Abstract: An Internet advertisement system which utilizes an advertisement server site and at least one partner web site. The partner web site provides to end-user terminals by e-mail a web page on which one or more banners that are provided from an advertisement server site are inserted. When a user clicks a browsed banner, content that is linked to the clicked-on banner is retrieved from a content database and delivered to the user by e-mail.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for delivering information, from a content location on a global communication network (GCN) dynamically selected according to statistical information, to a user location thereon. In a computer database, GCN routing information for each of a plurality of content locations on the GCN are associated with a predefined combination of one of a plurality of advertising codes and one of a plurality of possible statistical outcomes. One of the plurality of advertising codes is received from the user location. Data regarding multiple GCN users is statistically analyzed to derive one of a plurality of statistical outcomes. One of a plurality of advertising codes received from a user and the one of the plurality of statistical outcomes are combined in a database to derive a particular predefined combinations. Routing information for a particular content locations which is associated with the predefined combinations is then retrieved from the database.

Abstract: The present invention provides a game system which utilizes Web sites and thus is solely an Internet based patent. The system provides an individual with the ability to win prizes, view companies Web sites, and play games/lotteries such as a monopoly game board. This system stores the data received from the customers in an encrypted database and uses is it to determine customer preferences and geographies. The invention provides companies with useful information regarding their customers and each of their preferences.

Abstract: The present invention relates to advertising over a communications network comprising a plurality of interactive client subscriber sites interconnected with an advertising information server site. The attributes of a plurality of customers are stored in the form of customer attribute vectors ck. The attributes of one or more role models are stored in the form of one or more role model attribute vectors ij. A marketing function M is defined which maps the customer attribute vectors to the one or more role model attribute vectors such that ij=M(ck). At the interface advertising information server site interactive advertising displays are provided incorporating the one or more role models. An interactive communication link is established from the customer subscriber sites to the advertising information server site enabling customers to access the displays and to make purchases in response to the displays. The marketing function M is updated in dependence upon the customer purchases.

Abstract: A service point management system employs a computer for managing points issued to each customer who receives service according to the points. A point issue unit issues points to the customer according to transactions performed by the customer. A point accumulation unit calculates and accumulates the issued points. A point notification unit notifies the customer of point information. A customer identification unit identifies the customer according to customer identification data entered through a customer or store terminal. The point notification unit notifies the customer identified by the customer identification unit of the customer's cumulative point information before the customer carries out transactions.

Abstract: A system and method create and share purchasing lists in a network system. The system and method utilize a consumer user interface. The consumer user interface provides the consumer the ability to create a purchase list by receiving advertisement data on the consumer device, selecting an item desired for purchase, identifying the purchase list for the item to be saved, creating the purchase list if the purchase list identified does not exist, and saving the item to the identified purchase list. The consumer user interface further provides the consumer the ability to share a purchase list by identifying a purchase list to be shared, converting the purchase list to the appropriate format, identifying a recipient of the purchase list, and transmitting the purchase list to the recipient.

Abstract: A digital contents distribution system that generates first execution verify logic, second execution verify logic and execution verify logic conversion software. The first execution verify logic and second execution verify logic each carry out the verification and execution control of contents, and the first execution verify logic is linked with the contents at first. The execution verify logic conversion software includes execution verify logic converter for replacing the first execution verify logic with the second execution verify logic to relink the latter with the contents. A user terminal is provided with the contents linked with the first execution verify logic, and the execution verify logic conversion software.

Abstract: A system and method for dynamically marketing products and/or services to an end user of a device over a network based on a stored configuration profile of the client device are disclosed. The method generally comprises identifying at least one advertisement campaign according to a rules engine, applying the rules of the rules engine to the end user device profile, generating an advertisement campaign request containing a listing of at least one of the identified advertisement campaigns, transmitting the advertisement campaign request to an advertisement server over a network, receiving a dynamic advertisement application from the advertisement server, and executing the dynamic advertisement application for presenting the at least one advertisement campaign to the end user of the device.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a client application for enabling access to an online service and displaying advertisements while the user is accessing the online service. The client application receives play lists from the online service provider. The play lists include information about advertisements to be played and the order of play. The client application displays advertisements continuously within a dedicated client window while the user is connected to and/or using the online service. The client application preferably records informational data related to the user. When the user clicks-on an advertisement, the client application and an online server forward the user's informational data to the advertisement's sponsor. The sponsor uses the information to provide the user with customized information related to the advertisement.

Abstract: An automated exchange is provided for matching incoming orders for the purchase or sale of financial instruments, such as options contracts, with previously received orders. The exchange allocates the matching of orders first to fill customer orders and then to fill professional orders on a pro rata basis. A primary market maker is given preference over other market professionals. Market professionals that enter larger orders into the book receive a proportionally larger portion of the incoming order. The exchange automatically maintains a minimum size by deriving orders for professionals across a range of prices when orders at the market price are exhausted. The exchange automatically derives orders for professionals to join with market-improving orders when the market-improving orders are less than the minimum market size.

Abstract: A multilingual agent of the present invention assists clients and users of clients in locating, accessing, and understanding documents on servers and also assists servers and providers of servers in making documents on the servers available to clients and users of clients, regardless of the languages in which the documents are written. A networked computer system in which the preferred embodiment of the present invention operates includes a client, a server, and a multilingual agent connected to one another via a network. The multilingual agent includes a document analyzer, a language identifier, a language converter, and a link modifier. In the operation of one aspect of the multilingual agent of the present invention, when the client retrieves a document from the server, the multilingual agent determines whether the document is written in a language that is unfamiliar to the user of the client.

Abstract: The present invention defines a news story document format that supports a wide variety of news story information in a structured manner. The news story markup language of the present invention provides constraints to define timing information for a news story, to define machine control commands that may be used to automate control functions, or to associate multiple elements within one or more documents for the purpose of synchronizing the elements. The present invention defines a system and method for editing and processing news story documents.

Abstract: Quantities of commodities are transported in sequence from a source to a receiving location in accordance with a logistic program through which constraints based on conditions at the source and receiving location are imposed so as to regulate timing of commodity transport involving a minimized number of sequential transits during usage for delivery at a rate in excess of the usage rate to maintain a specified inventory reserve at the receiving location.

Abstract: An apparatus and method provide privacy for the consumer identity and protects information concerning advertisements accessed by the consumer while still providing marketing and demographic statistics to the merchant regarding those advertisement accesses. A consumer user interface provides the consumer easy control over what advertisements the consumer is receiving and allows the consumer to easily subscribe and unsubscribe from advertisements from either particular merchants or categories of products and services. A commerce server receives the request for services from the consumer user interface program and provides the requested advertisements from specific merchants or from selected categories.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for managing a real estate unit from a remote location. The method includes the steps of accessing a server from a remote location through a website of the server and downloading a set of options regarding the managing of the rental unit from the website to the remote location. The method further includes the steps of selecting at least one of the options, uploading the selected option from the remote location to the server and executing the uploaded selected option by the server.

Abstract: A system and method provide for the interpretation and augmenting of structured documents electronically delivered to an individual consumer's computer using consumer profiles developed from and maintained with information reflecting the consumer's online and offline transactions, by selecting the variable content alternatives encoded in the structured documents that most closely match the consumer's profile. The consumer profiles are logically controlled by the consumer's computer, thus providing for enhanced security over information that is personal and confidential to the consumer, yet still allowing third parties such as web sites and others electronically delivering structured documents to the consumer to have such documents customized based on the consumer's profile.

Abstract: A method of load partitioning production management includes the steps of partitioning loads on production management in view of at least two predetermined management spans; and carrying out at least any one of planning, executing, correcting and managing of at least one production schedule.

Abstract: A consumer credit information data base controlled by a computerized system for storing current consumer credit information, as well as historical credit data information. The computerized system is programmed to present current and historical credit data information to on-line users so that better assessments can be made as to the credit worthiness of a consumer.

Abstract: A method for recycling tickets on a network, entails receiving from a ticket holder a request to recycle a ticket, receiving from the ticket holder, in response to a prompt, information about the ticket, marking in a database the ticket as available for recycling, and recycling the

Abstract: A method and system for assigning a classification to a device having a set of qualifying classifications. The method includes the steps of obtaining an inventory count for each classification of device included in the set of qualifying classifications, comparing the inventory count for each such classification to a safety stock number, and assigning a classification to the device from among the classifications which have an inventory count less than the safety stock number. The method enables improved classification assignment with respect to both present demands and future, projected demand thereby more optimally utilizing and distributing inventory.