Abstract: A server stores personal information associated with a user of a wireless communication device. The server also receives from the wireless communication device an image of an item for sale and a price of the item, and appends the image and the price to include the user's email address and the delivery information.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to enable bundling of software applications across multiple, disparate platforms, such as for example, bundling PC applications with mobile applications. The system enables mobile application developers to make offers to publishers of PC software to compensate the publishers for presenting advertisements for mobile application developers' product offerings during the installation of the publishers product offerings on user PCs. The publishers integrate an offer manager into their installation packages. When the installation packages are installed on a user's PC, the offer manager communicates with a software bundling service and identifies relevant offers, such as, for example, offers made by mobile application developers that are partnered with the software publisher supplying the installation package. Relevant offers are then presented to the user on the users PC, and if accepted, a download URL for a mobile user's application is transmitted to a user mobile device.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set-top box (STB) having a controller to present a plurality of advertisement categories, detect a selection of one of the plurality of advertisement categories, present an advertisement template associated with the selected advertisement category, detect a plurality of entries in the advertisement template for constructing a consumer classified advertisement, generate an advertisement graphical user interface (GUI) corresponding to the entries, detect one or more demographic patterns in the plurality of entries, identify a plurality of users of a media communication system from which the STB operates according to the detected one or more demographic patterns, and provide the plurality of users of the media communication system accessibility to the advertisement GUI. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A mobile payment system for effecting payment for a contemporaneous transaction comprises a payment terminal having a proximity reader configured to detect an identifier associated with a wireless communication device. A central server is in operative communication with the payment terminal and the wireless communication device. At least one database, accessible by the central server, contains an association between the identifier and the wireless communication device. The central server is further operative to send transaction information to the wireless communication device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for tracking a user's off-line commerce and merging that data with online activity are disclosed. The off-line transaction data is associated with off-line purchases of a user and includes identification information that can be used to identify the user. A scone or modified cookie is created that includes the off-line transaction data. Online activity can also be tracked and merged with the user's off-line commerce data.

Abstract: A digital image of the object is captured and the object is recognized from plurality of objects in a database. An information address corresponding to the object is then used to access information and initiate communication pertinent to the object.

Abstract: The present invention includes device, system, and method of electronic payment. An operator server may transmit, to a smartphone or other portable wireless device of a patron, a unique time-sensitive and location-based code. The unique code may be used to create an ad-hoc linkage or association between the smartphone of the consumer, and a purchase tab of that patron at an establishment or merchant store. The patron may then utilize his smartphone in order to autonomously close his purchase tab at the establishment, and in order to perform remote electronic payment for the purchase tab to the establishment, without requiring involvement or assistant from waiters or establishment personnel.

Abstract: A method of processing a purchase transaction for one or more items includes receiving, at a central computing network, MICR information associated with a financial account of a customer. The central computing network includes a solicitation processor and a comprehensive negative check file. The method further includes using the solicitation processor to determine whether to solicit the customer to apply for a financial transaction card including determining if any of a plurality of predefined reasons exist not to solicit the customer, wherein one of the plurality of predefined reasons includes if the MICR information associated with the financial account of the customer matches MICR information of a check listed in the comprehensive negative check file, if any of the plurality of predefined reasons exist, deciding not to solicit the customer, and if none of the plurality of predefined reasons exist, deciding to solicit the customer.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for facilitating alternative payment submissions. According to a one aspect, a selection by a purchaser of one or more items is received, one or more characteristics associated with the purchaser are processed to determine a reliability of the purchaser, and an option to provide payment for the one or more items by way of a first payment method in lieu of a second payment method is selectively provided to the purchaser based on the determined reliability, the second payment method corresponding to a payment method requiring the purchaser to provide banking information and the first payment method corresponding to a payment method not requiring the purchaser to provide banking information. Other embodiments of the various aspects include corresponding systems, apparatus, and computer program products.

Abstract: System and methods to visually present assets and access platforms for the assets are provided. A particular method includes receiving asset data associated with an asset and user data associated with a user. The method includes determining available platforms for the asset from the asset data and the user data. The method includes generating a display including information identifying the asset and an icon corresponding to an access platform in the available platforms. The icon includes a first indicator when the user has an access right to the asset for the access platform. The icon includes a second indicator distinct from the first indicator when the user does not have an access right to the asset for the access platform.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mobile dedicated gift token management system capable of providing a mobile dedicated gift token of using in only the specific member store designated by a customer through a website or a dedicated access terminal of selling the dedicated gift token to a mobile terminal designated by the customer. Also, an expiration date setting unit for setting the term of validity is constructed, thereby restricting an improper use thereof.

Abstract: An online sales/automatic rebate and coupon redemption system provides online customers automatic retrieval and redemption of all applicable rebates and coupons during purchase. Purchase orders from customers are selectively fulfilled and products are shipped to the customers either by the system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon redemption or by other merchant or manufacturer environments. The system purchases from merchants using applicable coupons and rebates and then sells the products to the customers, passing the savings to them. The system makes it possible to automatically retrieve coupons and rebates for items in a shopping cart during the activity of an online purchase at an electronic mall or an online merchant site. The system provides coupons to potential customers via email, based on customer profile, geographical information, etc. Manufacturers and merchants can update coupon value and content based on ongoing sales and volume of customer activity.

Abstract: Coupon information is provided electronically in association with receipts for transactions at physical stores and/or online stores. A retailer causes performance of a transaction in which one or more items are purchased. An interface configured to accept input indicating a customer identifier, such as an email address, associated with the transaction is provided. When input has been received via the interface, it is determined whether the identifier is associated with a known customer identity. If the customer identifier is associated with a known identity, digital coupons associated with that identity are applied against the transaction. An electronic receipt is further provided for the transaction via, for instance, the provided email address or a web-based application in which a session is established in connection with the identity.

Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing point of advertising purchasing include using mass media publications configured for or containing service, product or vendor transmittable signals, such as from radio frequency identification tags. In a preferred arrangement, a consumer perceiving an advertisement of the mass media publication may activate a reader in a portable communications device, such as a smart mobile or cellular phone, to receive information from the radio frequency signal associated with the advertisement to identify a vendor, product or service associated with the radio frequency identification. The smart mobile phone or communications device of the consumer may communicate with a system of a vendor or vendors by way of a commerce data organization system across a network to order a product or product information from a system of the vendor over the network by using the information from the radio frequency identification.

Abstract: Provided is a table tablet computer for facilitating a process of ordering product items and making mobile device payments. The user may select product items via interface of the table tablet computer and send an order request to a merchant. Upon receipt of an order from the merchant, the user may send a check-out request to transfer payment for the order. Once the check-out request has been received, the merchant may transmit an invoice to the table tablet computer. The invoice may include a barcode, which may be scanned by a mobile device, a barcode scanner, an external device, or any other personal digital device of the user. The barcode may encode data associated with the order. The data associated with the order may include payment data of the merchant, the product items, and a total price of the order.

Abstract: A method for a transaction with a taxi includes establishing secure communication between a first computing device in a driver section of a vehicle and a second computing device in a passenger section of a vehicle, receiving in the second computing device a card number from a card reader coupled to the second computing device before receiving a signal from a meter indicating an end of a trip for the passenger, after receiving the card number submitting the transaction for authorization from at least one of the first device or the second device, after receiving a signal from the meter indicating the end of the trip for the passenger, displaying an amount of a fare for the trip on a display, and receiving an indication that the transaction is authorized.

Abstract: A computer-implemented offer redemption method includes the steps of: (a) storing information on a consumer and a payment account associated with the consumer in a computer storage system; (b) receiving activation of an offer from the consumer covering a product or service or a purchase from a retailer; (c) linking the offer to the consumer's payment account; (d) monitoring transactions in the consumer's payment account; and (e) when the consumer has purchased the product or service or made a purchase from the retailer covered by the linked offer using the consumer payment account, making payment for offer settlement to a payment processor managing the consumer's payment account to be credited to the consumer's payment account.

Abstract: Described are methods and systems for registering consumers with merchant loyalty or other merchant programs by using a credit card or other form of payment to register the consumer, and thereafter automatically recognizing the consumer as a member in the program based on subsequent purchases made using the form of payment. Consumer rewards can then be automatically applied during the purchase transactions with the merchant. Thus, the present disclosure allows for consumers to seamlessly and transparently gain the benefits of consumer programs merely by purchasing goods and services using forms of payment, without consumers needing to carry additional cards or coupons or login information.

Abstract: Methods for targeting content based on user interests. A graphical user interface may be provided to a first user. A plurality of interest categories may be displayed to the first user through the graphical user interface. An indication of a first category selected from the plurality of interest categories may be received from the first user. Upon receiving the indication of the first category, a plurality of sub-categories of the first interest category may be displayed to the first user through the graphical user interface. Additionally, an indication of at least one selected sub-category chosen from the plurality of sub-categories may be received from the first user. A first plurality of content items based on the at least one selected sub-category may be selected. The first plurality of content items may be provided to the first user through the user interface.

Abstract: A method, system and controller is provided for a selection service recommending or providing access to goods or service items to a consumer, comprising the steps of: identifying a set of available items at least some of which require payment to item providers for access (1201); predicting a measure of likely enjoyment of each available item by the consumer (1202)/calculating a measure of value for money of each available item for the consumer (1203); and recommending or providing access to items to the consumer that will represent good value for money (1204).

Abstract: The paid media online cooperative method is a multi-user method having computer-automated steps that provide price negotiation more effectively than a single buyer of media alone can. The digital cooperative includes organizations associated with the co-op, the organizations retaining the same variables as they would normally have outside of the co-op. The co-op method allows users to manage cost in the form of cost per visitor or per impression, thereby reducing advertising cost while upholding impression and visitor counts among all members. Software applications of the method may be centralized or distributed. The method provides a democratically controlled enterprise that is autonomous and independent of any of its members, and based on a lowest cost pricing model. Member participation in the co-op is voluntary. Each member accesses data fields to manage media buys, except the pricing field is unavailable to the member, and is instead managed by the software application.

Abstract: Included are systems and methods for directing data. At least one embodiment of a method includes receiving a listing for a data provider, the listing including a plurality of criteria related to the data provider and receiving an indication to add at least a portion of the listing to a personal directory. Other embodiments include adding at least a portion of the listing to the personal directory and receiving an indication from the data provider to send data to the personal directory.

Abstract: A system to provide price adjustments based on indicated product interest includes reception of an indication from a customer of interest in a first product, reception of an indication from a customer of interest in a second product, determination of a price adjustment for the second product based on the indication of interest in the first product, and transmission of the price adjustment to the customer. By virtue of the foregoing features, a retailer may be willing to provide a price adjustment for the second product which would otherwise not be provided. Moreover, such a price adjustment may incent the customer to purchase the second product in a case that the second product would not otherwise be purchased, thereby potentially increasing a total profit received by the retailer.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for assisting a user in one or more activities during online shopping. The method facilitates tracking of at least one activity of the user during online shopping. Thereafter, the method identifies a suitable promotion for the user based on the tracked activity. Subsequently, the method displays the promotion in a predefined format on a portion of the browser.

Abstract: Methods and system for displaying a click-to-buy overlay for an item on a video in a video hosting site. The item is matched to the video according to video metadata and/or rules selected by the video rights holder. If the uploader is not the video rights holder, the video rights holder can choose to monetize the video by selecting Click-to-Buy metadata and/or rules. A viewer of the video can choose between multiple retailers for an item offered in the overlay. The viewer can further navigate between multiple overlays associated with the video while the video is playing.

Abstract: A system and method for using a discount display system are provided in which a plurality of purchase option screens are displayed to a user. For each discount-eligible item identifier selected by the user, the price of the item is added to the user's total, the current discount available to the user is re-calculated and the updated discount is displayed to the user.

Abstract: A method for providing recommendations to a user based on user activity. A plurality of activity data tracking a plurality of activities of a user is obtained. The activity data may be obtained over a wide area network such as the internet or downloaded from a data card which stores activity data whenever the user participates in an activity. The activity data is either stored on the data card or transmitted over the network whenever the user uses a card when participating in any activity such as when making a purchase of goods, paying for services, watching television, etc. The activity data is processed to identify a plurality of user patterns. The user patterns are used to form a user profile and may include user habit data. Recommendations specific to the user based on the user patterns are then created for and provided to the user. The recommendations are provided to a user when the user logs onto a computer network such as the internet.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for messaging over a data network, such as the Internet and interactive TV, which allows every registered user to generate and update one or more user portfolio(s) containing information relative to Providers and/or individuals of which the user is willing to view their messages. The messages are displayed inside the space of the webpage where usually banners are shown. The system may provided benefits to the user upon displaying messages with commercial value to him. The disclosed messaging system allows an easy and effective communication path between providers and users any time publicly or privately in the banner area of a web site, which does not occupy additional space on the user's browser, and does not require the user to load another application besides his browser.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for determining a combination of electronic coupons (e-coupons) for redemption by a retailer in a networked environment are disclosed. In the method, a check is made to determine if a selection of e-coupons complies with redeeming conditions for a purchase. If so, a further check is made to determine if two or more of the selected e-coupons are mutually exclusive. The selection of e-coupons complying with the redeeming conditions and being non-mutually exclusive is displayed. Preferably, the method includes suggesting to a user of an optimal or near optimal selection of e-coupons. The e-coupons may reside at a user's site, a third party's site, or a site of the retailer in the networked environment. The networked environment may be the Internet, an Intranet, an Extranet, a local area network, an ATM network, a wide area network and a wireless network.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide new systems and methods for e-commerce, or online product and service sales. These systems and methods allow for a vendor to list a product on which buyers can place puts. Vendors can then evaluate the puts, learning valuation information about their listed item, and respond to the puts with an offer or rejection. The buyers may then redeem offers at a merchant using a physical or virtual coupon.

Abstract: A mobile device acquires additional information, such as color and/or size variation information of an item, from an additional information tag when creating shopping information, and reflects the additional information in the shopping information, whereby the number of item tags may be reduced. Also, a code for related item information is contained in an item tag as additional information, allowing the mobile device to acquire the related item information when acquiring item information and to present the information to a customer. By including a common campaign code in an item tag for a certain group of items, the group of items may be set as targets of the common campaign. Also, the meaning of the campaign code may be personalized for each customer. Furthermore, various campaigns and promotions, such as proposal/cross-selling of related items, may be provided.

Abstract: Methods and systems for sending marketing messages to mobile-device users from a mobile-commerce platform are described. In various illustrative embodiments, a marketing message is transmitted to a mobile-device user before, during, or after a transaction between the mobile-device user's mobile device and the mobile-commerce platform. The marketing message can be generated and timed based on rules input to the mobile-commerce platform by a merchant and can be based on historical transaction data associated with the mobile-device user, transaction parameters associated with a current or a most-recently-completed transaction involving the mobile-device user, a transaction type of a current or a most-recently-completed transaction involving the mobile-device user, or a combination thereof, depending on the particular embodiment.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamic integration of advertisements in 3D virtual environments may provide contextual placement of advertising assets into those environments. The advertising assets may include 3D models of products or advertisements. The selection of appropriate advertising assets during runtime may be dependent on context-sensitive metadata associated with placeholders tagged in the virtual environment by a virtual environment authoring application, and corresponding metadata associated with available advertising assets. The metadata may include classification attributes, visual attributes, physical attributes, behavioral attributes, or interactivity attributes. The selection of appropriate advertising assets may be further dependent on user information and/or game session information captured at runtime. Additional advertising assets may be dynamically selected in response to interactions with the advertising assets, or dependent on changes in status of a user or game session.

Abstract: A method, system and computer readable storage medium for reporting on a measured change in a consumption rate. Media consumption histories for a plurality of entities are received. A monitored audience is selected from the plurality of entities by selecting entities which have completed an online purchase. A category value for each of two or more categories of media content is determined. One category of media content includes one or more items of media content. One category value represents the measured change in consumption rate for one category of media content for the monitored audience between at least two time intervals. One consumption rate is determined based on the number of times each item of media content in the one category has been delivered over a network during one time interval. A report including a reference to two or more categories and their associated category values is generated.

Abstract: A system and methods for displaying a selected advertisement on a web page merged (injected) into a list of transactions provided by an online (Internet) banking portal of a financial institution, independently of a computer system that provides the list. A consumer's browser receives an account history page comprising a list of transactions from the portal. The list is processed locally at the consumer's machine to generate a list of currently-displayed transactions, which are then transmitted to an offer placement system. The offer placement system accesses a database of potential advertisements to identify a selected advertisement corresponding to an advertisement selection criterion. The selected advertisement is then transmitted to the consumer's machine. The consumer's machine merges (injects) the selected advertisement in the web browser with the transactions list in accordance with predetermined advertisement placement information.

Abstract: An online sales/automatic rebate and coupon redemption system provides online customers automatic retrieval and redemption of all applicable rebates and coupons during purchase. Purchase orders from customers are selectively fulfilled and products are shipped to the customers either by the system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon redemption or by other merchant or manufacturer environments. The system purchases from merchants using applicable coupons and rebates and then sells the products to the customers, passing the savings to them. The system makes it possible to automatically retrieve coupons and rebates for items in a shopping cart during the activity of an online purchase at an electronic mall or an online merchant site. The system provides coupons to potential customers via email, based on customer profile, geographical information, etc. Manufacturers and merchants can update coupon value and content based on ongoing sales and volume of customer activity.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for implementing wireless service for a wireless device. In a representative embodiment, a service initiation system is executed in a computing device that communicates with a service provider system over a network to activate a wireless service associated with a newly purchased wireless device. The service initiation system also generates a network page to send to a client over the network, where the network page has a component that initiates a porting of a contact designation associated with a prior wireless device to the newly purchased wireless device separate from the activation of the wireless service for the newly purchased wireless device.

Abstract: The invention includes an improved system and method for creating, distributing and storing vouchers. The method includes a loyalty system obtaining a loyalty card account having a unique identifier and loyalty points associated therewith, accessing a loyalty database utilizing the unique identifier, converting at least a portion of the loyalty points to a first value associated with a first merchant, saving the first value in a first database associated with the loyalty card, converting at least a portion of the loyalty points to a second value associated with a second merchant, saving the second value along with other voucher information as an electronic voucher in a second database associated with the loyalty card, redeeming the first value at a first merchant and redeeming the electronic voucher at a second merchant.

Abstract: In one scenario, an electronic payment system receives health related information from a user. The health related information includes an indication that the user is initiating participation in opt-in advertising sent from the electronic payment system in exchange for health related services. The user may have a digital device and a mobile wallet account at the electronic payment system, and the mobile wallet account is accessible via a mobile wallet application. The electronic payment system sends interactive advertisements to the user's mobile wallet application for presentation to the user and receives inputs from the user that provide interaction with the presented interactive advertisements. The electronic payment system determines that the user's interactions with the presented advertisements warrant conferring a health related benefit to the user, and indicates to the user that the benefit is available for subsequently purchased health related items.

Abstract: According to embodiments of the invention, an advertisement-generation system generates image-containing advertisements. The advertisement-generation system includes: at least one feature-selection guideline that specifies at least one recommended feature for image-containing advertisements based on advertiser inputs that specify at least one of advertisement-target-audience information, cost information, and advertiser-industry information; an image-clip library from which images are selected for inclusion in the image-containing advertisements; and at least one advertisement template that is based on the at least one feature-selection guideline; wherein the system automatically generates image-containing advertisements that contain one or more suggested colors that are automatically suggested based on one or more colors present on a web page that will host the image-containing advertisement.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and system are provided for performing a voice command on a client device. The method can include translating, using a first speech recognizer located on the client device, an audio stream of a voice command to a first machine-readable voice command and generating a first query result using the first machine-readable voice command to query a client database. In addition, the audio stream can be transmitted to a remote server device that translates the audio stream to a second machine-readable voice command using a second speech recognizer. Further, the method can include receiving a second query result from the remote server device, where the second query result is generated by the remote server device using the second machine-readable voice command and displaying the first query result and the second query result on the client device.

Abstract: A sales system supports sales between a plurality of buyers and a plurality of sellers in a communication network. A sales server has a seller interface used by both a first seller and a second seller respectively via a first seller's computer and a second seller's computer to register availability for sale of a first product and a second product. The sales server, based upon received buyer input from an identified buyer via a buyer computer that includes buyer orders for the first product and the second product dispenses a first sales order to the first seller's computer for the first product and a second sales order to the second seller's computer for the second product. The sales server provides instructions to the first seller's computer for fulfillment of the first sales order and to the second sales computer for the fulfillment of the second sales order.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods, systems facilitating the methods, and computer-readable medium storing computer readable code, which, when executed, performs the methods are provided for online to offline social commerce services. The methods may include (1) receiving a request from a content provider to post a content including an advertisement of a item for sale, (2) causing display of the content to a designated group, (3) receiving a request from a user to purchase the item after reviewing the content, (4) receiving payment for the item from the user, and (5) informing the user that the purchase is executed. The content can be a blog message, wherein the designated group includes followers of the content provider's blog, or the content can be a game, wherein the designated group includes players of the game.

Abstract: Displaying popular items that are available for sale at a merchant's physical location comprises creating a electronic document corresponding to the merchant's physical location. Then, a product availability database and a product popularity database are populated, the product availability database taking into account the inventory available at the merchant's physical location. Next, a cross-referencing engine identifies the popular products that are available at the merchant's physical location, and displays on the merchant's electronic document a plurality of popular items that are available at the merchant's physical location.

Abstract: A method and system for facilitating a transaction between at least one user, at least one merchant, at least one associate is provided. The method includes the steps of the associate processing device transferring into the user processing device a first merchant link for a first merchant Web site on a first merchant processing device. The first merchant link is framed with associate information. The user selects the first merchant link. The associate processing device transfers into the user processing device information regarding a first product from the first merchant Web site. The user selects the first product to purchase. The user provides purchase information for purchasing the first product. The user processing device transfers the purchase information to the associate processing device. The associate processing device adds promotional information to the purchase information responsive to the user identification value.

Abstract: A reporting system for providing reports on consumption rate changes for media content delivered over a network. A respective media consumption history is received for each of a plurality of entities at a storage. The histories are analyzed to identify selected media content for reporting based on changes in a consumption rate of the media content between at least two time intervals. A report including a reference to the selected media content is provided to a system. In an example, the system is a search engine indexing system and the invention enables the rapid indexing of new content and/or media content experiencing a surge in popularity. The consumption rate changes can be measured for monitored audiences comprising a subset of the audience. The monitored audience can be provided as a list of entities and/or selected based on the media consumption history and/or similarity to a known set of entities.

Abstract: A method of advertising on a communication network, includes the use of computational equipment for receiving a network request from a user, transmitting via a network advertising data for presenting an advertisement to the user, receiving a first transmission indicative of a user responding to such advertisement and storing information relating to the user's response. A second transmission is received indicative of a purchase of the item by a user where payment for such purchase is identified by a transaction card. The data for the second transmission is obtained from a data storage that includes data indicative of purchases by a plurality of users at a plurality of merchants, and such data is used to determine that a purchase occurred at a location where a user traveled for such purchase. A reward is generated corresponding to the user responding to the advertisement.

Abstract: A method and system for authenticating an Internet user identity by cross-referencing and comparing at least two independent sources of information. A first geographical location of computer signature of an internet user is identified and the geographical location of a communication voice device of said internet user is identified to determine a second location. The first and second locations are compared for geographical proximity to confirm the identity of the internet user. Based upon geographical proximity of said locations, a score is assigned to the internet user, and access to a website is allowed or limited based upon said score. Alternatively, additional authentication information can be required or access can be terminated.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for implementing wireless service for a wireless device. In a representative embodiment, a service initiation system is executed in a computing device that communicates with a service provider system over a network to activate a wireless service associated with a newly purchased wireless device. The service initiation system also generates a network page to send to a client over the network, where the network page has a component that initiates a porting of a contact designation associated with a prior wireless device to the newly purchased wireless device separate from the activation of the wireless service for the newly purchased wireless device.

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.