Abstract: Techniques are provided which allow targeting social events. Methods and systems allow a user to register a social event which involves a group of users watching a program on a television on a social networking platform. Information related to the event may be obtained and the group of users may be classified as belonging to one or more targeting segments based at least in part on the information related to the event. One or more advertisements may be selected based at least in part on the one or more targeting segments. The one or more advertisements may be transmitted such that the one or more advertisements are displayed on the television.

Abstract: The present invention provides techniques for use in electronic and online advertising. Techniques are provided in which an advertiser provides information specifying a time-spaced sequence of advertisements to be targeted and served to a particular user, across a number of different devices and screens. Each advertisement in the sequence may be served to the user while the user is using a particular electronic device. The sequence of advertisements as a whole may be optimized with regard to eliciting a particular response from the user, and each advertisement may be optimized regarding its order in the sequence and the type of device or screen on which it is to be served.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for rule-based, proactive web browsing are provided. A set of rules is determined and stored in computer data storage, where each rule in the set of rules is a proactive browsing rule that indicates a web page. The occurrence of an event represented by event information is detected. In response to detecting the occurrence of the event, the set of rules is evaluated based on the event information to determine whether any rules are satisfied. While a web browser is in use, a determination is made that a particular rule is satisfied. In response to determining that the particular rule is satisfied, the web browser is automatically redirected to directly access a particular web page that is indicated in the particular rule.

Abstract: Techniques are described herein for, among other things, providing relevant offers to group(s) of users in a social networking system. The offers may specify discounted prices (a.k.a. discounted offers) for good(s) and/or service(s). Each of the offers may be represented as a coupon, a gift certificate, etc. Users having at least one first attribute in common are assigned to a group. A measure of compatibility between the users in the group and each of a plurality of offers is determined. Each measure of compatibility may be determined by comparing at least one second attribute of the users in the group and at least one third attribute of the respective offer. The offer that has a highest measure of compatibility among the plurality of offers is deemed to be the most relevant offer for the group of users and is presented to the users (or a subset thereof) in the group.

Abstract: The present invention provides techniques for use in electronic and online advertising. Techniques are provided in which an advertiser provides information specifying a time-spaced sequence of advertisements to be targeted and served to a particular user, across a number of different devices and screens. Each advertisement in the sequence may be served to the user while the user is using a particular electronic device. The sequence of advertisements as a whole may be optimized with regard to eliciting a particular response from the user, and each advertisement may be optimized regarding its order in the sequence and the type of device or screen on which it is to be served.

Abstract: The present invention provides techniques for use in advertising, including online advertising. Techniques are provided that include providing to advertisers guaranteed delivery advertisement retargeting, or contracts or agreements in guaranteed delivery advertisement retargeting. Techniques are provided that allow advertisers to purchase an anticipated set of advertisement impressions to a single user. The advertisement impressions may be of an identical advertisement or similar advertisements, and may be sequenced over time.

Abstract: Techniques are provided which engage users and increase social interaction in group buying. Methods and systems may target a group of users if a group chat with one or more group offers based at least in part on the group chat information. The group offer may be displayed in the chat client. Users' responses to the proposed deal may be tracked. The group offer may be updated based at least in part on the users' responses to the group offer. The updated group offer may be displayed in the chat client.

Abstract: Techniques are provided which allow classifying users into targeting segments. Methods and systems obtain a user's social graph, which indicates the user's social network connections. A first group of targeting segments that each of the user's social network connections belong to may be determined. A second group of targeting segments, which includes targeting segments that the user does not currently belong to, may be determined from the first group of targeting segments. A confidence rating may be assigned to each of the targeting segments in the second group. The user may be classified into one or more of the targeting segments in the second group of targeting segments based at least in part on the confidence rating.

Abstract: Techniques are provided which allow targeting social events. Methods and systems allow a user to register a social event which involves a group of users watching a program on a television on a social networking platform. Information related to the event may be obtained and the group of users may be classified as belonging to one or more targeting segments based at least in part on the information related to the event. One or more advertisements may be selected based at least in part on the one or more targeting segments. The one or more advertisements may be transmitted such that the one or more advertisements are displayed on the television.

Abstract: A system for generating advertisements is provided. The system includes an advertisement server, advertisement storage, and user activity storage. The advertisement server receives a request for an advertisement. The advertisement storage is in communication with the advertisement server. The advertisement storage includes a format for the advertisement and a pre-defined formula for calculating a value for the advertisement. The user activity storage is in communication with the advertisement server. The advertisement server calculates the value for the advertisement based on the formula and user data from the user activity storage.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for rule-based, proactive web browsing are provided. A set of rules is determined and stored in computer data storage, where each rule in the set of rules is a proactive browsing rule that indicates a web page. The occurrence of an event represented by event information is detected. In response to detecting the occurrence of the event, the set of rules is evaluated based on the event information to determine whether any rules are satisfied. While a web browser is in use, a determination is made that a particular rule is satisfied. In response to determining that the particular rule is satisfied, the web browser is automatically redirected to directly access a particular web page that is indicated in the particular rule.