Abstract: A method and system facilitate a transaction via a network-based transaction facility. For example, a pre-order relating to an item may be recorded in a database, a plurality of offers to sell the item may be received, and a matching operation may detect a correspondence between the pre-order and the plurality of offers. The pre-order may be set to a reserve state in the database responsive to detecting an offer of the plurality of offers matching the pre-order, in which the reserve state is to reserve the offer of the plurality of offers pending to perform a transaction with the pre-order.

Abstract: Systems and methods described herein relate to processing of information, data and transactions involving content and/or experiences. According to one exemplary implementation, an illustrative method of computerized information processing may involve handling and/or processing data regarding a product, the product comprising an experience, a physical product, and/or a digital product.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a technology for purchasing an item to purchase automatically and jointly by using the internet, in particular to a purchasing system and a method thereof on the internet which is capable of economizing human and material resources and lowering the unit cost of an item by performing all processes from a notice of tender to an ordering automatically on the internet and purchasing an item required for many companies and establishments jointly.

Abstract: System and method to facilitate purchases through mobile communications on various types of mobile devices and platforms by reducing the number of steps it takes the user to complete the purchase with mobile in-app payments, and/or by enabling purchases to be made without the device being connected to the Internet and/or by automatic compilation of payment request. A set of user identifying details, including user's country, mobile carrier name and phone number, is required in order to process a mobile purchase. The advantages of the present invention from the user perspective is the ability to complete the purchase in fewer steps by automatic user details identification and the ability to complete the purchase in case there is no Internet connection by embedding a specially formatted database file with the application of mobile device.

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: Embodiments of the invention relate to systems and methods that enable a user to pre-order products from an internal or external organization. The organization procures the products and/or completes the pre-order, such as completes a payment for the pre-order or finishes the pre-order, based on the location of the user, as determined through the user's mobile device. The order is only completed when the customer location is determined to be within a desired location of the collection point for the pre-order. Preparation of the products pre-ordered by the user commences upon the user location satisfying a predetermined criteria, such as the user being located an approximate distance from a particular location, the user having an approximate arrival time from a particular location, the user located within an electronic geographic fenced area around a particular location, or the user identified as moving with respect to a particular location.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to electronic order processing of items in an electronic commerce environment. A geographic boundary associated with a physical location of a retail entity can be implemented using, for example, a geo-fence. An order for an item from the retail location can be received by a customer and a notification prioritizing processing of the order can be generated based on a location of the user relative to the geographic boundary.

Abstract: Systems, methods and tools facilitate efficient and convenient e-commerce based group ordering. A group order organizer tool allows a group order organizer to create and configure a group order, specify group members, specify and configure information to be solicited from group members, and customize various details of the group order. The group order tool automatically generates member-specific group order notification documents containing member-specific input controls to allow individual group members to input solicited information. Group order notification and management tools send out the group order notification documents to the group members and manage the responses.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and media for picking-up and delivering products are disclosed. Some embodiments route shoppers to acquire products for multiple customers orders from multiple suppliers using a variety of transportation modes. The transportation modes may differing maximum weight carrying and volume carrying capacities, maximum vehicle speeds. Moreover, some embodiments may account for a different number vehicles for each transportation mode and may further account for the availability of shoppers and vehicles.

Abstract: A method implementable on a transaction server for facilitating a web-based purchase without a user visiting one or more merchant websites or without one or more merchants requiring to change anything on their websites is disclosed. The method includes receiving a request from a user via a marketplace server to make a purchase for at least one item at the one or more merchants. At least a portion of user data associated with the user is transmitted to the one or more merchants for a checkout processing of the request. One or more status messages pertaining to the checkout processing of the request are displayed to the user along with one or more review order messages for confirmation. Lastly, method includes applying the web-based purchase for the at least one item at the one or more merchants based on the confirmation to proceed with the purchase.

Abstract: A system allows control of an ancillary server function through a text messaging protocol. The text message allows a connected user to obtain goods or services through a network controller that selectively routes a self-addressed text message to a remote networked server that instantiates the server function based on content in the text message. The self-addressed electronic message (e.g., SMS message) is interpreted by a network component as needing invocation of a specified ordering service and, accordingly, is routed to a server that is tasked with administering, for example, order and delivery of a product or access to an account. The server, upon receipt of the self-addressed electronic message, may interact with the buyer using messaging to confirm the scope of the order and to fulfil the order. The system augments cellular phone functionality with a mechanism for placing orders using a looped text-yourself approach that engenders trust with users.

Abstract: A method and system comprises transmitting an identifying code to a server. The identifying code identifies at least one media file associated with a user. The media file comprises at least one image obtained at a venue. The user's order for purchasing contents of the media file is transmitted to the server. The contents are received from the server for viewing and editing. Destinations for receiving purchased contents are transmitted to the server. The destinations comprise at least a first and a second location accessible from internet connections. The server transmits the purchased contents to the first and second locations. The first location is configured to be operable for storing the purchased content for retrieval by the user. The second location is associated with a manufacturer of items in which a visual representation of purchased contents is affixed to one or more items.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for automatically implementing item substitutions for unavailable items in a customer order. According to one embodiment, line item orders from selected customer orders may be aggregated and processed for substitution analysis. Substitutions for unavailable items of selected customer orders may then be automatically implemented based upon substitution instructions, business rules, and/or other predefined criteria.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to computer-implemented systems and methods for searching vehicle listings. An example method may include scanning, by a user device comprising one or more processors, optical machine-readable data associated with a first vehicle. The method may also include determining, based at least in part on the optical machine-readable data, a vehicle identification number associated with the first vehicle. The method may further include determining, based at least in part on the vehicle identification number, one or more vehicle attributes.

Abstract: A method of sorting items that are received for further shipment includes determining a first quantity of the items to be placed into a first tote and a second quantity of the items to be placed into a second tote. The first tote conveys the items to a first location for immediate shipping to a first set of customers who have ordered only the item. The second tote conveys the items to a second location for matching with different items before being shipped to a second set of customers who have ordered combinations of the item and one or more of the different items. In response to receipt of the items, a first quantity of the items is placed into the first tote in accordance with the determined first quantity, and a second quantity of the items is placed into the second tote in accordance with the determined second quantity.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a method of implementing fulfillment management. The method includes receiving order information, wherein the order information includes one or more order lines, selecting at least one of the one or more order lines, scoring the one or more selected order lines, and accessing one or more rules assigned to the one or more order lines. The method further includes based on the assigned rules, defining a priority rank of each of the one or more selected order lines, specifying fulfillment of inventory based on the priority and scoring of each of the selected one or more order lines, and assigning inventory based on the specified fulfillment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a system for initiating and/or conducting a transaction that is associated with at least two corresponding declarations of intent, in particular a payment transaction, between at least two transaction parties via a processing unit (3), in which payment transaction at least one of the transaction parties uses a land line telephone or mobile telephone (1, 2) or a mobile communications device for transmitting data. The method is characterized by the transmission of data to the processing unit by at least two transaction parties within a limited time frame, and by the fact that the initiation of the data transmission of these transaction parties is effected actively by the transaction parties and not by the processing unit (3), while the data transmitted during initiation contain features that enable correlating the declarations of intent with one another.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, an order reception apparatus, which displays a first selection screen for receiving an order of a menu item, comprises a reception module configured to receive a selection operation of the menu item on the first selection screen by a customer, a connection module configured to be connectable to an external apparatus, and a transfer module configured to transfer a content relating to the menu item the selection of which is received by the reception module on the first selection screen to the external apparatus connected with the connection module.

Abstract: Fulfilling a pre-order for a collection of media items in an online store, enforcing one or more pricing schemes which adjust the price charged for the collection of media items purchased as a pre-order, and managing changes to a pre-order campaign as they are received from a media publisher.

Abstract: A system includes one or more software programs which are utilized to automate a process of converting an object in media, such as a recipe on a website, into a component list, such as a recipe list. The component list may be converted to a shopping items list, such as a grocery list. In one example, a recipe website provides recipes. A user selects one or more of the recipes. Software creates a recipe list of recipe items. In one example, this is accomplished by the software reading a recipe presented in the media content. The software automatically converts the one or more selected recipes into one or more shopping lists. The shopping lists may be used by the user to manually obtain and purchase items at a store. Alternatively, the one or more shopping lists may be used as input for an electronic shopping service or a suppliers fulfillment platform.

Abstract: A paperless ticketing program acts as an intermediary between existing concrete dispatch and concrete batching programs. The paperless ticketing program receives concrete ticket delivery information from the concrete dispatch program and batch weight information from the concrete batching program in order to create a paperless ticket. A paperless ticketing client runs on a portable computer having a touch screen interface to allow a customer to electronically sign the ticket to acknowledge receipt of a concrete delivery. The paperless ticketing program retrofits existing systems with paperless ticketing functionality.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing advertising information on a second user viewing device relating to a media program viewed on a first user viewing device. Upon determining that the media program is being presented via the first user viewing device, an ad programming signal is transmitted to the second user viewing device so as to present on the second user viewing device at least one first advertisement relating to content of the media program.

Abstract: A product delivery system operable to deliver a virtual product which is manufactured locally using a 3D printer, and methods for using such.

Abstract: A system and method for creation and distribution of writer-reader content through a social publishing service are described. The social publishing service directly connects readers with writers, using words as the unit of currency for transactions. Readers may purchase amounts of words to use as currency, which are then included in a user account and can be exchanged for corresponding word amounts of writer-reader content. Writers within the system may then be paid based on the number of words of their works purchased by readers. The social publishing service provides a platform for commerce transactions between writers and readers, gamification of that transaction process, as well as providing modules within a user interface allowing for users to search for, read, write, review and/or or edit writer-reader content.

Abstract: A viewer for displaying an electronic book and providing for electronic commerce. In conjunction with viewing an electronic book, a user can view information about products and services, view an on-line electronic catalog, and receive samples of products available for purchase. By entering a purchase request, the user can purchase products or services. In the case of a digital product, the user can download the purchased product directly into the viewer. The viewer also records statistics concerning purchase and information requests in order to recommend related products or services, or for directing particular types of advertisements to the user.

Abstract: A process that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, determining exception data associated with exceptions of orders, including data about order fallout of an order flowthrough. Exclusions and exceptions associated with the plurality of orders are determined, wherein the exclusions are order exceptions that do not count against the order flowthrough. The exception data are updated responsive to the exclusions to remove excused order exceptions. Order data is determined that includes the exceptions, and an apportionment is generated of the order exceptions counted against the flowthrough of the orders. A weighted flowthrough count is determined from the apportionment of the order exceptions, and issue tables are created based on one of the exception data, the apportionment of the order exceptions, the weighted count, or combinations thereof. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A user device configured to connect to a mobile telephony network and associated with an identification number in the mobile telephony network. The user device selects a method of paying for the shopping basket on a first page of the merchant server; upon selection, the user device sends a payment request to a payment validation module, which is enriched with identification data of the user device; the user device receives a local authentication request message from the payment validation module over the mobile telephony network; on receiving the local authentication request message, the user device triggers execution of an operation of locally authenticating a user of the user device; the user device sends a local authentication response message to the payment validation module; and the user device is redirected by the payment validation module to a second page of the merchant server giving the result of the payment transaction.

Abstract: A user communicates, such as through text, a phrase or word to quickly place and pay for an order. The phrase corresponds to details of the order and one phrase can contain orders with multiple merchants. Once the phrase is communicated, a service provider or merchant determines the order from the phrase and processes the order, which may include transmitting order details to the merchant(s) and processing the payment(s) to the merchant(s) on behalf of the user.

Abstract: A computer implemented order management system includes a data media module, a mail receiving module, a file creating module, a calculating module, an order confirmation module, an order receiving module, and a shipment module. The data media module is for providing a product requirement application form to be downloaded by a customer. The mail receiver module is for receiving the product requirement application form filled out by the customer. The file creating module is for creating a requirement file. The calculating module is for estimating and providing a delivery date, a quantity, and a quotation. The order confirmation module is for confirming whether the customer accepts the delivery date, the quantity, and the quotation. The order receiving module is for receiving and confirming an order form provided by the customer. The shipment module is for arranging shipment to the customer according to the order form.

Abstract: A technique for effecting electronic commerce using a data network is described. The data network includes a plurality of subsystems which, together, form an integrated system for receiving customer orders for selected items via a data network, fulfilling the customer orders, and delivering the ordered products to the customers. Moreover, according to a specific embodiment, the integrated nature of the system architecture of the present invention allows the on-line merchant to provide a guarantee to the customer that the ordered items will be available to be delivered to the customer at the specified delivery date, time, and location.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for processing of an order for goods received at an order processing system from a location-triggered communication through a networked mobile wireless telecommunication computing device. Responsive to the location-triggered communication, a signal is transmitted to commence processing the order for goods. If the mobile wireless telecommunication computing device requests, an item list of available items and corresponding processing times for each request could also be transmitted. The item list may form part of an application program installable on the mobile wireless telecommunication computing device. The location-triggered communication may include payment information. The method may also process payment information and transmit an order receipt to the mobile wireless telecommunication computing device.

Abstract: Systems and methods allow users to capture an image and transmit data to a remote system. An embodiment includes a method comprising capturing, at a mobile device, an image; generating, at the mobile device, text from the image using a recognition algorithm; and transmitting, from the mobile device, the text to a remote system.

Abstract: A shopping system may receive, from a user, a request to add information about an item to a watch list associated with the user; may receive, from the user, a price associated with the item; and may receive, from the user, a schedule associated with the item. The shopping system may identify a vendor offer associated with the item and associated with a particular vendor, where the vendor offer includes a price that is less than or equal to the received price, the identifying being based on the schedule associated with the item; and may provide a notification to the user, where the notification includes information about the identified vendor offer.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system is disclosed in which a network-based e-commerce environment includes a merchant site to receive a voice call associated with a purchase transaction from a consumer, generate a payment request corresponding to the consumer purchase transaction in response to receiving the voice call, send the payment request to a payment site, and receive confirmation from the payment site that payment for the consumer purchase transaction has been received.

Abstract: In one embodiment, controls for an agreement from a supplier are set up. The agreement includes a plurality of items for purchase. The controls may be used to determine a degree of touchlessness in the buying of the items. The controls may be configured at the agreement level. A requisition from a requester for a target item is received. In one embodiment, sourcing rules and ASLs may be searched to determine if a sourcing rule and ASL applies to the item. If so, then the sourcing rule and ASL may be used to determine an agreement. If a sourcing rule and ASL do not apply, agreements can be searched to determine an agreement for the target item. Once the agreement is determined, controls are determined from the agreement, where the controls govern the plurality of items of the agreement.

Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for order processing. A data feed including unique identifiers of purchased products, together with pairs of order numbers and product identifiers for products ordered from, but not delivered by, a store, is received at an electronic registration system. For each entry therein, a corresponding record in an ER database is created, and a message is transmitted to a supplier of an ordered product indicating that payment has been received for that product when it is determined that the entry is a corresponding order number/product identifier pair. This determination may be based on different masks used in creating a part of the unique identifier, and the order number, respectively. An indication that a product has been or is being shipped, along with a serial number for that product, is received from the supplier, and the ER database is updated as appropriate.

Abstract: One variation of the first method includes: receiving a first gift order from a first sender through a social networking system, the first gift order specifying a recipient, a first merchant, and a first monetary value redeemable through the first merchant; issuing a tangible gift card to the recipient, the gift card linked to a gift account, of the recipient, within the social networking system; receiving a second gift order from a second sender through the social networking system, the second gift order specifying the recipient, a second merchant, and a second monetary value redeemable through the second merchant; linking the first and second monetary values to the gift account; and, in response to a first purchase from the first merchant with the gift card, publishing a detail of the first purchase to a feed within the social networking system in accordance with a privacy setting of the recipient.

Abstract: An order relating to a formulation-based product is received, wherein fulfilling the order requires production of the formulation-based product at a first location, transport of the formulation-based product in a vehicle to a second location different from the first location, and performance of an activity with respect to the formulation-based product at the second location. First information relating to a first change made to the formulation-based product at the first location is received, from the first location, prior to transport of the formulation-based product. Second information relating to a second change made to the formulation-based product during transport of the formulation-based product is received during transport of the formulation-based product. Third information relating to the activity performed with respect to the formulation-based product at the second location is received from the second location.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes accessing, with a user computing device, a web-based document from a first party containing a mark-up code segment pointing to a second party; and loading, using the mark-up code segment, a program for generating a shopping application for the web-based document. The loaded program is used to add to the web-based document event handlers associated with tags indicating items for sale, and a shopping cart containing information about an item for sale is generated upon triggering of one of the event handlers.

Abstract: Different prices may be charged for an In-App Purchase (IAP) for a same item based on a market associated with the user. For example, a user in one market may be charged a different price for an item than what is charged for the item to a user in a different market. A different product identifier is associated with the item for each of the different markets for the item. The item is submitted to the application store as different items that have the different product identifiers for each of the different markets. When an IAP request for an item is received from a user, a market that is associated with the user is determined based on a location associated with the user. After determining the market for the user, the product identifier that identifies the product is used to obtain the item from the application store.

Abstract: A gift transaction system with a buyer interface is disclosed. The buyer interface facilitates personalization by a buyer of a gift package to send to a recipient. A method of operating a gift transaction system with the buyer interface includes: determining gift intent of a buyer account to send a gift item in a gift transaction; generating a buyer gift interface to receive a recipient contact entry of a recipient in response to the determined gift intent; generating an interactive gift notification to the recipient contact entry to receive a confirmation of the gift transaction; and sending a notification to a merchant store to ship a gift package to the recipient in response to receiving the confirmation.

Abstract: A system and method for selling software products over a network. The system includes a server computer with access to software products. The system is configured to allow a user to purchase a subscription for the periodic acquisition of selected software products. In one embodiment, as part of the subscription, the user pays an amount during selected billing intervals. In return, the system issues to the user a number of credits for downloading at no additional charge at least one of the software products during a credit interval, which may be equal in length to the billing interval. In one embodiment, the system debits a number of credits in response to fulfilling a user's purchase request. The system may be also configured to deduct credits that are not used within selected credit intervals.

Abstract: A system and method process an electronic commerce transaction between a consumer and a merchant over a communications network. A checkout webpage of a virtual shopping cart of the merchant is displayed by a consumer device and an initialization routine of the checkout webpage is performed by the consumer device. The initialization routine segments the checkout webpage to display a widget webpage of a service provider within the checkout webpage. Content of the widget webpage is loaded and displayed independent of content of the checkout webpage. A bootstrap routine of the widget webpage is performed by the consumer device to add a payment widget to the widget webpage and to display the payment widget with the checkout webpage. Further, the transaction is processed by the consumer device to completion using the payment widget.

Abstract: An approach is provided for processing transaction payments. The transaction engine receives payment information, from a device, for completing a transaction between a first party and a second party, wherein the payment information is for requesting, at least in part, a payment approval from at least one payment service provider. Next, the transaction engine determines historical transaction data associated with one or more previous transactions between the first party and the second party. Then, the transaction engine processes and/or facilitates a processing of the historical transaction data to determine whether to initiate a delivery of at least one item associated with the transaction prior to receiving a confirmation of the payment approval from the at least one payment service provider.

Abstract: A business method and system for executing the method that involves gathering merchandise orders at a show in the home of a hostess. The method compiles the merchandise orders while maintaining a relationship between each individual order and information pertaining to the guest making the order. The guest information maintains an association with the order throughout the method such that each order made at the show may be individually packaged and labeled, obviating the need for the hostess to sort the ordered items upon receiving them from a warehouse.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing enhanced functionality to product webpages is described. This method and apparatus may be used to provide a unified toolbar across product webpages of multiple, independent retailers. This toolbar may be used to create a gift registry across multiple retailers, to create an inter-retailer shopping cart and automate purchases, to create an inter-retailer advertising network, and to create a virtual network of retailers with a multitude of services spanning them.

Abstract: Methods (74, 76, 78) utilizing a network (20) of computing systems (22) facilitate execution of a transaction (114) between a consumer (38) and a provider (32). Preference data (108) defined by the consumer (38) is stored (76) in a database (82). When a request for the transaction (114) is detected (216) at a transaction site (46), a consumer identifier (104) for the consumer (38) is utilized at the transaction site (46) to retrieve (220) the preference data (108) from the database (82). The preference data (108) identifies one or more products (96) offered by the provider (32) and preferred by the consumer (38). The transaction is performed (232) at the transaction site (46) to provide the product (96) to the consumer (38) in response to the retrieved preference data (108).

Abstract: Implementations for recovering e-commerce orders are described herein. An e-commerce order is submitted to an order processing system, by an order check-out module of an online transaction system. The e-commerce order includes order information that is provided to the order check-out module by a client device. The check-out module determines that the order processing is delayed or failed and, based at least on a status of the order processing being delayed or failed, initiates an order recovery action to be performed by an order recovery engine. Once the order recovery action is initiated, the order check-out module is made available to handle a new order.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for electronic gifting. In an exemplary gift purchasing method, a control system receives from a purchasing system a gift purchase request that includes a mobile telephone number (or other unique telephonic identifier) associated with a wireless gift recipient system, sends to a payment authorization system a payment authorization request, receives a payment authorization, and notifies the wireless gift recipient system of an electronic gift certificate. In an exemplary gift redemption method, the control system receives a gift redemption request for goods/services from a point-of-sale (POS) system, sends an authentication request addressed to the wireless gift recipient system by way of text message or other format, receives an authentication confirmation originating from the wireless gift recipient, and sends a redemption authorization to the vendor POS system.

Abstract: Effecting an electronic payment from customers to vendors over the Internet is disclosed. A vendor offers a product to potential customer over the Internet. A customer browsers the Internet and the customer has a mobile cellular phone configured to receive premium rate mobile terminating text messages. Transaction details are transmitted from the vendor to the browsing customer. Order details are then transmitted from the browsing customer to the vendor that require a payment to be made by the customer. In order to effect payment, a plurality of premium rate text messages are transmitted to the mobile cellular phone.