Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for selecting displays of advertisements based on availability of a user. A computing system receives a request to provide an advertisement for display by a first computing device. The computing system identifies that a particular user of a second computing device is presently available to participate in an interactive session. The computing system selects, for display by the first computing device, a first display for the advertisement, from a plurality of displays for the advertisement, based on the computing system having identified that the particular user is presently available. The computing system transmits for receipt by the first computing device, first information so as to cause the first computing device to display the first display for the advertisement.

Abstract: An advertising campaign is provided for display on one or more digital billboards. Information about a geographic location of the digital billboard and an available inventory of time intervals for display of digital content is established. Pricing guidelines for the available inventory are defined, and digital content campaigns are created that identify a particular digital billboard or billboards, and specify pricing information indicating prices for displaying digital content on the billboard. A contract is executed for the digital content campaign, and the digital content associated with the campaign is displayed on the digital billboard based on a play schedule defining a time interval and number of times that the digital content will be displayed for the time interval.

Abstract: An advertisement scheduling machine may be configured to facilitate scheduling of one or more advertisements. As configured, the advertisement scheduling machine may cause presentation of a graphical user interface that displays multiple timeslots available for scheduling advertisements. The advertisement scheduling machine detects that an advertisement has been selected from multiple advertisements available for scheduling, and the selected advertisement may be unscheduled in any of the displayed timeslots. The advertisement scheduling machine accesses a scheduling rule associated with the selected advertisement and determines that the selected advertisement is schedulable in only a portion of the displayed timeslots and not a remainder of them, in accordance with the scheduling rule. The advertisement scheduling machine then causes the graphical user interface to indicate that the selected advertisement is schedulable in only the portion of the timeslots but not in the remainder.

Abstract: A retail display advertising system includes a central management computing device in communication with a retailer computing device. The central management computing device selectively downloads advertising content associated with one or more stored value cards to a retailer computing device, and selectively download a specified schedule to each of the retailer computing devices. The retailer computing device, which is configured in a retail display structure that displays the stored value cards, manages output of each instance of advertising content according to the specified schedule.

Abstract: Techniques described herein provide for a live advertising processing engine service to act as an intermediary between client applications and advertising networks. The live advertising processing engine service can provide an interface with which the client can interact, via an application programming interface (API) or directly through the use of a standardized language, thereby allowing client applications to receive advertisement data without the need to be customized to communicate with specific advertising networks. The live advertising processing engine service can further track where, in playback the live content, a client currently is, to indicate to the client—or other application—when advertisement breaks are and/or provide supplemental advertisement information to enable the client to provide a rich user experience.

Abstract: Systems and methods have been developed for manipulating media assets in a networked computing environment where processing power, bandwidth and/or storage capacity may be limited.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of providing contents requested by a user and an advertisement through an application by a contents providing apparatus, including: exposing the contents through a user terminal; stopping the exposed contents at a specific time set based on log-in information of the user, and exposing one or more advertisements; and exposing the stopped contents through the user terminal again.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for power-efficient discovery of infrastructure services on a network are disclosed. In one aspect, a method for using advertising windows to transmit service information on a network is disclosed. The method includes transmitting timing information regarding an advertising window during which information on services offered by one or more nodes on the network will be advertised. The method further includes during the advertising window, transmitting information on services offered by one or more nodes on the network.

Abstract: A quick response information management system and method is disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention provide for associating multiple alphanumeric tags into groups, and editing attributes of the tags on a group basis. Banner advertisements, quick response codes, and contact information are manageable elements that may be associated with a tag. A scheduling feature allows in-advance scheduling of temporary banner advertisements. A print scheduling feature allows convenient printing of a consumer content display corresponding to new inventory items.

Abstract: Method, system, and software product for displaying advertising media on the lockscreens of handheld computerized devices, such as smartphones. The invention comprises an advertising software app, and corresponding advertising internet server software. Merchants and other advertisers can transmit ads, along with corresponding ad display schedule information, and target ad recipient demographic information, to the server. The smartphone app software can collect user data, forward it to the server, and obtain from the server corresponding ad images that are displayed on the smartphone's lockscreen. The system may optionally keep track of usage and compensate smartphone users accordingly. Smartphone users, on seeing an ad of interest, can either use the ad image directly, transmit the ad image to a recipient, or jump to a web address corresponding to an ad associated URL. The method essentially allows a smartphone user to rent out his smartphone lockscreen as if it was a personal billboard.

Abstract: A system and method for the insertion of additional content to messages sent between mobile communications devices. The system provides for a point system which allows users of the system to accumulate points for additional content sent with text messages. The points may be used for various functions such as purchasing premium services or may be applied towards the user's service charges.

Abstract: Joint pricing and replenishment of freshness inventory or products having different qualities determines the joint pricing and inventory strategies to optimize the retailer's benefits from product freshness, employing a dynamic programming formulation that incorporates a demand model that captures consumer choice based on both the freshness and price.

Abstract: A computerized method and system for providing scheduled and relevant advertisement content in electronic marketing communications is disclosed.

Abstract: A system for cause-based marketing including an interface to communicate with registered merchants, causes and users, a memory to store data associated with activities of the registered merchants, causes and users, and at least one processor coupled to said interface and said memory, said at least one processor configured to: facilitate each registered user to associate with one or more of the registered causes; facilitate each registered user to view offers of donation from registered merchants to the causes with which the user is associated; record transactional data evidencing a registered user's transaction with an offering merchant; facilitate a user to allocate a donation resulting from a transaction with an offering merchant amongst the causes with which the user is associated; compile donation amounts allocated to each registered cause; and facilitate transfer of the compiled donation amounts from the registered merchants to the registered causes.

Abstract: Methods and systems for dynamically incorporating advertising content into multimedia environments, such as games, are provided. Example embodiments include a dynamic inserter, which selects content, based upon a set of criteria, to deliver to a receiving client system, such as a game client. The receiving client system typically dynamically determines locations within the game where advertisements are desirably inserted. Associated with these locations are ad tags that specify criteria for the ads including, for example ad type, ad genre, and scheduling information, which are sent by the client system to the dynamic inserter to select appropriate ads. The dynamic inserter selects ads based upon the criteria and sends them to the client system, which selects them for ad tags with conforming criteria. The client system then renders the selected ad in the appropriate location.

Abstract: A computerized method and system for providing real-time response to consumer activity is disclosed. The method and system includes receiving a consumer activity, the consumer activity being associated with marketing engagement by a consumer, analyzing the consumer activity to determine one or more changes to previously known attributes of the consumer stored in a database, pushing the one or more changes into a data queue, processing the one or more changes from the data queue based on a business logic process, the business logic process comprising one or more marketing activities and a timing for each marketing activity of the one or more marketing activities, and performing the one or more marketing activities based at least in part on the business process.

Abstract: An advertisement inserted in contents of, for example, a game does not serve its purpose after a while. An advertisement-information reception unit (112) receives an advertisement-space definition file (32). The advertisement-space definition file (32) is a file that defines an advertisement space for an advertisement to be inserted when contents are displayed and an advertising agency is assigned to the advertisement space. An assignment changing unit (116) cancels the assignment of an advertising agency, whose license has expired, to the advertisement space even when the advertising agency is assigned to the advertising space in the advertisement-space definition file (32). An advertisement downloading unit (118) downloads advertisement data to be inserted in the advertisement space from the server of the advertising agency validly assigned to the advertisement space.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for managing advertisements. An advertisement time slot is categorized as overrideable or non-overrideable. The overrideable advertisement time slot categorization allows an associated advertisement to be replaced with a different advertisement. The non-overrideable advertisement time slot may not allow replacement of the associated advertisement. When an advertiser requests to replace the advertisement, and when the advertisement time slot is categorized as overrideable, then the advertisement is replaced with the different advertisement.

Abstract: Generally, this disclosure describes a digital signage management system. The system may include a user device including processor circuitry coupled to communication circuitry, the communication circuitry configured to couple the user device to at least one of a digital sign and a management service, and the user device configured to manage display of user content on the digital sign, the user content configured to be displayed on the digital sign in a time slot.

Abstract: There is disclosed a computerized system and method for scheduling advertising Events which utilizes a set of configurable instructions regarding booking an order which iterates through a series of broadening, configurable criteria and also implements a configurable scoring system for the purpose of comparing multiple Events to determine if one Event is more valuable than the other.

Abstract: A parking locator system providing variably priced parking includes one or more parking sensors and one or more parking kiosks. The parking sensors may generate parking information identifying one or more occupied parking spaces and one or more unoccupied parking spaces within a vicinity. Promotion information including one or more discounts to parking fees may be received at the parking kiosks. The parking kiosks may display the discounted parking fees and receive payment of the same. The discounts to parking fees may expire at particular times. The size of the discounts may be set based on traffic congestion, which may be determined based on the number of occupied parking spaces within the vicinity.

Abstract: Techniques for facilitating targeted discounts are described. A request to distribute a promotional offer is received from a merchant. The promotional offer may be at least partially preconfigured, is maintained at the deal service, and may indicate an item (e.g., a product and/or service) offered by the merchant. The promotional offer is distributed immediately after the request is received. The user set to receive the promotional offer is determined. The promotional offer is provided to at least one user in the user set. The promotional offer is confirmed with the users that accepted the promotional offer.

Abstract: Provided is a method of providing content in a digital signage providing device in association with a mobile terminal, the method including generating content to be played in a digital signage terminal and a schedule indicating a time at which the content is to be played, converting the generated content into content for the mobile terminal to additionally generate the content, transmitting, to the digital signage terminal, the generated content together with the schedule, requesting the digital signage terminal to transmit content that is being played to the mobile terminal, according to a request from the mobile terminal, and transmitting, to the mobile terminal, a mobile terminal version of the requested content in a multicast manner.

Abstract: A method of predetermining the reading schedules of multiple eBooks to be read simultaneously and then applying those schedules to the distribution of advertising so each eBook displays the same advertiser at the same time.

Abstract: A method for scheduling content for a digital billboard, including: receiving an advertisement schedule from a first user account, the schedule comprising advertisement media; identifying a billboard identifier associated with the user account, the billboard identifier associated with the billboard; controlling the billboard to display the advertisement media according to the advertisement schedule; and in response to receipt of an application request for the billboard from a user device, the application request identifying an application associated with the user account, interrupting advertisement media display and directing control of the billboard to the application.

Abstract: A virtual content server and method are provided for virtual content providers to provide multiple items of their virtual to users as part of an ordered virtual content campaign. A provider may define the order for the presentation of the content items, such as a linear sequence or based on a particular logic, e.g., a state transition graph or matrix, and such order information is stored in a campaign database. The server stores information regarding the state of the campaign for a particular user, e.g., how many or which ones of the content items of the ordered campaign have been presented to the user. Additionally, the provider may define certain performable actions with respect to particular states or content items. Actions performed by the user may be detected, and the server may store information regarding performed actions in association with the user id.

Abstract: A filtered set of service assets can be selected for use as a source population for opportunity generation in a recurring revenue management system. The selecting can include applying a filter to a data set comprising service asset data for a plurality of service assets. Each service asset in the plurality of the service assets can include an expiration date. The filter can include a range of expiration dates corresponding to a targeted selling period. Anew service offer can be created based on at least one specific rule defined for the commercial entity for service assets in the selected set. The creating Can include applying one or more offer creation parameters, determining reference information for expiring assets in the data asset model, and verifying a chosen service level. The new service offer can be assigned to at least one sales team. Related methods, systems, and computer program products are described.

Abstract: Methods and systems for an interactive media guidance application to prevent a user from experiencing an episodic advertisement out of order. Each episodic advertisement includes a plurality of advertisements intended to be viewed in an ordered sequence, and each advertisement of the sequence is part of a story that the episodic advertisement tells. The interactive media guidance application determines whether the user's viewing activity may cause the user to experience a particular advertisement of an episodic advertisement out of order, identifies an alternative advertisement of the episodic advertisement to present in place of the particular advertisement, and presents the alternative advertisement so as to prevent the user from experiencing the particular advertisement out of the ordered sequence of advertisements.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for identifying keywords for use in targeted advertising. Information concerning a region of interest is derived from data provided by a number of user devices within the region of interest. The information may come from actions such as search queries or communication with other users in the region of interest. In many cases, the information is time sensitive, with the actions occurring within a given timeframe. The time sensitive information for the region of interest is used to derive keywords that are used when selecting advertisements. These advertisements are then provided to users concerning the region of interest. Demographic information may also be used in conjunction with the timeframe and region to further refine the keywords.

Abstract: A payment device, method, and apparatus configured to parse customer exclusive data from a payment device or financial transaction data.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method of presenting advertisements to a commuter traveling on a transit line of a mass transit system are provided. Advertisements are automatically associated with transit stops of the transit line. The current geographic location of the commuter is monitored while the commuter is traveling. The commuter is automatically associated with a current transit stop based on the current geographical location of the commuter. Whether the current transit stop is associated with one or more of the advertisements is determined. In response to a determination that the current transit stop is associated with an advertisement, one of the advertisements is automatically selected for presentation at a mobile device operated by the commuter. At least a portion of the selected advertisement is presented to the commuter at the mobile device.

Abstract: Method, system, and software product for displaying advertising media on the lockscreens of handheld computerized devices, such as smartphones. The invention comprises an advertising software app, and corresponding advertising internet server software. Merchants and other advertisers can transmit ads, along with corresponding ad display schedule information, and target ad recipient demographic information, to the server. The smartphone app software can collect user data, forward it to the server, and obtain from the server corresponding ad images that are displayed on the smartphone's lockscreen. The system may optionally keep track of usage and compensate smartphone users accordingly. Smartphone users, on seeing an ad of interest, can either use the ad image directly, transmit the ad image to a recipient, or jump to a web address corresponding to an ad associated URL. The method essentially allows a smartphone user to rent out his smartphone lockscreen as if it was a personal billboard.

Abstract: A device may receive information that identifies a design item associated with a promotion, where the design item relates to an appearance of the promotion, may receive information that identifies a promotion characteristic associated with the promotion, where the promotion characteristic identifies at least one of a product or a service associated with the promotion, may receive distribution information associated with the promotion, where the distribution information identifies a customer device to which the promotion is to be sent, and may receive scheduling information associated with the promotion, where the scheduling information identifies a time period during which the promotion is active. The device may also provide the promotion to the customer device based on the design item, the promotion characteristic, the distribution information, and the scheduling information.

Abstract: Display space on web page may be allocated by bids. In one embodiment, the display space system receives bids indicating a bid amount and an advertisement. When providing a web page with the display space, the display space system selects a bid. The display space system adds the advertisement of the selected bid to the web page. The bid may specify web pages on which the advertisement may be placed, the users to whom the advertisement may be presented, and time when the advertisement may be placed. The bid amount may be in an established currency or in advertising points. Activities for which advertising points may be awarded may include listing an auction, auction bidding, or purchasing of an item. When a user advertisement is placed, the display space system reduces user advertising points. The display space system may also place bids for display space on behalf of the user.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for delivering content to a mobile device by receiving a content set consisting of campaigns, variation selections, and one or more targeting filters; enabling campaign access to content via a single access point and Variations specify which content is included in the content set and one or more predetermined times to deliver a particular content set; and targeting filters to select content from a particular content set to send to the mobile device.

Abstract: Among other disclosed subject matter, a computer-implemented method for displaying a mobile advertisement in a mobile device is disclosed. The method comprises selecting a media object of the mobile advertisement, where the media object is associated with a first media format of the mobile advertisement. The method further includes, determining compatibility between the first media format of the media object and a supported media format. Here, a given media object in the supported media format represents an associated mobile advertisement in one of the one or more mobile formats supported by the mobile device. When the first media format of the media object is compatible with the supported media format, converting the media object associated with the first media format into a second media object associated with the supported media format.

Abstract: Aspects of embodiments of the present invention pertain to a system and method for supplying targeted contextual recommendations, advertisements or commercial offers to mobile users based on their interest graph and spacio-temporal map of each user's mobile activities and behavioral patterns. A novel powerful likely intent score is computed based on leveraging both the interest graph and computing persona similarities based on psychographic analysis and spacio-temporal activity maps.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to the use of a content message layer or a mobile device edge technology to render and measure interactive impression messages to a mobile device during a specified time and place and with discretionary control. Furthermore, the disclosure describes a new mobile message delivery and measurement channel that joins the message sender and recipient in a closed-loop progressive conversation and where messages can be rolled over in time.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to the use of a content message layer or a mobile device edge technology to render and measure interactive impression messages to a mobile device during a specified time and place and with discretionary control. Furthermore, the disclosure describes a new mobile message delivery and measurement channel that joins the message sender and recipient in a closed-loop progressive conversation and where messages can be rolled over in time.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to the use of a content message layer or a mobile device edge technology to render and measure interactive impression messages to a mobile device during a specified time and place and with discretionary control. Furthermore, the disclosure describes a new mobile message delivery and measurement channel that joins the message sender and recipient in a closed-loop progressive conversation and where messages can be rolled over in time.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system processes access decisions for individuals where the system includes a portable handheld housing for the processor, display, internal memory, and card reader of the system.

Abstract: A system and method for placing ads on a client-side video replay system. The described embodiments of the present invention allow a client to make a determination of ad placement priority separately from the function of serving ads to a requesting application. A described dynamic ad placement engine reorders ads when the context of the system is changed to yield a next ad to be placed. Thus, at a later time, when an application sends an ad request, the dynamic ad placement engine can quickly respond with the ad to be placed. The ads also are preferably reordered after an ad is placed. Placement of ads is controlled in the described embodiment by interpreted rules for each ad.

Abstract: Described are methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for dynamic integration and linear presentation of advertising content and media content. The method includes receiving a request for media content; combining the requested media content and advertising content to provide an interactive advertising unit; and transmitting the interactive advertising unit for presentation on the remote computing device, wherein the advertising content is presented before the requested media content. The interactive advertising unit includes a first content layer including the requested media content and a media player, a second content layer including the advertising content, and an integration module for coordinating interaction between the layers.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and system for types of ad placement opportunities in a digital video stream. The described embodiments of the invention increases ad placement opportunities to a targeted audience by using real-time ad placement during mode changes in a dynamic digital medium such as a digital video recorder. Various embodiments also allow various types of temporal overlapping and composite display techniques for viewing ads and video content.

Abstract: Described are methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for dynamic integration and non-linear presentation of advertising content and media content. The method includes receiving a request for media content; combining the requested media content and advertising content to provide an interactive advertising unit; and transmitting the interactive advertising unit for presentation on the remote computing device, wherein the advertising content and media content are presented concurrently. The interactive advertising unit includes a first content layer including the requested media content and a media player, a second content layer including the advertising content, and an integration module for coordinating interaction between the layers.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the system obtains data from a plurality of user profiles associated with a plurality of users, where the data indicates one or more of a plurality of features pertaining to each of the plurality of users. The system predicts an action that a particular one of the plurality of users has or will have a high probability of intent, desire, or need to perform at a future time based, at least in part, upon the data that has been obtained from the plurality of user profiles. The system provides an advertisement or offer to the particular user based, at least in part, upon the action that the particular user has a high probability of intent, desire, or need to perform at a future time.

Abstract: A way to modify a media file to include an advertisement is described herein. A media includes, but is not limited to, broadcast television, video, or music. The content of the media is analyzed to determine an appropriate advertisement to be inserted into the media content. For example, the advertisement may be a pizza commercial inserted into media that is popular among college age individuals. The content of the media may be further analyzed to determine an appropriate position within the media to insert the advertisement. For example, the pizza commercial may be inserted after a scene in which the characters are eating. Another example may be the insertion of a dating service commercial in a movie immediately following a dating scene in the movie.

Abstract: A method for scheduling broadcast commercials includes receiving a plurality of scheduling criteria, and automatically scheduling a plurality of commercials based on the received criteria.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and a user interface for automatically scheduling a media play is disclosed. The user can specify criteria for play of the media play, including times, stations, and/or external criteria such as a weather condition or the occurrence of an event. Information relevant to the entered criteria is received and assessed against the criteria to determine if the criteria are met. Responsive to the received information meeting the criteria for play of the media play, an accessor accesses the media play inventory and inserts the media play into a media feed.

Abstract: A method for scheduling advertising comprises the steps of: estimating a respective fraction of delivered advertisement impressions that result in a response from a user for each of a plurality of advertising contracts, estimating a value per impression for each of the advertising contracts, and scheduling an advertising line under the contract having the highest value per impression at a next available advertising window.