Abstract: Embodiments for presenting real-time contact options are described generally herein. The system receives information from a first user about an offered item via a web page and communication preferences for use with a real-time contact option to be presented on the web page, whereby the communication preferences including a first-user-defined real-time contact option presentation condition. The system selectively presents to a second user the information about the offered item and the real-time contact option based on a determination that the first-user-defined real-time contact option presentation condition is satisfied. The system enables the second user to select the real-time contact option. In response to the second user selecting the real-time contact option, the system communicates to the first user a real-time contact request and information identifying the second user.

Abstract: Computerized methods and systems for three-dimensional (3-D) displaying and navigating of search results are provided. A query is received from a user. Search results are retrieved based on execution of the query on a database. An interface is generated. The interface comprises a three dimensional interface object. The interface also comprises a plurality of controls to rotate the three dimensional object. The interface comprising the three dimensional object is displayed.

Abstract: In various example embodiments, a system and method for simulating touch in a virtual environment is disclosed. In one example embodiment, a method includes receiving an indicator of a touch in a virtual environment, the indicator including a physical touch location and a texture of the touch, generating one or more commands that simulate the texture of the touch at the physical touch location by stimulating one or more micro-touch simulators in an array of micro-touch simulators according to the texture of the touch at the physical touch location, and executing the one or more commands at the physical touch interface to simulate the touch at the physical touch location for the user.

Abstract: Examples of a method and system for collaborative and private sessions are provided. A request from a user of a collaborative shopping session is received. The user is associated with a private shopping session that allows access to an item at a special price, the special price being unavailable to non-participants of the private shopping session. Criterion is designated for the private session, the criterion indicating a completion of the private shopping session. User interactions received from a device of the user are processed. Satisfaction of the criterion is determined as a result of the processing. The private shopping session for the user is concluded based on the determination.

Abstract: Systems, methods and media for purchasing and commenting on identified products in streamed media are provided. In one example, a method comprises receiving program content and data describing program content from a content source and identifying product-related metadata associated with the program content. The product-related metadata includes data relating to one or more products or services displayed in the program content. In one embodiment, the program content is communicated to a display device for presentation to a first user in the display device. User commentary is received from a second device and communicated to the first user while the first user is viewing the program content. Commentaries of other users, for example in a wider social group, can also be presented to the first user.

Abstract: Systems, methods and media are provided for facilitating an exchange of messages between a remote client application and a server system the server system, the server system being capable of supporting a plurality of application program interfaces (APIs) that includes a targeted API. In one example, a method includes receiving a plurality of request messages generated by the remote client application, each request message requesting an activity to be performed by the targeted API, with respect to an associated application, and comprising at least one data component common to each of the plurality of request messages and selected from a group comprising a predetermined required level of detail, an error language component and a version identifier, and a request component including a reusable identified schema definition.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for defining, generating, utilizing, and/or detecting a geo-fence are described. A definition of a geo-fence is obtained, the geo-fence being defined based on a first geo-fence criterion of a plurality of geo-fence criteria. A trigger is obtained, the trigger generated in response to a change in the geo-fence criterion. One or more boundaries of the geo-fence based on the changed first geo-fence criteria are redefined in response to obtaining the trigger.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for providing access to secure-access facilities based on pairing of the secure-access facilities with a user device such as a wearable device. A pairable secure-access facility may be a public storage facility or device such as a locker that includes communications circuitry for pairing with the user device. Once paired with the user device, the locker may operate a locking mechanism to lock the locker when the user device is away from the locker and to unlock the locker when the user device is in the vicinity of the locker. The locker may include a beacon for detecting and pairing with the user devices. Pairing the user device and the locker may include entering a locker identifier into the user device to ensure that the intended user device is paired with the intended locker.

Abstract: Systems and methods to identify values for a selected filter are described. The system receives a selection from a client machine. The selection identifies a filter that includes a first attribute-value pair that includes a first attribute and a first value, the first attribute-value pair being included in a concept query that was extracted from a query including at least one keyword that was received over the network from the client machine. The system further identifies filters responsive to receiving the selection, the identification of the filters being based on the first attribute and probabilities describing occurrences of attribute-value pairs in listings that respectively describe items that were previously transacted on a network-based marketplace, the filters including values. The system further generates a user interface including the values and search results that are identified based on the concept query and communicate the user interface to the client machine.

Abstract: In various exemplary embodiments, a system and associated method for prioritizing search results in an electronic environment is disclosed. The system comprises a communications module to receive a search query from a searching party located in a geographic region and a search engine to conduct a search and generate search results. A query engine identifies the geographic region of the searching party and identifies a language associated with the identified geographic region of the searching party based on the identified geographic region of the searching party. The search results are prioritized based on the identified language.

Abstract: According to various embodiments, the Message Authentication Engine is given permission to access dynamically changing content provided by a buyer system. The Message Authentication Engine receives a purchase request from the buyer system for an item from a vendor system. Based on the purchase request, the Message Authentication Engine retrieves a portion of the dynamically changing content from a client device of the buyer system. The Message Authentication Engine provides to the vendor system the portion of the dynamically changing content provided by the buyer system. The vendor system sends a message to the buyer system with a copy of the portion of the dynamically changing content as a visual verification that the vendor system can be trusted.

Abstract: A method and a system for identity authentication are presented. In one example embodiment, audio data (e.g. a sound wave) may be received from a user. The audio data may be used to establish an identity of an entity to the user. The audio data may be stored at a storage location; and be presented to the user to establish the identity of the entity when the entity participates in an electronic communication with the user. In another example embodiment, a server (e.g., a web client or client application server) may present a plurality of audio files to a user; receive a user selection of selected audio data from the plurality of audio files; responsive to the user selection, the server may communicate, via a network, the selected audio data to another server. The selected audio data may be used as an identity authentication.

Abstract: Example methods and systems directed to an Alert Manager are described. According to various embodiments, the Alert Manager detects receipt of a message. The message includes a selectable functionality for accessing an external resource and message data indicative of a source of the message. The Alert Manager predicts when a recipient of the message will interact with the selectable functionality. Prior to the recipient's predicted interaction with the selectable functionality, the Alert Manager generates a message alert feature based on a degree of a difference between the external resource and the source of the message.

Abstract: A software widget running on a user device may be designed to operate in a locked or an unlocked mode. In unlocked mode, the user has full interactivity with the widget. In locked mode, however, at least some of the interactivity with the widget is restricted, despite the fact that the widget still operates normally otherwise while in the locked mode. While in locked mode, first user input and second user input may be compared against a predefined unlocking sequence to determine if the widget should be unlocked.

Abstract: A method and system receives at a server a search request and processes the search request to determine a context of the search request, then determines, based on the context, a network route to an application server having the closest geographic proximity, with respect to the server, to the most relevant database associated with the context.

Abstract: Techniques for three-dimensional garment simulation using parallel computing are presented herein. An access module can be configured to access a three-dimensional garment model of a garment. The garment model can include garment points that represent a surface of the garment. A processor, having a plurality of cores, can be configured by a garment simulation module to calculate one or more exerted forces on a subset of garment points. Additionally, the garment simulation module can generate cross pairs and apportion the generated cross pairs among the plurality of cores. Moreover, the garment simulation module can determine, using the plurality of vector execution units in parallel based on an organized data layout, whether boundaries of the first subgroup of cross pairs are overlapping based on the one or more exerted forces. Subsequently, the garment simulation module can calculate one or more simulated forces acting on the garment points based on the determination.

Abstract: A system and method for unlocking devices associated with a carrying bag are provided. In example embodiments, biometric information of a user from a biometric reader is received by an authentication system. The biometric reader is located on a pull mechanism of a sliding fastening device for a carrying bag. The user is authenticated by verifying the validity of the biometric information. The authenticated user is associated with the carrying bag. Based on a set of pre-defined permissions, one or more devices associated with the carrying bag are unlocked.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for identifying a relevant candidate product in an electronic marketplace. Embodiments perform a visual similarity comparison between candidate product image visual content and input query image visual content, process formal and informal natural language user inputs, and coordinate aggregated past user interactions with the marketplace stored in a knowledge graph. Visually similar items and their corresponding product categories, aspects, and aspect values can determine suggested candidate products without discernible delay during a multi-turn user dialog. The user can then refine the search for the most relevant items available for purchase by providing responses to machine-generated prompts that are based on the initial search results from visual, voice, and/or text inputs. An intelligent online personal assistant can thus guide a user to the most relevant candidate product more efficiently than existing search tools.

Abstract: Example embodiments that analyze images to categorize images cluster the images within a same category. Images with mutual semantic similarity are in a same cluster. When an input image is compared to multiple clusters within a same category, there is an increased likelihood of accurate categorization of the input image.

Abstract: Example embodiments that analyze images to characterize aspects of the images rely on a same neural network to characterize multiple aspects in parallel. Because additional neural networks are not required for additional aspects, such an approach scales with increased aspects.