Abstract: Disclosure includes selecting a merchant from a plurality of merchants, enabling a trial mode for the merchant, during the trial mode, receiving an indication of a first order for the merchant, forwarding the indication of the first order to the merchant, allocating a first payment for the first order to the merchant, requesting an acceptance of a membership status from the merchant, and receiving an indication of the payment for the first order.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer readable medium for authorization of independent agents for processing calls and distribution of calls to authorized agents are provided. An independent agent may purchase or otherwise acquire credits for leads related to commerce transactions. The credits may be maintained by a call center and accessed by a device responsible for routing calls to agents. Calls or other transactions leads may then be directed to the independent agent, and the independent agents credits may be deducted accordingly.

Abstract: Techniques for reducing fraud are disclosed. A transaction request is received from a user to perform a transaction using an account. In one approach, a source icon is displayed prior to executing the request. The source icon includes a graphical representation of an owner of the account. In another approach, at least one of a photograph and a voice of the user is recorded prior to executing the request. In a third approach, the user is informed that at least one of a photograph, a voice print, and location data will be taken prior to executing the transaction request.

Abstract: Technologies for providing suggestions of images for items without images in listings data are described herein. Item details regarding a number of items to be listed in online marketplace are received from a seller, validated, and processed before being merged in an item catalog. Those items submitted without image data specifying one or more images for the item are identified. An image index maintained in the online marketplace system and indexing images for popular items by keyword is searched to locate a number of images related to the items with missing image data. The items with missing image data are presented to the seller along with suggested images for the item. The seller selects one or more of the suggested images and the images are added to the listings data for the item before being merged into the item catalog.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for transitioning between views in a network page. An application that is executed in at least one computing device encodes a network page for rendering in a client, the network page including a region, and the region being configured for the rendering of at least two views. The network page is encoded to depict a transition between the two views. A first one of the views depicts at least one mechanism to add a depicted item in the network page to a list, and a second one of the views depicts at least a portion of the list. Once encoded, the network page is sent to the client.

Abstract: The present invention is a garment sizing system that that identifies the correct garment size for a particular garment type for a plurality of brands. In an embodiment, the garment sizing system is a client-server system that uses at least one server to host a website, garment sizing software, and at least one database. The consumers access the website over a communication network using networked devices. The database is populated with garment data such as garment type, brand name, brand line, retailers that sell that sell the brand, garment size, and dimensional garment measurements. Using the website, the consumer inputs the consumer's body measurement or the size of a specific garment that is known to fit the consumer, and the system retrieves and displays from the database the correct sizes for a specific garment type from a variety of brands based on the inputted data.

Abstract: A method for appraising at a retail location an item having one of a precious stone, a semi-precious stone, a precious metal, or a semi-precious metal includes the step of providing a variety of food products at the retail location. Then, by a transaction point computer at the retail location, the item to be appraised is received, along with the consumer's selection of a food product. The item's composition is determined using an evaluating device, and an exchange value is associated with the item using data obtained by the evaluating device and market data obtained over a network. The exchange value of the item is relayed to the consumer after the food product selected by the consumer has been delivered.

Abstract: A shared “universal” virtual shopping cart (“the cart”) may be provided by a host to enable information sharing between multiple disparate electronic marketplaces provided by various merchants. The host may obtain user information via the cart to improve interactions with a user. The host may recommend an item to the user that is offered at a lower price and related to an item retained in the user's cart. The host may also recommend items based on a user's purchase history, such as complementary items (e.g., up-sell items) and items other users may recommend. In some aspects, the host may compile best selling lists based on data from multiple electronic marketplaces. The host may also perform user specific operations such as indicate an item in a cart is a duplicate of a previous purchase and monitor a price and/or available quantities of an item in the cart.

Abstract: This is directed to systems and methods for ordering a playlist of media items. An existing playlist can include media sharing some characteristics, where some of the media items are unfamiliar to the user. To provide the user with a sense of the unfamiliar media items, the electronic device can order the playlist media items based on a familiarity or popularity measure. For example, the electronic device can determine the chart rankings of each media item in the playlist, and play back the media items in the order of chart ranking. This may allow a user to first listen or watch the most familiar or popular media items and get a sense for the less familiar or popular media items in the playlist.

Abstract: A system, a method, an apparatus, and a computer program product are provided. The apparatus includes at least one memory including computer program code, and at least one processor. The at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to receive a request from a first user node to initiate an auction for a purchase of a product, and initiate an auction for the product. The at least one memory and the computer program code are also configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to receive an initial bid from a second user node. The initial bid includes a price term that is lower than or equal to an initial price term for the product. The at least one memory and the computer program code are also configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to receive one or more subsequent bids from the second user node or another user node.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to method for exchange of semi-fungible goods or services. In some embodiments, the method includes electronically receiving a plurality of offers from a plurality of participant devices, each offer comprising a plurality of parameters related to the offer, including an identification of a semi-fungible good or service to be offered, matching two of the offers from the plurality of participant devices based on the parameters of the offers, and executing an exchange of the semi-fungible goods or services identified in the offer, based on the parameters of the offers. In some embodiments, the semi-fungible goods or services can be tickets, reservations, services, order in line, educational services, or physical objects.

Abstract: There is provided a character training and development system for a virtual environment and related method. A character can be purchased by a user and then registered on a communication network via a unique code. Once registered, a set of attributes can be assigned to the character based on the type and class of the character. Attribute values can be assigned to the attributes by default or by user preferences. The characters can be manipulated within the virtual environment. In particular, the characters can be trained in order to improve their skills, to add new skills, and to increase their overall value and worth in the virtual environment. In addition, the characters can be traded among users for a price based on their skills. Fees can be charged for each trade. Traded characters are given a new code to transfer all control of the character to the new owner.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for recommending improvements in merchant network sites. In one example, a plurality of recommendations are stored in a memory accessible by a server, the recommendations being applicable to improve an operation of the network presence of at least one of a plurality of online merchants, and wherein a criteria is associated with each of the recommendations, each criteria determining whether a corresponding one of the recommendations applies to the network presence of a respective one of the online merchants. A subset of the recommendations applicable to the network presence of one of the online merchants is identified and an implementation status is determined for each of the subset of recommendations. The recommendations in the subset are presented along with the implementation status of each of the recommendations to an agent of the one of the online merchants.

Abstract: There is provided a method comprising: receiving a request for information on electronic products from a first mobile communication terminal over a mobile communication network and providing information on a list of electronic products; receiving a request for payment for an electronic product selected from the provided information on the list, and transmitting a payment result after carrying out payment procedures for the selected electronic product; storing the paid electronic product in a joint account; receiving a request for access to the joint account from a second mobile communication terminal and determining whether or not to allow the access to the joint account; and receiving a request for checking availability of some of the electronic products stored in the joint account from the second mobile communication terminal and checking the availability of the requested electronic products.

Abstract: A method of administrating inmate privileges in a correctional facility using a computer kiosk is provided. The method includes accepting data and information corresponding to inmate privileges for an inmate population, the data and information including restrictions on the inmate privileges. The method also includes accepting requests for privileges by an inmate, applying the restrictions to the accepted requests, and visually presenting information to the inmate regarding accepted requests.

Abstract: A shared “universal” virtual shopping cart (“the cart”) may be provided by a host to enable information sharing between multiple disparate electronic marketplaces provided by various merchants. The host may obtain user information via the cart to improve interactions with a user. The host may recommend an item to the user that is offered at a lower price and related to an item retained in the user's cart. The host may also recommend items based on a user's purchase history, such as complementary items (e.g., up-sell items) and items other users may recommend. In some aspects, the host may compile best selling lists based on data from multiple electronic marketplaces. The host may also perform user specific operations such as indicate an item in a cart is a duplicate of a previous purchase and monitor a price and/or available quantities of an item in the cart.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that use social networking profiles of users to generate personalized content of display pages. The personalized content may be generated using profile data retrieved via an application program interface of a social networking system, and may be presented on the display pages of a distinct system, such as a site that hosts an electronic catalog of items. The personalized content may include features that allow a user to indicate a like or preference for an item and that can be customized based on, e.g., the extent of the user's social network or the influence the user has over other potential users of the catalog system. Systems and methods are also disclosed that use the social networking profiles to generate personalized messages that can be posted to social network contacts of the user to provide information about items for which the contacts may be interested.

Abstract: A method and a system for ordering paint to cover a surface includes, retrieving a color value from a machine-readable memory to a processor. The processor retrieves a paint quantity from a machine-readable memory. The processor compiles an order for paint including the paint quantity and color value and then transmits the order from the processor to a vendor for formulating the paint quantity having the color value when painted upon the surface and allowed to dry.

Abstract: Methods and systems for electronic commerce are provided in which a buyer requests a merchandise estimate by selecting estimate items registered by a seller, selects one of various estimates suggested by the seller in response to the request, and performs payment for the merchandise. One method for providing electronic commerce includes receiving, from a buyer terminal, an estimate request selecting at least one of a plurality of items from estimate request information registered by a seller terminal, providing at least one estimate to a buyer according to an estimate response from the seller terminal, and receiving an estimate rejection or a purchase request in response to the at least one estimate from the buyer terminal and performing a corresponding process.

Abstract: Methods and systems by which a consumer may select or specify coordinated features of an absorbent paper product and its packaging, such as a facial tissue or paper towel product, and then receive an absorbent paper product and packaging having the coordinated features selected or specified by the consumer.