Abstract: Among other disclosures, a method may include identifying content in an electronic communication, the content including a link. The method may include characterizing content associated with the link and storing the characterization. Upon detecting a match of a characterization, presenting one or more of the communication or portion thereof, the link or content associated with the link.

Abstract: An information providing system according to an embodiment includes a wireless LAN communication unit, a notification information storage unit, a terminal position acquisition unit, and a notification unit. The notification information storage unit stores notification information corresponding to the wireless LAN communication unit. The terminal position acquisition unit acquires position information indicating a position of a wireless terminal. The notification unit notifies a wireless terminal positioned in a communication area of the wireless LAN communication unit and not communicating with the wireless LAN communication unit of the notification information via a wireless WAN base station.

Abstract: The information providing system according to the embodiment includes a wireless LAN access point and an information providing apparatus. The wireless LAN access point detects a wireless terminal existing in a wireless LAN communication area to transmit the detection information to the information providing apparatus. The information providing apparatus determines either the wireless LAN access point or a wireless WAN base station, on the basis of information on a user of a wireless terminal specified according to the detection information and/or the information on an installation location of the wireless LAN access point, as a communication medium that notifies the notification information.

Abstract: A search engine for finding objects that correspond to a search request, including an input module for receiving a keyword query from a user, and a search module being configured to map the keyword query to the identifiers of objects that semantically match the keyword or the plurality of keywords contained in the keyword query, and to generate a search result that contains a listing of matching object identifiers, is characterized in that the search module is further configured to generate the search result by considering network layer information about the user within the process of mapping the keyword query to identifiers of matching objects, wherein the network layer information include sophisticated information the search module receives from a dedicated entity.

Abstract: A system and method for dynamic pricing in a guaranteed display market includes: receiving attribute parameters and values for an incoming pricing query for an advertisement; calculating a base price for the advertisement using recent historical information from contracts matching the attribute parameters; calculating a price response by adjusting the base price to reflect market conditions; calculating a non-guaranteed display opportunity cost for the adjusted base price; and calculating a final price as a function of the adjusted base price and the non-guaranteed display opportunity cost, with the non-guaranteed display opportunity cost as a lower bound for the price.

Abstract: A method of targeting receives several granular events and preprocesses the received granular events thereby generating preprocessed data to facilitate construction of a model based on the granular events. The method generates a predictive model by using the preprocessed data. The predictive model is for determining a likelihood of a user action. The method trains the predictive model. A system for targeting includes granular events, a preprocessor for receiving the granular events, a model generator, and a model. The preprocessor has one or more modules for at least one of pruning, aggregation, clustering, and/or filtering. The model generator is for constructing a model based on the granular events, and the model is for determining a likelihood of a user action. The system of some embodiments further includes several users, a selector for selecting a particular set of users from among the several users, a trained model, and a scoring module.

Abstract: An advertising distribution device 1 has a detection unit P1 for detecting that a banner image B is selected, an acquisition unit P2 for acquiring attribute information F1 about the terminal 2, and a distribution unit P4 for changing a distribution mode depending on the attribute information F1 and distributing advertising information A after selection of the banner image B.

Abstract: A search query is received. Personal information for a user is then determined. A search is performed in a general subdomain of general content using the search query. For example, the general subdomain of general content may be a WWW search. Then, a vertical subdomain is determined based on the personal information. A search is then performed in the vertical subdomain of specialized content using the search query. The search performed in the general subdomain and the search performed in the vertical subdomain generate general search results and vertical search results. The results may be combined and outputted to a client.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems for incorporating user information such as a user's errands, tasks, and/or online behavior in determining a preferred route between an origin and a destination using a web map planning service. Potential advertisers can use the user information to target particular users who are traveling near a particular route to give users various options to optimize their travel plans.

Abstract: At a mobile information processing terminal, a close-range communication unit performs close-range communications with another mobile information processing terminal, a reception unit receives through the close-range communication unit a user identifier for uniquely identifying a user of an application for a social networking service (SNS) on the other mobile information processing terminal, a determination unit is configured to determine whether there is a match between the social networking service on the other mobile information processing terminal and an SNS used on the mobile information processing terminal, and when the determination unit determines that there is a match, the transmission unit transmits the received user identifier to a server of the SNS so as to register a user identified by the user identifier as a friend.

Abstract: Techniques are provided which facilitate mobile applications displaying advertisements on a larger screen space without worrying about screen clutter or interference with application functionality. Motion events are triggered once a computerized device detects a threshold magnitude of tilt along a first, second, and/or third coordinate axis. A graphical display is presented to the user which includes at least one advertisement. Several embodiments of the graphical display include a three-dimensional object and full-screen display which are maintained so long as a magnitude of tilt of the computerized device is detected.

Abstract: A system and method for providing at least one search result responsive to receiving a search query comprising at least one search query term, includes receiving the search query; locating at least one record containing at least one search query term; displaying a text representation of each of the records containing at least one search query term; and displaying a representation of an object in relation with the text representation for each record that includes an object comprising at least one predetermined attribute.

Abstract: An information providing apparatus receives wish information relevant to a wish item that a user wishes to have and position information of the user. The information providing apparatus transmits the wish information to a provider device used by a provider who provides items. The information providing apparatus receives provision information relevant to provision of the wish item from the provider device. The information providing apparatus determines whether a moving cost, which is required for moving from a position indicated by the position information to a providing place at which the provider provides the wish item, satisfies a predetermined condition. The information providing apparatus notifies a user device of the provision information corresponding to a provider in which the moving cost satisfies the predetermined condition.

Abstract: A search query is received. Personal information for a user is then determined. A search is performed in a general subdomain of general content using the search query. For example, the general subdomain of general content may be a WWW search. Then, a vertical subdomain is determined based on the personal information. A search is then performed in the vertical subdomain of specialized content using the search query. The search performed in the general subdomain and the search performed in the vertical subdomain generate general search results and vertical search results. The results may be combined and outputted to a client.

Abstract: An advertisement information providing device includes an advertisement content storage unit that stores advertisement content of a plurality of types. The advertisement information providing device includes an expected earning calculation unit that calculates expected earnings per unit impression number for each type of the advertisement content or for a combination of a plurality of types of the advertisement content. The advertisement information providing device includes an advertisement content type determination unit that determines which type of the advertisement content or combination of types of the advertisement content is to be delivered based on the expected earnings. The advertisement information providing device includes an advertisement content delivery unit that acquires the type of the advertisement content or combination of types of the advertisement content and delivers the advertisement content to an advertisement space.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating and playing a sequence of media objects based on a mood gradient are also disclosed. A mood gradient is a sequence of items, in which each item is media object having known characteristics or a representative set of characteristics of a media object, that is created or used by a user for a specific purpose. Given a mood gradient, one or more new media objects are selected for each item in the mood gradient based on the characteristics associated with that item. In this way, a sequence of new media objects is created but the sequence exhibits a similar variation in media object characteristics. The mood gradient may be presented to a user or created via a display illustrating a three-dimensional space in which each dimension corresponds to a different characteristic. The mood gradient may be represented as a path through the three-dimensional space and icons representing media objects are located within the three-dimensional space based on their characteristics.

Abstract: A method for tailoring content in a web page is provided. There is a relationship between the source domain a user comes from and the behavior pattern of a user on a website. To predict the behavior patterns of a particular user coming from a particular source domain, first a large dataset is compiled from user logs. Second, session analysis is performed on the dataset to identify sessions, session characteristics, page view categories, and source categories. Third, sessions are clustered and analyzed to determine how the behavior changes according to a source category. Fourth, a mapping between source categories and behavior patterns is generated. When a user requests a page view from a source domain, if the source domain is mapped to a source category, then a tailored version of the page view is presented to the user based on the mapping between source categories and behavior patterns.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for efficiently performing a series of searches. After an initial set of search results is determined from a data set based on a search query, one or more additional characters are added to the search query. In response, another search is performed, using the updated search query, but the new search is limited to searching the initial set of search results. Thus, the original data set is not accessed or searched again. This is possible due to the nature of the data. Each subsequent search is based on one or more characters that were added to a previous search query. Thus, each subsequent search is constrained to the search results that were identified in a previous search.

Abstract: An advertisement delivery management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a prediction information storage unit, an acquisition unit and an allocation unit. The prediction information storage unit stores information including user attributes of a plurality of delivery target users predicted as future advertisement delivery destinations. The acquisition unit acquires a plurality of order requests designating user attributes and the numbers of deliveries. The allocation unit allocates the delivery target users to the plurality of order requests, on the basis of the user attributes and the numbers of deliveries designated by the plurality of order requests, such that the number of predetermined user attributes of the delivery target users who have not been allocated to the order requests is the maximum.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for enabling storytelling on a computing device. A processor analyzes a set of media items associated with the user, each media item having associated metadata. The processor identifies one or more related characteristics among the media items in the set to form a cluster of media items associated with an event associated with the user. The processor selects templates from a template database, each template configured to represent a moment in the event. The processor edits selected media items in the cluster to fit into the selected templates. The processor creates a mixed-media module comprising the templates organized into a desired sequence. The processor displays, to the user, a preview of the mixed-media module, receives edit commands for editing the module, and applies the edit commands to the module to create a final module. The processor then displays the final mixed-media module.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an indication of a request pertaining to a user account is obtained, where the user account is associated with at least one user. An account type of the user account is determined, where the account type is one of two or more account types. One or more actions indicated by the request are performed based, at least in part, upon the account type.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for enabling storytelling on a computing device. A processor (a) analyzes a first set of media items associated with a user, where each media item has associated metadata; (b) identifies, based on analysis of the associated metadata in the first set, one or more related characteristics among the media items in the first set; (c) forms a cluster of media items associated with an event based on the one or more characteristics; (d) repeats steps (a) and (b) for a second set of media items; (e) adds one or more media items in the second set having the one or more related characteristics, from a computing device associated with the second set, to the cluster; (f) edits selected media items in the cluster to fit into selected templates; and (g) creates a mixed-media module comprising the templates organized into a desired sequence.

Abstract: A system for dynamically defining a web feed includes a memory unit adapted to store web feed data and to generate a web feed of selected web content. The system includes an input processor to receive a user input defining one or more remote websites and to retrieve remote web content from the one or more remote websites. A user interface is provided to display a set of identified elements from the remote web content in a display area of a primary website and a selection processor receives a user selection identifying one or more selected elements of the remote web content. An equivalency engine calculates equivalency classes including subsets of the identified elements determined to be structurally similar to the selected elements. A web feed is generated and displayed to the user on the primary website that includes at least the selected elements and one or more of the subsets of the identified elements determined to be structurally similar to the selected elements.

Abstract: Techniques are provided, relating to online advertising, in which a special link, which may be a short link, associated with an advertiser, may be provided to a user on a first Web page, such as on a social networking related Web site. The special link may be part of an advertisement or communication from the advertiser. If the user clicks on or otherwise activates the special link, a branded version of a second Web page, including particular content, may be presented to the user, which includes a particular advertisement of the advertiser. Users who arrive at the second Web page via links other than special links will be presented with a non-branded version of the Web page, which does not include the particular advertisement of the advertiser. The particular content may be pre-selected by the advertiser, such as part of a content set associated with an advertising campaign.

Abstract: An advertisement delivery management apparatus according to an embodiment includes an allocation unit and an advertisement delivery unit. The allocation unit selects delivery target users who have the user attribute designated by each of order requests and whose number corresponds to the number of deliveries designated by each of order requests, from a plurality of delivery target users predicted as future advertisement delivery destinations, and allocates the selected delivery target users to the order requests. The advertisement delivery unit selects the advertising information of the order request corresponding to a user attribute of a user of a user terminal on the basis of the allocation result of the allocation unit and transmits the selected advertising information to the user terminal.

Abstract: Providing a speculative search result for a search query prior to completion of the search query is described. In response to receiving a search query from a client node, a speculative search result is provided to the client node for the search query prior to receiving an indication from the client node that said search query is completely formed. The speculative search result may be displayed on the same web page on the client node as the search query, while the search query is being entered by the user. As the user further enters the search query, a new speculative search result may be provided to the user.

Abstract: DNS wildcard beaconing. In one embodiment, for example, a computer-implemented method comprises: receiving a network request from a resolver to resolve a hostname, the network request from the resolver comprising a network address of the resolver, the hostname comprising a unique wildcard portion; storing first data representing an association between at least the unique wildcard portion and the network address of the resolver; receiving a network request from a client for a resource, the network request from the client comprising a network address of the client and at least the unique wildcard portion; storing second data representing an association between at least the unique wildcard portion and the network address of the client; based on the first data and the second data, associating the client with the resolver; and storing third data representing the association between the client and the resolver.

Abstract: An electronic device implemented method includes facilitating an auction for an ad space of an advertisement network. A bid and a creative are received from an advertiser for the ad space. An attribute of the creative is determined that is obtrusive to a viewer experience. An extent that the attribute is obtrusive is determined. An extent that the attribute is effective in obtaining a goal of the advertiser is determined. A correlation between the extent that the attribute is obtrusive and the extent that the attribute is effective in obtaining a goal of the advertiser is determined.

Abstract: An advertisement information providing device includes an advertisement content storing unit which stores impression-guaranteed type advertisement content and time basis billing type advertisement content, an advertisement content determining unit which, when receiving a page browsing request from a terminal device of a user, determines advertisement content to be delivered from the impression-guaranteed type advertisement content and the time basis billing type advertisement content stored in the advertisement content storing unit, and an advertisement content delivering unit which delivers the advertisement content determined by the advertisement content determining unit to an ad space included in a page for which the page browsing request is received from the terminal device of the user.

Abstract: An information transmission device stores attribute information of each product to be provided to a user. The information transmission device acquires positional information of the user from a communication device owned by the user. The information transmission device specifies the user's situation using at least the acquired positional information of the user. The information transmission device specifies the product having the user's specified situation as the attribute information. The information transmission device transmits the specified product to the communication device.

Abstract: A system may provide for retrieving data within a selected region of a map is provided. The system may include mobile devices configured to display a map and to receive a user selection of a region of the map. An application server may receive data from the mobile device, representing the user selected region of the map and a search criterion. A database may be in operative communication with the application server and executes a query using the data representing the selected region of the map and the search criterion and to return data results corresponding to a plurality of locations within the selected region and related to the search criterion. The mobile device may further be configured to display the data results corresponding to the plurality of locations on the selected region of the map and the displayed data results are automatically updated when the user moves the selected region of the map.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for enabling storytelling on a computing device. A processor analyzes a set of media items associated with a user, where each media item has associated metadata. The processor identifies, based on analysis of the associated metadata, one or more related characteristics among the media items in the set to form a cluster of media items associated with an event. The processor selects, based on analysis of the media items in the cluster, a plurality of templates from a template database, where each template is configured to represent a moment in the event. The processor edits selected media items in the cluster to fit into the selected templates. The processor creates a mixed-media module including the plurality of templates organized into a desired sequence for the selected templates.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for enabling storytelling on a computing device. A processor: (a) analyzes a first set of media items associated with the user, each media item having associated metadata; (b) identifies one or more related characteristics among the media items in the first set; (c) forms a cluster of media items associated with an event based on the identified one or more related characteristics; (d) repeats steps (a) and (b) for a second set of media items, each media item in the second set having associated metadata and related to a social connection of the user; (e) adds media items in the second set, from a social media site associated with the second set, to the cluster; (f) edits selected media items in the cluster to fit into selected templates; and (g) creates a mixed-media module comprising the templates organized into a desired sequence.

Abstract: An information providing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention includes a receiving unit and a distribution unit. The receiving unit receives an access request for accessing first content from a terminal apparatus used by a first user. The distribution unit distributes, to the terminal apparatus, the first content including link information which is posted by a second user related to the first user in a predetermined communication service among pieces of link information to other content when the receiving unit receives the access request.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for enabling storytelling on a computing device. A processor analyzes a set of media items associated with the user, each media item having associated metadata. The processor identifies one or more related characteristics among the media items in the set to form a cluster of media items associated with an event associated with the user. The processor selects, based on analysis of the media items in the cluster, templates from a template database, each template of the plurality of templates configured to represent a moment in the event. The processor edits selected media items in the cluster to fit into the selected templates. The processor scores each selected template based on the metadata associated with the selected media items in the selected template. The processor creates a mixed-media module of predetermined duration comprising the templates organized into a desired sequence.

Abstract: Methods and systems for enabling advertisers to purchase sponsored content from third party networks (e.g., social networks), and displaying the sponsored content on websites on a different network are disclosed. The method includes enabling an advertiser to select sponsored content that is served to users on a first advertising network. The advertiser may be requested to pay a premium to a second advertising network to serve the sponsored content on a website which is part of the second advertising network. The advertiser may select the website and the second advertising network, and the sponsored content may be served to users on the advertiser selected website on the second advertising network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for receiving training data that comprise a plurality of event-and-time-specific texts that are contextually related to a plurality of events; iteratively processing the training data to generate a modified network model that defines a plurality of states; receiving additional data that comprise a plurality of additional event-and-time-specific texts that are contextually related to a particular event; processing the additional data by applying the modified network model to the additional data to identify, within the plurality of additional event-and-time specific texts, a particular set of texts that belong to a particular state of the plurality of states; identifying, within the particular set of texts, one or more texts that are most representative of all texts in the particular set of texts that belong to the particular state; wherein the method is performed by one or more special-purpose computing devices.

Abstract: A system and method is described for large-scale, automated classification of products. The system and method receives information about products, wherein such information includes one or more text metadata fields associated with each product, receives a set of categories, and automatically selects one or more categories from the set of categories to which each product belongs based upon at least one of the one or more text metadata fields associated with each product. A machine learning classifier may be used to automatically select the one or more categories to which each product belongs by operating upon a feature vector for each product derived from text metadata fields of the product description. The machine learning classifier may be trained using a set of pre-categorized product descriptions. The product-category associations generated by the system and method can be used to improve search engine results or product recommendations to consumers.

Abstract: An advertisement delivery management apparatus according to an embodiment includes an acquisition unit, a determination unit, and an accepting unit. The acquisition unit acquires information on two or more types of delivery target user groups, each including a plurality of delivery target users predicted as future advertisement delivery destinations. The determination unit determines whether each of the delivery target user groups satisfies delivery conditions designated by an advertisement delivery order request. The accepting unit accepts the advertisement delivery order request based on the determination result of the determination unit.

Abstract: An information delivery device is provided. Advertisement information, key information, delivery information, and priority information are stored. One piece of advertisement information is transmitted to an advertisement providing device based on priority information. Input information input to a terminal is received. It is determined whether a position of the terminal is within a predetermined region, and whether a correlation between the input information and the key information corresponding to the one piece of advertisement information is within a predetermined permissible range. Based on the result of determination, delivery information corresponding to the one piece of advertisement information is delivered to the terminal. Transmission of relevant information related to the delivery information is detected.

Abstract: An information delivery device includes an advertisement information transmitting unit, an input information receiving unit, a terminal position determining unit, an advertisement information database, a correlation determining unit, and an information delivering unit. The advertisement information transmitting unit transmits advertisement information to an advertisement providing device. The input information receiving unit receives input information. The terminal position determining unit determines whether a position of the terminal is within a predetermined region. The advertisement information database stores the advertisement information, predetermined key information, and delivery information in association with one another. The correlation determining unit determines whether a correlation between the input information and the key information is within a predetermined permissible range.

Abstract: An advertisement delivery management apparatus according to an embodiment includes a predicted information storage unit, an allocating unit, and a reallocating unit. The predicted information storage unit stores information including user attributes of a plurality of delivery target users predicted as future advertisement delivery destinations. The allocating unit allocates the delivery target user to an advertisement delivery order request based on the information stored in the predicted information storage unit. The reallocating unit performs a reallocating process of exchanging the delivery target user allocated to the order request with a non-allocated user who is the delivery target user that has not been allocated to the order request.

Abstract: Systems and methods for serving offline ads in a mobile device are provided. The mobile device includes a processor configured to determine whether the mobile device is online or offline. The mobile device includes a screen configured to display an offline ad in an active mobile application when the mobile device is offline. The mobile device includes an impression database configured to store impression information with the displayed offline ad and a communication unit configured to synchronize information between the mobile device and an online ads server when the mobile device is online. The synchronized information includes at least one of the following: offline ads impression counts, offline personalization information, and ads related to the offline personalization information.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing audio advertisements to client devices are disclosed. A request for an advertisement may be received at a server computer from a software library on a client device. The request may include one or more targeting criteria. An advertisement may be selected based at least in part on the one or more targeting criteria. The advertisement may be configured as text data. The text data may be encoded using speech synthesis markup language (SSML). The advertisement may be transmitted to the client device from the server computer. The software library may be configured to convert the text data to synthesized sound, and output the sound from the client device. The software library may include a text-to-speech (TTS) software module, which may convert the text data into synthesized sound, and output the sound from the client device.

Abstract: Briefly, embodiments disclosed herein may relate to dynamic display of representations of digital content for user interaction on computing devices, for example.

Abstract: Techniques for facilitating targeted discounts are described. A request to distribute a promotional offer is received from a merchant. The promotional offer may be at least partially preconfigured, is maintained at the deal service, and may indicate an item (e.g., a product and/or service) offered by the merchant. The promotional offer is distributed immediately after the request is received. The user set to receive the promotional offer is determined. The promotional offer is provided to at least one user in the user set. The promotional offer is confirmed with the users that accepted the promotional offer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for detecting and explaining bursty stream events in targeted groups. In one example, the method includes receiving validated bursty events, finding explanatory data sources having relevant bursty events that are relevant to the validated bursty events, wherein the explanatory sources explain the presence of the validated bursty events, correlating the validated bursty events to the relevant bursty events of the explanatory data sources to obtain burst results, and sending the burst results to a burst database that is accessible to an end user.

Abstract: A method directed to reducing mineral buildup on drift eliminators of a cooling tower by allowing irrigation of the drift eliminators of the cooling tower with fluid in the basin of the cooling tower to reduce mineral buildup.

Abstract: The present invention provides techniques that allow a user to generate an image of a landmark, which can be a famous location, monument, etc., which image includes written comments added by the user. The comments may appear to be on or partially on the landmark. The comments may express sentiment of the user associated with or inspired by the landmark, similar to inscriptions or graffiti, but allowing the user to express such sentiments without altering or defacing the landmark itself. Techniques are also provided in which another user or users can add additional comments to the image, which can then be shared with other users, or selectively shared with certain users or friends. Techniques are also provided in which users can generate or utilize a virtual wall or virtual surface, which may at least partially be visibly in front of the landmark, on which to write comments.

Abstract: A member registration system according to an embodiment includes an information processing apparatus that performs an enrollment process in a member service of a store in which a wireless communication apparatus is installed. The information processing apparatus includes a detection unit that detects a wireless terminal present within a communication area of the wireless communication apparatus, a determination unit that determines whether enrollment of a user of the wireless terminal detected by the detection unit in the member service is completed based on information stored in a member database, and a setting unit that registers information on the user of the wireless terminal as member information of the member service in the member database, when the user of the wireless terminal for which the determination unit determines that the enrollment in the member service is not completed is a user satisfying a preset enrollment condition.