Abstract: A method and device for automatically delivering gift/discount coupons when customers call a store cash desk for registration or payment of purchases. The device includes at least one control server, and at least one cash desk. The method consists in comparing the purchase and/or the customer's identity to the allocation conditions recorded in at least one CRITERIA file and in composing and delivering the coupons according to a type defined in a COUPON TYPE file.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an internet target marketing system, method and computer program for distributing online advertising to viewers based upon the viewers' interests is provided. Specific embodiments according to the present invention can use an n-way matching of user's concepts of interest, advertiser's concepts and a currently viewed document to target advertising to the view of the current document. Some embodiments can generate a contextually sensitive advertisement for each page viewed in a browser, thereby associating an advertisement with every page in a document. Specific embodiments can associate advertising with documents that are substantially free of embedded advertisements, for example. Alternative embodiments can include embedded advertising, however.

Abstract: An electronic advertisement method and system for an Internet browser with a book-like page-based flipping interface. Full pages of electronic advertisements are presented as needed on the computer screen without obstructing the viewing and reading of other contents. This benefits both the viewer as well as the advertiser. An advertisement matching/delivery system provides a novel method of inserting advertisements into content as well as a novel method for revenue sharing among the parties involved.

Abstract: An electronic advertisement method and system for an Internet browser with a book-like page-based flipping interface. Full pages of electronic advertisements presented on the computer screen are possible without obstructing the viewing and reading of other contents. This benefits both the viewer as well as the advertiser. An advertisement matching/delivery system provides a novel method of inserting advertisements into content as well as a novel method for revenue sharing among the parties involved.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for delivering personal ad services which substantially eliminate or reduce the disadvantages and problems associated with prior systems that deliver such personal ad services. In the use of such services, the need is recognized for improved capability regarding the features available to Internet users, and the integration of audiotex personal ad services and Internet personal ad services. With the present invention, a personal ad published in a newspaper includes graphical icons which denote if an ad has additional text or multimedia files (a photograph or a video clip) available on the Internet. With respect to personal ad services, the present invention provides the needed improved capability regarding the features available to Internet users, and the integration of audiotex personal ad services and Internet personal ad services.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for customer promotion. A terminal enters a customer's identification code, along with customer transaction data, at the point-of-sale. A memory stores a database of previously entered customer identification codes and transactions data. Circuitry is provided for generating a signal representative of a customer's shopping history, wherein incentive coupons may be issued to customers in dependence upon the signal.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for providing access to electronic works over a network. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention offers a user access to electronic copies of works, such as songs, albums, movies, or music videos, over a network. The user responds to the offer by requesting to access to a particular work. Before such a request is granted, the present invention may verify that the user is authorized to access to the work. In one embodiment, the user verifies that they are authorized to access an electronic copy of the work by demonstrating that they possess a physical copy of the work. In another embodiment, the user verifies that they are authorized to access an electronic copy of the work by demonstrating that they ordered or purchased a copy of the work. If a user's authorization is verified, the user may then be provided with access to an electronic copy of the work by such techniques as downloading or streaming.

Abstract: Chemical-mechanical planarization slurries and methods for using the slurries wherein the slurry includes abrasive particles. The abrasive particles have a small particle size, narrow size distribution and a spherical morphology and the particles are substantially unagglomerated.

Abstract: A prize awarding device and method that awards a prize over a communications network. The prize award device generates a prize code for a contest prize winning call which is based on the call information of the contest prize winning call. The call information may include the location of the winning caller, the location of the party being called, a duration of the winning call, and time of day the winning call is placed and the like. The prize code may further be based on demographic information of the calling and/or called party. Based on the prize code, the prize award device selects a prize.

Abstract: A banner advertisement selecting method is disclosed comprising the steps of (a) estimating the input probability of each attribute and the click rate of each advertisement for each attribute corresponding to an input attribute distribution of the banner advertisement and a click history of which the banner advertisement was clicked, (b) obtaining a display probability of each banner advertisement for each attribute so that the total click rate becomes maximum with conditions such as the desired number of display times of each banner advertisement being satisfied, (c) selecting a banner advertisement according to the display probability, and (d) transforming a restricted objective function maximizing problem obtained at step (b) to a transportation problem and solving the transportation problem.

Abstract: A method, system and article of manufacture for promoting interest in a specific website on the Internet are disclosed wherein the article of manufacture, such as a book, is distributed in incomplete form with instruction that the missing part of the article of manufacture is obtained by accessing the website being promoted.

Abstract: A system is provided in which a handheld computing device may be used to provide a user with shopping assistance services. A shopping assistance service may allow a user to obtain directory information for a shopping mall. A user may use the handheld computing device to handle shopping lists. The handheld computing device may display promotional material based on the shopping lists. The handheld computing device may be used to obtain information on products being sold in a store. Products may be purchased using wireless financial transactions. Reminders and other messages may be sent to the handheld computing device. The location of the handheld computing device may be monitored. Services may be provided to the user based on the location of the handheld computing device. The handheld computing device may communicate with communications equipment in retail establishments using a local wireless link.

Abstract: An fully integrated on-line frequency award program is disclosed. A user may access the program on-line and may browse a product catalog for shopping. The user may electronically place an order, upon which the program automatically checks the user's credit and electronically issues a purchase order to the supplying company. The program also calculates award points, updates the award account of enrolled users, and communicates that number of awarded points to the user. Enrolled users may browse through an award catalog and electronically redeem an amount of awarded points towards an award. The program then electronically places an award redeeming order with the fulfillment house and updates the user's award account.

Abstract: A methodology and system allows a plurality of reward scheme owners to give differential rewards, through a plurality of reward distribution agents, to various users based on the user profile. The reward scheme owner may be a seller, a manufacturer, a sales promotion agent or even an intermediary. Similarly, the reward distribution agent may be an on-line or a physical retailer, a broker, a seller or an intermediary. Also the users may be consumers, businesses, brokers or other intermediaries. In one specific case, a reward scheme owner defines a plurality of reward schemes, including at least one differential reward scheme giving different rewards to different users. The reward scheme owner communicates these to a central reward scheme database server. The reward scheme owners may or may not advertise these schemes. The user visits an online or a physical store.

Abstract: An automated system and method for providing a contest to multiple, geographically dispersed contest participants is disclosed, in which the participants are interconnected by a computer network such as the internet, and in which a contest participant's individual chance of winning the contest is increased in response to the performance of certain actions associated with the contest. The actions provide a contest sponsor with information about the participant, or expose the participant to predefined advertising information. The disclosed system provides feedback to participants regarding their current chances of winning the contest, in response to performance of one or more of the actions associated with the contest.

Abstract: A system and method for compensating users for responding to advertisements in an interactive manner poses questions for users and dynamically generates further questions in response to users' answers to previous questions. A user sets up an account on a remote computer that is then credited each time a user has completed the series of questions and answers relating to an advertisement. In setting up the account, the remote computer obtains demographic information from the user, such as the user's name, age, gender, place of residence and occupation. The remote computer can generate the questions not only in response to answers to previous questions but also in response to the demographic information. The remote computer provides the advertisers with the users' answers or with statistical information computed in response to the answers and the user demographics.

Abstract: An electronic advertisement method and system for an Internet browser with a book-like page-based flipping interface. Full pages of electronic advertisements are presented as needed on the computer screen without obstructing the viewing and reading of other contents. This benefits both the viewer as well as the advertiser. An advertisement matching/delivery system provides a novel method of inserting advertisements into content as well as a novel method for revenue sharing among the parties involved.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for providing access to electronic works over a network. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention offers a user access to electronic copies of works, such as songs, albums, movies, or music videos, over a network. The user responds to the offer by requesting to access to a particular work. Before such a request is granted, the present invention may verify that the user is authorized to access to the work. In one embodiment, the user verifies that they are authorized to access an electronic copy of the work by demonstrating that they possess a physical copy of the work. In another embodiment, the user verifies that they are authorized to access an electronic copy of the work by demonstrating that they ordered or purchased a copy of the work. If a user's authorization is verified, the user may then be provided with access to an electronic copy of the work by such techniques as downloading or streaming.

Abstract: The pelletized product of melt condensation polymerization of 1,3-propanediol and terephthalic acid is crystallized in a vessel designed for continuous fluidized bed flow of the pellets in water at a temperature within the range of about 65 to about 100° C. Hot-water treatment in the vessel permits crystallization of the pellets in a continuous operation and results in an increase of the crystallinity of the polymer to greater than about 35% and an increase in pellet density.

Abstract: A system and method for collecting data includes receiving first identification information of a first user, receiving second identification information of a second user that is referred to the data collector by the first user, analyzing the second identification information, determining whether to receive second user data based on the analysis of the second identification information and rewarding the first user if the second user data is received.