Abstract: Improved techniques and systems to facilitate use of credit to acquire digital media assets from a network-based media server are disclosed. Digital media assets can include media items such as songs, albums, images, slideshows, audiobooks, podcasts, or videos. A user can acquire credit in a variety of different ways including, for example, through redeeming a credit invitation. Once a user has available credit by whatever means, the user can acquire one or more digital media assets from the network-based media server using his/her available credit. In one embodiment, the credit is provided as item credits, whereby each item credit can be used to acquire a selected digital media asset. However, not all of the digital media assets available from the network-based media server are permitted to be acquired using item credits. In some cases, the digital media assets that can be acquired with credit can be designated by their cost.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a system and method for receiving recyclable materials, associating the materials with a specific user, capturing data specific to that user and the materials, and providing reward points to the user based on the materials.

Abstract: A method for appraising at a retail location an item having one of a precious stone, a semi-precious stone, a precious metal, or a semi-precious metal includes the step of providing a variety of food products at the retail location. Then, by a transaction point computer at the retail location, the item to be appraised is received, along with the consumer's selection of a food product. The item's composition is determined using an evaluating device, and an exchange value is associated with the item using data obtained by the evaluating device and market data obtained over a network. The exchange value of the item is relayed to the consumer after the food product selected by the consumer has been delivered.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method for a processor based computing system having logic stored in the computing system in the form of computer-readable instructions stored in memory that are executable so that a business subscriber can create a coupon to incentivize a commercial transaction, the coupon identifying the business subscriber and a consumer subscriber that created the coupon, the apparatus and method operably calculating and accounting for a first financial incentive to the redeemer of the coupon, via a consumer incentive derived by predefined rules stored in the apparatus, and for a second financial incentive to the consumer subscriber, via at least one of an advertising distributor incentive and a system administrator incentive derived by predefined rules stored in the apparatus.

Abstract: A computerized method for identifying, ranking, and auditing configurable providers is described. The method receives and stores information about plural providers including provider name, provider icon, provider contact information, landing URL, configurables offered, geographical locations, and descriptions of configurables. The method receives a request from a computer that includes a geographic location. The method searches the stored information about providers in order to identify a list of provider servers that auto-configure configurables in the geographic location. The method sends information and the list of provider servers to the computer, and the sent information includes provider names, provider rank, provider landing URL, and descriptions of configurables. The method receives auditing information from the computer including a provider server selected from the list, a transaction for a selected configurable, and an indication that the selected configurable is operational.

Abstract: A system and method for securely measuring and tracking exercise performed by individuals and energy generated by human powered devices is provided. An amount of exercise and/or energy generated is quantified and converted to reward points usable in a rewards incentive program. Exercise performed and/or energy generated on exercise equipment is measured by measurement apparatus on the equipment. Reward points are issued locally to a user's portable stored value device or card, or may be accumulated on a remotely administered user account. A user interface disposed locally with the exercise equipment receives a user identification and provides credits to the user's stored value device or card, or provides notification to the user of credits being provided to the remote user account. A redemption point in communication with remote user accounts communicates over a network to verify sufficient credits and authorizes rewards to a user commensurate with available credits.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving recycling and participation rates by providing financial incentives to households engaged in recycling. Certain embodiments of the invention relate to reduction of costs associated with waste collection and the enhancement of collection efficiency. Other embodiments of the invention relate to opening a marketing channel for participating retailers to build value from responsible corporate citizenship.

Abstract: A system and method are provided to receive a search query from a user, typically via a web browser, the Internet, and a web server. A search engine obtains a set of potential search results based on the search query. For each Internet domain or web site mentioned in the search results, a set of data sources is accessed to obtain information concerning the legitimacy of the business associated with the Internet domain or web site. The legitimacy information is used to reorder or to change or to augment the appearance or presentation of the search result for the Internet domain or web site. The processed search results are returned to the user.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides a method, comprising creating a secure profile store to maintain a version of a user's profile on each of a plurality of platforms the user may be using, offering incentive based context to service providers by capturing context information of the user, wherein the platforms owned by the user will store a local version of the user's profile in the profile store.

Abstract: A computer terminal connected to a manufacturing apparatus as an object of the maintenance management is connected to a server machine providing a maintenance management service by a network, enabling bi-directional communication. The computer terminal monitors whether or not the object apparatus is restarted and transmits restart information indicating restart completion due to maintenance performed on the object apparatus by the customer to the server machine upon determining that the object apparatus is restarted. The server machine generates a random number within the specific range when receiving the restart information from the computer terminal, retrieves points corresponding to the random number from the lottery point setting storage unit, and stores the retrieved points in the lottery point storage unit. This can encourage the customer to perform maintenance on the object apparatus in order to indicate said restart completion to obtain more points.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for interactive advertising for computer mediated communications. An advertisement associated with an advertiser is provided by a communication service provider to a user of the communication service provider. A selected advertisement is associated with a user communication by the communication service provider in response to a user selection to associate the advertisement with the user communication. Compensation from the advertiser associated with the selected advertisement is received for the communication service provider in response to a determination that a recipient of the user communication committed an action associated with the selected advertisement.

Abstract: There is provided a method and system to maintain published contact information. The system includes a storage facility to store contact information of a first entity at the system. The system further includes an interface to electronically publish, via a communications network, the contact information of the first entity to a plurality of users of the system and receive, at the system, information relating to validity of the contact information of the first entity. The information is received via the communications network from a first user of the plurality of users. The system further includes a stored value module automatically to provide a reward to the first user responsive to the receipt of the information relating to the validity of the contact information of the first entity.

Abstract: A POS terminal receives a signal that indicates an item, for example, via a bar code scanner. The POS terminal ascertains whether the item is associated with an offer for a rebate. If so, a code is generated and output to the customer, such as on a printed receipt. The code is associated with an offer for a rebate in exchange for establishing a subscription to a periodical. If the customer subscribes to a required periodical, he will be credited the amount he paid for the item. Subsequently, the customer requests a subscription to a periodical from a subscription fulfillment house, and provides his code in conjunction with the request. If the code is valid, the customer is provided with a rebate. The rebate may be provided directly by the subscription fulfillment house (e.g. a credit to a credit card account) or may be provided by a merchant (e.g. a discount on a future purchase).

Abstract: Techniques are described herein for providing a marketplace for CAPTCHA developers. A CAPTCHA is a type of challenge-response test that a content provider may present to users for authorizing the users to access content that is hosted by the content provider. CAPTCHA developers may propose CAPTCHAs for testing in the marketplace. A server is configured to provide instances of proposed CAPTCHAs to users along with instances of reference CAPTCHAs that have known difficulties to determine the relative difficulties of the proposed CAPTCHAs for the users. The server may determine a reward to be provided to a developer of a proposed CAPTCHA based on a difficulty that the predetermined automated systems encounter when they attempt to solve the proposed CAPTCHA and an ease with which the users solve the proposed CAPTCHA. The server may determine rewards to be provided to developers of predetermined automated systems that solve the proposed CAPTCHAs.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for automatically managing incentives associated with an electric vehicle charging transaction is provided. Incentives are received from a set of sources to form received incentives, by an incentive service. Applicable incentives are selected from the received incentives based on an identification of an electric vehicle, a charging station, and a set of principals associated with the electric vehicle charging transaction, by the incentive service. A set of selected incentives is identified from the received incentives for utilization in the electric vehicle charging transaction. The set of selected incentives is sent to an energy transaction planner, wherein the energy transaction planner incorporates the set of selected incentives into an energy transaction plan that is used to control the electric vehicle charging transaction.

Abstract: Methods, computer readable media and systems are described wherein a security deposit is used to facilitate a transaction with a customer. In an embodiment, a process includes receiving an indication that a customer is interested in making a purchase during a transaction from a merchant, and transmitting an offer for a benefit to be applied to the transaction in exchange for a future performance of a task by the customer and a security deposit. The task is associated with a subsidy provider other than the merchant. The method also includes providing the offer to the customer, receiving the security deposit, applying the benefit to the transaction before performance of the task, and returning at least a portion of the security deposit to the customer based on the performance of the task. For example, a subsidy provider may offer to apply a subsidy amount to a transaction involving the purchase of a lawn mower in exchange for a future performance of a task by the customer such as test driving a new car.

Abstract: A computer terminal connected to a manufacturing apparatus as an object of the maintenance management is connected to a server machine providing a maintenance management service by a network, enabling bi-directional communication. The computer terminal transmits maintenance information including a kind of a maintenance method executed at the customer side to the server machine. The server machine acquires the kind of the maintenance method from the maintenance information received from the computer terminal, retrieves points corresponding to the kind of the maintenance method, and stores the retrieved points in a maintenance point storage unit. More points are set for more time consuming maintenance. This can encourage the customer to perform more time consuming maintenance on the manufacturing apparatus in order to obtain more points.

Abstract: A computer terminal connected to a manufacturing apparatus as an object of the maintenance management is connected to a server machine providing a maintenance management service by a network, enabling bi-directional communication. The computer terminal monitors whether or not the object apparatus is restarted and transmits restart information indicating restart completion due to maintenance performed on the object apparatus by the customer to the server machine upon determining that the object apparatus is restarted. The server machine generates a random number within the specific range when receiving the restart information from the computer terminal, retrieves points corresponding to the random number from the lottery point setting storage unit, and stores the retrieved points in the lottery point storage unit. This can encourage the customer to perform maintenance on the object apparatus in order to indicate said restart completion to obtain more points.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving recycling and participation rates by providing financial incentives to households engaged in recycling. Certain embodiments of the invention relate to reduction of costs associated with waste collection and the enhancement of collection efficiency. Other embodiments of the invention relate to opening a marketing channel for participating retailers to build value from responsible corporate citizenship.

Abstract: A system comprises a point-of-sale (POS) terminal, a POS controller, a retail subscription system. The POS terminal allows a cashier to enter subscription sales data into the POS controller. The POS controller maintains databases on available subscriptions and produces databases containing data relating to subscriptions sold to customers. The retail subscription system verifies the subscriptions by reference to its own databases and transmits the subscriptions to a fulfillment house for distribution.

Abstract: A method for providing incentives includes receiving identification data from a customer; receiving incentive data from a merchant, the incentive data; accessing at least one social network account of the customer to access social network data, the social network data including text of social network communications and a size of the at least one social network account; determining demographic qualities of the at least one social network account determining an incentive based on the size and demographic qualities of the at least one social network account and the incentive data; receiving input from the customer as to whether to accept the incentive determined; and broadcasting a promotional message through the at least one social network account if the costumer accepts the incentive.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for distributing, generating, and redeeming discount Virtual Coupons™, rebate or gift certificates or the like which may be used in conjunction with a frequency card program. Virtual Coupons™ may be distributed electronically, for example, in the form of a diskette or CD-ROM software. Once the software is validated, a consumer may print out a list of selected Virtual Coupons™ displayed on a Graphical User Interface (GUI). When a product is purchased, the UPC code of the product may be compared electronically with a list of Virtual Coupons™ authorized for a particular consumer. An appropriate coupon discount may then be applied and the Virtual Coupon™ may be considered “redeemed”. Once redeemed, consumer ID information and Virtual Coupon™ information may be retrieved electronically and used to update a central database. Accurate data may then be produced illustrating which consumers or groups of consumers are redeeming which Virtual Coupons™.

Abstract: A library of available incentive programs is established for an agricultural product. Input is accepted from an agricultural producer or a crop planner to facilitate tailoring the library of incentive programs to the requirements (e.g., needs, objectives, and resources) of a particular producer. The library of available incentive programs is searched based upon the accepted input to select a tailored list of candidate incentive programs from the library. Information on the tailored candidate incentive programs is made accessible to the agricultural producer. The agricultural producer may select a preferential incentive program between or among the candidate incentive programs. Further, the producer may readily seek financing via electronic communications to purchase or otherwise conduct a transaction under the preferential incentive program. If the producer applies for a financial product for financing the transaction under the preferential incentive program, the previously gathered input (e.g.

Abstract: System and method establish a progressive jackpot award associated with a machine useable by a user. The user has a user account stored in a computer connected to the machine. The computer includes a database for storing user account data including bonus points associated with the user. The progressive jackpot award has an associated payout value. The user uses the bonus points on the machine and an incremental number is added to the payout value of the progressive jackpot award as a function of the number of bonus points used by the user.

Abstract: A technique for displaying and searching databases provides a user interface that displays a list of attribute values of a product along with corresponding user interface elements, each containing a set of clickable sub-elements corresponding to subsets of possible attribute values with different ranks. The sub-element whose corresponding rank matches a corresponding rank of the attribute value is displayed as highlighted. Clicking a sub-element constrains a current selected set of products to those whose attribute values have the same rank as the clicked sub-element. On mouse-over of a selected sub-element, pop-up text is displayed containing a set of possible attribute values whose rank corresponds to that of the selected sub-element, and decision support information associated with each of the displayed possible attribute values, e.g.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and a process for acquiring files by accumulation of points. The device is designed for a user of a receiver of data of a communication network, able to earn points by accomplishing at least one predefined operation, and to acquire at least one of the files by downloading via this communication network, when the aggregate number of points reaches a predetermined level associated with this file. The device comprises an automatic control module for ordering downloading via this network to a storage space accessible to this receiver, of portions of this file, designed to order the downloading of each of these portions when the number of points earned by this user reaches a fraction of this predetermined level which corresponds to this portion.

Abstract: A system and methods that enables smart charging for electric resources. A smart charging method may include smart charging customer guarantees. The charging behavior guarantee may comprise a guaranteed charging schedule that matches a regular charging schedule of an electric resource and provides power flow flexibility. In addition, a smart charging method may manage electric resources via a smart charging benefit analysis. A smart charging benefit may include an impact resulting from the energy management system which is beneficial to an electric resource. A smart charging method may manage the charging behavior of the electric resources on a grid based on the smart charging benefit. Further, a smart charging method may manage electric resources via a smart charging benefit analysis and smart charging customer guarantees.

Abstract: Methods of and systems for generating on a server computer system an objectively verified record of participation by a helper in one or more community-service-based causes are disclosed. Related computer program products are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for targeting specific users with specific requested actions to be performed by the user and verified by any methods on behalf of an advertiser within an Internet display advertising campaign. The system discloses techniques for receiving an advertiser's requested actions and corresponding definitions of what constitutes a satisfaction of the action. The disclosure also details techniques for determining if and when and to what degree a requested action has been completed or satisfied by the targeted user, and details corresponding techniques for compensating the user and any other real or virtual entity who had contributed to the satisfaction of the requested action. The system implements a network of sensors that can aid in the determination of if and when and to what degree a requested action has been completed or satisfied. The network of sensors registers sensor recordings within a specialized sensor recording marketplace.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for maintaining building serviceability information for geographic locations. The disclosed systems and methods may include forming a future market in which the product developments lines are equated to stocks. Furthermore, the disclosed systems and methods may include determining participants in a trading session of the future market and setting rules governing how the trading session in the future market will operate. Moreover, the disclosed systems and methods may include opening the trading session for the participants, closing the trading session for trading and evaluating market session trends and participant purchases to determine the priority of a product line in relation to other product lines.

Abstract: Systems and method to provide and encourage cross-industry collaboration between and amongst independent business partners designed to serve the needs of the indirect channel. Through the system, participating Members search for potential partners based on validated credentials across vendor ecosystems and professional certifications. Results can be further refined using additional filters including the use of keywords and location based attributes. Members review prospective partners' profiles and ratings, which may be obtained from fellow partners, to screen and select partners with whom they can share potential business through registered Customer Opportunities, i.e. Collaborations. Upon closing new business, the system provides tools to track each Collaboration's progress all the way through to the claims process where collaborating partners share in the aggregated Rewards earned from Sponsoring vendor organizations.

Abstract: A loyalty program business model includes entering into an agreement with loyalty program partners and agreeing on exchange rates between a variety of loyalty unit types. Partner accrual records (PAR's) arc accepted from the loyalty program partners related to the business activity of related loyalty program members. Loyalty units credits are calculated for a member from data obtained in the step of accepting. A partner loyalty account balance is updated according to the standardized loyalty unit debit obtained in the step of calculating. Then an invoice can be billed to a partner according to the partner loyalty account balance.

Abstract: Crowdsourcing is described, for example, where solutions to tasks such as designing a logo, writing a piece of code or answering a question are solicited by making open calls to large scale communities. In an example, a crowdsourcing node models a plurality of contests as all-pay auctions, each contest having a task and a reward. In examples, the crowdsourcing node is arranged to set rewards for the contests so that the optimal results are received for each contest owner, those owners having provided a budget and using a utility function for each of the contests. In examples, the crowdsourcing node is arranged to recommend contests to potential participants so that those participants can more easily decide which tasks to take on next.

Abstract: Systems and methods for off-site centralized renewable energy generation systems for utility customers to remotely generate renewable energy that can be credited to their utility bill at their residence or place of business. Fractional ownership of a centralized facility provides cost savings through economies of scale and allows fractional owners to receive all available tax incentives for renewable energy production.

Abstract: A method for evaluating and rewarding users' contribution in an Internet system is described. The Internet system accepts user's contribution of articles or multimedia information. The system maintains user profiles. Each user profile comprises a reputation data and a credit data. The Internet system has four kinds of roles to participate in pages of a platform uses one language. The received contribution subject to other's modifications, and system evaluates contribution ratio and page production value to reward the contribution for a certain time.

Abstract: A merchant server of a first merchant receives an indication of items that a customer is to purchase via a web site. The indication may be, for example, a signal indicating that the customer is ready to “check out” his shopping cart of items on the web site. In response, the merchant server provides an offer for a subsidy from a second merchant. The offer is provided before the items are purchased, and thus the offer is not provided unless and until the customer has manifested an intent to make a purchase from the first merchant. A response is received from the customer. If the response indicates acceptance of the offer, then the subsidy is applied to the items purchased. For example, the total price paid for the items may be reduced, or the items may even be provided to the customer without charge. In exchange, the customer agrees to participate in a transaction with the second merchant. For example, the customer may be required to switch service providers (e.g.

Abstract: A merchant server of a first merchant receives an indication of items that a customer is to purchase via a web site. The indication may be, for example, a signal indicating that the customer is ready to “check out” his shopping cart of items on the web site. In response, the merchant server provides an offer for a subsidy from a second merchant. The offer is provided before the items are purchased, and thus the offer is not provided unless and until the customer has manifested an intent to make a purchase from the first merchant. A response is received from the customer. If the response indicates acceptance of the offer, then the subsidy is applied to the items purchased. For example, the total price paid for the items may be reduced, or the items may even be provided to the customer without charge. In exchange, the customer agrees to participate in a transaction with the second merchant. For example, the customer may be required to switch service providers (e.g.

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, a controller receives information relating to customer activity with a first vendor (e.g., via a Web page that a customer accesses). The controller further receives an indication of items the customer desires to purchase, the items having an associated total price. The controller determines, based on any of various criteria, whether to provide an offer for a subsidy based on the information relating to customer activity. The offer for a subsidy is from a second vendor (a subsidizing vendor), and may define, for example, a reduction in the price charged for the item and an obligation for the customer to fulfill in exchange for the subsidy. If the customer accepts the offer, he is charged a second price for the items. The second price is less than the total price, and may even be zero.

Abstract: A system for generating energy using the rotating wheels of a vehicle and for collecting such energy is provided. An alternative system for powering vehicle engines using relatively inexpensive fuel sources is also provided.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and a system for developing software. In one embodiment, a method for developing software includes communicating a specification for the design of a software program to a first plurality of developers, in response to the specification, receiving a design from a subset of the developers to a subset of the developers, facilitating a design review process for scoring the designs, selecting one design based on its score, communicating the selected design to a second plurality of software developers, in response to the design, receiving software programs from a subset of the second plurality of developers, facilitating a software review process for scoring the programs, and selecting one program based on its score.

Abstract: A digital document request can be received at a publisher computing environment from a client computing environment. A document requested by the digital document request can include an embedded content placeholder. A third-party embedded content request can be sent from a content broker computing environment (which may be the same as or different from the publisher computing environment) to an embedded content provider computing environment to request content for the embedded content placeholder. Content corresponding to the third-party embedded content request can be received at the content broker computing environment. In addition, the digital document can be sent from the publisher computing environment to the client computing environment, and the content can be sent from the content broker computing environment to the client computing environment. Advertisement selection can also be delegated to an advertisement selection delegate computing environment.

Abstract: A method includes transmitting location-specific information by a user device to a service provider, preserving anonymity of the user device in the transmitting, providing incentives to the user device for information upload to the service provider, and disabling the service provider from associating the user device with the information upload and the location specific information for promoting the information upload.

Abstract: System and methods for transaction processing using a rewards account are described. The method may include: receiving a transaction containing a transaction type, formatting a message based on the transaction type and sending the message. The method may alternately include, receiving a transaction message and processing a transaction based on a transaction type contained within the transaction message. The system may include one or more software modules performing the following functions: receiving module to receive transactions, transaction processing module to parse the transaction and determine a transaction type, message processing module to format a transaction message based on the transaction type, and a user interface module to provide a user interface to a customer.

Abstract: A system for incentivizing an action offered by a third-party website. To this end, the system includes a host website comprising an offering module configured to display an incentive for taking an action on the third-party website. The host website further includes a user interface module configured to register users as participants, and accept inputs from the participants. In addition, a reporting module receives a report of an action on the third-party website and the identity of the participant taking the action. Further, an incentive calculation module present on the host website calculates an incentive applicable to the identified action and provides information regarding the calculated incentive. Moreover, a data storage module is configured to assemble, store, retrieve, and process information regarding the participant and the third-party website action.

Abstract: This patent refers to a $MoneyMail™ System Email Service Provider, Database Development, Social Networking Applications and Direct Marketing Engine. The $MoneyMail™ system amalgamates two Prior Arts, email service provider (ESP) and direct email marketing service. The $MoneyMail™ users are generously compensated for receiving and viewing admail. The $MoneyMail™ system ensures that all advertisers admail will successfully reach the user, whereas, other ESPs have many SPAM blocking systems in place that cause mail to be ‘bounced’. The users that receive admail are selected from a comprehensive database dependant upon the advertisers' search criteria. The $MoneyMail™ system compensates users only upon opening and viewing the admail. The advertiser will be refunded for any admail that goes unviewed for a specified period of time.

Abstract: Various techniques of distributing revenue and/or other money, selecting/bonding delivery agents, and performing other tasks are providing herein. Methods include distributing portions of loan payments to one or more referrers associated with one or more loans, bonding of delivery agents, selecting delivery agents, allocating portions of credit card payments and/or sharing advertisement revenue. Other apparatus and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: Handling electronic coupons includes accessing information indicating association of an electronic coupon with an account of a user that identifies multiple retail entities associated with the user. Information indicating association of electronic coupons with the user's account may be transmitted to respective computer systems associated with the multiple retail entities. The computer systems may associate electronic coupons with the user such that the user may redeem the electronic coupons at a retail store upon presentation of a user identifier. When the user redeems an electronic coupon, cancellation information for the electronic coupon may be transmitted to the computer systems of other retail entities associated with the user. Receipt of the cancellation information may cause the respective computer systems to cancel the redeemability of the electronic coupon such that the user is prevented from redeeming the electronic coupon at a retail store associated with the corresponding retail entity.

Abstract: Demand response to reduce energy consumption by individual consumers is provided by aggregating individual consumers, and providing feedback to such consumers regarding their energy consumption relative to other energy consumers in a group. The resulting feedback may result in reduced energy consumption by the individual consumer.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to product warranties having a residual value and a potential rebate based on the residual value. The residual value can thus be inversely related to the number of claims filed against the warranty.

Abstract: A system for advertising to an end user in a computer network is provided. The system includes a server configured to transmit instructions to a client application to display an advertisement and a call-to-action for a reward in proximity to each other. The system is further configured to receive a response to the call-to-action for a reward from the user, and to transmit instructions to the client application to display an indication of a reward. A reward log database is provided in communication with the server. The reward log database is configured for logging the response to the call-to-action for a reward from the user. Methods for advertising and conveying a message, and a client application program product are also provided.