Abstract: Customized wait state experiences for an avatar in a virtual universe are provided by determining user alternative wait context preferences, selecting alternative wait state content objects accordingly, creating a wait state context in the virtual universe system using the alternative wait state content objects, and transporting the waiting avatar to the newly created wait state context for the duration of the wait. The custom context can include scenery, sounds, and even information streams and feeds. The avatar is optionally returned to the original context upon an event, such as a customer service representative, being available and ready to interact with the user. Artificial intelligence processes are optionally used to determine probable wait state context preferences for the user. Rewards may be given to the user for waiting, and for completing games or challenges.

Abstract: An original advertisement is transformed at a first content viewing device into a transferrable incentivized deferred advertisement that itself includes as added encoded data elements a configured incentive, a configured incentive time period within which to obtain the configured incentive, and a reporting instruction that causes an alternative content viewing device to report advertisement viewing back to the first content viewing device. The transferrable incentivized deferred advertisement, that includes the added encoded data elements, is transferred to the alternative content viewing device.

Abstract: A power profile management method and system. The method includes retrieving by a computer processor input data associated with a user of power consumption devices at a specified location. The computer processor retrieves power consumption data comprising power consumption levels for the power consumption devices. The computer processor generates and transmits a mobile usage portfolio associated said user and the power consumption devices. The computer processor generates a load usage prediction report associated with the user and the power consumption devices. The load usage prediction report is generated based on the mobile usage portfolio and said power consumption data. The computer processor transmits the load usage prediction report to a power provider utility for analysis.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to systems and methods for advertising, and, more particularly, to systems and methods for providing immersive advertising in a virtual universe. In one aspect of the invention, there is a method for presenting a virtual universe advertisement (VU-ad) in a virtual universe (VU), receiving input from a user associated with a user avatar of the VU, and altering the VU-ad in response to the input.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel system and method for initiating trial use of a software application. One or more trial software icons are displayed on a messaging window of a graphical users interface on a display coupled to a computing device. Each trial software icon represents a trial software application, such as a separate and distinct trial software application, that is not currently installed on the computing device. Moving an object representing a file attachment, such as through drag-and-drop action, to one of the trial software icons automatically installs the trial software application on the computing device. Also the trial software application is launched automatically to open the file attachment.

Abstract: Systems and methods for advertising, and, more particularly, systems and methods for managing ephemeral locations in a virtual universe. A method for managing ephemeral locations in a virtual universe (VU) includes causing a computer infrastructure to: render an ephemeral location upon a triggering in the VU; teleport a VU user avatar to the ephemeral location; permit the user avatar to interact in the ephemeral location; teleport the user avatar out of the ephemeral location; and un-render the ephemeral location.

Abstract: Customized wait state experiences for an avatar in a virtual universe are provided by determining user alternative wait context preferences, selecting alternative wait state content objects accordingly, creating a wait state context in the virtual universe system using the alternative wait state content objects, and transporting the waiting avatar to the newly created wait state context for the duration of the wait. The custom context can include scenery, sounds, and even information streams and feeds. The avatar is optionally returned to the original context upon an event, such as a customer service representative, being available and ready to interact with the user. Artificial intelligence processes are optionally used to determine probable wait state context preferences for the user. Rewards may be given to the user for waiting, and for completing games or challenges.

Abstract: A method for generating website recommendations based on user web browsing. The method includes a computer processor tracking a sequence of two or more websites traversed by a user, wherein the sequence is based, at least in part, on a web-browsing session of the user. The method further includes a computer processor identifying a plurality of sequences of websites traversed by other users, wherein the plurality of sequences of websites traversed by other users include at least one website in common with the tracked sequence of two or more websites traversed by the user. The method further includes a computer processor determining one or more recommended websites in the plurality of sequences of websites traversed by other users that are relevant to the tracked sequence of two or more websites traversed by the user. The method further includes a computer processor presenting the one or more recommended websites to the user.

Abstract: Systems and methods for advertising, and, more particularly, systems and methods for managing ephemeral locations in a virtual universe. A method for managing ephemeral locations in a virtual universe (VU) includes causing a computer infrastructure to: render an ephemeral location upon a triggering in the VU; teleport a VU user avatar to the ephemeral location; permit the user avatar to interact in the ephemeral location; teleport the user avatar out of the ephemeral location; and un-render the ephemeral location.

Abstract: Systems and methods for advertising, and, more particularly, systems and methods for managing ephemeral locations in a virtual universe. A method for managing ephemeral locations in a virtual universe (VU) includes causing a computer infrastructure to: render an ephemeral location upon a triggering in the VU; teleport a VU user avatar to the ephemeral location; permit the user avatar to interact in the ephemeral location; teleport the user avatar out of the ephemeral location; and un-render the ephemeral location.

Abstract: An approach for determining a route is provided. A rule is retrieved which indicates a number of recommended routes passing through a constrained area is not permitted to exceed a threshold. N+1 recommended routes passing through the constrained area are determined. Based in part on a determination that N+1 does not exceed the threshold, an (N+2)-th route passing through the constrained area is determined. It is determined that (N+2) is greater than the threshold. Responsive to determining that N+2 is greater than the threshold, the constrained area is identified as having congested traffic, the (N+2)-th route is determined to pass through the constrained area having congested traffic, and a fee is determined to charge a vendor whose location is included in the (N+2)-th route. The fee promotes a reduction in additional vehicles entering the constrained area.

Abstract: Customized wait state experiences for an avatar in a virtual universe are provided by determining user alternative wait context preferences, selecting alternative wait state content objects accordingly, creating a wait state context in the virtual universe system using the alternative wait state content objects, and transporting the waiting avatar to the newly created wait state context for the duration of the wait. The custom context can include scenery, sounds, and even information streams and feeds. The avatar is optionally returned to the original context upon an event, such as a customer service representative, being available and ready to interact with the user. Artificial intelligence processes are optionally used to determine probable wait state context preferences for the user. Rewards may be given to the user for waiting, and for completing games or challenges.

Abstract: An approach for determining a route is provided. A rule is retrieved, which indicates a number of recommended routes passing through a constrained area is not permitted to exceed a threshold. After a receipt of N requests from N respective users for N routes, N recommended routes passing through the constrained area are determined and presented to the N users. After determining the N recommended routes and based on a receipt of a request from an (N+1)-th user for an (N+1)-th route, the (N+1)-th route, which passes through the constrained area, is determined. Based on the retrieved rule and the (N+1)-th route passing through the constrained area, N+1 is determined to not exceed the second number. Responsive to determining N+1 does not exceed the threshold, the (N+1)-th route is designated as an (N+1)-th recommended route.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel system and method for initiating trial use of a software application. One or more trial software icons are displayed on a messaging window of a graphical users interface on a display coupled to a computing device. Each trial software icon represents a trial software application, such as a separate and distinct trial software application, that is not currently installed on the computing device. Moving an object representing a file attachment, such as through drag-and-drop action, to one of the trial software icons automatically installs the trial software application on the computing device. Also the trial software application is launched automatically to open the file attachment.

Abstract: Systems and methods for advertising, and, more particularly, systems and methods for managing ephemeral locations in a virtual universe. A method for managing ephemeral locations in a virtual universe (VU) includes causing a computer infrastructure to: render an ephemeral location upon a triggering in the VU; teleport a VU user avatar to the ephemeral location; permit the user avatar to interact in the ephemeral location; teleport the user avatar out of the ephemeral location; and un-render the ephemeral location.

Abstract: A method for generating website recommendations based on user web browsing. The method includes a computer processor tracking a sequence of two or more websites traversed by a user, wherein the sequence is based, at least in part, on a web-browsing session of the user. The method further includes a computer processor identifying a plurality of sequences of websites traversed by other users, wherein the plurality of sequences of web sites traversed by other users include at least one website in common with the tracked sequence of two or more websites traversed by the user. The method further includes a computer processor determining one or more recommended websites in the plurality of sequences of websites traversed by other users that are relevant to the tracked sequence of two or more websites traversed by the user. The method further includes a computer processor presenting the one or more recommended websites to the user.

Abstract: An original advertisement is transformed at a first content viewing device into a transferrable incentivized deferred advertisement that itself includes as added encoded data elements a configured incentive, a configured incentive time period within which to obtain the configured incentive, and a reporting instruction that causes an alternative content viewing device to report advertisement viewing back to the first content viewing device. The transferrable incentivized deferred advertisement, that includes the added encoded data elements, is transferred to the alternative content viewing device.

Abstract: A method, data processing system and computer program product for customizing a presentation. A set of individual preferences for each individual of a plurality of individuals to form a set of audience preferences is determined, wherein each preference in the set of individual preferences is associated with one of a plurality of versions of the presentation. A set of versions of the presentation from the plurality of versions of the presentation is selected based on the set of audience preferences. The set of versions of the presentation selected from the plurality of versions of the presentation is presented.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel system and method for initiating trial use of a software application. One or more trial software icons are displayed on a messaging window of a graphical users interface on a display coupled to a computing device. Each trial software icon represents a trial software application, such as a separate and distinct trial software application, that is not currently installed on the computing device. Moving an object representing a file attachment, such as through drag-and-drop action, to one of the trial software icons automatically installs the trial software application on the computing device. Also the trial software application is launched automatically to open the file attachment.

Abstract: An original advertisement is transformed at a first content viewing device into a transferrable incentivized deferred advertisement that itself includes as added encoded data elements a configured incentive, a configured incentive time period within which to obtain the configured incentive, and a reporting instruction that causes an alternative content viewing device to report advertisement viewing back to the first content viewing device. The transferrable incentivized deferred advertisement, that includes the added encoded data elements, is transferred to the alternative content viewing device.