Abstract: A computer readable medium is disclosed, containing instructions useful in performing a method for sending advertising data, the method comprising measuring user-to-user connectivity between users within a community of users; determining a plurality of highly connected users (HCUs) based on the user-to-user connectivity; and sending advertising data to selected HCUs based on a zone of influence (ZOI) for each HCU. A system useful in performing the method is disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods to provide telephonic connections. In one embodiment, a method includes: providing a listing on a marketplace, the listing including an assigned reference to be used to initiate a real time communication connection; and billing for a real time communication lead generated from presenting the listing in response to a real time communication initiated via the reference. In one embodiment, a method includes: conducting online auction of telephonic leads; determining a way to present listings based at least partially on received price bids on the telephonic leads (e.g., the order of placement, the selection for placement, etc); and providing the listings with information to initiate a telephonic connection in a way trackable to measure a number of telephonic calls generated from presenting the listings.

Abstract: Embodiments in accordance with the present invention relate to incentive programs awarding loyalty points based at least in part upon the number of miles driven in a motor vehicle. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, reward points can be earned by having the vehicle serviced at authorized locations, such as a dealership. At the time of servicing, the authorized location notes the current vehicle odometer reading, and this odometer reading is communicated to an administrator of the loyalty program. The odometer reading in turn serves as the basis for calculating the number of miles driven since the last authorized servicing, and for conversion of this mileage figure into loyalty points to be credited to the owner, lessor, or renter of the vehicle.

Abstract: A computer readable medium is disclosed containing computer executable instructions that when executed by a computer perform a method, the method including but not limited to receiving trick play command data at an end user device; receiving a plurality of advertising data at the end user device; correlating the plurality of advertising data with penetration data for an end user associated with the end user device; prioritizing the advertising data for the end user device based on the correlation; and presenting a portion of the advertising data on the end user device based on the prioritizing of the advertising data during execution of the trick play command data. A system is disclosed that is useful in performing the method. A data structure embedded in a computer readable medium is disclosed that contains data used by the system and method.

Abstract: Techniques for administering an account with a financial institution are disclosed. The financial institution may establish the account for the account holder. An account holder may execute purchase transactions using the account. A first and second affiliate may be associated with the account. Rewards information associated with the first affiliate may be calculated based on use of the account for purchase transactions. A compensation, to be provided by the financial institution to the second affiliate, may be calculated based on use of the account for purchase transactions.

Abstract: A method is disclosed including but not limited to initiating a trick play command having a trick play duration at the end user device during replay of video data an end user device main display; presenting an advertising data item having an advertising duration during execution of the trick play command; and presenting a remaining portion of the advertising data on a picture in picture (PIP) display on the main display after expiration of the trick play duration. A system is provided for executing the method. A data structure is provided in a computer readable medium for containing data used by the system and method.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for advertising where the advertisement performance is determined via tracking the deals made as a result of communication leads generated from the advertisements. One embodiment includes: providing an advertisement containing a communication reference to a customer on behalf of a party; providing a connection via the reference for real time communications between the customer and the party; and charging an advertisement fee in response to an action of a predetermined type being performed by the customer (or an agreement between the customer and the party being reached) as a result of the real time communications.

Abstract: A computer based method for automated submission and evaluation of business proposals by providing a database mutually accessible to a proposal sponsor and at least one requesting user community, communicating with the user community and interactively requesting one or more media or promotional elements for evaluation, populating the database with one or more received media or promotional elements, calculating a proposal sponsor payment value based upon received media or promotional elements according to schema provided by the proposal sponsor, comparing the calculated proposal sponsor payment value of with at least one proposal recommendation threshold value, and associating the comparison result with a proposal decision conclusion selected from one of the group of conclusions including, recommended, not recommended, and additional information required.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to connect telephone calls and track information about the telephone calls for geographic area based advertisements. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving an indication of a target geographic area of an advertisement for an advertiser having a telephone number, the advertisement including one of: a telephone number assigned to the advertiser and a reference to the telephone number assigned to the advertiser; and providing the advertisement for delivery to users of interest in the target geographic area, the advertiser billed for the advertisement based on telephonic connections made to the telephone number of the advertiser through the telephone number assigned to the advertiser.

Abstract: An advertisement system that provides subscribers with the most relevant advertisements based on their individual purchase prediction of the various products and contextual information such as location, ongoing public events, festivals and personal events. The system customizes the advertisements to suit the audiovisual, language, and textual caption preferences of the subscribers. System provides for tracking of various promotional offers made to the subscribers from the time the offer is made to the time it is redeemed by the subscriber. System consists of methods to learn (a) purchase predictions (b) preferred streaming schedule and (c) the subscriber's preferences in terms of audiovisual aspects of the advertisements. Purchase prediction for individual subscriber is derived from historical purchase data by time series analysis and the influence of events such as co-purchases of other products and organized events such as sales exhibitions and festivals is derived based on Bayesian network models.

Abstract: Advertising is displayed in conjunction with web pages and other HTML-rendered information by splitting a display area into frames, so that requested content appears in one frame and one or more advertisements appear in other frames, respectively. By displaying advertisements in frames that are at the same logical layer as the web pages that induced the advertising, the functionality of the presentation resides in native HTML code, making it much more difficult to block the advertisement. An exchange server provides frame generation data to the HTML-rendering device. The device can directly obtain requested content and associated advertisements from respective domains, or the data can be indirectly provided through the exchange server.

Abstract: A method and system for managing ad campaign data. According to one embodiment, an application receives a request to store data associated with an ad campaign, and responsive to the request, stores one or more output files and context information associated with the data, the context information assembled according to a pre-defined data format defining a role of the data within the ad campaign.

Abstract: Systems and methods to determine prices for communication leads generated from pay for performance advertisements. In one embodiment, a method includes: providing an advertisement with a reference to customers on behalf of a specific party; facilitating communications between the party and a customer via the reference; and charging the party according to a price bid specified by the party in response to a lead to communications between the party and the customer facilitated via the reference. In one embodiment, a fee for the communication leads is determined according to the price bid specified by the party for the advertisement and at least one predetermined rule, which may be based on the geographic area of the advertisement, the categories of the advertisement, the price bids of a selected set of advertisements, and/or the query that causes the advertisement to be presented.

Abstract: A system obtains ratings associated with a first set of advertisements hosted by one or more servers, where the ratings indicate a quality of the first set of advertisements. The system observes multiple different first user actions associated with user selection of advertisements of the first set of advertisements and derives a statistical model using the observed first user actions and the obtained ratings. The system further observes second user actions associated with user selection of a second advertisement hosted by the one or more servers and uses the statistical model and the second user actions to estimate a quality of the second advertisement.

Abstract: Methods and systems for correlating connections between users and links between articles to identify search and/or ad spamming are disclosed. Social networks can be used to identify connections between users for correlation with links between articles, which can be identified through searches of article contents and/or back tracing accesses to articles. One disclosed method comprises identifying first associations between a plurality of users in a network of associated users; identifying second associations between one or more users and one or more articles; identifying third associations between at least some of the articles or between some of the users and access to some of the articles; and determining at least one of the third associations is correlated with one or more of the first associations.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a method and apparatus to track demand partners in a pay-per call performance based advertising system. In one embodiment, the method and apparatus include assigning at least one telephonic reference to an advertiser, the reference is to be included in an advertisement on a media channel of a demand partner. The advertiser is assessed a charge based at least in part on telephonic connections to the advertiser via the telephonic reference. The demand partner tracked with a predefined tracking model based at least in part on activity related to the telephonic reference.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for pay-per-call advertising and billing. A method, comprises generating a web page listing a plurality of merchant entries; and providing a option to reveal a phone number of at least one merchant entry of the plurality of merchant entries.

Abstract: A business method for promoting goods and services of providers includes the steps of designating a group of targeted recipients, and storing demographics information of each recipient in an electronic database. A plurality of direct mail items including provider promotions is generated, and each marked with a machine-readable ID code unique to each of the recipients. The direct mail items are sorted by their respective ID codes into cooperative mail packages, each mail package containing multiple items with common ID codes. The mail packages are then forwarded to respective recipients. After redemption of a direct mail item by a recipient, the ID code is read and electronically linked with the recipient's demographics information contained in the electronic database. A report is generated based on the direct mail items redeemed. The report may include a geographic map which plots respective locations of recipients, and/or a listing of receipts grouped into a plurality of demographics segments.

Abstract: An Internet advertising method using a Web page according to the present invention is performed between a Web server and a client terminal in the Internet. The Internet advertising method includes an advertisement location searching step of searching in a Web page transmitted from the Web server to the client terminal for a location into which new advertising content is to be inserted, a space information identification step of identifying a size and coordinates of a found location, an advertising content searching step of searching for new advertising content corresponding to the identified location size and coordinates, and a Web page editing step of inserting found new advertising content into the location.

Abstract: A system and method is described for controlling the provision of advertising presented to an end user in a feed of news content that is delivered from a publisher to an end user, wherein the system comprises: one or more advertisements which each possess a unique identifier that has been attributed by the publisher; reader software deployed in the system to analyse the delivered feed of news content and the one or more advertisements, wherein the reader software is adapted to ensure that any duplication of the one or more advertisements is identified by reference to the unique identifier of each advertisement; and wherein the reader software controls the presentation of news content and a predefined number of non-duplicate advertisements to the end user.