Abstract: There is disclosed a method, a point-of-sale terminal, and a computer-readable storage medium. The point-of-sale terminal may generate transaction information for a commercial transaction, the transaction information including customer information and purchase information. The point-of-sale terminal may generate nutritional information based on the purchase information. The point-of-sale terminal may send the customer information, the purchase information, and location information identifying a location of the POS terminal to an advertising server, and may receive responsive advertising content from the advertising server. The point-of-sale terminal may print a receipt including the transaction information, the nutritional information, and the advertising content.

Abstract: The disclosure describes systems and methods for Integrated advertising management. An Integrated Ad Manager (IAM) loaded and stored within a media player on a user computer receives information from at least one publisher for use in managing advertisements. The information relates to available advertisement inventory of the at least one publisher of advertisements. The IAM facilitates determining advertisements to be served in connection with media content being rendered by the media player based at least in part on the received information. The IAM facilitates serving of advertisements, at least in part based on the determined advertisements, for visible display on a user computer in association with the media content being rendered. An ad management system serves or facilitates serving of the advertisements based at least in part on the information received from the IAM.

Abstract: Embodiments generally disclosed herein include computer-implemented methods for delivery of video content across a network. Such methods comprise a content delivery manager capable of receiving a video stream from a content source for delivery to a end user of a content publisher. The content delivery manager is further capable of detecting a trigger signal within the video stream. For example, the trigger signal can indicate a temporal mark injected into the video stream by the content publisher. During general operation, the content delivery manager processes the trigger signal to determine whether to modify delivery of the video stream to the end user. According to another general embodiment, a computer-implemented method is provided for authorizing delivery of a video stream to an end user.

Abstract: A system for association-based electronic message communication is provided. The system contemplates including advertisement databases having a plurality of advertising content representing at least one tier of advertising. The system may also include a computer system communicatively coupled to the advertisement databases and to an input mechanism. The computer system may be configured to receive information indicative of an electronic message, one or more intended recipients of the electronic message, and supplemental content. The supplemental content may be advertising content selected from the advertising content in the advertisement databases. The computer system may be also configured to format an electronic shell including the electronic message and the selected advertising content such that the electronic message is displayed with the selected advertising content. The computer system may be also configured to transmit the electronic shell to the one or more intended recipients.

Abstract: A system and method synchronize delivery of messages in multiple communications channels by generating mailing information regarding a first message to be delivered through a first communications channel to a customer. The mailing information includes an identifier of the first message and is embedded into an intelligent mail barcode. The first message is then tracked using the mailing information by scanning the intelligent mail barcode to obtain tracking information. Based on the tracking information, the system and method coordinate delivery of a second message the content of which is related to the first message through a second communications channel to a group of people including the customer. Delivery of the first message through the first communications channel and delivery of the second message through the second communications channel is synchronized.

Abstract: Conversations in an online content universe are monitored. A social analysis module analyzes individual conversations between publishers in the online content universe. Publishers that influence a conversation are identified.

Abstract: An ATM network is coupled to a data warehouse. Information about transactions, the timing of transactions and advertisements displayed on or near ATM terminals in the network are stored in the data warehouse. Complex queries performed on the data warehouse are then used to provide information about the effectiveness of advertisements displayed on or near the ATM terminals and also to enable choices of subsets of the terminals to be made to provide information about suitable subsets for advertising placement.

Abstract: An Internet host user posts, or embeds an advertising link, or widget into an interactive program located on a website. The advertising link is viewed by other users who visit the website and participate in the interactive program. A backend infrastructure provides servicing for the interactive program, and is also the source of the advertising links. A host user selects the advertising link from an inventory of advertising links provided by the infrastructure. The infrastructure provides free servicing of the interactive program to the host user in exchange for posting its advertising links.

Abstract: A personal video recorder (PVR) enabled set-top box (STB) may be operable to store an advertisement and associated playback control information received from a media provider into a storage device in the PVR enabled STB, schedule the stored advertisement for viewing based on the associated playback control information. The PVR enabled STB may be operable to insert the stored advertisement into media content for one or more times based on the scheduling. The PVR enabled STB may be operable to cause display of the stored advertisement and the media content in different transport formats. At a forward/reverse playback position during a PVR playback, the PVR enabled STB may be operable to cause display of the stored advertisement when a play count associated with the stored advertisement is less than a count threshold at the forward/reverse playback position.

Abstract: An advertising support system includes an operation center, numerous display systems and one or more client services systems. The operation center is a platform that provides a collection of services and capabilities. For example, the operation center is responsible for assuring that the content is displayed on the display systems at required times and locations. The system may accommodate multiple operation centers in multiple geographical locations to provide failure recovery and to provide services over geographically diverse locations. A variety of services are provided by the operation center to support its operations and the display systems. For example, the operation center populates and maintains a current and archival database, which includes status, content, fault and maintenance logs, and other data of display systems. Numerous services may be provided through the client services systems.

Abstract: A method for providing offline advertising on a user's personal computerized system that has a display unit and a primary storage unit. A campaign set is provided in the primary storage unit, wherein at least part is stored in the primary storage unit prior to its being received by the user, either as part of or by addition to the personal computerized system. The campaign set includes a plurality of ads each having respective deployment attributes. A viewable window is generated on the display unit, wherein this viewable window includes at least one position. An ad from the campaign set is retrieved based on its respective deployment attributes. And the ad is presented in said position, thereby permitting the user of the personal computerized system to view said ad.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a hyper-targeted print media advertising system and method that utilizes a relatively new printing technology known as variable data presses. The systems and methods described herein utilize an on-line self-service platform that allows advertisers to design, target, schedule and pay for advertisements in print media (e.g., newspapers) allowing the print media to service handle a far larger number of advertisements than normal since different readers can receive a different set of advertisements. Further, advertisers using the system and methods described herein will be able to target their ads much more precisely geographically, demographically and/or psycho-graphically that has been possible heretofore.

Abstract: A method for presenting dynamic advertising comprises providing an advertising presentation device; regularly receiving electronic context data related to the advertising presentation device; on the basis of the context data, automatically generating context-based advertising; and causing the advertising presentation device to present the context-based advertising. The method is useful in particular for mobile advertising presentation devices, as it enables advertising to be dynamically generated based on regularly received context data such as presentation device location, date/time, user input at the advertising presentation device. Increased relevance of the advertisement to the observer is therefore provided.

Abstract: A system and method for a communications service provider and content provider to share revenue may include providing, by the communications service provider, a network node configured to enable the content provider to post content to be available to subscribers of the communications service provider. The content provider may be enabled to set a price for a subscriber to download the content. If there is a cost for the subscribers to download the content, then a revenue share percentage may be established between the content provider and the communications service provider. Otherwise, the communications service provider may be enabled to display an advertisement to the subscribers and collect revenue from advertising. The revenue generated by the content being downloaded may be accounted for. The content provider may be provided with the accounting.

Abstract: A method and system for establishing a media network may include establishing a relationship between a media network company and at least one retail chain business establishment to broadcast content to a network of electronic displays within retail stores of each respective retail chain business establishment. The media network company defines a national broadcast network and each retail chain business establishment defines a local affiliate of the national broadcast network. Available airtime may be apportioned for display of content between the media network company and each respective local affiliate. Each of the media network company and local affiliates may sell respective airtime to generate respective revenue.

Abstract: A linked mobile business and advertising unit that can sell products, services, and/or publicity. A plurality of units, together with a control unit, can form a chain. The control unit can sell time and space for the publicity devices controlled by the units. It can run publicity campaigns selecting geographical zones, market segments, times, and dates, while measuring the effect on sales. It can remotely turn on/off publicity devices. The control unit can suggest new locations, optimize inventory levels, and centralize customer information and transaction history. The units don't require foundation and can install/uninstall themselves rapidly, leaving no trace. The units are self-sufficient in services such as water, electricity, gas and drain; and, have flexibility to use these services when available. The units can transform themselves to ease transportation, to optimize operation or to protect against vandalism. The units can be configured as drive-thru, drive-in, or drive-inside.

Abstract: A method for selling airtime for a retail media network includes providing a network of electronic displays in a retail chain. A partition of airtime available on the network of electronic displays may be established, where the partition apportions national airtime available for use by a national network and local airtime available for use by the retail chain. An agency relationship may be established by an advertising agency with the retail chain to manage and sell the local airtime apportioned to the retail chain. A user interface may be provided for the advertising agency to book advertisements of advertisers to be displayed in the local airtime of the retail chain. Advertisements may be booked via the user interface by the advertising agency for display of the advertisements during the local airtime.

Abstract: A Personal Content Player is disclosed. One embodiment of the present invention is a miniature electronic device which functions as an automatic content receiver and storage device. Digital content is transmitted to the device using the excess capacity in an existing network, such as one or more conventional broadcast radio stations. The content is received by the device, and stored in a memory. The content is then played at a time chosen by the user.

Abstract: Rules concerning whether or not to insert advertisement and/or allow trick mode capabilities during playback of locally stored content downloaded from a content provider's or a VOD service providers server are communicated to the client device and may be specified by a variety of mechanisms including a Web-page based tool for A content provider to edit and for a VOD service provider to review and modify such rules. The client device stores and applies the rules during playback of the content.

Abstract: A system and method for selecting portions of content, and media content sets to be delivered over a packet based network is provided. The selected portions of content (such as a web page) may be keywords such as a word or a group of words. The media content sets may include one or more of video content (that may include an audio portion), audio content, graphics, images, or other multimedia or single media content. The media content set may include advertising, informational, business, educational, governmental, institutional, customized (e.g., personalized) content and/or other content. According to an example embodiment, the present invention provides a heuristic model employing a piece-wise linear optimization function to select keywords and the media content sets for delivery by a media delivery provider.

Abstract: A dynamic inventory management system and method for the identification of available inventory on a network of media devices and the optimal scheduling of campaigns, treatments, and content items on the available inventory. To optimize performance of the system, the dynamic inventory management system receives input data from a variety of sources. For example, the dynamic inventory management system receives audience metrics and campaign performance data from analytics systems, event and trigger data from event and trigger systems, and network, content, and campaign metadata from network management systems. The data received from these sources, when used in conjunction with additional rules and parameters that are received from system users, allows the dynamic inventory management system to allocate marketing campaigns, treatments, and content items to available inventory in a manner that is advantageous to both advertisers and to the network operator.

Abstract: A self-learning computer-based system for managing an advertisement, including: a memory element for at least one specially-programmed general purpose computer for storing: an artificial intelligence program (AIP) and a plurality of advertisements for at least one good or service offered by a first business entity; and an interface element for the at least one specially programmed general-purpose computer and a processor for the at least one specially programmed general-purpose computer for identifying a customer. The processor is for selecting an advertisement from the plurality of advertisements, using the AIP and the customer identification, and the interface element is for transmitting the selected advertisement.