Abstract: Computer-implemented systems and method are taught for scoring an internet ad and/or ranking a vendor based on a combination of quantitative and qualitative characteristics.

Abstract: A method and system for supply of data, including generating a first digital certificate referred (empowerment certificate) signed with a first signing entity's electronic signature. The empowerment certificate includes attributes of the described entity, information identifying the first signing entity, indication of data relating to the described entity, indication of a source of the data, and identification of a relying entity to which the data can be supplied. The relying entity forwards the empowerment certificate to a source supplying the data indicated in the empowerment certificate. The data may be supplied to the relying entity by a second digital certificate (custom certificate), signed with a second signing entity's electronic signature. Custom certificates may appear in custom certificate revocation lists. A system and method for transfer of ownership of electronic property from a first entity to a second entity, and a method and system for electronic voting are also provided.

Abstract: A system for supply of data, including generating a first digital certificate referred (empowerment certificate) signed with a first signing entity's electronic signature. The empowerment certificate includes attributes of the described entity, information identifying the first signing entity, indication of data relating to the described entity, indication of a source of the data, and identification of a relying entity to which the data can be supplied. The relying entity forwards the empowerment certificate to a source supplying the data indicated in the empowerment certificate. The data may be supplied to the relying entity by a second digital certificate (custom certificate), signed with a second signing entity's electronic signature. Custom certificates may appear in custom certificate revocation lists. A system and method for transfer of ownership of electronic property from a first entity to a second entity, and a method and system for electronic voting are also provided.

Abstract: A method is provided for communication by a mobile telecommunication device. The method comprises detecting, by the mobile telecommunication device, an input related to an advertisement displayed on the mobile telecommunication device and associated with an online merchant. The method further comprises, responsive to detecting the input, transmitting, by the mobile telecommunication device, to the online merchant, a token stored in a memory location in the mobile telecommunication device, wherein the token contains information for facilitating a transaction between the mobile telecommunication device and the online merchant.

Abstract: Architectures and techniques are described related to identifying merchants associated with information obtained from a number of sources and storing portions of the information in data elements related to the merchants. The information may be provided in a structured format that enables the service provider to associate certain information with a particular merchant or in an unstructured format. The service provider may analyze the information received from the sources to determine whether the information includes any merchant identifying information. When the service provider identifies a merchant based on the merchant identifying information, the service provider may extract additional portions of the information received (e.g. merchant reviews, merchant attributes, etc.) and store those additional portions of information in the data element of the merchant.

Abstract: A method for supply of data, including generating a first digital certificate referred (empowerment certificate) signed with a first signing entity's electronic signature. The empowerment certificate includes attributes of the described entity, information identifying the first signing entity, indication of data relating to the described entity, indication of a source of the data, and identification of a relying entity to which the data can be supplied. The relying entity forwards the empowerment certificate to a source supplying the data indicated in the empowerment certificate. The data may be supplied to the relying entity by a second digital certificate (custom certificate), signed with a second signing entity's electronic signature. Custom certificates may appear in custom certificate revocation lists. A system and method for transfer of ownership of electronic property from a first entity to a second entity, and a method and system for electronic voting are also provided.

Abstract: A system and a computer program product are disclosed. The system is configured to generate a digital empowerment certificate of a voter. The digital empowerment certificate includes an indication of identification data that uniquely identifies the voter to the authentication body, references to sources for the identification data or the identification data itself, and an indication of a voting key. The system is further configured to sign the digital empowerment certificate with an electronic signature of the voter. Moreover, the system is configured to generate a voting message including a vote of the voter. In addition, the system is configured to generate a signature block combining the digital empowerment certificate and the voting message. Furthermore, the system is configured to send the encrypted digital empowerment certificate, the encrypted voting message, and the signature block to the authentication body.

Abstract: A communication system includes a terminal having a first storage section for storing a number of pieces of content information, a second storage section for storing a number of pieces of the content information, a storage control section for placing a content ID stored in the second storage section into purchase information for each terminal and stored in the second storage section, an access control section for controlling access to the content information corresponding to the content ID stored in the second storage section, and an accounting setting section for setting an amount of a fee to be imposed on the terminal in response to the purchase information.

Abstract: A method, system and software for establishing a secure communications channel between repositories using a repository transaction protocol, including generating a registration identifier and registration message including an identification certificate, and an identifier of a master repository that encrypted the identification certificate; receiving the registration message and verifying the identity by verifying the identification certificate; validating the authenticity, including, generating a message to test the authenticity, sending the generated message, and verifying if upon receiving the generated message whether the generated message is correctly processed; and exchanging messages including a session key used for communications and transactions including generating a request for a digital work, associating usage rights information with the request for digital work, and determining if the usage rights information associated with the request corresponds to usage rights associated with the digital work.

Abstract: A system may include a database configured with individual partitions, one of the partitions corresponding to a sponsored content campaign of a social network. The system may further include multiple servers each communicatively coupled to the database, and each configured to implement a campaign having a campaign termination criterion. Each of the servers may include a processor configured to track sponsored content event data received from a user device based on the campaign and transmit the event data to the database and terminate the campaign based on a comparison of the event data as received from a partition of the database corresponding to the campaign and an estimation of event data not received from the database. The database may be configured to store the event data as received from the servers in the partition corresponding to the campaign upon receipt of the event data.

Abstract: A method for supply of data, including generating an empowerment certificate signed with a signing entity's electronic signature. The empowerment certificate includes attributes of a described entity, information identifying the signing entity, indication of data relating to the described entity, indication of a source of the data, and identification of a relying entity to which the data can be supplied. The relying entity forwards the empowerment certificate to a source supplying the data indicated in the empowerment certificate.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for use with digital data processing systems to control or otherwise limit access to networked resources based, at least in part, on transactional artifacts and/or derived artifacts.

Abstract: A method and system for delivering encoded content are provided. A holdback representing a portion of the encoded content is extracted, thereby damaging the encoded content. The damaged encoded content is distributed. The holdback is transmitted to enable reintegration of the holdback with the damaged encoded content to restore the encoded content.

Abstract: A system may include a database configured with individual partitions, one of the partitions corresponding to a sponsored content campaign of a social network. The system may further include multiple servers each communicatively coupled to the database, and each configured to implement a campaign having a campaign termination criterion. Each of the servers may include a processor configured to track sponsored content event data received from a user device based on the campaign and transmit the event data to the database and terminate the campaign based on a comparison of the event data as received from a partition of the database corresponding to the campaign and an estimation of event data not received from the database. The database may be configured to store the event data as received from the servers in the partition corresponding to the campaign upon receipt of the event data.

Abstract: Architectures and techniques are described to provide a number of options to exchange information related to deals via a plurality of channels. Each of the communication channels may be utilized to exchange communications about different aspects of acquiring and redeeming deals. The channel options may be related to categories of computing devices, operating systems executed by computing devices, one or more sites, various forms of communication, client device applications, etc. A service provider that offers deals on behalf of merchants may determine one or more options for each communication channel with respect to merchants offering deals and with respect individuals that may participate in deals offered by the service provider. After determining the channel options for a deal offered by a particular merchant and for individuals designated to receive information about the deal, communications with respect to the deal may be exchanged over the channels via certain channel options.

Abstract: A digital work may be annotated using an eBook reader device. Upon receiving an annotation relating to a specific portion of the digital work, an invariant location reference identifier corresponding to the specified portion of the digital work may be appended to the annotation. The annotation may then be stored in association with the digital work for later reference. In some instances, an annotation may be presented on an eBook reader device upon receipt of a valid authorization credential granting access to the annotation.

Abstract: A secure point-of-sale (POS) portal architecture for delivering multiple services is provided. According to one exemplary aspect of the architecture, a number of services offered by various parties are integrated for delivery to merchants. The parties offering the services include, for example, payment processors and merchant acquirers and other external value-added service providers. The integrated services, in turn, are offered to merchants and/or their respective customers via one or more POS devices and its supporting system infrastructure at the merchant locations. The integrated services include, for example, acceptance of multiple payment instruments, payment processing, user dialog management, sales promotion and customer support, loyalty programs, back office processing, receipt capture, employee training, risk management, dispute resolution, system security, system administration etc.

Abstract: In order to prevent leakage of an authentication symbol string such as a credit card number, and enable a user to be authenticated: an ID issuance server 20 receives the first eight digits of the credit card number from a portable telephone device 10 of the user and issues a one-time ID to the portable telephone device 10; and a service provision server 30 receives the last eight digits of the credit card number and the one-time ID from a PC 11, and transmits the one-time ID and those last eight digits to a number construction and authentication processing server 40 that receives the one-time ID and the last eight digits from the service provision server 30, communicates with the ID issuance server 20 and acquires the first eight digits which correspond to the one-time ID, reconstructs the credit card number, and performs authentication.

Abstract: A method of controlling distribution of digital content (116) is presented. A version (106) of a program (100) is needed to use the content. A plurality of versions of the program (100) is generated, each version being unique with respect to incorporated code fragments and/or associated locations thereof. The plurality of respective code fragments (118) each cause a processor to perform a respective test regarding a data characteristic on content to be processed by the program for restricting the processing of content for which the permission has not been granted. The respective code fragments (118) are incorporated at respective locations in the program (100) to obtain the version (106) of the program (100).

Abstract: A method and system of dispatching a non-digital merchandise and/or allied services related code is described, via a device operable on a mobile communication network. The method involves providing a pre-defined code indicative of non-digital merchandise and/or allied services on a promotional medium, the promotional medium being viewable by a user. The predefined code is input via a device operable on a mobile communication network by the user. The pre-defined code is stored in a storage medium. The stored code is analyzed for determining consumer requirements, so as to extract requisite information from the storage medium. The information is extracted from storage medium according to the analyzed code. Extracted information is communicated to a consumer and a merchandise provider via a device operable on the mobile communication network. Transformation of the extracted information is performed simultaneously.