Abstract: An Internet-based product brand marketing communication network allowing members of a consumer product brand management team to communicate directly with consumers present at HTML-encoded pages of an electronic commerce (EC) enabled Web-site along fabric of the World Wide Web (WWW), using programmable Multi-Mode Virtual Kiosks (MMVKs) driven by server-side components and managed by product brand management team members and/or authorized parties. When a consumer's Web browser encounters an MMVK tag along the WWW, the MMVK is generated and automatically plays through its display modes, inviting and allowing the consumer to review and interact with advertising spots, promotional spots, and brand information resources displayed within the GUI of the MMVK, along the fabric of the WWW where the MMVK has been installed. Web-based subsystems are provided for programming these display modes.

Abstract: A method for using promotional programs and merchant values is disclosed. In one example, the method includes receiving an authorization request message including a merchant verification value through a payment processing network, where the authorization request message is associated with a purchase by a consumer. A merchant-specific promotional program is then determined using the merchant verification value, and the merchant specific promotional program is performed. For example, the promotional program can be a sweepstakes and the task may be determining of the consumer is an instant winner.

Abstract: Internet-based Enterprise-Level Brand Management And Marketing Communication Network based on an innovative brand command, control and communication architecture (BC3), which gives brand owners complete command and control over the wide range of brand-building assets, messaging and promotions scattered throughout the Web, and how they are communicated to directly consumers at diverse Web touch points, with the efficiency and automation of supply-chain management solutions. The Network supports the deployment, installation and remote programming of brand-building server-side driven Multi-Mode Virtual Kiosks on the World Wide Web (WWW), and provide brand managers, their agents and online trading partners the power to build stronger online brands, drive sales and eliminate existing friction in the retail chain through a collaborative carrier-class, industrial-strength e-marketing communication network.

Abstract: A method of offering advertising services to a client for advertising a client website on the Internet comprises the steps of enabling a website-related services partner to cause an opt-in object to be displayed on a partner or reseller affiliate website through which the client may choose to establish an Internet advertising services account without leaving the affiliate website, receiving corresponding client information from the affiliate, and using the received client information to establish the Internet advertising services account. The invention also covers a related computer system for performing the method. Generated revenue is preferably shared among the advertising services provider, the partner, and the affiliate.

Abstract: An advertising system automatically generates suggested ad campaign parameters for a business based on information obtained automatically from one or more sources, such as a corresponding business directory listing, a web site of the business, and/or a user account record associated with the business. The suggested ad campaign parameters, which may include suggested keyword strings for ad targeting, are presented to a user associated with the business via a partially or wholly pre-populated electronic form that can be submitted to create an active ad campaign for the business. In one embodiment, the pre-populated form is presented in response to the user selecting an ad solicitation object displayed on a web page. The ad solicitation object may be displayed in the format of an actual ad, and may include suggested ad text for use in the ad campaign.

Abstract: The present invention is related to an advertising method using internet e-mail and chatting window which involves an advertisement in e-mail or chatting window, and compensates the person for seeing the advertisement.

Abstract: Promoting efficient communication among users. Uses having a symbol of the same network resource are led to the same virtual space. Specifically, intermediary server 2 converting ID of merchandise icon and ID of virtual space for chat is provided. When user terminal 1 obtained a merchandise icon reports merchandise icon ID to the intermediary server 2, ID of a virtual space corresponding to the merchandise icon is returned to the user terminal 1. A user can share information on each merchandise by participating in this virtual space. Namely, users having a common purpose can chat with each other.

Abstract: An online system presents remote users with static incentives, dynamic incentives and the ability to create and submit customizable incentives related to goods or services of interest to the user. By using the incentive delivery system, the user can research goods or services of interest and in an interactive fashion create an incentive package most desirable to the user and submit same to a central location. The systems performs decisioning routines on submitted incentive requests and makes such requests available for review. Ultimately, the submitted requests may be accepted or rejected or a counter-incentive may be issued to the user for consideration. A manufacturer, such as an automobile manufacturer, can offer incentives direct to its consumers and enter into an electronic dialogue with its customers to help drive profits and sales in the most efficient manner.

Abstract: A store controller determines a monetary value, such as an amount of spare change due to a customer, and allocates a portion of a lottery ticket for the customer. The portion is based on the monetary value, and may be, for example, equal to the monetary value, or may be the monetary value rounded to the nearest nickel. The store controller outputs a ticket identifier that identifies the lottery ticket (e.g. a serial number) and a portion identifier that identifies the allocated portion of the lottery ticket (e.g. $0.34 of a $2.00 lottery ticket). Typically, the store controller outputs the identifiers to a POS terminal, which prints a fractional lottery ticket redeemable for a portion of the lottery ticket's prize. The store controller also stores the ticket identifier and the portion identifier, to assure that fraudulent tickets will be detected. After a drawing date of the lottery ticket, the customer redeems the fractional lottery ticket, typically at a POS terminal.

Abstract: A computer-implemented electronic commerce apparatus and method is provided. The apparatus includes a connection to the distributed communication network and a consumer information storage, the consumer information storage including a consumer identifier storage, at least one site identifier, and including for each site a consumer identifier activity information pertaining to visited websites, wherein the electronic commerce apparatus receives the activity information, stores the activity information in the consumer information storage, and uses the activity information to create a tailored promotion and to present the tailored promotion to the consumer upon the consumer's visit to a second website.

Abstract: A universal or special-purpose auction system and method are disclosed wherein at least one auction allocation policy is implemented which results in adjusting a bid submitted by a trader or a clearing calculation is modified to incorporate a constraint.

Abstract: Techniques for generating and making incentive offers and promotions to consumers to influenced the consumers' purchasing behavior. Offers are customized for each individual consumer based on the particular consumer's purchase history information (or shopping history) and the consumer's response to the offers.

Abstract: A system, including a planning module, a control module and a receiver module, configured to schedule display of one or more advertising impressions of available advertising inventory. The planning module enables scheduling a requested quantity of advertising impressions in accordance with target criteria. Further, the planning module enables selecting an advertising impression goal for advertisement, assigning an advertising type and defining a weight for the advertisements. The control module receives the schedule, the advertising type and the defined weights and generates one or more metadata files that contain target criteria, advertising type and weights for the advertisements. The one or more metadata files, with the advertisements, are delivered to the receiver module that is configured to define a display frequency for the advertisements based upon one or more of the metadata files.

Abstract: A promotion method and a system which can realize thoughtful promotion by facilitating changing settings such as the number of points issued for each commodity, a promotion period and the like without the necessity for changing settings of target automatic vending machines all at once. A commodity code peculiar to each commodity is added to point information, and a data center selectively adds the number of points of the point information of the specific commodity on the basis of the commodity code.

Abstract: A system comprises a point-of-sale (POS) terminal, a POS controller, a retail subscription system. The POS terminal allows a cashier to enter subscription sales data into the POS controller. The POS controller maintains databases on available subscriptions and produces databases containing data relating to subscriptions sold to customers. The retail subscription system verifies the subscriptions by reference to its own databases and transmits the subscriptions to a fulfillment house for distribution.

Abstract: A method for gathering marketing information from a player including transmitting a marketing question to a player proximate in space to a compensation dispensing machine, receiving a response to the marketing question from the player, and transmitting a signal to the compensation dispensing machine providing compensation to the player. The signal can be transmitted proximate in time to receiving the response. Alternatively, the method for gathering marketing information from a player can include transmitting a marketing question to a player, receiving a response to the marketing question from the player, and transmitting a signal causing a compensation dispensing machine to provide compensation to the player at a time proximate to receipt of the response. The compensation dispensing machine can be proximate in space to the player.

Abstract: There is provided an advertising system and method using an Internet web browser, in which one of a menu bar, location bar, tool bar, etc. in the screen of the web browser, that is not used for displaying information from a server, is used for displaying advertisements, during a period of time for which function commands are not inputted, thereby improving effectiveness of advertisement. The advertising method using a web browser is constructed in such a manner that a moving state of a cursor is detected when a web browser is activated to be displayed, an advertising logo or phase is displayed at a portion above a text box when it is detected that the cursor is not positioned at a command input box such as menu bar, tool bar, location bar, etc., and a corresponding command input bot at which the cursor is located is displayed to receive a control signal from a user when it is detected that the cursor is placed at one of the menu bar, tool bar, location bar, etc.

Abstract: A distributed computing environment may employ spaces to provide a rendezvous mechanism that brokers services or content to clients. Services may advertise themselves in a space. Clients may find the advertisements in a space and use the information from an advertisement to access a service using a messaging mechanism. A space discovery protocol may be provided to find a space. A client may instantiate a discovery service to locate spaces. A listener agent may be configured associated with one or more spaces to listen for discovery requests. The listener agent may listen on various network interfaces, and may receive requests from clients looking for a space(s). The listener agent then responds with the service advertisement(s) or URIs for the service advertisements of the requested space(s). In one embodiment, the listener agent may be separate from the space and its functionality orthogonal to the functionality of the space.

Abstract: A system and method for funding a collective account via aggregating usage of electronic tags is disclosed. The system and method promotes the use of electronic tags, and, the funding of collective accounts that may be associated with charitable or other philanthropic causes. Further benefits may be realized by replenishing the prefunded account that serves as the source of funds for the electronic tag to an affinity account that also benefits the charitable or other philanthropic cause.

Abstract: A shop information advertisement panel system in which, the respective shop terminals comprise an advertisement information registration requesting unit for requesting the advertisement panel control terminal to register advertisement information including image information expressing an advertisement image to be displayed on the advertisement panel device corresponding to its own shop terminal, through a communication network, the advertisement panel control terminal comprises an advertisement information controlling unit for registering and controlling the advertisement information for every shop terminal, based on a registration request of the advertisement information from the shop terminal, and sending the image information of the advertisement information to the advertisement panel device corresponding to the shop terminal, and the respective advertisement panel devices comprise an advertisement display unit for displaying an advertisement according to the image information sent from the advertisement p