Abstract: One embodiment of the instant invention is a computer-implemented method for processing transaction-related data that includes at least the following steps of: receiving seller data about a seller; receiving buyer data about a buyer; generating a seller profile; generating a buyer profile; receiving transaction data about a current transaction between the seller and the buyer for an offering; generating a transaction composite for the current transaction; determining a classification rule for each transaction composite class; and classifying the transaction composite into a particular transaction composite class based on comparing the classification rule to: i) the generated seller profile, ii) the generated buyer profile, or iii) the current transaction.

Abstract: System and method for retrieving and displaying patent marking information for resources coupled to or comprised in a computer system. One or more resources, i.e., hardware devices and/or software, may be detected on the computer system. Software resources may be downloaded from an e-commerce server, which may also facilitate ordering and/or purchasing the resources. Patent marking information (PMI) corresponding to each of the resources may be retrieved, including one or more patent numbers for each resource. The respective PMI may be stored on each resource, in a database on the computer system, or in a database on a server coupled to the computer system. The resources may store identification (ID) information identifying the respective resource, where the respective PMI for each resource is retrieved from the patent marking database based on the ID information. The PMI is then displayed, e.g., by a graphical user interface (GUI) on a computer display.

Abstract: An ad is placed in a movie, by analyzing inherent characteristics of the movie, analyzing viewed characteristics of the movie, analyzing viewer characteristics of a viewer of the movie, obtaining advertiser preferences for placement of the ad in the movie, determining costs of placing the ad in the movie based on the inherent characteristics of the movie, the viewed characteristics of the movie, the viewer characteristics and the advertiser preferences, and placing the ad in the movie in accordance with the inherent characteristics of the movie, the viewed characteristics of the movie, the viewer characteristics, the advertiser preferences and the determined costs.

Abstract: In one aspect, a computing apparatus is configured to identify a set of users; identify a plurality of triggers, each of which corresponds to a set of one or more conditions which when satisfied by a transaction of a user from the set, as the transaction is being processed by the transaction handler, causes transmission of an advertisement to the user; provide a graphical representation of triggers; and provide data related to the triggers on the graphical representation, in response to user interaction with the graphical representation.

Abstract: An electronic system for bargaining and promoting in a shopping area is disclosed. A mobile communication device carried by a customer may be connected to the electronic system at a point of display item through an ad hoc communication link. The customer may send an offering price for the displayed item. The retailer and the customer may negotiate using the electronic system as long as the mobile device is connected to the system in the shopping area. The customer may also send communication addresses to the system at the point of display item. The retailer may send promotional materials related to the displayed item to the customer through a public communication network.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention are directed to a real-time system that integrates data between an advertising system and an ecommerce system. The real-time system includes a distributed commerce platform that receives ecommerce data from the ecommerce system, delivers an ecommerce application to the ecommerce system, and that receives requests from a third party advertisement delivery platform.

Abstract: The present technology provides a purchasing interface within an application that allows users to purchase a product from another source without leaving the application. The application offers a product for purchase, and a user, desiring to purchase the product can provide an input effective to cause a purchasing interface to be displayed. While the purchasing interface, or information presented therein, comes from the product source, which is different than the application source, it is presented in such a fashion that gives the impression to the user that they are purchasing the product directly from the application.

Abstract: A system of advertising on the Internet, including: an on-line system for sellers of future advertising space to create advertising contracts; an on-line system for presenting the advertising contracts to purchasers of advertising space; an on-line system for the purchasers of future advertising space to select the sellers' advertising contracts; a system to integrate purchased advertising contracts to a delivery mechanism that displays purchasers' advertising in the sellers advertising space; and a system for transferring funds from the purchasers to the sellers after completion and audit of the advertising contracts.

Abstract: A method of offering a user a plurality of scenarios under which to conduct at least one primary transaction involving at least one specific item, the specific item being one of goods and services, with each one of these scenarios entailing a corresponding cost to the user. The method can include at least the following. Communication is established via a communications device between the user and a system to facilitate the primary transaction. Primary transaction data is obtained relating to the primary transaction, with the primary transaction data including data representing an identity of the user and representing the at least one specific item. The user is offered a choice between at least two scenarios under which to conduct the primary transaction, determining costs of the transaction based on allowance of receiving offers of upsell transactions.

Abstract: A system, computer program product and method including delivering an initial promotion to a customer, determining a status of the initial promotion delivered, selecting a related promotion based on the status of the initial promotion determined, and delivering the related promotion to the customer. The related promotion is selected based on the status of the initial promotion determined by selecting a predetermined related promotion associated with the status of the initial promotion determined. Moreover, the initial and related promotions may be delivered through an electronic or hard delivery medium, and the status of the initial promotion delivered may be determined by determining a status of the initial promotion based on electronic feedback from the customer or based on predetermined status criteria assigned to the initial promotion.

Abstract: A web system 1 comprises a web platform 2, a commercial customer's user station 3, advertising targets' stations 40 and 41, and a product provider 5. The web platform 2 includes a voucher definition and order system 20, a voucher generation system 21, goods definition and order system 22, and a processing unit 23. A voucher is generated when a commercial user enters an order of vouchers in the commercial customer's user station 3. The order includes a definition of the goods which may be ordered by an advertisement target person when presenting the voucher.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of displaying an evaluation tool for evaluating a proposed commission on behalf of a professional at the time of carrying out a transaction. Using a principal and share/unit price for the proposed transaction, the method identifies nearest neighbour historical transactions. A graph is displayed showing the professional's proposed commission in relation to these nearest neighbour historical transactions. The professional can modify the proposed commission in light of the historical data before executing the transaction and charging the commission.

Abstract: A system obtains ratings associated with a first set of advertisements hosted by one or more servers, where the ratings indicate a quality of the first set of advertisements. The system observes multiple different first user actions associated with user selection of advertisements of the first set of advertisements and derives a statistical model using the observed first user actions and the obtained ratings. The system further observes second user actions associated with user selection of a second advertisement hosted by the one or more servers and uses the statistical model and the second user actions to estimate a quality of the second advertisement.

Abstract: A system for provisioning a secure element on a mobile device is provided. The system comprises a first trusted service manager associated with a credit card, a second trusted service manager associated with a wireless service provider, and a mobile device. The mobile device has a secure element to hold the credit card and an over-the-air client to communicate wirelessly with the first trusted service manager and the second trusted service manager. When the second trusted service manager receives a message from the first trusted service manager to provision a personalization information for the credit card to the mobile device, the second trusted service manager transmits to the over-the-air client a message to initiate transfer of the personalization information for the credit card.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are described for determining attributes identifying media items from other media items. A first video sequence of a first media item is received from a media source, the video sequence including one or more images having first banner information embedded therein. The attributes of the first media item are determined based on at least the first banner information extracted from the first video sequence. The determined attributes of the first media item can then be stored or otherwise processed as desired.

Abstract: Rules-based commerce system or marketplace that proactively acquires and purchases, on behalf of consumers, works submitted by creators. In one implementation, the system involves a rules engine which makes current and future purchases of electronic content and code based on the positive fulfillment of specific pre-created criteria. Some particular implementations of the invention can be implemented to create a net of income from a large quantity of sources in order to support one or more social media activities. Other implementations of the invention can be configured to create forms of sponsorship whereby a consumer can create rules to automatically acquire and pay for a future work that meets one or more criteria. On the creator side, implementations of the invention can be configured to assist creators to develop an audience and corresponding income streams to support social media creation activities.

Abstract: System and method of distribution of printed advertising informational messages when money transfers and payments is related to the sphere of electronic distribution of advertising informational materials and can be used by the systems of international and local money transfer and/or systems of payments collecting and/or technical provider which functions include save, rout, sort and distribute information among the systems of transfers and payments rendering services to the companies and individuals.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically targeting Web-based advertisements is described. Advertisements are identified relative to a query, wherein identified advertisements describe characteristics relative to at least one of a product and a service. The advertisements are scored according to match between the query and the characteristics of the identified advertisements. At least some of the advertisements are provided as Web-based content.

Abstract: Embodiments provide systems, methods, processes, computer program code and means for using mobile devices to conduct payment transactions at merchant locations including brick and mortar locations and remote locations as well as for person to person transactions.

Abstract: A method and system for displaying a keyword advertisement through retrieval of an optimal landing page associated with a detailed keyword, and displaying the retrieved landing page for a user, instead of displaying a non-specific landing page associated with the advertisement keyword included in the detailed keyword. A method of displaying a keyword advertisement includes: receiving from a user a detailed keyword that includes one or more advertisement keywords purchased by an advertiser and character strings; dynamically retrieving a landing page according to the received detailed keyword; and displaying page information of the landing page for the user.

Abstract: An upsell purchase flow in an e-commerce system is provided. After a customer has purchased a product from a vendor, an upsell opportunity is provided to the customer through an upsell pitch page. The upsell pitch page advertises an additional upsell product in order to maximize the purchase transaction with the customer. Responsive to the customer accepting the upsell opportunity, rather than adding the upsell product to an electronic shopping cart, a marketplace server that facilitates transactions between the customer and the vendor charges the customer for the upsell product at that time. Multiple upsell opportunities may be provided to the customer after the initial sale is completed.

Abstract: A localization service is provided that provides users with online information on local retailers that sell particular products. A user can perform a search using a web page associated with the localization service or by searching using an internet search engine. The user's search includes a search origin. The search origin may be defined in terms of location information such as a place name or a postal code. A search for a particular product at local retailers may be made using search parameters such as search origins, product names, model numbers, product categories, and product attributes. The localization service may provide the user with search results in the form of web pages that list which retailers sell the desired product in the vicinity of the search origin. A targeted advertisement server at the localization service may use display criteria to determine which targeted advertisements should be displayed for the user.

Abstract: Systems and methods for synchronizing task data between a mailbox server of an email system and a project server of a project management system include a project that is published on the project management system, task data for the project is sent from the project server to the mailbox server. The task data includes the attributes of the project tasks and resources assigned to the project tasks. When the mailbox server receives the task data, the mailbox server creates a task on the mailbox server for each task for which the task doesn't already exist on the mailbox server. The mailbox server inserts each created task into the mailbox of the assignee for the task. The assignee can view the task attributes and update task status using a client that accesses the mailbox server.

Abstract: Enabling a designer to specify workflows to process various results of execution of transactions. A user specifies the specific workflow to be executed on the corresponding result of a transaction. A transaction mapping filter then detects the occurrence of each result and initiates execution of the corresponding workflow. As the transaction mapping filter can be implemented decoupled from the application software/code, a user can flexibly change the links of workflows to results of transactions, as desired in the specific situation.

Abstract: A method for executing a transaction related to an item or a service using a telephone includes providing information identifying the item or the service, providing a query as to a transaction to be performed in which the transaction is related to the identified item or service, and sending to a server system a request to execute the transaction related to the identified item or service in response to a user answer. The transaction is executed without the user performing a single action on a computer interface.

Abstract: Customer services are provided by storing predetermined trigger information in association with predetermined content. A real-time text chat established over a network between at least one agent device and at least one customer device is monitoring for the predetermined trigger information using a monitoring computer. The predetermined content is automatically forwarded to the at least one customer device when the predetermined trigger information is detected in the monitoring.

Abstract: An apparatus, computer program product, and method are disclosed for internet advertising. The apparatus includes an offer module, a publishing module, a posting module, and a linking module. The offer module visually presents one or more promotions to a first user in response to a first user entering a first purchasing context. The promotions contain offers. The publishing module, in response to an acceptance of the offer, creates at least one advertisement which comprises a link to a second purchasing context. The posting module posts the advertisement to a loop creation location. The linking module detects user input corresponding to the advertisement and displays the second purchasing context.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling information providers using a computer network to influence a search listing's position within a search result list generated by a search engine. Each network information provider has an account containing at least one search listing having at least three components: a description, a search term comprising one or more keywords, and a bid amount. A network information provider selects a search term relevant to the content of the web site. A search listing includes the search term and a description. A bidding process occurs when the network information provider enters a new bid amount for a search listing. The system then compares the various bid amounts for the same search term, and generates rank values for search listings having that search term. The rank value determines where the listing will appear on the search results page generated in response to a searcher's query.

Abstract: A method and a system for providing content on a computer having a memory, a display having at least a viewable position and networking capabilities for communicating with other computers in a networked system is provided. A storepath establishes the relationship amongst related stores having various marketing assets. Each marketing asset has its display attributes as defined by a global marketing campaign. When viewing a store profile, marketing assets are displayed in the viewable position on the display in accordance with those attributes.

Abstract: The present invention is uniquely designed to interact with web retailer's customers with real agent reaction times as they give astute answers directly concerning web retailer's products and goals. The entire process is manageable through a third-party website which includes scripting, settings and other parameters selected by the web retailer. An artificial intelligence engine uses the combination of Bayesian probability keyword selection, natural language parsing and regular expression processing. The technology updates its response database with every client interaction-learning always takes place as it simulates a live agent, in real time. Every client interaction is recorded and analyzed, and as a result of the analysis the changes in the answer database are made.

Abstract: A reverse payment transaction system and method in which the consumer, rather than disclosing his financial details, acquires a unique reference code associated with a bill registered by the merchant in a payment processor database. The consumer then acquits the payment through a trusted channel of choice. The method comprising the steps of providing a payment identifier associated with the purchase to the consumer, receiving at a point-of-sale the payment identifier from the consumer, providing the payment identifier from the point-of-sale to a payment processor, receiving the invoice at the point-of-sale from the payment processor, receiving payment from the consumer at the point-of sale, indicating to the payment processor that payment of the invoice was made, generating on the payment processor a receipt and providing the receipt to the point-of-sale.

Abstract: A method for providing a segment based differentiated customer service solution. The method comprises a step of first receiving information about online status of a customer. The method includes providing one or more personalized offers based on the received information. Further, a remote financial advisor application for facilitating interaction between the customer and an advisor in an advisement session is invoked and financial analysis related to the purchase of one or more personalized offers is provided to the customer. The purchase of the personalized offer is then provisioned which comprises completing transaction details for the purchase. The method also includes facilitating the provision of real-time advice to the customer through a remote advisement session.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide for systems, devices, apparatus, methods and computer program products for pre-population of data entry fields in a merchant checkout system. Based on the offer program customer's relationship with the financial institution and the financial institution relationship with the merchants the check-out system is able to leverage these relationships to provide for a more efficient check-out process.

Abstract: A system and method are described for offering items and services for sale that are related to content being displayed in an interactive medium such as the world wide web, public kiosks, hand-held PDAs, tablets, television and other digital devices. The system uses a combination of techniques to select from a catalog of items those which have the greatest relevance to the content being viewed at the time, and it presents those items concurrently in point-of-sale window, allowing the user to purchase the items directly without leaving the content page. Unlike content-sensitive advertising which presents ads even when the relevance of those ads to the content is low, the system alerts the user to the presence of relevant products, presents a point of sale window only if the user requests it, and pays the content publisher a portion of the revenue from sales initiated on his content page.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to facilitating purchases for events, and more particularly, displaying purchase recommendations and links in conjunction with events in a calendar displayed in a computer desktop application. In one aspect, the invention is a method comprising displaying a calendar in a computer desktop application; receiving information from a server corresponding to an event; displaying a reminder in the calendar corresponding to the given event, said reminder comprising information corresponding to said event and at least one link to an online store; and determining a purchase recommendation corresponding to the given event, wherein the purchase recommendation is determined with respect to a record of a given screensaver being used.

Abstract: A method for executing a transaction related to an item or a service using a telephone includes providing information identifying the item or the service, providing a query as to a transaction to be performed in which the transaction is related to the identified item or service, and sending to a server system a request to execute the transaction related to the identified item or service in response to a user answer. The transaction is executed without the user performing a single action on a computer interface.

Abstract: Methods provide for auditing of on-line commercial transactions to determine what products are the primary motivations for a customer to begin an on-line shopping session. When a purchase is made during a shopping session, the method determines whether a purchased product is related to a previous “prime motivator” product. If so, the product is designated as a derivative product and a derivative count associated with the product is incremented. If not, the product itself is designated a prime motivator product and a prime motivator count associated with the product is incremented. The method may be repeated for every purchase fielded by an on-line commercial site.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for selecting and delivering entertainment content. User preference information for entertainment content to accompany user activities is collected and associated with a user. Upon indication by a user of a desire to receive content and designation of an activity to be accompanied by the content, content items are selected and assembled into a package so that the content items may be played in sequence using a user device. The content items comprising the package are delivered to the user device.

Abstract: A display characteristic determination machine receives a request to display seller-related content that references an item available for sale. The display characteristic determination machine identifies a display characteristic available from a web server, determines that the seller-related content is to be displayed using the display characteristic, and communicates to the web server that the seller-related content is to be displayed using the display characteristic and with primary content. The display characteristic determination machine may function as an allocation device to allocate use of the display characteristic. This functionality may be scaled, for example, to include determining use of multiple display characteristics, available from multiple web servers, by multiple instances of seller-related content requested for display by multiple sellers of multiple items.

Abstract: A system and method for delivering purchasing incentives and a variety of other retail shopping aids through a computer network, such as by E-mail over the Interne or the World Wide Web. Customers (10) of retail stores can establish a bi-directional communication link with the system, log in (16) to the system, and then elect to browse among available purchasing incentive offers (18, 22), or elect to explore other shopping aids, such as a shopping list generator (26), a recipe center (30), or simply elect to claim a product rebate or to receive product information. If the customer elects to have product information or rebate information delivered, only minimal customer identification is required. For purchase incentives redeemable at retail stores, the customer must provide identification information and must also designate a retailer (12) at which the purchasing incentive can be exercised.

Abstract: A method of arranging contracts for wedding-related goods and/or services through an Internet-based platform wherein advertising vendors pay a fee only if a contract is entered into with customers of the advertising vendors.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described which optimize a business process through adaptive learning. Incoming customers are profiled and based on the customer's profile, a corresponding set of actions may be generated. From this set of actions, an algorithm is used to select a discrete action which is then presented to the customer. The customer's response to the presented action may in turn be used to forecast future customer responses and update the selection algorithm. These methods and systems allow attainment of a specific objective through progressive optimization of a business process.

Abstract: A method for linking online computer activity with non-online consumer activity by creating a unique identifier for each consumer; storing online and non-online consumer activity in a database indexed by the unique identifier; and modifying online or non-online consumer offerings based on processing the stored online and non-online consumer activity.

Abstract: An integrated shopping cart display and information handle attachment having multiple display orientation surfaces that are selectively positioned for viewing and use access by index rotation. Information display surfaces combining interior light source with position activation and display criteria, multiple features are available including product coupon access and bar code product scanning as well as sanitation and lotion dispensing access. Display panel illumination with internal self-contained renewal power source through solar cells and multiple safety reflective tape surfaces positioned on said display attachment. Information sheet overlying the display viewing area so as to provide for a useful point of sale information display and coupon redemption system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for receiving vendor-sponsored access to media content are described. In these systems and methods, a consumer's access to media content is sponsored by vendors with whom the consumer has engaged in a transaction. This sponsorship may take the form of payments provided to a media provider for a media content item or service provided to the consumer. Consumers may access goods and services provided by vendors when they are interested in engaging in a transaction, and may be presented with transaction opportunities according to their preferences. Vendors may selectively target transaction opportunities to consumers and may only sponsor media access for consumers with whom they have completed a transaction.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing consumers with vendor-sponsored access to media content are described. In these systems and methods, a consumer's access to media content is sponsored by vendors with whom the consumer has engaged in a transaction. This sponsorship may take the form of payments provided to a media provider for a media content item or service provided to the consumer. Consumers may access goods and services provided by vendors when they are interested in engaging in a transaction, and may be presented with transaction opportunities according to their preferences. Vendors may selectively target transaction opportunities to consumers and may only sponsor media access for consumers with whom they have completed a transaction.

Abstract: A method of delivering advertising in an online environment includes determining a context of a user operating a client computer to interact with an e-commerce website, where the determined context representing an intent of the user to locate a product for purchase, defining a relation between one or more of a plurality of advertisements and the product based on at least one of a plurality of relevance types, and displaying, to the user, at least one of the advertisements having the relation to the product.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamic privacy management are disclosed. In some embodiments, a customer may accept or reject using the text-messaging feature of his mobile phone offers of discounted goods or services from a partner in exchange for the customer's consent allowing the vendor to release the customer's personal information to the vendor. By controlling dissemination of his personal information in this way, a customer may tailor his own dynamic privacy agreement with the provider in an informal manner and with very little effort. The customer may also control the amount of spam he receives from vendors by specifying the types of offers he is or is not receptive to.

Abstract: A system and method for tracking conversions. Specifically, the method includes collecting user information about a user and generating a user profile based on the user information. The user profile is stored such that the user profile is used to achieve delivery of data that is targeted to the user based on the user profile without requiring a release of user information in the user profile. The method determines that the user has performed an action. A unique payment option is associated with the action, wherein the unique payment option is generated in response to the action. Notification is received that the user has made a payment to an online merchant using the unique payment option. The payment is associated with a conversion of the action without cooperation of the online merchant.

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.