Abstract: Various embodiments of a system and method for scheduled delivery of shipments with multiple shipment carriers are described. Various embodiments may include a scheduled delivery component configured to receive delivery availability information for multiple shipment carriers. In various embodiments, for each shipment carrier, delivery availability information may specify one or more delivery periods during which that shipment carrier is available to deliver shipments of one or more items to designated locations. This delivery availability information may be utilized to generate a scheduled delivery tool that enables users to select a particular delivery period during which an item is to be delivered. The scheduled delivery tool may provide multiple selectable delivery periods based on the delivery availability information of multiple shipment carriers. The scheduled delivery component may determine that a particular delivery period has been selected and generate a delivery instruction based on such selection.

Abstract: A method of managing a plurality of parts of an apparatus includes creating a part database of part information including at least the weights, part numbers, and shapes of individual parts, measuring the weight of a part to be ordered, entering the measured weight through input means of an information terminal and accessing the part database, extracting part information of all parts having weights which fall in a predetermined allowable range similar to the entered weight, from the part database, and displaying the extracted part information on display means of the information terminal, identifying the part number of the part to be ordered based on shapes of the parts represented by the displayed part information, and ordering the part with the identified part number.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for processing return transactions over a network. An embodiment of the invention discloses an online return application that generates an electronic return shipping label that can be delivered to a browser of a customer that wishes to make a return. Also, disclosed is the creation and transmission of label delivery links, which provide for dynamic generation and delivery of shipping labels.

Abstract: This is directed to providing offline purchasing of media items using an electronic device. One or more media items that are not part of a user's media library can be stored on an electronic device. When a user later wishes to play back one of the media items, but the device cannot connect to a communications network to provide payment information for purchasing the media items, the electronic device can use pre-paid credits that were purchased and stored by the device when a communications network was available to complete the purchase. By using pre-paid credits, the media store can be assured that the user has sufficient funds for the media item purchase.

Abstract: Physical objects are placed on an interactive surface. Features of the physical objects are detected, as is position information of the physical objects. Callouts are then presented next to one or more features of the physical objects. Some of the callouts present information related to the features and/or physical objects. Some of the callouts are interactive.

Abstract: A method of producing a product composed of a set of components generally consisting of providing certain raw materials suitable to produce such components; providing a CNC machine operable upon suitable programming to produce the components from the raw materials; providing programming for the machine suitable for forming the components from the raw materials; soliciting the sale of the components to a prospective customer intended for assembly by the customer in producing the product; producing the components from the raw materials, utilizing the machine suitably programmed upon the sale of the components to the customer; and delivering the components to the customer for assembly thereof by the customer to produce the product composed of the components.

Abstract: A content distribution system which assures reliability of content is provided. Permitted-user information corresponding to a user who is permitted to use content to be distributed is associated with the content. In the case where user specific information which specifies a user and the permitted-user information do not have a predetermined relation, a user terminal transmits the user specific information and the permitted-user information to a server. The server generates user-related information in which the received user specific information is set as a distribution destination and the permitted-user information is set as a distributor, generates new permitted-user information so as to have the predetermined relation with the user specific information, and provides the new permitted-user information to the user terminal. The user terminal which obtains the new permitted-user information changes the permitted-user information to the new permitted-user information.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a method of operating a retail store by displaying copies of some variations of a product in a customer shopping area within the retail store and storing other variations of the same product in a non-customer storage area of the retail store, while providing customers with a method to easily browse through all of the store's offerings by using mobile devices and QR codes located on or near displayed products. Upon scanning a QR code of a product displayed in the customer shopping area, the mobile device displays all variations and products related to the scanned product that are available for purchase at the retail store.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a method of operating a retail store by displaying copies of some variations of a product in a customer shopping area within the retail store and storing other variations of the same product in a non-customer storage area of the retail store, while providing customers with a method to easily browse through all of the store's offerings by using mobile devices and QR codes located on or near displayed products. Upon scanning a QR code of a product displayed in the customer shopping area, the mobile device displays all variations and products related to the scanned product that are available for purchase at the retail store.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide for methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for providing a financial institution check-out system for processing online transactions using a customer's pre-existing online financial institution profile. A customer desiring to checkout from an online vendor's electronic marketplace is given a choice to checkout using a financial institution's secure checkout widget, which is rendered alongside the customer computer system's web browser application by a financial institution server. The widget authenticates the customer as a financial institution account owner, and the financial institution server displays to the customer his or her available payment accounts and receives customer input regarding the desired payment account. The server runs a payment service engine that controls payment for the transaction, and then the widget communicates proof of successful payment to the vendor server.

Abstract: A system and method for context-sensitive, adaptive commerce is described that features recommendations of products and/or services based on system usage behaviors and supplier contextual information such as inventory levels. Adaptive commerce may include the bundling of a plurality of products and generating an associated price based, at least in part, on usage behavior information. Other contextual information related to the customer or supplier may also be applied in generating recommended products, bundles of products, product configurations, and corresponding prices.

Abstract: An e-commerce system where progressive incentives are displayed to entice shoppers to purchase goods is disclosed. The e-commerce system includes a database with a region of memory having data related to a first inventory of physical goods and a second inventory of digital goods. The e-commerce system also includes a website configured to facilitate an event, where the website is coupled to the database for accessing the first inventory in response to the event. The event may be a purchase of one or more physical goods. The e-commerce system further includes a webpage configured to display at least a portion of the first inventory that is available for sale, and to display one or more digital goods, where the webpage presents a locked digital good before the event occurs, and in response to one or more events occurring, the webpage presents an unlocked digital good.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a virtual reality system that includes an instrumented device used to present a virtual shopping environment to a simulation participant. The participant's interactions with the virtual shopping environment may be used to conduct market research into the consumer decision making process. The virtual shopping environment may include one or more smart objects configured to be responsive to participant interaction. The virtual shopping environment may recreate a real-world shopping environment.

Abstract: A system and method for processing a cash payment for an online purchase is provided herein, including purchasing online from a payee at least one item of goods or services by a payer defining a transaction; generating a bill for an amount due to the payee by the payer for the item, the bill including a unique identifier for the transaction; paying for the bill in cash by the payer to a third party the amount due to the payee; confirming payer's payment in cash for the item to the payee; and delivering to the payee all or a portion of the amount due to the payee from the payer.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for conducting an online auction of a plurality of heterogeneous items between a plurality of selling and potential purchasing parties. The method includes the steps of accepting an offer in respect of an item, accepting one or more subsequent offers that is/are preferable to a previously accepted offer, and rejecting the previously accepted offer. While the offer/s is/are binding on a party making the offer, acceptance of the offer/s is/are not binding on a party accepting the offer. Classes of “seller strategies”, for offering items to potential purchasing parties, and “buyer strategies”, to decide which offers to accept, are also disclosed. As a result of the interaction of the buyer and seller strategies, the auction mechanism converges to an allocation of items to buyers at particular prices and assists in discovering a free and fair competitive equilibrium price.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a virtual reality system that includes an instrumented device used to present a virtual shopping environment to a simulation participant. The participant's interactions with the virtual shopping environment may be used to conduct market research into the consumer decision making process. The virtual shopping environment may include one or more smart objects configured to be responsive to participant interaction. The virtual shopping environment may recreate a real-world shopping environment.

Abstract: An asset management system is described that tracks in real-time any metric that a carrier requires pertaining to media assets within a network. In addition to tracking per-asset information relating to usage and air time, the system tracks information pertaining to individual object types (e.g., document, digital image, audio file, streaming media, or the like) as well as specific objects themselves (e.g., individual documents, photos, and the like, on a per-file or named basis). This information can be tracked against the various users and their individual devices (used to access a network). In this manner, the system can provide metrics relating to not only data size and air time, but also metrics about object types (e.g., digital image type) and specific objects (e.g., specific file transferred) that have passed through the network.

Abstract: Auction methods, auction systems and servers which can satisfy requirements other than the price for a client are provided. An auction client selects a desired one from time slide schemes from a terminal, and enters a due date in an associated entry field. For example, a due date advance scheme is a scheme in which a person who offers the soonest possible trading date from a due date is determined as a successful bidder. Also, specific details (paying-in, delivery and so on) on the trading date for a payment or delivery of an article, requested to a partner, are specified. These bid condition data are transmitted to the server through a network, and the server collects participants in a bid on a home page. The server receives trading dates offered from terminals of participants, and determines a participant who offers the trading date that most satisfies the trade due date condition offered by the client as a successful bidder.

Abstract: There is a media distribution system and method configured to distribute media over a computerized network including a media distribution module configured to selectively permit access to media over a computerized network and including a user interface module. The media distribution system also includes an operational administration module in communication with the media distribution module and configured to facilitate operational management of the media distribution module by selectably altering operational parameters of the media distribution module. In addition, the media distribution system includes a supervisory administration module in communication with the operational administration module and configured to selectably determine operational parameters available to the operational administration module for control. Furthermore, the media distribution system includes a network module in communication with the media distribution module and configured to transfer data over a computerized network.

Abstract: A system and method for allowing a user to schedule pickup of an ordered item provides a user interface having user interface elements for allowing a user to specify a frequency with which an order is it to be picked up, for informing a user as to availability of the item for pickup, and/or for allowing a user to request that an item be held in reserve for pickup within a given period of time, such as 24 hours. Frequency options provided to the user for selection when scheduling an order for pickup may include a one-time frequency, a daily frequency, a weekly frequency, a monthly frequency, and user specified dates. The information as to availability of the item for pickup is determined considering a time of order and real-time stocking information for the item.