Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system provides supplemental information to a user of media in which the supplemental information is relevant to selected content in the media. An embodiment of the method comprises obtaining an image of selected content, identifying a meaningful characteristic of the selected content in the image, obtaining supplemental information that is relevant to the selected content based on the meaningful characteristic, and providing the supplemental information to the user of the media. A meaningful characteristic may be a source or subject of the selected content. Identifying the source of selected content may include matching text from the content with content of known source or matching a digital signature obtained from the selected content with digital signatures obtained from known content. The method may further comprise ranking the supplemental information based on one or more criteria and providing the supplemental information to the user in accordance with the ranking.

Abstract: An electronic input device such as an electronic pen may be used to input an electronic instruction. In some implementations, the device may include a tip for contacting a physical document. A sensor may record movement of the tip relative to the physical document. A recognition component may recognize an electronically-executable instruction from the recorded movement of the tip, and a processing component may automatically cause execution of the electronically-executable instruction recognized from the recorded movement of the tip. In some examples, the electronic input device may locally execute the electronically-executable instruction, while in other examples, the electronic input device may communicate the electronically-executable instruction to a separate device for remote execution.

Abstract: Links in a system may be displayed at varying prominence based on user interaction with the links. Link paths chosen by users become apparent by virtue of display prominence of the links. A link may be displayed with greater or lesser prominence corresponding to the propensity of users to interact with the link. Prominence values that affect a prominence at which links are displayed may be modified based on user interaction information. Prominence values may further automatically decay, possibly over time or according to user interaction with the links. Using and modifying prominence values in this manner, links that emerge with greater prominence may form one or more “paths” that users can readily follow. Much as in the natural world where pheromones deposited by ants attract other ants to desirable paths, user interaction information can be advantageously used to automatically identify more desirable link paths to a resource.

Abstract: An electronic input device such as an electronic pen is provided to annotate a document. The device may include a recording component that electronically records an annotation of the document, a recognition component that analyzes the annotation and determines whether the annotation includes an electronically-executable instruction, and a processing component that automatically causes an execution of the electronically-executable instruction when the annotation is determined to include an electronically-executable instruction. In another embodiment, a method for processing an annotation of a physical printed version of a document may include obtaining an electronic version of an annotation from a physical printed version of a document, determining if the annotation includes an electronically-executable instruction, and automatically causing an execution of the electronically-executable instruction if the annotation includes an electronically-executable instruction.

Abstract: An ad server system takes into consideration information about a user who clicks on an ad in determining whether to charge the advertiser for the click event, and/or in determining an amount to charge the advertiser. In one embodiment, unless the user is recognized, the advertiser is not charged for the ad selection event. Thus, advertisers do not have to pay the ad placement provider when the users who click on their ads are not recognized. If the user is recognized, the ad server system may determine whether and/or how much to charge the advertiser based on information about the recognized user. This information may include, for example, whether the user has set up an account, whether a valid credit card is on file for the user, and/or other types of user information that can be used to hold fraudulent users accountable for their actions.

Abstract: Prominence data resulting from user interaction with a hyperlink on a page may be stored in one or more repositories. Prominence data may be collected automatically when the user views a page or clicks on a hyperlink without requiring separate action from the user to accomplish storage or retrieval. The prominence data may further include a display parameter that denotes a level of prominence that is usable to affect the display of a hyperlink. A prominence score used to determine the display parameter may be calculated by dividing a count of click-throughs by a count of page views of the page containing the hyperlink. Other score calculations may be used. User feedback may be incorporated into the score calculation and may be collected through a toolbar, popup window, or other feedback-collecting mechanism.

Abstract: A computer-implemented data processing system comprises a user interface and gift conversion logic. The user interface is configured to permit users to order products using a network service, such as a website. The gift conversion logic is in communication with the user interface and permits the users to specify gift conversion rules. For each user that specifies gift conversion rules, the gift conversion rules define a manner in which gifts purchased for the user by other users may be converted.

Abstract: A method and system is described to facilitate variable pricing for electronically viewing content online. Consumers pay different amounts to view portions of electronically viewable content obtained from a tangible work, where the amount paid is based on a characteristic of the work (e.g., the genre or publisher), the consumer's past viewing behavior or purchases, including the portions of content (e.g., the number of pages or chapters) previously viewed from the same or other work, or the number or amount of purchases made of other works or products, or the aggregated viewing behavior or purchases of a number of consumers.

Abstract: An ad server system takes into consideration information about a user who clicks on an ad in determining whether to charge the advertiser for the click event, and/or in determining an amount to charge the advertiser. In one embodiment, unless the user is recognized, the advertiser is not charged for the ad selection event. Thus, advertisers do not have to pay the ad placement provider when the users who click on their ads are not recognized. If the user is recognized, the ad server system may determine whether and/or how much to charge the advertiser based on information about the recognized user. This information may include, for example, whether the user has set up an account, whether a valid credit card is on file for the user, and/or other types of user information that can be used to hold fraudulent users accountable for their actions.

Abstract: An ad server system takes into consideration information about a user who clicks on an ad in determining whether to charge the advertiser for the click event, and/or in determining an amount to charge the advertiser. In one embodiment, unless the user is recognized, the advertiser is not charged for the ad selection event. Thus, advertisers do not have to pay the ad placement provider when the users who click on their ads are not recognized. If the user is recognized, the ad server system may determine whether and/or how much to charge the advertiser based on information about the recognized user. This information may include, for example, whether the user has set up an account, whether a valid credit card is on file for the user, and/or other types of user information that can be used to hold fraudulent users accountable for their actions.

Abstract: An electronic input device such as an electronic pen is provided to annotate a paper document. The input device records an annotation and an image of human-comprehensible content in the document sufficient to identify the document and possibly a location in the document. The human-comprehensible content is used to locate a digital version of the document and determine a corresponding location of the annotation in the digital version of the document. A computer system such as a server system may receive and store the annotation in association with the digital version of the document. The server system may further augment the digital version of the document with the annotation and send the augmented version to an output device for display and/or printing.

Abstract: Prominence data resulting from user interaction with a hyperlink on a page may be stored in one or more repositories. Prominence data may be collected automatically when the user views a page or clicks on a hyperlink without requiring separate action from the user to accomplish storage or retrieval. The prominence data may further include a display parameter that denotes a level of prominence that is usable to affect the display of a hyperlink. A prominence score used to determine the display parameter may be calculated by dividing a count of click-throughs by a count of page views of the page containing the hyperlink. Other score calculations may be used. User feedback may be incorporated into the score calculation and may be collected through a toolbar, popup window, or other feedback-collecting mechanism.