Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of a self healing andon system. One embodiment of the present disclosure includes a system comprising at least one server. The system further includes logic executed on the at least one server that retrieves a defect history associated with a vendor and at least one product from an inbound shipment from a memory. The at least one product is stocked in a materials handling facility, and the defect history is associated with a specified time period. The at least one server extracts at least one inventory defect from the defect history in a computer system and calculates an inventory defect rate. The at least one server imposes remedial measures if the inventory defect rate exceeds a specified threshold of the inventory defect rate.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing excess capacity for restaurants and other industries during off-peak hours is provided. Customers or potential customers may bid on gift certificates redeemable at restaurants during a predetermined time. Users may register with the system and provide identification and demographic information which may be used by restaurants for targeted marketing strategies, promotions, and special offers. The system may include a registration module, an auction module, a restaurant guide module, a restaurant manager module, rewards and referral center module, restaurant reservation module, and advertisement displays.

Abstract: An offer delivery system provides a mechanism for coordinating presentation of offers to customers that may originate from multiple different sources and that may be delivered to the customers over different channels. The systems makes use of rules to prioritize, select, and time the delivery of offers to any particular customer, allocate limited resources in the channels to deliver offers to a set of customers, and provide mechanisms for users or their agents to limit the delivery of offers, for example, by their frequency or type.

Abstract: A method for updating a limited redemption coupon includes: storing, in a database, at least one coupon record for at least one coupon, wherein the at least one coupon record includes at least a limitation on redemption associated with the at least one coupon; updating, in the database, the limitation on redemption associated with the at least one coupon in response to a limiting event; and transmitting, by a transmitting device, the updated limitation on redemption associated with the at least one coupon to at least one mobile communication device for display on the at least one mobile communication device.

Abstract: The present invention contemplates a variety of techniques including a computer implemented method. The method comprises receiving a plurality of offers from a plurality of entities, combining offers from the plurality of offers into an offer stack, wherein all offers of the offer stack can be applied jointly to a transaction and presenting the offer stack to a customer. Some of the entities can have one or more membership programs, and offers can be presented in one or more membership programs.

Abstract: A system and/or method that effectuates and facilitates the generation and provision of differential pricing policies based at least in part on the relative social network standing that a seller might have with a potential purchaser are provided. The system includes a component that receives data associated with a seller, a good, or a service that the seller lists for sale or barter in an online market place. The component determines, based at least in part on the particular good or service, a differential pricing policy that can be associated therewith. The differential pricing policy can then be utilized to selectively provide differentiated prices to a purchaser based on a relative social network standing that can be established between the purchaser and the seller.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for modifying an offer having an initial offer value including the steps of determining a first time associated with initial offer acceptance, determining a period of time corresponding to a life of the offer, initiating a clock counting down the period of time, receiving a communication indicated that the offer has been redeemed, determining a second time associated with offer redemption, and calculating, in response to receiving the communication, a modified offer value based on the first time, the second time, the initial offer value and the life of the offer.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing charge options to drivers of electric vehicles are provided. One method includes receiving data concerning charge providing availability from charge locations and receiving a request from processing logic of an electric vehicle, the request identifying a desire to obtain charge. The method includes determining a current location of the electric vehicle and determining identification of charge locations in proximity to the electric vehicle. The method further includes determining any sponsored rewards offered by the charge locations and communicating to the electric vehicle a path to one of the charge locations, where the path is identified with a sponsored reward offered at the charge location if the path is selected and charge is obtained. The method can be processed by a server and paths are communicated to vehicles to alert drivers of the electric vehicles of rewards or discounts if charge is obtained from certain locations.

Abstract: A system comprising a selection engine configured allow a user to browse information related to a plurality of products and services that are related by a common theme in order to develop a personal plan; a calculator that allows the user to select certain products and services, an amount to be saved and a period associated with the saving act in accordance with the personal plan and to display the results of these selections in terms of contributions and timing; a credit calculator that allows the user to input credit information including balance and interest rate and configured to calculate how many payments, the amount thereof, and total interest paid for selected products and services, for comparison with the contributions and timing determined by the calculator; and a fund transfer engine configured to transfer the user's funds into a user account associated with the user in accordance with the selections input into the calculator.

Abstract: A method, system, and program for providing consumer healthy habits incentives are provided. A consumable item, consumed by an individual, is detected. A health factor is detected for the consumable item. An electronic incentive is selected for the individual according to the health factor, such that the individual is encouraged to consume a healthy selection of consumable items. An electronic incentive may be further specified according to the personal health history, exercise history and consumption history of an individual.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods that give selling actors the abilities and means to sell products and services by providing dynamic offers to buying actors subject to buying actors locations and information received by a selling actor sever. Systems, apparatus and methods that give selling actors the abilities and means to acquire information from the environment in the proximity of mobile device holders and use this information to generate dynamic offers on a selling actor server.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a method and system for distributing digital content utilizing defined and dynamically displayed start and end dates for a sale, configurable pricing options, the dynamic display of sales data, the option to include a charity of choice and the setting of a sales goal or goals with incentives released or provided to purchasers when the sales goal or goals are achieved.

Abstract: A network device receives details of a purchase offer for digital content, where the purchase offer includes a price for the digital content at a required customer purchasing participation threshold, and where the required customer purchasing participation threshold includes a number of customers that must agree to purchase the digital content at the price for the purchase offer to be fulfilled. The network device targets multiple customers based on customer profile data, and presents the purchase offer to the multiple customers, via multiple different devices associated with respective ones of the multiple customers, during the offer period. The network device charges participating customers the purchase offer price, if the purchasing participation threshold is reached by expiration of the offer period; and notifies the participating customers of expiration of the purchase offer, if the purchasing participation threshold is not reached by the expiration of the offer period.

Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses that enable predictive shopping notifications. In some embodiments, the techniques determine a purchase pattern for a product based on a user's purchase history, provide this purchase pattern to potential sellers, receive discount offers for the product from those sellers, and notify the user of these offers through his or her mobile device. By so doing, the techniques enables users to pay less for a product that the techniques predict that the user will want to purchase. Also, in some embodiments, the techniques remind a user to purchase a product based on this purchase pattern, such as through a notification indicating that the user is likely running out of that product.

Abstract: An offer delivery system provides a mechanism for coordinating presentation of offers to customers that may originate from multiple different sources and that may be delivered to the customers over different channels. The systems makes use of rules to prioritize, select, and time the delivery of offers to any particular customer, allocate limited resources in the channels to deliver offers to a set of customers, and provide mechanisms for users or their agents to limit the delivery of offers, for example, by their frequency or type.

Abstract: The present invention relates to consumer coupons, and more specifically to an electronic coupon card and system for managing coupon distribution and redemption. The instant invention provides a system and method of securely managing an electronic coupon database which implements and manages discounts for customers without requiring the customer to actively seek out, download and/or print the coupon. Additionally, the instant invention provides a system and method for managing electronic coupon discounts and payments to retailers for redeeming electronic coupons.

Abstract: An Internet search engine is configured to provide information to a user of the service in ranked order according to demographic profile information about the user provided by the user. Such information might include advertising information and/or search results (e.g., rendered as hyperlinks) to search queries posed by the user. The information may be returned in a ranked order according to reward credits offered by advertisers and/or content providers associated with the advertising information and/or web sites represented by the search results. Such reward credits may be posted to an account maintained by the user upon selection by the user of cursor-selectable objects (e.g., icons, banner ads, hyperlinks, radio buttons, check boxes, etc.) associated with the advertising information and/or search results. Ultimately, the reward credits may be redeemed through the Internet service for cash, Internet content or other value. A process for verifying whether or not an Internet operation (e.g.

Abstract: A method of providing for a money transfer over a network includes the steps of: providing a stamp having a face value and a lifespan both indicated on the stamp, the stamp being a string that is a concatenation of two or more fields including the face value and the lifespan, with at least one of the fields calculated according to a prescription involving a hashing or encryption of a concatenation of others of the fields or of some other field not part of the stamp; affixing the stamp to an e-mail; and allowing the recipient of the e-mail to obtain value for the stamp if the stamp is presented to a predetermined entity (such as a stamp issuer) for the stamp value within the lifespan indicated on the stamp. The stamp may comprise a concatenation of a set of fields, including a lifespan, a stamp value; and hash/encryption.

Abstract: A method for supporting online transactions which may include selecting a product being offered for sale, storing information regarding the selected product, determining whether one or more predefined conditions has been met, and if so, notifying the buyer regarding the selected product information. The method may also allow the buyer to reestablish a prior transaction regarding the product.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for incenting potential contributors for creating content in response to a posting. The method comprises: posting a task to a first crowdsource with the task having a first expiry period of ?1; waiting for ?1 period to expire; determining whether the task is complete; reposting the task if not complete including a second expiry period of ?2; waiting for the second period of ?1 to expire; reposting the task if not yet complete including an increased reward and a third expiry period of ?3; waiting for the third period of ?3 to expire; and, reposting the task if still not complete, wherein the reposting includes a second crowdsource.

Abstract: Coupons and other promotions can be enabled using mobile computing devices with Near Field Communication (NFC) or other wireless communication capabilities. For example, a mobile device user can collect a coupon displayed during a cable TV show by tapping his NFC mobile device to a peripheral device in wireless communication with a cable TV receiver. Collected coupons can be stored in a coupon database at the mobile device. Coupons can be redeemed by tapping an NFC mobile device to an NFC point of sale terminal. Coupons can also be collected from advertisements in audio media and web pages, and can be collected at a mobile device from media displayed at the mobile device. Coupons can have time-based, location-based or other usage restrictions. Collecting information stored in NFC tags affixed to items in a scavenger hunt list can unlock downloadable content.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing excess capacity for restaurants and other industries during off-peak hours is provided. Customers or potential customers may bid on gift certificates redeemable at restaurants during a predetermined time. Users may register with the system and provide identification and demographic information which may be used by restaurants for targeted marketing strategies, promotions, and special offers. The system may include a registration module, an auction module, a restaurant guide module, a restaurant manager module, rewards and referral center module, restaurant reservation module, and advertisement displays.

Abstract: Systems and methods to deliver dynamic context sensitive offers to incent user behavior are discussed. For example, a method to deliver a dynamic context sensitive offer can include operations for generating a dynamic offer, delivering the dynamic offer, receiving data associated with a user, updating a context input with data associated with the user, and adjusting the value of the dynamic offer. Generating the dynamic offer includes associating a rule for manipulating the value of the dynamic offer based on a context input. Updating the context input of the rule includes extracting context information from the data associated with the user. Adjusting the value of the dynamic offer can be based on reevaluation of the rule with the updated context input.

Abstract: A method and system for the electronic distribution of product redemption coupons to remote personal computers located at users' homes are disclosed. A centrally located repository, such as an online service provider or web site on the Internet, stores packages of coupon data for downloading on demand to the user's computer. A coupon generated by the system and method of the present invention comprises an encoded area that consists essentially of a unique Coupon Id. The unique Coupon Id is also recorded in a database comprising a plurality of data tables. At least one of the data tables associates each Coupon Id with one or more of a Promotion Id and a Consumer Id. Preferably, the Print Id is also associated in a data table with a Session Id and information regarding the date/time of printing. The Ids other than the Coupon Id may not be printed on the coupon.

Abstract: Techniques are described herein for providing discounted offers for goods and/or services. In one example, the discounted offer may specify a variable discount. In an aspect of this example, an amount of the variable discount may decrease for each customer or group thereof who accepts the offer. In accordance with this aspect, customer(s) who accept the offer earlier than other customers may be given a greater discount. In another aspect, the amount of the discount may vary for successive predetermined time intervals. For instance, the amount of the variable discount may be greater for customer(s) who accept the offer during a predetermined time interval that occurs earlier than another predetermined time interval. Accordingly, the amount of the discount may decrease for temporally successive predetermined time intervals. In both aspects, once a specified number of customers accept the discounted offer, the discounted offer may thereafter specify a fixed discount.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for monitoring and enforcing price parity. In one implementation, a computer-implemented method monitors price parity. The method includes generating, by a server, a task related to pricing of an item. The server receives, in response to the task, a first price and a second price of the item. The first price corresponds to an offering price of the item by a third-party seller via a sales channel of a retailer and the second price corresponds to an offering price of the item by the third-party seller via a sales channel of the third-party seller. The server evaluates whether the second price violates a price parity rule, based on at least a comparison of the first price and the second price.

Abstract: Exemplary methods, systems and components enable selective control of an operational mode for a vehicle that may be subject to an administrative standard. In some instances a qualified person or entity may attain a possible consequential result related to a user-selected vehicle operation mode that may involve a vehicle operation paradigm and/or a vehicle travel route and/or a vehicle travel destination. In some embodiments, implementation of the selected vehicle operation mode may modify a conformity status of the vehicle relative to the administrative standard. Various accessible records may be maintained regarding certification of preferable consequential results available to qualified recipients based on a correlated vehicle operational mode. A further aspect may provide correlation between a selective operation mode of an electric/combustion hybrid vehicle during an applicable travel period and a preferred consequential result available to a qualified recipient associated with the hybrid vehicle.

Abstract: A retail store computer identifies potential customers who are located in or near a merchant store at a point in time using communication with their personal mobile devices. GPS or presence technology may facilitate performing the location function. The potential customers are then grouped into a buying group by the computer based on a profile. The profile may include a customer segment, an action cluster, a demographic, or buying habits. The computer then makes an immediate dynamic buying opportunity via the personal mobile devices to the buying group based on the profile, store profitability, and current business drivers. Acceptance may be tracked to determine whether a pre-specified participation has been reached.

Abstract: A customer loyalty system assists to build and keep a customer base. The system gathers feedback from customers and enables tracking of goods and services. The customer loyalty system rids a customer of multiple loyalty cards by replacing them with one account. A customer account is associated with, for example, a customer cell phone number. A short lived promotional code enables the customer to pay through a virtual wallet and to receive bonus points or rewards. A point of sale (POS) system generates a bill with a short-lived active promotional or activation code. The code identifies the currently ordered or selected goods or services at a particular establishment. The code expires after a few minutes or other relatively short time. Through, for example, a mobile Internet-enabled device, a customer redeems the short-lived code. Redemption may be done in a variety of ways, and may be done before or after payment, but before code expiration.

Abstract: A method for selling a product which allows a customer to comparison search for, and obtain as a part of a purchase transaction, the competitive terms for a product following product acquisition. The method includes conveying the product to the customer prior to at least one transaction term of the sale being finalized, determining a final value of the transaction term, and completing the sale using the final value of the transaction term as a term of the sale.

Abstract: Computerized decision-making systems and methods are described for determining whether to provide one or more rewards, such as a coupon or instant discount, to a customer requesting to make a merchandise return at a store, and, if so, to determine the terms of the reward, such as value, expiration date/time and other terms that may be associated with a coupon. The reward determinations may be implemented in conjunction with a system for authorizing the requested merchandise return transaction. Information about the requested return may be used together with data about the customer's past purchase, return transactions, and other customer-related data. In some embodiments, the determinations are based, at least in part, on store-related information and policies. The reward may be printed with a receipt issued to the customer at the point of return and/or may be provided to the customer using a wide variety of other communications technologies.

Abstract: A sales offer organizing system comprising a content provider, a user terminal, and a server.

Abstract: A computerized system for optimizing the use of store and manufacturer coupons by consumers. The system maintains a store profile database storing attributes of retail stores, including location and coupon policy rules, a coupon profile database storing the attributes of current and future coupons, a sale profile database storing attributes of sale events at the stores, and a subscriber profile database storing identifiers of stores preferred by the subscriber, subscriber preferences, and the like. A matchup process executed by the system interrogates the databases to identify matches among stores, coupons, and sale events, and provides the subscriber with a list of those matches, from which the subscriber can enter shopping list inputs that identify items that the subscriber wants to purchase, including coupons possessed by the subscriber.

Abstract: A method of operating an internet service system comprises receiving a service request, wherein the service request identifies a user and indicates a service requested by the user, selecting a first brand for display on a first section of a web page based on an identity of the user and the service requested by the user, selecting a second brand for display on a second section of the web page based on the identity of the user and the service requested by the user, generating the web page with the first brand and the second brand, and transferring the web page for display to the user with the first brand in the first section of the web page and the second brand in the second section of the web page.

Abstract: A mobile terminal is disclosed. The mobile terminal can comprise a memory; a display module; a wireless communication unit carrying out a short range wireless communication function with a payment device; and a controller storing in the memory payment information created as short range wireless communication is carried out with the payment device, creating a first graphic object representing at least part of the payment information, and displaying the first graphic object on the display module by mapping the first graphic object into a pre-stored map based on a payment location included in the payment information.

Abstract: A method on a server for managing discount offers for a plurality of users over a communications network. The method includes receiving a discount offer, wherein a discount offer comprises at least a product or service description, an initial price, a discount price less than the initial price, a minimum number of acceptances and a time deadline, and transmitting the discount offer to the plurality of users. The method further includes receiving acceptances of the discount offer, and detecting attainment of a predefined time before the time deadline. The method further includes decreasing the minimum number of acceptances by a numerical decrement, if the number of acceptances is less than the minimum number of acceptances at the predefined time before the time deadline, and re-transmitting the discount offer with a decreased minimum number of acceptances to the mobile computers of the plurality of users.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for providing telecommunication services based on customer groups. A customer group is offered a service plan that provides an incentive to early subscribers in the form of a more attractive pricing plan (i.e., discounts). For example, a particular subscriber may be provided a discount for each customer in the group who becomes a subscriber after the particular subscriber. The discounts and pricing plan may also be based, at least in part, on the total number of customers in the group that become subscribers. Further, in order to reduce customer churn, customer discounts or other incentives may be applied toward the end of a subscription plan period. Further, subscriber discounts and/or credits may be banked in a subscriber account.

Abstract: In exemplary embodiments of a system and method for generating electronic combined source promotions, a server is typically provided in communication between at least a user and a merchant. A graphical user interface allows a user to submit a video content item which includes a personal review or recommendation by the user relevant to a product, service or business of the merchant. A graphical merchant interface allows the merchant to review the video and elect to incorporate it in a promotion, which combines the video with offer parameters entered by the merchant for the sale of a redeemable voucher. The promotion is then electronically published in a manner allowing a consumer to view the promotion and purchase the associated voucher. The user who uploaded the content item may be rewarded with cash, discounts or status points. A portion of the purchase price of the voucher is disbursed to the merchant.

Abstract: A customer's coming-to-a-store acceleration system for presenting strong incentive to the customers for their coming to the store, and for accelerating customer's coming to the store and enabling to collect information on customer's coming to the store is provided.

Abstract: A system that facilitates publishing and consuming information that is of time sensitivity, for example, price information. Methods are employed to achieve completeness and freshness in information for a given domain. A preferred embodiment is a shopping site that is capable of comparing prices, purchasing bundled products and dealing with coupons.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a computer system, in response to a first user's request, creates a location-triggered gift for a second user and for a particular vendor location, determines the second user's location, and transmits information for redeeming the location-triggered gift at the particular vendor location to the second user if the second user is at the particular vendor location.

Abstract: A method for maximizing product discounts can begin with an independent discount management system receiving user-entered shopping data that includes a product selection and/or data for an existing discount. Applicable discount data and discount handling rules can be aggregated from discount providers. A discount-maximized shopping plan can then be synthesized. The discount-maximized shopping plan can define a combination of discount data, date, time, and retailer that affords a maximum discount for each product selection. Upon user-acceptance, an aggregate discount code can be generated for the user-accepted discount-maximized shopping plan and both can be stored. Notification can be received from the retailer that the aggregate discount code has been redeemed. Compensation between the retailer and corresponding discount providers can then be coordinated.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method for distributing consumer demand upstream in a supply chain includes receiving, at a current time, an indication of consumer demand for a product that a consumer may be willing to receive at a future date rather than the current date in exchange for an incentive. The method also includes determining a particular incentive based on an order lead time for the product and conveying the particular incentive to allow the consumer to choose whether to receive the product at the particular future date rather than the current date in exchange for the particular incentive.

Abstract: The invention contemplates a website where various merchants may have their own sub-page(s) where they offer discounts and promotional materials on goods or services offered in their stores, which are typically brick and mortar retail locations. With the sub-pages, the merchants can design their own coupons or promotions and provide coupons or other documents that may be printed by the consumer. These coupons or other discounts will have traceable indicia, such as barcodes, so that when they are redeemed at the merchant location, the merchant can track information on their redemption. To be able to offer such coupons and discounts, the merchant simply needs to be a member of the site.

Abstract: Systems and methods of simulated objects in simulated environments for marketplaces, gaming, sporting events and/or performance events are disclosed herein. In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure include a method to control a simulated object that is associated with a physical location in a real world environment. One embodiment includes enabling access of the simulated object in a simulated environment by a user via a device responsive to determining that a location data or timing data satisfies a criterion. The simulated environment can include a marketplace associated with the physical location in the real world environment where the simulated object represents virtual goods or real goods associated with the marketplace.

Abstract: A method for providing consumer discount offers from a merchant using a central computer host system including defining a discount offer associated with a merchant and prescribing consumer parameters for the discount offer. Consumer demographic parameters stored in the central computer host system are analyzed with the prescribed consumer parameters to identify those consumers to whom the merchant discount offer is applicable to. The identified consumers are provided in real-time the discount offer.

Abstract: The claimed subject matter relates to an architecture for interacting with a multiple criteria buying and/or selling system to conduct business electronically. In particular, the architecture can include a dynamic discount card that includes an information access component for receiving information. In addition, the dynamic discount card can include a presentation component for displaying information to a user via the dynamic discount card.

Abstract: A system and method for providing mobile vouchers are provided. The mobile voucher system provides provable in-store redemption, city wide vouchers, cross selling of deals at time of redemption and partial redemption of vouchers and proximity based pricing.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of providing a dynamic purchase incentive to a purchase of a product. A product identification is input into a purchasing device which transmits it to a discount server computer along with customer identification data. The discount server computer uses the product identification to retrieve from a product discount database associated product discount data, and uses the customer identification data to retrieve from a customer profile database associated customer profile data. The discount server computer uses the retrieved customer profile data and the product identification to generate a dynamic purchase incentive to be applied to the purchase of the product by the customer, the incentive varying as a function of the retrieved customer profile data and the product identification. The discount server computer transmits the purchase incentive to the purchasing device, and the purchase incentive is applied to the purchase of the product by the customer.

Abstract: A system and method for providing online group-buying service is proposed. A group-buying company negotiates with a merchant to select a featured item to be sold on a group-buying website. The group-buying company and the merchant execute a binding agreement with regard to the feature item. The featured item is a product or service provided by the merchant to the group-buying company conditioned upon a first number of minimum sales. The group-buying company then advertises the feature item, and receives a number of orders from consumers purchasing the featured item. The group-buying company calculates a total number of sales and thereby determining a required remaining number of sales based on a second number of minimum sales. The group-buying company then processes the purchase orders if the required remaining number of sales has been reached.