Abstract: A method for propagating advertisement for market controlled presentation among communication devices over a communication network accessed by service providers and an advertising service is stored and executed as an application for use by network devices. The method includes receiving advertising requests and bids from potential advertisers, with each bid including a presentation slot specification and a proposed amount of payment for presentation. Ranking information is computed from the bid, with the ranking reflecting the financial value of propagation of the advertising request to the advertising service. The method also provides certification of the advertising request, with certification including a signature of the contents of the advertising request, the requested presentation slot, and the ranking information. The certified advertisement is then propagated over the communication network.

Abstract: A method for reverse bidding of trip services among mobile communication devices. over a communication network is stored and executed as an application for use by network devices. The method includes specifying destination and selection criteria of a vehicle user and developing a trip specification based on the destination and selection criteria. Offers for services are solicited via transmission to an advertising service or directly from service providers, who have received the trip specification. When bids are received for the solicited offers, the trip specification is revised to accommodate the received bids. The revised trip specification is presented to the vehicle user for approval and use in navigating the approved route.

Abstract: Techniques are provided to determine user-interest features and user-interest parameter weights for a user-interest model. The user-interest features are pre-determined and/or determined dynamically. Pre-determined user-interest features are based on user-interest profiles, prior user activities, documents listed in a resume, reading or browsing patterns and the like. Dynamically determined user-interest features include features learned from an archive of user activities using statistical analysis, machine learning and the like. User-interest parameter weights are pre-determined and/or dynamically determined. Pre-determined user-interest parameter weights include parameter weights manually entered by a user indicating the relevant importance of a user-interest feature and parameter weights previously learned from an archive of the user's past activities.

Abstract: A secure computer system is shown and described. The computer system includes (1) a network power controller that has slots and (2) removable cards that are inserted into the slots. The computer system may also include peripheral devices that are coupled to the network power controller through a digital current system. Through the digital current system, the network power controller is able to power and control the peripheral devices remotely. Various embodiments of the disclosed invention provide a computer system that is faster, more reliable, and more secure than conventional systems.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that detects malicious data in an ad-hoc network. During operation, the system receives data at a node in the ad-hoc network, wherein the data was sensed and redundantly communicated to the node by other nodes in the ad-hoc network. Note that in this ad-hoc network, a given node senses data associated with itself and with proximate nodes in the ad-hoc network. In this way, proximate nodes in the ad-hoc network can redundantly sense data about each other. Next, the system determines at the node if the received data, along with data sensed locally by the node, is consistent. If not, the system uses a model which accounts for malicious nodes to determine an explanation for the inconsistency.

Abstract: Techniques for providing privacy protection are provided. A query is received. Privacy policy information, extracted knowledge and optional information about available public information are determined. Information about the knowledge extraction transformations applied to create the extracted knowledge and the source data is determined. Privacy protecting transformations are determined and applied to transform the extracted knowledge based on the selected privacy policy, optional information about available public information, the characteristics of the applied knowledge extractions transformations, the source data and optional previous user queries.

Abstract: Techniques for protecting non-public information in a mobile environment are provided. A request for non-public information about users in a mobile environment is received. Privacy policies, non-public and optional public information about the users affected by the request are determined. An optional privacy impact indicator is determined based on how satisfying the request increases the current public information about the users. Crowds of users having similar attribute name/values are optionally determined. User and optional requestor privacy policies which associate threshold release criteria such minimum crowd size, minimum consideration with the non-public information are determined. A privacy agreement is reached for the disclosure of the requested non-public information based on the compatibility of the requester and user privacy policies. Privacy protecting transformations are optionally determined and applied to create crowds or groups associated with the requested attribute.

Abstract: A system for bidirectional data and power transmission is shown and described. In an embodiment, a network power controller provides power to a node and communicates bidirectionally with the node. In an embodiment, the network power controller is coupled to an AC power source and provides both AC and DC power to the node. In an embodiment, the network power controller and node are coupled via a conduit comprising three wires, wherein the first wire carries DC power and communications, the second wire carries AC power, and the third wire is the neutral/ground line. In another embodiment, the network power controller and node are coupled via a conduit comprising two wires, wherein the first wire carries AC power and communications and the second wire is the neutral/ground line. In an embodiment, AC power having one phase or more can be controlled at the network power controller and the node.

Abstract: A system for bidirectional data and power transmission are shown and described. In an embodiment, the system includes a network power controller that protects the network against over-current conditions by disconnecting system power when high current is detected at the power input. In an embodiment, power and data are transmitted between the network power controller and nodes on the network via a conduit having at least three wires. In an embodiment, an optical fiber is used to transmit data between the network power controller and the nodes. The use of a third wire or an optical fiber offers advantages over other systems for bidirectional data and power transmission in that they reduce the EMI effects on the system and allow for an increased duty cycle for power transmission.

Abstract: A method and system for bidirectional data and power transmission are shown and described. An exemplary embodiment comprises a current receiver, including a microprocessor and a driver, and a plurality of nodes connected to the current receiver through a plurality of wires that allow both power supply and bidirectional data transfer between the current receiver and the plurality of nodes. The use of the plurality of wires for both power and data transmission offers significant advantages over the prior art in terms of weight reduction and system modularity.

Abstract: A method of generating a bid for an advertiser for placement of an advertisement in association with a search results list, where the search results list is generated in response to a search query, is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes: a) associating the at least one keyword with the bid, wherein the search query is associated with the at least one keyword, and b) determining an amount of the bid, associated with the at least one keyword, for placement of the advertisement in association with the search results list generated in response to the search query associated with the at least one keyword. The bid is determined based at least in part on bids by other advertisers in competition with the first advertiser for placement of other advertisements with an expectation that the determined bid may elicit a desired change in the bids by the other advertisers.

Abstract: A method of coordinating one or more bids for one or more groups of advertisers for placement of at least one advertisement in association with a search results list is provided. The search results list is generated in response to a search query. The method includes: a) collecting information from at least two advertisers in the advertiser group and b) devising a joint strategy for the advertiser group for bidding in the keyword auction. In another embodiment, a method of generating a bid for a first advertiser for placement of a first advertisement in association with a search results list is provided. In another embodiment, an apparatus for generating the bid for the first advertiser is provided. Is still another embodiment, a method of coordinating bids from a first advertiser and a second advertiser for placement of at least one advertisement in association with a first search results list is provided.

Abstract: A method of trading a future right to a keyword advertisement placement associated with a search results list, wherein the search results list is generated in response to a search query. The method includes creating ownership of the future right to the keyword advertisement placement in an original keyword search engine. Next, the future right to the keyword advertisement placement originally owned by the original keyword search engine is made available for purchase in a keyword advertising market. Then, the future right to the keyword advertisement placement originally owned by the original keyword search engine is traded to another participant in the keyword advertising market.

Abstract: A method for generating or determining data sources useful for detecting non-conforming behavior associated with pay-per-click advertising in a keyword searching environment includes: a) observing behavior associated with the pay-per-click advertising, b) predicting behavior associated with the observed behavior, and c) comparing the observed behavior to the predicted behavior to identify unexpected behavior associated with the pay-per-click advertising. In another embodiment, a method of monitoring behavior associated with targeted advertising in a keyword searching environment is provided. In another aspect, an apparatus for monitoring behavior associated with targeted advertising in a keyword searching environment includes: at least one observed behavior model, at least one predicted behavior model, and at least one comparator logic process to identify non-confirming behavior associated with the targeted advertising.

Abstract: A server-based method of automatically generating a plurality of bids for an advertiser for placement of at least one advertisement in association with a search results list is provided. The method includes: a) receiving at least one candidate advertisement, b) creating a list of candidate keywords, c) estimating a click-through rate for each advertisement-keyword pair, d) calculating a return on advertising investment (ROAI) for each advertisement-keyword pair, and e) calculating a bid amount for each advertisement-keyword pair. In another aspect, a server-based method of generating a bid for placement of an advertisement in association with a search results list is provided. In other aspects, a method of selecting one or more keywords in conjunction with the bid is provided as well as a method of determining a return on advertising investment (ROAI) information for an advertiser in conjunction with the bid is provided.

Abstract: A method of translating screen displays of a user application program from a first base language to a user-selectable second language. The method is driven by program software which intercepts the messages created by a presentation manager of a WINDOWS operating system, the messages being used to form screen displays of the user application program on the terminal. Initially, the untranslated text is moved from a displayed screen to a translation table. The user, who need not be a programmer or computer oriented, enters a translation of the text into the same table via the keyboard, the table then being stored in computer memory. Upon subsequent operation of the application program the message, which forms the screen to be displayed, will be intercepted. Subsequently, a search of the translation table for the text in the intercepted message is conducted. The matched text is replaced with the second language previously entered in the translation table.