Abstract: A system for handling data and transactions involving data through the use of a virtual transaction zone, which virtual transaction zone removes the dependency of such transaction on the delivery medium of the product. The invention may reside and operate on a variety of electronic devices such as televisions, VCRs, DVDs, personal computers, WebTV, any other known electronic recorder/player, or as a stand alone unit. The transaction zone also provides a mechanism for combining mediums, data feeds, and manipulation of those feeds. The transaction zone also provides a mechanism for controlling the content, delivery, and timing of delivery of the end consumer's product.

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: Methods, systems and computer program products for evaluating a score for a particular user of network-based services. In one method, advertisements are provides on webpage(s) of the user. The webpage(s) may include content generated by the user. Advertising revenue generated by the webpage(s) is calculated and a score is assigned to the user based on the calculated advertising revenue.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage medium, and including a computer-implemented method for providing a creative. The method comprises identifying, using one or more processors, a creative for processing, the creative including a title portion, a body portion and optionally a reference portion. The method further comprises evaluating the body portion including determining when the body portion includes one or more words that can be added to the title portion. The method further comprises promoting, using the one or more processors, the one or more words into the title portion. The method further comprises providing the creative including the title portion with the promoted one or more words.

Abstract: Methods and systems to merchandise a product based on compatibility are disclosed. The system receives a request over a network from a user. Next, the system associates the request with a user profile that is associated with the user, retrieves an application listing from the user profile that describes a first item and associates the first item with a plurality of candidate items based on item cluster information that is generated based on content data information that is received from a content data provider. Next, the system selects a second item from the plurality of candidate items, the second item being a component of the first item. Finally, the system communicates the merchandising information over a network, to merchandize the second item.

Abstract: A tool for off-line experimentation with auction parameters for auctions for an ad space. The tool computes, using historical bid information, values per click to advertisers competing for the ad space. The tool applies a homotopy algorithm, using these values, to predict equilibrium bids based on the values to the advertisers. In computing the equilibrium bids, the bid of each advertiser is assumed to stay fixed over multiple auction cycles, but each advertiser is assumed to face uncertainty about quality scores used by the advertising platform in selecting bids and the rank of their bid with respect to others. The quality scores also are assumed to vary between auctions.

Abstract: An advertiser may be provided with fast and accurate estimates of the future performance of at least one of their advertisements. These estimates may be broken down by keyword, thereby providing, up-front, useful information to the advertiser about how different keywords will affect the performance and cost of their ad campaign. Estimates and/or suggestions for a set of keywords, given additional campaign parameters, may be generated by using historical search traffic (or some other ad serving trigger) data to predict future inventory and to find useful keyword (or some other serving constraint) variations. Current data on competing ads may be used to simulate the competitions (e.g., real-time auctions) that the given ads will participate in.

Abstract: To help advertisers to manage their online advertising, some business metric, such as ROI, profit, gross profit, etc., may be estimated and/or tracked with respect to an ad campaign, or a portion of the ad campaign. An advertiser may provide a business metric target, such as a target ROI, a target gross profit, a target profit, etc. An ad delivery system may then adjust information in an ad campaign (or a portion of an ad campaign) in an effort to meet the target. Similarly, an advertiser may provide a goal, such as maximizing or minimizing a business metric. The ad delivery system may then adjust information in an ad campaign (or a portion of an ad campaign) in an effort to meet the goal. The targets or goals may be subject to one or more constraints. The advertiser may provide limits on values of one or more business metrics. The ad delivery system may then turn off, or govern, the delivery of ads if the limits are violated.

Abstract: Profile information associated with a mobile communications device belonging to a user is stored at a server system. Upon the server system receiving an indication that the mobile communications device needs to be replaced, the profile information is reviewed. Based on the review of the profile, an offer is generated to replace the mobile communications device.

Abstract: An internet target marketing system, method, and computer program for distributing online advertising to viewers based upon the viewers' interests is provided. The system, method, and computer program may involve identifying one or more document-related concepts derived from analysis of content of a web document capable of being displayed to the user, identifying one or more advertisement-related concepts relevant to an advertising, comparing the one or more document-related concepts to the one or more advertising-related concepts to determine a relevance, and selecting the advertising based on the relevance.

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: Consumers provide marketers with genuine interest in a particular product, content type or service thereby establishing opportunities to market. Thus, the invention provides a system and a method to produce consumer-defined alerts and notifications about Internet information including a method for modeling consumer interest by tagging such information and aggregating consumer demand for a specific item thereby allowing private one-to-one marketing and aggregated reverse auctions. A method for monitoring and tracking changes to web resources and for managing and tracking the performance of associated marketing programs up to the point of sale. A processes for selection, dynamically storing and aggregating associated alerts data in response to consumer demand, as well as a method of selecting a resource and creating dynamic data to be combined and/or shared with other users.

Abstract: To improve monetization of electronic advertisement placement, a profile owner company operates an automatic system for identifying media properties that have interests in specific profiles or profiles of a specified category or kind. The profile owner recognizes a collected visitor profile as one that a media property has previously requested or one that is within a category that a media property has previously requested and arranges for the visitor to be tagged with a tag readable by the media property that requested such a profile. The media property can use the tag in displaying customized advertising to the visitor. Using information received from the media property, the profile owner company then records usage of the profile by the media property.

Abstract: A computer system for automatic replacement of advertisements includes an advertising server for selecting an advertisement based on criteria related to the individual viewer. In particular, advertisements are selected for a given user, based on the past behavior of that specific given user. Advertiser web sites on the network are configured to anonymously report back user activity such as visit dates, purchases, specific product pages visited and the like. Alternative reporting embodiments include email, file transfer protocol and spotlight tags. User activity lists are processed to select candidates for re-targeting. Candidates for re-targeted advertisements are identified based on their own individual past activity, and stored in a list of candidate user ID's. When a candidate on the re-targeted list is identified at any network affiliate web site, a re-targeted advertisement is delivered to the candidate user.

Abstract: A payment system for parking locations communicates with a plurality of parking meters, each of which is associated with a predetermined geographic location corresponding to a parking location. The system receives user identifying information via a communication related to payment for a parking session at a parking location identified by the communication, and determines a user credit/debit card data for payment of the parking session based on the user identifying information. Data related to the parking session at the geographic location of the parking meter is stored in a database associated with a parking history of the user, and determines one or more advertisements to communicate to the user based on the geographic location of the parking meter and previously stored data related to the parking history of the user.

Abstract: Effective virtual reality environments including in-store virtual reality environments such as supermarket aisles, store shelves, cooler displays, etc. are generated using frameworks and customer layout information. Marketing materials are integrated with the virtual reality environment while introducing imperfections and/or other cues of realism to create a virtual reality environment representation. Imperfections may include misaligned marketing materials, product label blemishes, packages placed slightly askew, etc. Sensory experiences output to the user via the virtual reality environment representation elicit interactivity with a user and user movements, motions, and responses are used to evaluate the effectiveness of the marketing materials and/or the virtual reality environment representations.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage medium, for campaign management. A method includes: presenting a user interface to a sponsor for customizing targeting information for a campaign including a control for specifying targeting criteria, where at least one targeting criterion includes a presence of a user in a prescribed geographic location or an indication of an interest by a user in the location; receiving a selection from the sponsor of targeting criteria to be associated with the campaign including a selection of one or both of user presence and interest; evaluating content delivery options for presenting content associated with the campaign including determining for a given content request whether a user is present or merely interested in a geographic location; and serving content from the campaign when a content item request satisfies the targeting criteria for the campaign.

Abstract: A method includes the steps of: (a) setting a relationship between users by referring to at least one piece of information on direction between the user who gives an e-book as a gift and the other user who receives it, information on the number of times the gift has been provided, and information on a price of the gift; (b) judging a first user and a second user whose degree of friendliness exceeds a preset value; and (c) acquiring information on a degree of involvement in reading that shows to which level the second user has read the gift, if the gift is provided from the first user to the second user; and (d) providing a service by referring to information on the gift, if the information on the degree of involvement in reading is judged to exceed a prefixed value.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a system and method for providing relevant offers for a user to replace a mobile communication device in the event that the device is lost, stolen, or otherwise in need of replacement, such as when a device has its SIM card removed or replaced, is inactive for a period of time, is unresponsive to a server monitoring the device, or when other customizable events occur. The disclosed system can determine if and when a mobile communication device may need replacement, and can generate relevant offers to replace the device based upon the user's current device and other factors. The system may also optimize offers to increase the likelihood of acceptance based upon previously accepted offers. In order to provide a comprehensive set of replacement options for a user, the system can aggregate offers from third parties.

Abstract: A software based system and method of displaying location based information from an information site on a network by determining location data of a user of the location based information on the network. The location based information is generated based on the determined location data of the user; and generated location based information is provided to the user over the network.