Abstract: The present application is directed to systems and methods for associating a geographic location with an IP address. Generally, an IP address from which each of a plurality of users accesses a network is recorded. A geo tag is associated with each of the plurality of users and a subset of the plurality of users is identified, the subset including users associated with a first IP address. The subset of the plurality of users is clustered into a spatial cluster including users associated with geo tags located with a defined distance of a geo tag of at least one other user of the cluster. A geographic location associated with a geographic center of the cluster is then associated with the first IP address.

Abstract: A management apparatus stores a usable or non-usable state representing whether a right is usable or non-usable by a user in a facility in which a service is provided by a service provider using a service providing apparatus. And, the management apparatus updates the use usable or non-usable state to a non-usable state in a case where a use request of the right is received and transmits the use request to a terminal apparatus. And, the management apparatus permits the use of the right to the user by updating the usable or non-usable state to a usable state in a case where a notification of satisfaction is received from the terminal apparatus or the service providing apparatus, the notification of satisfaction indicating that the user, who requests the use of the right in the use request, satisfies a use requirements of the right.

Abstract: An apparatus directed to reducing mineral buildup on drift eliminators of a cooling tower, using a control unit to selectively irrigate the drift eliminators based on the fluid temperature in the basin and the temperature inside and outside of the cooling tower.

Abstract: Contact data for contacts of a user is stored. Each of the contacts is ranked (e.g., based on stored profile information for each contact). In one embodiment, each of the contacts is classified as either a local contact or a directory contact based on the ranking to provide local contacts and directory contacts. The local contacts are provided for local storage on a user device of the user. A directory contact is provided to the user device from the directory contacts by the server (e.g., in response to a query from the user device).

Abstract: A data processing system employs a pre-processing step to create a simplified view of a received entity graph. During the pre-processing step, only the objects and the attributes of those objects within the graph that are required for data processing are selected. Pruned source and target objects are generated by omitting those attributes that are not required for processing. The pruned objects are included in the simplified view that enhances system performance.

Abstract: One embodiment accesses two or more photos taken by one or more travelers at one or more destinations and one or more points-of-interest located within the destinations; constructs one or more photo streams for each unique traveler-destination combination, wherein each one of the photo streams comprises two or more of the photos taken by the corresponding traveler at the corresponding destination; maps each one of the photos to one of the points-of-interest; constructs one or more timed paths for each unique traveler-destination combination based on the photo streams and the mapping between the photos and the points-of-interest, wherein each one of the timed paths comprises one or more of the points-of-interest located within the corresponding destination and visited by the corresponding travel; and constructs an itinerary based on a start point-of-interest, an end point-of-interest, a time constraint, and the timed paths.

Abstract: Briefly, the disclosure describes embodiments of methods or apparatuses for document processing at distributed processing nodes.

Abstract: A method and system for providing audio assistance for non-visual navigation of data. The method includes receiving a scroll input; determining a page length associated with the data; associating the page length with a plurality of steps; associating an audio pattern to each step; determining a step, of the plurality of steps, that corresponds to the scroll input; and playing, to the user, the audio pattern corresponding to the step. The system includes an electronic device, a communication interface, a memory and a processor to receive a scroll input, to determine a page length associated with the data, to associate the page length with a plurality of steps, to associate an audio pattern to each step, to determine a step, of the plurality of steps, that corresponds to the scroll input and to play, to the user, the audio pattern corresponding to the step.

Abstract: An advertisement delivery management apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a predictive information storage, a counting unit, and an allocating unit. The predictive information storage unit stores information including user attributes of a plurality of delivery target users predicted as a future advertisement delivery destination. The counting unit counts a total of the number of user attributes of delivery target users which are not allocated on an advertisement delivery order request among the plurality of delivery target users. The an allocating unit allocates the delivery target user on the advertisement delivery order request so that a decrease in a total of the number of user attributes counted by the counting unit is minimized before and after the delivery target user is allocated on the advertisement delivery order request.

Abstract: An advertisement delivery management apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a score determining unit and an allocating unit. The score determining unit determines an allocation score representing a adequacy degree of allocation of a delivery target user on an advertisement delivery order request based on the number or the proportion of non-allocated users which are delivery target users which are not allocated on the advertisement delivery order request among a plurality of delivery target users for each user attribute. The allocating unit allocates the delivery target user on the advertisement delivery order request so that a decrease in the allocation score is minimized before and after the delivery target user is allocated on the order request for the advertisement delivery order request.

Abstract: A membership registration system according to embodiments includes an information management apparatus and a store membership management apparatus. The information management apparatus receives user information from the terminal apparatus, and stores the user information in a user information storage unit. When the terminal apparatus makes a membership registration request, the store membership management apparatus transmits to the information management apparatus a transmission request of user information corresponding to a user of the terminal apparatus and sets the user information acquired from the information management apparatus in association with a member ID as member information in a store membership management storage unit.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for use, for example, in e-commerce. E-commerce data from a merchant may be received regarding interactions of customers with a website of the merchant. Characteristics of the e-commerce data may be identified. Based at least in part on the one or more identified characteristics, a plurality of marketing actions may be selected, or automatically selected, that are potentially effective for the merchant. The selected marketing actions may be ranked based at least in part on one or more of a quality score and one or more bids associated with each of the selected marketing actions. A ranked list of the selected marketing actions may be provided, or recommended, to the merchant.

Abstract: An online article is enhanced by displaying, in association with the article, supplemental content that includes entities that are extracted from the article and/or entities that are related to entities that are extracted from the article. The supplemental content further includes information about each of the entities. The information about an entity may be obtained by searching for the entity in one or more searchable repositories of data. For example, the supplemental content may include, for each entity, video, image, web, and/or news search results. The supplemental content may further include information such as stock quotes, abstracts, maps, scores, and so on. The entities are selected using a variety of analyses and ranking techniques based on contextual factors such as user-specific information, time-sensitive popularity trends, grammatical features, search result quality, and so on. The entities may further be selected for purposes such as generating ad-based revenue.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for constructing a profile for a target user is disclosed. The method comprises monitoring electronic communications across a network to identify at least one electronic communication that identifies a target user as an intended message recipient, extracting metadata from content associated with the at least one electronic communication; and constructing a user profile for the target user on the basis of the extracted metadata. It is assumed that the message senders send their messages, including associated content, to a given target user with the belief that the content is of some interest to the target user on the basis of some knowledge regarding the target user's personality, preferences, tastes and the like. In this manner, a profiling entity may indirectly construct a profile of the target user based on the content sent by one or more message senders to the target user.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for providing advertising content for display in a page over a network. The advertising content is displayed based on a category assigned to the advertising content and an identified geographic location of a search query. The category correlating to a given search may be based on the search results. The search results may be associated with one or more categories and the category for selecting advertising content is determined in accordance with the amount of search results each category is correlated to. The provided advertising content may be selected from an available inventory of advertising content within the geographic location of the search query or the geographic location of an advertiser location associated with the geographic location of the search query.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for an interactive communication experience on mobile devices. In general, the present disclosure discusses dynamically manipulating or modifying graphic user representations during an electronic communication. The modification or manipulation of these graphic user representations enables users to convey nuances of mood and feelings rather than being confined to conveying them through conventional communications, including text, images, video, or selecting an appropriate emoticon or avatar from a palette of predetermined emoticons or avatars.

Abstract: An information distribution apparatus includes an acquiring unit that acquires individual identification information, product identification information, and user identification information. The information distribution apparatus includes a storing unit that stores the authentication information and the user identification information in an associated manner in a predetermined storing device. The information distribution apparatus includes a deciding unit that decides, whether the received authentication information and the received user identification information are stored in an associated manner in the predetermined storing device.

Abstract: A method and system for providing tokenless secure login by visual cryptography. The method includes generating a password sequence and converting the password sequence to a password image. The method also includes encrypting the password image into a first image cipher and a second image cipher. The method further includes transmitting the first image cipher to a first electronic device of a user. Further, the method includes displaying the second image cipher on a second electronic device of the user. Moreover, the method includes enabling decryption of the password image by matching the first image cipher and the second image cipher using an image capture device on the first electronic device. The system includes a plurality of electronic devices, communication interface, memory, and processor.

Abstract: An advertisement information providing device, includes: an advertisement content storing unit configured to store impression-guaranteed type advertisement content and pay-per-click type advertisement content; an advertisement content type determining unit configured to determine which type of advertisement content between the impression-guaranteed type advertisement content and the pay-per-click type advertisement content to deliver when a page browsing request is received from a terminal device of a user; and an advertisement content delivery unit configured to determine advertisement content of the type determined by the advertisement content type determining unit among advertisement content stored in the advertisement content storing unit and deliver the advertisement content determined to an advertisement space included in a page for which the page browsing request is received from the terminal device of the user.

Abstract: Subject matter disclosed herein relates to electronic image object or logo recognition.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a user with supplemental content associated with a product or item the user sees or hears in a video. The system and method include receiving, by a server computer over a network from a client device, an audio clip associated with a portion of a video; determining, by the server computer, that the video is a specific media program; using, by the server computer, the captured audio clip to map the portion of the video with supplemental content for a product associated with the portion of the video; and communicating, by the server computer, the supplemental content for the product to the client device for display on the client device.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards modifying a distribution of writers as either a push writer or a pull writer based on a cost model that decides for a given content reader whether it is more effective for the writer to be a pull writer or a push writer. A cache is maintained for each content reader for caching content items pushed by a push writer in the content writer's push list of writers when the content is generated. At query time, content items are pulled by the content reader based on writers a content reader's pull list. One embodiment of the cost model employs data about a previous number of requests for content items for a given writer for a number of previous blended display results of content items. When a writer is determined to be popular, mechanisms are proposed for pushing content items to a plurality of content readers.

Abstract: An advertisement delivery device acquires a value regarding a degree of relevance with content to which advertisement information set to the content is allowed to be delivered when a delivery request of advertisement information to be delivered to content is received, calculates a degree of relevance between the content and the advertisement information, determines whether the calculated degree of relevance is higher than the acquired value regarding the degree of relevance, and delivers the advertisement information as the advertisement information to be delivered to the content when the degree of relevance is determined as being higher than the value regarding the degree of relevance.

Abstract: Various component values of original content items are extracted via an initial publication and republication of content items. An original, unpublished content item is initially made available for discovery and purchase by different content distributors. When a content distributor first purchases the content item for publication, it is no longer available to other content distributors for an initial time period which can be configured based on different component values of the content item. Upon the expiry of the initial time period, the content item is again provided to various content distributors for republication.

Abstract: Described herein is a system that can link multiple electronic media production and/or publication applications. The linking of the multiple applications may be facilitated through a browser. Also, a toolbar included in the browser may facilitate the links between applications and assist a user in controlling one or more workflows that use the linked applications.

Abstract: A method and system for remote altering static video content in real time. The method includes encountering one or more synchronization markers embedded in a video. The video includes the static video content that plays on an electronic device. The method also includes contacting a content server along with a plurality of user parameters. The method further includes receiving streamed content for the video from the content server. The streamed content is determined based on the plurality of user parameters and a set of rules. Further, the method includes adding the streamed content to the static video content at the one or more synchronization markers. Moreover, the method includes rendering a hybrid video to a user. The hybrid video includes the streamed content and the static video content. The system includes an electronic device, communication interface, memory, and processor.

Abstract: System and method for providing time-based content. In one embodiment, time-based offers are presented to viewers of broadcast content, and may be presented on the same display device being used to display broadcast programming. In another embodiment, time-based offers are commercial offers inviting the viewer to purchase goods or services at a special rate for a limited time. Time-based offers may also be customized based on programming content being viewed and/or viewer profile data. Responses to presented time-based offers may be used to update viewer profile data and/or merchant conversion profile data, which is a measure of how effective the particular offer is.

Abstract: An advertisement distribution apparatus of the present application includes a storage unit, a calculating unit, a determining unit, and a distributing unit. The storage unit stores a value related to degree of association with content to which advertisement information is allowed to be distributed. The calculating unit calculates degree of association between content and advertisement information upon receiving a distribution request for advertisement information to be distributed to the content. The determining unit determines whether the degree of association calculated by the calculating unit is within a range determined by the value related to the degree of association stored in the storage unit. The distributing unit distributes the advertisement information as advertisement information to be distributed to the content when the determining unit determines that the degree of association is within the range.

Abstract: Method system, and programs for balancing work load in a distributed system. A plurality of resource units in the distributed system are ranked based a plurality of multi-dimensional load metrics determined from each of the plurality of resource units. The plurality of resource units are divided into a plurality of resource unit groups based on the ranking of the plurality of resource units. At least one pair of resource unit groups is formed. Each of the at least one pair of resource unit groups is assigned with a probability of load balancing action. For each pair of resource unit groups, a load balancing action is determined based on the assigned probability of load balancing action.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for optimizing bidding over multiple advertising campaigns having a least two campaign types. The optimization is subjected to at least one constraint quantifying a multiple campaign spending limit amount. The method commences by identifying a collection of the multiple advertising campaigns, then evaluating each of the constituent member advertising campaigns to determine its respective optimized spending amount. Then the method calculates (e.g., sums) an aggregate spending amount by aggregating the individual campaign spending amounts. When the aggregate spending amount is greater than the multiple campaign constraint, then the method apportions the multiple campaign spending limit amount to the constituent member advertising campaigns which is in turn used to determine a reduced spending limit.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems for allowing transactions in instruments relating to term-based concepts in a networked computer system. Concepts may be defined as a set of terms, such as words or phrases, that relate to a theme. The terms are useable in computerized searches. The set of terms may be determined manually, using a computer algorithm, or both. Concepts are valued, such as by a measure of advertising value. Instruments include concept futures as well as bets. Concept-based instruments can be used, for example, as hedging tools, speculating tools, market forecasting tools, or data generating tools.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing bid adjustments in an online advertisement exchange are disclosed. A plurality of bids from a plurality of advertisers may be received for an online advertisement opportunity. A first advertiser may be associated with a first bid bias value. In some embodiments, if the first advertiser is associated with a first bid bias value, then the bid received from the first advertiser may be adjusted based on the first bid bias value. For example, an adjusted bid may be calculated based on the bid received from the first advertiser and the first bid bias value. The online advertisement exchange may conduct an online auction with the adjusted bid from the first advertiser. If the first advertiser wins the auction based on the adjusted bid, then the first advertiser may be charged the value of the bid received from the first advertiser instead of the adjusted bid value.

Abstract: A system and method for cross-platform targeting includes: receiving as input calendar entries from an on-line calendar associated with a first user, the calendar entries designating specified time slots associated with scheduled events; marking the specified time slots associated with the scheduled events as unavailable time slots; eliminating the unavailable time slots from the calendar associated with the first user; determining from remaining time slots those time slots wherein the first user is deemed unlikely to be available; removing those time slots from the calendar, providing free time slots; and presenting the free time slots as optimal time slots for serving digital information to the first user.

Abstract: Identifying a set of information sources from a plurality of N diverse information sources, then, responsive to user input, retrieving a first set of data items from a first information source after determining a first extent of information retrieval, and retrieving a second set of data items from the second information source after determining a second extent of information retrieval and so on for all of the N diverse information sources. The extents of the retrieval comprise at most a number of data items specified by a user (e.g., corresponding to a page size). The method continues by sorting all of the N set of data items fetched from the diverse sources in Round Robin fashion until at least a specific number of elements are merged for generating a paged, sorted set of data items to be displayed in a paginated format.

Abstract: An advertiser-driven single page product search and purchase process may be simplified for consumers. When a product search is performed, a single page may be rendered to the consumer that includes the necessary information to enable a consumer to avoid multiple searches and switching frequently between other tabs and pages. The single page may also provide an option to the advertiser to monitor these interactions so that the advertiser may perform an active role in the product search and purchase process.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an ability to identify a supported language. A current language tag including one or more subtags, each subtag providing language identification information. In response to determining that a language referenced by the current language tag is not a supported language, accessing a stored set of mappings including one or more mappings, each mapping associating a first language tag with a second language tag, determining whether or not a mapping in the set of mappings includes the current language tag as one of the first and second language tags and a new language tag as the other of the first and second language tags, and using the new language tag as the current language tag to identify the supported language.

Abstract: Methods and systems for generating a dense graph are described. One of the methods includes receiving a graph and computing a threshold to apply to the graph. The method further includes determining whether the graph includes a first set of at least one node, determining whether a second set of at least one node from the first set meets the threshold, and removing the at least one node of the second set concurrently from the graph upon determining that the at least one node of the second set meets the threshold. The operation of removing is performed to generate an updated graph. The method includes determining whether a density of the updated graph is greater than a density of the graph and replacing the graph within the updated graph upon determining that the density of the updated graph is greater than the density of the density of the graph.

Abstract: Techniques are described herein for enhancing the ranking products using purchase day based time windows. A purchase day based time window is a time window that is defined to include purchase days selected from a series of consecutive days. A purchase day is a day on which a product associated with the time window is purchased. The series of consecutive days includes the purchase days intermixed with non-purchase day(s). A non-purchase day is a day on which the product associated with the time window is not purchased. The purchase day based time window is further defined to not include the non-purchase day(s).

Abstract: A system for providing mobile advertisement actions may include a memory to store a request, mobile carrier data, mobile advertisement data, and mobile advertisement action data. The system may include an interface operatively connected to the memory to communicate with a mobile device. The system may include a processor operatively connected to the memory and the interface. The processor may receive information and a request from the mobile device via the interface and may determine the mobile carrier data relating to a mobile carrier associated with the mobile device. The processor may identify the mobile advertisement data and the mobile advertisement action targeted to the request and the mobile carrier data. The processor may append the mobile advertisement action data to the mobile advertisement data. The processor may provide the mobile advertisement data with the appended mobile advertisement action data to the mobile device via the interface.

Abstract: A shortcut graphical user interface (GUI) comprising user-selectable icons, each representing a shortcut and corresponding to and providing access to a resource, e.g., a web resource. When triggered, the shortcut GUI may be rendered in an application window, e.g., superimposed on the contents displayed in the application window. The shortcut GUI may be rendered at a location in the application window specified by the user and/or a pre-stored location. The application may be a browser application that allows the user to access web resources, and each shortcut icon in the shortcut GUI may represent a uniform resource locator (URL) identifying a web resource accessible upon user selection of the shortcut icon.

Abstract: In one embodiment, data generated via a map process and/or reduce process may be obtained. A request message may be sent to a server, where the request message indicates a request for a location in storage at which the data is to be stored. Upon receiving the location from the server, the data may be copied to the location in the storage. A commit message may be sent to the server, where the commit message indicates that the data has been copied to the location. In addition, the data may be deleted.

Abstract: Techniques for providing offers for products/services associated with a topic to users based on a measure of conversion determined for the users are described. The measure of conversion for each user may be indicative of a probability that the user will purchase item(s) associated with a particular topic. The measure of conversion may be based on social activity associated with the user and social activity associated with other users that have formed a social connection with the user. Offers associated with the particular topic are presented to the user in response to determining that the measure of conversion of the user for the topic reaches a predetermined threshold and/or matches further criteria.

Abstract: A system and method for determination and display of personalized distance. A request is received for the determination of a personalized distance over a network, wherein the request comprises an identification of a requesting user, and a plurality of real world entities comprising at least a starting location and an ending location. At least one route is determined between the first location and the second location. Spatial, temporal, topical, and social data available to the network relating to the requesting user and each real world entity and the route is retrieved using a global index of data available to the network. A personalized distance is calculated via the network between the first location and the second location using spatial, temporal, topical, and social data relating to the requesting user and each real world entity and the route. A representation of the personalized distance calculated for the route is displayed on a display medium.

Abstract: Computer systems and methods allow users to annotate content items found in a corpus such as the World Wide Web. Annotations, which can include any descriptive and/or evaluative metadata related to a document, are collected from a user and stored in association with that user. Users are able to annotate and view their annotations for any document they encounter while interacting with the corpus, including hits returned in a search of the corpus. Users are also able to search their annotations or to limit searches to documents they have annotated. Metadata from annotations can also be aggregated across users and aggregated metadata applied in generating search results.

Abstract: A storage unit 61 stores user card information 70 that stores information on a user who creates an electronic point card in a mobile terminal 11 and information on the electronic point card and advertisement information 71 of a store where the point card can be used. A distributing unit 82 distributes advertisement information of the store where the electronic point card created in the mobile terminal of the user can be used to an information processing device used by the user who created the electronic point card in the mobile terminal 11 and who is indicated in the user card information 70.

Abstract: Method, system, and programs for generating, storing, and maintaining data in a data storage system. A data record in a first format is received, and converted into one or more converted data records in a second format. Each of the one or more converted data records comprises a markup attribute, a content attribute, and an identifier attribute used to locate the data record in the first format. And the one or more converted data records are stored in the data storage system.

Abstract: A network's evolution is characterized by graph evolution rules. A graph, formed by merging multiple graphs representing the multiple snapshots of the network, that represents an evolutionary network is mined to identify evolutional patterns of the network. A pattern is selected from the identified patterns. Graph evolution rules are generated using identified evolutional patterns. The generated graph evolution rules represent the evolutional patterns of the network, the rules indicating that any occurrence of a child pattern of the selected pattern implies a corresponding occurrence of the selected pattern.

Abstract: A method for digital advertising includes steps or acts of: using a memory device with computer-executable instructions stored therein, the instructions including: accessing a profile identifying a user, the profile providing the user's preferences for interaction with digital advertisements; receiving a selection of a digital advertisement viewed by the user; and storing at least a portion of the digital advertisement in a digital ad repository linked with the user's profile, the storing being executed according to the user's preferences. The method further includes using a processor device operably coupled with the memory device for executing the computer-executable instructions from memory.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system, method and computer program for enabling a user (an auditor or a viewer) to access complementary information related to one or a plurality of sequences or topics of interest in a recorded program previously broadcast on the radio or television and played back on a device, such as an audio or video tape or disk recorder/player. The preferred embodiment of the invention relates to a system and method for enabling a person listening to or watching a recorded program, to select one or a plurality of topics drawing his or her attention and for immediately receiving further information related to these topics from the World Wide Web. The system is based on the synchronization of local times of transmitters and recorders. The flow of information transmitted, received and recorded is always synchronized, independently of the relative positions of recorders and transmitters.

Abstract: An overlay protocol and system for allowing multicast routing in the Internet to be performed at the application level. The overlay protocol uses “native” Internet multicast and multicast routing protocols to route information, according to overlay routing tables. Overlay groups are mapped to native multicast groups to exploit native multicasting in regional or local forwarding domains. Use of the overlay protocol allows overlay distribution to be handled in a more intelligent and bandwidth-managed fashion. Overlay routers are placed at each of several local area networks, Internet service provider's point of presence, enterprise, or other cohesively-managed locations. The overlay computers are configured according to bandwidth and security policies, and perform application-level multicast distribution across the otherwise disjoint multicast networks by using the overlay routing. The result is an overlay multicast network that is effectively managed according to local network management policies.