Abstract: An interstitial creator identifies a playlist of media items, the playlist comprising pointers to the media items. The interstitial creator receives a request to insert an interstitial at a location in the playlist, wherein the location is after a first media item and before a second media item. In response to the request, the interstitial creator provides an interstitial creation interface and receives, through the interstitial creation interface, interstitial configuration parameters. The interstitial creator creates the interstitial based on the received interstitial configuration parameters and inserts a pointer to the interstitial into the playlist at the location.

Abstract: A server includes a controller and an interface for communicating with image processing devices and an information processing device.

Abstract: Collections identifying associated content objects, such as user-defined collections, are stored. A request to display or play a seed content object is received. A plurality of seed collections are identified based on the seed object. A plurality of candidate content objects are identified based on the identified seed collections, for instance by identifying the content objects that are identified by the seed collections. Properties of the seed object are identified, such as the categorization of the seed object, or the tags associated with the seed object. The candidate objects are ranked based on the identified seed collections and the identified properties of the seed object, and a candidate object is selected for recommendation to the user based on the ranking. The ranking of candidate objects can also be determined based on the coherence of the seed collections and the centrality of the seed object to the seed collections.

Abstract: Embodiments of the systems described herein can implement one or more visitor tearing processes. Visitor tearing can include, among other things, one or more processes by which multiple visitors that may appear to be the same visitor may be separated into different visitor profiles due to the leveraging of one or more unique persistent identifiers.

Abstract: Embodiments for using an observation platform to measure and assess social skills are disclosed. Communications between at least two devices are intercepted and/or relayed by a computer system wherein a portion of the communications correspond to an audible source and wherein the forwarding or processing of communications is based on a combination of historical, contextual and/or commanded information derived from current and past communications by the computer system. Primary statistics are measured based on the communications and contextual information. Secondary statistics are derived related to a user wherein the secondary statistics quantify social skills and behavioral factors of the user in one or more dimensions against one or more profiles or roles.

Abstract: In the following, a content delivery system delivers a modified version of a media asset to a current content consuming user. Control information identifying a desired attribute of the modified version of the asset is received from the current content consuming user. The media asset is modified based on the control information and audience reaction data associated with the media asset and generated by analyzing at least a previous content consuming user's reactions to the media asset whilst the media asset was supplied to a media output device of the previous content consuming user.

Abstract: An automatic system facilitates selection of media properties on which to display an advertisement, responsive to a profile collected on a first media property, where a behavioral-targeting company calculates expected profit for an ad correlated with the profile and arranges for the visitor to be tagged with a tag readable by the selected media property. The profit can be calculated by deducting, from the revenues that are expected to be generated from an ad delivered based on the collected profile, at least the price of ad space at a media property where the BT company might like to deliver ads to the profiled visitor. When the calculated profit is positive (i.e., not a loss), the BT company arranges for the visitor to be tagged with a tag readable by the selected media property through which the BT company expects to profit.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a virtual platform for sharing information is disclosed. The method for providing virtual platform comprises deploying a hotspot system at a hotspot access point, identifying one or more users at the hotspot access point, determining identification information associated with a user device, establishing a connection between the user device and the hotspot system and providing a virtual platform for sharing information on successful identification of the user device. The hotspot tracks the user activities, identifies user specific attributes based on the user activities, generates one or more communities for the user based on the user specific attributes, sends notifications to the one or more users of similar attributes to join the community and creates a virtual platform for providing interactive information sharing.

Abstract: Embodiments for using structured communications to quantify social skills and social behavioral factors. Communications between at least two devices are intercepted and/or relayed by a computer system wherein a portion of the communications correspond to an audible source and wherein the forwarding or processing of communications is based on a combination of historical, contextual and/or commanded information derived from current and past communications by the computer system. Primary statistics are measured based on the communications and contextual information. Secondary statistics are derived related to a user wherein the secondary statistics quantify social skills and behavioral factors of the user in one or more dimensions against one or more profiles or roles.

Abstract: Systems and techniques are provided for providing a scalable current leaderboard. Entries may be received. The entries may include an identifier and a score. The entries may be sorted according to a sorting criterion to obtain a leaderboard. The entries may be ranked with a rank according to the position of the entry on the leaderboard. The entry may include the rank. The leaderboard may be divided into buckets. Each bucket may include consecutive entries from the leaderboard. One of the entries may be included at the end of a first buckets and at the beginning of a second buckets. The buckets may be ordered sequentially. The bucket may be updated with score versions to produce an updated bucket, where the score versions may include new versions and old versions.

Abstract: Embodiments of the instant invention are directed to a method and apparatus for presenting unsolicited data to users without interrupting the user's activities, wherein the presentation of the unsolicited data is monitored and is available for review by the user at the user's convenience. Embodiments of the invention comprise a content and display manager, wherein the content and display manager include a display monitor, a content delivery system and a content controller. The display monitor selects the display of content to the users, in part, by reviewing a marker which defines the last time that content was displayed to the user and the type of content displayed. The content delivery system transmits a content window to a user computer via the controller.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for enhancing and utilizing user data derived from digital interactions includes receiving a submission generated by input into a client side application interface by a first user on a first computing device, and determining, based on the attributes of the submission, that the submission is in response to an issue-specific communication advertising information concerning a first issue. The method includes generating a first dataset associated with the first user, searching one or more additional datasets for additional data to be associated with data elements of the first dataset, associating the additional data from the one or more additional datasets with the first user, generating a data model, and requesting records associated with additional users.

Abstract: A system and method for generating and distributing overlay streams in real time over an overlay stream distribution channel that overlays events of a video stream distributed in a separate video channel. Overlay streams are distributed to subscriber recipient components via a unicast channel in order to enhance user viewing. A publisher subscriber component and caching techniques a low latency, high availability unicasting based real time overlay distribution system for a large numbers of concurrent overlay recipients.

Abstract: A system for transforming customer data includes a network interface and a processor. The network interface communicates a request for customer data associated with a particular geographical area. It also receives a customer profile code associated with the customer data, wherein the customer profile code comprises a first code segment and a second code segment. It further receives first and second rules associated with the customer profile code. The processor transforms the first and second code segments into customer data using the rules. It further analyzes the particular geographical area using the customer data.

Abstract: A system provides exchange and display of information among a group of users based on creation, arranging, sharing and exchange of tiles. The system further provides connecting advertisements to tiles, displaying the advertisement when tiles are accessed, monetizing the advertisement and adding visual effects to the display of the advertisement.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for graphically representing associations between one or more stories and one or more referents of interest. In some embodiments, a score may be determined for each of a set of stories based at least in part on a number of associations between the given story and one or more referents of interest. A graphical representation of the stories may then be presented for display. The graphical representation may include indicia, where each indicium graphically indicates the strength of association between a given story and the one or more referents of interest. The strength of association for a given story may be determined, for example, based at least in part on the determined score for the story.

Abstract: Systems and methods for leveraging social media data by entities to identify key influencers are disclosed. Monitoring criteria is based on a selected subject-matter. The analysis permits quantification of influencers and takes into account the conversari platforms and the published platforms in the social media.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to event notifications on an end-user device of events that are important to a user of the device. The user is typically subscribed to a service that pulls events from a plurality of sources indicated by the user. The sources include a native address book on the device, a social network(s), a professional network(s), and/or another remote location(s) on the Internet. Around the occurrence of an event, the service allows for automatically generating an electronic wish and for purchasing a gift to be presented to one or more recipients associated with the event. The service can transmit the content in various forms and can include a monetizing scheme. The service is able to intelligently determine which events are important to the user such to alert the user of only those relevant events, and to intelligently select an appropriate channel for transmitting the content.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed to facilitate consistency between a glossary and a repository, where the glossary includes one or more terms and the repository includes information sets. Each information set includes a definition for a respective term and a range of valid values for the respective term. A request is received to approve a first information set in the repository, where the first information set pertains to a first term in the glossary. The first information set is designated as an active information set for the first term. A subsequent request is received to assign the first term in the glossary to a second information set in the repository, where the second information set is different from the first information set. An information set to designate as the active information set for the first term is programmatically determined based on a predefined consistency criterion.

Abstract: This document discloses a system that selects a path to reach a destination in a transportation network. The system receives information related to a public transportation network with multiple stops. Each stop includes at least one associated link with another stop. Each link represents a mode of transportation between two stops. When the system receives a request for routes between an origin and a destination within the transportation network, it will determine a set of routes between the origin and the destination using an iterative process without reference to a graph representation of the network. The system will select a shortest path that corresponds to the route having the earliest arrival time at the destination. The system will also select an alternative path that corresponds to a route having an arrival time that is no more than a threshold amount later than the earliest arrival time.

Abstract: A device and method for generating a dynamic personalized events feed that is personalized for a user is provided. The device may include one or more processors configured to determine events that match filtering information, generate the dynamic personalized events feed based on the determined events, and update the generated dynamic personalized events feed based on the determined events. The device may also include a network interface component coupled to a network, the network interface component configured to receive the filtering information, and transmit the generated dynamic personalized events feed to a user device. The device may further include a memory, the memory storing event information and user information for determining events that match the filtering information.

Abstract: Personalized landing pages may be generated for users based at least in part upon information known about the individual users who are viewing the landing pages. Such information may include, for example, the consumer segments to which the individual user belongs, the individual users' browsing and purchasing histories, personal preferences and attributes. The landing pages are personalized to include, for example, content that may be of particular interest to the user and arranged in a manner that may appeal to the user.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes identifying a content trend topic that is anticipated to occur at a future time, wherein the content trend topic is associated with a future event. The method also includes analyzing web content to determine whether the web content meets a predetermined relevance threshold for the identified content trend topic, associating the identified content trend topic with each piece of web content that meets the relevance threshold, and clustering web content associated with the identified content trend topic for provisioning when the content trend topic that is anticipated to occur at the future time does occur. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided.

Abstract: A seed cluster comprising a group of users who share a particular attribute and/or affiliation is determined by a social networking system. For each user of the seed cluster, other users and/or entities connected to the user in the social networking system are retrieved. For each retrieved other user or entity, the social networking system may determine whether the other user or entity exhibits the attribute or affiliation based on a random walk algorithm. A resulting targeting cluster of users and/or entities may be used for targeting advertisements targeting to members. A social networking system may also infer an affiliation for a user based on the user's interaction with a page, application, or entity where other users who interacted with the same page, application, or entity have the same affiliation.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes, by one or more server computing devices, receiving state data of a client computing device. The state data includes event data indicating events generated by or occurring at the client computing device and context data associated with the event data. The context data indicates device states of the client computing device that each coincide with one or more of the events and indicate a context of the one or more of the events. The method also includes, by one or more server computing devices, ordering the events and the device states in the event and context data into a state-data-review structure and analyzing the state-data-review structure to generate one or more recommendations on operation of the client computing device.

Abstract: A social network system provides a social network that receives from an application a business object and an associated system of record and generates a social object that corresponds to the business object and that comprises the system of record. The social network assigns one or more members to the social object and associates a wall to the social object. The wall displays changes to the system of record, as well as other activity related to the social object.

Abstract: Usage patterns of structure model are utilized to determine a personalized structure model associated with a user. The personalized structure model is constructed such that retrieval of data associated with the personalized structure model is expected to improve performance of retrieving data from the data provider. The personalized structure model may be arranged based on an order of retrieval, based on groups of structure objects that may be retrieved together or the like. The personalized structure model may be a flat structure model to further improve performance of retrieving data from the data provider.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically verifying an identifier of a content provider are provided. A first identifier, a content item, and a uniform resource locator are received from a content provider. The domain of the uniform resource locator is determined. A plurality of second resources under the domain are accessed and stored in memory. From the plurality of second resources, a plurality of second identifiers are detected. A map of domain and a plurality of second identifiers is created. Using the map, the first identifier is compared to each of the plurality of second identifiers. If there is a match, the first identifier is approved to be used with the content item. The first identifier may be displayed on a user device with the content item.

Abstract: An exemplary system and method enables direct transfers of content between devices to be evaluated by service providers in support of marketing services and the like to those devices (and their users). The system and method utilizes cards and records during the direct transfers to capture user activity information and then provides those cards and records to the service providers. Thus, even though the direct transfer is off-network or outside of the service provider system, the use of cards and records by the system and method provides the user activity information to the service provider for enhancing marketing services.

Abstract: A system and method for delivering targeted advertisements to consumers by inserting the targeted advertisements into a content stream. The content stream may be monitored for advertisement placement opportunities, such that the targeted advertisements may be seamlessly inserted into the content stream to replace an advertisement in the content stream. The content stream's owner and/or provider may be identified such that revenues from the targeted advertisement may be shared with the owner's and/or providers. The system and method are further able to use a biometric recognition technique to verify that the targeted advertisement is actually delivered to the targeted consumer. Another aspect allows the targeted advertisements to be delivered across multiple platforms in accordance with an advertising campaign.

Abstract: Systems and methods to facilitate the collection and processing of content generated by users are disclosed. Specifically, in one embodiment, user generated content may be aggregated from multiple retailers. This user generated content may be processed to obtain a variety of statistical data associated with the user generated content, including an importance metric. This importance metric may be utilized to rank the products of the manufacturer such that statistical, or other, data related to the manufacturer's products may be presented to a user in the order of product importance.

Abstract: Systems and methods of generating automated social interactions for users in a social networking environment are disclosed. In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure include a method, which may be implemented on a system, of receiving data items associated with users of a social network, identifying sets of data items associated with a user, and comparing a first set of data items to other sets of data items to identify commonalities between the first set of data items and the other sets of data items. The method further comprising automatically selecting a second user associated with a second set of data items and a first electronic social interaction for the first user to pursue with respect to the second user based on the identified commonalities between the first set of data items and the second set of data items.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide retailers with the ability to employ concept-based marketing using only a few representative examples. Embodiments of the invention take seed examples, utilize the seed examples to provide an expanded list (that can be edited as desired) representative of the concept, and map the expanded list to a final set of customers to be included in a targeted marketing operation.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for handling electronic achievement information involves receiving, from a first user of an achievement aggregation system, a selection of a plurality of achievement tracking services that are operated by organizations that are separate from the operator of the achievement aggregation system; establishing an authenticated electronic communication connection between the achievement aggregator system and each of the one or more achievement tracking services; obtaining from each of the achievement tracking services, information sufficient to characterize one or more achievements obtained by the user; aggregating the information obtained from each of the achievement tracking services into a user achievement profile; and providing the user achievement profile for presentation to one or more users who request profile information about the first user.

Abstract: A method, computer-readable storage device and apparatus for transmitting an offer for an item are disclosed. For example, a method receives from a social network an indication of a desire of a user for an item and receives from a device of a retailer an indication of an offer for the item. The method then determines a location of a device of the user, detects a proximity of the device of the user to a location of the retailer and transmits the offer for the item to the device of the user when the proximity of the device of the user to the location of the retailer is detected.

Abstract: A server device may broadcast programming content; identify a received indication that a particular user device has received the programming content; determine device analytics information regarding the particular user device; identify, based on the device analytics information, targeted advertising for the particular user device; and output, to the particular user device, the identified targeted advertising. A user device may receive broadcasted programming content; present the broadcasted programming content; output an indication that the broadcasted programming content is being presented; receive targeted advertising that was generated based on the outputted indication; and present the targeted advertising in conjunction with the broadcasted programming content.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a self-service system is to provide self-support knowledgebase (KB) information to allow users to navigate the self-support KB. A monitor is to track user interaction with the self-support KB while a user navigates through the self-support KB. An answer engine is to receive a query from the user to ask a question and in response to the query, to identify a predefined response to the query in view of a set of dialog rules. The answer engine is to transmit one or more related questions that the user will likely ask based on the dialog rules and the user interaction. The answer engine further transmits an invitation to allow the user to initiate a live support session after a predetermined condition has been satisfied.

Abstract: A method for tracking a user's movements between network addresses can include, subsequent to a request for a (current) network address from a user, receiving the network address and an identifier for a region associated with the network address. The method can also include locating a record that contains the identifier for the region and a time that immediately precedes the request for the network address from the user. The record may further contain a prior network address. The method can further include generating an entry for a table that includes the identifier for the region, the current network address, and the prior network address. A server computer or a client computer can generate the entry. Improved accountability and improved user profile accuracy can be obtained with the method. A data processing system readable medium can comprise code that includes instructions for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for extracting advertisement keywords in association with situations of scenes of video include: establishing a knowledge database including a classification hierarchy for classifying situations of scenes of video and an advertisement keyword list, segmenting a video script corresponding to a received video in units of scenes, and determining a situation corresponding to each scene with reference to the knowledge database, and extracting an advertisement keyword corresponding to the situation of a scene of the received video with reference to the knowledge database.

Abstract: This specification describes methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage device, for providing a content item. The subject matter of the specification is embodied in a method that includes receiving, from a mobile device, data representing location and usage pattern information pertaining to the mobile device. The usage pattern information includes information relating to usage of applications deployed on the mobile device. The method further includes updating, based on the received data, an interest profile that represents preferences of a user of the mobile device, and selecting a content item from an available pool of content items such that the selected content item is related to at least one preference represented in the interest profile. The method also includes delivering the content item to the mobile device.

Abstract: A method includes detecting a signal strength of a signal of a mobile device. The method includes determining that the mobile device is in a vicinity of the device when the signal strength satisfies a threshold. The method includes sending an advertisement from the device to a display device in response to determining that the mobile device is in the vicinity of the device. The advertisement is selected based on a user profile associated with the mobile device. The method includes determining a reaction to the advertisement from a person associated with the mobile device. The method also includes sending information associated with the advertisement to the mobile device in response to a positive reaction from the person.

Abstract: A method for distributing targeted content includes: storing content profiles, each including a content item and selection criteria; storing account profiles, each including data related to an account including an account identifier and transaction data entries including transaction data corresponding to a transaction involving the account; storing consumer profiles, each including an account number and transit identifier; receiving a transaction notification corresponding to a transportation transaction involving a consumer and including a specific transit identifier; identifying a specific consumer profile where the included transit identifier corresponds to the specific transit identifier; identifying a specific account profile where the account identifier corresponds to the account number of the specific consumer profile; identifying a specific content profile based on the included selection criteria and the transaction data of the transaction data entries of the specific account profile; and transmitting

Abstract: A system. The system includes a computing device, a cookie pool module and an instruction module. The computing device includes a processor. The cookie pool module is communicably connected to the processor and is configured to receive cookie pool data and utilize the received cookie pool data to associate a targeted consumer with a corresponding digital device. The instruction module is communicably connected to the processor and is configured to send an instruction to have digital information sent to the digital device.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for communicating messages to individuals entering a retail establishment. It comprises a remotely readable loyalty card for a user of that establishment including an electronically stored user identity. Wireless interrogation means e.g having a range of at least 1 metre reads the loyalty card as the user enters the establishment. A computer system includes a targeting engine for generating user- specific information and configured to output an electronic message for delivery to a specific mobile station associated with the user and the loyalty card. The mobile station may be a mobile phone and the message may be a text message or an e-mail. A method for delivering customized data items to users of electronic privilege cards is also provided.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for mobile device identification using TCP segment timestamps are disclosed. A request from a mobile device is received at a server. A TCP connection, initiated by the mobile device, is made between the server and the device, and a timestamp generated by the mobile device is retrieved from the options field of the TCP SYN segment. Other identifying information is received from the mobile device source, including an IP address, port, and HTTP headers. Based on the identifying information, the mobile device timestamp, and a current timestamp generated by the server, a likelihood is determined that the particular mobile device previously communicated with the server.

Abstract: Requests for content are received, for example, an HTTP request for a web page is received. Each request has a landing context, which may include information about the user sending the request, the request itself, the referrer, or another subject. This information can be found in the requests or external to the requests. The information of the landing context is compared to appropriate triggering criteria. For requests that satisfy the appropriate triggering criteria, a destination is provided based on one or more weighted treatments. The request is directed to the provided destination. The results of the requests are subsequently analyzed and used to adjust the treatments in an automated fashion.

Abstract: The cookieless system and methods for providing ad serving in email with dynamic URL redirection provided herein overcomes the inherent challenge of supporting fully dynamic ads in email with the ability to dynamically redirect users based on the advertisement displayed without the use of cookies.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems allowing a company to market and advertise its brands, products and/or services in a mobile platform by use of an application converting words and texts into logos and displaying the same. Particularly, this application allows company logos to be inserted and displayed in any mobile texts and messages whenever corresponding keywords are entered or selected by end users in a mobile communication application, such as SMS/text, IM, iMessage, and any social networking application, for example, Facebook and Twitter.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for generating an interactive digital receipt on a user device, where the receipt offers an engagement platform for merchants and customers to interact on a continuous basis. The interactive digital receipt is generated in response to an occurrence of a particular financial transaction. The receipt includes a plurality of time-based interactive components to enable the merchant and the customer to interact with one another. In one embodiment, the time-based interactive components include a gratuity component to allow adding of a gratuity amount after the occurrence of the transaction. The gratuity component is associated with a timeframe that defines a time period for which the customer may submit the gratuity amount. The time period can range from a limited time period to an unlimited time period.

Abstract: Example financial conversation management systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a method receives a request from a user and identifies financial data associated with the user. The method determines an answer to the request from the user and infers a user intent based on the financial data associated with the user. An offer is selected for the user based on the user intent.