Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage medium, are described for providing content. A method includes: transmitting an audio content item that is presented to a user of a personal digital assistant through a speaker; receiving digital information that includes spoken information that was submitted through the personal digital assistant by the user and converted into the digital information, the received digital information including data specifying one or more other users with which the audio content item is to be shared; annotating the audio content item with an annotation including at least some of the digital information and data specifying that the user is the source of the annotation; and transmitting the audio content item and the annotation to the one or more other users with which the audio content is to be shared as specified by the digital information.

Abstract: A digital advertising bidding method and a digital advertising bidding system are provided. The digital advertising bidding method includes receiving an ad request with an identifier by a token generating server; encrypting the identifier to generate a token corresponding to the ad request to replace the identifier by the token generating server; transmitting the token and a corresponding bid request to a demand side server by the token generating server; transmitting the token and the identifier to a data management server by the token generating server; requesting a targeting information corresponding to the token from the data management server by the demand side server; and transmitting the targeting information to the demand side server by the data management server.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards collecting, aggregating and indexing unique and non-unique user data from a plurality of users. The result for a query of this indexed aggregation of user data is provided in a plurality of sub-sets of aggregated user data. Each subset of aggregated user data corresponds to a particular portion of the plurality of users. Also, each of these particular portions of the users is set at least large enough to provide general anonymity for the individual users. User data may be collected by one or more user data suppliers and provided to a user data aggregator. In some embodiments, user data may be collected as unique user data, non-unique user data, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, user data may be aggregated by zip code, expanded zip code, and/or one or more attributes.

Abstract: Various embodiments request discount offers on a mobile device within a store. In one embodiment, the mobile device detects it is being shaken and in response, sends a request for a discount offer to a server. The mobile device determines its location within the store. The mobile device receives a discount offer based on the location of the mobile device within the store and information associated with the mobile device. The discount offer is displayed and feedback is communicated to the server based on the detected device movement. The feedback is an indicator that indicates acceptance, rejection or a request for a different discount offer. The detected device movement include at least one of motion intensity, direction of motion and number of shakes. If the motion intensity of being shaken is greater than a predetermined threshold, an indication of objection is emitted.

Abstract: One or more computing devices, systems, and/or methods for dynamic scan code generation are provided. For example, a meta tag, comprising a user identifier of a user and a promotion code for a consumer good, is extracted from information associated with the user, such as from an email sent to the user. When a current location of a computing device of the user is within a threshold distance of a consumer good location that sells the consumer good, a scan code is dynamically generated based upon the user identifier and the promotion code. A notification of the promotion code, a description of the consumer good location, and/or other information is provided to the user such as through a push notification. The scan code is displayed through the computing device for applying the promotion code to a purchase from the consumer good location for the consumer good.

Abstract: A system for processing a digital promotion may include user devices and a geolocation beacon at a redemption location. The system may also include a digital promotion server to detect presence of a given user device at the redemption location based upon communication with the geolocation beacon. The digital promotion server may also operate a messenger bot to collect information and communicate a digital promotion for a product to the given user device based upon the collected information and the detection of presence of the given user device at the redemption location, and obtain an amount due from the redemption location and associated with the given user device. The digital promotion server may also communicate to the redemption location authorization for payment of the amount due based upon the detection of presence of the given user device at the redemption location and based upon the collected information.

Abstract: A method of providing a personalized advertisement campaign includes identifying at least one customer of a financial institution via at least one cookie associated with the at least one customer; matching a prospective unique customer identification code with at least one key lifestyle indicator, which describe customer attributes, associated with the at least one customer; delivering online a pre-advertisement to at least one selected customer that is matched with the key lifestyle indicators; receiving an authentication of at least one selected customer from the financial institution; and delivering a financial application form associated with the pre-advertisement to the at least one authenticated customer who accepts the pre-advertisement.

Abstract: Methods and computing apparatus for real-time online traveler segmentation. A machine learning classifier may be trained using computed feature vectors and associated tags corresponding with records in a training set. A machine learning classifier receives a feature vector comprising values of the plurality of features corresponding with an unidentified user in an online context. The machine learning classifier may determine an estimate of whether the unidentified user is a member or a non-member of a predetermined traveler category.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to methods and systems for determining the identity of a user as a person or a robot. In some embodiments, the methods and systems engage a web browser to produce a token and calculate a computation cost associated with the token production. The methods and systems use the computation cost to prove that the web browser on a device not handicapped by the computational challenge of producing tokens, which would handicap a robot. In some embodiments, the methods and systems generate a cookie based on a confirmed user purchase, and record the user identity contained in the cookie at a block chain to identify the user as a verified purchaser. The methods and systems may later retrieve the cookie and search the block chain using the user identity contained in the cookie. By locating the user identity in the block chain, the methods and systems know that the user is a verified purchaser, indicating the user to be a person, as robots cannot make purchases.

Abstract: Provided is a process, including: obtaining a first training dataset, training a first machine-learning model on the first training dataset, obtaining a set of candidate question sequences, forming virtual subject-entity records, forming a second training dataset, training a second machine-learning model, and storing the adjusted parameters of the second machine-learning model in memory.

Abstract: A payment system is provided comprising a transponder, an associated account with account settings, and transponder reading equipment/systems for electronic toll collection and electronic entry into contests, sweepstakes, games, and/or lotteries. Methods are provided to facilitate use of a transponder, an account, and related transponder reading equipment to simultaneously pay a toll and facilitate purchase of a lottery ticket. An account may be debited for a toll and a contest, game, or lottery entry, and credited if one is won. The payment method and system may be used to purchase goods, such as gasoline, and to simultaneously electronically enter contests, sweepstakes, games, and/or lotteries. The purchase of goods/services with a vehicle-mounted transponder may also employ use of rounding amounts to facilitate the electronic purchase of game or lottery tickets or entry to other contests, games, or sweepstakes, wherein the rounding amounts may aggregate to comprise an award that may be won.

Abstract: A payment system is provided comprising a transponder, an associated account with account settings, and transponder reading equipment/systems for electronic toll collection and electronic entry into contests, sweepstakes, games, and/or lotteries. Methods are provided to facilitate use of a transponder, an account, and related transponder reading equipment to simultaneously pay a toll and facilitate purchase of a lottery ticket. An account may be debited for a toll and a contest, game, or lottery entry, and credited if one is won. The payment method and system may be used to purchase goods, such as gasoline, and to simultaneously electronically enter contests, sweepstakes, games, and/or lotteries. The purchase of goods/services with a vehicle-mounted transponder may also employ use of rounding amounts to facilitate the electronic purchase of game or lottery tickets or entry to other contests, games, or sweepstakes, wherein the rounding amounts may aggregate to comprise an award that may be won.

Abstract: A method and system for directing a browser or browsing application associated with a user to a targeted web site after the user performs at least two activations or “clicks” of his pointing device. The first “click” is typically on a communication provided by the system, serving as an intermediary, and the second “click” is typically on a first data object or web page of the intermediary, before the browser of the user is redirected to a second data object or targeted web page, typically associated with a party unrelated to the party or entity controlling the system.

Abstract: An online system identifies seed users of high value to a sponsored content provider. Characteristics of the seed users are identified, and additional users having a threshold measure of similarity to the seed users are identified based on the characteristics. A score is determined for each of the additional users based on the measure of similarity. The seed users are placed in an initial tier of a tiered set of users for the sponsored content, and the additional users are placed in additional tiers of the tiered set of users based upon the determined scores such that each additional tier includes those users of the additional users having a specified range of determined scores, the tiers of the tiered set of users ranked according to the determined scores of users within each tier.

Abstract: A digital voucher system facilitates the convenient application of vouchers against products and services purchased from a merchant by a consumer. A voucher enabled device carried by the consumer stores digital vouchers in memory. The merchant queries and obtains applicable vouchers for the consumer from the voucher enabled device carried by the consumer, applies the vouchers to a transaction, and communicates the resulting transaction data back to the voucher enabled device.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods for providing local promotions are discussed herein. Some embodiments may include an apparatus, such as a server or distributed servers, including processing circuitry configured to provide an electronic newsfeed to consumer devices based on tracking consumer device location. For example, the processing circuitry may be connected with merchant devices and consumer devices via a network. The processing circuitry may receive promotion data defining a promotion from the merchant device and may generate an impression of the promotion based on the promotion data. Consumer devices and merchants may be associated for receiving the impression as a feed item to the electronic newsfeed based on various criteria, such as the real-time location of a consumer device relative to merchant locations capable of providing promotion redemption.

Abstract: A system for processing a digital promotion may include a mobile device associated with a given user and a digital promotion server. The server may operate a messenger bot associated with a first digital promotion for a product. The first digital promotion may be redeemable at a redemption location. The server may collect information from the messenger bot and communicate the first digital promotion through the messenger bot to the mobile device based upon the collected information. The server may also permit redemption of the first digital promotion at the redemption location and obtain an identification of another product included with the product on a guest check from the redemption location and associated with the given user. A second digital promotion associated with the at least one other product and for redemption at another location other than the redemption location may be determined and communicated to the mobile device.

Abstract: A display device “app” maintains the processor and graphics chip of the device energized but deenergizes the display responsive to an “off” command. The energized components are used in the background for cooperative computer tasks such as bitcoin mining that can lead to remuneration, with any remuneration so received being credited to an account. When a viewer wished to view content that requires payment, the account is debited accordingly, and no further payment is demanded, and advertisements are omitted from the content. Should the account be short of necessary funds to pay for the demanded content, the “app” can present advertisements in the content and/or require input of payment.

Abstract: Disclosed are computer systems and methods for contextually targeted advertising using a regular periodicity of information derived from a user's messaging behavior. The disclosed systems and methods enable the prediction of future purchases based on a periodicity analysis of a user's purchase history, whereby advertisements can be targeted to the user based on the user's determined purchase habits. The disclosed systems and methods analyze a user's inbox by mining for purchase receipt messages, and determine a frequency of purchases associated with such receipts. Based on the determined frequency, the disclosed systems and methods can predict when subsequent like or similar purchases are to occur, whereby relevant advertisements or coupons may be served to the user in advance of the projected purchases.

Abstract: Methods and computing apparatus for retrieving records relating to content placement events and records relating to user interaction events. A set of enriched training feature vectors is computed from raw feature values, and used with interaction event tags to train a machine learning model. Information is received relating to an online content placement slot and information is received relating to a user to whom content within the online content placement slot will be displayed. An enriched estimation feature vector is computed based upon a content item selected for placement within the online content placement slot, the information relating to the user, and the information relating to the online content placement slot. A machine learning model is executed to determine an estimate of likelihood of the user interacting with the selected content item, based upon the enriched estimation feature vector.