Abstract: Systems and methods provide targeted communications for each of a plurality of respective recipients. A database includes user information, customer information, template information, content feed information and advertising information. A template instruction is processed to select a template for generating the targeted communication, which is customized with at least some of the content feed. The targeted communication is scheduled for delivery, and at least some advertising information is selected to be included, as a function of geo-location information associated with at least one of the plurality of recipients. At least some advertising information is processed to format the advertising information with the targeted communication based at least on at least one instruction received from the registered user. The targeted communication is generated and transmitted to each of the plurality of recipients.

Abstract: An advertising provider may be obligated to ensure that its advertising directs users to the correct business entity (e.g., dealer or franchise). The advertising provider may maintain a datastructure comprising a plurality of “areas of responsibility” (AOR), each of which may be assigned to a respective dealer. When generating advertising content to be provided to a user, the advertising provider may access location-identifying information about the user. The location-identifying information may comprise a zip code, street address, or the like, which is sufficiently specific to allow the advertising provider to identify an AOR in the AOR datastructure. Accordingly, generalized location information, such as city, state, and/or country may not be sufficient. The location-identifying information may be used to identify the dealer that is assigned to the user. The advertising provider may access dealer-specific information, which may be used to generate dealer-targeted advertising for the user.

Abstract: An advertising database method and system provides an advertisement database service which is accessible to website publishers. Advertisement selection information may be received from a publisher of a website, and advertisements may be selected from an advertisement database in accordance with the selection information. The advertisement is provided to the website publisher for display on the website of the publisher. An endorsement of the advertisement by the publisher or by another user may be retrieved from the database and published with the advertisement.

Abstract: A system includes an offer datastores including one or more offers from one or more merchants, a registered card module to register one or more payment cards to be used for a purchase transaction, a transaction matching module to identify the one or more merchants from a collection of purchase transaction data and to match the purchase transaction of the identified one or more merchants with one or more offers in the offer datastore from the identified one or more merchants, and a rewards module to determine an incentive to be applied to the one or more payment cards based on any offer associated with the matched merchant and generate a qualified transaction data to be transmitted to an issuer of the one or more payment cards.

Abstract: Protected audience selection system. Media consumption histories of browsers which have converted are received at a modeling system where targeting of browsers has been disabled by excluding targeting labels. A model is built by determining a frequency of each respective media consumption event among the histories and comparing each determined frequency of a respective media consumption event to a frequency of the respective media consumption event among a population of browsers without the conversion event. The model is sent to a targeting system which excludes conversion events. A description of the conversion event is received at the targeting system. A history of a targetable browser is received at the targeting system. The model is applied to the history of the targetable browser at the targeting system in the absence of records of conversion events. Advertising content is sent to the targetable browser according to a result of applying the model.

Abstract: A communication system with client devices in communication with at least one communication network. User data stores are also in communication with the communications network and store user data of users using respective ones of the client devices. Offer data stores also in communication with the communications network store offers from merchants. A narrowcasting engine includes an active data gathering module to collect the user data, and an active learning module to generate a user profile based on the user data. The communication engine selects dynamically offers from the offer data store based on the profile, and communicates the selected offers in the offer data store to the users.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program for configuring and profiling digital media devices is provided. The digital media device is monitored for user interaction. Profile data is generated based on the user interaction. The digital media device is automatically configured based on the profile data.

Abstract: A method for generating a confidence score for each member of a computer-implemented network comprises forming for each member of an individual group of other members who are known to this member and recording his or her individual member ratings for everyone in that individual group. These ratings are then collected by the network administrator and adjusted using a system-generated weight factor for each member recording such ratings. Initial and subsequent confidence scores are then calculated as additional transaction data becomes available. The confidence score for each member is presented to other members, whereby facilitating selection of a preferred member to enter into transaction therewith. The network may be a buyer/seller network, service provider network, employment network, or another network where members need to select a previously unknown party to enter into a transaction with.

Abstract: Examples relating to attracting the gaze of a viewer of a display are disclosed. One example method comprises controlling the display to display a target object and using gaze tracking data to monitor a viewer gaze location. A guide element is displayed moving along a computed dynamic path that traverses adjacent to a viewer gaze location and leads to the target object. If the viewer's gaze location is within a predetermined divergence threshold of the guide element, then the display continues displaying the guide element moving along the computed dynamic guide path to the target object. If the viewer's gaze location diverts from the guide element by at least the predetermined divergence threshold, then the display discontinues displaying the guide element moving along the computed dynamic guide path to the target object.

Abstract: A point management apparatus includes a storage device configured to store point information about points awarded to a user, the point information including a point ID for identifying the points, a point rate indicating an amount of money per unit point of the points, a stock price and the number of shares of a designated company of when purchased as capital for the points, a user ID for identifying the user, a balance of points owned by the user identified by the user ID, and stock information about a stock of the designated company, which is used to calculate the balance of the points, an arithmetic circuit configured to update the balance of the points owned by the user, which is stored in the storage device, by calculating, based on a new stock price of the designated company, the balance of the points owned by the user read out from the storage device, and the stock information read out from the storage device, the balance of the points owned by the user, and a terminal processing circuit configured to r

Abstract: A method includes receiving identification information with a first electronic device and via a network, wherein the identification information is unique to a particular user device accessing webpage content, determining whether the identification information matches an identifier of a plurality of identifiers stored in a memory associated with the first electronic device, generating a reliability metric based on the determining, and providing the reliability metric to a second electronic device different from the first electronic device via the network. In such methods, the reliability metric is accessible by at least one bidder during a real-time auction associated with the webpage content.

Abstract: Techniques for advertisement placement prioritization are described. In one or more implementations, a likely line of sight of a viewer of an event to a focus point of the event is determined. Then, a relative location of one or more display devices is identified in relation to the likely line of sight of the viewer. In addition, a priority level is assigned to respective display devices based on corresponding relative locations in relation to the likely line of sight. Further, various demographics and characteristics of audience members can be obtained to determine context-sensitive media content associated with the audience members to present via relatively higher priority display devices. Also, performances of event participants can be determined based on commentary analysis and used to determine context-sensitive media content associated with the event participants to present via the higher priority ad boards.

Abstract: In response to user input associated with a previously displayed reduced-size version of an advertisement displayed in connection with a slideshow, a fall-screen view of the advertisement is displayed, for example according to a rule-based or probabilistic system to improve the applicability of the advertisement to the content being viewed. A cost-per-view (CPV) advertising model monetizes user interaction with an advertisement that results in navigating a content viewer to a landing page displayed within the viewer such that context of original content being viewed within the viewer is preserved.

Abstract: A method implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code, including generating one or more ad-avatars in a virtual universe (VU) and monitoring information from the VU. Additionally, the method includes directing the one or more ad-avatars to perform one or more viral advertisements in the VU based on the information.

Abstract: Tunable algorithmic segment techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a target audience definition is obtained that is input to initiate creation of a look-alike model. The target audience definition indicates traits associated with a baseline group of consumers who have interacted with online resources in a designated manner, such as by buying a product, visiting a website, using a service, and so forth. Tuning parameters designated for the look-alike model are ascertained and the look-alike model is built based on the target audience definition and the tuning parameters. The tuning parameters may include at least a setting selectable to control reach versus accuracy for the look-alike model. Segment data indicative of market segments generated according to the look-alike model may then be exposed for manipulation by a client. The manipulation may include selectable control over the tuning parameters to generate different look-alike groups from the segment data.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are directed to methods and systems for providing brand specific content and advertising content for use on a mobile device. A mobile device may comprise an operating system component operable to regulate the presentation of advertisement content on a mobile device. The operating system component may receive a template for the advertisement spaces on a device from a branding component. Then, the operating system component may request and receive advertisement content from an outside source. The mobile device may be compatible with multiple brands, and if the brand association is changed, the branding component may build a new template that reflects the updates.

Abstract: Efficient translation and load balancing of bid requests is disclosed. For example, a first network interface receives a notice from a publisher and triggering a first interrupt on a first processor. The first processor processes the first interrupt and provides the notice to a notice queue. A request translator executing on a distinct second processor translates the notice into a request. A request router sends the request to an advertiser through a selected network interface, which receives a first response triggering a second interrupt on a third processor. The second processor processes the second interrupt and provides the first response to a response queue. A response translator executing on the second processor translates the first response into an offer, which is sent to the publisher through the first network interface. Meanwhile, a second network interface triggers a third interrupt on a fourth processor after receiving a second response.

Abstract: A system, method and computer-readable medium are disclosed for presenting an advertisement message associated with a multi-media message. The multi-media message is prepared by a sender using text and sender inserted emoticons in the text, and delivered audibly by an animated entity. The method uses a plurality of stored advertising messages from which to choose and advertising message to display. The method includes performing an emoticon analysis of the emoticons inserted by the sender, choosing an advertising message from the plurality of stored advertising messages according to the emoticon analysis and displaying the chosen advertising message.

Abstract: A method and system for generating recommendations across multiple product or service domains are disclosed. The system includes a plurality of domain servers for handling user events and for interfacing with users via the Internet, a database for storing the user events, and a recommendation engine. The recommendation engine further includes one or more computer programs containing instructions for collecting the user events across a plurality of product or service domains in the database, receiving a triggering event for recommendations, analyzing the user events to formulate correlations between the user events in the database, and generating recommendations in response to the triggering event in accordance with the correlations between the user events in the database. The disclosure uses user input data from different domains for producing recommendations in any of those domains. The disclosure allows for access to a greater amount of user input data which in turn improves the quality of recommendations.

Abstract: The APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR AN ONLINE REWARDS INCENTIVE PROGRAM (hereinafter “ORIP”) transforms user gameplay inputs via ORIP components into incentive rewards outputs. Also, the ORIP may monitor user gameplay associated with a metagame account and provide a rewards incentive in exchange for user gameplay activities.