Abstract: A comprehensive platform for merchandising intellectual property (IP) and conducting IP transactions is disclosed. A standardized data collection method enables IP assets to be characterized, rated and valuated in a consistent manner. Project management, workflow and data security functionality enable consistent, efficient and secure interactions between the IP Marketplace participants throughout the IP transaction process. Business rules, workflows, valuation models and rating methods may be user defined or based upon marketplace, industry or technology standards.

Abstract: A search query analysis device (1) according to the present invention is provided with a search query sorting unit (13) that sorts a plurality of search queries input by a user into a plurality of search query groups in chronological order, and specifies a purchase search query group that includes a search query input immediately before a product purchase of the user and first search query groups input before the purchase search query group, among the plurality of search query groups, a keyword extraction unit (12) that extracts a keyword group from a description of a purchased product purchased by the user, and a search query group extraction unit (14) that computes a similarity between the first search query groups and the keyword group, and extracts a first search query group whose similarity is less than a threshold.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving a set of parameters for selecting a physician from an administrator of a matching-engine system. The matching-engine system stores the parameters in a data store of the matching-engine system. The matching-engine system receives from a user a search query with a location of the user and a user-specified symptom or treatment. The matching-engine system determines a base-concept of a medical diagnosis or medical procedure based on the search query. The matching-engine system may identify a set of physicians to be recommended to the user based on the parameters, and a performance-score and experience-score associated with the base-concept for each physician. The matching-engine system may send a search-results page to the user listing the recommended physicians.

Abstract: A method and system classifies a venue by analyzing venue data from a venue website. The method includes receiving preliminary venue related data. The method includes scanning the venue website to retrieve venue data, wherein scanning the venue website includes retrieving the venue data from HTML pages, text documents, PDF documents, and images. The method includes retrieving verifiable venue data from the venue data. The verifiable venue data is a subset of the venue data. The method includes analyzing the verifiable venue data by comparing the verifiable venue data to the preliminary venue-related data and determining a probability level for the venue URL from the comparison. If the probability level for the venue URL is equal or greater than a first probability level, the venue website data is further analyzed to extract attributes and attribute counts in a robust and context-sensitive way.

Abstract: A mattress purchase system and method established based on physiological responses and subjective evaluation data is implemented via a computer device to assist customers in selecting and purchasing most suitable mattress products. The mattress purchase system includes a mattress database, a physiological responses database, an integrated operation processing unit, an adjustment parameter selector module, and a display interface used to output and display body parameter values, preliminary data of appropriate mattress sequence and the final suggested mattress data. The mattress purchase system enables customers to select the most suitable mattresses quickly and accurately, and improves the performance of salesman with better practicability.

Abstract: The present invention is digital signage comprising: an article information database in which a feature of an article and article information for the article associated with each other are stored; feature extracting means for extracting a feature from a wearing image that is an image of a customer wearing an article; comparison means for comparing the extracted feature with features stored in the article information database and identifying the article the customer is wearing; article information retrieving means for retrieving article information for the identified article from the article information database; and output control means for outputting the retrieved article information and the wearing image.

Abstract: Systems and methods according to the invention make feature-based and visual search possible. They allow users to provide us a visual representation that we can apply against available items of creation and return items that are like the visual representation in terms of features and other parameters that user can specify. More generally, the invention relates to searching items using visual representations. In particular it provides visual features of an item of creation and methods for recognizing images in terms of those features, and converting the deduced knowledge in a form that is searchable against a database of items of creation. Thus, for example, one aspect of this invention provides for creation of the framework in which an item of creation can be represented visually. This framework can be of many types. A canvas, if we are to draw an image akin to what an artist draws.

Abstract: A method and system of providing for ratings and recommendations made by knowledgeable third parties as to the competency and fitness of a service provider for the particular project for which the service buyer is currently seeking service providers, together with the aggregation of that data with other data (including other ratings for the particular project, ratings made by service buyers after project completion, and all such data with respect to all projects for the service provider), facilitates the matching of highly qualified service providers with projects/jobs. In addition, because the system harnesses the collective wisdom of all peer raters and expert raters and uses methodologies to encourage the proliferation of accurate and useful ratings data with respect to service providers, the system is able to utilize the power of the Internet to collect and aggregate these opinions and ratings/rankings in a manner not easily replicable through offline methods.

Abstract: A system and method of processing service queries includes receiving a first request for services from a client, the first request for services includes a service query including identifiers for an action, one or more candidate services, a services template, and an aggregation; parsing the services query to identify the action, the candidate services, the services template, and the aggregation; determining one or more combinations of candidate services based on types of the candidate services; applying the services template to each of the combinations of candidate services to determine results for each of the combinations of candidate services; aggregating the results based on the aggregation; selecting a preferred combination of candidate services based on the applied aggregation; and forwarding the results corresponding to the preferred combination to the action.

Abstract: A portable electronic device is disclosed that includes a housing with a display; a memory in the housing that stores machine instructions and data, which can include an access code to a restricted database of vehicle components of an identified component manufacturer; a user interface enabling a user to select options; a device for importing a VIN or code containing the VIN; and communications circuitry. The communications circuitry includes signal transmitting and signal receiving capability. The signal receiving capability receives a VIN or code containing the VIN from the device for importing a VIN, and the signal transmitting capability sends the VIN and an access code to a restricted access database to lookup vehicle component information. The signal receiving capability receives the vehicle component information from the restricted access database, and an information processor processes the vehicle component information for presentation on the display.

Abstract: Techniques for generating a globally applicable taxonomy of e-commerce goods are described. According to various exemplary embodiments described herein, a taxonomy management system is configured to analyze item listing titles and user search queries in order to identify a set of globally applicable product types that serve as universal descriptors of the underlying things or objects that are the subject of an item listing or the likely user intended subject of a user search query. Such globally applicable product types are agnostic as to any specific product inventory or product category structure of an e-commerce website. After the taxonomy management system identifies product types, the taxonomy management system may incorporate the identified product types into a global product taxonomy that identifies the globally applicable product types.

Abstract: Techniques for providing users with packaging and/or shipping materials may include receiving an optical image of an object having starting and shipping locations or keywords associated with the object; comparing with an optical recognition program, the optical image of the object to images of objects within a database of objects to identify the object, or the keywords in the search bar with words used in a description of objects in a database of objects to identify the object; assigning packaging and/or shipping information to the identified object; and ordering the packaging and/or shipping materials for the identified object and optionally supplying the packaging and/or shipping materials to the user at the starting location. Various related processes, systems and apparatuses are also provides.

Abstract: A comprehensive platform for merchandising intellectual property (IP) and conducting IP transactions is disclosed. A standardized data collection method enables IP assets to be characterized, rated and valuated in a consistent manner. Project management, workflow and data security functionality enable consistent, efficient and secure interactions between the IP Marketplace participants throughout the IP transaction process. Business rules, workflows, valuation models and rating methods may be user defined or based upon marketplace, industry or technology standards.

Abstract: This invention discloses a process involving automatic notification to interested individuals of current real estate values. The process consists of a monitoring service entity, external data source, and end-user. The disclosed embodiments include a process whereby parties can be directly notified of real estate values or alternatively may initiate contact with the monitoring entity to receive data.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to create, aggregate, and syndicate of group of product or content attribute collection and provide ways to access, display, filter, share, merchandise, shop and consume the created content repository using a collection recommendation and merchandising engine via web services independent of where the content is created or updated.

Abstract: A corpus creation device includes an acquisition unit that acquires item page data containing description data related to an item and an attribute list where an attribute name and an attribute value related to the item are associated, an adding unit that, when an attribute value in an attribute list contained in item page data is contained in description data in the item page data, adds an attribute tag identifying an attribute name with which the attribute value is associated in the attribute list to the attribute value contained in the description data, and an output unit that outputs description data in which an attribute tag is added as corpus data.

Abstract: A property search engine interface, having a plurality of coupled, color-coded, interactive cells each having a record therein. Cells are arranged in a grid format, a horizontal row is representative of a first characteristic, and a vertical column is representative of a second characteristic. A respective cell of the plurality of cells corresponds to the first characteristic and a second characteristic, and a cell color-coding of the cell is representative of a third characteristic. Each interactive cell contains a record corresponding to the third characteristic, and the record is selected by a search engine coupled to a vacation rental database. The first characteristic is a time characteristic, the second characteristic is an accommodation characteristic, and the third characteristic is an average nightly price characteristic. The record corresponds to an average nightly price record related to the time characteristic and the accommodation characteristic.

Abstract: A system for translating a first description of a good into one or more other descriptions that correspond to one or more vendors is provided. The system comprises a processing device and a memory device accessible by the processing device. The memory device contains one or more data structures configured for use in mapping the first description of the good to one or more other descriptions that correspond to one or more vendors. The processing device is configured to: receive a user input representative of the first description of the good; and map, using the received input and the data structure(s) contained in the memory device, the first description to one or more other descriptions of the good. A method for translating a first description of a good into one or more other descriptions that correspond to one or more vendors is also provided.

Abstract: When a word suitable for an attribute value of a search object is included in search words that are being inputted, the attribute value can be presented as a candidate for a search condition. When there are two or more search words that are being inputted, an information processing apparatus identifies a search object division suitable for a first search word among the search words from a plurality of search object divisions. From a storage unit that stores an attribute name and an attribute value of an attribute corresponding to the search object division in association with each other, the information processing apparatus acquires an attribute value suitable for a second search word different from the first search word among the search words from among attribute values associated with the identified search object division. The information processing apparatus causes the acquired attribute value to be presented as a candidate for a search condition.

Abstract: A system receives a request for item data from a stored data set. The request may include a specified context for providing the item data. The stored data set includes an item, at least one common item attribute, a value for each of the common item attributes, and at least one context item attribute. The system provides the requested item data. The provided item data includes context attribute values for the specified context and common attribute values for attributes that are not in the specified context attributes.

Abstract: Techniques for ranking the importance of various attributes associated with various product categories are described. According to various embodiments, product category information identifying various products in a particular product category in the inventory of a marketplace website is accessed. The product category information may further identify a set of attributes associated with the products in the particular product category. An importance value associated with each of the attributes is then calculated, the importance values indicating an importance of each of the attributes for uniquely identifying the products in the product category. Thereafter, each of the attributes are ranked, based on the importance value associated with each of the attributes.

Abstract: A product search system includes a product data storage portion for storing product data, an axis item data storage portion for storing settability information for axis items and axis division numbers, a product ID storage portion for storing unique identification information of products, a two-dimensional coordinate space defining portion for defining a two-dimensional coordinate space, a distribution diagram generating portion for generating data for a distribution diagram in which product images are arranged in the coordinate space, and a product extracting portion for extracting unique identification information of products within an area of a section selected by a user, and storing the information in the product ID storage portion.

Abstract: In response to receipt of a best-deal request specifying requested feature levels for products, feature sufficiency for each of said products is evaluated. Each feature sufficiency indicates whether or not a given product meets a respective requested feature level. Normalized prices are determined for the products. Products are sorted according to feature sufficiency and normalized prices for the respective products. A best-deal list is generated with product identifiers for the products arranged in the sorted order.

Abstract: A breadth-first join module receives, at a runtime, a query for travel data, wherein the travel data is stored in a data store, the data store comprising parent and child data structures arranged in a hierarchy. The breadth-first join module identifies a first child data structure associated with the travel data, the first child data structure comprising a plurality of pointers, wherein each of the plurality of pointers is associated with one of a plurality of first level parent data structures in the data store and queries each of the plurality of first level parent data structures to resolve the plurality of pointers in the first child data structure, wherein the plurality of first level parent data structures comprise travel data objects associated with the plurality of pointers, and wherein at least one of the plurality of first level parent data structures comprises a pointer to a second level parent data structure.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for the creation of future time based search. Service providers identify their availability. This information is then searchable by potential clients to determine if relevant, local service providers are available to perform needed service.

Abstract: A retailer computer system facilitates the purchase of products that are determined to be useful in the performance of a task by presenting to a consumer a first user interface by which the consumer may select a task from a repository of tasks, each task stored in the repository of tasks having documented instructions, such as a recipe, for performing the task, by presenting in a web page the documented instructions of the selected task, by using one or more keywords within the documented instructions of the selected task to select at least one product from an electronic product catalog, the selected at least one product being one or more of a part, such as a recipe ingredient, and a tool, such as an appliance, usable in performing the task, and by presenting to the consumer a second user interface for allowing the consumer to purchase via use of an online retail channel the selected at least one product.

Abstract: A computer system and associated methods for implementing an online freight services marketplace. Freight service offerings posted to the marketplace by carriers are matched to freight service requests from shippers. Compound service offerings are formed from freight service offerings having service parameters (lane, space, transit time, availability, price, and status) that accommodate load parameters (origin, destination, size, and weight) of the freight service request. Compound service offerings selected by the shipper are provisioned and reserved for subsequent dispatch. Role-based access controls within the marketplace restrict visibility of confidential information, such as carrier pricing and shipper identity. Automatic freight transaction facilitation includes shipper payment processing and shipping document generation. Status tracking capability may be augmented with alert messaging and/or in-transit re-planning to minimize the impact of common issues that threaten to defeat a shipment in progress.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein is a method for informing uncommitted potential property owners that a buyer is potentially interested in purchasing a property with similar features as those possessed by the owner's property. The inventive method matches buyers interested in purchasing a property, such as a home, with prospective sellers that may be interested in selling their respective properties, via a web-based service maintained through a service provider. The sellers are prospective sellers and are made aware of buyer interest in their property by a service provider website, which instigates finding their properties through a title search, wherein search criteria are given to the title search based on buyers' property search criteria. Returned matches are listed, and from the information provided by the title search, a match mailer is sent to the property owner informing the owner of a buyer that may be interested in purchasing the property.

Abstract: Information about a product, including a wished for price, is received from a user over the Internet. The wished for price is lower than a currently available price for the product. Manufacturers and sellers are investigated to obtain the wished for price. The user is notified when it is discovered that the product at the wished for price has become available for purchase.

Abstract: Electronic content that has a tactile dimension when presented on a tactile-enabled computing device may be referred to as tactile-enabled content. A tactile-enabled device is a device that is capable of presenting tactile-enabled content in a manner that permits a user to experience tactile quality of electronic content. In one example embodiment, a system is provided for generating content that has a tactile dimension when presented on a tactile-enabled device.

Abstract: A digital downloading jukebox system including a central server and a plurality of remote jukebox devices each provided with a local server that preferably mirrors the central server and enables selected songs to be immediately downloaded to the jukebox for reproduction. The local server and jukebox may also provide, through control of the central server, song download services to other jukebox devices, such as residential jukeboxes. The jukebox system may also act as a monitoring/management device for other coin operated equipment present in a location where the jukebox is located, thereby enabling the jukebox device to perform updates on other equipment under control of the central server.

Abstract: An electronic system includes: a control unit configured to identify a first indication input associated with a first real property post; generate a preference maximization profile of a second real property post based on the first indication input; generate a proposed property content based on the first indication input, the preference maximization profile, the second real property post, or a combination thereof for procuring a second indication input associated with the second real property post; and a display unit, coupled to the control unit, configured to display the proposed property content.

Abstract: An information processing system constituted with one or more computers includes a first result storage part to store result values of operation amounts of a first device; a prediction part to generate prediction values of operation amounts of the first device during a period; a calculation part to calculate indicator values based on the prediction values; an extraction part to select a second device that substitutes the first device using the indicator values; a replacement information storage part to store correspondence information between a device before replacement and a device after replacement; an obtainment part to obtain operation amounts of the devices before and after replacement, respectively, assuming that the first device is replaced by the second device; and an output part to output information about the obtained operation amounts.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of booking an appointment for services desired by a user comprising compiling a database of companies available for the user to search, the database comprising a profile about each company, including the category of services, the location of the company and the available appointments for the services, a search platform accessible by a user operating a computer or a mobile device, the platform allowing the user to search by a category of service, name of a company, location, or date and time available for an appointment, the platform comprising a chat option whereby the user can contact a platform agent to arrange an available appointment with a service company and advise the user of the appointment or the user can activate the chat option for any purpose.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products for providing recommendations to consumers, where the recommendations are based on determinations of similarity between desired products and recommended products. In one embodiment, a system includes a server computer coupled to a network and a data store. The server computer receives from client devices user input that identifies the characteristics of a desired product. The data store contains a plurality of product listings. For each of a set of these listings, the server computer identifies characteristics of the listed product, and compares characteristics of the listed product to characteristics of the desired product. The server computer determines similarity measures for the individual characteristics, and determines an overall similarity score for the listed product based on the similarity measures for the individual characteristics.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for computerized travel services. One of the methods includes receiving a travel query; identifying points of interest or destinations associated with a travel location; for each of the points of interest or destinations: determining, photographs that are geographically related to the point of interest or destination, selecting a selected photograph from the photographs; obtaining a description associated with the point of interest or destination, obtaining a hotel price associated with the point of interest or destination, and obtaining a flight price for a flight corresponding to the point of interest or destination; and providing for each of the points of interest or destinations, a query result including the respective selected photograph, the respective description, the respective hotel price, and the respective flight price.

Abstract: In various example embodiments, a system and method for sketch based queries are presented. A sketch corresponding to a search item may be received from a user. At least a portion of the sketch may be generated by the user. An item attribute may be extracted from the sketch. The item attributed may correspond to a physical attribute of the search item. A set of inventory items similar to the search item may be identified based on the extracted item attribute and a search scope. The identified set of inventory items may be presented to the user.

Abstract: A system, method and software is described for the advertising of real estate. Information and images for a property are made available to prospective purchasers. Users' interactions are tracked, and points are assigned for each interaction. For each property listing, the system and software identify a segment of other relevant property listings. Each property listing is compared to the listings in its segment on the basis of points to determine its relative ranking. The relative ranking is used to determine the fee charged to the seller for use of the system and software. The system and software generate and provide reports and recommendations to users.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for using contributor-provided attributes in conjunction with an electronic item catalog. A computer reconciles a plurality of attributes for an item in an electronic catalog using feedback data related to the item. Each of the attributes is provided by one of a plurality of merchants. The reconciled attribute of the item is updated in the electronic catalog.

Abstract: Four main sets of features designed to improve the apartment rental and listing process are discussed: (i) improved visualization of listings for renters using clustering, especially for mobile; (ii) landlord transaction flow and support; (iii) cross-checking of data using user-initiated third-party web data; and (iv) maintenance flow and support. The clustering approach provides visualization of dynamically developed clusters from available listings; rapid (re-)computation of clusters as the map is adjusted by users; and representation of all matching listings in the region in a cluster or as a single entry cluster at all times.

Abstract: An approach is provided for generating one or more recommendations to a user based on interactions the user may have with items or topics of interest. The approach involves processing and/or facilitating a processing of one or more interactions of a user with one or more content items. The approach further involves causing, at least in part, an accumulation of the one or more processed interactions of the user. The approach also involves causing, at least in part, a determination of one or more user preferences based, at least in part, on the accumulated one or more processed interactions. The approach additionally involves causing, at least in part, a generation of a rating score of the user for the topic based, at least in part, on the one or more user preferences.

Abstract: A computer-implemented process can be implemented to provide a customer with information about an item to be purchased. The process includes monitoring, within a processor of a portable computerized device, a scan of the item to be purchased, automatically referencing a remote database to reference a list of ingredients in the item to be purchased. The process further includes cross-referencing, within the processor, the list of ingredients to a shopping profile of the customer and Fdisplaying an alert to the customer upon a display of the portable computerized device based upon the cross-referencing.

Abstract: A system and method of providing an air travel pricing quote, including estimated fees for third-party air flight services and fuel vendors at each stop along the route of an air travel trip. A traveler is able to quickly and automatically retrieve air travel pricing quotes, thereby bypassing the detailed and time-consuming process of drawing up a flight plan, determining foreign and domestic third-party air flight service vendors across the globe, and arranging third-party air flight services.

Abstract: A comprehensive platform for merchandising intellectual property (IP) and conducting IP transactions is disclosed. A standardized data collection method enables IP assets to be characterized, rated and valuated in a consistent manner. Project management, workflow and data security functionality enable consistent, efficient and secure interactions between the IP Marketplace participants throughout the IP transaction process. Business rules, workflows, valuation models and rating methods may be user defined or based upon marketplace, industry or technology standards.

Abstract: Example systems and methods that rank search results are described. In one implementation, a method receives an initial search query from a user and identifies a reference to a color in the initial search query. A second search query is created by re-writing the initial search query without reference to the color in the initial search query. The second search query is executed to identify multiple products. The method identifies a particular product within the multiple products that includes the color in the initial search query and increases a ranking score associated with the particular product.

Abstract: A method and system for finding objects or services utilizing a communication link to enlist the help of and reward third parties to help locate the desired object or service.

Abstract: A system and method for rating of each of plural products comprising identifying plurality of attributes associated with a category of product, applying a scalar structure for each attribute to provide scalar value of each attribute for each of the plural products, determining an incremental competitive index for each attribute of each product based on the scalar value of each attribute and a number of products having the scalar value, and rating each product based on the determined competitive index.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for identifying, extracting, mapping, and updating product information. Further, systems and methods are provided to view the product information on a portable computing device or a personal computing device. On the portable computing device, the display of product information is made available either through a dedicated mobile application or through a website link. On a personal computing device, the display of product information is made available either through a desktop application or through a website link. The product information is updated on an ongoing basis to provide current product information to the end user.

Abstract: Among other things, information is received from a user interacting with a user interface about a trip that is being planned from an origin to a destination, the information including a user indication of travel modes to be considered in planning the trip and the possible travel modes including at least three of bus, train, car, water, and air. Two or more alternative travel options are determined each including two or more of the modes based on the received information; and the options are presented to the user through the user interface.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention includes a network-accessible compute node, which includes a local storage storing reference images. Each reference image can depict one or more preferences, which can include a quality, a feature, a characteristic, an attribute, a type, and/or a form. Each preference can be associated with a distinctive pattern and a preference criterion. An embodiment includes an optimization module. The optimization module can learn the distinctive patterns from the reference images. The optimization module can also access a remote storage storing images of commodities and use pattern recognition to identify, from the remote storage, one or more images of commodities meeting the preference criterion selected by a user. Other embodiments are described and claimed.