Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for annotating video. A software application operating on a user computing device monitors a first display of video content transmitted over a network from a video server. The software application detects an action performed by a user of the user computing device on a first frame of the video content during display of the first frame. The action corresponds to the user identifying a portion of the displayed video frame upon which to overlay a visible marking on the first frame. The marking is associated with an object in the first frame. The software application iteratively derives a further position for the marking in a further frame of the video content, the further position associated with the location of the object in the further frame. The software application generates metadata associated with the user and transmits the metadata to a metadata sever.

Abstract: A device, system, and method are directed towards sending a status of a user in a social network to a recipient. A status of the user is received over a channel. The recipient is selected based on a membership in the social network, a preference of the recipient, or a type of the status. Another channel is selected based on information about a mode of communication between the recipient and the user and/or another member related to the user in the social network. The status may be modified from one type to another type based on the recipient. The status is forwarded to the recipient over the other channel. Forwarding may comprise unicasting, multicasting, and/or delaying sending the status until the other channel is available. A channel may include an application protocol.

Abstract: An infrastructure facility for interactive commerce in media objects over a network is described. Consumers are provided with searchable access to media object suppliers using standardized commercial packages. A commercial package is associated with a media object by using a commerce tag consisting of embedded metadata to identify the associated commercial package and optionally parameterize a commercial offer. The infrastructure facility provides a searchable database of available media objects with commerce tags, media object suppliers, and an accessible reference for commercial packages and associated tags.

Abstract: Systems and methods have been developed for displaying contextually relevant advertisements to users as media objects are being rendered. One or more data sources with contextual information for different portions of each media object are maintained. From this contextual information, keywords may be generated and used to locate contextually-related advertisements. The advertisements are selected based on contextual information about the media object in order to match or otherwise be contextually relevant with the media content being rendered. As the subject matter of the media object changes during rendering, different advertisements related to the new context are provided that replace the prior advertisement. The advertisements are displayed in an area that could be used for other purposes when the rendering device is not rendering media objects.

Abstract: A method for enabling users to share information across websites. A user may add some information to augment a posting on a first website to annotate its content. The information may be displayed on the first website as a related file and stored in a user augmented content system (UACS) database as an individual document. Another user may add some information to a posting on a second website to enrich its content, and the information may be displayed on the second website as a related file and stored in the UACS database as another individual document. The documents may be stored together with some keywords, and may be tagged, indexed and searchable. Users may easily find out who contributed what to the websites, and configure their websites to automatically receive content newly uploaded to the UACS database. If the augmenting content from the first website is relevant to the content on the second website, it may be automatically distributed to the second website.

Abstract: A system and method which may allow a requester to post a search query and get time-sensitive responses from other users who are best suited to respond to the search query. The system may find out such best suited responders based on their location, activity and time affinity/proximity to the search query, and forward the search query to them. The system may then return the responses to the requester. The system may also be able to automatically answer search queries based on users' historical query-response activities. By matching a search query with users knowledgeable about it, the invention may help a requester to get timely and accurate responses to his search query.

Abstract: Routing information (e.g., routing information displayed in an electronic map or provided as verbal travel directions) is generated and presented to a user in a tailored manner. A request for routing information is received from a user. Spatial data, temporal data, social data, or topical data is retrieved that is related to the user and/or to a location or change of location of the user. Based on the retrieved data and the routing information, information display data is generated, and is provided to an electronic device of the user to generate an information display. An attribute of the information display is configured/modified based on the location information and/or on the spatial data, temporal data, social data, and/or topical data. For example, a display attribute and/or an audio attribute of the information display may be modified.

Abstract: Methods and system for managing demand for an object includes capturing information about the object through a mobile device associated with a user. The mobile device is configured to capture information about the object that include one or more of a spatial, temporal, topical and social attributes of the object. The identity of the object is verified and validated using this metadata captured by the user through the device from the real world object or its proxy. Upon successful verification and validation, the object and its metadata are automatically added to a wish list of the user. An aggregate list is generated using the attributes and metadata of the object from a plurality of users. The aggregate list defines a source of demand for the object. The object is tracked as it progresses through various phases of ownership cycle using dynamic demand calculations based on the information associated with the objects, the users and the aggregate lists.

Abstract: Systems and methods have been developed for displaying contextually relevant advertisements to users as media objects are being rendered. One or more data sources with contextual information for different portions of each media object are maintained. From this contextual information, keywords may be generated and used to locate contextually-related advertisements. The advertisements are selected based on contextual information about the media object in order to match or otherwise be contextually relevant with the media content being rendered. As the subject matter of the media object changes during rendering, different advertisements related to the new context are provided that replace the prior advertisement. The advertisements are displayed in an area that could be used for other purposes when the rendering device is not rendering media objects.

Abstract: A method of validating a transaction between a giving entity and a receiving entity includes: providing receiving-entity context values to the receiving entity for evaluating requests by the receiving entity; accepting request values for the receiving entity, wherein the request values include values for at least one of goods, services or currency; determining a receiving-entity request item in a database from the request values and the receiving-entity context values, wherein the database is stored in a computer-readable medium; providing giving-entity context values to the giving entity for evaluating offers by the giving entity; accepting offer values for the giving entity, wherein the offer values include values for at least one of goods, services or currency; determining a giving-entity offer item in the database from the offer values and the giving-entity context values; and determining transaction conditions in the database from the receiving-entity request item and the giving-entity offer item, wherei

Abstract: A method and system for serving advertisement or sponsored content information is provided. The method employed by the system may include receiving a request to communicate advertisement or sponsored content information to ad serving devices that match a selection criteria, locating ad serving devices that match the received selection criteria, and serving advertisements or sponsored content information to located ad serving devices. Economic terms associated with the ad serving devices may also be received. Advertisers may be charged and the revenue generated distributed among a carrier network owner, ad serving device owners, and/or the owner of the ad serving system. A request to display the advertisement or sponsored content information and instructions for displaying the advertisement or sponsored content information may be communicated to individuals in control of the ad serving devices and an acceptance of the request to display the advertisement may be received.

Abstract: A method and system for serving advertisement or sponsored content is provided. The method employed by the system may include receiving information that describes the capabilities of an ad serving device, matching advertisement and/or sponsored content to the ad serving device, and serving the advertisement and/or sponsored content. Instructions may be communicated to an individual in possession of the ad serving device, instructing the individual on a time and place for serving the advertisement or sponsored content. Confirmation that the instructions have been followed may be communicated to the system.

Abstract: A method and system for serving advertisement or sponsored content information is provided. The method employed by the system may include receiving information that describes the capabilities of an ad serving device, receiving information that enables sensing the presence of individuals in a vicinity of the ad serving device, matching advertisement and/or sponsored content information to the ad serving device, and serving the advertisement and/or sponsored content information. Receiving presence information, matching, and serving of the advertisement and/or sponsored content information may occur in real-time. The ad serving device may be located at a fixed location or be portable and carried by an individual. Behaviors of individuals with portable devices may be determined and the advertisement and/or sponsored content information served may be related to the determined behavior.

Abstract: Virtual entities are displayed alongside real world entities in a wearable reality overlay device worn by the user. Information related to an environment proximate to the wearable device is determined. For example, a position of the wearable device may be determined, a camera may capture an image of the environment, etc. Virtual entity image information representative of an entity desired to be virtually displayed is processed based on the determined information. An image of the entity is generated based on the processed image information as a non-transparent region of a lens of the wearable device, enabling the entity to appear to be present in the environment to the user. The image of the entity may conceal a real world entity that would otherwise be visible to the user through the wearable device. Other real world entities may be visible to the user through the wearable device.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for optimizing shopping. In one aspect, purchase items are recommended to a user based on the total purchasing costs of the recommended purchase items. In one embodiment, the total purchase cost includes not just the price of the purchase item but also includes weighted costs based on non-price purchasing cost factors. In another aspect, data is maintained that represents social relationships between members of a network of users and purchase recommendations are made to a user based on the relatedness between the user, the item and the other members of the network. In yet another aspect, purchase recommendations are made based on the best time to purchase a purchase item. In another aspect, item retailers can offer purchase item incentives to users based on the identity of and information about the shopper to whom the incentive is offered including bundling incentives in a unified redemption code.

Abstract: A system and method for reporting and analysis of media consumption data. A request is received over a network from a requesting user for consumption data relating to at least one media object, the request comprising an identification of the media objects. Spatial, temporal, topical, and social data available to the network relating to consumption of the media object are retrieved using a global index of data available to the network. The spatial, temporal, topical, and social data available to the network relating to consumption of the media objects are transmitted, over the network to the requesting user.

Abstract: A system and method for distributing media related to a location. The physical location of a media presentation device is received over a network. The physical location of a plurality of end users are identified, via the network, wherein each of plurality of users is associated with a user device capable of storing media files. At least one of the end users is identified who is located in such proximity to the media presentation device that the user can perceive media that presented on the media presentation device. At least one media file that is currently being presented on the media presentation device is identified and transmitted over the network to each of the identified end users.

Abstract: A system and method for media enhanced messaging. A message from a message sender to be delivered to at least one message recipient is received over a network. The message comprises at least one delivery criteria and at least one content criteria. When it is determined, via the network that the delivery criteria of the message has been satisfied, a query is formulated based on the content criteria so as to search, via the network, for user profile data, social network data, spatial data, temporal data and topical data that is available via the network and relates to the content criteria and to media files so as to identify at least one media file that is relevant to the content criteria. The media files are inserted into the message and the message is transmitted over the network to the recipient.

Abstract: A system and method for Context Enhanced Mapping. A request is received from a user over a network for a map comprising an identification of a physical location, and at least one criteria. The physical location is mapped. Spatial, temporal, topical, and social data available to the network relating to the physical location and criteria is retrieved using a global index of data available to the network and prioritized for inclusion based upon the user and context of the request. The map of the physical location and at least some of the retrieved spatial, temporal, topical, and social data is displayed on a display medium.

Abstract: A system and method for improved mapping and routing. A request for the determination of a route is received over a network. The request comprises an identification of a requesting user, and at least one objective. Spatial, temporal, topical, and social data available to the network which relating to the requesting user and the request objectives are retrieved using a global index of data available to the network. At least one entity which satisfies at least one request objective and which has a physical location known to the network is selected using the retrieved spatial, temporal, topical, and social data. At least one physical route is mapped between a starting location and the selected entity and is displayed on a display medium. Sponsored and recommended content available to the network which relates to the requesting user, and at least one objective can additionally be displayed on the display medium.