Abstract: With the addition of directional information in the environment, a variety of service(s) can be provided on top of user identification or interaction with specific object(s) of interest by pointing at the objects. Sometimes either the device user and/or the publishers of content cannot complete a content exchange associated with a point of interest (POI) fast enough for the content to remain relevant. Thus, POIs and content for POIs can be predicted for users based on a variety of factors, such as an analysis of their present path and directional changes, rates of changes, or other factors, such that there is no noticeable, or minimal, latency between information being available with respect to such POIs and a request made via the user's device for such POI information.

Abstract: Mobile devices can provide app recommendations that are relevant to a location of interest. A localized app recommendation can be triggered (e.g., by a mobile device coming within a threshold distance of an application hotspot or some other user action). A location of interest can be determined. The location of interest can be the current location of the mobile device or another location (e.g., the destination in a mapping app). Using the location of interest, a localized application ranking database with app hotspot data can be queried with location data representing the location of interest. App recommendations can be received and displayed on the mobile device. Icons for apps that are relevant to the location of interest can be visually distinguished from other apps.

Abstract: A method, data processing system, and computer program product for managing tags. A computer system identifies one or more groups of similar tags from a multiplicity of tags proposed for inclusion in a tag cloud. The computer system identifies one or more representative tags to represent the respective one or more groups of similar tags. The computer system displays the one or more representative tags in the tag cloud instead of all the similar tags in the one or more groups of similar tags, and concurrently displays other tags in the multiplicity of tags that are not included in the one or more groups of similar tags.

Abstract: The method comprises processing plural product information records from the product information sources into one or more groups based on which product information records are likely to correspond to the same product, correlating a unique product ID corresponding to the product associated with each of said groups to identify the product, comparing each identified product to categories of a taxonomy to determine a category for the identified products in the taxonomy, and determining attributes for each categorized product based on the product information records corresponding to each group, creating product specifications based on the determined attributes and storing the product specification in the corresponding determined categories of the taxonomy.

Abstract: A system is provided that includes a content management system, a controller, and an electronic display. The electronic display is integrated into an object, such as the packaging of a consumer product. The content management system sends instructions to the controller for determining content to display. The instructions depend in part on status information obtained by the controller from an external source. At least one instruction pertains to extended periods when the controller is unable to communicate with the content management system.

Abstract: A system and method for retrieving and normalizing product information is described. The system may collect product information from suppliers. The product information may relate to a product that is described differently by two or more of suppliers. The system may further provide a normalized representation of the product.

Abstract: A real-time predictive intelligence platform comprises: receiving from a user through a meta API definitions for predictive intelligence (PI) artifacts that describe a domain of an online transaction system for least one business entity, each of the PI artifacts including types, component modules and behavior bundles; exposing an entity API based on the PI artifacts for receiving entity events from the online transaction system comprising records of interactions and transactions between customers and the online transaction system; responsive to receiving an entity event through the entity API, executing the component modules and behavior bundles to analyze relationships found between past entity events and metrics associated with the past entity events, and computing a probabilistic prediction and/or a score, which is then returned to the online transaction system in real-time; and processing entity event replicas using modified versions of the PI artifacts for experimentation.

Abstract: Provided are techniques for transmitting a first query from a query agent in a client computing device to an answering agent in a server computing device; receiving, at the query agent from the answering agent, a first response to the first query; saving the first query in conjunction with the first response in a computer readable storage medium; intercepting, by a query service agent, a second query from the query agent to the answering agent; correlating the second query to the first query; and transmitting to the query agent from the query service agent the first response in response to the second query.

Abstract: A method is used in managing global data caches for file systems. Space is allocated in a volatile memory of a data storage system to a global data cache that is configured to store a set of data objects for a plurality of different file systems. The set of data objects is accessed by the plurality of different file systems. Contents of a file of a file system are stored in a data object in the global data cache upon receiving a write I/O request for the file. A copy of the data object and information for the data object are stored in a persistent journal that is stored in a non-volatile memory of the data storage system. Contents of the file are updated on a storage device based on the data object stored in the global data cache and information stored in the persistent journal.

Abstract: A television is interfaced to one or more on-line stores through a network connection. The television has purchasing data stored in a configuration file. Upon execution of a “one-button buy” function, metadata from a content stream and the purchasing data is used to find a purchase item related to the content stream, decide upon an on-line store and purchase the purchase item from the on-line store. In some embodiments, the a “one-button buy” function is a dedicated “buy” button on a remote control that is associated with the television. In some embodiments, without any further interaction, the purchase item is billed to the viewer and shipped to the viewer as if the viewer found the purchase item through the on-line store from a personal computer.

Abstract: Methods and systems for documenting an inventory of items by accessing an inventory algorithm for creating an inventory list, adding multiple items to the inventory list, adding details about one or more of the items in the inventory list, identifying one or more real properties containing items in the inventory list, and linking one or more images and documents with one or more of the items in the inventory list. The user can schedule a future event reminder to automatically receive an email message corresponding to the scheduled event. The inventory can be created by providing a user with an access code to access the inventory list corresponding to the user, providing a Reseller with access to the inventory algorithm for setting up a new user account and the user authorizing an Authorized Inventory Professional with access to the inventory algorithm for creating the inventory list for the client user.

Abstract: A system is configured to perform a method of customizing an application. The method includes receiving a connection from a client machine that is executing an application configurable by configuration information. The method also includes determining that the application has not been customized by the configuration information. The method further includes transmitting the configuration information to the client machine in response to the determining that the application has not been customized by the configuration information. In response to the transmitting of the configuration information, the application is configured to include a category structure for the application. In some example embodiments, the configuration information includes a software module upgrade of the application.

Abstract: Provided are techniques for transmitting a first query from a query agent in a client computing device to an answering agent in a server computing device; receiving, at the query agent from the answering agent, a first response to the first query; saving the first query in conjunction with the first response in a computer readable storage medium; intercepting, by a query service agent, a second query from the query agent to the answering agent; correlating the second query to the first query; and transmitting to the query agent from the query service agent the first response in response to the second query.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for grouping products by size and weight. A customer-facing user interface is provided to a user that allows the user to browse and search products in a merchant system in order to identify products having similar size and weight. An extension to the customer-facing user interface facilitates the grouping of the products having similar size and weight into product groups. A source product is selected for each product group. The source product is used by the merchant system as the source for dimensional data for the products in the product group.

Abstract: A payment apparatus that settles merchandise sold at an EC site, includes a receiving unit that receives, when a merchandise page of the EC site is accessed by a user, a merchandise identifier for specifying the merchandise and session data with the user from the merchandise page; a generation unit that generates a payment icon including information regarding a payment of the merchandise based on the merchandise identifier and the session data; a sending unit that sends the payment icon to the merchandise page; and a payment unit that performs, when the payment icon displayed in the merchandise page is operated by the user, a payment process of the merchandise for the user specified by the session data.

Abstract: A method and system is presented for coordinating the transmission of supplemental digital data to accompany broadcast data, and in particular, analog radio broadcasts, among a plurality of broadcasters. The supplemental digital data may provide information about the particular broadcast data being transmitted or may be supplemental to such data. The supplemental digital data to be presented is sorted based on particular algorithms which may take into account broadcaster-specified criteria such as target audience, time of day, type of broadcast data presented, and the like. The supplemental digital data may be audio data, visual data, or audio-visual data for presentation with the broadcast data. The supplemental digital data may further be advertisement data. The advertisement data may be sold by the broadcasters or the party coordinating the IBOC transmission of the supplemental digital data. The supplemental digital data may play simultaneously with muted broadcast data or at a user-specified time.

Abstract: An graphical user interface for providing a digital platform including interactive tools to a plurality of content providers to enable broadcasting via digital streaming by the content providers, side-loading and cross selling between content providers, connecting one or more content providers with each other and with selected content consumers is disclosed.

Abstract: An e-commerce outsourcing system and method provides hosts with transparent, context-sensitive e-commerce supported pages. The look and feel of a target host is captured for future use. The host is provided with one or more links for inclusion within a page on the host website that correlates with a selected commerce object, which may be contextually related to material in the page. The commerce object can be a product, a product category, or a dynamic selection indicator. Upon activation of the provided link, a visitor computer is served with a page with the look and feel of the host website and with content based upon the associated commerce object. Where the commerce object is a dynamic selection indicator, the content is selected at the time of activation based upon an analysis of the page containing the activated link.

Abstract: A method that improves and enhances the customer's in-store shopping experience. The consumer product of purchase interest or intent to buy expresses (or self-announces via technology) it's match (or fit based on known or understood buying habits, customer taste, tendencies, etc) against the customer preferences during an in-store shopping experience.

Abstract: An image of an item is obtained in one or more computing devices. The item is identified from the image based at least in part on data derived from reference images that are each associated with one or more items. Catalog data corresponding to the item is associated with the image. The catalog data is added to a merchant catalog in an electronic marketplace.

Abstract: A system for viewing shopping information on a social networking platform is disclosed. At the social networking platform, the system receives a request from a user device corresponding to a first user of the social networking platform to view a list of a second user of the social networking platform. The list may include items offered for transaction on a network-based commerce server. In response to receiving the request from the user device, the system forwards the request to the network-based commerce server, and then receives updated information for at least one item on the list from the network-based corner server. Then, the system communicates the updated information received from the network-based commerce server to the user device.

Abstract: A computer system for supporting multiple hierarchically defined online stores includes a capability for an administrator of an online store to push information from a parent store to one or more child stores, and to pull information from a parent store to a child store. The administrator instructs the computer system what information is to be propagated, and to what extent that information is propagated. The computer system manages conflicts that can arise from the propagation of information from the parent store to the child store.

Abstract: Provided is a method of delivering an audio and/or visual media file comprising, without limitation, for example, one or more of full or partial master recordings of songs, musical compositions, ringtones, videos, films, television shows, personal recordings, animation and combinations thereof, over the air wirelessly, from one or more servers to an electronic device with or without an Internet connection, said method comprising transmitting and audio and/or visual media file in compressed format to said electronic device, and wherein the electronic device is effective to receive said audio and/or visual file and playback said audio and/or visual content on demand by a user.

Abstract: The ability to participate in an active auction is enabled for remote bidders by allowing the remote bidder to use a bidding device coupled to an active auction through a network. The remote bidding device receives live audio from the auction with minimal delay, and can receive and provide bidding information to the auction in real time. As such, the remote bidder can participate with equal standing as local participants.

Abstract: System and method for integrating between a graphic user interface and various types of e-commerce platforms. Here various types of e-commerce platforms will typically provide different types of electronic product pages, each typically with various original selection options. The system described herein provides a more standardized configurator and user interface, and uses this more standardized configurator and user interface to capture information from the various e-commerce platforms and display data to the user. The more standardized configurator and user interface can then be used to communicate user selections to the various different types of electronic product pages and platforms.

Abstract: A method and system for generating printable certificates to verify log authenticity. A logging module generates a compound document that includes metadata for changes made to pages in a document. Each time a change is made to the document, such as adding stroke data, the logging module updates the compound document with the changes. The online marketplace module displays an option for purchasing a printable certificate. In response to a request for a certificate, the logging module generates a printable certificate that includes a set number of hashes for previous transactions. The verification module can recreate a transaction and generate a hash that is compared to the certificate to verify that no tampering has occurred with the document.

Abstract: An online video distribution network includes an online video portal and an online video merchant. In one embodiment, when the consumer orders a video, the merchant provides a pick-up ticket to the consumer. The portal uses the merchant identity in the pick-up ticket to connect to the merchant, and the merchant uses a product identity in the pick-up ticket to retrieve and send the video to the portal. In another embodiment, the portal provides the consumer with a drop-off ticket, which is provided to the merchant. The merchant connects to the portal using the portal identity in the drop-off ticket, and sends the video and a customer identity in the drop-off ticket to the portal. The portal determines a consumer record associated with the consumer identity and stores the video in the consumer record. The consumer can then easily access the video at the portal.

Abstract: Methods and devices for online payments are disclosed. Prior to accepting payment account information from a user for the payment transaction, a client terminal sends an interface listing command to a transaction server, requesting the transaction server to identify one or more acceptable input interfaces for receiving the payment account information. The transaction server responds to the interface listing command by a payment input instruction. The client terminal uses the payment input instructions to generate a payment information interface to present the one or more acceptable input interfaces for user selection. The user can choose how to input the payment information that best conforms to the user's expectations for security and convenience. The current method, device and system provide additional flexibility, improve efficiency, and facilitate online payment.

Abstract: Provided is a method of providing a favorite shop management service in electronic commerce using the Internet for inducing continuous and repeated purchases rather than a one-time purchase by classifying an interest shop, a purchased shop, or an impressive shop as a favorite shop based on the repeated number of purchases or a purchase amount of selling products pre-registered by a seller, and differentially managing the classified favorite shop.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product are disclosed for facilitating networked communication. An event creation module is configured to create an event profile within a social networking service. A check-in module is configured to associate a plurality of user profiles with the event profile and to associate the user profiles with a plurality of social categories. A message interface is operable by a first user to send a message to a second user or to initiate voice communication response by selectively providing or removing phone voice connection. A nearby module is configured to provide nearby user profiles within a predetermined range of other user profiles wherein user profile for a second user results are nearby check-ins allowing event social hot spots to be visible when an event profile is experiencing higher volume check-ins and in what social type publicly displayed.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for the aggregation, analysis, display and monetization of pricing data for commodities in general, and which may be particularly useful applied to vehicles are disclosed. Specifically, in certain embodiments, historical transaction data associated with a particular vehicle configuration may be obtained and processed to determine pricing data associated with the vehicle configuration. The historical transaction data or determined pricing data may then be presented in an intuitive manner.

Abstract: Systems and methods for demonstrating a replacement information management software for a computing system. The methods may include determining if existing information management software is installed in the computing system. The methods may include identifying computing devices of the computing system using information from the existing information management software. The methods may include simulating the replacement information management software with characteristics of the identified computing devices to enable a user to experience the replacement information management software prior to committing to installing the replacement information management software in the computing system. The methods may include automatically installing the replacement information management software. Other implementations are disclosed.

Abstract: A portable device which assists shoppers. The device identifies items of merchandise, and retrieves information about the items from a remote location. The items can be identified based on their labels, by image recognition, by their location, by the shopper, or by other approaches. This additional or enhanced information about the items can then be overlaid on the real-time display of the portable device, such that the shopper has access to said information and can associate it easily to the relevant items.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for the aggregation, analysis, display and monetization of pricing data for commodities in general, and which may be particularly useful applied to vehicles are disclosed. Specifically, in certain embodiments, historical transaction data associated with a particular vehicle configuration may be obtained and processed to determine pricing data associated with the vehicle configuration. The historical transaction data or determined pricing data may then be presented in an intuitive manner.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing distribution of applications are provided herein. A host server can act as an intermediary between a communications device and an app store in order to manage distribution of applications to the communications device. Thus, the host server can receive from the communications device an app request for an application that resides at the app store. The host server can examine various catalog information and provide a package that includes the application to the communications device.

Abstract: Data streams are generally selected according to user preferences and transmitted to the user in general alignment with expressed preferences of the user. Such data streams may be music, including music videos. Users may indicate their general or specific preferences with regards to song, artists, or albums. Any other aspects or factors that might affect the user's preferences can be taken into account. A playlist is created that combines all of these factors. The playlist then serves as the basis for feeding the data streams to the user. Each user is able to express his or her own preferences and receive music corresponding to those preferences on an on-going basis.

Abstract: A system and method for scheduling tablet dosage is described. The system includes a computing device, a filling system, and a plurality of containers. The computing device hosts an application that includes a user interface receiving a prescription order including a designation for each tablet to be ordered. In one embodiment, the system and method also includes an automated inspection module that performs an inspection of each container to identify a first tablet and a second tablet within each container. In another illustrative embodiment, each container includes a pouch with a plurality of different tablets. Additionally, the plurality of pouches may be received by a box.

Abstract: A method for video messaging includes recording a video message, at a device, for a recipient; and selecting a contact as a recipient of the video message, at the device, without requiring typing at the device.

Abstract: Systems and methods of applications for wearable devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, a wearable device receives data from a personal computing device communicatively coupled to the wearable device. The data can correspond to content of an online marketplace. In response to receiving the data, the content can be caused to be displayed on the wearable device. The wearable device can detect an input from a user. The input can correspond to a requested action. The wearable device can transmit at least one instruction to the personal computing device. The instruction(s) can be configured to cause the personal computing device to perform the requested action.

Abstract: A personalized webpage gifting system includes a server in communication with a computing device having a processor to execute an application. Upon execution, the application generates generate a graphical user interface (GUI) to receive recipient information from each of a plurality of participants in which the recipient information user-supplied content associated with a recipient from each of a plurality of participants, and a monetary amount to be contributed towards purchase of a gift for the recipient. The application then combines the user-supplied content of each participant to form a personalized content structure, wherein the application is further executable to facilitate transmission of the gift and the personalized content structure to the recipient.

Abstract: Users intending to launch instances or otherwise access virtual resources in a multi-tenant environment can specify a launch configuration. For each type of instance or each type of user, at least one launch configuration is created that includes parameters and values to be used in instantiating an instance of that type, the values being optimized for the current environment and type of instance. Launch configurations can be optimized for different types of users, such as to account for security credentials and access levels. Such an approach enables users to launch instances by contacting the resource provider directly without need for a proxy, which can function as a choke point under heavy load. The use of an appropriate launch configuration can be enforced for any type of user at any level, such as at the sub-net level, by modifying a request that does not specify an appropriate launch configuration.

Abstract: A handheld device operable to connect to a data communication network, wherein the device comprises: a screen, a user input device, and a controller adapted to form or change a group that includes the device and at least one other handheld device and adopt a leader device or follower device status. When the leader status is adopted, the controller is adapted to display an item in response to a user input and transmit data indicative of the item to the at least one other device in the group. When the follower device status is adopted, the controller is adapted to receive data indicative of an item from a leader device and display information corresponding to the indicative data.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments that may facilitate items being retrieved from a storage location. A robotic drive unit transports a carrier storage unit to be proximate to a target storage unit that comprises a container in which an item is located. The robotic drive unit aligns a receptacle in the carrier storage unit with the container in the target storage unit. The container is transferred from the target storage unit to the carrier storage unit. The robotic drive unit transports the carrier storage unit with the container to a destination.

Abstract: Examples of a method and system for collaborative and private sessions are provided. A cursor movement request may be received from at least two users of a plurality of users of a collaborative session during a time period. The cursor may move on a common interface according to the cursor movement request from a first user selected from the at least two users that has satisfied a movement criterion. A completion criterion and a private session parameter may be designated for a private session. A number of user interactions may be processed from a participant of the private session. The private shopping session may be terminated for the participant when the completion criterion is satisfied.

Abstract: A description of one or more items identified by a buyer for purchase is received. Each item is represented as an object in a hierarchical data structure. A processing strategy is executed on the hierarchical data structure to generate purchasing information describing a purchase transaction involving the items. A display preprocessing strategy is executed to create display information describing a display of the generated purchasing information. The display information is transmitted to the buyer for generation of the display using the display information.

Abstract: Systems and methods are used to efficiently and conveniently navigate, display, and complete interactions with on-line sources of information. A user interface may display information from separate and independent sources through two or more portals on a single web page. The two or more portals may be linked to the same search criteria such that the initially displayed windows originate from the same search criteria, but then may be independent so the portals are independently navigated. A user interface may display information from separate and independent sources so a user can efficiently and directly compare results based on the same search criteria. Accordingly, the user interface may calculate purchasing information such that products from different sources may be directly compared to account for a total cost or time to consummate the transaction. A user interface may also work in conjunction with mobile devices to save and execute searches and consummate transactions in an expedited manner.

Abstract: Methods and systems for identification of objects using a laser. Data for an application including transactional data associated with a user is accessed from a computerized database in a system. Systems and methods operate to select objects from an electronic display. In an example, these systems and methods operate to select objects from an electronic display using a handheld laser identification device. In an example, an electronic display is in communication with a database that updates the display of objects displayed on the electronic display.

Abstract: An auctioning system and methods interacting with multiple devices are set forth that includes a main server, remote terminals, and remote individual communication devices that communicate with one another and are adapted to display information to a user about a product or service for sale, and information pertaining to predefined auction parameters for the user to attempt to purchase said product or service.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes an interactive menu display system providing retail establishments with a flexible electronic menu display that enables presentation of a large number of menu items by incorporating, among other things, a menu-item scrolling feature. The display system can be configured to subdivide a display system to include fields, such as physical portions of a display unit, or individual display units, that are designated for predetermined categories of menu items, and within those fields, the menu items may be sequentially displayed, such as in a scrolling, paging, or other step-wise fashion. The display system can also include a menu configuration user interface designed for the owner or manager of the retail establishment to conveniently and efficiently update menu content, layout, and other configuration settings. The display system can be configured to update the menu display in real-time based on updates to menu content and settings.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for managing application context is provided. A first one of a plurality of terminals, each including at least one application, collects and transmits context information of the application to a migration server so that it is stored and managed in the migration server. The migration server transmits the stored and managed context information to a second terminal corresponding to the first terminal in response to a request of the second terminal. The second terminal restores context based on the context information received from the migration server. This can reproduce the same application and desktop environments as those previously set to be suitable for each work situation, thereby increasing user convenience.