Abstract: A method and apparatus for recruiting, communicating with, and paying participants of interactive advertising are described. The present invention is a system through which advertisers car recruit, communicate with, and pay their potential customers for their time. The system achieves these functions without the advertiser or the customer having to be in the same location—all logistics are handled through the system's web site, database, and communications interfaces. The system enables advertisers to promote interactive seminars in which they try to sell products to potential customers. Most importantly, the advertisers are able to offer their potential customers financial rewards for their time, such as 25 cents per minute to reward a customer for listening to a sales pitch. The system then provides a real-time communications link between the advertiser and customer. The system automatically bills the advertiser and rewards the customer for the time that they interact.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to connect a user of a telephony device to a selected one of service providers of a predefined category. One embodiment includes: providing a user interface element on a dial interface of a telephonic device to represent a communication reference associated with a pre-defined category of services; and responsive to a user selection of the user interface element, initiating a request from the telephonic device using the communication reference for a telephone connection to a service provider of the pre-defined category; where the service provider is to be selected from a plurality of service providers of the pre-defined category in response to the request and to be charged in response to a telephone lead connected to the service provider.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to provide communication connections at a cost reduced via advertising. One embodiment includes: receiving a request from a first user over a data communication network; response to the request, initiating a first telephonic connection to the first user and a second telephonic connection to a second user to provide a telephonic connection between the first and second users; presenting an advertisement to at least one of the first and second users; and reducing a communication fee for the telephonic connection between the first and second users using a portion of an advertisement fee charged for the advertisement.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to selectively present communication references based on recommendations from related entities to connect people for real time communications. One embodiment includes: receiving from a user a selection of a first listing, including a reference to be used to request a connection for real time communications between the user and a first entity; responsive to the selection of the first listing, determining one or more entities related to the first listing; selecting a second listing based at least in part on data representing one or more recommendations from the one or more entities; and presenting to the user the second listing, the including a reference for the user to request a connection with a second entity for real time communications. In one embodiment, the first and second entities provide services over connections established via the references included in the first and second listings for real time communications.

Abstract: Systems and methods to collect information over a connection with a caller just in time for further connecting the caller to a callee. In one embodiment, a connection server is configured to provide to a caller a reference associated with the first criterion, to identify the first criterion based on the reference used to establish a connection with the caller for real time communications, to obtain a second criterion from the caller over the connection established for real time communications, to identifying a callee based at least in part on the first criterion and the second criterion, and to connect the caller from the established connection to the callee for real time communications.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to facilitate searches for information to request for real time communication connections. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving a request, via a communication reference embedded in a web page and storing data to associate the communication reference with the web page based on the request. The communication reference is assigned to represent contact information of a callee. In one embodiment, a search is performed using the stored data that associates the communication reference with the web page; and web pages in the search result are ranked based at least in part upon the usage of the communication reference embedded in the corresponding web page.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for online advice customer relationship management are described. The method includes the determination of a service provider ID code from a requesting service provider. Once a service provider ID code is determined, a list of service seekers that have received advice regarding a field of service from a service provider corresponding to the service provider ID code is generated. Once generated, the listing of service seekers is displayed via a customer management screen. As such, system administrators, as well as the service providers themselves, may view listings of service seekers in order to provide relationship management of the service seekers, such as for example, providing incentives to service seekers for follow-up advice, as well as blocking undesired service seekers from further contact with the service provider.

Abstract: A multi-directional remote control system and method is adapted for use with an entertainment system of a type including a display (112) such as a monitor or TV and having display functions employing a mouse type control. The remote controller (110) may be conveniently held in one hand of a user and still provides full mouse type functionality. The remote control system and method images the screen of the TV or other display to detect relative motion between the controller (110) and screen. This position information is transmitted to the entertainment system for control of a cursor or other GUI interface.

Abstract: A content distribution system is described. The content distribution system includes a show account database and a plurality of credit cards stored in the show account database. The content distribution system also has a linking module associating a viewer entering the call-in number with a credit card number in the show account database. The system has a charge module that charges a credit card account corresponding to the credit card number associated with a viewer entering the call-in number. The system also has an interactive recognition system that provides a qualifying question for the viewer to answer before a call of the viewer is connected to a studio.

Abstract: A system and method for a transaction between a person using a mobile device and an enterprise is disclosed. A computing system, application program interface, and data storage, and network connectivity is provided. Data files can be presented to the mobile device. A system and method for conducting a transaction structured between a merchant and a customer with a mobile device involving the interchange of information is also disclosed, Data is presented to the mobile device of the customer by a push notification, messaging, text messaging, SMS, multimedia messaging, MMS, internet communication, mobile web communication, mWeb, application program communication, mobile application program, mApp, electronic mail and/or e-mail. The transaction may comprise a session; session data is available for a specified use or time. Information may comprise personally-identifiable information (PII), private health-care information (PHI), private credit information (PCI) and/or enterprise secure data (ESD).

Abstract: A transaction facilitation system is disclosed that is configured to affect substantially real-time crediting and debiting of a gaming accounts maintained within a gaming environment and structured to communicate by a private restricted communication link with an issuing financial institution of a stored value account to effect real-time crediting and debiting of the stored value account. Financial transactions using the stored value account can be and used customer relationship purposes.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for associating wagering accounts with each of a stored value account and a loyalty account. The stored value account can be associated with a prepaid card and can be useable over an open system bankcard network. The prepaid card can allow funds in the stored value account to be used at any location capable of accepting payment through the open system bankcard network such as gas stations, grocery stations, outlets, and restaurants. A player transfer funds, back and forth between the stored value account and the wagering account.

Abstract: A transaction facilitation system is disclosed that is configured to affect substantially real-time crediting and debiting of a gaming accounts maintained within a gaming environment and structured to communicate by a private restricted communication link with an issuing financial institution of a stored value account to effect real-time crediting and debiting of the stored value account. Financial transactions using the stored value account can be and used customer relationship purposes.

Abstract: An automatic search system and method is disclosed which automatically displays a search menu on a TV in response to opening a remote control having an internal concealed keyboard. Since a text entry keyboard is known to be in use a streamlined search menu may be displayed without an on screen keyboard. A separate on screen keyboard search menu may be activated in a different mode by using the remote in a closed configuration.

Abstract: A search based video interface system and method is disclosed. Search results are dynamically filtered based on automatic combinations of search terms.

Abstract: A system and method that allow users to directly compare audio gear, for example microphones and other items in the audio recording chain (e.g. preamplifiers, cables, amplifiers, etc.), against the same instance of recorded material and equidistant from the source material. The system and method allow a user to make the comparison against “bed music” tracks giving the user a representation of how the compared items of audio gear will perform in the end product or music mix. By providing the user the ability to make an “apples-to-apples” comparison between audio gear, users are able to determine the audio gear that best meets their needs before making a purchase.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method of browsing and displaying items from a collection is provided. Information about each of plurality of items is stored in machine-readable storage media. A group of the items is selected for display. One of a plurality of image sizes is assigned to each of the items of the group. Images that are representative of each of the items of the group are displayed on a display screen using the assigned image sizes. A particular position on the display screen that is occupied by a particular one of the items of the group can be selected randomly. The image size assigned to each item can be representative of the corresponding item's rank according to at least one sorting criterion.

Abstract: A multi-directional remote control system and method is adapted for use with an entertainment system of a type including a display such as a monitor or TV and having display functions employing a mouse type control. The remote controller includes an IR LED which is operated as a modulated transmitter to control conventional remote functions and in a substantially continuous mode for tracking operation. The remote control system and method images the controller to detect the LED in tracking mode for control of a cursor or other GUI interface with mouse type functionality.