Abstract: A method for facilitating electronic gifting transactions by a remote purchasing system and business yield management by a promotion configuring system. A customer user may remotely purchase a gift for a recipient, by selecting from available promotions through an interface in an electronic forum. The gift is available through electronic messaging to the recipient in real time or near real time to be redeemed at a designated business venue. A business user may customize promotions for a venue and make available promotions to customer users in real time or near real time. The business user may track, view, and manipulate statistical data related to the electronic gifting transactions in real time or near real time.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system and method for providing dedicated television advertisements based on speech recognition of telephone conversations. The home user makes telephone calls using a landline, cellular phone or VoIP phone. The user may also be watching TV. While doing so, the user is able to see advertisements on part or all of his TV screen, based on words and phrases he may have used during his telephone conversation(s). The system and method may be provided by a triple play or quad play service provider which associates its users' telephone calls with TV advertising. Once the user sees the advertisement he can get more information concerning the advertisement by clicking on it with a pointing device, e.g., a mouse or TV remote control, or by using any other navigation method the TV system provides, to see additional details concerning the advertisements.

Abstract: Provided is a keyword advertising system extracting search listings in response to a search request, the system comprising: an interface receiving bid price information corresponding to a keyword from an advertiser; a search information database storing search listings associated with the advertisers in association with each of the received bid price information; a ranking module generating a search result list by referring to the search information database, in response to a search request from a searcher; and a search results providing module providing the searcher with the generated search result list; wherein the ranking module generates the search result list by performing the steps of: identifying a keyword received from the searcher in association with the search request; selecting N of search listings from the at least one search result listing corresponding to the identified keyword, based on the bid price information; and ordering the selected search listings in order of click through rate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the determining of a refresh rate of a dynamic billboard. A system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: a system for obtaining traffic flow information; a system for determining the refresh rate per minute of the dynamic billboard based on the traffic flow information, wherein the refresh rate is equal to 60 mph/V, wherein V is equal to an average velocity in miles per hour of vehicles passing the dynamic billboard; a system for determining a percent change in the traffic flow information over a predetermined period of time, and comparing the percent change in the traffic flow information to a predetermined threshold value; and a system for changing a display provided by the dynamic bill board in accordance with the refresh rate only if a magnitude of the percent change in the traffic flow information is greater than the predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for distribution of electronic media replace the display of printed employee communications with a method and apparatus for distribution of electronic media. In a typical embodiment of the invention, electronic media replaces the posters and printed materials and the conventional bulletin board is replaced by an electronic display. Maintaining the employee communications in electronic form from creation to display significantly reduces and cost while dramatically improving the flexibility of an employee communications program.

Abstract: An advertisement management system, a computer-implemented method, and computer readable media to select advertisements are provided. The advertisement management system includes a keyword component, a targeting component, and a merging component. The keyword component generates a lists of advertisements based on keywords provided by the advertisers. The targeting component, executing in parallel with the keyword component, generates another list of advertisements based on targeting data provided by the advertisers. The merging component combines the list of advertisements generated by the keyword component and targeting component based on relevance to user search terms received by the advertisement management system or revenue that the advertisement is able to generate for the advertiser, publisher, or advertisement management system.

Abstract: Among other disclosure, an operating system that presents one or more advertisements to a user. The operating system can disable one or more functions while the advertisement is being presented. At the end of the advertisement, the operating system can again enable the function(s). The advertisement can be visual or audible. The presentation of the advertisement(s) can be made as part of an approach where the user obtains a good or service, such as the operating system, for free or at reduced cost.

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 provide benefits to the user upon displaying messages with commercial value to him. The disclosed messaging system allows an easy and effective communication path between providers and users any time publicly or privately in the banner area of a web site, which does not occupy additional space on the user's browser, and does not require the user to load another application besides his browser.

Abstract: A system for advertising to an end user in a computer network is provided. The system includes a server configured to transmit instructions to a client application to display an advertisement and a call-to-action for a reward in proximity to each other. The system is further configured to receive a response to the call-to-action for a reward from the user, and to transmit instructions to the client application to display an indication of a reward. A reward log database is provided in communication with the server. The reward log database is configured for logging the response to the call-to-action for a reward from the user. Methods for advertising and conveying a message, and a client application program product are also provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the distribution of electronic media content for distribution to employees of a subscriber. The system includes an electronic display for displaying selected electronic media content that may be selected, modified and/or generated by the subscriber. The system allows for dramatically increased subscriber control of the media content presented as well as for increased security for any confidential media content to be presented on the customer display. The system further provides for individual control of multiple displays that may be located in differing geographic locations while at the same time providing for ease of information management.

Abstract: The Picture Your Prize/Bodagle Marketing Method herein known as Bodagle, incorporates advertising into a fun and interactive game of chance. As users play the game their movements throughout the game board are tracked and categorized into a demographic profile. Unlike traditional games of chance where the winning prize is pre-determined, Bodagle users are allowed to make a choice from an array of products and services which they would most like to win. Users must scroll over the pictures of products or services within the game board in order to identify those products and services. The identification of those products and services appears in the product viewing screen and is tracked by Bodagle. Bodagle reports to advertisers eyeball time. Eyeball time is the amount of time a product or service appears in the product viewing screen. The advantages to advertisers are that Bodagle offers a unique platform to advertise a product or service.

Abstract: A method and system of advertising that facilitates an automated advertisement process where a user, at any point during playback, simply makes a request to view an advertisement and an advertisement related to the current point of playback is automatically provided. The advertisement can be related to a scene showing proximate in time to the request so that the user can specify what type of advertisement is provided and when it is provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure is relate to an image comparison device using a personal video recorder, the device comprising a display unit configured to output a reference image, at least one camera configured to obtain a comparison image by taking a picture of a present scene of a subject for photography chasing a movement of an object included in the reference image while the reference image is displayed on the screen of the display unit, and a controller configured to display the comparison image with the reference image on the screen, and a method using the an image comparison device.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for displaying a search result list in response to a search request from a searcher using a computer network. Ranks in the search result list are auctioned for a search term for a determined display period. A database is maintained to include search listings, where the search listings are associated with a winning bidder for a specified rank in the search result list, the search term and the determined display period. The search result list displayed to the searcher includes search listings ordered in accordance with respective ranks, for the determined display period.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for market-based allocation of internal web advertising space. Internal web advertising typically involves a company website hosting advertisements for company lines of business. Market-based bids for advertising space may be adjusted by an advertisement servicing program for overall site optimization. In some embodiments, bidding power for some lines of business may be adjusted as a reward for successful advertising, or based on other business criteria.

Abstract: A computer implemented system includes a computer readable storage medium which includes historical demand data for a plurality of advertising inventories, and a processor connected to the computer readable storage medium. The processor is configured for generating a first demand forecast for a first predetermined period of time and a second demand forecast for a second predetermined period of time. The processor is configured for adjusting the first demand forecast by removing an existing demand for each of the plurality of advertising inventories, and for generating a net forecasting demand for each of the plurality of inventories for a third predetermined period of time by combining the second demand forecast and an adjusted first demand forecast. The third predetermined period of time is based on the first and second predetermined periods.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of transmitting a file having an advertising portion and a requested portion different from the advertising portion. The method includes receiving a request to transmit the file, via a streaming protocol allowing non-sequential access, transmitting the advertising portion of the file, receiving a request to transmit a portion of the requested portion of the file prior to completing transmitting the advertising portion of the file, completing the transmission of the advertising portion of the file, and transmitting the requested portion of the file.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards selecting for display at a client device focused advertisements within a mail message client based on a user's categorization of mail messages, including spam messages. Messages may be classified by a message classifier and placed into different message folders. Actions of the message recipient on the received messages are then monitored and used to determine a spam advertisement factor. If the spam advertisement factor exceeds a threshold for a given message, then the given message may be further examined to determine a focus of the message. The focus may then be used to select an advertisement for display to the recipient.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for advertisement complexity scaling via traffic analysis. A motion module receives movement information from one or more sensors. The movement information comprises information relating to a speed of one or more people relative to an advertisement display device. A complexity module maintains an advertisement complexity rating for each of a plurality of advertisements. The advertisement complexity rating is based on an estimated viewing time of each advertisement. An advertisement selection module selects an advertisement from the plurality of advertisements based on the movement information and the advertisement complexity rating of the advertisement. The advertisement selection module correlates the speed of the one or more people relative to the advertisement display device with the advertisement complexity rating such that a higher speed correlates to a lower advertisement complexity rating. A display module displays the advertisement on a display device.

Abstract: A system is disclosed that includes a processor and a memory including instructions that are executable by the processor. The instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to identify advertisement data associated with an advertisement campaign based on one or more features of a web page requested by a client device. Based on stored user interaction data associated with the client device and the identified advertisement data, a textual component of an advertisement is generated. An animated component is generated based on the textual component, and a text-to-speech conversion is performed on the textual component in order to generate an audible component. The textual component, the animated component, and the audible component are sent to the client device. The animated component and the audible component are initially dormant and are presented at the client device in response to a first client device user action.

Abstract: The present business method transparently embeds advertisements into client browser displays at the edge of the Internet. A closed system of locally owned businesses makes up a network of publication points. The business method uses a simple single page “dashboard” interface to select and publish ad campaigns directly into one or more premises helping to qualify and quantify publication points and advertising subscription purchases. The dashboards display has controls to dynamically update campaign publications and display pricing results. In addition, the method builds and displays custom groups based on location, business types, and customer demographics. Thus, custom grouping options as selected by dashboard users. Subscription pricing is by ad size, type, location, subscription period and discount codes. The dashboard may include additional statistics such as subscription renewal dates and ad convergence information.

Abstract: A system of wireless advertising platform has a handheld wireless device that has an inbound wireless data function with a storage function to be able to receive and store, audio, text, image, and flash commercial messages from a message server. The device has a message exposure function that exposes these messages to a device user from the stored memory of the device into the incoming and outgoing communication, to and from the device user. The device has a message tracking function that tracks which messages have been exposed and periodically sends an account record to the message server. The message server receives the account records and uses cumulative account records to create billing statements to the message providers. The communication use cost of the device is discounted to the device user for being exposed messages from revenue from message providers.

Abstract: A computerized compensation system of disseminating a plurality of news and information items offered, contributed, and submitted by a plurality of independent submitters to an internet provider site. The provider site accepts, indexes, catalogs, tracks, meters, and calculates viewer exposure to each submitted news and information item chosen by a plurality of viewers. Compensation due individual submitters is transmitted in real time, as the submitter continues the submission to the provider web site. Billing of funding sources is provided.

Abstract: A method for disabling and re-enabling third-party advertisements is disclosed. An Internet accessible “virtual world” or interactive on-line community can have its advertisements disabled by the entering and subsequent validation of a registration code that is associated with a toy into a website, once validated, displaying a virtual representation of the toy on the website, providing virtual world content so that the virtual representation of the toy is caused to interact with the virtual world content and the toy virtual representations of other users, displaying advertisement on the website in a first mode and allowing customization of the virtual world content including the disabling of advertisements in a second mode. In a similar manner the third party advertisements can be re-enabled.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus facilitating the display of advertisements in a software application in general, but more particularly in a computer program permitting people to write, edit or view digital documents, hereafter referred to as “Document Templates Software”. Advertisements shown to users can be targeted based on user profile and document properties. In one embodiment, a Document Templates Software can embed an office suite application (such as Microsoft Office, Corel WordPerfect Office or OpenOffice.org). In a second embodiment, the Document Templates Software can also function as a stand-alone application that incorporates a built-in document editor module. In a third embodiment, the Document Templates Software can be a plug-in to an office suite application. Finally, in a fourth embodiment, an office suite application could comprise a built-in Document Templates Software module or feature.