by rule or upon user request of the points into things of value and withdrawing by the user of the things of value. | 09-18-2008 |
20080228581 | Method and System for a Natural Transition Between Advertisements Associated with Rich Media Content - A method includes receiving a plurality of a plurality of candidate segmentation points associated with a portion of rich media content, selecting a subset of the candidate segmentation points that meet one or more segmentation constraints, where the selected subset of segmentation points define a plurality of temporal segments of the rich media content, and providing the selected subset of segmentation points for association of a different one of a plurality of advertisements with each of the temporal segments. | 09-18-2008 |
20080228582 | LOYALTY PROGRAM FOR MERCHANT INVENTORY - Collaborative constituents collaborate to develop offers on selected inventory items of a merchant as part of a loyalty program within a transaction processing system. An inventory management system of the merchant includes an application rendering a hyperlink capable of transmitting a request to collaborate to a web server and to include information on the selected inventory item within the request. Upon establishing a connection with the web server, transmissions addressed to the collaborative constituents are formed and received from the collaborative constituents containing suggested parameters for the loyalty program. At least one remaining parameter for the loyalty program that a set of remaining collaborative constituents have agreed upon is determined. Another transmission addressed to each of the collaborative constituents in the set of remaining collaborative constituents is formed, the another transmission including the remaining parameters for the loyalty program. | 09-18-2008 |
20080228583 | Advertising management system and method with dynamic pricing - Method and system for enabling advertisers to deliver advertisements to consumers in which a plurality of tiers of available advertisements are defined, each tier containing a number of advertisements, a price for allocation of an advertisement in each tier is set wherein a lowest tier has the lowest price and the price increases to a maximum at a highest tier, and advertisements are allocated to advertisers based on availability starting from a lowest tier with unallocated advertisements and progressing to higher tiers. | 09-18-2008 |
20080228584 | Method of doing business associated with synthetic turf fields in exchange for rights to media/advertising permits and/or sites - The present invention comprises a method by which synthetic turf fields are sold to entities capable of granting permits for advertising billboards. The method generally comprises the steps of offering a synthetic turf field to an entity in at least partial exchange for an expedited granting of a billboard permit from the entity. After an agreement on the permit is reached, the turf will be installed. The seller and/or installer of the turf will then sell and/or lease rights under the permit to a third party in exchange for a monetary amount which at least partially covers the cost of the turf. | 09-18-2008 |
20080228585 | Methods and Apparatus for Presenting Personazlized Information to Consumers in a Retail Environment - Methods and apparatus are provided for presenting personalized information to consumers in a retail environment. A personalized price is determined for at least one product that is in physical proximity to the customer. The physical proximity may be determined, for example, by evaluating identifiers, such as RHD tags, associated with each customer and product. A personalized message can be also presented to a customer regarding at least one product that is in physical proximity to the customer. The personalized message can provide, for example, dietary or safety information relevant to the customer and at least one product in the proximity of the customer. The personalized information may be determined based on one or more personalized message rules. | 09-18-2008 |
20080235084 | EMPLOYING MATCHING OF EVENT CHARACTERISTICS TO SUGGEST ANOTHER CHARACTERISTIC OF AN EVENT - A device, system, and method are directed towards determining a suggested characteristic for an event. At least two events are determined. In one embodiment, at least one characteristic is determined for one of the event. A plurality of other characteristics is determined for the other event. The characteristics of the two events may be determined implicitly from communications during the events or from user input. Based on a relationship between the determined characteristics, the suggested characteristic for the event is then determined. In one embodiment, the relationship is defined as a match of characteristics. The event may then be modified based on the suggested characteristic. For example, a suggested member may be invited to join the event, or the event's time, location, or name may be changed. If the other event is current or pending, the event and the other event may be combined. | 09-25-2008 |
20080235085 | VIRTUAL ADVERTISEMENT STORE - A method is described for obtaining selective criteria for use in selecting one or more advertisements from a plurality of advertisements for display with publisher content, including obtaining selective criteria to be associated with the content, wherein the selective criteria is separate from the content, and wherein the selective criteria is entered by the publisher of the content | 09-25-2008 |
20080235086 | Advertisement umbrella - An advertisement umbrella includes a central post, a runner, a crown, ribs and associated stretchers, a top sphere and a canopy. The canopy has a multiple layer structure including an outer layer and an inner layer between which an illuminant is installed. The central post includes a tubular member in which batteries are accommodated to supply electricity to the illuminant, allowing light from the illuminant to transmit through the canopy and present colorful advertisement frames consisting of different characters and patterns on the umbrella canopy. | 09-25-2008 |
20080235087 | System and method for presenting alternative advertising data - A computerized method for presenting an alternative advertising data item is disclosed. In one embodiment the method includes receiving a primary advertising data item in a video data stream in an internet protocol television (IPTV) system; replacing a generic data of the primary advertising data item with alternative data to create the alternative advertising data item; and sending the alternative advertising data item to an end user device for presentation of the alternative advertising data item in place of the primary advertising data item upon occurrence of an end user event. A system is disclosed for performing the method. A data structure is disclosed for containing data embedded in a computer readable medium for providing a functional and structural interrelationship between a processor, the data structure and data stored in the data structure. | 09-25-2008 |
20080235088 | System for measuring web traffic related to an offline advertising campaign - A system is described for measuring web traffic relating to an offline advertising campaign. The system may include a processor and a memory. The memory may be operatively connected to the processor and may store an offline advertising campaign of an advertiser, a time period, a set of users and web traffic data. The processor may identify the offline advertising campaign, and the period of time the offline advertising campaign was available to a set of users. The processor may measure the web traffic related to the offline advertising campaign of the users during the time period. | 09-25-2008 |
20080235089 | SYSTEM FOR SERVING ADVERTISEMENTS BASED ON OFFLINE ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - A system is described for serving an online advertisement based on an offline advertising campaign. The system may include a memory, an interface and a processor. The memory may be operatively connected to the interface and the processor and may store an offline advertising campaign of an advertiser, an advertising effect period, a set of users, and an online advertisement. The interface may be operatively connected to the memory and may be used to serve the online advertisement to the users in the set of users. The processor may be operatively connected to the memory and the interface. The processor may identify the offline advertising campaign and the advertising effect period, the period when the offline advertising campaign is capable of effecting the online behavior of the set of users. The processor may identify an online advertisement relating to the offline advertising campaign. The processor may serve the online advertisement, to the users in the set of users, via the interface, during the advertising effect period. | 09-25-2008 |
20080235090 | METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR MANAGING PERSONALIZED ADVERTISEMENTS IN A TV SYSTEM - The invention discloses a method and arrangement of managing personalized advertisement in an TV system including an TV client ( | 09-25-2008 |
20080235091 | Cash in advance incentive and rewards program - An online cash back rewards system and a product consisting of a rewards card. Under the system presented herein, consumers are provided with a rewards card in advance of earning the rewards through online purchases. The rewards card may contain a fixed dollar value, expiration date, pre-printed web address and unique promotional code/integer identification number. The rewards card, once activated via the web address, is transformed into a digital token which is then passed to participating merchant websites when the consumer clicks through from the incentive site to create an online shopping transaction. The token is then reported back to the host server via electronic transaction reports from each of the online merchants. On the host server, the digital token is used to identify and credit transactions to the consumer's specific rewards account, debiting from the total variable pre-credited value. | 09-25-2008 |
20080235092 | METHOD OF ADVERTISING WHILE PLAYING MULTIMEDIA CONTENT - An advertising method and system displaying a context advertisement when the context advertising associated with a contents page which does not match with an advertising keyword or has no text, is provided. The advertising method which displays context advertising information includes: maintaining a context advertising database including the context advertising information; maintaining a user input keyword database including an input query set of keywords inputted by a user; and retrieving and displaying context advertising information associated with the input query set from the context advertising database, when the user visits a contents page which does not match with an advertising keyword or has no text. | 09-25-2008 |
20080235093 | MOBILE PHONE IMAGE PROCESSING FOR PROMOTIONAL ENTERPRISE - A promotional system initiated by capturing encoded images with mobile phones supports interactions between customers and vendors. A host site receives and decodes an information-bearing image captured with a customer's mobile phone. The image preferably appears on a vendor's product or place of business, such as a retail outlet. The host site also acquires information distinguishing the customer, such as the customer's telephone number or location. The information extracted from the information-bearing image is processed together with the information from the customer and a reply is sent to the customer to engage the customer in a promotion. | 09-25-2008 |
20080235094 | INTEGRATED CROSS CORPORATE BRANDING WITH GIVEAWAYS AND SWEEPSTAKES AND CONTESTS PROCESSES WITH ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES ON A HAND WIPE PRODUCT - The present invention provides systems, methods, and apparatus for integrated cross corporate branding using a hand wipe product. The invention includes advertising by producing a plurality of high quality, individually packaged, disposable hand wipes packaged in a wrapper, the wrapper including an indicia of a third-party and an indication of an online source for additional hand wipes, wherein the high quality of the hand wipes is such that the third party perceives that an association of the third party with the hand wipes reflects positively on the third party; distributing the plurality of hand wipes to target customers of the third party without charge to the target customers; and selling additional hand wipes to the target customers via the online source. Numerous additional aspects are disclosed. | 09-25-2008 |
20080235095 | Gift card kiosk - A gift card kiosk is disclosed providing a method for selecting, customizing, and dispensing gift cards utilizing information provided by a purchaser about the intended recipient of the gift card in order to find the gift card with the most appropriate content and from the most appropriate retailer. A purchaser may customize the gift card with their own personalized message, picture, or other information. The gift card kiosk provides for the production of such customized gift cards from gift card blanks stored within the kiosk that are printed with appropriate information on demand, and are likewise activated by the kiosk through management of a listing and assignment of gift card activation numbers. | 09-25-2008 |
20080235096 | Interactive Internet Shopping and Data Integration Method and System - A method and system for interactively shopping for groceries, especially on an Internet web site, where the user may create a shopping list, shop for items from the list at a selected grocery store, arrange for pick up or delivery of the selected items, and provide payment. A user may also download a created shopping list to a handheld computing device (e.g., PDA) or print the list with reference to the layout of a particular grocery store. Users are required to register and provide specific demographic information (useful to manufacturers and stores) to be eligible to receive the benefits of use of the web site, such as menu creation, coupon downloads, menu planning, and recipe input. Shopping lists may be created from a single input screen using standard language text. Products may be automatically suggested to the user based on best regular price or retailer's specials. Recipes may be altered to meet numbers of servings or to comply with dietary requirements. | 09-25-2008 |
20080243600 | Distributed open customer relationship management and care (CRMC) programs implemented with online vouchers - The present invention is a method for transferring electronic vouchers over a network system for defining and rewarding a customer relationship management and care (CRMC) activity. In a preferred embodiment, the method further includes a step of transferring an incentive electronic voucher for payment of an assessment of customer satisfaction. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243601 | ADVERTISEMENT INVENTORY PROCESSING - Systems and methods for requesting advertisement slots are provided. Inputs from multiple requesters for advance purchase of an advertisement slot can be received. A determination is made as to which of the requesters shall be allotted the advertisement slot in advance of presenting content of the advertisement slot. In the case where inputs include consideration terms, a determination may be made as to a high bidder for the advertisement slot based on the consideration terms. In one version, the system and related method includes three ways to request an advertisement slot, the ways including a bid, an advance purchase, and a reservation. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243602 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING IPTV ADVERTISEMENTS - Systems and methods according to the exemplary embodiments provide advertisements to end users in IPTV systems. IMS core networks can be used to provide the advertisements, via an IP network, to an IPTV client. An ad server can subscribe to a service which notifies it when a targeted user or users are online and inform it regarding an IPTV end user equipment that is currently being used. Then, a personalized advertisement can be forwarded to that IPTV end user equipment for rendering. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243603 | PROVIDING PRODUCT PLACEMENT INFORMATION PRESENTED IN A MEDIA PROGRAM - A method, an apparatus, and a computer usable program product for providing product placement information presented in a media program is provided. A controller receives a request for the product placement information presented in the media program. In response to receiving the request, the controller captures a timeframe for the request for the media program, wherein a product placement information list is associated with the timeframe. The controller then extracts the product placement information list for the timeframe from a buffer associated with the media program. The controller then presents the product placement information list to a user. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243604 | METHOD TO DISPOSE OF COMPENSATION OFFERS ON A DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDER - A method, computer program product, and system are provided for administering earned compensation offers. A coupon administering module receives an indication that a compensation offer has been stored for a user in a data storage on a television device. The coupon administering module identifies a user device to which the compensation offer will be sent. Responsive to identifying the user device, the coupon administering module sends the compensation offer to the user device. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243605 | MARKETING AND REWARDS SYSTEM AND METHOD - Exemplary embodiments may include a system and method for marketing and rewards for users, who may be lenders, realtors, and from other regional or Internet businesses and their employees, to induce a user to use the services of a particular lender, realtor, or other business. Other embodiments may include a method and system for viral-type marketing. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243606 | CUSTOMER SATISFACTION METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR NETWORK PRINTERS - A method teaches monitoring at least one printing device via a communication network. A usage profile may be received from the printing device. The usage profile may include data that reflects usage of a consumable or a number of clicks by the printing device over a period of time. The usage profile may be compared to a service history profile to create a service-dependent usage profile. If the received service-dependent usage profile satisfies a reward criterion a user of the printing device may be provided with a reward. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243607 | RELATED ENTITY CONTENT IDENTIFICATION - An entity relationship defining an entity, e.g., a friendship relation in a social network, user groups, etc., can be identified and entity content based on the entity relationship, e.g., user profile data of user accounts, group memberships, etc., can be processed to identify entity topics. One or more content items, e.g., advertisements, can be identified based on the entity topics. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243608 | CREATION OF CUSTOMIZED INSTANCES OF PUBLICATIONS - Customized instances of a publication created. The instances are customized according to interests of different recipients. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243609 | PROVIDING TARGETED ADVERTISING CONTENT TO USERS OF COMPUTING DEVICES - A system for providing a user with advertising content is provided. The system includes a presence server, an advertising distribution server, and a profiling and targeting component that interact to provide one or more advertisement objects to a user of a computing device based on presence data generated by the user. The presence server receives presence notification messages from the user's computing device and transmits the presence data to the profiling and targeting component. The profiling and targeting component in turn defines an advertising package that directs the transmittal of advertisement objects from the advertising distribution server to the user's computing device. The profiling and targeting component may also create a user profile based on the presence data for defining the advertising package and may further determine a trend of the user based on historical presence data. A method, apparatus, and computer program product are also provided. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243610 | Attention estimation through incremental impression interaction for precise advertisement monetization - An advertising package can contain multiple levels of advertisements ranging from small, unobtrusive ads at initial levels, to larger, more complex and more informative ads at subsequent levels. Viewers of a web page, or users of an ad-sponsored program, can initially be presented with a first level advertisement. User triggering actions can cause the display of a subsequent level advertisements that can provide further information without leaving the context of the web page or ad-sponsored program. The levels of advertisements displayed to a user can offer a more precise measure of user interest, and can be the basis by which future ad packages are tuned, and can be the basis of more tiered financial agreements between the advertiser and the publisher. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243611 | System for determining local intent in a search query - A system and method are disclosed for determining local intent. Local intent may reflect whether a search query should receive results and advertisements that are geographically specific. The local intent may be determined using probabilistic models that analyze historical searches to determine which search terms tend to have local intent. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243612 | System and method for using a browser extension to detect events related to digital advertisements - Systems and methods for detecting events related to a digital ad are disclosed. Generally, a browser extension such as a toolbar running in conjunction with a primary application, such as an Internet browser, detects an event related to a digital ad. The event may be an Internet browser receiving one or more digital ads; one or more CSC beacon requests being sent from an Internet browser to an ad provider; a user navigation event such as a user clicking on a hyperlink associated with a digital ad or activating a digital ad; or any other event or action occurring within the Internet browser and/or browser extension. The browser extension determines the validity of the detected event and communicates an indication of the determined validity of the detected event to an online advertisement service provider. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243613 | Optimization of pay per click advertisements - An advertising management service allows an advertiser to create an advertisement and associate keywords with the advertisement. The advertising management service submits the advertisement to multiple search engine advertising networks on behalf of the advertiser. Periodically, the advertising management service receives a performance indicator for the keywords from the search engine advertising networks. Using the performance indicator, the advertising management service identifies some of the keywords as low performing keywords. The advertising management service replaces the low performing keywords with new keywords on the multiple search engine advertising networks. The advertising management service may also periodically reallocate a budget for the advertisement among the multiple search engine advertising networks based on the performance indicator. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243614 | ADAPTIVE ADVERTISING AND MARKETING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A technique of adaptive advertising is provided. The technique includes obtaining at least one of demographic and behavioral profiles of a plurality of individuals in an environment and adjusting an advertising strategy in the environment of one or more products based upon the demographic and behavioral profiles of the plurality of individuals. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243615 | ADVERTISING SYSTEM AND METHOD UTILIZING FLOOR MAT WITH RECESSED ADVERTISEMENT PANEL, AND METHOD OF DOING BUSINESS USING THE SAME - A floor advertising method that utilizes a floor mat having a recessed area for receiving an advertising panel. In one aspect, the method uses a floor advertising system comprising: a floor mat having a bottom surface, a top surface, and a recessed area in the top surface, the recessed area having a depth; and a panel having an advertisement, the panel positioned in the recessed area. In some embodiments, it is preferred that the panel have a thickness that is substantially equal to or less than the depth of the recessed area. In another aspect, the invention is a method of doing business utilizing such a floor advertising system. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243616 | Pushing Coupon Values - A system, method and a computer program product for pushing a coupon value to a user account are disclosed. A telephone call is established from a communication device with the telephone call being initiated in response to a user dialing an abbreviated dialing code. User information is obtained from the established telephone call. Also, a coupon value associated with the abbreviated dialing code is determined. A user account external to the communication device is identified based on the user information obtained from the established telephone call. The determined coupon value is pushed to the identified user account external to the communication device. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243617 | KEYWORD ADVERTISEMENT USING RANKING OF ADVERTISERS - A method of providing a keyword advertisement and a system for executing the method are provided. The method of providing the keyword advertisement includes: generating and maintaining an advertiser history ranking by using an advertiser keyword purchase history; and ordering the keyword advertisement display with respect to a user keyword by using the advertiser history ranking. In this instance, the advertiser keyword purchase history includes mapping information between an advertiser and a keyword purchased by the advertiser for each advertisement group or for each advertisement campaign. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243618 | METHOD OF ORGANIZING CONSUMERS IN THE DISCOUNTED RETAIL PURCHASE OF GOODS OR SERVICES - A method of organizing consumers in the discounted retail purchase of goods or services comprises the steps of forming an Organizational Structure which a plurality of consumers can join and establishing with at least one point of sale of goods or services, by means of the Structure, a discount percentage to be given to the member consumers for the purchase of at least one of the goods or services so as to facilitate the purchase thereof by some of the consumers at the point of sale. According to this method, membership of the Organizational Structure is free for the plurality of consumers and the points of sale provide the Structure with a monetary fee on the basis of the sale of the goods or services to the plurality of member consumers. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243619 | Method and system for delivery of advertising content in short message service (SMS) messages - Methods and apparatus are disclosed for combining advertising messages with short message service (SMS) messages in a wireless communications system. A signaling message processing and routing node transmits and receives short message service (SMS) data packets via a communications network. The routing node includes an SMS message processing module that determines whether an SMS message should be modified to include advertisements. SMS messages, whether modified or left unmodified, are forwarded to a destination mobile communications device. The SMS message processing module applies rules to match selected advertisements with the SMS message. The determination of whether to modify the SMS message to include a selected advertisement is based on a variety of considerations including: the content and format of the SMS message; the content and format of the advertisements; the communications and display characteristics of the destination mobile communications device; and the limitations of the channel used to communicate the message to the destination mobile communications device. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243620 | SELF-CHECKOUT COUPON SHARING - The present invention is directed to a system for processing coupons by a self checkout system, where the self checkout system includes at least one self checkout station coupled to a server. In a first aspect, a self checkout system includes a server for managing the self checkout system and at least one self checkout station coupled to the server, where the self checkout station includes a scanner for scanning at least one item for purchase by a customer, a coupon reader for receiving a coupon from the customer, and a coupon manager. The coupon manager attempts to validate the coupon against the at least one item scanned by the customer, and if the coupon fails to validate, the coupon manager stores the coupon in a coupon pool at the server such that the stored coupon can be utilized at a subsequent sales transaction. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243621 | INTEGRATION OF WIC ITEMS AND TRANSACTIONS INTO PERSONAL SHOPPING DEVICES - A method, system and computer program product for providing access to government benefits is disclosed. The method comprises positioning a short-range transmitter in a predetermined product area in a store, and storing one or more marketing messages in the short-range transmitter, wherein the one or more marketing messages are associated with one or more specific products located in the predetermined product area. The one or more marketing messages are transmitted to a wireless computer, and a user is identified as a participant in a government benefits scheme. Available under a subsidy program are communicated to a user and upon purchase of an item, an analysis of benefits available under a subsidy program is provided. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243622 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ELECTRONIC TRADING THAT PROVIDE INCENTIVES AND LINKED AUCTIONS - Systems and methods for electronic trading that provide incentives for gathering orders, making markets, and submitting block orders, and that enable linking of multiple auctions are provided. These systems and methods may first determine if the trader qualifies for an incentive. This determination may be made based upon one or more characteristics, such as price, size, duration, etc., of orders submitted to the trading system by the trader. Once the trader has been determined as being eligible for one or more incentives, the incentives that are provided may include reduced transaction costs, cash payments, priority or exclusivity in trading, self execution of transactions, etc. Similarly, before an order is eligible to be traded in an auction that is linked to another auction in the trading system, the order is preferably confirmed as qualifying to be auctioned in such a manner. Once an order is confirmed as qualifying for a linked auction, the auction is created and preferably linked to another auction based upon a characteristic of the order, such as price. In addition to being linked, information from each auction may be made available to traders in the other auctions. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243623 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING LIMITED USE COUPON AND COUPON PRIORITIZATION - A system for managing coupon redemption and prioritization is provided. According to one aspect of the system, the system allows an electronic coupon or reward to be redeemed a specific number of times. The specific number of times may range from one to infinity. According to another aspect of the system, the system automatically resolves any redemption conflict associated with the concurrent redemption of electronic coupon(s) and paper-based coupon(s) by using certain predefined rules and logic. | 10-02-2008 |
20080249846 | Content Reproduction Method, Content Reproduction Terminal and Content Providing System - A content playback method that is capable of preventing diversion and outflow of users' personal information, reliably protecting privacy and detecting and playing back content in accordance with users' needs. With this method, data including content is delivered from a data transmission server ( | 10-09-2008 |
20080249847 | GUEST REGISTRATION SYSTEM - Method and arrangement for providing a registration system, preferably for simplifying the checking out procedure for a guest visiting a location, such as a hotel facility. The system includes at least one registration terminal, a communication interface for communication with the guest and a reading device, for reading an information carrier corresponding to a key-information. The system also includes a communication arrangement, for communication with a booking system a compiling arrangement, for compiling a bill with information from the booking system, and a transaction means. The system further includes an information arrangement for providing bill information to the guest and obtaining possible information from the guest for revising the bill with regard to the information from the guest. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249848 | Method of Settling Commercial Indebtedness - A method whereby vendors and purchasers settle invoices and account for sales taxes, integrated with the drawing, accepting, guaranteeing, endorsing, discounting, presenting, and cash settlement of electronic bills of exchange in all traded currencies (Ebill). Ebills are activated automatically as a direct consequence of the approval of one or more invoices for payment. Acceptance is against a guarantee with a managed credit risk limit or endorsed Ebills. Settlement is also activated by matching a purchase order to a goods received or delivery note or bill of lading. A single instance of each invoice and Ebill is held for all functions required by vendors, purchasers, risk managers, Ebill traders, discounters, guarantors and banks. Trading accounts are represented by a single ledger instance with automated updating of their back-office ledgers. Settlement reconciliation is supported by messages related to individual transactions and by quantified debit advice notes reconciled with credit notes. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249849 | PRINT DRIVER BASED MARKETING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method of providing access to an online marketplace via a printer driver that is in communication with a networked printing device. The marketplace offers printer capabilities which are compatible with the networked printing device. The computing device receives a request to purchase one of the printer capabilities for the networked printing device. The printer driver associates the purchased printer capability with the computing device. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249850 | Providing Information About Content Distribution - Providing information about content distribution includes receiving a request for information regarding at least one content distribution activity that has previously been created to be performed in at least one of a plurality of media types. The method includes obtaining content distribution information regarding the at least one content distribution activity. The method includes presenting the content distribution information in a graphical user interface that is configured to display content distribution activities for each of the media types. Managing multiple media type distribution in an advertising campaign includes identifying plural distribution media types for inclusion in at least one campaign. The method includes setting distribution characteristics in each of the plural distribution media types for the campaign. The method includes presenting campaign information to a user that aggregates results over more than one of the plural distribution media types. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249851 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING CUSTOMIZED DIGITAL MEDIA MARKETING CONTENT DIRECTLY TO A CUSTOMER - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for customizing digital media marketing messages. In one embodiment, external data is received from a set of detectors located externally to a retail facility to form external data. The external data is processed to form dynamic data. The set of dynamic data is analyzed using a data model to identify personalized marketing message criteria for the customer. A customized marketing message for the customer is generated using the personalized marketing message criteria. The customized marketing message is delivered to a display device associated with the customer for display. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249852 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CREATING ADVERTISEMENTS - Methods and systems of creating online advertisements are disclosed herein. An advertisement creation request can be received from an advertiser. The advertisement creation request can be submitted by the advertiser to create an online advertisement associated with an advertisement campaign. Advertisement rules can be received from the advertiser. The advertisement rules can define how the online advertisement is to be created. A job listing can be posted on an online market. The job listing can be associated with an advertising job that entails the creation of the online advertisement according to advertisement rules. A proposal from an advertisement creator for performing the advertising job associated with the job listing can be received. The received proposal can be communicated to the advertiser. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249853 | ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN TEMPLATE - A system and technique is described for generating an advertising campaign based on an advertising campaign template. Template data is received from a first entity, the template data including advertising content and targeting criteria. An advertising campaign template is generated based on the template data and provided to a second entity. Customization data is provided by the second entity. An online advertising campaign is generated for the second entity based on the advertising campaign template and the customization data. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249854 | MONETIZING LOW VALUE CLICKERS - A solution is provided wherein an identification of a user who is producing low value to a web page or service is received, wherein the identification was determined by measuring web page usage patterns for the user. Advertising is then presented on the web page or service for the user according to a retraining program, wherein the retraining program is designed to retrain the user's behavior so that the user no longer produces low value and wherein the retraining program presents advertising in a different way than would be presented without the retraining program. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249855 | System for generating advertising creatives - A system is described for generating advertising creatives. The system may include a processor and a memory. The memory may be operatively connected to the processor and may store an ad group of an advertiser, a first set of creative components relating to the ad group, a second set of creative components relating to the ad group, a set of matched groups of creative components, and a set of destination URLs relating to the ad group. The processor may identify the ad group, the first set of creative components, the second set of creative components and the set of destination URLs, match each creative component in the first set of creative components to each creative component in the second set of creative components to create a set of matched groups of creative components and match each matched group of creative components to each destination URL in the set of destination URLs thereby generating advertising creatives. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249856 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING CUSTOMIZED MARKETING MESSAGES AT THE CUSTOMER LEVEL BASED ON BIOMETRIC DATA - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for customizing digital media marketing messages using biometric data. In one embodiment, data is received from a set of biometric devices associated with a retail facility to form the biometric data. The biometric data is associated with a given customer. The biometric data is processed to form dynamic data. The dynamic data is analyzed using a data model to identify personalized marketing message criteria for the customer. A customized marketing message is generated using the personalized marketing message criteria. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249857 | GENERATING CUSTOMIZED MARKETING MESSAGES USING AUTOMATICALLY GENERATED CUSTOMER IDENTIFICATION DATA - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for generating customized marketing messages using automatically generated customer identification data. In one embodiment, real-time data for a customer is received from a set of cameras associated with a retail facility to form detection data. The customer is automatically identified using the detection data to form customer identification data. Automatically identifying the customer occurs without human input. A customized marketing message is generated for the customer using the customer identification data. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249858 | AUTOMATICALLY GENERATING AN OPTIMAL MARKETING MODEL FOR MARKETING PRODUCTS TO CUSTOMERS - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code generating an optimized marketing model for marketing products to customers in a retail facility. In one embodiment, event data is parsed to identify patterns of events, wherein the event data comprises metadata describing events associated with the retail facility; events in the patterns of events that achieve a target outcome are identified to form optimized events. A marketing strategy is generated using the optimized events to form the optimized marketing model. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249859 | GENERATING CUSTOMIZED MARKETING MESSAGES FOR A CUSTOMER USING DYNAMIC CUSTOMER BEHAVIOR DATA - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for customizing digital media marketing messages using customer behavior data. In one embodiment, patterns of events in customer event data are identified to form customer behavior data. The customer event data comprises metadata describing a customer associated with a retail facility. The customer behavior data is processed to form dynamic data. A customized marketing message is generated for the customer using the dynamic data. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249860 | Bonus system with rule based customization - A computer program product includes program code, stored on a machine readable medium, or provided in the form of a propagated signal, wherein the program code, when executed on a computer system, implements a bonus system, and allows the implementation of bonus programs, wherein several bonus program partners can participate in a bonus program. Bonus program members can collect bonus points during transactions with a bonus program partner, wherein the program code allows a customization of various bonus system functions through rules through a central interface. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249861 | Bonus system - A computer program product comprising program code, stored on a machine readable medium, or provided in the form of a propagated signal, wherein the program code, when executed on a computer system, implements a bonus system, and allows the customizable establishment of bonus programs. Several bonus program partners can participate in a bonus program. Bonus program members can collect bonus points in transactions with a bonus program partner. The bonus program comprises the following functions: defining, activating, and deleting a bonus program within the bonus system; defining individual bonus program properties and bonus program rules; defining, activating, and deleting bonus program partners; settling with bonus program partners; and establishing properties of bonus program accounts. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249862 | Business services program embodying a reinvestment - A method which is a two-way transaction between a media services provider (MSP) and a Client, the MSP making an investment with the Client in an amount based upon the purchase of advertising services from the MSP by the Client. The Client provides the MSP with its products and/or services in return for the MSP's investment, which the MSP remarkets Client's products and/or services to recoup its investment and earn a profit, at no cost to the Client. The method may also be employed between a provider (P) and a Client wherein the Client purchases either goods or both goods and services through P, P then reinvesting in the Client's business, and the Client providing its products and/or services to P who remarkets the Client's products and/or services at no cost to the Client, as described in the MSP/Client example, set forth above. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249863 | MANAGING A MULTI-FUNCTION SOCIAL NETWORK - Managing a multi-function social network. One or more communication devices are identified in various locations. Thereafter, activities on the one or more communication devices are captured. Based on the activities, data files are then provided independent of types of the one or more mobile communication devices, communication protocol and communication network providers associated with the one or more communication devices. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249864 | GENERATING CUSTOMIZED MARKETING CONTENT TO IMPROVE CROSS SALE OF RELATED ITEMS - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for generating customized marketing messages for marketing correlated items. In one embodiment, an item selected by a customer is identified to form a selected item. Items in a list of correlated items associated with the selected item are identified to form a set of correlated items. A correlated item in the set of correlated items provides a different basic functionality than the selected item. A set of dynamic data associated with the customer is analyzed using a set of data models to identify personalized marketing message criteria for the customer. The dynamic data associated with the customer is generated in real-time as the customer is shopping. A customized marketing message is generated using the personalized marketing message criteria. The customized marketing message comprises a marketing message for at least one item in the set of correlated items. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249865 | RECIPE AND PROJECT BASED MARKETING AND GUIDED SELLING IN A RETAIL STORE ENVIRONMENT - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for generating project based marketing messages to a customer in a retail facility. In one embodiment, at least one item selected by the customer for purchase is identified. A task that requires the at least one item for completion of the task is identified. A set of additional items recommended for completion of the task is retrieved. The customer has not selected the items in the set of additional items for purchase. A customized marketing message for at least one item in the set of additional items recommended for completion of the task is generated. The customized marketing message is generated in real-time as the customer is shopping. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249866 | GENERATING CUSTOMIZED MARKETING CONTENT FOR UPSALE OF ITEMS - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for generating customized marketing messages to improve upsales of items. In one embodiment, an item selected by a customer is identified. At least one upsale item associated with the selected item is identified. An upsale item is an item that provides a same basic functionality as the selected item. A set of dynamic data associated with the customer is analyzed using data models to identify personalized marketing message criteria for the customer. The dynamic data associated with the customer is generated in real-time as the customer is shopping. A customized marketing message is generated using the personalized marketing message criteria. The customized marketing message includes a marketing message that prompts the customer to purchase the at least one upsale item instead of the selected item. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249867 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USING BIOMETRIC DATA FOR A CUSTOMER TO IMPROVE UPSALE AND CROSS-SALE OF ITEMS - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for generating customized marketing messages to increase purchases by a customer. In one embodiment, an item selected by the customer is identified to form a selected item. Biometric readings for the customer are received from a set of biometric devices associated with a retail facility to form the biometric data. The biometric data is data regarding a set of physiological responses of the customer. A set of items is selected from a list of items associated with the selected item using the biometric data for the customer to form a set of promoted items. A customized marketing message for the customer is generated using a set of personalized marketing message criteria for the customer. The customized marketing message comprises a marketing message for the set of promoted items. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249868 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PREFERRED CUSTOMER MARKETING DELIVERY BASED ON DYNAMIC DATA FOR A CUSTOMER - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program product for automatically determining a marketing status for a customer. In one embodiment, detection data is received from a set of detectors associated with the retail facility. The detection data is processed to form dynamic data. The dynamic data is analyzed using a set of data models to identify marketing initiation factors. In response to the marketing initiation factors indicating initiation of marketing to the customer, a customized marketing message is generated for the customer and dynamically transmitted to a display device associated with the customer. The customized marketing message is displayed to the customer in real-time as the customer is shopping at the retail facility. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249869 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRESENTING DISINCENTIVE MARKETING CONTENT TO A CUSTOMER BASED ON A CUSTOMER RISK ASSESSMENT - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program product for managing a level of marketing disincentives directed towards a customer using a risk assessment score. In one embodiment, a risk assessment score for a customer associated with a retail facility is retrieved. The risk assessment score is analyzed to determine whether the customer is a desirable customer or an undesirable customer. In response to the risk assessment score indicating that the customer is an undesirable customer, aggressive marketing disincentives targeted to the undesirable customer are generated. If the risk assessment score indicates the customer is a desirable customer, marketing incentives targeted to the desirable customer are generated. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249870 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DECISION TREE BASED MARKETING AND SELLING FOR A RETAIL STORE - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program product for decision tree based marketing to a customer in a retail facility. In response to identifying a customer associated with the retail facility, a marketing decision tree for the customer is retrieved. The marketing decision tree indicates a set of paths through the retail facility that the customer will most likely follow while shopping. A next probable location of the customer is identified using a current location of the customer and the marketing decision tree. A customized marketing message for an item located in the next probable location is presented to the customer. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249871 | System and Method for the Advertising, Marketing and Sale of Real Estate - The invention is a system and method for the advertising, marketing and sale of property, such as real estate. In one version, the system/method operates on the principle of having the builder (and other parties) prepay a sum of money to be held by a facilitator (or another party) in trust. Over the first eighteen to twenty-four months of the property purchaser's mortgage, a predetermined portion of the proceeds of this trust is paid back to the property purchaser to assist (payment assistance program) the purchaser in making his/her mortgage payments. The result is that the effective mortgage payment amount of the purchaser/buyer is reduced for the first eighteen to twenty-four months, an incentive for the buyer to buy a home sold via the invented method. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249872 | Systems and Methods for Enabling Users to Sample and Acquire Content - A system for sampling content and presenting targeted marketing and advertising content, comprising: a sample/advertising server; a retail server receiving sample content from the sample server; media sample tablets for receiving sample content and targeted advertising content for display to a user; and means for collecting data from users. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249873 | ADVERTISING SYSTEM AND METHOD - An advertising system and method is provided and may include a display unit having a memory. The display unit may be mounted in any location and may display images stored in the memory of the display. A customer may pay a predetermined fee to load information into the memory of the display, which may be displayed on the display for a predetermined length of time. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249874 | Ubiquitous Music and Multimedia Service System and the Method Thereof - The characteristics of this invention consist of the following stages: the consumer connects to wire or wireless internet, mobile communication network, or digital broadcasting network through his/her terminal device; the consumer searches for and selects music and multimedia data; the consumer appoints the output device for the selected music and multimedia data; the music or multimedia data is played by the above selected output device; and the consumer and related business end settles the charges. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249875 | DISFAVORING QUALIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS IN CONTEXTUAL ADVERTISEMENT - Disclosed is a method of formulating a list of advertisements in an advertisement service. The method comprises analyzing a web content so as to identify a plurality of keywords therefrom, and retrieving data of a plurality of advertisements, each of which is associated with one of the plurality of keywords and is presently subject to an advertising service. The method further comprises processing the data of the plurality of advertisements so as to identify two or more advertisements that are associated with the same advertiser and further processing data of the two or more advertisements so as to identify at least one qualified advertisement for disfavoring in the advertising service. The method further comprises ordering at least part of the plurality of advertisements to display along with the web content such that the at least one qualified advertisement is disfavored in the ordering. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249876 | METHOD AND SYSTEM USING DISTRIBUTIONS FOR MAKING AND OPTIMIZING OFFER SELECTIONS - A method and system for making and optimizing offer selections targeted to particular recipients or groups improves selection quality by combining and aggregating quantitative and qualitative data to capture recipient needs and provider expectations and intentions. Offer descriptions are first received. Distribution variables for application to offer descriptions and recipients are then selected. Distributions are then assigned to offer descriptions, and distributions appropriate to the recipient are determined and assigned to the recipient. Distributions can incorporate demographic, psychographic and behavioral variables. Offer description distributions and recipient distributions are combined for each offer description, resulting in a ranking for each offer description. Offer descriptions are automatically selected based on the rankings, using, for example, simple ordering or roulette wheel selection. Offer descriptions are instantiated as offers, and finally offers are output to the recipient. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249877 | Methods and Apparatus for Freshness and Completeness of Information - A system that facilitates publishing and consuming information that is of time sensitivity, for example, price information. Methods are employed to achieve completeness and freshness in information for a given domain. A preferred embodiment is a shopping site that is capable of comparing prices, purchasing bundled products and dealing with coupons. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249878 | Method and Apparatus for Coupon Management and Redemption - The present invention provides a system for the electronic management and redemption of coupons. The system includes an integrated coupon card comprising a microprocessor, a random access memory means, a scanner, and a communications port. The coupon card is capable of scanning coupon bar codes from paper coupons and receiving redemption requirement data from a periphery device. The coupon card will allow bar codes and redemption requirement data to be transferred to a periphery device and will store what bar codes were redeemed because they corresponded to purchase data received from a cash register memory. The system further includes one or more periphery devices having a microprocessor, a first communications port for communicating with said coupon card, and a second communications port for communicating with a cash register. The periphery devices receive purchase data from a cash register memory and compare said purchase data to coupon bar codes received from a coupon card in order to determine which coupons are redeemable. The system also includes a server computer which will be connected to the periphery devices. The server computer will collect redeemed coupon information from the periphery devices and also provide the periphery devices with information such redemption requirement data or coupons which may be loaded onto a coupon card. A clearing house will collect coupon redemption information from all servers in the system to create redemption reports. The clearing house allows redemption requirement data and other information to be transferred through the servers to individual periphery devices and/or coupon cards. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249879 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO INCORPORATE GAME PLAY INTO PRODUCT TRANSACTIONS - A method for providing a product is described in which a selection of a product is received from a customer, a game is selected by the customer, the customer provides his credit card number, the customer plays the game and an outcome is determined. If the customer wins, the credit card is charged a game fee, if the customer loses, the credit card is charged the price of the product. In either case, the product is then provided to the customer. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249880 | iPOS Transaction Terminal - Apparatus and methods for transaction processing. The apparatus may be a transaction terminal including a keypad, a circuit for interacting with the transaction customer and a link communicatively connecting the keypad and the customer-interaction circuit. The cashier may interact with the keypad, while the customer (and not the cashier) may interact with the customer-interaction circuit. The link may communicate a dollar amount for the transaction between the keypad and the customer-interaction circuit. Accessories for the keypad may include a check reader, a display or a receipt printer. Accessories for the customer-interaction circuit may include a smart-card reader, a magnetic-strip reader and biometric readers. The customer-interaction circuit may include a port for connection to a remote service provider. That port may be the only remote-access port in the transaction terminal. The customer-interaction circuit may include a virtual keypad, and the circuit itself maybe programmed to capture a personal identifier number by means of that virtual keypad. The customer-interaction circuit may include virtual paper, and the circuit itself may be programmed to capture a signature by means of the virtual paper. A cash register at the POS location with the transaction terminal may not be communicatively coupled to the transaction terminal. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249881 | METHOD OF ADVERTISING COSMETICS AND PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS ON BEHALF OF THIRD PARTY BUSINESSES IN ETABLISHMENTS THAT PROVIDE LODGING - The present invention generally relates to a method of advertising to potential customers. More particularly, the present invention pertains to the display of cosmetic materials within establishments that provide lodging and other services for travelers and other paying guests that is not coincident with the point of sale. These establishments may include hotels, motels, motor inns, bed and breakfasts, country inns, apartments, condominiums, complexes, cottages, lodges, ranches, resorts, suites, extended stays, histories, cruises, other lodging establishments, airplanes, trains, and other modes of transportation and the like. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249882 | System for purchasing commercial products and items having monetary value with entertainment content - A single entity for providing entertainment content with the purchase of a commercial product or other item representing monetary funds, such as a telephone card, gift card, or bank card. A first medium holds the entertainment content, and the commercial item can be any product sold at a retail store or on the Internet. The commercial product and/or the entertainment medium includes at least one serial number. A mechanism is also provided for qualifying a customer to participate in a contest. | 10-09-2008 |
20080255931 | Print Ink System and Print Method Used For Print 'It' Shopping-Linked Printed Matter and Print 'It' Shopping-Linked Printed Matter - There is provided a print ink system used for printing “a print IT shopping-linked printed matter” used in a commodity sales method in which a commodity can be ordered by converting a commodity information image in an imaged partition into an electric signal and transmitting it via a predetermined network, and by replying the order of the commodity, the order for the commodity is received and the commodity is sent, and furthermore, charging for the commodity cost is performed. The print ink system uses a combination of a print ink (a) for printing “a visible image of a commodity” (A) and a print ink (b) for printing “a commodity information code” (B). | 10-16-2008 |
20080255932 | Method for Enticing Computer Users to Return to an Electronic Commerce Portal - A method for enticing computer users to return to an electronic commerce portal is disclosed. In response to a user registering to a merchant server for the first time, a unique number is associated with the user. Hardware information is then obtained from a computer utilized by the user. A digital certificate is generated by encrypting the unique number along with the obtained hardware information. The digital certificate is subsequently sent to the user computer for generating a unique customer number to be displayed on a web page of the user computer. On a periodic basis, the merchant server sends a master number to the user computer to be displayed on a web page of the user computer. In response to a notification of the master number matches the unique customer number on the user computer, a prize claiming process can be initiated. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255933 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR RECOMMENDING A PRODUCT OVER A COMPUTER NETWORK - A product is recommended over a computer network by initiating a recommendation network by creating an active advertisement object of a product on an electronic medium. A recommendation request is received from a user viewing the electronic medium to recommend the product to at least one more viewer. The viewer may be a recommended user. The user and the recommended user or users form a recommendation network. The active advertisement object is recreated on another electronic medium. The recommendation request and the recreation may be repeated, and a recommendation chain is determinable. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255934 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SELLING OR PROMOTING A PRODUCT ONLINE - A system for selling or promoting a product online comprises a plurality of users computing devices of a plurality of users. The system further comprises a plurality of seller computing devices of a plurality of sellers. Each seller has a promotional object for advertisement on each seller's computing device. The system further comprises an active advertisement object server in communication with the plurality of user computing devices and with the plurality of seller computing devices. The active advertisement object server propagates an active advertisement object of the product of the seller. The active advertisement object is propagated on an electronic medium of each of the plurality of users. The propagating occurs for one user to another of the plurality of user. The plurality of users comprise a recommendation network. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255935 | Temporal targeting of advertisements - A system and method are disclosed for the temporal targeting of content, such as advertisements. The targeting may be based on time of day, day of year, season or upcoming holidays. In addition, prior search history may be utilized to determine current popularity and/or predict future popularity for a particular concept that may be used for targeting. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255936 | System and method for balancing goal guarantees and optimization of revenue in advertisement delivery under uneven, volatile traffic conditions - Systems and methods for balancing goal guarantees and optimization of revenue in advertisement delivery under uneven, volatile traffic conditions are discloses. Generally, an advertisement delivery request is received. Using tolerance bands, a first plurality of advertisements served on a guaranteed number of impressions basis that may be served in response to the advertisement request is identified. Each advertisement of the first plurality of advertisements is delivering above a lower bound of a tolerance band associated with the advertisement and below an upper bound of the tolerance band associated with the advertisement. A second plurality of advertisements served on a performance basis that may be served in response to the advertisement delivery request is identified. An advertisement of either the first or second plurality of advertisements to be served in response to the advertisement delivery request is determined based on an amount of revenue generated for an advertisement service provider by serving the advertisement. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255937 | SYSTEM FOR OPTIMIZING THE PERFORMANCE OF ONLINE ADVERTISEMENTS USING A NETWORK OF USERS AND ADVERTISERS - A system is described for optimizing the performance of online advertisements using a network of users and advertisers. The system may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The memory may store a data representing a network comprised of queries linked to advertisements, a search query, a relevance value for each query, and a predicted weight for each advertisement. The interface may communicate with a plurality of users. The processor may be operatively connected to the memory and interface and may identify the network, and receive a query from a user, wherein the query exists in the network. The processor may calculate relevance values for the queries and use the queries with the highest relevance values to calculate a weight for each advertisement, the weight representing the relevance of the advertisement to the search query. The processor may then serve the advertisements with the highest weights to the user. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255938 | Package Assembly for Multi-Modality Sensation Chewing Gum Compositions - A package assembly for a multi-layer center-filled chewing gum is disclosed. The package assembly supports individual gum pieces that have a center surrounded by a gum region. The gum region may include a gum base. Optionally, the individual gum pieces may be further coated with an external coating layer. Components of the individual gum pieces create a duality, such as a dual sensation perception, that are identified by indicia on the package. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255939 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ALLOCATING A CONSUMER ACCESS RIGHT TO A LIVE EVENT - A performer credit program facilitates crediting, tracking, and accumulating performer credits for consumer activity such as purchasing items related to a performer. Consumers manage performer credits in a performer credit account through a performer credit account facility and can elect to convert accumulated credits to access rights that can be used to acquire a ticket to a live event. Performers or their representative can use the information in the accounts to determine interest in and allocate seats for live events. Consumers can acquire, trade, exchange, or sell credits to other consumers on a secondary market allowing consumers to accumulate sufficient credits to convert to an access right. The program encourages consumers to acquire credits to exchange them for access rights that they can either sell or use to acquire a ticket to a live event. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255940 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REWARD CALCULATION AND DISBURSEMENT - A method includes receiving data that represents purchase transactions received from acquirer financial institutions. The method further includes identifying, from the received data, purchase transactions that qualify for customer rebates. The method further includes transmitting rebate data to certain ones of the acquirer financial institutions. The rebate data identifies the purchase transactions that qualify for customer rebates. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255941 | Method and system for generating, selecting, and running executables in a business system utilizing a combination of user defined rules and artificial intelligence - A system including: a memory element of a specially programmed general-purpose computer storing a set of rules; a generating element in a processor for the computer using at least one genetic algorithm to generate a plurality of executables; a selecting element in the processor using the set of rules to select an executable from the plurality of executables; and an interface element in the computer outputting the executable. A system including: a generating element in a processor for a specially programmed general-purpose computer arranged to generate a marketing offer using a set of rules and at least one genetic algorithm and an interface element in the computer arranged to output the marketing offer. In some aspects, the generating element is arranged to: generate, using the at least one genetic algorithm, a plurality of marketing offers; and select, using the rules, the marketing offer from the plurality of marketing offers. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255942 | Mobile phone based rebate and gift card aggregation - Virtual mobile rewards, gift cards, and/or physical world retailers' loyalty and reward programs are aggregated into a common account accessible and transactional from an Internet capable mobile radio device. Subscribers gain access to discounted codes, coupons, rebates, gift cards, and/or limited time offers, on their mobile device for food, travel, lifestyle, electronics, and entertainment products that fit their lifestyle spending habits, enabling users to edit participating retailers, manage separate account balances, and present preferred discounted offers at retailers and apply discount towards purchase of goods. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255943 | REFRESHING ADVERTISEMENTS IN OFFLINE OR VIRALLY DISTRIBUTED CONTENT - A method, apparatus, and system are directed towards providing advertisement insertions at a point of consumption into digital content, such as broadcast television content. A content provider may initially mark the content for advertisement insertion, and create a metadata file indicating constraints, targets, expirations, or the like. A downstream user employs a plug-in component and provides an initial user profile, in part, to access the content with advertisements. As the content is played, and an advertising marker is encountered, fast forwarding or other skipping features are disabled, and an advertisement stream is spliced into the content stream. The advertisement stream is determined based on the user profile and/or other metadata. Moreover, the advertisement stream may be obtained over a network such that advertisements may be refreshed even years after the content has been acquired by the user. In one embodiment, the advertisement consumption may be tracked and reported. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255944 | Campaign Management Platform for Network-Based Online Advertising and Directed Media Transmission System - Embodiments of a system and method for managing multi-media advertising campaigns across multiple online and offline media sources are described. A durable network identifier is associated with a client device that is used to access an advertising network. The durable identifier comprises an alphanumeric tag associated with network traffic transmitted through routing devices of the network. The durable identifier indexes relevant user demographic and client device information for facilitating the delivery of directed media within the advertising network and is embedded within requests sent from the client computer to a target server computer over a network. A campaign management platform processes certain user metrics provided by the tag processing service and supplements this information with certain extrinsic data. Analysis processes determine behavioral or contextual targeting, as well as user response to ad messages. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255945 | Producing image data representing retail packages - The production of image data representing retail packages for publication purposes is shown. Data serving devices ( | 10-16-2008 |
20080255946 | Systems and Methods to Facilitate Real Time Communications and Commerce via a Social Network - Methods and systems to facilitate real time communications and commerce via a social network. In one embodiment, a social network is used to provide information about an advertiser to demonstrate the trustworthiness of the advertiser to potential customers. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a request from a customer for a document; and providing the customer with an advertisement embedded in the document, the advertisement including information to identify an advertiser of the advertisement based on a social network. In one embodiment, the presentation of the advertisement or the advertiser is at least partially based on the social network. In one embodiment, communication references are provided to facilitate the requests for real time communications with a member of the social network via a connection provider, which performs scheduling, filtering, payment processing, etc. for the member of the social network. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255947 | MOBILE COMMERCE INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Methods, systems, and machine readable media are disclosed for Methods, systems, and machine-readable media are disclosed for utilizing mobile electronic devices in various types of financial transactions. According to one embodiment, a system for supporting mobile commerce applications can comprise a management and control layer. The management and control layer can be adapted to control communications to and from mobile wallet applications. The system can also have a gateway services layer communicatively coupled with the management and control layer and a plurality of content provider systems communicatively coupled with the gateway services layer. The content provider systems can be adapted to provide financial transaction content or services related to the mobile commerce functions of the mobile wallet applications via the management and control layer and gateway services layer. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255948 | VENTURE FUND INVESTING POINTS CARD - A process of controlling transaction cards to provide benefits of a rewards program contribution to a venture fund, which serves to identify potential investors through an application process for financial transaction card offerings, allowing recipients of the venture card to make purchases of products and services using the venture fund card, and taking a portion of the transaction value of a transaction to be used by one or more venture funds. Venture fund card activity statements to individual cardholders can include additional information regarding fund or funds in which the cardholder has invested or potential investment opportunities. Cardholders could be provided with an option to increase holdings in a particular venture fund associated with the venture fund card, or to liquidate investments in the associated venture funds. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255949 | Method and System for Measuring Non-Verbal and Pre-Conscious Responses to External Stimuli - Systems and methods of employing experimental tasks, neurological and physiological recording devices, and a sequenced process of data acquisition and analysis to produce measurements of pre-verbal and pre-conscious brain processes. An array of measurement devices are connected non-invasively to an individual (the subject). The subject experiences one or more external stimuli via any combination of senses, including visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory, and/or gustatory. Experimental tasks, data acquisition, analysis, and/or presentation steps are processed to ascertain the subject's pre-verbal and pre-conscious responses to the external stimuli, including attentional triggering, emotional valence and arousal, interest, engagement, and activation of higher cognitive processes such as memory, preference formation, and decision making. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255950 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR THE SALE OF PRODUCTS THROUGH THE INTERNET BY DISPLAYING ADVERTISING BANNERS - A method and a system for the sale of products through the Internet by displaying advertising banners in a web page; the display system has: a server computer connected to the Internet; a memory space, stored in which is an advertising-banner template, a plurality of advertising messages, and for each advertising message at least one respective criterion of choice; a processing device of the server computer for determining, following upon a request for loading the web page by a remote client device connected to the Internet, at least one characteristic of the navigation context of the remote client device itself, a comparison device of the server computer for comparing the characteristic of the navigation context with the criteria of choice; a generation device of the server computer for generating dynamically an advertising banner using the advertising-banner template; and a communication device of the server computer for transferring the advertising banner to the remote client device. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255951 | METHOD FOR GENERATION OF EXCESS FUNDS FROM CREDIT INSTRUMENTS EARMARKED FOR PERSONAL USE AND DISTRIBUTION - A method of generating excess funds through use of a credit instrument, the excess funds being earmarked for at least one entity. The method including the steps of: at least one credit issuer affiliating a credit instrument with the at least one entity; at least one consumer obtaining the affiliated credit instrument and using it to make one or more purchase transactions at one or more points of sale, each transaction having an amount of purchase; and the at least one credit issuer processing each of the one or more purchase transactions using the following steps: performing credit instrument transaction processing procedures using a credit instrument processing network; at a period predefined for generating excess funds determining if an instrument used to pay for the purchase transaction being processed is the affiliated credit instrument; and if the instrument is the affiliated credit instrument, generating funds in excess of a sum total amount of all purchase transactions made using the instrument at all points of sale. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255952 | USING VIEWERSHIP PROFILES FOR TARGETED PROMOTION DEPLOYMENT - A system for generating viewership profiles to facilitate distributing promotions based on the profiles to one or more network devices, such as set top boxes. The system includes a promotion agent associated with each network device which collects viewing activity data of the network device. For example, the viewing activity data may include a channel the network device was tuned to, a time when the network device was tuned to the channel, and a time the network device was tuned away from the channel. The collected viewing activity data is then transmitted, for example, every twenty-four hours, to a life-cycle manager server, which also periodically receives a program schedule. The program schedule typically specifies the channel on which a particular program was displayed, as well as the time the program was shown. The life-cycle manager server correlates the viewing activity data with the program schedule to generate the viewership profile of the network device. The life cycle manager server determines the viewing behavior for four, eight, and twelve week periods, for example, or for a time period specified by a user. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255953 | Tier-based Dynamic Incentive Arbitration in an On-Demand Computing Environment - A system for allocating resources which are anticipated to be available in an on-demand computing at some time in the future, wherein a producer trending agent (PTA) lists resources according to a trend prediction of resource availability in the past, a consumer trending agent (CTA) places bids for listed resources according to previous resource usage trends, and an arbitration system (REAS) matches the bids with the listings to determine if a match exists. If so, a binding contract for consumption of the matched listed resources is established. The PTA also produce tier-based dynamic incentive (TDI) schema which divides potential bidders into tiers, and offers additional resource incentives according to the tiers. Both PTA and CTA dynamically update their available/usage trends, listings and bids, over time. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255954 | E-coupon service for location-aware mobile commerce which determines whether to supply requested e-coupons based on the number of requests received in a processing cycle, and a threshold number of requests required to make expected returns from redeemed coupons greater than advertising fees - A conditional e-coupon distribution method distributes e-coupons predefined by sellers to mobile users only if the number of mobile users requesting such e-coupons equals or exceeds a threshold. The method receives a request to browse e-coupons from a mobile user. The method receives the location of the mobile user and determines a plurality of sellers local to the mobile electronic device and a plurality of corresponding e-coupons available from the local sellers. The method receives a request for a particular e-coupon from a seller and authorizes the provision of said e-coupon to the mobile user. At the end of a processing cycle, the mobile user receives the requested e-coupon if all conditions, such as a period of time and threshold, have been met. A computer-usable medium having computer-readable program code embodied therein allows for storage of the method. | 10-16-2008 |
20080262907 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING A BRAND UNIVERSE FOR USER INFORMATION, BRAND RELATED MARKETING AND USER INTERACTIVITY - Computer implemented methods and systems for generating a brand site for an internet website is provided. The method includes defining the internet website to include a plurality of modules, and each of the plurality of modules for the internet website being directed toward a brand. Further included, is identifying one or more instance sites where content components related to the brand are presented and linking the content components, from the identified one or more instance sites, to selected ones of the plurality of modules. The method further includes presenting the plurality of modules on the internet website to promote the brand, and the presenting is configured to integrate the content components from the instance sites into the internet website, such that the presenting further enables user interactivity with the plurality of modules and the user interactivity feeds data regarding one or more of module popularity, usage or revenue generating potential. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262908 | METHODS FOR PROMOTING BRAND-CENTRIC ADVERTISING AND MANAGING THE SAME - Dynamic internet user interfacing methods and computer programs for enabling advertising management of advertising content related to a brand on an internet site are provided. A method includes identifying a brand to be a focus of the internet site and identifying a plurality of websites having content parts that relate to the brand. The method defines links to the content parts and assembles the internet site using the content parts to define a brand site. The method includes monitoring user interactivity with the brand site to generate content metrics and displaying a website management interface for enabling posting of advertising and analyzing of the content metrics regarding postings of the advertising. The website management interface further displays advertising options for the posting of advertising, and the advertising options enable advertisers to target promote goods or services in selected ones or all of the plurality of websites and the brand site. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262909 | INTELLIGENT INFORMATION DISPLAY - Computer-readable media, systems, and methods for intelligent information display are described. In embodiments, a display environment is monitored for one or more audience data and, upon receiving the one or more audience data, display information is processed in accordance with the one or more audience data and the processed display information is presented. In various embodiments, the audience data includes user gestures that indicate a communication with the intelligent information display, such as gestures indicating a mouse motion or a mouse click. In various other embodiments, the audience data includes demographic indicia such as the typical gender and/or typical age of an audience in a display environment. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262910 | Methods and Systems to Connect People via Virtual Reality for Real Time Communications - Methods and systems for connecting people for real time communications via a virtual reality environment. One embodiment includes: a virtual reality server to host a virtual reality world and to present, to a customer in the virtual reality world, an advertisement including a reference assigned to the advertisement; a session border controller to interface with a packet switched network; and one or more telecommunication servers coupled to the session border controller to connect the customer to an advertiser of the advertisement for real time communications in response to a request received via the reference embedded in the advertisement and presented to the customer in the virtual reality world. In one embodiment, the advertiser is charged an advertisement fee based on connecting the customer and the advertiser for real time communications via the advertisement presented in the virtual reality world. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262911 | Methods and Systems to Search in Virtual Reality for Real Time Communications - Methods and systems to obtain information in a virtual reality environment for real time communication connections. One embodiment includes: a virtual reality server to host a virtual reality world and an avatar representing a participant of the virtual reality world, the virtual reality world including a virtual object to receive a message from an avatar; a controller to determine a context of the message and select an advertisement based on the context for presentation via the virtual object, the presented advertisement including an embedded reference to be used to request for a connection for real time communications; a session border controller to interface with a packet switched network; and one or more telecommunication servers coupled to the session border controller to connect the avatar to an advertiser of the advertisement for real time communications in response to a user of the avatar selecting the reference. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262912 | Media Advertising - Potential content item slots (e.g., ad slots) in a media (e.g., video, audio, or both) are identified, and each content item slot is associated with a weight that indicates a degree of potential disruption to a flow of the media when a content item (e.g., ad) is inserted in the content item slot. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262913 | OPTIMIZING ELECTRONIC DISPLAY OF ADVERTISING CONTENT - In one embodiment, a selection process executing in an optimizing engine is invoked as users are presented with web pages that include ad content. The selection process provides an initial population of sets of characteristics that specify an initial generation of layouts of ads for the pages. The characteristics can include anything that affects an ads appearance on the display. For example, ad type, position within a web page, color, size, text font, animation, etc. can be specified. Statistics are obtained as to each ad or page layout's performance or impact on the user, such as revenue obtained from ads in the layout, how many user's click an ad, how long users view an ad, etc. Once a large enough sample of user impacts is obtained a second population of sets of characteristics is created to improve the overall performance of the initial population. In a preferred embodiment, genetic computational procedures are used to create each population and to create new characteristic sets and remove underperforming sets. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262914 | Ad Serving System, Apparatus and Methologies Used Therein - An ad serving system and methodology automatically monitors Publisher web content that can potentially be displayed alongside advertising content of one or more Advertiser Users. A web-accessible platform interacts with Advertiser Users to create and manage Ads, and cooperates with the content monitoring means to allow Advertiser Users to review the web content items that can potentially be displayed alongside the Ads and specify Ad Filter data corresponding to a particular Ad and one or more web content items. The Ad Filter data controls whether the particular Ad is excluded from accompanying the corresponding one or more web content items. The web-accessible platform also includes an interface between one or more Ad Server Engines and one or more data repositories storing the information generated by the platform. The interface retrieves relevant information from these repositories as part of the ad serving process carried out by the Ad Server Engine(s). The Ad Server Engine identifies Ad Filter data corresponding to requested web content and utilizes such Ad Filter data to exclude certain ads from an ad rotation as dictated by the corresponding Ad Filter data. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262915 | Loyalty rewards management and processing system and method - A system and method for processing a transaction in connection with a loyalty rewards program comprising identifying at least one individual associated with said transaction, communicating associated information to a processing component that includes rules and logic associated with said loyalty rewards program, determining an eligible amount associated with said transaction for at least one promotion, determining at least one reward based on said eligible amount and said at least one promotion, and storing detailed, comprehensive, line item information associated with the transaction. Said system and method may further comprise determining an owed amount associated with at least one loyalty provider based on said rules and logic and charging said at least one loyalty provider for said owed amount. Such a system will facilitate marketing strategies, processing of returns, and management of cross-promotional arrangements, and will enable merchants to develop, implement, and manage complex loyalty rewards programs. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262916 | System and method of providing content to users - A system for providing content to consumers includes a public display; a database configured to store the content; and a central processing element configured to concurrently receive parallel user input from a plurality of users and present content from the database on the public display relevant to each user's input. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262917 | Internet advertising impression-based auction exchange system - The invention is a neutral, real-timed impression-based, auction internet advertising exchange. On the novel exchange, advertisers and web site publishers interact through a broker who communicates directly with the Exchange. Advertisers specify bids to their brokers who enter them in the Exchange. Publishers may specify minimums or a form of payment to their Brokers who enter them into the Exchange. When a site from a publisher that is brokered on the Exchange is accessed by a user, a real time auction is held on the Exchange. During the auction, which preferably happens within 100 msec, information about the site and the user is communicated to the brokers. The brokers consult the strategies for their advertisers to determine a bid, based on the information from the Exchange, to place ads on the site. (This makes it seem like the brokers target and bid during the exchange rather than in advance.) The highest bid, or bids for multiple ad spots on a site, results in corresponding ads placed on the site. The exchange supports flexible payment bases as well as providing significant feedback to brokers, allowing for much more effective internet advertising campaigns. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262918 | Exercise recommendation engine and internet business model - The present invention discloses a system and method for accepting personal exercise data on selected muscle or muscle groups and making numerical, statistical and comparative analysis on the data to derive recommendations on progress, future exercise or current physical regimen modification. The recommendations to the user may be accompanied by contacts to vendors of products and services which may aid in implementation of or enable some of the recommendations. The vendor contacts register and establish their recommendation remedies with the model system which accepts the personal data and links the users and clients together at recommendation time. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262919 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FLEXIBLE PAYMENT TERMS - A method is disclosed for offering transaction account consumers with payment term options to pay a minimum amount due early, defer payment into the following payment cycle, and pay a standard amount when due. When generating a periodic billing statement, the invention determines a consumer's eligibility to elect early payment, deferred payment, and regular payment. When a consumer is eligible for early payment, a received payment is compared to a discount rate tier, then a discount amount is calculated and credited to the consumer's account. When the consumer is eligible for deferred payment, the system calculates a new current minimum payment due by multiplying the current non-deferred balance by a predetermined percentage amount and adding the result to the deferred balance. When the consumer is not eligible for deferred payment, the system calculates a new current minimum due by summing the current non-deferred balance with the deferred balance. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262920 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR TRACKING AND ATTRIBUTING ACTIVITIES OF GUEST USERS - Systems, methods, and techniques of tracking guest activities are provided. Guests can perform transactions with vendors, for example on behalf of registered participants, which are tracked without needing to register or provide financial or other information specific to the guest to the tracking facilities. Program administrators provide links to registered participants containing a token that identifies the registered participant. These links are then distributed by the registered participants to their designated guests and used for transacting business. Each guest transaction can be anonymously associated back to the proper registered participant through the tokenized link, thereby permitting rewards to be paid to the identified participant based upon associated guest transactions. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and it is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262921 | Bundled Mortgage Package - A bundled mortgage package which includes several different features into a mortgage package, so that the process of actually obtaining a mortgage from a lender can be easier because the borrower's worries of the fees, charges, and other costs can be reduced or altogether eliminated since such fees charges and other costs may be combined, waived or otherwise resolved for the borrower is described. The lender may waive all lender fees, pay all 3 | 10-23-2008 |
20080262922 | CONTENTS, TEASER ADVERTISEMENT GENERATING METHOD, AND CONTENT PROVIDING METHOD - The present invention relates to digital rights management (DRM) contents having a teaser section, a method for generating a teaser advertisement and a method for providing content. Data in the teaser section of a DRM content can be played without a license. A teaser advertisement can be easily created for a DRM content using the teaser section. The present invention can be applied to advertisement for and distribution of both DRM-protected contents and unprotected contents. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262923 | Methods and Systems for Accessing Information Related to an Order of a Commodity - Methods of allowing a customer to access information related to an order of a commodity include gathering inspection information from a commodity lot, collecting grower, field, and packing information associated with the commodity lot, recording purchase orders associated with the commodity lot, assigning a trace code to each of the purchase orders, entering the inspection information; the grower, field, and packing information; the purchase orders; and the trace codes into a database maintained through online accounts. Many members of a supply chain are entitled to accounts that are linked, each account being given limited access to other accounts, thereby allowing the customer to access the inspection information, and the grower, field, and packing information, by entering one of the trace codes into the web-based application. According to one exemplary embodiment, each of the purchase orders associated with the commodity lot is linked within the web-based application. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262924 | Method and system to promote actions such as environmental and charitable actions - The present method and system allows promoting a first action by a first entity, such as a transactional action. The transactional action occurs between the first entity and a second entity, which both can be for example in the form of an individual, a group of person, a company or a charitable society, whereby the first entity for example buys, borrows or acquires a products or service from the entity. In response to this transaction, the second entity agrees to perform a second action, which can take many forms such as an environmental action, a third action towards a third entity, etc. This second action is personalized by associating it to any party including at least one of the first and second entities and a third party. The second action is, for example, in the form of the offsetting of the pollution created by the first party following and related to the transactional action with the second party. The present method and system provides an incentive for the first entity to perform the transactional action. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262925 | Communication system and method for narrowcasting - A system includes an offer datastores including one or more offers from one or more merchants, a registered card module to register one or more payment cards to be used for a purchase transaction, a transaction matching module to identify the one or more merchants from a collection of purchase transaction data and to match the purchase transaction of the identified one or more merchants with one or more offers in the offer datastore from the identified one or more merchants, and a rewards module to determine an incentive to be applied to the one or more payment cards based on any offer associated with the matched merchant and generate a qualified transaction data to be transmitted to an issuer of the one or more payment cards. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262926 | Business system and method to increase revenues in baseball and other sports - A business method of increasing fan attendance and sporting event revenues, the method comprising capturing in digital or analogue form a fan notable act, awarding points for the fan notable acts based upon specified factors, acknowledging the fan notable act with team or association recognition and/or prize(s), keeping statistics on the fan notable acts, and displaying and/or acknowledging the fan notable acts and/or statistics | 10-23-2008 |
20080262927 | SYSTEM, METHOD, AND PROGRAM FOR SELECTING ADVERTISEMENTS - A system, a method, and a program for selecting advertisements for displaying advertisements associated with content when the content is sent via communication means such as the Internet. Providing suppression of the appearance of an advertisement on the internet when one role label, “Victimizer”, “Victim” or “Beneficiary” is systematically assigned to a corresponding thing referred to in the article: a company, a person, or a product. The advertisement selection mechanism controls suppression of the appearance of advertisements associated with such role labels and can calculate the affinity or linkage between an article and the advertisement as a value. The suppression of the advertisement occurs by subtracting the value of the affinity. The degree of suppression by role labels is preferentially decreased over time. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262928 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTION AND PERSONALIZATION OF E-COUPONS - A method and system for distributing and personalizing E-Coupons include sending a generic E-Coupon identifier to a mobile device and requesting a redeemable personalized E-Coupon based on the generic E-Coupon identifier. User location, time, purchase history and preference may be provided and used to personalize the E-Coupon. The personalized E-Coupon may then be distributed to the mobile device. The generic E-Coupon identifier may be distributed through different media, such as audio, video, multimedia or wireless data networks. For high security devices, the personalized E-Coupon may be sent digitally signed. For low security devices, the E-Coupon Manager may store the personalized E-Coupon and send to the mobile device a unique E-Coupon ID. The distributed personalized E-Coupons may be used to receive discounts at a merchant physical location or Internet site. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262929 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING WIRELESS ADVERTISING TO MOBILE DEVICE USERS - A system may provide advertising content to mobile device users. The system may include a virtual advertisement network adapted to accommodate one or more advertisers operating within the virtual advertisement network as well as a wireless communications network adapted to accommodate one or more mobile device users operating within the wireless communications network. A web-based content management server may be adapted to transmit advertisements and other informational content on-demand to one or more mobile device users who have opted into the system and who may, in some cases, be within the aforementioned wireless communications network. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262930 | Advertising on Labels of Medicine Containers - The present invention is directed to an advertisement positioned on a pharmaceutical container that does not substantially interfere with the medical information positioned on the pharmaceutical container. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262931 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PRESENTING ADVERTISING CONTENT BASED ON PUBLISHER-SELECTED LABELS - Systems and methods allowing publishers to define relationships between their own content items (e.g., World Wide Web pages) and content items created or maintained by other publishers. Publishers insert referral labels into their content items to indicate a referral relationship between or among publishers. In one embodiment, advertisements to be displayed while the user is viewing a content item are selected based at least in part on matching a referral label included in the target content item to a referral label in the advertisement. The referral label can also be used to manage referral-based revenue sharing among publishers. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262932 | Resturant and bar consumer display - A restaurant and bar consumer display that consists of an active matrix OLED display, memory, microprocessor board, tilt sensor, USB port, battery, enclosed in a case that may be a coaster and attachable to a container, such as a glass or jar or implemented as a standup placard. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262933 | Method And System For Modifying And Transmitting Data Between A portable Computer And A Network - A web agent system automatically performs tasks for a computer user based upon the actions of the user. The web agent system includes a local assistant program stored on a user computer which performs various functions based upon rules and data. The local assistant program and rules are downloaded from a first local assistant server maintained by an application service provider. The data used with the rules by the local assistant program is downloaded from a second local assistant server maintained by an assisted merchant. The web agent monitors the user's actions and performs tasks related to the detected actions based upon the rules and data. The web agent also automatically updates the rules and data. | 10-23-2008 |
20080270228 | SYSTEM FOR DISPLAYING ADVERTISEMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH SEARCH RESULTS - A system and method are disclosed for displaying information associated with a search result. The information may be an advertisement that is displayed when an associated search result is displayed as a result of a search query. For example, an advertiser may identify at least one search result to be associated with its advertisement, such that the advertisement is displayed on a search result page when the identified search result is one of the search results on the page. | 10-30-2008 |
20080270229 | Behavioral Advertisement Targeting And Creation Of Ad-Hoc Microcommunities Through User Authentication - Implementations of behavioral advertisement targeting and creation of ad-hoc microcommunities through user authentication are described. In one implementation, a user is allowed to submit authentication information on a webpage associated with a third party website. For example, a user can identify himself by entering a username and password to an email account unaffiliated with the third party website. The authentication information can then be used to access a personal account associated with the user. For example, behavioral data associated with the user can be gathered from the personal account and be used to present advertisements on the webpage targeting a specific behavioral profile of the user. Alternately, the user can be presented with options to interact with information in the personal account. For example, the user may be given the opportunity to invite members of a contacts list in the personal account to visit the webpage. | 10-30-2008 |
20080270230 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPROVING CUSTOMER WAIT TIME, CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND MARKETING EFFICIENCY IN THE RESTAURANT, RETAIL, TRAVEL, AND ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRIES - A system and method including an Internet preordering system accessible online or onsite at a free-standing kiosk located in or near client properties in which customers may create profiles for the requested services and provide such information to the service provider in advance of the customer's arrival for the requested services. When the customer arrives, the customer identifies himself/herself and the preorder is accessed, verified and/or modified. The preorder is then forwarded to the service provider and the delivery of the service is optimally timed to the readiness of the customer. The customer's profile and preorder information are maintained in a database and used for in-house precision marketing campaigns and cross-promotional opportunities. For example, in a restaurant embodiment, a registered customer is given access to menus and may create menu preferences for a participating restaurant. The registered customer may also make a reservation at a participating restaurant for a party of any size in advance (for example, up to 24 hours) of the reservation time. The food and/or drink preorder for each guest in the party may be completed in advance and maintained on the server, with the reservation time, for access when the party arrives at the designated reservation time. After a verification process, the customer may retrieve the party's preorder, make any desired changes, and then verify the preorder at the kiosk. Once the preorder is verified, the customer may finalize the preorder and proceed to the hostess kiosk where the preorder is accessed by the restaurant staff. Either when the party is seated or at an appropriate time prior to seating (based on a comparison of the seating wait queue to the kitchen wait queue), the preorder is forwarded for preparation so that the ordered food and/or drink arrives shortly after the customer's party is seated. | 10-30-2008 |
20080270231 | Methods And Systems For Tracking Customer Response To A Coupon - Methods, systems and computer readable medium storing computer executable programs for tracking customer response to a coupon are disclosed. A coupon is issued. A first determination is made regarding whether the coupon has been selected for viewing by a customer. A first state is assigned to the coupon based on the first determination. A second determination is made regarding whether the coupon has been redeemed by the customer. A second state is assigned to the coupon based on the second determination. | 10-30-2008 |
20080270232 | Method and system for conveying a message - Embodiments of the present invention recite a method and system for conveying a message. In one embodiment in accordance with the present invention, access to an intermodal shipping container is obtained. A message to be conveyed upon the intermodal shipping container is then obtained. The intermodal shipping container is then used to convey the message. | 10-30-2008 |
20080270233 | Tracking offline user activity and computing rate information for offline publishers - Architecture that leverages enabling technologies for tracking offline activity of a user, and rating performance of offline/online publishers of content and/or advertisements. Knowledge about user offline interests can be accumulated and used to target the user with smart advertisements when offline or online. Moreover, the performance of publishers of the offline content computed by merchants who contract with publishers to provide the best exposure. In support thereof, rate information in the form of response rate and conversion rate can be computed and analyzed for each offline publisher. A publisher referral ID for a publisher is inserted into detectable indicia associated with offline media such as print media, audio media, video media, etc. When a user interacts with the offline content using a cell phone, the captured information is forwarded to an online advertisement component framework for responding to the user interaction (e.g., a purchase transaction or request for further information). | 10-30-2008 |
20080270234 | Rewarding influencers - Embodiments include a system, a device an apparatus, a method, and a computer program product. An embodiment provides an influence evaluation method. The method includes receiving data indicative of a person accessing at least one of a first network-available electronic content having a first-electronic-content portion or a second network-available electronic content having a second-electronic-content portion. The method also includes receiving data indicative of an involvement between the person and a third party. The method further includes facilitating delivered of a benefit to an owner of the first-electronic content or an owner of the second electronic content in response to an assessed influence bad the first-electronic-content portion and/or the second-electronic-content portion on the involvement between the person and the third-party. | 10-30-2008 |
20080270235 | SYSTEM AND ITS METHOD FOR PROVIDING REAL TIME ADVERTISEMENTS BASED ON LOCATION UNDER NAVIGATION'S OPERATION - A system for providing advertisements receives a location-based advertisement from an advertiser, transmits the advertisement to at least one navigation terminal in a wire or wireless network environment, and in the case that a user's location on a map is in an advertisement area registered by the advertiser, informs the user of the advertisement corresponding to the advertisement area in real time. The system includes an advertisement providing server for receiving application of an advertisement from the advertiser, storing the advertisement therein and transmitting the advertisement to at least one navigation terminal; and a navigation terminal for receiving the advertisement from the advertisement providing server, storing the advertisement therein, comparing a user's current location displayed on a map screen with an advertisement area, and in the case that the user's location is in the advertisement area, informing the user of the corresponding advertisement. | 10-30-2008 |
20080270236 | Systems and methods for digital content promotion - Exemplary systems and methods are provided for digital content promotion. Such methods may include storing an item of digital content received from a rightsholder, receiving data from the rightsholder about the item of digital content, and offering the item of digital content to a second party, such as a blogger or podcaster. A request is received from the second party for the item of digital content and the item of digital content is provided to the second party. Further methods may include reporting to the rightsholder the request received from the second party and the providing of the item of digital content to the second party. Additionally, a purchase link may be provided to the second party for purchase of a related item of digital content. Exemplary systems may include a digital content storage component configured to store an item of digital content received from a rightsholder, a rightsholder data component configured to receive data from the rightsholder about the item of digital content, and a presentation engine which is configured to offer the item of digital content to a second party. A transmission module coupled to the presentation engine receives a request from the second party for the item of digital content and provides the item of digital content to the second party. Further systems may include a reporting module configured to report to the rightsholder the request received from the second party. | 10-30-2008 |
20080270237 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MODIFYING INTERNET TRAFFIC AND CONTROLLING SEARCH RESPONSES - A system, method and program product for modifying data packets being communicated between a client and a Web application to enhance the Web experience of a user. A system is disclosed for enhancing searches being performed by a search engine application, and monitoring data packets passing through a network node to identify a data packet containing an original search query; modifying the data packet containing the original search query to create a modified search query; and forwarding the modified search query to the search engine application in place of the original search query. | 10-30-2008 |
20080270238 | Measuring a location based advertising campaign - A method of measuring a location based advertising campaign is disclosed. The location based advertising campaign is determined to have a direct response component. A response address associated with the direct response component is received. The location based advertising campaign with the direct response component is distributed to a location based advertising network. The location based advertising campaign is measured based on the response address's action statistics. | 10-30-2008 |
20080270239 | METHOD FOR AN ENTERPRISE HEALTH CARE INCENTIVE PROGRAM - A method for an enterprise healthcare incentive program may include providing a training facility or health club having one or more exercise facilities and that may issue to a enterprise entity one or more memberships that permit use of the club's facilities. The enterprise entity may then distribute the memberships to one or more of its employees. The enterprise entity may also establish minimum standards for use of the membership by its agents. The club may then record use of the membership and club facilities by the agent over one or more predetermined time periods and then provide a report documenting such use to the enterprise entity. Where an agent has used the club facilities, and met or exceed the minimum standards set by the enterprise entity, the agent may be rewarded with a monetary or non-monetary benefit. | 10-30-2008 |
20080270240 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF MANAGING TASKS ASSIGNED TO AN INDIVIDUAL - In embodiments of the present invention, a method for managing tasks comprises assigning a task to an individual, associating the task with a points value, receiving an indication that a task is completed, grading the completed task, and awarding points for a completed task to an individual. In other embodiments of the present invention, a method of rewarding individuals for completing assigned tasks may comprise providing a collecting, matching, and trading game facility, wherein the facility provides collectables and collectable packs for collecting, matching, and trading as a reward for having reached a level of task completion; and allowing the individual access to the collecting, matching, and trading game facility, wherein access is based on at least one of permission, a task completed, a number of tasks completed, and a value associated with task completion. | 10-30-2008 |
20080270241 | System And Method For Efficient Allocation Of Rebates - A method for efficient allocation of rebates comprising the steps of: providing a server system capable of electronic communication with a user in control of a client system; enabling the user to selectively apportion a rebate in any proportion among those on the list consisting of the user, charities on a pre-established charity list, and other charities; and initiating a funds disbursement in accordance with the apportionment. | 10-30-2008 |
20080270242 | Method and arrangement for providing content to multimedia devices - Arrangement and method for providing content to multimedia devices, in particular mobile multimedia devices, wherein a content portal provides content to the devices in a form requiring a rights object to enable use thereof, a rights object portal provides rights objects to the devices and advertisements which are associated with the rights objects are also provided. Upon receipt of the rights object with an associated advertisement, the user is exposed to the advertisement in conjunction with use of the content. | 10-30-2008 |
20080270243 | DISCOUNT AND/OR LOYALTY REWARD SYSTEM AND RETAIL APPARATUS THEREFOR - Discount and/or loyalty reward system is arranged to provided discounts to users on the basis of user ids communicated from a user agent to a point of sale terminal. The point of sale terminal requests a list of discounts applicable to the received user id from a discount administration system. The discounts in the returned list are then applied where appropriate to the user's purchases. | 10-30-2008 |
20080275768 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING A COUPON AT AN AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINE - The present disclosure provides methods and apparatus for providing a coupon at an automated teller machine. In general, a user of the disclosed system performs a financial transaction at an automated teller machine (ATM). In addition, the ATM displays and prints one or more coupons for the user. Preferably, the coupon(s) are selected from a database of coupons based on the geographic location of the ATM (e.g., a nearby restaurant). Preferably, the coupon includes directions to the associated store and/or directions within the associated store. For example, a map with an overlaid route and/or text-based directions from the ATM to the store may be printed on the coupon. In addition to geography, coupon selection may be based on one or more other variables such as the ATM transaction type, the ATM transaction amount, the person's age, the person's sex, the person's previous purchases, etc. Coupon providers may be charged in a variety of different ways. For example, coupon providers may be charged for each time a coupon is displayed, each time a coupon is printed, and/or each time a coupon is redeemed. | 11-06-2008 |
20080275769 | NETWORK-BASED INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT CENTER - A network system for providing an entertainment center in a virtual community includes a computer storage configured to store information about a user, a server configured to support a web user interface on a remote computer device. The web user interface includes an entertainment center including a screen configured to display an image, and one or more seats to be seated by one or more avatars while they watch the image on the screen and a mechanism adapted to control the display of the image on the screen. At least one of the one or more avatars is associated with the user. | 11-06-2008 |
20080275770 | Publisher advertisement return on investment optimization - An advertising network can provide mechanisms to publishers with which the publishers can influence the relevance of the advertisements provided by the advertising network for display with the publisher's web sites. Such mechanisms include bid boosts, discounts and rank boosts, each of which, either directly or indirectly, can increase or decrease the likelihood that an advertising network will provide a advertisement, targeted by these mechanisms, to the publisher's web pages. Each of these mechanisms also enable the publisher to sacrifice ad-generated revenue for the sake of more relevant advertisements. The advertising network can also provide an interface through which a publisher can access these mechanisms. Such an interface can comprise a predictive analysis based on information gathered from the publisher's web sites, that can enable the publisher to visualize the effect of these mechanisms on factors such as ad-generated revenue and visitor return rates. | 11-06-2008 |
20080275771 | Merchant transaction based advertising - Methods and systems are disclosed for producing advertisements on a transaction record for a transaction between a consumer and a merchant involving the use of a portable consumer device such as a credit or debit card. Advertisers may specify criteria so that the advertisements are specifically targeted. | 11-06-2008 |
20080275772 | System and method of facilitating targeted content delivery - A method of facilitating targeted content delivery is disclosed and includes receiving a request from a third-party to deliver targeted content to a plurality of customers of a service provider, where the request includes a plurality of customer profile parameters. The method also includes aggregating profile data associated with at least some of the plurality of customers of the service provider to produce collective customer profile information corresponding to the request. The aggregated profile data matches at least some of the customer profile parameters. The method also includes communicating service terms to the third-party, wherein the service terms are determined for the request based at least partially on a type of the targeted content. Further, the method includes receiving the targeted content from the third-party after the service provider receives data indicating acceptance of the service terms. | 11-06-2008 |
20080275773 | Gift registry system - A gift registry system facilitates the availability of a convenient online accessed gift registry in which a plurality of gift givers make money gifts directly to an accumulating gift registry. The gift registry is maintained by a gift registry operator for the benefit of a registry owner. The gift registry operator accumulates funds given and provides accounting and tabulation of gifts given by each gift giver. Additionally, the gift registry operator provides interactive online service to be accessed by givers and banking services sufficient to accumulate and transfer funds. Finally, a plurality of merchants, vendors and service providers interact with the gift registry operator to offer incentives to the gift registry owner to interact with the subscribing merchants, vendors and service providers in spending the accumulated gift funds. | 11-06-2008 |
20080275774 | Web based auto bill analysis method - Method for automatically analyzing customer's bill, such as cell phone bill, received in electronic format for errors and utilization against company's published plan by third-party on third-party's website for customer. The company's published plan is previously stored on third-party's website. Third-party advises customer of results, in real-time, and provides blind feedback to billing company by type error and utilization. Results and feedback are specific to each customer and billing company, and also provides security for both. Promotional materials are provided to customer for revenue to third-party. | 11-06-2008 |
20080275775 | System and method for using sampling for scheduling advertisements in an online auction - An improved system and method is provided for using sampling for scheduling advertisements in an online auction. A multi-armed bandit engine may be provided for learning the valuation of advertisements through sampling in an online advertising auction. To do so, the multi-armed bandit may schedule advertisements for web page placements in an online advertising auction to optimize payments for maximizing the welfare of the advertisers. An initial list of advertisements may be created that is ordered by expected payment, and an optimal subset of advertisements may be determined from the initial list of advertisements for web page placements by iterative sampling. A web page placement may then be determined and allocated for each advertisement in the optimal subset in order to maximize revenue. And a charge may be calculated for each advertisement allocated the web page placement and sampled in the online advertising auction. | 11-06-2008 |
20080275776 | PROVISION OF WIRELESS OFFERS TO CE DEVICE USING NON-TELEPHONY WIRELESS TRANSMISSION - A method for distributing geographically and socioeconomically targeted media, advertising, and electronic coupons via non-telephony wireless methods to portable consumer electronic and communication devices, based upon the cross-registration meta data of the manufacturer product warranty information to a local digital signage network. | 11-06-2008 |
20080275777 | System and method for brokering the sale of internet advertisement inventory as discrete traffic blocks of segmented internet traffic - An auction management system brokers, between a seller and a buyer, a discrete traffic block of an ad placement. The auction management system comprises a traffic block definition tool providing workflows for obtaining traffic block parameters defining the discrete traffic block, the traffic block parameters comprising: i) an identification of the ad placement; ii) a volume parameter defining the volume of traffic included in the discrete traffic block; iii) at least one duration parameter defining an active time period during which the volume of traffic included in the discrete traffic block will be provided; and iv) an auction parameter defining an expiration time before which buyers submit offers to purchase the discrete traffic block. A listing search tool provides web pages displaying a listing of a plurality of listed discrete traffic blocks. Each listed discrete traffic block comprises a discrete traffic block with an expiration time that has not yet passed. The listing includes, for each listed discrete traffic block, the traffic block parameters associated therewith. An auction management tool provides for: i) obtaining a buyer compensation parameter from each of a plurality of buyers bidding for purchase of the discrete traffic block; and ii) designating the buyer that that provided a compensation parameter meeting selection criteria as the winning buyer. An order management system directs placement of buyer advertisement content designated by the winning bidder within the ad placement for the volume of traffic defined by the volume parameter and during the time period defined by the at least one duration parameter. | 11-06-2008 |
20080275778 | Method of Community Service and Disaster Relief - The present invention relates to a method of community service including the steps of providing a site placement for a storage structure and allowing a relief organization to stage disaster relief supplies in that storage structure in anticipation of a possible disaster. | 11-06-2008 |
20080275779 | MOBILE PAYMENT SERVICES - A Java2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE) enabled server executing Java software provides a financial transaction Web service to a client each of which communicates wirelessly with the J2EE enabled server and executes Java software to conduct financial transactions between a merchant and a consumer upon an account issued by an issuer to the consumer. Each financial transaction is submitted by the merchant to an acquirer for processing by a transaction handler/payment processor, and is submitted by the transaction handler/payment processor to the issuer to obtain a payment amount for the financial transaction from the account, and wherein the issuer forwards the payment amount of the financial transaction to the transaction handler/payment processor who forwards the payment amount of the financial transaction to the acquirer to pay the merchant for the financial transaction. | 11-06-2008 |
20080275780 | Sales Aid For Hot Tubs and Method of Selling - A sales aid for selling hot tubs comprising a full-size pattern of a selected hot tub model which is imaged on a flexible, lightweight carrier sheet or fabric such as a vinyl poly blend which is durable and easily transportable. The full-size pattern is preferably a color photographic image of the actual hot tub model being offered for sale. A hot tub dealer or exhibitor may have one or more patterns of the invention for each of the desired hot tub models it wishes to market, without the need to have the actual hot tubs occupying valuable floor space in the store. When a prospective purchaser wants to ensure a proper site fit of the hot tub on his or her premises, the pattern is loaned to the prospective purchaser with the understanding that it will be returned to the store. This arrangement causes the prospective purchaser to return to the store, at which time the sale is hopefully made, in accordance with the sales aid method of the invention. | 11-06-2008 |
20080275781 | INTERACTIVE ADVERTISING PLATFORM FOR AFTERMARKET AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY - Systems and methods for associating aftermarket parts with information concerning a vehicle are described. One embodiment includes obtaining information concerning a vehicle year, make, and model, providing a directory of aftermarket parts compatible with the obtained vehicle year, make, and model, selecting at least one aftermarket part from the directory, storing a vehicle profile including the selected aftermarket part, associating an advertisement with the selected aftermarket part, receiving an instruction to display the stored profile, retrieving the stored profile and the associated advertisement, displaying the stored profile and the associated advertisement, and recording information concerning the display of the associated advertisement. | 11-06-2008 |
20080275782 | Centralized Affiliated Marketplace Individuals and Associated Methods - A centralized marketplace for efficient and streamlined third party listings, including advertisements, to be placed with individuals. Individuals may set terms and fee schedules for accepting listings from advertisers. An automated backend coordinates the listing transactions, including the collection of fees, timings of display of listings, targeting of individuals with desired demographic data, etc., as well as providing a platform to organize networks of individuals. Each individual may facilitate and receive listings from affiliates for a fee or free on devices capable of receiving listings, such as cell phones, personal computers and digital assistants, etc. | 11-06-2008 |
20080275783 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF INSPECTING ADVERTISEMENT THROUGH KEYWORD COMPARISON - A method and system of inspecting advertising contents of a keyword advertisement is provided. The method includes: crawling a Universal Resource Locator (URL) registered by an advertiser and extracting a URL keyword related to an advertisement site of the advertiser; extracting a target keyword from a plurality of advertisement information being registered in relation to the URL; and determining further inspection-required advertisement information through keyword comparison between the extracted URL keyword and the target keyword, the further inspection-required advertisement information having low relevance to the advertisement site. | 11-06-2008 |
20080275784 | PROCESSES FOR AUTOMATED DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION OF CONTENT AND PRODUCTS THEREBY - The invention provides a system and method for an automated platform that allows for the distribution of digital content (including pictures, audio, video, podcasts, RSS feeds and many others) by means of a digital media player created within branded frames or skins or digital interactive pictures, both types of digital content which allow for enhanced viewing of the digital content and provide integrated and, distributable branding. Revenue can be generated by one of the owner of the digital content, the owner of the digital medium hosting the content and the provider of the automated mechanism. | 11-06-2008 |
20080275785 | Systems and Methods to Provide advertisements for Real Time Communications - Systems and methods to provide advertisements based on the content of documents in which the advertisements are presented. One embodiment includes: a web server to receive a request for an advertisement in reference to a document provided to a user by a content provider; a backend server to identify the advertisement based on relevancy of the advertisement to the content of the document and to associate a communication reference with the advertisement and the content provider, the web server to provide the advertisement and the reference for inclusion in the document; and a telecommunication server coupled to a session border controller and the backend server to receive a connection request via the reference, to determine contact information of the advertiser and identify the content provider based on the reference, and to establish the connection between the user and the advertiser using the determined contact information. | 11-06-2008 |
20080275786 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INCREASING PURCHASE CONVERSION RATES - A system and method is provided for increasing purchase conversion rates for prospective online buyers of products and services by offering an incentive to encourage a quicker decision to complete the purchase. In those cases when a trial is offered, the present invention incentivizes the prospective buyer to skip the trial and proceed immediately to purchase the product or service being offered. The system includes a timer that is visible to the customer and counts the elapsed time since the offer was made and an offer statement that describes the incentive being offered in order to proceed with the purchase. The timer in turn counts down a time until the incentive offer expires. There may further be a hidden prize offered by the seller, to be won by the potential purchaser if they make the decision to buy at a specific time during the offer period. | 11-06-2008 |
20080275787 | DATA COLLECTION AND DISSEMINATION SYSTEM WITH TERMINAL HAVING LITERATURE DISTRIBUTION - Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system for collecting and disseminating customer data and for distributing real estate marketing literature. The system includes a customer terminal, which is in communication with a data center, which, in turn, is in communication with a business terminal. The customer terminal includes a device for inputting customer data and a device for distributing relevant marketing literature. The customer data is sent to the data center, where it is stored for subsequent retrieval by a sales person using the business terminal. | 11-06-2008 |
20080281683 | Business Marketing Process - A marketing method for a business is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of selecting at least one other business which may involve analysis of certain characteristics of the workforce of that business. The method further involves negotiating an agreement with the other business to locate within the premises of that other business a support member The support member includes printed indicia relating to goods and/or services of the first business. The support member also has a receptacle for business cards of a representative of the first method. The method further involves locating the support member in the premises of the other business and replacing promotional brochure and/or replenishing business at spaced time intervals. The support member may be located in a staff room, lunch room, waiting room or a restroom. The method preferably involves numerous re-visits to the other business and presentations to the staff and/or clients of the other business. The method may involve monitoring the results from the staff and/or clients of the other business and reporting them to the owner of the other business. Preferably, the method involves carrying out the above steps in a plurality of businesses. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281684 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR IMPLEMENTING SALES OF PRODUCTS FEATURED IN A PROGRAM - A method, system, and computer program product for implementing sales of products featured in a program is provided. The method includes associating an object featured in the program with the program and a product. The product corresponds to the object in the program. The method includes receiving a request relating to the object featured in the program and presenting product information associated with the product corresponding to the object in response to the request relating to the object. The method further includes generating an order for the product in response to a request to purchase the product. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281685 | MEDIA WITH EMBEDDED ADVERTISING - A system and method for providing advertising to a user of a computer capable of displaying Internet based media, such as sequential media, played by a media player in a display. The method includes the steps of providing a media object, wherein the media object contains sequential media and advertising information encapsulated within the media object. Encapsulating the sequential media and advertising information within the media object prevents rogue users from simply stripping away the sequential media from the advertising information. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281686 | DYNAMIC CONTENT INSERTION METHOD AND SYSTEM - A method and computer program product for initializing an event timer. A first portion of a computer application is executed. After completion of the execution of the first portion of the computer application, it is determined if the event timer has reached a predetermined amount. If the event timer has reached the predetermined amount, a first advertisement is rendered. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281687 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING USER INTEREST IN PRODUCTS AND SERVICES FOR TARGETED ADVERTISING - A method and apparatus that selects and sends advertisements to a user based on the user's interests as determined by the user's location information is disclosed. The method may include receiving a user's location information, updating the user's location history based on the received location information, updating the user's interest profile based on the updated location history information, selecting one or more advertisement based on the updated user's interest profile, and transmitting the selected one or more advertisement for presentation to the user. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281688 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SHARING REVENUE RESULTING FROM ONLINE COUPON USE - A coupon revenue sharing system has a main affiliate, at least one partner affiliate and an affiliate reporting network wherein the main affiliate has coupons which it loads onto a coupon file which is loaded onto the coupon database managed by a partner affiliate. The partner affiliate uses the coupon database to create a website displaying the main affiliate coupons. The affiliate reporting network has a tracking server and a commission database to track the use of an online coupon and report transactions utilizing the coupon and paying the main affiliate its share of the commission earned. Moreover, the main affiliate reports the transaction and pays the partner affiliate its portion of the commission. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281689 | EMBEDDED VIDEO PLAYER ADVERTISEMENT DISPLAY - The present disclosure describes systems and methods for retrieving and accessing, through a media player rendering a first piece of media, other pieces of media. Metadata may be provided with media content items, such as media files containing media streams. At predefined points in time in the video, the metadata is accessed and any other media associated with that frame of video are determined therefrom. This associated media is then displayed to the user automatically. The associated media may be an advertisement related to what was being shown in that frame, or point in the playback, or additional info about what was being shown in that frame, or point in the playback. The systems and methods can be used for displaying advertisements on web pages or in media players with limited display area. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281690 | METHOD, SYSTEM AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR PROVIDING A LOYALTY ENGINE FOR DYNAMIC ADMINISTRATION OF CHARITY DONATIONS - A method, system and computer program for providing a loyalty engine enabling dynamic administration of charity donations is provided. The method includes a merchant creating by operation of the loyalty engine a customized loyalty program defined by a plurality of rules for administering their loyalty program; the operator of the loyalty engine registers one or more charities on the loyalty engine; the merchant also defines on the loyalty engine the rules under which, as part of their loyalty program, they will make a donation to the one or more charities in connection with one or more transactions with a member that is associated to the loyalty program; the member optionally selects, as part of their participation in the loyalty program, the one or more charities to whom the merchant shall make a donation based on transactions between the member and merchant, and further based on the applicable rules defined by the merchant. The loyalty engine tracks applicable transactions, applies the donation rules, accrues the applicable donations. The loyalty engine can also be provided with a transaction utility that is operable to process donation payments between the merchants and the charities. A system is also provided that consists of the loyalty engine, including a charity utility that provides the functions of the method, linked to a server computer that is connected to the Internet. The computer program of the invention is a web application that enables the members, charities, and merchants to access the functions of the invention via a browser. A reporting facility is also described that allows merchants, charities and members to track their donation activity in connection with the operation of the loyalty engine. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281691 | REBATE OFFERS FOR RECYCLING ELECTRONIC DEVICES - The present invention is a method of providing a consumer with a rebate in exchange for the recycling of an electronic device. The method comprises receiving a rebate claim and an electronic device from a consumer, providing the consumer with a different and/or new electronic device with a service associated with the different and/or new electronic device, and transferring the monetary value of the rebate to the consumer. In some embodiments, the method comprises accessing client information associated with current cellular phone service clients and selecting target clients for providing rebate offers to based on the client information. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281692 | Virtual Points Clearinghouse - Systems and methods establish a virtual points clearinghouse. The clearinghouse redeems heterogeneous digital micro-payments-such as bonus points received from various points issuers-across diverse service providers. Points meant for exclusive redemption at one service provider may be directly redeemed for non-corresponding goods of a different service provider. In one implementation, the clearinghouse includes contracts between points issuers, service providers, and a clearinghouse, including intervening conversion rates. A user interface enables a user to manage multiple point balances from a computing device, cell phone, or other mobile device. The user interface enables the user to find diverse goods and to directly obtain the goods by redeeming diverse heterogeneous points. The clearinghouse includes an invoicing engine to enable money flow between users, points issuers, service providers, and the clearinghouse. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281693 | METHODS OF FINANCING CONSTRUCTION AND SALES OF REAL PROPERTY - Financial instruments incentivize the development of low income real property by retaining profitability similar to property sold at fair market value. A REEIP is proposed wherein investors profit by receiving units of real property at a substantial discount that may be subsequently sold or rented after title passes to the investor. A construction fees, costs, or tax instrument are built into each real property unit and issued as a second or subsequent mortgage for all fees and compliance costs, which allows the purchaser of the real property to purchase the real property at a discount by removing the fees and compliance costs from the purchase price of the real property. Finally, real property may be sold to qualifying low income purchasers by allowing a developer to gradually turn over equity in a low income home to the purchaser over a predetermined time period, which is secured by a forgivable mortgage. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281694 | TARGETED ADVERTISING IN MOBILE DEVICES - A system may identify selected device users of multiple device users as members of a virtual group. The system may identify attributes, characteristics or actions that a sub-set of members of the virtual group may have in common that may be related to goods and/or services for sale. The system may send advertisements related to the goods or services to devices associated with other members of the group not included in the sub-set of members. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281695 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR USING VOICE SERVICES RECORDS TO PROVIDE TARGETED MARKETING SERVICES - Systems and methods can include collecting addressability information about users accessing a service provider's IP-based network communication services, collecting information sufficient to identify when the user is accessing the service provider's IP-based network communication services, collecting data from voice services usage by the user and using the collected data to associate the user with certain marketing content. The systems and methods can further include sending the marketing content to the user through various distribution channels by using the addressability information. The systems and methods can further include recording the collected information over time to refine the ability o predict the user's receptiveness to certain marketing content so as to improve the effectiveness of TMS. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281696 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR USING DNS RECORDS TO PROVIDE TARGETED MARKETING SERVICES - Systems and methods can include collecting addressability information about users accessing a service provider's IP-based network communication services, collecting information sufficient to identify when the user is accessing the service provider's IP-based network communication services, collecting the domain names accessed by the user and using the collected information to associate the user with certain marketing content. The systems and methods can further include sending the marketing content to the user through various distribution channels by using the addressability information. The systems and methods can further include recording the collected information over time to refine the ability or predict the user's receptiveness to certain marketing content so as to improve the effectiveness of TMS. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281697 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR USING VIDEO SERVICES RECORDS TO PROVIDE TARGETED MARKETING SERVICES - Systems and methods can include collecting addressability information about users accessing a service provider's IP-based network communication services, collecting information sufficient to identify when the user is accessing the service provider's IP-based network communication services, collecting data from video services usage by the user and using the collected data to associate the user with certain marketing content. The systems and methods can further include sending the marketing content to the user through various distribution channels by using the addressability information. The systems and methods can further include recording the collected information over time to refine the ability o predict the user's receptiveness to certain marketing content so as to improve the effectiveness of TMS. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281698 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR USING VALUE-ADDED SERVICES RECORDS TO PROVIDE TARGETED MARKETING SERVICES - Systems and methods can include collecting addressability information about users accessing a service provider's IP-based network communication services, collecting information sufficient to identify when the user is accessing the service provider's IP-based network communication services, collecting data from value-added services usage by the user and using the collected data to associate the user with certain marketing content. The systems and methods can further include sending the marketing content to the user through various distribution channels by using the addressability information. The systems and methods can further include recording the collected information over time to refine the ability o predict the user's receptiveness to certain marketing content so as to improve the effectiveness of TMS. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281699 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR USING IP TRANSPORT RECORDS TO PROVIDE TARGETED MARKETING SERVICES - Systems and methods can include collecting addressability information about users accessing a service provider's IP-based network communication services, collecting information sufficient to identify when the user is accessing the service provider's IP-based network communication services, collecting data from the IP packets sent or received by the user and using the collected data to associate the user with certain marketing content. The systems and methods can further include sending the marketing content to the user through various distribution channels by using the addressability information. The systems and methods can further include recording the collected information over time to refine the ability to predict the user's receptiveness to certain marketing content so as to improve the effectiveness of TMS. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281700 | Use of natural query events to improve online advertising campaigns - A system and method to identify targeting criteria for online advertising campaigns based on natural query event data are described. A request to determine targeting criteria is received from an advertiser entity. Natural or algorithmic query event data related to the advertiser entity is retrieved from a data storage module. Attribute data associated with targeted customers is extracted based on the retrieved natural query event data. Finally, the attribute data is further processed to determine a set of criteria to target advertisements to the customers. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281701 | Combination beach towel chair cover - A towel to fit over and be secured to a lounge chair to minimize slipping of the towel when a person in such lounge chair changes position. The towel includes an elongated cloth material of predetermined length to cover the length of such lounge chair and of width to cover the width of such lounge chair. A pouch member, of predetermined length and predetermined depth, is disposed at a first end of the elongated cloth material and engageable over an upper end of a back portion of such lounge chair. A portion of the pouch member is formed from the predetermined material and integrally with the first end thereof for retaining the elongated cloth material in place. There is at least one mechanism secured to and disposed on a second end of the elongated predetermined cloth material for holding the second end on a leg portion of such lounge chair. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281702 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING MOBILE COUPON INFORMATION IN A NETWORK - A computer-implemented method of providing a coupon in a digital network is provided. The method includes receiving a message indicative of the location of a purchaser; selecting a context for the purchaser based on the indicated location; identifying manufacturers of products that are sold in the location; and sending a coupon to the purchaser for products that are sold in the location. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281703 | Method of digital customer service and system thereof - A method of digital customer service and a system thereof are provide, which includes a network server machine, an identification (ID) sensing device, a display device, a merchandise sensing device, and a media playing device. The method is to sense a customer ID card via the ID sensing device, and then the network server machine accesses and outputs corresponding customer and consuming information, so as to output a specific greeting and advertising information based on the consuming information and requirements and display them in the display device. The merchandise sensing device is utilized to sense a merchandise label and then a corresponding advertisement is automatically played by the media playing device for promotion. Therefore, customers can find their favorite merchandises immediately after they enter the stores and the marketing media can help sales clerks to introduce merchandises and increase their knowledge about the merchandises, so as to increase service quality. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281704 | System and method for serving relevant question-based advertisements - Question-based advertising over a network where question-based advertisement selection takes into consideration the content of adjacent material. In various aspects, the adjacent material may be physical and in proximity to a terminal where the question is presented, it may be virtual and be displayed on the same terminal as the question, and it may precede or succeed the question in time. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281705 | Method and apparatus for a network system designed to actively match buyers and sellers in a buyer-driven environment - A method for using a computer connected to a network to match buyers and sellers, the method including: receiving a buyer request from a buyer, the buyer request including a request to purchase a good or service, having the computer search sites on the network for sell ads from sellers, each of the sell ads referring to an advertised good or advertised service, matching the buyer request with at least one of the sell ads, and notifying the associated seller for each matched sell ad that the buyer has requested a good or service similar to the advertised good or advertised service advertised in the matched sell ad. According to another embodiment of the present invention, a system for matching buyers and sellers, the sellers advertising goods or services via sell ads posted on sites on a network, the system including: means for receiving a buyer request from a buyer, the buyer request including a request to purchase a good or service, means for searching the sell ads for goods or services similar to those included in the request, means for enabling a seller to make an offer to the buyer, means for informing the seller of other offers made to the buyer. According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method for using a computer connected to a network to match buyers and sellers, the method including: having the computer search sites on the network for want ads from buyers, each of the want ads referring to a wanted good or wanted service, having the computer search sites on the network for sell ads from sellers, each of the sell ads referring to an advertised good or advertised service, matching at least one of the want ads with at least one of the sell ads, and notifying the associated buyer who posted the want ad that at least one sell ad has been matched to the want ad. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281706 | Systems and Methods for Delivering Affinity or Loyalty Reward Programs to Network Subscribers - The present invention provides a system and method for an affinity rewards program, also called a loyalty rewards program, that is administered by an Internet Service Provider (ISP). The system and method of the invention, as implemented by an ISP, provide many advantages over current affinity programs, which are administered by third party providers as distinct services from the services provided by ISPs. Among the advantages to the ISP subscribers are ease of use and ease of determining best prices for goods and services. Among the advantages to the ISP is an increase in subscribers and an increase in subscriber loyalty and satisfaction. Among the advantages to retailers is an increase in traffic at web sites, an increase in sales over the Internet, and an increase in the ability to personally market to program participants. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281707 | Sales Compensation Management Software - Incentive-based compensation plans are described. Associated compensation components are described for various organizational job positions. Each compensation component has an associated set of compensation-related characteristics. A visual representation of the job positions and their associated compensation components is displayed along with corresponding compensation components of different job positions which are located adjacent to each other. An incentive-based compensation arrangement is developed for each of the job positions based on the visual representation together with performance crediting rules and payment rules. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281708 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING A TELEPHONY-BASED CONTENT PORTAL - This invention relates generally to software and more specifically to systems and methods for providing a telephony-based content portal. In one embodiment, the invention includes a system for providing a content portal, the system including a computer system, the computer system being accessible to a content producer, an advertiser, and a consuming device over a communications network, the computer system configurable to receiving content from the content producer and an advertisement from the advertiser, the computer system configurable to distributing the content and the advertisement to a consumer upon the consumer accessing the computer system using the consuming device, and the computer system configurable to providing transport controls for any of the content and the advertisement. In a further embodiment, the communications network is a telephony-based network, the consuming device is a mobile phone, and the content is any of audio and visual. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281709 | ADVERTISING METHOD AND METHOD OF SHARING ADVERTISEMENT REVENUE - A method of sharing an advertisement revenue is provided. The method includes: receiving a request from a first user for posting a content item on a webpage of a website; posting the content item on the webpage; receiving from a second user a request for the content item for displaying, playing, or downloading on a terminal of the second user; sending the requested content item for displaying, playing or storing on the second user's terminal; in connection with sending the requested content item, causing an advertisement to be displayed or played on the second user's terminal; and sharing with the first user a revenue generated from causing the advertisement to be displayed or played on the second user's terminal in connection with sending the requested content item to the second user's terminal. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281710 | Youth Based Social Networking - The invention provides a method for managing an online social network, the method comprising: establishing criteria for membership in a social network; receiving a request to participate in the social network; obtaining information about the requester; verifying the actual identify of the requester; and determining the eligibility of the requester to participate in the social network based on the established criteria. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281711 | System and method for displaying advertisements according to business and consumer relevance - A system and method for the selection and delivery of at least one targeted advertisement over a network, wherein the targeted advertisement conforms to the preferences and criteria specified by each respective user and each respective advertiser. The targeted advertisement selections may be prioritized via correlation of a wide variety of user information and advertiser information. Such a system and method provide for delivery of highly targeted advertisements that ensures a retailer that advertisement marketing is reaching their desired demographic audience and, likewise, exposes each respective end user to highly relevant product and service advertisements. The present invention further increases network efficiency by performing advertisement selection and formatting only once at user login to eliminate continual fetching and formatting of new advertisements during the session. The system or method may employ a map of advertisements that is generated for the user a single time at login. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281712 | LIST-BASED SELECTION SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR USING THE SAME - A system and methods for enabling a user to create a list of items on a portable computing device, to communicate with external devices to locate each of the items available on the list within a geographically limited area, to provide users with visual or aural cues as to the location of items on the list, to progress through the list of items as each item is selected or rejected, and providing discounts toward, information about, or alternatives to the available items on the list. | 11-13-2008 |
20080288337 | Template-Based Targeted Marketing - Systems, methods, and computer-readable media provide for the creation of a template-based targeted marketing presentation. According to various embodiments described herein, a sales representative utilizes a workstation to request a marketing presentation for a certain category of customer within a particular market. A presentation engine retrieves applicable up-to-date data corresponding to the customer category and market from a database and uses the data to make one or more Return On Investment (ROI) calculations. One or more presentation templates include data insertion locations. The one or more ROI calculations and other retrieved data is used to populate the data insertion locations of a selected presentation template. Once populated, the resulting marketing presentation is customized with targeted data and statistics for presenting to the customer. | 11-20-2008 |
20080288338 | ONE-CLICK POSTING - The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates automatically generating an advertisement. An interface component can receive a portion of image data related to at least one of a good or a service associated with a transaction. An automatic posting component can automatically generate an advertisement with a portion of descriptive data related to at least one of the good or the service based at least in part upon the image data, wherein the created advertisement is published to an environment for exposure. | 11-20-2008 |
20080288339 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMPROVING CUSTOMER RETENTION - An aspect relates to a method for retaining a customer. According to various embodiments of the method, a number of predetermined tasks are performed according to a predetermined schedule when a new account is opened. The predetermined tasks include receiving a reason for creating the account, sending at least one communication to the customer, and providing at least one product offer to the customer. The reason is one of a plurality of predetermined reasons. The at least one communication and the at least one product offer are determined at least in part using the reason for creating the account. | 11-20-2008 |
20080288340 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A PRE-PAID REBATE CARD - The present invention is a system and method for providing pre-paid rebate cards. The present invention may provide a rebate offer to a consumer in relation to a particular purchase. A consumer may then submit a request for redemption of the rebate. A rebate processing center may, among other rebate processing, validate the request for redemption from the consumer and notify a financial institution of the request. The financial institution may subsequently issue the pre-paid rebate card to the consumer. The financial institution may further fulfill payment obligations upon consumer use of the pre-paid rebate card. The present invention may include a three-party agreement between the merchant, the rebate processing center, and the financial institution. The agreement may also provide for the financial institution to indemnify the merchant and the rebate processing center from at least a portion of the risk and/or loss associated with the present system and method. | 11-20-2008 |
20080288341 | AUTHORED-IN ADVERTISEMENTS FOR DOCUMENTS - A method, apparatus and computer program product for associating advertisements with a document is presented. A document for having advertisements associated therewith is identified, the document comprising a portable electronic document. At least one advertisement tag is provided for the document, the advertisement tag identifying possible types of advertising materials appropriate for the document. A document ID is also provided for associating an advertisement with the electronic document. When the document is viewed the at least one advertisement tag associated with the electronic document is sent to an advertisement partner. At least one advertisement is received from the advertisement partner and the at least one advertisement is rendered with the document. | 11-20-2008 |
20080288342 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING ADVERTISEMENTS USING A TOOLBAR - Systems and methods have been developed for displaying advertisements within a toolbar. The toolbar display is generated by a toolbar application that searches content displayed within a browser window. For each web page, one or more keywords are selected based on the contents of the web page and an advertisement associated with the selected keywords is obtained. The advertisement, which may be in the form of a hyperlink or user-selectable text or icon, is then displayed within an area of the toolbar display. In this way, toolbars associated with online service providers, such as search toolbars, may be used to actively display advertisements to users in addition to providing convenient, yet passive, access to its associated online service. In order to display the advertisement, the toolbar display may scroll text within the display or may automatically expand the area of the display to show the advertisement or advertisements displayed. | 11-20-2008 |
20080288343 | Method and System to Process Digital Media Product Codes - Systems and methods for processing digital media product codes. In one aspect, purchased digital media comprising a digital media product code is sent to a customer. In another aspect, purchased digital media comprising a digital media product code is received from a merchant. In another aspect, digital media is registered using digital media product codes. In another aspect, digital media rebates are processed using digital media product codes. In another aspect, digital media returns are processed using digital media product codes. In another aspect, digital media promotional items are processed using digital media product codes. In another aspect, a system having a storage element and a controller processes digital media comprising a digital media product code. | 11-20-2008 |
20080288344 | SYSTEM FOR TIERED BIDDING IN AN ONLINE INFORMATION SYSTEM BASED ON THE INTEGRITY OF NETWORK INTERACTIONS - A system is described for bidding in an online information system on tiers for a search term or group of terms in a search request based on the integrity of the network interaction which generated the search request. The system may include a processor, an interface and a memory. The memory may be operatively connected to the processor, and the interface, and may store a plurality of integrity tiers, a term, and a plurality of bid amounts. The interface may be operatively connected to the memory and the processor and may communicate with the advertisers. The processor may identify the plurality of integrity tiers. The processor may receive a plurality of bid amounts, from an advertiser via the interface, associated with the term and the plurality of integrity tiers. The processor may store the plurality of bid amounts in the memory. | 11-20-2008 |
20080288345 | COMPUTER-IMPLEMENTED SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MARKETING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES - A computer-implemented system and method for advertising a product, brand or service without initially providing the name of the product, brand or service includes a computer hosting a website with a game that is accessible by a user device. The website provides a video of the product, brand or service to be advertised and prompts the user to enter a sweepstakes for a prize by submitting a guess as to the name of the product or service. The website can provide plurality of videos from which the user can select to view. The computer can be configured to send an email to the user when a subsequent video including the name of the brand is available to be viewed and to notify the user if he won the prize after the user views the subsequent video. | 11-20-2008 |
20080288346 | Method for Private Sellers to Certify Previously Owned Vehicles - A method is taught whereby an individual vehicle seller who wishes to sell his or her vehicle privately (without using a dealer) can provide a potential purchaser with a certification of the vehicle that is backed by a known and reputable vehicle maintenance-and-repair entity. A method of advertising the certification online is also provided as an optional marketing outlet to the vehicle seller. | 11-20-2008 |
20080288347 | ADVERTISING KEYWORD SELECTION BASED ON REAL-TIME DATA - Methods and apparatus are described for selecting advertising keywords for advertising campaigns. A set of keywords is identified from a dynamic data set. The dynamic data is generated from at least one data source which is updated via the Internet substantially in real time. Each keyword in the set of keywords is characterized in the dynamic data set by a current relevancy measure not yet apparent from conventional search engine databases. A subset of the keywords is selected for use in the advertising campaigns with reference to at least one current market condition relating to each selected keyword. Advertising campaigns are initiated for each of the selected keywords. | 11-20-2008 |
20080288348 | Ranking online advertisements using retailer and product reputations - A method for ranking online advertisements using retailer reputation and product reputation. In one implementation, a query may be received. Advertisements may be selected by determining a level of relevance between the query and each advertisement and selecting the advertisements with a level of relevance above a pre-determined level of relevance. A predicted reputation for a retailer and a predicted reputation for a product may be retrieved for each of the selected advertisements. The selected advertisements may then be ranked based on the predicted reputation for the retailer and the predicted reputation of the product. The ranking of the selected advertisements may be accomplished by calculating a ranking score for each selected advertisement based on the retailer predicted reputation and the product predicted reputation. The selected advertisements may then be displayed according to the ranking. | 11-20-2008 |
20080288349 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ONLINE INTERACTIVE COMMUNICATION - Systems and methods of providing interactive online communication are described. A chat enabled communication is transmitted over a network to a user via a browser hosted on a user terminal, wherein the communication is provided to the user in association with search results at least partly in response to a search query from the user, and wherein the communication includes a chat control. A connection is made between a chat server and a chat interface associated with the communication, wherein the chat interface including a text entry and display area, and wherein the connection is made after the user has activated the chat control and/or taken an action that satisfies a first chat connection rule. A chat agent is then connected to the chat interface in order to participate in a chat session. | 11-20-2008 |
20080288350 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENABLING ADVERTISERS TO PURCHASE ADVERTISEMENT SPACE IN VIDEO GAMES - The present invention provides a method for advertisers to send messages to targeted audiences in a video game. The messages are multimedia in nature (images and movies) and displayed in non-game play areas of games so that it does not interfere with the game play experience of the game player. The game playing audience is targeted based on the game itself and the type of game. The advertiser selects the demographic information of the gamers (collectively consumers of games, or game players) they want to reach and when the game requests ads from the server, the server matches the game and game type to the advertiser's request. | 11-20-2008 |
20080288351 | System and Method for Facilitating Electronic Financial Transactions Using a Mobile Telecommunication Device - A transaction processing system for processing a transaction between a supplier and a customer, said system comprising a supplier device for initiating the transaction, a system server and a mobile communication device, said device containing a message processing program module for enabling local verification of the transaction within the mobile device, wherein a transaction message is sent from the supplier device to the system server, a message requesting payment for the transaction is sent from the system server to the mobile communication device, the transaction is authorised and verified at the mobile telecommunications device from which a verification message is sent back to the system server, and the transaction is then processed. | 11-20-2008 |
20080288352 | Method and apparatus for interactive individualized gifting and method for feedback of receipt of same - Disclosed is a convenient and effectively immediate gifting method for who wants to interactively gift via a service provider by specific identification of a gift recipient, choosing a gift from among gifts available from the service provider or a partner thereof, and providing a message for relaying to the gift recipient. When the recipient accesses the service provider a gift notification is presented, allowing the recipient to redeem the gift and access the gift. | 11-20-2008 |
20080288353 | Interactive marketing network and process using electronic certificates - A data processing system issuing electronic certificates through “online” networks of personal computers, televisions, or other devices with video monitors or telephones. Each electronic certificate includes transaction data and identification data, and can be printed out on a printing device linked to a consumer's personal input device, or electronically stored in a designated data base until a specified expiration date. The certificate can be used for various purposes, including use as a coupon for a discounted price on a product or service, proof of a gift or award, proof of reservation, or proof of payment. Consumers access the data processing system online, browse among their choices, and make their selections. The data processing system provides reports on the selected certificates and their use following selection. Certificate issuers also have online access to the data processing system and can create or revise offers, and provide various instructions pertaining to the certificates, including limitations as to the number of certificates to be issued in total and to each individual consumer. | 11-20-2008 |
20080288354 | Location-Aware Adaptive Advertising - A system and method of advertising based on the automatic determination of an advertising recipient's location and inferences of preferences derived from usage behaviors is disclosed. The advertising recipient's location that is considered in delivering a specific advertisement may be the current location or one or more historical locations. Proximity considerations with regard to other people, locations, or physical objects may influence the advertisement that is to be delivered. The advertisement may be delivered to a mobile device that has location-aware capabilities such as a Global Positioning System-based system. | 11-20-2008 |
20080288355 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LOCATION BASED MATCHING AND PROMOTION - Systems and methods for profile matching and promotion. Location-related data and other profile characteristics are used for promotion and for matching of businesses, venues and other entities with user specified criteria. | 11-20-2008 |
20080288356 | DISPLAYING PAID SEARCH LISTINGS IN PROPORTION TO ADVERTISER SPENDING - In a pay for placement database search system, in which advertisers pay to include their search listings in a database to be provided with search results in response to queries from searchers, each advertiser decides how much money he wants to spend on a search term. The search provider displays the advertisers' listings in proportion to the amount of money the respective advertisers spend. This permits the advertisers to subscribe to the database search system, deciding how much to pay for a subscription for a predetermined time period. The search provider can recommend an optimal spend amount for the advertisers. | 11-20-2008 |
20080294508 | Method and apparatus for an electronic transaction network designed to facilitate dual, bilateral buyer-driven and bilateral seller-driven conditional early payment incentive offers, acceptances, and payments - This invention is a method and apparatus for facilitating dual, bilateral buyer-driven and bilateral seller-driven commerce through the communication of binding conditional early payment incentive offers, acceptances, and payments. In a preferred embodiment, this invention allows buyers and sellers to communicate conditional early payment incentive offers to each other, and upon acceptance, to bind the other party to a contract. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a controller which transmits and receives conditional early payment incentive offers. Potential parties have the option to accept a conditional early payment incentive offer and thus bind the other party to a contract. The controller then facilitates payments between a buyer and a seller. The method and apparatus of the present invention have applications on the Internet as well as conventional communication systems such as voice telephony and has applications for suppliers, providers, landlords, contractors, retailers, bankers, insurance plans, governments, et al. | 11-27-2008 |
20080294509 | DETERMINING ADVERTISING EFFECTIVENESS - The effectiveness of an advertisement may be determined. The advertisement and an incentive may be received at a data server. An online request from a consumer for a product may be received. The product may correspond to the incentive. The advertisement may be presented to a consumer. The advertisement may be presented in connection with the incentive and a first identifier. The first identifier may be generated unique to the presentation of the advertisement. The first identifier may include a bar code. When the incentive is redeemed, data indicative of the incentive being redeemed may be correlated to the first identifier. The incentive may be redeemed at a physical store, at an online store, and the like. First data indicative of the incentive being redeemed may be received. The first data may be correlated with the first identifier. The advertisement may be correlated to the redemption of the incentive. | 11-27-2008 |
20080294510 | DETERMINING ADVERTISING EFFECTIVENESS - The effectiveness of an advertisement may be determined. The advertisement and an incentive may be received at a data server. An online request from a consumer for a product may be received. The product may correspond to the incentive. The advertisement may be presented to a consumer. The advertisement may be presented in connection with the incentive and a first identifier. The first identifier may be generated unique to the presentation of the advertisement. The first identifier may include a bar code. When the incentive is redeemed, data indicative of the incentive being redeemed may be correlated to the first identifier. The incentive may be redeemed at a physical store, at an online store, and the like. First data indicative of the incentive being redeemed may be received. The first data may be correlated with the first identifier. The advertisement may be correlated to the redemption of the incentive. | 11-27-2008 |
20080294511 | INCENTIVIZING CONSUMER PURCHASES - A system and method for directing a consumer to a first location is disclosed. The system may include a datastore and a processor. The datastore may store first data indicative of a product, a first location, and an incentive. The incentive may be redeemable at the first location. The processor may be in communication with the datastore. The processor may receive an online request for the product from the consumer. The consumer may be presented with a description of the product and a video associated with the product. The processor may present to the consumer second data indicative of the incentive and the first location. The second data may reference the online request. The second data may be presented in a printable form. | 11-27-2008 |
20080294512 | INCENTIVIZING CONSUMER PURCHASES - A system and method for directing a consumer to a first location is disclosed. The system may include a datastore and a processor. The datastore may store first data indicative of a product, a first location, and an incentive. The incentive may be redeemable at the first location. The processor may be in communication with the datastore. The processor may receive an online request for the product from the consumer. The consumer may be presented with a description of the product and a video associated with the product. The processor may present to the consumer second data indicative of the incentive and the first location. The second data may reference the online request. The second data may be presented in a printable form. | 11-27-2008 |
20080294513 | METHOD OF TARGETED MARKETING - A method for supplying a targeted message with a statement to a consumer. Consumer data is provided to generate a first statement item. The first statement item includes data used as predetermined triggers. Supplemental data is provided which is compared to the predetermined triggers thereby creating a first subset of supplemental data. The targeted message is created from the first subset of the supplemental data. | 11-27-2008 |
20080294514 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REMOTE DEPOSIT CAPTURE AND CUSTOMER INFORMATION GATHERING - A system and method for integrated remote deposit capture and customer information gathering on a merchant's workstation where a plurality of checks are received from customers of the merchant and an image of each check is captured. Each check image is interrogated using image recognition software. A customer name and address on each check are identified. A list containing each identified customer name and address is created at the merchant's workstation and the list is stored. The list is useable by the merchant for marketing or gathering customer information where the customer information may include demographics of the customers. The customer information may also be used to identify checks from the same customer to determine a customer frequency useable to identify repeat customers. The list may be stored in a database. The marketing may include sending marketing materials from the merchant to the customers on the list. | 11-27-2008 |
20080294515 | Incentive-Based System and Method for Third-Party Web Application Development and Publication - A system and method is described by which a business entity provides an incentive to a third party to develop and publish a Web application that facilitates access to a Web service hosted by the business entity. In accordance with the system and method, a user attempts to use the third-party Web application via a Web browser executing on a client device, but fails because the user is unauthorized to use the service. Responsive to attempting to use the third-party Web application, tracking information is downloaded to the client device via the Web browser. The user then accesses a Web application hosted by the business entity to subscribe to the Web service. The Web application hosted by the business entity detects the tracking information stored on the client device and initiates a process for issuing payment to the third party responsive to detecting the tracking information. | 11-27-2008 |
20080294516 | ELECTRONIC ADVERTISING SYSTEM - An electronic tearsheet is received at a receipt time from a publisher confirming placement at a placement time of a print ad in a publication according to specified terms between the publisher and an advertiser. The specified terms include a bid amount. The bid amount is collected from the advertiser. The publisher is provided a publisher's share of the bid amount. The publisher's share includes a base amount and a bonus. The bonus is based on a period of time between the receipt time and the placement time. | 11-27-2008 |
20080294517 | CUSTOMIZED IMAGE BASED CALENDAR, METHOD AND SYSTEM - An advent calendar including a first sheet with a full color customized image and a plurality of apertures. Each aperture is associated with a movable door and the door is fastened to a perimeter of the aperture with a hinge element. A second sheet, including a reduced-color version of the customized image and at least one customized indicia. The first and second sheets are registeringly aligned so that the each of the plurality of apertures fully eclipse one of the customized indicia, such that each customized indicia is fully visible through an aperture when the movable door associated with the aperture is in an open orientation. | 11-27-2008 |
20080294518 | Method and apparatus for tracking parameters associated with a redemption certificate - A system that tracks parameters associated with a redemption certificate is presented. During operation, the system receives parameters associated with the redemption certificate. The system then determines whether the parameters indicate that a specified event has occurred. If so, the system performs a specified action for the specified event. | 11-27-2008 |
20080294519 | Method and system for integrating advertising with content - A coupling software system that is designed to be used by an advertiser, a content provider, and a publisher to effectively couple advertisements with content and distribute the information through a media outlet. The coupling software enables the advertiser to search content and distribution channels using a variety of metrics, and allows the advertiser to purchase content and distribution channels through an auction/bidding process. The coupling software is designed to measure and report statistics associated with the transactions between the advertisers, content providers, and publishers. | 11-27-2008 |
20080294520 | MOBILE DISPLAY ADVERTISING SYSTEM AND METHOD - An advertisement display apparatus is disclosed that includes a display screen for displaying advertising content, at least one radiation intensity sensor for measuring incident radiation, and a position adjustment device for adjusting a viewing angle of the display screen on the basis of the measured incident radiation to thereby minimize glare on the display screen. | 11-27-2008 |
20080294521 | Multilanguage Self-Contained Unmanaged Database-Driven Real Time Digital Advertising Display System - The present invention relates generally to an electronic display system and more particularly, to a database-driven electronic display system. | 11-27-2008 |
20080294522 | Method of automated distribution of advertising messages and system for carrying out the method - The method of advertisements automated distribution includes generating the advertising information with indication of display parameters, providing the advertisements, receiving by the user mobile device at least advertisements as provided by the advertisements generation unit, storing at least the received advertising information, sending and providing the advertising information as chosen from the stored advertising information to the addressee mobile device when sending the connection request with the addressee mobile device differs that the mobile communication devices users are registered, advertisements are generated with classification features of mobile communication devices users, the above message is sent to the distribution process control computer, advertisements block which includes at least one advertisement is generated responding to the above received message to send to the particular user, requests with regard to the classification features of this user are generated to allow receiving the above advertisement blocks by users and if acknowledged the above advertisement blocks are sent to users mobile communication devices. The proposed advertisements automated distribution system includes the advertisements generation unit, mobile communication device which includes at least the sender and receiver which serves to receive at least the advertising information, memory unit which serves to store at least advertising information and to record and store the displayed advertisements information; interface unit which serves to send and provide the advertising information stored in the memory unit to the addressee mobile communication device when sending the connection request from the mobile communication device to the addressee mobile device, mobile communication service provider network which includes at least one computer which provides the advertisements distribution process control and the unit which serves to store the information. The advertisements generation unit is linked to the storage device which is linked to the computer providing the advertisements distribution and presentation process control linked to the communication service provider network. | 11-27-2008 |
20080294523 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ADVERTISING VIA COMPUTER NETWORKS AND WEBSITES - Methods and apparatus for advertising according to various aspects of the present invention operate in conjunction with a retargeting system, multiple publisher systems, at least one advertiser, and a user's computer. The retargeting system provides retargeting information to the advertiser for storage on the user computer. The retargeting information may comprise identifiers for publisher systems authorized for retargeting and an advertiser identifier. The retargeting information may also receive user behavior information from publisher system visited by the user after visiting the advertiser's web site. The retargeting system may then transmit an advertisement corresponding to the advertiser identifier to the visited publisher system for presentation via the user computer if the visited publisher system is an authorized publisher system. | 11-27-2008 |
20080294524 | Site-Targeted Advertising - A method is provided. The method includes receiving at a central system advertisement identifiers associated with one or more advertisements, receiving one or more identifiers of web locations to be targeted by the advertisements, receiving one or more non-keyword bids for a display of each of the advertisements, and generating a score associated with each of the one or more advertisements using the non-keyword bid in an advertising auction. | 11-27-2008 |
20080294525 | J2ME application advertisement instrumentation - A method for inserting advertising or other functionality into mobile applications after they have already been compiled and built. The described method has advantages of download time modification of applications, the ability to embed information into the instance builds, and to allow selectable functionality. | 11-27-2008 |
20080300969 | Advertisement Platform, System for Playing Advertisement and Method Thereof - The present invention discloses an Advertisement Platform (ADP), including an ADP Switch Point (ADP-SP), a voice playing unit and a service logic supporting unit; wherein the ADP-SP connects a call from a calling LS or an MS and initiates an advertisement service call to the service logic supporting unit; upon receiving the advertisement service call from the ADP-SP, the service logic supporting unit returns advertisement service instruction to the ADP-SP after parsing the advertisement service call; upon receiving the advertisement service instruction returned by the service logic supporting unit, the ADP-SP instructs the voice playing unit to play a ring back tone which includes advertisement according to the advertisement service instruction and connects a voice channel used for the voice playing unit playing advertisement with the calling voice channel or the MS voice channel. The present invention also discloses a system and method for playing advertisement. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300970 | REDEMPTION TECHNIQUES FOR ELECTRONIC COUPONS - Methods and apparatus are described for redeeming an electronic coupon. The electronic coupon corresponds to an advertiser and has an associated coupon identifier. The coupon identifier is received as part of a first communication session with a communication device. Redemption of the electronic coupon is facilitated where the communication device is associated with the advertiser. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300971 | ADVERTISEMENT APPROVAL BASED ON TRAINING DATA - A system for determining whether to approve a target document (e.g., advertisement) is provided. The system trains a classifier using tuples of words from appropriate documents and tuples of words from inappropriate documents. To approve a target document, the system identifies tuples of words of the target document. The system then applies the classifier to the identified tuples to classify the document as being appropriate or inappropriate. If the document is classified as appropriate, the system automatically approves the document. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300972 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING USER-ASSISTED ADVERTISING RELEVANCY SCORES - Systems and methods for incorporating user feedback on advertising relevancy and providing the feedback to advertisers is disclosed. Generally, a user requests a web page from an online service provider. The online service provider checks to determine if the user requesting the page is a member of the user assisted advertising relevancy user population. If the user is not a member, the online service provider sends the web page the user requested without a method to rate the advertisement. If the user is a member of the user assisted advertising relevancy user base, the online service provider sends the requested web page with the ability to rate the advertisements sent on the page. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300973 | SUPPLY OF REQUESTED OFFER BASED ON OFFEREE TRANSACTION HISTORY - An automated communication system supplies a requested offer for inventory to an offeree based on the offeree's transaction history. A consumer can request an offer for inventory using a consumer device that transmits to a Requested Offer Supplier (ROS) the request, information pertaining to an account in a payment processing system, and a return address. The ROS matches the consumer's request for inventory to a set of merchants having that inventory that are willing to make an offer for the requested inventory based on the consumer's transaction history. The ROS transmits the offer to the consumer via the return address. The consumer accept the merchant's offer by entering into a transaction with the merchant for the requested inventory that applies the offer to the transaction. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300974 | Flexible Revenue Sharing and Referral Bounty System - An advertising system manager, a partner and one or more participating publishers may collectively agree on a revenue sharing arrangement, based on revenue generated from ad conversions. The advertising system manager may define various components of the revenue sharing arrangement including details of the revenue sharing arrangement and the criteria for offering the revenue sharing arrangement. The partner may separately negotiate with the publisher with respect to the terms of the revenue sharing arrangement. The terms may include a predetermined revenue sharing rate for the partner and the publisher based on the gross revenue received by the advertising system manager. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300975 | DEMAND PULL AND SUPPLY PUSH COMMUNICATION METHODOLOGIES - Systems and methods for determining whether a node in a bandwidth-sharing ad hoc network should advertise as a borrower or a lender of bandwidth, or alternatively not advertise as either a borrower or lender of bandwidth. The method comprises establishing an ad-hoc network between nodes configured to be a borrower of bandwidth or a lender of bandwidth. At least one of the nodes advertises to be the borrower of bandwidth or the lender of bandwidth in the ad hoc network based on at least one selected factor. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300976 | IDENTIFICATION OF USERS FOR ADVERTISING PURPOSES - A method and system for identifying users for advertising. Users and attributes are identified. First web sites provided by ISPs accessed by the users are identified. First data received from the ISPs include content of the first web sites and user time spent thereon. The first data is analyzed to determine first attribute values indicative of interest in each attribute by each user. Second data received from ISPs include content of second web sites and user time spent thereon. Second attribute values are derived from questionnaires completed by the users, which indicate interest in each attribute by each user. Third attribute values are determined by combining the first attribute values with the second attribute values for each user. The third attribute values are processed to identify users to which a product or service may be advertised. The identified users are communicated to a provider of the product or service. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300977 | Method and System for Fractionally Allocating Transactions to Marketing Events - A fractional response allocation system is designed to accurately measure the effectiveness of marketing campaigns and programs. It determines the impact of each marketing event that has influenced a customer's purchase by allocating some amount of credit towards the customer purchase for each of the existing open marketing campaigns present during the customer's purchase window. The system factors the recency of the campaign, the mechanism through which the campaign was promoted, the relationship between products promoted and products purchased into the amount of credit any sign campaign is given towards a single customer purchase. Other factors unique to a given industry and/or business can be taken into account when assigning credit to any given promotion. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300978 | DISPLAY SYSTEM INCLUDING MINIATURE SIZE ARTICLE AND ACCESSORIES - A system and method for displaying full size items for sale includes a shelving unit having a top and one or more shelves beneath the top on which items are displayed for sale. A miniature size article is displayed on the top, where the miniature size article includes a plurality of miniature size items associated with the miniature size article. Then, a plurality of full size items, corresponding to the miniature size items, are displayed on the shelves. A transparent cover can be disposed over the miniature size article. The miniature size scale article can be an article of furniture, such as a bed and such that the full scale items include bed accessories. Further, additional full size items, which are designed to coordinate with one or more of the plurality of full size items, and are also displayed on the shelves. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300979 | Method and apparatus of customer relationship management and maketing - A method, apparatus, and system of customer relationship management and marketing are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of generating a personalized communication for a customer includes obtaining a purchase record of the customer from a first data source, obtaining a location of the customer from a second data source, integrating the purchase record and the location in a geo-spatial map, analyzing a targeting criteria of the customer and of people residing adjacent to the customer through a referencing of the purchase record and the location of the customer with public and wiki generated information of the customer and the people residing adjacent to the customer, generating the personalized communication based on the analysis, and sending the personalized communication to the customer and the people residing adjacent to the customer. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300980 | Method and system of synchronizing data processed through web widgets distributed across network nodes - A method and system of synchronizing data processed through web widgets distributed across network nodes is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of a service provider module includes linking an admired party webpage of an admired party with a follower webpage of a follower of the admired party when a replica of a web widget of the admired party webpage is integrated to the follower webpage, assigning a common module identification to the web widget of the admired party webpage and to the replica of the web widget on the follower webpage, and simultaneously updating the admired party webpage and the follower webpage using the common module identification based on data processed in at least one of the web widget of the admired party webpage and the replica of the web widget on the follower webpage. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300981 | CAMPAIGN OPTIMIZATION - Methods, systems, and software for combinatorial optimization are described. A first combination of offers are selected from a list of combinations of offers that pass a first set of rules belonging to a first category of rules, and it is determined whether the first combination of offers passes a second set of rules belonging to a second, different category of rules. If the first combination passes the second set of rules, the first combination is returned as a solution. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300982 | METHOD FOR ENABLING THE EXCHANGE OF ONLINE FAVORS - Embodiments are directed to enabling the exchange of online favors. In one embodiment, the system may include a client device connected via a network to a favor management platform. The favor management platform may include a favor management server, web server, billing server, and an advertisement server. A user may enter information detailing a favor to be asked or to be offered. The user further may specify the reward for the favor, including non-monetary rewards, such as good will. The user also specifies whom to send the request or offer for the favor. The favor management server generates favor page, with the set of contacts. A notification message regarding the favor page is sent to the set of specified contacts. Once received, a contact may view the favor page, providing comments and/or responses. The user may provide the reward to a contact(s) that satisfy the favor. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300983 | METHODS FOR NTERACTICE TELEVISION AND MOBILE DEVICE - A environment of server and client systems for revenue generation, where a component is provided for broadcasters to broadcast and/or transmit programming, and where advertisers can create advertisement, and bid for advertising time on the transmitted programming. Advertisers are empowered by the network's ability to perform targeted advertising and/or product placement base on viewer attribute, programming content, and other criteria collected by the environment. Broadcasters are empowered by the network's ability to produce relatively high conversion rate using an viewer interface allowing enabling viewers to perform click-to-buy, click-to-send-lead, and/or click-to-send information, without much disruption to viewing of the transmitted programming. Also disclosed is a business method of generating revenue by utilizing an environment of server and client systems for targeted advertising and/or product placement, where incentives are created by and for broadcasters, advertisers, content providers, creator of the environment, and viewers. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300984 | METHODS AND APPARATUSES RELATED TO THE OFFER OF PURCHASE INCENTIVES - In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a customer identifier associated with a customer and receiving purchase data associated with the customer based on the customer identifier. The method can calculate a parameter value of a purchase incentive based on a financial condition and based on the customer identifier. The method can send the parameter value of the purchase incentive to a point of sale device in response to a transaction associated with the customer identifier. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300985 | System and Method for Providing Media Content to Physically Proximate Mobile Devices - In one embodiment, a system and a method pertain to displaying an advertisement, determining media content related to the advertisement to send to a physically proximate mobile device, wirelessly connecting to the physically proximate mobile device, wirelessly transmitting the determined media content to the physically proximate mobile device using a short-range wireless communication protocol. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300986 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTEXTUAL ADVERTISEMENT - A method and system for providing an advertisement, and a method and system for providing training data with respect to providing of an advertisement are provided. The advertisement providing method includes: verifying a document displayed on a web page; providing a user with a recommendation advertisement list associated with the document; verifying an advertisement that is selected by the user from the recommendation advertisement list; and providing the advertisement via the web page. The method may further include: selecting, from the recommendation advertisement list, a system advertisement that is different from a selected advertisement, wherein the selected advertisement is the advertisement selected by the user. The providing of the advertisement may include providing the first advertisement and the system advertisement via the web page. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300987 | WEBSITE MONETIZATION - A merchant portal accessible by a user via the Internet searches for a product using typical search techniques. The merchant portal returns to the user a list of merchants in an identified geographic location. For each listed merchant, a token is created that associates the inquiry and the merchant. Once a token has been generated, financial transactions at the merchant are monitored for the time corresponding to the life of the token. When a transaction occurs at a merchant involving the user, a report is generated associating that sale with the inquiry. Based on the sale, a fee for directing the user to the merchant is generated. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300988 | WIRELESS ELECTRONIC VEHICLE WINDOW DISPLAY SYSTEM - The invention of the wireless electronic vehicle window display system employs the latest technology in electronic paper and low power consumption wireless networking devices. One contemplated embodiment of the present invention consists of three main components: A vehicle information portal, an electronic vehicle window display system subscriber, and the electronic paper. The invention is intended to provide an effective method of displaying pricing, vehicle specifications, promotions, and warranties on vehicles at the dealer's lot. The invention removes the time-consuming and costly tasks of updating information on the current paper-based window sticker. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300989 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING, REVIEWING, EDITING, AND TRANSMITTING AN ADVERTISING UNIT IN A SINGLE ENVIRONMENT - This invention is directed to embodiments of systems and methods for generating, reviewing, editing, and transmitting an advertising unit in a single environment. In one embodiment, a method can include executing an ad unit component module program adapted to operate in a single environment. The method can further include simultaneously executing an authoring tool program to facilitate the single environment, wherein the authoring tool program is adapted by the ad unit component module program to provide functionality associated with authoring tool program. Furthermore, the method can include utilizing at least one tool associated with the ad unit component module program, wherein the at least one tool is adapted to generate an advertising unit in the single environment. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300990 | Web-Based Performance Points System - A method and system for marketing a product. The method includes establishing a community of online users for the development and marketing of a movie. A fund is established for distribution to the community of users. At least one activity is provided that invites participation by the community of online users. Activities are offered in connection with the development of the movie and to generate interest in the movie. Means are established for gauging participation of the users in the activities. The community of users is rewarded from the fund as a function of participation in the activities. Ownership interests in the product are established for users in the online community by including revenue generated in relation to the movie. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300991 | Operating a site upon an international communications network to cross-refer potential sellers and buyers of real estate to selected real estate agents, rebating a portion of referral fees earned to real estate sellers, or buyers, or both - A referral site operated by a registered real estate broker upon an international communications network system enrolls, most preferably, both seller's and buyer's real estate agents who will provide a referral fee on real estate commissions earned by them from referred sellers, or buyers, or both who do pay said commissions. This referral site is searchable for agents or opportunity by both potential sellers and buyers of real estate. The site earns a referral fee each time an alerted enrolled real estate agent earns a commission, the referral fee preferably being paid directly from escrow. The referral site rebates a portion of this earned referral fee to the seller, or the buyer, of to both the seller and the buyer, as the case may be. The referral site may additionally donate some percentage of its earned referral fees to charity, preferably a charity linked to that community in which the property on which one or more commissions were paid was both sold and purchased. | 12-04-2008 |
20080306813 | METHOD FOR RECYCLING CONSUMER GOODS - A method to encourage consumers to return reusable or recyclable containers to the origin of purchase provides to the consumer a coupon or other proof of return to be redeemed for a discount on items made with or incorporating the recycled products returned by other consumers. The returned container may then be used by the seller or the seller's affiliate or agent as material to create more recycled consumer goods. | 12-11-2008 |
20080306814 | LOCALIZED ADVERTISEMENT SUBSTITUTION IN WEB-BASED CONTENT - The present invention discloses a system and a method of intermediate network nodes that substitute local content for detected advertisements before serving Web pages to Web clients. In the invention, served content provided by a remotely located Web server directed towards a remotely located Web browser can be detected by the network node that performs the substitution. The served content can include Web content related to a Web site and advertisement content. A portion of the served content representing advertisement content can be determined. The determined advertisement content can be replaced with substitute content. The Web content and the substitute content can be delivered to the Web browser. | 12-11-2008 |
20080306815 | Method and system for inserting targeted data in available spaces of a webpage - Various techniques for placing targeted data in a webpage requested by a user are disclosed. A presentation of the data when the webpage is displayed draws attention from the user. Examples of the data may include, but not be limited to advertisements, various alerts and notifications. In one embodiment, some of the techniques, when properly combined, can provide a mechanism to locate available spaces in a webpage and place targeted advertisements therein by embedding scripts into data packets received from the website being visited. The data packets are modified in a network device deployed at a traffic concentration point along a network, where the network device operates transparently to both the website and the user, regardless there is a need to modify existing data packets or fabricate new data packets. | 12-11-2008 |
20080306816 | Network devices for replacing an advertisement with another advertisement - Techniques for replacing an advertisement in a webpage from a website with another advertisement are disclosed. A response including the webpage is intercepted in a network device deployed in an in-line fashion, preferably at a data traffic point along a network. When it is determined that the webpage includes an advertisement that is replaceable, a preferable advertisement more correlated to the interests of a user is embedded in data packets to replace those for the original advertisement. Subsequently, the preferable advertisement is served when the webpage is displayed. | 12-11-2008 |
20080306817 | Methods and Systems of Presenting Advertisements in Consumer-Defined Environments - Targeted or other advertising may comprise one or more advertisements presented in a virtual world environment constructed according to consumer parameters, with the advertisements presented according to rules, scripts, or other parameters defined by the advertiser(s). For instance, one or more consumer computing device(s) can access data defining a brand name, logo, and/or message and can access data defining consumer preferences for the context in which advertisements are to be presented. For example, the context may vary according to viewer identity, programming content, time of day, and the like. Then, the consumer computing device(s) can render a virtual world based on the consumer preferences with the virtual world also comprising the advertisement(s) generated based on advertiser definitions. | 12-11-2008 |
20080306818 | MULTI-CLIENT STREAMER WITH LATE BINDING OF AD CONTENT - A late-binding multi-client streamer utilizing Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) transfers to obtain video and advertisement content is provided. For each client device, the streamer receives a video content selection. In response, the streamer initiates an RDMA transfer of the video content or a segment of the video content from a storage device of a video content server to an associated video buffer and begins streaming the video content from the video buffer to the client device. When an upcoming advertisement slot in the video content is detected, the streamer initiates an RDMA transfer of an advertisement for the ad slot from a storage device associated with an advertisement content server to an associated ad buffer. The streamer then inserts the advertisement from the ad buffer into the ad slot in the video content as the video content is streamed to the client device. | 12-11-2008 |
20080306819 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SHAPING RELEVANCE SCORES FOR POSITION AUCTIONS - The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for ranking and providing advertisements in a position auction. The method of the present invention comprises receiving a search query and selecting at least one keyword based upon the search query. A list containing at least one keyword based upon the search query is returned and a list comprising at least one bid corresponding to the returned list of keywords is retrieved. A priority score corresponding to each bid is computed and used to rank the list of bids. Advertisements are then provided corresponding to a plurality of the highest ranking bids. | 12-11-2008 |
20080306820 | PROCESS AND SYSTEM FOR TARGETING OF CONTENT TO SEGMENTED CUSTOMER BASE - A method and system for targeted in-store advertising content is disclosed. In order to improve the success of advertising content on a group of customers, the present invention monitors and records items as they are purchased from the store. These records generate data that is used to categorize customers into defined segments. Segments are matched to pre-defined profiles, which describe certain demographic characteristics common to customers in a particular segment. Advertisers can create advertising campaigns directed to these profiles, and when a certain number of matching segments appear within a certain amount of time within the store, the present invention will display the matching media content. The present invention tracks segment frequency, and applies a weighted T-distribution analysis to determine the likelihood of certain frequencies of segments appearing at a certain time. The present invention also tracks the number of times certain media content has been displayed within a certain amount of time to prevent content overexposure. Use of the present invention's data will help advertisers by introducing a pay for performance model where advertisers pay to deliver content to their target demographic, and by providing information on whether or not an advertising campaign was successful. | 12-11-2008 |
20080306821 | System and Method of Driving Commodity Consumers to Selective Retail Locations - A system and method for driving commodity consumers to selective locations allows an operator of a price protection product to enter into agreements with locations offering a commodity such that the locations provide incentives for purchasers or consumers of the commodity to purchase the commodity at the location. The operator of the price protection system may enter into agreements with purchasers to provide information about the locations offering the incentives. | 12-11-2008 |
20080306822 | Self Funding Emergency and Other Notification System - The present invention is directed to a business model, methods, and system for generating and distributing telecom and Internet advertising revenue between a voice message broadcast provider and partner social network. The inventive business model provides voice message broadcast services to a social network, self-configured by the administrators and members of that social network via an Internet web-interface. The web-interface, furnished to the social network by the voice message broadcast service provider, converges the interests of the social network's administrators, the social network's members, interested non-members, and 3 | 12-11-2008 |
20080306823 | ELECTRONIC PUBLICATION ADVERTISING SYSTEM - An electronic publication advertising system including establishing sponsorship standards for reviewing advertisements for inclusion in an electronic publication. At least one advertisement is reviewed to determine whether the at least one advertisement complies with the sponsorship standards. The electronic publication is reviewed to determine a placement location of the at least one advertisement. The electronic publication is distributed with the at least one advertisement in the placement location. The electronic publication is reviewed by a person affiliated with the use of the distributed electronic publication to determine if the at least one advertisement meets the sponsorship standards. | 12-11-2008 |
20080306824 | Empty Space Advertising Engine - A web page is enabled to display advertisements in the empty space that is present in conjunction with normal content. Usage data including both positive and negative feedback is collected and stored on a server. | 12-11-2008 |
20080306825 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MAKING AWARDS BASED ON THE TRAVELS OF AN ARTIFACT - In one aspect, the invention discloses an itinerant artifact in the form of a toy that embarks on travel to different places. Associated with the artifact may be a mission which includes at least one location/place that the artifact must travel to in order to be eligible for an award. | 12-11-2008 |
20080306826 | System for Providing a Service to Venues Where People Aggregate - A system and method for providing a service to promoters, including venues and advertising sponsors, who wish to provide promotions. The service includes making promoter promotions accessible by the mobile phones of members associated with an organization. Typically a promotion and member are matched based on the member's geographical position, which may be reported by the member or determined automatically by a position sensor in their mobile phone, and optionally by the member's traits and behaviors. By accepting a promotion, a member may receive reward points which can be used to obtain goods and services. In addition to accessing promotions, members have mobile access to real-time information about the venues, such as the demographics of venue attendees and media posted by attendees concerning venue characteristics. Using the system, members can determine before going to a venue, such as a nightclub or bar, which venue has their preferred attendee demographic, atmosphere, music, cover charge, drink specials, friends, etc. | 12-11-2008 |
20080313027 | FAIR DISCOUNTING AUCTION - The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates employing an online auction in which a coupon is fairly administered. An online auction environment that can employ an auction to identify a fair market value of at least one of a good or a portion of a service, wherein the auction can receive at least one bid from a bidder with a coupon and a bidder without a coupon. A randomizer component that can select one of a collection of bidders having coupons or a collection of bidders not having coupons based on a randomizing technique, wherein the online auction environment can identify an auction winner as a highest bidder within the selected collection, the highest bidder provides a highest bid from both the collection of bidders having coupons and the collection of bidders not having coupons. | 12-18-2008 |
20080313028 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONSUMER NOTIFICATION THAT AN ORDER IS READY FOR PICK UP VIA AN APPLICATION-SPECIFIC USER INTERFACE ON A PERSONAL COMMUNICATION DEVICE - Systems and methods for providing notification of order fulfillment for an order previously made at a retail device by a consumer interacting with a personal communication device are disclosed. According to one system and method, a notification is provided to the personal communication device that the order has been fulfilled, where the order was previously made by the consumer interacting with an application-specific user interface executing on the personal communication device and the application-specific user interface is provided on the personal communication device based on an identifier associated with the retail device received from the personal communication device. | 12-18-2008 |
20080313029 | PUSH-CACHING SCHEME FOR A LATE-BINDING ADVERTISEMENT ARCHITECTURE - A system providing late-binding of advertisements to video content and incorporating a push-caching scheme is disclosed. In general, the system includes an advertisement server located at a central location such as a central headend and a number of late-binding systems located at locations such as a number of remote headends. The late-binding systems are connected to the advertisement server via a Wide Area Network (WAN). Each of the late-binding systems is also connected to an associated advertisement cache via a Local Area Network (LAN). A cache assignment agent associated with the advertisement server operates to push advertisements to the advertisement caches associated with the late-binding systems in a predictive fashion based on, for example, historical information for the late-binding systems and/or profiles of users or viewers associated with the client devices served by the late-binding systems. | 12-18-2008 |
20080313030 | Category-based Advertisement - A hierarchical category system for organizing and displaying electronic advertisements is disclosed. Each electronic advertisement is assigned one or more categories from a hierarchical categorization system. Similarly, each available advertisement placement location is also provided with a category from the hierarchical categorization, system. Then, when displaying advertisements, the system attempts to locate advertisements that have matching categorizations. When no matching advertisement with an exact matching categorization can be found, the system will attempt to locate an advertisement from a more specific (child) category that is a sub category of the current category. However, the advertisement from the more specific (child) category must specify the broader category within its own allowable fall-back path. | 12-18-2008 |
20080313031 | CLASSIFICATION OF IMAGES AS ADVERTISEMENT IMAGES OR NON-ADVERTISEMENT IMAGES - An advertisement image classification system trains a binary classifier to classify images as advertisement images or non-advertisement images and then uses the binary classifier to classify images of web pages as advertisement images or non-advertisement images. During a training phase, the classification system generates training data of feature vectors representing the images and labels indicating whether an image is an advertisement image or a non-advertisement image. The classification system trains a binary classifier to classify images using training data. During a classification phase, the classification system inputs a web page with an image and generates a feature vector for the image. The classification system then applies the trained binary classifier to the feature vector to generate a score indicating whether the image is an advertisement image or a non-advertisement image. | 12-18-2008 |
20080313032 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A POINTS INCENTIVE PROGRAM - The present invention is a method for operating a points incentive program comprising three steps. The first step is to provide consolidation of third party account information into a single source identifier. The second step is to allocate points received by the source identifier to each respective third party account in their due proportion. The final step is to distribute those points received by the source identifier to each respective third party account, in their due proportion. This method allows users to participate in multiple reward or incentive programs without carrying with them, multiple individual source identifiers connected to each of said reward or incentive programs. | 12-18-2008 |
20080313033 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ADVERTISEMENT DELIVERY IN WIRELESS NETWORKS - The invention provides for advertising content selection, presentation, and statistics reporting at a wireless user terminal. The invention includes a method for selecting a subset of advertising content for presentation at the wireless user terminal. The invention includes a method for presenting advertising content at a wireless user terminal in response to one or more conditions detected at the wireless user terminal. The invention includes a method for collecting advertising content presentation statistics and providing the advertising content presentation statistics to at least one network system. In one embodiment, the invention may include one or more of the advertising content selection, presentation, and statistics reporting functions. | 12-18-2008 |
20080313034 | Credit item tracking system - A transaction system comprising: a participating vendor tracking mechanism that identifies at least one participating vendor which has authorized at least one certificate to be sold at a face value determined by a promotional campaign and rate plan; a purchase interface that generates a request by a customer for at least one certificate in real time; and a credit tracking system whereby credits are issued to a participating vendor for each certificate authorized in real time. | 12-18-2008 |
20080313035 | System and method for providing print advertisements - A system and method for providing print advertisements is presented. A target audience is assembled from characteristics about readers. Advertising content is targeted to the target audience. The characteristics of the target audience are analyzed against the advertising content to identify potential advertisers. At least one of the potential advertisers is selected. At least one print advertisement for the selected advertiser is included on the document. | 12-18-2008 |
20080313036 | System and method for providing advertisements in online and hardcopy mediums - A system and method for providing advertisements in online and hardcopy mediums is presented. Advertising content is targeted to a target audience. The characteristics of the target audience are analyzed against the advertising content to identify potential advertisers. At least one of the potential advertisers is selected. One or more advertisements for the selected advertiser is included on a document. The document is provided on at least one of online and hardcopy mediums. | 12-18-2008 |
20080313037 | Interactive advisory system - A method for passing content to at least one communicator device. The user of a communicator device registers with at least one service provider for delivering a plurality of different types of content to be passed to the at least one communicator device. A user defined priority is assigned to the at least one type of content. The user-defined priority is stored on a computer readable medium. The different types of content are passed to the at least one communicator device based on the user defined priority. | 12-18-2008 |
20080313038 | METHOD, SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR USERS TO BUILD AND USE DIGITAL PRODUCTS AND FOR ADVERTISERS TO COMMUNICATE WITH USERS IN A MANNER THAT DOES NOT MITIGATE USER EXPERIENCE - Serving targeted advertisements to a user within a virtual environment. The virtual environment is displayed to the user on a client and enables selection of components for use within the virtual environment. Component selections, associated with one or more attributes are obtained from a user, and a custom product, which is interactively navigable and has a set of interactivity characteristics, is constructed by combining the component selections. A condition within the virtual environment triggers a set of events, and an advertisement, concerning a product component, is served to the user in response and in accordance with a comparison of ad-serve parameters and information associated with the component selections. The custom product can be selectively modified in response to any user interaction with the served advertisement, and its interactivity characteristics accordingly modified. Performance ratings and comparisons thereof can be computed based on the customized product or alternatively customized product. | 12-18-2008 |
20080313039 | Systems and Methods to Facilitate the Specification of a Complex Geographic Area - Methods and systems to specify complex geographic areas for advertisements to connect advertisers and customers for real time communications. One embodiment includes: a web server to present a user interface to receive input specifying a plurality of geographic areas and one or more operations to combine the plurality of geographic areas into a geographic area of service of an advertisement and to provide the advertisement with a reference of a connection server for presentation to a customer when a location of the customer matches with the geographic area of service of the advertisement; and a connection server to receive a request from the customer for a connection to an advertiser of the advertisement and to provide the connection for real time communications between the customer and the advertiser in response to the request made via the reference of the connection server. | 12-18-2008 |
20080313040 | Content distribution system including cost-per-engagement based advertising - Content distribution systems that support Cost-Per-Engagement (CPE) based advertising are disclosed. One embodiment includes a server connected to a network and a plurality of user computers connected to the network. In addition, the server is configured to host an interactive web site that enables the uploading of pieces of content in response to the online marketing campaign and the distribution of pieces of uploaded content, each user computer is configured to interact with the web site, the server is configured to track the number of pieces of content uploaded to the website in response to the online marketing campaign, the number of pieces of uploaded content distributed to user computers and the number of other interactions between the user computers and the website, and the server is configured to determine a cost to charge for hosting the marketing campaign based upon at least the number of pieces of content uploaded to the website in response to the online marketing campaign, the number of pieces of uploaded content distributed to user computers and the number of other interactions between the user computers and the website. | 12-18-2008 |
20080313041 | MULTI LEVEL MARKETING FOR BUSINESSES AND CONSUMERS - A novel marketing system and method wherein consumers and businesses join a network which increases commercial activity in a synergetic manner, providing profits and monetary rewards to consumer members and participant businesses. Participant businesses use the network as a platform for self advertising for which expenses are paid only after achieving a sale. The customers in the network are associated with a club, are placed in a multilevel structure reflecting recruiting order, and get rewards which are associated to actual sales in the whole network for which they are directly or indirectly responsible. A fundamental aspect of the multilevel marketing network of present invention is the fact that it is expanding continuously by recruiting both new consumers and new participating businesses. | 12-18-2008 |
20080313042 | USER DRIVEN SYSTEM FOR ENABLING ASSOCIATIVE ENDORSEMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF BRANDING CAPSULES - Building brand awareness that enables users to personally endorse and drive branded messages to a plurality of targets that have a high likelihood of being receptive to the message and associated branding. To ensure that the brand messaging is kept consistent with the desires of the advertiser a repository of brand capsules is available for driving users to select from. To propagate a brand capsule into the community the driving user selects the brand capsule from the repository and associates it with an anticipated event the driving user wishes to associate with the chosen brand. After identification of the targets the brand capsule is forwarded to the targets via a transport mechanism appropriate for carrying the encapsulated imagery and data to the target users. By sending out the brand capsule the driving user implicitly or explicitly endorses the brand by associating it with a personal event, message or request. | 12-18-2008 |
20080313043 | Method and System for Advertising a Product or Service - The present invention provides a method of advertising a product or a service. The method involves distributing an advertisement to a viewer, wherein the advertisement includes an embedded code. In a typical embodiment, the viewer would view the advertisement, take note of the embedded code, and send the code to the advertisers or third-party administrator. In response to receiving the code, the advertiser or third-party administrator would distribute a voucher to the viewer. | 12-18-2008 |
20080313044 | Method and system for payment and/or issuance of credits via a mobile device - System and method for delivering upon request credits having monetary value to a mobile device using a communications network. An account of available credit for the user of the mobile device is maintained and authorization to issue credit is generated when a request for credit for the mobile device is received and there is available credit in the account associated with the mobile device equal to or greater than the requested credit. Credit may be sponsored by one or more sponsors and issued to the user, upon authorization, to enable the user to use the mobile device to purchase items, e.g., at a point of sale terminal. | 12-18-2008 |
20080313045 | Using payment mode rankings responsive to item attributes - A method and system are described for obtaining at least a first mode ranking and a second mode ranking responsive to one or more categorical attributes of a first item and to one or more payment mode use constraints and transmitting at least an indication of a first payment mode responsive to at least the first mode ranking or the second mode ranking. | 12-18-2008 |
20080319838 | REWARD SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ONLINE CREDIT AND DEBIT CARD TRANSACTIONS - A reward system and method including a card issuing institution that issues debit or credit cards to cardholders. Each cardholder has a cash back account set up by the institution and a cash back program provided by said institution rewards its cardholders with a predetermined cash value dependent on the cardholder's usage of the credit or debit card used by the cardholder and depositing said cash value in the cardholder's cash back account. The institution provides the identity of at least one supplier and each cardholder has online access to said supplier so that the cardholder can purchase goods or services from the supplier upon accumulation of a predetermined amount of cash in the cardholder's cash back program. The institution provides an online clearing program for receiving sales information from the supplier when a purchase is made by a cardholder and debiting said cardholder's cash in the cash back program with the amount of the sales information. | 12-25-2008 |
20080319839 | DYNAMICALLY CREATING A CONTEXT BASED ADVERTISEMENT - A method and a system dynamically generates an advertisement based on one or more tokens distilled from information about a web session that requested a web page. For example, a token is distilled from information about a web session. Data is retrieved from a commerce database based on the token. The retrieved data is assembled into an advertisement, which is then supplied for rendering with the web page. | 12-25-2008 |
20080319840 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REAL-TIME TV ADVERTISEMENT AUCTION IN A TV-OVER-IP ENVIRONMENT - A system for real time auctioning of advertising timeslots for live TV transmission over IP networks incorates settop boxes interconnected to a searver to provide real time viewing statistics to an advertising management system which also receives subscriber information from a subscriber management system which also management system determines demographics responsive to the subscriber information and viewing statistics and publishes advertising timeslot information and the determined demongraphics. A management terminal is employed for creating user accounts, providing access information to users, inspecting and approving advertisements responsive to input the advertisements from the users. Bid parameters are defined using the management terminal and the publication by the system to the users is responsive to the bid parameters. User terminals are provided for uploading advertisements to the advertising management system and the advertising management system further assigns unique identification to the uploaded advertisements. The user terminals upload advertising parameters, receive the published time slots and demographics and submit bids to the advertising management system. The advertising management system receives the bids and inserts predefined advertisements responsive to a winning bid. | 12-25-2008 |
20080319841 | Per-Machine Based Shared Revenue Ad Delivery Fraud Detection and Mitigation - A per-machine based owner compensation advertising delivery systems targets advertising content to individual computer machines. Computer owners are compensated by receiving a portion of the per-machine advertising revenue, obtaining subsidized ad software, or by other financial agreements corresponding to ad delivery to a specific computer. The client software responsible for showing the ad content is also responsible for requesting ads from a server of an ad delivery service provider based on a deterministic combination of sequence and timing information that is also known by the server. The server may detect potential client fraud based on the comparing the pattern, frequency, and content of received ad requests to the expected behavior of the client machine, and then take action to mitigate the fraud through various strategies. | 12-25-2008 |
20080319842 | PIXEL CLUSTER TRANSIT MONITORING FOR DETECTING CLICK FRAUD - Detecting click fraud that includes a server that hosts a website that includes a web page containing an advertisement. The server provides an advertisement on a web page, provides pixel clusters on the web page with the advertisement, each pixel cluster having an associated mechanism for capturing whether a cursor on the web page has transited the associated pixel cluster, and collects information based on the capturing of each associated mechanism of information regarding the transit of the pixel cluster by a cursor. The collected information is useable in a determination of a confidence level pertinent to the determination of click fraud occurring on the advertisement on the web page. The server verifies the cursor on the web page has transited at least one pixel cluster on the web page prior to a controller of the cursor clicking the advertisement. | 12-25-2008 |
20080319843 | SUPPLY OF REQUESTED OFFER BASED ON POINT-OF-SERVICE TO OFFEREE DISTANCE - An automated communication system supplies a requested offer for inventory to an offeree based on the distance between an offeror-merchant to the offeree. A consumer can request an in-person offer for inventory using a consumer device that transmits to a Requested Offer Supplier (ROS) the request, the location of the consumer device to a Requested Offer Supplier (ROS), and a return address. The ROS matches the consumer's request for inventory to a set of merchants having the requested inventory, and that are willing to make an in-person offer for the requested inventory. The ROS transmits the in-person offer to the consumer with the consumer device. The customer may then travel to the offering merchant and enter into a transaction with the merchant for the requested inventory that applies the in-person offer to the transaction. | 12-25-2008 |
20080319844 | Image Advertising System - Systems and methods are described for image advertising. In one implementation, an image owner registers an image-bearing medium, such as a website, device, email account, messenger account, printing service, etc., including proprietary images, with a service. The service may connect with the image-bearing medium, for example, by using a crawler to find and analyze images and surrounding text on the website or other image-bearing medium. Then a relevancy engine automatically matches each candidate image with one or more relevant advertisements, based on criteria such as visual image content, surrounding text, and textual/thematic description of the image from an automatic content analysis. The matched advertisements are displayed within or near the associated image, whenever the image is displayed or accessed, e.g., on the Internet. The advertisement owner may pay the image owner a monetary compensation, which in one implementation depends on the number of viewers who access the image. The systems and methods may be applied wherever images are displayed, copied, or transferred. | 12-25-2008 |
20080319845 | PRINTING INCENTIVE AND OTHER INCENTIVE METHODS AND SYSTEMS - Embodiments of the invention provide printing incentive methods and systems. In one embodiment, a method of providing advertising content to a customer can be provided. The method can include receiving information associated with a customer. In addition, the method can include receiving information associated with at least one advertiser. Furthermore, the method can include associating at least one keyword with the at least one advertiser. Moreover, the method can include comparing the at least one keyword to a portion of information associated with the customer. Further, the method can include outputting advertising content to the customer based at least in part on the comparison. | 12-25-2008 |
20080319846 | Method and System of Electronic Couponing and Marketing - A method and system of electronic couponing and marketing where a third-party intermediary distributes coupons to consumers through a website and the retailer's existing preferred accounts. The method comprises identifying a user, linking the user to an identifier distributed by a seller, enabling the user to search a database and select coupons, associating the selected coupons with the user, allowing the user to purchase items and redeem the selected coupons, tracking information regarding the searching, selecting and redeeming, and utilizing the information to generate a marketing strategy for vendors directed to users. The system uses a computer with means for connecting to the Internet, a user identification input and a user verification protocol, a storage medium containing demographic and geographic information about the consumer, electronic coupons, and searching, selection and redemption histories of the consumer. | 12-25-2008 |
20080319847 | Platform for Loyalty Services - A platform for a loyalty program provides an interface allowing a consumer to create a benefit tailored for his/her needs. In one embodiment, a consumer accesses the platform via a web-based interface, and selects benefit/reward parameters including but not limited to the nature of the event triggering award of the benefit, the source (i.e. retailer) of the benefit, the nature of the benefit (i.e., discount based upon purchase price or accumulated loyalty points), and/or the events allowing accrual of loyalty points. The interface communicates the inputted parameter to an engine of the loyalty program. The platform would then check the inputted parameter against any constraints, such as parameters of an existing loyalty program in which the consumer is already enrolled. | 12-25-2008 |
20080319848 | Fresh ad - The present invention is a wipe or towelette with advertising space that may be on an outside package or on the wipe itself. The wipe is attached to a product, the product is of a type that would that may have a user utilize the wipe for cleaning various body parts of the user after touching the product. | 12-25-2008 |
20080319849 | Apparatus and method for discount integration into an on-line pricing engine - A user may submit a request for pricing information for an item (such as a product or service). Multiple vendors that offer the item are identified, and multiple discounts associated with the item and/or the vendors are identified. A web page that includes pricing information associated with the item is provided to a user. For example, for each vendor, the web page could identify a price of the item offered by the vendor, a discount amount associated with one of the discounts, and a total cost of the item offered by the vendor (which is based on the discount amount). The web page presented to the user could initially identify an optimal discount for each of the vendors and present a link for each vendor. If the user selects a link, a pop-up window identifying multiple discounts honored by the vendor could be displayed for selection by the user. | 12-25-2008 |
20080319850 | Method for managing website advertising space - Method for managing website advertising space, according to which advertisers access a service provider server, which is dedicated to manage website advertising space of authorized host sites. Each advertiser is associated with a corresponding advertiser server and each of the host sites is associated with a corresponding host site server. The advertiser uploads an advertisement and/or advertiser data, such as target website characteristics and budgetary information, to a database of the service provider server. The host site administrator defines advertising spaces in that site. An executable code that is linkable with the service provider server is embedded within each advertising space of a host site web page and then the host site administrator searches the database and selects an advertisement to be displayed. The service provider server associates an advertising space with the selected advertisement and then a user accesses the host site web page. Identified data is then transmitted with the associated advertising space the executable code associated with the service provider server and the selected advertisement program file is displayed within the associated advertising space. | 12-25-2008 |
20080319851 | Using delegation for distributing protected content - In various embodiments, a content distribution model is provided in which content providers that own content can distribute their content to third-party content distributors who are unaffiliated with the content providers. The content distributors can, in turn, manipulate the content to provide supplemental content, such as advertising and the like, and then distribute the manipulated content to users who are authorized to consume the content. In this way, content providers are relieved of the responsibility of owning or controlling how such other supplemental content is integrated with their protected content. In this manner, manipulation of the content is delegated to third party content distributors. In one or more embodiments, a ticket-based approach is used as a basis to authenticate that third-party distributors are, in fact, authorized to distribute presentations that include the content provider's content. The ticket-based approach can be used for both server-based verification and client-based verification scenarios. | 12-25-2008 |
20080319852 | Interactive advertisement overlays on full-screen content - In accordance with one or more aspects, an interactive advertisement overlay is displayed on a full-screen display of program and/or video commercial content. At the end of display of the video commercial content, the display of the interactive overlay is terminated, and an advertising icon is displayed during a full-screen display of program content. The display of the interactive advertisement overlay is reinstated in response to a user selecting the advertising icon. In accordance with one or more other aspects, program content and video commercial content are displayed on a full-screen display of a display device. An interactive advertisement overlay is also displayed on the full-screen display. The interactive advertisement overlay includes advertising information associated with a sponsor of the program content. | 12-25-2008 |
20080319853 | Method of Obtaining Advertising Locations - A method includes the steps of working with a beer or soft drink company to obtain site placement rights adjacent a beer or soft drink retailer, placing a beer or soft drink staging structure at the site, storing beer or soft drinks in the structure and marketing beer or soft drinks on the structure. | 12-25-2008 |
20080319854 | REWARD SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ONLINE CREDIT AND DEBIT CARD TRANSACTIONS - A reward system and method including a card issuing institution that issues debit or credit cards to cardholders. Each cardholder has a cash back account set up by the institution and a cash back program provided by said institution rewards its cardholders with a predetermined cash value dependent on the cardholder's usage of the credit or debit card used by the cardholder and depositing said cash value in the cardholder's cash back account. The institution provides the identity of at least one supplier and each cardholder has online access to said supplier so that the cardholder can purchase goods or services from the supplier upon accumulation of a predetermined amount of cash in the cardholder's cash back program. The institution provides an online clearing program for receiving sales information from the supplier when a purchase is made by a cardholder and debiting said cardholder's cash in the cash back program with the amount of the sales information. Alternatively, an internet provider may be the clearing house for the system coupled to the cardholder, the card issuing institution, and the supplier. | 12-25-2008 |
20080319855 | ADVERTISING AND MARKETING BASED ON LIFEOTYPES - The methods and systems described herein may involve determining at least one lifeotype of at least one individual, analyzing the at least one lifeotype, and targeting an advertisement to at least one individual based on the analysis. The methods and systems described herein may involve determining at least one lifeotype of at least one individual, analyzing the at least one lifeotype, and providing information regarding the at least one lifeotype to at least one individual. The methods and systems described herein may involve determining at least one lifeotype of a population of individuals, aggregating the lifeotype information, analyzing the lifeotype information, and providing an output regarding the at least one individual in the population. | 12-25-2008 |
20080319856 | Desktop Extension for Readily-Sharable and Accessible Media Playlist and Media - A system and method for distributing and providing access to media and for extending such access to a desktop environment is described. A media player in a webpage or in a desktop environment may reference a centralized location to access a playlist of media files. The playlist itself may reference remotely-located media files that may be streamed to the media player. The media player may be distributed in multiple environments, and updates to the playlist may be automatically distributed to all instances where the playlist is referenced due to the centralized reference in the media player. The embodiments of the media player may also be used in advertising as a mechanism for increasing user contact with an advertising entity and as a mechanism for distributing announcements and information by the advertiser. | 12-25-2008 |
20080319857 | Managing content resources - Content resources are managed. A request is received from a user for access to a source of content resources. It is determined that the user is authorized for access to the source. A portal Web page is generated based on a set of content element data applicable to the subscriber. The portal Web page is returned to the user. A system for use in managing content resources has a switch for receiving requests from Web browsers, a content resource management engine in communication with the switch, and a billing system in communication with the content resource management engine. | 12-25-2008 |
20080319858 | AUTOMATED SYSTEM TO DETERMINE, STORE, AND SHARE THE RELEVANCE OF INFORMATION, AND TO ASSIGN TRUST TO THAT INFORMATION - A system includes a relator configured to receive data from an external source, a data store configured to store the data, a first processor to assign a relevance value to each of the stored data, a transceiver to receive a query for data meeting certain criteria, and a second processor to analyze the relevance value of each of the stored data in order to determine whether the certain criteria are met. The system automatically determines, stores, and shares relevant information by establishing trusted relationships. | 12-25-2008 |
20080319859 | Digital Media Methods - Many digital media methods are detailed. In one, consumers are provided incentives for viewing commercials. In another, charges for entertainment content are assessed based on the percentage actually rendered to a consumer. Signature data can be derived from the advertisements and entertainment content to implement such methods. A variety of other features and arrangements are also disclosed. | 12-25-2008 |
20080319860 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ON-LINE BIDDING - A bidding application embedded into an online video sharing platform enables bidding for advertisements as an overlay on published video clips. The invention is applicable to any user generated video web site. Players, or bidding actors, may bid for the sponsorship of the video clip in an online bidding game. | 12-25-2008 |
20080319861 | System and method for advertising on a peer-to-peer network - A system for advertising on a Peer-to-Peer network detects a search request of a node in a Peer-to-Peer network. After detecting a search request, the system prepares an unsolicited response (e.g., advertisement) to the search request of the node. Once the unsolicited response is prepared, the system sends the unsolicited response to the node. For example, a Peer-to-Peer network node issues a search request and a system prepares an advertisement (e.g., an unsolicited response). After preparing the advertisement, the system sends the advertisement to the Peer-to-Peer network node that issued the search request. The process of sending advertisements can be made to each node issuing a search request without discrimination. In one example, the system detects a search request of a node in a Peer-to-Peer network; prepares an advertisement in response to the search request of the node based on a predetermined search criteria; and sends the advertisement to the node for advertising on the Peer-to-Peer network. | 12-25-2008 |
20080319862 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PREVENTING AD STRIPPING FROM AD-SUPPORTED DIGITAL CONTENT - Methods for preventing ad stripping from ad-supported digital content include removing part of the content, and using a digital rights management (DRM) proxy server to provide links to any removed content part and to ads to be inserted in the content to a player who plays the content with the ads. The DRM proxy server ensures that the player cannot distinguish between removed content parts and the ads. A system enabling the method includes in addition to the DRM server and player an encoder used to remove at least one part from the content, encode the remaining content and the removed part and supplying links to each removed part to the DRM proxy server. The system further includes an ad server used to provide links to ads to the DRM proxy server. | 12-25-2008 |
20080319863 | Using payment mode rankings responsive to item attributes - A method and system are described for obtaining at least a first mode ranking and a second mode ranking responsive to one or more categorical attributes of a first item and to one or more payment mode use constraints and transmitting at least an indication of a first payment mode responsive to at least the first mode ranking or the second mode ranking. | 12-25-2008 |
20090006188 | ASSOCIATING AN ACTIVITY WITH AN ONLINE ADVERTISEMENT - The disclosed subject matter pertains to systems and/or methods that facilitate associating user activity, such as offline user activity, with an online advertisement. An ad link component can receive information associated with online activity and offline activity of a user, online advertisements, and other information, and can analyze such information. The online activity can include viewing, clicking on, pledging interest in, or obtaining a token related to, an online advertisement. The ad link component can employ ad link criteria to determine whether offline user activity, such as a purchase or other desired activity, can be associated with the online advertisement. If the ad link component determines the offline user activity is associated with the online advertisement, an incentive, which can be based on incentive criteria, can be awarded to the user. A distribution component can distribute the incentive to the account of the user. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006189 | DISPLAYING OF ADVERTISEMENT-INFUSED THUMBNAILS OF IMAGES - An image advertisement system of a computing device displays as part of a display page an advertisement-infused thumbnail of an image prior to displaying the image. The image advertisement system initially receives a display page with an indication of an image to be displayed as part of the display page. The image advertisement system generates an advertisement-infused thumbnail of the image by combining advertisement content with a thumbnail of the image. The image advertisement system then displays the display page with the advertisement-infused thumbnail of the image in place of the image. The image advertisement system then replaces the displayed advertisement-infused thumbnail with the image. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006190 | DETERMINING LOCATION-BASED COMMERCIAL INFORMATION - Techniques for determining location-based commercial information are described The techniques include receiving a request for an advertisement to be presented together with content provided over a delivery network to a recipient, performing a process to identify advertisement information to be presented based on the content, and if advertisement information is not identified by the process, identifying commercial information to be presented based an geographic location of the recipient and communicating over the delivery network, the identified commercial information to the recipient. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006191 | TARGETING IN-VIDEO ADVERTISING - Techniques for presenting a content item with a media item are described. The techniques include receiving user input indicating a placement preference for a content item to be presented with a media item. The placement preference indicates a presentation preference of the content item relative to presentation of the media item. The placement preference is used to influence selection of a media item with which the content item is to be presented. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006192 | Point of Presence Sponsorship Mechanism for Digital Content Objects - Particular embodiments of the present invention are related to a point-of-presence distribution and sponsorship mechanism facilitating sponsored distribution and use of digital content, ad content and revenue generation opportunities. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006193 | Digital Voice Communication Advertising - Techniques for providing third party incentivized communications sessions are described. In some embodiments, a Voice over IP (VoIP) conversation is sampled for audio information such as a word, phrase, utterance, or phoneme that may be associated with an advertisement in a database. The database may be searched for the audio information, or in some embodiments a text equivalent of the audio information, and the associated advertisement may be served to a participant in the VoIP communication session. In some implementations, data from or about the conversation may be compiled for analysis. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006194 | Location, destination and other contextual information-based mobile advertisements - Described is a technology by which an advertisement is selected for output on a mobile (e.g., vehicle navigation) system based on contextual data, including current state data from a location-sensing (e.g., GPS) device. The advertisement may be an image displayed at a location on a map corresponding to a physical location of the advertiser. The contextual data may include location, direction and destination data, user preference data and user-provided data such as calendar, task and/or contacts data. Examples of other contextual data include age data, gender data, number of vehicle occupants data, vehicle make data, vehicle model data, and/or vehicle style data. In one aspect, the user may interact with the advertisement, e.g., to communicate an order for a product or service corresponding to the advertisement. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006195 | System for targeting communications based on media interaction habits - A method of sending a targeted communication on behalf of an interested party to individuals that access media content through a media service provider includes receiving information regarding particular media content accessed by each of the individuals from the associated media service providers, storing that information in a secure manner, establishing one or more criteria for identifying desired recipients of the communication, identifying selected individuals to receive the communication based on the one or more criteria and the particular media content information, and causing the communication to be sent to the selected individuals by one of one or more communication methods. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006196 | Handheld communications device in system for and method of enhancing product selection and purchase in retail environments - A system for, and method of, enhancing product selection and purchase in a retail environment, utilizes a handheld device that includes a cellular telephone operative for long-range, mobile, wireless communication over a wide cellular network, a solid-state imager having an array of image sensors for capturing return light from a target, and a communications interface operative for short-range, mobile, wireless communication over a local network associated with the retail environment. A controller is operatively connected to the telephone, the imager and the interface, and is operative for automatically pairing the handheld device with the local network by operating the imager to capture the return light from a command target code associated with the retail environment. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006197 | Profile based advertising method for out-of-line advertising delivery - A system and method of delivering and accessing information including advertisements targeted to a user that assures the privacy protection of the user, allows the user to access the advertisements without interrupting the flow of desired information content, monitors the user's interaction with the advertisements to provide advertisers with performance-based feedback relating to their advertising services, and enables the user to control the degree to which payment for the delivered information is user or advertiser-supported. The system includes at least one computerized user device and at least one ad matching entity communicably coupled to at least one network. The computerized user device creates a user profile based upon data obtained by the device from observing various user actions, including the consumption/abandonment of content programs or advertisements, the visiting of web pages, the use of web search terms, etc. At a time or under conditions chosen by the user, the user profile data is securely transmitted from the computerized user device to the ad matching entity, which is a trusted third party. The ad matching entity temporarily stores the user profile data, matches at least one advertisement with the stored data, and transmits the advertisement targeted to the user to the computerized user device. The ad matching entity then permanently deletes all records and copies of the user profile from its data storage. At a later time chosen by the user, the user can consume the advertisement in an out-of-line fashion independently of the consumption of any desired information content. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006198 | Product displays for retail stores - Displays displaying encased demonstrative products provide shoppers in a retail store an opportunity to inspect a product before purchasing the product. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006199 | Advertisement application server in IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) network - In an advertisement system for an IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) network, multimedia advertisements are transmitted to end-user terminals according to three available advertising service functions: when a user terminal calls a designated phone number; when the system calls a user terminal, typically during a user-designated time window; and when a first user terminal calls a second user terminal, in the time period before the call is answered. The system includes an advertisement application server, which coordinates and manages operation of the system, and an advertisement media server, which stores and transmits the advertisement data to end-user terminals. In operation, upon determining to transmit advertisements to a user terminal, a link is established with the terminal. Multimedia advertising data (including picture/video content and audio content) is then transmitted from the media server to the user terminal over the IMS network. Users may be awarded service credits for viewing advertisements. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006201 | Method and apparatus for storing and accessing URL links - Information access is organized in a tree structure of items where each item has an XML data structure with a plurality of containers. The containers identify local or remote information which is accessed and displayed in a single display with multiple pains. The containers may include additional content, related advertising material, or other information such as search terms. A user may preview the name, URL, and descriptive material before accessing the URL link. Sponsor advertising or other graphics may be displayed in proximity to the tree structure display. URL links are to local files, applications, and remote files such as web pages and fttp file locations. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006202 | System and method for providing identity-based services - Users of Internet communication services (e.g., SKYPE messaging service, GOOGLETALK messaging service, AOL INSTANT MESSENGER messaging service, and MICROSOFT MESSENGER messaging service, IP PBX systems, etc.) that are initially identified using separate identifiers (e.g., username@serviceprovider) can manage these network identities using a single, personal, unified set of account information managed by a registry service. The registry authenticates the user's request(s) to bind a service provider identity to his or her personal registry identity by presenting a random challenge to the user that the registry must then receive back from the service provider corresponding to the identity being added. Later, the registry may authenticate itself to service providers using information received from a service provider application as the service provider application authenticates itself to the service provider. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006203 | PAYMENT ACCOUNT PROCESSING WHICH CONVEYS FINANCIAL TRANSACTION DATA AND NON FINANCIAL TRANSACTION DATA - A payment processing system enables a consumer to purchase items at a merchant using an account provided by an issuer. Financial data related to payment for the purchase are sent by the merchant through an acquirer and a transaction expeditor to the issuer. The issuer responds by determining whether to authorize the purchase and if authorized, sends a notification back to the merchant. The acquirer also issues non-financial data that is conveyed by the transaction expeditor to a recipient connected to the payment processing system. The financial and non-financial data for the same transaction may be sent in separate messages and a technique is provided for matching those messages at the recipient. Different types of non-financial data can be conveyed, such as identification of the items being purchased which the recipient uses to determine whether the consumer should receive a reward under a product purchase incentive program. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006204 | EXPEDITED CUSTOMER ACQUISITION METHOD FOR DEBIT PAYMENT LOYALTY PROGRAM - An expanded customer loyalty program includes an expedited method for acquisition of customers who use the debit method of payment for rewards. New customer acquisition may be accomplished by expeditiously associating the merchant's loyalty card and a customer identification number with the customer's current checking account. The customer acquisition system for a debit payment loyalty program comprises some hardware at the merchant's location, namely: 1. a two-sided check imager with franking functionality; and/or 2. a two-dimensional bar code reader (compatible with drivers' licenses in more than 20 States); and/or 3. a magnetic stripe reader for loyalty cards (also compatible with drivers' licenses in about 26 States); and 4. a printer; and 5. a pin-pad; and 6. an Internet-enabled communication and information processing device. The preferred customer acquisition system comprises some method steps to be performed at the merchant's location, namely: a. a customer provides the retail clerk with the customer's check, id card, and the merchant's loyalty card; and b. the retail clerk provides the customer with complete disclosure of the terms and conditions of the debit payment/customer loyalty rewards program; and c. the clerk then franks the check and authorizes the merchant's debit payment customer loyalty program; d. the customer then signs the check, confirming the authorization; e. the clerk then scans the customer's id (driver's license), runs the check through the imager, and swipes the loyalty card; and f. the customer then uses the pin-pad to create a 4 digit customer id number; and g. all information extracted from the customer's franked and signed check, id card, merchant's loyalty card, and pin-pad 4 digit id number is transmitted to the merchant's (or its loyalty program administrator's) servers and promptly approved or declined. If approved, from that time on, the customer will be able to use the merchant's loyalty card as a debit instrument at participating location of the merchant(s). | 01-01-2009 |
20090006205 | Consolidated Payment Options - A system for making financial transfers between subscribers of a financial transfer service is disclosed. The system may include a receiving subscriber interface (RSI), a sending subscriber interface (SSI), and an agent server (AS). The RSI may be configured to accept a set of invoice information including an identifier of a destination account. The SSI may be configured to accept a set of payment information including an identifier of a source account. The AS may be configured to receive the set of invoice information and create an invoice based on the set of invoice information. The AS may also be configured to transmit the invoice and receive the set of payment information. The AS may also be configured to cause an amount of funds to be transferred from the source account on a source transfer network to the destination account on a destination transfer network via a primary transfer network. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006206 | Systems and Methods for Facilitating Advertising and Marketing Objectives - A system and method for leveraging personal information published on social networking sites leverage gleaned psychographic profile information to produce revenues for both social networking sites and content producers. Personal information on every web page of the site is analyzed automatically to categorize publishers as belonging to one or more psychographic profiles that correspond to marketed products. Advertisers can then cater advertisements to psychographic profiles to better target a market audience, and information on psychographic profiles can be improved by tracking changes to the personal information over time. Psychographic profiling can also help filter desired media content towards publishers and/or advertisers. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006207 | Using Previous User Search Query To Target Advertisements - A system and method to target advertisements to a user search query using a previously entered user search query as well as the current search query. The previously entered search query can accompanying the current search query in a query referrer, or can be determined separately from the current search query. The relevance of the previous search query is determined with respect to the current search query, and if found relevant a combination of the two query terms is used to find a set of advertising keywords from which candidate advertisements to be targeted and served to the user with search results are found. The process can be extended to additional search queries. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006208 | Display of Video with Tagged Advertising - Tags associated with a video file cause informational images to be displayed at designated times which are correlated to the contents of the video images. The video may be displayed over the internet such that during the display of a video within a portion of the user's display screen, advertiser supplied text and/or images will appear on the display screen in a detail window which are coordinated to the content of the video at a particular time. The content provider's server provides advertising content within the detail window which allows the viewer to pursue multiple levels of content, even including placing an order from the advertiser, all while remaining on the original web page. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006209 | Overprint and Reprint - A point of sale terminal including a printer and electronic circuitry governing the operation of the printer, the electronic circuitry including transaction voiding responsive functionality for providing a visual indication of transaction voiding on transaction documentation. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006210 | Advertisement Providing System and an Advertisement Providing Method - The present invention relates to an advertisement information providing system and an advertisement information providing method. According to the present invention, when a data addresser transmits data to a data addressee through a data transmitting server of a network service medium or when the data addressee receives data from the data addresser through a data receiving server of the network service medium, an advertisement matched with the field of interests of which the data addresser and the data addressee are the most interested is generated in real-time and the generated advertisement is transmitted to the data addresser or the data addressee. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006211 | Network Content And Advertisement Distribution System and Method - A system and method for providing advertising content to a user that is traveling away from a base geographic location. A current physical location of the user is determined. The current physical location of the user is used in evaluating whether the user is traveling away from the base geographic location. Based at least in part on the evaluation that the user is traveling, one or more travel-appropriate advertisements are provided to the user. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006212 | Financial Institution Account-Associated Rewards Program - A system and method of operating a rewards program through a financial institution for granting rewards to customers enrolled in the rewards program wherein the customer receives one or more reward credits in an account associated with the financial institution if the customer meets certain qualification criteria. The method may include determining if the account qualifies for an award credit; assigning a reward credit to the account; receiving purchase information regarding a purchase made at a merchant associated with the customer's account; identifying from the purchase information whether the purchase was made at a qualifying merchant; and applying the reward credit towards the purchase made by the customer at the qualifying merchant by applying a reward credit to the customer's account based upon the business rules applicable to the reward program. The method also determines if a reward credit has expired, in which event either the merchant or the financial institution may receive the benefit of any unused or expired reward credits depending on the particular embodiment of the reward program. The method also creates and provides notification to the customer of reward credit information. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006213 | Dynamic Configuration of an Advertisement - Systems and methods for dynamically sizing, structuring and operating advertisements that include a variety of content, including interaction prompts and other elements, which enable an engagement-based revenue generation model. According to one embodiment, a computer implemented method comprises storing advertising content, serving an XML file from an advertising server to an advertisement manager in order to control a player on a user computer, dynamically generating the advertisement through the player based on directions from the advertisement manager and the stored content, and tracking and reporting a user's engagement with the advertisement in order to determine compensation for the publisher. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006214 | Interactive Advertising - Systems and methods for dynamically sizing, structuring and operating advertisements that include a variety of content, including interaction prompts and other elements, which enable an engagement-based revenue generation model. According to one embodiment, a computer implemented method comprises storing advertising content, serving an XML file from an advertising server to an advertisement manager in order to control a player on a user computer, dynamically generating the advertisement through the player based on directions from the advertisement manager and the stored content, and tracking and reporting a user's engagement with the advertisement in order to determine compensation for the publisher. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006215 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING, REVIEWING, EDITING, AND TRANSFERRING AN ADVERTISING UNIT IN A SINGLE ENVIRONMENT - This invention is directed to embodiments of systems and methods for generating, reviewing, editing, and transmitting an advertising unit in a single environment. In one embodiment, a method can include executing an ad unit component module program adapted to operate in a single environment. The method can further include simultaneously executing an authoring tool program to facilitate the single environment, wherein the authoring tool program is adapted by the ad unit component module program to provide functionality associated with authoring tool program. Furthermore, the method can include utilizing at least one tool associated with the ad unit component module program, wherein the at least one tool is adapted to generate an advertising unit in the single environment. | 01-01-2009 |
20090012852 | DATA MARKETPLACE AND BROKER FEES - In an advertising serving exchange or network, in one aspect, the invention features a computer-implemented method that includes enabling a data provider to provide a content-request tracking token that associates cookie information with a user when the user visits a website. The method also includes allowing, by the data provider, at least one business entity transacting in a common domain to perform an action based on the cookie information when the user subsequently accesses the webpage. The method can also include selecting an advertisement from one of a plurality of advertisers to be placed on a webpage based on the action. In some arrangements, the data provider passes a share of the proceeds back to the website that supplied the information (e.g., the website on which the pixel was placed). | 01-08-2009 |
20090012853 | INFERRING LEGITIMACY OF ADVERTISEMENT CALLS - There are methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for receiving advertisement calls at a first computing system from a second computing system, the first computing system and a second computing system being in electronic communication through a network, each advertisement call being defined by one or more variable-value pairs; extracting data from the advertisement calls, the extracted data including at least two sets of variable/value pairs, the first set of variable/value pairs including variable/value pairs of a first variable type, and the second set of variable/value pairs including variable/value pairs of a second variable type; and performing one or more tests on the extracted data to infer a legitimacy of at least a first subset of the advertisement calls. | 01-08-2009 |
20090012854 | FLEXIBLE, DYNAMIC DESIGN TO ALLOW FOR FIXED AND PERCENTAGE DISCOUNT PRICING AT CONFIGURABLE OPTION LEVELS - A method and system are disclosed for enabling fixed and percentage discount pricing at configuration option level, when a configurable product is ordered. The method comprises the steps of creating a condition table having information used to determine both fixed and percentage discount pricing. A Contract is also provided having information used to determine those discounts. When a product is ordered against the Contract, information from both the Contract and the condition table are used to determine the appropriate discount, if any, for each selected option item. The appropriate discount may be a fixed price discount, or a percentage discount based on the list price for the option. | 01-08-2009 |
20090012855 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USING CAPTCHAS AS ADS - A method of using advertisements in a Completely Automatic Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart (CAPTCHA) challenge/response transaction. In accordance with one aspect, a server allows access to some resource if the response to the ad/CAPTCHA challenge is an acceptable response. | 01-08-2009 |
20090012856 | Method of marketing local products and/or services - A method of marketing local products and/or services includes establishing a database of providers of local products and/or services, wherein the providers are classified into one or more business categories and each provider is certified prior to inclusion. User requests are received for information about providers of local products and/or services in a specified business category, and a list of providers classified in the specified business category is displayed to the user in response to the request. The list has a limited number of providers to avoid an excessive number of choices. | 01-08-2009 |
20090012857 | Real estate sign system - A real estate sign system comprising a plurality of real estate signs, a control system, a communications system, and a plurality of user devices. The real estate signs comprising an electronic device which communicates with the communications system and displays messages to viewers using a visual display, and a stand which supports the electronic device. The user devices accepts information from a user and communicates that information to the real estate sign system. The control system comprising a web server, which communicates with the user device, and a communications component which communicates with the communications system. The web server also communicates with the database to generate a message to be transferred to the real estate sign. The web server further communicates with the communications component to transfer information to the real estate sign. | 01-08-2009 |
20090012858 | PRICE PROTECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD - Disclosed herein is a system and method for price protection associated with one or more items purchased. A registered item, which comprises an item purchased by a buyer from a seller, is monitored electronically to obtain information associated with the item, including an item's current purchase price. If it is determined from electronically monitoring the status of the item that the buyer is eligible for a refund under a price protection policy covering the item purchased, the buyer is notified. | 01-08-2009 |
20090012859 | Targeted and Pulled Advertising System for Delivering Product Information Based on Consumer Requests - A pull-based method for disseminating marketing information to customers based on specific customer requests through a web based portal connected to a sever with a database of product information. The customer can receive the information via a variety of mediums from a distribution hub connected to the server. Information on consumer choices is stored on the server, which can be collated, ranked, and prioritized for use in tracking consumer requests for information. | 01-08-2009 |
20090012860 | REMUNERATION OF MEDICAL DONORS - A method for incentivizing donations by plasma donors is provided. | 01-08-2009 |
20090012861 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING TARGETED INFORMATION USING PROFILE ATTRIBUTES WITH VARIABLE CONFIDENCE LEVELS IN A MOBILE ENVIRONMENT - Various systems and methods for of generating a user profile for use in providing targeted-content-messages to a wireless access terminal (W-AT) are disclosed. For example, a user profile with at least one profile element may be provided to the W-AT, and a profile confidence level for the profile element may be also provided. | 01-08-2009 |
20090012862 | INSTANT ZERO INVENTORY FULFILLMENT REDEMPTION SYSTEM AND METHOD - An instant fulfillment system allows members of programs, such as an incentive, reward, affinity or loyalty program, to use an instant reward card to redeem currency or points stored in a database, for instant ‘rebates’ or ‘discounts’ at selected retailers. | 01-08-2009 |
20090012863 | AUTOMATIC IMAGE ADVERTISEMENT GENERATOR - A method for automatically generating image advertisements to supplement text advertisements within an advertisement group, the method comprising a means for determining the most relevant image on a destination URL linked to by an advertisement. Preferably, the method comprises obtaining at least two advertisement attributes selected from the group consisting of keywords for an advertisement, titles of text ads for an advertisement, subtitles of text ads for an advertisement, and destination URLs associated with an advertisement, then obtaining at least two image attributes selected from the group consisting of image file name, image file location, image “alt” attributes, and URL linked to through image, then through a comparison of said at least two ad group attributes to said at least two image attributes relevance of an image is determined, where a number of potential images may be used as one component to create the advertisement, the most relevant image is used in the creation of the advertisement for display to a user in the form of an advertisement. | 01-08-2009 |
20090012864 | COMPENSATION MODEL FOR NETWORK SERVICES - A compensation model is disclosed for compensating a network service provider. | 01-08-2009 |
20090012865 | CLICKABLE MAP INTERFACE FOR PRODUCT INVENTORY - A method is disclosed for providing a map for displaying inventory for sale. A clickable map interface allows users to view or purchase the inventory of a product from a seller at a particular location. A user can view the inventory of a product from sellers within a particular region. | 01-08-2009 |
20090012866 | SYSTEM FOR SELECTING AD INVENTORY WITH A CLICKABLE MAP INTERFACE - A method is disclosed for providing advertising content for display in a page over a network. Ad inventory is identified and/or organized based on a category and a geographic region. The ad inventory may be displayed on an interactive map that is used for selecting from the inventory based on the geographic location. | 01-08-2009 |
20090012867 | Engagement-Based Compensation for Interactive Advertisement - Systems and methods for dynamically sizing, structuring and operating advertisements that include a variety of content, including interaction prompts and other elements, which enable an engagement-based revenue generation model. According to one embodiment, a computer implemented method comprises storing advertising content, serving an XML file from an advertising server to an advertisement manager in order to control a player on a user computer, dynamically generating the advertisement through the player based on directions from the advertisement manager and the stored content, and tracking and reporting a user's engagement with the advertisement in order to determine compensation for the publisher. | 01-08-2009 |
20090012868 | Systems And Methods For Real-Time Allocation Of Digital Content - Systems, methods, and software products allocate digital content to advertising spaces in real time. Advertising space parameters for an advertising space are processed in an advertising space database. Sales parameters for the advertising space are processed in the advertising space database. Digital content is processed in a submitted content database. An advertising space owner is permitted access to the submitted content database for review of the digital content and approved digital content is tagged with an approval indicator. Bidding parameters for a time slot on the advertising space are processed and the time slot is auctioned to providers of the approved digital content. The approved digital content is distributed to the advertising space and winning digital content is aired during the time slot. | 01-08-2009 |
20090012869 | DYNAMIC DOCUMENT CONTEXT MARK-UP TECHNIQUE IMPLEMENTED OVER A COMPUTER NETWORK - Various techniques are disclosed for delivering contextually related advertising content to end users of a computer network. Advertiser campaign information may be accessed. In at least one embodiment, the campaign information may include a first plurality of keywords provided by an entity other than the end user of a client system. A first document associated with a first uniform resource locator (URL) may be identified. In at least one embodiment, the first document may include a first portion of original content to be displayed on the client system. Using the campaign information, specific original content of the first portion of original content may be selected to be converted to a first hyperlink having a second uniform resource locator (URL) associated therewith. In at least one embodiment, the specific original content includes a first text string matching at least one keyword from the campaign information. Markup operations may be performed on a first portion of specific original content. In at least one embodiment, the markup operations include converting the first portion of specific original content into a first hyperlink to the second URL, wherein the first hyperlink includes a first portion of marked up content. The first hyperlink may be displayed at the client system. In at least one embodiment, the display of the first hyperlink includes display of the first portion of marked up content. In at least one embodiment, when an event is detected relating to a location of a cursor at the client system being positioned over a portion of the displayed first hyperlink, a first overlay advertising impression may be automatically displayed at the client system. In at least one embodiment, the first overlay advertising impression includes advertising information comprising a second portion of content which is different from the first portion of marked up content. | 01-08-2009 |
20090012870 | Methods for driving traffic to a website - The present invention relates to methods and systems for driving traffic to a website and providing incentives for viewers to visit and spend time reviewing a website. According to certain preferred embodiments of the present invention, methods for increasing the number of visitors to a website are provided. In general, such embodiments comprise (a) providing a website in which a party may apply for membership; (b) awarding membership to the party if the party submits sufficient information to a server via the website; (c) periodically publishing the results of a potential award within the website, wherein the results of a potential award communicate to members of the website whether all of such members will share in a payment disbursement; and (d) requiring the members of the website to view one or more pages of the website in order to view the results of the potential award. | 01-08-2009 |
20090018903 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TARGETED EVENT NETWORKING - A method and apparatus that eliminates blind networking and allows targeted networking amongst event attendees, both for personal as well as professional reasons, while also making events ubiquitously available anytime anywhere beyond the physical limitations of time and space, such that anyone anywhere in the world can not only attend the event from the comfort of his office desk or home but also network with the other event attendees without physically attending the event is disclosed. Event hosts can be any non-profit/for-profit organization or entity hosting events of any nature in any realm. Another embodiment of the invention provides enhanced, multiple levels of profile content privacy that give complete freedom, control, and flexibility to the users to express themselves fearlessly by controlling the specific chosen contents in their profiles for input, storage, analysis, retrieval, and/or display to specific chosen authorized users or groups. Another embodiment of the invention provides integration in a chat/instant messaging to allow a user to set up an online meeting with one or more participants in the chat and/or that allows a user to find a meeting place where one or more participants can decide to meet in person locally or globally in various parts of the world. Another embodiment of the invention is related to sales and revenue generation, particularly for e-commerce/e-services companies whose products or services, which include but not limited to, yellow page, directory, or business information databases by area, reach large numbers of users directly. | 01-15-2009 |
20090018904 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTEXTUAL ADVERTISING AND MERCHANDIZING BASED ON USER CONFIGURABLE PREFERENCES - A computer-implemented system and method for contextual advertising and merchandising based on user configurable preferences is disclosed. The system in an example embodiment includes an advertising (ad) preferences service to obtain user preference information related to advertising, enable user configuration of the user preference information related to advertising, and modify the presentation of advertising to the user based upon the user configured preference information. | 01-15-2009 |
20090018905 | Power Puzzler - The current challenge in advertising is for internet advertisers and newspapers to get customers from the opposite media venue to use their product. Power Puzzler can draw newspaper readers to the internet, and also draw internet surfers to the newspaper. This unique usage of a standard crossword puzzle also has a unique capability that no other advertiser has been able to invent to date. It can advertise multiple businesses in one ad, while other advertisements are limited to one business at a time. The challenging puzzle draws the newspaper consumer to the Power Puzzler website for the solution to the puzzle. There, businesses gain additional exposure because each reference to the advertiser's business (slogan, logo, or company name) is a hyperlink to that advertiser's own website. Consumers are challenged by each puzzle to recall the advertisers' logo or slogan, and this achieves the goal of the puzzle—brand recognition. | 01-15-2009 |
20090018906 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONDUCTING SALES - Disclosed are systems, methods, and computer readable-media for conducting sales. The method embodiment comprises receiving an inquiry with at least one parameter from a user associated with a sale of an item, identifying one or more discount items that satisfy the inquiry, identifying comparable items for each discount item at nondiscount rates dynamically using real-time data, presenting one or more comparable groups to the user, each comparable group comprising one discount item and the respective comparable items, and furthering the sales process based on user input responding to the presented one or more comparable groups. Also disclosed is a method further comprising receiving a request from the user for multiple sub-items associated with the item, and engaging in a dialog with the user to enable payment for each of the multiple sub-items with one of a multiple payment types. | 01-15-2009 |
20090018907 | MANAGING IMPRESSION DEFAULTS - There are methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for receiving an ad call from a client computing system, determining whether an instance of the ad call was previously-received, and if so, designating a first ad creative supplier associated with the previous instance of the ad call as ineligible to participate in an auction in which a second ad creative supplier is selected to serve an ad creative responsive to the ad call. | 01-15-2009 |
20090018908 | ELECTRONIC COUPON DEVICE - A paperless online system is provided consisting of issuance of a PVC magnetic stripe Coupon Card to retail customers (cardholders) upon registration and Electronic Coupons, linked to a Coupon Card by cardholders via networks of personal computers or other devices. Each Electronic Coupon is descriptive data supplied by product Manufacturer or Service Provider, electronically stored in a Central Database, and is formatted to be displayed online for browsing and selection. Coupon data specifically describes instructions and discount amounts pertaining to the Electronic Coupon, UPC codes to which it applies, effective and expiration dates, as well as the number of Electronic Coupon instances to be issued in total and to each individual customer. Each Electronic Coupon can be linked to a card of any cardholder interested in receiving the discount designated by the Electronic Coupon. Electronic Coupon does not contain a barcode and does not need to be printed out in order to be redeemed. Retail Merchant's Point of Sale method is provided for Electronic Coupon redemption. It entails handling the transaction initiated with the Coupon Card as a type of payment, in order to provide appropriate discounts to cardholder. Multiple products or services can be discounted per each card swipe, corresponding to the Electronic Coupons linked to that card. The backend central processing method and system is provided, including the following: importing Electronic Coupon data into the Central Database, Coupon Card transaction receiving, processing and returning the result to Merchant's Point of Sale terminal, Manufacturer or Service Provider settlement and billing process, retail Merchant settlement and funding process. | 01-15-2009 |
20090018909 | Optional progressive price reduction system using sponsorship subsidization. - An optional progressive price reduction system using sponsorship subsidization which allows content owners to provide multiple purchasing options for consumers. The purchasing options provided by this system offers an incentive for consumers to obtain expensive internet based content delivered through a facilitator. At the point of sale of a product, consumers can choose a payment option comprising a prepaid sponsorship model which reduces the retail price according to the consumer's preference or pay the full retail price for consumers who wish to avoid advertising. | 01-15-2009 |
20090018910 | Virtual world interconnection technique - A method and system provides arrangements creating a relationship between a real-world entity and a virtual world environment. A virtual world patron can participate in various virtual world activities and transactions. Feedback may be provided and records kept regarding the virtual world activities and transactions. The virtual world patron may be a possible recipient of a real-world consequence or benefit based on a virtual world occurrence. In some instances confirmation of an awarded real-world benefit may be provided via a communication interconnection. | 01-15-2009 |
20090018911 | Systems and methods of providing advertising content - A system for providing advertising content includes a public display; a database configured to store the advertising content; and a central processing element configured to dynamically interact with participants in an activity and present the advertising content in connection with information about the activity on the public display. A method of providing advertising content includes conducting an activity involving participants; receiving input regarding the participants engaged in the activity; and displaying advertising content from a database concurrently with information regarding the activity. | 01-15-2009 |
20090018912 | Systems and Methods to Provide Communication Connections via Partners - Methods and apparatuses to provide user interfaces dynamically customized according to partners through which the user interfaces are accessed in a customer acquisition process. One embodiment includes providing to a plurality of entities a platform, configured to assign references for embedding in listings for presentation and configured to connect people for real time communications according to the references embedded in the listings, the references to be used to request the platform to provide the connections; responsive to a request received via a first entity of the plurality of entities, presenting a user interface of the platform in a first format to identify the first entity; and responsive to a request received via a second entity of the plurality of entities, presenting the user interface of the platform in a second format to identify the second entity. | 01-15-2009 |
20090018913 | SYSTEM FOR SERVING TARGETED ADVERTISEMENTS OVER MOBILE MESSAGING SERVICES - A system is described for serving targeted advertisements over mobile messaging services. The system may include a processor, a memory and an interface. The memory may store a content related to a mobile alert service and an advertisement. The content may be provided to a user when an alert condition is met. The interface may be operatively connected to the memory and may communicate with the user. The processor may be operatively connected to the memory and the interface. The processor may receive a request from the user, via the interface, to subscribe to the mobile alert service. The processor may detect when the alert condition is met and generate a mobile message containing the content. The processor may retrieve an advertisement related to the content and may attach the advertisement to the mobile message. The processor may provide the mobile message to the user via the interface. | 01-15-2009 |
20090018914 | REMOTE MONITORING SYSTEM - A remote monitoring system, for use in applications such as a vending machine, is disclosed. The remote monitoring system provides a user with a first code. The user transmits the first code to the entity that services the vending machine (or other installation). The first code not only provides the user with the opportunity to win a prize but also provides information about the status of the vending machine. The user then receives a second code that the user may enter into the machine to determine whether the user has won a prize but also to change the operation of the vending machine. | 01-15-2009 |
20090018915 | Systems and Methods Related to Delivering Targeted Advertising to Consumers - In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for delivering targeted advertising to users. A digital ad targeting system is adapted to operate with respect to expressly provided profiles of and relating to consumers. The expressly provided profiles may include psychographic information of and relating to consumers. The system may include an application, a database, and/or an interface. Related methods are disclosed. | 01-15-2009 |
20090018916 | MERCHANT REWARDS METHODS, SYSTEMS AND PRODUCTS THEREBY - A method, system and products thereby for enhanced customer loyalty program with improved access to restaurant information. The system having a server configured to perform operations including storing restaurant data of a participating restaurant in a database and retrieving the restaurant data in response to a search engine command. The server may be further configured to receive electronic notification from the participating restaurant of a qualified purchase transaction associated with a customer account in a customer rewards program. Additionally, the server may be further configured to transfer an award associated with the qualified purchase transaction to the customer account, and process a customer's directive for redeeming the award for use at the participating restaurant. | 01-15-2009 |
20090018917 | PLATFORM FOR ADVERTISEMENT REFERRALS FOR AUTHORS OF VIDEO CONTENT - Advertisements are combined with content, such as videos, in accordance with criteria provided by advertisers and content owners. Advertisers upload advertisement(s) for publication with content. Content owners upload content and select advertisers and/or advertisement(s) for sponsorship consideration. Advertisers review the content and decide whether or not to approve the advertisement/content combination. In one embodiment, a fast track pre-approval process may be used by advertisers for selected content owners. Upon approval, advertisement(s) are combined with the content and the combined content is made available for publication to an online audience. A portion of the revenue generated by the publication of the combined content is provided to the content owner. In addition, the size of the portion of revenue may be based on a sponsorship level, or the type of advertisement(s) combined with the content. | 01-15-2009 |
20090018918 | Influence-based Social Network Advertising - A system and method of advertising in computer-implemented social networks is disclosed. The influence level of members of the social network and explicit and inferred relationships among members are determined. Advertisements are delivered in association with content objects representing one or more members of the social network, where the content objects may include member profiles, as well as other content that is associated with the member. Selection of the advertisements may be based on inferences of member interests derived from system usage behaviors, as well as explicit indicators of members' interests and preferences. | 01-15-2009 |
20090018919 | System and Method for Tracking and Establishing a Progressive Discount Based Upon a Customer's Visits to a Retail Establishment - Methods, computer readable media and apparatus are disclosed for determining and applying a discount for a customer. In some embodiments, the process includes receiving transaction data that represents a current transaction, receiving a customer identifier of a customer, determining a current transaction time and a last transaction time, determining that a duration between the last transaction time and the current transaction time equals or exceeds a predetermined time period, and determining that the current transaction is a first instance of the customer equaling or exceeding the predetermined time period. Since it was the first time the customer equaled or exceeded the predetermined time period, a discount is applied to the current transaction. | 01-15-2009 |
20090018920 | Interaction Prompt for Interactive Advertising - Systems and methods for dynamically sizing, structuring and operating advertisements that include a variety of content, including interaction prompts and other elements, which enable an engagement-based revenue generation model. According to one embodiment, a computer implemented method comprises storing advertising content, serving an XML file from an advertising server to an advertisement manager in order to control a player on a user computer, dynamically generating the advertisement through the player based on directions from the advertisement manager and the stored content, and tracking and reporting a user's engagement with the advertisement in order to determine compensation for the publisher. | 01-15-2009 |
20090018921 | Taste sampling process and product - A method for marketing a target product having a flavor to a consumer. A consumable film that is distinct from the target product is provided to the consumer using at least one of the following channels: a print advertisement of the target product, a direct mail advertisement of the target product, a print media insert advertising the target product, a dispenser located at a point-of-purchase of the consumer, a display located at the point-of-purchase of the consumer, a coupon for the target product, a channel for test marketing the target product, an advertisement of the target product contained within a package that includes a product different from the product, or an advertisement of the target product attached to the exterior of a package that contains a different product. The consumable film contains at least one water soluble polymer. The consumable film adheres and dissolves in the mouth of the consumer and thereby renders a likeness of the flavor of the target product to the consumer. | 01-15-2009 |
20090018922 | System and method for preemptive brand affinity content distribution - An endorsed advertising engine, system and method, which includes at least one vault having media assets, a recommendation engine that matches the media assets from the vault with at least one requested creative, and a delivery engine that integrates the requested creative with the matched media assets from the vault. | 01-15-2009 |
20090024459 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REWARD POINTS EXCHANGE BETWEEN ACCOUNTS - A system and method for operating a reward points accumulation and redemption program wherein a user earns rewards from a plurality of reward issuing entities, with each tracking the user's earned rewards. A trading server accumulates some or all of the user's earned rewards from of the reward servers and credits the accumulated rewards into a single reward exchange account associated with the user. The user may then select an item for purchase with the accumulated rewards. The item is provided to the user in exchange for a subset or all of the rewards. Reward points may also be redeemed in exchange for services, such as the playing of a video game or Internet access. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024460 | CURSOR PATH VECTOR ANALYSIS FOR DETECTING CLICK FRAUD - A system and method for detecting click fraud where the movement of a cursor on a web page is tracked prior to an advertisement on the web page being clicked by a controller of the cursor. The tracking is performed by client code on a client device displaying the web page. A path taken by the movement of the cursor is mapped to at least one vector associated with the path by the client code. The at least one vector is useable to detect a click fraud. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024461 | CURSOR PATH VECTOR ANALYSIS FOR DETECTING CLICK FRAUD - A system and method for detecting click fraud where data related to at least one vector associated with a path taken by movement of a cursor on a web page prior to an advertisement on the web page being clicked by a controller of the cursor is received. Click fraud is detected based on an analysis of the received data. A pattern in the at least one vector is analyzed to determine if the cursor movement is human-like and a click fraud detected if the cursor movement is not human-like. In another embodiment, the at least one vector associated with the path is stored and compared with previously stored vectors associated with the path and a click fraud detected if the stored at least one vector is analogous to at least one of the previously stored vectors associated with the path. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024462 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING TARGETED OFFERS BASED ON A CREDIT ATTRIBUTE - A method and system for providing targeted advertising to consumers is disclosed. Identifying information for a consumer is received. A credit attribute for the consumer using the identifying information is retrieved. At least one advertisement is stored in which each advertisement includes a corresponding credit attribute range. An advertisement for presentation to the consumer is selected based on the credit attribute of the consumer and the credit attribute range of the advertisement. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024463 | TECHNIQUES FOR IMPROVING USER ENGAGEMENT WITH ADVERTISEMENTS - Methods and apparatus are described for stimulating user engagement with advertising content. Presentation of an interface in a display for viewing by a user is facilitated. The interface includes a content window occupying a substantially fixed location in the interface. Presentation of a sequence of units of content in the content window, some of which are advertisements is facilitated. Various techniques are described to encourage user engagement and interaction with the content window. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024464 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING CONSUMER DEFINED COUPONS - A method and system for providing consumer defined coupons includes a process for providing consumer defined coupons whereby a consumer proposes/defines the parameters or “terms” of a proposed coupon and/or marketing offer that the consumer feels would compel the consumer to purchase a product and/or service, shop at a defined store, or perform some other defined action. The consumer defined coupon terms are then provided to a potential coupon provider. The potential coupon provider is then provided the opportunity to review the consumer defined coupon terms. The potential coupon provider is then provided the opportunity to accept the consumer defined coupon terms, reject the consumer defined coupon terms, and/or propose alternative coupon terms. If the potential coupon provider accepts the consumer defined coupon terms, a coupon is then created and provided to the consumer. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024465 | ADAPTIVE ADVERTISEMENT PLACEMENT RESPONSIVE TO SEARCH TERMS - Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to search engine ad placement and provide a method, system and computer program product for adaptive ad placement responsive to search terms. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for adaptive ad selection can be provided. The method can include placing both an ad and a search component within a page, auto-completing a search fragment for the search component with a keyword list, matching the keyword list to a new ad, and inserting the new ad into the page. In this regard, placing the ad within the page can include placing a default ad for the page within the page to be replaced by the new ad responsive to the auto-completion of the search component. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024466 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SELLING DISCOUNTED FUEL - A system and method for selling discounted fuel which takes advantage of the efficiencies, lower transactional costs, and other savings of grocery stores and similar businesses to provide discounts at conventional fuel stations. The method is implemented by a grocery store or other business; a host computer system; one or more participating fuel stations; and a communications network for providing communications between the host computer system, the business, and the fuel station. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024467 | Serving Advertisements with a Webpage Based on a Referrer Address of the Webpage - Methods for selecting advertisements to serve to a client requesting a primary webpage is provided. The client displays a referring webpage having a hyperlink to the primary webpage. Upon selection of the hyperlink, the client sends a request to a content server storing the primary webpage, the request including a referrer of the primary webpage comprising a URL address of the referring webpage. The content server sends the primary webpage to the client which includes the referrer and an advertisement request mechanism configured to make an advertisement request to an advertisement server and attach the referrer to the advertisement request. The advertisement server uses the referrer to select one or more advertisements to serve to the client. The referrer may comprise one or more search query terms submitted by the client. The advertisement server may also use the content of the primary webpage to select the one or more advertisements. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024468 | System and Method to Facilitate Matching of Content to Advertising Information in a Network - A system and method to facilitate matching of content to advertising information in a network are described. A request for advertising information is received over a network, the advertising information to he displayed for a user entity in association with content information within a web page requested by the user entity. Advertising information related to one or more themes of the content information on the web page is further determined, the themes representing subject matter contextually related to the content information. Advertisements are further selected from the advertising information based on keywords and metadata stored within the web page and based on a set of predetermined parameters stored within the data storage module. The selected advertisements are further ranked to obtain a ranked list of advertisements. The ranked list of advertisements is subsequently optimized based on feedback data to obtain a list of optimized advertisements to be displayed for the user entity on the requested web page. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024469 | System and Method to Facilitate Classification and Storage of Events in a Network - A system and method to facilitate classification and storage of events in a network are described. An event and associated content information are received from an entity over a network. The content information is further analyzed to determine one or more themes representing subject matter related to the content information. The event is further classified according to the themes into one or more corresponding categories. Finally, the event is stored into one or more corresponding databases of a data storage module according to the one or more corresponding categories. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024470 | VERTICAL CLUSTERING AND ANTI-CLUSTERING OF CATEGORIES IN AD LINK UNITS - A technique, method, apparatus, and system to provide related ad link units with vertical clustered or anti-clustered categories to be displayed with web page content for view by a user. In one implementation, a method is provided. The method includes selecting a first ad link category for a first position of an ad link unit. One or more second ad link categories are identified using one or more similarity measures, where at least one second ad link category has one or more similarity measures associated with the first ad link category. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024471 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR PROCESSING PAYMENTS - A payment processor for providing a payment service includes a transaction processor to process a transaction request. An application programming interface links a merchant to the transaction processor based on an identifier. A merchant center, located between a gateway and a point of sale device of the merchant, queries a database for information associated with a buyer and the merchant based on information received from the point of sale device, to generate the transaction request based from merchant transaction data received from the point of sale device and the information associated with the buyer and the merchant received from the database, and to communicate the transaction request to the transaction processor. The transaction processor also communicates information associated with the transaction request with the merchant based on the identifier. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024472 | Method and system for generating and controlling the distribution and use of personal promotion codes by targeted customers - A method and a system for generating personal promotion codes from the computing resources of a provider of services are described. Internal promotion codes including a family ID field and a serial ID field comprised of alphanumeric characters are first generated. The internal promotion codes are then encoded into a corresponding series of external promotion codes also comprised of alphanumeric characters, which render the internal promotion codes unintelligible. After which the series of external promotion codes is packed into an encrypted file which is forwarded to a client application of the provider of services to have the external promotion codes distributed to its customers. The external promotion codes later submitted to the client application by the customers are further validated by the provider of services. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024473 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VIRTUAL EBOX MANAGEMENT - The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for providing content to a plurality of users. The method of the present invention comprises generating an interactive coupon and transmitting said coupon to at least one electronic mailbox (eBox), said eBox corresponding to a geographical location. The method provides a graphical user interface to display said electronic mailbox and displays said coupon through said graphical user interface. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024474 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VIRTUAL EBOX MANAGEMENT - The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for providing content to a plurality of users. The method of the present invention comprises generating an interactive coupon and transmitting said coupon to at least one electronic mailbox (eBox), said eBox corresponding to a geographical location. The method provides a graphical user interface to display said electronic mailbox and displays said coupon through said graphical user interface. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024475 | NEURO-FEEDBACK BASED STIMULUS COMPRESSION DEVICE - A stimulus compression device determines neuro-feedback significance corresponding to stimulus material and modifies the stimulus material using neuro-feedback significance measures. For example, the stimulus compression device determines portions of a media stream corresponding to low neuro-feedback significance and removes them from the media stream. Compression of stimulus material may involve removal, modification, repetition, bit rate adjustment, resolution adjustment, etc. Transitions can be smoothed or lengthened to further improve processed stimulus material. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024476 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ENHANCED GEOGRAPHICALLY-BASED AND TIME-BASED ONLINE ADVERTISING - A method for presenting advertisement images on a display screen, comprising: subdividing a map image into a plurality of geographic regions; associating a first advertisement image with a first region and a second advertisement image with a second region, the first and second regions being ones of the plurality of geographic regions; receiving a signal indicative of a region-of-interest, the region-of-interest being another of the plurality of geographic regions; selecting an advertisement image for the region-of-interest from among the first and second advertisement images; generating a presentation of the region-of-interest, the presentation including a view of the advertisement image; and, displaying the presentation on the display screen. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024477 | SYSTEM FOR MARKETING CAMPAIGN SPECIFICATION AND SECURE DIGITAL COUPON REDEMPTION - Product vendors are provided with a system for performing a marketing campaign to mobile communication device users, providing offers as instruments, such as digital coupons, to a selected group of users of the mobile communication devices and validating the integrity of the instruments. The invention has two phases: the selection of the components of the instrument from a menu provided by a social networking organization; and validating the instrument upon redemption from the product vendor. In the first phase, the product vendor selects elements from the menu relevant to the campaign, such as timing, nature of the offer, targeting of the recipients, etc. In the second phase, the instrument is encoded as to the marketing campaign and an arbitrary designation which initiates a pattern as the instrument is redeemed. The product vendor inspects the instrument to ensure that the encoding is correct during the redemption process. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024478 | System and Method for Asset Accumulation and Risk Management - The system and method of the present invention removes barriers that undermine efficient risk-management. The invention prioritizes consumers by predicting their unmet demand for risk protection. Once deemed eligible, consumers are enrolled and funds are allocated to the payment of a premium for income insurance, contribution to a financial vehicle such as a savings or investment product, and payment of a premium for savings loss insurance. Active participants are eligible for income protection in case of job loss, systematic savings and ownership of public equities, principal protection and incentives based on utilization. The system and method of the present invention is calibrated on an ongoing basis to the behaviors of target consumers. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024479 | COMMUNITY-BASED RECYCLING SYSTEM AND METHODS THEREOF - Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a community-based recycling system and methods of utilizing same. In one embodiment of the present invention, a community-based recycling system comprises a first entity, providing recyclable material, a second entity, providing recyclable material, a load determining device for obtaining a qualitative or quantitative measurement of the recyclable material accumulated from both the first entity and the second entity, and a reward granted equally to each of the first entity and the second entity, wherein the reward corresponds to a value generated from the measurement of the recyclable material. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024480 | Method And System For Publishing Online Advertisement - The present disclosure discloses a method for publishing an online advertisement, including: downloading a raw advertisement creative file needed for publishing an advertisement; updating an advertisement target file according to the downloaded raw advertisement creative file; and displaying the advertisement according to the updated advertisement target file. The present disclosure further provides a system for publishing an online advertisement, an advertisement processing apparatus and an advertisement service apparatus. The solution enables dynamic advertisement publication in online games. Furthermore, an advertisement index file can be adopted in the solution to contain advertisement management parameters adapted to manage the advertisements displayed in online games, therefore the advertisement publication can be more flexible and the advertisements can be more effective. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024481 | Method and system for generating a real time offer or a deferred offer - A system for generating a real time offer or a deferred offer, including: an interface element, for at least one specially programmed general-purpose computer, arranged to receive an order from an end user device (EUD), the order including an first or service available from a business entity; and an offer element, in a processor for the computer, arranged to: generate, prior to fulfillment of the order by the business entity and using at least one of a first set of rules or a first artificial intelligence program stored in a memory unit for the computer, a first offer fulfillable as part of the order; and generate, prior to fulfillment of the order by the business entity and using the processor and at least one of a second set of rules or a second artificial intelligence program stored in the memory unit, a second offer fulfillable after fulfillment of the order by the business entity; and transmit, using the interface element, the first and second offers to the EUD. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024482 | System and method for deploying an ad widget - The present invention provides a system and method for deploying a requested widget as an advertisement on a remote device. The system comprising means for determining location of the remote device, means for determining if the requested widget to be placed on the remote device exists, and means for serving the requested widget as an advertisement to the remote device if the location is enabled for the requested widget and the requested widget exists. The present invention can also be viewed as a method for deploying a requested widget as an advertisement on a remote device. The method operates by determining location of the remote device, determining if the requested widget to be placed on the remote device exists, and serving the requested widget as an advertisement to the remote device if the location is enabled for the requested widget and the requested widget exists. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024483 | System and method for redeeming affinity rewards as political contributions - Systems, methods and computer program products for facilitating the redemption of affinity reward points as political contributions are disclosed. In an aspect, “points” or “miles” created through various existing affinity programs prevalent in the credit card and airline industries can be redeemed as political donations. Typically, such reward, award or bonus “points” or “miles” have been redeemed for free or discounted rewards such as airline tickets, hotel room stays, restaurant vouchers or other goods and services. However, millions of vested affinity points or miles are left unused (i.e., unredeemed). The present invention allows a consumer who holds such points or miles to link to a political campaign, political party or political action committee allowing excess points to be converted into cash donations to such political campaigns, political parties or political action committees. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024484 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING CUSTOMIZED REWARD OFFERS - In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, a method is provided for managing reward offers. A first performance target that is associated with a financial account is determined. Transaction data that is associated with the financial account is received, and a second performance target for the financial account is determined based on the transaction data. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024485 | System And Method For Determining The Level Of An Authentication Required For Redeeming A Customers Award Credits - A redemption system for use with Low Authentication Promotion (LAP) programs. The redemption system includes a method for use with a network promotion system. The network promotion system provides awards to consumers for participation in promotion programs. The method performs steps of receiving award transaction information describing awards earned by consumers for participation in promotion programs, maintaining an award history database that contains the award transaction information, receiving a request from a consumer to redeem at least a portion of the awards earned by the consumer, and determining a level of consumer authentication required from the consumer to redeem the at least a portion of the awards, wherein the level of consumer authentication is determined from the award transaction information maintained in the award history database. | 01-22-2009 |
20090030781 | Creating and Displaying Universal Ad Over Multiple Different Platforms - A method and system are provided for creating and displaying a universal ad over multiple different platforms. In one example, the method includes creating a universal ad by generating a superset ad, identifying different parts of the superset ad as separate components, matching the separate components to their respective media, attaching tags to each separate component, and converting the superset ad to a universal ad. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030782 | Methods For Obtaining Leads - There are disclosed methods for obtaining leads for a service provider. The service provider may supply marketing support to a seller having a real property available for sale. The marketing support may include marketing materials containing unique contact information to direct inquiries to the service provider. The service provider may inquiries from one or more potential buyers in response to the unique contact information. The service provider may respond to the inquiries from the potential buyers on behalf of the seller and may collecting buyer contact information of the potential buyers for use as leads. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030783 | REWARDING BASED ON USER OFFLINE AND ONLINE CHARACTERISTICS - Method, computer readable medium and device for collecting and forwarding data is disclosed. The collected data is associated with user input to a first user interface, when a first user associated with the first user interface is offline and a predetermined application hosted by the first client interfaces with a user by accepting the user input. The collected data associated with user input to the first user interface is forwarded when the first client is online. The collected data associated with user input to the first user interface is analyzed to determine characteristics of the user. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030784 | BUSINESS APPLICATIONS AND MONETIZATION MODELS OF RICH MEDIA BRAND INDEX MEASUREMENTS - A method for campaign optimization of interactive rich media advertising includes providing a plurality of creatives; assigning a weight to each creative; tracking user interaction with at least some of the plurality of creatives; continuously computing a brand index (BI) for each creative based on the tracked user interaction and the weight of each tracked creative; updating an optimization engine with a latest BI for each creative, wherein the optimization engine dynamically adjusts the weight of each creative based on the latest BI for each creative; and serving over a communication network the creatives based on the weight associated with each, such that the creatives with higher weight are served more frequently than the creatives with lower weight as an optimized ad campaign of the plurality of creatives. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030785 | MONETIZING RICH MEDIA ADVERTISING INTERACTION - A method for calculating brand index (BI) for interactive rich media advertising produces a brand effectiveness model, and includes categorizing advertising exposure of a rich media ad into a type of bucket, and for each type of bucket: assigning a weight (W | 01-29-2009 |
20090030786 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DYNAMIC MESSAGING - Embodiments of methods and systems for dynamic messaging are disclosed. A lookup request may be received for a customer. A plurality of eligible campaigns may be determined for the customer. An eligible campaign of the plurality of eligible campaigns may include an available offer for the customer. The available offer may be represented by a compressed filter. The customer may match the compressed filter of the available offer of the plurality of eligible campaigns. The available offer of a campaign may be selected from the plurality of eligible campaigns based on metadata of the plurality of eligible campaigns and campaign history data of the customer. A message associated with the selected offer may be provided. The message may be capable of being presented to the customer. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030787 | Electronic capture and communication of promotions using a wireless device - Methods and apparatuses to electronically capture and communicate promotions using a cellular device are discussed. An application on a wireless device is activated and a store's identification is sent from the wireless device to a promotion processing unit where targeted promotions are sent from the promotion processing unit to the wireless device and a point of sale in a store corresponding to the store ID in response to receiving the store identification. A user using the wireless device can further capture on-demand promotions and transmit them to the promotion processing unit where the promotion processing unit will associate the user's identification with the on-demand promotions and send the on-demand promotion to the point of sale so the targeted promotions and at least a portion of the on-demand promotions can be redeemed at the point of sale in the store. Other embodiments are described in the disclosure. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030788 | Method for providing on-line sale and management of advertising space on signs and billboards - A method and system for supporting e-commerce transactions directed to placement of advertising on dynamic signs by creating dynamic e-commerce Web sites for permitting consumers to select and acquire time and space on selective signs, for managing the content of a consumer message and for collecting payment for the acquired time and space. The content may be provided by the consumer by uploading it to the Web sites or by the manager of the Web site. Space and time may be auctioned over the Web sites, allowing consumers to competitively bid for specific space and time blocks. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030789 | System and Method for Locating Rewards and Discounts in E-Commerce - A centralized system that acts on behalf of multiple merchants, wherein a controlled and manageable way to monitor and issue rewards, discounts, coupons and payments to customers is provided. The system performs calculations to allocate discounts and rewards for individual buyers, designate final prices for individual buyers, and provide fast and efficient settlements of outstanding balances. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030790 | CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A customer relationship management system, the system comprising: a memory that includes an interaction database of interaction data, wherein the interaction data is related to interactions between customers and merchants; a data retrieval system, wherein the data retrieval system accesses data from the memory, based on a set of criteria, and defines a promotional group subset of the customers stored in the interaction database to which promotional efforts are directed and a control group subset of the customers stored in the interaction database to which promotional efforts are not directed, the target group and the control group are mutually exclusive, and wherein the target group of customers and the control group of customers are based on the same set of criteria other than promotional efforts, which enables the control group to be useful in assessing effectiveness of the promotional efforts; a promotion analyzer, wherein the promotion analyzer enables retrieval of data from the interaction database related to interactions involving customers in the promotional group; and a display for presenting a representation of the retrieved interaction data. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030791 | METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING A SPORT FIELD BOUNDARY OR FEATURE AND REALIZING REVENUE THEREFROM - Sport field's boundaries are divided into boundary sections according to their major function. The right to name each boundary is then sold to realize further revenue. Additionally, in exchange for the right to broadcast from the sport arena, the sport announcers are required to refer to the boundaries by the names chosen by the entities that purchased the right to name the boundaries. In this manner, the entities naming the boundaries may reach audience beyond the sport arena. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030792 | CONTENT RECOMMENDATION SERVICE - A method and system for content recommendation make such recommendations possible, even if users are in different geographic locations, use different network service providers and different services, user different types of device, etc. A method for communicating a content recommendation comprises receiving a recommendation for content, the content recommendation originating from a first client device communicating using a first network and destined for a second client device communicating using a second network, determining access information for the second client device to access the content using the second network, and transmitting the determined access information. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030793 | MULTI-VENDOR MULTI-LOYALTY CURRENCY PROGRAM - Loyalty programs can be operated within a payment processing system having multiple vendors, thereby providing access to detailed transaction data and with the flexibility for customization of the loyalty programs themselves, by establishing a communication for the transfer of data via a customer-facing channel. When the payment processing system processes a transaction between a merchant and an account holder, in addition to obtaining payment for the merchant from the account via an acquirer and an issuer, respectively, a transaction handler tabulates and stores, different types of loyalty currencies in a loyalty reward account associated with the account holder if the account holder is enrolled in a loyalty program and criteria for applying the loyalty program are satisfied. The account holder is provided access to the loyalty account via the customer-facing channel. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030794 | ONLINE MARKETING TOOL USING VIDEOS TO PROMOTE PRINTABLE COUPONS - A webpage file is transmitted to a client computer. The webpage file includes primary content and code to load and launch a video. When the user clicks on the video, a corresponding coupon appears in a form. The user may print this coupon and later redeem it at a store or an e-commerce website. Both the videos and the coupons are provided from a server or respective servers in response to a campaign identifier provided by the client computer. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030795 | PAYMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INSURANCE PREMIUM PAYMENTS - In certain embodiments, a system and method for insurance premium payment is provided that automatically charges recurring insurance premiums to a credit or debit card chosen by the consumer. The system may apply a reward component and a special interest rate component to the charged premium so that card holders and their insurance companies share in the financial benefits of card usage. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030796 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SELECTING OPTIMAL COMMODITIES BASED UPON BUSINESS PROFILE AND PREFERENCES - A system and method for assisting a customer in choosing a combination of commodities based on preferences of the customer. A combination is a set of related commodities, wherein bundling discounts may be applied to particular bundles of related commodities. Combination options are created by optimizing the categories within the combination in parallel, and then selecting the best value options from each category into a grouping. The effective cost of a grouping is calculated as a total of the effective costs of each option within the grouping. The effective costs consider weighted values of performance features in addition to the actual cost of a commodity. The groupings are ranked and presented to the user, so that the user may select a grouping as combination of commodities for purchase. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030797 | Method and apparatus for generating and transmitting an ideal order offer - A system for generating and transmitting an ideal order offer, including: an interface element for at least one specially programmed general-purpose computer; a memory unit for the computer; and an offer element, in a processor for the computer. The offer element is for: receiving, using the interface element, an order from a customer, the order including at least one item or at least one service offered by a business entity; generating at least one ideal order offer using at least one of a first set of rules and a first artificial intelligence program stored in a memory unit for the computer, the at least one ideal order offer including at least one item or service not included in the order or an incentive not associated with the order; and transmitting, using the interface element, the order and the at least one ideal order for presentation to the customer. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030798 | System and method for providing incentives to an end user for referring another end user - A system for generating an incentive for an end user to refer other end users, including: first and second offer elements, in a processor for at least one specially programmed general-purpose computer. The first offer element: receives, using an interface element for the computer, a first order from an end user device, generates using the processor and a set of rules or an artificial intelligence program stored in a memory unit for the computer, a first offer in response to the first order, the offer conditional upon receipt of at least one email address; and transmits, using the interface element, the first offer. The second offer element receives, using the interface element, an address in response to the first offer; generates, using the processor, at least one second offer; and transmits, using the interface element, the at least one second offer to the at least one email address. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030799 | System comprising a consumer good and server and a method to bestow an advantage with a monetary value - A system comprising a consumer good, especially a packet of cigarettes or packet of pharmaceutical products, and a server has a consumer good fitted with a concealed code, wherein the code is associated with an advantage having a monetary value and can be transmitted to a server via a telecommunication link, the server being used to check whether the code is registered as valid, and depending on the result of this test, an advantage with a monetary value is credited by the server to the telecommunication number of the caller. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030800 | Method and System for Searching a Data Network by Using a Virtual Assistant and for Advertising by using the same - The present invention relates to a method, system and server configured to enable a plurality of users to conduct a data search within a database over a data network, comprising: (a) a first software component for enabling one or more of the following: (a.1.) providing a user with a user interface, having a virtual assistant, for enabling said user to conduct a data search over a data network by means of said virtual assistant; and (a.2.) receiving data from said user interface, having said virtual assistant, and conveying corresponding data back to said user to be provided to him by means of said virtual assistant; (b) a second software component for enabling said virtual assistant to interact with said user; and (c) a third software component for: (c.1.) enabling receiving from said user at least one search query by means of said virtual assistant; (c.2.) enabling analyzing and processing said at least one search query for determining one or more data items from a plurality of data items stored and/or indexed within a search database, said one or more data items being relevant to said at least one search query, giving rise to relevant data items being the search results; and (c.3.) enabling providing at least a portion of said search results to said user by means of said virtual assistant, each search result being provided as the relevant data item or as a link to said relevant data item. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030801 | Permissive search intent registry - A permissive search intent registry allowing intending purchasers to receive special offers and incentives from participating merchants wherein merchants may thereby more effectively target advertising campaigns by gaining access to a pool of intending purchasers, allowing merchants to differentiate between intending purchasers and mere “click-thrus”. An intending purchaser may tag a search, product, or category of products as being related to a purchase intention and thereby automatically be linked to participating merchants via the present invention. Intending purchasers are rewarded for the disclosure regarding their purchase intent and their estimated purchase timeline by receiving special offers, rewards, and/or incentives from the participating merchants that are not readily available to the general public. In this manner, both the purchasers and the merchants receive a benefit through their automatic relationship via the present invention; purchasers receive rewards towards the desired goods or services and merchants may directly market to intending purchasers. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030802 | Universal Ad Queue - A “universal ad queue” (UAQ) is used for coordinating the display of at least two different types of advertisements to subscribers. The UAQ provides an ordered list for the display of ads to the subscribers. The ordered list may vary based on time, channel, program, previous ads, and subscriber type. The UAQ may be a single ad queue that tracks each and all of the different ad types. The single ad queue may be located at a single location or distributed amongst multiple locations. The UAQ may be multiple ad queues that are liked together in some fashion to coordinate the placement of ads in the various avails. The UAQ assists an advertiser in the creation and management of an overall ad campaign that utilizes the multitude of ad types that are available. | 01-29-2009 |
20090037261 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UTILIZING SEARCH RESULT ADVERTISEMENT INVENTORY - Optimizing search engine advertising inventory includes storing a plurality of advertisements for a plurality of advertising techniques in an inventory database. The system and method includes, in response to a user search request, selecting one or more advertisements from the inventory database to be displayed in a selected advertising technique based on user click activity, advertisement performance data and the plurality of advertisements, selected for a search results page having the selected advertisement disposed thereon. The system and method thereby determines prospective inventory content for the inventory database based on the selected advertisements and advertising techniques. This prospective inventory content may be used to optimize storage of advertisements and advertising sales techniques, such as giving sales people an indication of which advertising techniques to be marketed or sold. | 02-05-2009 |
20090037262 | SYSTEM FOR CONTEXTUAL MATCHING OF VIDEOS WITH ADVERTISEMENTS - A system and method are disclosed for the automated selection of an advertisement to be displayed within a video. The video may be analyzed and compared with available advertisements to select a relevant advertisement. Video data may be related to the video and compared with advertisement data that is related to each of the available advertisements in selecting the relevant advertisement. | 02-05-2009 |
20090037263 | SYSTEM FOR THE INSERTION AND CONTROL OF ADVERTISEMENTS IN VIDEO - A system and method are disclosed for editing a video to include an advertisement in the video. The advertisement may be inserted into the video based on the video timeline or on a frame-by-frame basis. The user may control when and how the advertisement is displayed within the video. The advertisement may be selected based on a variety of factors that may determine the effectiveness or profitability of the advertisement. | 02-05-2009 |
20090037264 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING COUPONS TO SELECT CONSUMERS - A method and system for providing coupons to select consumers includes a process for providing coupons to select consumers whereby a coupon provider defines one or more coupon eligibility criterion that must be met by a consumer in order for the consumer to be eligible to receive one or more coupons. Access to data representing the one or more coupon eligibility criterion is then provided. A consumer's financial data is then obtained from one or more sources using a computing system implemented financial management system. In one embodiment, using the consumer's financial data and the data representing the one or more coupon eligibility criterion, one or more coupons are identified that the consumer is eligible to receive. In one embodiment, the consumer is then provided access to the one or more coupons identified that the consumer is eligible to receive. | 02-05-2009 |
20090037265 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CREATING, EXECUTING, AND MONITORING COMPLEX PRODUCT OFFERINGS - A computer readable medium comprising software instructions for purchasing units, wherein the software instructions, when executed by a processor, enable a system including the processor to receive a request for an initial trial unit from a user, receive a request to purchase the initial trial unit from the user, complete the purchase of the initial trial unit using a first financial incentive, wherein the purchase of the initial trial unit is completed within an initial unit conversion period, provide, to the user, a second financial incentive to purchase at least one conversion unit after the completion of the purchase of the first unit, receive a request to purchase the at least one conversion unit, and complete the purchase of the at least one conversion unit using the second financial incentive, wherein the purchase of the second conversion unit is completed within a total promotion period. | 02-05-2009 |
20090037266 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING RELEVANT COUPONS TO CONSUMERS BASED ON FINANCIAL TRANSACTION HISTORY AND INTERNET BROWSING ACTIVITY - A method and system for providing relevant coupons includes a process for providing relevant coupons whereby a consumer's financial transaction data is obtained from one or more sources using a computing system implemented financial management system. The consumer is provided one or more financial transaction based coupons based, at least in part, on the consumer's financial transaction data. The financial transaction based coupons are then stored in a financial transaction based coupon database in an account and/or location associated with the consumer. When the consumer is viewing a given website, data about the website being viewed is then used to search the financial transaction based coupon database to attempt to find one or more financial transaction based coupons relevant to the website the consumer is currently viewing. If one or more financial transaction based coupons relevant to the website the consumer is currently viewing are found, the consumer is alerted to the relevant financial transaction based coupons. | 02-05-2009 |
20090037267 | Customized Distribution of Advertising Impressions - Among other things, a computer-implemented method for customizing the distribution of advertising impressions includes generating a target number of advertising impressions for one or more advertising categories based, at least in part, on a non-uniform percentage distribution of advertising impressions for an advertising campaign, the percentage distribution corresponding to the one or more advertising categories. A determination is made on whether enough advertising inventory is available to fulfill the target number of advertising impressions. When a shortage of available inventory is detected in the one or more advertising categories, an actual number of advertising impressions for the one or more advertising categories is generated. | 02-05-2009 |
20090037268 | Relevance Engine for Delivering Increasingly Relevant Content to Users - An electronic means for delivering increasingly relevant advertising content to users comprises a relevance engine a user enrollment portal so that the user can submit relevant user preference information to the engine, means for determining relevant advertising content to be delivered to the user based on submitted user preferences and use preferences learned by the engine, and, means for adjusting the relevance of advertising content delivered to the user based on user responses to the ads delivered. | 02-05-2009 |
20090037269 | Integration of Cash Registers and WiFi Support for Customers - A WiFi sales reward system provides WiFi Internet access to customers in a store on a complementary basis along with purchases from the store. The store gives an Internet access code to the customer along with a qualifying purchase. The customer can then access the Internet through the store's WiFi hotspot by entering the access code when prompted for it. The access code grants a predetermined amount of Internet access time, based on the amount of the purchase or other terms specified by the store. | 02-05-2009 |
20090037270 | SYSTEM, METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR COMPENSATING A USER FOR VIEWING AN ADVERTISEMENT AND PURCHASING A GOOD OR SERVICE - A system, method, and computer program product are provided for compensating a user for viewing an advertisement and purchasing a good or service. In use, an advertisement is presented for a good or service. Additionally, a user is compensated a first amount for viewing the advertisement. Further, the user is compensated a second amount for purchasing the good or service. | 02-05-2009 |
20090037271 | RECOMMENDING THE ADDITIONAL PURCHASE OF A LESSER INCLUDED PART OF AN ITEM, WHEN THE ITEM IS SELECTED FOR PURCHASE AND IS NOT TO BE DELIVERED VIA THE INTERNET - Based on an online customer's selection of format and postal delivery option for an item (i.e. book, CD, or movie DVD) to be purchased, a computer implemented service recommends the additional purchase of a lesser included part (i.e. chapter, song, or movie scene) of the same item, in a digital format for download or access. The online customer who follows the recommendation will be able to download any selected lesser included part(s), or access any selected lesser included part(s) at a website controlled by the online merchant. In this way the online customer will have a “get it now option”, so that the customer may begin enjoying a lesser included part of the item immediately while waiting for the item to be delivered by postal carrier. | 02-05-2009 |
20090037272 | System and method for purchasing values generation, tracking and expenditure - A system, method and computer-readable medium are provided for generating, tracking and spending credits, i.e. purchasing values, that are earned by making purchases of goods and services from a group of participating merchants. The spending of the purchasing values is limited to a predetermined geography, whereby localized purchasing of goods and services is encouraged and rewarded. In one version, the participating merchants receive advertising services in exchange for issuing and accepting purchasing values. | 02-05-2009 |
20090037273 | Systems and methods for displaying advertisement information - An advertisement system is provided for displaying advertisement information. The system includes a movable apparatus configured to move at various speeds from various starting locations to various ending locations along various routes. The movable apparatus includes a display assembly that has at least one display screen. The display screen faces away from the movable apparatus and displays advertisement information for public viewers outside the movable apparatus to view. A controller selects a piece of advertisement information from a plurality of pieces of advertisement information to display on the display screen. The selected piece of advertisement information is irrelevant to the starting locations, the ending locations, and the routes of the first movable apparatus. | 02-05-2009 |
20090037274 | Electronic coupon redemption utilizing RFID key ring scan, magnetic swipe card and credit card processed by processing terminal with automated coupon verification, demographic collection and storage, consumer information collection device - Portable or stationary collection device for collection of consumer information and coupon club sign up. A collection device one or several in number that is hand held for the collection of consumer information and capable of transfer of data by utilizing wired or wireless technology to a centralized computer which puts consumer information into a data base for later use in the coupon process. Electronic coupons sent by e mail, cell phone or taken off the internet or intranet, redeemed and verified by swiping a credit card into a credit card processing terminal, reading of a RFID key ring, read of a magnetic swipe card by a matching processing terminal. Special coupon numbering received by cell phone coupon and redeemed by punching number into a credit card terminal. | 02-05-2009 |
20090037275 | Consolidated membership/rewards card system - A bank or credit card issuing authority provided consolidated membership/rewards card has standard credit card features including cardholder's name, card number, expiration date, secret code and a permanently coded permanent magnetic strip. The card has a programmable second magnetic strip with inductors directly below the strip energized by a CPU in the card recording a merchant provided loyalty or discount number. The cardholder selects a merchant from a list displayed card screen by pressing up and down buttons and a ‘go’ button to program the second magnetic strip. A USB connector associated with the card is used for uploading merchant data from a personal computer and transmitting the card discount number to a USB enabled cash register. The cash register provides eligible discounts for purchases upon receipt of the card discount number by swiping the second magnetic strip or by establishing USB connectivity. Payment is made using the permanent magnetic strip of the card or by other payment means. Discounts and membership rewards are thereby provided to a cardholder without need for carrying a plurality of merchant issued membership/rewards cards. Credit card functionality facilitates immediate payment for the purchases made. | 02-05-2009 |
20090037276 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DELIVERING AUDIO COMMUNICATIONS - A method of delivering an audio communication is disclosed and includes selectively delivering an audio message including a content portion and an advertising portion to a voice communication device. The audio message has a first available delivery format for live communication with a user of the voice communication device and a second available delivery format for communication with a voice mail system associated with the voice communication device. | 02-05-2009 |
20090037277 | System and methods for auction based polling - A system and method for auction based polling is provided. Parameters related to a poll are received from a first user. Parameters related to a poll are received from a first user. A query is associated with the poll. A priority of the poll is determined based on the parameters. The poll is distributed to one or more second users according to the priority. Results to the poll are gathered. The results are reported to the first user. | 02-05-2009 |
20090037278 | Implementing visual substitution options in media works - A classification method and system for possible content alteration of a media work may include criteria regarding content that is feasible for alteration. Such criteria may be maintained in records that are accessible to an interested party. Some embodiments may include a record of primary authorization rights applicable to a possible content alteration. A further embodiment feature may include a record of secondary authorization rights applicable to substitute altered content incorporated in a derivative version. Various exemplary techniques may be used to provide audio and/or visual substitution options in a derivative version of the media work in accordance with applicable alteration guidelines. | 02-05-2009 |
20090037279 | Dynamic Creation of Personalized Presentations For Network Communication Systems - A personalized presentation is provided to an intended recipient through a network communication system by selecting personalization content for an associated presentation template in accordance with contemporaneous information relating to an intended recipient and generating an assembled presentation comprising the selected personalization content and the associated presentation template such that the assembled presentation can be sent to the intended recipient. | 02-05-2009 |
20090037280 | Method of Diagnosing Hair Thinning and Business Method for Promoting Sales of Hair Treatment Products - A method of business uses a hair and or scalp scanner such as a hair densitometer to raise awareness of the prevalence of hair thinning. Incentives provided to hair care providers for using the hair scanner increases the likelihood that clients of the hair care provider will be exposed the hair scanner. Sales of hair regrowth products may also be discounted for clients of hair care providers. | 02-05-2009 |
20090037281 | System and method of providing purchase receipts - A system and method for providing a purchaser a purchase transaction receipt having a reduced set of information including a transaction identification number, where the transaction identification number can be used by the purchaser to access rebate information and the purchase transaction related information. | 02-05-2009 |
20090037282 | Method and system for providing local information over a network - A method and system is provided where a first computer (e.g., a central server) collects information to be presented to one or more users. The information is organized into a plurality of first web-sites where each of these web-sites is addressable by a unique Universal Resource Locator (URL). A physical location is associated with each of the first web-sites. One of the first web-sites may be provided to a user as a user web-site. When the user or other individual seeks to access the user web-site, links to a plurality of the first web-sites are provided based on a relationship between the physical locations associated with the first web-sites and the physical location associated with the user web-site. | 02-05-2009 |
20090043648 | PAY-PER-ACTION SYSTEM FOR SELLING ADVERTISEMENTS - A system is disclosed for a pay-per-action (PPA) advertising model. An advertiser reports actions and pays an advertising provider for each action that is reported. The payment may be based on the rate at which the actions are reported. The action rate may be updated based on each reported action, which may modify the payment for that action and may modify the payment for previous actions. A one-time premium may be charged to advertisers and a minimum action rate may be established to encourage advertisers to accurately report actions. | 02-12-2009 |
20090043649 | Content Item Pricing - A threshold measure is determined for an advertisement based on one or more parameters associated with the advertisement. A determination is made as to whether the threshold measure exceeds a filter threshold. The advertisement is promoted if the threshold measure exceeds the filter threshold, and an actual cost-per-click for the advertisement based on the one or more parameters and the filter threshold if the advertisement is promoted. | 02-12-2009 |
20090043650 | Segmented services having a global structure of networked independent entities - A method, apparatus and system of segmented services having a global structure of networked independent entities are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of a network of patent attorneys includes providing a holistic patent services support solution to a patent attorney forming a separate entity, permitting the separate entity to adopt a trade identity different than that of the network of patent attorneys, and performing a core portion of a patent legal service through the separate entity of the patent attorney. The method may include transferring a relationship between the patent attorney and a client to the network of the patent attorneys, and marketing a corporate ownership interest of the network of patent attorneys to parties other than members of a State Bar Association to which the patent attorney belongs without violating a regulation of the State Bar Association when the core portion is performed through the separate entity. | 02-12-2009 |
20090043651 | System and method for funding a collective account by use of an electronic tag - A system and method for funding a collective account via aggregating usage of electronic tags is disclosed. The system and method promotes the use of electronic tags, and the funding of collective accounts that may be associated with charitable or other philanthropic causes. Further benefits may be realized by replenishing the prefunded account that serves as the source of funds for the electronic tag to an affinity account that also benefits the charitable or other philanthropic cause. | 02-12-2009 |
20090043652 | Systems and methods for secure transaction management and electronic rights protection - The present invention provides systems and methods for secure transaction management and electronic rights protection. Electronic appliances such as computers equipped in accordance with the present invention help to ensure that information is accessed and used only in authorized ways, and maintain the integrity, availability, and/or confidentiality of the information. Such electronic appliances provide a distributed virtual distribution environment (VDE) that may enforce a secure chain of handling and control, for example, to control and/or meter or otherwise monitor use of electronically stored or disseminated information. Such a virtual distribution environment may be used to protect rights of various participants in electronic commerce and other electronic or electronic-facilitated transactions. Distributed and other operating systems, environments and architectures, such as, for example, those using tamper-resistant hardware-based processors, may establish security at each node. These techniques may be used to support an all-electronic information distribution, for example, utilizing the “electronic highway.” | 02-12-2009 |
20090043653 | INTEGRATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL CREDIT MECHANISMS INTO MUNICIPAL DEBT - Computer-implemented methods of facilitating the reduction of environmental pollutants are described. The methods include selling a debt instrument to a purchaser, investing proceeds from the sale of the debt instrument in activities that generate tradable environmental or energy credits, and repaying the purchaser in whole or in part with funds produced by sale of the environmental or energy credits. Methods of enhancing the viability of debt instruments in financing environmental improvements are also described. The methods include issuing a debt instrument to a purchaser, investing proceeds from the sale of the debt instrument in activities that generate tradable environmental or energy credits, providing a guarantee that the purchaser will be repaid, and repaying the purchaser. | 02-12-2009 |
20090043654 | Method And System For Enabling Advertising And Transaction Within User Generated Video Content - A method and system of enabling individual internet users to link advertising information to content posted on the internet. At least one internet-coupled server hosts the content an enables individual internet users to view the content. The server enables the individual internet users to link advertising information to a portion of the content on the internet site, and enables a reward to be provided to individual internet users who link advertising information to the portion of the content on the internet site. Preferably the reward is provided each time other internet users click on the link and/or purchase products and/or services through the link Thus, internet advertising is performed by many individuals who are rewarded for their efforts. Preferably, the content s user-generated content such as the video content posted on sites such as YouTube. | 02-12-2009 |
20090043655 | Rewards System Providing Incentive to Make Choices That Benefit the Environment - The present invention concerns a system and method for providing an incentive to consumers and business to make choices that benefit the environment. Each consumer and/or business has an account. The account accumulates redeemable reward points based upon transaction information and at least one environmental factor that is based upon how transaction choices benefit the environment. | 02-12-2009 |
20090043656 | Doorism - The present invention relates to a computer-implemented method for electronically managing the admission to locations and events while allowing enhanced advertising of related products and services. | 02-12-2009 |
20090043657 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR SELECTING ADVERTISEMENTS BASED ON CALLER IDENTIFIER INFORMATION - Various embodiments are directed to selecting a web advertisement based on caller identifier information. The caller identifier information may be obtained from an incoming call to the mobile device or from an outgoing call from the mobile device. An ad request may be generated based on the caller identifier information by the mobile device and sent to a web advertising server. In response to the ad request, the web advertising server may select a relevant web advertisement based on the caller identifier information and may send the relevant web advertisement to the mobile device. On the mobile device, the web advertisement may be inserted into a web application for display in a user interface. | 02-12-2009 |
20090043658 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CENTRALIZED CUSTOMER INFORMATION MANAGEMENT FOR ENHANCED SHOPPING EXPERIENCE - A system and method for providing a customer with enhanced shopping experience at a retail store provide associating the customer with a unique identification, storing information of the customer in a central database, wherein the information of the customer is retrievable according to the unique identification of the customer, responsive to a request by the customer, linking the customer to the information of the customer stored in the central database based on the unique identification of the customer, and based on an analysis of the information of the customer, providing the stored information of the customer to the customer to allow the customer to conduct a number of tasks including checking status of a transaction with the retail store, selecting a payment option for a transaction and receiving notification from the retail store about pending transactions. | 02-12-2009 |
20090043659 | Method of providing personalized advertisements - A user receiver coupled to an advertisement system through a network is used to provide a method of providing a personalized advertisement. The method includes: maintaining user information related to user's video view; receiving from the advertisement system respective first advertisement control data corresponding to a plurality of first advertisements, wherein the respective first advertisement control data includes at least one first condition variable and at least one first point; comparing the user information with the first condition variable or variables; and displaying, when first conditional variables matched with the user information exist, an advertisement corresponding to a first condition variable having the highest first point among the first condition variables matched with the user information. | 02-12-2009 |
20090043660 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DISPLAYING ADVERTISEMENT - Disclosed is a method and system for displaying an advertisement which can display an advertisement related to a target page and effectively uses an advertisement inventory. The method for displaying an advertisement according to the present invention includes selecting at least one advertisement that is relevant to a target page based on a predetermined rule among advertisements from at least one contextual advertisement database and at least one keyword advertisement database; and displaying a predetermined number of the first selected advertisement in the target page, wherein the target page is an external publisher page. | 02-12-2009 |
20090043661 | CLIENT-SERVER SYSTEM FOR MANAGING AN ITEM DATABASE AND ITEM TRANSACTIONS WITH USER-ITEM ASSOCIATIONS - A computer system is provided that maintains information about products and provides for transactions between users buying/selling those products as well as providing a public exchange for users wishing to value those products or obtain more information about those products. The system also tracks the users who set up products in the system as well as maintain product categories. That tracking can be used for sharing revenue related to those products with the users, controlling which users become “experts” for a category of products or specific products, allow for user-to-user interactions, etc. | 02-12-2009 |
20090048910 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING TARGETED BROADCAST BASED MOBILE ADVERTISEMENT - A method and system for facilitating targeted mobile advertisement, the system having: a mobile device having: a communication subsystem adapted to receive broadcast channels; a scan engine; and at least one application adapted to consume data, create data or consume and create data, the application registering with the scan engine; and a broadcast server, the broadcast server being adapted to broadcast channels to the mobile device, the channels including advertising content, wherein, the scan engine on the mobile device is adapted to accept or reject advertising content from the broadcast server. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048911 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING TARGETED MOBILE ADVERTISEMENT WITH SCANNING ENGINE ON COMMUNICATIONS PATH - A system and method for facilitating targeted mobile advertisement, the system having: a mobile device having: a communication subsystem adapted to send and receive data; and at least one application adapted to consume data, create data or consume and create data; an application server, the application server adapted to provide the at least one application with data and receive data from the at least one application; a scan engine, the scan engine being located on a communication path between the at least one application and the application server; a mobile advertising server, the mobile advertising server adapted to receive ad trigger alerts from the scan engine and to provide advertising content from an advertising content provider to the mobile device, wherein the ad trigger alert is created based on monitoring of communications between the application and the application server by the scan engine. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048912 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DYNAMIC CONFIGURATION OF SCANNING ENGINE - A method and system for facilitating targeted mobile advertisement, the system having: a mobile device having: a communication subsystem adapted to send and receive data; at least one application adapted to consume data, create data or consume and create data; a scan engine registered with the at least one application, the scan engine adapted to scan data consumed or created by the application, the scan engine further adapted to provide an ad trigger alert; and a configuration module within the scan module the configuration module adapted to store keywords, rules or keywords and rules; a mobile advertising server, the mobile advertising server adapted to receive ad trigger alerts from the scan engine; and an advertising content provider, the advertising content provider registering with the mobile advertising server and providing advertising content, wherein, the configuration module is adapted to dynamically be configured based on the information from advertising content provider. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048913 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING TARGETED MOBILE ADVERTISEMENT USING METADATA EMBEDDED IN THE APPLICATION CONTENT - A method and system for facilitating targeted mobile advertisement to a mobile device, the method having the steps of: inserting, at an application server, metadata associated with advertising content into application data; forwarding the application data and metadata to the mobile device; stripping the metadata from the application data at the mobile device; acquiring advertising content based on the metadata; and consuming the advertising content. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048914 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING TARGETED MOBILE ADVERTISEMENT USING PRE-LOADED AD CONTENT - A system and method for facilitating targeted mobile advertisement, the system having: a mobile device having: a communication subsystem; at least one application adapted to consume data, create data or consume and create data; a scan engine adapted to scan data consumed or created by the at least one application and to provide an ad trigger alert; and local storage adapted to store advertising content; and a mobile advertising server, the mobile advertising server adapted to receive ad trigger alerts from the scan engine and provide advertising content or advertising content identifiers to the mobile device. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048915 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR WIRELESSLY ACCESSING A NETWORK - Systems and methods for wirelessly accessing a network are set forth in this disclosure. Specifically, this disclosure sets forth systems and methods for using advertising to regulate wireless access to a network. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048916 | MOBILE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EXCHANGING POINT VALUE - A transaction is conducted at a merchant location using redeemed loyalty points maintained in a loyalty point account for a customer. The transactions are conducted using a mobile device at a POS terminal. In response to receiving a customer ID from the mobile device, a loyalty server provides the monetary value of loyalty points. The customer may use the mobile device to redeem those points and have the value transferred into a financial account. A payment processing system connected to the POS terminal completes the transaction using the financial account. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048917 | Customer Loyalty Program - A loyalty program is enabled by a data collection set-up. The data collection set-up collects and transmits both the loyalty data and the product barcode data to a server. The server links the product barcode to a customer's purchase profile and issues messages where appropriate. The messages may comprise a redeemable voucher that bears a unique barcode, or an error message that informs the customer and the retailer that an invalid loyalty card or voucher has been scanned. The product barcode data may be cross checked with a marketing database so that the server may enable manufacturers or other goods suppliers to provide targeted advertising. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048918 | ACQUISITION OF AVATAR REWARDS THROUGH ADVERTISEMENT EXPOSURE - The present invention relates to the acquisition of virtual and/or tangible avatar rewards through advertisement exposure. A method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: viewing advertising content within the virtual environment; and providing a reward to the avatar for viewing the advertising content. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048919 | FLEXIBLE ONLINE TRAVEL REWARD DUAL MODEL - An online travel reward exchange that in response to receipt of search criteria related to a desired travel product provides a first option for a travel product at a lowest available published price (LAPP) related to at least one desired travel product, and provides a second option to see more travel product options related to the at least one desired travel product. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048920 | Method for Improving Internet Advertising by Intermittently Mixing Advertising with Targeted Content - A system engaging users with internet advertisement areas using interesting content is presented. Areas normally devoted to internet advertisements are periodically replaced with engaging content. In one embodiment, RSS web feeds are used to obtain recent and summarized bits of engaging content to place in the advertising areas. In yet another embodiment, hybrid mixes of engaging content and advertisements are displayed. In this manner, internet viewers remain engaged with the areas on an internet web page that are normally devoted to internet advertisements. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048921 | User content in advertisements - A method, apparatus, and system of user content in advertisements are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of advertising to a user includes receiving user content from the user, sending the user content to an ad unit, processing the user content (e.g., through applying a facial recognition algorithm to an image), incorporating the user content into an advertisement and displaying the advertisement (e.g., on a website) to the user. The method may further include storing the user content in a server. The method may further include generating the advertisement based on the processing of the user content. In another embodiment, a system for advertising to a user includes a server configured to receive user content from the user, and an ad unit configured to process the user content, incorporate the user content into an advertisement, and transmit the advertisement to the user. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048922 | Systems and methods for classified advertising in an authenticated web-based social network - Exemplary systems and methods are provided for advertising on an authenticated web-based social network. Such methods include providing a screen for creation of a classified advertisement, receiving the classified advertisement from an advertising member, and displaying the classified advertisement on a user network in the authenticated web-based social network with information about a relationship between the advertising member and a member of the authenticated web-based social network viewing the classified advertisement. Exemplary systems include an advertising engine configured to generate a screen for creation of a classified advertisement, a communications module configured to receive the classified advertisement from an advertising member, a distributed database configured with a user network and relationship information, and a display module configured to display the classified advertisement on the user network with the relationship information. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048923 | ANCHOR MERCHANT PROGRAM PROXIMATE VENDOR SYSTEMS AND PRODUCTS THEREBY - A method and system for promoting customer loyalty to an anchor business within a certain geographical region from a plurality of participating merchants. The system having a server configured to store data including an identifier associated with a customer account in a customer rewards program. The server may receive the data and purchase transaction amount from a merchant terminal, verify a customer's membership in the customer rewards program, and transfer an award associated with the purchase transaction amount to the customer account. Additionally, the server may process customer's directive for redeeming the award for use at the anchor business. In another embodiment, the server may store a promotional program offering a value-bearing instrument for a participating merchant, provide the promotional program through an anchor business website, receive request code to purchase the value-bearing instrument, and transfer an award associated with the purchase of the value-bearing instrument to the customer account. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048924 | Apparatuses, Systems and Methods for Loading, Activating and Redeeming an Investment Gift Card - Embodiments of the present technology provide apparatuses, systems and methods for loading, activating, and redeeming an investment gift card. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048925 | METHOD OF RANKING KEYWORD ADVERTISEMENTS USING CLICK THROUGH RATE - Disclosed is a method of running a keyword advertisement service, which comprises providing a CTR-at-rank of a first keyword advertisement using a keyword, providing an average CTR-at-rank of a plurality of keyword advertisements, and computing an adjusted CTR of the first keyword advertisement using the CTR-at-rank and the average CTR-at-rank. The CTR-at-rank of the first keyword advertisement represents a click-through rate for the first keyword advertisement during a predetermined period. The average CTR-at-rank represents an average value of collective click-through rates of the plurality of keyword advertisements during a preselected period. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048926 | Machine-Implemented System and Method for Providing Timed Targeted Promotional Offers to Individual Payment Account Users with Feedback - A machine-implemented method includes determining when a particular promotional offer which is associated with a payment account of a particular consumer should be released to the particular consumer, and then transmitting a first message indicating the particular promotional offer to a device of the particular consumer. The first message indicates the merchant and the terms of the offer, which may include a specific time period during which the offer is valid. The method further includes detecting that the particular consumer has accepted the offer and, in response, automatically transmitting a second message to trigger a transfer of funds to an account of the consumer. The method can further include, in response to detecting that the consumer has accepted the offer, automatically and immediately transmitting a message to the consumer to confirm the transfer of funds to the account of the consumer, so as to provide feedback to the consumer. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048927 | Event Based Document Sorter and Method - Events and/or topics are studied and classified according to their temporal qualities to determine their relative state. The content of a document relating to such event/topic is analyzed to identify temporal components. These components can be compared with corresponding counterparts in other documents to identify a relative temporal order. The invention can be used in environments such as automated news aggregators, search engines, and other electronic systems which compile information having temporal qualities. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048928 | Temporal Based Online Search and Advertising - Advertising and search is performed using temporal parameters of stories, events, topics and electronic documents. The contents of a document relating to an event/topic is analyzed to identify temporal components. These components can be compared with corresponding counterparts in other documents to identify a relative temporal order, and to help drive an advertising engine or search engine. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048929 | AUTHENTICATED TRAVEL RECORD - Users can maintain an authenticated travel record by using an authentication device at all the locations they've visited around the world. The authentication device can be a wireless router that provides WiFi Internet access to the user. Authentication information is sent to a travel database, and the user's profile is updated to reflect their presence at the location. The user's travel record can be accessed by the user or the public via the Internet. The user can be given advertisements and/or new location suggestions based on their current location. Advertising revenue can be shared between the travel database and the location. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048930 | Wireless transmission and reception of information relating to an item advertised on a sign - A transmitter is coupled to a sign advertising a product such as a house or car for sale. The transmitter wirelessly broadcasts visually displayable information relating to the advertised product to one or more portable, hand-held machines. A portable machine receiving the wirelessly broadcasted information may then store and display information about the advertised product such as price, textual description of product features, product photos or pictures, and salesperson's name and contact information with minimal time and effort and maximal convenience. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048931 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING RELATED ACCOUNTS - The present application relates to a system and method for managing a plurality of accounts. A plurality of accounts is provided, with each account being associated with a customer. Account activity information associated with at least one action regarding one of the plurality of accounts is received at a first predetermined frequency. The received account activity information is analyzed, and at least one term of another account amongst the plurality of accounts is modified based upon a result of the analysis at a second predetermined frequency. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048932 | Disk Dispensing And Retrieval System And Associated Methods - A kiosk dispenses and receives recorded optical disk media using an interconnected system central server computer through an Internet Service Provider. The system central server contains databases and processing, and is connected to a credit verification system. The central databases collect inventory administration information and customer data from the kiosks including creditcard and email addresses. The central server initiates credit verification and sends receipts to customers via email. The central server maintains databases that are used for remote inventory control and administration of the kiosk network. A kiosk has the capability to identify a recorded disk for automated restocking and may also perform quality assessment of a recorded disk. A kiosk may also provide publishing-on-demand or-act as a portal for remotely served advertisement. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048933 | ADVERTISING MANAGEMENT AND SEARCHING SYSTEM THROUGH BIDIRECTIONAL SEARCHING AND MONITORING - Provided is a system for advertisement management and search through bi-directional search of advertisement objects and advertisement companies. The system includes an information storing unit for storing information on individual or seller members, seller information, goods information, advertisement or event information; a search unit for allowing the advertisement requester to search for the advertisement objects; a selecting unit for allowing the advertisement requester to select the advertisement objects corresponding to an input search condition; a confirming unit for allowing the advertisement requester; and an incentive providing unit for providing incentive to the advertisement objects. The seller activity score as the search result order criterion is effective within a predetermined period which depends on an evaluation criterion item, a business type, and a region, thereby maintaining fairness and reliability of the evaluation result. | 02-19-2009 |
20090055251 | DIRECTED ONLINE ADVERTISING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system is provided for managing a sales person. An automating server is configured to automate management of sales activities of the sales person selling an electronic advertisement product. A categorizing module is coupled to the automating server. The categorizing module is configured to define a category for businesses located within a targeted geographical area. A territory creation module is coupled to the automating server. The territory creator is configured to define a sales territory within the targeted geographical area for the sales person. The automating server is further configured to create the electronic advertisement product for the business based on the category and the sales territory. The automating server is further configured to generate leads for the sales person to sell the electronic advertisement product to the business within the sales territory. | 02-26-2009 |
20090055252 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND MACHINE-READABLE MEDIUM FOR PERIODIC SOFTWARE LICENSING - A system and method for periodically licensing a software having a server configured to receive a first request code for a term extension of a software license, the request code being initiated by a user of an application unit, the term extension allows the software to operate within a predetermined period of time, provide advertising information to the application unit, and provide the term extension for the software license. | 02-26-2009 |
20090055253 | TRANSACTION PRODUCT WITH GELATINOUS SUBSTANCE - A transaction product includes a housing, a gelatinous substance and an account identifier. The housing defines a storage cavity and is configured to be selectively opened and closed to provide selective access to the storage cavity. The gelatinous substance is selectively enclosed within the storage cavity, and, upon removal of the gelatinous substance from the storage cavity, the gelatinous substance is configured to selectively flow in a plurality of different directions. The account identifier links the transaction product to at least one of an account and a record and is machine readable by a point-of-sale terminal such that value can be added to or deducted from the at least one of the account and the record using the account identifier. Other product, cards, assemblies and associated methods are also disclosed. | 02-26-2009 |
20090055254 | DYNAMIC AND INTERACTIVE ADVERTISEMENTS - A system and method are disclosed for dynamic advertisement (ad) presentation. Dynamic ads may be presented on a page in a variety of different forms with different features based on dynamic ad factors. The dynamic ad may include a number of different ad components depending on the dynamic ad factors. The dynamic ad factors may include any considerations relevant to the presentation of an ad. The presentation of the ad may include an interactive component that receives user input. | 02-26-2009 |
20090055255 | INTERACTIVE ELECTRONIC COUPON METHOD AND SYSTEM - A system, method, and medium, the method including establishing a relationship between a marketer and a trusted third party; establishing a relationship between a customer and the trusted third party; receiving, by the trusted third party from the customer via an electronic communication, an indication of an expressed interest in an offer by the customer, the expressed interest being an action other than a purchase associated with the offer; and outputting, by the trusted third party, information associated with the indication of the expressed interest in the offer to the marketer. | 02-26-2009 |
20090055256 | Funding Information Delivery Using Advertising Revenue - Embodiments are provided to deliver information to a user such that data information delivery costs are less than an amount of generated advertising revenue. In an embodiment, a system can be configured to deliver information, including content and advertisements, to a user which operates to remove the burden of payment for the information delivery by the user. In one embodiment, bandwidth, compression, minimization, protocols, timing, and other optimization parameters can be used to minimize the cost to communicate information, including content and advertisements, to a user. Embodiments can be configured to optimally package advertisements and content, such that advertising revenue can be used to compensate for or override costs associated with the transmission of the content and advertisements. Other embodiments and functionality are available. | 02-26-2009 |
20090055257 | Engagement-Oriented Recommendation Principle - A method selects a predictor item that has a relevance to a user. The method receives a set of affinity items having affinity scores that relate the predictor item to the affinity items. The method filters the list of affinity items based on the affinity scores, and selects a first set of affinity items from the filtered items. For each selected affinity item, the method calculates a difference score from the predictor item, and selects a first affinity item based on the difference score for the first affinity item. Preferably, content is presented to the user based on the selected first affinity item. Additional embodiments include a system and/or computer readable medium having instructions for execution of the foregoing. | 02-26-2009 |
20090055258 | Distribution system of program combined with advertisement according to distribution date and time - In a program distribution system which downloads advertisement-inserted programs to a client system to distribute the program, distribution of programs combined with advertisement according to distribution date/time has not been performed. Also, there has been no mechanism in which there is a plurality of advertisers for one program by distributing the program combined with an advertisement which is randomly selected for one program from a plurality of specified advertisements or combined with an advertisement selected according to a specified rate. Therefore, the problems are solved by a method of generating an error by intentionally causing a download-requested program not to be present with respect to a download request from a client, detecting the error so as to start a program, and generating an advertisement-inserted program in real time so as to distribute it to the client, and by randomly selecting or selecting at a predetermined rate a program from advertisement-combined program files created in advance. | 02-26-2009 |
20090055259 | Lost key rewards system and method - A lost key rewards system and method which allows key owners to register their keys with a central database accessible by a world wide website portal where the key owner's contact information is kept private and confidential. In particular, the lost key rewards system and method utilize an encoded key tag, each with a unique key tag number that a key tag owner may attach to their keychain or key ring. The key tag also has instructions for accessing a specified website and forwarding the found key tags for a reward. A key tag owner may participate in the program by registering their key tag with its unique key tag number along with their contact information. Thus, if the key tag owner's keys and key tag are lost and found, the key tag finder has a system and method of returning the keys to the key tag owner and may choose to receive a reward. This lost key rewards system and method also provides the opportunity for large or small corporations to incorporate the key retrieval system as an employee and/or customer reward program. | 02-26-2009 |
20090055260 | Online system for renting application software - A method for renting application software to a customer including the steps of: offering to the customer access to one or more application software products; receiving a signal indicating the customer's selection of a software product from the one or more software products; providing the customer with access to the selected software product for a period of time; and receiving payment from the customer in return for providing the customer with access to the selected software product, wherein the step of offering one or more application software products comprises selecting appropriate software products to offer based on the customer's requirements. | 02-26-2009 |
20090055261 | Syndicated marketplace architecture for facilitating in-situ purchases - A model for implementing a syndicated marketplace service is provided by an architecture that applies a payment instrumentation process to syndicated items, including advertising, classified listings, marketplace catalogs and the like, to expose such items as transaction-able in a virtual marketplace. The syndicated items are presented, as transactional advertisements or listings, through binding to transaction functionalities provided by user interface (“UI”) gadgets. The UI gadgets provide targeted and contextual handling of the instrumented transactional advertisements or listings when implemented at a particular site. The model enables web site publishers to readily syndicate the necessary services to offer products and services that are targeted, for example by location, time, or audience demographic, and which may be closely related to themes, content, and information presented on the publisher's sites. The sales are transacted without requiring end-users to be redirected off the sites to purchase products and services from a centralized marketplace. | 02-26-2009 |
20090055262 | System and method for advertising testimonial services - A system and method of providing cost effective litigation support through the use of trained and licensed medical professionals, other than medical doctors, includes building at least one database of information that includes credentials of the medical professionals including schooling and work experiences. The database includes contact information. Work experiences include any former expert testimony provided in litigation. Information from the database is marketed to litigants. A system for implementing the method may further include a processor and a second database of licensed attorneys who litigate certain legal issues. Data stored in the first database is marketed and sold to litigants in the second database. | 02-26-2009 |
20090055263 | PROMOTING SHOPPING INFORMATION ON A NETWORK BASED SOCIAL PLATFORM - A system for promoting shopping information on a social networking platform. At the social networking platform, the system receives a request from a first user of the network-based social platform to request a second user of the network-based social platform to accept an agreement to facilitate promotion of an advertisement in association with the second user on the network-based social platform. The advertisement facilitates a sale of at least one item offered for sale by the first user on a network-based marketplace. Next, the system receives of an acceptance of the agreement from the second user to facilitate promotion of the advertisement in association with the second user on the network-based social platform. Finally, the system promotes the advertisement in association with the second user on the network-based social platform. | 02-26-2009 |
20090055264 | PURCHASING INCENTIVE INITIATIVE - A method of buying a vehicle. A subscriber defines a selected tier chosen from one or more available tiers within an incentive program. The subscriber may browse a vehicle database that lists one or more vehicles available for sale from a seller and may select a vehicle from the vehicles listed within the vehicle database. An incentive program certificate is issued to the subscriber for the selected vehicle, which defines a sale price for the selected vehicle based, at least in part, upon the selected tier and enables the subscriber to purchase the specific vehicle from the seller. | 02-26-2009 |
20090055265 | Lost key rewards system and method - A lost key rewards system and method which allows key owners to register their traditional keys as well as “advanced”, programmable key information with a central database accessible by a world wide website portal where the key owner's contact information is kept private and confidential. In particular, the lost key rewards system and method utilize an encoded key tag, each with a unique key tag number that a key tag owner may attach to their keychain or key ring. The key tag also has instructions for accessing a specified website and forwarding the found key tags for a reward. A key tag finder may participate in the program by registering the found keys and its specific key tag with its unique key tag number along with their contact information. Thus, if the key tag owner's keys and key tag are lost and found, the key tag finder has a system and method of returning the keys and/or key tag to the key tag owner and may choose to receive a reward. This lost key rewards system and method also provides the opportunity for large or small corporations to incorporate the key retrieval system as an employee and/or customer reward program and additional advertisement for the company through their logo being placed on a key tag. | 02-26-2009 |
20090055266 | SUBSCRIPTION PROMOTION AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method of, and system for, facilitating electronic commerce transaction comprises: steps for, or server component, receiving an indication of purchase of a first product from a first seller, sending an offer for a second product of a second seller to the first seller, allowing the first seller to accept and complete purchase of the second product without providing billing information of the customer to the second seller. The method and system may further provide a subscription management of multiple subscriptions from different subscription sellers. | 02-26-2009 |
20090055267 | INTERNET ADVERTISING BROKERAGE APPARATUS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS - Apparatus, systems, and methods herein acquire and develop ad targeting relevancy information, route the relevancy information through a network, and use the relevancy information to prioritize ad flows and to select targeted, high-value ads to deliver to subscribers. Some example embodiments may intercept a subscriber internet access stream and/or interact with one or more subscriber information sources to acquire and develop the relevancy information. The relevancy information may then be introduced into the ad delivery ecosystem. Other example embodiments are described and claimed. | 02-26-2009 |
20090055268 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUCTIONING TARGETED ADVERTISEMENT PLACEMENT FOR VIDEO AUDIENCES - A method of auctioning targeted advertisement placement for video audiences, contains the steps of: receiving one or more advertising campaign, where each advertising campaign is defined by one or more advertisement effect criteria, and where each advertising campaign is for providing one or more advertisement to one or more viewer profile; receiving at least one bid for at least one of the one or more advertisement campaign; determining an optimal placement of a requested advertisement based upon the advertisement effect criteria and bid prices provided, so as to optimize revenue; and billing an advertiser according to a level at which a request of the advertiser, as defined by an associated advertising campaign, was supplied and actual viewership of the one or more advertisement associated with the advertising campaign. | 02-26-2009 |
20090055269 | Methods and Systems for Preauthorizing Venue-Based Credit Accounts - A method and system for third party preauthorization of spending at a venue. The third party activates, on behalf of a user, a venue-based credit account for a spending transaction. The transaction is enabled only after at a user and/or a user-designee authorize the venue to open the venue-based credit account. The third party activates the venue-based credit account by providing a credit status of the user to the venue on behalf of the user and deactivates the venue-based credit account, by financially settling the transaction on behalf of the user, only after a triggering event. | 02-26-2009 |
20090055270 | Method and System for Delivering Targeted Advertising To Online Users During The Download of Electronic Objects. - A good time to present an online advertisement to an online User is when he or she is not distracted and can or would like to pay attention to an advertisement. An instance of such time, the “period of inactivity”, may occur, for example, after a User initiates a download of content and before that User begins to view the content being downloaded. The present method and system provides online advertisements to Users during periods of inactivity as well as incentivising website owners with downloadable content to participate in presenting such advertisements to their audiences. | 02-26-2009 |
20090055271 | TRAVEL REWARD ACCRUAL - The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes receiving an indication that a passenger is boarding a carrier for a first segment of a travel itinerary, determining an amount of travel reward points to associate with the first segment, and outputting, at a time substantially concurrent with the boarding of the carrier for the first segment, the amount of the travel reward points to a travel reward system so that the travel reward points are available for redemption by the passenger on a second segment of the travel itinerary. | 02-26-2009 |
20090055272 | Advertisement space auction method, apparatus and storage medium - An advertisement space auction apparatus enabling for a more strategic and open auction transaction to be realized is provided. The advertisement space auction apparatus using a network, comprising a memory storing advertisement space information and being accessible by a plurality of entities connected to the network, a bid data communication unit receiving a bid data submitted via the network from at least one of the plurality of entities, the bid data corresponding to the advertisement space information stored in the memory; and a winning bidder determination unit determining a winning bidder of an advertisement space designated by the advertisement space information, on the basis of the bid data received by the bid data communication unit. | 02-26-2009 |
20090055273 | METHOD OF PROVIDING ADVERTISING INFORMATION, SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING ADVERTISING INFORMATION, AND PROGRAM FOR PROVIDING ADVERTISING INFORMATION - A method of providing advertising information to a communication terminal includes acquiring location information from the communication terminal and extracting advertising information of advertisers which locate within a predetermined range from a base point corresponding to the location information. The extracted advertising information is provided to the communication terminal. | 02-26-2009 |
20090055274 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTED APPLICATION EXECUTION - This invention provides methods and apparatus for executing applications in a distributed manner employing one or more proxy servers and one origin server. The invention allows the applications to be executed primarily at the proxy servers rather than at the origin servers, thereby gaining in scalability and improved user response time. A redirection mechanism is used to direct requests to one of the proxy servers. The proxy server uses caching techniques to bring information records needed for application execution to the proxy servers. The code required for application execution is also obtained from the origin server. The invention discusses applying this technique to three Web-based applications, namely Web-based auctions, generating personalized content for Web-users, and creating advertisements for users accessing a Web page. | 02-26-2009 |
20090055275 | ADVERTISEMENT SYSTEM AND COMMODITY SALES SYSTEM - A commodity sales system ( | 02-26-2009 |
20090063260 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR A TIERED INCENTIVE PROGRAM - An embodiment relates generally to a method of offering incentives. The method includes receiving a registration event of a newly registered user and designating a probationary status for the newly registered user. The method also includes accumulating probationary points for a probationary sum based on at least one answer posted by the newly registered user in a forum and elevating the newly registered user to a status of a rated user in response to the probationary sum exceeding a predetermined threshold. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063261 | CONSUMER DATABASE LOYALTY PROGRAM FOR A MONEY TRANSFER SYSTEM - A money transfer system provided in connection with a loyalty program where the loyalty program members are assigned a loyalty identifier. The system includes point of entry ports to communicate transaction information with points of entry; a promotion database, a customer database, a pricing database, an analytics port to communicate marketing information with a marketing analytics system and a transaction processing system. The transaction processing system updates the promotion database as a function of the marketing information, receives money transfer transaction requests including loyalty identifiers, determines whether the requested transactions are entitled to loyalty program promotions, prices the transactions as a function of base transaction pricing and promotions pricing of any promotions to which the transaction is entitled, provides the transaction pricing information, updates the customer database as a function of transaction information and periodically provides transaction information to the analytics port. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063262 | BATCHING AD-SELECTION REQUESTS FOR CONCURRENT COMMUNICATION - Methods, systems, and computer-storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, perform methods in accordance with embodiments hereof, for batching requests into calls. Initially, an indication to present a web page is sent from an input device that triggers a web browser to download and execute source code underlying the requested web page. The executed source code instructs the web browser to send one or more ad-selection requests to an ad-delivering engine. The web browser batches the ad-selection selection requests into a retrieval call such that the ad-selection requests are communicated concurrently. The ad-delivering engine parses the retrieval request, extracts parameters from the parsed ad-selection requests, distributes the parameters to back-end servers, and batches location indicators of advertisements that correspond to the parameters into a response call. The web browser receives and parses the response call, and renders ad content based on the location indicators of advertisements. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063263 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF SELECTING ADVERTISING CONTENT - Systems and methods of selecting advertising content are provided. A method of selecting advertising content includes analyzing first data associated with a first display element of the plurality of independent display elements. The plurality of independent display elements are associated with a representation of a three-dimensional object. The method also includes analyzing second data associated with a second display element of the plurality of independent display elements. The method further includes selecting, based at least partially on the first data and the second data, first advertisement content for display via an advertisement window separate from the first display element and the second display element. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063264 | METHOD FOR TRANSMITTING ONLINE ADVERTISEMENTS TO USERS - A method for transmitting online advertisements | 03-05-2009 |
20090063265 | INFORMATION NETWORK FOR TEXT ADS - In an information network for text ads, a method includes receiving a subscriber web page from a text ad subscriber and choosing a plurality of internet websites to display hyperlinks thereof on the subscriber webpage by: analyzing the subscriber webpage with a keyword extractor, wherein the keyword extractor parses and tokenizes the text on the subscriber web page to determine a top at least two keywords of those analyzed based on a popularity and a token frequency of the keywords; querying a search engine and a social bookmarks server with the at least two keywords to provide resultant websites with a ranking score; selecting a top predetermined number of websites from a union of website results from the search engine and social bookmark queries based on their respective ranking scores; randomly choosing the plurality of internet websites from among the top predetermined number of websites; and displaying hyperlinks to the plurality of chosen internet websites on the subscriber webpage. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063266 | PERFORMING OF MARKETING ACTIONS WHILE PRESERVING CONFIDENTIALITY - A system provides targeted advertising to customers of an application while preserving the confidentiality of the customers' application information. A marketing system provides a marketing engine that executes on a computer system of the customer of an application and provides targeted marketing to that customer. Since the marketing engine executes on the customer's own computer system, it may have access to the customer's application information. The marketing engine can analyze the application information and provide marketing information that is targeted to the customer without compromising the confidentiality of the customer's application information. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063267 | MOBILE INTELLIGENCE TASKS - One or more intelligence tasks can be selected by a user on a mobile device. Once the user completes all or portions of an intelligence task, the user's performance of the intelligence task is validated by comparing the user's performance with the performance of the same intelligence task by other users. If the user's performance is validated, the user is provided with an award. In another aspect, the system is directed to collecting information regarding capabilities of various mobile devices through the performance of intelligence tasks. Intelligence tasks that prompt a user to identify or verify capabilities of a mobile device are provided to the user. Based on the validated performance of these intelligence tasks, information regarding the capabilities of various types of mobile devices is obtained. The obtained capability information is utilized to enable rendering of content on one or more mobile devices. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063268 | Targeting Using Historical Data - A method of advertising receives a data log that includes the activities of users. The users have unique identifiers and associated profiles that form a user base. The method segments the user base into user segments by types of users. Hence, a first user segment is formed. The users within the first user segment have a profile similarity. The method groups publisher inventory, and forms a first publisher group. The publishers provide content to the users. The method categorizes advertisements and thereby generates a first ad category. The advertisements relate to a marketer, which has various marketer data. The method targets a first advertisement within the first ad category based on at least one of the first ad category, the publisher grouping, and the user segments. A system for ad targeting includes a user module, a publisher module, a marketer and/or advertisement module, and a matching engine. The user module is for receiving a plurality of users and segmenting the users into user segments including a first user segment. The publisher module is for receiving several publishers' inventory and grouping the publishers' inventory into publisher groups that include a first publisher group that has a first inventory location for the presentation of advertising. The marketer-ad module is for receiving advertisements and categorizing the advertisements into ad categories that include a first ad category. The matching engine is for matching the first publisher group and/or the first user segment to the first ad category. The matching engine is also for ranking ads and placing within the first inventory location a first advertisement from the first ad category. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063269 | System and Method for Freemium Based Marketing - A method of freemium based marketing includes providing a utility consumer with an offer for a freemium requiring the consumer to respond to the offer. When the consumer responds to the offer, consumer data is collected and a bundle of additional consumer products are selected based on the consumer data. The bundle of additional products may include home service products. The method then offers the consumer an opportunity to purchase products from the selected bundle. The method then provides the user with the freemium. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063270 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTERACTIVE MARKETING USING NETWORKED DEVICES - An interactive marketing technique may include distributing a marketing item to electronic devices. The users of the electronic devices may share the marketing item with other electronic devices to progressively attain credit that leads to an ability to use the marketing item. Also, sharing of the marketing item may progressively display larger portions of an image content component of the marketing item on a display of the electronic device. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063271 | PET OF THE MONTH EXCLUSIVE LIMITED TIME REWARDS - A unique code is used to register a virtual pet or other item using a code that is associated with the pet, and which, when entered, allows viewing and interacting with a virtual representation of the actual item on the website. If the code is entered during a specific time period, it allows obtaining at least one additional item, for example an exclusive item that cannot be obtained in any other way. The specific time period can be extended, e.g., using supplemental codes. The codes may specify fixed or variable time periods, and may be generic extension codes and extend other things other than this period. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063272 | Method, system and computer-readable media for acquiring, providing and responding to data, requests and commands related to real property rental - A method, system and computer-readable media for generating a renter account associated with an individual person. In a first version, an information technology system enables (a.) accepting rental payment performance information of the person; (b.) storing the rental payment performance information in a database record of the information technology system; (c.) associating a database record with the rental account; and (d.) receiving permission from the individual to release the rental payment performance information to at least one landlord. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063273 | PAY-FOR-PERFORMANCE JOB ADVERTISING - A method includes electronically posting an advertisement of a job opening with an employing entity, receiving a notification that an applicant has applied to fill the advertised job opening, and after receiving the notification, charging the employing entity a predetermined fee. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063274 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TARGETED ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONS USING TABLETOP DISPLAY DEVICES - A system comprises multiple display devices that deliver digital advertising and promotional content directly to the tabletop of restaurant or bar patrons, along with a support server that may be responsible for recharging batteries and/or replicating data files and managing communications. The support server may be linked by a conventional computer network or telephone data link to a content replication server that coordinates and directs placement of ads and other content on the display devices. The promotional, advertising, or other data may be made available to the distribution network from a network of one or more web application servers that may implement a variety of methods or processes that not only provide for direct customer management and control of that data, but also contain a database of information to help target, design, manage, measure and/or track the performance of advertisements and promotions based on a variety of criteria. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063275 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO FACILITATE SETUP OF A PROXY WEB STORE BY AN ITEMIZED SELECTION APPROACH - A method and system for setting up and operating a facilitator Website, the facilitator Website allowing each of a plurality of stores to create a corresponding proxy Web store presence. The method includes launching the facilitator Website by supporting it in a computer server so that it can be accessed by consumers for the purpose of placing orders, setting up a database for a template of products and services to be offered by the each of the plurality of stores and logging onto the facilitator Website by each of the plurality of stores. The method also includes identifying and selecting items from the template of products and services to be offered, placing an order by a consumer, managing by the facilitator Website all of the orders that will be placed to the facilitator Website and communicating by the facilitator Website with the plurality of stores for handling the orders. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063276 | Deferred Performance Based Advertising and reward Payment Process - A marketplace service platform (“service provider”) that allows for deferred payment of advertising or promotional fees by an offerer (“offerer”) until after the sale, lease, or execution of the product or service whereby the service provider then shares a predetermined portion of the payment with the customer, lessee, or service recipient. The returned portion of the fee to the customer may be deemed as a “reward” for having used the service provider to locate and execute a transaction. The offerer indicates the amount of the reward the service provider must offer to the customer prior to any interaction between the offerer and customer. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063277 | ASSOCIATING INFORMATION WITH A PORTION OF MEDIA CONTENT - A media fingerprint is derived from a portion of media content. Information is associated with the media content portion based on the derived media fingerprint. Upon linking to the associated information, the associated content is presented with the media content portion. The media fingerprint includes a unique representation of the media content portion that is derived from a characteristic component of the media content portion. The media content may comprise an original instance of content or a derivative instance of the original content. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063278 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ADJUSTING QUALITY INDEX AND PROVIDING ADVERTISEMENT USING ADJUSTED QUALITY INDEX - Disclosed is a method and system for adjusting a quality index and providing an advertisement using the adjusted quality index. The method includes adjusting a quality index based on a maximum quality index and minimum quality index among quality indexes of advertisements included in an advertisement region, and providing an advertisement according to the advertisement region based on the adjusted quality index. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063279 | Contextual Advertising For Video and Audio Media - A system and method for serving contextually relevant advertisements is provided, including monitoring a media stream to indentify an audio or video asset, extracting and storing corresponding text from the asset, retrieving stored text when the asset is selected by a user, analyzing the text and identifying relevant advertisements that are then displayed to a user as a clickable text next to the playing video or audio asset. In further embodiments, the method may include the steps of retrieving a variable length portion of the text corresponding to the portion of the asset being played by the user, analyzing the portion of the text to identify advertisements relevant to the corresponding portion of the asset, displaying the advertisements during the playback of the portion of the asset, and then repeating the steps until the playback of the whole asset is completed. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063280 | Delivering Merged Advertising and Content for Mobile Devices - A request to initiate delivery of content via a messaging services protocol to a mobile phone can be received. Thereafter, content and one or more advertisements associated with the request can be obtained. The content and the one or more advertisements can optionally be converted into a baseline format. The content and the one or more advertisements can be integrated to generate an integrated media file, the integrated media file substantially conforming to content delivery specifications for the mobile phone. Thereafter, delivery of a packet data unit encapsulating the integrated media file to the mobile phone via the messaging services protocol can be initiated. In some variations, the integrated media file can be modified to make it actionable. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063281 | In-call enterprise advertisement - A call is received by an entity from a caller. The entity plays an initial greeting to the caller and provides a list of options to the caller. The entity receives a caller selection from the list of options and offers the caller an opportunity to opt-out of listening to advertisements while waiting for a representative. If the caller does not opt-out of listening to advertisements, an advertisement is selected for the caller from among multiple advertisements. The advertisement is selected based on the caller's selection, bid prices associated with the multiple advertisements, and information known about the caller from previous calls. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063282 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TOY ADOPTION AND MARKETING - A computer system provides a virtual world. The computer system includes a server subsystem serving virtual world data, via a communication network, and receives data and/or commands. A registration subsystem, coupled to the server subsystem, verifies information from a toy, registers the toy, and determines a quantity of toys registered by a user who is registering the toy. The verifying includes determining the validity of the information. A virtual world providing subsystem, coupled to the server subsystem, provides the virtual world data, which produces data that presents the virtual world. The virtual world data includes a virtual toy representing the toy and a reward provided to the user for registering the toy. The reward is based on the quantity of toys previously registered by the user, such that the reward received for registering the toy is different than another reward previously received by the user for registering another toy. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063283 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONSUMER-SELECTED ADVERTISING AND BRANDING IN INTERACTIVE MEDIA - A user of an interactive medium may select advertising for display on the user's avatar, property, or other user-associated environment. The invention presents one or more advertisements to the user and allows the user to select at least one advertisement to display. The user may also choose a location for displaying the selected advertisement. The invention presents the selected advertisement to other users of the interactive medium. The invention tracks these presentations or displays and rewards the original user based on the presentation. The tracking data may also be used to bill the advertiser or optimize the process of selecting and displaying advertisements. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063284 | System and method for implementing advertising in an online social network - A system and method for integrating analytics data of user profiles within a social network with targeted ad campaigns. The system includes an advertisement targeting system that obtains analytics data of user profiles and utilizes the data to filter through the user profiles to select desired user profiles for delivery of advertisements targeted to the interests and personality of the desired user profiles. Utilization of the analytics data includes generating a social rank of each user profile relevant to other user profiles in the social network. An advertising marketplace is implemented for use by ad marketers to purchase advertisement rights on a user profile webpage, to filter through user profiles in a social network for select user profiles with desired analytics data, and to generate advertisement campaigns targeted to the selected user profiles within a social network. | 03-05-2009 |
20090070203 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ONLINE ALLOCATION OF PERKS - A method and system are disclosed for providing employees with amenities administered by an employer organization. The method and system include providing a quantity of perk credits to a user having a unique user id, presenting several perks to the user, where each of the plurality of perks is associated with a fee, receiving one or more perk selections from the user, where each of the one or more perk selections includes at least one perk from the plurality of perks, combining the fees associated with the one or more perk selections to determine a selected perk fee, and storing the one or more perk selections with the unique user id if the selected perk fee does not exceed the quantity of perk credits provided to the user. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070204 | TARGETED IN-GROUP ADVERTISING - Embodiments of the present invention fill the need of displaying relevant advertisements to members of targeted online groups (or online community groups), whose group members share common interests. The relevant advertisements are provided by advertisers who promote goods and/or services that the targeted online groups are likely to have an interest. The advertisers choose the targeted online groups based on the description of the common interests, focus or background of the online groups, or based on the categories that the online groups are associated. In one embodiment, moderators of the online groups may screen the advertisements before they are displayed on the online group media spaces. By matching interests, focus or background of online groups with products and/or serviced promoted by the advertisers and by moderators screening advertisements, the advertisements displayed would be more likely to be relevant to the members of the online groups. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070205 | Systems and Methods to Provide Information and Connect People for Real Time Communications - Methods and apparatuses to provide communication connections at a cost reduced via advertising. One embodiment includes: receiving a request from a first user over a data communication network; response to the request, initiating a first telephonic connection to the first user and a second telephonic connection to a second user to provide a telephonic connection between the first and second users; presenting an advertisement to at least one of the first and second users; and reducing a communication fee for the telephonic connection between the first and second users using a portion of an advertisement fee charged for the advertisement. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070206 | DELAYED ADVERTISEMENT INSERTION IN VIDEOS - A method for achieving uninterrupted interactivity for user watching a video yet clicking on an advertisement is provided. A method for delayed interactivity is provided herein. Delayed interactivity is implemented in the form of delayed insertions. When a user clicks on an object in hypervideo, presentation of or any action on the related information is deferred rather than played immediately. Delayed interactivity also is implemented in the form of video bookmarks. When a user clicks on an actual advertisement, related information is stored, i.e., bookmarked, along with video content. In this way, the user can pursue the related information at a later time and at the user's convenience. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070207 | Electronic coupon display system and method - Electronic coupons are downloaded from a coupon server to a multifunction device and the coupons are stored on the multifunction device. Each electronic coupon includes a text-based form of the coupon and an image-based form of the coupon that includes promotional offers and/or brand indicia. When a consumer hovers a selection cursor over a text-based form of the electronic coupon currently shown on the display of the multifunction device, the text-based form of the coupon is replaced on the display with the corresponding image-based form of the coupon, including promotional offers and/or brand indicia, for the duration of the hover condition. This replacement operation maximizes the marketing value of an electronic coupon while minimizing the marketing impact to other electronic coupons on the same multifunction device display. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070208 | Method of developing the activity of an on-line payment site by means of an attractor site interfaced therewith - The invention provides an economic mechanism enabling an on-line payment site to be developed by means of an attractor site that is distinct but that is interfaced to a payment site. The method of the invention comprises the following steps: a) after an individual has connected to the attractor site, giving the individual an option for accessing a specific game function; b) if the individual decides to access said specific game function, and if the individual is not a user affiliated with the payment site interfaced with the attractor site, presenting the individual with an affiliation form for the payment site and affiliating the individual; c) presenting the individual with a question generated by a question engine of the attractor site; d) collecting the answer provided by the individual; e) comparing the answer provided with a reference answer known to the attractor site, and calculating a score as a function of the difference observed between the answer provided and the reference answer; and f) as a function of said score, optionally allocating a sum credited to the account allocated to the individual on the on-line payment site. The attractor site may be a search engine and the question may be a question relating to a quantified parameter associated with the activity of the attractor site, for example the relative frequency of terms that are present the most often in the requests submitted to the search engine over a given period, typically a daily period. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070209 | System and method for providing advertising reflexive to user input - A method and apparatus for presenting reflexive advertising to a user is disclosed. User input is monitored and from time to time, transmitted to a remote server that compares the user input to a set of keywords. This comparison is used to identify suitable advertising to be presented to the user. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070210 | Sending delayed message in response to a customer request - A technology platform for the delivery of advertisements and messages in response to a user making a voice based connection via an end user communications device. More specifically, the invention provides advertising supported information services. In one specific embodiment, a first station includes connection circuitry to setup a voice based connection between a second station and the first station. The second station configured to play an advertisement to the first station, provide an offer to receive at least one delayed message associated with the advertisement to the first station, and send the at least one delayed message in response to the user at the first station accepting the offer. Alternatively, the message may also be sent to an email account if the first station is not capable of receiving a text message. Moreover, the advertisement may or may not be based on the user's interests. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070211 | System and method using sampling for scheduling advertisements in slots of different quality in an online auction with budget and time constraints - An improved system and method is provided for using sampling for scheduling advertisements in slots of different quality in an online auction with budget and time constraints. A multi-armed bandit engine may be provided for sampling new advertisements by allocating advertisements for web page placements of different quality and optimizing payments to maximize the welfare of the advertisers while remaining within advertiser's budget and time constraints. Advertisers may report their private information including arrival time, departure time, value per click, and budget. And the multi-armed bandit mechanism may approximate the maximal welfare that may be achieved under budget and time constraints by bounding the possible gain from any possible lie an advertiser might submit in reporting private information. Advertisers departing from the online auction may be charged using a payment method that may provide truthful guarantees on budget, arrivals, departures, and valuations for a budget-constrained online auction. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070212 | System and method using sampling for scheduling advertisements in an online auction with budget and time constraints - An improved system and method is provided for using sampling for scheduling advertisements in an online auction with budget and time constraints. A multi-armed bandit engine may be provided for sampling new advertisements by allocating advertisements for web page placements of equal quality and optimizing payments to maximize the welfare of the advertisers while remaining within advertiser's budget and time constraints. Advertisers may report their private information including arrival time, departure time, value per click, and budget. And the multi-armed bandit mechanism may approximate the maximal welfare that may be achieved under budget and time constraints by bounding the possible gain from any possible lie an advertiser might submit in reporting private information. Advertisers departing from the online auction may be charged using a payment method that may provide truthful guarantees on budget, arrivals, departures, and valuations for a budget-constrained online auction. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070213 | Method, system, and apparatus for providing supplemental content for a social expression product - A digital experience method, system, and apparatus provides greeting cards in a traditional retail store for selection by a card purchaser. The card purchaser selects one or more digital experiences to enhance or complete the thought of the selected card. The selection of a digital experience can occur through the use of a computing device in the retail store or remotely via the Internet. The purchaser scans an identification code or selects a digital representation of the greeting card at the computing device and is presented with digital experiences that are best suited to the selected card. In addition, the card purchaser may view or select from a full-line of digital experiences without scanning or selecting the digital representation of the card. Information relating to the digital experience is included in the card. The card is transmitted to a recipient, and the recipient receives accesses the digital experience based on information provided in the greeting card. The digital experience may be provided to the recipient using a digital delivery device. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070214 | Three-Dimensional Memory-Based Three-Dimensional Memory Module - Three-dimensional-memory-based three-dimensional memory module (3D | 03-12-2009 |
20090070215 | Advertising Method - A mobile information resource, the present invention provides programming along with advertisements. The advertisements appear in place of programming or alongside programming, allowing viewers to contact advertisers were ever the programming is being shown. Advertisers can dynamically choose the time, date, locations, conditions, and other variables concerning when ads are shown. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070216 | Advertising system and method - Initially, information is received that is related to an online auction that has ended. The received information includes identities of non-winning auction participants and the auctioned product or service. A specific advertisement is then selected from among multiple advertisements associated the auctioned product or service. Certain non-winning auction participants are identified to receive the specific advertisement. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070217 | Targeted Advertisement Transmission and Delivery in a Bandwidth Limited Multicast Wireless System - A system and method thereof for the delivery of focused alternate content and advertisements to mobile devices that selectively targets groups in a bandwidth limited multicast wireless video transmission. The limited wireless bandwidth does not allow multiple focused alternate content to be transmitted during allowed spot time to effectively cover all the target groups. Thus, the invention enables the pre-delivery and selective buffering of alternate content files on a mobile device for each target group. Accordingly, one embodiment of the invention enables viewing of targeted advertisements and alternate content by the target groups by attaching metadata to the targeted advertisements that contain instructions for filtering and insertion into a video stream. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070218 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING, PROMOTING AND TRACKING VOUCHERS WITHIN A COMMUNITY - The system includes a communication source formed with a computer-accessible network having a software platform that supports a sale of a plurality of vouchers. A voucher creation system is in communication with the communication source. The voucher creation system allows at least one entity to create at least a first voucher of the plurality of vouchers for sale through the software platform by identifying terms of the first voucher. At least one potential buyer has sufficient access through the software platform to purchase the first voucher. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070219 | TARGETING ADVERTISEMENTS IN A SOCIAL NETWORK - A social networking website logs information about actions taken by members of the website. For a particular member of the website, the website presents targeted ads based on actions by the member and one or more characteristics of the member. The social networking website maintains a profile associated with the member which describes characteristics of the member, such as age, geographic location, employment, educational history and interests. The social networking website compares the member profile to targeting criteria for a plurality of advertising requests and determines the advertising requests that match the member profile and generate the most revenue for the social networking website. When presenting a member with an ad, the website may optimize advertising revenue by selecting an ad from the received ads that will maximize the expected value of the ad. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070220 | METHOD FOR PROVIDING CONSUMER-DRIVEN WEB-BASED DIRECT MAIL ADVERTISING - A method for web-based direct mail advertising that is consumer-driven and vendor-tracked is disclosed. A vendor is selected to participate in a web-based vendor tutorial and consumer-driven direct mail marketing service, while consumers are provided access to a web-based vendor promotions portal. Consumers receive information regarding access to the web-based promotions portal through a magnet postcard by mail, or alternatively, through radio, billboard or television advertisements. Once a consumer accesses the web-based vendor promotions portal, it can search for promotions of interest by selecting a geographic region and selecting a particular category of promotion. Based on the consumer search entries, vendor promotions of interest are retrieved and displayed to the consumer. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070221 | Systems and Methods for Immersive Advertising - The invention is directed to systems and Methods for immersive advertising on a wide area network, such as the Internet or World Wide Web. Immersive advertisements are customized presentations developed and imbedded within the body of web content. They can take the form of non-static images imbedded within a configurable primary image model or they can be a non-configurable, highly stylized, and animated component imbedded within the content of a web page. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070222 | VENDOR-QUALIFIED TARGETED MARKETING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system and method for distributing an advertising offer from a provider of goods and services to at least one of a plurality of occupants of a building, In a preferred embodiment, an information processor is accessible by the provider and at least one of the occupants. A first interactive on-line site is provided by the information processor over a global communication network, and the provider sends the offer to the information processor via the first interactive web site. A second interactive on-line site is further provided by the information processor and available only on the private communication network. The offer is respectively distributed to occupant(s) via the second interactive web site according to predetermined rules defined by at least one of the provider, the at least one occupant and a proprietor of the information processor. Further, the provider is restricted from accessing the private communication network and the at least one occupant is restricted from accessing the first site. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070223 | System and method for calculating postal charges - A system for calculating postal charges receives detailed information and configuration information about a bulk mail, and collects charge-calculation information on the basis of the detailed information and the configuration information. Then, the system determines discount rates for the bulk mail on the basis of the charge-calculation information, and generates charge information for the mails in consideration of the discount rates. Accordingly, the system for calculating postal charges can provide optimum charges for the mails to a client before the reception of the mails. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070224 | Product and method for promoting a person, place or thing - The present invention is directed to a method for promoting a person, place or thing. The method includes forming a design into clay, and then firing the clay into final form. The design is associated with the person, place or thing such that a third party, when viewing the design, will associate the design with the person, place or thing being promoted. Preferably, the design is formed using a clay cane method, including the steps of assembling a clay cane with a design in cross-section, rolling the clay cane to a predetermined diameter, and then removing sections of the clay cane for later firing. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070225 | Methods, Systems, and Products for Classifying Subscribers - Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for classifying a subscriber. An event record is formed comprising at least one command from at least one subscriber and a time associated with the at least one command. Data describing the at least one event record is merged with data describing media programming to form data describing an event timeline that describes the at least one command and the media programming selected by the at least one subscriber over a period of time. Purchasing data describing the at least one subscriber's purchase is retrieved and compared to the data describing the event timeline. The at least one subscriber is classified in a category when the data describing the event timeline indicates that the at least one subscriber viewed an advertisement and the purchasing data indicates that the at least one subscriber afterwards purchased an advertised product or service. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070226 | APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING COUPONS IN COOPERATION WITH OPERATION OF A FUEL VENDING DEVICE - An apparatus for use in cooperation with operation of a fuel vending device; the fuel vending device delivering at least one fuel product; the delivering being effected by exercising an actuator element; includes: (a) a control unit for controlling the apparatus in dispensing at least one item having value after the exercising; (b) a providing unit for effecting the dispensing; the providing unit being coupled with the control unit and responsive to the control unit; and (c) a link coupling the apparatus and the actuator element for effecting the cooperation. | 03-12-2009 |
20090076892 | System, method and device for playing recorded music on a wireless communications device - A system and method for receiving an electronic response to an advertisement that is wirelessly transmitted to a mobile wireless communications device involve routing a connection from the wireless communications device to a source based at least in part on a location of the mobile wireless communications device. A wireless communications device has an input and a display and, in response to an input indicating interest in that which is advertised, transmits its location for use in routing a connection with a source associated with the advertisement. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076893 | METHOD FOR MEMORIALIZING AN INDIVIDUAL'S CREATIVE WORKS - A facilitating entity solicits or is solicited by an organization wishing to conduct a program on a regular basis whereby participants' creative works are memorialized via the creation of commemorative prints. The organization is provided with instructions regarding the conduct of the program. Creative works are received in at least one of electronic and non-electronic format. Creative works received, if any, in non-electronic format are converted to electronic format. The creative works in electronic format along with other information relevant to at least one of the participants, the organization and the program are stored in a content database, the content database being operable to associate the stored creative works with at least a portion of the other information. Orders are received and the commemorative works are generated for the creative works stored in the content database. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076894 | Advertising in Virtual Environments Based on Crowd Statistics - Embodiments of the invention may be used to place a targeted advertisement on a billboard (or other advertising location) in an immersive virtual environment by determining the interests of a group of users at a given location to calculate an advertisement matching the whole group. The selected advisement may be based not only on the sum of individual interests for the avatars present in the particular location, but also current interaction between the avatars. As groups of users communicate with one another within a virtual world, the substance of their communications may contribute to what advertisement is selected and presented to the avatars at the advertising location. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076895 | SHOPPING CART ACCOUNTABILITY USING COUPON INCENTIVES - A system and method encourage a shopper to return a shopping cart to a corral at a store. In the system, detectors recognize the shopper and the cart selected by the shopper at the cart corral. Further, the system includes a scanner at the point-of-sale that recognizes the shopper and records the goods purchased by the shopper. During operation of the system, a controller monitors the goods purchased by the shopper and determines suggested goods for subsequent purchase by the shopper. If the shopper returns the cart to the cart corral, the controller provides the shopper with coupons for the suggested goods. In order to provide the shopper with the coupons for purchase of the suggested goods, the system may include a coupon dispenser mounted on the cart or on the cart corral. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076896 | MERCHANT SUPPLIED OFFER TO A CONSUMER WITHIN A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE - An merchant supplies a requested offer for inventory to a consumer when the consumer is within a predetermined distance from the merchant. The merchant transmits a merchant identifier, a description of the inventory of the merchant that the merchant is willing to make an offer on, the offer, and instructions to transmit the offer to the consumer making the request for the inventory when the consumer is within the predetermined distance. The merchant receives notice that the offer has been made to the consumer. The consumer accepts the merchant's offer by entering into a transaction with the merchant for the requested inventory that applies the offer to the transaction. The value of the offer may be based on a parameter such as the transaction history of an account associated with the consumer within a payment processing system. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076897 | LOCATION-BASED FILTERING AND ADVERTISING ENHANCEMENTS FOR MERGED BROWSING OF NETWORK CONTENTS - Location-based filtering and advertising enhancements for merged browsing of network content are described herein. In various embodiments, a client device may obtain its geographic location and provide that location to a server for filtering by the server of network content fragment suggestions based at least in part on the location. The client device may then receive some or all of the filtered suggestions for utilization in merged browsing. In some embodiments, a server may further receive an indicator of content being browsed. In response, the server may determine network content fragment suggestions, and may also determine an additional suggestion or prioritize a suggestion based an advertiser's interest. The server may then provide the suggestions and/or prioritization to the client device. In various embodiments, the server may also provide the advertisement(s) for display in a user interface of the client device along with the (prioritized) suggestions. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076898 | System And Method For Delivering Offline Advertisement Supported Digital Content - A system for receiving advertisement supported content in a media device, including a media collector for receiving primary content and secondary content in a media device, the primary content comprising a media asset and the secondary content comprising an advertisement, a file system for organizing the primary content and the secondary content, and a player for playing the primary content and inserting the secondary content into the primary content at a time determined by the file system. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076899 | METHOD FOR ANALYZING, SEARCHING FOR, AND TRADING TARGETED ADVERTISEMENT SPACES - Methods, systems and apparatuses for creating and aggregating analytical data on advertisement spaces, searching for advertisement spaces that meet specific analytical criteria, and pricing and trading such advertisement spaces in an open and transparent way are described. Analytical information including tags, demographic distributions, geographic traffic statistics, ratings and reviews are compiled and categorized for each advertisement space. A user interface allows users to combine one or more queries to find advertisement spaces that meet their own needs. The user interface displays the results in thumbnail lists, tag clouds, tables or structured formats. Finally, when an advertisement space has been chosen, the trading system creates a stock market metaphor for buying and selling “Rights to advertise” on such advertisement spaces. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076900 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF FACILITATING THE SALE OF A LEGAL RIGHT TO PERMANENTLY USE PART OF AN OCEAN CRUISER - The method of the present invention facilitates the sale of a right to permanently use a portion of an ocean cruiser. The method comprises making an original offer for sale to a purchaser of a right in the ocean cruiser, said right having a first present monetary value. The offer is linked to an offer for sale of a zero coupon bond having a redemption value payable after a certain number of years, said zero coupon bond having a second present monetary value which in a preferred embodiment is equal to the first present monetary value of the share. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076901 | GENERATING ADVERTISEMENTS USING USER ASSETS - The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for generating ads using user assets. In some implementations, a method includes receiving one or more assets associated with advertising in at least one printed publication. One or more ads compatible with ad slots in the at least one publication are automatically generated based, at least in part, on the received assets. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076902 | ADVERTISING WITHIN ADDRESS BOOKS - Methods, systems, and apparatuses for advertising using address book tools are provided. A plurality of contact entries is stored in a contact database for a user. The user is enabled to interact with the stored contact entries, including a contact entry identified as a business contact entry. The business contact entry of the contact database and a selected advertisement are displayed when the user views the business contact entry. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076903 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REWARDING USERS FOR CHANGES IN HEALTH BEHAVIORS - A system and method for generating and sending reward messages to users accomplishing goals related to a personalized health behavior plan. Rewards may be issued for reasons such as achieving an ultimate goal, reaching an intermediate goal, or completing a suggested activity such as eating a suggested meal or performing a suggested physical activity. A reward may be a coupon for use at an establishment such as a restaurant, a clothing store, or a fitness center. Rewards may also be checks sent through postal mail or coupons for printing on a personal printer. Reward messages are generated by an expert system based on a user's personalized diet, exercise, or other health plan, goals associated with the plan, and specified preferences. Reward messages are sent to user's portable devices. Current location information may be used to send a user a reward for use at a nearby establishment. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076904 | Embedding digital values for digital exchange - A system and methods are provided for the coupling of a digital value, credit, or cash with advertisements. Advertisements may include any sponsored content for presentation to a user. The advertisements may be placed with other content for presentation to a user. As the advertisements are presented to a user, the user accumulates the value, credit, or digital cash associated with the advertisements, which may be used to access or purchase additional content or services. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076905 | Combination retailing system providing customized prime printing services and consumer based product offerings - The present invention relates to a retailing system that provides a series of consumer products, customizable prime business communication products and a selection of ready to eat convenience food products. The retail system is provided at a fixed retail location such as a kiosk or permanent installation and may include a series of advertising panels displaying one or more products that is offered by the retail system. The retail system further includes one or more transaction points enabling a user to obtain the consumer goods, business communication products and ready to eat convenience foods. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076906 | System and method for providing advertisement data to a mobile computing device - A mobile computing device includes a processor, a display coupled to the processor, a memory coupled to the processor and configured to store user-specific data, and a location-determining circuit configured to determine the location of the portable electronic device. The processor is configured to provide advertisement data on the display based upon the location of the portable electronic device and the user-specific data. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076907 | Method and system for providing media content - A technique for providing media content such as advertisements enables, among other things, advertisers to schedule their advertisements more effectively and accurately determine the number of consumers that receive their advertisements. According to an exemplary embodiment, a method for providing media content via a system includes steps of detecting a number of user devices logged onto the system, and providing the media content to the user devices responsive to the detected number. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076908 | USER GENERATION OF KEYWORDS FOR CONTENT AUTHORED BY THEM - A content generator (i.e., a user) provides an indication of the subject matter that is then usable for advertisement targeting. In accordance with an additional aspect, the user is rewarded when a reader of the content views or otherwise monetizes an advertisement that has been generated based on the user-provided indication. Furthermore, in some aspects, the more successful a user is at indicating subject matter, as determined by monetization of advertisements generated based on the subject matter indications, the higher that indicating user is ranked. Rewarding of that indicating user may be concomitantly increased. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076909 | VIDEO CHANNEL AD SYSTEM AND METHOD - A video channel ad for providing continuous video to a user is described herein. A plurality of thumbnails of various clips may be interacted with to provide various video clips associated with the relevant thumbnails. In maintaining a user's attention, the video plays continuously and transitions between states of the video channel ad are made in a gradual and smooth manner. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076910 | Method and system for facilitating a Worldwide Warehouse via an electronic network - A method of automation for loosely affiliated national & international Merchants operating independent businesses from their own exclusive web based stores to market a plurality of products or services and directly retail each other's merchandise as well as their own. That is, numerous merchants operating independently within a technology-based platform may designate products as ‘Available for Re-sale’ (wholesale Merchandise); said merchandise is robotically inserted into participating stores within the system. When consumers place their retail orders from any web-store, the retail and wholesale transactions are simultaneously completed without further interaction. The retailing merchant (seller) is not required to pre-purchase, stock, or ship any merchandise, thus eliminating traditional multiple-shipping costs from manufacturer to distributor, distributor to retailer, retailer to consumer. The result is that the Wholesaler's merchandise is automatically displayed and sold in the Retailer's store, then perfunctorily shipped from numerous locations across the globe thereby establishing a worldwide warehouse. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076911 | MOBILE COUPONS UTILIZING PEER TO PEER RANGING - Providing for distribution of a dynamic mobile coupon (DMC) based on verified peer-to-peer (P-P) ranging between two wireless devices is described herein. By way of example, a first device can form a wireless link with a mobile device and initiate P-P ranging. By analyzing signals sent over the wireless link, a distance between such devices can be determined. In addition, at least a minimum distance between such devices can be verified based on actions performed by the mobile device that require a minimum completion time. Based in part on this verified distance, a DMC can be issued to the mobile device. Accordingly, the subject disclosure provides for increased security for issuing the DMC and mitigation of device spoofing, by verifying a minimum distance to the mobile devices and conditioning issuance of the DMC on such verified distance. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076912 | MANAGEMENT OF DYNAMIC ELECTRONIC COUPONS - Providing for management of a dynamic mobile coupon (DMC) at a mobile device is described herein. Particularly, dynamic characteristics associated with the DMC, such as a redeemable value, can be utilized to browse, sort, search, recall, or redeem the DMC utilizing a user interface of the mobile device. In other aspects, a DMC management application can interact with server components to backup and store DMC data, synchronize dynamic information (e.g., a dynamic redeemable value), access or manage a user profile, interface with other mobile devices to accomplish sharing, trading, exchanging, selling the DMC, and so on. Accordingly, provided is an efficient and personable way to manage mobile coupons in a mobile operating environment and provide increased value and utility for a user of such coupons. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076913 | Method for Obtaining Biodiesel, Alternative Fuels and Renewable Fuels Tax Credits and Treatment - The present invention relates to a method of obtaining U.S. Federal and State tax credits, U.S. Federal renewable fuel treatment, and other incentives by production of esters manufactured by the esterification of carboxylic acids using slurry phase, heterogeneous catalyzed, reactive distillation, and sale thereof for U.S. consumption as a renewable fuel. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076914 | PROVIDING COMPENSATION TO SUPPLIERS OF INFORMATION - The invention relates to providing compensation to suppliers of information, particularly in an on-line, web-based environment. In one embodiment, a server computing device is in communication with a storage device, and is configured to interact over a communications system with one or more client computing devices. Each of the client computing devices has associated therewith one or more user profiles, each of the user profiles includes one or more user profile information items from one or more suppliers. The server computing device is configured to execute software that results in compensation to one or more of the suppliers. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076915 | Method and system for providing micro-targeted mobile advertisements - The present invention provides methods for providing advertisements using one or more vehicles, which comprise producing an advertisement for a vehicle and selecting a vehicle for the advertisement. The vehicle is selected that has a profile that corresponds to the advertisement profile. The present invention also provide systems and storage media for implementing the methods. With the methods, systems, and/or media, micro-targeted mobile advertising can be provided. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076916 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR THIRD-PARTY AD SERVING OF INTERNET WIDGETS - A system for interactive delivery of rich media application pods, is disclosed. The system includes a web content server, a client web browser and an advertisement unit server. The web content server is configured to store a webpage having a designated location for an application pod ad unit. The application pod ad unit is configured to enable user interactions to request a rich media application pod. The client web browser is communicatively connected to the web content server and is configured to render the webpage and allow user interactions with the webpage. The advertisement unit server is communicatively connected to the client web browser and configured to receive the rich media application pod request, and dynamically process the rich media application pod to provide the requested rich media application pod. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076917 | FACILITATING PRESENTATION OF ADS RELATING TO WORDS OF A MESSAGE - Targeted delivery of contextually relevant ad impressions to a mobile device is provided. The ad impressions are delivered within text messages and/or instant message chat threads. Monetizing of text messaging and instant messaging by providers of such services is achieved, while providing unobtrusive and contextually relevant information to users of such services. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076918 | Advertisement-Supported Shipping - A server accepts shipping information from would-be shippers, advertising information from would-be advertisers, and correlates the two to match up an advertiser with a suitable shipper. The server contacts a carrier with the shipping information to obtain a shipping label and tracking number, and forwards this to the shipper, together with the advertisement. The shipper places the advertisement within the package, and provides the package to the carrier for delivery. The server sends one or more tracking messages to the recipient, which contain tracking information and an advertisement. The advertiser pays an advertising fee, which is used to provide a reward to the shipper for carrying the advertisement. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076919 | MONITORING APPLICATION FOR AUTOMATICALLY REQUESTING CONTENT - Embodiments of the instant invention are directed to a system, apparatus and method for monitoring a user's activities and displaying and presenting unsolicited content to users over a wide area network. Embodiments of the instant invention include a monitoring system comprising an activity monitor and a content transfer and display means, wherein the activity monitor comprises an event identifier and a timer. The monitoring system monitors user activities, identifies trigger events, measures the elapsed time of inactivity of the user and initiates the presentation of unsolicited data, or content, to the user computer. In general, the monitoring system identifies trigger events and measures the elapsed time between trigger events. If the elapsed time between the trigger events exceeds a predefined time period the monitoring system causes unsolicited data to be presented on the user computer. | 03-19-2009 |
20090083134 | Adaptive Advertising Based On Social Networking Preferences - A method of providing targeted advertising includes an electronic commerce site that receives a request from a user for a webpage. The electronic commerce site determines an identifier, such as email address, for the user. The electronic commerce site encodes the identifier in a request, such as a universal resource locater (URL), associated with an advertisement. The electronic commerce site embeds the advertisement in the requested webpage and sends the webpage to the user. When an advertising service receives the URL from the user, the advertising service sends a query to a social networking site. The query includes the identifier. Upon receiving preference information for the user from the social networking site in response to query, the advertising service uses the preference information to determine products of interest to the user. The advertising service sends a webpage to the user. The webpage from the advertising service includes information on the products of interest. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083135 | PRODUCTS AND PROCESSES FOR REVENUE SHARING - Various techniques of distributing revenue and/or other money, selecting/bonding delivery agents, and performing other tasks are providing herein. Methods include distributing portions of loan payments to one or more referrers associated with one or more loans, bonding of delivery agents, selecting delivery agents, allocating portions of credit card payments and/or sharing advertisement revenue. Other apparatus and methods are disclosed. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083136 | CONSOLIDATING ONLINE PURCHASE TRANSACTIONS - A system for providing an online marketplace for buyers and suppliers. A processor and memory are configured to establish a buying community as a portal on a network and associate the community with buyers and suppliers. The processor and memory provide for cooperation, by the buyers and/or suppliers, in buy and/or supply relationships with buyers and/or suppliers associated with another buying community established on the network. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083137 | EXCHANGE MARKET PLATFORM FOR TIMESHARE PROPERTIES - Techniques for providing exchange market platform for possessing timeshare properties are described herein. In one embodiment, a fair market price (FMP) is determined for possessing a timeshare property for a predetermined period of time in view of supply and demand of a plurality of timeshare properties having similar characteristics available for the predetermined period of time. The FMP is determined independent of buyers and sellers of the plurality of timeshare properties. In response to an offer from a buyer, a trade transaction is executed at FMP if the FMP is more than or equal to the minimum acceptance price (MAP) of a seller currently owning a right of possessing the timeshare property. Other methods and apparatuses are also described. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083138 | Method Of Advertising On Currency - A method of advertising including receiving compensation from a party and placing an advertisement of the party on currency in exchange for the compensation received to advertise for the party. Also, method of advertising including providing compensation to a currency maker and having an advertisement placed on the currency by the currency maker for the compensation provided to display the advertisement. In addition, method of advertising including correlating a party offering to a particular denomination of currency and placing an advertisement for the party offering on the particular denomination of currency to advertise the party offering. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083139 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SERVING GENERALIZED GIFT CERTIFICATES TO CONSUMERS ON A WEB SITE - A system and method for providing generalized gift certificates, the generalized gift certificates allowing a user to purchase goods and services from one or more merchants in a merchant network via a redemption center. The redemption center utilizes user information and user target parameters to recommend merchants to the user and to target advertisements to users who have received one or more generalized gift certificates. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083140 | NON-INTRUSIVE, CONTEXT-SENSITIVE INTEGRATION OF ADVERTISEMENTS WITHIN NETWORK-DELIVERED MEDIA CONTENT - A system, method and computer program product for integrating an advertisement within network-delivered media content is described. In accordance with one implementation, media content is retrieved for delivery to an end user, wherein the media content type is one of text, graphic, video or audio. The media content is analyzed to identify an advertisement insertion location within the media content. An advertisement is inserted within the media content at the advertisement insertion location, wherein the advertisement type is the same as the media content type. The media content is then delivered to the end user via a network. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083141 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR DETECTING AND PREDICTING USER CONTENT INTEREST - Methods, systems and computer program products detect and predict user content interest include receiving user consumption artifacts from one or more behavioral sources. The received user content consumption artifacts are analyzed by an interest engine and a user-specific content interest list and a potential content playlist are generated for a particular user. The user content interest list is a listing of the types of content the particular user is interested in. The potential content playlist identifies currently available content that is of interest to the user. The content interest list and potential content playlist are communicated to the user. Future content that matches a user-specific content interest list is identified and the user is alerted to the identified future content. Hypothetical content that a user might be interested and would most likely consume if available may also be identified. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083142 | MAIL MONETIZATION - REVENUE SHARING MODEL - This disclosure describes systems and methods for including advertisements in outgoing electronic messages and rewarding the sender for every recipient who clicks on an included advertisement. The disclosure further describes various methods for selecting keywords used to generate the advertisement as well as a method for allowing the sender to directly select the advertisement from an advertisement listing. Furthermore, the disclosure discusses various forms of rewarding the sender including a revenue sharing method. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083143 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR IMPLEMENTING PERSONALIZED DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION - Methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing personalized dissemination of information are provided. A method includes receiving personal information elements for a subject, and applying business rules to the personal information elements, data elements designated for publication by a source of the data elements, and a database of information strings. The information strings include words and phrases that are commonly recognized across a populace. In response to application of the business rules, the method also includes selecting one or more of the data elements from the source, one or more of the personal information elements, and an information string from the database of information strings. The method further includes constructing a contextually relevant output string that is relevant to the subject. The output string includes portions of the selected information string, data elements, and personal information elements. The method further includes conveying the output string to the subject. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083144 | CONTROLLING RECEIPT OF ELECTRONIC ADVERTISING - In one embodiment, a request for content is received. An electronic advertisement is associated with the content. A status of a device that transmitted the request for the content is determined. Data corresponding to the status is included in the request for the content. The electronic advertisement or receipt of the electronic advertisement is provided as a function of the included data. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083145 | DYNAMIC HOSTED ADVERTISING SUPPORTING MULTIPLE FORMATS - Defining an advertisement component to have a plurality of advertising systems each supporting a different advertising format. For example, the formats include rich media advertisements, still images, audio, and video. The defined advertisement component is sent to a computing device for execution. Data identifying a particular advertising system is also sent to the computing device. The computing device configures the advertisement component to select the advertising system identified by the data. The selected advertising system receives and display advertisements in the corresponding format. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083146 | Methods for protecting advertisers against cheats in an EV system for paying and qualifying audiences - An expected value system for paying and qualifying audiences (EVSPQ) is an online database system for paying users for their attention provided that they meet a specified condition or conditions. In this system, advertisers post EV payment offers. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083147 | Separation of advertising content and control - Customized advertising using independent ad content and ad rules involves acquiring particular advertising content to a particular user terminal. Terminal-resident advertising control rules that are associated with the particular user terminal are defined. The advertising control rules are independent of the particular advertising content. A triggering event associated with a runtime operation of the particular terminal is determined, and the advertising control rules are invoked in response to the triggering event. The particular advertising content is rendered to the user via a terminal user application in accordance with the advertising control rules. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083148 | System and method for facilitating content transfers between client devices in an electronic network - A system and method for facilitating content distribution in an electronic network includes a peer-to-peer network of client devices. The client devices are configured to perform content transfers for optimally exchanging desired content items over the peer-to-peer network. A tracking server gathers client statistics, such as content upload totals, by monitoring the various client devices. A rewards manager of the tracking server encourages content transfers between client devices by generating client rewards to the client devices based upon the pre-defined client statistics gathered from the client devices. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083149 | DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM AND DATA PROCESSING METHOD - A data processing system includes a distributing device that distributes edited advertisement data, formed by an editing device, and display terminal devices that display the edited advertisement data distributed to a first place in a predetermined territory. The display terminal devices each include a first reader/writer configured to read out from and/or write in an IC card having stored memory identification data. A second reader/writer is installed in a second place of the predetermined territory and configured to read out from and/or write in the IC card. A hysteresis management device manages hysteresis data from the first reader/writer, correlated with the memory identification data, and hysteresis data from the second reader/writer, correlated with the memory identification data. A hysteresis analysis device correlates the hysteresis data for each of the memory identification data to generate analysis data. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083150 | Method, system and apparatus for dynamic advertisement delivery - A method, system and apparatus for the dynamic delivery of voice and video advertisements to stores, billboards O and movie screens is provided. The inventory of advertisements is managed from a centralized location and can be accessed directly or via a global network, such as, for example, the internet. Other items that may be incorporated into the inventory include bulletins, messages, and other entertainment media. Checkout information is gathered in stored and fed back into the system so that users can see the real-time effects of advertising campaigns. Users may also modify advertising campaigns in response to the real time checkout data in order to gain maximum benefit from the campaign. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083151 | Method Of Advertising On Postage - A method of advertising including receiving compensation from a party and placing an advertisement of the party on postage in exchange for the compensation received to advertise for the party. Also, method of advertising including providing compensation to a postage maker and having an advertisement placed on the postage by the postage maker for the compensation provided to display the advertisement. In addition, method of advertising including correlating a party offering to a particular denomination of postage and placing an advertisement for the party offering on the particular denomination of postage to advertise the party offering. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083152 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING PROMOTIONAL INFORMATION USING DISPENSED PAPER - Disclosed is a system and method for providing promotional information to potential customers. The system includes a dispensing terminal, which dispenses receipts that have game piece surfaces disposed on them. The customer may remove the game piece to reveal promotional information, including prizes or prize information may be revealed to the customer once he has viewed a website. The promotional information may include a website, through which the customer may log on or visit to see if he/she has won a prize. The website may provide additional promotional information to the customer, some of which may be provided by multiple promotion providers. In a variation of the system, the game piece surface conceals information encouraging the customer use his/her cell phone to send a text message to a specified number, along with a response to the promotional information. The system receives the text message and compares the entry code with codes that correspond to a winning entry. The prize is related to a sales promotion. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083153 | Pre-existing liability payment and reward system and method of use - A pre-existing liability payment and reward system including a user communication module in communication with a pre-existing liability holder; a merchant communication module that transacts with the user communication module and a processing communication module; a processing communication module that communicates with the merchant communication module and a provider communication module; a provider calculation module that determines a reward; a provider communication module in communication with the provider calculation module; a system calculation module that determines a reward and communicates with a system communication module; a system communication module in communication with a system calculation module; a holder calculation module managing a pre-existing liability holder user account; and a holder communication module in communication with a user communication module and the system communication module. A method of use is also provided. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083154 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATICALLY GENERATING A MESSAGE FLOW DIAGRAM - A method and system automatically generate entries for a campaign message flow. The method comprises, responsive to a customer request, initiating a campaign, wherein the campaign includes interacting with subscribers via messages. The method comprises receiving customer-inputted parameters defining the campaign. The method comprises automatically generating campaign message flow entries, wherein each campaign message flow entry corresponds to an interaction between a server and a subscriber. The method comprises displaying the campaign message flow entries to the customer. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083155 | Systems and Methods for Usage Measurement of Content Resources - Systems and methods are provided for an effective usage measurement of content resources in a hyperlinked environment such as the World Wide Web. In one embodiment, a content publisher is to include the usage monitoring hyperlink (“UMH”) in its published content so that access to the content resource generates a network based UMH resource request. The network based request contains sufficient information to identify the accessed content resource as well as the provider and publisher. The system and method can be used to reliably measure the number of accesses to a particular content resource, since the embedded UMH triggers a measurement request when the content resource is accessed. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083156 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FACILITATING THE STAFFING OF PROMOTIONAL EVENTS - This invention relates to the methods of coordinating product and service demonstrations. An event coordinator directs event operators to conduct a product or service demonstration event. The event coordinator provides event operators with cards, such as debit cards, credit cards, or smart cards, to purchase items needed for the demonstration. The event operator contacts a card administration system to activate the card. The card administration system verifies that the provided card ID and event ID are valid, and associates an authorized budget of the demonstration event with the card. The event operator then purchases items with the card, and conducts demonstrations. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083157 | System and method for communicating marketing information - A system and method for communicating marketing information includes a portal by which an individual small business may enter, filter, and limit the distribution of marketing information over the internet. The information from the portal is stored in a database. Information is selected from the database and transformed to be used in one or more information display options including:
| 03-26-2009 |
20090083158 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING, REVIEWING, EDITING, AND TRANSFERRING AN ADVERTISING UNIT IN A SINGLE ENVIRONMENT - This invention is directed to embodiments of systems and methods for generating, reviewing, editing, and transmitting an advertising unit in a single environment. In one embodiment, a method can include executing an ad unit component module program adapted to operate in a single environment. The method can further include simultaneously executing an authoring tool program to facilitate the single environment, wherein the authoring tool program is adapted by the ad unit component module program to provide functionality associated with authoring tool program. Furthermore, the method can include utilizing at least one tool associated with the ad unit component module program, wherein the at least one tool is adapted to generate an advertising unit in the single environment. | 03-26-2009 |
20090089157 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING AN AVATAR'S LANDING ZONE IN A VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT - A system, method and device for providing a landing zone in a virtual environment including accessing a network by providing a user identifier, retrieving a user profile based on the user identifier, determining the landing zone based on the retrieved user profile, and rendering the virtual environment based on the determined landing zone. The method may include initiating rendering of a user avatar at the landing zone. The landing zone may be an advertiser sponsored area within the virtual environment. The landing zone may be related to one or more of advertiser products, objects and trademarks including where those products/objects/trademarks are placed in the virtual environment, including placement with relation to the user avatar. The advertiser related object may be selected based on the retrieved user profile. Rendering the virtual environment may include initiating a login of a user on a server device hosting the virtual environment. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089158 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SENDING ADVERTISING DATA - A computer readable medium is disclosed containing a computer program useful for performing a method for sending advertising data, the computer program comprising instructions to send a video data stream comprising advertising data from an IPTV server to a first end user device, instructions to receive at the IPTV server selection data from the first end user device selecting the advertising data and a second end user device and instructions to send from the IPTV server a data associated with the advertising data to the second end user device. A system is disclosed for performing the method. A data structure is disclosed for use by the system and method. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089159 | PRODUCT EFFICIENCY CALCULATOR SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method of using a computer system to inform a consumer about an efficiency associated with an improved packaging configuration for a cleaning product relative to a standard packaging configuration for the cleaning product. The method comprises inputting values from the consumer into the computer system using an input device and storing the input values in a memory, using a processor to calculate a packaging space efficiency and a packaging material efficiency, and using the processor to calculate a total cost savings from using the improved packaging configuration. The method further comprises calculating a storage cost savings based on the shipping-associated packaging space efficiency and the storage cost per unit volume; calculating a disposal cost savings based on the packaging material efficiency and the disposal cost per unit weight; adding the storage cost savings and the disposal cost savings; and displaying output to the consumer using the output device. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089160 | Geo-Based Hands-Free Calling Minute Awards - A method and system for customer incentives awards calling minutes for wireless telephone service based on the geographic location and the products and services provided to a vehicle. Illustrative examples include, but are not limited to, a user requesting calling minute awards based on a purchased service and a vehicle location at the time of purchase, a telematics service center automatically awarding minutes based on triggers generated by sensors within the telematics unit, and a telematics unit autonomously awarding hands-free minutes based on triggers generated by sensors and vehicle location. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089161 | INTEGRATING ENCAPSULATED ADVERTISEMENT CONTROLS - Computer-readable media, systems, and methods for integrating advertisements using encapsulated advertisement controls are described. In embodiments, one or more embedding instructions are received for embedding one or more encapsulated advertisement controls within an application, the one or more encapsulated advertisement controls including logic for handling of one or more advertisements and presentation of the advertisements to a user of the application. Further, in embodiments, one or more configuration instructions are received for configuring the one or more encapsulated advertisement controls. Still further, in embodiments, one or more advertisements are presented to a user of the application in accordance with the one or more advertisement presentation parameters. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089162 | DISTRIBUTED LIVE MULTIMEDIA MONETIZATION MECHANISM AND NETWORK - Methods, systems and computer readable media for managing monetization of live multimedia content include receiving multimedia content from capturing devices in substantial real-time. The capturing devices identify a type of content being captured or location of capture. One or more promotional media from the multimedia content are identified. The identified promotional media is matched with one or more promotional advertisements. The identified promotional media is integrated with the one or more promotional advertisements to generate a composite multimedia stream and the composite multimedia stream is presented to receiving devices in substantial real-time as well as over time. Monetization revenue based on interactions at the receiving devices is tracked. The monetization revenue depends on monetization criteria associated with the promotional media of the multimedia content. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089163 | METHOD FOR GENERATING AND DISTRIBUTING COUPONS - A method for generating and distributing coupons over the Internet is disclosed, which comprises providing a website, verifying a vender's identity by the website, allowing the verified vender to generate coupons by him or herself within the website, displaying the vender generated coupons over the Internet by the website and allowing a consumer to extract the vender generated coupons from the website for printing. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089164 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ADVERTISEMENT PLACEMENT - A system and method of advertisement is shown. By associating a theme of an advertisement with an aspect of a music performance, the advertisement can be played in a time slot that is adjacent to the music performance during a broadcast. The close temporal proximity of the advertisement to the music performance enhances the effectiveness of the advertisement. Methods and systems of making an association between an advertisement theme and a music performance are shown. Examples of associating methods and systems to implement them include auction methods and systems. One example includes online auctions and systems for implementing them. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089165 | System and method for a telephony upgrade credit - A system and method for a feature credit. A feature credit for a user is determined in response to one or more telephony services being utilized by the user. A feature credit balance is adjusted in response to determining the feature credit. The feature credit is redeemed based on user input to provide the user a redemption service. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089166 | Providing dynamic content to users - Systems, apparatuses and methods for providing dynamic advertising and other content to requesting users via mobile web servers. Advertisement content is acquired at a mobile device based on a context of the mobile device, such as it's location relative to a source of the advertisement content. The mobile device hosts a network-accessible server, and at least the acquired advertisement content is provided by way of the network-accessible server upon access to the network-accessible server by a requesting device(s). | 04-02-2009 |
20090089167 | Indicia-Bearing Package for Delivery Systems for Managing Release of Functional Ingredients in an Edible Composition - A package assembly for supporting a delivery system for inclusion in an edible composition is disclosed. The edible composition is formulated to have at least one ingredient encapsulated with an encapsulating material. The delivery system and the resulting edible composition may include other ingredients to create a desired release profile for the at least one ingredient, any of which can be indicated by indicia on the assembly. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089168 | ACE (Alternative Currency Exchange): Alternative Currency Tracking and Mapping System and Method - The invention being disclosed relates to mapping alternative currencies to known worldwide currencies/cash (e.g. dollars, Euros), creating a computation engine to determine the relative values among real and alternative currencies, providing a service and exchange for maintaining or providing an orderly change in the relative value (exchange rate) of alternative and real currencies, and enabling the trading. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089169 | Event Based Serving - Apparatus, system and methods for an event based advertising server are enclosed. Trend data measured over time periods for user queries are measured. A determination is made as to whether an eligibility event for an advertisement has occurred. If an eligibility event is determined to have occurred, eligibility change data for the advertisement is generated. The eligibility change data defines a change to the presentation eligibility of the advertisement and is based on the trend data. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089170 | METHOD FOR PROMOTING AN INCONTINENCE PRODUCT - A method for promoting an incontinence product, the steps of which can include presenting to a person an unfavorable image associated with incontinence, presenting to the person a favorable image associated with being able to manage incontinence, the unfavorable image and the favorable image having at least one common feature, and presenting to the person an incontinence product for managing incontinence. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089171 | METHOD FOR USING ENVIRONMENTAL CLASSIFICATION TO ASSIST IN FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND SERVICES - Managing risks of crop production can be performed by understanding the relative performance of different agricultural inputs under the same or similar environmental conditions. In addition, managing of crop production risks can be performed by understanding variations in the performance of the same agricultural inputs over a range of environmental conditions. By being able to describe and understand these variations in performance, decisions can be made which are consistent with overall business and/or production objectives and limit risk associated with variations in environmental conditions. In addition to producers there are other stakeholders in the crop production process, such as financial institutions, insurance providers, users of crops produced, and input suppliers. These and other stakeholders can provide financial incentives to producers for managing crop production risks through use of environmental classification and/or genotype-by-environment information. | 04-02-2009 |
20090094102 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ADVERTISEMENT PLACEMENT - A system and method of advertisement is shown. By associating a theme of an advertisement with an aspect of a music performance, the advertisement can be played in a time slot that is adjacent to the music performance during a broadcast. The close temporal proximity of the advertisement to the music performance enhances the effectiveness of the advertisement. Methods and systems of making an association between an advertisement theme and a music performance are shown. Examples of associating methods and systems to implement them include auction methods and systems. One example includes online auctions and systems for implementing them. | 04-09-2009 |
20090094103 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ADVERTISEMENT PLACEMENT - A system and method of advertisement is shown. By associating a theme of an advertisement with an aspect of a music performance, the advertisement can be played in a time slot that is adjacent to the music performance during a broadcast. The close temporal proximity of the advertisement to the music performance enhances the effectiveness of the advertisement. Methods and systems of making an association between an advertisement theme and a music performance are shown. Examples of associating methods and systems to implement them include auction methods and systems. One example includes online auctions and systems for implementing them. | 04-09-2009 |
20090094104 | Advertisements for Products in Media Content - Advertisements for products in media content is described. In embodiment(s), products that are included in video media content can be determined. A request for the video media content can be received, such as to purchase the video media content and/or as an on-demand request from a television client device. Advertisements can then be displayed for the products that are included in the video media content, and a product can be selected for purchase from an advertisement. | 04-09-2009 |
20090094105 | CONTENT EMBEDDED TOOLTIP ADVERTISING - Contextual advertisements embedded within content having tooltip type display functionality are provided where content can be evaluated for possible points for insertion of the advertisements. The content can be evaluated against a list of trigger points indicating advertisement should be inserted along with instructions to embed the advertisements. Using this information, the content can be modified to embed appropriate advertising. Upon returning the content, a viewer thereof can view the content normally, but certain events with respect to the trigger points can cause tooltip type display of the advertisement (such as hovering a cursor over the trigger point). In this regard, trigger points, such as keywords, having associated pop-up advertisements can be underlined or otherwise identified. | 04-09-2009 |
20090094106 | PROVIDING ADVERTISING IN A VIRTUAL WORLD - Technologies are described herein for providing advertising in a virtual world. An inventory list identifying a plurality of virtual objects is provided. A selection of one or more virtual objects from the inventory is received. An advertisement list identifying a plurality of advertisements is further provided. A selection of one or more advertisements from the advertisement list is further received. The selection of advertisements is placed on the selection of virtual objects in the virtual world. | 04-09-2009 |
20090094107 | Enhanced Ad-Wrapped Applications for Mobile and Other Computing Devices - An application, executing on a mobile or other computing device, which has been subject to wrapping technology, provides the wrapper with the ability to insert logos, banners, and other advertising material, and allows that advertising information to be displayed within the wrapped application, not just before and after execution of the application. By having the wrapper specify the advertising images and data to be used, the in-application advertisements can complement the advertisements the wrapper displays before and after the application is executed. | 04-09-2009 |
20090094108 | Flexible Revenue Sharing and Referral Bounty System - An advertising system manager, a partner and one or more participating publishers may collectively agree on a revenue sharing arrangement, based on revenue generated from ad conversions, for revenue sharing between publishers and partners such as content providers distributing embedded content links to publishers through the advertising system manager. The advertising system manager may define various components of the revenue sharing arrangement including details of the revenue sharing arrangement and the criteria for offering the revenue sharing arrangement. The partner may separately negotiate with the publisher with respect to the terms of the revenue sharing arrangement. The terms may include a predetermined revenue sharing rate for the partner and the publisher based on the gross revenue received by the advertising system manager. | 04-09-2009 |
20090094109 | Method and System for Providing Discounted Services to Customers - ServiceClub provides an efficient and economic way to connect sellers of services with potential buyers of their services. Discounts, coupons, and special promotions can be provided potential customers based on geographic considerations, so a potential customer can receive services of a specific type either around where he lives or works, or currently is located. Since the system provides geographic filtering, a national or international system can provide discounts and promotions local to a user. Customers benefit because of the national system, and service providers benefit through highly focused advertising. | 04-09-2009 |
20090094110 | Flexible savings system - A savings system, method, and apparatus that combines benefits of a layaway payment plan, a traditional Christmas savings bank account and individual savings accounts and also are able to take advantage of merchant promotional offers. The system for saving for an internet purchase includes an adjustable electronic savings structure that permits at least one end-user to create at least one flexible electronic layaway account for a topic of savings. The end user has flexibility as to how much to save, when to save and for what to save, including the ability to change to a different topic of savings. | 04-09-2009 |
20090094111 | Advertising framework for wireless networks - An advertising framework for transmitting advertisements from wireless access points to client devices that need not be connected to the wireless access point. The client device can display the advertisements on a user interface of the client device. Such advertisements may be transmitted, for example, as part of a control message transmitted by a wireless access point of a wireless network, or other message conventionally used to broadcast network characteristics necessary for a client device to establish a connection to the wireless access point. In terms of the Open Systems Interconnect (OSI) layered model of a network, layer 2 control messages, including announcement transmissions such as beacons, may be used for control messages. | 04-09-2009 |
20090094112 | TECHNOLOGY AGNOSTIC UNIVERSALLY APPLICABLE DATA MODEL FOR A TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICE PROVIDER ARCHITECTURE - An implementation foundation for a telecommunication service provider provides an efficient, robust, and reliable cornerstone for any new telecommunication service provider architecture. The implementation foundation includes a universally applicable data model that encodes the fundamental entities of interest to telecommunications service providers. The data model is free of constraints on any particular technology, and provides a reusable foundation for implementing new telecommunication service providers. The data model is composed of business entities that technically support business processes for a telecommunication service provider. As a result, new telecommunication service providers may be implemented in a rapid manner on a proven foundation, without complex and unwieldy customized technologies that rely on immensely complicated point-to-point message connections. | 04-09-2009 |
20090094113 | Systems and Methods For Using Video Metadata to Associate Advertisements Therewith - A system for using metadata from a video signal to associate advertisements therewith, comprising (i) a segmentation system to divide the video signal into video clips, (ii) a digitizing system for digitizing the video clips, (iii) a feature extraction system for extracting audio and video features from each video clip, associating each audio feature with respective video clips, associating each video feature with respective video clips, and saving the audio and video features into an associated metadata file, (iv) a web interface to the feature extraction system for receiving the video clips, and (v) a database, wherein video signals and associated metadata files are stored and indexed, wherein the associated metadata file is provided when a video player requests the corresponding video signal, enabling selection of a relevant advertisement for presentment in conjunction with respective video clips based on the associated audio and video features of the respective video clip. | 04-09-2009 |
20090094114 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OPTIMIZED ADDRESSABLE ADVERTISING - The system and method includes, in one embodiment targeted micro-advertising that allows buyers and sellers of advertisements to be advantageously paired. The system allows for potential sellers of advertising space to post available times. Buyers then may view and purchase the list of available advertisement space. In some embodiments, buyers of advertising space may bid for the space which creates an auction. The auction creates a market for both available advertising opportunities and purchasers of the opportunities. | 04-09-2009 |
20090094115 | CREDIT CARD ACCOUNT INCENTIVE SYSTEM AND METHOD TO PROMOTE RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT OF ACCOUNTS - The present invention relates generally to a credit card holder awards system and method. The system and method is set up to “reward” responsible management of accounts and good credit practices. Specifically, the method and system monitors customer activity at defined intervals, selects an award winner from among the qualified customers based on a predetermined criteria and provides the predetermined award to the winning customer. The predetermined criteria used in the present invention relates to payments and good credit practices in order to allow users to develop a favorable credit history. | 04-09-2009 |
20090094116 | METHOD FOR EXPEDITIOUS RESOURCE RE-ALLOCATION IN A NETWORK OF MEMBERS - According to a computer implemented approach for expeditious resource re-allocation in a network, customers specify what items or services to request or offer by adding to the “MyHaves” or “MyWants” selection criteria. According to the method, a customer requests an item or service by adding it to his/her “MyWants” in any of the following three ways: using a single click, searching and then adding, or feeding in user-defined-inputs. Similarly, a customer declares to offer an item or service by adding it to his/her “MyHaves” in any of the three aforementioned ways. The system algorithm of an embodiment “crawls” to find matches between the “MyHaves” of offerers and the “MyWants” of requesters, paying attention to and giving priority to the proximity and social network rules in the system. When a match is found, the system automatically triggers an email that is sent to the offerer, notifying him/her that a fellow customer wants what the offerer-customer has. If the offerer-customer agrees to deliver the item or service to the requester, the implementation proceeds to require the requester customer to confirm receipt once the item is received. Confirmation of receipt by a requester causes the system to award points or credits to the offerer as a form of reward. These points can then be used—by the awarded offerer—to enjoy discounted purchases at selected system partner businesses. The point system may be implemented adopting a variety of methodologies. In an embodiment of the present invention, customers (users) communicate with one another using the system's “messenger tool” called “TtMessage”, and control the re-allocation of resources by forming their own circles using the “TtCircle” capability therein. | 04-09-2009 |
20090094117 | NATURAL TARGETED ADVERTISING ENGINE - A method and system for categorizing information in a Web-based system based upon natural words and geographic which is then used to match the information with relevant advertising. The method and system allows advertisers to precisely target their ads based upon the relevancy and location of information which create a high probability of success for the ads. The system and method also presents information providers with an easy-to-use interface and process for quickly categorizing and assigning their information with one or more geographic locations so that it has a higher probability of reaching intended audiences. | 04-09-2009 |
20090094118 | System and Method for the Real-Time Transfer of Loyalty Points Between Accounts - The invention includes facilitating the substantially real-time transfer of loyalty points between accounts. The method and system include receiving a transfer request (e.g., consumer request, triggering event, etc) for a transfer of a certain number of loyalty points, accessing and analyzing the total number of loyalty points in the transferor account to determine if a sufficient number of points exist, analyzing the type/level of consumer and type/level of points to be involved in the transfer, deducting the requested loyalty points from the transferor account, determining if any rules exist for restricting or limiting the transfer of points, using a conversion engine to convert the point value to an appropriate point value in the transferee account and increasing the point balance in the transferee account. | 04-09-2009 |
20090094119 | Method for transacting an advertisement transfer - A method for transacting an advertisement transfer is disclosed which facilitates expressing the rate structure for the individual advertisement as a function of a profile of the individual potential customer; and which is directed to the creation of a mechanism from the vantage of an Internet site that is being visited. It should be appreciated that this must include the participation of other entities in the Internet (such as distributors, clients, intermediary agencies, etc.). The method is for transacting an advertisement transfer, from an advertisement distributor to a visitor, the method including, upon the occurrence of a visitor visitation at a communications node, the communication node performing the steps of: constructing a visitor profile; broadcasting the profile to at least one distributor; collecting responses from the at least one distributor; selecting a response from the at least one responding distributor; contracting, between the node and the at least one distributor of the selected response, a transference of an advertisement from the distributor to the visitor; and effecting a transfer of the advertisement to the visitor. | 04-09-2009 |
20090094120 | Systems And Methods For Helping Advertisers Take Advantage Of Co-Op Advertising Opportunities - Software is used to automate selection of suitable co-op advertising programs from among choices with which an advertiser has had no prior substantial business relationship, to facilitate production, distribution and tracking of advertisements that comply with the specific requirements of the selected co-op advertising program(s). Of particular interest are Internet Yellow Pages and search engine business indices, although ad-serving networks, and other partner advertising platforms/sites are also contemplated. Preferred systems and methods can be utilized by advertising agencies on behalf of their clients, which among other things allow the agencies to cost-effectively provide services to even very small clients. Different interface skins can be used for displaying summary customer tracking information to advertisers, advertising agencies, co-op program managers, national brand managers, media providers, and so forth. | 04-09-2009 |
20090099909 | System and Method for Setting Bid Prices Associated with Digital Advertisements Based on Market Conditions - Systems and methods for setting a bid price associated with a digital ad are disclosed. Generally, an ad campaign management system calculates a segmented budget for an ad campaign comprising a digital ad. The ad campaign management system runs the ad campaign for a defined period of time to determine at least a click-through rate associated with the digital ad. The ad campaign management system examines an actual cost-per-click (“actual CPC”) and a contractual cost-per-click (“contractual CPC”) associated with the digital ad to determine a calculated cost-per-click (“calculated CPC”) associated with the digital ad for a segment of the ad campaign. The ad campaign management system then sets a bid price for the digital ad based on the calculated CPC for a future segment of the ad campaign. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099910 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING ELECTRONIC ADVERTISING RESPONSIVE TO TRAFFIC CONGESTION - A system and method for counting vehicle traffic, for providing electronic advertising, for providing a billing system, and for providing an auction system having the following features: enabling the owner of an electronic advertising display device to charge advertisers per number of vehicles which pass the advertisement; enabling advertisers to bid to have their respective advertisement shown for a particular congestion level and dynamically changing the advertisement shown; cycling through a series of advertisements and based on calculated average vehicle speed; determining how many of the advertisements were likely viewed by the occupants of a vehicle; and calculating the average number of viewers of the advertisements. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099911 | Systems and Methods for Managing Advertising Content Corresponding to Streaming Media Content - A media server is accessed by a user device over a network. Advertising content is automatically received from the server and stored by the user device, where the advertising content is associated with streaming media content. Following a request for the streaming media content, at least a portion of the received advertising content is presented on the user device while the requested streaming media content begins to be downloaded or queued. As soon as presentation of the advertising content concludes, the requested streaming media content is presented on the user device without network-related delay. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099912 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONFIRMING THE DOWNLOAD OF CONTENT AT A USER DEVICE - A system and method includes a first device having an ordering interactive interface having available content. The first device forms a content selection corresponding to the on-demand content from the interactive interface and communicates the content selection to a content processing system. The content processing system communicates a control word to the user device. A user device receives the content corresponding to the selection in response to the control word. The content processing system or the user device generates an email indicative of a completion of storing the content in the user device. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099913 | METHOD FOR PLACING AND DISTRIBUTING ADVERTISEMENTS OVER THE INTERNET - A method for placing and distributing advertisements over the Internet is disclose which comprises providing a website, verifying an advertiser's identity by the website, allowing the verified advertiser to place one or more advertisements by him or herself in the website, displaying the advertiser placed advertisements in categories in the website for viewing over the Internet, and allowing keyword searching of the advertisements in the website. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099914 | AUTOMATED TRANSACTIONAL CREDIT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ELECTRONIC TRANSACTIONS - In a transactional credit system and method, a consumer makes a purchase on a merchant's website. Before the consumer can select a payment option, a webpage requests that the consumer enter her name and shipping or billing address. Using this information, the system determines first whether to make an offer for a transactional credit product to the consumer and second whether the consumer pre-qualifies for the transactional credit product if the offer is to be made. If the consumer pre-qualifies, an additional webpage is incorporated into the merchant's website that offers the transactional credit product to the consumer to pay for the web-based transaction before the consumer is directed to any order confirmation or payment webpage on the website. If the consumer accepts the offer, the system performs any necessary authorizations or instant credit applications and applies the transactional credit product to the web-based transaction. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099915 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR STANDARDIZED BILLING FOR AT-PREMISE RENEWABLE POWER SYSTEMS - A computer implemented method of enabling standardized billing for an at-premise renewable Power System as it is generated at a consumer's premises comprising: providing at least one Power System to a consumer; at least one Calendar having at least one Period, each Period having at least one Segment; providing at least one consumer variable associated with the consumer; assigning a Calendar to the consumer; assigning at least one Rate and at least one characteristic to each Segment; determining the power generated by Power System for the Segment to provide the power generated; determining the usage for the Segment to provide usage; determining a Segment Charge on an ongoing basis according to the consumer's power generated, the usage, the customer variables, the Rate and the at least one characteristic to provide a Segment Charge and summing the Segment Charges to provide a consumer bill. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099916 | METHOD, SYSTEM AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR PROCESSING COOPERATIVE TRANSACTIONS - Embodiments of the invention generally provide a method, system, and program product for sharing electronic transactions among multiple sharing participants. Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for splitting individual lots into multiple “shares,” where multiple individuals have an incentive to promote and drive up the price of the lot. Provided the bids reach an acceptable amount, the final selling price is split among each individual in proportion to the number of shares held by each individual. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099917 | Benefit management method and system for any type of bank card - The invention relates to a benefit management method for a user when he pays for a transaction carried out with at least one affiliated merchant by means of a bank chip and/or magnetic card. The users application data items are stored in a chip and/or in a remote external server and a determined promotional program is stored and/or available at the merchant. The inventive method consists in questioning the chip and/or the server on the application data assigned to said card, in using eventual already obtained benefits and/or in generating new benefits according to the application data and the determined promotional program of the merchant prior to updating said application data of the user. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099918 | Funds accumulation systems and methods - The disclosed systems and methods leverage the buying power of persons affiliated with the Participating Organization (hereafter “Affiliated Individuals”) by negotiating discounts with a network of Preferred Providers of good and services. Funds are generated in the form of discounts when Affiliated Individuals use a particular spending vehicle to make purchases from a Preferred Provider. According to one embodiment, the discounts are not returned to purchasers at the point of sale but are instead transmitted to a System Administrator where they are pooled for the benefit of the Participating Organization. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099919 | METHOD, SYSTEM AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR FORMATTING AND DELIVERY OF PLAYLIST PRESENTATION CONTENT - An exemplary embodiment of the present invention sets forth a system, method and/or computer program product which may include a graphical user interface (GUI) application embodied on a computer readable medium, which when executed on a processor performs a method. The method may include receiving a playlist may include a plurality of content of a plurality of different formats; and enabling a presenter to seamlessly deliver a presentation of the plurality of content to an audience. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099920 | Data Mining - Data mining techniques are described. In an implementation, one or more computer-readable media include instructions that are executable on a device to output a user interface describing a list of segments ranked according to a ranking function, the segments demonstrating distinct behavior in one or more attributes over a plurality of clients described in client data and the ranking function containing settings that are enterable via the user interface to specify a business agenda. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099921 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ADVERTISING AND DELIVERIG MEDIA IN CONJUNCTION WITH AN ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORDS MANAGEMENT, IMAGING AND SHARING SYSTEM - A method for displaying and distributing provided data including media and advertisements to a user of an electronic system for the management of medical documents includes establishing and operating a web-based application for viewing, storing, managing and sharing the medical documents in electronic format by an operator, providing the provided data, and selecting at least portions of the provided data based upon sponsorship by a sponsoring entity to provide selected data, the provided data being correlated to stored profile attributes of the user. The method also includes displaying and distributing the selected data, and the sponsoring entity providing compensation to the operator. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099922 | Advertising system and method - One aspect of the present invention provides a computer-implemented method of generating and sharing revenue between a hosting service and a digital content provider that includes the steps of: (a) transmitting digital works from the digital content provider to the hosting service; (b) associating an advertisement with the digital works such that the advertisement appears visually integrated within the digital works; (c) storing, by the hosting provider, the digital works and associated advertisement on a server device; (d) allowing third parties to electronically access the digital works and associated advertisement for display on a third party website; (e) generating revenue associated with at least one of sales of merchandise associated with the digital works and the advertisement associated with the digital works; and (f) distributing a first portion of the revenue to the hosting service and a second portion of the revenue to the digital content provider. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099923 | SPACECRAFT ADVERTISEMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A spacecraft is deployed in outer-space and an advertisement is displayed on the spacecraft. This provides the advertisement with an outer space background that can be recorded by equipment on the spacecraft, and then displayed at a terrestrial location. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099924 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING A TEAM SPORT COMMUNITY - Systems and methods are disclosed for creating a team sport community including organizing a sporting event for a team sport. More specifically, a team sport may be selected from a plurality of team sports and a team having a plurality of positions may be assembled to participate in the team sporting event. One or more players may be associated with each position on the team. Each player may have a player profile that describes player information such as a player's name, games scheduled for the player, and the player's statistics. A player may create a sporting event for a team and may also search for a sporting event in which to play as an individual player or as a position on a team. A player may also search for a sporting event by the location of the sporting event and obtain information about the location, time, teams, and players associated with the sporting event. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099925 | Apparatus and Method for Virtual World Item Searching - A computer implemented method to characterize virtual goods in a virtual environment includes identifying an item exchange in the virtual environment. The context of the item exchange is recorded to characterize details of the virtual environment at the time of the item exchange. The context of the item exchange is added to a repository of contexts characterizing contexts from a number of item exchanges. A request to search for a virtual item is received. The virtual item is matched to a set of items in the repository. The set of items are presented in response to the request. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099926 | Methods Of Improving Long Term Business Arrangements - The invention relates to a method of improving long-term business arrangements, preferably by enabling supplier(s) and purchaser(s) to share reductions in supplier's costs of production and/or purchaser's costs of using or selling the product. In some embodiments, the invention relates to a method of pricing a transaction wherein a product is supplied to a purchaser in multiple transactions, each transaction being priced on the basis of (1) the production cost of the product supplied in the transaction, and (2) a profit for the supplier wherein, as the costs of production decline in successive transactions, the supplier's profit is adjusted such that both the supplier and the purchaser benefit by sharing a portion of the reduction in production costs. In other embodiments, the supplier and the purchaser share a portion of a reduction in the cost of purchaser's use of the product. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099927 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SUBSCRIPTION-BASED ADVERTISING - The invention comprises a method of providing reward-compensated advertising, comprising: a) registering one or more advertisers with a service provider; b) registering one or more users with the service provider; c) selecting individual users to view content from individual advertisers based on the reward level set by the individual user; and d) compensating the individual user for viewing the advertising content based on the reward level set by the advertiser. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099928 | Method for Video Game Advertising - An advertising method enabling advertisers and marketers to insert computer graphics animation into targeted interludes of video and computer games where gamers will have the opportunity to briefly use their game characters' attributes in an interactive mini game while also being exposed to the advertising company's product. The setting of the video or computer game can also be replicated in the advertising method. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099929 | Intelligent clearing network - In an embodiment, a system for redeeming coupons, promotions, or incentives comprises a network through which a Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal communicates, through a POS controller, with an Intelligent Clearing Network (ICN) server. One or both of the POS terminal and POS controller are installed with POS bridge software. The ICN server is configured to run a real time software application while in communication with the POS terminal, wherein the POS terminal transmits coupon transaction information including universal product codes to the ICN server via the network. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099930 | Participation profiles of virtual world players - A method and system provides arrangements creating a relationship between a real-world entity and a virtual world environment. A participant or player can participate in various virtual world activities including transactions to acquire virtual products, virtual services, and/or virtual items of value. Feedback may be provided and records kept regarding the virtual world activities and transactions. The participant or player may also have an opportunity of engaging in related real-world activities and transactions. In some implementations, multiple players at different locations can be involved in the virtual world and real-world activities and transactions. Some embodiments include arrangements for real-world informational data to be made available in the virtual world environment to a participant or player, based on virtual world activities related to a topic of interest to a real-world entity. Other embodiments provide for making a profile record for use by a real-world entity, wherein the profile record may include particular types of participation activity by a participant or player in the virtual world environment. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099931 | System, method and computer program for assocating advertisements with web or wap pages - System, method and computer program for associating displayable data, such as advertisements, with Web and WAP pages being delivered from Internet or mobile services to mobile or fixed terminals via a communications network. An intermediate box, which may take the form of, or be resident in, a router, a proxy, a gateway, a server or other network element involved in routing Internet communications, analyzes communications related to Web or WAP browsing being directed to the mobile or fixed terminals and modifies part of the communications to include associated advertisements on Web or WAP pages or to add additional Web or WAP pages for information requests, e.g., interstitial pages. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099932 | System and method for searching network users - System, method and computer program for targeting advertising in which advertiser can access a search engine and input search parameters to cause the search engine to search one or more databases based on the input search parameters and identify individuals meeting the search parameters. Each database may contain data about individuals to which advertisements can be directed and is generated based, in part, on known information or the individuals as well as on events performed by each individual when using their terminal, e.g., when talking, messaging, browsing, blogging and responding to displayed advertisements. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099933 | Total value bidding - Evaluating values of different terms in online auctions is disclosed. An interest rate and a period from a buyer for a lot are obtained. The lot has a predetermined value. A first bid is received from a first bidder and a second bid is received from a second bidder on the lot. The first and second bids each have a payment time and a rebate. The first bid is transformed into a first value and the second bid is transformed into a second value using the interest rate, period, and predetermined value from the buyer and the payment times and rebates from the first and second bidders. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099934 | METHOD AND SOFTWARE FOR DISPLAYING ADVERTISEMENTS ON A WEB PAGE - Some embodiments disclosed herein are a method and a system for displaying an advertisement on a web page in which advertisement data displayed on the same web page from among different advertisement data can check mutual existence of the displayed advertisement data, thereby displaying another advertisement data different from the displayed advertisement data. The method for displaying another advertisement data includes recording and maintaining advertisement data including respective identification numbers in an advertisement database, loading the advertisement data from the advertisement database to a local computer memory of a user connected with a web page, identifying advertisement data having an identification number among the advertisement data loaded to the local computer memory, identifying predetermined option which may comprise predetermined display advertisement data from the advertisement database when the advertisement data having the identification number exists, and displaying the display advertisement data on the web page. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099935 | Weight Based Upselling - Weight based upselling, including receiving a purchase request for an item from a customer; determining a weight of the item; identifying, in dependence upon the weight of the item, a shipping weight range and a shipping cost for the item, where the shipping weight range includes a maximum shipping weight; calculating a difference between the weight of the item and the maximum shipping weight in the shipping weight range; selecting an upsell item in dependence upon the difference between the weight of the item and the maximum shipping weight in the shipping weight range; and offering the upsell item to the customer, including offering to ship both the item and the upsell item for only the identified shipping cost. | 04-16-2009 |
20090106093 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PUBLISHING MEDIA CONTENT - Systems and methods have been developed for manipulating media assets in a networked computing environment where processing power, bandwidth and/or storage capacity may be limited. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106094 | AUCTIONING AND ADVERTISEMENT PLACEMENT SYSTEM - A service station advertising display system that allows users locally at the service station and remotely to request, upload, purchase and bid on advertising display time for displays located in the service station environment. Displays may be located on fuel dispensers or other locations proximate to where customers interact for requesting fueling, and other services such as convenience store and quick service restaurant purchases. The invention allows users to access available advertising times for displays, and bid or participate in an auction to control the display time. The user can upload their own content to be displayed, or use advertising content and tools located on servers to create content. The system resolves any conflicts with overlaps in different requests for advertising, downloads the content to the displays to be displayed, and tracks the effectiveness of the displayed content for billing and/or other purposes. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106095 | Navigator With Dataform Decoder - A navigation system based on a web server that provides a client with a map of a destination having an associated dataform encoding an indication of the destination. A navigator is provided that includes a GPS receiver receiving signals from one or more satellites, a memory storing navigational data, a dataform reader that extracts a destination from the dataform, and a processor that calculates a route to the destination extracted by the dataform reader. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106096 | Online Advertisement Delivery Based on User Feedback - A method and system are provided for online ad delivery based on user feedback. In one example of the method, the method includes creating a categorized ad, serving the categorized ad and its integrated link to a user, receiving user feedback from the categorized ad to formulate a user feedback state of the ad for the user, and combining the user feedback state with existing ad serving criteria. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106097 | METHOD OF PROMOTING CHARITIES USING CUSTOMIZED JEWELRY - The present invention involves a method of promoting a cause of any charity or cause via personalized jewelry. The method comprises the following steps: (1) creating a personal jewelry item incorporating an intriguing generic symbol not associated with any specific organization; (2) providing said jewelry item to a person who desires to promote a specific charity; (3) instructing said person to associate said symbol with the charity of their choice; (4) displaying said jewelry in the presence of others in order to solicit inquiries concerning the jewelry inspired by the symbol; (5) responding to said inquiries by others by communicating information about the charity; whereby the cause of the charity is promoted. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106098 | AFFILIATED ADVERTISING WIDGET - A method of advertising includes providing a widget to an affiliate. The widget includes a link to a first network accessible location of an advertiser, and is configured to be placed on a second network accessible location of the affiliate. An affiliate identifier is associated with the widget. An identification that the link has been activated through the second network accessible location of the affiliate is made based on the affiliate identifier. An identification that a copy of the link has been activated through a third network accessible location of a third party is also made based on the affiliate identifier. An incentive is provided to the affiliate based at least in part on the activation of the copy of the link through the third network accessible location of the third party. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106099 | PERSONAL TARGETED ADVERTISING - A method for providing personal targeted advertising includes receiving, from a user, a submission of a search-ad comprising a personal targeted advertisement associated with at least one rare search term; storing the personal targeted advertisement; detecting a query for the at least one rare search term; and displaying the personal targeted advertisement in response to detecting the query for the at least one rare search term. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106100 | Method of digital good placement in a dynamic, real time environment - A method and system for advertising selection, placement management, payment and delivery in a dynamic, real-time environment wherein the production, listing, procurement, payment, real time management, re-allocation and financial settlement of all types of digital advertising mediums, with optional automated delivery for advertisement and messaging for such ads is performed. The planning, purchasing, delivery and payment for on-line and traditional media advertising is automated, standardized and tracked across multiple mediums, such as TV, Internet, satellite, radio, wireless telephone, outdoor screens, and other digital mediums that display dynamic content. As a result, transparency and discovery of price, performance and availability segmented by specific markets and customer profiles for specific products is achieved. A buyer/seller real time feedback is provided to allow both buyers and sellers to dynamically change existing ads, ad space, prices, etc, in a real time environment based on real time sale/conversion feedback. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106101 | Public transportation usage tracking method and apparatus - A method of tracking usage of a public transportation system for calculating a benefit for using public transportation includes: collecting trip data about a specific user and a specific trip on a public transportation system; and compiling trip data for the user and providing it to at least one of the following: the user and an entity interested in tracking the usage. A system for tracking a user's use of public transportation includes: a portable storage medium; a reading device for reading trip information from the portable storage medium the portable storage medium associated with a public transpiration system; a central data storage operatively connected to several reading devices for storing trip information read by the reading device; a data compiler configured to compile the trip information and generate a report of trip information and amount of credits entitled to a user; and an interface with the data complier configured to make available the report to at least one of the following two entities: the user to which the trip data pertains and an entity. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106102 | STORAGE FACILITIES FOR EMERGENCY RELIEF SUPPLIES - A method of community service including placing a storage structure at a strategic location for direct distribution of emergency relief supplies from the storage structure to a populace in the event of an actual disaster. In addition the method includes marketing advertising on the storage structure. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106103 | Click Conversion Score - A Click Conversion Score (CCS) is a tool to provide a new “Ad-Exchange” for connecting Publishers and Advertisers in the Pay-per-Click advertising market. The CCS provides checks and balances into the Ad-Exchange by assessing the quality of traffic each Publisher provides Advertisers using an adaptive, multi-dimensional profiling system. This assessment is directly used in the charges billed the Advertisers. The score is adaptive, and highly dependent on the conversion feedback loop provided by Advertisers. A CCS system scores each Click and each resulting Conversion an Advertiser receives from the Ad-Exchange. In the preferred implementation, the score reflects a ratio of the measured conversion rate for a Publisher's traffic with the “expected” conversion rate based upon Advertisers histories. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106104 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPLEMENTING AN AD MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR AN EXTENSIBLE MEDIA PLAYER - In a method and system for creating an extensible media player, a multimedia player application is instantiated on a client system. A presentation data file is transmitted to the client system from a server. The presentation data file includes a playlist of timelines, with at least one multimedia file being played or at least one application being executed for each timeline. The presentation data file is parsed to activate an advertising manager module. The activated advertising manager module instantiates an advertising plug-in. The advertising plug-in connects to an advertising network and downloads select advertising policies and dynamically schedules advertisements for the timelines. Upon the occurrence of an event generated by a timeline, the advertising manager module inserts a blocking module to block execution of the timeline. An advertisement is dynamically retrieved and rendered in an advertising display overlaying a multimedia player application display. When the advertisement has concluded, execution of the timeline is resumed. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106105 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROVIDING TARGETED ADVERTISEMENTS OVER A NETWORK - Methods and systems are provided for providing targeted advertisements over a network, and in particular to methods and systems for selecting and delivering employment advertisements to prospective employees over a network. In general, the methods and systems can allow an employer to identify and recruit qualified talent they cannot easily or efficiently reach using traditional employment advertising and online job posting systems. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106106 | Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving IP-based two-way advertisement - Provided is a method of transmitting and receiving a two-way advertisement. The method is performed separately from a broadcasting being received by a client. When the client calls for the two-way advertisement, an Internet Protocol (IP)-based two-way advertisement receiving apparatus of the client requests and receives the two-way advertisement from an IP-based two-way advertisement server; stores the two-way advertisement in an advertisement storage unit, wherein the two-way advertisement is transmitted from the IP-based two-way advertisement server which refers to an advertisement area code included in the two-way advertisement and transmits the two-way advertisement by using a multicast group address corresponding to the advertisement area code; and displays the two-way advertisement on a screen of a client using terminal of the client. In the case where the client receives a summary advertisement and desires to obtain more detailed information, the client can receive a detailed advertisement and order a product via the screen. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106107 | Smart Digital Advertising Method - A method for delivering a message that contains a data packet consisting of a header part and a body part. Authorised recipients are allowed to receive the data packet in its entirety. Authorised recipients may retransmit the message to external recipients who are only allowed to receive the header part of the original data packet. External recipients may request to the system delivering of the body part of the data packet. The method enables the automatic recognition of external recipients followed by the delivery of the header part of the data packet. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106108 | WEBSITE MANAGEMENT METHOD AND ON-LINE SYSTEM - Provided is a website management method and system based on a search query. The website management method and system analyze behavior of clicking or purchasing a product or contents after a user inputs a search query on a website which provides information on products or contents or relays transactions, and dynamically updates a keyword group including a plurality of search queries having the same attribute information (category such as brand, theme, first-level classification, second-level classification, or third-level classification) in a database such that the search queries can be automatically managed. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106109 | BUSINESS TO MEDIA TRANSACTION STANDARD - A business to media (B2M) transaction standard provides for the visualization of, and transactions of wares, simultaneously, in real time, and over multiple analog and digital media in multiple analog and digital marketplaces. The B2M transaction standard describes a business environment which may involve four roles (buyers/clients, marketplace suppliers, the universal agent supplier and offer providers) and three component types (media, marketplaces and a universal agent). In accordance with the B2M transaction standard, one embodiment of a method for facilitating transactions of wares between customers and offer providers includes: (a) conducting an offer construction process involving one or more offer providers offering wares available for transaction with customers and the universal agent supplier providing the universal agent to which offers of wares are communicated; (b) conducting a marketplace construction process involving one or more marketplace suppliers providing one or more marketplaces and one or more media for customer communication with the marketplaces, wherein wares available on said marketplaces are provided by the universal agent; and (c) conducting a transaction process wherein the single universal agent operating separately from the one or more marketplaces processes transaction requests from customers relating to wares offered by the one or more offer providers on the one or more marketplaces and presented to the customers through the one or more media. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106110 | Method and system for promoting and transferring licensed content and applications - In accordance with the invention, digital content is able to be better promoted on mobile phones and other electronic devices. The digital content and/or references to the digital content are stored on a server device which is accessible by the mobile phones or electronic devices. In operation, a user of a mobile device acquires digital content. When the user obtains a second mobile device, to facilitate and promote the same or similar digital content on the second mobile device, the digital content or references stored on a server device are able to be used to present the possibility of acquisition of the digital content for the second mobile device. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106111 | Method for mobile device application advertisement information collection - A method for obtaining demographic and/or preferences information for the display of targeted advertisements into applications on mobile platforms. The described method has advantages of directly connecting the collected demographic information and preferences to the application in question and allowing any type of demographic or preference information to be requested and collected. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106112 | System and Method for Issuing and Using a Loyalty Point Advance - A system and method for spending loyalty points over a computerized network to facilitate a loyalty point transaction is disclosed. The system enables a participant of a loyalty program to accept an advance of loyalty point when a loyalty account balance is insufficient to make a desired purchase. An amount of loyalty points available as an advance to a participant is determined based on a number of criteria related to the participant, financial account activity, and loyalty account activity. The participant is allotted a predetermined length of time to earn or purchase enough loyalty points to repay the balance of advanced loyalty points. If, at the conclusion of such predetermined length of time, sufficient points have not been earned to offset the loyalty point advance, the participant is charged the currency value of each outstanding loyalty point. The participant may be assessed interest charges and/or fees at the time of the loyalty point advance, during reimbursement, or at the end of a time period for reimbursement. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106113 | INTERNET PUBLISHING ENGINE AND PUBLISHING PROCESS USING AD METADATA TO DELIVER ADS - Methods are provided for displaying advertising content to a user in an on-line environment using ad metadata. In accordance with a general embodiment, a set of brand rules is created for the display of brand advertising content in the on-line environment. Similarly, a set of general advertising rules is created for the display of advertising content in the on-line environment. One or more interactive processes are displayed to the user, with each interactive process being designed to obtain user information and/or user attributes from the user. A personalized knowledge base is created for the user based upon the user information and/or user attributes obtained from the user. The personalized knowledge base is then utilized to display content to the user that includes advertising content that is in compliance with both the brand rules and the general advertising rules. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106114 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING ADVERTISEMENT PLAYING AND PLAYING ADVERTISEMENTS IN GROUP SESSIONS - A method for controlling advertisement play in a group session disclosed herein includes: obtaining an address of an advertisement service platform corresponding to a group member and parameters of an personalized advertisement of the group member; sending to the advertisement service platform an indication message of playing the advertisement according to the address of the advertisement service platform, where the indication message carries the parameters of the personalized advertisement of the group member. A method for playing an advertisement in a group session includes: obtaining the indication message of playing the advertisement; and playing the advertisement to the terminal of the group member according to the indication message of playing the advertisement. Moreover, a system for playing an advertisement in a group session, a control function server, and an advertisement service platform is provided. The system enables playing of an advertisement to a group member in a group session. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106115 | E-Coupon Settlement and Clearing Process - A system that automates the clearing and settlement of electronic coupons (E-Coupons) by leveraging existing technologies and enabling E-Coupon redemption at any merchant having electronic funds transfer (EFT) capabilities, such as credit/debit card acceptance. The system reduces opportunities for fraud, reduces or eliminates the need for manual clearinghouse counting and sorting of coupons, and provides an electronic audit trail for coupon redemption, tying a specific purchase to a specific coupon. After registering and selecting coupons, consumers then use an E-Coupon card or account access device at a merchant's point-of-sale (POS) terminal. E-Coupon values are deducted from the consumer's final amount due. Both consumer package goods manufacturers (CPGs) and merchants may be charged a fee. Expired coupons are automatically removed from the account and their value refunded to the CPGs. Reports on redeemed coupons and consumer profiles can be generated and provided to CPGs or merchants. | 04-23-2009 |
20090112706 | BUSINESS METHOD FOR COMPOUND ATTRIBUTES CREATION AND MARKETING - A method for compound attributes creation and marketing uses multiple sales or free of charge assignation of definite rights for person's or legal entity's attributes. Compound attributes contain permanent and variable parts, which are united by single visual, virtual or sound solution as a recognizable symbol of definite design. The permanent part contains a person's or legal entity's attributes of sellers and is arranged in one part of the recognizable symbol. The variable part contains the person's or legal entity's attributes of purchasers and is arranged in another part of the recognizable symbol. Compound person's or legal entity's attributes owners form a social seller's network on a profit sharing bases between them as shareholders within the seller's network, for example in terms of stock company, public company or organizations which provides mass selling and marketing of products, services or advertisement. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112707 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR USING A POINT-OF SALE SYSTEM TO CORRELATE TRANSACTIONS TO A COUPON DATABASE - A system and method for providing relevant coupons at the point of sale includes a process for providing relevant coupons at the point of sale whereby a coupon database is provided with at least a portion of the coupon database, and the coupon data in that portion, being associated with a given user. Electronic data representing one or more coupons, and/or other marketing devices, associated with, and/or offered to, the given user is then provided to the coupon database and stored in the portion of the database associated with the user. A computing system implemented point-of-sale system is then given access to the coupon database and/or the portion of the database associated with the user at the time of a transaction being made through the computing system implemented point-of-sale system. Data and/or search parameters from the computing system implemented point-of-sale system are then used to search the portion of the database associated with the user to find any relevant coupons applicable to the user's current transaction. Any relevant coupons are then provided to the user and/or are automatically applied to the current transaction. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112708 | Mobile Content Placement Reward System - The present invention is generally directed toward a system and methods of placing content, including advertising, content on a mobile device in response to an event in the operational lifecycle of the device. The event defines an opportunity between power-up and power-off when the user's attention is likely drawn to the device. The inserted content can be any media form including graphic, image, video, animation, audio or textual and can be fully interactive. The content is inserted before, during, or after an event in a minimally intrusive manner so as not to interfere with the communications features of the device. The system and method reward the user for each display of content. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112709 | Mobile Value Transfer System - The present invention provides for a financial value transfer system wherein financial value can be transferred between an account associated with a mobile telephone user and a stored value card. The transfer is facilitated using an interface on a mobile telecommunications device, thereby providing greater flexibility with the use of stored value cards | 04-30-2009 |
20090112710 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ADVERTISING - A method and apparatus for advertisement using printed graphic images bonded to rubber based products, such as mud flaps for vehicles and tile for flooring. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112711 | TRANSACTION PRODUCT WITH MOVABLE MEMBER - A transaction product includes a first member, a second member and an account identifier. The first member defines a window. The second member is substantially enclosed within the first member and depicts a first image and a second image. The second member is selectively movable relative to the first member between a first position, in which the first image is viewable through the window, and a second position, in which the second image is viewable through the window. The account identifier links the transaction product to an account or record and is machine readable. The account identifier is at least one of connected to and substantially enclosed within the first member. Other cards, products, assemblies and methods of using such cards, products and assemblies are also disclosed. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112712 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR THE REQUESTING RECEIPT AND EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION - A method of obtaining information in a specific area from at least two persons having a defined level of knowledge in that specific area. A host, upon receiving a question for information, operates a web site platform for the exchange of information using the web site to send the question to each of the at least two persons for a response together with a suggested fee for a response to the question. Where the fee is not precisely fixed and at least one response to the question is received via the web site, a value is determined by subscribers to the website. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112713 | Opportunity advertising in a mobile device - Provided embodiments include a device, apparatus, system, computer program product, and method. A provided method includes a method implemented in a mobile device having a core communication function and operable to present human perceivable content using a display. The method includes detecting an attention of a person with respect to the display. The method also includes determining that space is available on the display for presentation of advertising content. The method further includes sending to a third-party an indication of the detected attention of the person and an indication of the determined availability of the display to present advertising content. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112714 | Engine, system and method for generation of brand affinity content - An endorsed advertising engine, system and method, which includes at least one vault having media assets, a recommendation engine that matches the media assets from the vault with at least one requested creative, and a delivery engine that integrates the requested creative with the matched media assets from the vault. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112715 | Engine, system and method for generation of brand affinity content - An advertising engine, system and method of using is described. The engine includes at least one vault including a plurality of media assets, a recommendation engine that matches at least one media asset from the vault with at least one requested creative, a delivery engine that integrates the requested creative with the matched media assets from the vault, and a management engine that regulates and/or tracks ones of the at least one media asset. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112716 | MARKETING SERVICE METHOD EMPLOYING PRODUCT SAMPLE - Provided is a marketing service method where manufacturers fabricate samples and exhibit the fabricated samples through a specific exhibition hall before producing and supplying products to consumers, allow the consumers to test the samples, and produce the products by reflecting demonstration effects or opinions of consumers. The marketing service method includes a database construction step of receiving a sample and sample information from a manufacturer and constructing a DB using the sample and the sample information, a step of checking whether member information, corresponding to the sample and the sample information constructed in the DB, exists, providing the sample and the sample information to a pertinent member, and requesting the member to create marketing information with respect to the sample and the sample information, and an information providing step of receiving the marketing information from the member and supplying the received marketing information to a pertinent sample supplier. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112717 | Apparatus, system and method for a brand affinity engine with delivery tracking and statistics - An apparatus, system and method of implementing a computerized brand affinity engine. The apparatus, system and method include at least a plurality of computerized access points having accessible thereto a plurality of sites mentioning at least one sponsor, a categorized, hierarchical database of keywords, wherein at least the keywords falling in at least one category of the hierarchy correspond to a sponsor category of the at least one sponsor, and a tracker, wherein the tracker tracks positive ones of the mentions of the at least one sponsor on ones of the plurality of sites and negative ones of the mentions of the at least one sponsor on ones of the plurality of sites, in accordance with positive and negative keywords of the categorized, hierarchical database in the sponsor category, and wherein the tracker issues an rating with regard to the at least one sponsor in accordance with the positive ones and the negative ones of the mentions. An assessment of optimal sponsors for particular markets and/or in particular geographies that additionally increases sponsorship opportunities in particular markets and/or in particular geographies is thereby provided. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112718 | System and method for distributing content for use with entertainment creatives - A creative composition engine, system and method. The creative composition engine includes at least one vault having media assets, wherein the media assets include at least one avatar and at least one environment for placement of the at least one avatar, and a receiver for receiving at least one request for a creative. The request for creative may include a composition request for the at least one avatar, and a request for at least one other of the media assets. The at least one avatar may be a composed creative responsive to the at least one request for a creative, and wherein the composed creative further includes the at least one other of the media assets. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112719 | BRANDED INTER-PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS - A message is received from a content provider. A selection of one or more files is received from the content provider. A page specification is received from a first entity, the page specification indicating one or more assets to be displayed in a message interface. The page specification further specifies the placement of the one or more assets in the message interface. The page specification further specifies that at least one of the assets to be displayed in the message interface is to be selected by the content provider. A message interface is generated based on the page specification. The message and a set of links to the one or more files are displayed in the message interface. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112720 | Identifying And Displaying Messages Containing An Identifier - In a computerized method of identifying and displaying messages containing an identifier, where the messages are privately stored for restricted access by a user, the identifier of a document displayed in a navigation area result window is identified. In addition, the message store is scanned to identify messages containing the identifier and the messages identified as containing the identifier are displayed in a messaging area window. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112721 | VALUE-ADDED SERVICES ENGINE - Systems and methods for conducting a transaction using a Value-Added Services Engine. The method initiates sending transaction information with a product identifier identifying a product associated with a transaction conducted between a merchant and a consumer to the Value-Added Services Engine. The Value-Added Services Engine is programmed to determine a benefit associated with the product. The benefit is determined after communicating with a supplier of the product. The method also receives an indication of the benefit. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112722 | CENTRALIZED CONSUMER NOTIFICATION SYSTEM - A method for providing consumers notification from an offering that vendors provide comprising the steps of providing an intermediary between consumers and vendors, wherein personal information about the consumer is provided to the intermediary, establishing desired notification parameters of the consumer, and assigning a filtered identification corresponding to each consumer. The filtered identification is used by the intermediary to send the offering from the vendor to the consumer. Either the consumer selects the amount of personal information included with the filtered information provided to the vendor, or the vendor selects the members which can view the offering. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112723 | Method and Device for Increasing Advertising Revenue on Public Transit Systems Via Transit Scheduler and Enunciator Systems - A device and method for increasing revenues in a transit system is provided wherein specific localized advertising of goods and services is generated and transmitted through the announcement system of transit vehicles. The device includes a transit vehicle equipped with means to track its location and produce an audio message within the vehicle based on its location. The method includes means to sell advertisement space to businesses that would otherwise not find transit advertising effective and means to cause the advertisements of local merchants and service providers to be broadcast in a vehicle in proximity to the advertiser or a specific outlet and software to run the method. Revenue from such advertisements will provide the transit authority or municipality with additional funds without the need for an investment is infrastructure and if done in accordance with the suggested method will cause little disturbance of passengers. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112724 | METHOD AND EQUIPMENT FOR EXPOSING AN ADVERTISEMENT USING APPLICATION - The present invention relates to an advertisement display method using an application program and an advertisement management device for performing the advertisement display method. In the advertisement display method of the present invention, whether an application program is running in a terminal is determined. The application program is identified. A location at which an advertisement is to be posted in an execution window output through running of the application program is determined. An advertisement to be arranged at the advertisement posting location of the execution window is searched for. A found advertisement is inserted in the execution window and outputting the execution window. | 04-30-2009 |
20090119163 | Methods for advertising in electronic media - Embodiments of the invention seek to overcome one or more of the disadvantages described above by leveraging electronic advertisements that were developed for use in one distribution channel in another distribution channel. In addition, embodiments of the invention better integrate an electronic advertisements into electronic content. Embodiments of the invention also provide alternative methods for valuing electronic advertisements that may be better suited to present and emerging distribution channels. | 05-07-2009 |
20090119164 | Method and Apparatus for Distributing Targeted Audible Advertisements as Ringtones - The illustrative embodiments described herein provide a method, apparatus, and computer program product for distributing targeted audible advertisements as ringtones. A user profile associated with a user is identified. An audible advertisement is selected from a plurality of audible advertisements using criteria matching the user profile. A currently selected ringtone is substituted with the audible advertisement on a communication device associated with the user. | 05-07-2009 |
20090119165 | Custom personalized online advertising - Custom personalized advertisements contain variables which identify types of personal information. When an advertisement loads on a user's display, the content provider identifies the user and provides the personal information identified by the variables for this particular user. The variables in the advertisement are then replaced with the personal information before the advertisement is displayed. The substitution of information for variables can occur at the content provider's servers or the information can be transmitted to a remote advertisement server where it is inserted into the advertisement before sending the custom personalized advertisement to the user's browser. If the information is sent to the advertising server it can be cached so that in the future only the user ID needs to be sent to the server to create a personalized advertisement for this particular user. In the case of caching, the information can be kept up to date by including a last modified date and time in the database of user information. | 05-07-2009 |
20090119166 | VIDEO ADVERTISEMENTS - A query including one or more keywords is received. An advertisement associated with the one or more keywords is identified, and display data for displaying the advertisement is generated and a determination is made as to whether the advertisement is associated with a video. Video selection data is generated for displaying the video proximate to the advertisement if the advertisement is determined to be associated with the video, and the display data and the video selection data are provided. | 05-07-2009 |
20090119167 | Social Advertisements and Other Informational Messages on a Social Networking Website, and Advertising Model for Same - A social networking website logs information about actions taken by members of the website. For a particular member of the website, the website generates socially relevant ads for the member based on the actions logged for other members on the website to whom the member is connected (i.e., the member's online friends). The advertiser associated with the social ad may compensate the social networking website for publishing the ad on the website. When presenting a member with a social ad, the website may optimize advertising revenue by selecting an ad from the received ads that will maximize the expected value of the social ad. The expected value may be computed according to a function that includes the member's affinity for the ad content and the bid amount. The technique is also applied for providing socially relevant information off the social networking website. | 05-07-2009 |
20090119168 | System and method for providing an incentive based on the hardware used to place an order - A system for providing an incentive based on the hardware used to place an order, including: an interface element for at least one specially programmed general-purpose computer; and an offer element, in a processor for the general-purpose computer for: generating an offer to place an order with a business entity, the offer based upon a category for a hardware device or an identification of a hardware device; identifying, using the interface element, a hardware device included in the category or having the identification; and transmitting, using the interface element, the offer for display on the hardware device included in the category or having the identification. In one embodiment, the offer element is for generating an offer using at least one of a set of rules and a artificial intelligence program stored in a memory unit for the general-purpose computer. | 05-07-2009 |
20090119169 | VARIOUS METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR AN ENGINE THAT PAIRS ADVERTISEMENTS WITH VIDEO FILES - A system to pair advertisements with media files is described. A request is processed to find one or more relevant advertisements and determine when to display each relevant advertisement at a temporally contextual point within a video file when the video file is played on a web page. The video file's key concepts and timing information are retrieved from a database. A request is generated for advertisements that contextually match the content in the key conceptual points found in the content of the video file. The timing information is retrieved regarding when the key conceptual points, relevant to returned advertisements that contextually match, chronologically appear in the video file. Contextual relevant advertisements are supplied with temporal information on when the placement of advertisements is most contextually relevant to the content being played in the video file. | 05-07-2009 |
20090119170 | PORTABLE CONSUMER DEVICE INCLUDING DATA BEARING MEDIUM INCLUDING RISK BASED BENEFITS - A system and method for distributing coupons to consumers at the point-of-sale, where the benefit offered in the coupon can be determined according to a risk analysis. The coupon can then be applied to a transaction taking place at the point-of-sale or stored for future use. | 05-07-2009 |
20090119171 | NETWORKS, METHODS, AND SYSTEMS FOR ENCOURAGING TIMELY FULFILLMENT OF PERIODIC OBLIGATIONS - The present invention includes networks, methods, and systems for encouraging the timely payment of bills and, more specifically, to networks, methods and systems by which rewards are granted to promote the timely payment of bills. | 05-07-2009 |
20090119172 | Advertising Futures Marketplace Methods and Systems - Methods and systems provide information products relating to past, present and future advertising transactions (i.e., contracts to place advertisements in various media) to enable a marketplace in advertising products. Information regarding a plurality of advertising transactions are gathered. Data is analyzed to determine its attributes. Some attribute values are transformed and the attribute values are stored in a database. Attributes are organized or indexed according to a taxonomy of attributes to provide indexes to advertising transaction records. Indexes and benchmarks for various selected types of advertising transactions can be generated by selecting certain records from the database and aggregating the data or otherwise synthesizing information products, such as benchmarks and market entities for the selected types of advertising transactions. Information products may be published and syndicated as market indexes and benchmarks. | 05-07-2009 |
20090119173 | System and Method For Advertisement Targeting of Conversations in Social Media - Conversations in an online content universe are monitored. A conversation index is generated in social media. An individual conversation is defined by user-selectable input terms. Publishers that influence a conversation are identified. The system generates an influence ranking of site's that influence a particular conversation. The system permits ads to be placed on sites based on the sites influence on the conversation. The system can be updated to permit ads to be targeted based on current influence rankings. The influence ranking is used to perform online advertising targeting and placement. Additional marketing filters, such as demographics, historical performance, and return on investment, may be used to adjust an initial influence ranking based. The ad placement may also be expanded to include related conversations, inlinking sites, and/or outlinking sites. | 05-07-2009 |
20090119174 | COUPON GENERATION AND REDEMPTION SYSTEM - A coupon generation and redemption system presenting a consumer with at least one product on which at least one promotion is available. The consumer selects at least one of the at least one product for which the consumer desires to receive at least one coupon. The at least one coupon is generated. The consumer purchases the at least one product referenced in the at least one coupon. The consumer redeems the at least one coupon. | 05-07-2009 |
20090119175 | TAPE SEALANT - A formulated transparent acrylic emulsion is packaged and marketed as tape sealant that gives superior sharp paint boundaries when used in conjunction with masking tape, including modem types that of masking tapes that claim to prevent seepage. Methods of formulating and using the tape sealant, as well as marketing approaches, are included. | 05-07-2009 |
20090119176 | Methods and systems for interchange adjustment - A computer-implemented method and system for interchange adjustment as it relates to private label accounts involves enabling a private label card account with a partner by a card issuer through a card association network with a special program fee that is greater or less than a pre-determined interchange fee established by the card association; issuing a private label card by the card issuer to a cardholder and establishing an associated private label card account for the cardholder; and receiving data for a transaction by a processing system of the card association. The card association processing system calculates and collects the established interchange fee on behalf of the card issuer and sends the transaction data to the card issuer, which calculates a difference between the interchange fee and the special program fee and sends an adjustment back seamlessly through the card association network for credit or debit to an account of the partner. | 05-07-2009 |
20090119177 | Outdoor and out of home advertising method and system - Disclosed is an outdoor and out of home advertising (OOHA) method and system having at least one kiosk client coupled to a secured central server via a VPN, internet, radio communication, satellite communication, Bluetooth communication, or any communication, said at least one kiosk client and secured central server further coupled to the networking. The kiosk client connected to secure central server dynamically pushes specific advertisement based upon user profile, location of the kiosk client, creates user profile preferences, and uploads proactive applications for secured communication. | 05-07-2009 |
20090119178 | Dynamic Content Configuration for Microbrowsers by State, Resource Allocation and User Preferences - A microbrowser such as web-enabled wireless telephones and personal digital assistants allows a user to configure types of objects to be blocked from download including object memory consumption, display area, download time, and restrictions on animated images and executable scripts. Microbrowser state conditions such as battery level and network connection mode are considered when providing said limitations such that more restrictions may be placed during low battery periods to maximize battery life. For example, during low battery conditions or analog connection mode, a user may configure an enhanced microbrowser not to download advertisements, run scripts or animated objects in order to maximize remaining battery life. In another example, a user may configure an enhanced microbrowser to block the download of objects containing audio, or which will occupy more than a certain percentage of the available display area. | 05-07-2009 |
20090119179 | MODIFICATION OF ADVERTISEMENT CAMPAIGN ELEMENTS BASED ON HEURISTICS AND REAL TIME FEEDBACK - Enabling the selection, modification, and subsequent generation of online advertisements for either a one time use or as part of an advertising campaign. The performance of an advertisement is iteratively reviewed based on heuristics, statistics, metrics, real-time feedback, and the like, either singly or in some combination. Iterative monitoring of performance information for related, but different, online advertisements is analyzed and employed to recommend and/or automatically generate changes to an online advertisement, or advertising campaign. An editing facility is also provided to enable a user to modify a plurality of elements in an online advertisement, and at least some of these editable/modifiable elements are monitored for performance information. The editing facility can enable editing of different file formats for online advertisements, including, Flash, SVG, and Gnash. | 05-07-2009 |
20090125386 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING A CUSTOMER LOYALTY PROGRAM - A system and method for operating a customer loyalty program including a computer system accessible on-line by various institutions participating in the customer loyalty program. The computer system includes a data-processing facility for processing inter alia, information relating to participating customers and their loyalty accounts, and information relating to participating institutions. The computer system further includes a storage facility for storing a database of participating customers' information, as well as other relevant information. The system also includes a facility for managing the transfer of relevant information from participating customers and institutions, and for managing the maintenance of the database information stored in the storage facility, including the application of discounted rates of interest to selected financial instruments. The system and method of the invention typically envisages two types of participating institutions, a financial institution shown as lender and a retail institution shown as merchant. | 05-14-2009 |
20090125387 | Electronic Commerce System, Method and Apparatus - An electronic commerce method that includes publishing an offer for a product or service, receiving the published offer and conditionally accepting the offer, and forwarding the conditional acceptance to a matching processor to request the product or service. The matching processor receives the conditional acceptance by the matching processor, determines whether conditions present in the conditional acceptance can be fulfilled, and forwards at least one option for acceptance. The at least one option for selection is displayed and the user, selects any one of the at least one options. Upon selection, a token is provided to the user. The token is configured to be used to redeem the service or product, be transferable to another user device, or to be stored for future redemption of the product or service. | 05-14-2009 |
20090125388 | PROCESS AND SYSTEM OF PERFORMING A SALES AND PROCESS AND SYSTEM OF IMPLEMENTING A SOFTWARE - The present invention refers to methods and systems to carry out a cycle of sales and the implementation of a software. According to a first aspect of the invention, the sales process comprises the steps of disclosing a product or service; carrying out a demonstration of said product or service; implementing or delivering said product or service to client; training client to use said product or service; and providing technical support to client in relation to said product or service; the disclosure step being carried out by electronic means, and the demonstration step is carried out remotely and in real time by a person having a participatory presence, allowing interaction between offerer and at least some of the prospects or clients, and in which the training, implementation and technical support steps are carried out by remote means. | 05-14-2009 |
20090125389 | System and Method for Opportunistically Distributing Promotional Objects - User devices are used to opportunistically distribute promotional objects for advertisers and producers. A promotional object is received by a user device from a source device, which may comprise a distribution system or another user device. The user device adds address information to the promotional object and stores the promotional object in memory. The user device may subsequently transfer the promotional object along with the address information to a target device, which may comprise another user device or a data collection system. | 05-14-2009 |
20090125390 | Establishment of Payment Accounts Prior to Installation or Activation of An Institutional Phone System - A method of establishing inmate telephone system payment accounts generally includes: identifying an institution in which a new inmate telephone system will be activated; notifying potential customers regarding the activation of the new inmate telephone system prior to installation and/or activation of the new inmate telephone system; and establishing a payment account for at least one customer prior to activation and/or installation of the new inmate telephone system. Notification may be through mail, signage, business cards, flyers, pre-recorded messages, and the like, and preferably occurs sufficiently in advance of installation and/or activation of the new inmate telephone system to permit customers to establish payment accounts such that calls may be placed to the customers almost immediately after activation of the new inmate telephone system. Accounts may be created and funds may be deposited over the Internet or over the phone (either through IVR or live CSRs). | 05-14-2009 |
20090125391 | SHARING AND MONETIZATION OF CONTENT - Embodiments of the invention provide a method, comprising hosting content on behalf of content owners who own the content; enabling content sharers to share the content through the creation of links to the content; generating revenue through the use of the content; and sharing said revenue with the content owners and the content sharers. | 05-14-2009 |
20090125392 | Method of displaying auction listing information on auction calendar using asynchronous Web service - A method was designed to facilitate the advertisement of land auction listings for an online audience. The method includes displaying auction listing information on the Auction Calendar using Asynchronous Web Service. Wherein the advertised auction events are displayed according to the advertisement period on the graphically presented calendar. An Asynchronous Web Service is implemented to organize a user-orientated interface to automatically provide a list of auction events from the server without interrupting the user's actions. The listing is displayed as the user places the cursor over the dates in the calendar. The method allows the user to update the date and view the auction listings for a chosen date in real-time, to filter and manipulate the auction event data without refreshing the page. | 05-14-2009 |
20090125393 | System and method for utilizing account tiers in an electronic network - A system and method for utilizing account tiers in an electronic network includes a peer-to-peer network of client devices. The client devices are configured to perform content transfers for obtaining desired content items directly over the peer-to-peer network, or from a CDN server device. The client devices generate account-tier selections to choose from among the supported account tiers. A tier manager monitors, updates, and stores the tier selections from the client devices. The tier manager also calculates content prices that vary depending upon the particular selected account tier. The client devices then pay the appropriate designated content prices for accessing and utilizing desired content items. | 05-14-2009 |
20090125394 | Wireless communications device as in-store assistant - A method for using a wireless communications device, including the steps of: determining, using an interface element and a processor in at least one specially programmed general-purpose computer, that at least one wireless communications device (WCD) is located in a retail location; generating, using the processor, a query; outputting, using the processor and the interface element, the query for transmission to the at least one WCD; receiving, using the interface element, a reply to the query transmitted from the at least one WCD; generating, using the processor, a message responsive to the reply; and outputting, using the processor and the interface element, the message for transmission to the at least one WCD. In one embodiment, the reply is regarding locating an item and the message includes a location for the item. | 05-14-2009 |
20090125395 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DELIVERY OF TARGETED COMMERCIAL MESSAGES - A method for delivery of targeted commercial messages. The method comprises assembling a plurality of potential purchaser profiles in an electronic file for presentation to at least one potential advertiser of goods or services applicable to a substantial portion of the plurality of potential purchasers, developing commercial message selection criteria for selecting from the potential purchasers those suited to receive a specified commercial message contained in a set of commercial messages, applying the commercial message selection criteria to the purchaser profiles to identify the potential purchasers suited to receive specified commercial messages, and presenting over a data network to a potential purchaser identified as suited, the specified commercial messages. | 05-14-2009 |
20090125396 | System and method for generating and transmitting location based promotional offer reminders - A computer-based system for generating and transmitting a location based offer reminder, including: an interface element for at least one specially programmed general-purpose computer; a memory element for the computer, the memory element storing a record of at least one communication sent to at least one wireless communications device (WCD); and a reminder element, in a processor for the computer. The reminder element is for: identifying, using the interface element, the at least one WCD as being within a prescribed geographical area; determining that a response to the communication has not been received; generating at least one reminder regarding the communication; and transmitting, using the interface element, the reminder to a wireless communications network for transmission to WCD. In one embodiment, the reminder element generates the at least one reminder using at least one of a set of rules or an artificial intelligence program stored in the memory unit. | 05-14-2009 |
20090125397 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INTEGRATING RANKINGS OF JOURNALED INTERNET CONTENT AND CONSUMER MEDIA PREFERENCES FOR USE IN MARKETING PROFILES - A method and system for integrating data-source consumer-preference data and internet-medium consumer-preference data for use in targeted advertising and ranking content. Consumer-preference data is determined based on user-interactions with a data source, such as a set-top-box. The data source is classified based on a monitoring taxonomy that specifies content categories and relationships between the categories. The consumer-preference data and the data source classification are aggregated with other preference and classification data, which is used to rank the data source classification data. Journaled internet data sources are analyzed using the monitoring taxonomy to determine internet-medium consumer-preference data. The journaled internet data sources are ranked based interest level, direction level, or authority level. A content category ranking is computed using the ranking of data source classifications and the ranking of the journaled internet data sources, which can be provided as an advertising data input or a standalone content ranking reporting tool. | 05-14-2009 |
20090125398 | METHODS OF COMPUTING ADVERTISING VALUE THROUGH REAL-TIME AUCTION - A method of soliciting and receiving a bid for placement of an ad on a web browser. The method includes receiving a request from the browser to serve an ad, the request from the browser including information describing browsing activity of the browser. The method also includes soliciting a bid from the at least one advertiser for placement of an ad on the browser; receiving at least one bid from the at least one advertiser for placement of an ad on the browser; evaluating the at least one bid; and placing an ad from at least one advertiser on the browser based on the evaluation of the at least one bid. | 05-14-2009 |
20090125399 | System for targeting advertising to users of a network - A system for targeting advertisements to users of a network is provided. The system comprises (a) a first database having a plurality of advertisements associated therewith, wherein the plurality of advertisements includes a first advertisement which is targeted to a first demographic group; (b) a second database having a plurality of fingerprints associated therewith, wherein each fingerprint comprises demographic information, relating to a user of the network, which has been verified through a subscription to a product; and (c) an advertisement rendering system adapted to render the first advertisement to users who are members of the first demographic group. | 05-14-2009 |
20090125400 | Post-session internet advertising system - The present invention is directed to a post-session advertising system that may be used in media such as computers, personal digital assistants, telephones, televisions, radios, and similar devices. In one preferred embodiment, a first display is viewed in a first platform in the foreground of a media by a viewer. A viewer initiates a load triggering event and in response, a post-session platform is opened to display a post-session display in the background of the media. Significantly, in the preferred embodiment, the post-session platform stays in said background until a view triggering event occurs. The type of platform and display used will depend significantly on the media. In one preferred embodiment of the present invention an optional focus timer is activated by the view triggering event to allow an accurate assessment of the actual time a viewer focuses on the display in the post-session platform. In another alternate preferred embodiment of the present invention, the number of post-session platforms is limited to, for example, one platform. | 05-14-2009 |
20090125401 | BIOMETRIC AUTHORIZATION OF AN RF TRANSACTION - A method and system for biometric authorization to facilitate a radio frequency transaction is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, a system and method is provided for using biometric sample and biometric sample data to authorize completion of an RF transaction. Authorization of biometric sample data may authorize increasing a preloaded value, or using an additional value to supplement the preloaded value, in order to facilitate completion of an RF transaction. | 05-14-2009 |
20090125402 | System and Method for Networked Loyalty Program - The present invention provides a system for implementing a loyalty program on a network-wide level. The system associates UPC and SKU data on a network level to reward consumers and/or to analyze the data for a variety of business purposes, such as market segmentation analyses and/or analyses relating to consumer spending behaviors or patterns for example. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the association of UPC and SKU data by the system facilitates implementation of an incentive or loyalty program by providing a universal rewards currency. This universal rewards currency may be “spent” by participants who have earned rewards and accepted by the other participants in the multi-tiered network created by the system. The network may comprise any number of participants, including consumers, retailers (and any of their employees), manufacturers, third-party providers, and the like. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the association of UPC and SKU data by the system facilitates data analysis on a network level based upon several factors, including a consumer ID, consumer profile, retailer ID, SKU number, UPC, manufacturer ID, and/or the like. The system may compile any of the above data across multiple entities for the purpose of data analysis, such as analyses which may be employed in strategic planning and marketing for example. | 05-14-2009 |
20090125403 | REWARDING CONTRIBUTORS TO AN OPEN KNOWLEDGE SYSTEM - A method for an open knowledge system accessible via the Internet includes: managing, by a server, access to informational content of the open knowledge system; communicating, from the server to user devices, computer-executable instructions which, when executed on a user device, generate an interface enabling users to contribute to the informational content; and (c) communicating, from the server to user devices, computer-executable instructions which, when executed on a user device, display informational content for a particular topic, and in conjunction therewith, an advertisement of a contributing user who has contributed to the informational content for the particular topic. The displayed advertisement preferably is not displayed in correlation to the contribution of the contributing user to the informational content for the particular topic. As a result of the method, contributors receive the benefit of advertising for them being displayed in conjunction with informational content pertaining to the particular topic. | 05-14-2009 |
20090132352 | Viewing Incentive - The provision of a viewing incentive comprises determining a set of unique identifiers ( | 05-21-2009 |
20090132353 | Systems and Methods for a Biddable Multidimensional Marketplace for Advertising on a Wireless Communication Device - Systems, methods and apparatus for a multidimensional bidding marketplace for providing advertising content to wireless devices. In particular, aspects allows advertising providers, to define and/or identify a one or more wireless device-based transient factors from a plurality of factors, which serve to define a targeted advertising audience and to bid on advertising based on the selected or identified transient factors. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132354 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR AUTOMATICALLY MANAGING PROCUREMENT OF ADVERTISED PRODUCTS, SERVICES, AND EVENTS - Automatically managing procurement of advertised products, services, and events is performed by transmitting content that includes an advertisement and an information matrix. The information matrix includes at least one of an advertisement identifier indicative of the product, service, or event; a date identifier; or a set of rule parameters specifying offer conditions. A signal is received that is indicative of a user expressing a conditional interest in procuring the advertised product or service, or procuring one or more tickets for the event. The conditional interest is predicated upon specified procurement conditions being met. An updated set of rule parameters is received specifying updated offer conditions. The procurement conditions are compared against the offer conditions. Based upon the comparison, an updated offer is transmitted for the product, service, or event. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132355 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY SELECTING ADVERTISING FOR VIDEO DATA - A method is disclosed for selecting advertising data, comprising detecting a plurality of different scenes in a video data stream; correlating each of the scenes with a plurality of advertising data classes; and selecting advertising data for one of the scenes based on the correlation. A system is disclosed for performing the method. A data structure embedded in a computer readable medium is disclosed for containing data for performing the method. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132356 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROFILE BASED ADVERTISEMENT INSERTION INTO CONTENT FOR SINGLE AND MULTI-USER SCENARIOS - A system and method for profile based advertisement insertion into content for single and multi-user scenarios are described. Various embodiments allow a content service or channel provider to sell advertising space not only when content is broadcast or downloaded but also when the content is shared or recommended. Here, the provider can continue to sell advertising in multiple media spaces as long as the content is connected to services of the provider. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132357 | TRANSFER OF REWARDS FROM A CENTRAL WEBSITE TO OTHER WEBSITES - A first website earns rewards, e.g. points and items, for carrying out activities. Those rewards can be transferred to a second website. For example, a parent's website allows the parent to carry more adult tasks and also earn points. The points can be transferred to the child's website. A center of the universe website allows obtaining rewards for any of these websites. A social networking component operates across multiple websites. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132358 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY SELECTING ADVERTISING DATA FOR STORED CONTENT - A method for delivering advertising data, comprising receiving end user data at a server, the data indicating available advertising spots in content data stored at an end user device; and updating from the server advertising data in the available advertising spots for presentation of the advertising data during replay of the content data at the end user device. A system is disclosed for performing the method. A data structure embedded in a computer readable medium is disclosed for containing data for performing the method. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132359 | Advertisement-Controlled Web Page Customization - In accordance with one or more aspects of the advertisement-controlled Web page customization discussed herein, functionality allowing an advertisement to set various presentation properties of a Web page is exposed. The advertisement invokes the functionality to set a particular presentation property of the Web page to a corresponding property value in order to customize the presentation of the Web page as desired by the advertisement. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132360 | PLATFORM / METHOD FOR EVALUATING, AGGREGATING AND PLACING OF RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATING ASSETS - A computerized method and a system for evaluating, aggregating, and placing of renewable energy generating assets are provided. Example embodiments may include reallocating incentives from an investment entity to a property owner to install an energy system on a property associated with the property owner by procuring the energy system by the investment entity based on at least one privileged term; selecting one or more lease terms for a lease of the energy system, transferring the incentives to the property owner; and leasing the energy system by the investment entity to the property owner, using one or more lease terms. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132361 | CONSUMABLE ADVERTISING IN A VIRTUAL WORLD - Technologies are described herein for delivering advertising in a virtual world. A virtual object containing an advertisement is provided to an avatar. Whether the avatar has utilized the virtual object is determined. In response to determining that the avatar has utilized the virtual object, compensation is provided to a participant controlling the avatar. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132362 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DELIVERING INFORMATION TO A MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE BASED ON CONSUMER TRANSACTIONS - A method and system for sending an artifact to a mobile communication device of a user. In one implementation, the method includes receiving a request from an application to send an artifact to a mobile communication device of a user; retrieving personal information from a user profile of the user; retrieving a transaction history of the user, the transaction history including a history of transactions made by the user through the mobile communication device; selecting an artifact to send to the mobile communication device based on the user profile and the transaction history of the user; and sending the selected artifact to the mobile communication device. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132363 | PROCESS ENABLEMENT AND OPTIMIZATION SYSTEM FOR WEB ADVERTISING PLACEMENT AND PRICING - The present invention provides an enablement and optimization system and method for web advertisement placement and pricing. The invention provides an open advertising network that incorporates both the advertisers and content publishers into the advertising decision process to create an open marketplace. Similar to a greedy algorithm in Computer Science, this model pushes the final advertising decision to the web servers that serve the actual content. Rather than an advertising network providing a single ad to show, the content publisher receives a selection of ads. Each publisher in the network then makes the local optimum choice by collecting data on the effectiveness of ads previously shown, and using this data to select which ad will perform the best. Similarly, the advertisers collect data on the visitors they receive from advertising, and use this information to optimize their bidding. With each endpoint selecting a local optimum, the network of advertisers and content publishers as a whole becomes more effective. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132364 | Advertisement tunes and messages - Disclosed herein is a method and system for generating revenue by a telecom company and sharing the generated revenue with a subscriber. The telecom company acquires advertisements from one or more of a plurality of advertisers. The advertisements comprise advertisement tunes, text messages, audio messages, or video messages. The telecom company acquires permission from the subscriber for inserting advertisements in phone calls and messaging service messages of the subscriber. The advertisements may be inserted during one of initiation, active state, engaged state and termination of the phone call. Further, the advertisements are inserted at the beginning or the end of the messaging service messages of the subscriber. The revenue generated from advertising by the telecom company is shared with the subscriber through discounts on call charges or through payments of predetermined amount to the subscriber. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132365 | SEARCH, ADVERTISING AND SOCIAL NETWORKING APPLICATIONS AND SERVICES - The subject disclosure relates to an improved electronic commerce and advertising platform that aggregates transaction data from merchants and consumers. A set of enhanced scenarios built on the platform span both the online and offline transactional and advertising universe to the benefit of all participants of the electronic commerce and advertising platform. Transactional data and profile data are used to customize search and advertising results for specific users or groups of users. Transactional data and profile data can be leveraged within a social network to recommend activities, such as which restaurants come recommended by friends of a user. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132366 | RECOGNIZING AND CREDITING OFFLINE REALIZATION OF ONLINE BEHAVIOR - The subject disclosure relates to an improved electronic commerce and advertising platform that aggregates transaction data from merchants and consumers. A set of enhanced scenarios built on the platform span both the online and offline transactional and advertising universe to the benefit of all participants of the electronic commerce and advertising platform. In one embodiment, an online recommendation for a product or service represented in a user's transaction history is received by a set of recipients. A recipient then purchases the product or service in an offline transactional environment (e.g., in a store), and the recommendation is credited for the offline realization for the online recommendation. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132367 | ELECTRONIC ADVERTISEMENT SYSTEM - There is disclosed an electronic advertisement system including: an advertisement displaying device; a local area network that transmits a summary of a content to a terminal; a wide area network that has at least one local area network and gains access to a detail of the content corresponding to receiving the summary by the terminal; and a center device that stores the details of the content, monitors the access to the stored detail of the content, and changes the schedule of an advertisement displayed on the advertisement displaying device located near the local area network based on the monitored result. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132368 | Systems and Methods for Providing Personalized Advertisement - A method for providing personalized advertisement to a first user. The method includes the steps of: displaying a first advertisement to users; defining segments for a user community preference; assigning each of the users to one of the segments in response to the user's level of interest in the user community preference; identifying a first group of the users interested in the first advertisement; identifying a second group of the users not interested in the first advertisement; determining the percentage of the first group of users assigned to the segment; determining the percentage of the second group of users assigned to the segment; determining whether each segment is an indicator for user interest in the first advertisement by comparing the two percentages associated with the segment; and targeting a second advertisement to users assigned to the segment if the segment is an indicator for user interest in the first advertisement. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132369 | PORTABLE RECHARGEABLE MULTIMEDIA DEVICE (PROTEAN) - A digital signage system and method for centralized management of digital media content with distributed display of the digital media content. The system includes a centralized data processing system having a database containing digital media content, the digital media content implementing a retail promotion having a specific start date, a specific end date, and identities of a number of distributed particular machines implementing the retail promotion; and a first network connection; a number of particular machines implementing the distributed display of the digital media content, each particular machine having a central processing unit, a display, and a memory storing the identity of the particular machine; a program executing in the memory; and a second network connection. Each of the particular machines intermittently connects to the centralized data processing system through the first connection and the second connection, and the centralized data processing system receives the identity of the particular machine and downloads the digital media content to that identified particular machine. The program executing in the memory of each of the plurality of particular machines transforms the downloaded digital media content into a two-dimensional field on the display representative of the retail promotion. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132370 | System And Method For Internet Marketing And Branding - A system, method and computer program product for online advertising, including providing a branded prefix have a secondary meaning; appending the branded prefix to a dictionary word suffix to form a domain name; and displaying a web page based on the domain name and including one or more web page links. The one or more web page links within the web page are related to the dictionary word and the secondary meaning. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132371 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INTERACTIVE ADVERTISING USING PERSONALIZED HEAD MODELS - Systems and methods are disclosed for creating dynamic interactive advertisements using individualized three-dimensional (3D) human models. The interactive advertisements may be automatically generated based on a user profile associated with the viewer or may be created from an advertisement template by the viewer. Once generated, the viewer can alter the content of the interactive advertisement, make comments, rate the advertisement, and/or share it with others. In certain examples, one or more individualized 3D human head models are automatically selected for inclusion in the interactive advertisement based on the profile or preferences of the user without requiring a user selection of the 3D head model. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132372 | METHOD FOR CALCULATING PREDICTED CHARGE AMOUNT OF ADVERTISEMENT FOR EACH KEYWORD AND SYSTEM FOR EXECUTING THE METHOD - A method of calculating a predicted charge amount of an advertisement of a keyword or keywords that an advertiser can purchase for keyword advertising and a system for executing method are provided. The method includes: calculating a first variable based on a standard deviation of daily charge amounts of the advertisement and a maximum daily charge amount; calculating a second variable based on the first variable, the standard deviation, and an average daily charge amount; and calculating a predicted charge amount range based on the first variable and the second variable. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132373 | Revenue Sharing System that Optimizes Ad Revenue with Preformatted Page Generator and Preview Distribution System - The method and system of merges user-supplied electronic content with relevant ads based upon relevancy factors discerned form the ads and the content. Further, profiles and session histories of user-visitors are monitored and ad relevancy factors discerned form the profiles and session histories are employed to obtain user-relevant ads. The content relevant ads and user relevant ads are inserted into a preformed web page in addition to the user-supplied content. A revenue splitting module shares the ad referral or sales revenue from the click throughs to advertiser designated web sites. The relevancy factors relate to one or more of the supplied content, the user who uploaded the content, the user profile (previously input by the user), current session history, past session history, the user-group profiles and any user referral source. A comparator matches relevancy factors and ads. Ad selection by category, hierarchical or orthogonal match and high pay referral fees. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132374 | Method for targeting advertising in conjunction with a network - A method for targeting advertising in conjunction with a network is provided. The method comprises (a) providing a product which can be subscribed to by members of the network, wherein subscription to the product requires the provision of authenticated demographic data pertaining to the subscribing member; and (b) utilizing the demographic data to target advertising to members of the network. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132375 | System for allocating rebates in conjunction with a product - A system is provided for allocating rebates in conjunction with a product. The system comprises (a) a network which includes sets of members M | 05-21-2009 |
20090132376 | Method for using visible surfaces as advertising surfaces for aerial image and satellite recordings - A method utilizes visible surfaces as an advertising surface for aerial image and satellite recordings and is inexpensive while ensuring a representation that is close to reality. This is achieved by a method for utilizing visible surfaces as advertising surfaces for aerial and satellite recordings wherein a virtual advertising carrier is created according to the dimensions of an advertising surface ( | 05-21-2009 |
20090132377 | Internet protocol-based interstitial advertising - The present invention delivers interstitial media content, such as advertisements during a user's navigation of an Internet protocol-based product, for example, a graphical user interface. The present invention may display advertisement content positioned within a web page or may display a full screen advertisement before a new web page is presented. As an interstitial advertisement, the advertisement appears between web page requests such that when a user action requests a new page, the present invention can launch an ad before displaying the requested content. The ads are preferably non-interruptible, such that the user cannot fast-forward or skip the advertisement. A preferred method detects a web page address request and delivers advertising content in an Internet protocol format to the user independently of any code associated with the requested web address. The invention may also deliver ads only after a specified time delay has elapsed, thus regulating the frequency of advertisements independent of the user's movement through the Internet protocol-based product. In another preferred embodiment, the invention may also deliver ads only after a specified number of address changes have been detected. An additional preferred embodiment may also deliver an advertisement unrelated to whether a user makes a web page request. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132378 | DISPLAYING LOCATION-BASED CONTENT IN A TICKER OF A HANDHELD MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE - Tickers are populated with location-based information that is selected according to the geographic location of communication devices. The location of a communication device is identified based on a GPS system, proximity to transmitters in a wireless network, user input, or using other techniques. Location-appropriate content is obtained either in real-time from the network or from a local data store at the communication device. In general location-based, context-aware content can be displayed on tickers associated with a variety of communication devices, including mobile communication devices and “immobile” or stationary personal computers. | 05-21-2009 |
20090138346 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MEDIA PROMOTION - Systems and methods have been developed for promoting media objects to users. More specifically, systems and methods have been developed for profiling a user media repository and delivering promotional media objects to the user's media repository based upon the profile. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138347 | DYNAMIC AUGMENTATION OF COMMERCIAL INCENTIVES - A commercial incentive engine and network is described that advantageously allows content and/or terms associated with a commercial incentive that has already been distributed to a consumer over a network to be dynamically augmented. The dynamic augmentation may occur responsive to one or more of revisions to the content and/or terms input by an advertiser, responsive to business information provided by an advertiser, or responsive to spatial, temporal, social and topical data associated with the consumer. An alternate implementation also advantageously allows the content and/or terms associated with a commercial incentive to be dynamically determined prior to distribution of the commercial incentive to a consumer over a network. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138348 | REDISTRIBUTION AND REDEMPTION OF COMMERCIAL INCENTIVES - Systems and methods are described for permitting commercial incentives received by a consumer device to be redistributed to other consumer devices, thereby facilitating the sharing and/or transport of commercial incentives between and among consumers. Systems and methods for distributing and/or redistributing commercial incentives from a node to consumer devices within a local network associated with the node are also described. In both distribution and redistribution scenarios, compensation may be issued to a distributor and/or redistributor upon redemption of a commercial incentive. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138349 | ARTIST SPONSORSHIP - The claimed subject matter relates to an architecture that can facilitate sponsorship of authors as well as the material or original work produced by those authors. The architecture can issue a virtual share by which participants can personally invest in an author or his or her content to receive ownership rights of future earnings. Based partially upon the notion that a share that performs well is indicative of consumer interest in the underlying asset, the architecture can select those assets based upon the performance of the virtual share. Accordingly, sponsorship is more likely to be based upon merit as seen by the consuming public rather than based upon protectionist principles. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138350 | Application of printed and graphic media onto a payment check stub & method of use thereof - The invention relates generally to the field of apparatus for applying print and graphical images and communications media to a payment check stub. Moreover, it applies specifically to a process of applying printed media and graphics that includes advertisement and a plurality of other useful information to a payment check stub with the image being “imprinted” on the check stub in “real time” during the “check printing” process and capable of being easily “varied” by non-technical personnel with each printing of the payment checks and check stubs. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138351 | Advertisement selection systems and methods for internet articles - Advertisement selection systems and methods for internet articles are provided. A personal advertisement agent generates an article characteristic value according to an internet article edited by a content editor. An advertisement server selects at least one of the advertisements according to the article characteristic value, a specialty characteristic value, and advertisement characteristic values of respective advertisements, wherein the specialty characteristic value is generated according to historical articles published by the client. The selected advertisement is integrated and published with the internet article. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138352 | ADVERTISEMENT DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, DEVICE AND METHOD, AND ADVERTISEMENT DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM - An advertisement transmitted from an advertisement distributor terminal and advertisement distribution request information are mutually associated and stored in an advertisement distribution management device. Further, user information transmitted from the user terminal is added with identification information, and stored in the advertisement distribution management device. Thereafter, the advertisement distribution management device acquires user identification information in response to a Web site reading requirement transmitted from the user terminal, and extracts all category information belonged to by advertisements the distribution of which are approved by the user with reference to a user information storing means. Moreover, one piece of category information is determined out of the category information. Furthermore, one advertisement is determined out of the advertisements that belong to the category information, and the advertisement is transmitted to the user terminal. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138353 | System and method for providing alarming notification and real-time, critical emergency information to occupants in a building or emergency designed area and evacuation guidance system to and in the emergency exit route - The system method described herein could guide people around urban environments indoor and outdoor, provide accurate update and real time emergency notification and information to the building occupants or to the emergency designated area to his cellular phone, We have focused on the task of providing a real time emergency information and navigation along the emergency exit route, The information will be received directly and will display on the existing cellular phone as Bluetooth application | 05-28-2009 |
20090138354 | Methods of Storing and Providing Samples of Cells and Tissue - A cell or tissue sample from a donor is stored in bank wherein the donor can initially determine the sample status to (a) exclusively retain, (b) make public, or (c) optionally make public his cells or tissue. Where the donor opts for optional public storage, the donor may in response to a third party request convert the optional public storage status to public status or private status top thereby share or exclusively retain his cells or tissue. Depending on the initial and/or subsequent choice by the donor, an incentive or disincentive is provided. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138355 | Real-world profile data for making virtual world contacts - A method and system provides arrangements creating a relationship between a real-world entity and a virtual world environment. A virtual world patron can participate in various virtual world activities and transactions. Feedback may be provided and records kept regarding the virtual world activities and transactions. The virtual world patron may be a possible recipient of a real-world consequence or benefit based on a virtual world occurrence. In some instances confirmation of an awarded real-world benefit may be provided via a communication interconnection. Real-world profile data for a targeted virtual world patron may be used in connection with promoting or offering or awarding a real-world benefit in a virtual world environment. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138356 | Systems and methods for content delivery - A method is provided of determining the how information from any information system changes over time. WebPages A through WebPages Z with nodes A through Z, are located, where A through Z are integers. Timestamp values for each of a node from A through Z are retrieved. Timestamp values from A are subtracted to create a denominator time value. A distance between the nodes A through Z is determined by calculating a number of edges in the digraph to create a numerator value. The distance is divided by the denominator time value to provide a velocity value. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138357 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SYSTEM COMMUNICATIONS APPLICATION BETWEEN DIGITAL MAGAZINES, CATALOGS, AND/OR BOOKS AND DIGITAL ADVERTISING BROKERS - In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a Software Communications Application associated with a digital magazine, catalog, book, or other digital media item will request a digital ad from a Digital Advertising Broker. The Digital Advertising Broker will analyze the metadata contained within the data request and send a digital ad to the Software Communications Application along with additional metadata. The Software Communications Application will place the digital advertisement into the digital media item and store the metadata associated with the transaction. The metadata will then be used for future metric and reporting associated with the transaction. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138358 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING AN INCENTIVE-BASED RECYCLING PROGRAM - Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a system and method for managing an incentive-based recycling program. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to managing an incentive-based recycling program through administering a dynamic customer loyalty rewards program associated therewith. In one embodiment of the present invention, a method of managing an incentive-based recycling system comprises inputting customer data into a collective database, and generating a customer account, inputting hauler data into the collective database, and generating a hauler account, inputting vendor data into the collective database, and generating a vendor account, recording a recycling activity associated with a customer account on the collective database, allocating credits to a customer account, in an amount correlating to the recycling activity associated with the customer account, on the collective database, and enabling the customer to manage the credits associated with the customer account. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138359 | PROMOTION PROCESSOR AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A data processing system employs a unique coded promotional vehicle to attract customers into retail establishments for the purchase of discounted goods. The promotional vehicle includes coupon styled graphics integrated with a code to allow data tracking by the store pursuant to purchases by that customer. The promotional vehicle is easier and less costly to distribute compared to the prior art, avoids cutting of coupons, and post purchase redemptions. The system further allows more targeted discounting at a lower cost, and substantially reducing fraud by eliminating post purchase coupon processing and redemption. Additionally, the system provides for selective deactivation of the code for each discount used by redemption of the vehicle without deactivating the code for the discounts not used so that the code may remain selectively active for future use. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138360 | METHOD FOR VERIFYING ACCESS BASED ON A DETERMINED GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION OF A SUBSCRIBER OF A SERVICE PROVIDED VIA A COMPUTER NETWORK - A method of limiting presentation of rules based events includes receiving a request to view a rules based event at a computer. A first estimate of a first geographic location of the computer is obtained. The first estimate includes a first confidence determination. If the first confidence determination is less than a first established confidence level, a second estimate of the first geographic location of the computer is obtained. The second estimate includes a second confidence determination for comparison to a second established confidence level. The first estimate and the second estimate define a composite estimated geographic location of the computer. Information on a second geographic location of the rules based event is retrieved. The retrieved information is compared with the composite estimated geographic location of the computer. Access to the rules based event is provided based on access rules, the comparison, and the composite estimated geographic location. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138361 | MOBILE DEVICE MARKETING AND ADVERTISING PLATFORMS, METHODS, AND SYSTEMS - A mobile marketing campaign platform and method including: a planning module including: a definition module for setting budget and objectives; and a design module for designing the campaign utilizing a plurality of templates; an execution module including: design tools for designing an executable campaign from the campaign design made from the templates; and operating tools for causing the executable campaign to execute over multiple mobile services; and a reporting module including: tracking means for tracking at least one of a campaign activity, the campaign performance objectives; and the brand performance objectives. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138362 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTEXT-ADAPTIVE SHAPING OF RELEVANCE SCORES FOR POSITION AUCTIONS - The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for ranking and providing advertisements in a position auction. The method of the present invention comprises receiving a search query and selecting at least one keyword based upon the search query. A list containing at least one keyword based upon the search query is returned and a list comprising at least one bid corresponding to the returned list of keywords is retrieved. The search query and list comprising at least one bid are used to train an offline simulator. The offline simulator creates a model that predicts optimal scoring factors. A priority score corresponding to each bid is computed using the optimal scoring factors and used to rank the list of bids. Advertisements are then provided corresponding to a plurality of the highest ranking bids. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138363 | Managing Advertising Devices - In one general aspect, a request to determine a status of a first of a plurality of advertising devices is received. The advertising devices are spatially separated. Operating conditions of the first advertising device are identified. The status of the first advertising device is determined based, at least in part, on the operating conditions. A presentation including information indicating the status of the first advertising device is transmitted | 05-28-2009 |
20090138364 | PRODUCT MARKETING SYSTEM AND METHOD - Computer-implemented systems and method for generating personalized email communications soliciting orders of custom products. Product reorder candidates are identified from customer records and a personalized email order solicitation is sent to the customer. The email is adapted to display an image of the customer's previously designed custom product either exactly as originally designed or, if appropriate, as automatically updated prior to displaying to the user. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138365 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SELECTING A SUPPLEMENTAL PRODUCT TO OFFER FOR SALE DURING A TRANSACTION - According to some embodiments, a supplemental product or service may be offered to a user during a transaction, either in addition to products and/or services the user is purchasing, or as a replacement to one or more of the products and/or services that the user is purchasing. The functionality may be implemented, for example, in a retail embodiment where a user is purchasing products and/or services at a cash register or other point-of-sale terminal. One or more embodiments may be implemented online where a user is purchasing products and/or services using a computer, terminal, telephone or other client or user device and accessing a World Wide Web site, online catalog, interactive voice response unit or system, etc. | 05-28-2009 |
20090144137 | AUTOMATED CONTENT PRODUCTION FOR LARGELY CONTINUOUS TRANSMISSION - An efficient, highly automated system and method of producing audio visual content which depicts a solely simulated 3D environment, or combined simulated and real 3D environment with advantages over conventional content production paradigms. The present invention produces content with the following significant advantages over conventional means of content production: vastly longer continuous durations of generated output; far lower resource costs per hour of production; far more reliable generation of content; and a far broader range of content styles due to the combination of these advantages. | 06-04-2009 |
20090144138 | Method and system of advertisement management - A system and method which may allow advertisers to distinguish new users and repeaters, and reduce advertisement costs on repeaters accordingly. The system may include a request/response server, a user resolving server and a policy server. The request/response server may receive a request for viewing a publisher website by a user and obtain from request cookies the user's identity information. With the user's identity information, the user resolving server may decide whether the user has previously been shown an advertiser's advertisement to be displayed on the requested website. The policy server may then access the policy of the advertiser and indicate whether it is favorable to show to the user the advertiser's advertisement on the requested website. | 06-04-2009 |
20090144139 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF FACILITATING COMMERCIAL TRANSACTIONS USING CONTENT ADDED TO WEB SITES - A method and apparatus is provided for use in facilitating commercial transactions using content added to web sites. In one example, content added to web sites includes one or more coupon widgets selected by the profile owner. In the context of social networks, the invention provides tools for businesses that leverage word of mouth marketing with their loyal customers. | 06-04-2009 |
20090144140 | IN-GAME IMPRESSIONS - An impression policy associated with impression policy criteria is created and transmitted to one or more game consoles. The impression policy is applied to all possible content impressions (e.g., advertisement impressions) that occur during game play. The content impressions that satisfy impression policy criteria are reported as actual content impressions. | 06-04-2009 |
20090144141 | FEATURE-VALUE ATTACHMENT, RERANKING AND FILTERING FOR ADVERTISEMENTS - An approach is provided for associating structured information as feature-value pairs with advertisements at an advertisement system that provides advertisements for presentation with primary content. Feature-value pairs corresponding with advertisements describe features of the products or services associated with the advertisements. The feature-value pairs may be used by the advertisement system in a number of different manners, including, among other things: using the feature-value pairs during selection of advertisements for presentation with primary content: allowing users to sort and/or filter advertisements during presentation with primary content based on the associated feature-value pairs; exposing additional information with the advertisements; facilitating fraud detection for the advertisement system; and enabling a hybrid pricing model. | 06-04-2009 |
20090144142 | Postal article re-addressing and re-delivery using smart mailer - A system allows for more efficient circulation of articles through the postal system. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a smart mailer is provided having wireless communication and display capabilities. When an article is to be returned through the postal system, the postman uses a portable terminal (such as a cellphone) to check in the article and, at the same time, re-address the article for delivery to a subsequent (preferably local) customer. Preferably, these actions are both performed by a simple swiping of the portable terminal with respect to the article. Back-office infrastructure is provided for accounting of postal charges, etc. The utility of the portable terminal may be further increased by incorporating barcode reading capability, GPS capability, etc. The system may be used for articles of all descriptions, but is especially suited for smaller articles including media (recordings, books), jewelry, etc. | 06-04-2009 |
20090144143 | System, Method, And Apparatus For Data-Driven Interactive Wayfinding And Associated Services - A system, method, and apparatus for providing interactive digital wayfinding to users includes a visual representation of a floor layout on an interactive display, providing services to attendees in rich multimedia output format, including locating exhibitor information based on search criteria, and plotting a path from the user to an exhibitor's booth; viewing exhibitor-specific information, such as a description or video spot based on context of search; viewing new products or services for different categories of exhibitors; requesting information on an exhibitor and/or their product/service to be sent by email or to a PDA via input of attendee badge, smart card, or other information; viewing information on sessions, conference schedules, meetings and workshops; scheduling a meeting with an exhibitor during the tradeshow; answering survey questionnaires; obtaining information on exhibitor promotions; enrolling for exhibitor giveaways; finding local things to do; finding local places of interest; and other related information. | 06-04-2009 |
20090144144 | Distributed Data System - Described herein are methods and systems for locating and aggregating data from disparate sources. Data related to an audience of media consumers is accessed from a plurality of sources. At least a portion of the data from the plurality of sources is aggregated into a unified data store, data from the unified data store is extracted at least partly based on significance information. | 06-04-2009 |
20090144145 | MOBILE ADVERTISEMENT METHOD - The present invention relates to a mobile advertising method that performs mobile advertisement using a deep-packet inspection performed in a wireless Internet system and location information. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes grasping a purchasing tendency of a subscriber using deep packet inspection of an electronic surveillance system; and providing advertisement for desired goods to the subscriber by connecting the grasped purchasing tendency of the subscriber with a location-based service (LBS). Accordingly, the present invention can contribute to an increase in sales profits of the service provider to reduce the resistance and burden for the installation of the electronic surveillance system, and maximize the advertising effect of the advertiser. Further, the subscriber can receive required information on the basis of the current location. | 06-04-2009 |
20090144146 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR TRACKING ELECTRONIC COMMERCE TRANSACTIONS - Systems and methods are disclosed for tracking user access to an advertisement and user transactions with an electronic commerce computer associated with the advertisement. In accordance with one aspect of the disclosed technology, a transaction tracking computer associates an identifier with each access (e.g., click) of an advertisement. Transactions that occur at the electronic commerce computer that are related to the advertisement will be reported to the transaction tracking server together with the identifier. In one embodiment, if the reported transaction is a duplicate of a previously reported transaction, then the reported transaction is determined to be invalid. In one embodiment, if the reported transaction occurs more than a predetermined amount of time after the time the identifier was initially generated, then the reported transaction will also be determined to be invalid. | 06-04-2009 |
20090144147 | METHODS AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING MULTIPLE CREDIT LINES - A method and system for applying for and providing an access device, whereby an applicant completes a multipurpose access device application that is reviewed under qualification processes established by multiple access device providers acting in cooperation with each other. Upon a positive result from the review, a linked account is established for the multiple access device providers, and a common access device is issued for the linked account with a single or multiple account numbers. The access device user can take advantage of joint incentive and rewards programs for the linked account that join the incentive and rewards programs of the multiple access device providers, and that accumulate rewards separately for each provider. | 06-04-2009 |
20090144148 | Attribute enhancement in virtual world environments - A method and system provides arrangements creating a relationship between a real-world entity and a virtual world environment. A virtual world patron can participate in various virtual world activities including transactions to acquire virtual products, virtual services, and/or virtual items of value. Feedback may be provided and records kept regarding the virtual world activities and transactions. The virtual world patron may also have an opportunity of engaging in related real-world activities and transactions. Designated virtual objects with special distinguishable attributes may be sponsored by a real-world entity. Some virtual world communication techniques may be used to help establish a recognizable association between the real-world entity and the designated virtual objects. | 06-04-2009 |
20090144149 | Ecological-point management system - An ecological-point management system includes an electric powered vehicle, a charging facility, a communication network, a management server, point recipients each having a device capable of accessing the communication network. The electric storage device of the electric powered vehicle is configured to be chargeable by the charging facility. In the ecological-point management system, an ecological point in accordance with an amount of greenhouse gas emission that can be reduced by traveling using electric power by the electric powered vehicle is given to the point recipients. The point recipients can include an owner or a driver of the electric powered vehicle, and a manufacture, an installation personnel, an owner of the charging facility, and an owner of an installation place, and further a provider of the charging power. | 06-04-2009 |
20090144150 | Charging system of electric powered vehicle - An electric storage device of an electric powered vehicle is configured to be chargeable by a charging facility. At the time of external charge by the charging facility, a management server selects advertising information based on information stored inside the electric powered vehicle to be charged and/or information of the charging facility performing the external charge to the electric powered vehicle including a mechanism capable of reproducing the advertising information from an advertising provider, and transmits the selected advertising information. The management server performs billing so that in exchange for the transmission of the advertising information, at least part of a charging power fee is caused to be borne by the advertising provider side to thereby discount an amount borne by an electric powered vehicle user. | 06-04-2009 |
20090144151 | AUTOMATED RENTAL SYSTEM - Automated rental system comprising: —an object for rent which is provided with an identification code, —an auxiliary element functionally associated with the object for rent and comprising a remotely activated activation/deactivation system, —a portable device, such as a mobile telephone, comprising a wireless telecommunication interface, —a central unit comprising means for bidirectional communication with said auxiliary element and said portable device; said central unit further comprising means for processing said identification code, means for acting on said activation/deactivation system, means for recording the duration of use of the object for rent, and means for managing the accounts of the persons using said object for rent. | 06-04-2009 |
20090144152 | System of guaranteeing loan repayments at the product level by a split funding method from credit card and online check settled deposits - A system of guaranteeing loan repayments by a split funding method from credit card and online check settled deposits. By split funding transaction deposits, the system provides and tracks a line of credit to the sales representatives. The inventive process: (1) evaluates the sales representative's credit worthiness; (2) approves a line of credit for the sales representative to use in purchasing inventory; (3) ties the liability for the line of credit to the product being sold; (4) accounts for the increases and decreases in the available line of credit as sales representatives purchase items, then repay the line of credit as they sell merchandise; (5) automatically distributes funds to all parties concerned using a prescribed hierarchy when the sales representative sells merchandise; (6) accounts for settling all aspects of customer transactions including commissions, interest, principal repayment, and processing fees; and (7) deposits commissions or net sales proceeds onto the stored value card. | 06-04-2009 |
20090144153 | Techniques for acquiring a set of digital media assets - Techniques to facilitate acquiring a media set, or a related series, of digital media assets from an on-line media store are disclosed. A user can view various media sets that have been listed as available for purchase from the on-line media store. A user can choose to purchase a particular media set even though some or all digital media assets to be included in the particular media set are not yet available. Subsequent to the purchase of the particular media set, the digital media assets of the particular media set can be delivered to the user once the digital media assets become available. Since the monitoring is computerized and the delivery is electronic, once digital media assets becomes available, delivery can be automatically processed. | 06-04-2009 |
20090144154 | Intelligent media targeting system and method - An intelligent media targeting system and method for generating and utilizing smart media objects, or information objects containing both a content portion containing information to be consumed by end users and a profile portion containing coded user activity information representing exercise of the media object by users, the content portion and the profile portion being assembled into an information object capable of being transmitted integrally. The smart media objects are generated by capturing user activity information representing exercise of media objects by users, filtering the captured user activity information to generate a profile for each media object, generating a coded header using the profile for each media object and attaching the coded header to the media object. After the smart media objects are transmitted over a communication channel, the coded headers are detached and decoded to obtain the profile of the smart media objects. Media targeting decisions are then made to target media objects to end users based on the media object profile obtained by detaching and decoding the coded header. | 06-04-2009 |
20090144155 | VEHICULAR ADVERTISEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - Systems and methods are provided herein that provide for vehicular advertisements. | 06-04-2009 |
20090144156 | METHOD OF ADVERTISING - A retail establishment advertising system and method are disclosed. They allow a display of special content to interrupt a display of ongoing content on one or more display units. Ongoing content, such as advertisements, news, entertainment, or other relevant information, is provided on the display units until an urgent or security-related alert is required, and display of override content becomes necessary. Special content can include information relevant to specially discounted items or to security alert messages pertaining to, for example, security threats such as accidents, major delays, fire, missing children, terrorist activity, or other content deemed adequately pertinent to warrant interrupting the display of ongoing content. | 06-04-2009 |
20090144157 | DYNAMIC DIGITAL SIGNAGE, CUSTOMER CONTENT CONTROL PORTAL & MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A system, apparatus, method, and media are directed to digital signage. Digital signage types are grouped into a digital signage channel. A template for the digital signage channel is received. The network comprises a network channel associated with the digital signage channel. A creation interface configured to create a new digital signage message based on the template is provided. A new digital signage message provides a definition for a display of a view of the new digital sign. The definition is adapted to map elements of the view to a plurality of data structure types for storing the new digital signage message. An approval interface configured to approve the new digital signage message based on a limited representational view of the new digital signage message is provided. A renderable instance of the approved new digital signage is provided for display on a interactivity limited digital signage device. | 06-04-2009 |
20090144158 | System And Method For Enabling Viewing Of Documents Not In HTML Format - A system and method for enabling viewing of non-HTML content. A content provider receives a request to view non-HTML content from a user and forwards JavaScript code to the user. The content provider sends the non-HTML content over a network to a document hosting service. The document hosting service receives the content, converts it into at least one image and assigns a URL to the at least one image. The JavaScript generates the URL at the user's computer. The document hosting service receives the request for the URL from the user and forwards the at least one image to the user. | 06-04-2009 |
20090144159 | Advertisement Insertion Module and Advertisement Replacement Module - A computer-implemented method including receiving request data originating at a mobile device; obtaining a unique and unchanging identifier of the mobile device based on the received request data; associating the unique and unchanging identifier of the mobile device with the request data; and storing the associated data at a data storage device. | 06-04-2009 |
20090144160 | Method and Apparatus for Estimating the Spend Capacity of Consumers - Time series consumer spending data, point-in-time balance information, internal customer financial data and consumer panel information provides input to a model for consumer spend behavior on plastic instruments or other financial accounts, from which approximations of spending ability may be reliably identified and utilized to promote additional consumer spending. | 06-04-2009 |
20090150230 | CUSTOMIZING COMMERCIALS - A system and method for customizing an advertisement based on a surrounding broadcast are provided. A start of a new advertisement is detected (S | 06-11-2009 |
20090150231 | PACKAGE ASSEMBLY FOR MULTI-MODALITY FUNCTIONAL INGREDIENTS IN CHEWING GUM COMPOSITIONS - A package assembly for a multi-layer center-filled chewing gum is disclosed. The package assembly supports individual gum pieces that have a center surrounded by a gum region. The gum region may include a gum base. Optionally, the individual gum pieces may be further coated with an external coating layer. Components of the individual gum pieces create a duality, such as two functional agents, that are identified by indicia on the package. | 06-11-2009 |
20090150232 | Methods and Systems for Retail Customer Referral Compensation Programs - Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to business methods and systems for retail marketing, and specifically to Retail Customer Referral Compensation Programs for using Performance-Driven criteria to award Production Points for determining a Referring Customer's position in a Performance-Driven Floating Matrix compensation and matching bonus plan in a retail marketing organization | 06-11-2009 |
20090150233 | COLLABORATIVE ADVERTISMENT METHOD AND SYSTEM - This application discloses a method of generating a collaborative advertisement, the method comprising the steps of: at least two autonomous entities coming together to create an advertisement; the entities sharing substantially all the costs for the production of the advertisement in some proportion; and, wherein each entity does so with the sole intent of benefiting individually and without regard to any direct benefit to any other entity. | 06-11-2009 |
20090150234 | Electronic Coupon Validation For A Point Of Sale ('POS') Transaction - Methods, apparatus, and products are disclosed for electronic coupon validation for a Point Of Sale (‘POS’) transaction that include: maintaining, by a POS module, a product coupon participation table that associates each of a plurality of electronic coupons with one or more items which qualify for that electronic coupon; identifying, by the POS module, a plurality of purchase items for a POS transaction; generating, by the POS module, a transaction coupon list in dependence upon the product coupon participation table and the plurality of purchase items; receiving, by the POS module, an electronic customer coupon; determining, by the POS module, whether the electronic customer coupon is specified in the transaction coupon list; and applying, by the POS module, the electronic customer coupon to the POS transaction if the electronic customer coupon is specified in the transaction coupon list. | 06-11-2009 |
20090150235 | System and Method for Processing Financial Transactions - A system for processing financial transactions based on consumer preferences is disclosed. The system allows a user to specify on a payment device a consumer preference which is communicable to a payment terminal and is determinative in pricing goods and services. | 06-11-2009 |
20090150236 | Digital asset management system and method - A digital asset management system includes an asset reputation manager (ARM) server for responding to a client request to install client software and to verify user and asset ID, client software to interact with a prospective user of the digital asset and bonus assets that might be available based on asset reputation evaluation by the manager, a use redemption server responsive to the ARM server for supplying authentication and bonus asset options to a trusted user, and a content distribution network server for assisting the use redemption server in obtaining and fulfilling asset offerings and for managing and communicating pools of unissued and issued ARM IDs to the ARM server. An asset's “reputation” is calculated and potentially rewarded with bonus assets and other goods and services based upon a) the number of unique, global users of the asset, b) the number of global uses of the asset, c) the asset's age, and d) the frequency of use of the asset. | 06-11-2009 |
20090150237 | POINTS BASED ONLINE AUCTION - A point based auction over a computerized network is disclosed wherein providers of products and/or services may bid on an opportunity to sell to a group of consumers who have indicated a desire to purchase such goods and/or services. Consumers may combine one or more loyalty accounts and the system calculates, according to a point to currency conversion, a currency value of a balance of points. The provider is able to see the currency value of the consumer's points, wherein the provider may determine to place a bid in the reverse auction. The system may not provide the consumer with access to the currency value. Both provider and consumer configure, manage, and participate in the auctions over a computerized network such as the internet. | 06-11-2009 |
20090150238 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE REVERSIBLE LEASING OF ANONYMOUS USER DATA IN EXCHANGE FOR PERSONALIZED CONTENT INCLUDING TARGETED ADVERTISEMENTS - A system and method for the reversible leasing of anonymous user data in exchange for personalized content including targeted advertisements includes: (a) helping users gather and manage data representing their interests ( | 06-11-2009 |
20090150239 | INTERNET BACKGROUND ADVERTISING SERVICE - The present examples provide for a background advertisement service that automates the advertising process. The background advertisement service efficiently brings advertisers and website publishers together. Advertisements may be placed in a pool and made available in various formats, and other advertiser defined criteria. A publisher may select advertisement in any of a variety of formats, typically as one or more styles of background advertisements. The background advertisements may also be combined with one or more banner advertisements to reinforce the background advertisement. The background advertisement service generates code for inclusion into a website publisher's site so that reprogramming or reformatting may not have to be performed. The code generated may be according to the web publisher's specifications, and done through a web interface. Advertising metrics may also be collected for use by the website publisher and the advertiser. | 06-11-2009 |
20090150240 | LOYALTY TRANSACTIONS SYSTEM AND METHOD - A loyalty transactions system including defining a plurality of teams of service or product providers having at least two favourable or selectable forms: providing a customer with a choice of having loyalty to one of the at least two teams of service or product providers in one of the favourable or selectable forms; wherein loyalty by the customer with one of the service or product providers of one team provides loyalty offers and will allow redemption of accepted loyalty offers or traded loyalty offers with that or any other of the service or product providers of the one team. | 06-11-2009 |
20090150241 | CUSTOMIZABLE FOOD KIT WITH CUSTOMIZED MULTIMEDIA INSTRUCTIONS - The invention relates to a customizable meal kit having at least one customizable ingredient selected by a customer, and a set of customized instructions that may be automatically created and provided to the customer along with the meal kit. The customized instructions may be multimedia or video instructions which in modules corresponding to the customizations available to the customer. | 06-11-2009 |
20090150242 | System for displaying advertisements on vehicles - A method and system are provided for displaying selected advertisements on a vehicle for external viewing with the advertisements being selected based on the location and direction of movement of the vehicle when moving along a highway having a plurality of exits defined by exit zones, the exit zones being separated by non-exit zones, which includes the steps and related components for determining the position and direction of movement of the vehicle; storing exit coordinates and local advertisements of local advertisers; and displaying at least one stored local advertisement of at least one local advertiser located at a given exit when the vehicle is in a given exit zone. Non-exit specific advertisements may be displayed when local advertisements are not displayed. | 06-11-2009 |
20090150243 | Method of disseminating advertising information via shopping cart securing structures - Cart securing structures are provided for securing shopping carts. In one embodiment, the structures include a body having a pair of spaced stops with an intermediate trough. In use, the wheels of the cart are rolled along an upwardly extending face of one of the stops, over the stop and into the trough between the stops. In one embodiment, advertising is located on the surfaces of one or more of the stops. In one embodiment, an electronic display is located on one of the faces of the structure and a control system is provided for presenting advertising and other information using the display. | 06-11-2009 |
20090150244 | COMBINED IN-STORE AND FUEL CENTER POINT-OF-SALE SYSTEM - A combined in-store and fuel center point-of-sale system having a first point-of-sale system, having a checkout manager and one or more checkout terminals, and a second point-of-sale system, having a fuel center and one or more fuel pumps, in communication with each other and with one or more primary databases containing marketing data, consumer data, customer data, master sales data, discount data, and merchandise product data, for generating a fuel discount at the second point-of-sale system based on first purchasing activity at the first point-of-sale system and/or second purchasing activity at said second point-of-sale system. The fuel discount is maintained for each customer in one of said primary databases and is based on a total purchase of products, a total purchase of product units, a total purchase amount of a product type, time period for total purchase of products, or a tiered spending amount. | 06-11-2009 |
20090150245 | VIRTUAL WEB STORE WITH PRODUCT IMAGES - A three dimensional web store having product images is created. Three dimensional product images are rendered from manufacturing information instead of the products themselves. The location of all products, advertisements, aisles, signs, and displays is determined for a real world store. The web store is then created using three dimensional internet or virtual world viewing and maneuvering capabilities, to appear identical to the real world store. | 06-11-2009 |
20090157493 | SHARED ADVERTISING WITH VIRTUAL WORLDS | 06-18-2009 |
20090157494 | SCALABLE AUDIT-BASED PROTOCOL FOR PAY-PER-ACTION ADS - Systems and methods that account for payment of sales commission received by the merchant. An audit component simulates user behavior in purchasing items from the merchant in an advertising system, which encompasses interaction among a merchant (who advertise on websites/blogs); a trusted party (who monitors activities of the merchant), an advertisement publisher, and an advertisement consumer (e.g., buyer of the merchandise offered by the merchant). | 06-18-2009 |
20090157495 | IMMERSION INTO A VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT THROUGH A SOLICITATION - Advertising content is provided to a user together with other content the user is consuming. The advertising content may be in a form of a solicitation to interact with a virtual environment. In a case wherein the user selects to interact with the virtual environment, an avatar is determined for interaction with the virtual environment. In accordance with an embodiment, at least a portion of the avatar rendering characteristics is determined without user intervention. After the avatar is determined, the virtual environment is rendered together with the determined avatar. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157496 | PERSONAL BROADCAST ENGINE AND NETWORK - A personal broadcasting system and method is described herein for automatically matching and introducing users based on their real-time locations, such that users identified as capable of or likely to form a relationship can be notified of that fact at a point in time when it is easy to meet. A system and method is also described herein that allows at least one of two users that have visited or passed through the same location at different points in time to automatically receive information about the other despite the temporal separation between them. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157497 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING REVENUE FROM SOCIAL INTERACTION - A method is provided for generating revenue from social interaction between a plurality of participants of a marketing system. The method includes electronically communicating a comment regarding a resource from a first participant of the plurality of network participants to a second participant of the plurality of network participants, wherein the second participant is a member of a personal network of the first participant, and electronically communicating a comment regarding the resource from the second participant to a third participant of the plurality of network participants, wherein the third participant is a member of a personal network of the second participant. The method also includes rewarding at least one of the first and second participants based on the electronic communication from the first participant to the second participant and the electronic communication from the second participant to the third participant, wherein the third participant purchases the resource. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157498 | GENERATIONAL INTELLIGENT NAVIGATION SYNCHRONIZATION OR UPDATE - A direction set can be augmented with up-to-date information such that a route to be taken by a user is changed. A user can request a direction set to take a user along a long route that minimizes cost to a user. A route can be generated using a set of known fuel prices; however, as the user travels, fuel prices can change. New fuel information can be gathered and the route can be modified based upon the gathered information. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157499 | AUTOMATIC SPLICES FOR TARGETED ADVERTISEMENTS - Commonly targeted advertising is used to attract a specific demographic towards a particular product and/or service. An advertisement can be presented over a vehicle radio that relate to a route while a user is driving. Advertisements can be directed to a user, including such information as a user name, a user's destination, contextual information, etc. Advertisements can be masked to appear as thought they are part of a standard program; for instance, a normal radio advertiser's voice can be used. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157500 | ADVANCED ADVERTISEMENTS - A system and method for configuring a media player to display advertising to a user includes a computer having a processor and a memory unit containing instructions, a display in communication with the processor of the computer for displaying a media asset via the media player, and a network interface in communication with the processor. The instructions configure the processor to suspend the displaying of a media asset by the media player during certain periods and display a pre roll advertisement or a rich media advertisement in at least a portion of the display utilized by the media player. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157501 | Integrated Exchange for 24 hour real time trading of fungibles & continuous cash T+0 settlement - An Integrated Exchange that consolidates the exchange, broker & clearing house functions into a single platform for continuous 24 hour real time trading of securities, currencies, commodities & other fungibles. Both corporate and individual investors have accounts with the Integrated Exchange. Both corporate and individual investors trade directly with one another electronically through the Integrated Exchange. Account status, statements and cash T+0 settlement, and quotes are all in real time. The exchange's integrated software can perform credit check on new orders and calculate margin of long & short positions and any offsetting positions located in multiple related accounts each of which may have a different account currency. The exchange has 28 order types including visible, prearranged and hidden orders. Integrating the exchange, broker & clearing house functions into a single platform is efficient and leads to reduced execution costs for investors. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157502 | AD-BEARING BOOKMARKS FOR ELECTRONIC MEDIA DOCUMENTS - An electronic bookmark can be used to render an advertisement at a bookmark insertion point (e.g., a stopping point) determined by a user when reading an electronic media document, such as an electronic book, newspaper, magazine, audiobook, and video, among others. Some of the variations provided herein include providing notice to an outside source providing the advertisement when user interaction with the bookmark occurs, as well as selecting advertisements based upon one or more criteria, including criteria related to the electronic media document and demographic information of the user. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157503 | PYRAMIDAL VOLUMES OF ADVERTISING SPACE - The claimed subject matter relates to an architecture that can facilitate advertising models in connection with pyramidal volumes of advertising space. In particular, a pixel at one plane of view of an image can be associated with four pixels at a lower plane of view and so on. Advertising rights with respect to the pixel can be offered for sale, which can include all, a subset, or a different set of advertising rights with respect to other pixels in the pyramidal volume. The architecture can construct the data for the image dynamically based upon contextual input and the advertising rights as well as image format can be constructed based upon notions of zoning. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157504 | System and method for advertising to a target demographic of internet users - A method for directing push media content to specific users logged on to a local TCP/IP network using a network of servers and software. The invention employs user profile input and advertiser specified target demographic criteria to show specific media content to internet users advertisers wish to reach. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157505 | Shopping mall system and shopping mall system for temples and shrines - A temple/shrine shopping mall system includes a temple or shrine, plural stores, a management center that manages the entire system, and a network connecting these components. The temple or shrine includes Omamori-fudas each including a recording medium that records details of discounts or the number of points when products or services are provided by the stores, an Omamori-fuda vending machine that is installed at the temple or shrine to vend the Omamori-fuda and registers the details of discounts or the number of points in the recording medium, an Omikuji vending machine that vends an Omikuji and registers the details of discounts or the number of points in the recording medium, a saisenbako that includes a reader/writer, and a saisen-token vending machine that vends a saisen token. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157506 | ADVERTISEMENT AUCTION METHOD, RECORDING MEDIUM THEREFOR AND ADVERTISEMENT AUCTION SYSTEM - Provided is a method of auctioning an advertisement provided from a server to a client. The method includes: receiving bidding information from a plurality of advertiser terminals connected to the server, the bidding information including time information which indicates what time the advertisement will appear on the client; selecting one of advertiser terminals based on the time information included in the bidding information; and transmitting advertisement content sent to the client in response to a request of the selected advertiser terminal. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157507 | System and method to monetize the referral of web pages - A system and method for monetizing the referral of web pages comprises a source client system, at least one target client system, a referral server, and an accounting server. The source client system comprises a web browser adapted to render an advertising merchant's web page. A source referral module is coupled to the source web browser and, in response to user selection of at least one target client, generates a referral message to the referral server. The referral server in turn provides a provide a referral instruction to a target client system. The target client system includes a referral module receiving the referral message and upon the target client accepting the referral message, passes identification of the advertising merchant's web page to a target web browser for rendering. The target client system further generates an informational message upon the execution of a revenue event by the target client system. The accounting server, in response to receipt of the informational message: i) debits at least a referral fee from an account associated with the advertising merchant's web page; and ii) credits the referral fee to an account associated with the referral server providing the referral instruction. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157508 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTERACTIVE ADVERTISING CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS - An interactive advertising application and complementary hardware/network product to provide a unique solution for potential clients, users, and consumers to interact to a specific network of supplied information (e.g., advertising, branding, interacting, etc.) via a secure or unsecured network. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157509 | LOCATION-RELEVANT REAL-TIME MULTIMEDIA DELIVERY AND CONTROL AND EDITING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A system for providing a tour of a venue includes a central computer for creating the tour, at least one venue server computer, communicatively connected to the central computer remotely at the venue, for storing the tour, and at least one portable device, communicatively connected to the venue server computer at the venue, for obtaining the tour from the venue server computer. The at least one portable device includes a GPS receiver or other geographic location identifier. Particular “point of interest”-specific content of the tour is output by the portable device whenever the device is located at the geographical location of the coordinates for the point of interest. The specific content of the tour so output by the portable device includes multimedia, including, for example, text, graphics, audio, video, and others. The portable device is carried by a tourist or other user and provides interactive multimedia to guide during the tour. Tours are created and edited at the central computer, and then communicated to the venue server computer. The venue server computer is located at or near the venue of the tour, and thereat writes the relevant tour or tours to the portable device. The venue server computer includes security, control and payment systems for access to use the portable device. The portable device logs usage information for the device, and this information is communicated back to the venue server computer and on to the central computer. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157510 | Method of Tracking and Redeeming Consumer Carbon Emission Credits - The present invention is an improved method of tracking and redeeming carbon emission credits generated by a plurality of consumers which is economical and practical. The method includes the steps of providing a carbon credits database of carbon emission credits for a plurality of goods and services, said carbon credits database including a list of said goods and services and a list of the carbon emission credits associated with each of the goods and services listed. The method further includes the step of providing a customer loyalty card system to said plurality of consumers, said customer loyalty card system which includes a customer database including a plurality of customer records, each customer record including details of each customer and details of that customer's purchase of goods and services. The method further includes the step of calculating a customer carbon credits total for each customer by summing the carbon emission credits for all of the goods and services purchased by said customer. The method further includes the step of transferring ownership of all of the carbon credits accumulated by the customers' purchase of goods and services to a loyalty card operator, said loyalty card operator operating the carbon credits database and the customer loyalty card system. Lastly, the method further includes the step of providing a customer reward to each of the customers in the customer loyalty card system, said customer reward being proportional to the customer carbon credits total. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157511 | TRACKING RESPONSE TO ADVERTISEMENTS - Custom ad content and ad contact information are identified, for example, received from an advertiser. Input is received selecting to include at least a portion of the ad contact information as unified ad contact information within a print ad including the custom ad content. Further input is received selecting to activate one or more tracking mechanisms associated with the portion of ad contact information. The print ad including the custom ad content and the portion of ad contact information is provided to a publisher. An effectiveness of the ad contact information included in the portion is tracked. The effectiveness of the print ad is reported. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157512 | NEAR FIELD COMMUNICATION TRANSACTIONS WITH USER PROFILE UPDATES IN A MOBILE ENVIRONMENT - Methods and systems for determining the suitability of information to be received by a mobile client are disclosed. For example, an exemplary method may include receiving on the mobile client, information relating to a transaction between the mobile client and a transaction host, using a near-field-communication (NFC) link, updating a user profile on the mobile client based on the received transaction information, and performing at least one of receiving, selecting and displaying one or more targeted content messages on the mobile client based upon the updated user profile. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157513 | COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SERVING ELECTRONIC CONTENT - A network system for serving digital content to a graphical user interface of a user device is provided. The system includes a database storing user data including user preferences and events in a calendar of a system user; a processor configured to automatically scan the database to determine an event scheduled for a predetermined window of time; to automatically determine the event is associated with entertainment of the user and access one or more entertainment services, and to prepare content conveying an entertainment package customized to the event of the user; and a server to serve the content for presentation by the graphical user interface. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157514 | PROCESSING ELECTRONIC REBATES - Apparatus and article of manufacture for processing electronic rebates are disclosed. In one embodiment, a purchase identifier is linked to a purchase of a product. The purchase identifier is listed on a receipt upon the purchase of the product or contained in an electronic mail message sent to an electronic mail address accessible using a user computer system. Information is then received via a network from a user of the user computer system to complete a rebate claim for the purchased product. The received information is verified to determine whether the purchase identifier was provided. The rebate claim is granted if the received information is verified as correct. | 06-18-2009 |
20090164312 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ON-LINE ADVERTISING WITH DYNAMIC CONTENT - A computer-implemented system and method for providing on-line advertising with dynamic content is disclosed. The system in an example embodiment includes an advertisement (ad) generator configured to provide an advertisement template with an embedded region for dynamic content; to retrieve dynamic content; to modify the presentation of the advertisement to include the dynamic content; and to serve the modified advertisement including the dynamic content to a user. | 06-25-2009 |
20090164313 | METHOD FOR CREATING AND OPERATING A PERMISSION-BASED MOBILE MARKETING MARKETPLACE - A method for a consumer to receive compensation to subscribe to receiving marketing messages for certain marketers. The method allows for an interactive web site allowing a consumer to store a plurality of personal information and set the rate of compensation for each marketing message received, the marketer accessing a searchable database of consumers' personal information and identifying certain consumer criteria and a maximum price the marketer will pay to a consumer to receive the marketer's message, the consumer and marketer being able to edit information at any time, the marketer sending one or more marketing messages to a list of consumers which meet the marketer's criteria, and the consumer receiving compensation at the request rate for each marketing message received. | 06-25-2009 |
20090164314 | MERCHANT SPECIFIED USAGE SCHEME IN FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS - The preferred embodiments of the present invention are directed to enabling a merchant to specify whether other entities or employees thereof should benefit from a usage scheme, such as discounts, incentives, promotions, rewards, or the like, implemented by the merchant. A transaction device holds information associating the transaction device with an entity. The information associating the transaction device with the entity is verified against stored merchant identification code to determine whether the holder of the transaction device should receive the benefit of the usage scheme. | 06-25-2009 |
20090164315 | Software System for Decentralizing eCommerce With Single Page Buy - A software system with a “single page buy” capability—both product information and purchase information on a single webpage. The software does the backend work needed to display both, in order to simplify the user experience. In one embodiment, commerce is “atomized” by pushing out the capability to purchase throughout the Internet—to ads on 3rd party sites, references in blogs, articles, etc. In one embodiment, a gliding product display is provided. The ad has a banner-type ad dimension, with product icons scrolling or gliding across it. | 06-25-2009 |
20090164316 | System and Method for Search, Recommendation, and Advertisement Through a Unified Storefront - A system includes an asset database, a search engine, a recommendation engine, and an advertisement module. The search engine is adapted to search for a first asset, stored in the asset database, based on a metadata search inquiry received from one of a plurality of access devices. The recommendation engine is adapted to recommend a second asset based on the metadata search inquiry, adapted to recommend a third asset based on customer usage information, and adapted to recommend the second asset and the third asset also based on an access device in communication with the recommendation engine. The advertisement module is adapted to provide an asset advertisement based upon the customer usage information and one of the asset categories being searched. Methods for searching, recommending, advertising assets to the plurality of access devices are also disclosed. | 06-25-2009 |
20090164317 | System and method of consistent internet web site banners that provide portal-like functionality - In a continual and integrated approach to Internet banner display rights, a party acquires long-term banner display rights on published web sites of other entities, in a manner so as to ensure full and continual control over the content, look and functionality of the acquired banner space. A variety of different forms of compensation can be provided to the entities which publish the web sites, in exchange for the acquisition of the banner space. The Internet banner is multifunctional, utilizing menus, links and similar user interface items, to operate as a portal to a variety of informational content and services, such as e-commerce, search engines, and the like. These services might be provided by the party which owns the banner space, or by third parties. The banners which appear in the spaces acquired from multiple publishing sites are organized into a networked system, to provide users with integrated and consistent access to the available services. The entity which provides the content and services through the banners can enter into arrangements with end users, to provide incentives for users to access the banners as well as enhance the users' experience. | 06-25-2009 |
20090164318 | RECYCLE SYSTEM - The recycle system is capable of motivating consumers to seriously separate wastes. The recycle system comprises: an identifying/measuring unit for identifying kinds of wastes and measuring amounts of the wastes; and a point providing unit for providing a point, which can be used for purchase instead of money, on the basis of the kinds and the amounts of the wastes, which have been identified and measured by the identifying/measuring unit. | 06-25-2009 |
20090164319 | DISCOUNT SYSTEM AND METHOD - Discount systems and methods of providing discounts are provided. The discount systems may include an apparatus couplable to an automobile. The apparatus may include indicia thereon relating to an entity desiring to provide a discount upon detection of the apparatus. In some aspects, the apparatus may be a license plate frame. The methods may include providing an apparatus including indicia thereon associated with an entity, coupling the apparatus to an automobile, detecting the presence of the apparatus at a location associated with the entity, and providing a discount for a product or a service associated with the entity after detection of the apparatus. In some aspects, the apparatus may be a license plate frame and the license plate frame may be coupled to an automobile such that the apparatus at least partially surrounds a license plate coupled to the automobile, | 06-25-2009 |
20090164320 | Private Label Promotion Card System, Program Product, And Associated Computer-Implemented Methods - Embodiments of the present invention provide a private label promotion card as a bank product, being issued and managed by the bank and using an open payment network for purchase authorization and payments. A bank computer processes activation information for a promotion card. The bank computer then authorizes purchase requests to use one or more activated promotion cards as payment for a consumer purchase from the retailer via an open payment network and transfers funds to the open payment network to satisfy the authorized consumer purchase. Next, the bank computer receives funds on behalf of the retailer for payment responsive to consumer purchases using the one or more promotion cards as payment and payment for a value remaining on the one or more promotion cards responsive to an expiration of the one or more promotion cards, perhaps at a discount to a customer value of the promotion card. | 06-25-2009 |
20090164321 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AWARDING USER POINTS IN RESPONSE TO USER INTEREST - A method and system for awarding user points in response to user interest is provided. User points are redeemable for price discounts on products and services. The method involves, in response to receiving a user request for information, presenting to the user a question, receiving a user response from the user and incrementing a points balance associated with the user in response to the user response. The system includes a server for communicating with a user; a database for storing a points balance associated with the user; a question-and-answer component operable to present a question to the user and receive a user response from the user; and a points balance component operable to increment the points balance in response to the user response. The method and system are applicable to a theme-based website in which the questions presented to the user relate to the website theme. | 06-25-2009 |
20090164322 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIA FOR OVER THE AIR (OTA) PROVISIONING OF SOFT CARDS ON DEVICES WITH WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS CAPABILITIES - Methods, systems, and computer readable media for over the air provisioning of soft cards on devices with wireless communications capabilities are disclosed. According to one method, a soft card provisioning application is instantiated on a device with wireless communications capabilities. A card number for a soft card desired to be provisioned on the device is obtained from a user of the device. An issuer identification number retrieved from the card number is communicated to a provisioning configuration server over an air interface. A provisioning issuer server network address is obtained from the provisioning configuration server based on the issuer identification number. The provisioning information server is connected to, and card-issuer-specific challenge information is obtained therefrom. The challenges are presented to the user, and the user's responses to the challenges are received. A connection is made to the provisioning issuer server corresponding to the network address. The challenge responses are communicated to the provisioning issuer server. Soft card image data and personalization data, where the personalization data includes personalized embossed and pre-printed data, are received from the provisioning issuer server over the air interface. The soft card is provisioned for use on the device based on the data received over the air interface. | 06-25-2009 |
20090164323 | SYSTEM, PROGRAM PRODUCT, AND METHODS FOR SOCIAL NETWORK ADVERTISING AND INCENTIVES FOR SAME - Program product, systems, and methods of providing to social network websites advertising and incentives from an electronic retailer, are provided. A system can include a social network website displaying social network content and also displaying a link that reroutes the consumer to an electronic retailer website when the consumer clicks on the link. The system can also include program product for tracking purchase and other information about the consumer by the electronic retailer, and generating a commission for the provider of the social network website based on the tracked information about the consumer. The link can be embedded within the social network content or the link can be part of an advertisement and displayed adjacent the social network content. Also, a product featured in the advertisement can be affiliated with one main subject of the social network content. | 06-25-2009 |
20090171773 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ADMINISTERING A VALUE VAULT FOR USE IN FACILITATING A FINANCIAL TRANSACTION - A system and method for administering a value vault for use in facilitating a financial transaction described herein. In one embodiment, the system includes a communication interface; a database having stored therein information regarding a plurality of value programs associated with a plurality of merchants; and a payment provider system configured to receive a purchase request from one of the plurality of merchants via the communication interface, and make available at least one or more of the value programs associated with the merchants during the purchase of an item. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171774 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DISPLAYING MATTRESSES BY COLOR - A method for displaying a plurality of mattresses according to a color scheme is provided. The method includes categorizing a plurality of mattresses into at least three different types based on features of the mattresses other than size (e.g., based on comfort or style), designating a different color for each type of mattress, and displaying each of the mattresses with the designated color, or an article having the designated color, for the particular mattress type. For example, the article may include a pillow and/or foot protector having the designated color displayed prominently for a customer's reference. The method may further include grouping at least a portion of the mattresses together within the showroom based on the type of mattress, and displaying one of each type of mattress in a common region (e.g., a comparison center) for side-by-side comparisons of the different types of mattresses by customers. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171775 | PROMOTIONAL INCENTIVE VOUCHER AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A SELECTABLE GIFT CARD TO A RECIPIENT - A promotional incentive voucher and method for providing a selectable gift card (stored value card or SVC) as a gift to a recipient. The incentive voucher includes an advertising portion comprising information that identifies a business that is providing the voucher and SVC as a gift to a recipient of the voucher; a gift display portion listing a plurality of SVCs available for selection by the recipient; and a gift redemption portion for use by the recipient to selected a desired SVD from the listing and to direct delivery of the gift to the recipient. A method for producing a promotional incentive voucher of the invention includes obtaining from a business desired advertising and SVC gift selection information to be included in the promotional incentive voucher, and producing a voucher comprising the desired information and a gift redemption portion for enabling the recipient to obtain the selected SVC gift. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171776 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING VARIABLE INCENTIVES BASED ON SPENDING - Systems and methods for providing incentives to a customer based on spending behavior include a customer account established with the customer for depositing funds and for purchasing one or more items from at least one merchant. A first rate of return is applied to the deposited funds in the customer account based on the amount of funds spent from the customer account. A second rate of return is applied to funds in the customer account based on the amount of funds not spent from the customer account. The first rate of return is at least greater than the second rate of return, and the first and second rates of return comprise an interest rate. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171777 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR APPLYING PROMOTION CODES TO PAYMENT TRANSACTIONS - A method for applying promotion codes to a payment transaction is provided. The method uses at least one input device in communication with a database. The payment transaction includes a purchase made by a cardholder using a payment card over a payment card network. The method includes storing promotion data within the database including at least one merchant participating in the payment card network, each promotional program offered by the at least one merchant to the cardholder, and promotion codes associated with each promotional program offered to the cardholder. The method further includes accessing the promotion data using the at least one input device, receiving a selected promotional program from the cardholder using the at least one input device, and automatically applying the promotion codes associated with the selected promotional program to the payment transaction. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171778 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR APPLYING A REWARDS PROGRAM PROMOTION TO PAYMENT TRANSACTIONS - A method for applying promotion codes to a payment transaction using an input device in communication with a database is provided. The payment transaction includes a purchase made by a cardholder using a payment card over a payment card network. The method includes storing promotion data within the database including at least one promotional program having a qualifying number of rewards points for a rewards program, and storing rewards data within the database including a current number of rewards points accumulated by the cardholder. The method further includes providing access to the promotion data through the at least one input device including each promotional program having a qualifying number of rewards points that is less than the current number of rewards points for the cardholder, receiving a selected promotional program from the cardholder, and automatically applying the promotion codes associated with the selected promotional program to the payment transaction. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171779 | Mobile Advertisement and Rating System - A method of operating a mobile advertisement and rating system includes receiving an advertisement parameter by a client from a server to be shown on a display of the client; detecting an advertisement control parameter with the advertisement parameter in the client; operating the client based on the advertisement control parameter and the advertisement parameter; entering a rating parameter in the client; and sending the rating parameter from the client to the server. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171780 | METHODS AND SYSTEM FOR A TARGETED ADVERTISEMENT MANAGEMENT INTERFACE - A system and method can include entering targeted advertisements for multiple types of targeted consumer devices, managing associated targeted advertisement campaigns, sending a targeted advertisement to a targeted consumer device over a network, and receiving receptivity data associated with the targeted advertisement from the targeted consumer device. The targeted advertisement can be associated with a targeted advertisement campaign and can be based on a profile associated with a targeted consumer device and rules associated with the targeted advertisement campaign. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171781 | LOCATION BASED ADVERTISEMENT DELIVERY TO PERVASIVE DEVICES - A computer implemented method, computer program product, and data processing system display advertisements on a pervasive device. A wireless signal for an advertisement is received by the pervasive device. The advertisement includes advertisement information. Responsive to receiving the wireless signal, the advertisement information is compared to user preferences to determine whether the advertisement information matches the user preferences. In the event that the advertisement information matches at least one of the user preferences, the advertisement is displayed on the pervasive device. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171782 | SYSTEM AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR PROVIDING FLIGHT INFORMATION - A system and a computer program are provided for providing real-time flight information to a user over a telephone network. The system includes a server having access to real-time flight information, an interface in communication with the server and a telephone network, a database in communication with the server. The database is continuously updated with the real-time flight information. The database contains a plurality of advertisements. The server is configured to prompt a user to enter flight identifying information over the telephone network, receive the flight identifying information from the user, determine matching flight information from the database based upon the flight identifying information, and to provide at least one of the plurality of advertisements to the user over the telephone network while the flight information is being determined. Advertiser fees are provided from one or more advertisers for each of the plurality of advertisements provided to the user. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171783 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING DIGITAL PHOTOS - Methods and systems for managing digital photos are disclosed. In one implementation, a method for organizing digital photos includes receiving a set of digital photos, analyzing the set of digital photos to create tags that identify content information in the set of digital photos, tagging the set of digital photos in accordance with their corresponding content information, categorizing the set of digital photos in accordance with their corresponding tags, and displaying the digital photos and their corresponding tags with a display device. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171784 | Method and apparatus for splitting advertising opportunities - A dynamic advertising insertion system automatically inserts advertisements in response to opportunities that arise in the course of content playback. For example, when a user hits a pause button, an advertising opportunity may be created and an appropriate advertisement may be inserted. One basis for determining which advertisement to insert is to enforce a predetermined agreement between a content provider and one or more distributors that sets forth a percentage of advertising opportunities that each entity will be afforded. Thus, the decision of what advertisement to insert may be based on a number of factors, including the type of content, the particular user's equipment, information about the user, and the need to adjust the playback of advertisements to enforce the percentage split between the advertising entities. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171785 | ADVERTISEMENT DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND ADVERTISEMENT DISTRIBUTION METHOD - A home storage (a first storage device) installed in each home is provided with an area for a user to store data (user area) and an area for storing ads (ad area). The first storage device checks interest and favorite information for the user in the user area, and transmits the interest and favorite information at the same time backup is performed in a second storage device at a remote site. The second storage device selects a suitable ad based on the interest and favorite information from the first storage device and transmits the selected ad to the first storage device. The user views the transmitted ad when viewing content in the first storage device. The user's viewing record for the ads is kept as statistical data, and the second storage device compiles the record, charges a sponsor an ad charge, thereby subsidizing the usage charge for the first storage device regardless of online or offline connection. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171786 | ADVERTISEMENT APPARATUS WITH RFID TAG - An advertisement apparatus including a controller, a display panel, a reader and a tag is provided. The controller is suitable for receiving advertising content information and tag information corresponding to the advertising information simultaneously. The display panel is suitable for receiving the advertising information from the controller and displaying the same. The reader is suitable for receiving the tag information from the controller and writing the same to the tag. Thus, a user may read the tag information stored in the tag via a portable device to get the message related to the advertising information. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171787 | Impressionative Multimedia Advertising - A method for making online adverisement makes an impressionative presentation of an advertisement to a viewer. The impressionative presentation is an impressionized version of an original online source medium such as a photo. The method associates advertisements with the source medium based, at least in part, on calculated ad relevance, and determines one or more viewer iteractive points on the original source medium. The method then presents to the viewer an ad-augmented medium including an impressionized version of the source medium, which has the ability to change the form of impression to a viewer in response to an interactive act conducted by the viewer. The ad-augmented medium may include the associated advertisement content or direct the viewer's attention thereto. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171788 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACTIVATING A DEVICE BASED ON A RECORD OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY - In a redeemable coupon there is a housing, a motion detector coupled to the housing, wherein the motion detector detects an amount of motion of the coupon, and an indicator coupled to the motion detector, wherein the indicator is activated by the motion detector upon detecting the amount of motion. Additionally, in a method of providing an incentive for a user to exercise, providing the user with a coupon to be coupled to the user, monitoring the motion of the user with a motion sensor included in the coupon, and activating the coupon when the motion sensor has detected a predetermined amount of motion such that the coupon becomes redeemable by the user. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171789 | Method and System for Managing and Trading Web-Based Virtual Services - Virtual services are works that can be carried out without physical presence. This invention relates to a method and a system that allows subscribers of the system to manage and trade virtual services over a wide area network, such as the Internet. Subscribers can advertise and provide virtual services through this system. They also search the virtual services and schedule appointments. The virtual services can be conducted through virtual offices provided in this system. Virtual offices can be used alone to perform advertising tasks, where users can search for products and services and talk to the advertisers directly through online media. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171790 | Time based targeted advertising - A system and method to display advertising using a client and a server device enabling streaming advertisements onto the client device using a timing mechanism. Said timing mechanism allows selected target areas on the client display to be updated at regular intervals to create a visual perception of motion. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171791 | METHOD OF ADVERTISING - A method of advertising is disclosed, and more particularly, a method for the targeted advertising of products and services to the visiting customers/clients of a business having a waiting area including the steps of providing a network in electronic communication with a source of media content in the waiting area, compiling information related to a customer/client visiting the business, and directing media content through the network to the customer/client in the waiting area based on the information related to the visiting customer/client. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171792 | TRANSACTION SYSTEM AND METHODOLOGY WITH INTER-PARTY COMMUNICATIONS CAPABILITY - In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, although not necessarily limited thereto, the system of the present invention may function in the context of an internet based commercial real estate brokering system. In such a system, potential buyers, sellers, lessors and lessees list and respond to offerings having characteristics as described in connection with the listings. For example, a potential landlord may, through interaction with the system of the present invention, list one or more buildings for lease. Communication and interaction may occur on an anonymous basis such that the potential landlord is unaware of the actual identity of the prospective tenant and vice versa until such time as one or the other or both decide to reveal their identity. It is also possible to avoid the need to reveal any contact information associated with either party (including, for example, email addresses, phone numbers, addresses, etc.) until such time as a party wishes to disclose such information. Another aspect of the system of the present invention provides users of the transaction system as well as the operator thereof with the ability to conveniently and accurately track orders and renewals of listings. All that is necessary from the advertiser's point of view is to select and activate the “reply” button on, for example, the advertiser's email application screen. Once this is done, a reply email is sent to and received by the system of the present invention and, based upon the specific “reply to address”, the system processes the reply and carries out the automated billing process. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171793 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING SAVINGS BASED UPON COMBINATION PURCHASES AT A RETAIL LEVEL - A method of providing rewards to a customer based upon purchasing multiple items. The method comprises offering a group of multiple products for sale, providing a reward to the customer for each product of the group that is purchased, and providing a bonus reward to the customer when each product of the group is purchased. | 07-02-2009 |
20090177536 | DYNAMIC, SUBSCRIBER DRIVEN CHARGING MODELS FOR MEDIA DISTRIBUTION - A system and method is provided to implement charging models for subscriber driven media agnostic content delivery across same or different networks. The method includes receiving content of a first media type over a network from a sending client. The method further includes sending the content or a reference to the content to a receiving client in a preferred media type and to a preferred device in accordance with at least one preference of the receiving client. The method also includes generating a billing record based on the content and user preferences of a sending client and/or a receiving client. | 07-09-2009 |
20090177537 | VIDEO ADVERTISEMENT PRICING - A query including one or more keywords is received from a client device, and an advertisement relevant to the one or more keywords is identified, wherein the advertisement is associated with a video. Display data for displaying the advertisement at the client device is generated. Video selection data for displaying a video element proximate to the advertisement at the client device is also generated. The display data and the video selection data are provided to the client device, and an account of an advertiser associated with the advertisement is updated an amount in response to receiving data indicating a selection of the advertisement or the video element. | 07-09-2009 |
20090177538 | ZOOMABLE ADVERTISEMENTS WITH TARGETED CONTENT - Advertisements may be displayed on electronic devices within a variety of contexts, such as websites and applications, but the amount of information that may be conveyed by small advertisements in a portion of the screen may be limited. One technique for displaying information in a limited space involves a zoomable advertisement, wherein the advertisement displayed in a first zoom state is supplemented with additional information upon transitioning to a second zoom state (e.g., zooming in to visualize small content, and zooming out to visualize content that was out of bounds in the first zoom state.) Moreover, the content visible at the second zoom state may present advertising content targeted with respect to the user and based on one or more user criteria. The system may notify an advertisement tracking server of various events, e.g., upon rendering the targeted content on behalf of the user. | 07-09-2009 |
20090177539 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DUAL SYSTEM DETECTION - A printer capable of detecting whether the printer is operating within a gaming system to perform gaming voucher printing, or within a promotional system to perform promotional coupon printing, or within both systems. The printer performs the operations of the identified system by providing one firmware that can detect whether the printer is operating within a gaming system to perform gaming voucher printing, or within a promotional system to perform promotional coupon printing, or within both systems. | 07-09-2009 |
20090177540 | HIGH-PRECISION CUSTOMER-BASED TARGETING BY INDIVIDUAL USAGE STATISTICS - A system for distributing limited numbers of promotional offers targeted to individual customers based on the customers' individual probabilities of accepting the offers is disclosed. Each customer can receive a limited number of offers estimated to be most likely to be acceptable by the customer. Customer-Based targeting analyzes each customer's past purchasing behavior relative to a master list of promotional offers made available to all customers and selects a number of promotional offers most likely to be preferred by each customer. Various techniques, such as empirical Bayes techniques and sparse data handling techniques, are disclosed for providing an offer acceptance probability profile tailored for individual customers. Product groupings and market segments are taken into account. Various marketing strategies are incorporated into the system. An individual can override a system computation and manually set the relative offer acceptance probabilities for an individual user or class of users using a graphical technique. | 07-09-2009 |
20090177541 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR POINT-BASED REWARDS SYSTEM USING INTERACTIVE DEVICES AND SOFTWARE - Consumers may be rewarded by monetizing downtime in an advertising supported environment. For example, a user may be presented with a message on a wireless or other unit. Including advertising, the message may solicit a response. A trivia question may be presented. During a sporting event, a user may receive a question about the game or players. In responding, the user may earn points toward an award. Users may earn points in other ways such as by providing personal information or preferences, registering or referring other users. Advertising also may be presented to the user when points are awarded or prizes redeemed. The information presented to the user, and when, where or how it is presented, may be based on the user's preferences or demographic information. Real-time or other reports tracking the user's viewing of advertising may be made available to the advertisers or other suppliers of presented information. | 07-09-2009 |
20090177542 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING AND DISTRIBUTING MEDIA CONTENT - In accordance with the present invention, a media content management application that allows a user to customize, assemble, distribute, and track one or more versions of media content based on semantic criteria is provided. | 07-09-2009 |
20090177543 | TABS BASED DRAG AND DROP GRAPHICAL TRADING INTERFACE - The interface comprises one or more grids, each grid typically associated with a specific security. GUI objects or icons representing orders of a specific quantity may be dragged and dropped onto the grid to place, change, or cancel orders. The Grids are contained within tab pages, which are further contained as tab sets. Status icons are used to represent open, filled, and cancelled orders. The Icon Locate and Order locate feature allows orders on the Grid and Icons in the status panels to be easily referenced. Status Icons may be stamped with their associated order type or status. Similarly, the status icons may take the form of Corporate logos and adjust in size according to the value or quantity of a position. An Icon packing feature allows status icons to be efficiently placed within their total panel area. Advertising content may be displayed on the trading interface and is also conveniently packaged within tabsets. | 07-09-2009 |
20090177544 | Campaign system, campaign method, and campaign service program - A first server for providing a service site that provides a user, who operates a user terminal, with a given service, generates a unique identifier when a service provided to a certain user satisfies a given condition, generates a network address with the first server set as a destination and with the identifier, registers information indicating that an authority is valid in association with the identifier in a storage device, and notifies the user of the network address. The network address represents an authority for enabling the user to receive granting of a given privilege from a campaign site provided on a second server. | 07-09-2009 |
20090177545 | METHODS FOR GENERATING AND SELLING CUSTOM POSTAGE - A custom postage has an artwork region and an adjacent cancellation region that includes a meter mark. The artwork region contains an original image having a top edge adjacent to the cancellation region. The custom postage may be placed onto an item of mail with a delivery address thereon, with the custom postage oriented to the upper right of the delivery address and with the image in a vertical orientation relative to the delivery address. The custom postage may be offered for sale as a fundraising effort, optionally via a website. The website may also include a social citizenship program and/or it may promote literacy. | 07-09-2009 |
20090177546 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CATEGORY-BASED CONTEXTUAL ADVERTISEMENT GENERATION AND MANAGEMENT - A computer-implemented system and method for category-based contextual advertisement generation and management are disclosed. The system in an example embodiment includes an advertisement processor to allocate a first display region for displaying a combination of variable revenue ads and fixed price ads, the variable revenue ads and the fixed price ads being category-based, sort the variable revenue ads based in part on a user entered variable revenue value, and sort the fixed price ads based on a rotation. | 07-09-2009 |
20090177547 | METHOD FOR PROVIDING PERSONALIZED ADVERTISEMENTS - A method for distributing personalized media elements to media terminals, said method comprising the following operations, carried out within a media server:
| 07-09-2009 |
20090177548 | COOPERATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL AND LIFE BENEFIT EXCHANGE SYSTEM - A cooperative environmental and life benefit exchange system is presented. The system includes a grid for transmitting available electrical energy, a plurality of rate payers using energy generated from renewable energy sources, a plurality of utility companies providing the grid, a plurality of credits redeemable for acquiring one or more of a plurality of life benefits, and an administrator overseeing a redemption process. In one embodiment, credits are accumulated by the rate payers based on either a predetermined amount of electrical energy purchased from or sold back to the grid. In the redemption process the credits accumulated by the rate payers are redeemed at a redemption rate to provide a redemption value. The redemption value is remitted by the rate payers to satisfy benefit cost for acquiring the life benefits, or portions thereof. | 07-09-2009 |
20090177549 | NOTIFICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DOMAIN NAME OPTIONS - A system and method of the present invention allow communication via electronic messages between a Customer and a domain name Registrar, avoiding traditional electronic mail (email) communication. Email messages may not be delivered to the Customer for various reasons including the situations where the Customer employs anti-SPAM protective technologies. The system and method of the present invention establish a Communication Link between a Customer's Computer and Registrar's Server, which avoids anti-SPAM protective technologies and email messaging altogether. Information relating to the communication may be stored on a database and the system may present the Customer with various options relating to a domain service. The implementation of this invention would result in a higher rate of delivered messages to the Customer. | 07-09-2009 |
20090177550 | Methods and Systems for Offering and Selling Advertising | 07-09-2009 |
20090177551 | CUSTOM STORES - A custom store web page uses an external administrator to provide configuration data for a custom store web page. The configuration data can include virtual bundles of products for sale. | 07-09-2009 |
20090182633 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PAYER-CENTRIC PAYMENT USING MOBILE TERMINAL - Provided are a method and system for payer-centric payment using a mobile terminal through which payment is made while information about a payer is not released to a participating store. Specifically, a terminal of the participating store transmits payment information including a payment amount and participating store identification information to an auxiliary terminal, the auxiliary terminal transmits the payment information to the mobile terminal of the payer, the mobile terminal of the payer transmits the payment information and information about a payment means to pay the payment amount to a payment processing system, and finally, the payment processing system pays the payment amount by using the payment means and then transmits information about a result of payment processing to the mobile terminal of the payer and the terminal of the participating store. | 07-16-2009 |
20090182634 | Image-Based Payment Medium - Disclosed is a method and system for use of an image-based payment medium through images stored on the consumer's mobile phone in place of traditional plastic gift, credit or debit cards. Upon authentication, an image is sent to the consumer's mobile phone. The consumer displays the image at the retailer's point of sale when completing a transaction. The image is scanned with a barcode reader, a webcam or other scanning device and the consumer's account in a database is debited or credited based on the amount and type of transaction. An image-base payment medium provides for the ability to target specific ads to the consumer, directed to the registered mobile phone number and also to attach loyalty and coupon programs to the account, which the recipient may redeem upon scanning of the encoded image on the mobile phone at the point of sale. The system and method is suitable for “virtual” gift cards, credit and debit cards, loyalty payment programs and other methods of value exchange. | 07-16-2009 |
20090182635 | Vehicle Inspection System and Process - An inspection system and process that allows requesters to electronically request inspections to be made of one or more items and/or properties at one or more remote locations, for the request to be electronically routed via a processor to one or more electronic devices to be carried and used by inspectors to receive such requests wirelessly and to be used at the remote locations for collecting data, entering inspection information, and observations on site into the electronic devices, wirelessly sending inspection results back to the processor, for the processor to process the observations, inspection information, and/or data into condition reports, incorporate advertisements into the condition reports and electronically send the condition reports to the requestors and/or owners of the items and/or property. The advertisements may include video, audio, and/or text components and be directed to demographics associated with the requesters and/or the owners of the items and/or property being inspected. | 07-16-2009 |
20090182636 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STRUCTURED SEARCH - A system and method for structured search of information, including but not limited to, search for goods and services in e-commerce and mobile e-commerce, is disclosed. In some embodiments, the system comprises a plurality of heterogeneously structured data sources, a plurality of query objects that represent queries to the data sources and that are independent of the structure of the data sources, and a user interface configured to query the plurality of query objects. | 07-16-2009 |
20090182637 | METHOD OF REFERRAL MARKETING - There is a method of referral marketing over a computerized network configured to incentivize participation and thereby enhance the effectiveness thereof; wherein the method includes steps of providing a webpage to sell products/services over a computerized network. The method includes providing a hypertext offering to a shopper, for a referred shopper to view the products/services purchased by the shopper. Then, creating a discount coupon including a discount code for the referred shopper using a merchant module having a hypertext link to the webpage. The method also includes sending an email including the discount coupon to the referred shopper over the computerized network. Then, the method includes creating an incentive coupon including an incentive code for the shopper that referred the referred shopper. In addition, the method may include sending an email including the incentive coupon to the shopper that referred the referred shopper over the computerized network. | 07-16-2009 |
20090187476 | NETWORK TRANSACTION INTERMEDIATING METHODS, AND NETWORK PLATFORM THEREFOR - A network transaction intermediating method is adapted to be executed by a network platform. The network platform provides basic product data to a buyer terminal upon receipt of a product inquiry request from the buyer terminal, and transmits a connection command to the buyer terminal in response to selection of any one entry of the basic product data at the buyer terminal to enable the buyer terminal to connect to a corresponding vendor terminal of the selected entry of the basic product data so as to obtain the product introduction data corresponding to the selected entry of the basic product data. Thus, the transmission of the product introduction data can be made more efficient. | 07-23-2009 |
20090187477 | Universal Ad Creative - Methods for generating one or more advertisement creatives for multiple advertisement types. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a selection and data entered in an electronic form, the selection being for two or more different advertisement types, the entered data being of one or more data types, the data types including text, image, audio, or video, generating two or more advertisement creatives using the entered data, the two or more advertisement creatives being for the selected two or more different advertisement types, and presenting the two or more advertisement creatives. | 07-23-2009 |
20090187478 | ITEM-BASED SELLER SALES INCENTIVE METHOD - A manufacturer to dealer incentive program allows the manufacturer to incentivize sales of the dealer. The manufacturer allocates credits to the dealer for vehicles sold by the dealer, and the dealer assigns the credits to individual vehicles in the dealer's inventory. When a sales person of the dealer sells a particular vehicle having credits assigned to it, the manufacturer provides an incentive to the sales person as a function of the number of credits assigned to the particular vehicle. | 07-23-2009 |
20090187479 | CONVERSION TRACKING FOR PAID SEARCH MARKET - Conversion rates and tracking data may be considered in conjunction with a paid search market. A generalized second price (GSP) auction may be extended by incorporating conversion rates and tracking data in the payment rule. Such an extension is referred to as a generalized acquisition-aware second price (GASP) auction. A simplified version of GASP, referred to as simplified generalized acquisition-aware second price or SGASP, does not use conversion tracking for each advertiser. | 07-23-2009 |
20090187480 | METHOD, SYSTEM, APPARATUS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR PROVIDING SELECTIVE ADVERTISING TO SUBSCRIBERS - A method, apparatus, system, and computer program for providing selective advertising. The method includes providing an advertisement request specifying that advertising content be provided and automatically providing the advertising content on at least one network service in response to the advertisement request. The advertising content provided is based upon advertising content preferences pre-specified by a subscriber. Also provided is a method for exchanging payments, which includes determining a payment payable to a network service provider from a subscriber and providing the payment to the network service provider from the subscriber. The payment is determined as a cost for access to a selective advertisement service and/or a provisioning of selective advertising. | 07-23-2009 |
20090187481 | AUTOMATIC GENERATION OF ELECTRONIC ADVERTISING MESSAGES - A facility for generating an advertising message is described. The facility extracts visual content from a model web page. The facility then constructs an advertising message that contains the extracted visual content. | 07-23-2009 |
20090187482 | Systems, Methods, and Computer Program Products for Supply Chain Finance - Systems and methods for providing supply chain financing that include receiving a request to finance an asset of a borrower, where the asset is associated with goods provided by a supplier to a buyer under the control of a supply chain/logistics entity. Attributes of a trade ecosystem of the supplier and/or the buyer are evaluated to determine whether to finance the asset. Financing of the asset is then established based upon the analyzed attributes of the trade ecosystem, where the terms of the financing permit control over movement of goods before and/or after default of the terms of the financing. Information associated with movement of the goods is monitored and analyzed to determine adjustments to at least one of the financing terms based on the information associated with movement of the goods. | 07-23-2009 |
20090187483 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ADVERTISEMENT IMAGE BASED ON USER INFORMATION - An apparatus and method for providing an advertisement image based on user information, the apparatus including: a selection unit to select an advertisement object, from a plurality of advertisement objects, to be applied to a basic image based on user information; and a playback unit to play back an advertisement image generated after the selected advertisement object is applied to the basic image. | 07-23-2009 |
20090187484 | Soil treatments with carbon dioxide - A method is described for treating soil to increase plant growth or improve the health of plants, wherein a combination of carbon dioxide and a surfactant having pesticidal effects is applied. The invention also pertains to methods for applying bio-derived surfactants in combination with carbon dioxide to crops and other plants or to the soil used for such plants in order to reduce the need to apply environmentally unfriendly pesticides or fertilizers, as well as to improved methods of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by applying the carbon dioxide to plants and soil in combination with surfactants, particularly bio-derived surfactants that can reduce the activity of certain pests in the soil. | 07-23-2009 |
20090187485 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF DISPLAYING INFORMATION RELATED TO ITEMS OFFERED FOR SALE IN A NETWORK-BASED MARKETPLACE - A system for transmitting information related to a network-based marketplace includes identifying information that may be interesting, useful, and entertaining to the users and to the potential users of the network-based marketplace. The identified information may be other than information that is already being displayed in listings by the network-based marketplace. The identified information may be about the sellers, the buyers or other items related to the items offered for sale | 07-23-2009 |
20090187486 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING TARGETED CONTENT - Embodiments of the present invention permit a user to receive content that is directly targeted to that particular user's interests, including a method for targeting content that is arranged on a page that is displayable by a computing device, including the steps of displaying a list of categories of available advertising content, wherein the available advertising content is stored in a database, receiving a selection of at least one of the categories of the advertising content from a user, selecting advertising content from the database that corresponds to the selection of categories received from the user, and transmitting a page including the selected advertising content to a computing device for display on the computing device. In addition, embodiments of the present invention allow the tracking of content from when it is initially shared, to when revenue is generated based on an action of a user on the shared content portion. | 07-23-2009 |
20090187487 | ADVERTISEMENT DISPLAY METHOD - An advertisement display method for providing advertisements from a display device, includes acquiring advertisement information which is endowed with an advertisement display right for displaying one or more advertisements, the advertisement information identifies an advertisement displayable by an advertisement display right, deciding whether the advertisement identified by the acquired advertisement information is to be displayed on the display device, on a basis of one or more advertisement points to be consumed by a display of the advertisement on the display device, displaying on the display device, summary data of the identified advertisement once it is decided to be displayed, and displaying detailed data of the identified advertisement on the display device, and consuming the advertisement points of the identified advertisement as displayed, based on a browsing request for details of the advertisement. | 07-23-2009 |
20090192885 | POP method and apparatus for customer engagement - A method is presented for increasing sales by inducing the customer to interact with a product that attracts their interest, even if that interest is minimal or transient. The method utilizes a display monitor placed close to a product that shows an informational presentation on the product, but only when activated by a customer. The presentation is activated when a customer touches the display. The monitor and activation means are placed close to the product, rather than elsewhere in the store, sufficiently close that a customer located within viewing distance and within touching distance of the product can also reach out and activate the presentation without taking a step. The display is placed at a convenient height for easy viewing, and so that the customer may touch and examine the product while viewing and listening to the presentation. | 07-30-2009 |
20090192886 | Automatic online mail printing and package system at post office or place of receiver for mails which are sent from home or office via internet - The automatic online printing and enveloping system at recipient's post office or home for receiving mail or advertisements via internet is system provides a service which requires the sender to create an email account in order to sign in the email webpage. Then this online system forward email to the recipient or to the nearest post office where it is printed, enveloped, and delivered by postman like other mail. This “ePostal service” is also suitable for email recipients who live in remote location where Internet is not available or for those people who still want to correspond in mail, but hate walking to the post office. | 07-30-2009 |
20090192887 | Guide based content services - Systems are described for a guide of audio, video, multimedia transmission, receiving and playback with advertising and bi-directional fulfillment of goods and services over the Internet. A method of streaming content distribution includes streaming content from a plurality of streaming content sources; streaming advertisement from a plurality of streaming advertisement sources before, during, and after playback of streamed content; requesting streaming content by a user; locating streaming content with a guide; and communicating bi-directionally with users. A streaming content distribution system includes a streaming content guide through which a user locates a source of streaming content and starts playback of streaming content; data on streaming content; data on network locations of streaming content; and data on access characteristics. | 07-30-2009 |
20090192888 | Targeted Ads Based On User Purchases - The present invention relates to systems and methods for providing advertisements on websites. In an embodiment, a method for providing an advertisement on a website includes obtaining purchase information submitted by a user making a purchase on the website, determining at least one advertisement for a product or service related to the purchase but of a different type than the purchase, and displaying the at least one advertisement on the website when the purchase is completed. In another embodiment, a system for providing an advertisement on a website includes a purchase server, an advertisement source, an analyzer, and an advertisement server. | 07-30-2009 |
20090192889 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PREVENTING UNAUTHORIZED CONTACT OF APPLICANTS - A system and method for preventing unauthorized use of sales leads. Application information is gathered from an applicant after the applicant views an Internet ad or other advertisement. The application information may include the applicant's e-mail address and phone number. At least one pseudo e-mail address or phone number is then created that identifies at least some of the application information and a potential purchaser of the application information. A unique pseudo e-mail address or phone number is created for each potential purchaser of the application information. The pseudo e-mail addresses or phone numbers and at least some of the application information are then provided to potential purchasers of the application information. Any communications sent using the pseudo e-mail addresses or phone numbers are initially directed to a mail server or phone system operated by or under the control of the entity that placed the advertisement. If a potential purchaser attempts to contact an applicant with the pseudo e-mail address or phone number without first paying for the application information, the e-mail or phone call is sent to the entity which generated the lead, not the applicant. Once a potential purchaser purchases the application information, communications made by the potential purchaser using the pseudo e-mail address are forwarded to the applicant's actual e-mail address. | 07-30-2009 |
20090192890 | INTERFACE BETWEEN TWO REWARD PROGRAMS FOR CONSOLIDATING CURRENCY FOR REDEMPTION - A system and method, such as an interface, for real time consolidation of currency between two or more reward programs. The interface allows a participant to consolidate in real time currency of one program in which a participant has an account with currency of one or more other programs in which the participant also has an account. Thus, the participant can selectively combine the currencies from two or more programs for redemption via one of the programs. | 07-30-2009 |
20090192891 | REAL WORLD AND VIRTUAL WORLD CROSS-PROMOTION - Technologies are described herein for cross promoting real objects in a real world and virtual objects in a virtual world. A redemption code is received from a first participant in the virtual world. A virtual object corresponding to the redemption code is provided to the first participant. A request for information regarding the real object is received from a second participant of the virtual world and via the virtual object. Upon receiving the request via the virtual object, information regarding the real object is provided to the second participant and via the virtual object. | 07-30-2009 |
20090192892 | SHOPPING USING WIRELESS COMMUNICATION - This is a system to assist shoppers through a handheld wireless communications device which is Bluetooth-enabled (as an example) (a registered trademark), connected to a barcode reader to scan Universal Product Code (UPC) barcodes on items in the store. The shopper is required to login to the store's shopping system using this device once a personal account has created. While shopping, scan the items, view their prices and running total and finally complete the purchase. This system is also capable of (as an example) consolidating a personal shopping list created remotely through vendor's web site or stored on the personal communication device and the shopping cart to help and enhance the shopping experience. | 07-30-2009 |
20090192893 | Action on a Rate of Distribution of Goods With the Aid of a Bonus Method and System - The invention relates to discount and prize distribution methods and to a system for carrying out said method. The aim of said invention is to increase the interest of clients in buying at points of sale and in using services where they are provided by using the inventive system and method. The clients are attracted by that, while paying a good or service, a client could receive, with a certain probability, a product discount or a prize. For this purpose, the inventive system combines a price fixing means with means for generating a lottery sample in such a way that, while paying a good, a random sampling of elements is carried out and, when said sample coincides with a predetermined sample, the client takes the opportunity of discount. The probability of the occurrence of the predetermined combination can be modified in a manner which is external with respect to the system and according to different conditions by activating an input incorporated into the means for generating a lottery sample. | 07-30-2009 |
20090192894 | Methods and apparatus for creating and managing green micro credits - Methods and apparatus (systems) for effectively and efficiently creating green credit backed “micro” green credits utilizing the same regulatory agencies that certify green credits. | 07-30-2009 |
20090192895 | METHOD AND A SYSTEM FOR MANAGING NETWORK MARKETING USING HIERARCHICAL SOCIAL NETWORKING WEBSITE - A computerized method of the establishing and managing of a hierarchical social network directed at the distributing of services using a network marketing module through a web based application. The computerized method may include: a) registering as an expert, mediator, customer and the like; b) upgrading user capabilities by becoming a community manager; c) distributing services to community members directly, or through a mediator; and d) managing a commission archives | 07-30-2009 |
20090192896 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TARGETED ADVERTISING BASED ON TOPICAL MEMES - A targeted advertising system and method based on memes contained in content sources are disclosed. Content matching keywords-defining topics are identified from content sources and are further processed to extract the memes. Ad networks servicing the content are also identified and their reach for each meme determined. The system and method extract also viral dynamics of the content associated to a meme and use the aggregation of the viral dynamics as a measure of engagement level for the meme. The system and method allow a Marketer to select a meme based on the engagement level and to run an ad campaign against the meme. The advertisements are delivered through an Ad network and inserted at the meme page level when the content hosting the meme is accessed, the Ad network being selected based on its reach. | 07-30-2009 |
20090192897 | PROACTIVE IDENTIFICATION OF TARGETS FOR ADVERTISEMENTS - Methods and systems are provided that allow advertisers to custom define questions that are delivered to people through a digital media experience. Subsequent to answering the questions, consumers are shown advertisements based on their answers to one or more of the questions. | 07-30-2009 |
20090192898 | Remote Ordering System - A remote ordering system is provided using an electronic menu having a series of input devices associated with various menu items, and a wireless transmitter to send selected menu items to a receiving device for processing. A display to show selected menu items, an alpha-numeric keyboard, a non-cash payment device, and a printer for receipts are also contemplated for increased functionality. The menu may be remotely updated to reflect the customer's preferences or a change to the menu choices. | 07-30-2009 |
20090192899 | ASSOCIATIVE SEARCH ENGINE - This invention relates to an advertisement machine which provides advertisements to a user searching for desired information within a data network. The machine receives, from the user, a search request including a search argument corresponding to the desired information and searches, based upon the received search argument, a first database having data network related information to generate search results. It also correlates the received search argument to a particular advertisement in a second database having advertisement related information. The search results together with the particular advertisement are provided by the machine to the user. | 07-30-2009 |
20090192900 | FACILITATING MANUAL USER SELECTION OF ONE OR MORE ADS FOR INSERTION INTO A DOCUMENT TO BE MADE AVAILABLE TO ANOTHER USER OR USERS - User distributed advertisements (UDA ads) facilitates insertion of manually selected ads into a document that is to be distributed (e.g., transmitted, published, and/or posted) such that the document is to be made available to other users. For example, manually selected ads can be inserted into an email to be sent to another user, a blog to be posted for viewing by other users, a message to be sent to another user, a message board entry to be posted for viewing by other users, a document published and made available to other users, etc. Hence, UDA ads provide a scaleable advertising platform that achieves at least some of the benefits of manual targeting. Charges might be assessed to the advertiser, perhaps subject to one or more conditions being met. Rewards might be provided to the user that inserts and/or distributes the UDA ad, perhaps subject to one or more conditions being met. Performance metrics of UDA ads might be determined and used for various purposes, such as later ad serving arbitrations. A user interface for advertisers to allow their ads to be UDA ad-enabled might be provided. | 07-30-2009 |
20090198572 | System and method for rewards optimization in a computer system - A method of optimizing rewards earned by a customer of a financial institution comprises presenting data in an online banking computer system of rewards earned by a customer of a financial institution, and presenting data in the online banking computer system of rewards the customer of the financial institution could have earned. Methods for determining the rewards that the customer of the financial institution could have earned are described herein. | 08-06-2009 |
20090198573 | Advertisement Insertion System and Method - A method for presenting an advertisement during a video game. A rendering library used by the video game is renamed to a different name. A replacement library is named to the same name as the rendering library before the rendering library was renamed. The replacement library is coupled to the rendering library through an advertisement engine. Buffer data is retrieved from a video buffer and compared to predefined data that indicates a game state during which the advertisement can be presented. If the buffer data corresponds to the predefined data, then an advertisement is sent from the advertisement engine to the rendering library. | 08-06-2009 |
20090198574 | FLYING FOAM APPARATUS AND METHOD OF MAKING FLYING FOAM - The present invention is an apparatus for generating foam shapes that float in air having a container, a gas source, an aeration nozzle for aerating a gas from the gas source, an outlet, and a separator for separating extruded foam into individualized foam shapes. | 08-06-2009 |
20090198575 | SOFTWARE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING ART AND ART OBJECTS OVER A CENTRALLY MANAGED COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK CONNECTING ART IDEA CREATORS AND ART IDEA IMPLEMENTERS/PRODUCERS IN A FORUM - The present invention provides a computer system running software with software implemented methods providing a secure private or virtual private communications network access for network users identified by the network as having permission for network access as either a member or guest and providing an enhanced way computer assisted production of art and art objects over the centrally managed network utilizing computer implemented methods for art idea creator network members to communicate with art idea implementers/producers in a forum to produce and sell art or art objects, wherein art idea creator end users and art idea implementer/producer end users receive one or more of prizes, a portion of sale proceeds for any art produced as a direct result of their contributions to the forum, or a portion of advertising proceeds for advertising that targets forum visitors, or viewers of posted art. In another aspect the invention provides an improved method for computer assisted production of art and art objects comprising a contest forum to evaluate the work of artists in a public forum to provide valuable feedback for artists to use to improve their art skills and the art's appeal to others. Payment by the network managers to art idea creators and art end users may be shared revenue, free or reduced service costs, gifts or awards, or some combination thereof. | 08-06-2009 |
20090198576 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BAND PROMOTION - Embodiments of the disclosure provide a game including a puzzle game interface pre-populated with alphanumeric characters or symbols, wherein interacting with the pre-populated alphanumeric characters or symbols of the puzzle game interface provides brand promotion. | 08-06-2009 |
20090198577 | BUSINESS PROCESS, METHOD, SYSTEM AND MODEL of COMMERCE between A UNIQUE BUSINESS ENTITY that PROCURES and DISTRIBUTES ANY PRODUCT and/or SERVICE & its CONSUMERS WHOM RECEIVE SAID PRODUCTS and SERVICES by PURCHASING A SUBSCRIPTION BASED MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM that INCLUDES a SELF EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM - The present invention relates to an exclusive method, system and model of commerce created between a unique business entity that offers, publishes, and/or distributes any product and/or service through a subscription based membership program purchased by its consumers and the unique business entities' consumers who receive said products and/or services electronically or via mail. The unique business entities' consumers simultaneously operate their own home based business program utilizing a unique viral marketing campaign and cross promotion sales process created by the unique business entity. | 08-06-2009 |
20090198578 | Auction Inverse System - In a traditional Auction, Auction of any item takes place at specific date and time and who so ever bids high wins. Here is totally revolutionary auction mechanism, I named it an “Inverse Auction System or Auction Inverse System”—In this system the items are listed by the auctioneer in the auction-store with no specific date and time of auction. The trigger/initiation of the auction event is in the hands of the bidders, not the auctioneer. When some prospective buyer/bidder likes the item, he/she will initiate the auction, and now we have right away a potential buyer for it. The starter of the auction, will get some rewards, like discounts in any form, may be a % x off or any number of rewards and best of all will be presented a onetime “Buy-it-now” and “Make-an-offer” options. In this way there is a better chance of auction as well as a race condition among bidders for the items. This will make the auction more fun, exciting and rewarding. Everyone will try to start the auction to get the rewards, in that way there would be a competition among bidders as well, that make this system more productive and robust. Complete Algorithm is explained in the [FIG. | 08-06-2009 |
20090198579 | KEYWORD TRACKING FOR MICROTARGETING OF MOBILE ADVERTISING - An end-to-end mobile advertising system characterizes user behavior with regard to a mobile communication device in order to select micro-targeted advertisements. In particular, “keyword” usage in mobile applications can serve as a basis or augment a user behavioral profile. The types of keywords monitored address the particular user interface limitations and uses of a mobile communication device, such as dialed telephone messages, applets, or triglets downloaded, RSS feeds selected, and search terms or navigation links used in a wireless WAP. A marketplace platform handles the formatting required for presentation suitable for mobile communication devices in accordance with negotiated tags for a desired audience (“reach”), for a suitable number of presentations (“frequency”) and for an effective duration (“time”) within a particular scheduled window. Effectiveness is gauged even in the instance of impression advertisements by monitoring user location and/or interaction with the communication device to see a change in behavior. | 08-06-2009 |
20090198580 | Distribution and Targeting of Advertising for Mobile Devices - Advertisements are selected according to user profiles and selected advertisements may be downloaded offline to mobile devices and stored. Each advertisement may be associated with an advertisement header or auxiliary file specifying parameters of the advertisement. Content may be separately provided to the mobile device. Each content may be associated with a content header containing requirements or restrictions regarding the advertisements that may be shown in association with selected content. | 08-06-2009 |
20090198581 | DIGITAL CREATIVE WORKS WIDGETS - A computer-implemented method includes generating a profile for a user, the profile having digital creative content associated therewith, and the user having rights in the digital creative content, selecting digital creative content associated with the profile from digital memory, generating a widget in a graphical user interface to advertise the digital creative content, and displaying the digital creative content within the widget based on a criteria selected from a plurality of criteria. | 08-06-2009 |
20090204484 | Method of Displaying Targeted Digital Electronic Advertising Using Global Positioning System (GPS) Coordinates and Associated Demographic Data - This invention describes a system for displaying targeted digital electronic advertising on mobile display systems based upon GPS coordinates and demographic data correlated to those GPS coordinates and current time. The display can “intelligently” download and project relevant and targeted advertising based upon (1) the displays known location, (2) current time, and (3) demographic data of people known to share the display's location at that time. Displayed content can thereby change in a dynamic fashion and with relatively unlimited frequency. Advertising content and demographic data can be stored local to the display device (“onboard”) or obtained in real time using any number of wireless networking technologies as the display moves through space and time. Further, total display times of a given advertisement can be calculated and stored as means to determine advertising fees. | 08-13-2009 |
20090204485 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SELLING AND DISPLAYING ADVERTISEMENTS OVER A NETWORK - Systems and methods are provided for selling one or more advertisements and displaying the one or more advertisements a fixed placement for a set duration of time on a web page within an Internet website in combination with displaying advertisements from the same advertiser in contextually relevant locations within the website. | 08-13-2009 |
20090204486 | COMPUTER SYSTEM AND COMPUTER-IMPLEMENTED METHOD FOR MANAGING FUNDING OF CATASTROPHE RELIEF EFFORTS - For managing funding of catastrophe relief efforts, defined is a special purpose entity ( | 08-13-2009 |
20090204487 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING PARTIAL ADVERTISING DATA DURING TRICK PLAY - A method is disclosed including but not limited to initiating a trick play command having a trick play duration at the end user device during replay of video data an end user device main display; presenting an advertising data item having an advertising duration during execution of the trick play command; and presenting a remaining portion of the advertising data on a picture in picture (PIP) display on the main display after expiration of the trick play duration. A system is provided for executing the method. A data structure is provided in a computer readable medium for containing data used by the system and method. | 08-13-2009 |
20090204488 | DELIVERING ENTERTAINMENT-ENHANCED CONTENT-RELATED ADVERTISEMENT OVER MULTIMEDIA NETWORKS - A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer program product for delivering entertainment-enhanced content-related advertisement over multimedia networks This is done by implementing a dedicated data structure that serves as a vehicle between a mediator server and the users. The dedicated multimedia vehicle is loaded with entertaining content from one database and integrated with the advertising content such that the advertising content in context related to the entertaining content. The users are then engaged in an interacting activity relating to the entertainment content and are tacitly exposed to the advertising content and pure advertising as well. The mediator server is capable then of providing the advertiser with targeted information regarding the users. | 08-13-2009 |
20090204489 | BIOLOGICAL MARKERS PREDICTIVE OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS RESPONSE TO B-CELL ANTAGONISTS - Methods and assays examining expression of one or more biomarkers in a sample are provided for predicting or indicating the effectiveness of treatment of a rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patient with a B-cell antagonist. Methods are provided for identifying patients whose RA is likely to be responsive to anti-RA therapy using a B-cell-antagonist. Methods for treating such patients with B-cell antagonists that incorporate the above methodology are also provided. Further provided are kits and articles of manufacture useful for such methods. | 08-13-2009 |
20090204490 | Online professional development system and virtual manager for performance artists - A system for online artist promotion comprises an artist interface, a broadcast application, an industry interface and a virtual manager. The artist interface allows artist to input artist histories and artist biographies, and to upload multimedia performances. The broadcast application allows the system to broadcast the multimedia performances. The industry interface allows industry professionals to input service provider information. The virtual manager guides the artist through development steps as a function of the artist history, and links the artists with the industry professionals as a function of the development steps and the service provider information. | 08-13-2009 |
20090204491 | Online professional development system and virtual manager for performance artists - A professional development system comprises a user interface, a provider interface, a plurality of development steps and a navigational tool. The user interface allows a user to input a user history and a professional goal. The provider interface allows service providers to input service descriptions and professional advice. The navigational tool guides the user through the development steps as a function of the user history, the professional goal, and the professional advice, and links the user to the service providers as a function of the developments steps and the service descriptions, in order to achieve the professional goal. | 08-13-2009 |
20090204492 | Online food ordering system and method - Restaurants register for an online food ordering system and method to have their menus presented on the online system. Registration is accomplished by payment of a fixed registration fee. A merchant account is created for each restaurant. The merchant account is associated with a unique account key that includes a local delivery indicator and direct payment receivable account information facilitating direct payment to the restaurant's account. A first server is appointed for receiving orders from customers. The first server includes a data storage device having menu items and information from each of the restaurants and each of the unique account keys associated with each restaurant. In communication with the first server are second and third servers for processing payments and transmitting orders to the restaurant for processing and fulfillment. An order confirmation means is further provided for notifying the customer upon submission of the order to the restaurant along with estimated pick-up or delivery times. | 08-13-2009 |
20090204493 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ADVERTISEMENTS IN IPTV SERVICE - A system and method for providing advertisements in Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service are provided. The system includes a content server that stores content data; an advertisement server that stores advertisement data; a tag server that collects tag information input from a plurality of users, creates and updates a tag cloud for the content data; and a set-top box that receives the tag cloud, the advertisement data, and the content data and outputs the content data and the received tag cloud to a display unit., The set-top box transmits the tag cloud to the advertisement server while the content data is output and the advertisement server prepares a list of advertisements based on the tag cloud. The set-top box receives the advertisement data from the advertisement server according to the advertisement list and outputs the advertisement data to the display unit. | 08-13-2009 |
20090204494 | Technique for eliminating fraudulent use of printed coupons - A method for redeeming coupons, comprising the steps of storing on an electronic device an electronic coupon having encrypted data and unencrypted data, wherein the encrypted data is required for printing the coupon; reading data stored on the portable electronic device at purchase location, and comparing the unencrypted data with product data obtained at the purchase location, and if a match is detected, decrypting the encrypted data; and printing the coupon at the purchase location with the decrypted data | 08-13-2009 |
20090204495 | Method of advertising - The present invention comprises a method for advertising a product comprising the selection of an updatable venture comprising updatable parameters; one or more parametric interrelationships which give, upon operating on at least one of said updatable parameters, one or more resultant values; wherein at least one of said parameters is updatable to give one or more updated parameters; wherein upon the operation by said interparameteric relationships on at least one of said updated parameters, one or more updated resultant values are produced; and engaging at least one subscriber to said updatable venture who, upon accessing the resultant values through a user interface, is exposed to advertising specific to the product. | 08-13-2009 |
20090204496 | Method and system to manage multiple party rewards using a single account and artificial intelligence - A system for managing an account having at least one sub-account, including: a memory element, a processor, and an interface element for at least one specially programmed general-purpose computer. The memory element stores a transaction history for the account, an incentive previously offered to the account, and an artificial intelligence program (AIP). The transaction history includes at least one transaction involving the main account or sub-accounts from the at least one sub-account. The processor is for: comparing the transaction history with a metric; generating, using the comparison of the transaction history with the metric, a desired transaction involving the account and a business entity; and modifying the incentive using the AIP and the comparison of the transaction history with the metric. Rewarding of the modified incentive is conditional upon execution of the desired transaction. The interface element is for transmitting the desired transaction and the modified incentive. | 08-13-2009 |
20090204497 | Centralized Media Production System and Method - A centralized media production system and its method of use is described. Web services are utilized in order processing in an electronic commerce system and fulfillment requests in a vendor manufacturing system. An XML-formatted WSDL file is used for submitting order and fulfillment requests. This process and system provides a way for software manufacturers to fulfill customer orders for physical copies of downloadable software, without being restricted to a particular e-commerce platform while allowing the manufacturer to interface with multiple vendors for fulfillment. | 08-13-2009 |
20090204498 | Government Targeted-Spending Stimulus Card System, Program Product, And Computer-Implemented Methods - Embodiments of the present invention, for example, provide a government stimulus card being issued and managed by a bank and using an open payment network for purchase authorization and payments. The embodiments provide flexibility in the funding of stimulus programs, including no upfront payments by the government and letters of credit from third-party lenders, permitting the government to retain funds until the spending occurs by cardholders. Embodiments provide targeted-spending stimulus by excluding cash payments to consumers, by limiting usage of the card to only targeted merchants, by requiring reports from the bank that document consumer purchases using the stimulus card, and by establishing relationships with merchants to provide a discount for using the stimulus card as payment, advantageously resulting in a greater effect to the economy from government targeted-spending stimulus program. Embodiments also include funding a promotion card on behalf of an entity as part of a promotion program. | 08-13-2009 |
20090204499 | ELECTRONIC INCENTIVE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM - Product incentive distribution systems and methods are disclosed. One such system includes a product incentive distribution unit placed at a retail location in association with a product and configured to electronically receive product incentives. The product incentive distribution unit includes a display configured to display product information and product incentive information and a communication port configured to transmit product incentive information to a data communications device. The system also includes a handheld data communications device having a communication port configured to receive product incentive information and a memory configured to collect product incentive information. The system also includes a checkout system including a communications interface communicatively connectable to the data communications device, the checkout system configured to receive product incentive information from the handheld data communications device and apply the product incentive information to one or more products purchased by a user. | 08-13-2009 |
20090204500 | Online Marketplace for Sale of Discounted Stated Value Vouchers Redeemable by Vendors - A marketplace server computer for sale of stated value vouchers via an online marketplace. The vouchers are presented in a particular manner allowing for effective inventory management using rule-based approval of sales. The method involves receiving a vendor's commitment to sell vouchers, and maintaining a website for displaying a for-sale listing identifying the vouchers. Sales of vouchers are approved in accordance with predetermined rules, which rules may be changed by the vendor over time, and during a single for-sale listing of a single lot of vouchers. The for-sale listing may identify a maximum number of vouchers for sale, although more than the maximum number may be sold. Each buyer is thus encouraged to provide a buyer-specific highest acceptable bid for a voucher, and the vendor thus provides a buyer-specific discount that is the minimum acceptable discount for each particular buyer, provide that such bid is acceptable to the vendor. | 08-13-2009 |
20090204501 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MARKETING BEAUTY PRODUCTS - The present invention relates to a system and method of marketing beauty products, and more particularly to a system and method of marketing beauty products to male customers in a male-frequented setting. In one embodiment, the method includes obtaining a display having advertising space for beauty products, locating the display in a male-frequented venue, and providing information about and access to the beauty products at the display. The display may be, for example, a freestanding kiosk. The male-frequented venue may be an automotive store, such as an automotive parts store or service center, or a non-automotive store or venue, such as an electronics or home improvement store or sports arena. The method provides a cost-effective, economical, convenient, comfortable, reliable, and private way to advertise and provide access to beauty products directly to target consumers without the disadvantages related to marketing through traditional advertising and retail channels. | 08-13-2009 |
20090204502 | DIGITAL MEDIA ADVERTISEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - Systems and methods are provided herein that provide for advertisement and promotion via digital media. | 08-13-2009 |
20090210300 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRESENTING ADVERTISING DATA BASED ON END USER TRICK-PLAY TREND DATA - A computer readable medium is disclosed containing a computer program including but not limited to computer executable instructions that when executed by a computer are useful in performing a method for presenting advertising data, the method including but not limited to sensing current trick-play command data at an end user device; updating trick-play trend data for the end user device based on the current trick-play command data; and adjusting a number of advertising data items in an advertising data buffer presented at the end user device based on the trick-play trend data. A system is disclosed useful for performing the method. A data structure is disclosed for containing data used by the system and method. | 08-20-2009 |
20090210301 | GENERATING CUSTOMIZED CONTENT BASED ON CONTEXT DATA - Technologies are described herein for providing customized content based on context data from a participant of a virtual world. The context data based on participation by the participant of the virtual world is received. The customized content for the participant is generated based on the context data. The customized content is provided to the participant via the virtual world. | 08-20-2009 |
20090210302 | ROUTE REWARD AUGMENTATION - Different incentives can be provided to a user for the user to take different routes. Information related to a user's specific situation can be gathered and a reward can be associated with a route. A user can input an intended destination and different routes can be taken, where the routes have various characteristics. The route can be analyzed and a determination can be made as to what routes can be associated with a user taking a particular route. Commonly, different companies can supply rewards such that the user travels past their advertisement or makes a stop at their store. | 08-20-2009 |
20090210303 | System and method for providing targeted promotions to a self-selected group - A system and method for providing a targeted promotional message to a self-selected group of members. A member database includes a plurality of member profiles. Each member profile includes at least a plurality of a region designation, a promotional message preference selection, and a message quantity selection. The system further includes a messaging engine configure to transmit one or more messages to at least one member in the member database based on the member profile for that member. In a preferred embodiment, an auction engine is used to select one or more promoters from a larger group of promoters who desire to send promotional messages to a self-selected group of members. | 08-20-2009 |
20090210304 | Behavioral reward based community accessible via media disc - A personalized interactive media disc supported by a user-fan community having a media disc and an environment for a user to interact with other users as well as access and create data. The media disc is obtained by a user-fan via a licensed premium giveaway at a spectator event. The media disk allows a registered users to access an environment featuring other users and a plurality of databases. Promotional sponsors have specific access to the environment allowing them to maintain promotional events, retrieve demographic information, and to obtain various other user information for marketing purposes within the user community. The greatest access is available solely to the system administrator, including the ability to modify any aspect of the environment. | 08-20-2009 |
20090210305 | Card system for access to an information web portal - A system, method, and computer program are provided for card access to an information web portal. An identification code for a project may be generated. The identification code may be assigned to an access card. The identification code may then be received from a user associated with the access card. Content about the project may be provided to the user based on the identification code. In exemplary embodiments, the content may be customized for the user based on the identification code associated with the user. | 08-20-2009 |
20090210306 | ADVERTISING METHOD AND SYSTEM USING EXTERNAL MEMORY DEVICE - Provided are an advertising method and system using an external memory device. A basic advertisement data, access information for an advertisement server, and an ID number of an external memory device is stored in the external memory device that are provided to a user as an advertisement product or a sale promotion product. In a case where the user connects the external memory device to the user terminal of which connection to the Internet is not available, the basic advertisement data is displayed to the user. Accordingly, even in a case where the connection to the Internet is not available, the advertisement can always be displayed to the user. In addition, in a case where the user connects the external memory device to the user terminal of which connection to the Internet is available, the user terminal accesses the advertisement server by using the access information for the advertisement server and transmits the ID number to the advertisement server. The advertisement server examines user information stored in association with the ID number and transmits to the user terminal the advertisement data of which advertisement target is designated to the user so as for the advertisement data to be displayed to the user. Accordingly, target advertisement according to time, age, location, vocation, gender, or the like can be implemented. | 08-20-2009 |
20090210307 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROMOTING SERVICE PROVIDERS - The present invention relates to a set of computer executable instructions and preferably an apparatus employed to promote at least one service provider. The invention operates to initially present a plurality of service provider listings to a user. The user selects and employs a service provider and then subsequently supplies a service provider review. This service provider review is employed to update the associated service provider listing of the service provider employed. | 08-20-2009 |
20090216629 | System and Method for Incentivizing a Healthcare Individual Through Music Distribution - A method for rewarding a healthcare individual at a remote location is presented in one example embodiment. The method includes interacting with a participant at a remote location and delivering a music segment in exchange for a successful completion by the participant of a health related activity. The music segment serves as a reward for the participant to complete the activity. The delivery of the music segment can be done via e-mail, a USB port exchange, or through a website. The interacting can be performed through a website, a health station, or a kiosk, for example. In other embodiments, the music segment is delivered to a device to be worn by the end user. The device could be a music player, an accelerator, a phone, a PDA, or a laptop. The music segment can be earned through a point system that relates to the activity performed by the participant. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216630 | CONTENT MONETIZATION SYSTEM WITH VARIABLE AD INSERTION - A user's experience with content on a device can be impacted based on the disposition of the content and the type of device. The user can experience a wealth of advertisements when consuming content that has no license. Likewise, the user can experience little or no advertisements when consuming content that has a license. The amount of advertisements are determined by a set of monetization rules as well as by the amount of authorization remaining in the license. Further, the user's ability to control the device when rendering the content is determined by the monetization rules which are influenced by the licensing status of the content. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216631 | Apparatus and Method for Advertising in Digital Photo Frame - A novel digital photo frame is configured to display user-loaded photographs, moving pictures, and other personal data and corporate-paid advertisements which are dynamically updatable by an advertising data distribution center or another communications service provider, such as a cellular service provider. The invention also discloses a related, novel method of advertising in a digital photo frame with dynamically-updatable-ads, in which initial advertising fees for one or more dynamically-updateable ads at least partially pay for manufacturing costs of the digital photo frame for inexpensive distribution of the digital photo frame to a targeted consumer. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216632 | CUSTOMER REWARDING - The present invention provides an approach for rewarding customers for use of self-checkout stations and, optionally, for being self-sufficient in such use by not requiring retailer (employee) assistance. Specifically, the under the present invention, a set of service choices made by a customer during purchasing transactions are tracked. Such service choices include whether the customer elected to use self-checkout stations. In addition, a frequency of assistance needed by the customer during the purchasing transactions will be tracked. Such tracking can be accomplished using any known technology including the use of the customer loyalty cards that are assigned to specific customers. In any event, a reward can be offered to the customer if the customer elected to use self-checkout stations to complete at least a subset of the purchasing transactions, and/or if the frequency of assistance needed by the customer during the purchasing transactions fell below a predetermined threshold. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216633 | System, Method, and Computer Program Product for Assembling and Displaying a Travel Itinerary - The present invention generates a concise listing of low-priced travel products in an interactive itinerary format in response to a simplified user input that can include specification of a selected travel theme. The interactive itinerary can allow and/or recommend changes to the itinerary, e.g., to add, remove, or otherwise change the various travel products included therein, and the user can be notified of the cost and/or scheduling effects of particular modifications to the itinerary. Various tools can also be provided for evaluating the itinerary, e.g., to enable the user to understand the relationship and compatibility of the travel products in time and location so that the user is better informed of the itinerary and more likely to complete the purchase of the associated travel products. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216634 | APPARATUS, COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A WIDGET AND CONTENT THEREFOR - An apparatus is provided and includes a processor that is configured to display an advertisement for an advertised widget on a standby screen presented by a display when the apparatus is in a standby state. The processor is configured to receive selection of the presented advertisement and, in response thereto, receive and install the advertised widget in response to receiving the selection. The processor is then configured to display an item of content provided by the installed, advertised widget on the standby screen when the apparatus is in the standby state. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216635 | Business method and system for providing remuneration to consumers for viewing advertisements locally nationally and globally - The present invention is a business method, operable and controllable by a computer, microcomputer or like electronic means, for the remuneration to consumers for viewing advertisements or like content over a global website. The website is designed to display a variety of promotional videos, audio or written advertisements and like content from advertisers who pay the website/business owner to have their content placed on the website. The advertisers can request a global display of their content or restrict viewing to specific areas, based on 4 postal codes. Consumers will earn money after they watch or read the advertisements and answer questions relevant to the advertisements. Consumers would accumulate money earned into an individual account registered by them, which when it reaches a predetermined dollar amount, can be requested through direct deposit into a bank account or can be redeemed for products or services offered by the advertisers. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216636 | Method of Promotion and Advertisement of a Website - A method for providing a video sharing website to be created, wherein members are able to upload, share, and view video clips is presented. In addition to providing members with the rights and control to the advertising space associated with their video clips, these members are able to use the advertising space to advertise their services and/or goods or to sell the available space for potential profit. This is a method for providing content providers with the option to profit from their content uploads. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216637 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MAKING A SYNTHETIC CASH ADVANCE USING A PURCHASE PAYMENT EXCHANGE - System and method provide for making a synthetic cash advance to a credit cardholder via a purchase-payment exchange. A beneficiary selects an item to be purchased by a cardholder for the beneficiary, and in exchange for the cardholder's purchase, the beneficiary transfers funds to the cardholder in an amount that is less than the purchase price of the item. Using this invention, the beneficiary receives the selected item, has a payment made at a discount, and the cardholder receives cash at the card's purchase interest rate. Two or more cardholders may be allowed to bid to make the beneficiary's purchase or payment. The winning bid may be selected based on the cardholder bid having the largest discount from the purchase price. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216638 | System and method for providing consumer directed payment card - Providing a consumer directed payment card (“CDPC”). Parameters for the CDPC are established in advance of the processing of a transaction to define how transactions are to be processed. The parameters are based on attributes of the transaction, such as transaction value, fund availability, credit availability, merchant type, merchant location, and date. The transaction processes include debit, credit, stored value, installment loan, and other deferred-payment transaction types. Parameters are stored and accessed during a transaction. The appropriate transaction process is determined based on the parameters, and the transaction is processed. A processing platform can be logically connected to a network, banking entity, credit line entity, and a network. The processing platform includes a decision engine, which is logically connected to a decision engine database. The decision engine compares the transaction data to the parameters, and communicates the appropriate transaction process to the processing platform for processing. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216639 | ADVERTISING SELECTION AND DISPLAY BASED ON ELECTRONIC PROFILE INFORMATION - Examples of the present invention include advertising selection and display systems that utilize electronic profiles and information received about one or more network accessible content items an entity accessed, such as a web page. The information and electronic profile is used to determine links, advertisements, or both, that may be displayed in a web browser or other viewer along with the accessed network content. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216640 | NON-CASH TRANSACTION INCENTIVE AND COMMISSION DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM - An electronic fund transfer system is disclosed wherein commissions for point-of-sale purchase transactions are determined and distributed to members of an organizational network for promoting use of a non-cash payment device that is tangible for effecting purchase transactions. Purchase data is electronically transmitted from the point-of-sale to an automated clearing house for effecting fund transfers to prepare the purchase, and also to a commission management system. The commission management system maintains an electronic database reflecting the structure of the organizational network, and further determines the distribution of purchase commissions according to a predetermined schedule of proportions relating to the position and business volume of each member of the network. The commission management system further comprises a payment processor for effecting commission payments to the members or to a designated sponsor on a scheduled basis. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216641 | Methods and Systems for Indexing Content - Various embodiments enable a distributed processing system to index network content. In at least one embodiment, a method of indexing content comprises distributing indexing workloads to various distributed devices over a network, receiving organized indexed workloads from the various distributed devices, and creating a master summary index to receive the organized indexed workloads. In a further embodiment, a content indexing system comprises a server system, a workload database, and a master summary index. The server system can be coupled to a network which is coupled to various distributed devices. The workload database can be coupled to the server system and distributes indexing workloads to the various distributed devices. Finally, the master summary index can receive completed indexing workloads from the various distributed devices. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216642 | PRIVACY-ENHANCED INTERNET ADVERTISING SYSTEM - A system and method of advertising for determining a network location associated with a physical location. In one aspect, a system for performing this function is described which includes an advertiser module for accepting advertisements and a targeting criterion and computing a plurality of restricted identifiers satisfying the targeting criterion, an association module for receiving the plurality of restricted identifiers, associating the plurality of restricted identifiers with a plurality of non-restricted identifiers, and an intermediate module for associating the advertisement identifier with the plurality of non-restricted identifiers. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216643 | Data processing system and data processing method - Disclosed herein is a data processing system including: a user manager configured to manage user identification data for identifying a user and a page of the user by relating them each other; a data manager configured to manage service data and the user identification data by relating them each other; and a link manager configured to manage link data for linking a page of one user to a page of another user other than the page of the one user; wherein, when an operation for moving service data of the one user to a page of another user linked by the link data is executed, the data manager clears the relation between the user identification data of the one user and the service data to be moved and newly relates user identification data of the another user to whom the move is executed and the service data to be moved. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216644 | Network affinity-group commerce method involving system management fulfilment - An electronic, computer-based, system-manager-supervised, network-commerce, method featuring cloud-computing-type activity, and including (a) forming within an electronic-network a subassembly of selected, distributed, different-affinity-interest, network-connected groups, (b) creating, selectively and distributively within the network, for such groups, selected, controlled-access, physical-electronic, digital-database catalogues of relevant, affinity-interest deliverables via selecting providers of such deliverables, and managing the electronic placement into the catalogues of chosen, selected-provider deliverables, (c) establishing, for and within each such group, vetted and incentivized, group-personnel entrepreneurial activity, wherein at least one so vetted group member is authorized to promote over the network, sales from a relevant catalogue of associated-provider deliverables, and (d) in association with such sales, and utilizing network resources, furnishing ancillary, commerce-related sales support of a character which is common to at least plural ones of such selected affinity-interest groups, but independent of group-specific affinity-interest subject matter. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216645 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING LEADS FOR THE SALE OF GOODS AND SERVICES - As set forth herein, a computer program embodied on a computer readable medium creates a web interface to facilitate a sales transaction between a vendor and a customer via a sales lead system. A web interface source code segment facilitates the presentation of content to a user that accesses the web interface and allows the reception of data provided by the user to interface with the sales lead system. A lead source module allows a lead source to add lead information to the sales lead system, the lead source module is configured to receive lead source information related to an imminent purchase of at least one of a good and a service by a prospect, and a name of the prospect. A vendor module allows one or more vendors to access one or more leads and/or interface with the prospect to receive additional information related to the lead, wherein the one or more vendors are not provided with information to identify the lead source. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216646 | MERCHANT REWARDS METHODS, SYSTEMS AND PRODUCTS THEREBY - A method, system and products thereby for enhanced customer loyalty program with improved access to restaurant information. The system having a server configured to perform operations including storing data including at least an identifier associated with a customer account in the customer rewards program, the identifier corresponding to a registered credit card number. The server may be further configured to receive the data from a merchant terminal relating to a qualified purchase, the merchant terminal being located at one of the plurality of independent merchants participating in the closed coalition customer rewards program, and verify a customer's membership in the closed coalition customer rewards program. Additionally, the server may be further configured to transfer an award associated with the qualified purchase transaction to the customer account, and process a customer's directive for redeeming the award for use at the participating restaurant. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216647 | PAUSING ONE OR MORE ADS, ONE OR MORE AD GROUPS, AND/OR ONE OR MORE AD CAMPAIGNS - Helping advertisers by simplifying the management of interactive advertising. Such simplification can by achieved by allowing an advertiser to pause the serving of an ad, or some grouping of ads. The pausing may continue for a predetermined time period, until a specified time and/or date, or until a restart is selected. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216648 | System And Method For Providing Paper Model Replicas Over A Wide Area Computer Network - A system for providing paper models over a wide area computer network includes a user computer that communicates with a model server via the Internet. The model server includes a database of paper model files, e.g., the pieces of the models and assembly instructions. The corresponding method allows a user to access the model server via the Internet and download paper models. The paper models are printed at a printer connected to the user computer. A user can then assemble the paper models following the assembly instructions. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216649 | Capability Based Distributed Processing - Various embodiments enable a server system to identify a workload capability factor for a distributed device and use the workload capability factor to determine an incentive for the distributed device. In one embodiment, a distributed processing system includes a server configured to be coupled to one or more distributed devices. The server may include a workload database configured to store at least one workload project, a capability database configured to store one or more workload capability factors associated with one or more distributed devices, and a control system configured to use the one or more workload capability factors from the capability database to perform at least one workload project from the workload database. The least one workload capability factor may also be used to determine an incentive for the one or more distributed devices. | 08-27-2009 |
20090222332 | GLITCH FREE DYNAMIC VIDEO AD INSERTION - Techniques for dynamically and seamlessly inserting secondary content via a second video pipeline into the playing of principal content over a first video pipeline are disclosed herein. One aspect of the techniques may involve the file containing the principal content be contiguous instead of being in a plurality of separate sections. The secondary content is able to be pre-processed on the second video pipeline while the principal content is played over the first video pipeline. This enables the secondary content to be available instantaneously upon the pausing of the principal content at various designated points therein. Playing of the principal content may likewise be instantaneous upon completion of the time period for the specified pausing thereof. Since the file containing the principal content is preferably contiguous, rewinding the principal content to a previous point does not require reloading. | 09-03-2009 |
20090222333 | COMMUNITY BASED TARGETED ADVERTISING - Computing devices, computer-readable media, and methods are provided for facilitating community based targeted advertising. A message is received from a first user. At least one intended recipient of the message is determined. Additionally, at least one preferred active communication channel associated with the at least one intended recipient is determined. Supplemental information is selected based on one or more attributes associated with the at least one intended recipient. The message is combined with at least a portion of the supplemental information to create an enriched message. At least a portion of the enriched message is then communicated to the at least one intended recipient using the selected preferred communication channel or channels. | 09-03-2009 |
20090222334 | Recyclable Protective Barrier for Use in Advertising - A recyclable protective barrier for use in advertising is presented. The barrier comprises a single sheet of semi-rigid, recyclable, high density polyethylene fibrous web sheeting pre-cut to cover at least one surface of an article. The sheet has at least one tab extending therefrom and at least one slot for receiving the tab. The sheet has at least one surface capable of receiving at least one kind of permanent ink and a portion of this surface has printing thereon. The sheet is secured to at least one portion of the article by inserting the tab into the slot, forming a physical barrier between at least one portion of the article and a person and wherein the printing is visible to the person. | 09-03-2009 |
20090222335 | Coupons, Multiple Payments, and Recommendations in a Unified Storefront System - A unified storefront system includes a recommendation module, a coupon module, and a payment module. The recommendation module is adapted to recommend and cross promote a first plurality of assets based on a user context and based on an access device. The coupon management module is coupled to the recommendation module, and the coupon management module adapted to store a coupon associated with a user account. The payment module is coupled to the recommendation module, and the payment module is adapted to provide an ability to purchase a first asset with a plurality of payment methods during a single transaction. | 09-03-2009 |
20090222336 | TARGETED ADVERTISING METHOD FOR VENUE SEATING - The present invention provides a method for providing targeted advertising to individuals in a venue. Advertising content is delivered to a predetermined individual via a user interface associated with that individual's seat. The advertising content can be selected based on the location of the user interface. The advertising content can be selected based on stored demographic information associated with the individual's seat or related directly to the individual. The advertising content is conveyed to the individual at a predetermined condition associated with the event, such as a time out. | 09-03-2009 |
20090222337 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DISPLAYING DISCOUNT INFORMATION - A system and method for using a discount display system are provided in which a plurality of purchase option screens are displayed to a user. For each discount-eligible item identifier selected by the user, the price of the item is added to the user's total, the current discount available to the user is re-calculated and the updated discount is displayed to the user. | 09-03-2009 |
20090222338 | Monitoring and Rewards Methodologies for "Green" Use of Vehicles - Energy-efficiency related data corresponding to dynamic energy-efficiency related operational parameters of a vehicle are collected from in-vehicle sensors and energy-efficiency parameters may be computed therefrom. The energy efficiency-related parameters and energy-efficiency parameters are then transmitted either directly of through a wireless and/or network link(s) to a station at which a transaction with a vehicle operator may be performed. An incentive based on efficiency of vehicle operation is computed and awarded to provide feedback to a vehicle operator to provide information concerning efficient vehicle operation and to encourage efficient and environmentally responsible vehicle operation. Both energy efficiency and environmental effects may be displayed at the station or substantially continuously and in substantially real time within the vehicle. | 09-03-2009 |
20090222339 | Systems and Methods for Providing a Personal Terminal for a Loyalty Program - A personal terminal for obtaining loyalty rewards may include a processor, an interaction terminal interface, and a loyalty management engine. The interaction terminal interface may be operable to receive a communication transmitted by an interaction terminal. The loyalty management engine may be operable to provide a loyalty reward based at least in part on the communication with the interaction terminal interface. | 09-03-2009 |
20090222340 | Systems for Implementing a Loyalty Program - A system for implementing a loyalty program includes a personal terminal, an interaction terminal, and a loyalty module. The personal terminal may be associated with a user. The interaction terminal may be associated with a product or service. The interaction terminal and the personal terminal may be operable to establish a communication when in proximity of each other. The loyalty module may be operable to provide a benefit to the user in response to the communication. The benefit may be provided without regard to whether the user obtained or purchased the product or service. | 09-03-2009 |
20090222341 | INTERACTIVE TEXT MESSAGE ADVERTISEMENTS - Systems and methods for interactive text message advertising. A response parsing engine can receive a text message response from a device and can identify an indicator associated with the text message response. A text message page server can identify a selected text message page based upon the indicator associated with the response and can provide the selected text message page to the device. | 09-03-2009 |
20090222342 | IDENTIFYING INDETERMINACY FOR ACTIVITY-BASED ADVERTISING - One embodiment of the present invention provides an activity-based advertisement system that identifies customer indeterminacy. During operation, the system receives a number of trajectories of a customer, and identifies an indeterminacy point based on the trajectory patterns. The system then determines one or more receptive opportunities for presenting advertisements based on the indeterminacy point. The system further presents one or more advertisements to the customer during a period corresponding to the receptive opportunity. | 09-03-2009 |
20090222343 | INCENTIVE MECHANISM FOR DEVELOPING ACTIVITY-BASED TRIGGERS OF ADVERTISEMENT PRESENTATION - One embodiment of the present invention provides an activity-based advertisement system. During operation, the system identifies at an advertising service provider a set of features that characterize a customer's activity. The system then receives at least one trigger from the trigger author, wherein the trigger is based on the features and specifies conditions for an advertising opportunity. The system then identifies an advertising opportunity for a customer when the conditions specified by the trigger are met. The system further presents one or more advertisements to the customer during the opportunity period. | 09-03-2009 |
20090222344 | RECEPTIVE OPPORTUNITY PRESENTATION OF ACTIVITY-BASED ADVERTISING - One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates presentation of activity-based advertising based on receptive opportunities. During operation, the system identifies a number of topics. The system then receives a number of advertisements from advertisers, wherein a respective advertisement is associated with a topic. For a respective topic, the system determines a number of candidate advertisements associated with that topic to be pending presentations. The system further analyzes an activity in which a customer is engaged. Next, the system identifies a receptive opportunity to present one or more advertisements to the customer based on the activity analysis. The system then determines among the pending presentations one or more advertisements to present to the customer during the identified receptive opportunity. Subsequently, the system presents the determined advertisements to the customer during the opportunity period. | 09-03-2009 |
20090222345 | MANAGING AUCTION SIZE FOR ACTIVITY-BASED ADVERTISING - One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that manages auction size in an activity-based advertising system. During operation, the system identifies a topic and determines a set of auction criteria. The system then hosts an auction for advertisements pertaining to the topic. The system determines the quality of auction size and manages the auction size by modifying the auction criteria. The system then presents the advertisements based on the winning bids. | 09-03-2009 |
20090222346 | ADVERTISING PAYMENT BASED ON CONFIRMED ACTIVITY PREDICTION - One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for facilitating presentation of activity-based advertising. During operation, the system receives a set of contextual data of a customer and makes a prediction of the customer's future activity. The system then receives a number of advertisements from the advertisers. Based on the prediction, the system chooses a received advertisement to present to the customer. The system further determines the customer's subsequent activity and confirms the prediction of the customer's activity. The system then receives payments from the advertisers whose advertisement is presented based on whether the prediction is confirmed. | 09-03-2009 |
20090222347 | Method and system for providing targeted content with verification information - The present disclosure is a method and system for providing targeted content with verification information. A method for providing targeted content with verification information may include receiving data associated with verification information, the receiving of data associated with verification information including time information and location information. The method may include retrieving content related to verification information, the content being based upon time information and location information; and generating verification information, the verification information including content related to the verification information and based upon the time information and location information. | 09-03-2009 |
20090222348 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING ONLINE PROMOTIONS THROUGH A SOCIAL NETWORK-BASED PLATFORM - Systems and methods for providing online promotions integrated with social network-based platforms are disclosed. Promotion details such as rules, offered prizes, incentives and descriptions, survey questions, display banners, terms and conditions, privacy policy, and social networks to integrate the promotion with, are provided by the sponsoring organization to a server. The server generates a custom promotion application and/or widget for integrating with the organization's social network webpage and/or webpages external to social networks. A participant enters the promotion through these webpages or other links and lists friends in the social network to receive an invitation to enter the promotion. Viral features such as friend invite features, newsfeeds, minifeeds, other features that display online activities of users and people in the users' social network, notifications, requests, and other social network-based platform features to deliver messages to members of the one or more social network-based platforms further spread the word about the organization's promotion. | 09-03-2009 |
20090222349 | Portable electronic authorization system and method - A portable electronic device may be configured to present information identifying a coupon or rebate offer concerning a product or service in a machine-readable format at a point of sale. The portable electronic device may additionally or alternatively be configured to electronically receive information identifying a coupon or rebate offer concerning a product or service while disposed at a first location, and to store the information in memory so that the information can be selectively retrieved from the memory and presented in a manner that enables the information to be communicated to a provider of the product or service in connection with a purchase of the product or service consummated when the portable electronic device is disposed at a second location. The portable electronic device may be further configured to, in response to the occurrence of at least one event, automatically disable a capability of the portable electronic device to present the information. | 09-03-2009 |
20090222350 | METHODS, KITS AND METHOD OF MARKETING FOR INCREASING HAIR DIAMETER AND DELIVERING ADDITIONAL BENEFITS - Disclosed is a method for increasing hair diameter, comprising the steps of: topically applying a first composition comprising to a region where hair diameter increase is desired; and topically applying a second composition to a region where an additional benefit is desired; wherein the first composition comprises a hair diameter increasing agent comprising a xanthine compound, a vitamin B3 compound, and a panthenol compound; and wherein the second composition comprises an additional benefit agent, such additional benefit being selected from the group consisting of hair volume-up, hair conditioning, hair strengthening, scalp sensation, hair color, scent, and mixtures thereof. The kits and methods of the present invention increase hair diameter, and also provide: motivation to consumers to use such compositions for a longer period of time so that consumers can obtain hair diameter increase benefit; at least one additional benefit, while not-compromising the penetration of the hair diameter increasing agent; and/or optimized benefits from both hair diameter increasing agents and additional benefit agents. | 09-03-2009 |
20090222351 | System And Method For Obtaining Advertising Exposure Time - The embodiments of the present invention disclose a system for obtaining advertising exposure time, which includes: one or more clients, adapted to calculate exposure time of playing an advertisement each time by the client, and send an identity of the advertisement and the exposure time of playing the advertisement each time to an advertising server; the advertising server, adapted to obtain total exposure time of the advertisement according to the identity of the advertisement and the exposure time of playing the advertisement each time sent by the client. The embodiments of the present invention also disclose a method for obtaining advertising exposure time. | 09-03-2009 |
20090222352 | Interactive Event Planning and Payment Method and System - Method for an event organizer to receive gifts and services and an interactive registry system. A database of gifts and services is created and a price therefor is obtained. Gift givers accessing the database are shown gifts and services along with their prices. The gift givers select which gifts and/or services they want to purchase and remit funds to an intermediary upon which, the gift or service provider is directed to forward the gift to the organizer or perform the services for the organizer. In an event planning method and system, different templates with prices are stored in memory, each template including information about goods and services for an event or service. An event organizer accesses the memory to browse the templates and select one for purchase. Upon selection of a template, the provider(s) of the goods or services are requested to provide the listed goods and services. | 09-03-2009 |
20090228353 | QUERY CLASSIFICATION BASED ON QUERY CLICK LOGS - Methods are provided for the classification of search engine queries and associated documents based on search engine query click logs. One or more seed documents or queries are provided that contain content that is representative of a category. A query click log containing information regarding queries entered by at least one user into the search engine and documents subsequently clicked in search engine results corresponding with the queries is analyzed to determine which one or more queries resulted in clicks on the seed documents. Information is stored associating the one or more queries with the category if they resulted in clicks on the seed documents. | 09-10-2009 |
20090228354 | ENGINE, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATION OF BRAND AFFINITY CONTENT - An endorsed advertising engine, system and method, which includes at least one vault having media assets, a recommendation engine that matches the media assets from the vault with at least one requested creative, and a delivery engine that integrates the requested creative with the matched media assets from the vault. | 09-10-2009 |
20090234722 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMPUTERIZED SALES OPTIMIZATION - Disclosed is a method for increasing the conversion rate, or the ratio of the number of actual buyers to the number of site visitors, of an computer-implemented system such as an Internet e-commerce website. Shopping cart abandonment may be reduced though the disclosed method wherein filler items are suggested to the consumer in order to qualify the consumer for a promotional bonus, such as free shipping. By simplifying the consumer's task of selecting filler items, the consumer may be more likely to consummate the sale instead of abandoning the shopping cart to find a better deal elsewhere. In the event no suitable filler items can be identified, alternative promotions may be presented to the consumer, for example, reduced rate shipping. | 09-17-2009 |
20090234723 | PUBLICLY GENERATED ADVERTISEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - An electronic advertisement system for displaying and exchanging advertisements includes an input interface operably coupled to a processing module. The input interface is configured to communicate at least one advertisement to the processing module. The processing module includes a processor configured to process the at least one advertisement communicated from the input interface and a memory operably coupled to the processor. The memory is configured to store the at least one processed advertisement. The system further includes at least one display device operably coupled to the processing module. The at least one display device is configured to receive the at least one processed advertisement from the processing module and display a representation of the at least one advertisement thereon. The system further includes an output interface operably coupled to the processing module. The output interface is configured to retrieve the at least one processed advertisement stored in the memory and output a representation of the at least one advertisement based on the at least one retrieved processed advertisement. | 09-17-2009 |
20090234724 | METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING MERCHANDISE - A method of displaying merchandise creates a more user friendly display that facilitates quicker and easier shopping for a consumer. The display includes an information communication hierarchy that conveys various levels of information to consumers. The hierarchy includes branding information, product category information, product category information in an alternate orientation, indexing information and product specific information. The levels provide navigational directions to the consumer to direct them to a small subset of merchandise being displayed that would meet the consumer's needs. | 09-17-2009 |
20090234725 | DIGITAL CONTENT AND HARD-GOODS EXCHANGE SYSTEM - A system and method for performing free or low cost online digital media download with coupons is disclosed. The system includes a digital media database, accessible to be downloaded by online customers for free, for a low or a bulk cost. Retailers/sponsors pay royalties to copyrightholders of the digital media, and supply coupons to a percentage of the online. Customers may redeem the coupons at retail establishments. The coupons may vary according to the demographic location of the customer, the selected digital media, and other criteria. | 09-17-2009 |
20090234726 | AUTOMOBILE LOCATION BASED ADVERTISING - In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, systems and methods for providing targeted advertising content to a user in an automobile based on location are provided. More specifically, a computing device within the automobile receives advertising content from endpoints at various locations. The advertising content received may be an audio advertisement, a displayed advertisement presented on a display device associated with the computer, etc. Further, the advertising content may be from an entity associated with the endpoint, or may be from an entity not associated with the endpoint, that has dealt directly with the other entity in providing advertising content to the user. | 09-17-2009 |
20090234727 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING RELEVANCE RATINGS FOR KEYWORDS AND MATCHING USERS WITH CONTENT, ADVERTISING, AND OTHER USERS BASED ON KEYWORD RATINGS - Systems and methods for determining relevance ratings for keywords associated with content are disclosed. A quantitative degree of relevance of keywords for a piece of content is determined by querying several reviewers. System users have a keyword record listing the keywords associated with content that a user has exhibited a threshold of interest in. Moreover, a cumulative value for the keywords is maintained by adding the degree of relevance of content keywords to the cumulative value of the keyword in the user's record. By finding correspondences between keywords in a user's record and keywords for pieces of content, advertisements, or other people using the system, a user's interest may be determined, and recommendations for content, advertisements, and potential friends or business contacts may be made to the user. | 09-17-2009 |
20090234738 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TARGETED ADVERTISING BASED ON VENUE INDENTIFICATION AND EVENT CRITERIA - Disclosed is a method for targeted web advertising. In the method, an advertisement selection request is received. A venue associated with the advertisement selection request is identified based on an Internet Protocol (IP) address associated with the advertisement request. An event at the identified venue is likewise identified based on an event schedule. An advertisement for responding to the advertisement selection request is selected based on an advertisement selection criterion associated with the identified event. | 09-17-2009 |
20090234739 | Multi-level real estate method and system - A method of compensating a plurality of participants includes forming a multi-level real estate team based upon sponsoring of members into the team, the team having at least some of the members having sponsored at least one subsequent level of members into the team; collecting a fee from each member in the team; placing the collected fees into a revenue pool; distributing a team bonus from the revenue pool to one or more of the members based upon at least: (i) a first level portion of the revenue pool, and (ii) a second level portion of the revenue pool. | 09-17-2009 |
20090234740 | ADVERTISEMENT DISPLAY SYSTEM - Disclosed is an advertisement display system for displaying advertisements on a vehicle. The advertisement display system includes a display module and an array of solar panels. The display module is capable of being mounted on the vehicle and is configured to receive and display advertisement content. The array of solar panels is capable of being mounted on the vehicle and is configured to provide power to the display module for displaying the advertisement content. | 09-17-2009 |
20090234741 | NAVIGATION SYSTEM AND PROGRAM - Navigation systems for providing route guidance to a destination for a user are presented including: an information provider configured to provide a program for performing processing of a voice command and a grammar associated with the route guidance, the information provider including, a transmitter for sending the program, and an informing means for notifying the user of the program; a terminal device for providing the route guidance to the user, the terminal device including: a receiver for receiving the program from the information provider, a speech recognition unit for enabling the voice command and the grammar, a navigation executing unit for realizing a navigation function in response to the voice command; and a server, where the server is configured to provide data associated with the program to the information provider. | 09-17-2009 |
20090234742 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REWARDS PROGRAM FOR CREDIT CARD ISSUER - The exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for administering a rewards program. The system includes a computer system in communication with a network. The computer system includes a creation module that creates a reward account upon issuing a credit card from a credit card issuer, a reward adjusting module that adjusts the reward account when the credit card is used in a transaction, and a reward module that grants at least one reward transaction for the credit card issuer. The method includes creating a reward account upon issuing a credit card from a credit card issuer, adjusting the reward account when the credit card is used in at least one transaction, and coordinating at least one rewards transaction for the credit card issuer. | 09-17-2009 |
20090234743 | SYSTEM FOR MULTIMEDIA VIEWING BASED ON ENTITLEMENTS - An advertising control method is described. The method includes receiving an advertisement identification message (AIM) ( | 09-17-2009 |
20090234744 | SOFTWARE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING ART AND ART OBJECTS, INCLUDING MULTIMEDIA OVER A CENTRALLY MANAGED COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK CONNECTING ART IDEA CREATORS AND ART IDEA IMPLEMENTERS/PRODUCERS IN A FORUM - The present invention provides a computer system running software with software implemented methods providing a secure private or virtual private communications network access for network users identified by the network as having permission for network access as either a member or guest and providing an enhanced way computer assisted production of art and art objects over the centrally managed network utilizing computer implemented methods for art idea creator network members to communicate with art idea implementers/producers in a forum to produce and sell art or art objects, wherein art idea creator end users and art idea implementer/producer end users receive one or more of prizes, a portion of sale proceeds for any art produced as a direct result of their contributions to the forum, or a portion of advertising proceeds for advertising that targets forum visitors, or viewers of posted art. In another aspect the invention provides an improved method for computer assisted production of art and art objects comprising a contest forum to evaluate the work of artists in a public forum to provide valuable feedback for artists to use to improve their art skills and the art's appeal to others. The art may include, but is not limited to, two dimensional art, three dimensional art, body art, or multimedia art. Payment by the network managers to art idea creators and art end users may be shared revenue, free or reduced service costs, gifts or awards, or some combination thereof. | 09-17-2009 |
20090240576 | METHODS, MEDIA, AND SYSTEMS FOR SELECTIVELY DISPLAYING ADVERTISING MATERIALS WITH USER GENERATED CONTENT - A method for selectively displaying advertising materials includes receiving an advertising material and an associated advertising rule, wherein the advertising rule specifies a restriction on user generated content that can be displayed together with the advertising material, and receiving user generated content via a network. The method further includes determining if the user generated content violates the advertising rule, and if the user generated content violates the advertising rule, generating a web page containing the user generated content without the advertising material. | 09-24-2009 |
20090240577 | Method and Apparatus for Sharing Data Using an Exchange Procedure in a Network - A method and apparatus are provided for sharing data using an exchange procedure in a network. In one example, the method includes receiving an opportunity from an auction to place an ad on a webpage, receiving valuable data from a data source, wherein the data source includes at least two databases of at least two entities, calculating a bid for the opportunity based on the valuable data, selecting a desired ad based on the valuable data, and sending the bid and the desired ad to the auction, wherein the valuable data of each particularly entity remains substantially unrevealed to others outside the particular entity. | 09-24-2009 |
20090240578 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR GRAPHICAL SECURITY AUTHENTICATION AND ADVERTISING - The present invention is directed to a graphical image identity authentication system. In particular, the invention is directed to methods and systems for graphical security authentication and advertising. A security authentication system may receive advertisements from an advertising service company, process the advertisements to integrate them into the graphical image identity authentication system, and transmit the processed advertisement information back to the advertisement service company. The security authentication system may also monitor user interaction with the advertisements and transmit the logged information to the advertising service company. | 09-24-2009 |
20090240579 | CUSTOMER LOYALTY PROGRAM WITH SHARED DATA AND SUB-PROGRAMS - Embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for increasing participation in loyalty programs. In embodiments, the customer opts into a loyalty program. The customer is then provided with information about his or her loyalty participation and also is provided with information about one or more other customer's participation in the loyalty program. In another embodiment, one or more loyalty members can form their own competition or group within the loyalty program. The members can create loyalty sub-program rules for a competition and allow fellow loyalty members to participate in the competition. The customizable loyalty sub-program competitions further enhance member participation. | 09-24-2009 |
20090240580 | Method and Apparatus for Automatically Targeting and Modifying Internet Advertisements - A method and apparatus are provided for automatically targeting and modifying an Internet ad. In one example, the method includes receiving a page and an ad to be placed on the page, rendering the page into a graphical format, computing descriptive features about the graphical format, mapping the descriptive features to parameters for rendering the ad, and rendering the ad based on the parameters. | 09-24-2009 |
20090240581 | Web-based management system for print and copy services with advertisements - An apparatus and method for a web-based management system for print and copy services with advertisements are presented. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a document from a user of a web-based print and copy service to store at a main server of the web-based print and copy service, associating the document with an account of the user, the account to enable access privileges to the web-based print and copy service, determining one or more advertisements to target at the user based on an advertising profile associated with the user, merging the one or more advertisements with the document into a final document, presenting an access link for the final document to the user when the user accesses the account of the user, and providing the final document to the user when the user selects the access link associated with the document. | 09-24-2009 |
20090240582 | Systems and methods for providing purchasing incentives and advertisements - In accordance with at least one exemplary embodiment, system and methods for providing purchasing incentives and/or advertisements are disclosed. An exemplary system can include an application suite stored and executable on one or more servers. The application suite can have one or more modules, including any of an advertisers module, a consumers module, a channel partners module, an affiliates module and a system provider module. The advertisers (and affiliates) module can include design functionality, demographical-targeting functionality, promotional campaign planning functionality and promotional campaign management functionality. The consumers module can provide purchasing incentives (e.g., coupons) or other advertisements in at least one of a demographically-targeted manner, a searchable manner and a hierarchally-arranged manner. The consumers module can also include registration functionality wherein consumer data is solicited and can be shared with any of advertisers, affiliates and channel partners. The system provider (and channel providers) module can include administrative functionality. | 09-24-2009 |
20090240583 | Advertising system and method for providing targeted advertising in a communications network - The present invention relates to an improved advertising network and system, which relates to interconnecting a plurality of venues through a network, each of the venues having at least one display panel or display screen for displaying advertisements and marketing materials to a plurality of users. Advertisers provide advertising preferences information (such as demographics preferences) in accessing the network, so as to locate a listing of pertinent venues, and display screens at these venues, where the particular demographic sought is found to be most prevalent. The present invention enables advertisers to identify, pinpoint and direct a targeted advertising display towards a specific subset of display screens or display panels at selected venues in an inter-connected network with a view to catering their advertising displays to a specific clientele (consistent with their advertising preferences information) in these selected venues. | 09-24-2009 |
20090240584 | Method and system for conducting online cash deposit auctions for transacting assets and other goods and services - The present invention provides a cash deposit auction method and system, whereby upon payment of a fee, a seller uploads details of his business where so desired along with those of the assets, goods and services intended to be sold onto the auction system web-site provided by the manager of auction system. A specified amount of cash from the pool created from the fees paid by the sellers is auctioned. Many buyers make bids for the cash deposit by haggling the price up or down depending on the type of auction they are participating in The cash deposit won in the auction can only be used by the successful bidder to purchase from the seller advertising his business or sale information of any assets, goods and services on the website. The bid-winner is satisfied by buying the items offered for sale with the money won at the auction, the seller gets full value for his assets, goods and services and the auction system manager is compensated by the bid amount and additional service charge, if any paid by the successful bidder. | 09-24-2009 |
20090240585 | Automated quote generation and advertising buy placements - A method can include transmitting buying criteria to a remote user, receiving buying criteria inputs corresponding to the transmitted buying criteria, and computing a quote of providing the advertising placements based on the buying criteria inputs. The buying criteria inputs can specify an advertiser request to buy advertising placements on at least two remotely located media outlets. The method can associate an identifier to the quote, transmit the quote, store the identifier and the quote in an enterprise database, determine at least one quote acceptance constraint based on predetermined criteria, receive an acceptance communication in response to the quote, approve the acceptance communication based on the at least one quote acceptance constraint, and transmit instructions of advertising placements to the associated at least one remotely located media outlet. The approval can be associated with at least one remotely located media outlet. | 09-24-2009 |
20090240586 | REVENUE MODELS ASSOCIATED WITH SYNDICATION OF A BEHAVIORAL PROFILE USING A MONETIZATION PLATFORM - The present application discloses improved capabilities for aggregating user behavioral data across multiple wireless operators and delivering content to a mobile communication facility based on that aggregation, among other factors. | 09-24-2009 |
20090240587 | METHOD OF SEARCHING FOR BUSINESS OFFERS - This invention relates generally to a system and method for potential consumers to find business offers and business hours based on a variety of alternative criteria, and more particularly to a system and method for providing a user or searcher with search results based on a business' days and hours of operation, days and/or hours that it offers particular deals or other similar criteria. The system and method is applicable to a wide variety businesses and deals, including, but not limited to, restaurants, grocery stores, service providers and any other business that typically offers day or time-based discounts, deals or other offers. | 09-24-2009 |
20090240588 | Method And Apparatus For A Promotional Couponing System - Methods and apparatus for promotional couponing system where coupons, campaigns, and promotions are designed on central server and issued to network of printing devices and redeemed from redemption devices. The logic that processes input contained within each printer and print and redeem device connected to network so each device independently analyzes its own input and requests permission to print coupon from central server. The system uses coupons to maneuver players to play games least in use or to a specific location. Coupons include map and directions to direct the player. | 09-24-2009 |
20090248501 | Calculation method of sales allowance and computer readable recording medium thereof - Disclosed are calculation method of sales allowance and computer readable recording medium thereof that are capable of calculating allowance to be paid to respective members corresponding to each node online in a commodity or service sales method. The method comprises the steps of computing a rate of a ranking of a predetermined subscriber to the number of subscribers included on one line; computing a rate of sales of the predetermined subscriber to the total of sales of respective subscribers included on the one line; computing the rate computed in the step times the rate computed in the step times a sales allowance payment rate of new sales; automatically computing an allowance of the predetermined subscriber by the product of the value computed in the step and a predetermined invariable; and displaying the value computed in the step on the monitor of a computer. Thus, according to the present, it is possible to compute a sales allowance paid to subscribers according to respective steps simply and correctively without manager's complicated computation in case of the generation of new sales by online automatically computing allowances correctively allotted to members included on one line according to a payment rate in a commodity or service sales method. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248502 | COMPUTING A TIME-DEPENDENT VARIABILITY VALUE - A system that facilitates computation of a time-dependent variability value is described herein. The system includes a receiver component that receives a plurality of items, wherein each item has a timestamp corresponding thereto. The system further includes a value generator component that outputs a time-dependent variability value for an item in the plurality of items, wherein the time-dependent variability value is indicative of a recent frequency of use of the item in comparison to a frequency of use of the item over a defined period of time. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248503 | SYSTEMS, METHODS AND COMPUTER PRODUCTS FOR A PERSONAL PORTABLE ADVERTISING AND MESSAGING AGENT - Transmitting targeted advertisements over a communications network to consumers using a plurality of programmable transmitting and receiving devices is accomplished by initiating the programmable transmitting and receiving devices and prompting an advertisement content user to provide and populate the memory of the programmable transmitting and receiving devices with categories, parameters, restrictions and requirements of goods and services to be advertised to consumers and then enabling the programmable transmitting and receiving devices to transmit and receive broadcast advertisements. A portion of the transmission enabled transmitting and receiving devices are placed in proximity to goods and services which are advertised and a portion of receiving enabled transmitting and receiving devices are carried by consumers who when in the proximity of the advertised goods and services, receive advertisements via the receiving enabled device. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248504 | MECHANISM FOR AGGREGATING CONSUMER REWARD DATA - A method of aggregating consumer reward data. The consumer reward data is generated from a consumer visiting a website. The method includes receiving a request from a consumer to maintain consumer reward data in a data warehouse. Web reward token information is received from a website operator following a visit to the website by the consumer. A request to redeem consumer rewards for goods/services is generated. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248505 | USER-CONTROLLED PROFILE FOR CUSTOMIZED ADVERTISEMENTS - Systems and methods for providing a user with customized advertisements in response to a user indication of a desire to receive the customized advertisements. The user, by opting in and creating a user-controlled profile, indicates a desire to receive targeted and highly relevant advertisements that correspond to the user-specific information provided by the user in the user-controlled profile. This information, for example, may be the user's demographic information, location, marital status, information from the user's web-based calendar, or whether the user has children. The customized advertisements may also be selected according to the user's location, which may be determined by any location determining technique. By purchasing an item presented in a customized advertisement, referring a customized advertisement to another user, or taking some other defined action, the user may receive an incentive, such as points, currency, discounts, or credit to be used toward a future purchase. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248506 | MERCHANT FUNDED REWARDS NETWORK IMPLEMENTING CARDHOLDER LOYALTY REBATE PROGRAM - A system and method for implementing a program such as a loyalty program. An account (e.g., card) system includes a plurality of participating account holders (e.g., cardholders) of an issuer, a plurality of non-participating account holders (e.g., cardholders) of the issuer and of other issuers, a plurality of non-preferred merchants of the issuer and of other issuers and a plurality of preferred merchants of the issuer. A filter is used to evaluate transactions to identify qualifying program transactions involving both a participating account holders (e.g., cardholders) of the issuer and a preferred merchant of the issuer. Rebates are provided for identified, qualifying program transactions. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248507 | COMPUTER SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRESENTING ADVERTISEMENT BASED UPON TIME AND/OR LOCATION - An application for a computer system that provides content and advertising to users includes a server computer, a user computer, one or more sources of content and one or more sources of advertisements. Software running on the server computer accesses content from the one or more sources of content based upon requests from the user computer. The software also selects an advertisement from the one or more sources of advertisements based upon one or both of a location of the user computer and a time at the user computer. The software then sends the content and the selected advertisement to the user computer for display. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248508 | COMPUTER SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BILLING FOR ADVERTISEMENT BASED UPON TIME-IN-VIEW - An application for a computer system for providing content and advertising to users includes a server computer, a user computer, one or more sources of content and one or more sources of advertisements. Software running on the server computer retrieves content based upon requests from the user computer from the one or more sources of content, selects a target advertisement from the one or more sources of advertisements and sends the content and the target advertisement to the user computer for display. Remote software running on the user computer measures the length of time that the target advertisement is in view on the user computer and sends the length of time that the target advertisement is in view to the software running on the server computer. The software running on the server computer receives the length of time that the target advertisement is in view and writes at least an identification of the advertisement and the length of time to a billing record. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248509 | COMPUTER SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BILLING FOR ADVERTISEMENT BASED UPON USER ACTIVITY WHILE DISPLAYED - An application for a method of providing content and advertising to users includes accepting a request for desired content from a user and retrieving the desired content from a source of content at the server computer system. An advertisement is selected at the server computer system and the desired content and the advertisement is sent from the server computer system to the user computer system for display. A length of time of display of the advertisement and a level of user activity are recorded in a billing record at the server computer system for later billing. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248510 | INFORMATION RETRIEVAL USING DYNAMIC GUIDED NAVIGATION - An apparatus and method for providing relevant search result and query terms are disclosed herein. Natural language processing of the documents and previous search session history are used to dynamically determine document relevance, queries relevant to search categories prior to start of a search session, and query to query correlations. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248511 | ADVERTISEMENTS ON DEMAND - A method and system for providing advertisements on demand on a search results webpage includes receiving an ad preference for an advertisement through an user interface. The ad preference defines rendering option desired by an advertiser for the advertisement. A user preference for viewing an advertisement on the search results webpage is received through a user interface. An ad repository is searched to identify an advertisement that matches the ad preference with the user preference. The identified advertisement is rendered on the search results webpage along with search results in a format defined by the ad preference and user preference. The rendered advertisement allows optimal promotion of a product or service associated with the advertisement for an advertiser. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248512 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INCORPORATING TARGETED CONTENT IN A DOCUMENT - The subject application is directed to a system and method for selective incorporation of targeted content in remotely rendered documents. An electronic document is first received from an owner. Layout data corresponding to the size and/or position available for placement of secondary content in connection with a rendering of the electronic document is then received. Destination data corresponding to an output destination for a rendering of the electronic document is then received. The secondary content is then retrieved in accordance with the received destination data and formatted based upon the received layout data. The electronic document and the secondary content are then communicated to an output destination in accordance with the received destination data so as to generate a rendered document at the output destination, with the rendered document incorporating the electronic document and secondary content mutually arranged based upon the layout data. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248513 | ALLOCATION OF PRESENTATION POSITIONS - Co-performance measurements can be determined for a plurality of content items, each co-performance measurement being associated with a corresponding content item and each co-performance measurement being a measure of the effect of the corresponding content item on the performance of one or more other content items that are presented with the corresponding content item. A set of content items can be selected for presentation to a viewer, wherein the set of content items comprises the content items that maximize a cumulative performance of the set of content items. Each content item can be assigned to a presentation position based on the co-performance measurement of each content item. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248514 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING THE SENSITIVITY OF WEB PAGE CONTENT FOR SERVING ADVERTISEMENTS IN ONLINE ADVERTISING - An improved system and method for detecting the sensitivity of web page content for serving advertisements in online advertising is provided. A web page sensitivity classifier may be provided for identifying the sensitivity of the content of a web page to an advertisement. The web page sensitivity classifier may use the features of a web page and the features of each advertisement in a list of candidate advertisements to identify advertisements that do not match the sensitivity of the content of the web page. Any advertisements that do not match the sensitivity of the content of the web page may be removed form the list of candidate advertisements. Web page placements may be allocated for advertisements from the list of candidate advertisements that match the sensitivity of the content of the web page, and the advertisements may be served for display. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248515 | Remote Control Device to Display Advertisements - Techniques to display advertisements on a remote control device are described. In an implementation, a remote control device includes a display device and one or more modules. The one or more modules are configured to initiate one or more control functions related to control of an output of content by a client. The one or more modules are also configured to detect manual interaction and initiate a first mode to display an advertisement on the display device when the manual interaction has not been detected. A second mode is initiated by the one or more modules to display one or more representations of the one or more control functions when the manual interaction is detected. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248516 | Method for annotating web content in real-time - A computer-related method is presented for annotating web content in real-time via a client interface, the method including selecting at least one portion of a requested and/or displayed web page. The computer-related method further includes creating and embedding at least one annotation, in real-time at the selected portion of the web page. Subsequently, the web page(s) and/or annotation(s) may be saved or otherwise communicated to an electronic storage medium and accessed, viewed, or shared. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248517 | Systems and methods for distributed commerce platform technology - The present invention provides methods and systems to facilitate distributed commerce. A distributed commerce system comprises a module for communicating an advertisement, price information, or viewer information and using the information to calculate a price based on the number of viewers. In another embodiment, a system is provided for valuating the viewers and determining a price based upon the viewers' value. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248518 | SALES SUPPORT APPARATUS, COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM HAVING RECORDED THEREIN SALES SUPPORT PROGRAM, AND SALES SUPPORT METHOD - A sales support apparatus including a customer information storage unit that stores the credit information of each customer is provided. The sales support apparatus includes a transaction history storage unit that stores the history of past transactions with the customer. The transaction condition storage unit stores the transaction conditions corresponding to the combination of the customer credit information and the transaction history. The transaction condition determining unit, upon application thereto of a transaction condition acquisition request designating the customer company from an order terminal, acquires the credit information of the prospective customer from the customer information storage unit, acquires the transaction history with the prospective customer from the transaction history storage unit and by accessing the transaction condition storage unit, determines the transaction conditions corresponding to the credit information and the transaction history of the prospective customer. The transaction condition transmission unit transmits the transaction conditions to the order terminal. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248519 | Rewarding internet service, advertisement, and usage method - A rewarding Internet service, advertisement, and usage method is presented, which method in a main preferred embodiment comprises establishing a reward program by an issuer of credit/debit card, providing credit/debit card reward units to a member of the reward program, if the member is a user of at least one Internet service, and takes at least one of the following steps: registering, signing in to the Internet service, using the Internet service, and receiving the reward units onto the member's account. A plurality of embodiments are disclosed specifying a variety of the reward units and Internet service types, member's relations with the issuer and Internet service, combinations thereof, include an entity separate from the issuer and Internet service. Some embodiments include the Internet service represented by a global Internet service website optionally linked with the issuer's website. The method is particularly attractable to Internet advertisers and credit/debit card holders. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248520 | Internet advertisement method and system for distributing commercial sample through membership-based off-line shop based on authentication key issued to target customer on-line - An Internet advertisement method and system that issues an authentication key for enabling selected target customers to receive a commercial sample at a membership-based offline store by performing an advertisement in the form of a banner on a web page of an online market, such as an Internet shopping mall, such that an advertiser can conveniently satisfy needs of customers desiring to purchase goods after receiving the sample without delivering the sample, a targeting goods advertisement can be effectively performed, membership-based offline stores can be publicized, and increasing visits from customers can lead to an increase in sales. The Internet advertisement method includes providing an advertisement including information on providing a sample, and generating an authentication key for enabling a customer terminal selecting the advertisement and requesting a sample of advertised goods to receive the sample at an offline store. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248521 | Managing Accounts Such as Advertising Accounts - A method includes: creating a plurality of advertising accounts associated with an advertiser, each of the advertising accounts including multiple fields defining specifics of performing advertising on behalf of the advertiser and being individually accessible to the advertiser through a login procedure; grouping the plurality of advertising accounts in an account center associated with the advertiser that provides the advertiser access to the advertising accounts; providing, in the account center, an editing function for use in modifying any of the plurality of advertising accounts, the editing function identifying the multiple fields included in the advertising accounts associated with the advertiser; receiving a user input entered using the account center, the user input requesting a modification to at least two of the advertising accounts; modifying the at least two of the advertising accounts based at least in part on the user input; and storing the at least two modified advertising accounts. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248522 | Method And Device For Advertisement Lease-Purchase And Switching Mechanism Of Advertisement Network - A method for advertisement lease-purchase and switching mechanism of advertisement network is provided. The method includes the steps of: users applying for memberships and/or logging in a bidding system; bidding in accordance with a selected area, time slot, or page; after winning a bid, uploading an advertisement file to an internet data center (IDC); verifying a file format of the uploaded advertisement file and/or converting the file format; and downloading the advertisement file to a multimedia apparatus. The present invention also provides a device for advertisement lease-purchase and switching mechanism of advertisement network. The device includes an internet data center (IDC, e.g., a machine room), a management platform, and one or more multimedia apparatus. The IDC includes a server, a bidding interface, and an uploading interface. The device can be connected to clients' PC ends for receiving data inputted by the clients for executing the advertisement network bidding operation. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248523 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING AUTOMATED SELF-OPTIMIZING TARGETED E-MAILS - A system and method is disclosed for generating targeted e-mails based on individual subject behavior and interests, as determined by an application's website browsing behavior, online and offline purchases, ratings, and other implicit and explicit indications of subject preferences and interests. The subject's behavior data is collected directly from the subject's client browser or from the application's own information and used to generate profiles of the subjects that will be sent e-mails and the objects that will be recommended. Targeted content is generated by matching subject and object profiles in combination with any subject segmentation filters that the application provides. The e-mail targeting is optimized by measuring subject response to targeted e-mails and adjusting recommendation strategies used to generate subsequent recommendations. The system has application in personalization, behavioral targeting, Internet retailing, affiliate marketing, and online advertising, to name but a few applications. | 10-01-2009 |
20090254424 | ENHANCED ONLINE ADVERTISING EXPERIENCE - A method for enhancing user advertising experience, the method including operatively integrating advertising content of an advertisement to be displayed on a web page with additional web content different from web content displayed on the web page; displaying an indicia in conjunction with the advertisement to indicate to a user that the advertisement includes a portal to the additional web content; sensing a browsing action by the user that engages the indicia; and altering the advertisement so that a space occupied by the advertisement displays the additional web content for viewing and engagement by the user. | 10-08-2009 |
20090254425 | WIKI-TYPE COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE MECHANISM FOR IMPLEMENTING A URL REDIRECT - A computer system implements a method to redirect a user request containing a keyword to a target URL. Once received by the system, the user request is processed to extract the keyword. The keyword is then utilized to retrieve a target URL associated with the keyword. Such association is pre-established by the collective intelligence of a user community. The collective intelligence of the user community builds consensuses in establishing keyword-URL associations. After the target URL is retrieved, the user request is redirected to the target URL, as a response to the original user request received. | 10-08-2009 |
20090254426 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF DIRECTED ADVERTISING - A method is provided for directed advertising on a shipment tracking status webpage. Advertisements are received and categorized based on preselected criteria. Shipping orders are received and tracking numbers associated with the shipping orders are provided. Tracking status information is received for the shipping orders. A tracking status request for a shipping order is received based on a tracking number. The tracking status information for the shipping order associated with the tracking number is accessed. The tracking information for the shipping order and at least one advertisement, which is selected based on the preselected criteria, is provided for display on the shipment tracking status webpage. | 10-08-2009 |
20090254427 | Internet directory and method - Systems and methods are provided for identifying information about an entity through Web site software. The entity may be a business or service. Information about the entity can be determined by processing attributes known about the entity, such as a name, service or other keywords. For example, user comes to the site, selects their desired state, city, and category. At that point the user clicks the “Search” button and is directed to a second page where they find a list of listing results. The user selects the desired listing and is then directed to a third page. This page is a full-page advertisement for the one business selected from the search results. A database of Web sites associated with categories is created by businesses adding their own business to the database. | 10-08-2009 |
20090254428 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DELIVERING ADVERTISING CONTENT TO POINT OF SALE DEVICES - According to the invention, a system for delivering content to a user is disclosed. The system may include a point of sale device, a wide area network, and a payment processing system. The point of sale device may be configured to receive information regarding a transaction, and communicate content to the user. The wide area network may be in communication with the point of sale device. The payment processing system may be in communication with the wide area network, and may be configured to receive the information regarding the transaction, determine advertising content based at least in part on the information, and transmit the determined advertising content to the point of sale device. | 10-08-2009 |
20090254429 | Placement device and method - A food placement device comprising an eating area and one or more advertising areas or flaps. The dimensions of the eating area correspond to those of a tray to be used in conjunction with the placement device. The advertising flaps are foldable with respect to the eating area. | 10-08-2009 |
20090259529 | Method for personalized advertising on communication device - The present invention discloses new communication device advertising methods for implementing the same. One method discloses by the present invention features downloading the personalized information while making a call; the method comprises the steps of: providing a request signal from the communication device to an information system after a dialing signal is generated on the communication device; generating personalized information, which is the combination of advertising data and value added information, by the information system according to said request signal and advertising data; playing the advertising data on the communication device; after the playing is finished, sending the dialing signal by the communication device to make a call; calculating bonus relating to the call; the user can also decide whether to play the value-added information or not after the call. Another method is pre-downloading the personalized information first and plays it without downloading it while making a call. The present invention also discloses a method for avoiding the dial fraud; the dial fraud means bonus earned by the user from the call exceeds communication fee of that call. | 10-15-2009 |
20090259530 | Open targeting exchange - A method for determining an ad to display in an ad unit is disclosed. A specification of a targeting vendor ad is received from a targeting vendor. A targeting vendor ad value is determined based at least in part on the specification. The ad to display in the ad unit is determined, based on a comparison of the targeting vendor ad with other ads, wherein the comparison depends at least in part on the targeting vendor ad value and the specification. | 10-15-2009 |
20090259531 | INTERACTIVE ADVERTISEMENTS - A system and method for providing interactive advertisements and collecting data for an advertiser includes a processor, a storage unit in communication with the processor, and a memory unit in communication with the processor, wherein the memory unit contains instructions. The instructions configure the processor to upload sequential media to a central server, wherein the sequential media is an advertisement, provide at least one tag, wherein the at least one tag is a keyword related to a subject matter of the sequential media, and provide the sequential media to a game player via a web portal, wherein the web portal includes a input area for entering words from the game player related to the subject matter of the sequential media. | 10-15-2009 |
20090259532 | PEER-TO-PEER COMPENSATION IN AN INTENT-COMPENSATION SCHEME - System(s) and method(s) are provided that facilitate intrinsically targeted, dependable peer-to-peer referral and compensation within an intent-compensation scheme. The referral system synergistically exploits trust mechanisms existing among a referring agent and a referred agent in order to generate high-quality referrals based on a determination of commercial intent from the referred agent. In exchange of conveyed intent at a time of a transaction with a referred agent, system platform directly compensates both the referred agent and the referring agent. Compensation of the referred agent is ensured via tracking mechanism that can identify a referral originating device. Information associated with referral(s) is scoped through privacy profiles, and referral/compensation integrity is maintained via an antifraud component and a tracking component that can identify referring and referred agents. Compensation can be funded trough advertisement spend. | 10-15-2009 |
20090259533 | SECONDARY MARKET FOR CONSUMER REWARDS - System(s) and method(s) are provided to trade compensation credit(s) in a customer price incentive scheme funded through advertisement. A secondary market for rewards is established through advertisement spend from a set of disparate category advertisers (e.g., brand advertisers and product advertisers). Market liquidity is injected through an advertisement component that directs a portion of advertisement spend to issue tradable compensation credit(s) at a initial offering price. A trade platform facilitates commercialization of compensation credit(s) among a set of registered advertisers: A regulatory component provides governance and establishes pricing of traded compensation credit(s), while a brokerage component facilitates negotiation among traders. Disparate advertisers can be joined for trading based at least in part on advertiser intelligence. Trade compensation credits can be utilized, for example, to directly compensate a consumer; increase advertisement; establish an exclusivity advertiser club; or to engage a third-party serviced provider. | 10-15-2009 |
20090259534 | INTERNAL BUSINESS ARBITRAGE - System(s) and method(s) are provided to conduct internal arbitrage within an organization. Within a service platform, a first functional unit oriented to service implementation and a second unit dedicated at least in part to advertisement management trade advertisement trade, the first unit and the second administer advertisement within a first and a second pricing model. Internal arbitrage profits result from the advertisement transaction when the second unit commercialized advertisement with an external advertiser. A pricing conversion component facilitates mapping a first price proposition for an advertisement within the first pricing model to a second pricing proposition for the advertisement within the second pricing model. Internal arbitrage profits can be directed towards financing an intent-based consumer price incentive scheme. | 10-15-2009 |
20090259535 | COUPON CLIPPER - A coupon clipping interface and related methods and apparatus are provided. The coupon clipper's features include displaying at least one online coupon, receiving selection of at least one selected coupon selected from the at least one online coupon, providing the at least one selected coupon for subsequent redemption in response to user selection of a redemption user interface feature associated with the at least one selected coupon, storing the at least one selected coupon as at least one clipped coupon in response to user selection of a clip coupon interface component associated with the at least one selected coupon, wherein the at least one clipped coupon is available for subsequent retrieval via a clipped coupons interface, and displaying a summary representation of the at least one clipped coupon. The coupon clipper's features may also include displaying the at least one clipped coupon in response to receiving selection of an interface feature associated with the summary representation of the at least one clipped coupon, and providing the at least one clipped coupon for subsequent redemption in response to user selection of a redemption user interface feature. | 10-15-2009 |
20090259536 | Method and System for Distributed Electronic Media Advertising in the Internet - A system and a business method for a dynamic, widespread and far-reaching advertising in the internet. A system wherein advertisements, can be pasted by end users in a variety of electronic media. | 10-15-2009 |
20090259537 | ADVERTISEMENT-FUNDED SOFTWARE - Systems and methods are provided to directly compensate an agent that utilizes a software application in exchange for the agent's intent in using the application, and for displaying intent-driven advertisement to the agent. Intent is inferred through information received from the agent, when utilizing the software application, according to an agent's privacy settings. Based on agent's intent, an advertisement is displayed and an associated software-related compensation is provided to the agent. Compensation accumulation profiles can be established based at least in part on privacy settings. Compensation possesses monetary value and can be directed towards (i) increasing software functionality, (ii) providing credits for training and literature related to the utilization of the application, or (iii) servicing a device in which the application is executed. The monetary aspect of the software-related compensation originated in intent-driven advertisement effectively funds the agent's software application. | 10-15-2009 |
20090259538 | Network-based rebate system - An online rebate system is disclosed. The online rebate system allows purchasers of products to gain nearly immediate determinations of whether they are eligible for any rebates. In one embodiment, a purchaser can provide a transaction identifier for a prior purchase transaction to the online rebate system, and then the online rebate system can examine the transaction, including the products purchased, to determine in near real-time whether the purchaser is entitled to a rebate. If the purchaser is entitled to a rebate, payment for such rebate can be automatically initiated. In the event the purchaser is not entitled to a rebate, the purchaser can be so notified. | 10-15-2009 |
20090259539 | PROXIMITY-BASED BROADCAST VIRTUAL UNIVERSE SYSTEM - In various embodiments, the proximity of an avatar with respect to a designated focal point object within a virtual universe is determined, and information associated with the designated focal point object is identified. A first of a plurality of representations of the information is selected based, at least in part, on the determined proximity of the avatar with respect to the designated focal point object. The first representation of the information is then transmitted to the avatar. Proximity-based transmission of information can disseminate relevant information to avatars, and can be used by virtual universe businesses to encourage avatars to move near the designated focal point object within the virtual universe so that the avatars can be exposed to products and advertisements. | 10-15-2009 |
20090259540 | SYSTEM FOR PARTITIONING AND PRUNING OF ADVERTISEMENTS - A system is disclosed for selecting advertisements for delivery. The system may be configured to assign the advertisements to categories. The system also may be configured to deliver the advertisements according to a frequency assigned to each category. | 10-15-2009 |
20090259541 | Savings from retail purchases deposited/transferred to savings accounts - A system and methodology for providing customers the option of receiving their savings or discounts for the purchase of goods and services as a reduction in the purchase price of the goods and services or pay full price for their goods and services purchased and take their savings or discounts in a form that can be deposited or transferred to a deposit account, preferably savings but not limited to a savings type account, at their preferred financial institution. Most stores and businesses offer sales, discounts and coupons to attract customers to make purchases from them and most stores and businesses also report the savings or discounts to their customers at the time of purchase but the customers are only offered one choice—take the savings or discount off the purchase price of the goods or services. With the renewed interest in moving away from excessive use of credit and a renewed emphasis toward saving for the future, customers need options to help them save for such needs as retirement, college expenses for their children or grandchildren, health savings and purchase of high cost items. Financial institutions are the primary drivers of savings for the future. This system and methodology gives customers the power to make decisions about savings for the future as they carry on the daily activities of purchasing goods and services necessary to meet their every day needs. | 10-15-2009 |
20090259542 | System for Managing Incentive Programs via Mobile Networks - This invention relates to the description of a system for enabling the management of incentive-based transactions (like campaigns, promotions, requests for, and redemptions of incentives) on mobile networks, coupled with a network based service for sending, receiving and organizing such communications. The invention describes how a mobile device identifier (like a phone number) can be used to direct the flow of information pertaining to requests, responses, redemption and delivery of incentive-based services. The invention further describes how user behavior in incentive communications is measured, for individual and aggregate transactions in order to provide the consumer with relevance to better target future transactions. Finally the invention describes ways in which consumers are provided context-based guidance to better organize their search for incentives, and for redemption and delivery of incentive-based services. | 10-15-2009 |
20090259543 | SENSOR NETWORK OPTIMIZATION ALGORITHM - An algorithm for modeling and optimizing control of a complex and dynamic system is provided to facilitate an allocation of the resources on the network that is the most efficient. The algorithm serves to depict the complex network of available resources using market-based negotiation wherein resources are defined as available buyers and sellers in an efficient market. Selling agents are offering their available resources for sale in accordance with parameters that correspond to the actual limitations of that actual resource and the buyers are looking to make a purchase from one of the sellers that presents a resource with the greatest utility to them. In order to overcome inefficiencies that result from the potential of inefficient allocation, the present invention has further endeavored to introduce an efficiency-arbitrage agent that scans the overall body of transactions to identify and remedy inefficient market transactions. | 10-15-2009 |
20090265226 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR INTERACTIVE ADVERTISING - Methods and apparatus for interactive advertising. A user may optionally select some or all of the interactive advertising for storage for later viewing or use. For example, in one embodiment, the user may have access to a personalized storage space for digital information and by, e.g., selecting a hyperlink, store the interactive advertising to the personalized storage space. The storage of particular advertisements can itself be used to select further advertisements, or may itself constitute valuable data that may be made available to advertisers or other third parties. For example, ad response rates, user feedback, and refined user model attributes may be provided to advertisers to facilitate subsequent marketing and ad delivery efforts. The selection of an advertisement may be used to influence the selection and display of subsequent advertisements to that particular user or to other similarly-characterized users as discussed below. | 10-22-2009 |
20090265227 | Methods for Advertisement Display Policy Exploration - An exploratory ordering of advertisements is generated using an exploration policy that is a modified version of an existing policy. The exploration policy is defined to swap a pair of adjacent advertisements in an ordering of advertisements generated by the existing policy so to generate the exploratory ordering of advertisements. A top number of the exploratory ordering of advertisements are displayed. The top number corresponds to a number of available advertisement display spaces. Click data associated with display of the exploratory ordering of advertisements is collected. A revenue generation capability of a new policy is evaluated based on the collected click data. | 10-22-2009 |
20090265228 | POINT OF SALE COUPON SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Systems and methods of offering incentives such as electronic coupons at a point of sale. Transaction information gathered at a point of sale system is received at a host computer. The transaction information relates to a transaction performed by a consumer at a merchant, and includes a consumer account identifier identifying an account from which payment is to be made for the transaction, and includes a merchant identifier identifying the merchant. Using the host computer, it is recognized that the combination of merchant and consumer account identifiers qualifies for an incentive offer. The host computer transmits a description of the incentive offer to be offered to the consumer at the point of sale, and receives an indication that the consumer has accepted the offer. In a database maintained by the host computer, an indication is recorded that the offer is pending for the combination of consumer account and merchant identifiers. | 10-22-2009 |
20090265229 | SYSTEM, METHOD, AND PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR BUYER DRIVEN SERVICES E-COMMERCE - A buyer driven e-commerce for services is presented. The buyer connects to a web site for the purpose of locating a provider of a service. The buyer, choosing to place an ad on the web site, chooses a category of services that corresponds to a required service. The buyer then chooses a service option related to the category selected. The buyer then provides information to questions regarding the service option. The buyer also provides a video file to further describe and clarify the required service. The information and the video file are posted to the web site as the ad. The provider connecting to the web site accesses the ad under the service option under the category. The provider then chooses to bid on the required service. The buyer reviews bids for the ad. After reviewing the bids, the buyer chooses an acceptable provider for the required service. | 10-22-2009 |
20090265230 | RANKING USING WORD OVERLAP AND CORRELATION FEATURES - A system for and method for ranking results. The system includes a server configured to receive a query and an advertisement engine configured to receive the query from the server. The advertisement engine ranks advertisements based on various features, including at least one word overlap feature and a correlation feature. | 10-22-2009 |
20090265231 | ONLINE DISCOUNT OPTIMIZER SERVICE - An online shopping discount optimizer service includes a host server having a web-based interface adapted to facilitate secure customer access to the host server through a computing device. The customer is prompted by the web-based interface to sequentially communicate customer affiliation data from the computing device to the host server. The host server includes a processing module adapted to process the sequentially communicated customer affiliation data for registration with the service. A processing software application is trained to classify the processed affiliation data and selectively extract data therefrom based on the classification. The processing software application is configured to selectively present the processed affiliation data for a customer verification via the web-based interface upon at least one of an unsuccessful classification and an unsuccessful extraction of data. A storage device is in operative communication with the processing module and is configured to store the registered customer affiliation data as metadata upon at least one of the customer verification and the extraction of data. A web-based software application is configured to automatically retrieve updated shopping discount information based on the registered customer affiliation data and generate the updated shopping discount information via the web-based interface based on at least one customer request. | 10-22-2009 |
20090265232 | System and Method for Processing Travel Expense Vouchers - This invention relates to reimbursement of travel expenses. In a first embodiment of the present invention, a computer-implemented method processes a travel expense voucher. The method determines whether the travel expense voucher satisfies a condition. If the travel expense voucher satisfies the condition, the method allows a payment corresponding to the travel expense voucher. If the travel expense voucher does not satisfy the condition, the method provides an interface to perform an audit of the travel expense voucher. | 10-22-2009 |
20090265233 | METHODS FOR PROVIDING INCENTIVES FOR USE OF ONLINE SERVICES - A system and method permits a primary online service to award and redeem incentive points to users of a social networking or other third-party site that operates independently of the primary online service. The primary online service publishes copies of a widget on the social networking site. The widget communicates with the social networking site through an API published by the operators of the social networking site. When user of the social networking site activates the widget, the primary website awards incentive points to the user based on the user's activities at the social networking site. These activities are tracked by the widget, which also displays to the user the balance of award points and advertising messages. The user can redeem points for goods, services or other consideration and can buy and sell points with other users. | 10-22-2009 |
20090265234 | Method for processing digital rebates and coupons - There is provided a method for processing retail price discounts or rebates in connection with the purchase of merchandise. A data center is provided for processing discounts or rebates. The data center has at least one (1) computer to perform at least a portion of the processing. Consumers are notified of the availability of a discount or rebate for the merchandise. Consumers query the data center regarding the availability of the discount or rebate. The data center obtains an authorization from the consumer to debit or charge an account for the purchase of the merchandise. The data center issues a digital certificate from the computer reflecting the discount or rebate. The consumer's account is charged or debited or the consumer pays for the price of the merchandise less the discount upon presentation of the digital certificate to the retailer for the purchase of the merchandise. | 10-22-2009 |
20090265235 | Apparatus and method for providing cell-based advertisement broadcast service in broadband wireless communication system - Provided is an apparatus and method for providing a cell-based advertisement broadcast service in a broadband wireless communication system. In an advertisement broadcast service of a service interface server in the broadband wireless communication system, an advertisement content transmission request message containing at least one of information about advertisement broadcast content, information about an advertisement broadcast zone, and information about an advertisement broadcast channel is received from a service provider. The received advertisement content transmission request message is transmitted to an MCBCS controller. | 10-22-2009 |
20090265236 | AGGREGATION AND USE OF INFORMATION RELATING TO A USERS CONTEXT FOR PERSONALIZED ADVERTISEMENTS - Information, called context information, relating to a current state of a user may be aggregated. In one implementation, the context information may include information that is automatically generated by communication devices of the user and information, submitted by the user, that relates to the user's state. The context information may be used to provide personalized advertisements for the user. | 10-22-2009 |
20090265237 | Advertising Light Fixture and Method for Distribution of Same - Disclosed is a system, method, and program for promoting the replacement of lower energy efficiency equipment with higher energy efficiency equipment, and more particularly less energy efficient lighting systems with more highly energy efficient lighting systems, is disclosed. High energy efficiency lighting fixtures are fitted with preferably removable and replaceable translucent acrylic diffuser overlays that are printed with advertising content from a third party advertiser. A program administrator arranges for such advertising content from one or more third party advertisers, and uses the advertising revenue generated from such third party advertiser to offset the costs incurred by an end user that is purchasing the high energy efficiency equipment that bears the third party advertiser's advertising content. By reducing the end user's up front expense, they are more inclined to undertake a retrofit program to replace their old, antiquated, and less energy efficient equipment with new, updated, and more energy efficient equipment. | 10-22-2009 |
20090265238 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING CONTENT - A method for providing content through a content providing system, including permitting access to the system through a media device; outputting a screen including a plurality of menu items including a view brand content item; when the view brand content item is selected by a user, outputting a screen including specific brand goods and a keyword input window; receiving a keyword input from the user; outputting a search result screen including brands matching the input keyword; outputting an e-book related to a brand selected by the user; outputting a brand store selected by the user; classifying and outputting brand content selected by the user according to a producer of the content; storing content selected by the user in an internal user space; and providing a publicity space in which the content stored in the internal user space can be publicized. | 10-22-2009 |
20090271253 | Electronic issuing of gift cards - A method of issuing and managing an electronic gift card is presented. A gift card purchase order for a primary electronic gift card is received by a gift card issuing server. The gift card issuing server transmits a unique gift card identifier to the purchaser of the primary electronic gift card. The purchaser then has the option of partitioning the gift card into multiple split gift cards, which are sent, via e-mail or text messages, to split gift card assignees. | 10-29-2009 |
20090271254 | ADVERTISEMENTS DRIVEN BY USER - Systems, methods and computer-storage media are provided for distributing advertising content with improved accessibility for users and with a reduced-cost architecture for the web site provider. An advertising service directory (ASD) intercepts advertising requests containing registered words and phrases so that their location can be determined in a data structure. Through user profile, web site preference or additional information in the reference data structure, the delivery format of the content can also be detected. The request is then forwarded to the provider, removing the need for the first web site provider to actually serve the advertising content. Users can use a phrase or format in order to “push” for advertising content. Thus, brand names and products can be accessible without the need to bid for ad placement. The effectiveness of advertising across many platforms can be increased by offering users an easier-to-remember retrieval method. | 10-29-2009 |
20090271255 | COMMERCE AND ADVERTISEMENT BASED ON EXPLICIT CONSUMER'S VALUE COST PROPOSITION - System(s) and method(s) are provided to drive commercial transactions and advertisement based on explicit consumer's value-cost propositions. Value-cost propositions express consumer's desires with respect to parameters related to a commercial transaction product price point, sensitivity to price and time, preferred shipping mechanism(s), contractor reputation, supply chain utilized by contractor, and so on. A component registers consumers to submit their value-cost propositions, and aggregates the information so conveyed to generate a market latent demand. The latter is conveyed to a set of advertisers, who respond to the latent demand by (i) adjusting their cost-profit propositions or (ii) countering the consumer's value-cost propositions. Commerce driven through explicit value-cost propositions can be effected within an intent-compensation user price incentive scheme, wherein compensation is issued through advertisement in response to consumer's conveyed intent, which includes value-cost propositions, in engaging in a commercial transaction with a service platform. | 10-29-2009 |
20090271256 | Advertisement campaign system using socially collaborative filtering - In one embodiment, a method comprises identifying, in a network, user selection preferences of an identified user having accessed the network, the identifying based on an accumulation of user selection inputs executed by the identified user, the user selection inputs accumulated relative to input options presented to the user and identifying respective available network items; classifying, by an apparatus in the network, the identified user into one of multiple user affinity categories relative to an advertisement campaign for a targeted product, the classifying based on determining whether one of the user selection inputs represents a view gesture of the user having viewed the targeted product; and selecting an advertisement asset for delivery to the identified user based on the classifying of the identified user into the one user affinity category. | 10-29-2009 |
20090271257 | MODEL FOR EARLY ADOPTION AND RETENTION OF SOURCES OF FUNDING TO FINANCE AWARD PROGRAM - System(s) and method(s) are provided to drive early adoption and retention of disparate sources of funding and financing an award program, with application to a consumer compensation scheme subsidized through advertisement revenue. A component that manages advertisement revenue, or received funds, allocates a portion of revenue to subsidize a rebate program, or award program, for enrolled advertisers, or sources of funding, from a universe of advertisers. Rebate or award funds are provided to enrolled advertisers on an exclusivity based for a specific period of time, after which funds are transferred to a commonly accessible account. The subsidized nature of the awarded compensation funds and their time sensitivity drive advertiser enrollment and retention and ensures consumers are aggressively compensated. In an aspect, the subsidized rebate program can be exploited to directly compensate a consumer online or offline in exchange for the consumer's intent in engaging with a service platform. | 10-29-2009 |
20090271258 | METHOD FOR USING CARBON CREDITS WITH MICRO REFINERIES - A carbon credit coupon system is used to provide incentives to micro refinery operators to produce ethanol and reduce the CO | 10-29-2009 |
20090271259 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DIRECTED PERSONALIZED MARKETING - An improved method and system for conducting a directed marketing/advertising campaign is provided that combines personalized mailings and individualized URL addresses in an integrated manner in order to increase customer response rates and improve the ability of the advertiser to obtain relevant feedback and product information from the potential customer. The method and system generally includes the steps of preparing a personalized targeted mailing, establishing a personalized URL address corresponding to each of the mailers within the targeted mailing, sending the mailing to a plurality of customers wherein the mailer directs the customer to the personalized URL address in order to obtain interactive marketing information, obtaining additional information from the customer regarding their particular needs and interests, presenting the customer with an incentive related to their needs and interests and collecting the additional information related to the customer's needs and interests. | 10-29-2009 |
20090271260 | Systems, Methods and Computer Program Products for Researching, Planning, Building, Purchasing and Tracking Digital Online Media Advertising - Improved systems, methods and computer program products are provided for improving the efficiency and quality of the process of purchasing digital and online advertising. Through the use of the invention, one may more effectively use competitive research, build a media plan, generate a creative piece from scratch for an advertising campaign, purchase media across multiple publishers and track the campaign through a single web based platform. | 10-29-2009 |
20090271261 | Policy driven customer advertising - A system and methodology for providing policy driven, user requested advertising is disclosed. Networked users may be provided with selected advertisements to a targeted network access device during a specified broadcast event based on user preferences. The system includes a computing device coupled to at least one communications network and adapted for: receiving user preferences comprising desired advertising content, and specified network access device information for receiving and displaying the advertising thereon. The user preferences are stored in a database and matched to the user preferences with advertising content by at least one advertiser during the specified broadcast event. The advertisements that meet the user preferences are thereafter communicated over at least one communications network to at least one network access device specified in the user selected preferences. | 10-29-2009 |
20090271262 | AUTHORIZATION SYSTEM WITH SPLIT MESSAGING - A computer readable medium is disclosed. It includes computer readable program code embodied therein, said computer readable program code adapted to be executed to implement a method, the method including receiving a first authorization request message from a merchant and at a server computer, analyzing the first authorization request message using the server computer, sending a second authorization request message to a first service provider, sending a third authorization request message to a second service provider, receiving a first response message from the first service provider, receiving a second response message from the second service provider, and sending a third authorization response message to the merchant. | 10-29-2009 |