Abstract: A method of evaluating the commercial effects of Internet-based communication. The method begins with generating a sample of offline customers and attempting to determine an email address for each customer in the sample to generate an email list. A unique offline identifier is assigned to each customer on the email list, and a promotional email including the unique offline identifier is transmitted to the determined email addresses. User online activity in response to the promotional email is recorded, and the recorded activity is associated with the unique offline identifier and a unique online identifier. Offline purchasing activity is recorded for each customer after recording web browsing activity.

Abstract: A method and facility for handling data regarding web activity of a population of users includes recording a selected web activity by a user and determining a cookie associated with the web activity. A plurality of different storage devices are provided. Each storage device is assigned a unique range of cookie values. A data set associated with the selected web activity is stored in the storage device that has an assigned range into which the cookie falls. The data sets are indexed by cookie for retrieval.

Abstract: A method of predicting the performance of an Internet advertising campaign includes collecting anonymous web-surfing data during the serving of past Internet advertisements to determine the number of impressions served to each user visiting a selected site during a selected interval. The users are grouped into subgroups based on the percentage of impressions served to each subgroup. The service of a selected number of advertisements is simulated by randomly assigning each simulated advertisement to a user based on the number of impressions served. A projected reach value is calculated by determining the number of users to which at least a selected number of simulated advertisements were served.

Abstract: Method of detecting cracks in an object of an electrically conducting material that is covered by a non-conductive layer using a probe comprising a transmitter coil for inducing eddy currents in the object and a receiver coil comprising selecting a set of points of the object which are to be inspected; and which method further comprises for each point positioning the probe at the point, activating the transmitter coil to induce eddy currents in the object; creating a record of the signal provided by the receiver coil over a period of time; and examining the record and comparing it to reference records, wherein the presence or absence of a crack can be inferred from the comparison.

Abstract: A method of evaluating Internet advertisement effectiveness that involves collecting Internet activity information associated with a multitude of cookies, and storing the information in a database. An advertisement strategy is generated for evaluation, and a plurality of user segments are established, each having a different Internet activity characteristic. An advertising strategy is assigned to each segment. When a user visits a site where an advertisement is to be served, a cookie is determined. The stored Internet activity information for the cookie is retrieved, and based on the retrieved information, the cookie is assigned to a user segment associated with the retrieved Internet activity information. Then, an advertisement is served based on the assigned advertising strategy.

Abstract: A method and facility for commercial Internet-based communication with a user includes a first entity receiving a web browsing activity communication from the user along with a unique device identifier. A second entity receives a user communication address and the first identifier from the user. The first entity transmits to the second entity a resulting communication such as an email solicitation intended for the user along with the first identifier. The communication may be based on the web browsing activity. The second entity transmits the resulting communication to the user communication address. The web browsing data and the communication address are maintained securely and separately, so that no one entity has access to both set of data.